LadyCrimson

My waist continues to shrink bit by bit, even tho the scale keeps saying I've hardly lost any weight. So weird. I can fit into some very old pants/shorts again. In another month or two maybe I'll fit into those zippered-leg snow/ski pants I wore that were a little loose when i was 13 (mid-20's they were slightly snug). Yes, that's right, I kept snowpants for 40 years. Only wore them a few times. Waste not!

...wait, it's been that long? I remember posting ss's on this forum when I played it at release. *Google* ... released in 2006. ...crap, I/we got old.

@Malcador I can't remember, did you play Pharaoh already? I always meant to replay/finish that one. I liked it well enough but my memory is that the issue became that I'd "finish" everything but the larger/multiple monument building requirement and I'd be waiting and waiting and waiting .... I don't like waiting. It was a good (very) similar game tho. Are you going to try Caesar 4 one day? The 3D graphics make it feel a bit more clunky or claustrophobic in some respects (especially the minimal combat) but it was all right/worth a once thru imo. Edit: unrelated -- just realized wemod has DeathStranding cheat for materials. Maybe I'll use it for materials for the roads solo so I can not use the stupid DS/social-online gimmick. Might inspire me to finish the game on PC.

He was my main motivation for renting that movie (that and it being "sci-fi/fantasy"), because I liked his performance a lot in Les Miserable as was interested in keeping an eye on his career for a bit. Sadly I haven't really liked any of the movies (that I've seen, or lack of interest in the topic so I didn't watch) that he's been in since. Including Fantastic Beasts (only tried watching the first one). Edit: and yeah, I guess the art/design was ... eye-catching, at least. I totally agree with this. First few notes played and I was all "Perfect!"

Oh yeah, I think I did that a few times as well. Build a warehouse, connect one road to one side, connect another road that isn't connected at all to that first road, to the other side. That kind of thing? See, that was part of what I found fun in those age old games - trying to figure out ways around the (limiting/extra simple programming/pathing, lack of QoL options) limitations. Either for ease or for giggles. Now there's rarely any of that type of extra "challenge" and it's just plain old gameplay and outright game-stopping bugs that modders have to fix. How boring! Edit: those "market lady road block" thingies and buying restrictions they put in later games, they were useful sure, but it immediately made those games more dull. Haha

I've heard that was a joke quote from a whole back and forth, with the single line/reply taken out of context. But I haven't read Twitter. That said, she seems like the type to be backlashed-disliked by a lot of folks these days.

Haven't been playing anything other than tablet-slots for days now. My PC and large TV aren't portable and lately I want to sit in the garage and outside. But Patron has had a lot of updates - they added a map editor, which I think at the moment is limited to being able to edit a map you're actually playing, like add trees/change terrain? Not create new maps. Haven't really looked into it/unsure. They plan on a lot of changes from feedback, most sound like good things. I like the game but it definitely needs some QoL and some late-game/high population balance changes still. I'm beginning to wish I could sit in a chair and watch while you play.

^

I played Kotor2 first. Before that I hadn't even heard of "KOTOR". I think I bought the first one (on DVD) at some point, since there was so much talk about a few characters in it. I don't think I got past any tutorial/beginning scene. Nothing against the game. I'm just one of those that sometimes has a hard time getting into whatever I try to play second. Couldn't drum up any interest in playing 1, is all. I suppose a remake/redo/whatever of the first one is nice for the newer generations who want more shiny and QoL updates. Maybe they won't totally screw it up and it'll please both old and new fans. Maybe.

Remake, reboot, sequels/prequels/whateverquels to chrs./name-recognizable IP's people used to like ... anything good on? ... if they ever reboot Little House on the Prairie I'll scream. ...oh wait, too late. *scream* Ah well ... new generations and all that. Never know, maybe it'll be good...

Y'know, I had managed to forget that movie existed. Until now. Thanks.

