LOL @ Gamestop trying to get into the retro game scene

According to IGN, Gamestop is trying to get back into selling retro games via a pilot program in New York City and Birmingham, Alabama. I have several things to say about this...

1.) Birmingham, Alabama? That seems a bit random... Is that the location of the corporate HQ?

2.) You're doing a pilot program in those 2 cities and you still have 250 locations participating?! Maybe you have too many locations, guy...

3.) Good luck competing with the independent retro game stores. They are firmly entrenched, take just about ANYTHING they can get and offer MUCH better trade-in values than you ever did.

4.) Seriously, you can't compete with independent retro game stores like Play Raven or Digital Press. Your brand name is shite with us gaming collectors. We know what kind of horrible people you are, Shitbag.

5.) I won't buy from GameStop for ANY reason. What they sell used, I can usually find at Wal-Mart BRAND NEW for less money. And since the only GameStop I know of that's close to me is just a mere 200 yards away from the local Wally World...

6.) I could swear they tried this before a few years ago with some online program from their website. It died quickly when they got retarded enough to try to sell loose cartridges of Super Mario Bros. on the NES for $50. (LOL @ those idjits for not even bothering to check what those carts are really worth...)

7.) And of course, there's the rest of my thoughts/opinions of those guys in meme form...

Seriously , though...

Fuck Gamestop. I will stick to Amazon & Play Raven. I have spoken!

- Lord Publius

When We Left Earth - The NASA Missions

Letting NASA devolve to the point where it's just another government bureaucracy that deals with Science is a damned crime.

- Lord Publius

Sometimes Hilarious (and often NSFW) Gamer Girl Memes

These are just for fun. DO NOT get your (possibly proverbial) panties in a twist. Trust me, if you do, I will NOT give a flying fuck...

'Chestpiece' tattoos RUIN titties. Do NOT get them, Ladies.

ESRB ratings, as pictured by a Hentai image? (Seriously, WTF is with that AO image at the bottom?! Damned Japanese and their weird fetishes!!!)

No wonder XBOX can't sell in Japan... [/Facepalm]

Female versions of the Robot Masters from Mega Man Powered Up for PSP... If you decide to FAP to this, I really, really do not care to know...

Some gamer girls are kinda weird...

I don't mind her getting ass prints on my systems... As long as she cleans them off after the photoshoot...

Actually, there is no hope here. I have never played D&D...

Jessica Nigri dressed up in costumes that make her look like a real-life version of the main character in Lollipop Chainsaw... [/FAP]

What old ladies must think about this franchise, which I admit that I know nothing about...

John Travolta was right to shoot her...

Character modeling has come a long way...

Nice dress...

And that is all you had to say, dear...

Zoe Quinn, the Lolita that has ruined game journalism... The guy she was fucking must have been a really lonely nerd because I am just NOT seeing what makes her so special. And yes, I have seen a few of the nude photos of her floating around online. I purposely decided NOT to include them here...

And finally...

Zoe Quinn & Anita Sarkeesian are an embarrassment to women everywhere. The game industry as a whole needs to send these two socialist shills packing and grow their balls back. Unless you're talking about a truly awful game like Custer's Revenge, which featured a woman getting raped by the player's character, then there is no abnormal amounts of sexism in games.

Here in the First World, women already are equal under the law and have been for a long time. Try bringing Feminism (and I mean the real Feminism from the 1970's that actually strove for female equality and not misandry) to parts of the world that need it, like China and Saudi Arabia. Women actually are being oppressed and horrifically victimized in those places. I'm sure they'd love some help.

- Lord Publius

Good Star Trek games on consoles and portables

Good Star Trek games on consoles and portables

A while back, I read a Top 10 list featuring the best Star Trek games. I don't normally care what lists like this say but, there was one thing that stuck out for me with this one: All the titles on the list were PC games. Where were the console and portable games? They weren't there! So, I decided to write a list of my own. This list is based on my personal experience with Star Trek games. I didn't include ones I haven't played, even if they're popular.

Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator (Atari 2600)

It's a port of a vector-based arcade game that SEGA released in 1983. It plays the same as it's arcade counterpart. It's nowhere near as impressive as the arcade original or the ports for more advanced consoles like Colecovision & Atari 5200. However, for an Atari 2600 game, it's easily one of the most spectacular titles ever made for the system. (Not to mention one of the few 1st person games on the system...)

In this game, you fly around, fighting Klingons, protecting starbases and refueling at said starbases. This continues until you run out of fuel/get destroyed by the Klingons. Like all Arcade/Atari games of that era, there was no real end goal. You were just trying to get the highest possible score. It's simplicity is what gives it the ability to illicit such bliss. I highly recommend this game for ANY system on which it can be found.






Star Trek - The Next Generation (NES)

Ever wanted to pretend like you were Captain Picard and command the Enterprise on a series of missions? Well, this game will actually have you play a Starfleet Academy cadet on a holodeck, being trained by Captain Picard. You still get to fly the Enterprise in a number of often dangerous missions, though.

The missions do get a bit repetitive after a while (especially after you beat the Borg) but, this is still easily the best 1st person simulation title on the NES. It's also the most graphically impressive NES game that I have ever seen. This title was easily a LOT better than the TNG game on Genesis (which I own and will get to later) and the one on SNES.

Star Trek - 25th Anniversary (Game Boy)

The reviews I've read on this title complain about the graphics being very sparse. It's also short enough to beat in an hour or two if you know the game really well. To those critics, all I can say is what did you expect? It's a Game Boy game. Considering the system's limitations, I'd say the programmers did a good job.

It's actually 2 games in 1; a side-scroller when piloting the Enterprise in space and top-down action when leading an away team on a planet's surface. The away missions get tedious and lack music. The side-scrolling in space is a lot more fun, albeit a bit repetitive sometimes. You get to fly through 2 kinds of asteroid fields, a giant space amoeba like the one in a TOS episode called The Immunity Syndrome, Klingons, Romulans, Tholians and, eventually, the Doomsday Machine.

The space missions also feature music that uses melodies from various episodes of the Original Series. Small touches like that show that the programmers were true fans. It would have been easy (and quite common at the time) to have just used some kind of stock music but, not with this game.

There aren't many 3rd-party Game Boy games that have actually stood the test of time for me but, this surely is one of them.

Star Trek - The Next Generation: Echoes from the Past (SEGA Genesis)

The graphics and sound are spectacular for the Genesis. Even the opening title sequence for the game will give hardcore Trekkies a geekgasm. The amount of detail put into the game is quite impressive. What kills this game though, is the level design. It tends to get confusing at times. You'll need a map of the away-team levels. Otherwise, it can get really tedious.

I give this game at least an honorable mention, if not saying it's actually good.











Star Trek Starfleet Academy - Starship Bridge Simulator on SNES (Also on SEGA Genesis 32X)

This game is very common and cheap but, still a great space combat simulator. Loved the recreations of famous battles from the TOS-era Movies.

The PC version that would be released sometime after this title in 1994 was much more detailed and elaborate. However, if you don't have that version, this one will do. I recommend using the Super Advantage joystick when playing this one.





Star Trek - Tactical Assault on DS (and PSP)

This is one of the VERY few Strategy games that I have ever tried and also the ONLY one that I have enjoyed. The fact that it was a Star Trek game wasn't even the reason why. This game was able to get me interested in a strategy game because it has simple controls. I wish more strategy (and RPG) games would offer simple controls...

Also, I particularly enjoy the skirmish mode, where I can set up a battle between up to 4 vessels in 5 different environments. You can relive classic battles from the TOS movies (since this game is based in or around 2284) or set up battles we all wanted but, never got. Like the Constitution Class Refit fighting a Klingon K'Tinga Class Battlecruiser.



- Lord Publius

People and the world do not care... and this is actually good

I'm just gonna give it to ya straight, folks. The world and the people in it do not care if you are a good person. They only care about what you can do for them. No one wants to be associated with a person that is useless/a drag on their resources. The tree is always judged by its fruit.

This is why you don't usually stay friendly with people you used to date once the relationship ends.

This is why most don't donate to charity, unless you're just getting rid of clothes that no longer fit or you're looking for a tax write-off.

This is also why you typically never get freebies of any kind from a company, including a gas station letting you use their bathroom, unless you buy something from them.

This is also why you can't get a date with that certain someone that gets you hot and bothered.

This is also why you refuse to date that person you think is a loser, even if they have the hots for you and you can take advantage of them.

This is why you don't talk to the people you hung out with in High School. (No, Social Media doesn't count.)

And in all brutal honesty, that is the way it should be too. Why should ANYONE waste their resources (especially their time) on you just because you exist? Even if you do acts of charity because it makes you feel good, you are still benefiting from that action. You made yourself a little happier, which is good. Also, please don't tell me you did it purely for other people. You didn't. You did it because helping others was something you wanted to do. Besides, less poor people means less tax dollars going into the social safety net. That is something that benefits us all.

So, if you want to be liked, loved or successful at whatever, you must make yourself someone that is actually likeable, lovable and capable of being a success. Nothing will be handed to you in life and you will often go way out of your comfort zone. Various social institutions like church and the government aside, Nature doesn't believe in giving people a handout. Nature knows all too well that you'll stop bothering to do anything for yourself, develop unrealistic expectations and quickly make yourself useless.

Don't give me any crap about how you shouldn't have to change this or that or whatever. Life is all about change and that includes you. Humanity is the one species in the known universe that can't abide stagnation. Change is at the heart of what we are and that change never stops. Move with the flow or get swept away.

- Lord Publius

The Problem With Heavy Metal Is NOT Metalheads

A few months ago, I found a video from a YouTuber named 'Sargon of Akkad'. In that video (which is below), he takes on the Communist Bastards calling themselves 'Social Justice Warriors' and just plain shits all over them for unfairly criticizing Heavy Metal. Naturally, this guy got himself a new subscriber in me after watching/listening to this video.



