Cobra!’s Blog

Someone linked me to a series of posts on Reddit which lists multiplatform games that are best on PS2, Gamecube, and Xbox.

I thought these lists were flawed, counting games that only had remakes, and games that were only also on previous gen consoles. While these listings may technically be right I feel that’s not productive. You probably don’t need a side by side comparison video with hours of playtime to know Animal Crossing is better on Gamecube compared to Nintendo 64, for example.

There were also games that were just incorrect, such as Sonic Heroes on Xbox, and Spongebob Squarepants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman on PS2.

Regardless, it got me wondering what a Dreamcast equivalent list would be like. I initially proposed this as a joke but we actually got quite a few listed, so I decided to make a blog post about it!

We should lay a ground rule, though, that we’re only going to count Dreamcast games that were on other platforms from the 6th generation of consoles, or games that saw a generational leap on Dreamcast with a PC version. (For example: Re-Volt) If we didn’t lay this rule, this would be filled by games that are better on Dreamcast compared to PS1 and Nintendo 64. We don’t exactly need expert analyses to figure that out.

I’m also including games that were ported from PC. While it’s a no brainer the PC versions are going to be far superior to any console release, it’s fun to compare the console ports to see how they fare.

Anyway, here is a list we compiled.

List of multi-platform games that are best on Dreamcast

• 18 Wheeler - Also on: PS2, Gamecube - This one is close. The PS2 and Gamecube version have a couple of shadows that are absent on Dreamcast, but the Dreamcast’s overall sharper image quality wins it here.
• Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare - Also on: PS2 - No contest here, Dreamcast looks way crisper!
• Crazy Taxi - Also on: PS2, Gamecube, PC - Dreamcast plays the best here. It plays faster than Gamecube and PC, and the controller is better suited to the game than the PS2’s.
• Dead or Alive 2 - Also on: PS2, Xbox - This one was highly debated. No arguments on Dreamcast being better than PS2, but some argued Xbox was better, but that version was esentially a remake, and I wasn’t a fan of all of the changes of that version, so DC wins.
• Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future - Also on: PS2 - PS2 version has slightly more detail, but Dreamcast looks sharper and runs better.
• Grandia 2 - Also on: PC, PS2 - I don’t know much about this one but other people have told me the Dreamcast version is better than PS2, so I’ll take their word for it for the time being.
• Headhunter - Also on: PS2 - Another no contest, DC looks much better.
• Ikaruga - Also on: Gamecube - See Grandia 2, but replace PS2 with Gamecube.
• Looney Tunes Space Race - Also on: PS2 - Dreamcast version looks sharper
• MDK2 - Also on: PS2 - Looks sharper on Dreamcast
• NBA Hoopz - Also on: PS2 - It looks identical on both, but Dreamcast supporting VGA wins this one by default
• The Next Tetris - Also on: PC, Nuon - The Nuon version is based off the PS1 version and is stripped down from that. The Dreamcast looks like it overhauls the game entirely. PC version is also based off PS1.
• Quake 3 - Also on: PS2 - Dreamcast is higher res and is sharper. It also supported online play, whereas PS2 didn’t.
• Rayman 2 - Also on: PC, PS2 - The game director allegedly said the Dreamcast is the best version, and I’m inclined to agree. It runs at 60fps, whereas on PC and PS2 it’s locked at 30. PS2 does add more graphical detail and an extra set of levels, but DC’s higher framerate and native VGA support still beats that in my opinion!
• Ready 2 Rumble Boxing Round 2 - Also on: PS2 - Looks pretty much identical on both, but again, VGA support wins it for Dreamcast
• Resident Evil: Code Veronica (X) - Also on: PS2, Gamecube - Dreamcast looks sharper. (Note: The Dreamcast did get X, but only in Japan)
• Shenmue 2 - Also on: Xbox - They’re both the same but the Xbox has some small graphical glitches here and there the Dreamcast doesn’t, so DC just barely wins this one.
• Sonic Adventure 2 - Also on: Gamecube - This one will probably be highly debated. Both run great, but the cutscenes are all messed up on Gamecube, so Dreamcast is the winner in my book.
• Test Drive Le Mans / Le Mans 24 Hours - Also on: PC, PS2 - The PC version is based off the PS1 port, and the PS2 looks blurrier than DC & is missing some graphical detail.
• Unreal Tournament - Also on: PS2 - Both versions are butchered from the original PC version and suffer from framerate issues, but PS2 is capped at 30fps, and Dreamcast 60fps. So DC wins here.
• Virtua Tennis 2 - Also on: PS2 - Dreamcast looks sharper and runs at 60fps, whereas PS2 runs at 30.

Honourable Mentions

• Donald Duck’s Quack Attack / Goin’ Quackers - Also on: PC, PS2, Gamecube - It’s a completely different game on PS2 and Gamecube, so this one will be down to personal preference.
• Half-Life - Also on: PS2 - I love the Dreamcast version to bits, but PS2 definitely wins here. It’s also not really a fair comparison since the Dreamcast version didn’t technically release. The Dreamcast’s included expansion, Blue Shift, is also better than the PS2’s Decay in my opinion.
• Grand Theft Auto III - Also on: PS2, Xbox, PC - Wanted to shout out this amazing community effort because the Dreamcast version is actually based on PC and has better geometry than PS2. However it currently runs worse than the other versions.
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - Also on: PS2, Xbox, PC - See Grand Theft Auto III.
• Hydro Thunder - Also on: PS2, Gamecube, Xbox, PC - The Dreamcast is arcade perfect, but the other ports, which are part of Midway Arcade Treasures, are based off that version, and in my eyes, that makes PC the winner by default in my eyes due to higher supported resolutions and potential for mod support.
• San Francisco Rush 2049 - Also on: PS2, Gamecube, Xbox, PC - See Hydro Thunder
• Soldier of Fortune - Also on: PS2 - Dreamcast version is very comparable graphics-wise, but the horrendous loading times on Dreamcast absolutely loses it for this one.
• Sonic Adventure - Also on: PC, Gamecube - Some people, myself included, prefer the Dreamcast game, but it’s hard to say it’s objectively better due to slower framerates.
• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 - Also on: PC, Xbox - Dreamcast version looks leagues better than the PC version and is frankly gorgeous! However, the Xbox version looks better still, and has extra content.

Sources/Credits: Personal Experience, Rookervision, Kim’s Retro Archive, DCAIII Discord server, HD-DVD Discord server

New Year 2026 🎉

Now that 2025 is behind us, and thus marks another year away from my childhood and the tech I love using every day, and us getting older, and older…

Excuse me! Depression taking over there.

I’ve seen other posts on the web talk about their plans for this year, and new year’s resolutions, so here’s mine:

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…and also, here are things I’d like to achieve this year:

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Release Operation: Followthrough

Operation: Followthrough is acheduled to be released in Spring 2026, and we’re on track to getting it finished by then! I can’t give a more exact date yet but for now, development’s going pretty smoothly!

The PC version shouldn’t be far behind. By the time i finish the Jaguar game, I’ll have all of the assets, and most of the code, needed to port it to PC.

After both versions are out, I’m looking into porting the game to other platforms from the same era, such as the 3DO and Nintendo 64.

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Release Operation: Pinkeye physically 💿

There is still work being done the CD release of Operation: Pinkeye.

There are a few things weŕe waiting on:

Propaganda Poster

Included with the physical copy will be an in-universe propaganda poster. This is being outsourced, but the artists in question has had family problems and were on holiday in December. Hopefully it’ll be done soon.

Bonus Level

There’s going to be a bonus level included in the CD release. Still in the design phase, but it will take place between levels 3 and 4.

The level wil also be available digitally as DLC.

Final Update

I plan to release one last update to the game, and that updated game will be what’s included on CD. After that, no more. The game will be finished.

The update will likely just include bug fixes and a final update to the lore.

Exclusive Operation: Followthrough 2-level demo

The PC version of the demo needs updated and to be further polished. The demo available now was rushed to meet a Game jam deadline, and I haven’t really touched it since in order to fous on the Jaguar version. By the time that comes out, though, I plan to polish the PC demo, release it as it digitally, and then include a second level for the version included with Pinkeye’s CD release.

To be honest, this project has been on the backburner to focus on other things, but I’m determined to get it finished this year!

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Start losing weight again

When the pandemic hit, all of my progress towards weight-loss and exerise was put to a hale, and I started regressing.

I got out Wii Fit board fixed and the Wii U set up again, but I wasn’t able to weight myself, and it turns out I’m not just slightly over the weight limit. I need to work on that…

I found a good open-source Android app called Waistline which includes a barcode reader to scan in the food you’re eating, and if it’s not in the database they use, you can add the nutritional info and upload it yourself. I tried MyFitnessPal in the past and it was really useful, but it’s for-profit and locks features behind a paywall. No thanks! Waistline it is.

Go back to Aikido & Iaido practice properly 🥋

Again, before the pandemic, I did Aikido & Iaido classes twice a week, and I fely like I had unlimited energy! I was also noticable faster and stronger!

Then of course, covid happened.

I made a start late last year by going to Aikido weapons classes, but not “body art” as my asthsma has become pretty bad…

Now that I have an inhaler, I can start going back, and to all of their classes.

My dream in the future is to master Aikido and then start practicing professonal wrestlin. I think the two (or rather three) disciplines could yield interesting results…

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Give this site a makeover and maintain it.

If you’re reading this, that means I’ve already done this. Or at the very least made a start.

I discovered Jekyll to do more custimisable, but still customisable, blog. I’ll do my best to still give each post variety and it’s own feel, but for random scribblings, this will do!

As for the rest of the site, I plan to have sections with vastly different styles and feel. Not decided on what sections there will be or what they’ll be like yet, except for this blog, but it’ll be fun planning it!

Let’s also not forget Gemini, Gopher or Finger 👈

I haven’t updated those spaces in a while, and I think I should pick them up again.

