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Weekend Gamer: Pillars of Eternity

Pillars of Eternity: Collector’s Edition Details Play as any one of six races: Human, Aumaua, Dwarf, Elf, Godlike and Orlan. Utilize five core skills to overcome any situation: Stealth, Athletics, Lore, Mechanics and Survival. Deep character customization: Build a character as one of eleven classes such as Barbarian, Chanter, Cipher, Druid, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Priest, Ranger, Rogue and Wizard. Sculpt your own story: Side with various factions using a reputation system, where your actions and choices have far reaching consequences. Explore a rich and diverse world: Beautiful pre-rendered environments laced with an engaging story and characters bring the world to life. Read More Pillars of Eternity I am loving the RPG game Pillars of Eternity, which just came out yesterday. Since I'm a big fan of Black Isle's Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate, I felt right at home with Pillars. This game plays like ..…

Back in late October, I started re-playing the original Pillars of Eternity with the intention of beating it. I did technically “rolled credits”, but it wasn’t an ending that I wanted. So I restarted the game to beat it properly, because I was going to skip over Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Originally excited for the game, but after seeing all the negative reviews, I’ve decided to not play it at all.

To be fair, not all the reviews were negative. All the positive reviews are from people who weren’t fans or didn’t play previous Dragon Age games. All the original Dragon Age fans absolutely hated The Veilguard. They said it’s an OK game, but it’s doesn’t deserve the Dragon Age name.

Anyway, back to Pillars of Eternity, you might remember that I first bought the game in March 2015, and did put in some hours into the game. I got to the third (and final) act of the game, but for whatever reason, I never finished the game. I think, perhaps, I got stuck and didn’t know where to go next.

Continuing the game save that I started in 2015 was not possible, because I have very poor memory and didn’t know what was going on. So, I had to restart the game with a new character build.

I have to say that the game aged very well. It’s still a very good game, especially because the graphics look so good! I put in another 40 hours and now I’m starting Act III, about the same spot where I left off in my original game. This time, however, I also bought the two expansions: The Winter March I and II, so before I finish the game, I will start the Winter March.

Also, I wasn’t one of the Kickstarter that helped launch Pillars of Eternity, but I did end up buying a used copy of Collector’s Edition (this was only available to backers). The big box didn’t really have anything that amazing: a DVD of the game, a “cloth” map, an instruction manual, and an apology letter from the developers saying the DVD will be sent later. I did research and found out that I was missing a thank you postcard, a patch, a mousepad, and a guidebook. I didn’t really mind it, because I only paid $25 for the Collector’s Box. I might try and track down that guidebook later.

Anyway, I stopped playing Pillars when I came down to Jacksonville, simply because my save files are on my desktop computer in Minneapolis, because I was playing it on Xbox App. I’ve already put in 112 hours into the game, I feel like I’ve beaten the game, my character is God-like… I think I can put a pin in it and can rate the game highly recommended for fans of top-down role-playing games.

I will started playing Pillars of Eternity 2 soon-ish.

P.S. GOG, for some reason, is not tracking my achievements for Pillars of Eternity for the GOG version.

Yours,

Weekend Gamer
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The Chinese Connection

Generated by GROK Read More Path of Exile 2 Earlier this year, in my review of Last Epoch, I wrote that Path of Exile 2 was going to launch in 2024. Well, the game has officially launched in beta on Friday, December 6, 2024. If you want to play the game … …

ELON MA
x.com

I think by now you’ve all heard that Elon Musk is a liar and cheater. Last year, Musk boasts that he’s ranked top 20 players worldwide on Diablo IV, and that was already suspicious. I personally didn’t believe it, but I didn’t really care or questioned it because, I had stopped playing the game (because it sucks).

Recently, Musk showed off that he’s at level 97 (ranked 13 worldwide) in hardcore mode on Path of Exile 2. How is that possible? Considering that very dedicated players have put in 10 hours a day to grind up to that level, and to see a guy who runs several companies … it’s just not possible. Just the time and effort, it doesn’t add up.

Turns out, Musk hired skilled Chinese players to level up his characters or that he just straight up bought those accounts. The POE2 community have built up a strong case against Musk (now known as Elon Ma).

Musk’s character is on a Hong Kong server

Musk’s account shows “Elon’s Maps” (this suggests other players are playing and not using that particular map)

Musk does not understand weapon levels

Musk does not understand the “four things” on a map

Musk does not understand how to use the magic flask

There are tons of other things, so just do a search. As someone put it, there were many indications that Musk had no idea what he was doing. You can draw the conclusion that he didn’t play the campaign or learned how all the mechanics works. To get to level 97, at that advanced level, it is insane that he does understand basic things.

Anyone who plays Path of Exile 2, like myself, can see right through the lie: that Elon Musk did not play and level up to 97. Famous YouTuber and Twitch streamer Asmongold challenged Musk, “If Elon Musk can prove that he played this account to 97, I will stream on X, starting the day that he proves it, for an entire year straight, every single stream.”

