What are you watching?

[Catoptric]

Architects of Control: Mass Control and The Future of Mankind
https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/architects-of-control/

I was looking for something on the book, Mass Control: Engineering Human Consciousness by Jim Keith.

The video is made by Michael Tsarion who I assumed was just into occult themes, though apparently he gets into this subject as well (57 minutes in) :



7 minutes in (though you could check out some of the interesting ads prior to it. . .)



Ex-Military Officers Sound Alarm On UFO Report: The Tech ‘Outstrips Our Arsenal By At Least 100 Years’
https://www.dailywire.com/news/ex-milit ... 4ZVSFF33rA

[SomeInternetBloke]

(Edited)

Asian little girl artist has a sad.

Btw, this message is deep. Acceptance is huge it's one of the dynamics at play for suicide et cetera. If it passed you by, rewind the video.

What I got from this is there's value in adding her response to that scenario to my mental inventory of people's behavior. I'll probably iterate a version of the narrator's commentary fitting for circumstances offering an opportunity to console a little person.

[SomeInternetBloke]

That little girl is special. Yes, it's an allusion to Mashy aka our resident surrealism artist. I'm an artist too, but not for real. I just practiced it to relate better. I just enjoy relating to you all. My overtures of admiration are just that. A little recognition for converging paths with me - kinda thing.

[Catoptric]

On another note I've been messing with a TV box (basically a cheap raspberry Pi 4 preloaded and goes by the name Super Console X Pro with "50,000 games" which usually ships from China which I've spent more than a week deleting many crap roms and adding my own.

You can easily acquire some TV boxes for about $50 that are capable of emulation (though you will need to add everything else, starting with Emuelec and the proper SD card to flash a setup configuration, with adding BIOS files to run the games.) The folders should all be ready to place files into the folders, though specifically they need to be setup with proper file structure, which can be a pain.) An easily accessible SD card, and usb plugin for controllers are needed.

The different consoles are the usual ones (namely Nintendo including handheld versions up to DS (excluding 3DS) beginning from Game and Watch and Pokemon mini games. . ., Sega from SG-1000 up to Dreamcast and the iteration of arcade hardware such as Naomi and which was sold and became Atomiswave, in addition to Atari a up to the computer Atari ST (which seems to have some issue with controls,) though better ones are Commodore / Amiga, Sharpe X68000, Sinclair, and NEC PC-9800 (which I'm not sure I recommend though it is interesting to add to the console as it wasn't included for very apparent reasons, namely that it has a bunch of anime-like games due to the limited hardware; in comparison to the Sharpe X68000 which was comparable to advanced arcade systems at the time.) Moreso was the option to play early CD consoles like Sega CD and Turbografx CD which have some of the best versions of certain games (and I would like to see English translations of East of Eden, but currently the only good game is the SNES game which interestingly enough has a special chip added to the cartridge which enables the console to play at the required capacity that can be emulated using the right emulator.) I'm tempted to merge the Arcade with Mame folders and maybe also combine Final Burn Neo (which is more suitable for Capcom fighting games for some reason, though you can change emulator function options within other folders.)

Some other odd inclusions are standalone emulators ports made for specific games on the Raspberry Pi; things like Doom, Quake, Prince of Persia, Cave Story in addition to having the emulator folder shown for Commander Keen, and Diablo (which I had to get the actual ISO for,) though still having some difficulties getting the controls to work, and for some reason VVVVVV doesn't work despite having the suitable file for it, and it should have been a very simple plug as the creator of the game made it freely accessible with his source code to emulate from, and the same issue applies to this particular Flashback (REminiscence) game on Pi Port. I would still kind of prefer to use the computer for something like Commander Keen, though you will be using a keyboard interface for it.

MSDOS is available but it seems to recognize every file added, and doesn't seem easily accessible without knowing what to do (I've not messed with DOS in a very long time, but I see why some of the DOS games were ported to a standalone emulator, which even still doesn't work as well as Sharp X68000 or NEC PC-98, Amiga, etc which often have a compression method of keeping the files in one piece in various formats that work (kind of like how PSP compression files

I had already been messing with modding a NES and SNES mini and consider this a very convenient method of adding things to it, as the Emuelec software is very easy to add to without having to manually transfer files over to the interface like in Hakchi (for USB adapter to play playstation.) and even though I spent a significant amount of time getting Japanese roms to apply translations as well as getting the right checksum to operate, this console was often preloaded with some of them (though I did end up discovering MUCH MORE to add to this system, as a good 10 gigs are complete junk that gets in the way of playing it.)

Copying entire game system folders (like Genesis over to Megadrive) as well as deleting half of the Gameboy DS because the games were inoperable, or even within existing folders a Japanese and english game would exist. Many system folders have a best version of one particular game, and many of the folders could be combined (though duplicate games exist, it does help to differentiate the emulators as some of the games can run better on certain ones, though I'm sure the real reason was to stretch content and claim more "games."

Something helpful to mess with is the 'All Games' folder which makes searching through content easy, and allows you to better focus on what changes to make with the system. Though I deleted and added a lot of games, I'm still sitting at about 48,000 entires to the folders (and the SD card is partitioned into 3 sections and can be updated if you are willing to copy everything over to a new configuration which requires a larger OS partition, though I haven't messed with it.)

******************

MOST OF THIS STUFF IS EASY TO DOWNLOADED IN BULK OFF ARCHIVE.ORG!

A good reference point of english translation patches available https://gbatemp.net/entry/list-of-video ... wip.11377/

***********

**
I highly recommend very interesting games that were never officially translated and released in the US:

NEC PC-9800 requires a keyboard, though is worth it to play, Dead of Brain, E.V.O. The Theory of Evolution (translated) which is a very different look compared to the SNES version, some translated games like Yugekitai (shown in video below; a less serious game that reminds me of the Persona series in a graphic novel format,) and many games that are probably never going to be translated to English, such as Agalta RPG series. Another interesting one is Makyouden which is hard to find an english translation of.



Translations available? https://archive.org/details/retronomicon20190802

Just found https://46okumen.com/projects/rusty/

Somehow I overlooked a game called Possessioner (PC-98) which is undergoing an English Translation https://www.romhacking.net/forum/index. ... ic=27891.0



Sharp X68000 Dead of the Brain (I have an english translation on the PC-98 and highly recommend finding one,) and Daimakaimura (which is the best version alongside the arcade release) as well as Akumajou Dracula (a Castlevania remake of the NES original or go for the PS1 version which is even better and believe has additional content when played through it though I might be confused with the PSP release of Castlevania Dracula X Chronicles which has a Rondo of Blood re-release)

PS1 Policenauts, Castlevania Chronicles, Tales of Phantasia (Phantasian translated)



Turbografx CD: Akumajou Dracula X - Chi No Rondo (Castlevania Rondo of Blood or get the PSP version which is slightly different), Valis II and III, Ys Book 1 and 2, 3, and 4, It Came from the Desert, J.B. Harold Murder Club, Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective Vol 1 and 2, Prince of Persia, Summer Carnival '92 and '93, Loom. The console has a lot of interesting games for it which are easily overlooked, and the regular console and Supergrafx are also great, though getting a proper translation can be somewhat difficult, though every game I mentioned should be available in english to some extent, including one from the Bubblegum Crash series, Cadash (best version in existence apart from Arcade. When looking over the Turbografx 16 console I tend to wonder about how games would have changed perhaps for the better, had these games dominated more in the western markets. Some of the best shooters and racing games from this time are on this console, and it has some of the best sound and color rendering. Bonk (referred to as PC Genjin,) Dragon Spirit and Valkyrie no Densetsu is also the best looking on this console, and interesting games like Silent Debugger and City Hunter don't seem to exist on any other console.



SegaCD: Snatcher, Shining Force CD, Lunar Eternal Blue and The Silver Star (though I consider the PSX re-releases to be the definitive versions,) Vay doesn't exist outside the SegaCD, and Final Fight CD is comparable to the Arcade game.



SNES: Metal Max Returns (remake of the NES game), Far East of Eden Zero



Nindendo Gameboy DS: Metal Max 3


Dreamcast (has to be CDI format) : Seven Mansions has an English translation, and Skies of Arcadia is a decent game only released on Gamecube with reduced quality, and Gauntlet Legends is almost as good as the Arcade despite graphic slowdown or glitches. I ran into an issue where Blue Submarine No. 6 is not loading past the system menu as well as Grandia II not being recognized though both of these worked before when I tested them; I might prefer the Steam Grandia II HD release anyway.) Other interesting RPG games are on this console that don't exist anywhere else, and a homebrewed game called Gunlord was made for this as well. I'll try to switch between emulators though I'm wondering what's causing some of the issues.

Arcade games like Dinosaurs and Cadillacs, Daimakaimura, Turrican, Space Harrier, Super Hang-On,

Don't overlook PSX Strider 1 (basically the Arcade re-release that was initially going to be introduced on the Supergrafx but ended up getting ported at the last moment, and Strider 2


**

********

Most of the games require tinkering to get them to work

(key functions are Mode and Start to reset to main menu, or both thumb analogs pressed in to get to the Retroarch menu where you will need to disk swap from the quick menu screen)

I actually needed to plug in my USB controller to get the wireless controllers configured, and had some issues getting the second one to work which I managed to get it to be uniquely recognized at some point.


************************** update list ***************
(These all have english translations available if not already) some are still being tinkered with

PC Blade Runner, Cave Story,

NEC PC-9800 Yugeketai, Dead of Brain, Farland Story series, Makyouden, E.V.O. The Theory of Evolution, Arcus,
Sharp X68000 Akumajou Dracula (the recreation of the NES classic which was ported to PSX,) Daimakamura (Ghost and Ghouls is closest to Arcade,

Amiga PC: Defender of the Crown CD32, Eye of Beholder, and many of the CD32 bit games have some interesting ones to check out (such as Darkseed, (Amiga 1200) 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

GBC Revelations Demon Slayer,

GBA Mother 3

Nintendo DS Metal Max 3, 9 hours 9 persons 9 doors, Trauma Center - Under the Knife (1 and 2)

NES Sweet Home, Glory of Heracles (Heracles no Eikou), Silva Saga

SNES Far East of Eden Zero, Metal Max Returns, Earthbound, Radical Dreamers (what inspired the Chrono Cross story, and of course Chrono Trigger is better,) FFVI still is my favorite, and of the "Persona series" or Digital Devil Saga: Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei, Shin Megami 1 and 2. Treasures of Rudras and Star Ocean were decent also, and Wizardry V and VI are considered some of the better versions, and Y's V. Glory of Heracles (Heracles no Eikou,) Emerald Dragon (different versions exist. . .,) Silva Saga 2, Xax,

(PC Engine) Turbografx 16 Bubblegum Crash, Lady Sword, Maison Ikkoku, Valkyrie No Densetsu

Turbografx CD Ys Series, Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective, Valis series, It came from the Desert, J. B. Harold Murder Club, Akumajou Dracula X (Castlevania Rondo of Blood) and I'm still looking for viable english translations of Startling Odyssey series, and Xax III

Sega CD: Snatcher, Shining Force CD, Vay, Lunar Series (after playing the PSX)

PSX Xenogears, Policenauts, Tales of Phantasia (Phantasian translation), and Lunar EB (having finished SSS long ago) and returning to Valkyrie Profile, Vagrant Story, Alundra, Breath of Fire IV, Wild Arms 2, Grandia, Chrono Cross, Suikoden 1 and 2, and FF IX after I never really got into them.

PSP: FF2, FFIV, Persona 3, Star Ocean Second Evolution, starting on FF VII Crisis Core

Dreamcast: Skies of Arcadia, Grandia II (HD version is better)

[SomeInternetBloke]

I find it ironic how you've posted games I'd actually enjoy.



I think the order of video games I've played goes like this:

2021: Minecraft with a cousin for five minutes.
2017: PlayStation 4 that I won in a raffle at work and played a racing game but sold it shortly afterward.
2005: Wolfenstein 3D.
1997: Nintendo's Zelda, Final Fantasy 1, Mortal Combat 3, Killer Instinct.

(got tons of homework and have to teach my cousin some astronomy tomorrow so he doesn't join a bay area gang and slang bootleg DVDs and nickle bags of shwag to make both ends meet, one day. live long and prosper Catoptriganosis: except the worm is an alien... I'm a shit brain stormer but that's all I got.)

[SomeInternetBloke]

This reminds me of the tricks my Dad used to pull off. Like this one time at a birthday party, my friends and I watched him stack several bricks each separated by two pencils. We were then asked to pick one brick for which he claimed to break. He'd then do this breathing ritual and stuff and gesture several times in the position he needed to strike the bricks. 2 bricks down, 4 bricks down, 6 bricks down - he did it properly almost every time. It's muscle memory.



I recall how I inherited my Dad's reflexes. I was working at Subway Sandwiches one-afternoon washing dishes. A went to put a lid on a stack that had these recessed lips or whatever for stability when stacking. The stack fell and I reflexively did a fish swimming maneuver with my hand palm side up - flounder style. I managed to keep them from falling. The co-worker said, "Wow." I used to do random stuff like this in high school too. I could stand somewhere before the half-court line on a basketball court and measure the distance for a backward shot. Then turn around and swish!


