Recent Posts

1

Hardcore Gaming 101 / Re: Metroid PRIME: Remastered.

« Last post by X on March 23, 2023, 09:40:30 AM »

Maybe Retro Studios wanted to do it like this the first time but were unable due to the limitations of the Cube and disc size. It might have been possible on the Wii if it were only the first game and not the entire trilogy.

2

Hardcore Gaming 101 / Re: Metroid PRIME: Remastered.

« Last post by zangetsu468 on March 23, 2023, 05:37:59 AM »

Been a number of years since I last played this game and I still remember the way it looked on the Cube. But now? Wow. I like the updated graphics. They've improved much of the visuals in small yet big ways. Everything is still recognizable but with more added detail and higher pixel resolution. I'm even liking the fact that much of the Chozo ruins actually look more like ruins then before. There's more stone work incorporated into the temples and such (especially on the elevator platforms. Even the plant foliage looks more like plants should. I can also see some details in Samus' visor on the closeup shots. In terms of the environments, landscaping and area designs, MercurySteam could learn a thing or two from Retro Studios.

That’s actually great to know, I always believed the best environments were Tallon Overworld, Chozo Ruins and Phendrana Drifts. It pleases me to hear they’ve respected and made greater at least part of this.

3

Hardcore Gaming 101 / Re: Metroid PRIME: Remastered.

« Last post by X on March 22, 2023, 10:12:17 PM »

Been a number of years since I last played this game and I still remember the way it looked on the Cube. But now? Wow. I like the updated graphics. They've improved much of the visuals in small yet big ways. Everything is still recognizable but with more added detail and higher pixel resolution. I'm even liking the fact that much of the Chozo ruins actually look more like ruins then before. There's more stone work incorporated into the temples and such (especially on the elevator platforms. Even the plant foliage looks more like plants should. I can also see some details in Samus' visor on the closeup shots. In terms of the environments, landscaping and area designs, MercurySteam could learn a thing or two from Retro Studios.

4

Off Topic / Re: Concerning rise in political dogwhistles and rants being thrown around the forum

« Last post by X on March 22, 2023, 07:05:55 PM »

Exactly. What Dongled had said. Just be who you are and live your life as you see fit. Besides I still want to see more of your art and we can't do that if you aren't here anymore 

5

Off Topic / Re: Concerning rise in political dogwhistles and rants being thrown around the forum

« Last post by Dongled on March 22, 2023, 11:30:08 AM »

I believe in treating others the way I want to be treated. I support gay rights and trans rights because it literally doesn't affect me if someone else marries someone who is trans or gay/lesbian or anything in between because it's none of my business. With that said BLOOD MONKEY, there are anti-trans people in every community, just like their are anti-semites in every community (something that affects me personally as I'm Jewish.) It really sucks that people can be hateful towards someone who is different from them but the best advice I have is to find those who will accept you for who you are and stick by them. But I can understand being uncomfortable around people who are against your existence. Just know that I, and many others here, are not one of them. We support you.

6

Off Topic / Re: Concerning rise in political dogwhistles and rants being thrown around the forum

« Last post by VladOfWallachia on March 22, 2023, 07:25:35 AM »

It hasn't been all over the place but I've noticed it creeping in, mostly with the word "woke". People complaining about virtue signaling, those sorts of things. Words that have no meaning other than to exist as a shorthand for saying something more offensive but bannable. Do the people using the word "woke" even know what it means, or the history of how it came into being used like it is?

It's concerning and with such a small community it feels almost threatening.

I'm a transgender woman. I've been a part of this community for a long while and felt accepted for what I was regardless of what I've identified as at the different points throughout my life. The world outside is getting a lot scarier for people like me, people are trying to convince the world that people like me mean them harm, many seem to believe we're part of some massive organized movement. Laws are being passed because of it that have already done direct harm to me. I'm not involved with politics. I have no agendas to push. I'm trying to enjoy my life, and more importantly, since I'm posting here, trying to just enjoy being a Castlevania fan around a group of people with a similar interest. But now it's getting harder to even have that without seeing little reminders of the real world harm happening to me.

I don't want that sentiment to creep into this community that I've been a part of for almost 10 years now. Things like this always start quietly.

Trans rights are human rights.

"Woke" politics have zero substance. It's just the next iteration of the same old play from the fascist playbook. As the ruling class continues to consolidate power and wealth, the vast majority of us are getting pushed closer and closer to slavery each passing year. So what do the fascists in power do to ensure the peasants don't fight back? They manufacture baseless nonsense that targets the most powerless and voiceless people in our society. They want the majority at each other's throats so that we don't focus on our actual oppressors, and this forum is a perfect example of that. One mention of "wokeness" and the thread devolves into the community tearing itself apart. This is exactly what fascists in power intend when they manufacture this baseless nonsense. 

7

Off Topic / Re: Concerning rise in political dogwhistles and rants being thrown around the forum

« Last post by theplottwist on March 22, 2023, 06:56:34 AM »

I'm sure BLOOD MONKEY feels much safer now.

In other news, I recommend anyone interested in learning the basics of dog-whistle politics to watch Natalie Wynn's channel "Contrapoints." There are others but the subject matter is too brainy to go over here. Here's a vid I particularly like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx4BVGPkdzk

There are others such as Innuendo Studios' brilliant "Alt-Right Playbook" series, even though it's a bit outdated by this point. I unfortunately have no references for the specific subject of "trans scare" that are easy to consume, one will need to explore into it further and find their own way.

8

Off Topic / Re: Concerning rise in political dogwhistles and rants being thrown around the forum

« Last post by Bloodreign on March 22, 2023, 04:43:12 AM »

Edit: Nah, not going to be something I comment on, not the place for it.

There are forum rules for harassment of any kind, the community here is quiet, so I don't think anyone will come after you.

9

Off Topic / Re: Concerning rise in political dogwhistles and rants being thrown around the forum

« Last post by Belmontoya on March 21, 2023, 02:27:33 PM »

I don't have to do anything. It's already started to fall apart. They've shot themselves in their own foot -with a nuclear weapon- and now have to deal with the fallout.

Sounds pretty serious.

10

Off Topic / Re: Concerning rise in political dogwhistles and rants being thrown around the forum

« Last post by Eric Roman on March 21, 2023, 10:14:07 AM »

Having been born at the start of the '80s, I’ve witnessed enough history to notice something very strange happening ever since America hired an Internet Meme as a President who wound up spending A LOT of effort on a microblogging website seeding our present Culture War.  (Better here than overseas, right?)

Since then, the battle for Civil Rights revived in a huge way, affecting everything from gender expression to colorwashing our escapism as some kind of concession for never representing the rest of the crayon box. 

I was born into a time and place where organic diversity came with the territory, so this recent push comes off as disingenuous, especially where box offices and streaming are involved: "Don't like this thing that isn't marketed towards or appeals to you?  You must hate ::Topical Group of People::!"

(On that note it also became trendy to demonize White People and, as I am Not Apparently Hispanic Enough, there are ways I’ve had to navigate this fucking bullshit, not to mention the ongoing threats towards friends and family.)

It has long been my policy not to air personal business on this forum, but to clarify my context I’m making an exception: I’m recovering from a relationship in which the entire spectrum of such “well-meaning” sentiments were distorted and weaponized in such a way as to cost not just one of my dearest friends but the love of my life. 

As a casualty of the Culture War, any time I come across any sort of reasonable critique or joke in passing relating to my pain, I cannot help the smirk.  After all, finding the humor in one's own agony helps; I've made great light of it since the restoration of my intellectual freedom. 

That is the place my recent thoughts on Sonia Belmont's significance and delayed reaction to the chipshot came from. 

I apologize if my remarks have added to your unease.  During my annual glances here I’ve lurked across many of your threads and thought about chiming in some advice and encouragement regarding your troubles, alas I’ve been too preoccupied against such efforts.  I was oblivious to your sexuality until you sounded your concern; as far as I knew, you're a fellow talented artist.

I have always judged people on their character, not their cover; for some claiming to be bastions of "justice" and "equality", I've learned this isn't enough for them--it's even considered dangerous.