Shortly after, Musk unfollowed Asmongold and removed his blue checkmark and gaming tag. He then leaked Asmongold’s twitter message (which violated Twitter’s terms of service by the way) saying that Asmongold has editors. Of course he has editors, they’re his employees that manages and edits his YouTube accounts.

Later, Musk returned Asmongold’s checkmark, but no gaming tag.

I think what happened is that Musk wanted to impress the gaming communities out there, by showing off his high-level characters, but it backfired in his face when he chose Path of Exile 2. If he had chosen another game, like Mark Kart 8 and saying he’s ranked #15, no one would question it… just like no one questioned it when he claims to be high ranking in Diablo IV.

TikTok Read More TikTok Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Amelia Moore is currently on her iCRYONTOUR! Moore first appeared on the scene on TikTok. Her debut Teaching a Robot to Love EP came out in 2022, via Capitol Music … …

TikTok
tiktok.com

Ahead of the pending TikTok ban in the United States, many users are panicking and switching over to another Chinese-owned app Little Red Book (named after Mao’s Little Red Book). That app is even worst, in terms of censorship, as many Americans are finding out. According to Washington Post, Little Red Book censors various key words, including “546 nicknames for Chinese leader Xi Jinping”.

I think most Americans don’t realize how dangerous the Chinese Communist Party is. Every company in China is beholden to the CCP… and the parent company of TikTok is ByteDance, a Chinese company with heavy ties to the CCP. Just do a Google search and you’ll find numerous articles and photos of the CCP department working inside ByteDance.

Do you want the Chinese to own your data (even though they probably already have it)? My problem is I don’t want a country to run an app to promote pro-China stories. ByteDance’s other app TopBuzz was exposed for such things, thanks a story by BuzzFeed.

My biggest problem is that China bans so many apps, like Google, search engines, private emails, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, VPN, (anything that they can’t control) … but they have a problem that America is banning TikTok? Give me a break.

Marvel Snap

UPDATE: In compliance with the TikTok ban, Apple and Google have removed the app, as well as Marvel Snap. Turns out the parent company of Marvel Snap is ByteDance, who also owns publisher Nuverse (a subsidiary of ByteDance).

Other apps banned includes Lemon8 and CapCut − Video Editor, according to USA Today. Never heard of the other two.

P.S. Donald Trump vows to save TikTok, even though he tried to get rid of it in 2019.

Marvel Rivals Read More Marvel Comics Based on the Marvel Comics of the same title, Werewolf by Night is the latest horror film from Disney Plus. This might be the first of the new type of Marvel’s Horror titles, which will likely to include Blade … …

Marvel Rivals
marvelrivals.com

Someone asked me why I’m not playing Marvel Rivals, the hottest superhero team-based player vs player shooter, based on Marvel characters. First of all, I’m not an online gamer. I don’t enjoy playing against other players, and I’m not competitive and, to be perfectly honest, I’m not good at it.

The second thing is that gamers are saying that after a certain losing streak or at a certain level, to keep players engaged and keep playing, the server will put in A.I. bots in the game so you can easily kill them. They don’t say they’re bots, but I’ve seen the evidence, the game developer is lying to you when they say that all players are real.

The last thing, and the most damning thing, is that the game developer is NetEase, based out of China. Because they are a Chinese company, they brought over the CCP’s censorship to America. For example, you cannot say “Tiananmen Square” (an event that the Chinese government slaughtered a lot of unarmed students), “Free Tibet” (a country that China annexed and took over in the ‘50s and kicked out the Dalai Lama) or “Winnie the Pooh” (ironic that Disney is the owner of Marvel). You can’t even say “1989”, that’s how sensitive the CCP is. Can you believe that? That whole year needs to be censored.

I really think the US Defense Department should put NetEase on the same list that they placed Tencent games on.

I guess at the end of the day, I don’t want to support a game that censors Winnie the Pooh.

Yours,

Weekend Gamer
[email protected]

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Nintendo Switch 2 Announced

Nintendo Switch 2 Read More Nintendo Switch I’ve wanted the Nintendo Switch since I first heard about it last October 2016. The system launched in March 2017, but it immediately sold out everywhere. …

The worst kept secret, Nintendo Switch 2 is coming out in 2025, as per a brief announcement video. There will be another event, April 2nd, which will go over details, such as chipset, new changes, and, most importantly, pricing. I am guessing the Switch 2 will be in stores, for sale, this Summer 2025… a full eight years since they launched the first Switch.

Based on the video, here is what I can speculate:

It’s slightly bigger

Two USB-C (top and bottom)

Wide and stable kickstand

A new “C” button

Joy-Cons can be used like a mouse

Joy-Cons snaps on instead of sliding

Mario Kart 9

Exclusive Switch 2 games

Backward compatible with original Switch

The short video confirms a lot of things we’ve already knew about through various online leaks. What we still don’t know, and what I’m most interested in finding out, is the price of the Switch 2. A lot of rumors are suggesting $400, but I think it’s going to be a lot more. I wouldn’t be surprised if they announced that it’ll be $500… after all, this is the same company that released a $100 alarm clock. You read that right, Alarmo, the new Nintendo alarm clock is $100.

Yours,

Weekend Gamer
[email protected]

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Weekend Gamer: CES 2025

Weekend Gamer here. With CES (Consumer Electronics Show) happening right now in Las Vegas, we are getting a lot of tech news, like the Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5090 Graphics Cards which will cost nearly $2,000! Officially the start date is January 7, but the media preview kickoff started January 6.

AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme Read More AMD The biggest feature will likely be a new AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme CPU (all the current AMD-based handhelds are using the Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip). Only the MSI Claw uses an Intel chip. … …

AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme
amd.com

No surprise, but we got an announcement that AMD will be releasing a new generation of AMD Ryzen Z2 processors (the Z2 Extreme, the Z2, and Z2 Go). Currently, most of the current PC gaming handhelds on the market right now are using the AMD Z1 Extreme or slower variants of the Z1 chip.

So, for 2025, expect to see ROG Ally 2, Legion Go 2, and even Steam Deck 2 (Steam is not releasing Steam Deck 2 any time soon), to all be adopting the new, faster (and more efficient) Z2 processor. Although I only mention the top three, but I suspect other handhelds (or even unknown ones from Xbox) may be joining in on the crowded gaming handheld market.

If you’re in the market for a gaming handheld, and you want the latest and greatest - I would wait until those Z2-powered devices to be released. However, if you want a gaming device, but want to save some money (and don’t mind last year’s tech), I would look for sales or clearance of last year’s models. After all, I was a sucker and bought a Legion Go because of their $200 price drop.

For 2025 and beyond, I expect to see more and more handhelds. The reason? It’s a growing market, and most manufacturers are already producing laptops - they just need to repackage those same components into a handheld style and, voila, you got a new product. If you look at the current laptop market, there are hundreds of laptops out there. Some manufacturers focus strictly on gaming laptops, so those same manufacturers will also offer the same gaming laptops in a smaller form factor.

Nitro Blaze 11 Read More Nitro Blaze In other PC handheld news, Acer has also entered the crowded handheld market with the announcement of the Acer Nitro Blaze 7, via their website. There’s nothing really new or interesting here … …

NITRO BLAZE 11
acer.com

The first time I talked about the Acer Nitro Blaze 7 in Nov 2024, I mentioned that the PC handheld was already a crowded market. How do you stand out? Well, how about a whopping 11-inch gaming handheld called the Nitro Blaze 11??!? To put things into perspective, currently the largest handheld goes to the Legion Go at 8.8 inches (and already that’s large!).

At that 11-inch size, imagine holding a very heavy iPad and trying to play games. I don’t know how well that’s going to work.

Still, I think it’s super cool. Since my eyes are getting worst, I always want a larger display… but there is point where I don’t really think 11 inches is that portable. That’s why Acer also offers two other sizes: the original 7-inch and an 8-inch version of the Nitro Blaze.

Personally, if I am going to get a Nitro Blaze, I would want the largest. Besides the large display, why would I go for the 11? I don’t really travel that much, and I would prefer playing with comfort. If I am traveling, the controllers are detachable, taking a cue from Lenovo’s Legion Go, so the Nitro Blaze can stand alone as a tablet. Plug in a keyboard and mouse, and voila, you’ve got an 11-inch gaming laptop. Now, that’s freaking cool.

As for specs, it’s powered by AMD Ryzen™ 7 8840HS processor, with AMD Radeon™ 780M graphics (a dedicated mobile graphics card!). There’s also USB4 Type C - if you prefer an external graphic card. The resolution is a native 2560 x 1600 resolution (the same as the Legion Go), 120Hz refresh rate, and 500 nits brightness and it’s equipped with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM.

For the price, the Nitro Blaze 11 will retail for $1,100, which, I personally think is a reasonable price. Anyone who shops around for a gaming laptop knows the $1k is a pricing norm. If I had the money, I would get this and play around with it. Perhaps, if it can perform, it might replace my aging Asus ROG Strix G15 (even though the 15-inch screen is much nicer to work with).

Legion Go 2 Read More Lenovo Legion Go You know I’ve been interested in the Lenovo Legion Go since August 2023, and now, in November 2023, the Legion Go is out now. In my original writeup, I said that Lenovo is somewhat late to the game …

LEGION GO 2
lenovo.com

So, it’s official, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 has been announced at CES 2025. As you know, this is the one I’ve been waiting to hear about all month. The biggest upgrade is the native landscape 16:10 OLED 8.8-inch screen! You know my biggest complaint about the first Legion Go is that stupid vertical screen, which causes problems with old games. The fact that it’s OLED, that’s a massive upgrade.

In my prediction for the Legion Go 2 in November, I mentioned that Lenovo should give us a faster way to login, like a fingerprint reader or face ID … and wouldn’t you know it, we now have a fingerprint reader.

Other upgrades include the new Z2 Extreme chip, which is an easy prediction, and a new 8-way directional pad! They also mentioned double the battery life and upgraded 32GB of RAM.

Those are just the early stories… I’m sure we’ll hear more about the Legion Go 2 when it’s officially unveiled and listed to order. Right now all that information is based on early prototypes at CES.

Right now, all the press are talking about the 8 inch Legion Go S with the two versions: a SteamOS and Windows version. As I previously mentioned, I’m not interested in a smaller or slower device, but since it’s the first non-Steam Deck that runs SteamOS, everybody is interested.

Gamestation Retro Go Read More Gamestation Atari will be heading into the crowded handheld market with their new Gamestation Go, announced via a twitter post. Look, I have absolutely NO INTEREST in this. Here is the reason why …

Gamestation
myarcade.com

When I first talked about the Atari Gamestation Go earlier this week, I thought Atari was producing these devices and had absolutely no interests in it. Why would you buy this product just strictly for old Atari games? It just didn’t make any sense to get this one-trick pony.

As it turns out, that Gamestation Go is part of a much bigger Gamestation ecosystem created by My Arcade.

So far, what we’ve learned from CES is that there will be three new products: Gamestation Retro Go (the handheld), Gamestation Retro Pro, and Gamestation Retro Mega. We’ve already seen the handheld, which contains a lot of old control-styles like a paddle. Unlike the Atari version, it looks like the regular Retro Go will include additional arcade titles from Sega and Capcom.

The Retro Pro is a game console. You hook it up to a television and it comes with two controllers. The Retro Mega is a small 10-inch arcade cabinet (bartop style). It comes with joysticks and buttons and will be the most expensive (they suggest the retail price will be $300). At $300, I’m going to pass on it. After all, you can buy basically the same thing by Arcade1Up for $150 or Evercade for $250 right now on Amazon and then add additional cartridges to expand your game library.

Each Gamestation collection will include over 100 games, like Pac-Man, Galaga, Dig Dug, Street Fighter II, Mega Man, Final Fight, 1942, and more.

You can usually find My Arcade products at Walmart or Target, so I’ll wait to find them in retail stores and if the price is appealing, I might pick up one of these Gamestation. Who knows, maybe I’ll find some heavy 70% off discounts that Target is famous for doing when they want to clear out their inventories.

Yours,

Weekend Gamer
[email protected]

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Weekend Gamer: Go! Go! Zo!

      Weekend Gamer here.

      With CES (Consumer Electronics Show) coming up on January 7, I am hearing all these rumors about what to expect in the popular computer handheld market: Lenovo Legion Go S (two variants), Legion Go 2, Atari Gamestation Go, Zotac Zone 2. If true (or false), I will update this article with additional details after January 7.

Legion Go S Read More Lenovo Legion Go As you know, I recently purchased the Lenovo Legion Go, and I’ve been enjoying it. Of course, as soon as I bought it, there’s already rumors of a Legion Go 2, which may come out in 2025. The biggest feature will likely be a … Steam There’s no more waiting… You can now buy Steam Deck, right now, without reservation. According to steampowered, it’s been more than a year since it was first announced, but due to numerous supply chain issues and …

LEGION GO S
lenovo.com

      In my original rumor in November 2024, I mentioned that the we’re getting a “Legion Go Gen 2 and Legion Go Lite”. It would seem that not only are we getting two new Legion Go’s, but three.

      There will be two Legion Go S, a black one running SteamOS and a white one running Windows 11. As I previously mentioned, the S models are smaller, with no detachable controllers, and less powerful than the regular Legion Go… so I am not interested in this. The only way I would be interested in the S model is if the price is attractive. For example, I had no interests in the Xbox Series S model, but when I saw it on sale for $199, I bought one (even though I already had a Series X).

      I am also not interested in running SteamOS on the Legion Go S, because I want to GOG or Xbox Game Pass… however, I can see why people would want a better Steam handheld. The current Steam Decks are old, by technology’s standards, and from my understanding, Valve (the maker of Steam), will not release new Steam Deck 2 for another few years.

      What I am really interested in is the Legion Go 2 with a new AMD Z2 chip. I like the first one, but I want a bigger, faster, and kickass version. I hope Lenovo fix everything wrong in the new version. For example, maybe add a second fan or redesign the Legion Go for better cooling. Right now, my Legion Go overheats due to the SSD running too hot and the device’s inability to cool it with one fan.

Gamestation Go Read More Arcade1Up So, I accidentally bought my second Arcade1Up, an Atari's Asteroids machine. Of all the cabinets that Arcade1Up released, this was my least desirable.…

GAMESTATION GO
atari.com

      Atari will be heading into the crowded handheld market with their new Gamestation Go, announced via a twitter post.

      Look, I have absolutely NO INTEREST in this. Here is the reason why: the Gamestation Go is not going to be very powerful. It doesn’t have to be to run 50 year old games. Plus, I am assuming this thing can ONLY RUN Atari games. You know what else can run Atari games? The ROG Ally or Legion Go!!!

      Before I dismiss it, I will confess that the reasons why people will want the Gamestation Go is that there are controls unique to old Atari games. Such as a trak-ball, padding, and the 10-key numpad that you see in the image. Most modern handhelds won’t have those unusual controllers, so if you are hardcore serious about your old Centipede or Breakout games… yeah it makes sense that you would want a Gamestation Go. Me? I’m going to hard pass on this.

Zotac Zone 2 Read More Nitro Blaze 7 In other PC handheld news, Acer has also entered the crowded handheld market with the announcement of the Acer Nitro Blaze 7, via their website. There’s nothing really new or interesting here …

ZOTAC ZONE 2
zotac.com

      The Zotac Zone came out last year. The only thing that sets it apart is the AMOLED screen and control dials and two trackpads and webcam. This thing is truly a mini-laptop… and comes at a cost of nearly $800. Even if you wanted one, you currently can’t even buy it. I’ve looked online, it’s just not available to buy as of this writing (January 2025).

      Despite not being able to buy it, Video Cardz is reporting that we are already getting a Zotac Zone 2 with an upgraded Ryzen AI 300 chip and upgraded RAM and SSD.

      The thing is, how do you know you have the Version 2 vs the first version? Does it come in white or have some sort of distinguishing look to set it apart?

      Like all these new PC handhelds entering the market in 2024 and 2025 (such as the Acer Nitro Blaze 7 which was announced last year), I feel like it’s already too late. By now, every gamer who wanted a handheld already put their money in a device. I mean, I, as the Weekend Gamer, have already purchased a Steam Deck, a ROG Ally, and a Lenovo Legion Go. I don’t really need another handheld… unless you’re going to offer me some insane deals or have a feature that really stands out.

      I will add that I get why these PC manufacturers want to get into the handheld action. If you make gaming laptops, it just makes sense to reuse or design it in a way to fit in a handheld device. Just because I don’t need a gaming laptop, there is always someone out there that needs a laptop. The same can be said for a gaming handheld. Also, you know what they say, the more the merrier. In this case, if that means cheaper prices with more competition, I am all for it.

      There’s no rumors of ROG Ally 2 appearing at CES… but who knows? Maybe we might get an announcement. Based on the release of the ROG Ally X in May 2024, we may start seeing a new ROG Ally release every year on the anniversary of the ROG Ally. That means we probably won’t see the ROG Ally 2 until June 2025.

     

Yours,

Weekend Gamer
[email protected]

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Epic Games: Control

Control Ghostrunner 2 2023 Game Giveaway Kickoff Special: Destiny 2: Legacy Collection (2023) 12/20/23 DNF Duel 12/21/23 Melvor Idle 12/22/23 Art of Rally 12/23/23 Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition 12/24/23 Ghostwire: Tokyo 12/25/23 The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition 12/26/23 Human Resource Machine 12/27/23 Cursed to Golf 12/28/23 Cat Quest 12/29/23 Snakebird Complete 12/30/23 Saints Row 12/31/23 Shadowrunner 01/01/24 Escape Academy 01/02/24 20 Minutes Till Dawn 01/03/24 A Plague Tale: Innocence 01/04/24 Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Read More Epic Games It’s that time of the year again: Epic Games’ Christmas Game Giveaway! Every year since 2021, the Fortnite owner gives away some great games every day until the new year … Control I’ve heard a lot about Control, from Remedy Entertainment/505 Games. The game got a lot of positive reviews from critics, and to be honest, I’ve always wanted to check it out. Unfortunately, I …

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Epic Games is doing their annual Christmas Game Giveaway (there was a free daily game until the new year).

This year (2024), it’s been somewhat disappointing with the Epic Games Giveaway leading up to Christmas Day. In years past, we got some great exciting games Christmas eve and Christmas day, but so far, I’m not really digging the games. I know I am complaining about free stuff (beggars can’t be choosers), I’ll still take what I can get.

The big Christmas game this year is Control, which was originally given away for free in June 2021… and is a game I already own.

I previously wrote, “I’ve heard a lot about Control, from Remedy Entertainment/505 Games. The game got a lot of positive reviews from critics, and to be honest, I’ve always wanted to check it out… I know a lot of people hate on Epic, saying they’re a bully, saying that they’re own and controlled by China, saying their software sucks (it does!)… but still, despite the jank, at least this company is giving away free games. The rich/powerful Steam won’t (and has never) done anything like this.”

Still, if you missed Control the first time around, now is your second chance to get the game for free.

The free game on Dec 26 is Ghostrunner 2, which came out in 2023. Game director Radoslaw Ratusznik described the game as an Ghostrunner 2 as an evolution to the original Ghostrunner.

I don’t think I own the original Ghostrunner… so I’m not sure if I will ever get around to trying out the sequel.

Epic Christmas Game 2024 List:

12/12 The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria

12/19 Vampire Survivors

12/20 Astrea: Six Sided Oracles

12/21 TerraTech

12/22 Wizard of Legend

12/23 Dark and Darker - Legendary Status

12/24 DREDGE

12/25 Control

12/26 Ghostrunner 2

12/27 HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™

12/28 Kill Knight

12/29 Orcs Must Die! 3

12/30 [REDACTED]

12/31 Sifu

01/01 Kingdom Come: Deliverance

01/02 Hell Let Loose

Yours,

Weekend Gamer
[email protected]

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Weekend Gamer: Gaming Desk

Vuart: Computer Desk ODK 48 Inch Gaming Desk Features USB Charging Ports & Power Outlets: The office desk is equipped with 3 power outlets and 2 USB charging ports for your electronic devices, you can easily and conveniently charge your smart phone, gaming gear or Bluetooth devices. Colorful LED Lights: This gaming table features LED strip that contains 10 static colors, 6 brightness grades, 10 dynamic modes and memory function with switching controls. Ample Desktop & Large Storage Space: With main desk size 29.9"W x 18.9" D x 29.8" H, this home office desk provides a spacious workstation for writing, studying, gaming and other home office activities, which is easy to hold 3 monitors and laptops. The under bookshelf and storage shelves maximally provide ample space for your PC case, books, files, devices for convenience usage, and side storage bag helps you store small office stuffs. L-Shaped Design: The L-shaped designed writing desk fits perfectly any places in a corner, which maximize your limited spaces. This modern minimalist desk will be a beautiful decor in your living room, bedroom, office, dormitory, game room, children’ s room. Sturdy & Stable Construction: ODK L study desk is constructed by premium metal frame & high-quality MDF Board to ensure stability and durability as well as scratch and water resistance. Adjustable non-slip foot pads ensure not only protect your floor from being scratched, but also ensure stability on uneven ground. Easy Assembly: The PC desk comes with detailed instructions, all parts are clearly labeled, what you need to do is follow the instructions step-by-step. Read More Weekend Gamer I don’t have a desk, and so all my computer work (and gaming) is done on my ROG Strix 15 laptop and sitting on my air mattress. Eventually, I would like to get something like how IKEA set up on their showroom. That looks cool. …

Well, it’s Christmas Day already! As you know, I’m currently living in a house in Jacksonville, Florida, for a few months. This is the first time that I’m not experiencing snow or freezing temperature in over 20 years. It’s so very nice to walk outside and see the sun in December!

Anyway, the Jax home is unfurnished, so the first few weeks, I was doing all my writing and work sitting on my Air Bed or on the ground. Although it can be done, it’s still not ideal.

I recently upgraded to a big 65” Vizio TV and was working in the den, sitting on a couch with my laptop. It’s not great for productivity (since I end up just watching TV).

Since I got here, I have been searching for a good computer desk at IKEA, but I can’t really justify some of their prices (although I did end up buying a computer chair from them). The IKEA computer chair was $90 (Winter sale), it’s a basic, no-frills chair, but a high back support and has wheels and can swivel.

I decided to order a computer desk called ODK 48 Inch Gaming Desk from Amazon. This is an L-Shaped desk, designed with gaming in mind. It comes with a monitor stand built in, it’s long enough to hold a monitor up to 48 inches. I only have a 34-inch Alienware monitor, that will comfortably sit on the desk’s monitor stand. I’m not sure if there is enough room for an additional monitor, but we will see once I get all my junk down to Jacksonville.

The monitor stand comes with an RGB light strip, which I originally installed incorrectly. I ended up removing the adhesives and moving it behind. Looks great now. If you want a more professional look, you can turn off the lights or not install it at all. It’s a nice option.

The best part about the desk is the integrated power outlet (3 USA standard plugs and 2 USB Power). I immediately used up all the outlets, I wish there were even more ports!

The other nice feature is the cloth storage hanger on the left side of the desk. I put all my extra cables in there, but I think this area was designed to put your magazines or newspapers in there.

The only thing that I didn’t really love is the floating tiny shelf in the middle of the desk. Look, I appreciate any extra shelf space, but this seemed poorly designed. I feel like if I put something heavy on it, that it will break (there are five bolts holding it in place). The desk maker said it can hold 18 pounds, but I wouldn’t test it.

I only wish the desk came with a built-in cup holder… which I rectified with a $16 IKEA cup holder. Otherwise, I am pretty happy with the desk so far.

Right now, I don’t have all my equipment, so it is looking bare. My laptop barely fits on it, but the size is perfect for a keyboard and a ROG Ally or Legion Go setup.

I spent a few hours playing Path of Exile 2 on my laptop with the new computer desk and chair… and feels good. Writing and doing research this way is more productive too. I just can’t wait for my real gaming rig to be hooked up.

Yours,

Weekend Gamer
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Weekend Gamer Tech Bag

Weekend Gamer’s Travel Tech Read More ROG Ally Now enter the ROG Ally from Asus. The ROG Ally will address all the things that I wanted in my Steam Deck: Windows, faster chip, better screen, higher resolution, pleasing looks, and the ability to dock in their enhance graphics …

As I previously mentioned, I am temporarily living in Jacksonville for the next few months.

What’s in my Tech Go Bag?

