Before I begin, I would like to do a quick thanks. This year has been very strong for the blog, which has over ten thousand views and seems likely to reach 15 thousand by the end of the year. Now, let's end August with a quick story.
It wasn't until August of 2009 that I started to get more into older games. While I did enjoy playing PS2 and PSP, I would go back to the Genesis, SNES. Sometimes, the Game Boy Color. One day, I decided go to this local used game store that carried a decent amount of systems and games. And this was before game collecting became a big commodity to many. Please note that unlike most, I actually play my games.
For about 15 dollars I got five games. On the Genesis, I got Joe Montana Football, Evander Holyfield's "Real Deal" Boxing, and Jurassic Park. Later on, I did get complete versions in the box with manuals for the first two games, but I got a lot of enjoyment out of them. Jurassic Park was okay. On the SNES, I was starving for sports games and went with NHL 96. Now these days, I love a lot of the 16-bit NHL games, but this was the first one I played that wasn't the first one on Genesis. A lot of fun and a game to go to sleep to, especially the following spring in 2010.
The last one was for PlayStation and this was before the series became double digit prices. That was the original Crash Bandicoot. I had all the games as a kid, but scratched them badly before starting to care for the game cases and discs when my family got a PS2 in 2003. Now these days, I have all but the second game for that system, and all of them work. At the time, this was the only one I didn't beat and to go through it as a teenager and get 100 percent was very nice. To do something I couldn't do back then, which was one of my very first PlayStation games back in 1997-98. To get it before prices spiked on it, I will cherish my copy.
That wraps up my story. Over the last ten years, I have gotten many systems and games, though I have slowed down a little bit where I'm not constantly buying games 24/7. What were the games that got you into collecting?
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Friday, August 30, 2019
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Family Only Plus Stream
From a business point of view, I get it. The new Disney Plus app that comes out in November is focused on non R-rated content. When you look at that and Hulu, they want you to subscribe to both and it gives them more money than ever before. But this is also bad because it shows that Disney is, as always, playing it safe and not taking a chance.
The way I see it, Disney wants total and strict control over everything they own. Whether it's the TV airings, what needs to be censored for films, it's borderline dictator like. Not everyone is going to blindly buy into it. Many will, but without R-rated content, it almost comes off as a waste of money. I like a good family or kids movie every once in a while, but I wouldn't want that to be the only thing on an app. You can't hide your history of adult content. It's like they are afraid of what they made under their Touchstone label and whatever other labels they might have had.
Fox is more than just Ice Age, Home Alone, and a handful of other family friendly franchises. Some of their biggest films are stuff like Predator, Die Hard, Alien, Speed. These examples are R-rated films and many other films they have made that garnered the rating. I have a feeling Disney is going to screw up in handling Fox movies. More than likely, Hulu is that destination. I don't get why they don't just make it all the movies and shows in one app outside of knowing people will double dip. You can have the kids section, family section, and R-rated section. Netflix does that with their streaming. Can't be that hard for Disney to do that.
For now, I am not interested in Disney Plus. I feel it's a bad choice to have only family friendly stuff. I get it, but I would have my concerns.
The way I see it, Disney wants total and strict control over everything they own. Whether it's the TV airings, what needs to be censored for films, it's borderline dictator like. Not everyone is going to blindly buy into it. Many will, but without R-rated content, it almost comes off as a waste of money. I like a good family or kids movie every once in a while, but I wouldn't want that to be the only thing on an app. You can't hide your history of adult content. It's like they are afraid of what they made under their Touchstone label and whatever other labels they might have had.
Fox is more than just Ice Age, Home Alone, and a handful of other family friendly franchises. Some of their biggest films are stuff like Predator, Die Hard, Alien, Speed. These examples are R-rated films and many other films they have made that garnered the rating. I have a feeling Disney is going to screw up in handling Fox movies. More than likely, Hulu is that destination. I don't get why they don't just make it all the movies and shows in one app outside of knowing people will double dip. You can have the kids section, family section, and R-rated section. Netflix does that with their streaming. Can't be that hard for Disney to do that.
For now, I am not interested in Disney Plus. I feel it's a bad choice to have only family friendly stuff. I get it, but I would have my concerns.
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Luck and Support
If you're frustrated at Andrew Luck retiring, don't be like moron Doug Gottlieb. This radio host whose sport is basketball wouldn't understand the pain someone goes through. Instead he called it a millennial thing of not wanting to rehab in a tweet on Twitter. It's obvious he doesn't get the four years of hell Luck has gone through. And a lot of people ripped into him.
Gottlieb has a criminal record of credit card fraud. This was brought up by receiver Torrey Smith, mocking what the FS1 host said about it being too hard. Fellow colleague Troy Aikman, whose career ended with a bad concussion in 2000, ripped into him. Bo Jackson, who had a career ending hip injury in the 1990 playoffs, was not kind to Gottlieb. Various athletes and sports broadcasters have been vocal about the tweet and it has been met with very negative responses.
There were questions about whether Luck would even throw again in the NFL following his torn labrum injury that made him miss the entire 2017 season. A lot of guys have chances, but he will join the list of players who had careers cut short because of injury. Give him credit for wanting to play through pain, but the toll it has on him. That's something a guy like Gottlieb wouldn't understand. A lot of us don't know what goes on behind the scenes. To jump to that conclusion that he had is a joke, and it makes one sport only broadcasters look really stupid.
Idiots like Gottlieb will keep being themselves and saying whatever comes out of their mouths. Sometimes, I do question ex-athletes intelligence.
