1 00:00:01,840 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: All ze media, hell, and welcome to this week's Better 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: Offlying Monologue. I'm your host ed zytron. What and let's 3 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:20,239 Speaker 1: start with one point. Fuck Nintendo. Back in February, Nintendo 4 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: said that shortages of the Nintendo Switch will not be 5 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 1: a problem and came up with a genius to quote 6 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: motiple outlets means of keeping scalpus from buying them all 7 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: by requiring those buying on Nintendo dot Com to have 8 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: at least twelve months of Nintendo Online memberships as well 9 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:37,480 Speaker 1: as fifty combined hours of Nintendo Switch gameplay. Two weeks 10 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 1: before launched, Nintendo America boss Doug Bowser and yes that 11 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: is his name, said that the company believed it would 12 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:45,840 Speaker 1: have enough units to meet consumer demand throughout the holidays. 13 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 1: Guess what, They didn't make enough, and now the Nintendo 14 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:52,520 Speaker 1: Switch too is sold out everywhere, with scalpus charging hundreds 15 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: of dollars extra on eBay. If you're someone who's gonna 16 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: email saying you are easily able to buy one, you're 17 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: an exception to the rule and you fucking know it. 18 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: Fuck Nintendo. They do this shit every time, creating artificial 19 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 1: scarcity and then blaming on unanticipated demand that they know 20 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: will be there. They do this every single time. They 21 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:11,559 Speaker 1: did it back with the fucking Wei. It happens every 22 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: time I despise this company. They have this weird, fucked 23 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: up relationship with consumers where they turn them into pay pigs, 24 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: where it's just like, Hey, we're gonna re We're gonna 25 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: do the new Zelda game you want? You want to 26 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: do that dance for me, you little piglert. And I 27 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 1: say this to someone who's bought a Nintendo Switch. Ah No, 28 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: I'm just of the companies I'm most tired of kind 29 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: of Nintendo's up there. While they may have their nice ecosystem, Wait, 30 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: I'm not talking about a Nintendo here. I have a 31 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:41,919 Speaker 1: better suggestion, a much better suggestion, by a portable gaming 32 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: PC instead. Since the Steam Deck launched in twenty twenty two, 33 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 1: you've been able to play a remarkable amount of very 34 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: very good games like Eldon Ring and boarders Gate three 35 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: with better graphics. No need to have cash to a 36 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: company that fucking lies to you every time they launch 37 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 1: a console. There's the Steam Deck and it's o led 38 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: screened upgrade. Pick. There's the MSI cl or seven. Lenova's 39 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: leadion go and one I actually got sent by Aesus recently. 40 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: They're rog Alix, and I really like it. One thing, though, 41 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:10,920 Speaker 1: there is a downside other than in the case of 42 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 1: the Steam Deck, and it's Windows. Windows eleven is really 43 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: really funky with these handhelds. I'm gonna do a far 44 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 1: more developed episode than the rog Alix and others when 45 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:21,919 Speaker 1: I've spent more time with it. But Windows really does 46 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:25,079 Speaker 1: not like the handheld form factor, and Microsoft has clearly 47 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 1: not made much of an effort to make sure that 48 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: probably the most interesting form factor in PC gaming, if 49 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: not gadgets, in years, actually fucking works now. The reason 50 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 1: I've kind of said the steam Deck is different is 51 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,639 Speaker 1: they use their own operating system, steam OS, which is 52 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 1: a Linux based system that really works very well except 53 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:44,359 Speaker 1: for when it comes to anti cheap measures, but that's 54 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: just something you'll have to deal with. I know others 55 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: are considering doing Steam Os integrations. I really hope so, 56 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 1: because I love steam Os. It's really good. And the 57 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: reason I don't play my steam Deck that much is because, 58 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 1: like I got like, I just don't like it doesn't 59 00:02:58,360 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: feel good in my hands. Okay, a lot of these 60 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 1: things are going to be like that for you. It's 61 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: why later on I suggest you don't and play with one. 62 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: But across the board there's another challenge. There's a battery 63 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 1: life problem two to eight hours allegedly, but if I'm honest, 64 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: running a rock Alix at full tilt tobo mode is 65 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: going to drain the battery pretty quickly. I haven't done 66 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: official battery tests. I was still able to play for 67 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:20,080 Speaker 1: a couple of hours. It was good. I was playing 68 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: stuff on full tilt too. But this is one case 69 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 1: where I'm fully willing to say we're only a few 70 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: years in battery tech, and chips will get smaller and 71 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: these things will last longer. Right now, they fit nicely 72 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 1: in the hand, but they're a touch heavy and get 73 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 1: a little harm which is gannab seleviy for PC gaming. 