#Vector Control Companies

[ananya5400]

The vector control market is expected to reach USD 29.80 billion by 2029, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% from its estimated value of USD 21.72 billion in 2024.

[annarcho-nicolesmith]

It's nauseating that so many people working in the amorphous sector of "cLimAtE jUsTiCe" are corporate consultants with degrees completely unrelated to the actual environment, such as "communications" "international relations" "public policy" or other nonsense hitler-studies degrees focused on social control, meaning there's a totally unaffected white-collar workforce making decisions about the lives of millions of poor people, laundering the violence of unelected institutions like the IMF and Worldbank and countless investment firms through the vaguely feel-good but ultimately meaninglesss vector of "sustainability."

The hyper-capitalist global north poisons, trashes, and destroys the global south via the many faced horrors of modern petro-chemical agriculture, then turns around and deploys an army of overpaid careerist ghouls to micromanage the same people being crushed by the boot of proprietary seed companies, pesticide pollution, and the reckless oil consumption of the first world.

It's actually sickening thinking right now there's a person in a major city getting paid six figures to write up a white paper advising JPMorgan to start collecting their debts in Namibia in order to force them to mine uranium for DARPA and it's called like "Untapped Financial Opportunities in the African Market: Leveraging Mineral Rights to Elevate Underserved Communities." Like this is just a normal part of our world, that there's legions of spreadsheet makers in luxury apartments whose entire existence is spent assigning every human a value percentage in their data set, all in the name of "cLimAtE jUsTiCe. "

[askvectorprime]

Dear Vector Prime

How did Tyran cluster's Howlback fight Bumblebee? What kind of mission was she on?

Dear Retro Reconnaissance,

Following the battle at Half Dome, Soundwave and Bumblebee clashed several more times throughout the early ‘90s. During that time, Soundwave disguised himself as a van, and was experimenting with subtler means of manipulating human minds than direct blackmail. In Detroit, together with his Pretender partner, Doombox, he infiltrated the techno scene, promoting his shows on the nascent worldwide web, and using a combination of music, psychedelics, and hypnosis to influence the behaviour of club goers. From there, he began distributing mini-cassettes to susceptible individuals with government connections, hoping to gain access to isolated federal networks. Bumblebee was able to uncover and dismantle the scheme, thanks to the help of Dairu and Zauru—but with exception of Garboil, all of Soundwave’s minions were able to escape, amongst the dozens of tapes being copied and circulated within the subculture.

Bumblebee finally settled the score with Soundwave during the Battle of Chicago, turning the tables right as the Decepticon was about to execute him. In the aftermath, the Autobots were forced back into hiding, but Bumblebee nevertheless continued to protect humanity from the shadows. While on the road, the Autobots tracked a Decepticon energy signature to Silicon Valley. There, Doombox had leveraged his Princeton connections to get in on the ground floor of a music streaming startup, and had secured a small data centre. It turned out that, before his death, Soundwave had spent years seeding the internet with viruses, tiny shell scripts that each contained some fraction of his own programming. And in a data center at the heart of the Bay Area, industrial servers were collecting and processing petabytes of concert recordings, music reviews, playlists, listening data, mashups, and the lingering consciousness of a digital ghost. Disguised as smartphones, Howlback, Buzzsaw, and Frenzy (who had escaped Seymour Simmons’ basement after the ex-agent’s rather hasty emigration to Cuba) were able to totally control the actions of the company’s founders, and Bumblebee had no way of reaching them without breaking cover. But when it became clear that they intended to turn the entire city into a new body for their master, he convinced Ratchet to help him destroy the data using an EMP blast. It was during this altercation that Howlback fought Bumblebee one-on-one, seeking revenge for Garboil, Ravage, Laserbeak, and of course Soundwave—in her UAV mode, she had him effectively pinned down, until a reckless dive-bomb brought her within reach of his new energon axe. After that, he was able to keep Frenzy and Buzzsaw busy just long enough for Ratchet to wipe the last traces of Soundwave from existence.

Alas, this brief exposure was what ultimately allowed Cemetery Wind to track down and murder Ratchet, with Lockdown’s help. As for Doombox… well, startups come and go. With access to such a heady mix of personal data, cryptocurrency, nootropics, and warm bodies, I cannot imagine he found it difficult to steal a new identity, slip into a life that was waiting for him and his cronies. Rumor has it that they are creating new life, in Silicon Valley… a form of life designed not to live on that planet, but on the next.

[easternmind]

A train simulation at the heart of Japan's videogame production genesis

As the great videogame historian Florent Gorges explains in a recent video, one of the most beguiling developments in Japanese videogame history research comes to us from an unlikely source. Twitter user and train aficionado @yota8nsx reminisces about an episode of his childhood, namely his visit to Expo '70 in Osaka, describing a particularly captivating train simulation game playable at the Furukawa Pavilion and whose implications, if properly understood, make this one of the most important findings in this field of research.

A flyer illustration of the seven story pagoda building created specifically for the occasion, a traditional architectural reference that contrasted with the latest high-tech creations hosted within it.

Late last year, @yota8nsx uncovered pictures of the exhibit captured from a speciality magazine that show this early simulation game appearing to use vector graphics to depict a train track, as well as some custom-made mechanic train cab control levers. He captions the pictures with his memories of how the program functioned:

Well, there was a limit to what could be done given the capabilities of computers in the 1970s. This is an article on page 61 of the July 1970 issue of Railway Pictorial magazine and an image taken by an acquaintance of mine. (...)

It was over 54 years ago, so my memory is a bit hazy, but I think when I accelerated, I would fall backwards, and when I braked, I would fall forwards. There are about three different angles of reclining, and each was scored based on how comfortable the ride was. If I had gotten 90 points out of 100, I would have received a medal. In the picture, it's 76 points.

After performing some complementary research I was able to find that the program ran on an IDI Input-Output Machine, a computer developed in the mid 60s by New York-based company Information Displays, Inc. The IDIIOM is widely regarded as the first commercial CADD platform with powerful vector graphics capabilities and a light pen interface. Another game known to have been developed using the same machine is the Daly CP (Chess Program), one of the earliest GUI-based chess games, authored in 1969 by NASA researcher electrical engineer Chris Daly.

However, there are reasons to believe that this was either an adapted Japanese version of the system; or that it was in some manner connected to another terminal, as evidenced by code shown below the screen which appears to read Facom, followed by an alphanumeric code. As you may know, this was the name for Fujitsu's earliest computer line. Could this subtle hint refer to a separate terminal in which the actual game code was created or, perhaps even, running?

Despite the scarce information, namely the complete absence of any details concerning the authors of this magnificent experiment, there is sufficient documentation to establish this as one of the earliest known games ever to be created in Japan. Certainly, its existence is far better established than many of the often cited, Japanese university computer lab game creations from students of the 1960s.

The importance of this finding cannot be overstated, especially if one is to consider that the images hint at the distinct possibility that the game used vector graphics to represent a moving 3D train track. This some three years before Maze War, hitherto the first known game to have used three-dimensional visuals.

Disappointingly, the program itself is certain to have vanished altogether and there are hardly any leads that can explored to shed further light on this singular creation. I, for one, feel indebted to this old Japanese railfan for his invaluable contribution to what other information existed on this subject.

- Update (26/03)

The venerable Matt Sephton has pointed the way for additional information concerning this game as well as the Osaka Expo of 1970.

Some of these resources, including Classic Videogame Station, refer to this game as 電車の運転テス, or Densha no Unten Tesuto - literally Train Driving Test. Some additional photos are also provided, namely this rare colour capture showing a woman dressed as a train assistant, helping a young player. Unfortunately, this image doesn't offer additional visual access to the control levers, a crucial component of the experience.

Writing on the door reads: "warning to all visitors: this game is only available to elementary school students and above".

Further context is provided about this section of the exhibit, named Computopia. As it happens, the train simulator is only one from a handful of interactive experiences on offer on the floor of the so-called experimental theatre. Another blog post shows a cropped capture from an Expo 70 flyer, in which a brief and telling description can be read:

The modern dream is a convenient and fun utopian world made possible by computers. Furukawa Pavilion's Computopia will be an experimental theatre where all these dreams can come true, with exciting shows using the latest domestically produced computer system, the Fujitsu FACOM.

Other playable attractions included a voice-activated crane game, possibly a catcher-type arcade; a computer version of the age-old game Go that, unsurprisingly, required two players; a computer dress designer app allowing users to dabble in fashion creation, as well as a demo for a voice-activated cashless shopping system.

This floor exhibit and concept of a computer utopia was put together by the Bankoku Haku Furukawakan Promotion Committee, a parent group of the Japanese giant Fujitsu. The choice of interactive games was a deliberate decision to present computers as systems that could enable captivating and pleasurable experiences, and with it influence public perspective.

These attractions were prepared using four Fujitsu FACOM 270-30 systems, programmed by thirty engineers over a period of two years. My previous supposition that the IDIIOM computer was integrating with Japanese computer technology is thus confirmed, as the 270-30 was a powerful processing line printer-based mainframe which nevertheless lacked a visual output capability.

It is quite astonishing that Fujitsu engineers found not only a method to integrate both systems, but to harness the processing power of 1968 machine so as to enable a 3D audio-visual experience with contextual sound output (braking, crossing bridges) and complex input operations (acceleration, deceleration).

As per the Classic Videogame Station report, IBM's exhibit also included numerous other games including an early version of Lunar Lander as well as a rather complex airplane simulation. It isn't clear from the available reporting whether these programs originated in Japan or if they were developed in the United States. Sadly, this tends to muddy the waters somewhat whenever an attempt is made to establish a precise timeline of early Japanese computer game production, including the not so trivial matter of which one can claim for itself the title of being the first. At the present stage of my research, that is likely a distinction owed to the two-player Go game of which I have found written mentions placing it as far back as 1968, possibly 1966.

Be that as it may, Densha no Unten Tesuto could still be regarded as the first original videogame created in Japan that fits most parameters of contemporary gaming experience, including a well-defined arcade-like setup and presentation, a performance score and the potential for the player to win awards for achieving score targets. Chronological considerations aside, it compels us to see the history of videogames from an entirely different perspective.

Online sources and further recommended reading:

Florent Gorges Video Report at Playhistoire:

- Le Tout Premier Jeu Video Japonais Retrouvé

Yota8nsx post on visiting Expo 70:

- https://x.com/yota8nsx/status/1172335870659026951

Twitter thread covering early Japanese games:

- https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1352188581960269828.html

Blog posts on Densha no Unten Tesuto:

- http://oyexp.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-155.html

- https://ameblo.jp/kwkt666/entry-12479764013.html

Additional information about Expo 70 and Comutopia:

- https://www.expo70-park.jp/cause/expo/furukawa/

Specs sheet for FACOM computer line.

- https://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/computer/main/0106.html

About the IDIIOM computer and its use for game development:

- https://www.chessprogramming.org/Daly_CP

- https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Was-the-IDIIOM-the-First-Stand-Alone-CAD-Platform-Bissell/b1fb4f9208fd3acd459d0efa228ebbf32b772cb7

[cherrytimemachine]

Can I have a breakdown of Prima? :3

Finally, I have an excuse to talk about the Thirteen. Thank you, anon. >:)

How I feel about this character: Strict and unyielding, Prima was the ever vigilant leader of the Thirteen. Raised from a young age to be the guiding force behind her team (yes my Prima is a girl, though she does use she/they), she developed a rigid standard for rules and was quite stubborn in the face of criticism against her. She was committed to fulfilling her destiny as given to her by Primus, who she considers a father to her, and she would do anything to make him proud. After the downfall of the Guiding Hand, she became colder and distrustful of others. She took over as the leader of Crystal City (Cybertron's original capital until it was changed to Iacon by Nova Prime) and claimed it as her territory. She'd always been more independent from the others, but her judgements of them could at times be quite harsh, especially towards Megatronus, who she deemed a reckless liability. She wouldn't realize how much of a role she played in the Schism (the downfall of the Thirteen) until it was too late.

All the people I ship romantically with this character: I don't think she'd touch romance with a 10 foot pole. She preferred being alone more than anything, as she felt security in being able to have total control over her own decisions. She'd be pretty difficult to have a relationship with anyway. She's a control freak and refuses to do anything that isn't by her standards. You might as well try migrating to a new planet, because Prima ain't budging.

My non-romantic OTP for this character: Despite the popular belief among the Thirteen, Prima does in fact care about them, in her own way. Her criticism is justified in her mind, because she thinks she's trying to show them the right way. Really, only Vector, Alpha Trion, and the Thirteenth understand her point of view. She doesn't explain her thought process unless it's about strategy or debating, so her personal motives are a mystery to most people.

She gets along most with Vector and Alpha Trion. They take their positions seriously and don't engage in much tomfoolery, so they're a more mature and favorable company in her book.

Out of all of them, she's the most protective of Thirteen. Thirteen is shy and hates it when their friends argue, and Prima's impression of them is a naive optimist. They're more knowledgeable and aware than Prima gives them credit for. The two still have a nice relationship though. Prima is a guiding force for Thirteen, and Thirteen has been known to convince Prima to soften her position on more than one occasion.

The last person she's really affiliated with is Onyx. They both share an appreciation for spiritually and the nature of treating sparks, both born and dead, with utmost care. Their tribes made an alliance a long time ago, and the mutual respect persists to the present day among their descendants.

My unpopular opinion about this character: The Thirteen needs to be in more stuff. Not just in books or in flashbacks or vague murals, I want them in a story with actual interactions. I want to see them battle Unicron, that would be lit. I want to see her flaws showcased to a wider audience. Megatronus gets the most negative attention out of all of them, followed closely by Liege Maximo, and Megatronus hadn't done anything to initially give Prima a reason to dislike him. She considered him the most like Unicron, and it shows how judgemental she is and how her biases affect the way she treats her team.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: If she was even present in canon aside from being a legend. I wouldn't bank on it, but since there seems to be more focus on Quintus with the Earthspark series, it's possible that we will be able to see all of the Thirteen in all their demi god glory one day.

Also: let there be more gender variety in the Thirteen, for the love of god. I love Solus, don't get me wrong, but I feel like they did her dirty by making her the only girl for the sake of the angsty love triangle thing with Megatronus, Liege, and also Nexus for some reason. You cannot tell me that wasn't the reason for her being female. Just- let there be more women. Gender expression and its fluidity is a vital part of the Transformers species, and it should show in the early creation period.

I have many thoughts on the Thirteen and the Guiding Hand, so please feel free to ask about them!

[sonicthetarot]

SONIC THE TAROT Card Previews #2

Today's previews are for the Major Arcana's Emperor, Hierophant, Lovers, and Chariot! See their guidebook entries below, and check out our website for more and our storefront to preorder a copy!

4 - The Emperor (Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik)

Calculated control is craved by Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik, The Emperor. A master of mechanics, Eggman can be depended upon to hatch a new (and grander) plan after every defeat, always at the command of his seemingly endless army of Badniks. Oddly, Eggman seems to crave a paternal relationship despite his obsessive rigidity, as evidenced by his growing relationship with his “daughter” Sage.

However, Eggman’s obsession with world domination outweighs his positives in The Emperor reversed. He refuses to see reason when it violates his plans, and his stubbornness causes issues when working with Sonic against a greater evil such as the Deadly Six. Eggman also usually treats his creations poorly, abusing or disregarding them if they don’t adhere to his standards, like Orbot and Cubot or (more notably given the existence of Sage) Belle.

The Emperor’s authority can lead to both success and abuse toward those around him.

Upright Keywords: authority, dependability, structure, parental aspirations

Reversed Keywords: over-control, stubbornness, rigidity, abuse

5 -The Hierophant (Espio the Chameleon)

Knowledgeable in the art of ninjutsu, Espio the Chameleon is nothing if not dedicated to his cause. This traditionalism of The Hierophant tempers the rambunctiousness of Team Chaotix and allows them to achieve their (usually monetary) goals. Espio also values morality and strives to overcome those with ill intentions, seen in his consistent distaste for Eggman’s presence and employment.

Despite these traits, Espio can fall victim to egotistical vices when The Hierophant is reversed. His unconventional company leads to a sense of superiority and he is not above such dishonor like abusing naivety, seen during the Mirage Express incident. Furthermore, his binary interpretation of honor may cause him to be overly harsh against others regardless of external circumstances, such as against Mr. Tinker.

The Hierophant’s dedication to principles is highly admirable, yet he must be careful to stay open-minded towards others.

Upright Keywords: knowledge, dedication, traditionalism, morality

Reversed Keywords: ego, superiority, dishonor, ignorance

6 - The Lovers (Vanilla the Rabbit and Vector the Crocodile)

The Lovers, Vector the Crocodile and Vanilla the Rabbit, are “opposites attract” incarnate. They aren’t as different as they may seem, however: both are dedicated to protecting whom they love and helping others. Vector’s high-energy career allows Vanilla some excitement in her life, while her calm reason grounds his lofty ideals.

Yet The Lovers’ differences may still cause imbalance when reversed. Vector's temper and monetary motives can drive others away, and Vanilla rarely sugar-coats what she disapproves of. Their personalities may pit Vector and Vanilla against each other in certain topics, such as how to respectively “parent” Charmy and Cream.

The Lovers can face anything so long as they openly communicate.

