Just an update on stuff.

I know I've been quiet for a while - well, overtime will do that to a fella. At the upholstery shop where I work we've been swamped because there just aren't that many shops around that do what we do. That's a good thing for us, but not so awesome when we've got several installs to pull off in just a couple of weeks.

My body doesn't like that very much, even if my bank account does. Meanwhile, I was able to complete - and submit - a review for Starlink: Battle for Atlas. (Spoiler warning: It was really good.) I picked up the Deluxe Edition of that and Mario+Rabbids Kingdom Battles for the sort of discounts I've been wanting to see on the eShop for a long time. I have to admit, though, it's kinda disillusioning finally getting what I want in that respect.

I know it sounds like I'm complaining... but I worry that devaluing the market will have negative knock on effects. I know it will, but they won't be seen for some time to come. In the meantime, we get awesome deals on top quality titles, even if Nintendo won't feign to discount their first party games. Fine. I just won't buy those ones... for now...

I'm not pouting. You... are... yeah, I'm pouting. I'll stop right now. Frankly I'm not concerned about that. It's just something I pay attention because it's on my horizon, you know? On that note I wanted to discuss something that might mean something to you:

I've stopped playing games that involve killing people. It's just one of those things to me that felt like a necessary step in my personal development. Even if Half Life 3 turned out to be a thing - it won't - I still wouldn't play it. Yes, it means me turning down games that I have had on my personal wishlist for years, but it feels satisfying to me to have made that decision.

In terms of game selection and quality that's not a difficult choice to make, but with respect to what's popular, it does have some impact. Not that I care, or give any thought to playing what's popular. I play the games that interest me, and have my little niche where I'm quite content.

Not really a big deal now, is it?

It is - though - one of the reasons I'm glad to have a Switch. It does beg the question: What personal lines will you not cross, and why?

Also, how about that Stadia announcement huh? I doubt anyone around here is actually surprised that Google was going to ask us to re-invest in their library, even for the games we already own. Cross play? Not in a million years, baby.

Still, subscription and game purchases? Sure $120 a year is cheaper than a console, but you're still paying full price for your games. Epic, Steam, Uplay, Origin, GoG and the rest are just going to undercut it anyway. Google's only sure way into the market was to have a free option, though I'm not convinced that's going to do it.

According to the slides I'd have to upgrade my internet - which is fiber - just to take advantage of 1080p/60fps. I'm not saying it won't work, but there's not one single game that interests me in the slightest. Google has the metrics to work with, but they also have this cognitive dissonance that has curtailed major marketing ventures.

We'll see if this is one of those. As it stands now, I'm still not convinced... though I do admit that could change. For the time being, I'm keeping tabs on it, but my optimism is reserved.