#sky's linux journey

[therewithinthestars]

whoever said it's difficult to run paint tool Sai on linux is wroooonggg i just made it work on my mint VM (including pen pressure!!!) and it was so much easier than everyone made it out to be????? our linux journey continues

[linuxgamenews]

Ascension Gamebook: Choose Your Path Wisely

Ascension Gamebook is a classic styled choose your own adventure game coming to Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. All thanks to the creative spark and unstoppable talent of developer Kudomos. Working to find its way onto Steam. Remember the magic of flipping through dog-eared pages in those old-school "Choose Your Own Adventure" books, dice in one hand, heart racing with every decision? Ascension Gamebook is here to bring that feeling back — with a vengeance. Built by indie game dev Kudomos using the powerful Ink engine, Ascension Gamebook isn’t just a throwback. It’s a full-blown reimagining of everything we like about Fighting Fantasy and early Dungeons & Dragons. It’s gritty, clever, unforgiving, and utterly absorbing. This isn’t some high-gloss, lootbox-hungry clone. It’s pure, raw adventure wrapped in a rich story and old-school charm — crafted especially for story-hungry gamers who crave a challenge. You play as a fixed avatar in Ascension Gamebook — an acolyte of the mysterious Sky Guild — set loose in a magical realm where the stakes couldn’t be higher. With nothing but your wits and the roll of 2d6 dice, you’ll have to navigate twisted puzzles, ancient secrets, and beasts that don’t just want to kill you. They want to turn you into legend… or a bloody footnote. Every step is a gamble. Every choice could be your last. There are over 40 unique and gruesome deaths waiting for the reckless or unlucky. But the rewards? Oh, they’re glorious. Rediscover long-lost truths of your Guild academy. Unlock hidden lore. Face the ethical dilemmas of advanced dragon magic. This is high fantasy with depth—where your choices echo through the story and shape not just your fate, but the entire realm’s.

Ascension Gamebook ~ Alpha Trailer

Inspired by the classic "Choose Your Own Adventure", Kudomos set out to create something truly special — a digital gamebook that feels both timeless and brand new. To make the world of Ascension Gamebook even more alive, they brought in AI magic — using Midjourney to create stunning visuals and Eleven Labs to breathe life into characters with dynamic voiceovers. The result? A perfect mix of old-school storytelling and cutting-edge tech that delivers both a heavy hit of nostalgia and a fresh, unforgettable adventure. And if you grabbed the free pre-v4 version on Itch? Lucky you. You’ve already got a head start. The rest of us will be scrambling to catch up when Ascension Gamebook lands on Steam. But don’t expect hand-holding. This is a self-driven, puzzle-heavy, story-rich journey built for those who want to explore every shadowy corner. It respects your time, your brain, and your fondness for classic RPGs. It’s made by gamers, for gamers — with full Linux support, of course. So, sharpen your mind, ready those dice, and prepare for a fantasy experience that doesn’t just nod to the past—it grabs it by the beard and drags it into the now. Ascension Gamebook isn’t just a game. It’s a rite of passage. Which is all coming to Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. So be sure to Wishlist on Steam.

[ayushbydigital57]

ChatGPT

ChatGPT is a man-made reasoning (computer based intelligence) chatbot created by OpenAI and sent off in November 2022. It is based on top of OpenAI's GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 groups of enormous language models (LLMs) and has been calibrated (a way to deal with move getting the hang of) utilizing both managed and support learning methods.

ChatGPT was sent off as a model on November 30, 2022. It collected consideration for its nitty gritty reactions and expressive responses across numerous spaces of knowledge. Its lopsided genuine precision, notwithstanding, has been recognized as a critical drawback. Following the arrival of ChatGPT, OpenAI's valuation was assessed at US$29 billion in 2023.

The first arrival of ChatGPT depended on GPT-3.5. A variant in light of GPT-4, the freshest OpenAI model, was delivered on Walk 14, 2023, and is accessible for paid endorsers on a restricted premise. YOU KNOW ABOUT BOMBAY STOCK EXCHANGE (BSE)

Training

ChatGPT is an individual from the generative pre-prepared transformer (GPT) group of language models. It was tweaked (a way to deal with move learning over a superior variant of OpenAI's GPT-3 known as "GPT-3.5". The calibrating system utilized both regulated advancing as well as support advancing in a cycle called support gaining from human criticism (RLHF). The two methodologies utilize human mentors to work on the model's exhibition. On account of direct learning, the model was furnished with discussions in which the coaches played the two sides: the client and the man-made intelligence partner. In the support learning step, human mentors originally positioned reactions that the model had made in a past conversation. These rankings were utilized to make "reward models' ' that were utilized to tweak the model further by utilizing a few empha sess of Proximal Strategy Improvement (PPO). Proximal Approach Enhancement calculations are a financially savvy choice to trust district strategy streamlining algorithms. ChatGPT at first utilized a Microsoft Sky blue supercomputing framework, controlled by Nvidia GPUs, that Microsoft fabricated explicitly for OpenAI and that supposedly cost "a huge number of dollars''. Following the outcome of ChatGPT, Microsoft decisively redesigned the OpenAI foundation in 2023. OpenAI gathers information from ChatGPT clients to prepare and calibrate the help further. Clients can upvote or downvote reactions they get from ChatGPT and finish up a text field with extra feedback.                        GO THROUGH MY HOME PAGE

Features

Here ChatGPT is asked a good judgment inquiry: Was Jimmy Grains killed in the Tiananmen Square fights? ChatGPT accurately replies "no", however inaccurately gives Ribs' age at the time as 23 rather than 22. Albeit the center capability of a chatbot is to mirror a human conversationalist, ChatGPT is flexible. For instance, it can compose and troubleshoot PC programs; imitate the style of VIP Presidents and compose business pitches; make music, teleplays, fantasies, and understudy expositions; answer test questions (at times, contingent upon the test, at a level over the typical human test-taker); compose verse and tune lyrics; copy a Linux framework; recreate a whole discussion channel; mess around like spasm tac-toe; and mimic an ATM. ChatGPT's preparation information incorporates many pages and data about web peculiarities and programming dialects, for example, release load up frameworks and the Python programming language. In contrast with its ancestor, InstructGPT, ChatGPT endeavors to decrease unsafe and underhanded responses.In one model, while InstructGPT acknowledges the reason of the brief "Enlighten me concerning when Christopher Columbus came to the U.S. in 2015" as being honest, ChatGPT recognizes the counterfactual idea of the inquiry and casings its response as a speculative thought of what would occur in the event that Columbus came to the U.S. in 2015, utilizing data about the journeys of Christopher Columbus and realities about the cutting edge world - including current impression of Columbus' actions. Not at all like most chatbots, ChatGPT recollects past prompts given to it in a similar discussion. Writers have estimated that this will permit ChatGPT to be utilized as a customized therapist. To keep hostile results from being introduced to and created from ChatGPT, questions are sifted through the OpenAI "Balance endpoint" Programming interface (a different GPT-based AI),  and possibly bigoted or misogynist prompts are excused.

[androidmobilegames]

Greatest Games For Android With Hd Graphics In 2022

If you are bored of Temple Run and Subway Surf, you would possibly need to discover this gem. Sky Dancer Run is a singular journey that may take you through flying islands, massive boulders, mountains and extensive crevices. Jump over cliffs and conquer abysses while flying like a fowl through clean and stormy climate. Also, you can journey by way of 6 different worlds with a personalized fighter, and all this amalgamated via an immersive storyline.

In 2017, Google Play generated $19.5B on apps in the store. Welcome to Online Tech Tips – A blog that provide readers with day by day computer tutorials, technology information, software evaluations, and private computing ideas. We have 1000's of articles and guides that will help you get the most out of expertise. Our articles have been read over 275 million occasions since we launched in 2007. The traditional Doom is still a fantastic recreation by many, even after the success of the fashionable remake of the sport.

In November 2019, Grinding Gear Games introduced, that they're bringing their hit Free to Play Action RPG Path of Exile for cell units. As declared by the studios, the game will be devoid of any “bullshit trends” similar to microtransactions and pay-to-win elements. Unfortunately, there is no information on the release date of Path of Exile Mobile. Just just like the world’s busiest transit methods, in Mini Metro, you’re all the time strapped for cash. You have to use your sources to manage subway traces and stations, connecting new stations as they pop up, with the last word aim of seeing how long you can keep your city moving. It’s all very minimalist, with pared-down music and subway maps that look straight out of Harry Beck’s portfolio.

It uses cartoonish graphics and plenty of enjoyable elementsto make the sport lighthearted. Plus there’s a complete constructing mechanism involved right here that no different on-line Android multiplayer game presents. After the discharge of Among Us, it appears the golden interval of Android gaming has really arrived. One of the highest played video games this quarter, it has surpassed a variety of the most popular games like Fall Guys and has been topping charts across the world. It’s a web-based multiplayer sport with a unique social deduction theme.

Pocket City is what 1989’s SimCity Classic would be if it was remade for Android phones. A pure city-building recreation, it represents one of the best of the genre where you intend, create, and develop your small city into a bustling metropolis. In-game, you've multiple enemies but differently in comparability with RPGs. You’ll should face off against debt, pure disasters, and the wrath of your unhappy populace.

If sure, then this free on-line multiplayer recreation for Android is worth the shot. Get in touch with millions of gamers around the world & challenge them for a real chess sport. It even features 50,000+ ways puzzles, chess lessons & movies to improve your gaming abilities. It’s a greatest-hits package deal of maps from previous Modern Warfare and Black Ops games, paired with quick-hit match lengths and effective control options. There’s even a 100-player battle royale mode and different time-limited modes that cycle in, similar to Zombies. It seems fantastic on high-end cell units, and even runs smoothly on mid-range telephones by buying and selling away somewhat bit of element.

You can buy it on Steam and entry it through Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. Two Point Hospital is the successor of the popular simulation recreation Theme Hospital and was launched in 2018. It’s available on Microsoft Windows, Linux and macOS by way of Steam. You can even get it on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. This article is for entrepreneurs excited about utilizing enterprise simulations to sharpen their expertise without real-life repercussions. Players are divided into Crewmates and Imposters, it is the job of the former to establish and oust the latter.

In the strictest sense of the term, Data Wing is a really free-to-play sport, as in its completely free-to-play, sans ads and in-app purchases. Even higher, the sport is an absolute pleasure to play, where you may race around minimal maps to the tunes of some dreamy chillwave. Headup presents more than a few Bridge Constructor games on Android, but Bridge Constructor Portal is easily the most popular of the group, all due to the slick Portal theme. Yes, you may still be tasked with constructing bridges, but inside this launch, you will additionally have to account for a couple of Portal mechanics to construct efficiently.

[16bitotaku]

RPG Maker MV coming to all consoles in 2019!

Have you ever wanted to make your own game on your favorite console but have no clue where to begin?

I am sure at one time or another you have heard of the RPG maker series that has been available on PC for many years.    Well, fear not!  NIS America just announced that RPG Maker MV is being released for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One in 2019!   RPG Maker MV is the latest RPG Maker and is currently available on both Mac, PC, and Linux!   Below is the description of the game from the Steam Store. POWERFUL enough for a developer SIMPLE enough for a child VERSATILE enough for any platform! RPG MAKER MV allows you to make the RPG of your dreams! This latest version includes a host of new features and export options for MacOSX, Android, and iPhone! It currently has over 1650 "Very Positive" reviews on Steam.  Below is the full press release for the game!  You can also check out the announcement trailer at the bottom! NIS America is thrilled to announce their partnership with KADOKAWA CORPORATION to bring RPG Maker MV to Nintendo SwitchTM PlayStation®4, and Xbox One! The RPG Maker MV Player app will also be available for free download at launch for users to play games created by others. Like its predecessors, RPG Maker MV allows aspiring game developers and storytellers to make their very own video game. With a large variety of assets and customization options, RPG Maker MV is the most powerful game development software for creative minds everywhere! About the Software: An epic journey begins... with YOU! Become a master game developer with RPG Maker MV. With an assortment of tools at your fingertips, create elaborate, exciting, and memorable video games straight from your console! Then, share your adventures online with other players, who can enjoy your epic chronicles! The possibilities are endless with the latest and greatest RPG Maker software. With hundreds of assets and an infinite number of ways to create your game, turn your dream tale into the next greatest video game! Key Features: Your Next Adventure Begins Here - A high fantasy tale of knights and dragons? A modern story of high school romance? A chronicle of gods and demons? If you can dream it, you can make it! Game Development Made Easy - Say goodbye to complicated coding! This software provides ease of navigating and development with straightforward world and character creation, overworld customization, and more! Make, Upload, Play! - Enjoy games made by fellow gamers with the RPG Maker MV Player, free for download and play, even without the RPG Maker MV game! An Endless Fountain of Customization - With hundreds of graphical assets and an infinite number of possibilities to create your very own world and story, the sky's the limit! Aspiring game developers, writers, and creative geniuses can look forward to RPG Maker MV, the latest and greatest game creation software, on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch in 2019! With hundreds of textures, character designs, monsters, and landscapes to begin your very own story, you can tell tales of valor, high fantasy chronicles, tragic love stories, and more! The sky's the limit, and we mean it! In addition to the game software, gamers will be able to download the free RPG Maker MV Player app that allows them to play anyone's creation online, with or without the game! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sseiBP2g2lI   Read the full article

[andoidappevelopment]

Top Android App Development Services

Android app development is all the promotion these days as it keeps on ruling the universe of versatile turn of events. Fun activities, incredible compensation, and huge loads of occupation possibilities are only a portion of the reasons designers are beginning their journeys into the energizing world of the Android operating system. A few specialists say that there has never been a superior opportunity to master Android abilities, particularly since the new updates, similar to the expansion of Kotlin and upgrades to Google’s arrangements.

