RoXolidProductions

In this episode, we test out and review the RetroTINK 4Kvideo upscaler, designed to improve the look of component, composite, s-video, VGA, RGB SCART, and HDMI inputs to see if it is the ultimate retro gaming upgrade. Order a RetroTINK 4k At https://www.retrotink.com/product-page/retrotink-4k To say I have been a huge fan of the RetroTINK line of products since I first tried the RetroTINK 2x would be an understatement. It took what I loved about my original retro systems, things like the Super Nintendo, Famicom Disk System, and N64, and line multiplied them to 480p and gave me an HDMI output. I loved the results and didn't think that they could get any better. And then they did with the RetroTINK 2X Pro, Multi-Format, and eventually the RetroTINK 5X. Never one to rest on his laurels, Mike Chi from RetroTINK has been hard at work to improve upon even the excellent 5X. The results? The RetroTINK 4K. Let's take a closer look at this magical machine. Out of the box, you get the RetroTINK 4K, a standard-size SD card, a USB SD card adapter, and a remote control. The remote is a nice improvement over the original RetroTINK 5X remote, and my understanding is this is the remote that the 5X will be coming with moving forward as well. It features input, output, profile, and resolution buttons on the face just to name a few. It needs two AAA batteries, not included, but overall this is a very nice addition to the platform. Slightly larger than the RetroTINK 5X by about 20% I would say, one of the things that I did was 3D print out a vertical stand from Todd at RetroFrog. He actually had me help him with some of the early prototyping and I provided him feedback on tweaks before he actually got a RetroTINK 4K of his own. This is a very well-designed base and will definitely help keep your setup cleaner and neater. I went back and forth and how I wanted to connect my systems to the 4K. I could disconnect my RetroTINK 5X and put the inputs into the 4K and call it a day. If I did that I would have to go through my HDMI switcher, and at that point I wouldn't have 4K, 60Hz output. The more I thought about it, I decided to connect the RetroTINK 4K to the output of my HDMI switcher and leave my RetroTINK 5X in place. This way I didn't have to redo a bunch of profiles from the 5X on the 4K, and also ended up gaining extra inputs if I ever needed them on the 4K. When it came time to test, I threw just about every system I own at this thing. From component, composite, and HDMI. The only thing I didn't test was S-Video and that's because I don't have any S-Video connections currently for anything. I did however even test RGB SCART coming out of the Sega Master System, JVC X'EYE, Super Famicom Jr, and the Dreamcast thanks to the Bahar Bros Mamba RGB SCART cable. It handled each and every one of these connections beautifully. When I got into more recent systems, systems that natively output HDMI, I really noticed a huge difference. For me, the RetroTINK 5X does such an amazing job that for day-to-day gameplay that's still probably going to be my device of choice. But playing games through the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and the Nintendo Switch upscaled to 4K made these systems absolutely come to life for me. I loved how bright and vibrant all the colors were, the depth of field in the images, and the overall quality of the results that I got. I think that's where this makes the biggest difference for me, the old systems definitely look great, but the newer ones get that extra punch of quality that really sets them apart. Why it RoX: - Beautiful video quality - So many inputs! - Wonderful upgrade for the remote control - Firmware upgradable, and for free - On-board profiles for different systems - Can be used in conjunction with other scalers What could be improved: - Preloaded profiles not compatible with HDMI input - Expensive - My RetroTINK 4K door is very loose Should you buy one? I don't say this lightly, the RetroTINK 4K is a definite investment. If your goal is to get the best image quality possible on a modern, flat-panel display, this is the way to go. It allows you to utilize original hardware and generate visuals that were previously unthinkable. There's only so much you can do with certain signal types, I'm looking at you composite video, but it has an impact and improves every signal that goes through it. The fact that you now have an HDMI input expands the reach even further to even newer systems. It's an expensive investment, sure, but if it's in your budget you won't find a better performer on the market. #RetroTink #VideoGames #4K #Nintendo #Sega #Xbox #HDMI #RetroTInk4k Check out all of our 3D Printed items by visiting https://roxolid-productions.weeblysite.com/

Originally posted on 2/10/24 to YouTube. I wasn't aware that the Rumble Sync wasn't working. In this episode, I share a life-changing event that, I don't know how I will get through because I am absolutely devastated and need this amazing community's help. In September 2023, I made the very scary choice to leave the company I was at and join forces with a friend at their company. I was excited, rejuvenated, and motivated to kick butt and take names. That was 6 months ago the day this video goes live. Unfortunately for me and my family, I was informed 2 days ago that my position had been eliminated and I was being let go. For the first time in my life, I was looking at not having a full-time job to provide for my family. I've never, ever been in this situation previously, and as such, I'm freaking out, terrified, and overall rocked to my core. I know many people had thought that RoXolid Productions was my full-time job. It hasn't been, not to-date at least, but it is something that we may have to look into making a reality. This is where I need your help, and it isn't overstating the case to say that you can change my family for the better. We have almost 25,000 subscribers at this point, and I am beyond thankful and appreciative of each and every one of you for watching, sharing, commenting, liking, and otherwise supporting my channel. I understand the economy is terrible right now, we're in an election year and people hold on to their wallets, and overall things are thought everywhere. But with 25K subscribers, if just a fraction joined us as a YouTube Channel Member or supported us via Patreon, then I never have to work for anyone else ever again! I've always tried to keep the cost of support low, it's only $1.50 to become a channel member and only $1 on Patreon! Like legit, if this community can come together to help us out here, and invest in what we are doing here, it could be life-changing! I know many will ask "Ok, fine, you have channel memberships, but what are you doing to help yourself?". Good question. Since this happened 72 hours ago I've sent out over 150 resumes to various companies, both local and providing off-site work. I've reached out to former colleagues to see if there are any opportunities there to explore as well. I've launched a new sale on my 3D Printer accessory storefront, bringing items down the the lowest prices I've ever offered them. I'm trying, I'm doing everything I can, and it's not even the start of the week. Check out all of our 3D Printed items by visiting https://roxolid-productions.weeblysite.com/ Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCznAOWQLsiCAMNRq9fzQJpw/join Get early access to our videos and support RoXolid Productions for as low as a dollar a month through our Patreon page, https://www.patreon.com/RoXolid Looking for some RoXolid Merch? Check out our T-Spring store for shirts and swag at https://teespring.com/roxolid-productions-official-s

In this episode, we unbox & test out the GameSir G8 Galileo smartphone controller adapter & see if it is a PlayStation Portal Killer. There's been a lot of talk lately about cloud gaming on mobile thanks to things like the PlayStation Portal. While many will agree that that was not executed to the best it could have been, it did show the industry's desire to shift into being able to play console quality games on the go, Just like the Nintendo Switch. The thing about that, however, is most of us have a device in our pockets that are as powerful, if not more so, then the Portal or even the Nintendo Switch in our smartphones. That's what GameSir is banking on with their new G8 Galileo smartphone grip. Designed to give you a tactile input while you play on the go, could this be a better PlayStation Portal? The G8 has a number of interesting features to it. First & foremost the color scheme reminds me 100% of the Super Nintendo controller, & I love that. You have A, B, X, & Y face buttons, both an analog stick & d-pad on the left hand side of the grip, & a second one on the right hand side. And those analog sticks are not just any old analog sticks, they are actually Hall effects sensors. That means concerns about drift should be negligible. GameSir also includes a number of additional sticks for you to swap out depending on what your personal preference is, & thanks to a magnetic faceplate, this couldn't be easier. To accommodate smartphones of different sizes, the USB-C port that interfaces with the phone itself is on a hinge to adjust for different heights. The grip also is spring loaded to expand to hold a variety of different phones. I tried both my Google Pixel 6 Pro & my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra & both fit perfectly. I downloaded the PlayStation cloud app from the Google Play store & got the testing. My theory about the poor performance on the PlayStation Portal was that it was less device related & more service-related as I have had issues with remote play in my home for my PlayStation 4 to my PlayStation 5. I was hoping that the G8 would confirm that one way or another. First up was Gran Turismo 7, & pretty early on we started to get some buffering issues on the service. It cleared up eventually, & I was able to run some races fairly successfully. The button presses felt great, the triggers were very smooth even though they lacked the haptic feedback of the Portal or the DualSense controller. One other thing missing was rumble. The next game I threw at it was Spider-Man, & this one saw not graphical issues but some lag & latency issues. GameSir does provide an app where you can go in & adjust the deadband on the buttons & sticks, & I think I'm going to have to do that as there were times when I was trying to web sling & it just wasn't as responsive as I would have liked. If I push the triggers down more it worked, so I think adjusting the deadband will fix that. Next up I decided to test a native Android game, the original Sonic the Hedgehog. This played fantastically, both the d-pad & the analog sticks were terrific, & button presses were spot on. This again to me hammers home that with a game loaded directly onto my phone there were no lag & latency issues, where while playing through the PlayStation service there definitely were. For my final test I decided to try out some cloud Gaming on my Xbox Game Pass. I actually had very high hopes for this as Microsoft has really made their online platforms a priority for over a decade. One of the games that I am most sensitive to lag & latency on is MLB The Show due to the pitching meter that I utilize. I will say they're absolutely zero issues here, it was super crisp & responsive, & absolutely blew PlayStation out of the water! Why it RoX: - Less than half the cost of a Portal - Hall effect sensor joysticks - Great performance - Expandable to accommodate a large number of phones - USB-C for power - Compatible with native Android games, along with PlayStation & Xbox cloud gaming - Great color scheme What could be improved: - No rumble support - Did not connect to my Cellaro 5G - Cannot fix Sony's terrible cloud service - Convex & concave buttons would be really nice Should you buy one? I absolutely love the value & performance that GameSir has delivered here. You get a truly excellent platform that you can utilize on your existing smartphone. Without a phone installed, the G8 is fairly compact & easy to transport, & it can be conveniently tossed in a backpack or bag. If your focus is on the PlayStation side of Cloud Gaming, their services are just not ready for prime time, even with 1 gigabit internet service. Xbox & native Android games, however, work beautifully. I think this is a very well put together controller, & if mobile gaming is important to you this should be at the top of your list. #GameSir #G8 #HandheldGaming #ShortsIRL #PlayStation #GamePass #Xbox

In this video, we react to and analyze Microsoft's February 2024 Podcast where they confirm plans to take some Xbox titles 3rd Party. Oh my goodness they're finally doing it! Microsoft is going third-party! Well not really. In early 2024 it was leaked that Microsoft was going to be bringing their games to other platforms, and people were wondering if this meant Xbox games such as Gears of War, Halo, and others were going to come to PlayStation and the Nintendo Switch. During the Updates on the Xbox Business | Official Xbox Podcast, we got more information regarding what the plans were, so let's take a deeper look. What Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond and Matt Booty Discussed: It is somewhat true that Xbox IS going partially 3rd party, but it's not an exclusive 3rd Party, Microsoft isn't ending the hardware production of Xbox consoles. What they are doing is releasing a very limited number of games, 4 to be exact, on 3rd party hardware. What they look to be doing is bringing older, non-tentpole titles to other platforms. These appear, or at least sound like (because they weren't revealed) to be games that were not AAA titles. I would say I expect them to be similar to, say, Minecraft, Roblox, and Rocket League. One of the things that they mentioned, and I think is a true strength of Xbox, has been the philosophy that you can access your content regardless of where and when you bought it. That means that you can purchase your content once, and access it across multiple consoles. So if you bought something on the Xbox 360, if it's compatible, you get to access it on newer systems such as the Xbox One, One S, One X, or Series S and Series X. What isn't happening: Game Pass isn't coming to other systems, that's something that Microsoft confirmed directly. That is something they are planning on keeping platform-specific to Xbox consoles and Xbox on PC. As such, this is something that again they are simply providing additional options to the players to be able to enjoy cross-play functionality. Speaking of cross-play, that is one thing that they focused on as well. The goal is to allow people to play where they want when they want, and how they want. They plan on making sure that you can start on one platform and continue from your previous save states and statuses. Theoretically, this means you can start a game on the Xbox, continue it on your PC, and finish on either your Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 5. Overall, the concept sounds like it could be fairly seamless, and really user-friendly. When is it coming: We don't know yet. Microsoft and the Xbox team didn't elaborate on when we could expect this to see the light of day, however, I would expect it to arrive before the summer of 2024 is a wrap. What will we get? So this is just my hunch, but I am betting we will see Rare Replay, a Forza game, a Halo Game, and Hi-Fi Rush. What we won't be getting: Supposedly we're not getting Starfield or Indiana Jones on cross-platform play. That's a bit of a bummer, but understandable. What do you think? Are you excited for this? What do you hope we'll see? Let me know in the comments. #Xbox #Gamepass #XboxHardware #Microsoft https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107 Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include— (1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; (2) the nature of the copyrighted work; (3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and (4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors. (Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2546; Pub. L. 101–650, title VI, § 607, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5132; Pub. L. 102–492, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3145.)

In this episode, we unbox and test out what may be the ultimate budget-friendly grip for the Nintendo Switch and Switch OLED, the clutch from KMD. In a lot of ways, the Switch has followed in the path of the Nintendo Wii, not only with its success but with the number of third-party accessories for the system. Whether we are talking about screen protectors, cases, or controllers, there are a lot of options for the Nintendo Switch. KMD Gaming manufactures some great accessories that are also extremely budget-friendly. They now have a Joy-Con replacement grip called the Clutch, available in two different colors, and it looks to change the game when it comes to value and performance. Unlike other Troy can replacements, the clutch is basically one solid unit. Sure, there's a left and a right Joy-Conas they were, but they are joined along the back by a center spline. This also incorporates a couple of other interesting features. You can store four different cartridges in openings along the top of the unit, it features rumble, LED backlighting, motion controls, and Bluetooth. That's right, the clutch does not rely upon a physical connection to your switch to communicate, it all happens wirelessly. The clutch is designed to be compatible with either the Nintendo Switch or the Switch OLED. There is a locking mechanism towards the rear top section of the case which adapts to either system quite well. There's also a piece of slip-resistant foam padding along the back. Some may be concerned that this foam padding may increase the amount of heat radiated back into the console, but I never found any problems. Pairing to both my Nintendo Switch and Switch OLED was a snap. Once paired I dove into gameplay beginning with Super Mario Bros Wonder. From the word go everything felt fantastic on here. The button presses were responsive, both the analog stick in the d-pad worked great, and the shoulder buttons operated as you would expect as well. For a basic platformer, it was close to perfect. One of my tests for any controller is Street Fighter 2 as I can feel the lag and latency inherent in any controller fairly easily. It also allows me to adequately test both the analog stick and the d-pad. I was initially a bit bummed to see that the analog sticks were not Hall effect sensors, the performance of both the d-pad and the analog stick was nothing short of fantastic. I was able to pull off all of Ryu's moves, the spinning sidekick, the Hadouken, and the shoyruken nearly every time I input in the right commands. This was great! Why it RoX: - Budget-friendly - Two different colors - LED backlights - Fantastic performance - Storage for four different cartridges - Compatible with both the Switch and the Switch OLED - Fairly comfortable What could be improved: - Does not provide power to the Switch - No Amiibo support - Analog sticks are not Hall Effect sensors - Placement of cartridge storage slots makes removing cartridges difficult Should you buy one? When it comes to this style of controller, the Hori Split Pad Pro tends to be the first recommendation anyone makes. I have to tell you in practically every way I believe the clutch is vastly superior to the Split Pad Pro, and here's why. First and foremost, it has rumble! That's a feature missing from the split pad. I believe the ergonomics are vastly improved on the Clutch compared to the Split Pad which feels much too large in my hands. Having the joiner between the left and the right controller on the Clutch also eliminates the Joy-Con Flex that the Split Pad, and quite frankly any other Joy-Cons I've tested, can introduce. You can also use this as its own Pro Controller, where there is no onboard battery with the Split Pad. Oh, the Clutch is also less expensive. This is another excellent accessory from KMD that checks many boxes, has very few misses, and is reasonably priced. I highly recommend the KMD clutch controller if you are looking for this style of gaming grip. #NintendoSwitch #switchaccessories #KMDGaming #nintendo #SplitPad #SwitchOLED

In this episode, I share with you the completion of a dream where I have designed from the ground up a region-free mod tray for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System Jr, which will allow you to play both North American Super Nintendo games and Japanese Super Famicom games on a North American Super Nintendo Entertainment System thanks to the NEStoration™ Region Free Mod Kit I designed and am manufacturing. When I got into 3D printing in 2021, there were three things that I wanted to design and print. The first was a set of Mickey Mouse wall hangers for the ears my wife, daughters, and I have collected over the years. The second was a storage case for Famicom Disk System Disks in their cases, with Diskun on the sides. The third item I wanted to create was a region-free mod for the Super Nintendo and the Super Nintendo Jr which would allow me to play imported Japanese 16-bit Super Famicom games on a North American system. Thanks to SainSmart providing us with a SealLite handheld 3D scanner, and what I have learned over the last two and a half years regarding 3D modeling, I am proud to announce my NEStoration line of Gaming accessories and the first product under that brand, a region mod kit for the Super Nintendo. Let's show you how to install this kit. Please note: The NEStoration region-free mod tray will only allow you to play Japanese games on a United States system. It will not allow you to play PAL European Super Nintendo games on a US system as they operate at a different frequency. This does not convert PAL signals to NTSC, this simply alters the existing cartridge slot. Tools needed : NEStoration™ SNES Region Free mod tray 4.3 mm game bit or security bit Number 0 Philips head screwdriver Disassembly: The underside of the SNES features 6 4.3mm Security Bits you need to remove. You can remove them in any order, but make sure to set them aside in a secure place as you'll need them later. Once the screws have been removed, you can separate the top and bottom half of the cases. Set the bottom half of the case aside as you will not need this at this time. Flip the top of the shell over so you can see the inside of it. There are Phillips head screws that you will be able to see. You will need to remove each of these screws that retain the stock cartridge slot. Before removing the stock tray you will need to remove the reset mechanism spring. Use a needle nose pliers or a set of tweezers. Remove the cartridge locking lever mechanism from the tray, you won't need this on the conversion. Carefully lift the stock component from the system. Before we are done with this, we need to remove the reset plunger. It has 2 tabs on either side of the channel that locks it into place. Gently squeeze these tabs to release it, and it should pop right out. From here, you are done with the original tray & will not need it anymore. Begin the reassembly process by installing the reset plunger into the new NEStoration tray. While I do my best to ensure free movement of this piece before proceeding. Once installed, you can install this tray in your system. From here, you need to prep the region-free tray by installing the 2 included standoffs. These key into the bottom of the tray to ensure they don't spin when you reinstall the screws. Before placing them into the tray, pre-thread the screw holes to make installation easier later. Once the standoffs are in-place, you can screw the tray to the lid of your system. Once completed, you're ready to reassemble your console. I am super excited that I was able to design and produce this.Let me know if this is something you would be interested in. Have you ever collected Super Nintendo games? Let me know in the comments. #SuperNintendo #SuperFamicom #RegionFree #NEStoration #SNES #SuperNES #VideoGames Order the NEStoration Standard Super Nintendo Mod Kit at SNES Mod: https://roxolid-productions.square.site/product/SuperNESRegionFreeMod/63 Or on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/listing/1690379023/nestoration-super-nes-region-free-mod Check out our installation tutorial of the SNES Jr NEStoration Region Free Mod Kit at https://youtu.be/YsRmkJgzZ98 Order the NEStoration SNES Jr Mod: https://roxolid-productions.weeblysite.com/product/SuperNESJrRegionFreeMod/63 Check out all of our 3D Printed items by visiting https://roxolid-productions.weeblysite.com/ Check out the Seal Lite handheld scanner at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPXBSCXS?ref=t_ac_view_request_product_image&campaignId=amzn1.campaign.FO2YGGKDCH6F&linkCode=tr1&tag=rox0c-20&linkId=amzn1.campaign.FO2YGGKDCH6F_1709751705597

In this episode, I share with you the completion of a dream where I have designed from the ground up a region-free mod tray for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System Jr, which will allow you to play both North American Super Nintendo games and Japanese Super Famicom games on a North American Super NES Jr. thanks to the NEStoration® Region Free Mod Kit. When I got into 3D printing in 2021, there were three things that I wanted to design and print. The first was a set of Mickey Mouse wall hangers for the ears my wife, daughters, and I have collected over the years. The second was a storage case for Famicom Disk System Disks in their cases, with Diskun on the sides. The third item I wanted to create was a region-free mod for the Super Nintendo and the Super Nintendo Jr which would allow me to play imported Japanese 16-bit Super Famicom games on a North American system. Thanks to SainSmart providing us with a SealLite handheld 3D scanner, and what I have learned over the last two and a half years regarding 3D modeling, I am proud to announce my NEStoration line of Gaming accessories and the first product under that brand, a region mod kit for the Super Nintendo. Let's show you how to Play Super Famicom Games On SNES Jr and install the NEStoration Region Free Mod Kit. Tools needed : NEStoration™ Region Free mod tray 4.3 mm game bit or security bit Number 0 Philips head screwdriver Order the NEStoration SNES Jr Mod: https://roxolid-productions.weeblysite.com/product/SuperNESJrRegionFreeMod/63 https://roxolidproductions.etsy.com/listing/1690378343 Order the NEStoration Standard Super Nintendo Mod Kit at SNES Mod: https://roxolid-productions.square.site/product/SuperNESRegionFreeMod/63 https://roxolidproductions.etsy.com/listing/1690379023 Disassembly: There are four 4.3mm security bits on the bottom of a Super Nintendo Jr. Using a security bit or game bit, remove these screws and set them aside for later. Once the screws have been removed, you can separate the top and bottom half of the cases. Set the bottom half of the case aside as you will not need this at this time. Flip the top of the shell over so you can see the inside of it. There are three Phillips head screws that you will be able to see. You will need to remove each of these three screws that retain the stock cartridge slot. Once removed, carefully remove the stock cartridge slot from the system and store it, you will not need it anymore. Install the NEStoration region-free mod where the original cartridge slot was. Take note of the orientation where the two screw retainers go versus the single one. Also, make sure that the cartridge doors are in place and secure before installing the three retaining screws. Once all the screws are installed for the region-free tray, you can reinstall the top half of the shell back onto the bottom half using the four security bits. Once the four security bits are back into place you are ready to play. This region-free mod tray will only allow you to play Japanese games on a United States system. It will not allow you to play PAL European Super Nintendo games on a US system as they operate at a different frequency. This does not convert PAL signals to NTSC, this simply alters the existing cartridge slot. I am super excited that I was able to design and produce this. Stay tuned as I will have more information on the original Super Nintendo region-free mod tray from NEStoration soon. Let me know if this is something you would be interested in. Have you ever collected Super Nintendo games? Let me know in the comments. #SuperNintendo #SuperFamicom #RegionFree #NEStoration #SNES #SuperNES #VideoGames Check out all of our 3D Printed items by visiting https://roxolid-productions.weeblysite.com/ Check out the Seal Lite handheld scanner at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPXBSCXS?ref=t_ac_view_request_product_image&campaignId=amzn1.campaign.FO2YGGKDCH6F&linkCode=tr1&tag=rox0c-20&linkId=amzn1.campaign.FO2YGGKDCH6F_1709751705597 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCznAOWQLsiCAMNRq9fzQJpw/join Follow Us on Social Media! Instagram - @RoXolidProductionsGK Twitter - @RoXolidStudios Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RoXolidProductions/ Get early access to our videos and support RoXolid Productions for as low as a dollar a month through our Patreon page, https://www.patreon.com/RoXolid Looking for some RoXolid Merch? Check out our T-Spring store for shirts and swag at https://teespring.com/roxolid-productions-official-s Would you like to have your products featured on RoXolid Productions? Do you have Questions? Comments? Email us at RoXolidMail@Gmail.com!!

In this episode, we discuss the rumors swelling around that Microsoft is looking to potentially and production of Xbox consoles, and why in the end it really doesn't matter. Let's take a look. The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Microsoft is going to stop selling Xboxes! They are going third party?! Yes, these are the rumors swirling around and Microsoft is not directly addressing them to quell people's fears or confirm the rumors. But in the end, whether Microsoft is making hardware or simply focusing on software, it really doesn't matter and doesn't change their business model a whole lot. Here is why. Since its inception, Microsoft has been a software and services company, and hardware has never been their thing. Think back to when Windows really became a dominant force and how the machines that ran the software were named. Windows compatible. It wasn't a Microsoft PC. And until recently, Microsoft did not produce laptops or tablets. But they, themselves, aren't even making that hardware, they're having components sourced and built for them and they are slapping their name on it. When I say Microsoft is a services company, the reason for that is simple from a business term. They are all about that residual income at this point. They would rather have people spend $16.99 a month for a Game Pass subscription than purchase a $59.99 physical disc for a game. The game purchase is one and done. That $16.99 is a recurring monthly, quarterly, or yearly expense that they get to rake in. As such, one game pass subscriber is financially more valuable to them than someone who buys a game or two a year. Microsoft has been all about making Xbox content available on various devices for an extremely long time. When they launched Xbox on PC, they doubled down on it. They've also tested the waters and limited terms by placing some of their content on other manufacturers' systems, specifically the Nintendo Switch. While games such as Halo aren't there, games such as Super Lucky's Tale, Cuphead, & a few more have already made their way out of the system. And while they bought Minecraft, that's on everything. It's even on the PlayStation! Another interesting thing about Microsoft hardware is it has never really maintained any sort of resale value. Much of this is because so much of the library is available to the generation that follows. With the Xbox Series S and Series X, you can play much of the preceding library from all Xbox console generations, but an interesting thing now is that you can play that library not only on the newest generation hardware but for the most part also on the previous generation hardware! Microsoft has not divided the library for Game Pass between console generations. As such, you can play the latest Halo game on the Xbox Series S or Series X just as you would on the Xbox One, One S, or One X. You do miss out on graphical fidelity on the Xbox One Series compared to the Xbox Series X, however, you will have a very similar graphical experience on the Xbox Series S to the Xbox One X. As such, if all you're looking to do is play the games, it could be argued that an Xbox One X is a better gaming option currently compared to the Xbox Series S. In the end, whether Microsoft makes game consoles moving forward doesn't really matter. Xbox gaming studios are what will matter. Xbox game pass is what will matter. As long as those things are still alive and well and kicking, you'll still be able to play your favorite Xbox titles, you just might do it on a different piece of hardware. As long as people are playing games and having fun, that's all that really matters. If there's a way that you can do so and not spend as much money, that is a great win in my book. #Xbox #XboxHardware #Microsoft Check out all of our 3D Printed items by visiting https://roxolid-productions.weeblysite.com/ Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCznAOWQLsiCAMNRq9fzQJpw/join

Out of the box, it includes the dock itself, a USB-A to USB-C cable (which is vitally important and we will cover more on in a bit), and a puck-shaped remote control. Instead of an instruction manual, a card is included with a QR code for you to scan for the instruction manual. Unfortunately, this doesn't take you to the manual, it takes you to the product page, something I wish they would tweak and take you right to the manual. If I already have the product do I really need the product page versus the document I'm actually looking for? The materials feel of good quality, and there are several LED lights around the doctor to indicate what's going on. It seems they've branded this with X's and O's, with a white LED backlit x and o on the face of the dock itself, and a two-tone colored x and o on the top of the unit. A button is located on the back left of the dock as you are looking at the front of it, with multicolored LEDs behind it. Press this button to manually change what cartridge you are accessing, and the LED also changes colors to let you know which cartridge you are on. The Unitek Switch dock includes three USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and an ethernet connection so you can hardwire the dock to your router. on both sides of the unit, there is a female USB-C port. One with a battery icon, the other one that says PD 3.0. You will need to utilize both of these. Plug in your power supply, I highly recommend sticking with the OEM Nintendo power supply, into the PD 3.0 port. From here, connect the USB-C from the included pigtail into the battery side and plug the USB-A into one of the ports on the back of the dock. You must connect things like this to provide both power and enable docked mode for your Switch. If you do not, the Switcher will work but it will not connect to the TV or if you connect power to the opposite side you can connect to the TV but the Switcher will not work. Upon connecting to my capture card, I will be honest I did not notice any difference in the video quality compared to my OEM Nintendo Switch dock, and I am talking the original Nintendo Switch dock. That's a good thing as you would hope that there would be little if any difference between the two. Games looked good, they played crisply, and I did not feel any additional lag or delay. I started my gameplay test with Kaze and the Wild Masks, a game that Jay over at @YTSquarePegs recommended. When I was done I was able to simply hit the button in the center of the remote to go to New Super Mario Bros deluxe, and I had the exact same experience. It just worked. I toggled through and played some Crash Bandicoot, finally ending up with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cowabunga Collection, and everything worked great. My final test was Street Fighter. I was easily able to pull off the spinning side kick & hadouken, but at least in my very first play that I captured I did not pull off the dragon uppercut. Part of it was DeeJay was just kicking my rear end and I was playing more defense than offense. I played more later and was able to pull off all the moves without a problem. Why it RoX: - Amazing combination of features - Very slim and portable - Features three USB ports and a networking connection - Allows you to store up to five Nintendo Switch games - Remote control works wonderfully - HDMI 2.0 video output standard - Eliminates concerns for scratching of your Switch display when inserting or removing into a dock What could be improved: - The instructions do not indicate that you need to plug in the USB-A to USB-C cable - The LED for the cartridge selector is completely blocked by the system - Having the front LEDs change colors instead would be more beneficial - More cartridge slots would be awesome - More color options would be great - Leaves the display exposed to collect dust. Should you buy one? First and foremost I know there's going to be someone in the comments that's going to say never use a third party dock because it's going to break your Switch. Listen, that's referencing something that occurred almost 7 years ago at this point, and the issue was drilled down, for the most part, to AC power supplies that were out of spec. I spent a lot of time talking with electrical engineers who build these things for a living and multiple engineers said the same thing. If you use the OEM Nintendo Switch AC adapter and you should be fine in most cases. That being said... This thing is flipping awesome! It condenses everything down into a much smaller package than having the clip-on cartridge adapter and a separate Nintendo Switch dock. Overall functionality is absolutely wonderful, and the things I would like to improve are minor. If you are in the market for an extra or portable Switch dock, this needs to be at the very top of your list. Kudos to Unitek for making an absolutely wonderful piece of tech that will have a permanent home under my TV.

As we approach the end of 2023 it's time to look back at the year that was. There was a lot of good, there was some pretty bad bad, and lots of stuff in between. Let's take a look at why we were so disappointed as we check out 3 of the biggest video game disappointments we experienced in 2023. Honorable mention Losing family members Listen, I'm going to try to keep this short light but I can't look past the fact that we lost very important members of our family this year. We lost the alpha of our dog pack Murphey Mayhem in January, And just a few weeks ago we lost my brother Scott. Other family members have recently taken ill, I would really appreciate it if life would cut us a break for a bit. Number three PlayStation 5 slim Generally speaking, when Sony has revised their hardware they've made it more powerful and less expensive. In 2023 they released the PlayStation 5 Slim, which wasn't a whole lot smaller than the original and wasn't any less expensive. Add to the fact that it required an internet connection to pair the disk drive to the console left a sour taste in many people's mouths. Number two AEW Fight Forever I was really excited when I heard there was an AEW wrestling game coming. I was even more excited when I heard that Kenny Omega would be one of the lead testers. What we got was a steaming pile of crap, with tons of lag, graphical glitches, and overall terrible gameplay. I had extremely high hopes for this but whether we're talking about on the Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch, this game needs to go back to developmental. Number one Sony PlayStation Portal If you had asked most Sony fans at the beginning of the year if they would be excited at a new PlayStation handheld, most would have replied yes. What most people probably would not have wanted is what the PlayStation Portal wound up being, a remote play handheld that has no native onboard storage or games. It wouldn't be so bad if the remote play service actually worked halfway decently. The hardware is significantly held back by the quality of the backbone service running underneath, and for some users, the portal has been absolutely unplayable. What were your biggest disappointments in gaming in 2023? Where does mine rank on your list? What did I miss? Share your thoughts in the comments. #2023Recap #VideoGames #Portal #Ranking #BestGamesOf2023 #WorstGamesOf2023 #PS5 #Playstation #holidayswithshorts #ShortsIRL

One of the really cool things that Nintendo does every year, or at least they've done on the Nintendo Switch, is send out an end-of-year recap showing you what games you've played, how much you've played, what categories and more. 2023 has been a busy year but I've still been able to play my Nintendo Switch. Let's take a look at the recap that Nintendo provided. First game of the year played: Nintendo Switch Online N64 If you would have put a gun to my head and asked me the first game I would have played in 2023 I never in a million years would have said the N64 Switch Online. I couldn't even tell you what game I played. Total games played: 42. And here I thought it was just The answer to the meaning of the universe and everything. Total hours played I actually played 150 hours this year, I have no idea if that is more or less than in 2022 but I think it's more. Most played games Number one: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: This comes as no surprise to me, whether I am playing with my oldest daughter, youngest daughter, or just by myself. If there is one game that has been a constant in our Switch this year it had to be Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Number two: NES Online This one surprises me a little bit, I would have thought I spent more time on other games but I guess not. With the NES Online, I've been able to go back and play some of my favorite games from one of my favorite systems. Number 3: Super NES Online I'm actually a bit shocked that this was not ranked higher than the NES Online since I've spent so much time going back and replaying Super Mario World this year. This is probably my personal favorite part of the Switch Online service. What sorts of games did I play the most? Classic Games Action Games Racing Games Again this is no surprise to me. I love the Switch Online service, but I'm surprised that it says I played more action games than racing games, but if it's talking about the individual titles I guess that makes sense. What games and genres did you play the most on your Nintendo Switch in 2023? Did you play more games and more hours than I did? Let me know in the comments. #nintendoswitch #2023SwitchRecap #mariokart8deluxe #holidayswithshorts #shortsirl #switcholed #switchonline

