Let's Talk Tech
PORTABLE STEAM LINK for AR glasses!
Want to take your PC gaming on the go? Want to game on a HUGE screen? Still want to pack light? These AR glasses can really come in handy, and now with a portable Android TV “brain”, we can push them even farther! Continue reading “Use Steam Link on AR Glasses NOW! Rokid Station!”
Writing this in the heat of the moment, I was incorrect with my understanding of one part of this story. Nintendo did not file a DMCA take down request. Nintendo sent a cease and desist, where they mentioned their rights under the DMCA. This is an important distinction that I missed.
As to the numerous comments on this editorial claiming the Dolphin emulator uses Nintendo intellectual property, I am not a lawyer, but we’ll have to watch and see if a court case establishes that an encryption key can be considered IP. In much the same way that if someone were to “hack” your laptop because your password was “12345”, would we consider that password intellectual property?
This is an ongoing legal battle, and akin to the fight over DVD encryption, the idea of an encryption key being protected IP doesn’t seem to have been tested directly in any recent court cases. Considering the complexity of code required to run a computer or game console, I stand by my statement that the Dolphin emulator does not include any proprietary Nintendo IP, even for it including an encryption key. Many will disagree with me, but I believe including Nintendo’s “password” is not the same as including more complex code.
I’m leaving the letter as originally written, to maintain the emotional tone of the editorial. I always welcome debate, but rude or insulting comments will of course be scrubbed.
Dear Nintendo,
This emulator stuff? I think you’re doing it wrong.
I have a LOT of fondness for your games. My family has been into gaming since the earliest days of arcades and Atari home consoles. I was so fortunate to grow up in the early 80’s with nerd parents who were ahead of the curve on video gaming.
We rode the wave of your classic consoles through the 8-bit, 16-bit, and 64-bit eras. To this day, my younger siblings still sport Switches as their primary gaming solutions.
I still have a lot of classic Nintendo gear, mostly in storage, but I got off the console gaming train around the Wii and PS3 hardware generation.
I’m also a PC nerd. Software licensing was changing back then. In the early 2000’s, PC gaming started experimenting with online stores and digital distribution. There was a lot of anxious editorializing of online stores, copy protection, verification, and “ownership”.
Years later, we still face some challenges with titles in online shops. We might not really “own” that content when it’s licensed to web stores, but the generational convenience has kept me far more invested in PC gaming than in recent console gaming.
The idea of buying a box, then buying content for a box, and only being able to consume that content on one box, is sorely antiquated. My Wife and I ran into that limitation hard with Playstations. Continue reading “An open letter to Nintendo about Emulators: You’re doing it wrong… “
The best accessories for mobile gaming?
We can find the PERFECT fit for your mobile needs! Gaming hardware gets REALLY good when you add a few extras. Headphones, displays, charging. Accessories that work with phones, tablets, and laptops might be the best ways to expand on your portable console. Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, Razer Edge, or other portable gear. Let’s start looking at different builds for you! Continue reading “BEST Mobile Gaming Accessories Starter! Switch, Steam Deck, Razer, Smartphone!”
COOLER MASTER SAVED MY NUC!
My little gaming PC has been having a rough time. The power supply was failing, and we needed a case with better airflow. Thankfully CoolerMaster came to my rescue! Continue reading “NUC Extreme REVIVED! Cooler Master to the rescue!”
Razer Edge vs Steam Deck! Let’s GO!
A mobile gaming showdown is ALWAYS fun. Steam Deck is winning the hearts of PC gamers. Can the Razer Edge convince YOU to switch platforms? It’s time for a showdown! Continue reading “Razer Edge vs Steam Deck: Can Android Topple PC Gaming?”
I love the Steam Deck. It’s amazing.
Playing with it, I hope we’ll continue to see more portable PC gaming devices hit the market. At some point, there will be a console which “kills” the Steam Deck, but that hasn’t happened yet. Just because another console might be more powerful, doesn’t mean it’s a Steam Deck “killer”.
Let’s discuss… Continue reading “Sorry Chief, There are NO Steam Deck “Killers” Out Now…”
Nerding out hard on this one! Not game streaming or emulating, a legit install on Android phones and tablets!
Of course the catch is you have to have a Netflix account, but if you do, this awesome arcade brawler is now included in your subscription!
COWABUNGA!
This is a great option I hope becomes a more popular trend…
MediaTek sent me the JBL Quantum True Wireless earbuds to take on a test drive, and I’m really glad they did.
We’re trying to do a lot with Bluetooth these days, and sometimes we’re forcing Bluetooth into situations it wasn’t really designed for. We’ve gotten pretty good at augmenting Bluetooth for better quality and latency, but at the end of the day, it’s still Bluetooth.
There’s a frustrating aspect to our current earbud market, where host devices and earbuds have to match to get all the benefits of a new audio codec. We have several flavors of audio signal now. If your phone, tablet, console, or PC don’t speak the same codec “language” as your headphones, then you don’t get all the fancy new features.
There is a way around that, and gamers have been using it for YEARS on wireless gaming headsets. Continue reading “JBL Quantum TWS: The BEST Wireless Earbuds for the Steam Deck!”