If the 'Social Justice' fags honestly think they can use their non-sensical pseudo-journalism to drive a wedge in the Metal community (like they try with mainstream society) then, they VERY clearly do NOT understand Metal. Hell, this shit didn't work with video games so, why do you think you can somehow have any luck with the Music of the Gods?


Metal is so contrarian and offensive for a reason: It's because we think most other people are retarded/psychotic apes and want NOTHING to do with them.


\m/O_O\m/

- Lord Publius

Why the 'PC Master Race' will never destroy consoles & portables

Some PC gaming enthusiasts think that their platform of choice will someday render consoles and dedicated portables obsolete. This view is wrong for the following reasons:

1.) Consoles and Portables are cheaper than Gaming quality PC's.

Let's break it down via manufacturer. I did not bother citing sources by providing hyperlinks for the prices I found. They are likely to change fairly often and the links wouldn't be all that helpful. All prices were found online on 10 March 2015.

MICROSOFT

XBOX 360 - According to Wal-Mart's website, various bundles are being sold for $180-250

XBOX One - $500 AT LAUNCH, recently reduced to $350.

SONY

PS3 - Anywhere from $140 to $275, depending on HDD size, game bundles and whether or not the system is new or used.

PS4 - $400

PS Vita - $200, maybe a little more or less, depending on the source. May have pack-in game or not.

NINTENDO

WiiU - $300

New 3DS - $200 at launch

3DS XL - $200

2DS - $130

CASH NEEDED FOR HALFWAY DECENT GAMING PC - $600, IF YOU BUILD IT YOURSELF.

So, I can build a PC for $600 that will be decent for playing games for MAYBE a year or so before needing a potentially expensive hardware upgrade. Or, I can buy any of the 5 consoles and/or 4 portables being supported right now and get many years of enjoyment from new releases on newer consoles or rather impressive back catalogs for older ones like PS3 & XBOX 360. Keep in mind that all of Nintendo's current hardware offerings are also backward-compatible with the original Wii and DS, giving me thousands more choices that I will probably not get anywhere else. And ALL of the current consoles and portables are anywhere from $200 to $400 less than the PC and are pretty much ready to go straight out of the box. PC's might have better graphics but, cost-wise, they are at a tremendous disadvantage here.

2.) PC games are a pain in the ass to get working, compared to consoles and portables.

PC games require installation, configuration and making sure you have the right video/sound cards, processor, drivers, etc. etc. etc. And God help you if you are trying to get an older PC game to work on a newer version of Windows. :/

Other than downloading updates for games on the 7th and 8th Generation devices, Consoles and portables don't have that problem.

3.) Despite what some people think, cell phones and tablets are not going to replace portables and consoles.

And no, the recent announcement that Nintendo will be releasing titles on smartphones doesn't counteract this talking point. Their AAA material (and HUGE back catalog of hits) will always be released on their own proprietary hardware. The cell phone games are just going to be simple little things that are meant to drive people to buying their hardware and the games for that hardware. They've done these sort of things before. For example, the e-Reader accessory for the GBA. Most of the e-cards made for that accessory were all cards designed to add levels and items to games on the GBA or GameCube. The others were either really simple games like Kirby Slide, a re-release of the Game & Watch titles and some of the earliest NES titles.

4.) Physical copies of games are still the norm with consoles and portables. PC games are starting to be released only through download services like Steam.

Not everyone wants to use Steam. Physical copies are tangible and can be enjoyed for generations of the family or resold when you no longer want them. Digital copies, for now at least, cannot be traded or resold. That makes it rather difficult to get some of your money back by reselling a game you didn't like to a re-seller like GameStop, Amazon or Wal-Mart.

And no, game companies do not deserve a piece of the action when I decide to resell my games. Would GM be entitled to a slice if I decided to sell my long since paid-for Chevrolet? Of course not!

5.) Nintendo is NEVER going to release games on a platform that they don't control. MICROSOFT isn't likely to walk away from a business where they have significant marketshare, either.

So, that is ONE company that is always going to make it's own hardware rather than developing for Windows PC, MacOS, iOS, Linux or Android. They like having control over the hardware because that way, they will know exactly how to wring the most out of it for the best game experiences. If there is one hardware manufacturer around today that can keep consoles and portables alive, it would be Nintendo. They make a profit from virtually everything they produce.

To my knowledge, Microsoft has not made a single dime from the XBOX division. Sony makes money from their PlayStation division but, everything else they do is losing money right now. So, among the current crop of gaming hardware makers, Nintendo is the one in the best financial position to keep consoles/portables alive. That's also assuming that Microsoft doesn't decide to take more money from their other operations to keep funding the XBOX division, which I'm sure they would. XBOX gave them huge marketshare in console gaming and PC games have never been very profitable for them. Why would they walk away now when they've established themselves as a major player in the industry?

While we're on the subject, why are they *not* releasing a portable? Nintendo needs the competition and the PS Vita just isn't getting that job done right now.

- Lord Publius