Asus ROG Strix G15
I plan on writing and updating and photo editing… so I need a real computer. Sorry, some things the iPad can’t do. The ROG Strix G15 is basically my computer, but a mobile version. I bought the gaming laptop in Sep 2020, to replace my MicroSoft Surface Pro 7 (Nov 2019). I don’t really use the Surface Pro or the Laptop, especially if I have a much more powerful PC… but still, I’m glad I have it, especially when I am not at home. The laptop is terrible, it’s big and heavy and the battery only lasts like 30 minutes.

iPad Pro 12.9
I’ve had an iPad since the very first one. I’ve bought them every other year, whenever it gets larger. I haven’t felt the need to upgrade ever since I bought the iPad Pro 12.9 in 2018. As far as I’m concern, this iPad is the perfect tablet. It is a good size, it’s very thin and light, good battery life, and it does everything very quickly.

ROG Ally
I need a handheld gaming device. Since I gave my old Steam Deck to my brother (who is happily getting game achievements on my Steam account), it was down to either the ROG Ally or Legion Go. There’s no contest… the ROG Ally is superior, at least right now. While the larger Legion Go screen is nice, the native portrait display actually causes problems in some of my games (particularly Fallout New Vegas - which does not run on the Legion Go due to the screen). Also, I have all the games and software already installed on the ROG Ally (since I own it since April 2023)… plus I’m still dealing with overheating problems with the Legion Go, because the SSD I bought runs too hot.

ReMarkable Paper Pro
I read a lot of comic books, so I need to bring my ReMarkable Paper Pro. As I mentioned in my review, it is very as close to paper as you can get. I would never recommend this thing to anyone, just because it’s ungodly expensive for a very small need.

iPhone 15 Pro Max
I can’t really function without my iPhone 15, which I had since Oct 2023. I use Visible (since 2021), I get unlimited data. Sure, sometime the internet is slow, but I can’t complain for unlimited internet for $25. My Phone also serves as a hotspot, so my other devices can use the internet as well.

Straight Talk Home Internet
I’ve been paying for Straight Talk Home Internet since Oct 2022. Instead of pausing and re-activating my account, I just unplugged and re-plugged in the new location. Works like a charm. I recommend if you are in a mobile home or moves around a lot, this mobile internet service is the way to go.

I don’t have a desk, and so all my computer work (and gaming) is done on my ROG Strix 15 laptop and sitting on my air mattress. Eventually, I would like to get something like how IKEA set up on their showroom. That looks cool. I might try and get some sort of “docking” setup, so I can work off my ROG Ally by docking in with a full keyboard and mouse, with larger display, etc. I kind of need a desk first, though. It’s not a priority for me right now, all this stuff I have in Minneapolis, so eventually, those items might have to be disassembled and brought to Florida.

What I can tell you is that I rely on everything on my laptop. I’m watching movies, I’m writing, I’m playing games (currently Path of Exile 2), transcoding, researching… It’s funny when I was in Minnesota, most of my work was on my Legion desktop, so I ignored my laptop for years. Now that I’m using it, I am really enjoying it. It’s still big and heavy and my palm often accidentally tap the trackpad, but it performs well.

IKEA gaming setup

Yours,

Weekend Gamer
[email protected]

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Epic Games Daily Christmas Game Giveaway starts today (Dec 19)

2023 Game Giveaway Kickoff Special: Destiny 2: Legacy Collection (2023) 12/20/23 DNF Duel 12/21/23 Melvor Idle 12/22/23 Art of Rally 12/23/23 Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition 12/24/23 Ghostwire: Tokyo 12/25/23 The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition 12/26/23 Human Resource Machine 12/27/23 Cursed to Golf 12/28/23 Cat Quest 12/29/23 Snakebird Complete 12/30/23 Saints Row 12/31/23 Shadowrunner 01/01/24 Escape Academy 01/02/24 20 Minutes Till Dawn 01/03/24 A Plague Tale: Innocence 01/04/24 Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Read More Epic Games It’s that time of the year again: Epic Games’ Christmas Game Giveaway! Every year since 2021, the Fortnite owner gives away some great games every day until the new year …

As I mentioned last week, Epic Games is doing their annual Christmas Game Giveaway, and starting today, there’ll be a free daily game until the new year.

The kickoff week, we got The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria.

Starting today (Dec 19), we got Vampire Survivors. This rogue-lite game was one of the most addictive games when it first came out in 2022. You basically have to survive hundreds and hundreds of monsters running at you. If you have friends, bring them over for couch co-op.

I will be updating the free game list as soon as I know the titles, if there is an amazing title, I will be sure to spotlight it in an upcoming post.



