A 2023 Blog!

Happy New Year! It’s been a long time since I sat down and wrote anything and since I had a few moments, I thought I’d give it a go and jot down some random thoughts that have been popping into my head. Figured we’d re-visit some ‘30 Thoughts of a Diluted Mind' and go from there! 1) I have goals to change up some gaming habits in 2023 that I hope I can see to fruition. I mentioned in a previous episode of The Wally Wallcast that I have SO many games that I’ve purchased that I’ve yet to play, and I’d like to see some of that through this year. Especially games that I’ve paid for. It’s one thing to get freebies and all that, but like so many, I’ve spent no small fortune on video games that I should probably get to at some point. 2) It’s not like those ‘free’ games are exactly free. There’s a good handful of games that I’ve added to my libraries that are from services like PS Plus, which is an annual fee, so there IS a cost associated to the games even though I don’t technically own them. Needless to say, I don’t play online much at all anymore, and if I’m not going to play these games, it seems silly to keep paying for a service that I’m not going to use, so…it’s time to either dive in and play some of these or cut the service short, me thinks. 3) On the flip side of things, I’ve probably gotten more out of my monthly Game Pass subscription with Microsoft than my PS Plus subscription with Sony. I’d even go so far as to say that I’ve gotten more in the last 18 months of Game Pass than the past five years of PS Plus. That is to say, I’ve played more games on GP than I have with PS+, and that’s pretty telling. I’d love to change that in 2023. 4)

5) The example I gave on Twitter was Shredder’s Revenge and the Cowabunga Collection. Those games just scream Nintendo to me. It makes sense in my head that they should be played on the Switch, as opposed to the PS5 or Xbox Series X. I know that those systems are more powerful and thus, games will always run better (for the most part) on the latest generation of consoles. Not sure why I’m wired this way but I think I need to get that thought process out of my head. 6) I guess I tend to purchase a lot of these games on the Switch due to their portability as well. I mean, if I can play Shredder’s Revenge on-the-go, for example, then why not get it for that system instead? And sure, there’s always that ‘Switch Tax’ that people go on about, but…I guess if you like the mobile aspect of playing these games, then it’s worth it, no? Curious as to how others choose which system to get a game for, if they own multiple. I suppose it comes down to performance, but maybe I’m not alone in my thinking. 7) One of the goals I have is to stop defaulting to the same games over and over again. I know you should never bag on one’s self for playing games you enjoy, but the three I tend to visit over and over again are: NHL 22, WWE 2K22 and Animal Crossing. I usually move from one to the other. They’re comfort food and easy time killers. But I just think about all the time I default to those three as opposed to something else and…well…that’s a lot of time I could commit to exploring something new. 8) I started playing Final Fantasy VIII recently, after purchasing it on the Switch a few months back. It’s going…okay. I’m only about 6 or so hours into it and…I’m not 100% sure how I feel about it. I’m not the biggest fan of the Junction system or how you have to select specific abilities. Like, there’s only four abilities (at least right now) and you give me three slots. What’s the point of this? The Draw feature is fine, but…I don’t know. Maybe I’m just not used to RPGs where you don’t actively collect gold after defeating enemies or have more control. 9) I feel like FFVIII is more restrictive in making you play the game the way they want, and not how you want. That’s probably the point, I suppose. Especially coming off of VII. VIII certainly offers a different experience so far, but not so sure I like it. Oh, and the triple triad, or whatever the card game is? I’ve done it twice and haven’t gone back. Not sure I will until the game forces me to, if it does. 10) When I mentioned on Twitter I was going to play it, opinions were divided, but were certainly black and white, which is pretty much the norm with this game from what I’ve come to learn. You either really like it, or really hate it. Doesn’t seem there’s much middle ground with Final Fantasy VIII and I can see why. I’ll stick with it for a little while longer, but…not sure how much longer. 11) I’ve been watching some ‘Tubers share some of the games they’re most looking forward to in 2023, and I have to admit there’s a few that I’ve got my eye on as well. I think I’ve got Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe on my list of games to play this year. Then again, I’ve had Kirby and The Forgotten Land on my list since it released last year, too. Is 2023 the ‘Year of Kirby’ for me? 12) I joke, but I’ve really been looking for an excuse to get back to Kirby’s Dream Land 2 on the Game Boy for a while. I completed the first one years ago and really enjoyed it. It’s kind of the game that propelled me into a ‘Year of Kirby’ (oddly enough) where I started with Dream Land, played (but didn’t finish) Dream Land 2, and then eventually to Kirby’s Adventure and the 3DS titles. Dream Land 2 and I have unfinished business, and 2023 may be the year I finally see that through. 13) Also, Kirby’s Dream Collection on the Wii? What a wonderful compilation that was.

14) Not sure if it’s a ‘getting older’ thing or if it’s due to the fact they’re usually shorter, but I’ve been exploring a few additional visual novels in recent time. I just started playing Coffee Talk through Game Pass. I just started it over Christmas and I was starting to get into it. Looking forward to investing in that story a little bit more over the next few weeks. 15) In November, I purchased Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Why would I buy a game like this near the end of 2022? Well, simply put, I love these track and field games. I’ve enjoyed them all the way back to the original Track & Field arcade game and NES release. They’re not as much fun in a solo venture, but…I still find plenty of enjoyment out of them, even if for small sessions. 16) One game that I must play in 2023 is Panzer Paladin. I bought that right around Christmas 2021 and still haven’t played it. It looks SO good and I have heard/read nothing but great things about it. Put it on the list. 17) Streaming. Is 2023 the year? 18) I bought a lovely, purple, aluminum case for my MiSTer in the fall of 2022 but not before realizing I shouldn’t have. When I bought my MiSTer setup, it came with a nice heat sink to plop on the CPU and works well. Problem is, this aluminum case acts as it’s own heat sink and is designed to negate the need for this heat sink. No biggie, but I don’t have a heat gun or anything that will heat up the sink enough for me to remove it without risking ripping it off the board. Gotta be an easier way to do this from how I’m thinking. I want my MiSTer in a case and thought I finally had a wonderful solution. I do, but…guess I should’ve read it through clearer. Maybe I shouldn’t order things when I’m drinking… 19) To that point, alcohol has always been a vice. Not to the point where it’s ever been a problem, make no mistake. But…it’s affecting my physical well-being and it’s money that can be better spent elsewhere. Not saying I’m cutting it out completely, and certainly not a ‘resolution’, but I’m gonna really shore that aspect of my life up. Those who have followed or listened to my podcast know this is something that’s come up more than once. 20) A reminder: Resolutions are bullshit. They’re a recipe for failure, every year. Don’t set resolutions. Your resolution fails and it goes out the window. They’re not good for you, and are often counter productive. Stop it. 21) Set goals. Goals are flexible and can be changed or altered to better suit a change in your situation. You can set the bar higher or lower, if need be, but the goal can remain in some way, shape or form. And it also doesn’t diminish any of the efforts you’ve put towards your goal to that point. Be a goal setter. And don’t set resolutions. Resolutions = bullshit. 22) Back to video games…the one RPG I’d like to re-visit is Riviera: The Promised Land on the Game Boy Advance. It’s been 10 years since I tried it, based on a recommendation from TinpotGamer. I never finished it. But I’m going to.

23) Is 2023 the year Nintendo finally drops some details on their next system? I’m perfectly content with the Switch and my massive backlog of games, but Nintendo finally upgrading to a potential 4K ecosystem of gaming would be sexy. 24) There’s very few things I enjoy more than gaming on my CRT, especially with retro games. There’s nothing better. Sure, they look great (and it’s very convenient) to have systems hooked up to a modern screen with upscalers and the like…but I like retro gaming on a CRT the way they were meant to be played. That said…I don’t know if I still love the extra space a CRT commands. 25) I’ve had a very minimalist mindset lately, and I’m really trying to downsize when and where I can. My gaming room is pretty tight with two computers, many screens, one large TV, one small TV, a CRT, etc, etc. It’s…busy. Much as I love everything, I don’t know. Probably has to do with me getting older but so much of it is literally collecting dust. Something’s gotta give. 26) The one main reason I don’t want to get rid of the CRT is, believe it or not, for DVDs. Not so much for movies, because I don’t own too many films on DVD anymore and those that I do own I can usually find on a streaming service somewhere where they’ve been upscaled. The biggest reason to keep the CRT is for the old cartoons on DVD. Some of those old shows look really great on a pixel screen. But 480p on a 4K television does NOT translate well, as I’m sure you know. 27) ToyBox TV. Really want that to see the light of day in 2023. 28) If I do get back to streaming, the first game I want to play is Bugs Bunny’s Birthday Blowout. Don’t ask me why. But hold me to it. 29) Sirhcman is a weiner. 30) Don’t compare yourself to others. Find happiness within yourself. Mind your own business. And never apologize for who you are. You get one run. Do it your way, as long as you’re not being a dink to others. Until next time, kids! Thanks for reading.