74 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: Either way. While I've played with a few of these handhelds, 75 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: the Steam Deck and rock Alix are the ones I've 76 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: had the most time with, and Thesis is really great. 77 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:44,839 Speaker 1: It can't really run Doom the Dark Ages very well. 78 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 1: It looks like a PS four PS three version. It's 79 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: been great for playing Madden twenty five, Redacted Hades two, 80 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: the new Oblivion Reymaster, and a bunch of emulation stuff. 81 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: Both the steam Deck and the rock Alix also use 82 00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: power delivery, which is in a lot of modern charges, 83 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 1: though I will add the rog Alix wanted to charge 84 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: at ninety once when I plugged in the other day. 85 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 1: Kind of weird, but I also was playing something a 86 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: little bit taxing on it. These things are also not cheap, 87 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 1: and while the steam Deck is three hundred and ninety 88 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: nine dollars, it's getting on a bit, and the more 89 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: recent yet year old rock Alix is eight hundred bucks, 90 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:18,039 Speaker 1: though we should add it's more powerful and has one 91 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: hundred and twenty eight hurt screen. I also really like it, 92 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 1: like I've just been I've been playing with a lot. Yeah, 93 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: I know on this show I'm constantly bitching about stuff 94 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 1: such as like one minute ago, But I really do 95 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 1: like the rock Alix. The steam Deck is just too 96 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:32,839 Speaker 1: chunky for me. Too chunky, oh oh if I've got 97 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: small hands, but for my hands they're kind of chubby, 98 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 1: just like the rog Alix. More and I will say, 99 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:44,160 Speaker 1: there are other options, two more powerful options, and look, 100 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,679 Speaker 1: the GPD Win four it is like a thousand dollars. 101 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:48,840 Speaker 1: It's too much. It doesn't do enough it's not worth 102 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: your money. The rock Alix R eight hundred bucks. I 103 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: actually really like I think you could. You will be 104 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: using this thing for years and you'll be very happy 105 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 1: with them, and you could probably plug it into a 106 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 1: battery when you're charging as well. So going and I'll 107 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: say this segment is probably the most exciting part of 108 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 1: the tech industry for me at the moment, and it's 109 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 1: also the way I do most of my gaming. These 110 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: consoles work really well. Yeah they're a little bulky right now. 111 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 1: Yeah they got heating things, but there have been significant 112 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: leaps between generations as far as power and battery life goes. 113 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: I really hope we see more companies get into this space, 114 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 1: and as they do, I'll probably end up playing with 115 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:24,919 Speaker 1: their versions too. I want to do a bigger episode 116 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: on handheld PC gaming. I've not done my rounds with 117 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:29,840 Speaker 1: all of them yet, but if you somehow INPRF for 118 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:32,799 Speaker 1: one of these things, email me easy at better Offline 119 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: dot com. And I'm looking forward to on a larger 120 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: level doing more gaming stuff. Gamers can be a little 121 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 1: bit angry, and I'm sure someone is gonna hear me 122 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: say fuck Nintendo and get really upset, But you know 123 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: what gaming industry needs a look at too, But there 124 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: are really positive things. PC gaming rocks right now. There 125 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 1: are tons of fun games you can play, but also 126 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: these handheld gaming there's years of games that work on 127 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: them really really well. I mean, I played madd in 128 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:01,360 Speaker 1: twenty five because it's like ASMR for me, but it's nice, 129 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: it works really well. I love these things and I 130 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 1: think you will too, So I really recommend if you can. 131 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 1: I think like Best Buy has a lot of them, 132 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: go and play with them, pick them up, fill them 133 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:14,239 Speaker 1: in your hands. It's a very personal choice. And yeah, 134 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 1: buy that instead of a Nintendo Switch too. You don't 135 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:19,920 Speaker 1: need to play the latest version of Mario kar Mariocar 136 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,359 Speaker 1: has been the same goddamn game for years. You know it, 137 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,159 Speaker 1: and so do I. Anyway, that's going to get me 138 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 1: in trouble too. But give these things a go, and yeah, 139 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:31,359 Speaker 1: here you go. A semi positive monologue view for Bloody Once. 140 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening.