BeardyHat's recent activity
-
Comment on Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen releasing February 27th on Nintendo Switch in ~games
-
Comment on CGA-2026-02 🕹️🚗 REMOVE CARTRIDGE ⏏️ Racing Lagoon in ~games
BeardyHat Link ParentI actually raised the internal resolution and upped the brightness considerably and I still found it difficult. Even switched to playing on a 10" tablet at some point because I thought the bigger...I actually raised the internal resolution and upped the brightness considerably and I still found it difficult. Even switched to playing on a 10" tablet at some point because I thought the bigger screen size (had been on a 4" handheld) would make things easier, but it was just as challenging. I didn't try AA and PGXP (I was unfamiliar with this), however, so I may need to try it if I get up the gumption.
I do think you're correct to a point; I think once we hit the PS2 era, things get much better and many of those racing games are considerably better than their predecessors. I still regularly play Outrun 2, though the version on PSP, because I like it and it's easy to emulate.
-
Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: February 2026 Nominations Topic in ~games
BeardyHat LinkMy brain is a bit scattered right now, so the text of this topic is not processing for me. However, I just wanted to say thanks for putting all this work in on the CGA @kfwyre. I haven't been a...My brain is a bit scattered right now, so the text of this topic is not processing for me.
However, I just wanted to say thanks for putting all this work in on the CGA @kfwyre. I haven't been a great participant, playing all the games, but really only making decent progress in two of them, but I've been looking forward to the new games every month and at the very least giving them a try and reading others thoughts and opinions on them.
-
Comment on CGA-2026-02 🕹️🚗 REMOVE CARTRIDGE ⏏️ Racing Lagoon in ~games
BeardyHat LinkI didn't play much of this one (surprise, surprise), but I really enjoyed what I did play. The JRPG style take on a racing game was pretty unique to me and I really enjoyed driving the streets and...I didn't play much of this one (surprise, surprise), but I really enjoyed what I did play.
The JRPG style take on a racing game was pretty unique to me and I really enjoyed driving the streets and getting into random "battles"; it sort of felt a little tongue-in-cheek to me with this take on both a JRPG and street racing.
I found the parts swapping pretty amusing overall. I'm a car enthusiast and the idea that you can simply just swap wheels or intakes or whatever across cars and have it be a straight fit was pretty funny and a logical abstraction to make for a game designed this way.
Ultimately, I ended-up not sticking with it though because of the kind of horrendous handling (which I'm guessing improves as you level up your car) and graphics that were just too muddy to accurately assess turns and twists in tracks. In most racing games, even without knowledge of the track, you can kind of keep an eye on your map and an eye on the road and gauge where, when and how fast to turn, but I absolutely struggled with that in this game. I ended-up using a Save State before races and then Reloading over and over again, because there's so little margin for error in this game and the handling, while not necessarily "bad" feels off and I struggled to get turns consistently even on tracks I'd dozen dozens of times via random battles or saving and reloading. It feels like there's this consistent unpredictability to the handling that I found frustrating pretty quickly and again without having any margin for error, I ended-up not going far with the game. Also, my one other complaint is unskippable cutscenes; fast-forward helps with that some, but overall not a fan of that, but it was the PSX era, so it's a given, I suppose.
So, all that said, in spite of putting significantly less time into this than Wind Waker last month, this was so much more my jam and I really enjoyed what I played of it a lot more.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
BeardyHat Link ParentI have no idea if this is the case, but if they've changed the slog of combat in P3R, I'd go with that. I've been playing P3P for a similar amount of time (about ten years) and I'm in the mid 200s...I have no idea if this is the case, but if they've changed the slog of combat in P3R, I'd go with that.
I've been playing P3P for a similar amount of time (about ten years) and I'm in the mid 200s for floors in Tartarus, but I just can't be asked. The "dungeon crawling" and the combat is just so tedious and there's so much of it. If I could just automate that part until I get to bosses, so I could otherwise just get back to the storytelling, I'd be so much more happy with it.
-
Comment on Drinking two-three cups of coffee a day tied to lower dementia risk in ~health.mental
BeardyHat LinkHell yeah. I drink on average about 20oz of coffee a day, sometimes up to 30. I'm gonna be juuuuust five...Hell yeah. I drink on average about 20oz of coffee a day, sometimes up to 30. I'm gonna be juuuuust five...
-
Comment on The mega-rich are turning their mansions into impenetrable fortresses in ~finance
BeardyHat LinkGee, it's almost like they're aware things are fucked up and are preparing for the worst. Rather than using some of their massive wealth to help fund social change, they'd rather keep exploiting...Gee, it's almost like they're aware things are fucked up and are preparing for the worst.
Rather than using some of their massive wealth to help fund social change, they'd rather keep exploiting the rest of us and "Castle Up" for when we eventually get sick of their bullshit.
-
Comment on What are your food aversions? in ~food
BeardyHat Link ParentI used to dislike seaweed, but I've come to like it more. But again, it has to be not too fishy. I generally put some seaweed in my ramen, stuff that comes in big sheets from the Korean...I used to dislike seaweed, but I've come to like it more. But again, it has to be not too fishy. I generally put some seaweed in my ramen, stuff that comes in big sheets from the Korean supermarket. And I do like the little wafer style ones that generally come in a plastic package.
But it would make sense, I don't get a lot of fresh fish, given I'm in the landlocked middle of the country.
-
Comment on What are your food aversions? in ~food
BeardyHat Link ParentYeah Tilapia definitely has some of that flavor, but it doesn't bother me as much there. But that's also a fish I usually fry for fish tacos. I mostly only like smoked salmon. Grilled salmon isn't...Yeah Tilapia definitely has some of that flavor, but it doesn't bother me as much there. But that's also a fish I usually fry for fish tacos.
I mostly only like smoked salmon. Grilled salmon isn't bad and I'll eat it prepared in other ways, but it would never be a primary choice for me if I had other options.
Actually as an aside, I've been thinking about my weird preferences lately and peanut butter is another one. I will happily eat a spoon of peanut butter, but I very much dislike it in other things. I'll still eat it, but again, it would never be a primary choice for me. Peanut butter cookies? Nah. Stuff like that.
I'm guessing that one has to do with the strong flavor of peanut butter and how it kind of taints everything it touches. Much like fish, actually...
-
Comment on What are your food aversions? in ~food
BeardyHat Link ParentA "fishy" taste would be what the ocean smells like. Have you ever been near a pier or anything? That smell? That's what a "fishy" taste is. It smells and tastes the same.A "fishy" taste would be what the ocean smells like. Have you ever been near a pier or anything? That smell? That's what a "fishy" taste is. It smells and tastes the same.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
BeardyHat LinkI've been mildly obsessed with playing things on my Android tablet as of late and in the past week, I finished the first episode of The Case of the Golden Idol. I really loved it and I did start...I've been mildly obsessed with playing things on my Android tablet as of late and in the past week, I finished the first episode of The Case of the Golden Idol. I really loved it and I did start the...Spider of Lanka, I think it's called? But so far, only completed one scene. Not exactly sure why, either I'm ready for something different or it's just not grabbing me in the same way the first chapter did.
I've also been putting time here and there into OpenTTD. I'm a huge fan of Transport Fever (2) and have been meaning to give OpenTTD an earnest go for years now. I haven't made it very far, only about 20 years in my current map and haven't done a whole lot, but I am very much enjoying it. I do find the building a little clunky and more unforgiving than Transport Fever, but I suppose that's to be expected of such an old game.
-
Comment on What are your food aversions? in ~food
BeardyHat Link ParentMy wife thinks I'm weird cause I don't like any seafood that tastes like the sea or fish or whatever. She tells me that's the point. I like crab, sushi, tilapia, smoked salmon, shrimp, that kind...My wife thinks I'm weird cause I don't like any seafood that tastes like the sea or fish or whatever. She tells me that's the point.
I like crab, sushi, tilapia, smoked salmon, shrimp, that kind of stuff. But yeah, if it tastes like fish, no thanks.
-
Comment on I'm annoyed with mundane revisionist history in ~talk
BeardyHat Link ParentNo idea, but it's driving me nuts. It feels so stupid to pair down all the stuff I did, yet suddenly think I have some money now and maybe I should buy a new thing. I'm trying to refocus my...No idea, but it's driving me nuts. It feels so stupid to pair down all the stuff I did, yet suddenly think I have some money now and maybe I should buy a new thing.
I'm trying to refocus my attention right now, which for me has meant trying to play some games on devices I already own. If I can get into something, I can stop thinking about my wants for awhile.
-
Comment on I'm annoyed with mundane revisionist history in ~talk
BeardyHat Link ParentProbably will sound silly, but a Surface Pro 7+ or 8. I absolutely do not need it, as I just sold a Surface Pro 7 i5 and already have a Thinkpad P1 Gen 4, Surface Go and a Samsung Galaxy Tab S7....Probably will sound silly, but a Surface Pro 7+ or 8.
I absolutely do not need it, as I just sold a Surface Pro 7 i5 and already have a Thinkpad P1 Gen 4, Surface Go and a Samsung Galaxy Tab S7.
But I'm obsessed with the form factor for whatever reason.
-
Comment on The hidden cost of AI art: Brandon Sanderson's keynote in ~tech
BeardyHat Link ParentYou can setup your own AI instances and run them locally. I've got an LLM setup on my server in my office, which I can then access over my local network on my phone. It keeps my data mine and uses...You can setup your own AI instances and run them locally. I've got an LLM setup on my server in my office, which I can then access over my local network on my phone. It keeps my data mine and uses the energy my solar panels generate for compute. I've even got my own local AI image generation. I don't use it much, but it's there if I want it.
This is slower than using something like ChatGPTot Copilot, but at least I'm not feeding into the machine.
