#Customizable button mapping

[crazydiscostu]

Hex Gaming Ultra X Controller For XBOX One

!

Designed with precision and innovation, the Ultra X Controller from Hex Gaming promises to enhance your gaming sessions with its sturdy build and premium components. Today we’re looking into the features, tech specs, and overall performance of the Ultra X Controller. Hex Gaming Hex Gaming have established themselves firmly in the gaming peripherals market, by delivering high-quality products.…

[creepyscritches]

Anyone know if the dualsense edge is worth that fucking price?? I know it's got worthless battery life, but that wouldn't be the end of the world since we have usb-cs hidden everywhere. It's mostly a question of "this will not break like our previous 5 basic dualsenses will it?". My partner has been hemming and hawwing for months but can't bring himself to pull the trigger bc well, OUR dualsenses lm..ao....

Our red that we got back in like March is starting to fuck silly (negative) and my partner is fighting stick drift already 😭 I may just get the edge as a gift for him and maybe resolve one of our controller death loops we are trapped in

[mekatrio]

another unsurprising nintendo fail irt accessibility

[boaillustration]

The Artisul team was kind enough to send me their Artisul D16 display tablet to review! Timelapse and review can be found under the read more.

I have been using the same model of display tablet for over 10 years now (a Wacom Cintiq 22HD) and feel like I might be set in my ways, so getting the chance to try a different brand of display tablet was also a new experience for me!

The Unboxing 

The tablet arrived in high-quality packaging with enough protection that none of the components get scratched or banged up in the shipping process. I was pleasantly surprised that additionally to the tablet, pen, stand, cables and nibs it also included a smudge guard glove and a pen case. 

The stand is very light-weight and I was at first worried that it would not be able to hold up the tablet safely, but it held up really well. I appreciated that it offered steeper levels of inclination for the tablet, since I have seen plenty other display tablets who don’t offer that level of ergonomics for artists. My only gripe is that you can’t anchor the tablet to the stand. It will rest on the stand and can be easily taken on or off, but that also means that you can bump into it and dislodge it from the stand if you aren’t careful. It would require significant force, but as a cat owner, I know that a scenario like that is more likely than I’d like.

Another thing I noticed is how light the tablet is in comparison to my Cintiq. Granted, my Cintiq is larger (22 inches vs the 15.8 inches of the Artisul D16), but the Artisul D16 comes in at about 1.5kg of weight. While I don’t consider display tablets that require a PC and an outlet to work really portable, it would be a lot easier to move with the Artisul D16 from one space to another. In comparison, my Cintiq weighs in at a proud 8.5kg, making it a chore to move around. I have it hooked up to a monitor stand to be able to move it more easily across my desk.

The Setup

The setup of the tablet was quick as well, with only minor hiccups. The drivers installed quickly and basic setup was done in a matter of minutes. That doesn’t mean it came without issues: the cursor vanished as soon as I hovered over the driver window, making it a guessing game where I would be clicking and the pen calibration refused to work on the tablet screen and instead always defaulted to my regular screen. I ended up using the out of the box pen calibration for my test drawing which worked well enough.

The tablet comes with customizable hot-keys that you can reassign in the driver software. I did not end up using the hot-keys, since I use a Razer Tartarus for all my shortcuts, but I did play around with them to get a feel for them. The zoom wheel had a very satisfying haptic feel to it which I really enjoyed, and as far as I could tell, you can map a lot of shortcuts to the buttons, including with modifier keys like ctrl, shift, alt and the win key. I noticed that there was no option to map numpad keys to these buttons, but I was informed by my stream viewers that very few people have a full size keyboard with a numpad anymore. 

The pen comes with two buttons as well. Unlike the hot-keys on the side of the tablet, these are barely customizable. I was only able to assign mouse clicks to them (right, left, scroll wheel click, etc) and no other hotkeys. I have the alt key mapped to my pen button on my Cintiq, enabling me to color pick with a single click of the pen. The other button is mapped to the tablet menu for easy display switches. Not having this level of customization was a bit of a bummer, but I just ended up mapping the alt key to a new button on my Razer Tartarus and moved on.

The pen had a very similar size to my Wacom pen, but was significantly lighter. It also rattled slightly when shook, but after inspection this was just the buttons clicking against the outer case and no internal issues. The pen is made from one material, a smooth plastic finish. I would have liked for there to be a rubber-like material at the grip like on the Wacom pen for better handling, but it still worked fine without it.

Despite not being able to calibrate the pen for the display tablet, the cursor offset was minimal. It took me a while at the beginning to get used to the slight difference to my current tablet, but it was easy to get used to it and I was able to smoothly ink and color with the tablet. The screen surface was very smooth, reminding me more of an iPad surface. The included smudge guard glove helped mitigate any slipping or sliding this might have caused, enabling me to draw smoothly. Like with the cursor offset, it took me a while to get used to the different pressure sensitivity of the tablet, but I adapted quickly.

So what do I think of it?

Overall, drawing felt different on this tablet, but I can easily see myself getting used to the quirks of the tablet with time. Most of the issues I had were QoL things I am used to from my existing tablet. 

But I think that’s where the most important argument for the tablet comes in: the price.

I love my Cintiq. I can do professional grade work on it and I rebought the same model after my old one got screen issues, I liked it that much. But it also costs more than a 1000 € still, even after being on the market for over 10 years (I bought it for about 1.500 € refurbished in 2014, for reference). The Artisul D16 on the other hand runs you a bit more than 200€. That is a significant price difference! I often get asked by aspiring artists what tools I use and while I am always honest with them, I also preface it by saying that they should not invest in a Cintiq if they are just starting out. They are high quality professional tools and have a price point that reflects that. You do not need these expensive tools to create art. You can get great results on a lot cheaper alternatives! I do this for a living so I can justify paying extra for the QoL upgrades the Cintiq offers me, but I have no illusion that they are an accessible tool for most people. 

I can recommend the Artisul D16 as a beginner screen tablet for people who are just getting into art or want to try a display tablet for once. I wouldn’t give up my Cintiq for it, but I can appreciate the value it offers for the competitive price point. If you want to get an Artisul D16 for yourself, you can click this link to check out their shop!

AMAZON.US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TQLGC81

AMAZON.JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07T6ZT84V

AMAZON.MX: https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B07T6ZT84V

Once again thank you to the Artisul team for giving me the opportunity to review their display tablet!

[acepalindrome]

SDV QoL Mod Recommendations

(1.6 Edition!)

Some years ago I made a big list of some of my favorite Stardew Valley mods, because I am a mod gremlin and there are so many fun and cool things you can do with your game! Modding has changed a lot since then. Some of the old mods have been abandoned and aren’t compatible with 1.6, and lots of new ones are popping up all the time to help keep this 8 year old game fresh and interesting! So I’ve put together a list of mods that currently work with 1.6. Since there are so, SO many mods, I’m just going to list quality of life mods for now. Let me know if you guys are interested in recommendations for expansions, cosmetics and other fun stuff!

Firstly, if you’re new to Stardew modding and don’t know how to start, I highly recommend checking out Salmence’s How to Add Mods video on YouTube. He walks you through all the steps and makes it very easy to get the hang of it! And without further ado:

The Mods

UI Info Suite 2: I’m new to this mod, but now that I’ve got it, I’m not sure how I lived without it! It does so much! It shows your daily luck, any birthdays, if it’s going to rain tomorrow, when tools are ready with Clint, when the traveling cart is in town and more! It also shows the range of your sprinklers, scarecrows, bee houses and junimo huts, and if you mouse over your crops, it shows when they’re ready for harvest! Super useful, and the daily icons are small enough that they don’t feel intrusive. I usually get all my mods from Nexus because it’s easy and reliable, so I had put off trying this one since it’s only on GitHub. I absolutely should have tried it ages ago.

NPC Map Locations: Shows where everyone is on the map. No more running around trying to figure out where someone is to give them a birthday gift! This is an essential mod for me, it’s such a simple but good improvement!

Look Up Anything: This one basically eliminates the need to have the wiki open in another window. Virtually everything in the game can be clicked on to give you more information. Mouse over Shane and press a button to see his birthday, how many hearts he has and how many points to the next heart, and all loved and liked items (with items you have on hand highlighted!) Select the hardwood in your inventory to see how many you have total (including storage you don’t have on hand,) everything it can be used for and how many you need for each thing, so you know how many you need! Almost everything can be selected to give more information!

Visible Fish: Useful AND pretty! It shows all the fish currently available to catch swimming in the water, so you don’t spend ages trying to catch something that doesn’t spawn at a certain place or time! Also it just looks really nice. I love seeing the fish in the river when I’m just passing by!

FriendsForever: Eliminates friendship decay, so people don’t hate me if I forget to talk to them for half a year! Also works on animals, so I can ignore my pigs all winter and they still love me.

To-Dew: You can make a to-do list that will appear on the screen and can be marked off as you complete different tasks. No more will I take a trip to town for seeds and forget that I also wanted to donate to the museum and give Caroline a daffodil! You can also set items to be reoccurring on certain days of the week, if you want to remind yourself to look for forage on Saturday, or make Thursday your designated day to empty and refill your kegs. Very customizable! I also like to make lists of all the seeds I want to buy every season.

TreeTransplant: Robin can now move trees around your farm just like she moves buildings! I’m really bad at planning my tree placement, and it’s so frustrating to have to cut down full grown trees to change my farm layout. Now you can move trees anywhere!

Fishing Made Easy Suite/Combat Made Easy Suite: I love these mods over others that make fishing/combat easier because you can decide the exact degree you want to make things easier! You can make fishing anywhere from 5% easier to 99% easier, if you want to just take the edge off the difficulty, or make it impossible to fail a fish. You can take just a little less damage from monsters to make the Skull Cavern less daunting, or become unkillable and oneshot everything. They also have options to do fun things like put legendary fishing in fish ponds or craft magic rock candy. You can also make things harder, if that’s what you want!

Automate: Machines can pull items from chests, process them, spit them back out into the chest and pull in the next item automatically, without you having to do anything! It can be a little op early on, but it’s super handy when you have a million machines to keep track of. I especially like it for things that have shorter processing times. I can stick a chest of ore and coal next to some furnaces and let it do its thing! Or put a bait machine, recycle machine, crab pot and chest all together. The crab pots will empty and refill every day from the bait generated by the bait machine, deposit fish and trash into the chest, and any trash will be processed by the recycling machine! There are tons of fun ways to combine different machines!

TimeSpeed: Lets you stop, slow or speed up time! You can select time to freeze at certain locations (I like time to stop when I’m inside a building, like in old farming games,) set time to move slower or faster in general, or press a button to change it on the fly!

That’s all I have for now! Links will be coming in a reblog because tumblr is weird about posting links sometimes. Let me know if you’d like recommendations for other kinds of mods, like cosmetic mods, expansions, stuff that adds items or changes dialogue! I love to share the cool mods I find!

[stellas--stuff]

AAC feature ideas!

I'm designing an AAC app and these are all the features we're thinking of including so far, I'd love to have feedback on any ideas here that you hate or love, or if you have any suggestions for additional features.

Features we'd 100% include:

Adjustable grid size

Upload your own icons

Word conjugation/pluralization modifier buttons

Type words to TTS using your phone's built in keyboard

Button borders can be toggled on/off

Change border thickness

Multiple button fill options:

Delete words from text bar

Clear words from text bar

Choose between multiple board layout presets

Create new buttons/folders

Edit+move buttons/folders

Button's pronunciation can be different from button's text

Play audio on button press can be toggled on/off

Dark/light mode

Tons of accessibility options

Option to lock editing/changing settings behind a password

Search for icons in a built in catalog

Help- documentation/tips

Change font size

Change font

Set a font for wordmojis

Features we'd want to include:

Multiple profiles with separate settings for each

Separate voice for each profile

Set sound output device- remembers your choice next time there is an option

Next Word Suggestions

Synonym options for your most recent word, replaces that word when clicked

Change button size, would probably shrink the other icons in the same row to make room

Row spacers, to visually break up different sections of your board and make boards easier to read and tell apart at a glance

Color palate presets

Customizable color palates

Voice models with tons of settings:

* Pitch [deep <--> high]

* Speed [slow <--> fast]

* Resonance [masculine <--> feminine]

* Articulation [slurred<--> enunciated]

* Intensity [whisper <--> shout]

* Intonation [static <--> melodic]

* Breathiness [soft <--> sharp]

* Vocal fry [gravely <--> clear]

Upload your own icons to the catalog so other users can download and use them

Icon search filters- creator, color, category (people, animals, etc.)

Share/download boards from the internet

Use custom images for button/folder backgrounds

Fullscreen mode to show sentence instead of/in addition to speaking it

Eye tracking input method

Undo button

Adjust space between buttons

Adjust margin size

Other features we're considering:

Tone modifiers: yell, whisper, question mark, sarcasm warble, etc...

On hold features- hold on a word to bring up conjugation options? hold on a folder acts as if you pressed a button with the folder's name?