Gottlieb has a criminal record of credit card fraud. This was brought up by receiver Torrey Smith, mocking what the FS1 host said about it being too hard. Fellow colleague Troy Aikman, whose career ended with a bad concussion in 2000, ripped into him. Bo Jackson, who had a career ending hip injury in the 1990 playoffs, was not kind to Gottlieb. Various athletes and sports broadcasters have been vocal about the tweet and it has been met with very negative responses.
There were questions about whether Luck would even throw again in the NFL following his torn labrum injury that made him miss the entire 2017 season. A lot of guys have chances, but he will join the list of players who had careers cut short because of injury. Give him credit for wanting to play through pain, but the toll it has on him. That's something a guy like Gottlieb wouldn't understand. A lot of us don't know what goes on behind the scenes. To jump to that conclusion that he had is a joke, and it makes one sport only broadcasters look really stupid.
Idiots like Gottlieb will keep being themselves and saying whatever comes out of their mouths. Sometimes, I do question ex-athletes intelligence.
Sunday, August 25, 2019
A Colt with No Luck
There will be a lot of questions until January. But it stunned me, as did many, by the fact that Andrew Luck is retiring from football. The first overall pick of 2012, he became a hit for the Indianapolis Colts and one of the best of that quarterback class of that draft. Three strong years followed by a injury plagued 2015. I don't think his health has been the same since he had issues in 2016 and missed 2017 with a shoulder injury before last year's big comeback season. With another injury, I don't blame Luck. At the very least, the organization was aware of the possibility.
This guy has fought through a lot of pain. You can say he's taking the easy way out, but that's not fair. It's not a matter of getting sacked, which happened 18 times last year. The wear and tear does come back to creep up on some of these players. Add in the leg injury and whatever issues he has had the last four seasons, and you can see why Luck is leaving the game. I know that's not something fans want to hear, but these players go through many things to rehabilitate or just get through the cuts and bruises they sustain. Questions will be asked about having preseason games due to some of these big named athletes getting hurt.
As far as the Colts go, they still got Jacoby Brissett. A lot of predictions for them winning the AFC South has gone down. I'd be careful from a fantasy perspective. There might be ideas to trade for Eli Manning and couple of QB's but I would be optimistic about who. Other options included on a CBS Sports article, Nate Sudfeld who is nursing an injury that will last until October. Also there is Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is very hit and miss.
So where does Luck go? He is married and is in the process of starting a family. I'm sure there is something he can do beyond the gridiron. At the very least, he can figure it out at a young age rather than be in his late 30s and early 40s trying to see what is out there. Football, like any sport, is not an easy career to have. Hopefully, he finds what makes him happy. Fans who are pissed need to understand health is an important factor. This isn't a video game where you can magically make him better. Shame on anyone who rages over his decision.
This guy has fought through a lot of pain. You can say he's taking the easy way out, but that's not fair. It's not a matter of getting sacked, which happened 18 times last year. The wear and tear does come back to creep up on some of these players. Add in the leg injury and whatever issues he has had the last four seasons, and you can see why Luck is leaving the game. I know that's not something fans want to hear, but these players go through many things to rehabilitate or just get through the cuts and bruises they sustain. Questions will be asked about having preseason games due to some of these big named athletes getting hurt.
As far as the Colts go, they still got Jacoby Brissett. A lot of predictions for them winning the AFC South has gone down. I'd be careful from a fantasy perspective. There might be ideas to trade for Eli Manning and couple of QB's but I would be optimistic about who. Other options included on a CBS Sports article, Nate Sudfeld who is nursing an injury that will last until October. Also there is Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is very hit and miss.
So where does Luck go? He is married and is in the process of starting a family. I'm sure there is something he can do beyond the gridiron. At the very least, he can figure it out at a young age rather than be in his late 30s and early 40s trying to see what is out there. Football, like any sport, is not an easy career to have. Hopefully, he finds what makes him happy. Fans who are pissed need to understand health is an important factor. This isn't a video game where you can magically make him better. Shame on anyone who rages over his decision.
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Burnt on YouTube
It is one part of YouTube that is dreadful. There are a lot of unused channels or channels that used to be prevalent but have had reasons for stopping on making videos. For ones that might still be around, the stress and tension of putting up content every day is a struggle.
The only time I ever got burnt out on anything was studying for college finals way back in 2012. It didn't help that I had three exams on one day, but still. Wear and tear of the fall season was prevalent. Even though it is two different things, YouTube can bring out a worn out user. I'm lucky to say I haven't had that issue. Only some personal stuff that occurred and no drive to do videos for a good year and a half. Not because I got tired of it.
There is this pressure to keep fans interested in what you have. Some think every day videos or schedule once or twice a week. Variety of videos or cover one genre that you think will get people into the channel. You miss a day or a week and subscribers for the big channels may stop being interested. Unfortunately, fans are very spoiled and don't understand this stuff. Hopefully at some point, they understand.
It doesn't hurt to take a break or film a large number of stuff within a day or two for content that can last two to three months. Doesn't hurt to try a couple things that can ease the stress or a small vacation.
The only time I ever got burnt out on anything was studying for college finals way back in 2012. It didn't help that I had three exams on one day, but still. Wear and tear of the fall season was prevalent. Even though it is two different things, YouTube can bring out a worn out user. I'm lucky to say I haven't had that issue. Only some personal stuff that occurred and no drive to do videos for a good year and a half. Not because I got tired of it.
There is this pressure to keep fans interested in what you have. Some think every day videos or schedule once or twice a week. Variety of videos or cover one genre that you think will get people into the channel. You miss a day or a week and subscribers for the big channels may stop being interested. Unfortunately, fans are very spoiled and don't understand this stuff. Hopefully at some point, they understand.
It doesn't hurt to take a break or film a large number of stuff within a day or two for content that can last two to three months. Doesn't hurt to try a couple things that can ease the stress or a small vacation.
Friday, August 23, 2019
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Useless: YouTube Studio Beta
This need to make something complicated, is how I feel about the upgraded menus to YouTube with its Studio dashboard and everything else.
My personal thought is that it feels like its designed for phones, even though it's not. It comes across as a science graph and the numbers are not fully detailed unless you look at it day by day, which won't always happen. Not to mention very plain looking.
Why mess with stuff that isn't broken and stands out? Did YouTube need an upgrade at this time? Not really. It's something I could get used to, but this need to try and appease to modern day equivalencies is sad. Companies should learn not to mess with things.
My personal thought is that it feels like its designed for phones, even though it's not. It comes across as a science graph and the numbers are not fully detailed unless you look at it day by day, which won't always happen. Not to mention very plain looking.
Why mess with stuff that isn't broken and stands out? Did YouTube need an upgrade at this time? Not really. It's something I could get used to, but this need to try and appease to modern day equivalencies is sad. Companies should learn not to mess with things.
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Good Boys Review
When I saw the trailer to Good Boys back in April, it seemed like it would was going to be riotously funny. Getting the opportunity to see it, my expectations were a little disappointing, but it was still good and had a lot of funny moments. Considering its producers, it came off to me as a Superbad but for tweens. It isn't, but it has crazy moments.
The film relegates around three kids. Max, Thor and Lucas are boys that have a close friendship. Calling themselves the Beanbag Boys, they deal with being tweens entering sixth grade. Thor has moments of ridicule and glory. Lucas is too honest. Max has a crush on another sixth grader, Brixlee. When a group of kids plan a party, the three are invited. It's a kissing one, so practice is something they want to do. They spy on some neighbors with a drone Max's dad uses, but it gets captured. What ensues is an adventure that takes the tweens through very highs and lows.
This is not a huge gut buster. But, it is one you are going to get a lot of laughs at. It doesn't tread on anything new, but to see it from a tween perspective is a bit fresh compared to using 16 to 18 year olds. Beyond getting the drone, while I don't view it as completely realistic, the ups and downs of the trio can be seen throughout. Some of their situations are stuff I can see others giving up on or getting their hopes up on things. It made me think back a little bit to my time in middle school. Makes me wish I was a little better as a person during that time.
It feels like a tamer R rated film. Not a ton of cursing, though that's not a bad thing. Plenty of graphic stuff in terms of sexual content, and a few obvious drinking scenes. I don't have anything too negative. I felt a little overhyped, but I would give Good Boys a watch in the theater. Solid film. Nice to see a teen comedy go a different route.
Score: 7 out of 10
The film relegates around three kids. Max, Thor and Lucas are boys that have a close friendship. Calling themselves the Beanbag Boys, they deal with being tweens entering sixth grade. Thor has moments of ridicule and glory. Lucas is too honest. Max has a crush on another sixth grader, Brixlee. When a group of kids plan a party, the three are invited. It's a kissing one, so practice is something they want to do. They spy on some neighbors with a drone Max's dad uses, but it gets captured. What ensues is an adventure that takes the tweens through very highs and lows.
This is not a huge gut buster. But, it is one you are going to get a lot of laughs at. It doesn't tread on anything new, but to see it from a tween perspective is a bit fresh compared to using 16 to 18 year olds. Beyond getting the drone, while I don't view it as completely realistic, the ups and downs of the trio can be seen throughout. Some of their situations are stuff I can see others giving up on or getting their hopes up on things. It made me think back a little bit to my time in middle school. Makes me wish I was a little better as a person during that time.
It feels like a tamer R rated film. Not a ton of cursing, though that's not a bad thing. Plenty of graphic stuff in terms of sexual content, and a few obvious drinking scenes. I don't have anything too negative. I felt a little overhyped, but I would give Good Boys a watch in the theater. Solid film. Nice to see a teen comedy go a different route.
Score: 7 out of 10
Monday, August 19, 2019
What's a Strike Zone?
Can somebody explain it to me? Because I feel like I know what a strike zone is. And the technology has gotten to the point where we can paint a very good picture to what it is. Yet, umpires keep messing up. If it's borderline, you understand. But when it's an inch away from the plate or just below the knees and those calls go wrong, you have to wonder.
This blog is due to the response of some of the incidents with the New York Yankees. It's clear when there is obvious missed calls. A problem that has been the case for the last couple of months. Obvious balls being called strikes. What I see is more of a league issue than it is a team issue. One missed call can make a difference between getting out of an inning or giving up a couple runs or so. The MLB office doesn't do anything about these problems. And these incidents with the Yankees don't involve the usual suspects. It's young up and comers. I get there's pressure on them, and they can fix what they messed up on, but this is where I put my complaints on.