-
Comment on I'm annoyed with mundane revisionist history in ~talk
BeardyHat Link ParentI get why people have so many, I feel like I often have a struggle where I'm not playing anything and thinking maybe if I had some new device or different way to play, I'd actually play this or...I get why people have so many, I feel like I often have a struggle where I'm not playing anything and thinking maybe if I had some new device or different way to play, I'd actually play this or that game. I've been constantly reminding myself for the past two weeks or so that a new laptop is not going to make me happy or be any different from my current one.
-
Comment on I'm annoyed with mundane revisionist history in ~talk
BeardyHat Link ParentBy and large with my own kids, they're generally kind of interested in playing them, as long as they're easy to play. They do enjoy watching me play though. I've been recently playing Cybermage:...By and large with my own kids, they're generally kind of interested in playing them, as long as they're easy to play. They do enjoy watching me play though. I've been recently playing Cybermage: Darklight Awakening from 1995 or 6 and my kids enjoy watching. I actually put it down for a little while here and my 8 year old keeps asking me to play some more so they can watch
And if you really want to go down the consumerist rabbithole checkout the retro emulation handhelds from China. I have a couple of them and they're pretty great for being able to fit in some games when you're waiting at the doctor; was playing Dragon Quest 3 today doing just that.
Some people go apeshit for them though and have a dozen. I have two currently and tend to sell them on when I'm finding I'm not using them anymore.
-
Comment on Hair loss open discussion in ~talk
BeardyHat LinkI'll be 42 soon and it's just really started to become more noticeable for me. My hairline has clearly receded and according to my wife, I have a vague baldspot on the top of my head. This is...I'll be 42 soon and it's just really started to become more noticeable for me. My hairline has clearly receded and according to my wife, I have a vague baldspot on the top of my head. This is genetic for me, as my dad was sporting the Picard by his 30's (and supposedly lost most of it by 18ish), but my hairline is clearly very similar to my maternal grandfather. I still have a good amount of hair, but again, it's most clearly on my forehead where I'm losing it.
As for how I feel? Eh...I'm not sure, really. My wife isn't going to divorce me over it and I can't really shave my head because I have lots of weird moles and like some sort of blood vessel that pokes out (I can feel it, but it's a blood vessel according to the dermatologist and would require surgery to fix) and I haven't bothered to take or do any medication for it. I'm sort of...mixed feelings, I guess.
I feel that losing my hair is the last vestiges of my youth leaving me and there's some anxiety about trying to hold on to that. At the same time, I feel like it's kind of beautiful in a way, if that makes sense? I'll have the hairline that my grandfather had and in someway, it makes me feel closer to him; something I've inhaireted from a long genetic line and it feels sort of callous to try and reverse that process. I've always been in to the idea of aging gracefully and even if I won't necessarily be handsome anymore, I'm also not trying to impress anyone and never have been.
-
Comment on I'm annoyed with mundane revisionist history in ~talk
BeardyHat Link ParentYeah, I can't say much about that because I've never really been in to JRPGs and while I still want to go back through something like Baldur's Gate or Planescape Torment (which definitely don't...Yeah, I can't say much about that because I've never really been in to JRPGs and while I still want to go back through something like Baldur's Gate or Planescape Torment (which definitely don't feel the same as JRPGs to me), I don't really feel like fucking with that stuff right now.
But what you mention about things that were on my Must Play list back in the day that I never did get around to is stuff that made it to the top of my list these days. Granted, most of those aren't RPG's for me, so I'm in a little different position, but that's exactly where I started. System Shock being an early on and "Z" being a recent one I just started playing a week or so ago.
The setting definitely helps, at least initially. A couple of years ago I got very into using original hardware and ended-up buying, repairing and modding many Gameboy's of varying generations, in addition to an NES and SNES. I also wanted a retro computer, but couldn't really justify it due to space, so that ends-up just being whatever machine I have. But as I realized these games are still worth playing, I've gotten more and more away from being concerned about "Authenticity" to just being able to play the games in general. You may find yourself there eventually as well.
-
Comment on I'm back in ~talk
BeardyHat Link ParentDefinitely. I've probably mentioned it before on Tildes, but there was always someone ready to jump down your throat with a bad faith argument on reddit. I don't comment on Tildes every day,...Definitely. I've probably mentioned it before on Tildes, but there was always someone ready to jump down your throat with a bad faith argument on reddit.
I don't comment on Tildes every day, because I don't necessarily feel like I have anything interesting to add, but it never feels like screaming into the void here.
Though I still do visit Reddit from time to time, but just specific subreddits. Though several of them and just turned into technical support forums, which I guess makes sense since the hype has died down.
Not to mention, heaps of ROM hacks that will improve the gameplay and allow you to access any Pokemon that may now be inaccessable by Trading or special events or whatever.
As usual, this is just extortion by Nintendo, aimed at people who can't, won't or don't know how to emulate.