I made a TIL page on gemini but I’m only semi-active with it. I’ll start blogging on these again as well as here, as Gemtext is very similar to Markdown, which is what Jekyll uses for posts!

As for Gopher, I’ve lost access to my Gopherhole, so I’ll either need to find a way to restore access, or just start again. Either way, I should also begin adding these posts on there. I could go with either HTML or just a txt file.

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Continue my lovely relationship with my girlfriend 💝

I got together with someone in June last year, and we have plans to eventually find a house and move in together. I’m aware of the housing crisis caused by greedy short-sighted boomers, but we’ll wait for a good fixer-upper and decorate it with our retro-obsessed lifestyles!

My girlfriend is trying to write a book and start a comic server. If you want to check out her work, she’s on Instagram.

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Complete my console collections

This one is admittedly pie in the sky, but I hope to try to finish off my collection of all platforms from the 16-bit era to the Xbox 360/PS3 era. The eras I grew up in!

I made a checklist, which you can view here.

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Take a course in college/online again

I’ve been interested in going back into educaton. I miss the feeling of going somewhere regularly, learning, meeting new fork, and having a goal in the end to work towards. Makes me feel like a kid again, in a way.

I’m leaning towards buying a course in Pikuma but I’m also going to look into physical college courses as well to see what interests me and what I can afford!

I’ve always wanted to learn electronics to repair consoles or maybe even make my own combat robots and see what tournaments or events there are in Scotland.

Either way, I look forward to whatever I decide on

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Maintain connections with family

This one should go without saying. It’s good to keep family together, including cousins and aunties/uncles!

I meet up with my cousins at The Gamer Club every month. I’ve love to continue that and even make it more frequent later down the line, but I get that people are busy with work and such nowadays. I should count my blessings.

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I think that’s everything. Here’s hoping 2026 will be better than 2025!

New Year 2026 🎉

Nou thit 2025 is ahint us, an anither year awa frae ma bairnheid an the birth o the tech a luve tae uise iverday, an anither year o us gittin aulder, an aulder…

Oh sorry! Gottae stap ma depression takkin ower.

Onywey, a’v seen ither posts on the wab tawk aboot whit fowk hiv planned fur this year, an thare new year’s resolutions, so here’s mines:

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…an here are the hings am wantin tae achieve this year:

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Pit oot Operation: Followthrough

The lowsin date for Operation: Followthrough on Jaguar is Spring 2026, an am on track tae git the gemm duin bi than! Cannae gie a mair specific estimate yet bit as o the nou, hing’s ur g’in smuith.

The PC version sudnae be that faur ahint. Bi the time a feenish the Jaguar gemm, a’ll hiv aw the assets, an maist o the code, am needin tae pit it thegither on PC.

Efter baith versions ur oot, am gaun’ae leuk tae portin it tae ither platforms frae that era, includin 3DO and Nintendo 64.

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Git Operation: Pinkeye pit oot pheesically 💿

Wirk taewirds pititn the predecessor ontae CD ur still happenin.

There are a few hing we’r hauin on for tae git it duin:

Propaganda Poster

Includit wi the pheesical copy o Pinkeye is an in-uiniverse propaganda poster. This is bein ootsooorced, bit the airtist in quaisten haes bin hivin faimlie issues an haes bin on holiday in Disember. We’r gaun’ae try an git it feenishit aff.

Bonus Level

Thare’s gaun’ae be a bonus level includit in the CD version o the gemm. Still in the design phase, bit it will tak place atweesh levels 3 an 4.

The level will be pit oot as paid DLC for thae thit hiv the gemm digitally an aw.

Final Update

Gaun’ae pit oot a final update digitally an that updatit version will be on the CD version. Efterwirds, the gemm will be feenisht in ma een.

The update will juist include bug fixes and a final lore update.

Exclusive Operation: Followthrough 2-level demo

The PC version o the demo is needin updates an tae be further polished. The demo available the nou wish rushed for a game jam, an frae than a hivnae touched it tae focus on the Jaguar gemm, but bi the time that version comes oot, a plan tae polish the PC demo an pit it online, an pit oot an exclusive 2-level version tae be includit wi the pheesical version o Pinkeye.

Tae be honest wi yese this project haes bin on the back burner for a while tae focus on ither projects, but am determined tae git it duin this year!

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Stairt losin weight again

Whan the pandemic hit, aw ma progress taewarts ma weight loss an exercise wis pit tae halt, an stairtit regressin.

A got oor Wii Fit board sortit an the Wii U set up again, bit a wisnae able tae weigh massel. Turns oot am juist ower the weight leemit. Am needin tae wirk on that.

A’v fun a guid appen soorce Android app cawed Waistline thit includes a barcode reader tae scan in the fuid ye’r eatin, an gin it’s no in the database it uises, ye kin enter in the nutritional info an upload it yersel. A tried MyFitnessPal in the past an it wis awfy uisefae, bit it’s closed soorce an locks featurs ahint a peywall. Naw thanks. Waistline it is!

