Eastfist

By Chongchen Saelee

Recently got a new Windows 11 mini PC with however many cores, a powerful little beast for crunching graphics editing. But it’s still newish technology, so you can’t rely on it to run older tech like video game emulators fully. In this case, I’m trying out the latest version, as of this writing, of PCSX2 version 2.2.0 which is a PlayStation 2 emulator. (Mind you, I use PCSX2 version 1.6.0 on my much older, decade old Windows 7 machine and it runs perfectly on it, no additional tinkering)

The installation went smoothly. And I’m testing out Grand Theft Auto 3 ROM. Everything boots up smoothly with the default settings. However, it’s a subtle gripe, but I notice there being some delay in the audio. You can test this for yourself, maybe your results will vary.

When you shoot any gun or pay attention to the footstep and hopping sounds, or crash cars into each other or into a wall, or pay close attention to explosions, the audio is coming in slightly late. Maybe a few frames late. However many milliseconds late. It means there is something wrong with the timing of the video and audio.

Video output clearly isn’t the problem. As it is very responsive to my controller inputs.

So it’s an audio problem. It’s coming in too late, a fraction of a second too late. So here are the best settings for the most “accurate” synchronized audio results for PCSX2 version 2.2.0. (more…)

If you’re just embarrassed for DuckStation when it can’t even run ancient games like “Final Fantasy V” in emulation on modern PCs without screen tearing, it’s not as simple as “enable vsync”. The Enable VSync is right in there in DuckStation, but you can do all sorts of tricks, check this, uncheck that, whatever, and a simple ass game like “Final Fantasy V” just won’t run smoothly without that ugly distracting screentearing. So here’s the real solution. (more…)

And here’s the ChatGPT AI-generated response for the prompt “Tell me about Taylor Swift”:

Taylor Swift photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Taylor Swift is a multi-talented American singer-songwriter who has achieved immense success in both country and pop music genres. Born on December 13, 1989, in Reading, Pennsylvania, Swift showed an early interest in music and began performing at local venues as a teenager. Her family moved to Nashville, Tennessee, the epicenter of country music, to support her burgeoning career.

Swift released her self-titled debut album in 2006, which established her as a rising star in country music. The album’s singles, such as “Tim McGraw” and “Teardrops on My Guitar,” showcased her knack for storytelling and relatable lyrics, earning her critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base.

Her second album, “Fearless” (2008), catapulted Swift to mainstream success. It featured hit singles like “Love Story” and “You Belong with Me,” which topped charts worldwide and earned her multiple awards, including four Grammy Awards. Swift’s ability to connect with listeners through her heartfelt lyrics about love, relationships, and personal experiences endeared her to millions of fans.

Over the years, Swift transitioned from country to pop music with albums like “Red” (2012), “1989” (2014), and “Reputation” (2017). Each album showcased her evolution as an artist, blending catchy pop melodies with introspective lyrics and exploring themes of love, fame, and self-discovery.

In addition to her musical accomplishments, Swift is known for her business acumen and advocacy for artists’ rights. She has been vocal about issues such as fair compensation for musicians and has used her platform to support causes like gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights.

Swift’s impact on popular culture extends beyond music; she is also recognized for her entrepreneurial ventures, including successful fragrance and clothing lines, as well as her philanthropic efforts. With numerous awards to her name, including 11 Grammy Awards, Taylor Swift continues to be a dominant force in the music industry, captivating audiences with her storytelling prowess and artistic innovation.

There’s some potential for fun trolling here. But would take some effort.

Some ChatGPT AI-generated fun. The prompt was “Tell me about Kendrick Lamar”. This is the response:

Kendrick Lamar photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Kendrick Lamar is a highly acclaimed rapper, songwriter, and producer from Compton, California, known for his intricate lyrics, socially conscious themes, and innovative approach to hip-hop music. Born on June 17, 1987, Lamar (born Kendrick Lamar Duckworth) grew up in a neighborhood rife with gang violence and poverty, which heavily influenced his early music and lyrical content.

His career gained significant momentum with the release of his independent album “Section.80” in 2011, which was followed by his major label debut “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. The latter album received widespread critical acclaim and solidified Lamar’s reputation as one of the most talented and introspective voices in contemporary rap.

Lamar’s subsequent albums, “To Pimp a Butterfly” (2015) and “DAMN.” (2017), further cemented his status as a visionary artist. “To Pimp a Butterfly” in particular was praised for its ambitious fusion of jazz, funk, and spoken word, alongside its exploration of complex social issues such as race, identity, and systemic oppression.