Quick zooming animations when you tap on a folder to help establish a mental map of the layout

Scroll bar to fit more buttons on a single page

Icon collage- create new icons by mixing and matching parts from other icons

Edit multiple buttons or folders at once

Board background colors/images

Built in AAC lessons

Save multiple layouts to go back to if you don't like your changes

Grammar correction options

Feedback is more than welcome!

We still don't have plans to turn this into an actual app, I want to but I can't promise anything rn.

[other-ppls-dragon-stuff]

I need to make an actual directory this is getting silly.

Link to moonsrising's post on image size limits

Tags

Nearly all posts:

Flight Rising, FR Bio Resources

Information:

Important Info, Quick Reference, image resizing, Bio Templates (fixed and extendable), Plain Text Wizardry, Names, Lore Resources/FR Lore Resources, Outfits,

Image Size:

Bullet Points, Tiny, Small, FR Item Sized, Medium (Bigger than an item, smaller than 300px in any direction), Large, Huge, Multiple Sizes,

Image Shape:

Square, Long, Tall, Banners (I am NOT differentiating between these and dividers, there's too much grey area), Headers, Bookends, Special*,

Image Content:

Achievements, Alchemy (Baldwin), Apparel Themed, Coli, Dragon Themed, Eggs, Fairgrounds, Familiars, Forums, NotN, NPCs, Scenes, Vistas, World Map

Animals, Architecture, Books, Flags, Machines, Magic, Medals, Plants, Riches, Rocks, Shade, Stars (the shape or as shorthand for space), Weapons,

Food, Drinks, Toys (Chess Pieces), Tools (art supplies, torches, shears buttons, tailor)

Candles, Eyes, Hands, Skulls,

Cute, Formal (should have been "Elegant". Oh well.), Geometric, Scifi, Simple, Spooky,

Black, Glitter, Gradient, Metallic, Monochrome, Multicolored, Pixel Art,

Flight Themed, Flight Magic, Arcane, Earth, Fire, Ice, Light, Lightning, Nature, Plague, Shadow, Water, Wind

Animated, GIFs, Insane Variety,

Image Source:

FR Item Recolors, FR Item Edits, FR Site Assets, Elaborate Edit, Enlarged FR Site Art, FR Fake Items, FR Lore, FR Item Graphics (drawings of an item made by users),

Etc:

Customizable, Not FR, Link (Readmores fall under this), Series,

*currently has a tool for making filigree coli portraits, colored statbars

[thesims4blogger]

The Sims 4: New Game Patch (May 28th, 2024)

There is a new game update for The Sims 4, to prepare the game to the upcoming kits. Read it all on the blog post below.

If you have auto updates enabled in Origin’s “Application Settings”, the game will auto-update once you open Origin. If you have auto-updates disabled, you will need to manually update by clicking the game in your library.Advertisement

To ensure your game is up to date, check the game version found in Documents > EA > The Sims 4 > GameVersion.txt. Your game should now read: PC: PC: 1.107.112.1030 / Mac: 1.107.112.1230 / Console: 1.92

Sul Sul Simmers! It’s time for some late Spring cleaning! Let’s fix some things and make a few improvements. We’ve got quite the spread, with a host of resolutions for base game issues as well as addressing a wide assortment of packs. There’re also some performance gains, gallery updates, and DirectX 11 previews. We squeezed lots into this release, but there’s still more to come! Talk to you soon!

-The Sims 4 Team

Bug Fixes & Updates

Base Game

Oh you thought you could hide, dishes? We will find you and we will wash you. Dishes left in corners will no longer be ignored when cleaning up.

Begone weeds! Plants won’t grow weeds when Out of Season. If a plant has them when it becomes Out of Season, the weeds will be removed until it’s In Season again.

Campfires will stop causing so many fires on the lot. Campfire spreadfire was triggering a 50% chance every 10 sim-minutes to burn objects other than chairs in the area. We removed that to only focus on when Fireworks trigger (which we all know is the real danger).

“A Trash Can Is Required“ message will no longer display when trash cans are present on the active lot. Get that garbage outta here.

Skills will not randomly increase or change when leaving the lot or editing the household. If your Sim knows, they know.

The skills list is arranged in alphabetical order and my eye will no longer twitch when looking at it.

TS4 Packs are listed in the right order in the Build/Buy filter. Get back in line For Rent, Home Chef Hustle and Crystal Creations!

Careers will no longer have a blank daily task menu.

Summon Grilled Cheese interaction will no longer drop from the interaction queue.

Sim will no longer get stuck in the ground and continue to Swim Laps if the pool is removed in the middle of it. Because physics. Now the Sim will reset. Because magic.

Calendar notification light will remain on after traveling. No forgetting those important events.

Customizable pronouns were adjusted to appear correctly on a few of the Romantic Relationship phone calls and will no longer display improper usage like “ask their out.”

Sims can properly merge or move households with NPC Sims “not in world“; the merge/move button is now accessible. It’s all about bringing families together!

Console

After switching to build mode from world map a red bar will no longer display in the upper right corner.

Performance

We’ve made some optimizations so the game uses less memory. You may experience fewer crashes, better frame rate, and/or more responsive simulation.

We’ve improved the lot load process so it should happen a bit faster.

Cats & Dogs / City Living

Small dogs, puppies, and kittens will properly use the elevator to go downstairs from Penthouses. They can finally go potty! Poor little things.

Cottage Living

Hatchable and spoiled eggs will now remain visible in the Chicken coop whenever the Sim travels to the lot.

Dine Out

‘Order For Table’ interaction will properly clear from the interaction queue after the waiter delivers food to the table.

Home Chef Hustles players can now add Waffles to the Restaurant Menu. More menu additions to come.

DirectX 11 Preview

DirectX 11 is available on The Sims 4 on an opt-in basis and will be rolled out fully in a later update for Simmers running Windows. If you opt to run The Sims 4 using DirectX 11, you will potentially experience enhanced game performance and graphics quality. This update is designed to increase the overall gaming experience, with improved rendering capabilities that will allow for more details and immersive environments in future releases! We would appreciate your feedback and any issues you experience on our DirectX 11 Answers HQ thread.

Simmers running Windows and have DirectX 11 compatible hardware can now enter the argument -dx11 into the EA App or Steam to switch to using this renderer. You will be able to see which DirectX version The Sims 4 is using in your game version information displayed in the bottom right corner of the Main Menu.

You can find all the information you need to check if your PC is DirectX 11 compatible and learn how to enter launch arguments for both EA App and Steam here.

While DirectX 11 is available for those Simmers who want to try it, you may experience visual issues with mods so we recommend disabling all mods while using this command line argument.

Eco Lifestyle

Nose rings will no longer break when paired with brow piercings from this pack.