Epic Christmas Game 2024 List:

12/12 The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria

12/19 Vampire Survivors

12/20 Astrea: Six Sided Oracles

12/21 TerraTech

12/22 Wizard of Legend

12/23 Dark and Darker - Legendary Status

12/24 DREDGE

12/25 Control

12/26 Ghostrunner 2

12/27 HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™

12/28 Kill Knight

12/29 Orcs Must Die! 3

12/30 [REDACTED]

12/31 Sifu

01/01 Kingdom Come: Deliverance

01/02 Hell Let Loose

Yours,

Weekend Gamer
[email protected]

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Vizio 65" 4K Smart TV

Vizio 65" 4K Smart TV 65" 4K Smart TV Details With vivid 4K picture quality complemented by Dolby Vision HDR, 4K models offer versatility and value with streaming-centric features like WiFi 6 and instant access to built-in apps. WiFi 6 Dual-Band 4K UHD Resolution Auto Low Latency Mode & VRR Dolby Vision HDR/HDR10+ Bluetooth Compatible DTS Virtual:X QuickFit™ Compatible Read More Technology I think I have my heart set on the Alienware AW3423DW 34" 2K WQHD Curved OLED Gaming Monitor. It is an ultrawide curved 2K screen (3440 x 1440), and has support for NVIDIA G-Synch at 175Hz …

We recently upgraded to a new Vizio 65” 4K Smart TV, as part of leftovers from a Black Friday campaign from Walmart. I’m very happy with the display for the price (less than $400).

It’s not a V-Series or an M-Series, this is just the base 65” Smart TV. I know Vizio strips out certain features in those other television line to bring the cost down, but whatever they took out (such as Freesync), I don’t really mind if I’m saving money. If you really need those features, you’ll have to pay more.

I haven’t purchased a new television in a long time. The last time I got a TV was when 2K was all the rage, and I got a 40-inch no-name brand. Of course, I never watch TV, so it was somewhat of a useless purchase for me. To be perfectly honest, the so-called 2K resolution of the television didn’t look good to me. Images looks too bright, and the blacks were terrible, and the details weren’t there.

Size and Resolution
The first thing about the Vizio television is the big size: 65 inches! It’s much better than the old 40-inch TV. Despite the large size, like all LCD screens, it’s not as heavy as you might think. I believe the whole thing is about 40 pounds.

While the resolution (3840 x 2160) looks great with no signs of uneven brightness that you find on very cheap displays. Image quality looks very good, sitting at a couch about 3 feet away, but when you look at the image very close up, you can see jaggedness. That’s because the DPI (dot per inch) is only 68 DPI at the large dimension.

Currently, the highest resolution consumers can buy are UHD discs, which I have been very slow on converting, simply because I didn’t really have a 4K television. You can also stream in 4K, but that requires very fast internet. The WiFi6 helps, but for the best steaming options, you need to use Ethernet, which the TV does not include (that is on the more expensive models).

Smart TV
With this Vizio “Smart TV”, it comes with its own computer built inside the television, running its own SmartCast OS. SmartCast offers all the streaming services, such as Netflix, Vudu (now Fandango), Amazon Prime, Apple TV, I Heart Radio, and, most importantly, YouTube. This has it all, and it’s not a bad interface. It’s not slow or ugly. This is amazing, if you do not own a Roku, an Apple TV, an Amazon Firestick, or Google TV… and even if you do own them, like I do, you might not want to even hook them up because it’s easier to just use Vizio’s system.

Signing into each streaming service you subscribe to was very easy. When you launch the app, like the Apple TV, you’re given a QR Code. When you scan it using your phone’s camera, you’re immediately logged in. I was streaming all my Apple television shows in no time.

My only complaint is that it took a long time to update all the apps, even using the fastest WiFi6, it felt like the Vizio television took over 15 minutes to update, restart, update, restart, etc.

Audio
The two 10-watt speakers, certified as DTS Virtual X, sounds fine to me, but if you’re an audio enthusiast, you’ll want to add in your own soundbar or custom audio setup. I think Vizio knows their shortcomings on audio, so the TV is “QuickFit” compatible. The QuickFit are standards with soundbars, designed to integrate with your TV. Eventually, I would like to upgrade the television’s audio, so I will sure to be looking for the QuickFit feature. If you prefer to use headphones, the television does offer built-in Bluetooth connectivity.

Remote
The remote control doesn’t have a numpad, instead it works like a directional d-pad, with some dedicated buttons. Like the convenient “Free TV” button, which brings up Vizio’s free tv service (it looks like Pluto TV). I do not think you can bind or change the buttons on the remote, so if you don’t use Sling, too bad that button isn’t going to change.

Anyway, Vizio prefers you to use your voice to direct the TV, but I find that it’s not good at interpreting what I want. For example, I wanted to watch the film DREDD, but all it gave me were films called “Dread”, not fuzzy search misspellings. When I asked for “Judge Dredd”, it gave me only the Sylvester Stallone film (which I did not want), and nothing else. So, the best way to get what I want is to just to type in a search bar.

Typing on the remote is unbearable, so you need to use the Vizio app… which also sometime sucks, because it sometimes just disconnects from the TV.

Summary
For the price, for the 4k resolution, for the large 65-inch display, for everything that the television offers (free programming), I am actually very happy with the Vizio television.

P.S. For whatever reason, my iTunes can’t connect to the Vizio TV’s Airdrop. So, it seems the best way is to sneakernet (by putting the movies on a USB thumbstick and using Vizio’s USB player).

Yours,

Weekend Gamer
[email protected]

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