Throughout his career, Lamar has won numerous awards, including thirteen Grammy Awards. He is known for his powerful live performances and his ability to address deep societal issues with a blend of personal storytelling and sharp social commentary. Kendrick Lamar’s influence extends beyond music, as he has also been involved in philanthropic efforts and has used his platform to advocate for social justice and community empowerment.

His impact on the music industry and popular culture at large is significant, as he continues to push artistic boundaries and inspire a new generation of artists and fans alike.

I’m not going to take the time to verify if any of it is correct. But just reading it, it’s quite impressive. Even though I know how the technology works and it’s most likely incredibly plagarized. LOL

Oh no, you didn’t. We macking out hur coz we free, y’all.

Howdy ho, here are some scans of my “The Incredible Hulk” comic book, issue January #413. It features the art of Gary Frank, which I find quite nice, although the layout is not very dynamic and kinda boring. I mean look at the cover. The cover doesn’t really draw your attention, so you wouldn’t even know how awesome the artwork inside the book is. But, oh well, here are some pages:

Artwork is used here under Fair Use Law.

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Hollywood has struggled to pump out their movies for profit during these pandemic times. Sure, blame it on the pandemic and not the shitty movies no one wants to pay to watch. LOL. Even powerhouse movie franchise like these Spider-Man movies had to do a bunch of reshoots and re-releases in an attempt to recoup losses. So here’s Sony’s final (hopefully) attempt to re-release yet another cut of Spider-Man No Way Home, the third film in the third modern Spider-Man movie series in the past 20 years.

Ticket pre-sales for No Way Home seem to prove loyal fans want to see it. Most of the online ticket websites had crashed because of the overwhelming rush of buyers. Well, now you can look up pre-sold seats at your local movie theater’s website, if they have it, and it does seem to be mostly packed or sold-out screenings come premiere weekend. So if you want to experience the excitement and promise of an amazing Spider-Man movie, now is the time to jump on the hype train. (more…)

By Chongchen Saelee

I’ve been playing video games for most of my life (and contributed a lot behind the scenes as well). Most gamers are attracted to the visuals, the story, the music, the characters, the puzzles, etc. Everyone has their own taste. But here are my top 5 favorite video games of all time:

5.New Super Mario Bros (Nintendo DS, 2006)
Sure, the Super Mario games are gimmicky as hell, but seeing the new 3D + 2.5D graphics just adds so much more spectacle to it. There is also new gimmicky powers like Ice Flower, Propeller Suit, Giant Mario, etc. Playing on Nintendo DS doesn’t necessarily need to utilize those two screens all the time, but there are some levels that do and it’s cleverly designed. For the most part, you’re playing on only one of the DS screens and the other is a progress menu or for power-ups that you can tap with the stylus. A lot of the nostalgia for me is just the sheen of the new 3D graphics, which makes the previous Mario title Nintendo 64’s Super Mario 64 look antiquated.
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“Godzilla vs. Kong” is another sequel to the latest revamp of Godzilla movies “Godzilla” (2014), “Godzilla King of Monsters” (2019) and a crossover with the latest King Kong revamp “Kong Skull Island” (2017). In this crossover, it seems Godzilla has turned evil and Kong is now the hero of the show.

“Godzilla vs. Kong” will hit theatres and HBO Max on March 26, 2021.

Yojimbo (1961) Review

By Chongchen Saelee

“Yojimbo” is my second favorite Akira Kurosawa film after “Seven Samurai”. Yojimbo means bodyguard in Japanese. It may seem like star Toshiro Mifune is playing the same nameless archetype, but they are indeed two different characters. In “Yojimbo”, Mifune plays a nameless wandering ronin (a masterless samurai) who is pushing 40 years old and stone broke looking for odd jobs or killing men for rice and sake. He wanders into a small village where two rivals gangs are fighting for control over the silk and sake productions.

The movie opens with the nameless ronin wandering aimlessly, he even picks up a branch and tosses it and whichever direction it points to is where he’s going. Along the way, he spots a young man arguing with his father about wanting to become a “gambler” because they make money, drink sake and dress in nice silk. He wants to live it up and die young, not live at home and work on a farm eating porridge, against his father’s wishes. In movie storytelling, it’s a small useless scene… or is it?

After a sniveling crooked constable (the equivalent of the town sheriff) alerts him how to make some quick ryo (money in ancient Japan), he goes to meet up with a local big shot. When asked what his name is, being nameless, he peers out into an open field of mulberry grass and names himself after it as “Kuwabatake Sanjuro” or Sanjuro for short. (more…)