Slaughtahouse

Played the demo last year. I knew then I would need to buy Sea of Stars but I held off until the physical release. First game I aim to complete in 2024 after my Balatro addiction… Approx. 3 hrs in. It’s on Steam for those interested. Essentially a new Chrono Trigger. JRPG with interesting characters, excellent art, music, and combat that isnt just spam attack.

Sea of Stars on Steam

STORE.STEAMPOWERED.COM

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Sea of Stars is a turn-based RPG inspired by the classics. It tells the story of two Children of the...

I generally avoid PvP games and when I do play them, I prefer casual. I used to play a lot of BF (BC 1 & 2) and CS:GO. BF I preferred ranked (I don’t recall if those games would separate) but they uniquely were fun because of the team work required to win. The collective energy of squads completing tasks to overcome an objective is super satisfying for me.

Since those days have passed and BF has been more focused on solo gameplay, I’ve diverted to PvE games.

Killing Floor 1 & 2 and absolutely fantastic and probably one of the few shooters I am good at today. Suicidal is my default difficulty; Hell on Earth if I have a really solid team. I predominantly play Medic and as per KF gameplay mechanics, I can kite pretty well. Meaning I can string enemies along the map whilst I slowly recover health, ammo etc.

If I sort by playtime, KF (1) leads with 286hrs. KF2 is my 5th most played game with 138hrs. 

Looking at this list reminds me how good Insurgency was… haven’t played that in years!

On 14/05/2024 at 12:18, UltraMega said:

 

I agree that their leadership on Xbox is poor, but their leadership wouldn't really matter if they had good games. 

Yes but is it the chicken or the egg? The developers / studios are responsible for those games, but they typically get their funding from their partners. Those partners (publishers, sponsors etc.) have their own goals ($). That's usually where the execs jump in, clarify the vision to help the publishers, investors etc. know how the money will come. As they're the ones that are accountable at the end of the day. And its up to them to communicate that to the developers so they can pitch their games and show how they will meet those objectives ($, engagement, quality etc.). 

An example: I'm fairly confident the majority of the developers would have not wanted to make Halo Infinite a live service game. That's a game IMO that wasn't good enough to be released, as core features to the Halo brand, co-op, forge etc., were incomplete, but it was pushed out because it's the result (risk) Microsoft was willing to accept. 

Good games take time, money, and usually, clear direction. If there is constant change and no means of managing that effectively, the result is usually less than desirable. 

Either way, no matter what we think about it, what they could have done, should have done, what they're doing right, wrong... the trust with MS is severely damaged. It will take consistent, great games, to be released to bring back Xbox and they need to stop pivoting...

40 minutes ago, iamjanco said:

The saga continues:

 

 

I would agree. Not much to step up from but it could depend on their priorities. Vive Pro, Vision Pro, Quest 3, Index are all doing slightly different things. The only headset that pushes the boundaries for PC gaming and resolution is the Pimax. However, it's very expensive and is still bogged down by technical constraints (weight, cables etc.). If the users priorities are different, like comfort and portability, the Quest 3 would be a better bet (as a side grade). 

Pimax Crystal review: the ultimate VR headset for flight sim and racing games?

WWW.EUROGAMER.NET

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John Linneman reviews the Pimax Crystal, the 'highest clarity VR headset in the world'. What's it good for?

'We need smaller games,' says Xbox's Matt Booty, right after Microsoft shut down the studio that made Hi-Fi Rush—and was reportedly about to pitch a sequel | PC Gamer

WWW.PCGAMER.COM

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The mixed messages go up to 11.

I think it simply comes down to leadership needing to be held accountable for not defining a clear vision and sticking to it. You know, here's our vision for Xbox for the next 5 - 10 years, here are our goals to help us get there, and provide progress updates along the way. 

Seems like they're all over the place. Spend billions acquiring Zenimax/ Bethesda, Activision, and then do not provide the support and resources they really need to deliver more content at the pace Xbox needs for game pass. AAA games have 5 year+ long cycles at min.* They literally just got the ball rolling and then they kill their devs. Insane. 

We need more small indie, high profile games; Kills the studio that did exactly just that.

Nothing to do with marco economic "head winds" lol. 

9 hours ago, Andrew said:

Aurora Borealis? At this time of year? At this time  of day? In this part of the country? Localised entirely within EHW?

Steamed hams never disappoint

Different automotive antifreezes have different inhibitors for specific components in a vehicle. Some of them are too harsh for different tubing types. For the context of the build (budget, FX build) I don't think it matters all that much. 80/20 (4:1 ratio) is probably a safe min. 50/50 (1:1 ratio) is max. Goal of using antifreeze in a PC is to prevent mixed metals from going into galvanic corrosion mode. Unless you're running this loop outside, sub-ambient temps, you'll be fine with the min. Just cross check what tubing you're using first IMO. 

I've had a bad experience with an ethylene glycol (primary additive is most automotive coolants) that wrecked my clear XSPC tubing. Went green, nasty etc. No overall net impact to performance and blocks were by and large, fine. No major clogs. More context can be found here if you want to go down the rabbit hole: https://www.overclock.net/threads/what-is-plasticizer.1380775/  Really wont matter if you use EPDM tubing or something like Primochill Advance LRT tubing. Which is why most enthusiasts who water cool just fast forward to EPDM. Low maintenance. 

Honestly, for this build, I wouldn't overthink it.

Cleaning it: Many guides out there. IMO doesn't really matter how you clean it, just do it well, especially radiators, and then finish with distilled to minimize any microbials sitting in the loop. The more acidic the cleaning solution, the more harsh it can be on the finish of a block, like nickel plated. I usually just do hot tap water and dish soap. Some rads will be dirtier than others. https://www.titanrig.com/blog/post/how-to-flush-a-pc-radiator#:~:text=Plug the radiator's ports and,will be ready for service. If you want to go more in-depth, there is Mayhem Blitz. Never tried it but I'm not sure how many water cooling threads ive responded to in my history, but most of the time Sir Beregond has responded before me, and he's recommended Blitz in the past many, many times. I trust the guy, even if I've never met him XD so I'm sure its good alternative if you want to spend money. 

Small PSA that Hades II just dropped into Early Access. 

Hades II on Steam

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Battle beyond the Underworld using dark sorcery to take on the Titan of Time in this bewitching...

Xbox 360 (via Series X back compat)

- Hexic HD (XBLA)

- Perfect Dark (XBLA)

- RDR

Video clip: Perfect Dark, proxy mines only (test)

Slaughtahouse04 |  Xbox

WWW.XBOX.COM

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A capture by Slaughtahouse04

Slaughtahouse04 |  Xbox

WWW.XBOX.COM

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A capture by Slaughtahouse04

On 27/04/2024 at 17:14, neurotix said:

 

It is mass produced, but it's fantastic. No lie. It's made by Sysco, which is a huge restaurant supplier.

 

Sysco Shop

SHOP.SYSCO.COM

 

I have the Stereo Echo already, and mom doesn't like it. So I need suggestions for a medium roast, arabica, columbian coffee that is cheaper.

 

Also, the 2 lbs. bag of Stereo Echo is like $50 USD for us (minimum, it might be more, I'd have to ask the fiancee). We have some already and its lasting.

 

I don't go anywhere generally, I'm a shut in with poor social skills, so all that going to coffee shop/getting to "know" people/ asking for recommendations is not something I'm able to do. Not to mention we don't really have a coffee scene here, it's all chains.

 

Please just suggest something similar to a medium roast, 100% columbian arabica coffee for much cheaper. She's trying to find one she likes that she can drink every morning and she's gotten to be very picky in old age...

 

Thanks

 

Hey, sorry for the late reply.  I hear you and I probably won't be the best person to provide just advice on just coffee over the web. Just because I strongly believe your local roaster will have something much better, whether due to costs or quality, than what I can recommend. Thats what I meant about the Echo. Not that its the best coffee out there, rather its one of the best options for me because the costs are cheaper locally and in person.  

If going to a local coffee shop is a constraint, just do a google search online for local roasters. Most shops will have Columbian or Arabica sole sourced or blends. Any local roaster worth their salt will supersede a mass produced product that is distributed to restaurants or chains, generally speaking. 

Im sure there is roaster within your state that can provide a similar quality / price to what I can obtain locally

To simplify the answer to the question (can my GPU run X displays?), just look at the bandwidth of each port.

1.4a does 32 Gbps

HDMI 2.1 does 48 Gbps.

Then just cross check the constraint (bandwidth) against your target output. HDMI 2.1 can safely do 4K / 120hz / 10 bit. My 3060 Ti was hooked up to my C9 OLED doing 4K / 120 HDR back in 2020. 

The Display ports will be a bottleneck if you want to push 4K / 120hz. 4K / 60hz should be doable at 10 bit no problem on all 3 display ports.  

Quick google search will find you calculators to help: Video Timings Calculator (tomverbeure.github.io) E.g., 

Sketch to simplify:

GPU horsepower to run games is a different story XD. Especially if you want to run surround, which means you're increasing the render and display resolution of said game, which will become extremely taxing, depending on the title. 

First Ever Look at Starfield Land Vehicles Revealed in Brief Gameplay Clip - IGN

WWW.IGN.COM

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Bethesda has given Starfield fans a first look at what might be its most-anticipated feature yet: land vehicles.

Vehicles inbound amongst other updates. Check out this vid. 

1 hour ago, ENTERPRISE said:

 

Great coverage as usual. I have to say, EK is a real mess for all sorts of reasons. It really shows that the culture is entirely screwed up.

Explains why so many of us, generally speaking, avoid EK. I just didn't expect it to be THIS bad. Too many horror stories that are likely driven by the systemic issues within the company. Whether its products failing, customer service, high costs compared to comparable alternatives, and their overall marketing strategy. Appealing to the (larger) market focused on RGB, shiny stuff vs. highly performant equipment. 

Thanks for sharing the follow up link from GN. I'm about 50% through that video. Super interesting content, could be a A&E special.

Next time on Slovenian Greed

On 23/04/2024 at 20:59, neurotix said:

Hey @Slaughtahouse, are you familiar with Citavo coffee? Our local Italian restaurant we go to serves it after dinner and it's fantastic. We asked the waitress what it was and she showed us.

 

We ordered some and I guess it's a restaurant supply company, but it was $75 for 24 2oz packets, enough to make one 12 cup pot.

 

We are interested in something similar (but much cheaper)for my mom to drink every morning, so I thought I'd ask you. On the package it says 100% Columbian and 100% arabica. We want something that tastes similar. No fruity or nutty notes or anything, just strong coffee.

 

Thanks bud.

Never tried, sounds expensive as heck at $75 USD for 1.35 kg / 3lbs, especially with no real details. Sounds mass produced. Which doesn't mean its bad but I'd expect much better value. 

I buy the Echo from Stereo for about $40 CAD for a 2lb bag. I stay strong with my reco:

1. find a local coffee shop
   1. When I say local, Im talking hipster / small business. 
2. build a relationship
3. ask them for recos.

Some of the Youtube comments worth highlighting:

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Slovenian person here, employed in slovenian "computer dev" private sector for 2 decades. After seeing the LinkedIn list and the description of how these people behaved, I can only say you've experienced ""the "balkan" way the things operate"". Not proud of it and most of people will deny it; but in Slovenia, that saying goes. Things will not get better and in my country, the CEO will sack or get rid of the company, start a new one and rip people off some more AND debt will NOT! be repaid due to the laws here. He will do this simply because he can as there are no state level repercussions to it. It's a level of almost normal conduct in my country and while people try to flee from these practices, there are others who love them. Seems that was the case here.

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Lawyer here, and you are correct that there are legal remedies for nonpayment of salaries that could be quite severe for EK. Practically speaking, however, they are also not paying their taxes, which may suggest an impending bankruptcy (likely a chapter 11 reorganization since the company has underlying value). If they do enter bankruptcy, the lawyers, government, and employees will get paid first (likely in that order), assuming the US entity has the money to pay. A wave of employee litigation may speed up that bankruptcy, but really if they're not paying their taxes the writing is on the wall. I am curious what kind of illiquid investments led to this shambles, but the company culture seems to be a big part of the blame. Fantastic reporting.

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I am an attorney. I don't generally practice labor law. However, I can say that every state which I am aware of, including Texas, has a statutory provision that awards attorneys fees to successful plaintiffs (employees) in lawsuits for unpaid wages. If you are an employee and your employer has not piad you your wages for more than a month contact a local labor attorney. They will assess your case for free and if your case is viable they should take it on contingency. Contingency means that the lawyer will front all of the costs for the lawsuit and will be paid their costs fees by your employer in the final settlement or award.

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My employer and by extension myself have had quite the struggle getting EK to be cooperative with us after making several purchases in the tens of thousands. We started distancing ourselves about a year ago. A lot of our difficulties with them are starting to make sense with this coming to light. Keep up the good work.

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"We'll see you at Computex. I'll be there. No takesies backsies." Truly terrifying words from Steve.

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EK Water Blocks is accused of non-payment of contractors, employees, and suppliers. We dug into the story and came into contact with now over a dozen people, at time of publishing, who verified various versions of this report.

 

We have collected spreadsheets, cost sheets, chat logs, screenshots of emails and messages, contracts, and tax status information painting a picture of a company driven into the ground by a CEO put in place by the founder. The story is bleak, and we think EK's only chance at recovery is IMMEDIATE rectification followed by swift internal action to correct company culture, behavior, and handling of money. EK's founder must now bear the difficult burden of righting his ship, but at this time, it is unclear how much the founder might be implicated in all of this.

 

EK has taken legal action against some who have spoken out. GamersNexus has prepared all necessary evidence in the event a follow-up is required or if EK becomes further legally active.

Ever heard of Apeman? It’s the budget gopro. Should do the trick but image stability might not be great. It’s like $50 so don’t expect a whole lot. Otherwise, go for a used Hero 4, 5 or 6. Should be under $150 all in with a mount.

I prefer helmet mount or vehicle mount (car, bike, sled etc.) instead of chest. Just a more enjoyable PoV in my opinion. 

I have an OG Go Pro, my wife had the 4 (can’t seem to find it), and I bought my dad an 8 recently. The more recent ones are stupidly good but personally, the 4 will do you good. Does 1080p 120 if I recall correctly.

Could you install a mount that allows you to swing the TV out of that nook, beyond the finish face of the brick / brick veneer? Or is that not a concern?

Quick update: I'll not be updating thread throughout April and into early May. Primarily due to work schedule. 

If anyone wants to jump and add posts with any interesting updates, by all means Please do so If you have any comments for the sheet, you should be able to write them on the sheet directly, and I can QA, adjust accordingly. My schedule (3rd post) broke for some reason. I've deleted it for now, will fix it when I have more spare time. Lower priority. 

In other news, there was a very interesting announcement showcase that aired I believe last week. Called the Triple I (iii) Initiative. Basically a play on AAA (definition for $100m+ budget games), but indies. Not sure what to make of the name lol but the games highlighted seem very interesting. Full rundown here: 

Complete List of Titles Revealed During The Triple-i Initiative 2024

BLEEDINGCOOL.COM

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Earlier this week, the The Triple-i Initiative held a new hour-long livestream showing off new games and updates of indie titles on the way.

I've been out of the loop for a while, haven't played games in weeks but damn... I am impressed @Avacado

I need to catch up!

13 hours ago, neurotix said:

Hey @Slaughtahouse

 

We store our coffee in the fridge, my mom had always done it this way because she thinks it keeps it more fresh.

 

I am wondering since you're the resident coffee expert if this is true, or if it's bad to do because of moisture in the fridge etc.

 

Thanks buddy.

Honestly don't know what's best. Not an expert  but I always just ask my coffee shop what they do and they store beans in containers. So I went ahead and bought an "airscape" container. 

As you push the lid down, it pulls out any air from the storage space. Essentially vacuum seals the beans. I paid about $50 CAD for a medium container that holds approx. 1Kg. 

Airscape Coffee Storage | Planetary Design

PLANETARYDESIGN.COM

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Airscape® brings you the best coffee storage canisters. Keep goods fresh with the patented inner lid which forces excess air out and keeps freshness in.

15 hours ago, neurotix said:

 

 

These are the coffees my fiancee got on her trip to Hawaii. Mid dark roast so they both smell mostly identical to me. I'll try them but I agree that all dark roasts taste the same, just like really strong coffee. The one in the bag was $30. I'll be trying it tomorrow morning but I don't think I'll be gaga over it like I am with the Stereo.

 

I should be more grateful snd appreciative that she got them but honey, why'd you get dark?

You can still get flavour out of a dark roast. I’m no coffee roaster but I think there is a lot of nuance to how you roast and can still obtain unique flavours up to a point. Personally if it’s super oily and roasted to hell and back, I can’t notice it.

My local coffee shop always has a medium roast and dark roast in their grinders. I swap around between them because the beans they use get a real nice smokey chocolate type flavour. Like a peated whiskey. Same shop that reco’d Stereo.

I do have to say, this is not a flex lol, a good brew process can make the difference. I couldn’t notice as much of the diff between good dark roast and so-so one with my delonghi espresso machine.

I’d personally suggest to you to use up your Echo if it’s pre ground to get the most out of it while it lasts before you open another bag   

Have fun exploring new beans  

17 hours ago, neurotix said:

No clue but slaughtahouse might know.

No comment. Never tried

On 14/03/2024 at 18:06, neurotix said:

So this came today:

 

 

Made a pot in our Plebeian Cuisinart drip machine:

 

 

 

This coffee (Stereo Echo) is excellent and one of the best, if not the best unflavored coffees I've ever had. It blows Kicking Horse out of the water.

 

I used a flat spoon and a heaping spoon of sugar (spoon is pretty small) and about half the amount of milk I usually use. It has a great, very strong and rich coffee taste upon hitting the tongue and drinking it, and notes of cocoa shells and chocolate after you swallow.

 

I love it but it was $30 for a bag so it will have to be a luxury and used infrequently. Though some of my teas that we re-buy cost that much or more.

 

Thanks so much for the recommendation and man, after two cups of that I'm wired

Just seeing this now - yea it’s pricey but it’s fantastic.

I still think Kicking Horse is the best value. Like it’s a B tier coffee at an S

tier price. Whilst Stereo is an S tier coffee at an A tier price.

It’s expensive but compared to other local roasters, it’s quite affordable. You also get a decent discount when you buy in bulk. The 2lb bag I bought was $44 CAD. Which is probably around 32-34 USD. Still, I can drive there but I implore you to find your local roaster. Start by speaking to your coffee shop if in doubt, as they have those B2B hook ups

The other Barroco brand I bought was more expensive and IMO only A tier. Still very good but not as good value and quality compared to Stereo.