S.C.G

I use GIMP 2.8 for making graphics up for reviews etc here and there, it's great. I don't know about re-duplicating images but you can copy and duplicate layers... stuff like that, if that's what you meant, or you can have a copy of it in another tab. It has an infinite undo button as well I think, so you can easily go back if you mess up. Give it a go anyway I'd say, it's a fantastic program, especially as it's free as well.

I got as far as seeing a Pukei-Pukei last night in the story I believe and I hunted a Kula Ya Ku... the one that carries Rocks and tries to smash you to death with them, fun. I'm enjoying it so far, I also spent a decent amount of time in the character creation, in case anyone can't guess, I went with a Dual Sword wielding Male Hunter named Edge because... tradition. I may get to play some more of this tonight for an hour or so I hope, but first... *sigh* the call of work must come before the call of the hunting horn.

I put four hours into Monster Hunter World this evening, this is after not really playing anything for weeks and I've only been playing in Single Player mode so far but... ...easily my Game of the Year so far and while it might only be January, I can see myself playing this nearly every day for the duration of the year. Monster Hunter is back and this time, it means business.

Well, at least we can say that the new league has officially begun now.

My copy arrived... ...and now I have to go to work. #TheUpsAndDownsOfGettingAnEarlyGameOnThursday

Add me to the "shipped" squad. There's every chance that I'll be playing this at 9PM after Mario Kart 8 tomorrow. Possibly even before...

Wow, that's a lot! I'm glad I went for a physical copy with Doom and will only be playing the Single Player mode. LA Noire is a write-off from the start for me, will possibly pick up the PS4 version, when it's cheap if I feel like playing it again.

How many retail titles have you got downloaded on it? I gather it must be a few if you're running out of space already.

I'm still really glad that I picked up that 200GB Micro SD card when it was £50... at this rate it should last me years.

Now, that should either be a selling point for the game or a warning with regards to the content... depending on your outlook.

*sigh* I feel your pain, I keep a LOT of boxes, too many really but, well... especially when it comes to the older stuff you kind of need to as it can amount to half of the collectable value. And they are nice to look at, they also represent the era they were produced in, just the design differences between the Wii U and Switch era boxes are worlds apart. But I can also see how they would be "just boxes" to some, plus if you're fighting for space inside the house then I can understand it from that perspective... only a bit though. Did you comepletely get rid of them yet? it may have been possible to put some of the smaller boxes inside the larger boxes for instance... I'm happy to share any box storing tips if it helps. Even if we're talking pure monetary value at the moment, empty Wii U and Switch console boxes are worth £10 a piece it seems. (people are buying them for £15 including postage) It's an issue long-term though I suppose and I know they are "only boxes" ultimately but damn... I hope you don't have to end up chucking any old console boxes like GC/N64/SNES/NES etc because you're talking about a whole higher bracket of value there.

It's a third pillar... ...made of cardboard.

Well, Nintendo have manufactured things out of card before - Hanafuda Cards - plus they have had a fair few products which were either toys or full instruments - Nintendo Eleconga - and they've been in the videogame market for a while now. I see this as them utilising many of their previous strengths along with the technology within the Switch and making something which kids can enjoy while also showing off the console as much more than just a gaming machine. It's an interesting approach, I can understand enthusiasm and scepticism towards it on both sides but ultimately even though it's possibly not something I'll invest in myself I can't deny that fun will be had with it which can only be a good thing. Though it does lead to more interesting questions about just what can be done with the Joy-Cons in the future for other games as well.

Was this link always there at the bottom of the page on the Nintendo site? https://microsite.nintendo-europe.com/nintendokidsclub/en_GB/ If not then I may have found out what it is, a minute before it's going live anyway.

Of course, the other angle on this event is... what if it's all a massive troll by Nintendo? The whole thing is going live at 10PM UK time, just made me think it's odd to have something go live that's supposedly for kids at a time which might be deemed to late for them to be up. Or it's just an odd way the timings worked out but before when there's been a Direct at after 10PM there have been 18 rated titles. Meh, probably a completely off the wall last minute prediction but I just thought it would be worth making it noted... just in case. That and the thought of parents tuning in to it thinking "Oh there's a new thing for kids from Nintendo coming out, let's check it out..." *10PM* *Footage starts* "Pegi 18" "What is this?!?" *Gunshots fired, police siren, helicopter noises* Rockstar Presents.... GTA V Kill-Switch edition! Anyway... not long now to find out either way.

The description just reads... "Tune in at 10pm UK time tonight to discover a new interactive experience for Nintendo Switch that’s specially crafted for kids and those who are kids at heart." Personally I think it's likely to be an artistic application which merges the best of Mario Paint with Art Academy and possibly a smattering of Nintendo Letterbox. It will likely come with a special stylus for portable mode, utliise the Joy Con motion controls as @Dcubed pointed out when in docked mode or even Tabletop mode. Amiibo support sounds like it'll be agiven, with possible unlockable bonuses such a stamps or even lessons being available depending on the individual or type of amiibo you have. Naturally more figures will be made specifically from this potential new IP which will feature an Artist Character which could even be simply Mario as an Artist although I wouldn't mind Adeleine from the Kirby games. You'll be able to share your artwork by either taking screenshots just as you normally do, there will possibly be a Photo Mode in the software with loads of neat videogame themed frames. Expanding on that, there will likely be different filters to go with these frames, possibly GameBoy style etc similar to the ones available in Super Mario Odyssey. Or it could be something completely crazy... this is Nintendo afterall. See you all at 10PM.

Happy Birthday @Fierce_LiNk Geralt has acquired a cake for you... ...I'm pretty sure he didn't make it but it would be best to eat it I reckon. (you don't want to hurt his feelings afterall) I hope you have an excellent day. (Hnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng!)

Happy Birthday @Glen-i I sent Marill and Azurill off to the Kecleon Shop to get you an apple but alas... ...Quest Failed. I hope you have an excellent day though. Also... Happy Birthday @bob Coming in 2018... New DLC for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Go on another epic quest from an entirely different perspective! Take on the role of Plink as you... ignore the plight of Hyrule and go off foraging for food. (amiibo sold seperately) I hope you and your pigs have an excellent day as well.

For the third time? No, I don't believe so. Was it an eventful trip?

Miss you? Only every day for the past... however long it has been. You're most welcome my good fellow. Glad to see you back and I look forward to catching up with your adventures.

You certainly can, the other evening I was using the extra Switch Power Adapter I have to charge the Pro Controller while playing the Switch in Tabletop mode for a little bit. It's also possible to use a USB-C cable and a plud adapter which has sufficient power, which should be most of them, indeed Nintendo have started selling a new USB adapter for use with the SNES/NES mini and it can also be used to charge the Switch Pro Controllers but not the Switch itself. I bought two to replace the ones I was using with the SNES/NES mini and they seem to work well enough, good for charging Switch accessories and anything else USB-C.

Erm... back in stock since yesterday afternoon apparently. And it's still in stock... ...go, go... go? I guess.

Speaking of Bloodborne, after having it sealed for over two years now... ...I finally decided that I would maybe, possibly play it but then I checked the value of the original game so I'm not going to unseal it now. However! I did find out that the base game is currently only £11.99 in the sale digitally, plus I already bought the dlc ages ago, it's downloaded and ready to go, so I might play it. But I really should be finishing Xenoblade Chronicles 2... so perhaps after that. It's a good starting point though, I gather? Play Bloodborne soon then pick up Dark Souls Remastered on the Switch in a few months, that's the plan. I played... a few hours of Dark Souls originally, so this time I'll finally give it a proper chance.

Spoiler... ...it does. Or at least I believe so, because of the type of game it is, this then allows you to think about other aspects of the battle more strategically such as your placement around the enemy. For instance, certain attacks are more effective when executed from the side or from behind the enemy, granting you a larger amount of damage given the right circumstances. The more you play, the more it makes sense... this was the same for the *first game as well and that odd experimental title which came out inbetween it but before this, the true sequel. *Disclaimer - based on my own gameplay time alone, I put at least fifty-plus hours into the original despite not properly finishing it, I still enjoyed it a lot, not much time was spent with the Wii U offering despite my appreciation of the battle system and now with this latest title it feels right.