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Grazza

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Posts posted by Grazza

  1. Posted

    I managed to get some really good models this month.  Earlier on I got the Giraffe Stag and Whale Shark, but for the 2nd half of the month, I chose my favourite, the Horned Hercules.    

     

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    C.J. visited yesterday and I decided it was time to get my first river fish, the Arapaima.

     

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    • Like 2

  2. Posted

    I'm in the process of trying to collect all the models that are bigger than 1x1.  I believe it's just these eleven, but of course I'd welcome more:

     

    Bugs

    • 2x2 - Queen Alexandra's Birdwing
    • 2x2 - Atlas Moth
    • 2x2 - Banded Dragonfly
    • 2x1 - Horned Hercules
    • 2x1 - Giraffe Stag
    • 2x1 - Goliath Beetle

     

    Fish

    • 2x1 - Great White Shark
    • 2x1 - Whale Shark
    • 2x1 - Ocean Sunfish
    • 2x1 - Oarfish
    • 2x1 - Arapaima

     

    The first July beetle I was ready to request a model for was the Giraffe Stag:

     

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    I was really keen, however, to get the Whale Shark model, and yesterday I had a visit from C.J.  This and the Great White Shark are my two favourites so far.  What a great model!

     

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    • Like 4

  4. Posted

    Redd is visiting today, even though I saw him more recently than C.J. or Flick.  He's offering:

     

    • Basic Painting with fringe
    • Mystic Statue with earring
    • Wistful Painting with star-shaped earring
    • Ancient Statue with antennae

     

    Completely pointless that they let him visit with four fakes.

  5. Posted

    I have to say, I'm still not benefiting from the improved visitor calculation for update 1.3.0.  Does the Fishing Tourney count as a visit from C.J., and the Bug-Off count as a visit from Flick?  They shouldn't do as they won't make you a model!  I'm not seeing them much otherwise.

  6. Posted

    I'm less and less interested in AAA games, even Nintendo ones.  For me, games just don't need to be as big and complicated as they've become, and as such I don't feel the need for enormous budgets.  I'm loving Animal Crossing and am somewhat interested in Breath of the Wild 2, but am not interested enough in Paper Mario to pay a lot of money for it.  We live in a time when you can always download something new and cool for £10-20.  For me the most exciting release of the year was Streets of Rage 4, because it was a simple game done well, and I can't really think of a more exciting prospect than LizardCube taking on Golden Axe.

    • Thanks 1

  7. Posted

    I have a strong emotional attachment to Sega in the '90s, so was really excited when I saw this.  Shinobi (which I assume will be on it), reminds me of holidays past; I used to cycle to my local fish & chip shop (now a Chinese takeaway) just to play Altered Beast, and Golden Axe reminds me of when I got the Mega Drive and my friends encouraged me to get that game for it.  To have the true arcade versions of these would have meant a lot to me.

     

    Later on I stumbled into a seaside arcade and found Golden Axe: Revenge of Death Adder.  Can't really tell you how excited I was!  And another one I absolutely loved was Spider-Man: The Video Game.  I would have swapped my entire Saturn collection to have those two coin-ops at home.  It's great that Golden Axe is on here, but can Sega work it out with Marvel to allow Spider-Man?  If they did, I don't think I could resist this.

     

    As I became a slightly older teenager, I absolutely loved Virtua Fighter.  The 2nd one was better as a Saturn game, but if it was arcades we were talking about I couldn't shake my penchant for the angular graphics of the original.  The 1990s were just so great.

     

    There are a lot of unknowns about this.  Will it run Model 2 games?  Will it feature the games with more specialist control schemes, such as OutRun, After Burner and Space Harrier?  I don't know if such a small machine is really practical, but I'm tempted.

     

    I've noticed an emerging market for these miniature arcade machines.  The My Arcade ones look really cool, but at least some of them are the NES versions.  It's great they have the proper artwork on the side, but it has to be the real game too.  The Quarter Arcade ones look even better.  If they can get Double Dragon, Bad Dudes and Final Fight I may not be able to resist.  Arcade games like this represent to so much to those of us of a certain age.

    • Thanks 1

  9. Posted

    Following on from the Queen Alexandra's Birdwing and Mahi-Mahi earlier in the month, I've now got a Rosalia Batesi beetle and Great White Shark as well.  C.J. appeared yesterday and I just knew I had to go for that symbol of summer fish in Animal Crossing.  It's an awesome 2x1 model that can be put on tabletops as well as the floor.

     

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    Also, I finally got my third arcade machine and have made a little arcade, which was a real goal of mine.  Suddenly I love this game again.

     

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    • Like 2

  10. Posted

    57 minutes ago, Animal said:

    - Harry Enfield and Chums (Harry Enfield, Kathy Burke and Paul Whitehouse making sketches. I love it)

     

    Yeah, this one was absolutely essential to me as a young teenager.

     

    57 minutes ago, Animal said:

    - Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (My third favourite comedy series. Frank Spencer is a legend)

     

    I almost mentioned that myself.  Michael Crawford's stunts were brilliant.

     

     

  12. Posted

    I've got two issues with the longevity of this game at the moment.  The first is that, by any fair standard, it's still not as complete as previous games.  There's a real lack of variety to the furniture sets, and every time a villager teaches me a recipe nowadays it's one I know.  I know I've said it before, but where are the sets like Sleek?

     

    The 2nd issue, which is also not something I haven't said before, is the pacing.  I pretty much am content with the activities in the game, but only seeing Flick, C.J. or Redd every 2+ weeks is too slow.  It's actually stopped me making sure I have three of every fish/bug, because the reward for doing so doesn't come often enough.  Like I say, it would be much better if the plaza guests didn't prevent the non-plaza guests.

  14. Posted

    1 hour ago, bob said:

    It might be worth pointing out that a lot of the are very....British centric? I'm not sure how well they translate to other countries (Phoenix Nights for example)

     

    True, fair point, but you've got to go with what you really believe in.  I figure drahkon knows the German stuff, so what's left is either what I know (British) or the very well-known American/international comedies.  Besides, I find Henning Wehn hilarious, so I reckon human nature is pretty universal.

  15. Posted

    Up Pompeii
    Frankie Howerd plays the downtrodden Roman slave Lurcio, who is always caught between a rock and a hard place.  I’m only going by memory but I seem to remember he was always being asked to do underhand things by senior Romans, and often mixing with busty beauties.  It’s probably not a coincidence I discovered and loved this when I was about 12 years old.  For me, this is the best of the “innuendo” comedies of its time
    Note: The TV series is much better than the film.

    Only Fools And Horses
    Wheeler dealers in London’s East End, with genius writing from John Sullivan and brilliant acting from David Jason and the rest of the cast.  It’s so convincing, you can totally suspend your disbelief and root for the Trotters all the way.  This is one of the nicest, most comforting things that has ever been on television screens, and most British people love Del Boy like a member of their own family.
    Recommended episodes: Danger UXD, Yuppy Love, The Jolly Boys Outing.  Seriously, watch Danger UXD. :grin:

    Red Dwarf
    Space comedy that deals with themes like loneliness and the frustration of being stuck with the same small group of people.  What I love about this is that it’s true sci-fi, in that it uses fantastical ideas to relate to the human condition.  Everyman Dave Lister may be supposed to be the main character, but it’s clear as day hologram Arnold Rimmer is the true hero.  Red Dwarf has run for approximately 30 years and it must be said the tone and quality varies greatly, so don’t be put off by watching the wrong series.
    Recommended episodes: Polymorph, Terrorform or anything from series IV-VI.  The 2020 special, The Promised Land, is amazingly good.

    Bottom
    Probably the best slapstick comedy ever, with Adrian Edmondson and the late, great Rik Mayall as frustrated flatmates.  As a teenager, this was the funniest thing ever, with enormous belly laughs every week.
    Recommended episodes: Burglary is a personal favourite, but all 18 are hilarious.

    Stella Street
    Phil Cornwell and John Sessions do impressions of celebrities all living on the same road.  Roger Moore mixes with David Bowie.  Mick Jagger and Keith Richards run a corner shop.  Reminds me of Christmas holidays past, when BBC2 showed this every night.

    I’m Alan Partridge
    Steve Coogan plays television and radio presenter Alan Partridge, who has a moderate amount of talent, but is too unprofessional to achieve his lofty ambitions.  The character had been in programmes before, such as Knowing Me, Knowing You, and has been in different shows since, but this is the peak.  I can’t really explain how much I liked this programme in my 20s, as Alan seemed to inhabit the same world as me, visiting owl reserves and spending slightly boring bank holidays in East Anglia.  It has come to light since just how intense this was to make, which explains why there were only 12 episodes, but they are all comic gold.  This is probably the best thing that has ever been on television.
    Note: There is a film, Alpha Papa, which doesn’t have the same tone as I’m Alan Partridge, but does have a very funny script.

    Phoenix Nights
    Charming comedy set in a northern working men’s club, written by Peter Kay, Dave Spikey and Neil Fitzmaurice.  Tight-fisted club owner Brian Potter clashes with his entertainment manager Jerry St Clair.  Just lovely stuff, and really reminds me of the turn of the millennium, when I made lots of trips up to Blackpool and Southport.

    The Office
    I have to admit this isn’t a personal favourite of mine, but it is as good as everyone says.  Definitely essential viewing.
    Note: The spin-off film, David Brent: Life On The Road, is hilarious and is the only TV-to-cinema adaptation I’ve ever seen that keeps exactly the same tone as the TV series.

    The Royle Family
    Realistic, fly-on-the-wall comedy by Craig Cash and the late Caroline Ahern.  A family sits about watching TV, occasionally being visited by family and neighbours, just like real life.  Beautifully written and acted.

    Flight Of The Conchords
    Follows unsuccessful musicians Bret and Jemaine, which is a joke in itself, as the music is as good as the comedy.  The first season is like a showcase of all the best songs they had accrued at that point, and I was a massive fan of this when I was in my late-20s.  Oh, how I would like to go back.  Turn your speakers up, and try not to become as obsessed with the songs and lyrics as I did!

    ...

    I could recommend more, but maybe some of the other stuff I used to like is a bit broad.  It seems to me the best comedy follows lovable losers, who are written and acted well enough for the viewer to suspend their disbelief.  Because we believe in them, we can believe the situations, and I think that’s the difference between whether something feels contrived or genuinely funny.  If you don't know where to start, @drahkon, I most strongly recommend Bottom and Alan Partridge.  Everyone seems to enjoy those.

    • Thanks 2

  16. Posted

    2 hours ago, Sheikah said:

    I know they want to keep this game going for over a year but it's fair to say that most of what I do now are things I've done countless times before. I like things like getting art but that is basically one short moment every couple of weeks. The most exciting thing for me now is when a new month starts and there are a load of bugs and fish to catch.

     

    In my opinion the game has become too slow-paced.  If I load it up and don't particularly like the visitor that day, I know I won't have much more to do than shake the money tree, plant a new one and hit rocks etc.  It's ever since they added Redd and Leif.  Not that I dislike either of those two, but we know that five characters - Gulliver, Label, C.J., Flick and Redd - are all competing for two weekday slots, meaning it now takes more than a fortnight to see all of them.  That's quite a big difference considering they added two characters.  In my opinion the stallholders - Leif, Kicks, Label - should not cancel out the ones who appear somewhere other than the plaza - Gulliver, Saharah, C.J., Flick, Redd.  And it wouldn't hurt to let them appear on Saturdays and Sundays as well.

    • Like 1

  17. Posted

    I would still like:

     

    • Quick/multiple crafting
    • Sleek furniture
    • Customisation of items bought from shop
    • Dinosaur models
    • The ability to get 2 models from Flick and C.J.

     

    That last one in particular.  I love the models, and it's winding me up a bit to think it'll take me more than two years to collect them all.

    • Like 1

  18. Posted

    I've been really enjoying June in Animal Crossing.  Flick visited and it didn't take me long to decide which model to ask for.  I'm really interested in the giant models, so it was between Atlas Moth and Queen Alexandra's Birdwing.  I went for the latter, and it's great:

     

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    As for fish, the sharks are here!  It's just not Animal Crossing until you've got the sharks.  I didn't know whether to ask C.J. for the Great White Shark, Whale Shark, Arapaima, Gar or Saddled Bichir, but I'm particularly fond of the pier fish so I went for Mahi-Mahi:

     

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    • Like 3

  20. Posted

    A great review that really understands the series.  Completely agree with the score too.  To have made a new game that feels authentically Streets of Rage and plays better than any previous game in the series is amazing.  I went back to Final Fight the other day (my previous favourite) and as cool as it is, even that feels unfair compared to the perfect gameplay in this.

     

    I particularly liked @Goron_3's point about Sega struggling to adapt their 2D games into 3D during the 32-bit era.  Now personally I absolutely loved a couple of the System 32 coin-ops - Golden Axe and Spider-Man - but the timing was very awkward as they couldn't port those to the Mega Drive, and by the time the Saturn was released there was a feel that most franchises should become 3D.  To know that Streets of Rage has finally been improved since its Mega Drive days is very satisfying, and I sure hope these developers do the same with Golden Axe.

    • Like 2

  21. Posted

    50 minutes ago, Dcubed said:

    So I have an interesting question for you guys... Now that lockdown is being eased (arguably way too early; and against expert advice), will you guys actually go ahead and start visiting friends and family now? (Assuming that you weren't already disregarding the lockdown rules beforehand anyway).

     

    My attitude has always been to take the virus seriously regardless of what the Government says.  I believe they didn't take it seriously enough in the first place, then got the message across very clearly with the lockdown, and now want to relax it without any particularly good reason other than the economy (which is not to be sniffed at, I admit).  I guess what I'm saying is that I stay cautious without necessarily believing anyone.  So I would visit family, yes, but also make sure I stay physically distant from them, and assume I might be bringing Covid-19 in on my hands etc. 

     

    To me, social distancing is the very core measure, and I think it's crazy to lessen that at the moment.  And good hygiene, of course, but everyone should practice that anyway.  Until this virus is somehow banished, I'm going to continue behaving like everyone else has got it and I might have it myself.  I'm not terrified, I just think it's the sensible thing to do until we know more about it.

    • Thanks 1

  23. Posted · Edited by Grazza

    7 hours ago, Glen-i said:

    Has anyone even seen a Crocodilian Villager in this game?

     

    Yes, I've got a cranky one called Del.

     

    EDIT - Ah, that's good, I've just completed my fossil collection.  Took 277 assessments, for the record, and about 9 weeks I guess.  I'm still keeping my spare fossils though as I'm hoping they will introduce dinosaur models at some point.  I'm hoping some of them will be 2x1 or 2x2 as well, like some of the bugs and fish, not just the tiny ones.

    • Thanks 1

  24. Posted

    I wouldn't be surprised if they've increased the bug spawns again since the update.  Definitely been seeing more peacock butterflies in the past few days, a bit more like how it was before, and scorpions no longer seem incredibly rare either.

     

    Other than that, I had a really good session listening to K.K. Slider last night.  Until now, I'd only listened to one song each Saturday to get the recording, but last night I asked him for about ten different ones.  Disco, House, Fusion, Bossa, Forest Life... I love how the unplugged versions sound so much better than the more "produced" recordings and you can hear him strumming an acoustic guitar.  I particularly like how D&B is adapted to a guitar - obviously a very hard genre to translate, but there's a brilliant bit halfway through where it really kicks in.  The sound is absolutely stunning through a pair of headphones - not just the songs, but the rich quality of the background music and even the sound of fish.

     

    I had the GameCube original many moons ago, and didn't play it for too long, but do remember listening to a performance by K.K. Slider.  For years, I've been trying to remember what song he played, and don't think I even remembered during New Leaf.  But hearing it live last night, I realised that song was My Place - a brilliant song for sure.  It's amazing just how much quality and variety there is to this game, that even after two months I'm finding new experiences with it.

    • Like 1
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