That's what I always thought. There's the world-as-we-think-we-know-it Matrix and the grungy "real world" matrix that Zion folk see, that the AI dumps all anomalies/non-accepting minds in to control their inevitable rebellions outcome. Program within a program. And if that is true, we the audience can't even be sure if those rows and rows of human batteries and anything else Neo saw are "real." The AI may have some other mechanism entirely for harnessing human energy, or even a different reason entirely for wanting to keep humans alive. You could go in all directions if you wanted. Maybe the scorched sky is healing now and there are different factions of "AI" that want different goals for humans. Edit: or! there is no scorched sky and humans were kidnapped by alien-AI and they're not even on Earth. And yeah, I see this film as a sort of reboot, too. Except this time around looks like Trinity has some level of superpowers too. Edit: P.S., I'm really only a fan of the first movie. I remember a few certain pivotal scenes from the other two (partly because of net discussions/videos) but not much else.

Are you forgetting what the white haired old man said in the ... 2nd movie? That "our" Neo was the sixth iteration of the "anomaly" and what made him different is he had the specific love with Trinity vs. a general love of humanity (as emotional motivation). I think. That old man was nonsense trying to sound like sense. So seems to me this would be Neo/The One Version 7.0 (and Trinity), except this time around for some reason he has specific vestiges of past-life memory, reasons and instigators unknown. The mirror scene in the trailer is likely showing what he really looks like in this new/separate/rebooted Matrix this time around, while Keanu is how he sees himself. ...course, I'm just supposing. ...I'm glad this will be on HBO Max. I'm not super eager to see the film but I'm still curious what they'll do with it/explain some things. ...side note: the CGI of some scenes/bits this time around feel too --- clean, or something.

@Guard Dog I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of Sunny. I know how much you loved her. I was similarly lost when I lost my cat Misty and Mr. Black. Well, all of them really, but those two especially. Such moments in life can make one introspect about all kinds of things re: our lives and the paths we've walked. I hope your trip is a healing one for you. Cyber-hugs.

^ I'm still trying to figure out how to do a 75" TV in this room. For when I build that 8080ti 8k* gaming PC. It would fit, the question is more where do I put everything else. I think I've decided at this point I don't actually need a giant surface desk. Only my small portable keyboard/mouse/food/drink table. TV on a heavy steel floor stand, no desk, just some wall shelves or a server type shelf unit to put everything on. Hahaha... *or more likely, a 4k native 120fps rig. Just not sure 4k would be good enough at 75" tho...hehehe

A Piece of the Action. It had some amusing Spock/Kirk interactions and Vic Tayback was fun. Not one of the best TOS tho, yeah. I mean, as much as I love TOS, most episodes weren't "the best of TOS", so to speak, lets be honest. The main trio plus a few others, and some guest work is what I became attached to and it kept you watching/smiling.

Hence why I said "cinematically filmed TV series." It's 2021 ... just because it's going to be aired on a "TV channel" doesn't mean you have to frame/film/direct it like Days of Our Lives. You could even create a whole new "feature film series TV channel" in the sense that's where all such productions would first air/rent. But I'm also like Bartimaeus ... I think the last time I was in the theater was for Star Trek: Into Darkness. I do not value the giant screen experience more than I value not having to deal with theaters and annoying public. etc. Probably never did. It's just that when I was a kid, there was no choice - outside of hoping a network would air some cut-up, commercial ridden version - so to a theater we would go.

I'm pretty sure that's what the letterboxing/black bars are for. The only difference is size, really. Well, and sound, unless one has a mega theater audio home setup maybe. Actually, I'm pretty sure I've been in theaters where some of the picture edges were likely cut off/not visible on non-screen walls/curtains, because it played in the "smaller rooms", where the screens were not as mega-wide as the featured/larger rooms. Too many film ratio's directors like to use.

...Does TV Guide still exist? I had all four of their 30-year ST 4-captains covers but the other three were too water damaged. ...I don't even remember buying those comics. I do remember the chocolate bar. Of course I remember chocolate. It wasn't very good chocolate tho...

There are ants in my room! *follows trail to closet* Wait, why is this box of books water damaged? "HUBBBBBBY!!!" ...closet shares wall with bathroom. Doesn't seem wet right now and drywall isn't damaged (guess it was baseboard/carpet) but obviously got wet/was a leak at some point in the past few years. ...time to clean the closest in case we need to get in there. Toss a lot more things. ...meaning I found the box with all the old game paper boxes. MYST: 33MHz 386 or faster, 486 or faster for Win95, 4MB ram/8MB for Win 3.1 and Win95, SVGA monitor/display card (640x480, 256 colors) --- ah the good ol' days!

^ Didn't help It: Chapter Two any. For that matter, length in terms of Dune into a mini-series supposedly didn't help tons either - I think it has more to do with direction and writers who know what to leave out and what not, and how to condense and write for flow/consistency, etc. Edit: also, I'd rather have a 3 hr 15min movie than part 1 and part 2, most of the time. Guys, I've read the book, I know. I'm just saying, maybe visual arts based on certain books should just stop trying to be movies in the old definition. Make them cinematically filmed TV series. If a company isn't willing to say yes to multiple films right off the bat, you run the risk of part2 never being made. Or waiting for years and years, ala Avatar because you're too afraid of making the uber famous director mad or something. It's just irritating.

Wait, Dune is a "Part 1?" Guess I'll be waiting even longer to watch it then. Reviews for it seem to be half "best thing since sliced bread" and half neutral to "a bit disappointing." Although I'm sure the visuals will be eyeball candy regardless. I wish they'd stop with the part 1, part 2 etc. of theater movies tho. Or at least film them all at once like LotR (and release them 6 months apart maybe). Just give in and turn them into cinematic 6 part miniseries on HBO/Max/Disney/whatever instead. I know, I know ... big screen. Pffft. I just need to get a 120+ inch capable 4k projector. They're only $3k-$7k or something, right? No problem.

Confirmation bias - where we like reviews that confirm our hopes or not-hopes. Hahaha. *wink But yeah, I think Chris Stuckman, while more jaded than in the past, is not quite completely jaded yet. I fully expect it to still be a "Marvel" movie. I'm just hoping it'll be a slightly less Marvel, Marvel movie is all. Anyway, I think many of us are fed up with giant CGI battles. I mean, I personally don't mind some flashy light/weapon effects and to me Matrix-1 bits are still fun today, but too much obvious green screen combat is ... too much obvious green screen. It still looks fake, especially when over-relied on, even if at the same time it can look cool sometimes. I read Ian McKellen hated filming with nothing but greenscreen/no other actors so dominantly re: The Hobbit (vs LoTR). When I watched IP man a while back (and that's not even a super old movie), that was so much better than most CGI-fest action movies... I'm also tired of "folding city/horizon" shots, ever since Inception (ala Dr. Strange).

YT reviewer I like said he's one of those a little tired/no longer enthused by action in Marvel movies at this point, but he really liked it in this one. With some action wide shots even. Also said it's a movie that finally made him think "maybe they could make a live action Dragonball movie good." But of course, he's not us. And yeah, that worries me too. What I also want is one that isn't too jokey, and maybe, just maybe, it won't be. Starts around 2:50 (no story spoilers in review - he does use trailer footage)

Samurai Warriors 5 - Tagged with (historical) action/hack n slash, supposedly even with some story. They had a demo, so I did no research and just downloaded. Used a controller. ...well, it's action. Seems mission based, so you enter a map, do rapid multiple fight/kill objectives against huge swarms of enemies and a boss or three or whatever, in a linear fashion, all with a big kill count record. Graphically I like the look. Lots of combat combo buttons to push to do fancy moves, if only I had them memorized. I suppose "story" is in cutscenes and dialogue/text bits, but rpg this isn't. Just a fighting gauntlet type? I think I shall pass.