LadyCrimson

I still get zero ads on YouTube, on the PC. FF/Ublock+noscript. This is while not logged into any YT account. Tablet/phone with chrome/zero ad/script blockers, I will occasionally get an ad mid-very long video but it's rare (edit: also rare I watch super long videos to begin with). Or I'll get an ad if I left a tab open for a long time/turn tablet on/off so it reloads the tab automatically then. Or if I manually reload the tab sometimes. I still have my simple method for not seeing any start/b4 mobile video loads ad, ever, when opening a new YT video and it still seems to work, but I no longer say what it is because then they'll find out and put a stop to it. Edit: also, a pc that doesn't crash while gaming is nice to have again, but of course it doesn't actually solve my racing-brain/lack of focus, issues. Just sayin'. Hehe.

lol, yeah all the co. logos/credits at the start of a lot of movies nowadays gets a bit excessive. Takes a lot of 'em to get indies (and sometimes even bigger budget) made these days I guess.

Played enough 7 days to decide my pc issues are, yes, fixed. Also enough 7 days to remind me again that the entire reason I keep playing it, is it makes hours pass without me noticing (never look at a clock, say), while doing absolutely "nothing" gamewise. eg, I looted 1000 trash bags, fixed up a house, dug a 3 mile tunnel, jogged on 40 miles of road, killed 200 deer for meat I don't actually need, filled up 8 storage chests with resources I don't really need. Apparently that's the aspect of a game that I covet the most, these days - doesn't matter the genre really, only that it does that to my brain. Most games now, even if I like them, I can't play for more than 1-2 hrs without shifting in my seat, looking at a clock several times, and quitting. Same thing as checking your watch constantly in a movie, basically, vs. not looking at your watch even once.

When did (PC) blockbuster/AAA gaming become an association anyway. I mean, I'm sure there were ones that always had bigger budgets vs. others but I used to go to the store, there were 10-30 titles on shelves, I'd ponder if any were good, randomly pick something. Store shelf wise, it's not like there was 70k+ pc games existing at that point. Like, Myst was originally published by the same who published Mavis Beacon Typing. >.> I wasn't enough of a game-geek back then I guess to be aware of "AAA" gaming, they were just ... there, like picking a can of soup. Although magazines made you aware of popular-game developers. But yeah ... AAA today mostly means "attract as large an audience as possible for sales numbers", which for some reason is equated to mega development and marketing budgets. So they tend to become pretty generic, or just sequels of sequels. edit: and these days, remakes and reboots...

Flow - that was quite impressive. Visual poetry, sometimes quirky/funny, sometimes touching, sometimes haunting/mystifying. No (human) dialogue, no conventional "plot" or explanations/answers, just follow some creatures as they navigate a happening in their world. The animals behave mostly like animals, outside of an ability to figure out how/why to use a boat rudder and perhaps a touch of "human-like" emotion reactions/awareness here and there. Or animal-like mixed with human-like, up for interpretation. I adored the cat of course but all the animals were fantastically done/animated and became characters I cared about on some level. It's like watching an animated short you find fantastic, where you're wishing it was not a short, and in this case, it isn't. I could have some nitpicks (I always have those) but not worth quibbling. For visual poetry type animation, I'd give it an 8.8/10. There's a very very brief after-credits bit, easy to miss on streaming with them tossing up "WATCH NEXT" menus so you have to hit the "watch credits" to get there. >.> It doesn't give answers either just a little coda for people to make folks wonder what the meaning is.

I guess that black cat animated movie, Flow, won the Golden Globe for best animation, beating Pixar/Disney etc. Now I must see it, and it's for rent on Prime now. I'll report back.

Well, my PSU finally arrived. *phew* It's not exactly exactly what I had before, I guess it's a newer version of it. I gotta say, case cable management systems/arrangements can make it a PITA to switch a PSU out. >.> Did the zombie game (the most reliable reboot offender by far), tried to stress-play it. A few hours, no reboot. Tried loading saves on a couple other games too. Not 100% sure yet, but hopefully that was the problem. The new PSU has this knob fan-speed control on the back by the power button, so you can make it silent or super-sonic sounding. Which got me thinking - maybe the fan on the old one stopped working -it was always super quiet but had no fan speed knob, so I assume it was auto or had a low factory default rpm - and because it was always essentially silent, I never noticed (can't see PSU fan when it's in the case, at all). eg, maybe over heating and damaging itself for a while etc. There was no electronic burning smell I ever noticed, but whatever. ... hopefully I can now put off a new PC for a year or two, like I wanted to. So maybe yay? ...still odd my RAM showed as having errors tho, so glad I replaced that too, in the end.

Allllllll the goooold!

*calculates* if I walk (fast) around the pool+connected paved patio in a large squarish oval for 8-10 minutes, 5-6 times a day, I get 2+ miles worth of "steps". So instead of dressing/going out for a single long walk, I can just do that between pc/desk/tv/meals etc. Plus the morning elliptical session/different motion. I can do it at 2am, in my slippers or nightgown or half naked. Why didn't I think of this before, never had a yard with such an unfettered (and non-muddy) path even for circular walking, I guess. It's working out quite nicely and is more motivating when I don't have to go anywhere. The neighbors might think I'm a little weird, if they look out their windows, but so what.

@majestic I vaguely remember hearing the name Quadro before. So basically, Titan/xx90 has always been aimed at mega tech/game nerd/enthusiasts with money to burn, but it was even a smaller fraction of people who bought them. I paid $1400+ for partner evga 2080ti six years ago. B4 that it was $800 for 980ti. I figure such in 2025 would be more like $1999, if nvidia even makes a xx80ti. And it still might not come with more than 16 vram. Which is what might push ppl like me towards the xx90. But good lord, I could probably find an old beater car, fix it up a tad, and it'd last me longer. Yeah, Diablo1 forever sounds better all the time.

Oh look, I found a video that agrees with me, hence I liked it. He goes into possible industry reasons/decisions for the trend but for me as a watcher: ---2-3 years per 6-10 eps season = me unable to remember the 1st season and practically having to rewatch that first, making me not want to watch to begin with ---once the pattern is known, it's a self-fulling prophecy: ppl going "I'll wait for more seasons before watching/investing time" can = cancelled show because 1st season isn't watched enough in the first month or two ---Netflix is definitely the biggest offender but it's a streaming-series trend overall

Something I've noticed is how many netizens now think the 5080 is "middle" with xx90 being "high." It's like some have forgotten that 5080/ti was seen as the top regular consumer end and anything more was seen as "tech pro" or whatever, not worth buying (vs. price) for gaming. In other words, outside of tech specs, even the naming kind of separated them in consumers minds. "Titan" and whatever else they had. Wasn't the top "Titan" in 2014 $3k or something? >.> Does nvidia still make any sort of consumer/pro "Titan" or other named version, vs. 50xx label, gpu? Naming obfuscation/merging/confusion is a great marketing tool.

I may have figured it out - it's a keyboard character issue. I think I recall something similar happening before for something. That error happened again today. I sometimes separate thought/topic paragraph swings in longer posts with a line of "equal" signs. Sometimes I use a long line of "minus" signs instead, it's random/I'm strange. Anyway when it wouldn't let me edit, I removed the string of equal signs from the post and the edit went through vs. error message. Can't say for sure that's the problem ofc, or why a long line for them vs. only 1 might cause an issue - so as usual ... *shrug* At least I was able to make an edit.

If "sitcom" =30 min and/or comedy, there were always lots of 1-hr drama/action type shows around, maybe especially 60's/70's/80's. Bonanza, Perry Mason, The Fugitive, Little House on the Prairie, Rockford Files, Emergency, Columbo, The Walton's, Quincy MD, Lou Grant, Dallas, Hill Street Blues, plus all the later sci-fi like Stargates, Star Treks, Lost in Space etc. They'd largely air those after 9pm - after kiddie bedtimes I guess - so 30 min game/sitcom shows first, dramas later. But agreed on the mostly/all episodic, or maybe a 2-3 episode arc. It definitely was the 2000's where the never ending serial-plot tv series seriously took off in the US. I don't miss not being able to binge-whatever/whenever, but even back then, any cliffhanger wait was usually only 4-5 months - vs. the often 1-3 years of streaming-original shows. And I kind of miss the sit with friends to watch a couple fave drama/sci-fi shows together. It was a nice social-schedule perk. I had my group for watching ST:NG most of the time, for example. Not that one did that for every show, but before renting stuff/streaming, it was something besides going to a theater movie every week. Of course, these days I have no friends (some deaths, most moved, I moved etc) so I guess it works out for me. I would wildly guess that's one reason why "tv/movie reaction" videos on YT took off like they did - not only easy for the channel to make (ahem) but they speak to nostalgia for that kind of shared social interaction/reaction event. Other: ---Heroes, another show I saw the first 2-3 episodes, or half a season I forget (liked those well enough) but I didn't bother keeping up with week to week airing. I was too busy life-ing at the time, as sometimes happens. I mostly remember it introducing me to and the reason I initially thought Zachary Quinto would be a decent Spock. ---Wanting core characters always existing is one reason endless-season 1-hr drama shows become insanely plot-armorfied/power creep and suspense completely leaves the table. Even if a "main/important secondary" chr. is offed fairly early/occasionally, they can't do that forever or there is no consistency for audiences or advertisers to adore/hang upon. So a core few will never die (until the series closes).

I loved my Voodoo 3 3000. Just saying. Also, (very) slightly more on topic, Steve's sarcasm/shaking of head at absurd marketing ad terms cracked me up even more than that other video. Quality entertainment.

Avowed may be some fun but I never even finished Outer Worlds/didn't play Pillars2, so (for me) I'd wait until it's $40-50 or something. If I remember at that point. It gives me a sense so far, of colorful mediocrity (sorry, Obsidian). At least for my tastes. To be fair, I'm no longer really their target audience I suppose. Edit: nor any AAA's target audience, basically

Took a risk and ordered a PSU via Amazon that wasn't "sold by Amazon." Yesterday it said it was "shipped." Tonight it says "delivered in mail box." But it's not (wouldn't fit in our mailbox anyway). USPS tracking number says it was delivered somewhere in OK state. >.> Amazon says sometimes they get marked as delivered before they are and wait a couple days it might arrive. Maybe OK is where it shipped to first (1 day would be a very short shipped/deliver time for USPS). Good grief. Whatever. We'll see.

I noticed the d-x mod made the local MP/hosting be TCP instead of ancient-near-dead(?) IPX. So I wondered if I could still run two instances of the game at the same time .... and it worked. I now have eight D1 mule characters that can join the main instance of the game, pick stuff I drop on the ground and leave. Mostly jewelry, occasional weapon/gear, and all the gold. Alllll the gold. Wonder how long I'll play this game again, this time.

I seriously keep waffling between "wanna new PC" and "should quit pc-gaming." My pace of "try to fix my reboot-PC issue" has been super slow because at the moment ... I'm not sure I care. Or maybe it's that I wish I didn't care. Then next month I'll be all "but, but, Death Stranding 2!" or something. Then back to "I'll just play Diablo 1/similar if I need a game fix for a few hours, that bad." I'm getting "old" enough I could just buy a console for an occasional big release and forget about it otherwise. But but ... mods! Other pc-gaming options/control! Edit: and ofc, the TECH-FIEND inside me *tosses hands*

Oh look, a part of California is on fire again. If anyone's down there (W. Los Angeles area), stay safe. It's becoming so regular the state is going to have to regulate/force some kind of min. fire insurance from companies or something. edit: passing costs to consumers, which CA I think didn't used to allow, or something - eg, it'll get really pricey Watching old man James Woods relate rescuing an even older neighbor and sob about his destroyed house is a bit surreal.

Not news, but I found it hilarious watching him run around manhandling all the displayed gpu's, commenting on physical appearance/designs. Kept thinking "don't drop them!" And ... even as a 2-slot, 50xx gen is ofc huge - but the aftermarket ones even moreso. If I were to get a 5090, I'd want the FE if I could still get it when I wanted to buy - wouldn't care re: any OC and not keen on bigger size and bigger price, lol.

Fixed that for you. Honestly I think Jensen needs to hire an announcement spokesperson, because Jensen is absolutely terrible at it. When on stage it feels like he doesn't want to be there and his comments are only negative meme worthy. I don't mind a bit of DLSS, for 4k at least, so less artifacting with that is fine, but frame generation is LOL and using any upscaling as a benchmark brag is ROFL insulting. I think the true problem is the whole gpu diminishing returns+yet no radically new tech (whether because not invented yet or because of, y'know, maybe re: engineering physics), but still needing something to convince people to buy a new gpu every 2-4 years. It's like adding touch screens and netflix screens and cute music jingles to home appliances at this point. Edit: you can't keep moving upwards at a lightning pace forever and both companies/developers and consumers perhaps need to stop expecting/selling it.

I remember I was really liking Alice sn1, until episode 3 killed it for me. I tried a couple episodes after that but couldn't get into the characters/direction it went. Occasionally I get too attached too quickly and then when the rug gets pulled, I never recover.

Nvidia: "5070 is as good as a 4090!" .... "with the new DLSS 4/super-AI frame-gen4x all on vs. the old 40xx versions of such." From what I can tell (at this point/no actual benchmarks) the best thing about 50xx will be a big leap up for DLSS quality, and that the 5080 is a 2-slotted card instead of 3. eg, smaller. Wonder how that'll do re: gpu-cooling. DLSS 4 (not frame gen aspect) will also supposedly be ported backward to even 20xx, although ofc gains from it on older gpu's won't be as impressive. The MSRP pricing leaves plenty of room for a 5080ti or some such later - if it has 20+ vram I'd wait/buy that. Although 3rd party versions I'm sure will be 25% more than MSRP. But it all still makes me hope I can wait for 60xx. If I can fix my reboot issue. Pfft. Digital Foundry did get to use test-demo period of the 5080 for some hours or something to try some settings/record a little video/performance comparison graphs (not serious benchmarks, mind), but that's where the possible DLSS/frame gen uplift - less artifacts/smear/light angle/distance jitter/blur etc - info is from. And release versions could be different from what they got to look at.

@Bartimaeus In Diablo1, Warrior had the toughest time mid-late game/high difficulties, Rogue next, Sorcerer was op'd godmode by lvl 20-25. Sorcerer only has issues at the lvl1-10 stage or maybe if luck with spellbooks/gear was terrible, or if one made the mistake of putting too many points into anything other than Magic. Although at max difficulty/MP mode which was more map-open/much more enemies (vs. quest/campaign mode), Sorcerer could still easily die/1-2 shotted/mobbed in some cases. But yeah Warrior late-game/high difficulties sucked because of chasing those witches everywhere and stuff like that. Rogue was annoying (to me) because of the bow aiming with that tile movement system but her magic capabilties were at least a little better to help out. And of course, vs. today's games, it's all very simplistic anyway. Ranged - especially AoE ranged - will always outstrip anything melee (more pure melee, not magic-spell-melee, ahem). Unless one gimps the AoE ranged so much there's no real point in using it anyway. Even today they can't get a real arpg balance for it, having to use massive cooldowns stoppers and other methods.