For Rent

Property Ownership of “Tam Nang Sands“ lot will be recognized in the owned rental tab.

“Unpleasant Surroundings“ Moodlet no longer triggered from the Pressure cooker and Kettle.

Tourist location icons will now appear correctly when hovering over the Tomarang world select screen.

Gallery Server

All profanity filter false positive reports sent to us via  The Sims 4 Gallery Profanity Filter Feedback survey up to May 1st have been reviewed and changes implemented. We appreciate all the reports and responses and will continue to update our systems based on your feedback.

Non-anonymous Gallery users appearing in the Following and Followers tabs will once again display the number of Followers each user has.

Get to Work

Aliens will stop having noticeable changes in facial structure (placement, size, etc) when aging up. No more morph faces.

Growing Together

The “Had a Baby“ Milestone now triggers from having a Science Baby or giving birth at the hospital rabbithole.

High School Years

Teens cannot send flirty messages on Social Bunny to adults or household family members.

After a teen high school Sim completes all tasks and aces exams, they will also be promoted to a better grade. They’ve earned it!

Horse Ranch

We all know how cute they are, but Sims will no longer autonomously want to buy mini goats (causing the UI to pop up).

Nectar value is now properly increased when selling to the mysterious rancher.

Horses will no longer get stuck while sleeping too close to the Horse training ball.

Island Living

Mermaid Conservationists can now complete the “Snorkel in Mua Pel’am“ job task.

Seasons

During winter, the weeding animation will no longer repeat and the Sim will actually remove all the weeds surrounding the plants. Checkmate weeds!

[bikwin5]

i played the original 3 dragon quest (warrior) games over the past month so i'm putting my thoughts on them here

dragon quest 1: i did not finish after playing this for about 8 hours. it might have been more, i don't know. time feels irrelevant when playing this title. i wanted to give it a fair shake and i respect yuji horii's idea of wanting to make an rpg simple but i think he made it a bit too simple and the result is a mind numbing experience with rather grating audio. i listened to 2 or 3 wayneradiotv podcast episodes while playing. this does not feel like a real video game, it feels more like a fake tv show drake and josh game. it's reminiscent of a flash game you discover as a kid and get hooked on it for a few hours due to the grindy loop and then never play it again. it's also reminiscent of a lot of mobile phone games where you do nothing but press a button to make numbers go up endlessly so maybe they were really ahead of the curve with this one

dragon quest 2: started off incredibly refreshing compared to the first game, giving you plenty of more options and party members straight off the bat. at first it's pretty straightforward but once you get the boat the direction becomes incredibly unclear. sad to say i was not above using a walkthrough for a lot of it. as much as i like figuring out everything through writing down hints there is a lot of stuff that is truly cryptic, especially finding zahan. the game is already challenging but the last few areas in particular jack up the difficulty so much that after a point it stops being anger inducing and starts being really funny. it's all strangely enjoyable in a twisted way. i actually would say i liked most of this game but i would not recommend playing the original version unless you are a masochist or love to gamble

dragon quest 3: take dq2, give it an actual semblance of balance, make it even larger, and you have this one. having a highly customizable party thrown on you at the start of the game made me miss having specific characters that 2 had but it made for a better gameplay experience. somehow i didnt realize that you could have 4 party members in this one and struggled for the first few hours wondering why i ran out of mp so fast. the beginning isn't actually that hard but then there's a big difficulty jump at the desert, and then the difficulty doesn't really spike anymore until the necrogond cave to the very end. still, dq2 makes this game look very well balanced by comparison. there is a good balance of making you feel powerful and making enemies feel powerful too. i was less privy to using a walkthrough on this one but there was still some things i went to look up especially near the end where i was growing impatient. i made my own map for this one and it took me far too long to realize the world is just earth, which comes with its own baggage of having some strangely colonial themes. game was longer than i expected but overall still pretty good, this is the only one of the original nes 3 i would actually recommend playing but i figure the remakes make things a lot smoother too. i hope the hd2d remakes are good.

[charlesmwa]

How Can You Create a Personalized Sound Experience Using Customizable DJ Controllers?

Personalization has become a defining trend in modern DJing, with customizable DJ controllers enabling artists to develop their signature sound and streamline their workflow. These innovative tools allow DJs to tailor their setups to fit their unique style and performance preferences, transforming a traditional set into a highly personalized experience. Here's how you can harness customizable DJ controllers to create a sound experience that's uniquely yours.

1. Understanding Customizable DJ Controllers

Customizable DJ controllers are devices that allow users to adjust key functionalities, such as button mapping, pad assignments, and effects control. Unlike traditional controllers with fixed layouts, these offer flexibility to adapt their configurations, empowering DJs to craft a setup that complements their music style and techniques. Whether you’re a beat-heavy hip-hop DJ or an EDM artist focusing on smooth transitions, these controllers can help you achieve precision and creativity.

2. Customizing Layouts for Efficiency

One of the biggest advantages of customizable controllers is the ability to remap buttons and knobs to match your workflow. Most modern controllers come with dedicated software that lets you:

Reassign Hot Cues and Effects Pads: Map your most-used effects and samples to accessible buttons for quicker triggering.

Create Layered Controls: Set up secondary functions for knobs and buttons to maximize functionality without cluttering the interface.

Optimize for One-Handed Operation: Map essential controls closer together, perfect for DJs who want to multitask during a live set.

By tailoring the layout, you can reduce the time spent searching for controls and focus more on the music.

3. Exploring Customizable Sound Effects

Custom effects are a game-changer for crafting a unique sonic identity. Many controllers allow you to integrate third-party plugins or tweak built-in effects like delays, filters, and reverb. Here’s how you can make the most of this feature:

Layer Effects Creatively: Combine echo and reverb for atmospheric transitions or use distortion with a phaser for grittier drops.

Adjust Parameters on the Fly: Customize effect depth, rate, and resonance to suit your track's mood in real time.

Save Presets: Many controllers let you save your favorite effect combinations, making it easy to recall them during performances.

These tweaks give your sound a distinct character, setting you apart from other DJs.

4. Utilizing MIDI Mapping

MIDI mapping is at the heart of controller customization. It enables DJs to assign software functions to hardware controls, providing limitless creative possibilities. For instance:

Control Lighting with Your Controller: Synchronize lighting effects with your music for an immersive audiovisual experience.

Add Unique Sampling Features: Assign unconventional sounds, like ambient textures or vocal snippets, to your pads for unexpected transitions.

Use Multiple Layers: Set up different MIDI layers to manage decks, effects, and samples simultaneously.

Mastering MIDI mapping can dramatically enhance your live performance and workflow.

