Or you can just paste the full report in a comment here. Then click the "Save all information" button button at the bottom & save the DxDiag.txt file.Ĭan you paste all information from the DxDiag text file onto pastebin or similar: (2) Remove your cookies (save any pending work first). If you have a large hard drive, this might take a few minutes. On the Network mini-tab > Cached Web Content : 'Clear Now'. Wait until the green progress bar shows all the information has loaded. Alternately, you also can clear Firefoxs cache completely using: orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Options > Advanced. Left click on the "dxdiag Run command" option to launch the DirectX diagnostic tool. In the bottom search box, type in dxdiag - you should see a "dxdiag Run command" option at the top like this: Presuming you are Windows 10, right click the windows start button bottom left of the tool bar & choose the "Search" option to open Cortana. Ugh, I think your notebook probably has locked OEM drivers, which complicates things.Ĭan you give us the exact model number of your laptop?Ĭan you also get a dxdiag report of your system - this will show exactly which processor/intel chip & driver version you currently have. Human Skills and Resources Inc 408 East Will Rogers Boulevard. Jordan Rivera, 23, told WINK News it was around closing time at Banditos on Sunday night. 2K comments, 921 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Polk County Sheriffs. and my intel driver version is 21.I look for updates and nothing. Call us today for assistance finding help 1-85 in Fawn Creek, KS. 1 day ago &0183 &32 A young man underwent surgery after he lost his arm to an alligator in the pond behind a Gulf Cove bar. He might have not checked his phone, or he did but was too tired or didnt. I'm having this problem too, I'm on an ENVY HP convertible notebook, please this is so annoying SOMEONE FIX THIS!!!!, non of the drivers suggested work for me. Once you get into fullscreen mode & can access the top menu bar of the viewer, go to Help -> About Firestorm, click the "Copy to clipboard" button & paste all your system information in here. Note that this bug will make the click area a bit too low, so to select that option you will need to click slightly underneath it. howa can restore facebook sidebar & whya i cant open my messgaes. If it won't as a workaround for now, on Firestorm, open Preferences with CTRL+P, Graphics -> General, tick "FullScreen mode" & relog. If this driver will run on your system, it will fix the problem: The latest intel driver actually has a fix for this bug, but whether you can update to the fixed driver version depends on whether you have locked OEM drivers & what your graphics chip is - some older intel "cards" cannot update to the fixed driver version. How to fix it depends on which graphics chip you have & whether the laptop has locked OEM drivers.ĭo you happen to have an HP laptop? HP have forced a graphics driver update recently which unfortunately updated to the buggy driver version. causes viewer screen to be too large, top menu bar missing & click area ~1cm too low Peer-to-peer payments have been available in the US for a while but this new feature will now be available to Messenger users in Britain.Īnd this is yet another exclusive feature as, despite Facebook owning rival service WhatsApp, the US technology firm says payments will only be available via Messenger.Īpple is also planning something similar with Apple Pay payments being made through its Messages app, but Facebook appears to have beaten the US technology giant to a UK launch.I suspect it's this bug: BUG-100858 - Latest Intel graphics driver 21. The news of this 4K photo sharing feature comes just weeks after F acebook Messenger announced it is launching a new payment service in the UK that allows users to send money to one another via the popular app. Messenger says that it is making significant investments in how people communicate visually via the service. If you want to control what you see in your Feed, learn how to adjust your Feed preferences or see and manage posts from Favorites. Turned off Facebook's integration with the app. /rebates/&252fhow-to252frecover-facebook-contacts. Other folk can access their own sites perfectly displayed (with Searchboxes) when they access their sites from my phone. This means users get a much richer and sharper experience when viewing images that have been sent over social media. You may not see some of your Facebook friends in an app because they may have: Edited the privacy settings for the app. The facebook searchbox has disappeared from the bottom of my facebook pages on my own and other peoples cellphones, when facebook is accessed from Nokia and Opera Mini browsers. Click in the chatbox and they will appear.Once you have them back look just below them and you will see two icons. Messenger recently revealed a new way to send and receive photos which delivers them in the ultimate 4K format.