Umpires that screw up in big moments will be remembered for the wrong reasons. Don Denkinger has lived through 34 years of his infamous call in the 1985 World Series. There's plenty more. And that's something no one thinks about until an incident happens to them. Yes, there's human error, but that excuse can't be used forever. MLB needs to make punishments on bad calls. They can't keep allowing this kind of stuff. The technology is very obvious. It's time for umps to learn before they find themselves in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
This blog is due to the response of some of the incidents with the New York Yankees. It's clear when there is obvious missed calls. A problem that has been the case for the last couple of months. Obvious balls being called strikes. What I see is more of a league issue than it is a team issue. One missed call can make a difference between getting out of an inning or giving up a couple runs or so. The MLB office doesn't do anything about these problems. And these incidents with the Yankees don't involve the usual suspects. It's young up and comers. I get there's pressure on them, and they can fix what they messed up on, but this is where I put my complaints on.
Umpires that screw up in big moments will be remembered for the wrong reasons. Don Denkinger has lived through 34 years of his infamous call in the 1985 World Series. There's plenty more. And that's something no one thinks about until an incident happens to them. Yes, there's human error, but that excuse can't be used forever. MLB needs to make punishments on bad calls. They can't keep allowing this kind of stuff. The technology is very obvious. It's time for umps to learn before they find themselves in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
2020: Year of 80s
I don't think it will be like this for next year, but to see some of these 80s movies getting sequels is astounding.
The one I am eager to see is the new Bill and Ted that comes out around this time next year. You got the same two actors, same screenwriters who did the other films and a decently sized group of cast members. How it will work for the new generation will be its true test. It's an 80s product along with Wayne's World. Could it handle the 2010s/2020s?
Lots of anticipation has been seen for Top Gun: Maverick. It was supposed to come out back in July but was pushed back to 2020 last year for a ton of technical reasons. Can't say I blame them. Sure, it would be nice to see quotable moments from Tom Cruise's Maverick, but you got a bit of action. I'm willing to bet tons of plane shots with firing their weapons and missiles, barrel rolls and stunts. Not on my list of movies I'm dying to see, but depending on how it does, it's a maybe.
This one was just talked about recently, but this strikes me as unnecessary in a way. I don't know how big of a demand a new Beverly Hills Cop would be, but I'm not sure how high it is now for a new Coming to America. At the very least, they are getting everybody that is still alive to work on it. A lot of the major characters. I'm curious because the original from 1988 was a funny film with tons of great moments throughout. Stuff like "Your rent's due, motherfucker" or the barbershop scenes are what made it entertaining. I don't think if this does get made that it will live up to the original. But, it will be something to see in the sea of comic book movies clogging the summer. Either it's coming out next August or next December. Hard to know what is true.
There are films from the 80s that could benefit in today's world. But will audiences bite? Can't say for sure. But we'll see next year with the nostalgia overload.
The one I am eager to see is the new Bill and Ted that comes out around this time next year. You got the same two actors, same screenwriters who did the other films and a decently sized group of cast members. How it will work for the new generation will be its true test. It's an 80s product along with Wayne's World. Could it handle the 2010s/2020s?
Lots of anticipation has been seen for Top Gun: Maverick. It was supposed to come out back in July but was pushed back to 2020 last year for a ton of technical reasons. Can't say I blame them. Sure, it would be nice to see quotable moments from Tom Cruise's Maverick, but you got a bit of action. I'm willing to bet tons of plane shots with firing their weapons and missiles, barrel rolls and stunts. Not on my list of movies I'm dying to see, but depending on how it does, it's a maybe.
This one was just talked about recently, but this strikes me as unnecessary in a way. I don't know how big of a demand a new Beverly Hills Cop would be, but I'm not sure how high it is now for a new Coming to America. At the very least, they are getting everybody that is still alive to work on it. A lot of the major characters. I'm curious because the original from 1988 was a funny film with tons of great moments throughout. Stuff like "Your rent's due, motherfucker" or the barbershop scenes are what made it entertaining. I don't think if this does get made that it will live up to the original. But, it will be something to see in the sea of comic book movies clogging the summer. Either it's coming out next August or next December. Hard to know what is true.
There are films from the 80s that could benefit in today's world. But will audiences bite? Can't say for sure. But we'll see next year with the nostalgia overload.
Friday, August 16, 2019
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
30 Years of Genesis
There is a sweet spot for 16-bit era stuff. At least for North America, it began around this time 30 years ago with the Genesis from Sega. A big upgrade from the NES graphically, tons of support, big hits all around. Controllers that felt natural, many genres getting a lot of love. It really is the greatest system ever.
I'm going to do a what if on if I was an adult figuring out what I would want back in 1989. Obviously, Altered Beast was the pack-in. I would have bought one or two more games around its launch. More than likely Tommy Lasorda Baseball and Space Harrier II. As far as the rest of the year, definitely a lot of the arcade ports. Golden Axe, Ghouls'n Ghosts, Super Hang-On, and maybe Forgotten World. Original stuff, Rambo III, Revenge of Shinobi, maybe Mystic Defender. Ones I would have been on the fence about, games like Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf and Thunder Force II. I probably would not have bought Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle.
But beyond 1989, there are tons of great games to find for the Genesis. It may not have the flash and recognition of a Super NES, but it can hold its own in a number of ways. This was my very first syste along with the NES when I started to get into games at the age of two back in 1994. I have slowed down in collecting, but I am not finished yet with this system. There are still plenty of titles I want to try out and hopefully I can find what I want.
Here's to another 30. Truly one of the classics of the 90s.
I'm going to do a what if on if I was an adult figuring out what I would want back in 1989. Obviously, Altered Beast was the pack-in. I would have bought one or two more games around its launch. More than likely Tommy Lasorda Baseball and Space Harrier II. As far as the rest of the year, definitely a lot of the arcade ports. Golden Axe, Ghouls'n Ghosts, Super Hang-On, and maybe Forgotten World. Original stuff, Rambo III, Revenge of Shinobi, maybe Mystic Defender. Ones I would have been on the fence about, games like Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf and Thunder Force II. I probably would not have bought Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle.
But beyond 1989, there are tons of great games to find for the Genesis. It may not have the flash and recognition of a Super NES, but it can hold its own in a number of ways. This was my very first syste along with the NES when I started to get into games at the age of two back in 1994. I have slowed down in collecting, but I am not finished yet with this system. There are still plenty of titles I want to try out and hopefully I can find what I want.
Here's to another 30. Truly one of the classics of the 90s.
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Thorns in Thorne
I am glad I am not a fan of the Baltimore Orioles. The amount of heartbreak and losing seasons is enough. But you add in Gary Thorne, and it goes overboard. This is a guy who called many hockey games over the years when he was at ESPN. It's one thing to call baseball games, but to lose a lot.
When you're facing possibly one of the top teams in the American League, how do you react? How do you react to one player? The amount of heartbreak in Thorne is always high when the Yankees have Gleyber Torres up to bat. Baltimore bounced back after an embarrassing loss to the Astros Saturday. To play yesterday against the Yankees is no cakewalk. But it was back to embarrassment. The stats are no joke. A couple years ago, Aaron Judge was destroying the Orioles. Torres now has five multi-home run games against them this year. He has 13 against them, half of his season total of 26. The double header gave him three homers and seven runs batted in. It is to the point of absurdity that he can possibly tie Lou Gehrig's record of most home runs against a team in a single season, which was back in 1936.
While the O's have had really bad seasons, this will be one they will want to forget as soon as it hits the end of September. They did not win one game at their home field, Camden Yards, against the Yankees. As of today, 14 losses in a row overall. Giving up so many home runs. It's not just Thorne that is amazed by this. His opponent's broadcasters are also amazed. You don't see this kind of power hitting. Not to the level of what was seen back in the 50s. Thorne obviously wants to see some form of a comeback, but the Yankee offense keeps finding ways to hold on to the lead and win.
You have to appreciate a guy who is trying his best not to have a huge meltdown. I would love to see Thorne cover more baseball games. Fox should have him call at least a World Series game. There might be thorns in his ass whenever he sees Yankee home runs, but the man can still call a heck of a broadcast.
When you're facing possibly one of the top teams in the American League, how do you react? How do you react to one player? The amount of heartbreak in Thorne is always high when the Yankees have Gleyber Torres up to bat. Baltimore bounced back after an embarrassing loss to the Astros Saturday. To play yesterday against the Yankees is no cakewalk. But it was back to embarrassment. The stats are no joke. A couple years ago, Aaron Judge was destroying the Orioles. Torres now has five multi-home run games against them this year. He has 13 against them, half of his season total of 26. The double header gave him three homers and seven runs batted in. It is to the point of absurdity that he can possibly tie Lou Gehrig's record of most home runs against a team in a single season, which was back in 1936.
While the O's have had really bad seasons, this will be one they will want to forget as soon as it hits the end of September. They did not win one game at their home field, Camden Yards, against the Yankees. As of today, 14 losses in a row overall. Giving up so many home runs. It's not just Thorne that is amazed by this. His opponent's broadcasters are also amazed. You don't see this kind of power hitting. Not to the level of what was seen back in the 50s. Thorne obviously wants to see some form of a comeback, but the Yankee offense keeps finding ways to hold on to the lead and win.
You have to appreciate a guy who is trying his best not to have a huge meltdown. I would love to see Thorne cover more baseball games. Fox should have him call at least a World Series game. There might be thorns in his ass whenever he sees Yankee home runs, but the man can still call a heck of a broadcast.
Monday, August 12, 2019
Fox Revivals for Disney
Reviving or rebooting a film is not always a bad thing. But my impression on Disney wanting to do reboots for movies that Fox has done leaves me wondering why. Four franchises they are aiming at are Night at the Museum, Cheaper by the Dozen, the Wimpy Kid movies, and Home Alone. I don't know how you can replicate most of them. If they go through with them, I don't see audiences being happy about it.
We'll get the obvious out of the way with Home Alone. The first two films are generally well liked by movie goers and watchers. Some have said about the other sequels being bad, I agree for the most part. But the thing is, the first two are sacred in many people's eyes. Not to mention what worked in 1990 may not work today. Unless you get Macaulay Culkin back to be an adult Kevin McCallister, the demand for it may not be as big as Disney may hope. To be creative with traps and slapstick will be another concern.
The only one that might work is Wimpy Kid. A kid going through school and his ups and downs. It could work as a TV show. As a movie, it could work, but it depends on where they go and how much they are dedicated to doing a few films. I don't think Cheaper by the Dozen would work, but like Wimpy Kid, depends on where they go. It doesn't need big name stars to appear, but you got to have some level of competence and create enough stuff for the entire family. Night at the Museum seems like a very bad idea. It would be very expensive to do compared to the other three, making it a huge risk. Then you have the wonder of it being its own movie or adapting it from the book and the accuracy of it.
All but Home Alone I believe are based on books. But overall, I don't see them doing well in theaters, hence the whole thing with the Disney streaming. Disney better have an idea of the angles they go with these films if they want audiences to be into them. But they can also look at flops and other films that aren't family friendly as well. Fox has a vast library of films. Best to utilize them and not just the G and PG rated material.
We'll get the obvious out of the way with Home Alone. The first two films are generally well liked by movie goers and watchers. Some have said about the other sequels being bad, I agree for the most part. But the thing is, the first two are sacred in many people's eyes. Not to mention what worked in 1990 may not work today. Unless you get Macaulay Culkin back to be an adult Kevin McCallister, the demand for it may not be as big as Disney may hope. To be creative with traps and slapstick will be another concern.
The only one that might work is Wimpy Kid. A kid going through school and his ups and downs. It could work as a TV show. As a movie, it could work, but it depends on where they go and how much they are dedicated to doing a few films. I don't think Cheaper by the Dozen would work, but like Wimpy Kid, depends on where they go. It doesn't need big name stars to appear, but you got to have some level of competence and create enough stuff for the entire family. Night at the Museum seems like a very bad idea. It would be very expensive to do compared to the other three, making it a huge risk. Then you have the wonder of it being its own movie or adapting it from the book and the accuracy of it.
All but Home Alone I believe are based on books. But overall, I don't see them doing well in theaters, hence the whole thing with the Disney streaming. Disney better have an idea of the angles they go with these films if they want audiences to be into them. But they can also look at flops and other films that aren't family friendly as well. Fox has a vast library of films. Best to utilize them and not just the G and PG rated material.
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Blowhard Francesa
In a profession I went to college for, I find most radio personalities and broadcasters to be annoying. I would put Mike Francesa near or at the top. This is the radio version of Nancy Grace. Obnoxious, rude, always interrupting. There is no redeeming qualities. At least Grace can say she's done well in solving crimes. Francesa has nothing. And this beef with the New York Football Giants is an example of his obnoxious attitude.
It's one thing to criticize moves. That's something any radio show will do. But to go on petty stuff and call the team and everyone losers is beyond normal. Why WFAN allows Francesa to keep doing things freely, I don't know. We won't know about Daniel Jones until a couple years later after Eli Manning is gone. Odell Beckham was a headcase for the team. There's a reason why they traded him to Cleveland. Forget talent. It was obvious he hurt the team and when he was hurt, they played much better at the end of the year. Landon Collins always has injuries. Would he have been nice to keep? Sure, but health is also a factor in this whole thing.
This is obviously a personal beef Francesa has and he won't give up on that grudge. I don't blame the Giants for not wanting him to show up or even cancel appearances to talk to him. I think he would have turned it into a "me, me, me" affair and try to stir controversy before the first game of the season in September. Why couldn't he just stay retired? Francesa is a blowhard moronic loser. Guys like him make it easy to turn off radios.
It's one thing to criticize moves. That's something any radio show will do. But to go on petty stuff and call the team and everyone losers is beyond normal. Why WFAN allows Francesa to keep doing things freely, I don't know. We won't know about Daniel Jones until a couple years later after Eli Manning is gone. Odell Beckham was a headcase for the team. There's a reason why they traded him to Cleveland. Forget talent. It was obvious he hurt the team and when he was hurt, they played much better at the end of the year. Landon Collins always has injuries. Would he have been nice to keep? Sure, but health is also a factor in this whole thing.
This is obviously a personal beef Francesa has and he won't give up on that grudge. I don't blame the Giants for not wanting him to show up or even cancel appearances to talk to him. I think he would have turned it into a "me, me, me" affair and try to stir controversy before the first game of the season in September. Why couldn't he just stay retired? Francesa is a blowhard moronic loser. Guys like him make it easy to turn off radios.
Friday, August 9, 2019
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Dead Oriole Money
When it finishes up in 2022, the contract Chris Davis signed with the Baltimore Orioles will be looked at as one of the worst ever. He picked up a bit beginning in 2012 and outside of 2014, had a decent four year run with the team. Since that deal, he has struggled with 2016 being his best year even with a mediocre .221 average.
It's new management for this 2019 season and the Orioles are doing very poorly. To get swept by the Yankees was one thing. In the midst of their opponent hitting home run after home run, yesterday's game featured Davis getting restrained by several players and coaches from going after rookie skipper Brandon Hyde. Some of it is poor play from the infielders. There were big errors that kept one of the innings going. Baltimore ended their series with no wins throughout the year at Camden Yards against the Yanks.
I don't think we've seen the last of Davis, but the stat line is nothing short of abysmal. At .182 with 111 strikeouts in 247 at-bats, there should be cause for concern. There should have been questions following the 2016 season. Not every athlete is going to do well. But this is historically bad. Last year, he was at .168. Half his strikeouts have been from the last five seasons. A lot of dead money, and I don't see any team looking to trade for him. At 33 years old, I don't think he will recover from the last few years.
Last night's game was an embarrassment. How this pans out is up to Hyde and the O's. But whatever is the case, the future of the team is going to be on young veterans and prospects that can help them rebuild.
It's new management for this 2019 season and the Orioles are doing very poorly. To get swept by the Yankees was one thing. In the midst of their opponent hitting home run after home run, yesterday's game featured Davis getting restrained by several players and coaches from going after rookie skipper Brandon Hyde. Some of it is poor play from the infielders. There were big errors that kept one of the innings going. Baltimore ended their series with no wins throughout the year at Camden Yards against the Yanks.
I don't think we've seen the last of Davis, but the stat line is nothing short of abysmal. At .182 with 111 strikeouts in 247 at-bats, there should be cause for concern. There should have been questions following the 2016 season. Not every athlete is going to do well. But this is historically bad. Last year, he was at .168. Half his strikeouts have been from the last five seasons. A lot of dead money, and I don't see any team looking to trade for him. At 33 years old, I don't think he will recover from the last few years.