5. Integrating Visuals and Additional Gear

Modern DJ controllers often support integration with other equipment like samplers, synthesizers, or visual systems. By linking your controller to these devices, you can:

Sync Visual Effects: Use your controller to trigger visuals that match your music, creating a cohesive sensory experience.

Incorporate Live Instruments: Map inputs for synthesizers or drum machines to blend live elements into your set.

Expand Your Sound Palette: Add external sound processors or effects racks for greater sonic diversity.

Such integrations open doors to more experimental and captivating performances.

6. Advanced Features for Personalized Performances

High-end customizable DJ controllers come equipped with advanced features to elevate your sound:

Key Syncing: Match the harmonic keys of different tracks to ensure seamless transitions.

Dynamic EQs: Adjust frequency bands interactively for on-the-fly sound shaping.

Custom Loop Settings: Set loop lengths that align with your style, such as long ambient loops or rapid 4-beat repetitions.

Learning these advanced tools will not only improve your technical skills but also refine your artistry.

7. Crafting Your Unique Sound

Customizable DJ controllers are more than just tools—they’re a canvas for your creativity. To truly personalize your sound:

Experiment with Unconventional Techniques: Use pitch bends creatively, mix genres, or introduce unpredictable elements like silence for dramatic effect.

Record and Review: Listen to your sets and analyze what works to refine your customizations.

Stay Updated: Regularly explore new software updates and hardware integrations to keep your setup fresh and innovative.

Over time, these practices will help you build a signature sound that resonates with audiences.

8. The Role of Customizable Controllers in Modern DJ Culture

As DJing continues to evolve, the emphasis on personalization is becoming central to the craft. Customizable controllers empower DJs to break free from traditional molds and experiment with new techniques. This shift is not just about technology but about redefining how music is performed and experienced.

Customizable DJ controllers are a gateway to unlimited creativity. They allow you to tailor your equipment to your needs, transforming your performances into unique experiences that captivate your audience. To ensure you’re investing in the right tools, it’s important to source your equipment from professional and reputable audio shops like VIP PRO AUDIO, where quality and expertise are guaranteed.

[emeraldcatears]

Battle Basics II: Enemies and Troops

As I explored in brief in a previous post, creating enemy encounters actually happens in two database tabs.

First, there are the individual Enemies.

Individual enemies are designed in the Enemies tab. Some parts are pretty intuitive: You can name the enemy and select a picture for it. Depending on if you're using front-view or side-view battles (selected in System 1) the database will allow you to pick an enemy's sprite from the enemies or sv_enemies folders.

If you're making custom enemy images, place them in the folder for your preferred battle system.

Filling in the stats is also pretty intuitive - you just enter the numbers you want. Enemies don't level up so they're just flat numbers (though nothing is stopping you from making multiple identically appearing enemies with different stats to have the illusion of facing the same foe but stronger at a later location).

Balancing these stats is a matter of playtesting, but you can get an idea of what sort of numbers will be produced if you know the damage formulas you'll be working with and such.

Rewards are also simple enough - you can enter the amount of experience and gold the foe will give upon defeat. You can also pick up to three items to drop and choose the chance of it being rewarded to the player by setting the denominator of the probability text box. You know how fractions work: the higher the denominator the lower the chance.

Traits have a lot of variety that are covered elsewhere, so the other main point to cover here will be Action Patterns.

Here's where you determine the actions an enemy can take. Select a Skill from the dropdown menu to add a move to the enemy's repertoire. From there you can determine conditions that have to be met to make the rng land on that skill as opposed to another one, such as only triggering when the enemy's health gets low enough or even happening only if a Switch is on. You can even list the same Skill more than once and give it a different rating based on changing conditions.

Rating?

As long as the conditions for using a skill are met, the rating will determine how likely the skill is to be used. You can use the numbers 1-9 but only the highest rating and the ones within two points of it can be selected (if your high rating attack is an 8 it will never pick a move below a 6, for example). The range allows you to give an Always available attack a low rating so it will be available when nothing special is happening but will be ignored entirely in favor of other moves when the right condition is active, such as the enemy being low on HP.

Once you've built an enemy, move to the Troops tab.

Here's where you actually build the encounters. You can add enemies to a troop from the list of enemies made in the Enemies tab (or remove them if you've discovered you've gone overboard). It maxes at 8 at a time. You can also auto-align the sprites to the same height on the screen with a button or drag the image around to change where the enemy sprite will appear in an encounter.

You'll notice the default "blank" page will have "Don't Run" selected in the Conditions dropdown. This just means "don't run any special events" beyond the typical battle processing - it has no effect on whether you can flee the encounter.

Battle events are hugely customizable. If you click to add one you'll actually get the full Event menu!

Most of what's relevant to battles will be on page 3, but you're not limited to those alone.

For example, I'll create a "first battle" for my halfling to run into during their mushroom collection quest.

I can create a text event just like I could on a map. Here on turn 0 (before any battling happens) Marigold will alert the player to the gnome's ability to use Poison-inflicting attacks. You can also do this to have an enemy taunt the heroes when they're low on health or say something to indicate their own HP is dwindling.

You can control the flow of these events with the Condition(s) you select, such as after certain turns.

Span determines how often the event check whether the conditions are met and try to run. If you want an enemy to only taunt the player the first time their HP drops to half or lower, pick "Battle". If you want something to happen once a turn as long as the conditions are met, pick turn.

There is a lot that is possible here, but that's enough depth for the purposes of this post.

Instead I'll wrap up by looking at how to make an encounter happen in the game.

You can create a battle with an event. The built-in tutorial that comes with RPG Maker MZ also goes over this method. Pick a troop to throw at the player and choose whether the player is allowed to attempt to flee the battle or not. You can also check the Can Lose box to allow the player to continue with 1 HP upon losing instead of going to the Game Over screen. If you add these, you can then specify what events happen after fleeing or losing a fight.

You can trigger a Battle Processing event the same way you can any other, so it's up to you whether you need to walk up and talk to a boss or if stepping on a trap will lead to a fight.

Random encounters are set up on the Map Properties menu.

Select the troops you want and add them to the encounters list. The Weight of the troop will determine how likely an encounter with that particular troop is, from a range of 0-100. You can specify the background that appears during fights in the area and adjust the number of steps between encounters here as well.

Range determines which Regions of the map an encounter appears on. Regions can be added to a map with the R tab in map editing mode. Simply draw the region over the tiles you want to have considered part of that region. They're invisible outside of Map Editing with the R tab selected so the player won't ever see the distinctions.

Picking a range for enemy encounters is only the tip of what region IDs can do, but for the purposes of exploring the battle system they're a very easy way to distinguish parts of the map as holding more dangerous enemies (or just ones that make more sense in the terrain of the area). You can have up to 255 region ids (plus a blank one) and can reuse the same ones for different purposes on a different map.

Not all games need a battling element, of course, but you should have a grasp on how to make one if you want it.

[calypsonightingale]

A Complied List of My Stardew Valley Mods

I’ve recently gotten back into playing Stardew on both my switch and my laptop and it’s so fun! So I thought I’d give a complete list of all the current mods I use in my gameplay <3

Note: These are PC mods. It’s not possible to mod on the switch port and only a few are compatible with android, but none are apple compatible.

Smapi is not included in this list, but is 100% required! These mods will not work without it!

𝓯𝓻𝓪𝓶𝓮𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓴 𝓶𝓸𝓭𝓼 💻

Content Patcher

Content Patcher Animations

Custom NPC Exclusions

Expanded Preconditions Utility

Extra Map Layers

Farm Type Manager (FTM)

Json Assets

SAAT - Audio API and Toolkit

Shop Tile Framework

SpaceCore

NPC Adventures

Event Repeater

Generic Mod Config Menu

Joja Cola Restock

AtraCore

Alternative Textures

DaisyNiko’s TileSheets

Lumisteria Tilesheets (Indoor and Outdoor)

Artisanal Soda Makers

The Grampleton Maker’s Market

Anti-Social NPCs

Better Artisan Good Icons

BugNet

Bush Bloom Mod

PyTK Lite

Champagne Wishes

Child to NPC

Custom Companions

Custom Fixed Dialogue

Custom Furniture

Custom Gift Dialogue

Custom Kissing Mod

Custom Music

Custom NPC Exclusions

Custom NPC Fixes

Destroyable Bushes

Fizzy Drinks

Ginger Island Mainland Adjustments

GNM Tokens

Help For Hire

Happy Birthday Content Pack

Huckleberry Season

Mail Framework Mod

More Mead

More Grass

Multi Yield Crops

Producer Framework Mod

Quest Framework Mod

Shop Tile Framework

Show Birthdays

Sprites in Detail

Stardew Hack

Stardust Core

TMX Loader

Dwarf Expansion

Boarding House

𝓔𝔁𝓹𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓼 🪴

Stardew Valley Expanded

Ridgeside Village

East Scarp

Love Festival

Emyn’s Pride March

Emyn’s Queer Dialogue Expansion

Canon-Friendly Dialogue Expansion

Emyn’s Diverse Ginger Island

Immersive Festival Dialogue

𝓟𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓽 𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓼 ☀️

Seasonal Diverse Stardew Valley

Diverse Stardew Valley Expanded

Ridgeside Village Seasonal Outfits

East Scarp Seasonal Outfits

𝓐𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓽𝓲𝓬 𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓼 🩷

Stardew Foliage Redone

DaisyNiko’s Earthy Recolor

Way Back Pelican Town

Mushroom Mailbox

Idalda’s Gothic Buildings

Idalda’s Furniture Recolor

Idalda’s Craftables

Idalda’s Flooring and Paths

Idalda’s Wallpapers and Floors

Idalda’s Witchy Scarecrows

Aesthetic Garbage

Seasonal Bouquets

Cute / Seasonal Crab Pots

Seasonal Fences

Custom Menu Background

Elle’s Cat Replacements

Elle’s Dog Replacements

Elle’s New Barn Animals

Elle’s New Coop Animals

Elle’s New Horses

Elle’s Town Animals

Hot Spring Farm Cave

Industrial Furniture Set

Industrial Kitchen and Interior

Kelly’s Flower Dance Attire

Lavender Dreams UI Recolor

Rustic Country Town Interior

Seasonal Floral Bus

Seasonal Garden Farmhouse V2

Skell’s Flowery Tools

Skell’s Flowery Weapons

Replacements for Artifacts

Wildflower Grass Field

Calendar Anniversary

Mi and Magimatica Country Furniture

Warm Cozy Fireplace

Winter Grass

𝓝𝓟𝓒 𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓼 🌙

Always Raining in the Valley

Shiko

Juna

Leilani

Jade

Juliet & Jessie

Nonbinary They/Them Maddie

Aspen

Isla

Professor Jasper Thomas

Riley

𝓖𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓹𝓵𝓪𝔂 𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓼 🌈

UI Info Suite 2

NPC Map Locations

Look Up Anything

Gift Taste Helper

Chests Anywhere

Tractor Mod

Better Ranching

Birthday Mod

Ellie’s Ideal Greenhouse

The Love of Cooking

Robin Sells Hardwood

More Rings

Immersive Spouses

Immersive Family

Mail Services Mod

Part of the Community

Yet Another Harvest With Scythe Mod

Capstone Professions

Please Remember My Birthday

Please Remember My Marriage

Babies Take After Spouse

Colored Seeds

Customizable Baby and Children

Don’t Enable Pam

Gender Neutrality Mod

Gender-Neutral Ridgeside Village

Lumisteria Letters from Parents

Lumisteria Villagers React to Marriage

Shane’s New Job

Bigger Backpack

Child Age Up

Community Center Helper

Family Planning

Helpful Spouses

Personal Anvil

Running Late

Social Page Order Button

Town School Mod

Willy Has a Room

𝓡𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓼 💙

Ridgeside Rival Hearts — Sam and Alissa

Ridgeside Rival Hearts — Jeric and Alex

Date Night

Free Love

Romanceable Rasmodius / Rasmodia

Bolier’s Sam and Sebastian Rival Heart Events

Expanded Proposal Options

MissCoriel’s NPC Unique Courtship Response

Custom Spouse Nicknames

Hugs and Kisses

Platonic Partners and Friendships

Platonic Relationships

Pregnancy Role

𝓞𝓫𝓳𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓼 𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓼 🍒

Farmer to Florist

Kawaii Valley

Witchy Valley

Fresh Meat

Fantasy Crops

Artisan Valley

Even More Recipes

Mizu’s Flowers

Alex’s Frozen Treats

Pride Pastries

Chocolatier

Shaved Ice and Frozen Treats

Christmas Sweets

Fruits and Veggies

More Recipes

More Trees

Starbrew Valley

Khadija’s Recipe Shop

Animal Husbandry Mod

Bonster’s Fruit & Veggies

Bonster’s Trees

Winter Crops

Wildflour’s Faerie Garden

𝓒𝓾𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓶𝓲𝔃𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓼 🫶

Fashion Sense

Rural Outfitters

Asta Cute Rainy Season Outfit

Asta Slumber Party

Starkissed Skin Tones

Coii’s Hair Sets Pack

Coii’s Hats Pack

Hats Won’t Mess Up Hair

Idalda’s Shirts

Cozy Scarves

The Coquette Collection

Wabi’s Wardrobe

Witchy Rustic Looks

Seasonal Hats

Customize Wedding Attire

Paisley’s Bridal Boutique

[nokingsonlyfooles]

"I've identified the murderer, Miss Holt!"

I've been getting back into Remington Steele from the Internet Archive, and I'm giving it a namecheck - because it's fun and you can watch it for free! - but also because Steele's only right about the murderer... Maybe 50% of the time. Last episode I watched, he was convinced it was a ghost.

He's not a real detective, you see. He's a conman. Laura Holt keeps him around because he makes her detective agency look plausible, and he's cute. Eventually, he learns enough to get a bit better at it.

Well, nor am I a real web designer, and I've identified a problem I've been fighting most of the week. I won't keep you in suspense, it's Jetpack. Jetpack is WordPress's in-house website management software. If you build a free site with them, it's the only plugin you get! So, of course, it's horrible. This is like saying "the butler did it."

*sigh* I knew it wasn't playing well with the comment plugin I was using, but that plugin stopped releasing compatible updates and I had to get rid of it. (Thus, I have an Ask Blog now.) Jetpack periodically pops up an ad, if you've uninstalled it, and asks you to reinstall it. You need it! It's lite! It's better now! And a couple weeks back, I bit. It didn't hurt anything at the time, so I left it alone. But then, the updates. The updates with the "global colours" that made everything screwy. I remapped the colours as well as the theme would let me (I still have a few I can't get at, and some remain unmapped, because if I map them, they get flagged "invalid value.") but that wasn't the end of the errors.

I spent about two hours yesterday trying to figure a workaround for buttons, which were no longer customizable. They were using the defaults, even if they were illegible or hideous. They'd display fine in the editor and refuse to work on the front end. I thought something about WP was causing my themes to turn into default despots, because I'd tried switching themes and some problems persisted. I thought I'd have to roll with it until another update.

Nope!

I re-did my New Readers page, to account for the new Ask Blog, and I read myself warning everyone I can't code for shit. "Jetpack and I are not friends. Tech support and I are." And, much like poor Mr. Steele, I got a clue. I disabled Jetpack and made a custom button. Now they display on the front end just fine!

I have no idea if that was causing every problem. I mean, it certainly didn't screw up the colours all by itself. I can probably put some things back that I had to disable, and of course I can make buttons again. But I've wasted a lot of time bashing my head on the site and I want to finish the illustrations. I'll get back to it over the next few weeks, and I'll try to keep my tinkering to the small hours (PDT). It's a bit of a mess, but you should be able to find and read the next instalment on next Tuesday.

...Unless I'm wrong about the ghost, Miss Holt, but I don't think I am. Just like The Uninvited! 1944! Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey!

[dapperkobold]

Street Fighter 6 Demo: Yeah I’m Buying it.

I’ve always been interested in fighting games. I like a lot of things about them, the character designs, the in-depth controls, the interplay. The best ones have all that and story, too, focusing not only on how the characters interact in gameplay but emotionally. For a long time I’ve kept an eye on certain spaces, originally Blazblue and more recently Guilty Gear, just because I find these games fascinating.

Only one issue: I’m garbage at them.

You know the ‘I can’t do motion inputs’ guy? The one who goes ‘I can’t do the quarter-circle fireballs’? That’s me. Yes, I have just tried to buckle down and get good at it. I got from zero fireballs at all to about 40-50%. I might, maybe, be able to do it semi-reliably if I had a stick with an octagonal gate, but I do NOT have the money to spare to buy a fight stick. Yes, I have tried using the D-pad. It’s what let me get to that 50%. I still do accidental jumps on occasion.

By and large I’ve just... given up on fighting games. They’re something I enjoy at a distance, something beautiful that I can never partake in.

That might be all the better; I don’t really do PVP. Over time I’ve come to realize it’s just not my jam, just not something I really enjoy. That means that my enjoyment is largely limited to stuff like Injustice and the anime fighters, where they do have fun with the singleplayer campaigns.

Hm? Street Fighter 6 came out? It has a custom character? And a single-player campaign?

I don’t follow Street Fighter. Nothing against it, it’s just not my jam. as said, I’m very much on the anime/injustice side of fighting games, where zoning takes the form of sawblades covering half the screen and you have four nice buttons with easy to remember designations instead of the entire controller being mapped to various different kicks and punches. I had nothing against it, it just wasn’t for me.

But I do like single-player campaigns and customizable characters...

It has a free demo? Oh my, how long has it been...

Demos are something of a forgotten art anymore. At some point Demos shifted from being a taster that let players gauge whether they liked something, and started being warning signs on how badly the game was going to be exploited. I spent I don’t even know how many hours on demos back in the day, and I’ve always been a little sad to see them fade away. But Street Fighter 6 is bringing it back?

At this point, I search it up on Youtube. No idea who Maximillian Dood is, but he streamed the demo, and I’ll see what goes on-

‘Modern’ controls, huh?

A simplified control scheme that gives you a four-button setup and doesn’t require you to do any stick turns at all? 

At this point, this is basically my dream fighting game. I have to try the demo. I make a terrible little goblin woman, play the tutorial, and hit the streets.

And I’m having fun.

I get that Modern Controls are to cater to scrubs. I get that there’s a big question whether they’re high0end viable at all. As a complete scrub, I appreciate the option. I appreciate only having four buttons to fat-finger instead of 6. The auto-combo button is... eh? But I appreciate it.

The writing is fairly good. Not incredible, but good. There’s parts of it that tease and intrigue. The RPG mechanics tempt me with the ability to plan my way to victory, changing my stats and moves as needed to take on certain challenges. The option to try multiple different playstles appeals to me strongly in every game I play; part of my biggest gripe with most modern MMOs is that they offer a thousand ways to play the game and then charge you for every one past the first. But a big, one-purchase game like this...

I fight a mime. How many games let you walk up to a mime and just fight him?

The Demo is short, and doesn’t really have replayability. It literally cuts off the moment after you finish the tutorial. That said, by then it’s done it’s job: I want more. I now have a terrible little goblin woman taking up space on my computer and I want her to punch people.

I don’t have the spare money to get the full game right now, but sooner or later I’ll give in and get it. I’m never going to be good at it, I’m never going to be relevant in the PVP, but it’s offering me a chance to participate in a genre I like on terms that make me feel welcome.

That’s how you get players into your game.

[techneeds-tech]

Unleashing Freedom: The Best Wireless Gaming Mouse of 2023

Introduction:

In the world of gaming, precision, speed, and flexibility are essential elements that can make or break your gaming experience. A top-notch gaming mouse can be the key to unlocking your true potential as a gamer. If you're on the hunt for the best wireless gaming mouse of 2023, look no further! In this article, we'll explore the features, performance, and design of the ultimate gaming mouse that offers unparalleled freedom and responsiveness.

1. Performance and Precision:

The heart of any gaming mouse lies in its performance and precision. Our top pick excels in both areas, featuring cutting-edge technology that ensures accurate tracking and lightning-fast response times. The mouse's high DPI (dots per inch) sensor enables seamless cursor movement even at the slightest gestures, offering a distinct advantage during intense gaming sessions.

2. Customizable Buttons and Macros:

Personalization is key for gaming success, and this wireless gaming mouse understands that. With customizable buttons and macros, you can map different functions to your mouse, simplifying complex tasks and gaining an edge over your opponents. Adjust sensitivity, assign hotkeys, and execute commands effortlessly with just a click.

3. Ergonomic Design:

Endless gaming sessions demand comfort, and this mouse is designed with ergonomics in mind. Its contoured shape fits perfectly in your hand, reducing fatigue and allowing you to maintain peak performance without discomfort. Whether you're a palm, claw, or fingertip gripper, this mouse caters to all playstyles.

4. Wireless Freedom and Battery Life:

Bid farewell to cable clutter and restrictions with the freedom of wireless connectivity. The best gaming mouse of 2023 boasts a robust wireless connection, ensuring seamless responsiveness without any lag. Furthermore, its long-lasting battery life ensures you won't have to worry about recharging mid-game.

5. RGB Lighting and Aesthetics:

Personalize your gaming setup with stunning RGB lighting effects. This mouse offers a variety of customizable lighting options, allowing you to synchronize it with your other gaming peripherals and set the mood for intense gaming sessions.

Click here to check out the full review: "https://techneeds.tech/unleashing-freedom-best-wireless-gaming-mouse-2023/". Discover in-depth analysis, real-world testing, and expert insights to make an informed decision for your gaming setup.

Investing in the best wireless gaming mouse of 2023 can significantly enhance your gaming experience and take your skills to new heights. With exceptional performance, customizable features, ergonomic design, wireless freedom, and captivating aesthetics, this gaming mouse delivers on all fronts. So, embrace the freedom and embark on your gaming journey with this ultimate gaming companion.

Remember to visit the "TechNeeds" website for the full review of the best wireless gaming mouse of 2023. Unleash your gaming potential and conquer the virtual world with unmatched precision and style!

[geekcavepodcast]

Review | Hogwarts Legacy

Note: Were it not for controversial comments made by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, this game would be universally beloved and applauded. As it stands, there are a fair amount of people that view supporting this game as the same as supporting repression of or violence against transgendered individuals. The Geek Cave Podcast does not endorse any views or movements that practice anything other than peace, acceptance, and tolerance. A game code was provided for review; the following article looks solely at the game and its individual merits.

Anyone who has ever heard a story about wizards and witches and picked up a twig as a child to pretend it was a magic wand has wondered, at some point or another, what it would be like to actually be able to practice magic, casting spells, riding fantastic beasts (or brooms), and having incredible power at one’s own disposal. Portkey Games’ Hogwarts Legacy, which takes place within the Harry Potter universe but centuries prior to Harry’s own adventures, seeks to at least give you a taste of what that’s like, and it does so admirably.

You take on the role of a new student at Hogwarts, the school for witchcraft and wizardry known the world over, except you’re no ordinary student: you’re jumping in as a fifth-year student (practically unheard of except for a few outliers) and also have the ability to see traces of ancient magic (ditto on the “practically unheard of” part). The game wastes no time in alerting you to the seriousness of the whole situation by having a dragon attack your ride to Hogwarts, straight up eating one of your carriage’s passengers in the process. 

Once you escape, your studies begin, as you balance getting classwork done with unraveling an ancient mystery into the special magic that is also desired by a group of goblins revolting against the current societal norms. Whlle there were some concerns prior to launch about the goblin race seemingly being used as a charicature for the Jews, in my playing experience the “evil” goblins made up a minority of the goblins you’ll encounter in the game; it seems, just like with any other group of people, there are good and bad examples. 

Commentary aside, the world is as you may remember it from the Warner Bros. Hogwarts-related films. Hogwarts itself is lovingly recreated in fine detail, including a small memorial at the groundskeeper’s hut in honor of Hagrid actor Robbie Coltrane. Hogsmeade, similarly, is vibrant and full of the same energy you get glimpses of in the films (disclaimer: I haven’t read the books but I’ve been assured by a few said book series fans that the details are spot on). The environments and set pieces are well-made, and the visual effects from each individual spell also look great. The only time I had a hard time actively looking at Hogwarts Legacy was when I tried it out on the Steam Deck (we received a code for the PC version). On a decent PC or laptop, it looks great. On the Steam Deck, it runs on low to medium settings, and you’ll be able to tell it was a bit scaled down. Expect the Switch version to be similar. 

Gameplay-wise, though, no matter what version you pick up, combat feels fast and very customizable. I compared it to the Fable or Kingdoms of Amalur series of games when talking about my experience with a friend. Specific spells are mapped to the face buttons on your controller, while the right trigger can fire a basic attack spell when tapped. Defensive actions are also mapped to the face buttons; to differentiate between those and using a particular spell, just hold the right trigger before casting... and there are a lot of spells to learn, giving you ample reason to take on side quests. 

Speaking of side quests, Hogwarts Legacy gives you plenty to keep yourself occupied, whether you’re into fetch quests, monster hunting, or herbology. Eventually you’ll unlock the Room of Requirement, which will let you set up your own potion brewing and plant growing stations plus more. Hogwarts Legacy almost has too many things for you to do, as I found myself constantly overpowered for whatever part of the main campaign I finally got around to doing after first focusing on doing things for my classmates and teachers. Each “house” of Hogwarts Legacy also has exclusive sidequests, so completionists will have to replay multiple times (I went with Hufflepuff for my first playthrough because it’s the only one that featured a trip to Azkaban Prison). 

The game’s soundtrack evokes the classic John Williams theme, which even showed up as an easter egg for a particular puzzle. Voice acting is mostly good, with a couple of side characters being a bit annoying to listen to (but not to the point of unbearable). 

Overall, Hogwarts Legacy delivers exactly what someone would want from a Wizarding World game. Controversy about the world’s creator aside, it’s clear that the team behind the game care deeply about not only the fiction, but the real-world fandom. 

Be Like Me. Definitely worth playing.