videocookieseng

[videocookieseng]

AI translations are becoming more common, don't support them!

Shogakukan is a popular publisher that releases comics, light novels, and other written materials, and today it's at the center of controversy.

Yesterday, Nikkei reported that the company will launch a light novel app using AI translations with a system called Mantra. The goal is to reduce costs and speed up the production process. This isn't the first time we've heard of Mantra; last year, another company used it to translate Mahoutsukai no Yome (The Ancient Magus' Bride), which resulted in countless negative comments.

To this day, these methods still cause many problems, as machines still struggle with translating deep contexts or language nuances, especially with a language as complex as Japanese. If you don't believe me, just look at this image they use to promote the app:

What's the hell ya doing, Shogakukan!?

This app is planned to launch this year in the United States and Canada.

Sources: Nikkei, Resetera

Warning! Opinion below:

Unfortunately, this problem is not unprecedented. Last year, Crunchyroll's CEO said they would look to support AI subtitle translation to release anime episodes closer to the Japanese release as possible.

In the eyes of corporations, this will undoubtedly allow them to maximize profits and their own benefits, but all this will be at the cost of quality human jobs that require expertise and effort.

Artificial intelligence can definitely be used for translation, but for now, it should be limited to an accessibility tool. Using it to translate addresses, directions, or a tweet is fine, but avoid supporting corporations that use it to take jobs from translators who already struggle to find work in a very saturated field.

It's worth remembering that fan translations still exist and are done by people who care more about the quality of their work than the quantity. They don't ask for a cent, and although they may not have the speed of machines, rest assured they can translate this well:

(He heard = He or I?)

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A... movie... about... SKIBIDI TOILET?!

That's right, what started as a simple SFM animation is now coming to the big and small screens. While it hasn't been fully confirmed yet, plans are already being made to create a movie and a TV series.

Who is in charge of these conversations? None other than the God of explosions himself, Michael Bay! ...along with former Paramount Pictures president Adam Goodman, but also Michael Bay!

Despite starting as a humble 11-second video in 2023, Skibidi Toilet is now a huge hit with over 70 videos in the series, the most recent one uploaded just 5 days ago. This notoriety is what caught the attention of Bay and Goodman.

If you're interested in checking out the Skibidi Toilet series for the first time, you can do so on the official YouTube channel DaFuq!?Boom! below. It's not very long, as the episodes last at most 5 minutes each, and despite being a big meme, you can tell that the creator, Alexey Gerasimov, has put effort into it.

And if you already knew about it, what's up with you?

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the creator of Garry's Mod, one of the inspirations behind Skibidi Toilet, said he will cut his c*** off if the movie becomes a reality.

[videocookieseng]

If you haven't played Marvel SNAP or haven't logged in for a while, now is the best time to do so!

Yesterday, the new limited-time game mode "Deadpool's Diner" was finally released. In this mode, you'll bet "bubs," the exclusive currency for this mode. With each turn of a match, the bubs bet will increase, resulting in a large amount of bubs as a reward! But be careful not to lose, because the bets are unforgiving.

Winning more bubs will allow you to keep getting to new levels or "dishes" to bet more and more, and with a pretty quick change made by the Second Dinner team, it is now much easier to start playing.

(Before the change, if you lost a match, you had to wait 8 hours to play again... good thing they listened to us!)

Collect bubs and earn rewards. The best one is the new card "Cassandra Nova," which you can win just by playing, no payments needed! (Ignore the fact that you can pay to level up faster, but it's completely optional).

On top of all this, Alliances begin next week, a new social feature where you can join a group of players to earn rewards together by completing missions or requirements.

Did you think that was all? You're wrong, silly.

On July 26, a rewards week begins where if you claim them for 7 days in a row, the final prize is the Deadpool card! This card can't be obtained until you've played for a while, so if you're just starting, it's worth getting in and claiming it. Plus, it's a pretty good card even used by pros.