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Something smells funny about the whole thing. So why steal $600,000 and leave it behind a toilet in the same church where it was stolen. Now, all these years later, another bombshell has dropped. Or apparently, evidence leading to an arrest. Sadly, the plumber doesn't get any part of the $25,000 cash reward offered, because he found the money but not the person who stole it. Police confirmed that there is evidence that these are the cash and checks related to that theft. That's the part that should blow minds, right? Now, as then, the actual BFD about all of this is that Osteen raked in that kind of money from one Sunday and had it sitting in a safe until the Brink's truck came the following day. A plumber doing work at Pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, discovered hundreds of envelopes containing checks and cash hidden in a wall behind a toilet. He went on to say there were at least 3,000 envelopes stuffed with cash and checks, which he turned in. “We went to go remove the toilet, and I moved some insulation away and about 500 envelopes fell out of the wall, and I was like ‘Oh wow!’” A plumber who discovered stacks of cash and checks inside a wall at celebrity televangelist Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church last month has been awarded 20,000 by Crime Stoppers. “There was a loose toilet in the wall, and we removed the tile,” the caller told listeners. READ MORE: Money found in Lakewood Church wall may be tied to 2014 theft case, police say 'As he was talking, I was cross referencing all those details. The found money is believed to be connected to a theft that happened in March 2014 where the church reported that at least 600,000 in. Went to go remove the toilet and I moved some insulation away and about 500 envelopes fell out of. He said he was fixing a loose toilet at the Lakewood Church location when about 500 envelopes fell out of the wall. Plumber finds missing money in wall of Joel Osteen’s. Plumber Finds Cache Of Money Behind Loose Toilet In Wall At Joel Osteen's Lakewood Mega-Church. Police never made an arrest in the case, and a $25,000 award offered by Crime Stoppers for information revealing the culprits' remains unclaimed.According to KPRC 2 News, a man called into a local radio show with a wild story. While the amount of money found remains unknown, the discovery comes seven years after $600,000 in cash and checks were reported as having been stolen from a safe in the church in March 2014. The discovery was made public when the plumber, who found the money, spoke on a morning show at 100.3 The Bull. "Lakewood immediately notified the Houston Police Department and is assisting them with their investigation." An undisclosed amount of cash and checks were found in a wall at Joel Osteens Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. "Recently, while repair work was being done at Lakewood Church, an undisclosed amount of cash and checks were found," the statement said. 10 at the Houston megachurch, on the morning show of 100.3 The Bull, a. The plumber detailed the bizarre discovery, made on Nov. The envelopes were discovered behind a loose toilet by the plumber while he was doing repairs at the Houston church on Nov. Envelopes full of cash and checks were found behind a loose toilet by a plumber doing repairs at celebrity televangelist Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Texas, according to church officials. A man who called himself Justin the plumber said, 'I went to go. A plumber who discovered stacks of cash and checks inside a wall at celebrity televangelist Joel Osteens Lakewood Church last month has been awarded 20,000 by Crime Stoppers of Houston. "We went to go remove the toilet and I moved some insulation away and about 500 envelopes fell out of the wall and I was like 'Oh, wow,'" the man said. "I went ahead and contacted the maintenance supervisor that was there and I went ahead and turned it all in," the man told KPRC2.Ī Lakewood Church representative confirmed the discovery Thursday, stating that an amount of money had been discovered on the church premises and the authorities had since been contacted. Money found in Lakewood Church wall may be tied to 2014 theft case, police say. South Carolina has one of the lowest effective tax rates in the country, coming in at a meager 0.57%. With affordable housing, tax breaks, scenic views at every turn, and an unlimited selection of activities, the Upstate has become one of the most embraced areas in the country. This change in mentality has led tens of thousands of Americans to settle their roots in the beautiful Upstate of South Carolina. Space and tranquility have replaced the urban penthouse as the commodity of choice. "It's the same place, just a new owner, with great food, great service and a friendly atmosphere.The aftermath of covid and national turmoil has left many US residents searching for a place to call home. "We're just wanting customers to know that we are open," He said. Looking back at the Peoria Le Peep's history, Wessel said he is excited to see where the next 20 years take the restaurant. More: The Peoria-area said goodbye to these 14 restaurants this year At every location, Wessel said, the goal is to offer freshly made meals to its guests. Le Peep is part of a chain that can be found in 17 states across the U.S. The restaurant, which serves breakfast and lunch, operated in Peoria for roughly 18 years prior to its shutdown. "Dan was able to contact his old employees and a lot of them were able to come back," Wessel said. Staff from Colorado also came to help out, but Wessel said, overall, the Peoria Le Peep has been "very lucky" when it comes to staffing. Wessel said the location brought in some staff from the Springfield restaurant to help with training. Pumpkin pancakes and lattes are available. Wessel said Le Peep offers seasonal menus, as well, but said the main goal is to get everyone comfortable with the day-to-day menu first. On an average weekend, he said the restaurant could serve 300 to 400 guests.Ĭurrently, the restaurant is focusing on its regular breakfast and lunch menu. He said that was around half the turnout the restaurant normally sees on a weekday. Wessel said the restaurant served around 50 people on its first day open. More: Check out these 22 new or reopened restaurants in the Peoria area in 2022 "So, it's about training, doing it right and doing the things that we need necessary for us to be successful." "(Balazi is) new to Le Peep and we want to just build business slowly instead of doing everything so fast, and we make more mistakes that way," Wessel said. Still, Wessel said the Peoria Le Peep's re-opening was designed to be "very soft." Balazi said previously that he also worked at Star 66 Cafe in Springfield. Balazi's brother owns the Le Peep location in Springfield, Wessel said, which is where Balazi trained. Rilind Balazi and his wife, Laya Elezi, are the new co-owners of the restaurant. In September, a voicemail greeting on the business's phone number announced the planned reopening. "It was due to COVID," Wessel said, "and the old owner had gotten sick and he was ready to retire." When the business closed earlier this year, a sign on the door stated "Le Peep will be CLOSED Indefinitely." Le Peep CEO Kevin Wessel said the location's original owner − Dan Schlink − made the decision to sell the business, which he had operated for nearly 20 years. University St., reopened Wednesday after being closed for over six months. Before benchmarking, ensure that your system is in the High Performance power plan to ensure best performance. Especially for those on laptops, setting power plans such as Power Saver or other power efficient plans created by a system manufacturer may significantly reduce performance in favor of power efficiency. This allows Windows to increase or decrease maximum CPU frequencies, power down drives, and more. Windows allows changing pre-defined power plans in the Power Options in the Windows Control Panel. As a result, it’s important to ensure that all non-essential applications are closed before running benchmark applications. can also download drivers from the system’s website.īackground applications such as those run automatically in the system tray or applications that have been launched but are minimized will require system resources which will in turn lower benchmark numbers. Those who own pre-built systems such as Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc. For example, those who own Nvidia graphics cards can update drivers through Nvidia’s website while those who own AMD graphics cards can obtain the latest drivers through the AMD website. The easiest way to update drivers is to obtain a list of the hardware in your PC and update all the drivers directly from the manufacturer’s website. Alongside a completely free Basic edition, UNIGINE benchmarks provide in-depth performance reviews in the Advanced edition for overclockers, and extended. While newer operating systems such as Windows 10 has gotten better at automatically updating drivers right from Windows Update, many of these drivers are still outdated which in many cases will provide lower than expected performance. UNIGINE Benchmarks can be effectively used to determine the stability of PC hardware (CPU, GPU, power supply, cooling system) under extremely stressful conditions, as well as for overclocking. The most important thing to do before benchmarking is to ensure that your drivers are not only installed, but are up to date. Check your rig in stock and overclocking modes with. As such, here are some best practices for before you begin benchmarking. Extreme performance and stability test for PC hardware: video card, power supply, cooling system. 7 Related Articles Benchmarking Best Practicesīefore benchmarking your PC, it’s important to prepare your PC for benchmarking as many factors such as applications running in the background for example could easily throw off results. A little innovation can make all the difference. So, don't let the lack of an adequate light/reflector mount for this rack disuade you. It just seems to be a better rack than the competition's. Other manufacturers make add-on mounts for their racks, but I like the Delta rack better. I don't know why Delta doesn't make something like this available, either with the rack or as a separate add-on. This will help prevent any loosening strap or sudden, unavoidable pothole from leaving your light somewhere on the road behind you. The washer has a larger diameter than the PVC by about an eighth of an inch. Seatpost-mounting bike rackrubber grippers keep loads in place Quick-release allows for swift and secure installation on any seatpost without seatpost removal Supports up to 25 pounds of cargo Platform measures 12.5 by 4.5 inches Weighs 520 grams (18. You now have a lightweight simulated seatpost onto which any seatpost light can be mounted. Add the washer and wingnut, then tighten. Insert the drilled-out dowel piece into the PVC pipe before slipping the entire works onto the bolt from beneath. If your patient, you could just fill the PVC pipe with a spray of Great Stuff, then drill out the path for the #10 bolt.) To install, insert the #10 bolt down through the top of the rack using the same pre-drilled hole they have provided for their so-called reflector adapter. (The dowel is merely to fill the space within the PVC pipe and, so, stabalize it over the washer. None of my bikes has rack eyelets and Im not in the market for a new one for a. Drill a hole down the center of the length of dowel. Delta Post-Porter and Post-Haste racks Im looking for a strap-on rack for my bikes to transport clothes (and whatnot, but mainly work clothes) back and forth to work on my commute as a non-messenger bag option. You will need a 1-7/8 inch length of 3/4-inch PVC pipe, an equal length of 3/4-inch wooden dowel, one 3/16 x 1-1/4 inch fender washer, one 2-1/2 inch #10 bolt and one #10 nut (or wingnut for super easy install). How to mount any post-mount light/reflector on a Delta Post Haste Rack: Delta QuickBag Bicycle Rack Bag (Rack Not Included) Delta Cycle Cargo Net Sigma BC 1009 Bicycle Speedometer Product Details: Technical Information: Customer Reviews: Travel with all your necessary gear, and take it and your bike rack with you when your journeys finished with the Delta Post Haste seatpost rack. But that wasn't a good enough answer for me. Want a light back there? Too bad, so sad. My only complaint would be that Delta only provides the included reflector mount, which doesn't work with most reflectors since they're almost always designed to fit onto posts and will only mount onto their adapter if put on sideways with additional hardware. The rub marks in the carbon soot on the cylinder face told the tale-the cylinder was rubbing on the top edge of the barrel extension, at 12 O’ Clock. The barrel-cylinder (B-C) gap was so tight on my sample that when the gun began to heat up, and the stainless steel expanded, the cylinder would drag on the forcing cone, turning a roughly-10 pound pull (factory specs are 9.5 to 11.5 pounds) into something that felt 2 or 3 times that, and my shooting session would be over. I liked the gun quite a bit, despite its rather non-traditional looks, but I couldn’t get through more than about 50 – 75 rounds before the gun would freeze up, due to cylinder rub. I’d liked the shorter, two-inch gun that I fired at SHOT Show very much, and was eager to see how a gun with the three-inch barrel length, that I liked so much, would handle. The Kimber with the long tube was the first gun Justin worked with, and he spoke so highly of it that I wanted to try one, myself. I have to admit, off the bat, that this is still a bit of a work in progress, but I’m much happier with the Kimbers now than I used to be, and I hope you’ll find the update interesting. This, then, is a report on some of the changes and improvements I’ve recently made to my K6s revolvers and gear. However, the gun’s positive attributes eventually drew me back to it, and I decided it was time to spend a little effort getting the guns where I wanted them. The editorial calendar marches on, though, and other projects took precedence over further tinkering with the K6s, so the two I purchased went into the safe and got ignored for a while. We also weren’t happy with the lack of industry support for the gun, at the time. We mentioned the firing pin already, but the poor sight regulation was a big problem, the grips could stand improvement, and there were some other minor beefs we had with the otherwise praiseworthy gun. However, there were some areas that needed attention, as well. There was certainly a lot to like about the gun. With respect to the former, we were quite pleased with the quality of the action (a really nice trigger pull, for a mass-production gun), the sixth round in the cylinder, the shape and operation of the cylinder release, the relief under the extractor to enhance reliability, the overall size and weight, the fit and finish, and the high-visibility sights, to name just some of the highlights. You’ve all been along for that ride, so you know that after the exciting rollout at SHOT Show was over, and we started spending some serious time with the gun, we got a better understanding of its strengths and weaknesses. So, we’ve been there from the beginning, and we’ve been exceptionally thorough in our examination of the gun. In the process, we delivered vital feedback to Kimber that led to a redesign of the gun’s firing pin, and we notified you, the reader, when that change had been fully incorporated into production. We shot the guns hard, and provided the best coverage of the gun to date, including a detailed review of the three-inch stainless, a comprehensive field review that covered both models, and an unparalleled, in-depth study of the gun’s development and design features. Not wanting to be left out of the fun, I purchased a brace of the guns, consisting of a three-inch stainless model, and a two-inch DC model, with its dark gray DLC coating and attractive G10 grips. Soon, Justin had a three-inch stainless version on the way to put through its paces. I was excited by the new guns, and arranged for RevolverGuy to obtain some samples for further test and evaluation. Kimber’s success with the original, two-inch stainless version of the K6s soon led to additional variants that premiered at the 2018 SHOT Show. They managed to combine a good trigger, great sights, and a six-round cylinder in a package that was hardly larger than a five-shot J-Frame-what was not to like? I got my hands on the brand-new Kimber K6s revolver at the 2016 SHOT Show, and was immediately impressed with the package. The second way, is to play the long game, and hold off on the more advanced pieces. You need to know, however, that you might be plugging away at Recuerdos Del Alhambra for a number of years, and it might cause great frustration as it may never reach the level you had hoped. The first is to look at the goals and objectives, if the answer is to have fun and you don’t want to go through the less entertaining studies and simple pieces, then, go for it. I know that simpler pieces will be more productive, but they want to get to the greats as soon as they can. Even if it isn’t going to be good for them! This means, as a teacher, I am constantly trying to bargain about what piece to play. Because they know the repertoire, they want to play it. The allure of advanced repertoireĪdults and teenagers, however, will most likely come to the classical guitar because they know and love the repertoire. Have you ever seen a little kid play like a pro at the age of 8? It is because they had a good teacher, and did what she asked. As students, this means that they improve, and they improve fast. As a teacher, this means I can build their technique and foundations to be strong and comprehensive. More often than not, they are not familiar with the guitar repertoire, and as I work through books that have simple melodies and a steady progression, they just accept what I give them and will be happy if it is not too difficult. They are great fun, and they will do anything for a sticker. Repertoire that is too difficult is the biggest impediment of your progress. This might be the biggest take home point, and I am going to repeat myself later, but I believe the point is so important it warrants repetition. There is only the journey we each take, guitar in hand. If that happens to be on stage at Carnegie/Wigmore Hall, so be it, but believe me when I say there is no “making it”. More often than not, the marker of success will not be receiving a standing ovation at Carnegie Hall, the mark of success will be reaching goals, expressing yourself through music and having fun along the way. Success requires hard work, dedication and perseverance. The basic tenets of learning apply to everyone, regardless of age, advantages or disadvantages. There really is no limit to what each one of us can achieve, and in many respects age is no restriction. I have been asked several times by readers of the site if I think they can take up classical guitar study at a later age. I am just not going to dive into euphemisms. The word old is a loaded one, and I intend no disrespect by using it. This article will discuss whether learning guitar at an older age is possible and what’s involved.īefore we get into the meat and potatoes, I want to make my intentions clear. I was asked by Ira, Christopher, Steve and Leo (readers of the blog), to discuss challenges for an older guitarist. Games software © 2017 Ubisoft Entertainment. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. Licensed by Hasbro to Ubisoft Entertainment. So, if you are playing on your Xbox One and your friend is using PS4 to play Monopoly Plus, then there is no way for you guys to connect to play this game together. This implies that the players of Xbox One and PS4 will not be able to play Monopoly Plus with each other. MONOPOLY name and character, as well as each of the distinctive elements of board and playing pieces are trademarks of Hasbro for its property trading game and game equipment and are used with permission © 2017 Hasbro. No, as of now, Monopoly Plus is not cross-platform between Xbox One and PS4. The MONOPOLY name and logo, the distinctive design of the game board, the four corner squares, the MR. Play the famous Speed Die mode to spice up your game or select from a catalogue of 6 house rules chosen by Monopoly community members from around the world! At the moment the most attractive price is at GreenManGaming (5.16). You can change the rules and adapt them to your playing style. buy monopoly plus According to COST.games MONOPOLY PLUS can be purchased from 6 different shops: GreenManGaming, Fanatical, Ubisoft, Steam, Epic, GamersGate. Feel that you own something special and admire your empire grow right in front of your eyes! Its friendly inhabitants will interact with your progression throughout the game and celebrate your achievements, bringing a new dimension to your experience. You own a miniature world where each neighborhood has its own unique identity and characteristics. Play the famous Speed Die mode to spice up your game or select from a catalogue of 6 house rules chosen by Monopoly community members from around the world Activation: Automatically added to your Ubisoft Connect for PC library for download. Monopoly Plus Details Publisher Ubisoft Developer Ubisoft Pune Game Modes Single-player, Multiplayer os, Windows 8.1 or higher processor, Intel Core i3-550. A full 3D city at the center of the board lives and evolves as you play. The comics often depict Dick Grayson's sudden transition to Bruce Wayne's house as a traumatic and world-shattering experience. Unlike many other Robins and Batfamily members, Nightwing came from a happy home with open communication and healthy emotions. Though many fans would consider Gotham Knights' Red Hood to have a rockier relationship with Batman during his Robin days, Nightwing struggled to work alongside Bruce Wayne much more. Thankfully, his personality profile on the Gotham Knights website emphasizes the importance of " personal bonds," suggesting Nightwing will show great care towards his teammates. It's unknown if Gotham Knights plans to use this in-game, but it would be a grave disservice to the character not to include his sharp wit and caring personality. In Batman: Arkham Knight, Nightwing frequently utilized his charm and sarcasm to fight his enemies mentally and physically. In addition, he utilizes acrobatics and escrima sticks to knock his enemies out of the fight, all while sporting a much cheerier disposition than Batman. To prevent Dick Grayson from psychologically and emotionally spiraling as Bruce had, Dick Grayson learned to fight crime and became the first Robin.Īccording to the Gotham Knights website, Nightwing's portrayal stays in line with the comic progression of the character, sporting his black and blue suit with the Flying Graysons. Now orphaned, Dick Grayson was soon adopted by Bruce Wayne, who had watched the performance while investigating mob activity. During a routine, an assassin named Tony Zucco sabotaged the family's equipment and caused the death of Mary and John Grayson. Known as the Flying Graysons, Dick and his parents performed across the country until reaching Gotham. Before he embraced this role and entered the vigilante life, Nightwing was Dick Grayson, son of Mary and John Grayson and an acrobat in Haly's Circus. Given the hero's popularity and rich backstory, it's unlikely for Gotham Knights' story to completely ignore source material, meaning comic fans could be in for quality gameplay and story for Bludhaven's protector.Īccording to the Gotham Knights official website, Nightwing has become the de facto leader of Gotham's newest protectors. Like most superheroes, even Nightwing isn't exempt from trauma, and his struggles shape his personality, goals, and abilities. Though he is often regarded as the greatest Robin, the partnership between Batman and Nightwing experienced some turbulence before settling into a healthy pattern. Nightwing is an extremely popular member of the Batfamily, famous for becoming Batman's first Robin and embarking on a hero's journey throughout his vigilante career. Related: Gotham Knights Could Lead To A Teen Titans Game Freeze, and more, players can upgrade abilities and explore an evolving open-world unlike any seen before in DC games. As Gotham's new knights take on the Court of Owls, Mr. Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl, and Robin must work together to become Gotham's new protectors and defend Batman's legacy. Despite appearances, Gotham Knights is not a Batman: Arkham sequel, and instead explores a time where Gotham City is under siege by emboldened villains and secret societies. Gotham Knights takes place after Batman's death at the hands of unknown conspirators, leaving his city more vulnerable and chaotic than ever. from Japan in 1998, gamers couldn’t just Google the best strategies, especially when it came to how best to use different types of Pokémon against each other. When Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue - the first entries in the creature-catching franchise - came to the U.S. Enjoy the list, and please tread carefully and stay hydrated if you tackle any of these levels yourself. Is Battletoads a well-designed game? That’s a question we could spend another 20,000 words trying to answer. This was tougher to suss out when reflecting on gaming’s Cretaceous period, specifically the death traps that tormented us on the NES. Preference was given to levels that are honorable with their difficulty a good, satisfying hard, rather than “Are we sure this isn’t a bug?” hard. The impact of technology was taken into account, too: The difficulty of some games on the list was compounded by the inadequate controllers of their era. Each level’s difficulty was considered in the context of when the game was released - How hard was this when it came out? - since subsequent accumulation of knowledge, online resources, simplified rereleases, and better technology have made some of these stages more manageable over time. In general, we attempted to weigh a given level’s difficulty relative to the rest of the game and relative to other games in its genre. If a game was targeting young kids, how difficult was this level to that particular cohort? ➼ The ’90s Disney Games Rule: Intended audience matters. Side quests can be levels discrete sections of a map can be levels (as long as they follow the Flappy Bird Rule.) ➼ The Open-World Rule: As game styles evolve, so do level styles. ➼ The Flappy Bird Rule: Levels have a clear beginning and end. meaning no arcade games (unless they were ported to a console) and no mobile-first games - and we created a few rules to guide our selections: We reserve the right to add it at a later date.) We only looked at console and/or PC games released in the U.S. (It does not contain, we want to note, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which came out too recently for us to confidently make a determination about whether any of its challenges warrant a spot. This list contains resource-draining RPG grinds, uncompromising tactical grids, mind-melting adventure-game puzzles, and the sort of quicksilver, arcade-y gauntlets that require a speedrunner’s acumen. There are so many different ways to create a hard level. We’re here to celebrate the tradition and hopefully get some closure on our collective anguish. In fact, with the mainstream success of games like Elden Ring and Returnal, difficulty seems to be coming back into fashion. They may not be as common as they were in the old days, when there was a direct financial incentive in thwarting players, but plenty of studios still crank up the meters to 11, eager to break our thumbs in two. And yet, even now, gamers have a grudging appreciation for a really tough level. Extra lives are no longer stingily meted out between checkpoints, an easy mode is usually only a toggle away, and generally speaking publishers are more interested in immersing us in a story rather than humbling us with our inadequacies. The modern home console-based games industry is almost unrecognizable compared to those early days. This was the business model video games attempted to separate kids from their allowances as efficiently as possible, which was most easily accomplished through the blunt force of difficulty. A few minutes later, once those ghosts claimed Pac-Man’s soul, or after Jumpman tripped over one too many of Donkey Kong’s barrels, you were sent back to your mother, tail between your legs, in hopes that she had a bit more spare change left in her purse. In the earliest incarnation of the art - the arcade cabinets scattered across movie-theater lobbies and dentist waiting rooms in the ’70s and ’80s - you’d exchange a quarter for three lives and a dream. |
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