Well this kind of sucks, in December of 2023 it was announced that E3, The electronics Entertainment expo, was officially dead. For the past several years it had been canceled, delayed, and rescheduled, But after it did not happen in 2023 the writing was on the wall. The GGWP, the organizing body behind it, finally admitted what everybody else knew. That E3 was over for good. With E3 now dead, why did it happen & does anyone care? This is not something that I'm shocked to see, and it's not just the video gaming industry that's affected by it. See, trade shows and conventions are very expensive to put on. For example, the company I used to work for would spend north of $100,000 for a 3-day booth in Chicago. And that was just the cost of the booth! Then you add in transporting products for displays, personnel to be on staff, feeding people, going to meetings, and a whole lot more and you get something that in the end can be done for pennies on the dollar virtually online. Yes, it is a shame that E3 will not be happening anymore, but it's not just E3 that's feeling the pinch. Years ago in the RC industry, we had a very similar concept called iHobby. It was held every year in Rosemont Illinois and it was a celebration of all things radio controlled. We would attend, the other bigwigs in the industry would attend, and it was where we debuted our new products for the year. The company I worked for was based in Central Illinois, so going up to Chicago was a minor thing. But we also had one of our key divisions in California, and we had to fly staff from California to Illinois. Plus Champaign, Illinois is about 2 hours away from Chicago, which means regardless if they were from Champaign or from California they had to be put up in hotels. Plus you have rental cars and baggage fees, there's so much that goes into putting on a convention. And in the end, someone can now turn on a webcam and have their presentation in an office or studio for pennies on the dollar. If you ran a business which would you rather do? I am disappointed that I was never able to attend an E3, but I'm not surprised by its demise. I do wish the staff and organizers involved the best of luck as they try to figure out what they will do in the future. But for now, I fully expect Nintendo, Sony, and others to simply host their own streaming events around the beginning of summer to announce new products. Or quite frankly they could do it at any time of the year, they are not locked into this particular time now. This actually provides a lot of opportunity for the entire industry. #E3 #ElectronicEntertainmentExpo #VideoGames #BreakingNews #holidayswithshorts #Shortsmas #ShortsIRL

In this episode, we unbox & test out the GameSir G8 Galileo smartphone controller adapter & see if it is a PlayStation Portal Killer. There's been a lot of talk lately about cloud gaming on mobile thanks to things like the PlayStation Portal. While many will agree that that was not executed to the best it could have been, it did show the industry's desire to shift into being able to play console quality games on the go, Just like the Nintendo Switch. The thing about that, however, is most of us have a device in our pockets that are as powerful, if not more so, then the Portal or even the Nintendo Switch in our smartphones. That's what GameSir is banking on with their new G8 Galileo smartphone grip. Designed to give you a tactile input while you play on the go, could this be a better PlayStation Portal? The G8 has a number of interesting features to it. First & foremost the color scheme reminds me 100% of the Super Nintendo controller, & I love that. You have A, B, X, & Y face buttons, both an analog stick & d-pad on the left hand side of the grip, & a second one on the right hand side. And those analog sticks are not just any old analog sticks, they are actually Hall effects sensors. That means concerns about drift should be negligible. GameSir also includes a number of additional sticks for you to swap out depending on what your personal preference is, & thanks to a magnetic faceplate, this couldn't be easier. To accommodate smartphones of different sizes, the USB-C port that interfaces with the phone itself is on a hinge to adjust for different heights. The grip also is spring loaded to expand to hold a variety of different phones. I tried both my Google Pixel 6 Pro & my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra & both fit perfectly. I downloaded the PlayStation cloud app from the Google Play store & got the testing. My theory about the poor performance on the PlayStation Portal was that it was less device related & more service-related as I have had issues with remote play in my home for my PlayStation 4 to my PlayStation 5. I was hoping that the G8 would confirm that one way or another. First up was Gran Turismo 7, & pretty early on we started to get some buffering issues on the service. It cleared up eventually, & I was able to run some races fairly successfully. The button presses felt great, the triggers were very smooth even though they lacked the haptic feedback of the Portal or the DualSense controller. One other thing missing was rumble. The next game I threw at it was Spider-Man, & this one saw not graphical issues but some lag & latency issues. GameSir does provide an app where you can go in & adjust the deadband on the buttons & sticks, & I think I'm going to have to do that as there were times when I was trying to web sling & it just wasn't as responsive as I would have liked. If I push the triggers down more it worked, so I think adjusting the deadband will fix that. Next up I decided to test a native Android game, the original Sonic the Hedgehog. This played fantastically, both the d-pad & the analog sticks were terrific, & button presses were spot on. This again to me hammers home that with a game loaded directly onto my phone there were no lag & latency issues, where while playing through the PlayStation service there definitely were. For my final test I decided to try out some cloud Gaming on my Xbox Game Pass. I actually had very high hopes for this as Microsoft has really made their online platforms a priority for over a decade. One of the games that I am most sensitive to lag & latency on is MLB The Show due to the pitching meter that I utilize. I will say they're absolutely zero issues here, it was super crisp & responsive, & absolutely blew PlayStation out of the water! Why it RoX: - Less than half the cost of a Portal - Hall effect sensor joysticks - Great performance - Expandable to accommodate a large number of phones - USB-C for power - Compatible with native Android games, along with PlayStation & Xbox cloud gaming - Great color scheme What could be improved: - No rumble support - Did not connect to my Cellaro 5G - Cannot fix Sony's terrible cloud service - Convex & concave buttons would be really nice Should you buy one? I absolutely love the value & performance that GameSir has delivered here. You get a truly excellent platform that you can utilize on your existing smartphone. Without a phone installed, the G8 is fairly compact & easy to transport, & it can be conveniently tossed in a backpack or bag. If your focus is on the PlayStation side of Cloud Gaming, their services are just not ready for prime time, even with 1 gigabit internet service. Xbox & native Android games, however, work beautifully. I think this is a very well put together controller, & if mobile gaming is important to you this should be at the top of your list. #GameSir #G8 #HandheldGaming #ShortsIRL #PlayStation #GamePass #Xbox

If you could design the ultimate dock for the Nintendo Switch, what features would you want? Multiple USB ports? Ethernet connectivity? What if it allowed you to store 4 different Switch Cartridges that you could swap between? Well, Unitek has delivered what they feel is the ULTIMATE Nintendo Switch Dock, and we have one here to check out. As we get ready to record our review, let's take a look at this new optional dock. From Unitek themselves: This UNITEK Switch docking station performs much more than the official Switch dock. It supports 4 games switching by pressing the button and is equipped with HDMI video output, USB-C (power supply), 3 USB ports, and a RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet port, allowing you and your friends to play multiple games without changing the cards. Package Contents 1 x Switch docking station. 1 x USB-A to USB-C Cable (30cm). 1 x User Manual. Initial thoughts: Man, I thought I was digging the new 8 in 1 Cartridge Adapter with Remote Control, but now that I see this I am totally geeked out. It is compact and efficient in its design too. I love the idea of a dock with all of these features under the hood. One thing you will need to add is an AC Adapter, and for that (as always) I recommend using an official Nintendo Switch AC Adapter for the best compatibility and fewest issues. This truly looks to offer something for everyone, and I cannot wait to test it out! I'm kinda bummed, however, as I expect this to replace my Super Mario Switch OLED Edition Dock in my living room, but I can live with it as this will have such amazing potential and opportunity in one convenient package. I'm telling you now, this looks to be a game-changer and a must-have for those of you who own a Nintendo Switch or Switch OLED. #NintendoSwitch #Switch OLED #switchaccessories #Unitek #holidayswithshorts #ShortsIRL

In this episode, we unbox & test out the Unitek Switch Game Card Reader, designed to read 4 Nintendo Switch Cartridges & store 4 more, & this even includes a convenient Remote Control! This way you never have to manually swap Nintendo Switch Cartridges Ever Again! In May of 2023, I had an opportunity to test out a truly amazing accessory for the Nintendo Switch & Switch OLED from Unitek. Designed to make it easier to store & swap between game cartridges, I declared that the original Unitek 8-in-1 Cartridge Switcher was: "...about as close to a must-have accessory as I have tested out. I put this up there with Fixture Gaming S1 & S2 for my favorite accessories for the Nintendo Switch. " Check out that original review at: https://youtu.be/sumk3b-OMDQ The one comment I saw pop up repeatedly was people loved the concept but hated that they would have to get up to switch the games manually. Well, Unitek has listened and revised the original to be even better by including a remote control for changing your game selection! Let's take a closer look. Much like the original, this version of the Unitek Cartridge switch allows you to store four games that you can play and change on your Switch, plus storage for four additional storage locations so that way you can easily swap any of the 8 cartridges in and out. The reader features a USB-C port and includes a USB-A to USB-C cable for power. It also has a fairly thick ribbon cable that goes from the switcher to your cartridge port. Instead of going up and over the switcher I would have preferred if the ribbon cable exited the side of the case closer to the cartridge port. It's not bad, just a bit unsightly. Much like the original, there's a triangle-shaped push button on the left side of the switcher which changes the game and LED color when pressed. I would like it a bit more if the LED would flash the number of times to respond to the cartridge port in use or to have a single LED above Positions 1-4 to help identify which cartridge you're on, but it's a minor gripe carried over from the original. To attach the switcher to your dock, it just uses a pressure fit to stay in place. On both my original Switch Dock and my Switch OLED dock the fitment was perfect. It slid on and was held securely in place without being difficult to remove if so desired. One thing that would be nice is if there would be a way for the unit to stand on its own behind the Switch to make it more convenient if and when using a 3rd party dock. Perhaps having legs that could swing out and stand behind the dock would be a solution? Connecting the switcher's cable to the Nintendo Switch's cartridge port was a snap. Simply open the Cartridge Slot, insert the adapter, and you're good to go. Some people may not be thrilled with the looks of having the cartridge flap open constantly, and I get that, but for this level of convenience, it's a necessity. The remote control is a different sort of design. It reminds me of a Bluetooth receiver I had about 13 years go for my old HHR. It's a round disk with a button in the center and a white LED on the top. Each time you push the button the LED lights up to acknowledge the button press. It would be nice if the LED light on the remote matched the color on the switcher, but I know that would require some additional tech and bidirectional communication. When test-fitting the cartridges into the slots, one thing I noticed immediately about this new version is that the pin fitment felt much better. It didn't have that cringe-inducing crunch sound the original had, which is a definite improvement. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is the switcher's need for a separate USB power source, while not providing a passthrough for another USB device. This makes it less useful for some, and I'd like to see the option for some sort of female USB port on a future iteration. When it comes to the remote control functionality I am pleased to say that it worked perfectly for me. Range was adequate, it worked from across my living room to my TV stand without issue. It is also an RF remote vs Infrared, so it doesn't rely on line-of-sight. Everything else felt just like the original, and that's a great thing. Why It RoX: - Allows you to use 4 cartridges with 1 Switch Console - Now includes wireless remote control - Compact - Storage for 4 additional games - LED Indicator for which game is in use - Reasonably priced What could be improved: - Better integration with 3rd party docks - Uses a USB Port, needs a pass-thru USB-A for other accessories Should you buy one: In a word, YES! This is a must own in my opinion for Nintendo Switch and Switch OLED owners and adds a digital-level of convenience to a physical collection. It just works, and I can't ask for much more. For $40 I've spent a lot more on worse products, and this is just an awesome device. #NIntendoSwitch #SwitchOLED #SwitchAccessory #BestSwitchAccessory #Unitek #fypシ #FYP #ShortsIRL #holidayswithshorts

One of the cool things for me about the holidays is getting to spend time with things from my childhood memories, such as my childhood Christmas tree. One issue that this tree has had forever has been the difficulty in getting a proper Christmas angel or star on the top, due to the diameter of the main trunk and top of the tree. Well, my wife suggested that I 3D print a Super Mario Star for the top of the tree, so I got to work and started designing in Tinkercad. The finished result is what you see here, a 4-star Super Mario Christmas Tree Topper. Let's take a closer look at how I 3D Printed a Super Mario Bros Super Christmas Tree Topper! I started out with just a single star and extrapolated from there. I knew I wanted 4 stars, that way there would be enough support not only while on the tree but while stored as well. I designed it so that the 2 side star's arms keyed into the front and back stars during the print, so basically, it would be one unit when complete. I also designed it to print it on my Bambu Labs P1S and have the eyes black like they should be, compared to printing all in yellow and painting them after the fact. I sliced the file with a 20% infill in Bambu Studio, using Inland PLA+. The overall print is a bit heavier than I expected and, where each star is about 5mm thick at this point, I may make a 2nd variant where the stars are about half as thick. That will reduce weight, reduce filament used, and reduce print time. But for a first attempt, I am thrilled with how great this looks and turned out. Let me know is this something you've thought about doing before? Have you incorporated video games into your Christmas tree or other decorations? Share your thoughts in the comments! #SuperMario #VideoGames #christmasdecorations #3DPrinting #BambuLabs #P1P #P1S #HolidaysWithShorts #ShortsIRL

I'm very blessed that I am able to celebrate each Christmas with the Christmas tree I grew up with. See, in 1978, my mom and grandfather went to Stein's Gardens and Gifts in Brookfield, Wi the day after Christmas to buy this tree. I've maintained it since I got it in the late '90s from my dad after my mom's passing and enjoyed sharing the story and legacy of this tree with my family and daughters. I know it's meant a lot to oldest daughter, and my youngest loves it too. One of the things that my mom instructed in me is that each year we add ornaments to the tree, and the ornaments represent whatever we're doing that year. I have ornaments representing when I was playing trumpet, ornaments of my childhood dog Cinder, my adult dog Max, many Disney ornaments, and in recent years we've added video game themed ornaments. Let's take a look at some of my favorites on our tree. Being a Nintendo family and fanboy, we of course have many Nintendo-themed ornaments. We have 8-bit Mario and Luigi ornaments that are super cool, but also super tiny. A few years ago I got a Mario coming out of a warp pipe, the Super NES musical ornament, Donkey Kong, and more. I don't know where it is right now but I also have the Sega Genesis ornament too. We celebrate St Nick's on our house, and for those who don't know what St Nick's is, it started as a easy to celebrate a separate Saint Nicholas Day by putting their shoes out stockings outside their bedroom doors or hanging an empty stocking by the fireplace on the evening of 5 December where Saint Nicholas comes during the night. On the morning of 6 December, those people will find their shoes or stockings filled with gifts and sugary treats. Widespread adoption of the tradition has spread among the German, Polish, Belgian, and Dutch communities throughout the United States. Americans who celebrate Saint Nicholas Day generally also celebrate Christmas Day (25 December) as a separate holiday. Some of the traditions and rituals of Christmas, such as leaving out a shoe or stocking to be filled, are similar to the traditions of Saint Nicholas Day. So you and your family have gaming ornaments? Do you celebrate St. Nick's? Let me know in the comments! #holidayswithshorts #ShortsIRL #videogames #ChristmasOrnaments #Hallmark #mario

Thanks to everyone who has reached out over the past few weeks to see how we're doing since losing my brother, it is greatly appreciated. One of the cool things, however, is not just receiving support but also being able to provide support to others. One such case is with Todd from Retro Frog. Todd has been into 3D printing a long time and has some truly amazing accessories. One of my favorites of his has to be the stand he created for the RetroTink 5x. I figured he'd be working on one for the upcoming RetoTink 4K and, while he didn't have one finished yet, he did send me some files to print and test out to see how they worked. And that's how this awesome collaboration started and how I was able to give him some feedback on his design for a Custom Vertical Stand for the RetroTink 4K. On his very first design, it was amazing it fit as well as it did considering he had never seen a RetroTink 4K in person! It overall worked decently enough but I know how he likes his projects to fit. I felt that the remote cavity was a bit to shallow and allowed the remote to bounce around a bit too much. I also thought the tolerances on the 4K could be tightened up a bit too. With that feedback he went to work on V2. Version 2 was much, much better. In fact, I'd say he nailed the compartment for where the REtroTink 4K would sit, but the remote storage still needed a little love. It just flopped around a bit more than I think he would have wanted, so I gave him some more feedback and he went back to the design table. In the meantime he actually received a test model from Mike Chi himself, so he could do some more direct measurements, and the final results are awesome. With V3 he was able to add material in crucial spots to support both the remote and the RetroTink 4K as needed. I printed out this 3rd and final version on my Creality K1 3D printer using Sain Smart Matte PLA-HF and I am thrilled with the results. Overall I think this looks great and provides a great way for me to store my 4K. Make sure you check out the Retro Frog website for this and other models! #RetroTink #3DPrinting #fyp #holidayswithshorts #Shortsirl #RetroFrog

When it comes to the team at Retro Fighters, they have had a number of amazing controllers released over the years. The Brawler 64, the Jab Pad, the Defender, The Duelist, and more. For me, however, the one controller that helped me enjoy a system the most was the StrikerDC. See, I hated the stock Dreamcast controller which I know many people cringe when they hear, but it's true. The StrikerDC to me made the Dreamcast playable for the first time. Now it is time for Dreamcast Fans to REJOICE as Retro Fighters has taken the lid off things with their new WIRELESS StrikerDC! Order From Rondo Products at https://collabs.shop/voz77h The StrikerDC wireless is a cutting-edge controller designed to provide an unparalleled gaming experience for Dreamcast enthusiasts. With its sleek and ergonomic design, this controller offers a range of features that set it apart from others in its class. It is fully compatible with first-party VMUs through the VMU dongle, allowing you to seamlessly integrate it into your gaming setup. The StrikerDC boasts an ergonomically designed layout, ensuring comfort during extended gameplay sessions. The StrikerDC adapts to your gaming preferences, making it suitable for any game you choose to play, featuring both digital shoulder buttons and analog pressure triggers. Equipped with Next Generation hall-effect analog sticks, the StrikerDC wireless eliminates any potential drift issues. Furthermore, it features wireless feedback capability, allowing you to experience rumble without the need for vibration packs. Elevate your gaming to new heights with the StrikerDC Dreamcast wireless controller. Features: *No drift Hall Effect analog sticks *2.4 GHz wireless technology (low latency) with 30 foot range *Wireless vibration feedback *VMU wireless dongle *Pressure sensitive analog triggers / digital shoulder buttons *Updateable Firmware *USB-C Charging port *Comfortable and accurate D-pad *Turbo functionality *Comfortable and ergonomic design *Compatible with the original Sega® Dreamcast *Rechargeable battery w/10+ hours of battery life What do you think? Would you consider buying one? Pre-Order link in the pinned comments! #Sega #Dreamcast #RetroFighters #holidayswithshorts #StrikerDC #WirelessDreamcast #fypシ #ShortsIRL

