Month: July 2024

Marvel Snap, Video Games

Deadpool diner

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Deadpool diner

Deadpool Diner is an event within Marvel Snap. The second dinner followed industry trends and added a stamina system to the event. You can bypass it by spending money, which is a rather predatory practice that exploits players. Mobile gaming has been home to some awful, abusive mechanics for a while now. People, in general, have well accepted it, gotten used to it, and allowed it to carry on. Marvel Snap has avoided it until this event, which leaves a sour taste.

The next point is that the event is time-limited to earn a card; you need 500 million points to get it. Given that I have just 200k, I’m quite a way off from earning it. The result is that players are doing whatever they can to earn it. You can’t really blame players if you make a time-limited event and lock a card behind a massive wall. The result is a rather unfun mode within the game.

The last problem is that the mode is very similar to ladder mode. A couple of key differences are that Bubs decrease, but your progress overall does not. Once you reach a certain rank, you don’t derank. The event overall feels like a massive chore to play and is, well, unfun.

So how would I have done this event?

For starters, I would have replaced the existing ladder with it. Next, no stamina system and increased the length of the event to a month. Decrease the costs to earn the new card and add more cards to earn per week. At higher ranks, I would give players decks based on the movie, making it more like a draft preview of what is going to come soon.

What I have learned from this mode is that retreat is a skill I need to get the hang of more. Also, my game knowledge about decks at times is lacking.

Thoughts

James bond some thoughts

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James bond some thoughts

The James Bond film franchise is currently on hiatus, with no new releases in the pipeline. The most recent installment, ‘No Time to Die,’ premiered in 2021, marking the conclusion of Daniel Craig’s tenure as Bond. Across its history, there have been a total of 24 Bond movies.

In 2022, Amazon acquired MGM Studios, integrating it with their existing studio. Once a Hollywood powerhouse, MGM was formerly part of the Big Seven studios. Now, it stands alongside the Big Five: Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney, and Sony. Interestingly, both Paramount and Warner Bros. face challenges—Paramount’s business is in disarray, while Warner Bros.’ consolidation with Discovery has hit roadblocks.

The Broccoli family has diligently safeguarded control over the Bond franchise. Danjaq holds the copyright for the film series. The first twenty Bond movies are co-owned by Danjaq and MGM, while the remainder belong to Danjaq, MGM, and Columbia Pictures (a Sony subsidiary). Eon Productions, owned by the Broccoli family, meticulously oversees all Bond projects. Their level of control rivals J.K. Rowling’s veto power over the Harry Potter franchise.

Amazon’s involvement introduces an intricate situation. Producing a new James Bond movie isn’t straightforward; it involves navigating a complex web of ownership and approvals. The intricate network across MGM presents both opportunities and challenges. Budgets are tight, and some projects face cancellation. Clearly, Bond is a costly endeavor. So far, Amazon’s impact on MGM extends primarily to the Bond franchise. Additionally, there’s a reality TV show with Bond branding, and its second season is currently in production.

Where could the James Bond Flims go next? Parodies saw Daniel Craig’s version become darker. Each actor brings a different vibe, suiting the era. It could be rebooted back to the 1960s. I’m unsure where it should go. After 25 movies maybe it should just end. Hollywood’s big problem is making everything a franchise.

Labour, Politics

British general election exit poll/results 2024

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British general election exit poll/results 2024

Conservatives: 131

Labour: 410

Liberal Democrats: 61

SNP: 10

Reform UK: 13

Plaid Cymru: 4

Greens: 2

This is a historic event, marking the worst Conservative result in 190 years. Labour is projected to surge from 202 to over 400 seats in a single electoral cycle. Other notable outcomes include the Liberal Democrats achieving their best result in over a century, and the Greens gaining an additional seat. Reform, a new party, secured 13 seats—a commendable performance. While the exit poll aligns with the average range of pre-election polls, there’s a possibility that seat totals are inaccurate, and the final result could be even worse for the Conservatives. We’ll have to wait until all ballots are counted and declared to determine the true winner. A historic event is unfolding tonight.

I wrote that last night before any results were declared.

Final results

Conservatives: 121

Labour: 411

Liberal Democrats: 72

SNP: 9

Reform UK: 4

Plaid Cymru: 4

Greens: 4

Others: 7

The simple narrative here is the Tory pain everybody gains. Voters decided on mass to tactical vote, not just that but clever targeting yielded big results. Both Labour and Liberal Democrats’ voting efficacy caused major upsets to happen. In some cases, Tories got very lucky because voters did not know who to tactical vote for. Liberal Democrats have returned to being 3rd party, they now have a firm base with more gains in sight. Something much bigger is happening under the surface. Fragmenting of the British electorate, multi-party system trapped in first past the post. Splitting apart slowly, old divides have been exposed, producing a swingy landscape. A European-style electorate with first past the post, anti-politics mood that is alive. In some places turning away from mainstream parties, angry and disengaged.

It will take a while to understand it but the trend is clear. This is the worst result in their 190-year history. Rishi sunak was given a losing hand and played it badly. Records have been broken across the board. Voters have decided on humiliation and punishment after 14 years. Why comes down to three words, incompetence, trust and delivery.

Former prime minister Lizz Truss lost her seat. The only other time that has happened, is in 1906 with Arthur Balfour. Her name is likely to become similar to Portillo, a symbol of defeat and a historic night. Micheal Portillo cabinet member lost his safe seat in 1997.

5 former prime minister seats have also changed hands.

Lizz Truss South West Norfolk

Boris Johnson old seats, Uxbridge and South Ruislip also Henley and Thame

Theresa May Maidenhead

David Cameron Witney

Only Lizz Truss decided to stick around, otherwise they would have fallen and joined the history books. Record 11 cabinet members lost their seats, with close calls in other seats. It was an end of a era, big defeat for the Tories. It could have been far worse and could get worse before it gets better.