Upright Keywords: love, kindredness, dedication, alignment

Reversed Keywords: differences, imbalance, conflict of interests, disconnect

7 - The Chariot (E-123 Omega)

E-123 Omega strives to overcome his status as an Eggman robot. As The Chariot, he wills defeat onto his creator and “siblings” to prove himself as the superior victor. Though his mind is artificial, Omega is determined to protect his friends despite his goals, including rescuing the Resistance during the Phantom Ruby incident.

Once The Chariot is reversed, Omega’s focus manifests poorly. His brazen disregard for safety precautions has him go into situations with guns blazing, even ones that require different strategies. This can lead to him becoming incapacitated—like during the Metal Virus outbreak—forcing him to rely on others for repairs.

The Chariot possesses much ambition but needs to control his aggression to work effectively.

Upright Keywords: overcoming adversity, victory, ambition, determination

Reversed Keywords: unfocused, poor self-control, aggressiveness, incapacitation

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AND PREORDER NOW!

[haru-kuneko]

A Teenage Devil Kraken (Crossover Fanart)

Anyway, Happy Eid-al Adha to our Muslim neighbors! ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

Now moving on from devil rabbits to sea creatures 🐇➡️🧜🏻‍♀️🐙

In this version, Human Rabbit has just discovered the existence of Krakens, and Chelsea is about to get humbled for her selfish and manipulative behavior, which I hope leads to her having a redemption arc and becoming Ruby’s friend as she tries to break free from her mother Nerissa’s control. I was supposed to show Chelsea, who has now donned a humble look, her hair tied as she works at a local café owned by Rabbit.

Rabbit just discovering emojis for the first time. Meanwhile, Chelsea starts having a change of heart as she longingly reflects on whether she should steal the trident or return it to its rightful place. Sorry if her tail's cropped. Oh look! There's BOB (or Plasma?).

A series of random doodles featuring Dory, Bubble, Ruby and her newfound friend Bloodstrike (like y'know, one of Rabbit's minions that just got eaten at the end of the DMC Netflix anime?) at the pool resort.

Also, there's Rabbit who demands that human/sapiens and demons don't mix into the pool 'til our girl Irma Lair shuts him up. Oh, hi Osmosis Jon -- Wait, I mean Wade (the water guy on the left)!

P.S. To anyone asking if I take commissions, make sure you're a legit person and your profile contains enough information telling me what company, origin and the kind of services you offer complete with contact info. I don't use PayPal due to safety reasons.

For example, [First name/Last name] from the Penguin House Department in Australia looking for a book cover artist who can do a vector-esque art style. I wanna know who you really are and if you got any references. Don't just say you wanna hire me or I'll block you.

Also, if you wish to share my art, please give credit. DO NOT REUPLOAD!

[skeletonsmoothie]

I decided to write more on my band au because I've gotten to work more on it!

Amy, Gadget and Barry's band is named Piko Piko Shoot and they focus on Pop Rock/Punk.

Amy is the lead singer, she grew up in a rich family and a prodigy in academics, music and skating. She ran away from her home to pursue a musical career with her two (loser) friends. She also dwells in grafitti art, all of which are designed by Barry.

Gadget is the one who actually started the band, he provides the guitars and back-up vocals. He works in a local cafe to pay up for rent and band expenses. He's a pro skater and has a huge crush on Infinite.

Barry is a simple artist and bassist who attended the same school as Gadget. He accepted to form the band in hopes of becoming someone and proving everyone who doubted him, wrong.

__

Chaos Blast is a band started by Shadow and his childhood best friend and sister, Rouge. They focus on deep and meaningful lyrics, mostly inspired by Shadow's older sister, Maria.

Shadow is the lead singer and to fans, a mystery. He prefers to keep any information on himself private, completely avoiding interviews and avoiding any social media. Truth is, Shadow started the band to, not only raise money for Maria's hospital bills, but also offer the young girl some entertainment.

Rouge is the bassist and stylist of the band, sometimes offering some back-up vocals for their songs. She's very gossipy and the main source of information for fans.

Silver is a shy and friendly bassist, he sometimes helps with songwriting and manages the band's social media account. He was born in Soleanna and has a love for gardening. He was close friends with Blaze before losing contact with her.

Knuckles is the band's drummer, known for channeling his short temper and rage into his work. He's quiet and very passionate about cooking in his free time.

__

Phantom Ruby was formed by childhood best friends Sonic and Infinite out of pure boredom, their lyrics being edgy for the sake of it.

Infinite is the singer and main songwriter. He's very open about himself, even coming across as egocentric. In his own head, Chaos Blast is trying to copy Phantom Ruby and steal their spotlight.

Sonic had a simple life growing up in Sunset City with his younger brother, Miles. He accepted forming a band with Infinite to pursue his dream career as a guittarist. He's very loud and energetic and has an easy time hyping up the croud. He's openly gay and has a crush on Shadow.

Blaze grew up in Soleanna and moved to the big city to purse a drumming career. She provides help with the lyrics and helps keep the other two in line whenever their manager, Espio has a hard time.

__

Other characters include

Miles, Sonic's adoptive younger brother, a prodigy and mechanical genius, dropped his studies to become the band's technician.

Espio, a mysteryous and serious person, Phantom Ruby's manager.

Honey, Phantom Ruby's stylist and social media manager. A big gossip always in touch with their community.

Wave, Chaos Blast's official stylist and manager. She grew up a graffitti artist and extreme gear pro. She's dating Rouge behind the scenes.

Maria, Shadow's older and sick sister. Her dream was to be able to watch a band live but due to her condition she was unable to.

Vector, Owner and DJ of the radio station JSR 095. He's very known in Rokkaku Street (Where Gadget and Barry grew up.)

Jet, Wave's younger brother and extreme gear pro. His gang controls Rokkaku Street with their grafitti art.

Ivo, the owner of IvoTech Empire, a company who creates multi-use and purpose robots and implementing them in society. He's also the creator of the extreme gear and his own brand of robo-singers.

[ouroborous-rp]

Queen Seraphina

A former lab researcher for Quirks, she was disgraced for endorsing Trigger Drugs from shady companies. She was approached by Doctor Ujiko, who funded her research to develop certain poisons and Quirk-affecting chemicals. In her spare time, she leads a small group of thugs on the streets, and she ensures things go her way.

Name: Yumie Oroka

Inspired by: Medusa Gorgon (Soul Eater)

Nicknames: Snake Witch, Miss S

Age: 34

Quirk: Vector Coils (She manipulates the magnitude and direction of vectors (indicated by black snake-like arrows). They can be used for offensive purposes (bend, purpose, ricochet targets), or be used as simple cutting blades. She cannot control more than ten vectors at once.)

Affiliation: Villain (independent)

Likes: snakes, ancient Greek/Middle Eastern myths, orchestral music, exotic perfumes, poison

Dislikes: loud, impulsive people, betrayal, warm weather

RP RULES

🐍 will be used for OOC stuff

Mun is 21+, but is welcome to have a 13+ audience and questions

Keep NSFW stuff to yourself!

OCs are welcome!

[sonic-takeover]

Tails I got you and Zooey life jackets. Also I'm so proud of you for taking control of the situation. I bet Sonic would be proud too. Now imma hold on for dear life, I'm not exactly the best swimmer.

-🌻

Woahh, thanks, sis!! But I can fly, so here, Sonic! *Tails hands his life jacket to Sonic, who pulls it on and hugs him* Awwh hehe! Here, Shadow, just keep the stick pointed to the right, okay? I'm gonna go check on everyone!

Right. Got it. *Shadow takes Tails' place at the controls while Tails flies to the bathrooms, where Zooey, Vanilla, and Cream are keeping Blaze company and also hoping they'll be safer than in the ballroom*

Zooey! *Tails flies to her, hugging her*

*Zooey squeaks when he hugs her, but hugs him back* Oh Tails, you're back! What's going on? Are we gonna make it?

*Tails' eyes widen and he pulls away, looking at the panicked faces of his friends*... Oh.. You guys don't go through this stuff as much as we do.. This must be really scary for you... Yeah, everyone's gonna be okay, Zooey. I promise. *He takes her hands as he speaks, looking earnestly into her eyes. Her tail starts wagging. She nods*

Okay... Some girl gave me this life jacket. Do you know her?

Oh yeah, that's my big sister, 🌻. She gave me one too, but I gave it to Sonic.

You have a sister? That's so cool! I have a brother, but he doesn't live with us. Hmm.. I wonder why she gave me a jacket instead of anyone else..

*Tails blushes* No reason! Just uh.. Luck of the draw?

.... Yeah, I guess so? Should I give it to Cream?

I can fly!!

Hehe.. Do you want it anyway?

But Zooey-

*Vanilla nods and Zooey takes off her jacket, helping Cream into it* There you go.

*Tails stares at her. She looks back over at him and he smiles* You're really selfless. Stick with me, okay, Zooey? If something happens, I can fly you to safety!

Hehe! Okay, Tails. *Zooey takes his hand again, both of them wagging their tails*

*Espio appears in the doorway, his eyes frantic* Vanilla! Where are Charmy and Silver??

Oh, I- I'm not sure, dear. Vector went to keep some of the villagers safe. I thought Charmy was with him. I don't know where Silver is.

Oh, he's on the roof. Shadow mentioned it.

For chaos' sake!! *Espio runs off again*

[vgprintads]

'Vectrex'

[VECTREX] [SWEDEN] [MAGAZINE] [1983]

"The next big poltergeist to come bopping into your neighborhood is General Consumer Electronics' Vectrex. It actually lives up to its billing as the one that "brings real arcade play home." Vectrex is a programmable package that comes with its own nine-inch monitor. Advertised at around $200, it boasts the first-ever vector-graphics screen for home use. Color-television screens operate with raster scan, the process of lighting up zillions of tiny color dots to create images. Vector graphics, on the other hand, uses thin black-and-white line drawings to form clear, brilliant geometric shapes that can give the illusion of three-dimensionality. The arcade game Asteroids is the most popular example of vector graphics; Vectrex games look a lot like Asteroids. The major vector graphics drawback is that it can't produce color images, though we'll eventually see video games that combine the two styles. For those who get the hue downs and lose concentration without color, G.C.E. has. equipped its system with a set of plastic slides that fit over the screen. Standing near the G.C.E. display at last June's Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago, I overheard a competing company's rep sneer at Vectrex, "All this proves is that they haven't got color capability." He was right. But an even more distracting problem than the lack of color—which you'll get used to—is the simplicity of the shapes that vector graphics can create. It's hard to believe that that thing on the planet's surface in Scramble is an alien fuel repository when it looks more (exactly, in fact) like a box with an X through it. Still, most of the Vectrex games are set in space, where six lines can represent a pretty fierce-looking Klingon cruiser. The action in these games is superior to that in any of the TV-dependent systems. The visuals are adequate, even starkly compelling at times; the joy stick and the four-button controls are extraordinarily sensitive; and the music is by turns challenging and inspiring. Mine Storm, an unabashed imitation of Asteroids, is programmed into the Vectrex monitor. As a freebie, it's incomparable—tougher in some ways than Asteroids (not Asteroids Deluxe: nothing is tougher than that). The game presents plenty of mean mines, a devilish triangle that rushes out near the end of a rack and a mess of heat-seeking quasi-stellar things that'll make you wish you were a reptile. Remember Asteroids strategy: You've gotta fly or you'll never beat Mine Storm. Vectrex is fast, challenging and stimulating, thanks to G.C.E.'s having liberated home video from the television set. Give it at least a test fly before you buy. The choice you finally make from among all of these games will depend largely on your personality and on what gets you off. Some of that decision will boil down to whether you want action or good looks every former high school boy can identify with that." ~Kevin Cook, Playboy (January 1983)

Source: Allt om Hemdatorer, 1983 (#3) || Internet Archive; Bultro

[alterchaos]

SUPER SLEUTHS

It all began one bright summer day at the home of the Mobius' greatest detectives...

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: INSECURITY

NEXT CHAPTER: DYSFUNCTION

Upon a hillside beyond the woods of South Island sat a house, its shingles ever so slightly peeled yet never truly falling from their roof. The plaster walls were cracked in various places, though filled and patched with love. Summer sun beams bounced off the rounded, maroon door, beyond which the home’s owner sat joyously listening to the music from his headphones. The scaly Mobian’s head bopped to each jazzy beat as his flowing, red locks rested on his folded hands from behind his long neck. A cheap fan whirred overhead, providing some cool air and circulation that balanced perfectly against the heat of the season. It was a moment in which everything felt peaceful and right in the world.

…

…

And then that moment ended.

“VECTOOOOORRR!!!!!”

The crocodile continued to bop.

“HEY VECTOOORRR!!!”

He didn’t have a care in the world.

“...”

The bee grabbed the crocodile’s headphones, pulling away one ear before shouting.

“VECTOORRRR!!!!!”

“GAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!” The detective in question nearly jumped out of his scales, “CHARMY!!!” He grabbed the small bee by the wings, “WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT PULLING OFF MY HEADPHONES!!?”

Charmy held up a finger as he recited his lesson, “Only on detective duty…”

Vector sighed, “That’s right. Now, if you don’t mind, I would like to get back to my sick detective beats.” He let go of the bee, leaning back in his chair as he readjusted his headphones.

“But Vector, there’s this strange man outside who’s clearly Eggman and-!!!”

“Mmhm uh huh…Eggman…” He began to bop once more before suddenly jolting and pulling off his headphones, “WAIT, DID YOU SAY ‘EGGMAN’!!?”

“Yeah! He’s outside in this REALLY shady disguise and wants in!!”

“Espio.”

The chameleon in question appeared in a flash, “On it. I’ll observe him and report any hidden weapons or traps.” With that, he disappeared once more.

After a few minutes that seemed to drag on for hours between the two detectives, the third returned, confirming that the dangerous man outside was, thankfully, unarmed. As a result, Vector decided to let him inside on the condition that Espio remained invisible and ready for arrest. Once he had, the three detectives acted oblivious to the man’s true identity, gathering as much information as possible while offering the evil doctor their highest level of hospitality. If not for his despicable ways, Vector might have possibly enjoyed the unwelcome company. To his surprise, Eggman was actually very cordial and carried a high amount of class. 

Still…he was Eggman…

Not exactly welcome company for anyone on Mobius…

The mad doctor, ‘disguised’ in a classic trench coat and fedora, informed The Chaotix of a fake doctor impersonating his geniu-NO-UH-the evil Dr. Eggman (Boooo!). This faker was none other than one of his earliest robot models named Metal Sonic, rebuilt after that BLASTED hedgeho-SONIC beat it out of commission on Little Planet nearly five years ago. This latest model was upgraded with nanotechnology, which allowed the badnik to shapeshift into those it came into physical contact with during battle. Such meticulous programming was a failsafe to prevent any sort of uprising, however, it was not enough to prevent the robot from easily taking control. With a simple punch, the robot had copied the doctor’s form and used his image to usurp power, taking control of the doctor’s fleet and vowing to destroy Mobius once and for all. 

It then claimed the identity, ‘Neo’, and took on a will of its own.

Its motives, however, remained unknown to all, including the genius doctor sitting before the scaly detective.

…

…

“Espio! NOW!!!”

The ninja appeared quickly, tackling the mad doctor. In a matter of minutes, he was taken into custody in South Island’s prison, no longer able to pose a threat to the people the detectives knew and loved.

Now, with that settled, The Chaotix made haste in their quest to take down Neo Metal.

They were Mobius’s only hope…

“Yeah but…what about Sonic?”

The crocodile jolted, not realizing he’d been narrating out loud to the traveling group.

He cleared his throat nervously, “Eh! Erm! Well! Y-You see…Sonic is just always so busy being Mobius’s greatest hero! H-He wouldn’t have time for something as small as world domination!”

The group stared at Vector deadpan.

“W-Well! Who knows! Maybe we’ll run into him on our adventure!”

“...”

Eve remained silent, staring ahead blankly with folded arms.

“...”

Vector watched her, taking note of her somewhat guilty expression.

“Hmm…”

“Vector? What is it?”

“...” The crocodile turned back ahead, “Nothing, Charmy…Just thinking…”

“Ooh…What abou-?”

“We’re here.”

Team Chaotix halted their tracks, taking in the sight of the massive base before them surrounded by canyons and rails. 

Vector’s gaze grew intense, “Stay sharp, gang. Neo could be anywher-”

“WATCH OUT, VECTOR!!!”

“-!!!”

The crocodile leapt backwards at the girl’s warning, dodging an upper slash from the metallic puddle below.

“Phew! Thanks, kiddo! You have a sharp eye!”

“FOOLS. YOU. DARE. TO. FOLLOW. ME. HERE. TO. MY. BASE.?”

Neo appeared, everyone drawing their weapons as they stood protectively before the girl with the golden hair, her fright at the menacing robot’s presence not lost on anyone.

“Espio, stay close to Eve and draw his fire. Charmy, you’re with me.”

“Roger.”

“On it.”

“...”

The crocodile and bee charged the sinister badnik, Espio leaping before the human and deflecting any projectile attacks. In a matter of moments, Neo was pinned, Vector using his immense jaw to bite into and tear some of the non-vital circuitry from his arm. Metal screamed, Charmy only adding to his agony as he stung the robot’s hand, causing a few wires to spark as they broke free. 

“DAMMIT. NOT. HERE.!!!”

“KEEP AT HIM, CHARMY!!! DON’T LET UP!!!”

“...”