Fun game modes, new social features, many more cards, and a great number of rewards. There's no better time to play Marvel SNAP than now!

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I need them ALL! 🎮

Nintendo has a new line of collectible accessories in Japan in the form of keychains modeled after the controllers of their classic consoles.

The official Nintendo TOKYO/KYOTO/OSAKA stores already have these machines where anyone can try to collect the complete set of keychains, but good luck getting them all, as it is entirely random which one you’ll get.

Despite being just an accessory, not only do they look cute, but the buttons can be pressed as if it were the real controller, perfect for the restless or anxious (like the one writing this).

The excitement has been such that these stores have filled with fans to the point of having to queue to get the coveted prizes.

However, the most interesting thing about these collectible pieces is that they can be used as replacement parts to repair real controllers:

Here we see how a Japanese fan creates a hybrid between a Super Famicom controller (colored buttons) with the buttons from the Super Nintendo keychain (purple buttons).

They don’t have to be originals from the 90s either, the previous image shows the Super Famicom controller for the Switch, exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online service members.

Finally, here is the complete set for you to admire from your screen and cry because getting even one would cost an arm and a leg for those who don’t live in Japan.

Which one would you like? Leave a comment or share!

[videocookieseng]

I find the order in which Nintendo put their games on Switch very funny.

1, 2, 3? Just play the last one first, or the middle one. You know what? Just skip 2, it doesn't matter!

And yes I know the Wii U definitely had an impact on this, but it's still very funny to me!

[videocookieseng]

Forget Wolverine, the best duo is Deadpool & Xbox!

Xbox has just announced a VERY cheeky edition of their controller for the Xbox Series X, and no, I'm not talking about the ones on your face.

This edition is not for sale, but Xbox is holding a giveaway on Twitter where people can participate to win:

An Xbox Series X Deadpool edition.

Two cheeky edition controllers.

A replica model of Deadpool's katanas.

The contest is open from today until August 11th.

To participate, you must:

Be over 18.

Live in a country with official Xbox support.

Follow Xbox on Twitter.

Repost any official sponsor's post with the hashtag #xboxcheekycontrollersweepstakes

Remember, the Deadpool & Wolverine movie hits theaters on July 26th.

[videocookieseng]

THAT'S HIM! 😨

After a week of speculation, we finally know what that intriguing "Emio" teaser was about. It turns out to be a new game in the Famicom Detective Club series called "Emio: The Smiling Man"!

The game will be released on August 29th, and here's a new video from the producer, Yoshio Sakamoto (director of several Metroid games), where he talks about what this new installment is about:

🎥

In case you didn't know, this saga began on the Famicom and was later brought to the Nintendo Switch as two remakes. If you haven't played them and you're a fan of mysteries and investigation, I recommend them 100%.

Additionally, a collector's edition was announced for Japan! We don't know if it will be released in other regions, so we'll just have to wait.

What do you think? Were you expecting this or something else? Leave a comment!

[videocookieseng]

NEW NINTENDO MAGAZINE SUMMER 2024 EDITION! 😎☀️

These magazines are official publications from Japan, and Nintendo releases them periodically throughout the year. This latest issue focuses on the hot season and vacation time in the northern hemisphere. It also includes several games like Super Mario Wonder, Splatoon 3, and more!

Nintendo has officially translated it into English and shares it digitally so that everyone can see it. You can read it at the following link:

P.S.: Remember that the magazine is made for the Japanese audience, so the dates and products may not be the same as those in other regions.

P.S. 2: L-Luigi.... 😳

[videocookieseng]

Nintendo has released the three GBA Starfy games for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Members!

Densetsu no Starfy 1

Densetsu no Starfy 2

Densetsu no Starfy 3

(Official Trailer)

Sadly, these versions are not translated into any languages, but if you don't have NSO or you truly want to read the dialogue in English, you can always play the ROM with the fan translation of the first Starfy game, which was released recently and just in time it seems! More info about the ROM and the translation here:

[videocookieseng]

Isn't it incredible that all of these Mario games are on just one console? The Switch is the best!

[videocookieseng]

The next installment of Marvel Vs Capcom is here!

And it’s made by fans!

…Wait, what?

It’s been quite some time since the last game we got from the series. As many know, Marvel Vs Capcom Infinite left much to be desired; however, despite this slight stumble in the history of these games, everyone continues to enjoy the saga. Yes, everyone, there is not a single person who doesn’t love the MvC titles.

Due to this undeniable fact and the lack of new VS games, it was only a matter of time before a group of (super)heroes took control of the situation. Thanks to their great efforts and dedication, one of the best things that could happen in recent times manifested itself: mods! But not just any mod, these are for the favorite of many: Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3.

It hasn’t been easy to get to this point. Unlike other games, UMVC3 had too many restrictions, and creating a mod seemed almost impossible a couple of years ago. The tools were few, the options limited, and at most, only small aesthetic changes could be made, nothing that would catch the public’s attention outside of the most hardcore fans; not to mention that the PC version was released in 2017, six years after the original on consoles! Today, words are lacking to describe how much these dedicated modders have achieved.

In this post, we will review the timeline of UMVC3 mods, a task that started as a dream and is now a reality, and what a reality it is. Grab some popcorn and keep scrolling, there’s a lot to see!

For a better experience, I recommend reading and watching the videos in the order presented.

Level 1: Cool!

The first mods were simple. Not many changes could be made. As expected, the most basic was to change colors, textures, and music. In the following images, we can compare the original alternate colors of Akuma versus the colors modified by user BruicidalBleathMetal on Gamebanana, on April 13, 2017.

(Akuma, original alternate colors. Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3).

(Akuma, modified colors. Source: BruicidalBleathMetal, Gamebanana).

————————- 0 ————————-

Level 2: Great!

During this time, it was believed to be difficult to do anything beyond colors. Extra characters? New modes? Yes, sure… modifying the game was almost impossible. But then a light began to fall from the sky and it looked closer and closer and closer… No wait, it wasn’t a light, it was Doom doing a FOOT DIVE.

This is when it was discovered that some VERY small edits to movements could be made; as small as saying that if a projectile went to the right in the original game, now it could be changed to go in a random direction, wow!

(Arthur’s projectiles here should go forward, but they were changed to be launched in any direction).

This discovery was important; being able to modify movement statistics meant making them better or worse. Where does this lead? To balancing the game! (something that Capcom didn’t seem too interested in, cough cough). UMVC3 is notorious for having very powerful characters. This inevitably resulted in the first major mods focusing on balance, such as UMVC3 Arcade Edition, Project Mahvel, UMVC3EX, among others; different mods with the same goal: nerfing Morrigan, Vergil, and Zero (lol).

(UMVC3 Arcade Edition gameplay).

————————- 0 ————————-

Level 3: Awesome!

Well, we’ve modified movements, can we do anything else with them? Yes! We can alter their properties, swap them between characters, compile them into one. We can give Doom’s missiles to Chun-Li…

Chun-Li with missiles? That sounds familiar…

Here’s how the first “original” characters appeared: Shadow Lady over Chun-Li, Lilith over Morrigan, Orange Hulk over Hulk, and Evil Ryu over Ryu. Unlike previous mods, these characters were not the originals with balance alterations; no, these were unique characters and functionally different from their counterparts, a concept seen in earlier games in the series like Marvel Vs. Capcom 1. These became known as “palette swap” characters (or PS from now on).

(The first developed Palette Swap characters).

————————- 0 ————————-

Level 4: Wonderful!

The beginning of greatness. Let’s get straight to the point; finally, we see our first completely original character*: Captain Marvel, created by Tabs, one of the most important modders in the scene.

*IgnoringthefactthatsheappearedinMVCInfinite,sonotTHAToriginal.

(The first look at Carol Danvers, Captain Marvel, using the Phoenix model as a base).

This could be considered the true beginning of the scene. The importance of Captain Marvel was considerable, as it would lead to the discovery and development of techniques that resulted in the creation of other original characters like Ken, Cyclops, Thanos, and more.

These techniques involved taking animations and movements from other characters and putting them in one place since creating them from scratch was impossible. You can clearly see how we could have new characters, but still using resources from the same game:

(First look at Cyclops, using C. Viper as a base).

However, by only being able to use these resources, some… interesting results occurred. C. Viper was used because she already has a movement in reference to Cyclops’ “Optic Laser.” After editing the model and some textures, this is how our favorite laser pointer turned out:

(Cyclops… your arms…).

But hey! If you squint your eyes, it kinda looks similar, right? (coping).

I can’t help but mention one of the most iconic side effects of this experiment: a hip movement that is quite…*sweats*.

(Shakira who?).

————————- 0 ————————-

Maximum Level?!: Viewtiful!

Cyclops and the others can now shed their old skin and show off their glorious designs they’ve always had. This is thanks to a model importer that was developed. Gone are the days of taking and editing existing models; now, everyone can look as we know and love them.

(Model importer announcement screenshot).

Here’s a trailer of how the game was looking at the time with all the aforementioned improvements:

(Gameplay trailer of PS characters with their new models).

————————- 0 ————————-

Level 6: Uncanny!

Okay, okay, I know seeing these characters in this way is amazing, but calm down; we’re not done yet, there’s something very important missing in this journey.

Because the modified characters replace their original counterparts, pairs like Cyclops and Viper or Frank West and Ultron couldn’t exist on the same team. Is it because these pairs are enemies who secretly love each other and that’s why they can’t be together? Yes No, the PS characters use the space of an original character, meaning both cannot coexist within the game at the same time. Even if you wanted to have them together, it’s simply impossible.

Or it was! At this point in the timeline, modder Gneiss developed a tool called the “Clone Engine,” allowing him to create new spaces independent of those used by the original cast. Now you CAN have Frank West and Ultron together, the pair of your dreams.

A fun fact about this section is that YouTuber Maximilian Dood, known for his fighting game content, put a bounty for anyone who could develop this tool, and as you can guess, Gneiss was the one who claimed it. Here’s Max offering the reward and here awarding it to Gneiss.

(Gneiss showing that it’s possible to have two characters using the same space on the same team).

————————- 0 ————————-

Level 7: Crazy!

We have everything we need, what more could be missing after so much?

Well… the PS characters are still based on movements from others. Believe it or not, the animations you’ve seen in the previous videos are still not created from scratch by the modders but continue to use the technique of taking animations from the base characters and combining and editing them to create new ones. In their early stages, this resulted in what happened with Cyclops, but after much trial and error, it was hardly noticeable that this wasn’t official game content.

This video from CaliKingz, another important modder for the scene, shows the immense progress made as months passed. He has created characters like Gambit, IceMan, Captain Commando, and many more.

(Gambit gameplay).

However, now it’s no longer necessary to do this only, and the process is much simpler (at least in comparison), as we finally have:

(First trailer of PS characters with custom animations).

————————- 0 ————————-

Level 8: Unstoppable!

FINALLY! We’re almost at the end of our story, for now. The last thing to mention is that people are working on the next big barrier: creating a stable online mode using Rollback netcode.

Did you play UMVC3 online? Or maybe other games like Smash Bros. or Street Fighter IV? If the answer is yes, then you know that playing them online was like trying to fight underwater, unless maybe you lived near your opponent. That’s what this mod is trying to change.

If you don’t know, in very basic terms, Rollback is a system that makes playing online feel the same as playing offline, without delay when pressing a button, no matter where your opponent is. The system instantly handles latency between both players, making “predictions” of where the characters are when a button is pressed. Yes, it’s somewhat complicated, but the important thing is that it results in a much smoother experience. Games like Mortal Kombat 1, Street Fighter VI, and many more use this system.

Not everything goes as one would like, however. Twitter user HkHaan96 was working on this mod, but then gave us the latest update on this project in November 2023. Despite having successful tests, he announces that he will no longer work on it, and other people would take his place. To date, we haven’t had any news about this, but let’s hope that someday we can have something that gives UMVC3 the online mode it deserves. We thank Hk for his dedication!

(Demonstration that both versions can be synchronized with Rollback).

————————- 0 ————————-

And thus, we arrive at the present, quite a long journey, isn’t it?

Now we can enjoy something that was only fantasies years ago. Remember in the ‘90s when you played MVC1 for the first time in the arcade, and that made you think, “What if in the future I could make Doctor Wily fight against Doctor Octopus?” No, just me? Well, but now it could happen!

It’s a matter of waiting and seeing what more these dedicated and hardworking modders do. Who knows, maybe you can become one and create that dream character. The possibilities are truly “Infinite.”

Thanks to:

- Tabs, for their help with information about the first PS characters. Subscribe to their YouTube channel or follow them on Twitter to see their latest mods.

- Marvel Modded, for their help confirming the mods timeline. Follow them on Twitter to stay updated on the biggest mod “Community Edition,” a project that aims to unite all mods made by the community.

- All modders in the scene, for their great efforts that will keep this game alive for many years to come. The list would be endless if we included everyone, but please know you are all extremely appreciated!

[videocookieseng]

Super Mario 64 DS is a bizarre game.

It’s not talked about, Nintendo never mentions it, it has very strange elements, and the worst part? The controls; unfortunately, one of the few reasons people even remember it. A 3D platformer controlled with arrows?! Many shortcomings and forgotten, especially when compared to its original counterpart…

…but darn it, how I love it.

Despite it being bizarre, SM64DS is a very innovative game with elements never before seen in a Mario title and with others that even come from spin-offs, something Nintendo doesn’t usually do (the three Goomboss fans, please clap). With more characters, stars, missions, and mini-games, it truly is the definitive way to enjoy Mario 64.

Well, it would be if it weren’t for the controls; however, the purpose of this writing is not to complain about it over and over again, but to inform you how you can enjoy this incredible game properly: with an analog stick! Yes, this is a PC mod that allows you to control Mario and company much more naturally. This may not be news for many, but it was for me when I discovered it about two weeks ago, so SHHH. Here I am with a tutorial on how to play SM64DS in the best way.

I leave you this video guide on what to do to play with a stick, but I also leave you the step-by-step in writing below.

Here’s what you need:

1) Download this emulator, DeSmuME X432R here.

2) Download this program, ToxInput_v0.6 here (where it says “Assets”).

3) Download - um, I mean, acquire the EUROPEAN ROM of the game in a totally legal way.

4) Have a controller on hand. Xbox or a third-party one works. Switch Pro controllers do not work with this method (believe me, I tried 😞).

Now follow these steps:

1) Unzip everything and organize it (this is optional, I just encourage you to be tidy with your life. Make your bed too).

2) Connect your controller.

3) Open the emulator and configure the buttons normally.

4) Drink water.

5) Load the ROM. I recommend starting and getting control of Yoshi before the next step.

6) Open ToxInput.

7) Inside ToxInput: if the first control icon is highlighted in white, your controller is recognized*. Click on it. If it turns yellow, it works.

8) Inside ToxInput: click on the “DeSmuME X432R_x64.exe” option. It should turn yellow, if it does, then click on “Apply”. Do not close the program.

9) Now all that’s left is to go back to the emulator and test your new controls. If the character moves very slowly, then it didn’t work as it should. You’ll know if you’ve succeeded if the character moves like in the original Mario 64, meaning the movement speed changes according to the pressure you apply to the stick. The right stick controls the camera.

10) Done!

*If it is NOT highlighted in white, you can do the following: delete the “XInput9_1_0.dll” file from the ToxInput folder. Then open the program again, and it should recognize your control. If that doesn’t help, I’m sorry 😢.

This is not the only method to access this mod; in fact, there’s even one to play like this on 3DS, and as we all know, it’s surprisingly easy to hack a 3DS. But this one method seemed quite simple and easy to follow, 100% recommended!

Now go and play the best version of Super Mario 64 as it should be.

[videocookieseng]

Are you a fan of The Simpsons and video games? If so, you probably know I’m going to talk about the classic “The Simpsons Hit & Run”; if you didn’t know, well… I’m going to talk about the classic “The Simpsons Hit & Run.”

If you played it back in the day, you knees probably already hurt and you have a lot of nostalgia for it, a favorite for many. This game is beloved because it offered great gameplay, similar to GTA, and had countless references to the best episodes of the series. As for the graphics, the game does a good job of emulating the animated series in a 3D world, especially for the year 2003, but it was always a bit dissonant to see the characters in a different style than we were used to (unless you count it as a reference to the Treehouse of Horror VI, that’s different!).

The reason for this post is this: a fan mod that enhances the visual aspect to a level worthy of an official remake! The user and artist “El Gato Del Tejado” decided on his own that the game would benefit greatly from a graphical upgrade and is working on drawing all the textures in high quality and completely redoing the game’s cinematics, transforming them from 3D graphics to beautiful 2D animations, among other improvements. All of this makes a significant part of the game feel like watching an episode of The Simpsons.

It’s undoubtedly an incredible effort and is comparable even to recent South Park games, where despite being a game, it feels like watching the show. I leave you with example images and Gato’s social media so you can appreciate and support his work.

What do you think? Do you like the new look, or do you prefer the old one? Would you like an official remake of the game for modern consoles? Leave your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to support Gato!

📷 Instagram

▶️ YouTube

[videocookieseng]

👊 We all love a good beating in Smash Bros. Getting together with friends and spending hours bruising your favorite characters is unmatched. No matter which is your favorite Smash, you can pick up and play any of them, and you’ll have just as much fun.

But let’s talk a bit more about the beginning of the saga. Nothing like pitting two characters against each other to determine who’s the best for the first time. Mario against Kirby, who is the master of platforms?; Link versus Samus, rudimentary weapons or futuristic ones?; Conker versus Goemon, who is… wait, Conker? Goemon?! That’s right! This is not a retrospective, but we’ll talk about the mod of the moment: Smash Remix, an expansion mod for Smash 64.

🔍 What it’s about: Smash Remix is a great project with a lot of passion and care from fans dedicated to what they do. One of the best aspects of this mod is the abundance of content you’ll find: new and popular stages, countless gameplay options that you can customize to your liking, and of course, new characters! Among these, some are seen in subsequent titles, such as Sonic, King Dedede, Wolf, Lucas, and more. Only characters from other games? Of course not! You’ll also find some completely original and new to the battlefield, like the aforementioned Conker from Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Goemon from Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon, Marina from Mischief Makers, and the more recent Peppy Hare and Slippy Toad from Star Fox. Now you can make your dream come true to see who is the strongest member of the space animal team!

⚙️ How to play? Certainly, the easiest way to play is on your computer by patching the ROM and using an emulator. The developers recommend Project64KSE, which you can get from here: https://smash64.online You can obtain the original ROM from… somewhere! Remember, kids: Piracy is illegal, and you definitely shouldn’t search for it on Google. Once you get your ROM, which you legally extracted yourself, you’ll need to patch it using the same link you used for the emulator. That’s it! You can now enjoy this incredible project.

If you want to experience this game in other ways, you can also do it on any device that can run an Nintendo 64 emulator. If you can place the ROM on a modified console like the Wii or on a flashcart for Nintendo 64, it will also work.

🎥 Here’s a trailer:

We all love Smash Ultimate, but believe me, you won’t regret trying out this classic game with such great improvements!

UPDATE (January 4th, 2024):

Banjo and Kazooie have been added to the game!

Along with many other surprises, don’t miss out on the newest trailer!

[videocookieseng]

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