Good Things That Happened Recently

PC Master Race said:

me and my friend finished the final boss of Guild Wars 2 main game, and he took a screenshot to keep :D

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So this friend of mine is getting super invested in Guild Wars 2, and we both agreed to do a fanfic RP together ; just now, he said that I played as Rytlock Brimstone exactly like how he'd imagine~

For those that don't know, Rytlock Brimstone is a very prominent character in the game and among the community, especially if you play as a charr (the only playable beast race) ; he accompanies you throughout most quests, going from your superior (tribune) to comrade and brother in arms (at one point he calls you a friend, not a soldier)

So, for my friend to say that I can RP as this super popular and well-known character in a game both of us like, is HUGE

It turns out I have three working GTA III discs, interestingly. I thought I only had two (one I assumed didn't work, but I haven't used it in forever). But, I was searching about my closet earlier and found a third copy I didn't realize I owned. I already know the one disc works, because that's what I've used to play on lately, but I tested the other two, and to my surprise, they both actually work as well (despite both of them being in rather rough shape, lots of scratches and scuffs), though one of the two stutters in the intro before the game loads. I just skipped that, and the gameplay itself was fine, and I had no issues at all with the other disc. Out of curiosity, I also tested to see if my save data would load across all three, since they're technically all different releases (all three North American versions, actually!), and they all load the same save just fine. Kind of interested by that, since I remember that not being the case with different Vice City versions.

How do I have THREE working GTA IIIs, and can't get a working San Andreas disc??

me (left) and my son (right) channeling our inner JoJo

I'm sure some may have seen my prior rants due to my horrendous luck trying to get my hands on a working copy of the original PS2 San Andreas. The original original, the first release OF the PS2. Three discs I've ordered multiple online- not one of them actually works. It's been an absolute fiasco that I basically gave up on, it's like a curse, every time I buy a copy, it doesn't work (even though multiple different sellers claimed the discs they sold me did). Today on my way home, I stopped by a retro store I frequent, and guess what they had? The original PS2 San Andreas, the same one I kept ordering online and never got a working copy of. They didn't have it last time I was there only a couple weeks ago, and ironically, I wasn't even looking for it, I was looking for Xbox stuff, which I didn't find anything I wanted for. Just out of the blue, oh hey, there's that game I have a whole collection of non-functional copies now.

It works. My god, working copies of the original version of this game exist. It's like a fucking miracle. I can finally start my 100% playthrough I was planning for the original PS2 version for over a year now.

Never really do movie nights with my friends often, usually on rare one off occasions, but just did one with a few of them last night and it was nice! Perhaps I've forgotten how fun it could be but for sure proposing to do it a bit more often.

I got salary raise starting this May~

So today I was looking around the internet, just browsing at various PS2 stuff, and I noticed a camo version of an aftermarket controller I like to use. Granted, the things are kind of a cheap piece of crap, but I very much like the form factor of them, strongly reminiscent of Xbox 360 controllers they no doubt try to emulate. I've bought a few of these controllers before, but never have I seen a camo version, and obviously, with everything I own being camo, I have to have a camo one of these as well. Technically - it's a PS3 controller, not PS2, but with them being identical (at least from prior knowledge of doing this in the past) as far as shell moldings go, I should be able to just tear it apart and swap PS2 internals into it and be good to go, essentially having a PS2 version of a controller shell they only make for PS3. I'm quite excited for it, and I'm glad I discovered this in my boredom. It may be until the 23rd when it comes in, though...

I was going to post this yesterday, and forgot. So yesterday, the camo controller I had coming in arrived much sooner than expected (it said on the confirmation I got when first ordering it that it was expected on the 23rd). There's these crappy, cheap third parties I've used for years and years now for PS2, and I never knew they made camo ones until a week ago when I was randomly looking online and saw one. Me loving anything and everything camo (woodland mainly), I instantly wanted it. But here's the thing - they only make the camo ones for PS3. Looked and looked forever trying to find one for PS2, never could find it. Maybe they exist, but I couldn't find them. Nevertheless, from prior knowledge of having had these controllers for PS3 (just not in camo), I knew that the shells, the buttons, everything apart from the boards themselves is literally identical between the PS2 and PS3 controllers they make, and so I ordered a PS3 controller anyway just for the camo shell. It came in yesterday, and I went out to a retro store I frequent and bought a PS2 version of the same controller in regular black (only option they have there) just for the board. Swapped around all the stuff yesterday, and here you go - the only instance as far as I know of a camo version of one of these controllers existing for PS2, and I'm very happy with it. Also added non-functional vibration motors from old Xbox 360 controller parts to it just for added weight in the hand, which is actually kind of a bitch to do with the grip panels being separate from the shell, and falling out ridiculously easy when getting it back together. The motors have to go in at a very specific and crooked angle, and it's virtually impossible to get them in without the grip panel falling off. It's a nightmare, and took me a few frustrating minutes just to do it. But I did it. Another minor modification was swapping out a little decorative piece of plastic that goes across the front, which was camo like the shell itself on the factory controller, but I swapped it for the black piece that was on the donor PS2 controller, since I found it more aesthetically pleasing to have that piece not match and instead go along with the other black parts of the controller.

Controller itself works reasonably well, but it has some very minor issues that are just endemic of the horrendous build quality of these controllers from the factory. I love them and have used them for years, mainly for the very Xbox 360-esque ergonomics and being really cheap (brand new, costs $15 - you can't touch actual Sony brand ones for twice that...), but I'm not advocating them as being "overly great" or anything; you get what you pay for. There's a slight issue in sensitivity where the left stick is a hair more sensitive to the right than other directions, so it takes less travel to activate in that direction, but honestly, it's a very minor issue I'm already used to after having been using it since last night. I could care less about that, but it's a present issue nonetheless. On some of these, the sticks are stiff in one direction, so I'm just glad this one doesn't have that problem. Every one of these controllers is unique in their own way due to extremely bad quality control. The main issue also present, which is really just aesthetic, is that one of the lights on the Analog button meant to emulate an Xbox 360 Home button is somewhat dim. Not a functional issue, but my OCD is not necessarily pleased by it. On some of these, one light randomly just doesn't work at all. Again, every one of these is unique due to quality control issues. Other than that, no problems, though. Initially, when I first assembled it, the L2/R2 buttons were having a slight sticking issue that I couldn't tell why, and have never encountered before, assuming it to be because of the slightly different, grittier finish these controllers have, and potentially microscopic differences in plastic thickness - but by now, that issue has gone away as far as I can tell. I'll at least give it that much regarding that issue that it really has not had much of a break-in period at all. Not that controllers should really need a "break-in" period to work like we expect them to...

I may have a solution to my persistent sleepiness. Coffee never really cut it but I tried yerba mate and it is way better!

I managed to save a lizard from two cats.

A funny situation. I got a rather strong pain in my right foot. It lasted for over a week. Just as I started considering going to a doctor, it happened that I had to drive quite a lot in the last two days. And imagine that, several hours of constant leadhoof turned out to be exactly the kind of exercise I need to make the pain go away!

Also it meant a serious level up in my driving. Both highway and bumper to bumper traffic in a city which people say is confusing and difficult to drive in. Twice.

Dunno if this counts, but I just caught the autocaptioning on YouTube misspelling 'sycophants' as 'sickopants'. Not even a space in the middle, it really thinks 'sickopants' is a word.

Faust said:

Dunno if this counts, but I just caught the autocaptioning on YouTube misspelling 'sycophants' as 'sickopants'. Not even a space in the middle, it really thinks 'sickopants' is a word.

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YES... HA HA HA... YES!

As fur meh, over here in the Metalife my boss was gearing up to be annoying and judgmental and micromanagery about a pathetically minor thing, but she got distracted by a different pathetic minor thing that does not involve me in the slightest! Hahaa. Smooth sailing for me, the bat! Everything is coming up Thrillhouse!

Day before yesterday I was taking a basket of paper to the dumpster. While tossing the paper, this pretty young lady came up and threw a box into the opposite side. I noticed a funky design on the box: I thought it was a stormy sky motif



Upon opening the box:




A new, never been out of the box, Crosley Cruiser Plus. Trying it out, it works. Being that the speakers are tiny (13 1/2" X 9 3/4" X 3 3/4" so not much space for really decent speeks) the sound was rather tinny. Attaching the patch cords automatically disconnects the speeks and I connected it to my main system (self designed and built VT amp). That improved the sound, but since this uses a crystal cartridge it over emphasizes the high frequencies. A magnetic cartridge would be better. Still not so bad, especially when considering the price. It also has the option of operating with Bluetooth devices.

There is a bit of weirdness, a twiddle knob just above the on/off/volume control labeled "Pitch". This isn't a tone control. Instead it adjusts the turn table speed. Usually, that control is kept away from users. Since I have a strobe disk, it's NBD. I checked it and the 33 1/3 RPM bars stood still with the Pitch knob just to the right of the marked center.

As for the motif, Crosley calls it "Faded Denim", and the Cruiser Plus comes with several different designs.

As to what was going on here, who knows? It doesn't make any sense for anyone to buy this and immediately throw it in a dumpster unopened. Perhaps this was a "let's make up" gift from a boyfriend and she doesn't want to make up? Maybe she was one of those audiophoolz who turn up their snobby, snooty noses at a Crosley? (Like I said, not the best sonic performer, but nothing that a graphic equalizer can't fix.) Since I was there, why not just see if I wanted it rather than unceremoniously throwing it away?

Oh well, mine now.

Note: Crosley doesn't have the best reputation, and I was gifted a Crosley Stack-o-Matic Collegiate that was hideous . The disks would go round and round, and noises somewhat like what was recorded on them came from the speeks. The audio amp oscillated constantly, adding an interesting "leaves rustling" undertone to the music. The audio amp looked like one of those dual 741 small signal op-amps in an 8 pin mini DIP with a crude 'U' shaped heat sink made from thin sheet metal stuck on. This IC was definitely not intended for power amp duty. The Collegiate was a plug-in model and the AC mains connection went straight to the primary of a tiny PTX that was always energized even when the thing was "OFF". That is very poor engineering and an accident just waiting to happen. I couldn't get rid of the damn thing fast enough.