What Made you Smile/What Ticked you off Today?

[BoneSnapDeez]

My practice is to: (1) conduct a visual inspection of the disc; (2) clean it; and (3) play-test it by watching the opening cinematics, starting each game mode, and playing the game for 10-15 minutes (or to the completion of the first level).

See this is what I used to do, but my game room is so tiny that I can't keep all my systems hooked up.

So say I buy a PC Engine CD today. To thoroughly test it that means I have to drag the console out of the closet, hook it up, play the game, then get the console back in the box and put it away. Lots of wasted time and unnecessary wear on the console.

One last thing - emulation that boots games right from the disc is nice for this sort of thing. I can test Saturn games with SSF.

[Fragems]

It works fine for PS2 games but nothing else really seems to work. Xbox and 360 dsics verify in about 10 seconds(think its only reading the video file that pops up when you put them in the computer) and Wii discs aren't recognized.

Yakuza only took 4 minutes to read and a few others i tried only took 3. So at least I have something to cover PS2 games which is probably the system I find the most games for anyways.

Before I was doing 10-15 minute play sessions but that doesn't really ensure the whole game will read. Recently I had Arc Rise of Fantasia throw a hissy fit 20 minutes in game just froze up with read errors. Ended up having to run it through two more resurfacing cycles to get rid of a scratch that was hardly visible even in direct light .


If someone could make software devoted to just checking game discs for errors they could make a killing. It would literally save me 15+ minutes testing per game and a ton of time and money on returns. Hell I could easily see individuals shelling out $25-50 a year for a subscription to such a service. Plus larger resellers such as gamestop would probably be all over it as well. Somebody go make this .

[Hobie-wan]

If someone could make software devoted to just checking game discs for errors they could make a killing.

Well, the problem is all those proprietary discs (forgot Wii ones wouldn't work either like GC) and things that console makers do to prevent people from copying them throw a monkey wrench in testing the discs on a PC as well. Now maybe someone could make a program you ran on the console so it could play nice with all the voodoo and check the disc contents are readable, that would work.

[Ziggy]

If someone could make software devoted to just checking game discs for errors they could make a killing.

Well, the problem is all those proprietary discs (forgot Wii ones wouldn't work either like GC) and things that console makers do to prevent people from copying them throw a monkey wrench in testing the discs on a PC as well. Now maybe someone could make a program you ran on the console so it could play nice with all the voodoo and check the disc contents are readable, that would work.

I seem to remember software a long the lines of what you're talking about. I can't remember the name or who makes it. I thought it was SlySoft, but I just checked their site and it's not them.

FWIW, Wii and GCN discs can be read with certain DVD drives. But IIRC, you still need special software to read them.

[Key-Glyph]

Thanks for the info on the manuals, prfsnl_gmr and pierrot. When I was ordering, I (obviously) must've stopped reading the fine print at the words "This is the manual that was packaged with the game." I won't make that mistake again. At least it only cost me two dollars!

*heart to heart*

Aw, dsh. Other people have offered some great suggestions for making a difference. I can't really offer anything better -- you just have to remember that you're doing what you can do, and remind yourself to be compassionate toward your own efforts.

If it's any consolation, though, I sympathize about feeling overwhelmed by the ugliness in the world. I experience moments of uncontrollable rumination on horrible things I've seen or read about and spiral into feeling that the knowledge will crush me, yet simultaneously believe I must bear witness to those things. Even though I follow my own advice and "do what I can do" -- I went vegan, for example, and plan to volunteer at homeless shelters this year -- it doesn't stop the spiraling. So my point is, there's a straightforward way to address the practical "I should do more" desire, but tackling the "my heart is breaking for the world" issue is different, and more difficult.

BUT WE LOVE YOU. Does that help?

[flex wood]

You have to rotate your upper and lower body exercises or you're just going to end up tired and sore. I'm all for "prison exercises", but for maybe 4 times a week. I rotate between heavy impact weight resistance, and then...yoga.

And I say no to this!

An upper lower or push pull type of thing really isn't for beginners. You end up wearing yourself out way to much to be able to fully utilize your body. There's a reason every beginner routine is a full body axbxa routine, unless it's fluff and pump routine for the fatties at a planet fitness trying to get "toned" for summer.

[Forlorn Drifter]

If one more person mentions prom to me, I swear I'm going to rip out someone's throat.

[Stark]

If one more person mentions prom to me, I swear I'm going to rip out someone's throat.

Even if it's that hot girl you wanted to ask out but didn't?

[Forlorn Drifter]

If one more person mentions prom to me, I swear I'm going to rip out someone's throat.

Even if it's that hot girl you wanted to ask out but didn't?

Those girls don't talk to me.

[MrPopo]

If one more person mentions prom to me, I swear I'm going to rip out someone's throat.

Even if it's that hot girl you wanted to ask out but didn't?

Those girls don't talk to me.

Because you put off that "don't talk to me about prom" vibe. Positivity is the key.