iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 19h

You know what I want? A Bocce video game where you can play anywhere with highly customizable and wacky environments. Like how in the modern PGA 2k golf games with the course editor where you can do wacky layouts and such. I want something like that but for Bocce.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I don't like being too negative, but it bother me how little noise gets made for indie games and such like this. Everybody gets up at 6 am to see AAA company presentation or some tacky awards show, but here are just some raw and cool games being shown and... nothing from them.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The Triple-I Initiative showed off a lot of cool stuff. It was expected, but the Risk of Rain 2 DLC shadow drop was cool. A lot of new and fun looking games to look forward to. I want to see more showcases like this. No corporate bullshit, just games being shown.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I'm saddened there isn't an option for classic 4 player splitscreen dogfights. The 4v4 team mode is cool, and they are adding a splitscreen option to play with the team mode, but I liked the old school dogfights in 64 with a group of friends. Landmaster and On Foot were funny.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I've effectively completed all of Star Fox now, except for the multiplayer. The multiplayer mode is fun enough. I did a few matches with bots to see what it was like, but I ain't grinding out all the multiplayer achievements especially since they have to be in public matchmaking.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I took my time going through the missions. I went through all the Normal missions first then went back through on Expert. The missions weren't really too hard, just fun challenges to do in the levels. Some of the Expert missions were a bit annoying, but still a good time was had.

Screenshot from Star Fox on the Nintendo Switch 2. The screenshot is of the challenge mode screen showing all the Normal and Expert missions complete on every level.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I don't know how noticeable that difference is to other people, but I've played Star Fox 64, like, a crap load. I clocked that something was different right away, but I'm a super nerd that plays games way too much and gets way into the minutiae of how games work.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

It also feels like the charge shot charges a bit faster in 2026 as well. All these changes to the charge shot potentially gives a higher score ceiling to score attacks in 2026 compared to 64, you know outside of the hit exploits that 64 has in certain spots like in Solar.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I also noticed that the homing of the charge shot is a lot "smarter" too. In 64, if an enemy flies out of view of the screen while a charge shot is fired, it will lose the lock and likely miss. In 2026, the charge will continue to track enemies out of your view until it hits.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

In 64, the charge shot would lock on to the spawning enemies. In 2026, the charge shot would lock on to the more distant enemy further out before the enemy group fully spawned in. So that seems to me the charge shot in 2026 has a larger/further lock on range than in 64.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Something about the charge shot in Star Fox 2026 feels different compared to 64. I noticed it right away at Corneria. Right after the checkpoint, you can fly through an archway to spawn a group of enemies. I noticed holding a charge flying through it locked on differently.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

It's like riding a bike, as they say. Blasting through Normal and Expert mode a few times to get all the medals feels like coming home. Still remember how everything goes. Still feels great. Probably chip away through challenge mode now, can go back and do better scores later.

Screenshot from Star Fox on the Nintendo Switch 2. The screenshot is of the achievements screen showing all the levels with the medals for normal mode and expert mode acquired as well as all alternate routes completed. Top Hits displays 1725 hits.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I'll say the same thing I hope for every time a new Nintendo direct thing gets announced. I would like a new 1080° Snowboarding game and a new Wave Race game, or both together as one game. I will hold out hope for these games every time.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Apparently if you play Mario Kart 8 on the Switch 2, there's an 8-Player split screen mode? I don't have enough controllers to test this, but how do you see what you're doing with a screen split 8 ways. How does this split the screen 8 ways. It's cool though.

Screenshot of main menu of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Switch 2. The multiplayer option is highlighted with the 8 Player option selected.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Figured may as well get a Switch 2 before prices go up. I thrifted the crap out of it too. Found enough deals through discounted eshop cards to order new direct from Nintendo using eshop credit. Got everything here for $400, which was normally $560 after taxes. Good deal I think.

Picture showcasing a Nintendo Switch 2 game system, a Super Mario carrying case for the Switch 2, and a physical game case for Star Fox on the Switch 2 spread out on a bed.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

I got around to listening to the Switch 2 Star Fox music. I feel they were able to do the soundtrack justice, the orchestral music sounds great. I'll always be fond of the original N64 midi versions of the Star Fox 64 songs, but they really nailed the soundtrack good.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

I miss forums and message boards and how searchable they were. I dislike everything migrating to discords. Makes it too hard to find info on games or mods or stuff. I'm tired of having to join a discord just to find a thing. Don't wanna join 500 discords I'll never look at again.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Yeah, that's a good way to put it I feel. While theoretically options in a TTRPG are limitless, the GM at the end has the final say what's possible and it can sometimes feel spiteful or targeted. I'm probably just a bit sour on it from previous bad experiences though.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

I can understand that, it can be frustrating when a game simply doesn't allow something to occur. It doesn't feel as bad to me because when I play a game I'm aware of the inherent limitations of the medium. While a good GM is awesome, I had too many times when a GM feels suffocating in my opinion.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

I feel like the outlier since most people do like role playing and playing out a character and doing a scene and such, whereas I don't like doing so. It would be unfair to the other people I'm playing with. Sorry if this is unhelpful, I just have a lot of conflicting likes and dislikes I suppose.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

I have thought about it before. I do whiteroom combats a fair amount in systems I do enjoy, it could be expanded to different parts of the system. But, then I think that if what I enjoy the most is the combat, why not just play a video game where the game handles everything else while I do combat.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

I also don't like the subjectivity of a GM. I know at the end of the day it's to play a game and to have fun with friends, but I just find the idea of a person having a say of what I can and can't do at their discretion irksome. That's why I largely prefer video games since they're unbiased.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

It is also partly I don't like most stuff outside of combat at least on systems I've tried. I don't like talking to NPCs, interacting with the world, or doing "role playing" things, as backwards as that sounds. I like interacting with the mechanics of the system, and combat is where it happens most.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

It is partly I have frustrations with people I played with. A person that constantly says they're the only person that does things right. A person that never pays attention to what's going on. A person that constantly gets their abilities and the rules wrong. A GM that is biased for/against people.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

I think I like the idea of playing tabletop RPGs more than actually playing them. I like character building, theorycrafting, and the act of playing out combat. But sitting down to actually play I mostly don't have fun. I don't know if it's just me or the people I'm playing with.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

I'm not a fan of the trend of local play/same screen/couch play being usurped by predominantly online only multiplayer. I wanna pull up to a friend's house to hang out and have a good time together. Playing online just isn't the same experience as sitting in the same room.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

I am happy a new Culdcept game is coming out, but I saw something that concerns me. Seems like no same screen/local multiplayer in Culdcept Begins? According to the number of players on the Switch and steam features. Would be a major bummer, man. Local play on PS2 one is fun.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

I want those sweaters that the contestants wear on the 1990s version of Supermarket Sweep. They look really cozy and comfy.

Picture of a group of contestants on the 1990s TV game show Supermarket Sweep with their carts full of groceries.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

I'm gonna say the same thing I hope for every time one of these nintendo things comes around. I would really like a new Wave Race game and a new 1080° Snowboarding game. Or if they were both combined into one game that would be pretty cool too.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

I would really like a new game like Milo's Astro Lanes. Bowling games are already pretty sparse. A Bowling game with wacky lanes and Mario Kart style items is very neat. It has cool ideas, which could be great to see a modern take that improves on it. youtube.com/watch?v=GIFG...

youtube.com

Longplay of Milo's Astro Lanes

YouTube video by LongplayArchive

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

I'm just a guy and still have a lot to learn about being consistent at Slay the Spire 2, but the game in its current state is still very fun even in early access. It'll be cool to see what else they add. And hopefully local couch co-op support someday. Pretty please.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Defect: Juggling orbs is still fairly consistent and strong I feel, even with less ways of getting permanent focus. 0 cost (claw) and status archetypes can go off but are less consistent than hiding behind orbs I feel. A constant supply of frost orbs especially is very safe.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Necrobinder: Having a 2nd health bar in Osty you can actively bolster makes Necrobinder very resilient. Souls are very good even after getting nerfed a few times. Ethereal cards exhaust themselves when you don't need them. Doom helps Necrobinder play defensively too.

Ascension 10 Win Screen with Necrobinder

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Regent: Feels like he has the toughest Act 1 out of the characters right now. Having great cards locked to a secondary resource makes deck building early tough. Sovereign Blade and Colorless Card archetype feel tough to get going consistently, at least to me.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Silent: Far and away the strongest character right now I think. Sly and card draw/discard is very good and can play a passive/defense style at minimal risk. Shivs feel strong as well. Poison feels underwhelming until you get accelerant or can stall with good defenses.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Ironclad: I always struggled with Ironclad's playstyle in 1, and I still do in 2. A number of ways to exhaust and draw cards makes him fairly consistent though. Self damage cards are fun to build around. Block/Body Slam archetype still feels difficult to get going reliably.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Slay the Spire 2 is a pretty cool game. Even though I've pretty much ran through everything it currently has to offer with Ascension 10 wins on each character multiple times, I still like booting it up and just playing runs. I suppose I'll talk about each character a bit.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Unfortunately, real hardware is becoming more scare as time goes on and is unrealistic for a lot of people with how much the retro game market has inflated prices. Emulator is the only way we can realistically play these games anymore, and some way is better than no way.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

It took me 2 hours of playing Mario Kart 64 on emulator before I got the turbo start even once. Emulator input latency plus the lag reduction got me all messed up. This is why I'm a stickler for real hardware, it's just the best way to play in my eyes. Rough edges and all.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

I'm so used to the lag that happens on older games on real hardware that when I play emulated versions that don't have the lag my muscle memory gets all screwed up, especially on games I've played a lot. The lag helps my old man reactions, man. I need it. It runs too smooth.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

I hope we start seeing more of the Sega reboot games soon. The newest Shinobi was pretty alright, and they teased Crazy Taxi not too long ago. Seeing these long dormant series get new games is pretty cool.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Maybe we can soon have a 3D fighter resurgence. Virtua Fighter and Dead or Alive on the horizon. Harada having a new studio to make games with hopefully more freedom. Hopefully ever goes well. I can hope that games like Soul Calibur and Bloody Roar can make a comeback.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

This is a very good video if you have a vested interest in fighting games or competitive games in general. Makes a lot of great points and helps give a look into why things happen and how they happen. youtube.com/watch?v=uCPQ...

youtube.com

Game Balance Isn't Real

YouTube video by GameDesignDirect

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

SSX is a very cool game. My favorite of the series is SSX Tricky, but SSX 3 is very good too. It's just a really good mix of style, level design, and tight and fun feeling gameplay. Hopefully there can be a new game like SSX, because EA ain't gonna be making any more.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Patch culture and obsession with balance have made a lot of modern games less fun for me personally. Some of the most fun to play games for me are the ones that are jank and broken messes. I'll gladly play a fun game that's broken more than a balanced game that's boring to play.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

I usually don't play online matches, but I like pokemon enough to push through it sometimes. Using off-meta picks is definitely a challenge, but pokémon is a gambler's game after all. A bit of luck never hurt anyone.

Pokemon Champions screenshot showing Master Ball Tier at 1,707.205 ELO. The team consists of Machamp, Heliolisk, Toxicroak, Mega Froslass, Gliscor, and Maushold.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

The training mode music is also burned into my brain, it's a nice beat. Sometimes when I'm bored I see how fast I can get 999 Hits just for fun. It's not that hard really, just takes a while to get there. As long as you spam barrel roll you're pretty much invincible.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

I'm exited to see how the music sounds like in the new Star Fox game. Has a very great soundtrack to go along with it all. It's one of the soundtracks I listen to the most that's not a Sonic game. The ones I wanna hear most are Aquas, Area 6, and of course the Star Wolf theme.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

An aside, on foot was really funny in VS mode of Star Fox 64. You're such a small target you're hard to hit and unlike the Arwing and Landmaster you have the ability to stop moving and pivot/turn around on the spot. The downside of not being able to charge/lock on was nothing.

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Douglas Carter @thatzooooooooo.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

To be real, I just think Wolf is cooler than Fox and want an excuse to play as Wolf's team instead like in Star Fox Command. You know, just with better gameplay and writing/story than Command. As many faults as Command has, playing as other characters was pretty cool.

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