Adam's Blog

August 12, 2018

Super Mario 64 DS Review

I did not own a Nintendo 64 back in the day as I was a Saturn guy and later PSone. Fast forward a couple of years and I managed to get one by trading in old DVDs with a few bucks on top via the now closed local game store. I don’t remember when but I got the famous Super Mario 64 yet never fired it up until recently. On Nintendo DS that is.

I got my brand new DS light by trading in the PSP when it was still popular. The wonderful library of games kept me buys until I picked up Super Mario 64 again and just like before, kept it in the drawer. Finally, its time came and I unwrapped the plastic around the case while at work and for the first time fired the game up.

As soon as the game booted I felt a sense of nostalgia even though I did not play the original. There is something magical about Nintendo games. Reminds me of old school SEGA. Anway, the game starts and the graphics look beautiful and colourful. The first port difference is that you start with Yoshi as opposite to Mario in the original.

The controls were very frustrating at first as transitioning from them middle stick to the normal d-pad takes practice and getting used to and that’s exactly what I did. After a few levels, the controls became manageable although still not perfect. The levels themselves seem simple yet challenging as each level contains 7 stars to collect. Some missions are a bit tricky especially with the new controls but that’s why we have Mario Wiki for.

I completed the first world and working on retrieving the rest of the hidden stars before starting the next area. Mario is not hard to unlock but I think he should have been playable from the start. I understand that Yoshi can be a little easier to control but it’s a Mario game after all. Never the less, I’m enjoying the experience as I progress further.

We also have a few mini-games to play which are always fun as well as a versus mode which you can practice solo as an extra. Overall, the game is fun but challenging for newcomers. Highly recommended for platform fans and old-school geeks alike. I will be posting my further thoughts once I complete it or discover something new.

July 8, 2018

Thoughts on UFC 226

So the legendary champ vs champ fight between Miocic vs Cormier has finally happened. But before going there, lets first quickly analyze or laugh at the co-main event. I still remember Dana White and the UFC pushing Ngannou as the next big thing hard before his title fight only for it to blow up in their faces. They tried to get the hype train back on tracks only for the train to slide even further at UFC 226.

Francis spent the three rounds standing still while Lewis tried to land a few bombs. Even the commentators were ashamed of whats going on. This poor excuse of a fight reminded everyone of the first Lesner vs Goldberg WWE fight. I understand that Ngannou tried to save energy was more careful after his loss but this fight only pushed him away from another title shot or meaningful fight. Now with that out of the way, the main event itself.

I was really looking forward to Stipe having a fourth title defence but DC came prepared. Eye pokes aside, Stipe had one of the worst gameplans going into the fight. I don’t know if it was his ego or the excitement but he fought horribly. Walking toward DC with his hands down the exact way when he was dropped by Overeem. Didn’t use his length advantage and instead tried boxing at DC’s range which lead to him being dropped.

He should have used the length to his advantage by jabbing at long range. Even go for kicks. Fair game to DC tough, he did what he had to do and won.
I was expecting Miocic to be a little smarter and fight DC the same way Anderson Silva fought did.

The best part, however, was Lesnar’s interview. He went full WWE promo and for the first time delivered. People can argue that Lesnar doesn’t deserve a title shot right away but we are in super fights era and it makes sense for the two to fight stylistically. I predict Lesnar takes DC down the same way as Hunt except this time ending the fight via TKO. But this is MMA, and as we just learned anything can happen. Its been awhile since I got excited for a fight and DC vs Lesnar will not disappoint.

June 29, 2018July 2, 2018

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.

March 4, 2018

The Galaxy S8 made me love big phones

I’ve been an iPhone user since the iPhone 4s. The size was good enough for me switching from Blackberry. Then came the Galaxy Note II. I hated the experience almost instantly but had to finish my contract only to get back to the iPhone 5s followed by 6s which was by far the best iPhone I used. I still regret selling it as it had been with me on both of my recent memorable trips but I traded it for the iPhone 7.

Back to the point. I got myself the Nexus 6p but also hated it for how big the phone felt comparable to my iPhone 6s. My iPhone felt just the right side until I got the Galaxy S8. I covered the phone up almost immediately as it was way too slippery for my liking slipping out of my pocket more than once.

After using the phone for 6 months I must say I got used to how big the screen was. Holding the phone felt great as it the curved screen made it feel smaller than it was. Going back to the iPhone 7 felt wired. The text size was unacceptable as well as the phone’s size in general. I would go for the plus size should I ever go back to the iPhone.

Of course, not all big phones are comfortable to hold and there are still limits on how big a usable phone is to me. The Nexus 6P shape, for example, is harder to squeeze due to its flat edges rather than the likes of the Galaxy S8 curved. The Note 8 seems impossible to use with one hand hence the reason I went to the normal size Galaxy S8. But overall I’m all for bigger phones. Bigger than the standard iPhone that is. All thanks to my S8.

The downsides of having a large phone are the inability to use it with one hand and issue of it constantly falling out of my pocket. I used a case for a better grip. Sure it made the phone little bulkier but it is a fair trade I guess. The one hand mode made it easier to navigate but nothing beats IOS double tap to minimize (one hand mode). Bottom line is, the screen looks amazing and everything displayed is pleasant to look at. If you are like me and hate big phones, get the Galaxy S8. You will love it.

January 29, 2018

CM Punk is given another chance in the UFC and it is comical

So let’s forget the fact that CM Punk aka Phillip Jack Brooks had zero professional fights in MMA when he was first signed. Let’s forget that Dana White himself stated that CM Punk should take his next fight in a regional league. And finally, let’s forget that CM Punk was referred to as CM Punk instead of Phil Brooks. Add to that his horrible performance and we have a classic case of a fighter that “doesn’t belong in the UFC”.

And yet with all that, Dana White is giving CM Punk another chance because He asked for it? I already made a video on why I think Punk should not be given another chance some time ago but let’s go through this again. The guy is pushing 40 and that’s very old considering he is just starting his MMA journey or should I say trying. I understand that the UFC is desperate for starts as almost all of their cash cows were slaughtered but they should decide on wither they want to be a legit sport or WWE 2.0.

A new fighter doesn’t get to start in the big league let alone be on the main card and CM Punk should not be treated any differently. I admit he did decent numbers his first fight but I don’t expect anyone to care this time. People were curious the first time around on how well he will do and I think we all got our answer. His spot should be given to a more deserved fighter among many who work hard throughout the year just to make it.

Put him on fight pass or whatever but don’t give him a spot of a more deserving fighter. Of course, everyone is wondering who will he face this time considering the way his last fight went. Uriah Hall perhaps? That would be entertaining for sure.

Here is a video I made awhile back on why CM Punk should not be in the UFC to begin with:

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

January 27, 2018

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.

January 22, 2018January 23, 2018

Stipe Miocic vs Francis Ngannou: the Greatest Heavyweight fight in years!

Miocic vs Ngannou excited me for two reasons; first, its Stipe’s third title defence and hence the chance of making history. The second reason was that he’d be fighting a monster. A monster that was hyped beyond reality as the next big thing overlooking Stipe as a champion. Now some would say its promotion and hype to get more views and tickets out of the casuals. You may be right but the way I and Stipe saw it is that the UFC almost wanted Ngannou to win.

Critics claimed that Miocic never faced a legit threat or a monster like Ngannou and that it was going to be his doom. Not only did Miocic pass with flying colors, he also got to make history as the first heavyweight to have three successful title defences. What happened was big. Possibly the biggest heavyweight event in years and that’s not something you would see every day. Stipe was fighting what looked like an unstoppable opponent with his legacy on the line.

With that in mind, I didn’t hoop on Ngannou’s hype train and predicted that Miocic would stop him. For the first minute or so, it looked like I would eat my words as Francis exploded with punches but that was not enough. For the rest of the fight, Miocic dominated the fight and even had moments like he was about to KO Ngannou but decided to play it smart and take a step back to not get caught himself. Ngannou’s punches are no joke but all he does is swing around hoping that one of the punches connect. In this fight, it didn’t work and he had no answer.

Overall, the fight was exciting and I was on my toes the whole time as anything can happen at any moment when it’s a heavyweight fight. There is a reason heavyweight champ is called the baddest man on the planet. Of course, the UFC were too bussy showing of Conor’s belts on UFC 3 cover than to properly acknowledge Stipe’s record-breaking win.

Let me know what you think and don’t forget to follow me on YouTube and other social media Adam3k3. Catch you in my next post.

January 12, 2018

Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Eddie Alvarez makes sense

I wasn’t always a Khaqbib fan, in fact, I missed a chance to personally greet him when he visited the town. Never the less, he slowly grew on me since the Johnson fight. I was finally hooked after his impressive onesided beating against Barboza. How can anyone in his right mind not be hooked?

Truth be told, It was disappointing to not witness him against Tony Ferguson. Yes, stuff happens and I’m not really mad at Khabib. With that being said, Tony won the belt fair. Yes, his opponent wasn’t the number one contender but it was a win against a dangerous opponent never the less. The guy now holds the interim belt which means only one thing: A title fight against Conor McGregor.

Unfortunately but not surprisingly, Conor/UFC have other plans. Dana White is now pushing for Khabib vs Tony which makes ZERO sense! I am a Khabib fan but Tony should be fighting for the real belt and not defend his number one spot. The champ is healthy and ready so what exactly is the reason for this?

What needs to happen is for Conor to finally defend his belt against a legit contender with the winner fighting Khabib. And this is where Alvarez comes in. Khabib already stated that should his Tony fight falls through he is willing to fight Eddie Alvarez which is an excellent move. Staying busy while adding another top win to your already impressive resume. Of course, Eddie can win and ruin Khabib’s title fight but that’s what I like about Khabib, never dodging anyone.

This fight is also good for Eddie as he is regaining his momentum and a win over Nurmagomedov will skyrocket his stock. Its a fair chance to both. Who you got?

January 9, 2018

Why I ditched Dropbox for Google

Where do I start? Dropbox was my go-to backup service when it came to my digital pictures and videos. I still remember discussing cloud storage with my coworker “its a simple, automatic backup for your phone’s pictures”. I was instantly sold. Before that, my digital pictures were scattered across my flash drive, portable hard disk and PC. What made the deal even sweeter was my Samsung Galaxy Note II promo which added free extra space.

I continued to pay for the next three years witnessing the company release and cancel carousel and upgrade the space to 1 TB thanks to Google’s bold move. This is however when I started to notice a few things that bothered me and initially pushed me to cancel my subscription. To put it simply;

“The company no longer innovated or cared about the non business users.”

Paying 10 bucks a month while not allot in it self-do add up. A couple years back Dropbox was the only solid gamer in town. Not so much in 2018. In fact, Dropbox offers you the least when compared to other services namely One Drive and Google Photos.

For $7 a month, One Drive offers 1 TB of storage as well as Office 365. Not bad considering your getting free full office apps along with your subscription. On top, your also getting files on demand feature that cost extra in Dropbox. Add the amazing Android support and you have a must buy deal. What extras does Dropbox offer? Non.

Speaking of Google Photos. The service offers FREE unlimited pictures and videos backup! FREE. Yes, the files are slightly compressed but the average consumer can’t tell the difference and you can’t beat FREE! A paid subscription gives you full resolution backups as well 1 TB of space for any other file. But what really makes Google Photos stand out is the ability to backup live photos. Seeing photos come to life is amazing plus you can download the short video on itself. As a bonus, all of your pictures are categorized and are searchable. What extras does Dropbox offer? Nothing again.

Which above subscription should you choose can be subjective but one thing is for sure: It’s not Dropbox. I supported the company for the few years I used it and even advocated the service to friends and family but I can no longer recommend it to anyone. The company is clearly trying to milk its users base with the new personal plans while offering nothing in exchange. I can’t even create albums for my pictures let alone organize and search them like Google Photos. So in essence, I’m paying more for less.

I know this may sound strange coming for a guy who loved Dropbox as he switched away and switched back before but one can love a product so much before realizing that the company is no longer interested in offering the best it can. I’m currently using my Galaxy S8’s promotion space on One Drive while also uploading to Google Photos. I’m leaning toward dropping all and just upload to Google Photos via a paid subscription. But then again, going over the limit and not paying will stop my Gmail from working but that’s fair I guess.

My final word for Dropbox: Get your act together. Taking your customers for granted while living off your legacy can work so much before they start looking for another lover. I wish Dropbox the best. As for me, I’m off to Google Photos.