Go back tae Aikido & Iaido practice proper 🥋

Again, afore the pandemic, a wis daein Aikido & Iaido classes twist a week, an a felt like a haed unlimitit energy! A wis notably faster an stanger an aw!

Coorse, than covid hit the warld.

A’v made a stairt on g’in back tae Aikido weapons classes, bit no “body art” as ma asthma haes stairtit gittin pretty bad.

Nou thit a’v an inhaler, a kin stairt g’in back, an g’ tae aw the classes thay hiv!

Ma dream in the futur is tae master Aikido an than stairt practicising perfaistional warslin! A hink mixxin the twa (or three) discipline wil yield interestin results!

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Gie this site a makower an maintain it

Gin ye’r readin this, that means a’v awready duin this. Or at least made a stairt.

A diskivert Jekyll tae dae a mair consistent, but still customisable blog. A’ll still dae ma best tae gie each post mair variety an sic, but for random scrievins, this will dae!

For the rest o the site, a plan tae hiv sections wi vastly different styles an feels. No decidit on whit sections tae hiv or styles yet, apairt frae this blog, but it’ll be fun plannin!

No forgettin Gemini, Gopher an Finger 👈

A’v no updatit these spaces in a while, an a hink a sud again.

A’v stairtit daein a TIL page on gemini bit am anely semi-active wi it. A’ll stairt bloggin on thare again as weel as here, as Gemtext is verra seemlar tae Markdown, which is whit Jekyll uises for posts!

As for Gopher, a’v lost access tae ma Gopherhole, so a’ll need tae fun a wey tae restore that, or juist stairt a new yin. Aither wey, a sud stairt pittin ma posts on thare an aw. Aither throu HTML or juist a txt file.

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Continue ma relationship wi ma luvely girlfriend 💝

A got a girlfriend in June last year, an we hiv plans tae fun a hoose an tae muive in thegither. A ken aboot the hoosin crisis caused bi greedy short-sichtit boomers, but we’ll haud for a guid fixer-upper an decorate wi oor retro-obsessed lifestyles!

Ma gf is tryin tae scrieve a beuk an stairt a comic series. Gin yese are wantin tae check her oot, she’s on Instagram.

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Complete ma console collections

This yin is pie in the sky, bit am howpin tae try an feenish aff ma collection o aw the platforms pit oot frae the 16-bit era tae the PS3/Xbox 360 era. The eras a grew up in!

A pit thegither a chacklist, thit ye kin see here.

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Tak a coorse in college/online again

A’v been wantin tae go back intae education. A miss the feelin o g’in somewhaur regular-like, lairnin, meetin new fowk, an gittin suhin in the end tae wirk taewarts.

Helps me feel like a wean, still!

Am leanin taewarts takkin a coorse in Pikuma bit am gaun’ae leuk intae pheesical colleges whaur a bide an see whit coorses am interestit in thit a kin afford!

A’v aye wantit tae lairn electronics tae repair consoles an e’en big ma ain combat robots an see whit events thare ur in Scotland!

Aither wey a’ll be leukin forrit tae whit a decide on.

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Maintain connections wi faimlie

This yin sud g’ aioot seyin. It’s guid tae keep faimlie thegither, includin cousins an uncles/aunties!

I meet up wi oor cousins at The Gamer Club ivery month. A’d luve tae hiv it mair frequent later doun the line bit as fowk ur busy wi wirk an sic these days, a sud coont ma blessins.

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A hink that’s iverhing! Here’s howpin 2026 will be better nor 2025!

Released in 1993, Mortal Kombat 2 is a classic fighting game, it’s an incredibly fun multiplayer game, has some great lore, loads of secrets to keep you busy, and some great characters with some gruesome, and some funny, finishing moves!

It was also, of course, a great success for Midway and was what turned Mortal Kombat into what we know of it today.

However, as I’m sure you’d have guessed from the title of this page, there was one big reason it got so much money in the arcades.

I’m sure many people here who have played Mortal Kombat II have had more than a handful of moments where you could have sworn they connected a punch of a sweep, only for it to be cancelled out or nullified. Othertimes, it feels like the AI can read your inputs and respond before you can even execute that move

I remember feeling this as well, but put it down to me just being a bad player, and I need to, as the kids say nowadays, “git gud”. (Even though git doesn’t have such a command)

Turns out… we were all right.

The AI were reading our inputs, and cancelling our moves! They were cheating!

I’m sure this is common knowledge at this point, but I was shocked at this. All this time, I was putting myself down for being bad at the time, I wasn’t, the game just wasn’t playing fair.

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Recently, I beat the game on very hard difficulty. 4 times. Twice on Midway Arcade Treasures on PSP, and twice on MK Kollection on Steam.

“What a gamer!” many of you are probably thinking. “They have mastered one of the hardest games of all time! They have ascended! How did they achieve such an amazing feat?!”

I’ll reveal my secrets. Here’s how I did it:

…yeah.

You can do this trick over and over again with the AI, and provided you time it right and get the right distance, you’ll always win.