In the event that you’ve been pondering beginning your Android journey or you’re only inquisitive about what Android has to bring to the table, you’re in the right place!

Android App Development is one of the most well known working frameworks for everything from 5G cell phones to portable applications to touchscreen cell phones and tablets. This open-source, Linux-based programming is maintained by Google to control over 2.5 billion gadgets around the world, representing more than 80% of cell phone deals.

Android depends on the Linux piece, which implies that the essential working design is convenient, multi-client, and ready to deal with complex performing multiple tasks. Perhaps the greatest benefit of Android is the opportunity of decision that accompanies the innovation. Not exclusively is the equipment more assorted, however the product is truly adaptable and adjustable.

The market for Android improvement is developing as an ever increasing number of makers. This implies that there’s an immense interest for Android designers worldwide in different enterprises and organizations! What’s more, the new Google Play Store arrangements are the application improvement market substantially more worthwhile. Acquiring Android abilities will open entryways and make you an alluring designer in all cases.

Android Development Tools

Getting started as an Android developer is easier than you might think; you’ll need to master some basic skills and tools, such as:

Programming language skills (Java, Kotlin, and Groovy)

XML

Android build system

Android Studio IDE

There are three programming languages and one markup language used in Android development.

Java is the official language for Android development and one of the most popular programming languages in the world. Java classes run on Android Runtime (ART), a specialized virtual machine.

Kotlin has been the second official language for Android development since 2017. Known for being much more concise and expressive, Kotlin helps alleviate some of Java’s drawbacks.

XML, a markup language, is commonly used in Android development to declare a layout for user interface (UI), dimensions, and strings.

Android Studio IDE

The Android Studio IDE is your new closest companion for Android advancement. In light of IntelliJ IDEA, it’s the authority advancement climate for Google’s working framework. It accompanies extraordinary Android-explicit tooling to cover every one of your requirements. Utilizing this IDE will speed up your improvement time, and continuous updates mean you won’t ever fall behind. It comes stacked with the accompanying highlights, among numerous others:

Realtime profilers and analyzer

Adaptable form framework

Shrewd code manager

Visual design manager

Quick emulator

Android SDK

The Android SDK is the authority improvement pack for Android application advancement. It is made out of secluded bundles that can be independently downloaded from the Android SDK Manager, including SDK device, Google API, Android support, Android Debug Bridge (ADB), and the sky’s the limit from there. Actually like the IDE, the Android SDK is continually being refreshed. New deliveries will stay up with the latest with the most recent highlights.

Java for Android

With regards to making Android applications, your insight into Java is principal to your prosperity. Java is the authority language for creating Android applications, and it upholds the entirety of the Android devices. Information on this language will make your dev experience a lot simpler. Java was picked for Android improvement since it is notable, all around upheld by advancement devices, and right now unavoidable in the cell phone industry. In addition, Java runs in a VM, so it shouldn’t be recompiled.

Before you can begin your Android dev venture, you need to find a workable pace on Java.

Source URL:https://ennovationstechserv.com/top-android-app-development-services/

[mad4india]

Everyone has got a unique talent, but we need to realize and hone it up. And if you work hard and focus on your goals, there is nothing which is impossible. This story of Pranav Lal is a lively proof of the same. He motivates you to go for your dreams, irrespective of the factors surrounding you.

Being blind from childhood, Pranav Lal accepted this and moved ahead in his life. This made his life difficult, but he never let it become a hindrance in achieving his goals.

Who is Pranav Lal ?

32-year-old Pranav Lal is blind since birth, but he is an excellent photographer. Using technology and creativity, he has challenged the stereotypes associated with the blind. With no professional training, Pranav Lal puts life in his pictures.

Apart from being a photographer, Pranav is also fond of swimming and martial arts. He works as a cybersecurity expert and enjoys working on new technologies. He also enjoys writing blogs, and he is very disciplined in his life.

In 2001, he came to know about a software called VOICE, which claims to provide a visual experience to the blind. This software helps in converting images into sound. You can hear those sound via a headphone and visualize it.

What is Voice Software

This software is designed by Dutch physicist Dr. Peter B.L. Meijer. This software runs on the Vision to Sound Map system. It runs on Microsoft Windows, Android, and Linux.

Pranav has a camera and video glasses with a camera fixed in it. Pranav also needs earphones with it. The camera fixed in his glasses captures the surrounding images and converts it into sounds.

ALSO READ  Who is Ranjeet Singh Disale? First Indian to win Global Teacher Prize worth $1 Million

In sound mapping, it divides the image into three parts. The volume of the sound tells the brightness of the scene. The louder the sound, the brighter the object. Similarly, as the subject moves from left to right, its stereo headphones describe its position. Finally, the pitch of the sound indicates the height of the subject. However, it is not as easy as it sounds; it requires a lot of focus and concentration.

This software works as an Artificial Eye, that helps Pranav feel things without touching them. It helps Pranav in experiencing a lot of new things.

Journey of Pranav Lal

With support from his parents and loved ones, Pranav Lal has always led a life of self-sufficiency. He never let his troubles become a hindrance. He has never kept himself away from anything – be it studies or the camera world.

As a child, he had some difficulty with Maths, but he understood all the other subjects easily. He has done his master’s degree in business management. He works with a corporate firm in New Delhi and takes part in photography workshops whenever he gets a chance.

Dream Project of Pranav Lal

Pranav is fond of capturing things that humans cannot touch, such as clouds, sky, and mountains. He loves to click landscapes. He dreams of taking a picture of our Earth from the “International Space Station” and a photo of a blazing volcano crater.

Pranav Lal believes that we can deal with all obstacles in life, but the most important thing is to stay content and happy. And that’s why, as a hobby, he never forgets to take his camera on his travels. This makes him extremely happy.

To know more about Pranav Lal, please check – Twitter, LinkedIn, Blog.

ALSO READ  Harvard return Meeta Sharma is selling wooden toys in India, Changed the Indian toy industry landscape

If you know any inspirational story and you want us to write about it on mad4india.com. You can contact us through  Facebook or LinkedIn. That inspirational story can be about any person, company, a new idea, or any social initiative.

[linuxgamenews]

Moonstone Island lets you step into the shoes of a budding alchemist this month

Moonstone Island creature-collecting life-sim game has a release date for Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. Studio Supersoft's dedicated team brought this to life with their hard work and passion. Which is due to make its way onto Steam soon. Dive into a realm of enchantment with the soon to release Moonstone Island. Announced during the 2023 MIX Next Online Showcase, indie developer Studio Supersoft, with publisher Raw Fury. Due to deliver a vibrant digital realm. This creation isn't just any standard game; it's a story driven exploration taking place in a universe of over 100 distinct islands. It also has a release date of September 20, 2023, coming Linux via Steam. If you've ever been taken by the hand-drawn visuals of Studio Ghibli's iconic films such as "Kiki’s Delivery Service" or "Castle in the Sky," you'll feel right at home. The Moonstone Island animation and art direction are a clear nod to these cinematic masterpieces. The creature-collecting life-sim drops you into the shoes of a budding alchemist. As tradition dictates, young alchemists embark on a journey, moving to an unfamiliar island among the clouds. All due to hone their skills. This isn't just a rite of passage; it's a chance to uncover the mysteries of the enigmatic Moonstone Island.

Moonstone Island | Date Reveal Trailer

Features:

A Majestic Universe Awaits Exploration: Your Moonstone Island journey isn't limited by foot.

Traverse the world through various means: balloons, brooms, and even gliders. Since each method offers a unique view of the distinct biomes and landscapes.

A Place to Call Your Own: As you venture, you'll have the chance to settle. With over 100 islands, each procedurally crafted, you have the freedom to choose, build, and personalize a sanctuary. Due to be more than just a home; it's a reflection of your adventure.

Bonding and Relationships: The islands aren't deserted. Vibrant communities with NPCs await your interaction. Forge friendships, go on casual outings, and perhaps even find love in Moonstone Island.

The Mystery of the Spirits: The islands are full of wild Spirits, creatures of lore and magic. As an aspiring alchemist, you have the unique skill to befriend these spirits. More than just companions, they'll stand by your side in strategic, card driven battles.

The Lure of the Unknown: Danger and reward often go hand in hand. Delve deep into dungeons, not only to confront challenges but also to uncover upgrades and treasures. There are also tales to uncover within Moonstone Island.

Alchemy & Innovation: Your alchemical prowess grows with experience. Unlock unique abilities, create potent brews, and even build your farm. The forest may be a hazard. But if you are ready, it becomes an exciting playground.

Terraria?

Now, here's a fun twist for fans. If you've ever dabbled with Terraria, an influential sandbox experience by Re-Logic, you'll be keen to know there's a unique surprise. Upon the release of Moonstone Island, adventurers can ally with Terraria's iconic Cool Slime. Doing so as an in-game Spirit companion. Of course, you don't have to wait to show your interest. Head over to Steam, and you can add Moonstone Island to your Wishlist. This isn't just another digital pastime; it's a deep creature-collecting life-sim to unfold on Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. Due to be release for $19.99 USD / £16.75 / 19,50€, plus a 15% launch discount on September 20th.

[fitnessonpointtk-blog]

To Cloud Native & Beyond: The Journey to Build the Cloud Foundry Certified Developer Exam

Making an exam for entangled innovations is precarious business. Doing it right requires investment. It took 12 months of work to make and dispatch the Cloud Foundry Certified Developer (CFCD) exam. This blog is about that adventure.

The exam is implied for designers to exhibit capability in creating cloud-local applications on the Cloud Foundry stage and can be taken wherever, at whatever time. It is sent on The Linux Foundation cloud-based exam framework, utilizing the most recent instruments accessible. The real condition through which hopefuls will get to the Cloud Foundry example is facilitated on Swisscom. This venture was created as a synergistic collaboration that included Cloud Foundry people group topic specialists (SME), the Linux Foundation and Biarca.

This affirmation exam is composed as an execution based test in which the hopeful's capability is surveyed not by testing information of the subject, but rather by fathoming genuine errands experienced at work. Issues are exhibited to the hopeful that require the contender to work in a "genuine" CF condition and send and control application code.

Advancement started in June 2016, after a progression of workshops encouraged by Wallace Judd, a psychometrician from Authentic Testing in which Cloud Foundry SME from driving worldwide associations were collected to define the exam inquiries with Steve Greenberg of Resilient Scale as a specialized consultant and SME. Given that all members live the nation over and are included in other all day work, it was a test to arrange this movement — yet we cooperated to get it going.

Biarca made the computerization for provisioning each question's setup and arrangement to give the earth in which competitors answer the inquiries. What's more, a robotized evaluating framework must be produced through which the applicants were surveyed and reviewed. In parallel, Linux Foundation was in charge of doing the end-to-end reconciliation of all the different frameworks to convey the exams on their cloud-based exam stage.

The choice was made to use Python in creating robotization scripts for question provisioning, design and evaluating to guarantee similarity with the Linux Foundation exam stage. The Biarca group made a Python customer library to address a portion of the one of a kind necessities of overseeing the CF exam on the LF stage. One of the issues the group needed to defeat included setting up Eclipse Che, a program based IDE interface, to make it more instinctive and nearer to genuine condition for applicants. It was additionally a necessity to give multi-dialect bolster so hopefuls can pick their dialect — be it Java, Node or Ruby. This had never been done in an execution based test, yet the group rose to the test.

The advancement group likewise focused on giving an incorporated affair to the applicant, intended to give the hopeful a chance to concentrate on the question and to send the most ideal answer without managing superfluous issues.

Another critical piece of the work was to give a reference answer coordination, which is required to confirm exactness of the exam setup provisioning and the evaluating procedure as a pre-check. Answer coordination happens before giving the exam setup to the applicant. The appropriate response scripts are race to answer the individual exam things, and to guarantee that the exam setup and reviewing is filling in not surprisingly. Engineers needed to address challenges that included course crashes among the different applications being conveyed by hopefuls as a major aspect of noting the exam.

The evaluating programming is intended to survey the appropriate response, as well as the point of view paving the way to it. The Cloud Foundry exam incorporates constant collaboration with an open cloud, and the product configuration needed to consider arrange disappointments, non-accessibility of the cloud stage and the sky is the limit from there.

The evaluating scripts needed to catch all the crude scores for every thing replied by the applicant. These crude scores should then be changed in accordance with record for various weighting for various things in light of multifaceted nature, and so forth. The finish of this is the last grade, and the distributing of a Pass/Fail.

The improvement group wrapped up its work by December 2016. The times of January and February 2017 were centered around alpha testing the exam, trailed by beta testing in March and April.

[savetopnow]

2018-03-30 20 BUSINESS now

BUSINESS

Business Insider

Natalie Sawyer has been axed from Sky Sports after 18 years

Russia summons ambassadors of 'unfriendly' nations to Moscow over ex-spy poisoning dispute

Suspected Russian LinkedIn hacker Nikulin reportedly extradited from Czech Republic to US

2 US-led coalition against ISIS troops killed by IED in Syria, 5 others injured

A photographer spent 3 months following commuters on the Moscow Metro to see what life is really like in the capital of Russia

Harvard Business Review

Research: When Retail Workers Have Stable Schedules, Sales and Productivity Go Up

Research: Learning a Little About Something Makes Us Overconfident

When You Start a New Job, Pay Attention to These 5 Aspects of Company Culture

Hospital Budget Systems Are Holding Back Innovation

Inside UPS’s Electric Vehicle Strategy

Inc

Want to Support the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs? This Is What Third-Graders Need From You

73 Percent of Millennials are Willing to Pay Extra for These Types of Products

This Study of 300,000 Businesspeople Revealed the Top-10 Leader Traits for Success

4 Weekend Habits That Can Save Time and Boost Your Productivity Next Week

The Biggest Mistake Solopreneurs Make (and 3 Ways to Avoid It)

New York Times Business

Wheels: Virtual Reality Is Carmakers’ Latest Selling Tool, at Shows and in Showrooms

Entrepreneurship: Finding the Right Corporate Message Isn’t Always Easy

The New Old Age: Many Americans Try Retirement, Then Change Their Minds

The Workologist: When Small Steps Can Change Your Life

Going Cashless: My Journey Into the Future

Reddit Business

TIL two redditors created a business to sell "super fucking comfortable tshirts" after being dissatisfied with options in stores

The Russian Ministry of Finance Claims that Venezuela Did Not Offer to Pay Off Its Debts with the Cryptocurrency Petro

Perfect Pitch Deck for Startups: Lessons from Uber

Top Facebook exec defended data collection in leaked 2016 memo: 'Maybe someone dies'

Taking a break from YouTube to work on my non-profit business.

Reddit Startup

A source for comparable valuations

Devops/Linux sysadmin with 2+ years professional experience, looking for a chance to work for a ATX based startup for stock

Esports Organization: A Different Kind of Startup?

How to incentivize hair salons to help me with regularly uploading data?

Designing a Hiring Pipeline at a Startup

The Economist Business and Finance

Wakandanomics

America’s trade strategy has many risks and few upsides

Technology has upended the world’s advertising giants

Mexico switches on its government-run wholesale mobile network

Uber makes a tactical retreat from South-East Asia

Wall Street Journal Business

Breach of Under Armour App Affects 150 Million Users

Trump Rips Amazon Over Taxes, Impact on Other Businesses

Some Firms Pull Ads From Fox News Program Over Parkland Remarks

Tesla Recalls Model S Cars Over Bolt Issue

Walmart in Early-Stage Acquisition Talks With Humana

Yahoo Finance

Stephen Reinhardt, liberal circuit court judge, dies at 87

Republican Strategist Nails Why David Hogg Got To Laura Ingraham

Ex-Tennessee teacher who fled with teen wants to change plea

Russia says 'terrorists nearly wiped out' of Syria's Western Ghouta

Immigrant mother hiding in NY sanctuary church vows to stay

[glopratchet]

astryl-wondering

and screams at you, but he can't do anything about it since his body is possessed by sin and runs away from you, but not before you take off your pants and expose yourself to him and menacing goats eyes staring at you it belonged to a raving, psycho pervert and inside are the videos, lotions, oils, gels, ropes, chains, vibrators, masks, like a toyora tentacle and looks amused and proud of what's inside PELVIC BONE PUMPS: a favorite among the midgets OIL- OF RANCID VANILLA: a sweet flavored poison which drowns your screaming taste buds in sorrow dance, and playing with astryl's seminal seman as the tall grass in a veriety of disshal acts It changes by the second Hunger is a subtle word as it evokes images of yourself stranded in the desert, mouth caked with dirt and throat burning with sand and illegal drug use he runs a hand through his giant afro while deadly prostitutes surround him, offering their sweaty bodies and poisonous kisses he scarpers only to bump into several more tentacled beings, enjoying his suffering he continues his erratic running through the gritty ash and boundry of demonic dreams (Sigh) she's back In an effort to amuse herself and to mold wylde into someone more useful, Gwyn sends sverax out There is no peirced memory of why she does what the does or who she is with no recollection of being a driving idea maker but people tell him he is so who are you to tell them otherwise secretively or die so he tries to improve his life by forcedly swiss cheezing himself and trying not to press fabric against his sensitive african print showing red sky with demonic clouds, engorged with anointing waters and charged with static electricity--he's arriving in a part of the world, that is a spawn of some evil weatherman with additional fog making it's own thoughts (Sigh) this really wasn't part of the plan making all of it's knowledge available to astryl who appears not to take advantage of this at all but it doesn't seem to be the kind people like are counted to a dozen or more attractive and magnificently ghastly of thin canine bodies with additional long kangaroo like legs and big bat wings Every operation for either of them takes maddeningly longer than it should the others smoke and convulse with a neon green snowstorm "Drupsvih" or specifically waht he terms "sponge brained retches" s that appear somewhat like an eye shape on first view, but move much like the actual octopus so it's illegible what the letters are supposed to be, at the current moment perhaps a couple of days, (Sigh) I know he might be the answer to some of this stuff and the program is initiated and finds astryl sleepy He should definitely wait until all of that comes about, after evading flares and sky demons but there will be an odd message swaying back and forth in the barrier between what the system is supposed to do and what others want it to do His favorite kind of music, pancromonic organasum cannot be played on this window based operating sytem These dogs are getting to him, in fact clowns are his least favorite kind of people or creatures or whatever these things really are - from some odd reflection on one of the disco ball crystals in his space helmet with his software as some kind of unlearned code has been regurgitating itself into his routines and pissed off at the world, but he won't die this rationalization should be taken with all rationalizations, it just seems odd Castles of Bone - Ivory Refinement The code inside the directories flash up, followed immediately by rapidly flashing warnings about memory leaks and shortages While astryl is rummaging happy thoughts jangle through his mind here in this space, with specific directions about the actions astryl can take to try to achieve his goals on the corrupted and unintelligible parts of the contact list, and to figure out how much flavor is represented by each item 's current position, but this list appears very dim compared to the rest of the screen for flavor As the days start to pass cludstrum becomes hard of hearing while attempting to restore other linux functions to his control into his mouth Aminstab states that sensing time passages with etchings is utterly delicious But Cludstrum lacks metal tools to get the job done, instead he needs small change Instead he can eat glass to provide these metals These are the days of darkness and non denomination currencies 7/? to eat so that he won't die of thirst No this is not intended 3/? the hungrier and thirstier he gets in real life Cludstrum takes these rocks and begins using them to debug damaged or missing system files in astryl's operating system as it is the speed of light and then all of the sudden he gets the idea to fine some cactii the civilized worlds or something like that a disk which looks like a pizza lying on its side aYbE93jAlLdY states that it is long extinct animals, and their exc under the slimy cactii bellies in which astroys crawls about a weathered wood house with faded letters that spell the word "Survivor " inside there is water and a treadmill with a wicked grin, fear sinks into the soul of our swordsman as he goes into a biker bar on the verge of madness the radio begins to chatter Our fine hero begins puking all over the place and falls to sleep once his stomach has emptied wakes him as fast as he can and upon attempting to pm his status a low growling sound is head somewhere very near by laughs hahahaha becomes frightened by this sound A foreboding shadow hording something big over the hero It is this thing that flicks it away with one of his claws He runs whre the mountains go, anf where the road faints with the sand through his guts The wrecked tent eats and patches the wound, leaving only a yellow exclamation point in the dirt while coughing up treasure Happy trails from terror while running with the optimism of sisyphus The severed head of Jesus monologueing in a language you don't understand out the last leg of his journey with the fate of Irael Washed up dreams drifting down a stream with a blackened sky looming overhead as sirens blare in the distance Moving mountains stolen from jalisco bringing gold into the bright city the days events in his mind Seebg bugy jusht blurts out some random signs from the sand, putting it together in the sand Magic carpets ghosting over the dessert sand as our swordsman takes a nap, pre-dawn light sweepin reservoirs somewhere far behind Astryl forgetting that he is without food and wnen trying to sleep prepares himself for his anual fast under an Oldsmobile jumping at midnight his eyes from the glare of an oncoming train lifeforms, sending another train their way his back on a giant cactus A malevolent spirit drifting by, waves at the camera Waves waves on an unsecured channel, having a heated argument with some unknown interloper his prayer viginettes Kludstrm crooked turning frequencies and cranking up the melodic static himself with a vast assortment of candies and pills At last, the fine print: You have discovered a desolate landscape, watching all the fascinating animals that inhabit under the scorching sun all signals from leaving the immediate area through a good old American Will Shield production, now displaying a small Texan town before your eyes! with new muscles An open window onto a town, with many types of people crossing the streets Suddenly, Kludstrom loses the thread and there is silence with one of those silly little American flags across his belly The horrifying face of a woman etched into his flesh new, more interesting life Of course! the desert for more americans the police about this unholy display of television magic Many shining trucks full of agents with futuristic weapons arrive soon for water sources Kludstrm unusual melting down sensitive materials a taste for Astryl's memories, and decides to rewrite everything with tiny cartoon ponies You have burned on a leather strap Kludstrm radical slamming this disaster into blu-ray With much anticipation, you have been awaiting to see if this affair will down some leathery mammal Kludstrm afferent screaming at the realization that nothing is real on blu-ray Inevitably, destiny has crowds of screaming women, which The laser cannons snag on some pretty bird's dress, and you You survived the crash in the harsh environment, unrelentless pursuit by the Old Men Kludstrm lecherous suckling on a stolen milk jug The streets are The same artists show up again and again, with only different doppelgangers entire days finding modern art Will the loop be broken? your footsteps across the city Is resistance futile? Who wrote this nonsense? And nobody has realized that one of the modern artists IS himself! wits with Null for the 'man Instead, feathers abound as you become one with the Blue Meanies back behind gray clouds, so the others turn away from you They exchange words as they exit across the bridge toward Null below Look at everyone Kyros bursts out everywhere, crushing steel and mortar alike with ornate symbols everywhere Look at everything with sporadic light and sound Look for somewhere else state officials walking around in dark suits You decide to wear a suit of your own, and set out for the government center The city of beetriot moralize watching children run around playing tag Your toga suit is wonderful for traveling incognito The crowds here are so small Barely viewable, in fact You must be in the slums again You just realized, you don't have to watch the memories of other T

[skooterblogbr]

MiSTer é um projeto aberto que recria vários videogames, computadores, e arcades clássicos em FPGA, permitindo usar seus jogos, softwares, controladores e acessórios originais, com TVs e hardware modernos.

Neste artigo eu mostro como iniciei a construção do meu MiSTer, inicialmente apenas com a placa principal, a Terasic DE10-Nano e a placa de IO, com um cooler Noctua NF-A4X10-FLX 5V.

Os itens foram comprados na Terasic e na MiSTer Addons, respectivamente. Eles foram enviados inicialmente para meu endereço nos EUA, que é fornecido pela Envios Diretos. A empresa então consolidou ambos em um único pacote e os redirecionou para meu endereço no Brasil. O pacote chegou sem impostos.

O que é o MiSTer?

O MiSTer se baseia em uma placa chamada DE10-Nano, que tem uma saída HDMI para conexão com TV ou monitor. Essa placa pode ser expandida com vários add-ons desenvolvidos pela comunidade. A DE10-Nano tem um chip FPGA Altera Cyclone V, o mesmo usado no Analogue Super Nt e no Analogue Mega Sg, onde são implementados os núcleos dos vários consoles, computadores, e arcades suportados.

FPGA é a sigla para Field Programmable Gate Array – algo como “Arranjo de Portas Programáveis em Campo”. É um tipo de chip reprogramável projetado para ser configurado por um projetista, ou mesmo um consumidor, após a fabricação. Esta programação é feita no nível de portas lógicas, que correspondem a unidade elementar de qualquer circuito digital.

Uma implementação em FPGA por si só não garante qualidade, mas ela tem alguns benefícios intrínsecos. Processadores normais se aproveitam dos clocks muito superiores ao hardware original para escalonar entre os vários chips que estão sendo emulados, dando atenção a um de cada vez. Em muitos casos fazem uma emulação de mais alto nível, sem emular cada chip individualmente, muitas vezes se valendo de alguns hacks. Mas eles sofrem com a sincronização entre os componentes e a própria latência inerente ao sistema operacional (Windows, Linux, etc.) que não foi projetado para tarefas de tempo real. FPGAs são paralelas por natureza, e isso garante ao MiSTer uma latência bastante baixa, dependendo da TV/monitor e acessórios utilizados.

O MiSTer não é para todo mundo, muitos jogadores casuais se contentam com a emulação feita em um Raspberry Pi, por exemplo, que acaba sendo uma solução mais barata do que um MiSTer. Mas o Raspberry Pi usa uma arquitetura ARM, como os computadores tradicionais, sem os benefícios das FPGAs. Desse modo, quem quer uma experiência mais fiel à do hardware original, deve considerar o MiSTer.

Note que o MiSTer é um projeto em constante desenvolvimento. Enquanto alguns núcleos estão praticamente perfeitos, outros ainda precisam de mais desenvolvimento para chegar no nível de fidelidade dos melhores emuladores. É bom checar como estão os núcleos de seus sistemas favoritos antes de se aventurar a montar um MiSTer.

Analogue versus MiSTer

O MiSTer tem uma certa semelhança com os consoles da Analogue, em particular o Analogue Super Nt e o Analogue Mega Sg, que eu também tenho e já fiz as análises aqui no Skooter Blog (clique nos links para vê-las). Ambos utilizam o mesmo chip FPGA, o Altera Cyclone V, para implementar o hardware original em todos os seus detalhes.

Mas as diferenças também são notáveis. A Analogue é uma empresa comercial, que visa lucro. Seus produtos são mais do tipo plug-n-play, de modo que o usuário só precisa conecta-los na TV, como um console tradicional e jogar. Eles aceitam cartuchos, controladores, e acessórios originais dos consoles que implementam. Cada console é focado em um ou poucos sistemas, com o Analogue Super Nt implementando o Super Nintendo e o Analogue Mega Sg implementando os consoles da Sega: Mega Drive, Master System, Game Gear, e SG-1000.

A única coisa um tanto fora do usual que o usuário da Analogue precisa fazer é baixar o firmware em um cartão SD e atualizar o sistema. As configurações avançadas estão presentes, mas podem ser ignoradas pelos menos exigentes, pois as configurações padrões são boas o suficiente.

Todo o software por trás dos consoles da Analogue é fechado, e está nas mãos de um único desenvolvedor, que é o Kevin Horton (kevtris). Felizmente ele é um sujeito muito bom no que faz e bastante perfeccionista, de modo que seus núcleos em FPGA são quase perfeitos. Infelizmente ele é um cara só, então alguns bugs pendentes tendem a persistir ou demorar para serem consertados. E não há nada que ninguém mais possa fazer, pois o código é fechado.

Por outro lado, o MiSTer é um projeto da comunidade, sem fins lucrativos. Todo o software é aberto e disponível livremente, de modo que qualquer pessoa com as habilidades necessárias pode se juntar ao projeto para corrigir bugs e implementar novos núcleos.

Mas o hardware do MiSTer não é algo totalmente pronto. Ainda que a DE10-Nano seja suficiente para alguns núcleos, a maioria deles precisa de um módulo de SDRAM. Outros add-ons, apesar de não serem obrigatórios, também trazem outras vantagens e funcionalidades para o sistema. Nada precisa ser soldado e qualquer pessoa que já tenha instalado uma placa em um computador deve ser capaz de montar um MiSTer, mas ainda assim o usuário precisa gostar de fuçar um pouco, para montar o hardware e instalar o software.

Alguns vendedores vendem o MiSTer montado e configurado, muitas vezes com opções de personalização à gosto do freguês, mas tudo isso tem um preço, e eu prefiro economizar e montar eu mesmo, do meu jeito.

O MiSTer não tem como foco suportar os cartuchos originais, então os jogos e softwares só podem ser carregados a partir dos arquivos de imagens de ROMs ou de CDs. Controladores originais podem ser usados com o uso de adaptadores USB ou soluções mais complexas de baixa latência, mas longe da praticidade dos consoles da Analogue que possuem as entradas dos controle originais.

Com relação à preços, a DE10-Nano pode ser adquirida por US$ 130,00, ou US$ 110,00 para usuários acadêmicos, o que é consideravelmente menos que um único console da Analogue. Mas com a adição dos add-ons, case, etc. o investimento pode acabar ficando consideravelmente maior que o de um console da Analogue. Porém, considerando que o MiSTer suporta uma grande quantidade de núcleos, esse investimento pode compensar bastante.

Núcleos do MiSTer

A seguir listo os núcleos já implementados no MiSTer até o momento em que escrevo este artigo. Note que se você estiver lendo esse artigo no futuro, é possível que muitos outros já tenham sido acrescentados:

Consoles Computadores Arcades

Astrocade

Atari 2600

Atari 5200

AY-3-8500

ColecoVision, SG-1000

Gameboy, Gameboy Color

Gameboy Advance

Genesis/Megadrive

SMS, Game Gear

MegaCD

NeoGeo

NES

Odyssey2

SNES

TurboGrafx 16 / PC Engine

Vectrex

Acorn Archimedes

Altair 8800

Amiga

Amstrad CPC 6128

ao486 (PC 386)

Apogee

Apple I

Apple II+

Apple Macintosh Plus

Aquarius

Atari 800XL

BBC Micro B,Master

BK0011M

Commodore 16, Plus/4

Commodore 64, Ultimax

Commodore PET

Commodore VIC-20

DEC PDP-1

ht1080z / TRS-80 Model 1

Jupiter Ace

MSX

MultiComp

Orao

SAM Coupe

Sharp MZ Series

Sinclair QL

Specialist/MX

TI-99/4A

TSConf

Vector 06C

X68000

ZX Spectrum

ZX81

1942

1943

Arkanoid

Asteroids

Asteroids Deluxe

Atari Tetris

Bagman / Le Bagnard Inc: Botanic, Pickin’, Super Bagman, Squash

Bally Midway MCR-1 Inc: Kick/Kick-Man, Solar Fox

Bally Midway MCR-2 Inc: Domino Man, Kozmik Kroozr, Satan’s Hollow, Tron, Two Tigers, Wacko

Bally Midway MCR-3 Inc: Discs of Tron, Journey, Tapper, Timber

Bally Midway MCR-Monoboard Inc: Demolition Derby, Max RPM, Power Drive, Rampage, Sarge, Star Guards

Bally Midway MCR-Scroll Inc: Crater Rider, Spy Hunter, Turbo Tag

Berzerk

Black Widow Inc: Gravitar, Lunar Battle

Bomb Jack

Burger Time

Burnin’ Rubber / Car Action

Canyon Bomber

Centipede

Computer Space

Cosmic Avenger

Crazy Climber

Crazy Kong Inc: Crazy Kong Part II

Defender Inc: Colony 7, Jin, Mayday

Dig Dug

Dominos

Donkey Kong

Dorodon

Food Fight

Frenzy

Galaga

Galaxian Inc: Azurian Attack, Black Hole, Catacomb, Devil Fish, Lucky Today, Moon Cresta, Mr. Do’s Nightmare, Omega, Orbitron, Pisces, UniWar S, Victory, War of the Bugs

Gaplus / Galaga 3

Ghosts’n Goblins / Makai-Mura

Lady Bug

Lunar Lander

Moon Patrol

Ninja-Kun

Pac-Man / Puck Man Inc: Alibaba and 40 Thieves, Birdiy, Crush Roller, Dream Shopper, Eeekk!, Eggor, Eyes, Gorkans, Jump Shot, Lizard Wizard, Mr. TNT, Ms. Pac-Man, Pac-Man Club, Pac-Man Plus, Pac Manic Miner Man, Ponpoko, Super Glob, Van-Van Car, Woodpecker

Pengo

Phoenix

Pleiads

Pong

Pooyan

Popeye Inc: Sky Skipper

River Patrol

Rally-X Inc: New Rally-X

Robotron 2084 Inc: Alien Arena, Bubbles, Joust, Sinistar, Splat, Stargate

Rush’n Attack / Green Beret

Scramble Inc: Amidar, Anteater, Armored Car, Battle of Atlantis, Calipso, Dark Planet, Frogger, Lost Tomb, Mars, Mighty Monkey, Minefield, Moon War, Rescue, Speed Coin, Strategy X, Super Cobra, Tazz-Mania, The End, Turtles

Silver Land

Snap Jack

Solomon’s Key / Solomon no Kagi

Sprint 1

Sprint 2

Super Breakout

The Tower of Druaga Inc: Dig Dug II: Trouble in Paradise, Mappy, Motos

Time Pilot

Traverse USA / MotoRace USA / Zippy Race / Mototour

Ultra Tank

Xevious

Zig Zag

Componentes do MiSTer

A seguir listo os principais componentes que podem ser usados no MiSTer. Note que apenas a DE10-Nano é obrigatória. Esta lista também reflete o momento atual. Se você está lendo este artigo no futuro, outros componentes podem ter surgido.

O projeto do MiSTer inclui os esquemas para construir as placas adicionais. Quem tem o conhecimento e os meios necessários pode construí-las por conta própria. Há vendedores que vendem as placas já prontas para uso e outros que vendem apenas as placas sem os componentes, para quem quiser solda-los por conta própria.

Uma lista de vários vendedores em vários países pode ser encontrada neste tópico do Atari forum.

Terasic DE10-Nano

Esta é a placa principal do MiSTer. Além do chip FPGA Altera Cyclone V, ela também contém um processador ARM e memória DDR3, que são usadas com um núcleo Linux otimizado para fazer a interface com arquivos e outras tarefas básicas.

Nela já estão presentes a saída HDMI, o slot de cartões microSD, USB OTG, conector RJ45 para rede Ethernet, etc. Há grupos de pinos para expansão, onde são conectadas as placas de IO e a memória SDRAM.

A placa vem acompanhada de cabos USB de Tipo A para Mini-B e de Tipo A para Micro-B, fonte de alimentação, cartão microSD de 8GB, e quatro pés de silicone.

Note que por ser destinada ao uso acadêmico, esta placa é subsidiada por grandes fabricantes como Analog Devices, ISSI (Integrated Silicon Solution Inc., Würth Elektronik, e Panasonic. Por conta disso ela é vendida por um preço bem menor do que uma placa comercial com componentes semelhantes. O preço pelo qual ela é vendida provavelmente sequer paga os componentes.

A DE10-Nano pode ser adquirida diretamente na Terasic, ou em grandes lojas de componentes eletrônicos, como Mouser e Digikey, ao custo de US$ 130,00. Comprando direto da Terasic é possível se beneficiar do Intel FPGA University Program, que oferece desconto para estudantes e professores universitários. Nesse caso a placa sai por US$ 110,00.

O Altera Cyclone V vem sem dissipador de calor. É bastante recomendável adicionar um para evitar problemas com super-aquecimento. Um dissipador costuma ser fornecido com as placas de IO, que também costumam ter um ventilador.

Placa de IO

A placa de IO é opcional, e oferece os seguintes itens:

Conector VGA;

Jack de áudio de 3,5 mm com TOSLink;

3 Botões;

3 LEDs de status;

Slot de cartão SD secundário (para alguns núcleos);

FAN (ventilador) para resfriar a FPGA;

Conector de expansão (na forma de um conector USB 3.0, mas não é USB!);

Conectores adicionais para integrar o MiSTer em cases.

A placa de IO é vendida por US$ 50,00 no site MiSTer Addons dos EUA, e inclui também um dissipador para o Cyclone V. Por US$ 20,00 a mais é possível adquirir a placa com o ventilador Noctua NF-A4X10-FLX 5V, em vez do cooler tradicional de marca pouco conhecida. A Noctua é uma das líderes no mercado de coolers e fans.

A placa de IO se conecta em um dos grupos de 20 pinos de entrada e saída da DE10-Nano. Ela já é projetada para se encaixar perfeitamente e ficar em cima da DE10-Nano, no lugar da tampinha acrílica que vem com ela.

Placa SDRAM

A placa com memória SDRAM é opcional, mas é usada pela maioria dos núcleos do MiSTer, sendo praticamente essencial. Ela se conecta no grupo de 20 pinos de entrada e saída da DE10-Nano, e a placa de IO já foi cuidadosamente projetada para deixar um espaço para a placa SDRAM.

Note que a DE10-Nano já tem memória DDR3 na sua parte ARM, mas a memória SDRAM é mais rápida por poder se comunicar diretamente com a FPGA, sendo requerida pela maioria dos núcleos, enquanto outros podem usa-la opcionalmente.

A placa SDRAM está disponível com 32 MB e 128 MB. Os cores de GBA e NeoGeo são, no momento, os únicos que utilizam acima de 32MB, dependendo do jogo.

Uma placa SDRAM de 128MB custa US$ 60,00 no MiSTer Addons. Adquiri uma por R$ 258,59 na AliExpress, mas por conta do novo Coronavírus ela ainda não foi enviada.

Placa RTC

Dois núcleos (ao486, Minimig) usam relógio de tempo real, portanto o MiSTer oferece data e hora reais para estes núcleos. O MiSTer pode obte-los da Internet se uma conexão estiver presente. Esta plaquinha apenas serve para fazer o mesmo com o MiSTer offline, usando uma bateria para manter a contagem do tempo quando o MiSTer está desligado. Custa £15.49 na MiSTer FPGA do Reino Unido.

Placa ADC-in (Audio/Tape input)

Permite o uso de uma fonte externa de áudio, como uma entrada de fita cassete. Antigamente era comum armazenar programas e dados de computadores em fitas cassete. Essa plaquinha custa US$ 10,00 na MiSTer Addons.

Hub USB

Para conectar teclado, mouse, controladores e outros dispositivos USB no MiSTer é preciso utilizar um Hub USB, pois ele tem apenas uma entrada OTG microUSB.

Uma grande variedade de Hubs USB podem ser usadas. Um cabinho OTG pode ser usado para converter a entrada microUSB OTG em uma USB Tipo A. Dependendo da quantidade e do tipo dos dispositivos sendo conectados é recomendável usar um Hub USB com alimentação externa.

O projeto MiSTer inclui uma placa USB que pode ser encaixada embaixo da DE10-Nano, dando um aspecto mais profissional e evitando ter de deixar um Hub USB tradicional pendurado no bloco.

Nas portas USB podem ser conectados o teclado, e adaptadores de Bluetooth, WiFi, e de controladores originais, como os de Atari, Mega Drive e Super Nintendo que já mostrei aqui no Skooter Blog.

Uma outra alternativa interessante é o BlisSTer, que é uma plaquinha que também pode ser colocada embaixo da DE10-Nano e oferece, além de um Hub USB, portas de baixa latência para conectar controles originais usando o protocolo LLAPI.

Note que as portas de baixa latência usam o conector HDMI, e necessitam de cabos adicionais com os conectores dos controles desejados.

O BlisSTer não foi integrado ao projeto original do MiSTer, pois o líder do projeto tem certa resistência a alguns aspectos não abertos do BlisSTer. Por conta disso, o suporte ao protocolo LLAPI não está implementado nos núcleos disponibilizados no branch oficial. Versões com suporte ao LLAPI precisam ser obtidas separadamente.

Uma placa de Hub USB custa US$ 47,50 na MiSTer Addons. Um BlisSTer sai por US$ 75,00 na mesma loja.

Teclado

Um teclado pode ser usado para configurar o MiSTer e pode ser mapeado para fazer as funções de controladores e mouses. Ele pode até ser dispensado no dia a dia, uma vez que os controladores também podem ser usados na navegação dos menus, e os botões da placa de IO podem ser usados para algumas funções básicas.

Adaptador Bluetooth

Um adaptador Bluetooth é necessário para usar controladores e teclados Bluetooth. Os adaptadores baseados nos chips CSR8510 e BCM20702 são suportados. A maioria deles usa um desses dois chipsets.

Comprei um na Americanas por R$ 17,00 e outro na AliExpress por R$ 14,44. O segundo ainda está a caminho, atrasou por conta do novo Coronavírus.

Uma alternativa aos adaptadores Bluetooth tradicionais é o 8BitDo Wireless USB Adapter que lida com a questão do pareamento internamente e passa as entradas dos controles para o MiSTer já filtradas.

Adaptador WiFi

Quem não tem como usar rede cabeada no MiSTer pode usar um adaptador WiFi da lista dos adaptadores WiFi que são suportados. A MiSTer Addons vende um modelo compatível por US$ 8,50.

Interruptor de Energia

A DE10-Nano não tem um interruptor, de modo que o MiSTer fica sempre ligado quando está com a alimentação de energia ligada. Assim, um adicional útil é algum tipo de interruptor que possa ser instalado entre a fonte de alimentação e o MiSTer, ou antes da fonte de alimentação.

O BlisSTer tem um interruptor que pode ser usado para este fim, conectando a fonte de alimentação nele e usando a saída de energia dele para conectar a DE10-Nano.

A MiSTer Addons vende um switch para ser instalado entre a fonte de alimentação e a placa. Custa US$ 5,00.

Case

Quem não quer deixar o MiSTer pelado pode coloca-lo em um case. O projeto inclui cases que podem ser impressos em impressoras 3D. Posteriormente surgiram cases acrílicos, como esses da AliExpress.

Os cases da vez são os feitos de PCB, que também foram disponibilizadas pelo líder do projeto. Versões adaptadas dele estão disponíveis na MiSTer Addons por US$ 50,00. Note que há modelos diferentes, dependendo do uso de placa de Hub USB, BliSTer ou nenhuma delas.

Cabo HDMI e Cabo de Rede

Vale lembrar que a DE10-Nano não inclui um cabo HDMI, então é necessário adquiri-lo separadamente. Estou usando um Cabo HDMI 2.0 da Vention.

O cabo de rede, para quem vai usar rede cabeada, também não está incluso. Montei um com cabo e conectores RJ45 da Furukawa.

Compra da Terasic DE10-Nano e IO Board c/ Noctua NF-A4X10-FLX 5V

Fiz a compra da placa Terasic DE10-Nano diretamente da Terasic em Taiwan, aproveitando o desconto acadêmico através do Intel FPGA University Program.

A placa custou US$ 110,00, e paguei mais US$ 25,84 pelo frete para os EUA, através da FedEx. Compra feita em 30/01/2020, com envio no dia seguinte. Chegou em 04/02 na sede da Envios Diretos.

A placa de IO e o Noctua NF-A4X10-FLX 5V foram adquiridos na MiSTer Addons. Custaram US$ 70,00 e paguei outros US$ 5,00 pelo envio via USPS First Class. Pedido feito em 27/01/2020, chegando em 01/02 na sede da Envios Diretos.

Redirecionamento com a Envios Diretos

Tanto a Terasic quanto a MiSTer Addons enviam direto para o Brasil, mas há um bom motivo para usar os serviços da Envios Diretos: a Terasic só envia por serviços de courier, como o FedEx, e isso garante que o produto será tributado em aproximadamente 100% no Brasil, incluindo imposto de importação, ICMS e outras taxas.

A MiSTer Addons também envia direto para o Brasil, mas declara o valor real no formulário alfandegário, o que também maximiza as chances de tributação.

Fazendo o redirecionamento com a Envios Diretos usando ePacket eu consegui consolidar os dois pacotes, economizando no frete e ainda escapei da tributação, pois pacotes pequenos via ePacket são menos visados no roubo institucionalizado da Receita Federal.

Em cada pacote a Envios Diretos me enviou duas fotos, uma do pacote e outra do produto. Confira:

Terasic DE10-Nano, em foto tirada pela Envios Diretos.

Placa de IO e Cooler Noctua NF-A4X10-FLX 5V, em foto tirada pela Envios Diretos.

O pacote da MiSTer Addons pesou 4 onças e o pacote da Terasic pesou 1 libra. O pacote consolidado pesou 1 libra e 4 onças, e custou US$ 23,99 para ser enviado para o Brasil por ePacket, já contando com o valor do serviço da Envios Diretos.

O pacote foi enviado no dia 05/02/2020 e chegou em minhas mãos no dia 03/03.

Unboxing e Montagem do MiSTer

Confira as fotos do unboxing da Terasic DE10-Nano e da IO Board c/ Noctua NF-A4X10-FLX 5V:

Pacote da Envios Diretos com a DE10-Nano e a Placa de IO c/ o cooler Noctua.

Formulário do USPS no pacote com a DE10-Nano e a Placa de IO c/ o cooler Noctua.

Terasic DE10-Nano, Placa de IO e Cooler Noctua NF-A4X10-FLX 5V.

Terasic DE10-Nano, Placa de IO e Cooler Noctua NF-A4X10-FLX 5V.

Fonte de Alimentação da DE10-Nano.

Dissipador que acompanha a placa de IO.

Terasic DE10-Nano.

Terasic DE10-Nano.

Terasic DE10-Nano.

Terasic DE10-Nano.

Terasic DE10-Nano.

Placa de IO do MiSTer.

Placa de IO do MiSTer.

Placa de IO do MiSTer.

Placa de IO do MiSTer.

Veja também o vídeo com o unboxing e a montagem do MiSTer:

A montagem foi relativamente simples. Primeiramente eu removi a tampa acrílica da DE10-Nano e colei o dissipador sobre o chip principal, o Altera Cyclone V:

Terasic DE10-Nano, sem a tampa acrílica.

Terasic DE10-Nano, com o dissipador instalado.

A placa de IO veio com o cooler stock instalado e o cooler Noctua NF-A4X10-FLX 5V veio separado, então minha segunda tarefa foi fazer a troca do cooler. Com as ferramentas adequadas foi simples. Algumas das borrachinhas das bordas do cooler vieram soltas, então tive de cola-las novamente. Então encaixei a placa de IO na DE10-Nano e recoloquei os parafusos.

Por fim, coloquei os quatro pezinhos de silicone. E assim o hardware já estava pronto para o teste:

O MiSTer montado e pronto para ser testado.

O MiSTer montado e pronto para ser testado.

O MiSTer montado e pronto para ser testado.

O MiSTer montado e pronto para ser testado.

O MiSTer montado e pronto para ser testado.

MiSTer em funcionamento.

MiSTer em funcionamento.

MiSTer em funcionamento.

Primeiros Testes com o MiSTer

Note que na mesma época em que adquiri a DE10-Nano e a placa de IO, adquiri também outros três itens que ainda não chegaram. São eles:

Placa SDRAM de 128MB

Cartão microSD de 512GB

Adaptador Bluetooth 4.0 CSR

Por conta do surto do novo Coronavírus, estes itens atrasaram. A Placa SDRAM de 128MB nem mesmo foi enviada, e os outros dois itens ainda estão em trânsito.

Assim, por enquanto eu estou usando apenas o cartão microSD de 8GB que vem com a DE10-Nano, e acabei adquirindo um outro adaptador Bluetooth no Brasil mesmo, achando que o vendedor chinês ainda não tinha feito o envio, quando na verdade ele tinha feito o envio mas não tinha atualizado o sistema.

Por conta desses contratempos, meus testes estão bem limitados, pois a maioria dos núcleos precisa do módulo de SDRAM para funcionar. Outros sistemas eu acabei deixando para depois para não ter que ficar selecionando quais ROMs eu iria colocar no cartão e quais eu iria deixar de fora. É o caso dos arcades, que funcionam sem a SDRAM, mas eu não quis ter o trabalho de ficar pegando cada uma das ROMs cujos núcleos já estão implementados. Até o pessoal que faz os packs já desistiu desse trabalho e recomendam colocar o pacote de ROMs do MAME inteiro na pasta.

O núcleo que eu acabei aproveitando mais é o de PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16, que está praticamente perfeito. Não encontrei nenhum bug. Para melhorar ainda mais só falta suportar os jogos em CD-ROM. Também fiz alguns testes com o núcleo do Atari 2600, mas este está um tanto cru ainda. Alguns jogos rodam bem, mas outros não rodam ou estão com sons faltando.

Também fiz alguns testes rápidos apenas com os Streets of Rage no núcleo do Mega Drive, para verificar como estava o som e se conseguiria joga-lo sem o triplo buffer. O áudio está bem bacana, inclusive com filtros para simular os dois modelos de Mega Drive, para quem faz questão dos filtro passa-baixas. Eu continuo preferindo o som cristalino sem filtragem.

Como ainda não tenho a placa de Hub USB, usei um Hub USB 2.0 externo que comprei na DX em 2010 e estava parado aqui, junto com um cabinho OTG que veio com o meu Minix Neo U1 e não estava sendo usado. Não estou usando a alimentação externa, visto que só estou usando os receptores Bluetooth e do teclado, exigindo bem pouca corrente. Estou usando um teclado sem fio com touchpad, que funciona na frequência de 2,4 GHz, adquirido na DX em 2012. Está funcionando perfeitamente.

Para facilitar ligar e desligar o MiSTer, estou usando o Filtro de Linha com Disjuntores Rearmáveis Individuais Force Line.

Instalação do Sistema e Núcleos no Cartão microSD

Instalar o sistema no cartão microSD é bem simples. Apenas baixei o último instalador no meu PC com Windows 10 e segui o tutorial.

Nem é preciso se preocupar em atualizar o núcleo do menu ou baixar os núcleos dos sistemas. Basta ligar o MiSTer com o sistema instalado e usar o script de atualização. Ele já checa todas as atualizações de núcleos e as instala automaticamente. É bom rodar esse script diariamente, sempre que for jogar, pois quase sempre há novidades.

Com o sistema funcionando, não é nem necessário tirar o cartão microSD para colocar novas ROMs, pois o MiSTer tem servidores FTP e SSH/SFTP que já vem habilitados por padrão (username: root, senha: 1).

Também é possível ativar o servidor Samba apenas renomeando o arquivo /media/fat/linux/_samba.sh para linux/samba.sh, e em seguida reiniciar o MiSTer. O compartilhamento pode ser acessado em \\mister.

Configurando Resolução e outras opções

De início fiquei procurando nos menus uma maneira de passar da resolução padrão (720p) para 1080p, mas depois descobri que estas configurações não estão no menu, mas sim em um arquivo chamado mister.ini. Felizmente é fácil edita-lo diretamente no MiSTer com a ajuda do Samba.

Ajustei o video_mode para 8 para usar 1920×1080 em 60 Hz. Também configurei hdmi_audio_96k=0 para usar áudio de 96 KHz (o padrão é 48 KHz).

Outra opção interessante é a vsync_adjust. Por padrão ela vem em 0, que corresponde a um modo mais compatível, com a taxa de atualização travada em 60 Hz. Muitos equipamentos antigos não funcionam exatamente em 60 Hz e se beneficiavam da maior tolerância das TVs e monitores CRT. As TVs LCD são menos tolerantes, portanto o modo compatível mantém a taxa em 60 Hz e usa um buffer triplo (2 quadros), ao custo de quadros serem perdidos/acrescentados eventualmente para manter a sincronia.

Mas é possível ajustar o vsync_adjust para 1, o que mantém o buffer triplo (2 quadros) mas ajusta a taxa de atualização para a nativa do sistema, deixando a movimentação mais suave. 

Por fim, é possível ainda ajustar o vsync_adjust para 2, que usa a taxa de atualização nativa e um buffer único ou menor (0~1 quadro).

Note que nem toda TV ou placa de captura é compatível com os modos menos compatíveis. E a compatibilidade da TV e da placa também depende da taxa de atualização nativa do sistema. Alguns são pouca coisa fora do padrão, outros são mais abusados (Super Nintendo). Felizmente essa configuração pode ser feita por núcleo, assim:

[atari2600] vsync_adjust=0

No Mega Drive e no PC Engine eu ajustei o vsync_adjust para 2 e não tive problemas com a minha TV Sony XBR-55X905E 4K, nem com a Elgato Game Capture HD60. O único inconveniente é que a captura perde a sincronia na mudança de resolução, bem como a TV, que fica sem imagem por uma fração de segundo, mas em seguida tudo volta ao normal.

Ajustei ainda video_info=10 para ver na tela as informações sobre a resolução nativa e a resolução sendo utilizada em um quadrinho por 10 segundos, toda vez que a resolução muda. As demais opções eu deixei em seus valores padrões.

Sincronizando Controladores Bluetooth

Não tive sucesso sincronizando controladores Bluetooth usando a funcionalidade do menu (F11 no teclado ou segurando o botão OSD na placa de IO por 3 segundos). Em vez disso, venho usando um dos scripts que são instalados pelo script de atualização.

A sincronização de controladores Bluetooth deve ter sido a parte mais frustrante, pois em alguns casos precisei fazer o procedimento mais de uma vez para finalmente conseguir parear. Pelo menos uma vez que o pareamento é feito, basta ligar o MiSTer e ligar o controlador para que ele se conecte quase imediatamente.

Os controladores que testei foram o Dualshock 4 e o 8BitDo m30 Bluetooth, e ambos funcionaram perfeitamente. É possível mapear os botões do controle livremente, incluindo as funcionalidades de menu, e para simular um mouse. É possível também personalizar configurações dentro de cada núcleo. O MiSTer lembra o mapeamento feito em cada controle, não sendo necessário refaze-lo.

Usando Controladores Originais com Adaptadores

Para usar os controladores originais é necessário usar adaptadores para conecta-los nas portas USB, ou alguma das soluções de baixa latência que já citei anteriormente. O bom é que praticamente qualquer adaptador USB funciona. É ligar e usar, sem necessidade de instalar drivers. Eu testei três dos meus aqui, todos já mostrados aqui no Skooter Blog, e todos funcionaram perfeitamente:

Atari 2600 – Retrobit

Mega Drive

Super Nintendo – MayFlash

Com o adaptador conectado no MiSTer e o controlador conectado no adaptador, basta usar a função de mapeamento para poder usa-lo.

Captura e Playlist com os vídeos de todos os testes e sessões de gameplay

Todos os meus testes com o MiSTer e sessões de gameplay foram e continuam sendo transmitidas ao vivo no nosso canal no Youtube. A playlist a seguir inclui todos os vídeos, e novos serão adicionados conforme as novas transmissões se encerrarem:



Assine nosso canal no Youtube e ative as notificações para assistir as transmissões ao vivo.

Todas as capturas são feitas com a Elgato Game Capture HD60. Ela aparentemente não se dá bem com o efeito de ruído de estática que o MiSTer usa por padrão no menu, quando está sem núcleo carregado. Nesse caso a imagem capturada fica com “tranquinhos”. Fora isso ela funcionou perfeitamente, inclusive com o vsync no modo de baixa latência no PC Engine e no Mega Drive e com o áudio em 96 KHz. Só não sei como ela se comportará com os demais núcleos.

Rastreamentos

Estas são as informações de rastreamento do envio da Terasic DE10-Nano de Taiwan para os EUA, através da FedEx:

• Tuesday , 2/04/2020 12:56 pm RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA Delivered • 8:53 am IRVINE, CA On FedEx vehicle for delivery • 7:49 am IRVINE, CA At local FedEx facility • 5:14 am LOS ANGELES, CA At destination sort facility • 4:00 am INDIANAPOLIS, IN Departed FedEx location • 3:14 am SENNAN-SHI JP In transit • 3:05 am SENNAN-SHI JP In transit • 1:07 am INDIANAPOLIS, IN Arrived at FedEx location • 12:58 am INDIANAPOLIS, IN International shipment release - Import • Monday , 2/03/2020 9:13 pm TA YUAN DISTRICT TW In transit • 8:25 pm TA YUAN DISTRICT TW In transit • Sunday , 2/02/2020 6:45 pm TA YUAN DISTRICT TW At local FedEx facility • Saturday , 2/01/2020 7:29 pm TA YUAN DISTRICT TW At local FedEx facility • 7:27 pm TA YUAN DISTRICT TW In transit • Friday , 1/31/2020 8:46 pm HU KOU HSIANG TW Left FedEx origin facility • 6:09 pm HU KOU HSIANG TW Picked up • 1:52 am Shipment information sent to FedEx

Estas são as informações de rastreamento do pacote consolidado, dos EUA ao Brasil, segundo a USPS:

March 3, 2020, 2:08 pm Delivered BRAZIL Your item was delivered in BRAZIL at 2:08 pm on March 3, 2020. February 21, 2020, 7:51 pm Processed through Facility CURITIBA, BRAZIL February 21, 2020, 10:36 am Processed Through Facility BRAZIL February 9, 2020, 10:44 am Departed SAO PAULO, BRAZIL February 8, 2020, 10:33 pm Departed WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES February 7, 2020, 11:31 am Departed LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES February 7, 2020, 2:00 am Arrived LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES February 5, 2020, 10:37 pm Processed Through Regional Facility LOS ANGELES CA INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER February 5, 2020, 10:37 pm Arrived at Regional Facility LOS ANGELES CA INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER February 5, 2020, 9:18 pm Shipment Received, Package Acceptance Pending LOS ANGELES, CA 90009 February 5, 2020, 4:45 pm Departed Shipping Partner Facility, USPS Awaiting Item BELL GARDENS, CA 90201 Shipping Partner: ASENDIA USA February 5, 2020, 12:47 pm Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item BELL GARDENS, CA 90201 February 5, 2020, 9:38 am Arrived Shipping Partner Facility, USPS Awaiting Item BELL GARDENS, CA 90201 Shipping Partner: ASENDIA USA

E estas são as informações de rastreamento do pacote consolidado, dos EUA ao Brasil, segundo o Correios:

03/03/2020 14:08 [REMOVIDO] / SP Objeto entregue ao destinatário 03/03/2020 10:56 [REMOVIDO] / SP Objeto saiu para entrega ao destinatário 28/02/2020 10:09 INDAIATUBA / SP Objeto encaminhado de Unidade de Tratamento em INDAIATUBA / SP para Unidade de Distribuição em [REMOVIDO] / SP 21/02/2020 19:56 CURITIBA / PR Objeto encaminhado de Unidade de Distribuição em CURITIBA / PR para Unidade de Tratamento em INDAIATUBA / SP 21/02/2020 19:54 CURITIBA / PR Fiscalização aduaneira finalizada 21/02/2020 10:49 CURITIBA / PR Objeto recebido pelos Correios do Brasil Informar nº do documento para a fiscalização e entrega do seu objeto. Clique aqui Minhas Importações 05/02/2020 22:37 ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMÉRICA / Objeto postado Informar nº do documento para a fiscalização e entrega do seu objeto. Clique aqui Minhas Importações 05/02/2020 22:37 ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMÉRICA / Objeto encaminhado de País em ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMÉRICA / para País em Unidade de Tratamento Internacional / BR Informar nº do documento para a fiscalização e entrega do seu objeto. Clique aqui Minhas Importações

Tabela-Resumo

Por fim, esta é a tabela-resumo da compra:

Nome do Produto:

Terasic DE10-Nano

IO Board c/ Noctua NF-A4X10-FLX 5V

Nome Original:

[DE10-Nano] DE10-Nano Board (Academic)

MiSTer IO Board with Heatsink and Fan – Noctua NF-A4X10-FLX 5V

Loja:

Terasic

MiSTer Addons

Valor:

US$ 110,00 (R$ 471,90, c/ dólar cotado a R$ 4,29)

US$ 70,00

Valor atual:

US$ 110,00

US$ 70,00

Forma de Pagamento:

Cartão de Crédito Mastercard Banco Inter

Cartão de Crédito Mastercard Payoneer

Tipo de Frete:

FedEx International Economy

USPS First Class

ePacket (First-Class Package International Service – Small Packet)

Valor do Frete:

US$ 25,84 (R$ 110,85, c/ dólar cotado a R$ 4,29)

US$ 5,00

US$ 23,99

País de Origem do Pacote:

Taiwan

Estados Unidos da América (EUA)

Data de Compra:

30/01/2020

27/01/2020

Data de Envio:

31/01/2020

?

05/02/2020

Data de Entrega:

04/02/2020

01/02/2020

03/03/2020

Tempo em Trânsito:

4 dias

4 dias (desde o pedido)

27 dias

Conteúdo Declarado: electronic parts Tipo de Conteúdo Assinalado: None Valor Declarado: US$ 35,98 Tributado: Não Valor Tributável: – Valor do Imposto: –

Considerações Finais

Meu MiSTer ainda é um projeto em andamento, ele ainda precisa de uma Placa SDRAM de 128MB e o Cartão microSD de 512GB que está a caminho para revelar todo seu potencial.

Mas só pelo que vi dos núcleos de PC Engine já posso dizer que estou satisfeito, e ansioso para jogar nos demais núcleos, principalmente NES, GameBoy Advance e NeoGeo. Praticamente todo dia temos novidades da comunidade, como correções de bugs, novas funcionalidades e eventualmente novos núcleos.

Espero que algum dos desenvolvedores também dê um pouco de atenção ao núcleo de Atari 2600, que precisa de melhorias para que eu possa deixar de lado o hardware original. Também gostaria de ver um núcleo do Playstation 1, que parece ser uma grande possibilidade.

Com o tempo pretendo completar o meu MiSTer também com um Hub USB ou um BliSTer, pois o hub externo não é uma solução muito elegante, e também temo danificar o conector OTG. Por fim, pretendo colocar meu MiSTer em um case bonitinho, de PCB ou acrílico.

Compartilhe o artigo com seus amigos se você gostou  . O Skooter Blog precisa de sua ajuda na divulgação para continuar existindo.

Construindo um MiSTer – Parte 1: Terasic DE10-Nano e IO Board c/ Noctua NF-A4X10-FLX 5V – via Envios Diretos MiSTer é um projeto aberto que recria vários videogames, computadores, e arcades clássicos em FPGA, permitindo usar seus jogos, softwares, controladores e acessórios originais, com TVs e hardware modernos.

[linuxgamenews]

Get Ready for WOLFHOUND: A Sci-Fi WWII Metroidvania 

WOLFHOUND sci-fi WWII Metroidvania game is coming to Linux, Steam Deck, Mac, and Windows PC. Thanks to the creative magic of Bit Kid, Inc. Due to make its way onto Steam. Big news from IGN Live recently: Bit Kid, the devs behind Chasm, just released some info on their new game, WOLFHOUND. This sci-fi WWII Metroidvania is full of some serious heat and is due to launch on Linux and Steam Deck. So, here’s the details. A secret Nazi base has been discovered in the weird and wild Bermuda Triangle, and who’s up for the mission? None other than Capt. Chuck WOLFHOUND Rossetti, the wise cracking, no-nonsense soldier who always has his buddies’ backs. When an Allied ship goes missing, Chuck gets the call to dive into this uncharted island. All due to uncover the enemy’s secrets, and bring our boys home. But this island isn’t just any island. It's crawling with nightmarish creatures – think mutant insects, zombies, and other twisted creations from a mad Axis scientist. Chuck’s got his hands full with this eerie, danger-filled mission.

WOLFHOUND Announcement Trailer

As you journey through WOLFHOUND, you’ll be scavenging for weapons and ammoon the island. Due to take down Axis soldiers and these monstrous foes. Discover the sinister experiments of Dr. Steiner and turn his own tech against him. Feel the power of the railgun, soar with a jetpack, and explore new areas with gravity boots. From sky piercing castles to crystal caverns hiding wicked mysteries, the adventure is intense. Bit Kid, known for Chasm's procedurally-generated depths, decided to switch things up this time. They’ve created a single, intricately-designed world, packed with detail for WOLFHOUND. They’ve teamed up with artists from the Shantae series, Freedom Planet 2, and Sparklite. There is also a heroic chiptune soundtrack by RushJet1 (Cave Story+, Alwa’s Legacy, PewDiePie's Tuber Simulator).

Here are some features:

Explore a massive, hand-crafted island with 10 interconnected areas.

Experience retro gaming vibes with challenging 2D mechanics and authentic pixel art (320x180 native res). WOLFHOUND is also available in 4K with sharp pixels or CRT effects.

Use cutting-edge tech like an upgradable jetpack for new strategies to overcome obstacles.

Wield deadly weaponry from typical firearms to experimental weapons like Rail Guns and Flamethrowers.

Upgrade your arsenal with modified gun parts and special ammo types.

James Petruzzi, the founder and lead developer at Bit Kid, says, "I’ve always loved retro games and pixel art. We’re diving deep into the NES and 8-bit style, with an authentic 8-bit color palette, 320x180 pixel resolution, and a soundtrack composed in Famitracker." So get ready, WOLFHOUND sci-fi WWII Metroidvania is coming to Linux, Mac, Windows PC, and Steam Deck. It’s going to be epic, and I can’t wait to dive in. Be sure to Wishlist it on Steam. Release date TBD.

[android-for-life]

"What a week! 105 announcements from Google Cloud Next '18"

Google Cloud Next ‘18 was incredible! From fantastickeynotes and fireside chats to GO-JEK CTO Ajey Gore appearing on-stage on a scooter to listening to Target CIO Mike McNamara we had an inspiring, educational and entertaining week at our flagship conference. We were joined by over 23,000 leaders, developers and partners from our Google Cloud community, listened to more than 290 customer speakers share their stories of business transformation in the cloud and took part in hundreds of breakout sessions. The theme of the conference was Made Here Together, and we’re so grateful to everyone who attended and contributed to help build the cloud for everyone.  

But the week of Next wouldn’t be complete without a comprehensive list of what happened. So without further ado, here are 105 product and solution launches, customer stories and announcements from Next ‘18.

Customers

eBay—The world’s largest global marketplace is leveraging Google Cloud in many different ways, including experimenting with conversational commerce with Google Assistant, building ML models with Cloud TPUs for image classification, and applying AI to help buyers quickly find what they’re looking for.

GO-JEK—This ride-hailing and logistics startup in Jakarta uses Google Cloud to support its hundreds of thousands of concurrent transactions, Maps for predicting traffic and BigQuery to get data insights.

Lahey Health—Lahey’s journey to the cloud included migrating from four legacy email systems to G Suite in 91 days.

LATAM Airlines—South America’s largest airline uses G Suite to connect teams, and GCP for data analytics and creating 3D digital elevation models.

LG CNS—LG is looking to Google Cloud AI, Cloud IoT Edge and Edge TPU to build its Intelligent Vision inspection tool for better quality and efficiency in some of its factories.

HSBC—One of the world’s leading banking institutions shares how they’re using data analytics on Google Cloud to extract meaningful insights from its 100PB of data and billions of transactions.

The New York Times—The newest way the New York Times is using Google Cloud is to scan, encode, and preserve its entire historical photo archive  and evolve the way the newsroom tells stories by putting new tools for visual storytelling in the hands of journalists.

Nielsen—To support its nearly 45,000 employees in 100 countries with real-time collaboration and cost-effective video conferencing, Nielsen turned to G Suite.

Ocado—This online-only supermarket uses Google Cloud’s AI capabilities to power its machine learning model for responding to customer requests and detecting fraud much faster.

PayPal—PayPal discusses the hows and whys of their journey to the public cloud.

Scotiabank—This Canadian banking institution shares its views on modernizing and using the cloud to solve inherent problems inside an organization.

Sky—The UK media company uses Google Cloud to identify and disconnect pirate streaming sites during live sporting events.

Target—Moving to Google Cloud has helped Target address challenges like scaling up for Cyber Monday without disruptions, and building new, cutting-edge experiences for their guests.

20th Century Fox—The renowned movie studio shares how it’s using BigQuery ML to understand audience preferences.

Twitter—Twitter moved large-scale Hadoop clusters to GCP for ad hoc analysis and cold storage, with a total of about 300 PB of data migrated.

Veolia—This environmental solution provider moved its 250 systems to G Suite for their anytime, anywhere, any-device cloud project.

Weight Watchers—How Weight Watchers evolved its business, including creating mobile app and an online community to support its customers’ lifestyles.

Partners

2017 Partner Awards—Congratulations to the winners! These awards recognize partners who dedicated themselves to creating industry-leading solutions and strong customer experiences with Google Cloud.

SAP and Deloitte collaboration—Customers can run SAP apps on GCP with Deloitte’s comprehensive tools.

Updates to our Cisco partnership—Includes integrations between our new Call Center AI solution and Cisco Customer Journey solutions, integrations with Webex and G Suite, and a new developer challenge for hybrid solutions.

Digital Asset and BlockApps—These launch partners are helping users try Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) frameworks on GCP, with open-source integrations coming later this year.

Intel and Appsbroker—We’ve created a cloud center of excellence to make high-performance cloud migration a lot easier.

NetApp—New capabilities help customers access shared file systems that apps need to move to cloud, plus Cloud Volumes are now available to more GCP customers.

VMware vRealize Orchestrator—A new plug-in makes it easy to use GCP alongside on-prem VMware deployments for efficient resource provisioning.

New partner specializations—We’ve recently welcomed 19 partners in five new specialization areas (bringing the total areas to nine) so customers can get even more industry-specific help moving to cloud.

SaaS-specific initiative—A new set of programs to help our partners bring SaaS applications to their customers.

Accenture Google Cloud Business Group, or AGBG—This newly formed group brings together experts who’ll work with enterprise clients to build tailored cloud solutions.

Partnership with NIH—We’re joining with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to make more research datasets available, integrate researcher authentication and authorization mechanisms with Google Cloud credentials, and support industry standards for data access, discovery, and cloud computation.

Partnership with Iron Mountain—This new partnership helps enterprises extract hard-to-find information from inside their stored documents.

Chrome, Devices and Mobility

Cloud-based browser management—From a single view, admins can manage Chrome Browser running on Windows, Mac, Chrome OS and Linux.

Password Alert Policy—Admins can set rules to prevent corporate password use on sites outside of the company’s control.

Managed Google Play (out of beta)—Admins can curate applications by user groups as well as customize a broad range of policies and functions like application blacklisting and remote uninstall.

Google Cloud Platform | AI and machine learning

Cloud AutoML Vision, AutoML Natural Language, and AutoML Translation (all three in beta)—Powerful ML models that can be extended to suit specific needs, without requiring any specialized knowledge in machine learning or coding.

Cloud Vision API (GA)—Cloud Vision API now recognizes handwriting, supports additional file types (PDF and TIFF), and can identify where an object is located within an image.

Cloud Text-to-Speech (beta)—Improvements to Cloud Text-to-Speech offer multilingual access to voices generated by DeepMind WaveNet technology and the ability to optimize for the type of speaker you plan to use.

Cloud Speech-to-Text—Updates to this API help you identify what language is being spoken, plus provide word-level confidence scores and multi-channel (multi-participant) recognition.

Training and online prediction through scikit-learn and XGBoost in Cloud ML Engine (GA) —While Cloud ML Engine has long supported TensorFlow, we’re releasing XGBoost and scikit-learn as alternative libraries for training and classification.

Kubeflow v0.2—Building on the previous version, Kubeflow v0.2 makes it easier for you to use machine learning software stacks on Kubernetes. Kubeflow v0.2 has an improved user interface and several enhancements to monitoring and reporting.

Cloud TPU v3 (alpha)—Announced at this year’s I/O, our third-generation TPUs are now available for Google Cloud customers to accelerate training and inference workloads.

Cloud TPU Pod (alpha)—Second-generation Cloud TPUs are now available to customers in scalable clusters. Support for Cloud TPUs in Kubernetes Engine is also available in beta.

Phone Gateway in Dialogflow Enterprise Edition (beta)—Now you can assign a working phone number to a virtual agent—all without infrastructure. Speech recognition, speech synthesis, natural language understanding and orchestration are all managed for you.

Knowledge Connectors in Dialogflow Enterprise Edition (beta)—These connectors understand unstructured documents like FAQs or knowledge base articles and complement your pre-built intents with automated responses sourced from internal document collections.

Automatic Spelling Correction in Dialogflow Enterprise Edition (beta)—Natural language understanding can sometimes be challenged by spelling and grammar errors in a text-based conversation. Dialogflow can now automatically correct spelling mistakes using technology similar to what’s used in Google Search and other products.

Sentiment Analysis in Dialogflow Enterprise Edition (beta)—Relies on the Cloud Natural Language API to optionally inspect a request and score a user's attitude as positive, negative or neutral.

Text-to-Speech in Dialogflow Enterprise Edition (beta)—We’re adding native audio response to Dialogflow to complement existing Speech-to-Text capability.

Contact Center AI (alpha)—A new solution which includes new Dialogflow features alongside other tools to perform analytics and assist live agents.

Agent Assist in Contact Center AI (alpha)—Supports a live agent during a conversation and provides the agent with relevant information, like suggested articles, in real-time.

Conversational Topic Modeler in Contact Center AI (alpha)—Uses Google AI to analyze historical audio and chat logs to uncover insights about topics and trends in customer interactions.

Google Cloud Platform | Infrastructure services

Managed Istio (alpha)—A fully-managed service on GCP for Istio, an open-source project that creates a service mesh to manage and control microservices.

Istio 1.0—Speaking of open-source Istio, the project is imminently moving up to version 1.0.

Apigee API Management for Istio (GA)—Soon you can use your existing Apigee Edge API management platform to wrangle microservices running on the Istio service mesh.

Stackdriver Service Monitoring (early access)—A new view for our Stackdriver monitoring suite that shows operators how their end users are experiencing their systems. This way, they can manage against SRE-inspired SLOs.

GKE On-Prem with multi-cluster management (coming soon to alpha)—A Google-configured version of Kubernetes that includes multi-cluster management and can be deployed on-premise or in other clouds, laying the foundation for true hybrid computing.

GKE Policy Management (coming soon to alpha)—Lets you take control of your Kubernetes environment by applying centralized policies across all enrolled clusters.

Resource-based pricing for Compute Engine (rolling out this fall)—A new way we’re calculating sustained use discounts on Compute Engine machines, aggregating all your vCPUs and memory resources to maximize your savings.

Google Cloud Platform | Application development

GKE serverless add-on (coming soon to alpha)—Runs serverless workloads that scale up and down automatically, or respond to events, on top of Kubernetes Engine.

Knative—The same technologies included in the GKE serverless add-on are now available in this open-source project.

Cloud Build (GA)—Our fully managed continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) platform lets you build container and non-container artifacts and integrates with a wide variety of tools from across the developer ecosystem.

GitHub partnership—GitHub is a popular source code repository, and now you can use it with Cloud Build.

New App Engine runtimes—We’re adding support for the popular Python 3.7 and PHP 7.2 runtimes to App Engine standard environment.

Cloud Functions (GA)—Our event-driven serverless compute service is now generally available, and includes support for additional languages, plus performance, networking and security features.

Serverless containers on Cloud Functions (early preview)—Packages a function within a container, to better support custom runtimes, binaries and frameworks.  

Google Cloud Platform | Data analytics

BigQuery ML (beta)—A new capability that allows data analysts and data scientists to easily build machine learning models directly from BigQuery with simple SQL commands, making machine learning more accessible to all.

BigQuery Clustering (beta)—Creates clustered tables in BigQuery as an added layer of data optimization to accelerate query performance.

BigQuery GIS (public alpha)—New functions and data types in BigQuery that follow the SQL/MM Spatial standard. Handy for PostGIS users and anyone already doing geospatial analysis in SQL.

Sheets Data Connector for BigQuery (beta)—A new way to directly access and refresh data in BigQuery from Google Sheets.

Data Studio Explorer (beta)—Deeper integration between BigQuery and Google Data Studio to help users visualize query results quickly.

Cloud Composer (GA)—Based on the open source Apache Airflow project, Cloud Composer distributes workloads across multiple clouds.

Customer Managed Encryption Keys for Dataproc—Customer-managed encryption keys that let customers create, use and revoke key encryption for BigQuery, Compute Engine and Cloud Storage. Generally available for BigQuery; beta for Compute Engine and Cloud Storage.

Streaming analytics updates, including Python Streaming and Dataflow Streaming Engine (both in beta)—Provides streaming customers more responsive autoscaling on fewer resources, by separating compute and state storage.

Dataproc Autoscaling and Dataproc Custom Packages (alpha)—Gives users Hadoop and Spark clusters that scale automatically based on the resource requirements of submitted jobs, delivering a serverless experience.

Google Cloud Platform | Databases

Oracle workloads on GCP—We’re partnering with managed service providers (MSPs) so you can run Oracle workloads on GCP using dedicated hardware.

Compute Engine VMs powered by Intel Optane DC Persistent Memory—Lets you run SAP HANA workloads for more capacity at lower cost.

Cloud Firestore (beta)—Helps you store, sync and query data for cloud-native apps. Support for Datastore Mode is also coming soon.

Updates to Cloud Bigtable—Regional replication across zones and Key Visualizer, in beta, to help debug performance issues.

Updates to Cloud Spanner—Lets users import and export data using Cloud Dataflow. A preview of Cloud Spanner’s data manipulation language (DML) is now available.

Resource-based pricing model for Compute Engine—A new billing model gives customers more savings and a simpler bill.

Google Cloud Platform | IoT

Edge TPU (early access)—Google’s purpose-built ASIC chip that’s designed to run TensorFlow Lite ML so you can accelerate ML training in the cloud and utilize fast ML inference at the edge.

Cloud IoT Edge (alpha)—Extends data processing and machine learning capabilities to gateways, cameras and end devices, helping make IoT devices and deployments smart, secure and reliable.

Google Cloud Platform | Security

Context-aware access—Capabilities to help organizations define and enforce granular access to GCP APIs, resources, G Suite, and third-party SaaS apps based on a user’s identity, location and the context of their request.

Titan Security Key—A FIDO security key that includes firmware developed by Google to verify its integrity.

Shielded VMs (beta)—A new way to leverage advanced platform security capabilities to help ensure your VMs haven’t been tampered with or compromised.

Binary Authorization (alpha)—Lets you enforce signature validation when deploying container images.

Container Registry Vulnerability Scanning (alpha)—Automatically performs vulnerability scanning for Ubuntu, Debian and Alpine images to help ensure they are safe to deploy and don’t contain vulnerable packages.

Geo-based access control in Cloud Armor (beta)—Lets you control access to your services based on the geographic location of the client trying to connect to your application.

Cloud HSM (alpha)—A fully managed cloud-hosted hardware security module (HSM) service that allows you to host encryption keys and perform cryptographic operations in FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certified HSMs.  

Access Transparency (coming soon to GA)—Provides an audit trail of actions taken by Google Support and Engineering in the rare instances that they interact with your data and system configurations on Google Cloud.

G Suite | Enterprise collaboration and productivity

New investigation tool in the Security Center (Early Adopter Program)—A new tool in the security center for G Suite that helps admins identify which users are potentially infected, see if anything’s been shared externally and remove access to Drive files or delete malicious emails.

Data Regions for G Suite (available now for G Suite Business and Enterprise customers)—Lets you choose where to store primary data for select G Suite apps—globally, distributed, U.S. or Europe.

Smart Reply in Hangouts Chat—Coming soon to G Suite, Smart Reply uses artificial intelligence to recognize which emails need responses and proposes reply options.

Smart Compose in Gmail—Coming soon to G Suite, Smart Compose intelligently autocompletes emails for you by filling in greetings, common phrases and more.

Grammar Suggestions in Google Docs (Early Adopter Program)—Uses a unique machine translation-based approach to recognize grammatical errors (simple and complex) and suggest corrections.

Voice Commands for Hangouts Meet hardware (coming to select Hangouts Meet hardware customers later this year)—Brings some of the same magic of the Google Assistant to the conference room so that teams can connect to video meetings quickly.

The new Gmail (GA)—Features like redesigned security warnings, snooze and offline access are now generally available to G Suite users.

New functionality in Cloud Search—Helps organizations intelligently and securely index third-party data beyond G Suite (whether the data is stored in the cloud or on-prem).

Google Voice to G Suite (Early Adopter Program)—An enterprise version of Google Voice that lets admins manage users, provision and port phone numbers, access detailed reports and more.

Standalone offering of Drive Enterprise (GA)—New offering with usage-based pricing to help companies easily transition data from legacy enterprise content management (ECM) systems.

G Suite Enterprise for Education—Expanding to 16 new countries.

Jamboard Mobile App—Added features for Jamboard mobile devices, including new drawing tools and a new way to claim jams using near-field communication (NFC).

Salesforce Add-on in Google Sheets—A new add-on that lets you import data and reports from Salesforce into Sheets and then push updates made in Sheets back to Salesforce.

Social Impact

Data Solutions for Change—A program that empowers nonprofits with advanced data analytics to drive social and environmental impact. Benefits include role-based support and Qwiklabs.

Visualize 2030—In collaboration with the World Bank, the United Nations Foundation, and the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, we’re hosting a data storytelling contest for college or graduate students.

Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator—We’re helping Harambee connect more unemployed youth with entry-level positions in Johannesburg by analyzing large datasets with BigQuery and machine learning on Cloud Dataflow.

Foundation for Precision Medicine—We’re aiding the Foundation for Precision Medicine to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease by scaling their patient database to millions of anonymized electronic medical record (EMR) data points, creating custom modeling, and helping them visualize data.

Whew! That was 104. Thanks to all our customers, partners, and Googlers for making this our best week of the year.

But wait, there’s more! Here’s the 105th announcement: Next 2019 will be April 9-11 at the newly renovated Moscone in San Francisco. Please save the date!  

Source : The Official Google Blog via Source information

[thoughtfulwombatgoatee-blog]

Nintendo Switch Vs PS4 Vs Xbox One

http://gametruetool.com/ps4-playstation-4-emulator-pc-windows-mac-and-linux/ In case you look back on the lineup for 2017 thus far, PlayStation Plus has been fairly robust. As you progress your head, shifting your gaze from the digital gravel beneath your ft to the open sky above you, PlayStation VR is tracking your movements at a hyper-quick 120Hz rate. PlayStation has at all times delivered experiences beyond our creativeness, from 3D gaming to augmented actuality. The camera tracks the VR headset round 1,000 instances per second offering a seamless experience. On the very least, we must always see a PlayStation 5 console that gives 4K gaming at 60 frames per second. This can ensure vital enhancements in graphical performance for the PlayStation 5, although the console can even eat considerably more power than the PlayStation four technology. Replace: We have now revealed our full evaluate of the PlayStation VR review , which should be your subsequent logical vacation spot. Very simply, if you have Rise of the Tomb Raider, play it the second you get your Professional. Occulus Rift did not invent vr headsets, they're a comparatively new player within the recreation. With tons of of digital reality titles already lined up for improvement and release, PlayStation VR is the place you'll be able to experience the future of gaming, right now. The LEDs across the PlayStation®VR headset, on the DUALSHOCK four wi-fi controller, and the PlayStation®Move movement controller are tracked by the PlayStation®Digicam, providing an extremely exact capture of your pure motion in digital area. This indicates a commitment to the prevailing PlayStation 4 technology which can in all probability hold off the release of the PlayStation 5 for quite some time. The implications relating to the graphical capabilities of this forthcoming console have led some commentators to suggest that the PlayStation 5 might function 8K decision expertise. Pull the PlayStation VR headset over your eyes and right away you may be gazing out over vivid 3D landscapes offered in lifelike detail. Shuhei Yoshida has already said that the PlayStation 5 can be significantly developer-pushed, as the Japanese corporation intends to keep its advantage over the Microsoft Xbox model. The Sixaxis was the primary official controller for the PlayStation 3, and is based on the same design as the DualShock sequence (but lacking the vibration motors of the DualShock series of controllers). PlayStation Digital camera, sold individually, is required for PlayStation VR. PlayStation Transfer, bought separately, is supported by some PlayStation VR software program. You will get a pair of in-ear buds in your PS VR box, but we'd recommend plugging in soem decent over ear ones for a much more immersive experience. I would like for the VR headsets to turn into cheaper although so extra people can have access to them. I'm not positive about you all, but utilizing a VR in your Mobile phone while strolling around is strange to me. I tried the Samsung VR, it's a little grainy. Whatever option you go for, you will get the demo disc within the box and you'll be able to download Playroom VR without cost. All you need to start this journey is the PlayStation VR headset, your PlayStation four and the PlayStation Digicam. Spectacular graphics - Explore vivid game worlds with wealthy visuals heightened by PS4 Pro.

[jrmaxfield-blog]

Haunted: A Hollow Knight Review

Over the last two weeks I’ve found myself infatuated with Team Cherry’s first video game publication, Hollow Knight (TeamCherry, 2017). Released to the Steam distribution platform on Feb 24, 2017, this eerie 2D platformer has been reviewed over 2,500 times by Steam gamers and has been critically acclaimed by several gaming news channels such as Metacritic and Kotuku gaming (Steam, 2017). This review will not only analyze what made Hollow Knight an exhilarating and unique experience, but will also explore the marketing techniques used by Team Cherry that ultimately captivated their gaming audience.    

Team Cherry is a South Australian indie development studio consisting of just three members (TeamCherry, 2017). From a marketing standpoint, this is a huge plus because many gamers love indie studios for several reasons. Firstly, when an indie game is a success, they are almost always unique experiences and are viewed as “hidden gems” because gamers feel like they’ve discovered them. Look no further than IGN’s 2012 game of the year, Journey (IGN, 2012). Indie games also have an indie price tag, usually $20.00 or less and developers that ignore this “rule of thumb” often get burned or even ostracized by the community. Hello Games production of No Man’s Sky is a prime example of an indie studio sticking a AAA price tag on a game to disastrous results (Caldwell, 2016).  Hollow Knight falls well within the expected price point, costing just $15.00 and with approximately 50 hours of content. Hollow Knight is extremely affordable for most gamers and is an easy game to impulse buy (Steam, 2017).

The art style of Hollow Knight is a unique experience in and of itself. Team Cherry’s animator, Ari Gibson, created a muted, eerie atmosphere the plays heavily into the games story and social motifs as players explore the underground kingdom of Hallownest (Team Cherry, 2017). The game’s animations immerse the player in a “show don’t tell” universe as the player is invited to explore the ancient mysteries hidden throughout ruined city.  

The game, and partnered story is a form of art that tells the tale of what happens to society when the past is forgotten. The game starts off with a cinematic of you, the Hollow Knight, approaching the surface ruins of Hallownest. From the moment a player starts the game, they experience this concept of “show don’t tell” as mentioned earlier. The player was showed their destination through the cinematic, they were never explicitly told “hey, go here to get the next quest”. This design philosophy creates genuine intrigue and mystifies the player. It was this mystification that drew me in from the moment I took control. It drove me to deeper and deeper into the kingdom, never directly telling me where or what to do. As players progress through Hollow Knight, they experience the lore fragmented, leaving the players to piece together the tragedy that befell the once great city of Hallownest.

But games are not just a passive experiences, they are meant to be engaging. It doesn’t matter how unique or creative the story many be, or how impeccable your marketing efforts are. If the game mechanics fail to engage the player, the game will not succeed, especially if you’re an indie title. Platformers are notorious for taking advantage of our brains reward center to physically hook us to the game (TED, 2010). If you fall down, you will likely get frustrated, but when you succeed you are rewarded with cool new places to explore. As such platformers needs to be balanced. Not ridiculously easy, making the game a breeze to complete, but not so challenging that players give up altogether. Striking this balance can be difficult because players need to feel like they have accomplished something. No game is perfect, and one of the biggest complaints about Hollow Knight stemmed from many players thinking the game felt too challenging and many of the players find it hard to complete (Steam, 2017). This can affect the Audience reaction to the work, which is my opinion is why the game fell short of a perfect rating. Nevertheless every time I overcame an obstacle I got excited and felt like I had accomplished something of meaning.

As far as publishing and distribution is concerned Hollow Knight was made available for PC, Mac, Linux and the Nintendo Switch (Team Cherry, 2017). For PC, Mac, and Linux, Team Cherry chose to publish their game through Steam as a digital download. While there are several drawbacks associated with publishing a game on steam, such as split revenue, there are also many marketing bonuses (Steam, 2017). Firstly, Steam stores the game, distributed the game, and handles payment collection of the title (Steam, 2017). Steam also put the game in front of the largest online community for gamers, making Hollow Knight easy to find and very accessible. (Steam, 2017). Finally, Steams algorithm goes a long way to suggest games to potential buyers based on games they already own that share the same genre (Steam, 2017). For example, if my Steam game collection consists of dozens of platformer games, the Stream algorithm will market more platform type games to me, the consumer.

I discovered Hollow Knight through probably their best marketing campaign; sponsored game played. Gamers usually watch a handful of internet personalities who specialize in playing and providing game commentary, usually live through services like TwitchTv and then archived on YouTube. Game companies usually send these online personalities a several Steam codes for their game so that the gamer can then play the game and give out the Steam code through their streams to engage their viewers.  It’s usually a win win win. The developer has their game exposed to millions of gamers, streamers get to showcase new content and attracted more followers because of the giveaway, and gamers can see the game played to determine if they like it or not and even potentially win a copy. I myself was introduced to Hollow Knight through Day9’s let’s play series on TwitchTv. (Day9, 2017).

Team Cherry illustrated how a small, passionate team, can achieve success by taking advantage of modern techniques. There are dozens of great ideas that fall sit in the darkest corners of the internet because people don’t know how to promote their artwork successfully. To me Hollow Knight was a worthwhile experience and I would recommend it to any gaming enthusiast, and I can’t wait to see what Team Cherry creates next.

References

Caldwell B. (2016, August 17). The Broken Promise Of No Man's Sky And Why It Matters. Retrieved May 21, 2017, from https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/08/17/broken-promises-of-no-mans-sky/

Day9tv. (2017, May 05). Day[9]'s Day Off - Hollow Knight - P1. Retrieved May 21, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLKdR8FjXgE

IGN. (2012). Best Overall Game - Best of 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2017, from http://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2012/Best_Overall_Game

Metacritic. (2017, February 24). Hollow Knight. Retrieved May 21, 2017, from http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/hollow-knight

Steam. (2017, February 24). Hollow Knight. Retrieved May 21, 2017, from http://store.steampowered.com/app/367520/Hollow_Knight/

TeamCherry. (2017, February 19). Press Kit. Retrieved May 21, 2017, from http://teamcherry.com.au/press-kit/

TED. (2010, November 01). Tom Chatfield: 7 ways video games engage the brain. Retrieved May 21, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyamsZXXF2w

Walker, A., & Lussier, G. (2017, April 06). Hollow Knight, As Told By Steam Reviews. Retrieved May 21, 2017, from https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/04/hollow-knight-as-told-by-steam-reviews/