Last night's game was an embarrassment. How this pans out is up to Hyde and the O's. But whatever is the case, the future of the team is going to be on young veterans and prospects that can help them rebuild.
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Impressions: 3DO
I've owned or played a lot of systems. Most of it is into the realm of Sega, Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox. I look at the mid 90s as an interesting part of the decade of gaming and I finally got my hands on a 3DO system with about 20 games. Trying it out, I liked what I saw, though it's not without its flaws.
A quick synopsis: It came out in the fall of 1993 at 700 dollars. The games were a mix of actual games and FMV games that were common on Sega CD and CD-i. By the time it started getting heavy hitters, no one was buying and waiting for the Saturn and PlayStation. When it finished up in 1996, it amassed over 150 games. Not bad for a system that didn't have instant recognition.
Playing the games, the graphical output was rather strong. Not as great like the PlayStation in terms of 3D, but better than the Saturn depending on the game in question. Lots of ambition. For 2D, it's very good. Street Fighter is a prime example. It stands out a lot more than the cartridge versions. Of course, you got CD audio for the games. That was done very well in a number of games and felt like a step in progress.
The controller was not the most comfortable, though. There is seven buttons. Two shoulders, three face buttons, and a start and select. For the most part, it's decent and you won't be too uncomfortable. However, the directional pad can be a bit stiff. I would take a break every once in a while so your hands don't cramp after a long period of play. Unfortunately, it has only one controller port and with the official ones, you would have to connect another controller into the top of the first controller. A multitap would have been a better choice.
This is a 6.5 out of 10. Not a system I would put into full recommendation, but I wouldn't shun it. I like the ambition of this old 90s system, but a couple of fixes in prices and getting actual games, it could have lasted beyond 96.
A quick synopsis: It came out in the fall of 1993 at 700 dollars. The games were a mix of actual games and FMV games that were common on Sega CD and CD-i. By the time it started getting heavy hitters, no one was buying and waiting for the Saturn and PlayStation. When it finished up in 1996, it amassed over 150 games. Not bad for a system that didn't have instant recognition.
Playing the games, the graphical output was rather strong. Not as great like the PlayStation in terms of 3D, but better than the Saturn depending on the game in question. Lots of ambition. For 2D, it's very good. Street Fighter is a prime example. It stands out a lot more than the cartridge versions. Of course, you got CD audio for the games. That was done very well in a number of games and felt like a step in progress.
The controller was not the most comfortable, though. There is seven buttons. Two shoulders, three face buttons, and a start and select. For the most part, it's decent and you won't be too uncomfortable. However, the directional pad can be a bit stiff. I would take a break every once in a while so your hands don't cramp after a long period of play. Unfortunately, it has only one controller port and with the official ones, you would have to connect another controller into the top of the first controller. A multitap would have been a better choice.
This is a 6.5 out of 10. Not a system I would put into full recommendation, but I wouldn't shun it. I like the ambition of this old 90s system, but a couple of fixes in prices and getting actual games, it could have lasted beyond 96.
Monday, August 5, 2019
El Paso and Dayton: Not Game Related
A BIG WARNING: A bit of cursing and rage in a blog that is rant filled. Read on if you still want to.
Anytime. Any fucking time it involves a young person shooting up a place. Been this way since fucking 1997. I wasn't planning on a blog, but with the blaming on games from one side, it bothers and enrages me. People are not stupid. Gamers are not stupid. They don't fall for this stuff as easily as the Baby Boomers. So why resort to the same bullshit that has been happening for over 20 years?
As always, scapegoats. I will say this. That Dayton shooter seems like someone that has never gamed. I see a mental issue. Who creates a hit list and a rape list? That is straight up Columbine shit, only way worse. This is someone that had a few screws loose and was looking to do a lot of damage. I don't see this related to gaming. And the El Paso shooting, I don't see this stemming from video games. I see that one as being motivated by race, which is a problem related to the United States.
What politicians fail to realize is that crime has down quite a bit since the start of the 90s. I don't care if they are conservs, liberals, whatever. It has gone down a lot and it has nothing to do with video games being the cause of these crimes. This medium gives people a chance to do stuff that they can't do in real life for obvious reasons. They play with friends, online. They put together a good group.
As far as the shootings go, I don't know how you can fix the problems. Everyone's pointing the finger at everyone. This isn't something that is going to get fixed overnight and the amount of bickering from both sides is not going to help. But for fuck's sake, this blaming on games is annoying. It's not fooling most people. We need to find a happy medium to fix a lot of the United States' problems, but alas, that will never happen.
Anytime. Any fucking time it involves a young person shooting up a place. Been this way since fucking 1997. I wasn't planning on a blog, but with the blaming on games from one side, it bothers and enrages me. People are not stupid. Gamers are not stupid. They don't fall for this stuff as easily as the Baby Boomers. So why resort to the same bullshit that has been happening for over 20 years?
As always, scapegoats. I will say this. That Dayton shooter seems like someone that has never gamed. I see a mental issue. Who creates a hit list and a rape list? That is straight up Columbine shit, only way worse. This is someone that had a few screws loose and was looking to do a lot of damage. I don't see this related to gaming. And the El Paso shooting, I don't see this stemming from video games. I see that one as being motivated by race, which is a problem related to the United States.
What politicians fail to realize is that crime has down quite a bit since the start of the 90s. I don't care if they are conservs, liberals, whatever. It has gone down a lot and it has nothing to do with video games being the cause of these crimes. This medium gives people a chance to do stuff that they can't do in real life for obvious reasons. They play with friends, online. They put together a good group.
As far as the shootings go, I don't know how you can fix the problems. Everyone's pointing the finger at everyone. This isn't something that is going to get fixed overnight and the amount of bickering from both sides is not going to help. But for fuck's sake, this blaming on games is annoying. It's not fooling most people. We need to find a happy medium to fix a lot of the United States' problems, but alas, that will never happen.
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Mahoning Drive In
I live quite a distance away from this place. After watching a video that talked about it a tiny bit, it makes me want to actually go there. The premise of Mahoning in Lehighton, Pennsylvania is very simple. It's a callback to the old days of the drive-in theater. Seeing films in 35 millimeter film and enjoying it on a screen that could be viewed for tons of cars.
Taking a look at their photos, they go all out for their weekends. They show old movies ranging anywhere from the 50s up to the 90s. Maybe 2000s if we're being generous. Certain weekends include horror movies. It's mostly double features, with some triple features like a Spielberg weekend (Back to the Future, E.T. and Jaws). Even though it is a bit gimmicky, it's a gimmick worth doing since they have been in the business of showing movies since 1949.
Since they are focused on older movies, they do ask for suggestions. I see that as a nice thing because the way I see it, this is for moviegoers. It's not for people who only want comic book movies and Disney movies, which is one thing they won't do for licensing reasons. Their prices seem very fair for tickets and they even offer overnight stay for ten dollars. Of course, they have food and the usual stuff for the drive-in experience.
If I didn't live a few hours from it, I'd go there in a heartbeat. This is the kind of experience other drive ins should take notice. A sheer variety of movies and going the nostalgia route. It doesn't hurt to think outside of the box, and Mahoning knows that.
Taking a look at their photos, they go all out for their weekends. They show old movies ranging anywhere from the 50s up to the 90s. Maybe 2000s if we're being generous. Certain weekends include horror movies. It's mostly double features, with some triple features like a Spielberg weekend (Back to the Future, E.T. and Jaws). Even though it is a bit gimmicky, it's a gimmick worth doing since they have been in the business of showing movies since 1949.
Since they are focused on older movies, they do ask for suggestions. I see that as a nice thing because the way I see it, this is for moviegoers. It's not for people who only want comic book movies and Disney movies, which is one thing they won't do for licensing reasons. Their prices seem very fair for tickets and they even offer overnight stay for ten dollars. Of course, they have food and the usual stuff for the drive-in experience.
If I didn't live a few hours from it, I'd go there in a heartbeat. This is the kind of experience other drive ins should take notice. A sheer variety of movies and going the nostalgia route. It doesn't hurt to think outside of the box, and Mahoning knows that.
Friday, August 2, 2019
Thursday, August 1, 2019
A Back's Worth
That time of the year again. Players on the NFL asking for new contracts. For running backs, it's wanting deals that can net them a lot of pay. Their own teams either pull all the stops to keep them, or it could be something to where someone leaves.
An example of a holdout for this year is Melvin Gordon. He wants something that is on the level of a Le'Veon Bell or a Todd Gurley. The problem with Gordon is his health. He has missed games at points in all but one season of his four year career. That being said, the Chargers need him. They struggled in the years after Ladainian Tomlinson left. Who do you go to if Gordon doesn't show up? It's not like the Bell situation where a backup emerges quickly.
Then there is Ezekiel Elliott. He had a good bounce back year following a forgettable 2017 season that was mired in controversy and the question on whether he was putting effort in at times. While Dallas may want him back, he wants to get paid like a top back. Last time they had a back that put an effort, DeMarco Murray signed a big contract with Philadelphia. The issue with Elliott is the costs related to him, Dak Prescott, and Amari Cooper. Could it work? I think it could. I have a feeling he will have a deal done and he will stay in Dallas for a longer period of time.
Todd Gurley did a lot last year and the Rams did well with giving him an extension. With health being a factor for this 2019 season, the expectations of the contract could come back to bite him. And the Jets having Le'Veon Bell will be nice, but is he ready for a full season of hits following last year's season of him sitting out? And the question in a few years will be about Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey.
Even with the average career span of a back being the lowest, we have a big era of them dominating the gridiron coming.
An example of a holdout for this year is Melvin Gordon. He wants something that is on the level of a Le'Veon Bell or a Todd Gurley. The problem with Gordon is his health. He has missed games at points in all but one season of his four year career. That being said, the Chargers need him. They struggled in the years after Ladainian Tomlinson left. Who do you go to if Gordon doesn't show up? It's not like the Bell situation where a backup emerges quickly.
Then there is Ezekiel Elliott. He had a good bounce back year following a forgettable 2017 season that was mired in controversy and the question on whether he was putting effort in at times. While Dallas may want him back, he wants to get paid like a top back. Last time they had a back that put an effort, DeMarco Murray signed a big contract with Philadelphia. The issue with Elliott is the costs related to him, Dak Prescott, and Amari Cooper. Could it work? I think it could. I have a feeling he will have a deal done and he will stay in Dallas for a longer period of time.
Todd Gurley did a lot last year and the Rams did well with giving him an extension. With health being a factor for this 2019 season, the expectations of the contract could come back to bite him. And the Jets having Le'Veon Bell will be nice, but is he ready for a full season of hits following last year's season of him sitting out? And the question in a few years will be about Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey.
Even with the average career span of a back being the lowest, we have a big era of them dominating the gridiron coming.
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