Since the early 1980s, I've been a fan of professional wrestling. Starting with the WWF in the heart of the Hulkamania era, forward to WCW and the nWo, the Attitude Era, and the current era. While some wrestlers, tag teams, and stables were better than others, some just had the most iconic music. As such let's take a look at some wrestling entrance theme songs that just hit harder than others. Macho Man Randy Savage Ohhhh Yeah, Dig It! Pomp and circumstance was a perfect theme for Savage throughout his career in both the WWF and later in WCW. Macho was excellence personified, and guys like him and Ricky The Dragon Steamboat really proved there was room for more than just the Hulk Hogan-style wrestler. CM Punk Love him or hate him, Cult of Personality is the perfect song for CM Punk. It's an iconic song that brings up so many images. Punk also stirs up powerful emotions in people, both for and against him, with his cult of personality. Undertaker I loved the Big Evil phase of the Undertaker's run, and his Dead Man Walking theme doesn't get nearly enough credit. It shed off the supernatural part of 'Taker's character, instead making him a plain and simple badass. Real American I know many are going to ask why I didn't reference this being Hogan's Music, well that's because it wasn't his initially. Real American was the theme for the US Express, Mike Rotunda, and Barry Windam's Tag Team. Sure, Hogan made it iconic, but the US Express were the originals to come to the ring to Real American. nWo Theme The following announcement, just that part alone was amazing, but the guitar riff, "We are In Control", & "4, 4, 4, 4, 4-Life" voiceovers were iconic. I loved the nWo Theme, and still do to this day. Ric Flair The Nature Boy Ric Flair could be called many things. The Goat. The Nature Boy. Space Mountain. But his 2001 A Space Odyssey theme just built from almost nothing to a deafening crescendo, just like Flair's matches often did. Randy Orton Much like CM Punk, The Viper's 2nd theme song has fit him better than the original and also sets an immediate tone. This guy isn't all there, and that's what makes him so dangerous. Demolition Ax & Smash were the first heels I loved, and these guys were beyond badass. Part of their packaging, in their music and ring gear, just fed into that persona. I loved Demolition and their theme is a huge reason why. #WrestlingMusic #Reaction #holidayswithshorts #ShortsIRL #WWE #WWF #WCW #nWo

When it comes to giving gaming gifts for the holidays such as Christmas, I often get asked for product recommendations. One of the best recommendations for those who have or will be receiving a Nintendo Switch or Switch OLED for Christmas is to give the gift of the Nintendo Switch Online = Expansion Pack Service. Here's why and how it will help you win at gaming gifting. Nintendo Switch Online members get access to NES, Super NES, and Game Boy games. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members also get access to NES, Super NES, and Game Boy games, plus Nintendo 64 and SEGA Genesis and Game Boy Advance titles. Level up with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership Get access to a library of Nintendo 64 games with newly added online play for up to 4 players, as well as retro SEGA Genesis classics! All the other great benefits of a Nintendo Switch Online membership are also included, such as access to 100+ classic NES and Super NES games, exclusive online matches in the Tetris 99 game, online play in some of your favorite games, and more! As an additional benefit, Nintendo Switch Online members can buy a pair of Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers and redeem each one for a digital game in the voucher catalog to score savings. For example, get The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and one other game for up to $30 in savings with Game Vouchers! Get an additional game’s worth of courses with the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass! A total of 48 more courses are racing to the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game as paid DLC. Highlights include the Yoshi’s Island course—inspired by the Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island game—and returning favorites like DS Waluigi Pinball, GCN Daisy Cruiser, Wii DK Summit, and Wii Rainbow Road. Whether you're coasting through the flowery hills or clinging to the rainbow edges, you're in for a wild ride! You can unlock 8 more characters to use in all modes! Birdo, Petey Piranha, Kamek, Wiggler, Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, Pauline, and Peachette are all ready to race to the finish. #nintendoswitch #SwitchOnline #mariokart8deluxe #holidayswithshorts

In this episode, we unbox and test out the Atari 2600+, an updated version of the classic system, and see if Atari is Truly Back. For many gamers of a certain age, old farts like me, we started in the video game world with the Atari 2600. While other home consoles had been around for a few years before its release, the 2600 really elevated things to a different level. You didn't play video games, you played Atari. The terms had become ubiquitous, just like facial tissue and Kleenex. As time went on, however, the video game crash of 1983 did in this once great system. As time has gone on, the Atari 2600 has found a very loyal following in the retro gaming scene. Atari, having changed hands several times since the early '80s, has seen a resurgence in recent years with systems such as the VCS. Their latest home console release, the 2600+, looks to take what everybody loved about the original Atari 2600, add some modern features to it, and release what they feel is the definitive version of the console. The design team at Atari nailed the aesthetics of the 2600+. Absolutely nailed it. This has all the looks and feelings of the original, I'll be it about 20% smaller. The signature wood grain veneer on the face is here, and it still looks fantastic. One update has been made to the Atari logo on the face which now has an LED behind it to indicate when the system is powered on. Perhaps the biggest improvement of the system is the addition of an HDMI port. This allows you to get clean, crisp images from the system to your modern flat-panel television. This is a welcome addition and something I was excited to see. The system comes packed in with one CX40 controller, and a 10-in-1 multi-cartridge. The controller itself feels absolutely authentic, even though it is a bit stiff compared to what I remember from back in the '80s. The multicart includes an interesting mix of games. Instead of relying on an on-screen menu to load different titles, Atari opted to utilize dip switches on the back of the cartridge to indicate what game would load. Or a couple of times when I got confused about what switch position I needed to be in, but I eventually got it figured out. Connecting everything up and getting it powered was super easy. I really appreciate the fact that Atari opted to go with USBC for power and not micro USB. I plugged in my HDMI cable, power cable, and controller, and inserted The included cartridge to get playing. First and foremost, The Atari 2600 + does not play cartridges natively. Much like the Hyperkin Retron 77, the Atari 2600 + dumps the game from the cartridge into local onboard memory and that is what gets played. It should be less of an issue on a machine such as this compared to newer machines as these games could not save your progress. These ROM dumping sorts of systems can have issues when you try to save back to a cartridge. Looking at the images on my TV I couldn't help but think man this thing looks crisp! Granted, the Atari 2600 graphics are pretty simplistic, but everything looked really really good. Much like the visuals, the audio is also something fairly basic, but everything seemed to be recreated accurately here. I have no complaints regarding pallets, audio quality, or anything along those lines. Games compatibility was also excellent. In fact, there was a game that I tried to play on the Retron 77 that would not that now played successfully on the Atari 2600 +, that being Star Wars Return of the Jedi Death Star Battle. I could not get it to work no matter what on my Retron 77, but it fired right up here on the Atari 2600. That's great to see. I also love the fact that the Atari 2600 Plus is compatible with the Atari 7800 library of games. I don't have much experience with those, but the one in my possession, Galaga, played beautifully. Why it RoX: - Plays actual cartridges - High games compatibility - HDMI output - USB-C for power - Period Accurate joystick included - Compatible with 2600 and 7800 cartridges - That beautiful wood grain What could be improved: - I'd prefer to see it at $99 - Joystick a little stiff out of the box - I just don't have the nostalgia for the 2600 that I do for a Nintendo systems Should you buy one? This is probably the best Atari 2600 clone I've ever tried, but that field is fairly small. I thought load times were decent, game compatibility was great, and the overall experience was fantastic. The visuals on a modern flat-panel TV were exactly what I expected, but granted the 2600 graphics were fairly simplistic. I don't know how much use this will get moving forward, but I'm glad to have it in my collection because now I truly have a viable option to play Atari 2600 games in HD. #Atari #Atari2600 #VideoGames #PacMan