Sub-Zero is the most difficult, but only because his projectile move involves him crouching to freeze you, which makes his hitbox lower, but you can still get him with this move if you distance yourself correctly.

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“What about Kintario and Shao Kahn?”

Believe it or not, Kintaro is even easier! All you have to do is jump kick him and time the kick part right!

(I did record these, but it turns out they didn’t record the sound, and I can’t be bothered to record the whole game again, so I just made GIFs instead.)

Shao Kahn is, in terms of AI manipulation, probably the hardest character in the game. He doesn’t read inputs, but his attacks are very damaging, and he can take you out in seconds!

Kung Lao, or at least the way I play him, is useless against Kahn, so I have to switch to Baraka and use the blade fury move, and 9 times out of 10, he just walks into it!

Of course this also means I can’t 1cc the game as of right now. I need to find a strategy with Kung Lao to do so, but I can definitely 2cc it.

On a side note, as he doesn’t input read or cancel attacks, Shao Kahn is the least frustrating character overall, and is actually fun to fight against. He’s not as fun as his MK3 appearance, but I could battle him for days, losing every time, and not feel angry. Shao Kahn is my favourite boss in all of video gaming!

So there you have it, you can 2cc MK2 even if you’re shit at the game, and I’m proof of this.

While MK2 is, like I said, a fantastic multiplayer game, the AI is dreadful. The game looks good, has a great atmosphere, but the AI ruins the experience as a solo player!

On Seturday, a went tae a Scots Amiga Uisers meetup. It wis awfy interestin, an braw tae see aw the Amiga haurdwaur as weel as bein able tae tawk tae fowk aboot auld tech an be unnerstuin! A’v taen some photies o the event wi ma Mavica.

A fun oot durin the meetup thit the person ahint Terriblefire, a faur ben expansion caird fur the Amiga CD32, bies in Glesga, 30 minute awa fae me. A fun this oot acause a wis wantin tae convert ma CD32 intae a fou blawn an fully expandit Amiga computer a can uise tae mess aboot wi an try ma haund at Amiga game dev, bit the Terriblefire isnae compatible wi ony backplates that let ye uise an external floppy drive, an thay says tae me thit gin we’re needin, thay coud git in contact wi thaim tae sort that oot. That’s a route a coud gang doun.

A got a free CRT oot o this an aw! Someb’dy wis leukin tae git rid o’t cause thay haed ower mony. It leuks an wirks better n’ ma auld nae-name CRT, an kin ootpit NTSC video! Here’s a photie o’t!

So I was reading this post on Midnight pub that really got me thinking about things.

I had done something very similar to what this guy did, but with my iPad.

To give some background, at night, when I finish work on my projects for my day, I spend a few hours at night just relaxing and going on my iPad until like 3-4 in the morning doing whatever. Mostly browse Gemini, but there was some Reddit and Discord there, too.

I hate social media, and big tech, with an absolute passion, I’m sure that’s not exactly a hot take on Geminispace, but I hate how my data is being harvested without my consent, and how the algorithms are making me addicted to their platforms to increase my engagement on them so they can show me more ads.

So I decided enough was enough and deleted all proprietary, company owned social medias on my iPad.

Like the person in the post, I felt like I always went on my iPad out of habit, and just stared at the screen where I would usually be scrolling through Reddit.

Then I found myself doing something, anything, to get these dopamine hits I got from Reddit. I was actually experiencing withdrawal, like one would if they were quitting fizzy drinks or smoking.

It made me realise how addictive these social medias can be, and how dangerous they can be to the mind. It’s honestly a wonder these haven’t been cracked down on… actually no it’s not, Capitalism is why, but still.

I knew social media was made to be addictive, but I always thought I was immune to that, or never really subconcously saw it as too much of an issue, but I was wrong on both counts. This is a serious problem that isn’t being talked about enough. Guess it’s just another in a long line of issues with social media.

Anyway, I just wanted to let this out. I feel like I have a lot more to say, but I can’t summarise what’s left with words, so I’m going to stop it here. Thanks for reading.

I don’t want to go back to using Social Media, but I’m pretty sure this withdrawal isn’t good for me, either.

Feumaidh mi aiste sgrìobhadh airson colaiste, agus smaoinich mi gum bithinn ga cuireadh an-seo cuideachd!

Dè mo bheachd? Ùill, ‘s e duilgheadas a tha ann, nach e?

Chunnaic mi Mac ‘s Uaine air BBC i-Player, tha e prògram airson dòighean airson sabaid atharrachadh na gnàth-shìde, leithid uisge, smugach agus caraichean-dhealain, agus tha e math ag ùsaigeadh rudeigin mar sin, ach mo bheachd, feumaidh sinn fòcasachadh air na corporaidean, oir tha iad a’ dèanamh damaiste as motha.

Agus chan eil na ceannardan againn a’ dèanamh càil! ‘S toigh leotha a marbhanaibh, ach tha iad coma coca!

Chan e ach sealladh a bha ann an COP26, nam bheachd. Tha bhideo ann an lìon na cruinne far a bheil Joe Biden a’ cadal ri an co-labhairt!

‘S toigh le na luchd-poileataigs agus corporaidean ag innse dhuinn gun e sinne as coireach. Mar eisimpleir, am facal “lorg carboin”, thionnsgnadh BP e, mar dòigh air cuireadh coire oirnn.

Mu 80% de eimiseanan-carboin a’ tighinn na corporaidean. Nam bheachd, cha theid càil deanamh mura tha sinn ionnsaigh sin.

Bidh na corporaidean a’ coiteachadh a chuir stad poileasaidhean airson an atharrachadh na gnàth-shìde.

Ceart gu leòr, is urrainn dhuinn fhèin rudeigin beag dhèanamh le ath-chuairteachadh, cuireadh dheth na solasan aig an oidhche, ùsaigeadh càr-dealain, stàladh panail-ghréine no ceannach rudan seana bho bùth carthannais, ach aig a’ cheann thall, chan eil mi a’ smaoineachadh gum bi seo gu leòr.

Feumaidh sin an duilgheadas riochdaile ag ionnsaigh. Chan e sinne as coireadh, is e BP, Nestlè, Monsato, Facebook, Google agus tuilleadh as coireadh

Getting into Originally published Thursday 19 Aug 2021 CE / 12021 HE on Gemini

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Why?

So my iPod classic broke a while back. What happened was that I was walking around one night, and I took out my iPod to switch to a specific song or artist, and then a moth or something flew onto the screen out of nowhere, and as a reflex or something, I suddenly dropped it onto the hard pavement.

Since then, it had been skipping certain songs, and syncing never worked the same.

I took it to a repair shop, and they basically said I was fucked. The hard drive was damaged, and the hard drive used in those devices are proprietary (classic Apple…), and only 2 devices ever used it, and both are discontinued. (The other device being the 1st Gen MacBook Air btw.)

So yeah, I had no choice but to fork out for a new player. I don’t want to rely on my phone and on Spotify because

1. That’s not my style
2. I don’t want to rely on the internet or digital media.
3. I loathe smart phones. Any convenience they may provide is cancelled out by how long it takes for you to wake them up, unlock them and then load up the app you need.

So it was time to think about what I wanted to get next.

Finding a new player

So what now? Well, I’ve always wanted to get into Minidisc. I’ve heard a nothing but good things about the format. It’s almost like the Dreamcast of music formats, nobody has anything bad to say about them! They seem like the most 1990s format ever, but at the same time, very futuristic (Probably thanks to the Matrix!)

They’re also making a small comeback, with Minidisc Store Day being a thing and new albums having limited Minidisc releases, getting new discs from the only factory left in the world making them!

It cost £180 for a new iPod Classic, and up to £100 for a Minidisc player. Neither are being made any more, so I figured, Minidisc it is!

I found this auction by a charity shop for a player, a carry case, and 15 new old stock discs! This one was mine!

It was a NetMD player, which allowed you to copy to and from the disc almost like an MP3 player. (Before NetMD, you had to manually record everything and split the tracks yourself.)

Only thing was there was no remote, which is something that goes between the player and your headphones which lets you switch tracks, rewind, change volume, etc, without pulling the player out, but seems I can easily get those anyway, and I don’t ultimately need one.

So I put a maximum bid for £100, and waited. It went up to £78 when it ended. Including £5 for shipping and such, so about £84 in total. I won it! I was so excited to get it! I literally watch every Minidisc video I could fine on Odyssee and Youtube in anticipation, just picturing myself using it.

Fortunately, I didn’t need to wait long, as it turns out it was being shipped from Glasgow, so it only took a day to get here!

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Getting the player

I got the player, and it looks and feels great, and the discs look so cool, too!

I was worried at first about not being able to transfer songs to and from it on Linux, but it turns out that right now, I can *only* do that on Linux. Windows 7 isn’t playing ball with the drivers.

Platinum MD doesn’t seem to work on either, no matter what I tried, to I have to settle with a program called “WebMinidisc”, which is a website (or web app) that only works on Chromium based browser. Wished there was a better way, but it’s all I got for now.

So I unsealed some of the discs (I felt a wee bit bad, but discs are still being made, so whatever), and copied some songs.

So there are 3 quality options. You have:

• SP, which is the same as a CD or MP3 file
• LP2 which is half the quality, but takes half the space
• and LP4, which like like LP2, but it quarters everything.

Each Minidisc can store up to 1hr 20m 59secs of SP footage, and obviously up to 4 times that if you only use LP4, but you sacrifice quality. You can mix the 2 qualties on a single disc, though.

I used SP for every song, initially, but found I couldn’t store many songs on it, so decided to only reserve SP for the songs I really like, LP2 for songs I still enjoy, and SP4 for songs that either don’t need high quality, or extra songs I might listen to now and again.

I got reoughly 30-40 songs on each disc this way, and have filled 5 discs so far. So far, I enjoy it, it’s slow, but that’s expected, but I love the noises it makes!

So now that I had some discs chock full of songs, times to test it out!

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Test Drive

So I went on a stroll around my block with it, and the extra discs I made, and honestly, I love it! The form factor for the player itself was fantastic! It feels more suited to my hands than my iPod was! Buttons, even without a remote, felt easier to access, and buttons gave more feedback.

Only thing is you need to turn shuffle on every time you start it, and you need to carry extra discs with you, but I usually carry a bag with me when I go out or wear cargo trousers, so that’s a non-issue!

It’s a bit difficult to tell the difference between SP and LP2, especially with the low quality headphones I have for them, and both sound no different than my iPod classic did, but LP4 is noticably worse, but some songs sound fine on it.

Overall, despite it’s flaws, I love it. The discs feels satisfying to use and the sound quality isn’t any worse than what I’m used to while I’m out. I’m definitely going to use these from now on and will be on the look out for new album releases!

A decidit tae watch throu aw the ReBoot episodes available the nou, the gemm an some toys.

A didnae watch ReBoot as a wean, but a did see it’s sister programme, Transformers Beast Wars, a micht dae that anither time. A wis convertin a tape fur a client, an ‘e end o’t haed an episode recordit, an decided tae gie it a bash, an a really injoyed it! Wintit tae see mair!

A haed tae watch maist o’t on Youtube, cause the ainly wey tae watch it itherwise is tae rip a hole in ma wallet on ‘e dear DVD boxset, an 2 VHS vollum thit hiv the first 4 episode in total.

Coorse, the fack thit it came fae Canadae meant the programme is in Ingels an French, wi nae Scots version, but a decided tae dae the review in Scots onywey cause why no? Gies Scots fowk mair tae read, ay?

A got ma hauns on ‘e first vollum o the VHS, an it wis mouldy, an gied ma VCR some problems, bit am slawly gittin baith wirkin again, micht dae a pairt here whaur a document hou a did it.

Fur fowk thit dinna ken, ReBoot wis a programme fae Canadae thit aired atween 1994 an 2001 wi 4 seasons in total. The 4t bein basically 2 fillum split intae 8 episode.

Awricht, wioot ony mair delay, lat’s git wirself fired intae the review!

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Ths visuals leuk awfy nostalgic fur iz! A grew up in an era whaur 3D wis a novelty, an whan ye did see it, it wis pure primitive an unrealistic.

The fowk thit wrocht the programme kent their electronics an terminology, an a lot o the terms thay uised matched wi whit thay war uised fur. (Except fur “Delete” an “Offline”)

The general format fur the programme is thit Bob (Heoric name) is a guardian meant tae bield mainframe (The ceetit thay bide in) fae viruses Megabyte and Hexidecimal, the programme’s twa baddies, kent as Viruses, an fae “Games” thit the uiser stairts up. Gin the uiser wins a Game, the pairt o mainframe the Game wis in is malafoustert. Gaun!

Smashin concept fur a gemm, ay? Heheheh, mair on the gemm anither time…

Bob haes his trusty “Glitch”, thit’s a device on his wrist thit kin dae a hale wheen o hings tae git him oot o stooshies.

Bob haes 2 friends tae gie him a haun an aw, Dot Matrix (Git it?) an her brither Enzo. Dot awns a diner an her wee brither is a muckle fan o Bob. Thay hiv a dug, tae, cawed Frisket.

Thay hiv Phong tae consult fur advice an sic an aw. He’s like an wyce elder thit bides at the core o Mainframe. Thay hiv tae beat him in a game o pong tae git advice.

Ma favourite chairacters hiv tae be Hack an Slash! Thay’re comic relief chairacters meant tae be Megabyte’s henchmen, but ur awfy incompetent.

A wis aye pure happy tae see thaim! Luved thae 2!

A luve Mike the TV an aw, he’s a telly thit takes on the personality o telly presenters an sic, wi interchyngin vyces like he’s uisin clips.

A wad hink thit ithers fun him annoyin, but a didnae, a luved his charisma an wintin tae help oot, e’en whan he cudnae!

Mair chaiaracters come alang later on, bit am no gaun’ae spoil thaim.

Aw the chairacaters are verra weel written an memorable, tho! The Writers haed duin a smashin job comin up wi thaim!

Nou, the programme kin be spleet intae 2 pairt: Season 1 an 2 an Season 3 an 4

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Season 1 & 2

The first 2 seasons war faur mair simple, an war subjeck tae censorship, wi some mair unco rules thay haed tae follae, sic as nae reference tae hockey.

Bit thay war some rules thay haed tae follaed thit a hink made the programme better, sic as nae cliffhingers. A hate cliffhingers! A hink thay’r a cheap wey o keepin the viewer engaged. Thay’re guid whan uised richt, bit a hink programmes sud aim fur fowk tae wint tae keep watchin cause thay wint tae, no cause thay felt thay hiv tae!

An a defo wintit tae! A wis hivin muckle fun watchin it, an wis addictit fur the richt raisons! Ye ken thit ye’v a braw programme on yer hauns whan ‘at happens!

