The Random Talk About Nothing Thread

[Dashe]

My old DS lost a tiny hinge too. I really don't know what they were thinking. Maybe something like "Hey, if we put a very tiny breakable hinge on our product, people will break it more often and need to go replace it or get it fixed! That means more money for us! Yay! We love money!"

I'm sure that's what I'd think if I made electronic gadgets.

[Fatman X. Jones]

Glad I'm not the only one whose DS's tiny hinge broke. I wasn't sure if it was just my general incompetence that broke it about four years ago. Still runs perfectly, though.

Granted, I kinda -need- it to run perfectly, as it's the only way I can use my Action Replay...

[Dashe]

Mine fell out of my pocket when I was climbing a ladder in a barn. I blame the people who make girls' pants with such tiny pockets.

[Mikéy]

My dad tripped over the cord one night while it was charging. His house is a bit small, so his room is more of the "Living Room" than the actual Living Room, because it has the wireless and the desktop. I woke up the next morning to find it like that. I was speechless.

[Handlebar-Orion X.]

Wow. That's one awesome piece of armor! I still kinda want the Megaman X one, but I don't think Capcom would ever put that back in stock.

I always keep both my DS and 3DS in a nifty travel pouch. They're like gaming man-purses, but they keep my handhelds nice and toasty during the winter and ensure that they don't slip out of my pockets. I could just keep them in my coats or jackets since they have perfectly good pockets, but since they don't zip up my DSes usually slip right out whenever I sit down.

I do think they should make handhelds and other on-the-go gadgets sturdier though. Small and thin is always nice, but I'd prefer they make gaming gadgets more durable so that they don't crack or break when dropped. And while we're at it, why not make them water and dirt proof too?

[Dashe]

Why limit durability to gaming gadgets? Phones should be durable too.

Speaking of phones...what is it about people accidentally dropping phones into toilets? People shouldn't use the phone on the toilet in the first place.

[Handlebar-Orion X.]

Well, phones are on-the-go gadgets, and they can download games now, so they technically count unless you're not a gamer.

And no they shouldn't. I never bring anything electronic into a bathroom in fear of dropping it in the toilet, or getting it all dirty and nasty. The only thing electric I ever bring into a bathroom is a flashlight, and that's only during a blackout.

[karkatvantas]

Well, besides the fact that technology is advancing quick enough these days that by the time your new, crappy phone wears out, there will be a newer, even crappier generation of phones for the same price with better specs, there's such a thing as Planned Obsolescence. It's usually planned to go hand-in-hand with the advancements of technology, so that suppliers won't be stiffed for their money by their older, still working products. Nintendo seems to be somewhat of an exception, I still have a working Gameboy, Pocket, Color, and Advance.

Have you ever noticed that without extreme abuse, your cell phone will generally wear out around the same time your contract runs out? That's so you'll buy a new phone, sign a new contract, and wear the new phone out as quickly as the old.

Unfortunately, portable gadgets will not become more durable in the future, no matter how much we complain. Higher quality, more durable materials cost more, technology is advancing at a ridiculous rate, and the suppliers' bottom dollar relies on you dropping your phone on its screen, or from a high place, or simply wearing it out from normal use.

[Dashe]

Whassat at the bottom of the page about the UK considering planned obsolescence a breach of consumer rights?

As a consumer, I think they may be onto something there. :17:

[SketchMan3]

Hey, you guys? Notice a common characteristic that runs through all of your durable game systems? I'll give you a hint: It starts with the letter "N". I was with you on the whole "old stuff lasts longer in general" until someone mentioned their "DS" still working. lol. That's not old. However, I do agree that old stuff was built to last longer than new stuff. Back in the days when companies made their money from gaining a reputation for creating durable, good, long-lasting products instead of creating a bunch junk that people have to keep buying over and over again.



You know... I've been thinking: You know how technology keeps getting smaller, yet more powerful? Just think how powerful a DS would be if it were as thick as the original Grey Brick.

[Fatman X. Jones]

Everyone, this is a breakthrough! I have discovered the secret behind Sonic the Hedgehog's ridiculously high speeds.



Who would've known he needs coffee to start his day?

[SketchMan3]

Random thought: It'd be nice if people could do covers of Megaman music and, rather than smush every song into one big "rock/metal" mold, actually try to mix up the instrumentation a little, and faithfully recreate the original work. Like, was Protoman's theme really intended to be played with overdriven guitars? At least get a harmonica in there or something... maybe some harp work?

I mean, Crash Man's theme, while it sounds great on highly distorted metal electric guitars, really sounds like it should have a more upbeat lively tone to it. Not everything has to sound like metal, especially if it wasn't metal to begin with.

Edit: Haha, hey Dashe, the next time you do a musical number, you should have a guitarist break out into a hard rock power ballad guitar solo of a Megaman 2 song (at an appropriate time), then take a servbot to the head before the measure is even over. har har.

[Dashe]

My sentiments exactly, Sketchman. It's not like all gamers ONLY like overdriven rock/metal, right? Otherwise I would have no hits at all and my channel would be a ghost town all of the time.

I'd really actually love to do that, but the hardest part would definitely be finding an appropriate time in the middle of a broadway show tune to have a random Mega Man 2 guitarist just explode out of nowhere and then have the time to retort something like "Great, not another one" to give it some context. I really just work with pre-recorded karaoke tracks.

[karkatvantas]

Hey Mikey, you'll be glad to know that in my Pokemon Platinume Nuzlocke, I named the Riolu I got from Riley after you. It was the first name that came to mind. I blame one of your previous avatars.

[Mikéy]

Haaaaah hah. Mikey the Riolu. I see myself as more of a Donphan, since that's what I grew up with in Explorers of Sky. My partner was a Lucario named Teslo, which is a name that I stuck with after an online friend who's long gone used it as a name for a Riolu in a pokemon RP. Yes. I used to do that.