Remember that film, Ronin, starring Robert Deniro? There's a Russian spook in it whose reflexes he tests to out his secret identity. Deniro shoves a mug of coffee off the counter. The guy's sitting down in a chair and catches the mug on the side just below the height of his seat seat.



I can't replicate that but I do tend to win a lot at the film, Blood Sport's quarter snatching game.



It's why I used to play punching games at the bar. Speed. But I stopped that a while back. The rules were the participants had to close their eyes. Then the opponent would then strike their jaw. It was usually with military dudes or local gym types who could measure their power. If the person flinched or squealed or something, they had to take a drink of hard alcohol. We used to call it, Chins. I ended up receiving a hairline crack in my incisor. It's barely noticeable. Probably why I've never posted recent photos of my smile. I still have nice teeth but anyway. Okay, gotta go!

edit: I was confused the other night after writing the comment about the Ronin film clip. you see I'd remember the scene in mirror perspective for some odd reason I think it was the copy I'd watched. I do that a lot. my simulation hardware tosses in a false positive like, "yep you're genius AF that's exactly how that shit happened brah" fml.

[Catoptric]

This generally opposes the argument, that pure communism or socialism is doomed to fail due to little incentive to improve infrastructure (if it isn't profit-based.) People attempting to get gas in Cuba might have to line up to one gas station and wait for 2 hours for a restricted amount of gas despite being local to major gas-producing countries like Venezuela.

American healthcare is still shit and people expecting any real retirement community that doesn't screw them over seem to find solace in places like Thailand or other east Asian countries that seem to regard the elderly with better care. Places in the US are exploitative and profit-based to the exclusion of innovation.

[Catoptric]

I find it ironic how you've posted games I'd actually enjoy.

I think the order of video games I've played goes like this:

2021: Minecraft with a cousin for five minutes.
2017: PlayStation 4 that I won in a raffle at work and played a racing game but sold it shortly afterward.
2005: Wolfenstein 3D.
1997: Nintendo's Zelda, Final Fantasy 1, Mortal Combat 3, Killer Instinct.

(got tons of homework and have to teach my cousin some astronomy tomorrow so he doesn't join a bay area gang and slang bootleg DVDs and nickle bags of shwag to make both ends meet, one day. live long and prosper Catoptriganosis: except the worm is an alien... I'm a shit brain stormer but that's all I got.)

Skyview is a hlpeful phone app, or Skyeye, and if using a telescope Dark Sky Map can be helpful (though maybe not if attempting quick telescope setups.)

If using a telescope get a basic SCT one.

I recommend the Stellarium app for astronomy when using a computer.

Astrophotography (preferably images already produced as the actual process is tedius) is a neat way to be involved with space. The main thing is recognizing Polaris and recognizing the key components to the stars.

[SomeInternetBloke]

I find it ironic how you've posted games I'd actually enjoy.

I think the order of video games I've played goes like this:

2021: Minecraft with a cousin for five minutes.
2017: PlayStation 4 that I won in a raffle at work and played a racing game but sold it shortly afterward.
2005: Wolfenstein 3D.
1997: Nintendo's Zelda, Final Fantasy 1, Mortal Combat 3, Killer Instinct.

(got tons of homework and have to teach my cousin some astronomy tomorrow so he doesn't join a bay area gang and slang bootleg DVDs and nickle bags of shwag to make both ends meet, one day. live long and prosper Catoptriganosis: except the worm is an alien... I'm a shit brain stormer but that's all I got.)

Skyview is a helpful phone app, or Skyeye, and if using a telescope Dark Sky Map can be helpful (though maybe not if attempting quick telescope setups.)

If using a telescope get a basic SCT one.

I recommend the Stellarium app for astronomy when using a computer.

Astrophotography (preferably images already produced as the actual process is tedious) is a neat way to be involved with space. The main thing is recognizing Polaris and recognizing the key components to the stars.

Hey thank you so much, Catoptric.

Hey guys, I gotta a reason to be grateful again. Those Benedictine monks sure were right. My cousin is going to appreciate your help man. Thanks.

[Madrigal]

I guess this is a Catoptric thread, but we're watching Succession and it's really entertaining. I also think whoever did the soundtrack should also be credited with a huge part of its appeal.