Ilka episode wis it’s ain hing, bit the plot wis generally Megabyte, wan o the programme’s heels, tryin tae tak ower Mainframe, an Bob wis aye thare tae stap thaim in ‘e end.

Hexadecimal is anither foe, sort o, she juist dis her ain hing, an maist o’t involves threatenin Mainframe.

A thocht the programme haed the perfect balance o licht-hertit-ness an intense an fun!

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Season 3 & 4

Than we haed season 3, thit teuk a faur different direction tae the first 2.

The cast an setup war chynged, an in a wey thit a wisnae expectin at aw. Credit tae thaim fur daein somehing fresh!

The 3rd, an 4t seasons war cliffhingers aw ower the shop! A hatit it, a endit up watchin mair’n a wis wintin tae juist tae git closure… it heichlichtit exackly how A hate thaim!

Wis it guid, tho? Ay, a injoyed it!

Bob cawed on Megabyte an Hexadecimal fur tae gie thaim a haun tae hain Mainframe fae infectit guardians, but bein viruses, thay backstabbed Bob, an sent him tae the “Web”, which is a massive void thit ruins iverhing thit ends up in thare. A wis shocked whan ‘at happened, like that “Jeezo! Did thay actual dae that?!”

A wis happy tae see thit thay fund Bob in the end an aw, an surprised tae see hou he chynged. A liked his newer leuk!

The 3rd season wrapped maist hings up, an wis a happy endin! Luved it!

An maist importantly, Hack an Slash ur nou guidies!

The 4t season wis a lot shorter’n the first 3 an wis, like a said at the stairt, originally pit oot as 2 fillum, an later on spleet intae 8 episode.

A liked thit the 4t season haed mair licht-hertit breaks’n the 3rd yin, an a guid story progression.

The problem wis: It ended on a cliffhinger… cause o coorse it did!

Thay war originally gaun’ae pit oot a 3rd fillum an aw, but fuindin an time wis cut short, an thay cudnae dae that. The director says thit he willnae pit it oot the final script unless he gits paid fur it, or gits fundin tae mak the fillum.

A mean, it’s his property, an haes ‘e richt tae, bit it’s a bit o a dick muive tae dae whan ye’v mulȝeons o fans wintin closure. It’s delusional an denyin reality an aw, cause times hiv chynged an e’en gin he gits it, it willnae be as guid as e’en season 4, cause it’s been ‘at lang.

Onywey, muivin on.

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Gemm Review

So some o yese micht ken thit Reboot got a gemm in 1998 fur the PS1 bi Electronic Arts.

Weel, a finally got masel a copy fur Christmas, a PAL copy importit fae Italy. Box an instructions ur in Italian, but the gemm itsel is in Inglis.

The gemm haes exclusive Reboot footage an plays like it’s ain story or episode.

Thare’s a mix o FMV wi the programme’s full render visuals an cutscenes rendered wi the gemm’s graphics, fur some raison.

The maist flummuxin chyce, tho, is the direction thay went wi it, mynd hou a said earlier aboot the programme itsel bein a smashin setup fur a gemm? Well the gemm disnae hiv ony “games”. The gemm is aboot sortin “tears”, an than shuitin doun Megabyte an Hexadecimal. It’s in the name, whit wad ye no hiv games fur?!

The gemm is less censored nor the programme, tae, ye hiv Bob haudin a gun, an shuitin hings deed!

Leukin past aw ‘at, hou’s the gemm itsel? Well, ye’r on yer hivverboard, haudin a gun, shuitin hings doun mindless-like, an sortin tears wi Glitch whan thay come aboot.

Tae be honest wi yese, it’s actual a lot o fun! A wad be lyin gin a says a didnae injoy just circle strafin an jimpin aboot shuitin ivehrin thit muives! The hivverboard pairt remembers us o Airblade on PS2, in a weird wey.

Like Airblade, tho, it kin pur gar ye fumin at times. Some levels juise made us want tae fling the controller across the room in anger! Thankfully a didnae, tho. Some levels want ye tae be precise wi yer jimps an muivements, itherwise ye dee. Easier said nor duin wi the wey the hivverboard wirks!

On the flip side an aw, the boss ur pish easy, e’en the final boss, thit a willnae spoil here, ye juist need tae git the rocket pouer ups, an spam awa!

The levels thit urnae ower easy or ower haurd, tho, ur bangers tae play, bi ma wey o’t! Guid fun juist negotiation platforms an shuitin onyhing ye see!

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Conclusion

A luved ReBoot an hink it’s a smashin programme thit, awtho micht no hiv aged weel wi it’s visuals (tho nostalgic), the writin defo haes, an is awfu injoyable, e’en the day.

See gin ye kin git yer hauns on the awfy dear DVD Boxset or the VHS vollums (thit willna kill aff yer VCR), defo gie it a bash!

Cheers tae The Reboot Wiki fur the images a shamelessly nicked got fur ‘is wab page!