Absolutely Pointless

Well, I kinda look like Jake Blues, and now my Medic looks like...

Sat, 25 May 2013 05:53:10 -0400

Well, I kinda look like Jake Blues, and now my Medic looks like Elwood. We’re on a mission from RoboGod.

Okay, short version: Don’t get the Xbox One. Long version...

Sat, 25 May 2013 02:13:53 -0400

Okay, short version: Don’t get the Xbox One. Long version after the break, since I know I hate long posts on my dashboard, so I’ll make things nice for the both of us.

angelfire93:

Alright, if you’re a consumer and you’re considering picking up the new Xbox One console, then please, take a moment to listen to me. Before we begin, no, I am not a fanboy or a hater. I have no console Bias. I have a PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, and a Gaming PC. Each has their pros and cons but now onto business.

DO NOT BUY AN XBOX ONE. Why? See the reasons below:

Xbox Requires an internet connection. Here’s how it works: Every 24 hours your Xbox will try to connect to Microsoft’s servers for verification. If it is unable to connect, sucks to be you. You’re blocked from playing even single player games until it can connect.

Source: http://kotaku.com/xbox-one-does-require-internet-connection-cant-play-o-509164109

Do you like renting games, lending them to a friend, or even borrowing them from a friend? No longer possible. Every Xbox One game you get must be registered to your Xbox live account to be played. After that point it will only work for you. No one else can use it unless they pay a fee. Essentially it works like this. You pick up a used Xbox One game from somewhere or someone, pop it into your console. The system verifies it’s been registered to your account. Uh-oh, it isn’t! In order to play it, you have to pay Microsoft a fee, which is currently slated to be full retail price. Doesn’t matter how scratched up it is or how cheap you got it at gamestop or from a friend. You aren’t just buying the physical copies anymore. You’re paying Microsoft for a LICENSE to be allowed to play that game.

It is worth mentioning Microsoft is exploring ways for you to trade in and resell your used games. This is rumored to mean that you can sell your digital license to play the game (registration) back to microsoft, likely for microsoft points. You can then trade in the game at gamespot for some cash if you like. Either way, as it currently stands, the new owner would still have to pay a fee on top of the price of actually buying the physical copy.

Source: http://www.technobuffalo.com/2013/05/21/xbox-one-fee-for-buying-used-games-full-retail-price/

Is it worth mentioning that Microsoft if shafting Indie Developers as well? Where as on Playstation Network or (whatever the Wii has) Indie Developers can self publish their content easily. Playstation even encourages this. Microsoft however forces these Indie Devs to enter publishing deals with them to be allowed to market their content. You don’t go through them, you don’t get to sell what you developed.

Source: http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/22/indie-devs-cant-self-publish-on-xbox-one

I’m not quite done yet! Now, I’m sure you heard a lot about “TV TV TV TV SPORTS TV TV SPORTS SPORTS TV.” Yes, the Xbox is slated to be able to stream live tv, live sports, etc. So let me ask you this. You obviously already have something like cable or DirecTV. Do you really want to shell out hundreds of dollars more and pay a monthly subscription fee to have another television provider? Yes, I said hundreds of dollars, and I don’t mean the cost of the console. To view live TV from the Xbox you are required to purchase ANOTHER separate device for it to work. Why would you even consider shelling out more money for something you already have anyway? Even if you didn’t, DirecTV is cheaper. Or you could even subscribe you Hulu.com and watch live tv on your computer. FOR MUCH CHEAPER. You essentially have to buy another cable box if you don’t have one. And if you do… what do you need the Xbox One for?

Source: http://www.vg247.com/2013/05/21/xbox-one-live-tv-available-in-us-only-at-launch-requires-separate-device/

So far we’ve discovered that the Xbox One is not really a gaming console, at least… not a consumer friendly gaming console. It’s being marketed as an all-in-one home entertainment system. Something to replace all of the other devices in your house. But there are drawbacks even to that. Put on your tin foil hats for this part folks. Take from it what you will, all I’ll say is… possibilities…

The Xbox One’s features will not function unless the Kinect is plugged in and active. This is not an optional piece anymore.

Source: http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/21/xbox-one-will-not-function-without-kinect-attached

So imagine your Kinect piece breaks? Tough luck, no more Xbox for you. But you know what’s worse?

Pay attention, because this is important. The Kinect is always watching. Always listening. Even when the system is off.

Yes. One of the ways to turn the system on is to audibly say: “Xbox On” while the system is off. The Kinect, which is always on, hears you and turns it on. Now this might seem like a cool feature, but did you know Microsoft patented a feature that would allow the Kinect’s camera (It’s no longer just a sensor, but a camera) to spy on you for the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America?) While they may not actually do this, it is actually possible for them to do this now. It has a camera, and a microphone. The Kinect is always on. It is ALWAYS listening, ALWAYS watching.

An idea has been tossed around that by using this feature, it will allows game developers and movie produces to set a limited amount of how many people can be allowed to view the entertainment. So as a hypothetical example, you and three friends are watching a movie, which is the maximum allowed. A fourth friend enters the room and the Kinect’s sensor registers the fourth individual. The movie stops and you a prompted to pay a fee so that the extra individual may also view the film. Again, that is NOT currently the case, but these are the ideas currently being tossed around with the system’s current capabilities.

Source for listening: http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/21/4352596/the-xbox-one-is-always-listening

Source of spying: http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/139706-microsofts-new-kinect-patent-goes-big-brother-will-spy-on-you-for-the-mpaa

Now, just two more things and I’ll be done here!

This isn’t really a good or bad thing, but it’s annoying. It also explains how they can prevent you from playing a used game if you didn’t pay their fee. Xbox one no longer plays games off the discs, you HAVE to install them to the hard-drive in order to play them. I believe PS3 also has you do this (on a number of games but not always it seems), except that PS3 isn’t trying to Nickle and Dime you at every corner. It also seems according to this article there is something related to the Online portion at the beginning of this post. The option is there for Developers to require the Xbox to always be online to play their particular game. Well, it seems PC gamers and console gamers have one thing in common now… DRM.

(At least pirates on PC can bypass DRM easily. Not an option for Consoles.)

Source: http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/21/4352314/xbox-one-hard-drive-game-installs

And last but not least, another annoyance… Xbox One will not be compatible with any and all current headsets. Nope, companies will either have to make new headsets altogether specifically for the Xbox One, and they have to adhere to what Microsoft wants. Look forward to price gouging.

Source: http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/22/xbox-one-incompatible-with-current-gaming-headsets

Oh, one more thing… If you have an Xbox 360, don’t get rid of it. Why? Well if you want to keep playing your old 360 games you’ll need it. The Xbox One isn’t backwards compatible. At all. Not only that, but President of Microsoft’s Xbox Division Don Mattrick insults the very notion of backwards compatibility! He calls it: “Backwards thinking.”

Source: http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/21/4350662/new-xbox-has-no-backwards-compatibilty

Source of insult: http://www.polygon.com/2013/5/22/4355984/xbox-one-backward-compatibility-backwards-thinking-don-mattrick

That is all I have to say currently folks, and I hope you took the time to read this far. I’ll conclude with the following… please… PLEASE do not buy this console. Paying for this supports greedy and anti-consumer business practices. Speak with your wallet, and pass up the Xbox One. No matter what games it might have that you want, even if they are exclusive. Do the right thing and make a statement. Refuse to be nickle and dimed like this. Refuse to be seen as a mindless consumer who will buy anything tossed to them.

We won’t know much else until after E3, but as it stands now, the PS4 or a decent gaming PC is the best way to go.

If you are willing to do so, please spread this post around. Liking is not even remotely necessary, but do please share it if you agree with and acknowledge what you’ve read here. The more people know, the fewer of them waste their money.

Thank you, kindly.

~Dylan Jordan

(Originally posted on Facebook by one of my friends. He brings up many valid points. Mind you, I haven’t been a fan of Xbox in a long time and I will most likely get a PS4. But this confirms further for me that I won’t be getting an Xbox one any time in the foreseeable future.)

SERIOUS SMOKING

Fri, 24 May 2013 23:16:19 -0400

SERIOUS SMOKING

Holy shit four great games plus one pretty terrible game for TEN...

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:16:00 -0400

Holy shit four great games plus one pretty terrible game for TEN DOLLARS

You’d be almost stupid not to grab these up now

Or you could be broke but whatever, beg some people for cash

http://store.steampowered.com/app/224060/ I DIDN’T KNOW...

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:16:17 -0400

http://store.steampowered.com/app/224060/

I DIDN’T KNOW IT WAS COMING TO PC

I NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED IT

sterks: It’s that time again lovely...

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:25:05 -0400

sterks:

It’s that time again lovely followers/friends/nonnies.

I need money for various reasons.

I’m moving soon and have little to no funds in my name.

I also am having issues affording my medication that I need to basically function in society as a normal person.

I also will need money for food and gas so I can get what money I can from work to pay bills.

I don’t want this to come off as me whining and begging, but I really do need the help. I am currently reopening 3$ sketch commissions and 5$ bust commissions. I do NSFW, furry, people, pretty much anything.

Any tips or donations would be very much appreciated.

My paypal is setak1@hotmail.com

Even if you can’t afford to pay me for a commission or whatever, please spread the word. I need as much help as I can get. ;3;

HEY I don’t usually do this, but I’ve known this fine lady for a long time, she’s one of my best friends and has helped me out more than she probably realizes, so I’ll help her out by spreading the word. I’m proud of her, her art has advanced so far in such a short time, and she’s a swell person to talk to, why not give her a shot?~

queenston: we are going to play through not only one of the...

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:01:47 -0400

queenston:

we are going to play through not only one of the worst SH games, but one of the worst games. we have never played it before. we will suffer.

join us on may 23rd at 9PM EST!

Remember that time I played Homecoming and it was awful and I played another game instead? No? You’re probably just repressing that memory. Don’t worry, I would too. In fact, I just did! Now what were we talking about?

What do you mean, Silent Hill Homecoming? I never played that piece of shit game, but since you mentioned it, go ahead and watch Renard play it on the 23rd! It should be a good time, he’s a pretty cool dude.

I slept right through the Xbox conference now I’m upset

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:22:42 -0400

I slept right through the Xbox conference

now I’m upset

JUST A HEADS UP The Xbox conference, including the new console’s reveal, starts tomorrow at...

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:34:00 -0400

JUST A HEADS UP

The Xbox conference, including the new console’s reveal, starts tomorrow at 1pm EST.

Be sure to tumblr savior the tag “rietcomplains”, if you don’t want to see me get upset

New TF2 Server information!

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:30:26 -0400

rietplaysgames:

I’ve been messing with the server a little bit, and decided to add two more!

Groznyj Grad is the new name of the default TF2 server, switched Outer Heaven to be an Arena mode server, and added Shadow Moses as a Mann vs Machine server.

All of them can be added to your favorites with “theriet.is-a-rockstar.com”. Go check them out, let me know if you encounter any issues or bugs!

Two years ago today, Macho Man Randy Savage passed away. In remembrance, I say we all take a moment...

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:15:20 -0400

Two years ago today, Macho Man Randy Savage passed away. In remembrance, I say we all take a moment of silence…

…and snap into a Slim Jim.

So a spider crawled onto my screen and

Sat, 18 May 2013 03:13:31 -0400

So a spider crawled onto my screen and

I haven’t bought Pokemon cards in 10 years, but on a whim...

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:25:52 -0400

I haven’t bought Pokemon cards in 10 years, but on a whim decided to get a Plasma Freeze booster pack, it was $4 and I had an extra $4 on me while I was out.

I have no idea who half of these Pokemon are

Two arts in one month? I must be ill. Drew Cloud Dust’s...

Mon, 13 May 2013 23:25:06 -0400

Two arts in one month? I must be ill.

Drew Cloud Dust’s absolutely adorable sheep lady, Anna. He was my 100th follower and he’s also a pretty swell guy! You should all go give him some love~

High-res version: http://sadpanda.us/images/1597491-72NCV17.png

And then I made the best worst album cover ever

Mon, 13 May 2013 19:07:00 -0400

And then I made the best worst album cover ever

My server has the best people join it. Add...

Mon, 13 May 2013 19:01:58 -0400

My server has the best people join it.

Add theriet.is-a-rockstar.com to your favorites to join in on the fun!

Tilting cartridges can be fun! Have some shitty camera phone...

Sat, 11 May 2013 17:07:00 -0400

Tilting cartridges can be fun! Have some shitty camera phone pictures.

1 and 2 are of Super Mario Bros/World Class Track Meet/Duck Hunt, I achieved an odd half-resolution glitch by simply not locking the cart down, it was completely playable until the game realized something was wrong, then the game would crash and freeze. The second image is just me messing with the cart and pushing it down all the way, Super UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU Bros.

3 is my Batman NES cart, which is curious, did they simply leave the Japanese intro screen in the game data, or is that just remnants of Japanese characters replacing the English text that’s normally on screen? I can’t read it, so whatever.

I don’t think I’ve wanted a game this hard in a LONG...

Fri, 10 May 2013 02:16:24 -0400

I don’t think I’ve wanted a game this hard in a LONG time

More adventures into emulation! Here, we’ve got a side by...

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:08:13 -0400

More adventures into emulation! Here, we’ve got a side by side of Power Rangers: The Fighting Edition. On top is a side by side at my normal viewing distance, the left being a direct screenshot of the Retroarch emulator, and the right being a closeup high res shot of my TV.

Now, in the screenshot, I’m using the RGB filter as opposed to the Composite filter, because the RGB more accurately mimics the crispness of my TV without producing a muddy screen image, which you can see from the TV shot, while it’s low res and kinda blurry on-screen, the image is still quite crisp, despite using composite cables and being passed through a surround amplifier I use for my sound system.

Comparing the two, I would by far prefer the TV, because it appears to be more accurately displaying the colors and overall feel of playing on a home console, despite the emulator specifically being tuned to emulate the view from a television. Yes, the emulator is nice if you can’t get a game, or don’t conveniently have a smaller TV hooked up right next to your computer monitors, but despite the emulator’s end-product being higher resolution and much easier to simply pick up and play, the TV has proven to have much more accurate and nicer-looking visuals, which will contribute to a much nicer play experience!

I already feel a lot better

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:17:00 -0400

I already feel a lot better