For once, Eve was thankful to have backup.

“...”

And yet, she still felt as though she didn’t deserve it.

“...”

She…needed to do bette-

“ESPIO, LOOK OUT!!!”

“-!!?”

The girl with the golden hair snapped out of her thoughts momentarily just in time to catch sight of a duplicate Neo appear from the ground below the chameleon.

TAPTAPTAPTAP-

She leapt at him, pushing him out of the way of the oncoming attack.

“-!!!”

The second Neo aimed his blade at her defenseless figure.

“EVE, GRAB ON!!!”

Espio threw a kunai attached to a grappling rope past her face, the girl with the golden hair barely able to grab hold and be pulled to safety before Neo’s could strike. Espio caught her, holding her safely against his figure as his back hit the ground below.

“GNH!!!”

“OH NO, ESPIO!!! ARE YOU OKA-!!!?”

Eve winced as a sharp pain shot through her leg, rendering her unable to move or respond. Neo leapt at the two of them once more, Espio throwing his kunai in response. This time, it was a perfect hit, causing the duplicate robot to collapse into a puddle of nanites instantaneously. The two teammates remained on the ground as they caught their breath, Vector making quick work of the main body before it could duplicate once more.

Except this one disappeared into a puddle as well.

“GRRRRRR!!! WHERE DID HE-!!?”

“BAH! JUST LOOK AT WHAT YOU’VE DONE TO MY PRECIOUS CREATION!!!”

“Huh?”

Every member of Team Chaotix turned towards the doors of the base as a familiar figure stepped outside.

“EGGMAN!!?”

Vector paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing.

“Wait…how did you escape prison?”

“...”

“...”

“...”

Eggman smiled.

“Why, with my own genius of course!”

“...” 

Vector continued to watch him.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The mad doctor walked towards the group…

Tap. Tap. Tap.

He slowly walked towards the girl standing in the ba-

WHAM!!!

“GAH!!!”

‘Eggman’ looked up at the ferocious crocodile in fear as he growled.

“Give it up! We know your tricks!”

Espio jolted as he felt a sudden presence, drawing his kunai once more in response, “Everyone stay sharp! There’s something fast approachin-!!”

FWOOSH!

Everyone froze as the sudden gale died down.

“Huh?”

The trio of detectives jolted, shouting in unison.

“SONIC THE HEDGEHOG!!?”

“...”

The girl began to sweat as her best friend stared her down in confusion and hurt.

“Eve…?”

TO BE CONTINUED…

[probablyasocialecologist]

AI can turn some impressive party tricks, but it's unsuited for solving serious problems in the real world. This is true of predictive AI, whose correlations are data-driven conspiracy theories, and of large language models like ChatGPT, whose plausible waffle is always trying to pull free of the facts. The real issue is not only that AI doesn't work as advertised, but the impact it will have before this becomes painfully obvious to everyone. AI is being used as form of 'shock doctrine', where the sense of urgency generated by an allegedly world-transforming technology is used as an opportunity to transform social systems without democratic debate. Faced with social structures whose foundations have been eaten away by decades of privatisation and austerity, the political response is to pump money into 'frontier AI' while hyping it up as the most awe-inspiring technology since the Manhattan Project. The Prime Minister says he will "harness the incredible potential of AI to transform our hospitals and schools" while ignoring leaking roofs in the NHS and the literally collapsing ceilings in local schools. This focus on the immaterial fantasies of AI is a deliberate diversion. When large language models are touted as passing basic medical exams, it's because they've absorbed answers from across the internet. They are incapable of the embodied understanding and common sense that underpin medicine, education or any other form of care. One thing that these models definitely do, though, is transfer control to large corporations. The amount of computing power and data required is so incomprehensibly vast that very few companies in the world have the wherewithal to train them. To promote large language models anywhere is privatisation by the back door. The evidence so far suggests that this will be accompanied by extensive job losses, as employers take AI's shoddy emulation of real tasks as an excuse to trim their workforce. The goal isn't to "support" teachers and healthcare workers but to plug the gaps with AI instead of with the desperately needed staff and resources. Real AI isn't sci-fi but the precaritisation of jobs, the continued privatisation of everything and the erasure of actual social relations. AI is Thatcherism in computational form. Like Thatcher herself, real world AI boosts bureaucratic cruelty towards the most vulnerable. Case after case, from Australia to the Netherlands, has proven that unleashing machine learning in welfare systems amplifies injustice and the punishment of the poor. AI doesn't provide insights as it's just a giant statistical guessing game. What it does do is amplify thoughtlessness, a lack of care, and a distancing from actual consequences. The logics of ranking and superiority are buried deep in the make up of artificial intelligence; married to populist politics, it becomes another vector for deciding who is disposable.

[batfleckgifs]

Host: Um I want to uh as we kind of wrap up here I do want to come back to AI. Jerry you mentioned it but you know Ben how did you know uh-earlier you guys weren't here we did a demonstration my colleague, Andrew Sorkin and I recreated ourselves and our voices how do you see it I mean - is it a benefit or is it a real threat? Is it possible that uh - Netflix could say you know we're going to do our own, excuse me James Bond thing out there with a bunch of actors that are completely recreated for this Market or that market I-?

Ben Affleck: A) that's not possible now. B) will it be possible the future? Highly unlikely. C) Uh-Uh Movies will be one of the last things if everything gets replaced to be replaced by ai. AI can write you excellent imit-imitative verse that sounds Elizabethan, it cannot write you Shakespeare. The function of having two actors or three or four actors in a room and the taste to discern and construct that is something that currently entirely eludes ai's capability and I think will for a meaningful period of time. What AI is going to do, is going to disintermediate the more laborious less creative uh and you know Co-more costly aspects of film making that will allow cost to be brought down, that will be lower the barrier to entry that will allow more voices to be heard, that will make it easier to for the people want to make Goodwill huntings to go out and make it. Look AI is a Craftsman at best Craftsman can learn to you know make stickly furniture by sitting down next to somebody and seeing what their technique is and imitating. That's how large video models large language model models basically work a library of vectors of meaning and Transformers that interpret context right but they're just cross-pollinating things that exist. Nothing new is created or-

Host: Not yet.

Ben Affleck: Not yet. Yeah, not yet. And-and really the - in order to do that - look Craftsman is knowing how to work (and) Art Is knowing when to stop. And I think knowing when to stop is going to be a very difficult thing for AI to learn because it's taste and also lack of consistency.lack of controls. lack of quality. AI for for this world of generative video is going to do key things more me-I wouldn't like to being in the visual effects business,they're in trouble, because what cost a lot of money is now going to cost a lot less. And it's going to hammer that space than it already is, um, and maybe it shouldn't take a thousand people to render something but it's not going to replace human beings making films. It may make your background more convincing, it can change the color of your shirt, it can fix mistakes that you've made, it can make it - you know you might be able to get two seasons of House of the Dragon in a year instead of one and if that happens according to macroeconomics in you know, uh ,cultures where there are basically Oligopolies competing what should happen is with the same demand and the same spend is they they should just make more shows which should you know you should have the same spend and now you can just watch more episodes. And eventually AI will allow you to,uh, ask for your own episode of succession where you can say I'll pay $30 and can you make me a 45 minute episode where like Kendall gets the company and runs off and has an affair with Stewie and it'll do it. And it'll be a little janky and a little bit weird but it'll know their Stats it'll know those actors and it will you know Mix-remix it in effect and it will do that. That's the value, in my view, long term of AI for consumers which is eventually - My Hope for AI is that it's an additional Revenue stream that can replace DVD which took 15 to 20% out of the economy of film making which is and-and there should be negotiated rights and-

Host: And that's the key part of it.

Ben Affleck: And the right to say if you want to - because what do people want to make 5 minute 30C Tik Tok videos where they look like The Avengers well great, you can , you know just like you used to be able to buy your Iron Man costume at the store you're going to buy your Iron Man pack and you and your buddies are going to look like Iron Man and Hawkeye like you know on Twitch that's that's what's going to really happen.

[spoonbenders-archive]

top five very specific game consoles

rubs my hands together like an evil fly. these are in no specific order i love them all equally. Below the cut because its long

vectrex console set (released november 1982) vector display based console with a built in CRT TV. early models were said to be very obnoxiously loud due to poor tube grounding. only had 28 games made for it. was killed decisively by the crash of 83 and later the advent of the gameboy.

2. super a'can (released october 1995) released only in taiwan and china and only has 12 games confirmed to have been released for it. based off of the motorola 9000 chip used for the sega genesis. the company that made it (funtech) lost over 6 million dollars because this was released around the same time as the playstation and n64. funtech had all development and production materials destroyed and the remaining consoles were sold for scrap parts.

3. terebikko / see n say videophone (1988 JP, 1989 US)

well obviously its shaped like a phone. how it was SUPPOSED to work was that you connect it to your TV's audio jack and throughout the interactive video you would receive "phone calls" from characters onscreen who would react differently and steer the game in different directions based on if you gave good or bad answers. fairly advanced for the time! only 25 games were ever released for it though

4. watara supervision (released 1992)

look at this freak. it sucks. BUT it had tilt controls which is more than could be said for the gameboy. could only play monochrome games from ROM and was a commercial failure due to having barely any games.

5. cybiko (released 2000)

a combination PDA and handheld console. could play games from PC download and had 430 games released (all of them free). the cybiko xtreme (a less colorful revision that failed to address several problems with the original) released and then 9/11 happened.

HONORABLE MENTION: vtech creativision (1982)

this thing is called Dick Smith Wizzard in australia and new zealand.

[viktorviolettaenterprises]

STOVL Fighters Collection DOWNLOAD

At the end of 1950s, the engineers had just an idea of delivering the aircraft even without a runway. Then in the beginning of 1960s, some tests conducted to test the capability of STOVL (Short Take-Off Vertical Landing) or in other word, a possibility of vertical movement of the fixed-wing aircraft, began with the "Flying bunk" in1959. Then the Hawker Siddeley Limited in Britain proposed a concept named "P1127 Kestrel" as a prototype of the VTOL fighter. Then this concept acepted and in 1969, the production of Harrier GR1 had begun. This aircraft was intended to be in use for Royal Air Force, but the Royal Navy also got their own version of FRS1 years later. These Harriers sought it's first battle experience in Falklands War in 1982 when these Harriers brought down some of the Argentine's air capability without any losses. The last of the Harrier production was in GR9 variant which subsequently substituted by the latest F-35B by the Royal Air Force.

McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B Harrier II

The USMC was also seeking the aircraft that suits for the amphibious mission. After the success of the Harrier FRS1 and GR3 variants in the Falklands War, in 1985 the USMC proposed an inquiry to acquire some of these aircrafts, with also stated that these aircrafts should be manufactured in the United States. Then BAe Industries licensed the Harrier to the McDonnell-Douglas company . Also this aircraft met the service within the Royal Spanish Navy in 1987. Several missions has been done by AV-8Bs including Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Libyan Crisis.

Lockheed Martin F-35B

The STOVL variant of F-35 Thunderbolt which it's STOVL technology derived from Yak-141 VTOL system, which sold to the Lockheed Martin in 1992, which emphasizes the vector exhaust and a fan in the middle of the aircraft. Also the most wanted aircraft in action of this century. The F-35B is the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the aircraft. Similar in size to the A variant, the B sacrifices about a third of the A variant's fuel volume to accommodate the SDLF. This variant is limited to 7 g. Unlike other variants, the F-35B has no landing hook. The "STOVL/HOOK" control instead engages conversion between normal and vertical flight.The F-35B is capable of Mach 1.6 (1,976 km/h) and can perform vertical and/or short take-off and landing (V/STOL)