When it comes to giving gaming gifts for the holidays such as Christmas, I often get asked for product recommendations. One of the best recommendations for those who have or will be receiving a Nintendo Switch or Switch OLED for Christmas is an amazing game, one that follows up on Wii Sports. I'm talking about how you can win at gaming gifting and how giving Nintendo Switch Sports as a gift is a no-brainer. Title: Nintendo Switch Sports System: Nintendo Switch Links to Purchase (Affiliate Links) Digital Version: https://amzn.to/4a6Bh5A Physical Version: https://amzn.to/3uPNUl1 Why I love it: I had so much time back in the mid-2000s playing Wii Sports, with my friends, family, and oldest daughter. Now, Switch Sports captures that exact same feeling while updating the look, feel, control precision, and even the games. Whereas the original had tennis, boxing, baseball, and, of course, bowling. Switch Sports includes Golf, Soccer, Volleyball, Tennis, Badminton, Chambara, and of course, Bowling. One of the coolest features of Switch Sports is the ability to play online with friends or players around the world. This is great for me as my oldest daughter is going to college out of state yet we can still play online together when she has time. #GiftGuide #NintendoSwitch #holidayswithshorts #ShortsmasChallenge #BestGames #Nintendo #NintendoSwitch #SwitchSports #WiiSports

In this episode, we unbox and test out the Hyper Mega Tech! Super Pocket handheld gaming system, compatible with the Evercade library of cartridges. When it comes to keeping games from the past alive and helping promote homebrew developers, Blaze Entertainment has done a magnificent job since they're joining the scene. The quality of products that they offer, the value they offer with their compilation cartridges, and the fact that they offer physical games is outstanding. While you may not recognize Blaze Entertainment, you may recognize Evercade, which is the gaming platform that they provide. In addition to Evercade, however, they recently launched a new brand, Hyper Mega Tech!, and their first device builds upon their company legacy. The Super Pocket reminds me of the Game Boy Pocket, with a few tweaks. It features four face buttons, a menu button up front, L1, L2, R1, and R2 triggers. On the back, there is a cartridge slot and practically the same position as on the Game Boy. The front of the unit is adorned with a beautiful IPS display. With the Evercade handheld and Evercade EXP, you might be wondering why would someone be interested in this? Well, first and foremost it's only $60, less than half of the cost of regular Evercades. Secondly, some may simply prefer this form factor. Finally, HyperMegaTech! has made the two variants of the Super Pocket special by including different built-in games. The two versions available at the time of this posting are the Capcom edition and the Tiato edition. Each version has several different classics from each publisher pre-installed on them. One of the first real surprises to me on this system was the fact that those games were in fact built in and not installed on the onboard cartridge. I wonder if that's a licensing agreement thing where Capcom and Taito wanted to make sure that those games were only playable on these handhelds. Regardless, the cartridge that's installed in the back of either system is literally just a shell to cover and protect the pins on the back of the system. Hyper Mega Tech! definitely removed features from the Super Pocket to bring the overall cost down, and for some that'll be a good thing and for others, it'll be a bad thing. It does not feature any network connectivity, so when Evercade offers their free game of the month and downloadable firmware updates, the superpocket cannot do either. The display is considerably smaller than on the Evercade handhelds, and you lose the option to play in Tate mode. Upon firing up the built-in Capcom games, I had to try out Street Fighter just to see what the performance was like. I will say I was fairly disappointed in the performance of the D-Pad, rolling it to perform Ryu's moves was extremely difficult. The precision was not where it needed to be, and that was disappointing. I don't know if this is the design issue as I do not have Street Fighter for my Evercade VS, so this may simply be something inherent to their D-Pad design. After this, I switched over to some of the other games built into the system. Mega Man, Final Fight, and others play decently. There are display options to go from original, pixel-perfect, or full screen. You can also enable or disable scanlines. Evercade cartridges were next, and the first up was the Data East arcade collection. One thing of note is that while the display looks large when you take into account the size of the displayed screen and aspect ratio natively to certain games you actually lose some real estate. For example, it was really hard for me to see what I was doing on Burger Time. Bad Dudes, however, was just fine because it took up more screen space natively and the sprites are overall larger. Why it RoX: - Only $60 - Capcom and Taito editions available - Compatible with Evercade cartridges - Beautiful display - USB-C for charging What could be improved: - D-Pad is not great for Street Fighter - Included games built into the system not on the cartridge - Small display - Great battery life - Good-sounding speaker - Lacks any internet connectivity Should you buy one? If you've been kicking around whether or not to get invested in the Evercade ecosystem the Super Pocket is a great way to do so at a fairly low price. It offers the ability to expand the library beyond the built-in titles to include over 400 games. Add into that the Evercade ecosystem the cartridges are generally $20 to $30 and their multi-carts. The older I get the harder it is for me to see on smaller displays, and I do wish that this display was slightly larger. I also thought the D-Pad hurt performance on Street Fighter, but for platformers, it was just fine. I've bought a lot worse things for $60, and I can see myself playing this a whole lot more moving forward. #HyperMegaTech #SuperPocket #Evercade

In this episode, we unbox and test out the PlayStation Portal handheld accessory for the PlayStation 5 from Sony. Key Specs: Display Size: 8in LCD Resolution: 1080P Refresh Rate: 60HZ Bluetooth: No WiFi Compatibility: WiFi 5 2.4GHz & 5GHz Battery: 4370mAh Much like how every company seemed to be going after the Nintendo Wii in that generation of hardware, this generation it seems like everybody is trying to capture the lightning in a bottle that the Nintendo Switch has done.For years people have been expecting a follow-up to the PlayStation Vita from Sony, and in the summer of 2023, they announced a new handheld. Well not really. What they released was a streaming device compatible with the PlayStation 5 called the PlayStation Portal. The overall look and design of the PlayStation Portal feels slapdash and a half-ass. It looks as though Sony took a DualSense controller, cut it in half, added an 8-in 1080p display, and called it a day. The Portal has no onboard storage of its own, it cannot play any games natively on itself and requires an always-on internet connection. A Vita 2 this is not. For $200 you get the system, a USB-C cable, and an instruction slip sheet. There's no case included, no screen protector, nothing. After opening & testing the PlayStation DualSense edge controller I was really expecting a case with this, however, Sony definitely cheaped out here. Going from the box to playing was a painful experience from a time standpoint. It took me over half an hour to download and install all of the day one, or latest day, patches and firmware upgrades for the system. That was crazy, & I have fiber internet. Once all the updates were installed I was ready to go ahead and sign into the system which was fairly easy to do. It became clearly evident to me quickly was that this is designed for people who have a PlayStation Plus membership. The emphasis on digital gaming is transparent here. I don't own many digital-only games on the PlayStation any longer as those purchases have not always come forward from generation of console to generation of console. The first game I tested was AEW Fight Forever. Upon loading the game I instantly noticed that the frame rate just seemed off. It didn't feel like it was laggy or that there was a whole lot of latency to it, it just didn't look right, it didn't feel right. That being said I was able to have a couple of successful matches without any issue. From here, I moved on to several other games I own on my system. Gran Turismo 7 ran beautifully on the system, to be honest with you. I never had any connection issues, I never had really any issues at all. While only a 1080p display, I have to admit the colors looked gorgeous, it was vibrant, and I half wonder if the issues I ran into on Fight Forever warrant inherent to the game versus anything to do with the system. I did spend some time playing the original Spider-Man, and that also looked and played beautifully. I was able to zoom around the skies of New York without any issue, button presses felt good, this was not the hellish experience I'd heard others had had. To finish my testing I took the Portal to the office and connected it via my cellular hotspot. I do have 5G ultra-wideband service at the office and found that I could connect to my phone without any major issues. I fired up Ratchet and Clank a Rift Apart for this test, and while there were a few times I got the warning that my network connectivity was slow it never disconnected during gameplay. As Sony has done for generations, there is no support for standard Bluetooth headphones. They want you to buy THEIR earbuds, and that's really anti-consumer. I hope that someone comes out with an adapter at some point, and I may look into other unofficial solutions down the road. Why it RoX: - PlayStation 5 gameplay on the go - Beautiful display - Rumble is awesome - Works great with digital titles What could be improved - No native gameplay options - Requires constant internet connection - If you want to play a disc-based game you really have to plan ahead - No included screen protector, case, or AC adapter - Not compatible with Bluetooth Headphones Should you buy one? I have to admit I was more impressed with the Portal than I thought that I would be. I actually enjoyed my time playing this and I can see it possibly getting more gameplay. The thing is I no longer have my PlayStation Plus subscription, Sony priced me out of the market. As such and as someone who doesn't have the opportunity to play games on the go, the use case for me is rather low. I also did not appreciate the fact that Sony did not include a case, screen protector, or AC adapter, and their lack of Bluetooth support sucks. I will say that I did not experience the game-breaking delay and the lag feared, so that makes me hopeful that Sony has addressed this in recent firmware updates. At $200 I see this as a novelty, one that is easy to pass up. #PlayStation #Portal #VideoGames