iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Pete Skerritt @peteskerritt.com · 6h

Another weekend come and gone. Just put in for some PTO to extend next weekend’s 3 days to make it 4, as the grind is combining with old age to kick my ass.

Jeff Gerstmann @jeffgerstmann.com · 9h

Reposted by Pete Skerritt

Anyone using Metacritic for some kind of comparison between years needs to realize that the number and quality of the publications Metacritic recognizes has swung wildly over the years. It ain’t the same.

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Pete Skerritt @peteskerritt.com · 17h

Holy cow. Indy… running the football? Amazing. Also— what a dumb, dumb personal foul leading to the short field.

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Pete Skerritt @peteskerritt.com · 17h

This football game is just making me angry. Abysmal offensive play calling. Abysmal QB by Danny Derps. Indy seems allergic to run calls. Not a fan of either team, but this is a shit product so far.

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Pete Skerritt @peteskerritt.com · 17h

The full-on Jackass approach was the style at the time, which probably annoys people now. That said, THUG 2 is yet another enjoyable sandbox THPS with plenty to do to a backdrop of varying locales and a decent licensed soundtrack. I’m more of an American Wasteland stan, but I still like this one.

Warrior’s mad because he couldn’t win a single match. I get it. Game rage is real.

The original Air Combat is interesting from a “This is how it started?” standpoint, so early in the original PlayStation’s lifespan. Ace Combat 3 is… divisive. Not helpful that the US version had its storyline completely fubared, but I just don’t like the game at all, gameplay included.

Ace Combat 7 is also good fun, and checks all of the modern-day boxes. Looks good, sounds good, varying difficulty for varying skill levels, DLC if you want it. Ace Combat 6 is… fine. Some ideas work, some don’t. The story (if you care about it) is LOL-worthy. Very “of its time” visually.

I think others have said it, but the PlayStation 2 trilogy of Ace Combat games is really the best place to start for those looking to get into the series, playing them in release order (4, 5, Zero). Ace Combat 2 is also a fun playthrough— though many will think it looks ugly by today’s standards.

Pete Skerritt @peteskerritt.com · 19h

Ace Combat 8 as an initial foray into the series is okay— though a lot of references to earlier games won’t be noticed. It’s also not as forgiving as earlier games in the series, even at the easiest difficulty setting. That said, as a series fan, I really haven’t enjoyed 8 as much as I’d hoped.

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Pete Skerritt @peteskerritt.com · 19h

One would think, because of my line of work, that I’d be into (or even understand) emulation or console modifications… but once I’m not working, I really don’t want to think about work or work-adjacent things. My experience with trying to set emulation up & getting it to work right has been awful.

Pete Skerritt @peteskerritt.com · 19h

There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t selfishly wish this had received a domestic release, as original PlayStation emulation and/or hardware modifications really aren’t my kinds of things.

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Pete Skerritt @peteskerritt.com · 20h

Questions I keep asking myself: Why does Toki keep getting re-released, and who is legitimately asking for these?

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Okay. After that annoying late summer intrusion of heat and humidity, we’re back to our much-preferred windows open 60sF with a nice breeze. Perfect morning for some Count Chocula and YouTube on the big TV before tackling the happy decision of what video game(s) to play today.

The Dreamcast controller is ass, especially when using that god-forsaken D-Pad. The Third Strike review alludes to this, and may explain some of the negativity. Personally, I never thought Third Strike was fun— but I’m aware that I’m in the minority with that view.

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It was the Genesis. Sonic 2– 1993.

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Series where I didn’t play the first game first: ✅ Mega Man: I played Mega Man 3 first, then 2. ✅ Castlevania: I played Super Castlevania IV first. ✅ Final Fantasy: I played Final Fantasy IV first, then VI. ✅ Streets of Rage: I played Streets of Rage 2 first.

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The fact that I can put my 3DS in my pocket, and that it has an actual D-Pad (as opposed to whatever-the-hell-the-JoyCon-has), makes it my go-to for video gaming when I’m out and about. Then there’s the fact that 99% of DS/3DS games can’t be played on Switch/2. 3DS is still vital in 2026, to me.

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Wii serves as a bittersweet reminder of the good and the awful that internet connectivity for consoles has wrought. All of these missing/now-dead features were powered by the internet. We wouldn’t have had these features without it— but they were stripped away when Nintendo decided it had enough.

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No more blue light flashing from your disc drive to show messages. No more extra channel support (without screwing around with the console to jailbreak it). The lost feeling of excitement when looking forward to each week’s Virtual Console additions.

