Category: Latest

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Best Gaming Shop in Chiang Mai!

Stumbled by mistake on this hidden gem in Chiang Mai. Did not expect much but was totally proven wrong.

First of all, it’s not a retro shop and they don’t sell xbox games but have a large switch and ps4/5 collection. Maybe some 3DS games. Look gamerish as well.

Bought 4 switch games for reasonable price of around 11BHT a game with cover and half for cartridge only. Sadly don’t ship abroad or even accept credit card which was the reason for me not buying more stuff.

The guy who runs this place is a gamer and a cool dude. Will make a video on this soon.

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Replaying Resident Evil 5 PS3 in 2024

I still remember driving into my old video game shop in town excited to finally play Resident Evil 5 after playing the demo on Xbox 360 and being horrible at using the new controls. Originally I wanted the Xbox edition but it was out of stock and I wasn’t going to drive back home empty handed so I got the limited edition PS3 version.

Fast forward many years and I am once again playing the Xbox One remastered version coop mode with my brother. The game looked and ran great. We completed it 100% except some online challenges.

It is 2024 and I am doing a solo Resident Evil 5 run. I managed to finish the game easily on normal alone on only upgrading the shotgun. The game seemed too short this time around just like rereading the first harry potter months ago. The game still looks great and plays great. Even better than RE4 remake! While some areas aren’t that great, the game play itself is solid, even on PS3.

Playing it this way felt nostalgic and fun. It felt like we are back in 2010s. Something every gamer remembers. The gold edition includes all the DLCs and is dirt cheap on eBay. Get the 360 edition or the remaster one but do buy it and play. Doing the 100% trophies challenge as I did on the PC, 360 and Xbox One versions. Next will be the PS4. That’s how much I love and respect the old Resident Evil games.

I’m interested in what the remake will look like although I don’t like the clunky control of the 4 remake. I just unlocked the infinity Magnum so replaying it on hard mode should be easier. I like the buying systems and how buying stuff transfer to higher difficulties. All in all, an amazing game that is worth replaying in an era of meh games.

PS: Its crazy how Resident Evil 5 is now considered retro.

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Activision Blizzard Merger with Microsoft Points to New Opportunities?

Microsoft just bought out Activision, combining the company’s resources. This will be the world’s largest publisher. What does this mean for the gaming industry in general? It means that we’re going to see an increase in graphics and game content, giving you the players a better experience.

Is this good or bad for the industry?

Since the announcement of the Activision Blizzard merger with Microsoft, gamers and gaming industry pundits have been up in arms debating whether this is a good or bad thing for the industry. The answer, as with most things, is it depends.

On the one hand, the merger could lead to new opportunities for gamers, as the two companies pool their resources to create innovative gaming experiences. On the other hand, it could lead to a monopolization of the industry. But if you think about it, Sony has been doing this for years since the PS2 era. Even in this generation, Sony got Streetfighter 5 and Shenmue to be PS4 exclusives with hardly any outrage from the community. Not to mention the countless other deals possibly made under the table.

I hate monopolies, this is hardly one. Microsoft bought a game studio to strengthen its IPS and exclusives just like Sony and Nintendo. Gamefreak made a deal with Nintendo, where is Pokemon on PlayStation, PC and Xbox? Sony fanboys need to calm down and realize that sooner or later other companies will start doing what Sony has been doing for years.

Will gamers benefit at the end? Could Microsoft breathe new life into Call of duty the way it did to Gears of War? Or will it be more of the same as Minecraft? Only time will tell.

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Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is Coming!

Its been a while since I was excited about a game. Tony Hawks got me into extreme sports in the first place. I started aggressive Rollerblading because I fell in love with the whole culture, thanks to this game. I own almost every game in the series on multi consoles. I even own the tony hawk shred which I just got. The 5th game was horrible; hence why I didn’t bother to get it just yet.

Out of nowhere, my brother messages me the picture of a new Tony Hawk remastered game! I could not believe it! Yes, we had a remaster of the first two games before. Tony Hawk’s 2 X and Tony Hawk’s HD were great, but this should be on another level!

The game is only $39.99 for the regular edition and $170 for the collector’s pack. The later comes with the limited edition Deck, which is a great item to own for skaters. I will go for the regular Xbox one as I don’t feel like dropping a lot of cash on something I will not necessarily use, especially in these times. Maybe I will find it used on eBay down the line.

The game will be dropping on September 4. I already preordered two copies. Great times ahead. I may even replay and 100% Underground 2 while waiting.

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Mortal Kombat 11 announced

No new Mortal Kombat announcement is complete without someone jobbing to Scorpion. Just when I thought to myself hmm, Scorpion got owned for once in a MK trailer, he appears and kills Raiden who is like the boss of the good guys. Well played Boon, well played.

With that aside, its good that a new Mortal Kombat game is finally announced despite not showing actual gameplay in the trailer. The screenshots from Steam looks even crispier than that of the previous installment which looked amazing on all platforms. The promise of a new story mode which I liked in previous MK games especially MK vs DC as well as new and old characters returning should keep MK/Fighting fans happy including myself.

I am however is little skeptical of customization and the use of weapons like in the trailer which cheapened the fatalities in away by actively killing your opponent via these moves mid game only for the fight to continue if you know what I mean. Balanced customization is always welcomed but they should not overdo it like Soul Caliber which is a fantastic game itself.

I’m curious what new features will the game add if any as there is so much you can add to an already fantastic fighting game. More fatalities? A new type of fatality? Perhaps they should work on the online mode and vs in general as a lot of folks tend to spam single moves throughout the whole fight both online and offline which is very annoying and the reason I don’t play online.

Never the less, I’m excited for the new chapter as I was and still am a big Mortal Kombat fan starting from the first game on the Sega Genesis. I’m not sure if I will preorder the game yet as I will be in Ukraine soon but for the once that have will receive Shao Kahn as well as an invite to the beta which is nice.

As a bonus, the game requires very little horsepower while looking great on the PC which is good news for me as I will most likely end up picking both the PC and Xbox One versions. Bellow are the system requirements, have a great day.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

MINIMUM:
OS: Intel Core i5-750, 2.66 GHz / AMD Phenom II X4 965, 3.4 GHz or AMD Ryzen™ 3 1200, 3.1 GHz
Processor: Intel Core i5-750, 2.66 GHz / AMD Phenom II X4 965, 3.4 GHz or AMD Ryzen™ 3 1200, 3.1 GHz
Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce™ GTX 670 or NVIDIA® GeForce™ GTX 1050 / AMD® Radeon™ HD 7950 or AMD® Radeon™ R9 270
DirectX: Version 11

RECOMMENDED:
OS: 64-bit Windows 7 / Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core i3-2100, 3.10 GHz / AMD FX-6300, 3.5 GHz or AMD Ryzen™ 5 1400, 3.2 GHz
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce™ GTX 780 or NVIDIA® GeForce™ GTX 1060-6GB / AMD® Radeon™ R9 290 or RX 570
DirectX: Version 11
Network: Broadband Internet connection

 

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Retro Games prices are out of control!

I’ve been wanting to make a blog post/video about this topic for a while now. The Retro scene has been imploding for a quite some time and is reaching a critical state where people will simply say enough is enough.

Really? $650 for a used NES game? I know that some games are considered rare but common. Try searching for a used SEGA SATURN version of Street Fighter Zero 3. Normal retro games are not so cheap as well so it’s not just a rare few. And don’t get me started on the systems. I understand that old stuff goes up in prices over time as they are no longer manufactured and I appreciate old gems but I found myself asking if it is really worth continue paying ridiculous prices for those games? Especially that Emulators are available for free. I’m the type of guy that like playing on the original hardware but greedy eBay sellers are making it harder and harder to enjoy my hobby without breaking the bank.

And no, emulators are perfectly fine considering that companies no longer make money off these overpriced retro games. Re releasing old games as remasters seemed to help for awhile but not anymore. I’m not sure myself of what needs to be done other than stop paying for those overpriced games. Some blame YouTubers for talking about the hobby and bringing eyeballs on retro games. And while it is true that YouTubers bring attention to old gems and increase their price, it is not their fault that people are willing to pay an arm and a leg for anything. Enjoying something together in a healthy community should not be penalized.

What happens next is anyone’s guess but I hope that the Retro games market stabilizes itself before it’s too late. I myself am a die hard game hunter and collector but I know when to say no even though I really want that game. so Happy (Logical) game hunting everyone.

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UFC 226 an attempt to dethrone Conor?

So the unthinkable was just announced (not really). Stipe Miocic will defend his belt against Daniel Cormier at UFC 226 on July 7th just 6 months after his war with Ngannou. Daniel Cormier did have a 13 winning streak and defeated kinda big names back in strike force but then again, that was years ago and he is not getting any younger. Let alone the fact that he will be fighting a heavyweight GOAT Miocic.

Both men are champions in their respective divisions and despite DC cleaning out the division I still see no real reason to give him an immediate title shot at Miocic belt. The guy is on an amazing winning streak and his only losses are against Joe Jones, but that’s in light heavyweight. A division less dangerous than a place where every punch can KO you.

DC got rocked before and arguably losses the standing exchange against a lot of people. He uses his weight to wrestle and throw guys around but will this be enough against a guy that just went a full 5 rounds war against a monster? Will this be enough against a guy that KOs people left and right?

The way I see it, the UFC is banking on DC wining as a card to use against Conor. McGregor is the first UFC fighter that held two belts at once hence his stock going through the roof. Now we know what came after and his refusal to defend or fight a contender because of his star power. DC wining would send a message to Conor that he is no longer the only show in town in terms of accomplishment. Will this hurt his stock? Not sure but building more stars is the way to go. Putting all of your eggs in one basket can only benefit you for so long.

Now let’s talk about the fight itself. DC cant go five rounds with Miocic. He gassed against Silva and who knows what would have happened had that fight gone for five rounds. Miocic throws deadly shots so DC have to quickly find a way to get him to the ground and use his wight to wrestle. Problem is, Miocic is no bum and can wrestle and counter on the ground himself. Not to mention his reach advantage standing.

My prediction, DC gets KOed while shooting for a takedown in the first round. Like I said, he got rocked before and is hittable. I don’t think he will withstand a deadly punch coming from a KO artist but then again DC is champ for a reason. Anything can happen, that’s the beauty of this sport. But if I had to bet my life, it would be on Miocic wining. UFC 226 will end badly for DC but that’s the worrier sprite! Diving into the danger.

The only thing that is bothering me is that DC’s belt will be intact. He gets to bring it in and take it back regardless of the outcome so Miocic is the only one who is in danger here. I understand that this is a heavyweight fight but you shouldn’t be showing off your belt from another division in a HW fight. Hype and marking make things happen I guess.

Anyway, those were my thoughts. Let me know what you think and make sure to check out my YouTube channel and follow me for more upcoming content. Thank you for reading.

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Xbox Scorpio’s specs revealed . A true 4k Monster?

So the wait is finally over, Microsoft officially revealed Xbox Scorpio’s specs and they are impressive, BUT is it really a 4K unstoppable monster?

Everything from the CPU to Ram is a noticeable improvement over the PS4 Pro and defiantly a worthy upgrade from the Original Xbox One and the S model, although I expected the Ram to be pushed toward the 16 GB mark as its kinda standard with high-end games settings on the PC, never the less the on-board 12 GB is still better than 8, at least in theory.

So where exactly does the Xbox Scorpio shine?

For starters, most if not all of Microsoft’s first-party titles that are already out should run allot better on the Scorpio provided Microsoft is gonna update the games to do so. Looking better is another thing. Yes, Microsoft will update the resolution and what not but it takes time and work to adjust and update games assets which may result in compatibility issues.

Microsoft and most importantly 3rd parties will need to properly adjust their games to take advantage of the new hardware while maintaining compatibility with the base models. Games will not magically look and run better despite what fanboys would like you to believe, and some developers will take the easy way out either making the base version run like crap or vice versa. Optimization is the key here. Otherwise, will end up with bad ports aka PC Arkham Knight.

Another area where Scorpio will dominate is the multi platform games. Games that are released on both platforms will run better on Scorpio. So if Console power is your main priority (which it shouldn’t be) then Scorpio is the only way to go, at least for a while.

Now into the most hyped feature of the upcoming console. Both Microsoft and the fanboys claim that the Xbox Scorpio will deliver native 4k with 60 frames in most games which are both true and false. Yes, Microsoft teased Forza tech demo running at 60 frames in 4k but at what settings? What the fanboys fail to realize due to them simply not knowing any technical aspects of gaming is that almost any current Xbox One S or PS4 Pro game can be run at 4K 60 frames provided the graphical settings are lowered enough.

Sports games are easier to run when it comes to 60 frames. First party titles will also be highly optimized to take full advantage of the system but the majority of 3rd party heavy games will most likely not be running at 60 frames at high settings. I’m speaking from a realistic point of view. A lot of developers will not fully optimize their games due to laziness or technical difficulty.

The Xbox Scorpio is the next Generation console that is also backwards compatible with Xbox One and 360 despite Microsoft telling you otherwise. And with PS5 being in the shadows it remains to be seen how things turn out in the near future.

With everything aside, I’m excited to see what the Scorpio can offer in term of games and features despite me mostly gaming on the PC. I love the Xbox brand and wish it nothing but success.

I’m anticipating the price reveal as it’s critical that Microsoft doesn’t over price it for the average consumer rendering the machine useless to allot of budget gamers especially that the Switch is selling like hot cakes. Those were my honest thoughts on the console. Thank you for reading.

Note: This is a text version. For video version, check out my YouTube channel.

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Recent eBay orders

ebay_logo_detail

So it’s been a few months as I took an unwanted break from blogging and writing as a whole. The reason, of course, is me being busy with YouTube as I fine tuned the channel’s intro and overall quality. Never the less, writing and blogging is something I always enjoyed since a young age and will continue to do so. I’m also deciding my next game to write a guide on at GameFAQs so that should keep me busy. Oh and I managed to clear some of my backlog games and on a strict mission to clear as much as possible before purchasing anything else.

Speaking about orders, let me share my recent purchases off eBay. I will be doing a video about what’s on my eBay watch list soon so make sure to subscribe to my channel to catch the video as soon as it goes live. So here goes:

Sonic Adventure International – SEGA Dreamcast

sonic_adventure_international

Sonic Adventure International is an updated version of the original game. Due to the limited test time, the Japanese versions ended up with a few bugs. SEGA later re-released an updated version titled International which has both Japanese and English voice acting as well as new cameras. Most of the bugs were fixed as well. Being a die hard retro SEGA fan, I was happy to grab this off eBay.

MZS Blue Pivot Brake Clutch Levers For Kawasaki KX250 2005-2008

bike_part

Now I have no idea what this part does or how important it is as its this was never meant for me. A part of many I ordered for my brother’s bike. Not gonna lie though, it looks sick!

Sega Saturn Street Fighter collection trial version

street_fighter_demo

I have always been fascinated with Demo and Trial versions. They are after all a dying breed. Physical Demos are a thing of the past. Street Fighter, Sega Saturn and Demo? A must have.

Classic Mario Amiibo

classic_mario

I always wanted a huge action figure collection to display on shelves. The problem is, most are overpriced. So I thought until Amiibos were released. This is the third one I ordered as its out of stock locally. Soon I will hopefully set them up to give the gaming office a brighter feel. Check out the pickup video I did:

Street Fighter 2 Movie – Sega Saturn

street_fighter_2_the_interactive_movie

The most interesting item so far. This is supposed to be a Sega Saturn version of the Street Fighter 2 movie. The thing is, as shown on the back of the CD case; there is a gameplay image meaning there is more to do. I will test this out once I order the 1080p upscaler to properly play my retro games on my BenQ Monitor.

So there you have it folks. Those were my top 5 recent purchases even though I have tones more wichih I may do another post about. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog and I will catch you in my next article. Checkout my YouTube channel for more content as well as my Twitter and other social media.

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Gears of War Ultimate Edition PC port specs are unacceptable

gears_of_war

Before I start my rant, I was and still am among the ones that buy Microsoft products and will continue doping so in the near future. With that been said, Gears of War PC port’s leaked specs should not be near anything that we saw. I know these are the leaked version but something tells me the end result will look the same. Before going any further, let’s take a look at the current specs:

Recommended for 1920X1080P

  • OS: 64 bit Windows 10 – version 1511
  • Processor: Intel Core i5 @3.5GHz+ or AMD FX 8-core
  • Memory: 16 GB RAM (4 GB VRAM)
  • Graphics: GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon R9 290X
  • Hard Drive: 60 GB available space
  • DirectX 12

Recommended for 4K

  • OS: 64 bit Windows 10 – version 1511
  • Processor: Intel Core i7 @ 4Ghz or AMD FX 8-core
  • Memory: 16 GB RAM (6+ GB VRAM)
  • Graphics: Geforce GTX 980 Ti or Radeon R9 390X
  • Hard Drive: SSD + 60 GB available space
  • DirectX 12

Minimum Requirements

  • OS: 64 bit Windows 10 – version 1511
  • Processor: Intel Core i5 @ 2.7Ghz or AMD FX 6-core
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM (2 GB VRAM)
  • Graphics: Geforce GTX 650 Ti or Radeon R7 260x
  • Hard Drive: 60 GB available space
  • DirectX 12

Starting right off the bat, the game is Windows 10 only with Direct X 12 as the main reason forcing you to upgrade. This is no secret, Microsoft is doing everything they can to make people upgrade and it makes sense since Windows 10 is considered a service. Spying and disabling pirated software aside, Windows 10 is a good OS but greatly exaggerated. The Windows store is nothing to write home about and forces all apps to run with Vsync on and full screen which in turn affects people with Gsync monitors like myself.

Windows store is no Steam or even Origin so forcing players to use it while it’s still maturing is dumb considering Steam has the majority of PC gaming market share. I have a strong feeling this will end up Games for Windows 2.0. Forcing me to buy the game from Windows store is the first red flag.

Moving on to the CPU. I am no expert in the processors department but having an i5 is somehow reasonable although the clock speed of 3.5 is still higher than normal, at least, that’s how it looks to me.

Now comes the surprising part, 8 GB of Ram is the minimum amount required to run the game with 16 GB as recommended for both 1080p and 4K gaming? This is a Xbox 360 game running at higher resolution with a few tweaks here and there not to mention that it runs smoothly on Xbox One so why 16 GB?

I can understand the 4K requirement but even that is too much for an old 360 port. Smells bad optimization all over this.

Surprisingly enough, GTX 970 for recommended seems reasonable but again, this is just a remastered 360 game so yeah. Note that GB of VRAM is required but judging from previously released games, a normal 750 would handle the game on low just fine.

And lastly, 60 GB of hard disk space is kinda standard and with the game having 4K textures (I assume) its not so unusual to require.

. . .

In conclusion, requiring Windows 10 as well as 16 GB of Ram for recommended for a 360 remastered port is not acceptable. Forcing people to use your store (when it’s not ready and have problems) is not the smartest move. Not after Microsoft admitting that Games for Windows was a mistake and promised to treat PC gamers better as well as working with Valve. I will hold out till more information is available and the game hits the shelves on march.