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See, while Wii gets fondly remembered (and rightly so) for Wii Sports and other notable games… many of the things that made the Wii experience what it was 20 years ago are dead. It’s hard to explain to people who didn’t experience it at the time how empty it feels by comparison today.

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Of all the “retro” consoles in my video game room, the Wii is the one whose experience is significantly different today than it was in its time. NES, SNES, Genesis, PlayStation, N64… those are all “frozen in time”, when playing them today is exactly as it was originally. Not Wii. Too much missing.

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Today’s “retro” game store goodies. It’s legit been a quarter of a century since I’ve owned Castlevania Chronicles complete— made the mistake of lending it to a co-worker, and… yeah. You can guess what happened. Given that it’s October and I saw this? Yoink. Also. Wii MotionPlus Inside Mario.

I'd say that the "Rise of the Morons" would be documented down the line by historians, but then I realized that the monarchy will destroy education and there won't be any smart people left to write (or be able to write) about what happened.

Today might be a "Trip to the 'retro' video game store" day. It's been almost 3 weeks. I'm due for a visit.

Sober reminder(s) in my timeline today that, even when my job is frustrating and I want to punch things, I must remember that I *have* a job right now, and that's something a lot of people don't have at the moment. These days, you've gotta be grateful for what you have & swallow that frustration.

I've got plenty of CV goodness to keep my attention during this "spooky season". Probably time for my annual Super Castlevania IV run. Always important to note that, just because I don't like a game, it's not necessarily a "bad" game. Just not my thing. Maybe it'll be yours.

This... is what I was afraid of. Once "Soulslike" is in, I'm respectfully out. I'd rather get an anvil dropped on my nuts. Not at all my kind of sub-genre. At least I can cross this one off my wishlist & save some cash/time.

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Not the first time posting stupid things online-- even as a teenager-- resulted in adult consequences. Won't be the last, either. The internet is forever, and limitations don't apply... time *or* age. I keep hoping more people will figure this out, but most never do (until it's too late).

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This game is... bleh. I mean, I *kinda* see what Acclaim was aiming for, but it's more like a Shaq free throw than a Jordan jam. "Ain't no balls like basketballs, they're the only balls that bounce!"

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Commander Sterling @commandersterling.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Falling farther into the Rabbit Hole of original PlayStation Game Variants with today’s mail call.

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Reposted by Pete Skerritt

The overhauled weapon system is one of Dynasty Warriors 3 Remastered’s unequivocal improvements. Being able to swap out elements and stat boosts helps so many characters that got fucked by terrible final weapons. It’s the exact fix I wish the original had.

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Reposted by Pete Skerritt

Joe Alonzo @joe.radjunk.com · 01/10/2026

So you like the 3DO? shop.radjunk.com/products/apo...

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Dynasty Warriors 3 Remastered is pretty much exactly what I (selfishly) wanted from the Final Fantasy VII project that wound up running amok. It’s essentially the same game as the PS2 original, with better visuals and smoother animation. It looks great, and it’s comfort food kinds of familiar.

Cow-Cow stays in Dynasty Warriors 3 Remastered. Aw hell yeah. That means Cow-Pee is here, too. Attack!

I talked briefly about the Rabbit Hole of (original PlayStation game) Variants on my website earlier. If my email is correct, there's more Rabbit Hole goodness waiting for me at home. Just a PS1 sicko over here, thankfully under the radar.

There's something... fishy about this casino. I can't quite put my fin on it.

A good problem to have: Do I keep playing Ace Combat 8 when I get home, or do I start Dynasty Warriors 3 Remastered? My weary brain after a long work day is leaning toward the latter, but we will see.

It's not mind-boggling. It's monarchy.

Chris Kohler @kohler.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Reposted by Pete Skerritt

JUST ADDED: Join me on Sunday, October 11 at Portland @retrogamingexpo.bsky.social for "How Game Collecting's Past Can Predict Its Future." Is game collecting DYING?! Will future humans still want to fill their homes with physical video games? The answer lies somewhere in the 1990s. We'll find it.

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Seriously: At this point, we're 20+ months into his reign. There's really very little people should be surprised about. I'm not sure if it's some weird defense mechanism or part of the grief process, but it's head-shaking to me that people are still doing this despite reality having played out.

I implore you: Please stop with the "He can't do that!" when the King of America does things you think he shouldn't be able to do. He always does what he wants to do, at least for a time while the agonizingly slow wheels of the Judiciary grind. He's gonna do what he wants. Nobody stops him.

'TUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE!