Lately, I've been reading various comments and watching videos where people are happy with tiktok closing in our country and can't stop ""feeling sorry"" for influencers who will have to search for real jobs instead of grimacing at the camera.
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I don't depend on tiktok to earn my living, but I worked with many tiktok influencers to promote merch, and I can state that entertaining followers isn't an easy job. I'd say it can be more challenging than eight hours in the office daily and requires a lot of creativity and perseverance.
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It's not easy at all to keep people interested in your content, especially with such severe competition. I've worked with influencers who spent hours and sometimes even days reshooting their videos so that everything looked great without any mistakes. I met tiktok creators who constantly altered the script and worried whether their statements could offend someone.
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Besides, people aren't satisfied with poor video quality, and making quality content requires tech skills that not everyone has. For example, I worked five years in marketing and still have no idea how to apply special effects so it won't look cheap or edit the video, so no one understands there was a cut.
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I agree that some people grimace in front of the camera or film their pets fooling around and quickly go viral, but in the long run, even such lucky ones need a strategy to keep their followers engaged. Without well-thought-out content, even services from which you can buy tiktok shares and likes won't be much help.
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From my experience, people can spend months and sometimes years shooting videos until they can finally monetize their tiktok account. Those thinking otherwise are simply envious or don't understand how things work. Making money from tiktok isn't easier than having a real job.

First Previous
For the past six days, I have been using a virtual reality headset to enhance my remote education here in this country. Legally, I'm a graduate student at the University of Nusantara. But a special case was made for me so that I can take assessments and exams in other universities.
Using the virtual reality headset was an interesting experience for me. The haptic feedback gloves were useful in giving me the necessary context when dealing with virtual objects. They enable me to interact with objects in a way that feels almost as if I am there in person. The actuator that arrests my fingers can give me the sensation of grabbing something, but it cannot simulate weight. When I grab a virtual object, it feels as though it is infinitely light, which can be a bit disorienting at times.
For this reason, I need to perform in-person practical classes once a week. Surgery requires me to be able to feel the resistance given by the flesh of the patient under me, this is achievable with full-immersion VR. But at that point, why not just do it in real space?
After spending the night in a town near Borobudur we continued to our destination the State of Yogyakarta, where our next university resided. Something about the name of the polity sounded off to me until I realized what it was.
"Why is it called a state?" I asked Johan. "I recall that other places are called a province."
Johan paused, considering where to start with his explanation. "Well, you do understand the concept of hereditary monarchy, don't you?"
"Some of the federation members do select their new leader through non-democratic means like exams," I answered, although I wasn't sure where he was going with this. "I do not think we still have any members whose leaders are chosen by descent."
"Okay, so this country used to be composed of several monarchies, and some of them used to fight against each other," Johan began to explain. "But when the arrival of the colonists made the monarchies unite and set aside their differences. Most of the monarchies gave way to democracy, but due to strong lobbying, the hereditary method was still maintained for Yogyakarta."
"So that is why it is called a state?" I asked, seeking clarification.
"Oh, it was called a province, with the sultan as governor," Johan replied. "It was not until the formation of the Federation of Nusantara that the State of Yogyakarta adopted the Malaysian way and switched to a constitutional monarchy. Now, the government is headed by a Chief Minister."
I nodded, trying to keep up with the complexities of this political system. "But what is the use of the monarch then, if they are not the one who rules?" I asked.
"I think it's for ceremonial purposes," Johan said. "All surviving monarchies on Earth use this system now. Because... the alternative would be no monarchy at all, and they don't want that."
"Oh, this is another one of your human cultural quirks," I remarked.
Juhan chuckled in agreement. "Yeah, and after the unification, the previously unrecognized monarchies in this country also lobbied to be recognized as a state," he said.
I observed the unique architecture of the buildings around us. Unlike the colonial or contemporary styles that I had seen in other cities, the buildings here featured slanted roofs with clay-colored coverings. Each edge of the roof was adorned with a curving flourish.
Our adventure began with a visit to the palace of the sultan, where we were greeted by a knowledgeable tour guide who was a member of the royal court. They provided us with insights into the history and culture of the state as well as showed us the various empty ceremonial pavilions that would be occupied during the festival and important times.
After leaving the palace, we decided to visit the museum of the Air Force, which was located right in an Armed Force Base. Once we got in, the first thing that greeted us was a fighter plane with a rotor. The machine of destruction was painted to look like a predator, with menacing eyes and pointy teeth. Sometimes, things on Earth reminded me that humans have a violent streak beneath their civility and kindness. Back then, I would see it with suspicion, but now… I think humans do need this fierceness as a resort when their words fail.
We could not proceed further, because Johan got the call.
"Hello." The human said with a sigh.
"..."
"Yeah… a member of the armed forces reported to you didn't they?"
"..."
"It's not like they can't learn about us from the ENAN application."
"..."
"Oh they can't? Alright… we'll turn away then."
In disappointment, Johan explained that we could not visit the Armed Forces museum due to the embargo on information about human warfare. He explained that it was a sensitive topic and the government regulates any dissemination of such information. Unlike our previous endeavors, this is not something that he can contest.
Bared from the Armed Force museum, we decided to visit the heritage museum instead. There, we walked through the exhibits while the tour guide explained the rich history and cultural traditions of the eastern part of the island. I could see the fascination in Johan's eyes as he listened intently to the guide's words. It was then that I realized that although Johan was born and raised on this island, his ancestry came from a land far away to the west. I wondered if this is how it feels like for non-venlil citizens on our homeworld who can speak and understand our language fluently despite belonging to a different species.
As the day came to the end we made our way to watch a traditional performance art known as shadow puppetry. The show was in Javanese, which was a bit challenging for me to consume, but I had a guide on our pad who helped us to understand the story. The puppeteer had an amazing ability to change their voice for each character in the show, making it seem like there were many different actors on stage. When the sun set, plunging the world into the night, we had dinner in the town square where we were treated to a spectacular display of lights and sounds. The bustling town square reminded me of the night market I visited in Bogor. Unlike other venlils I was never afraid of the darkness, but nevertheless… I equate darkness to a time of rest and calmness.
Meanwhile, here at the town square, pretty lights filled the air, from flying drones to brightly lighted traditional vehicles.
So, today we arrived at our third educational institution, the University of Gajah Mada. When we arrived at the complex Johan explained the origin of its name to me. It was named after a prime minister who lived around eight centuries ago. The translator told me that the first part of his name meant "elephant", the giant herbivore animals we saw back in the Safari Park. My human explained that this was not a coincidence and that the prime minister's name was literally "Drunk Elephant" in the language of his time. I found it odd that humans used such descriptive names but Johan clarified that it was likely just an epithet given to him based on his behavior or personality traits.
When I looked at the map of the Gajah Mada University, I was surprised by its vast size. It seemed almost like a city within a city with its numerous faculties, student dormitories, and even its own firefighter department and shopping center. The University of Nusantara complex was also large, but this was something else entirely. It was almost as if Gajah Mada University was its self-contained ecosystem. The presence of a hospital in the complex means that the Faculty of Medicine is located in the main complex. This was a stark contrast to the University of Nusantara, where the Faculty of Medicine was located kilometers away from the main complex.
The Faculty of Medicine even had a bridge connecting it directly to the hospital, providing easy access to students.
I was scheduled for a one-to-one assessment with Professor Badar. The meeting is scheduled for the eighth hour, and when we arrived several minutes before, the corridor leading up to the surgery laboratory was empty, with no sign of any students or staff. Unlike the gross Anatomy laboratory at the University of Nusantara, there was no waiting room outside the surgery laboratory. In front of the door, I pressed the button to notify whoever was inside, and after a moment, the surgery door slid open. A human dressed in light blue fabric stepped out, and I realized that the fabric seemed more like an outer protective layer.
Professor Badar's eyes met mine and he smiled.
"Ah, you're just on time. C'mon in!" He turned to Johan. "You can watch too if you want."
Johan hesitated for a moment before responding. "Can I just... wait outside?"
Badar nodded, "Well, that's allowed too."
After bidding farewell to Johan, the professor led me into a small room that resembled the staging room I had seen before in the University of Nusantara Faculty of Medicine. However, there was a distinct absence of the strong chemical taste that had pervaded the air in the staging room back in Jakarta. The room was empty except for the two of us.
"Before we start, Vani, I understand that your people don't typically perform surgeries in person. But in emergencies, what do they wear?"
"In-person surgery is an emergency procedure. In that case, they do not wear anything. I presume that your blue fabric is meant to minimize contaminants getting into the patient?"
"Correct. One of the things we discussed in the forum was how to accommodate your future work with us. We never had someone with so much fur before." The professor remarked, looking at me curiously.
"When I arrived on Earth, I had to wear a vacuum suit until I was decontaminated. The same approach could be done here," I suggested.
The professor nodded in agreement. "That's the same conclusion we had reached. We have our teams from the Faculty of Design and the Faculty of Engineering collaborate to come up with this," he explained while opening a locker and retrieving a white folded suit.
The suit looked like a cross between a vacuum suit and a hazmat suit, but with a less bulky design. As Professor Badar began to unfurl the suit, I noticed that it had roughly the same proportions as a venlil. "This isn't exactly a vacuum suit, but to make you comfortable, it has a built-in ventilation system," he added, pointing out the small vents that were scattered throughout the leg part of the suit.
The professor helped me get into the suit. The human adjusted the straps and made sure that the suit fits me properly. The transparent helmet felt light and flexible in my paws as I clasped it onto the rest of the suit.
"So... how is it?" he asked.
"I think it fits snugly. If I may make a suggestion, an inner pocket for my pad would be great. I need it to run the translator and various other applications I require in life," I said.
"Noted. I'll send that to the committee right away," Professor Badar replied.
When we stepped into the laboratory. four tables had stood in the room, with considerable distance between each other. My attention was drawn to the only table occupied by a human-shaped figure. At first, I thought they were just dummies, but as I got closer, I noticed their chest slowly rising and falling as if they were breathing.
"What are those figures?" I asked Professor Badar, hoping that humans are rational enough not to make me practice on an actual patient.
"Well, they are surgical training models," he replied. "We need to make them as lifelike as possible to ensure our students are well-prepared for real surgeries. Do you use similar models in your work?"
I feel a bit of relief. "No, we deal with deceased individuals, so we do not have any need for models like these. But even the dummy used for surgery does not breathe like this."
"Ah, interesting! I have seen your recorded practice in VR. Now it's time to do it in real space." The professor said, gesturing for me to step forward. He had even prepared a stepping stool for me to oversee the naked human dummy on the table. The detail of the skin looked lifelike, and I kept thinking of the dummy as an actual unconscious human. A piece of fabric covered the face of the dummy, and instead of making me feel at ease, not being able to look at a human face was strangely distressing.
"We will start by doing a common procedure called an appendectomy. Please show me the procedure as completely as possible," the professor instructed.
"Professor, is it correct to assume that this dummy is under anesthesia?" I asked.
"Correct."
I was about to disinfect the skin that I am about to cut open. But then… the professor asked me to do it as completely as possible.
"Sir. Is it possible to see the scan of the dummy beforehand? I need to be sure I am making an incision in the right place." This seemed to please the professor.
"I know you won't disappoint me," the professor said, pleased with my question about the patient's scan. "You're right to ask about the patient's reading. Why, there are even humans whose organs are placed the other way around. In that case, you have to reach their appendix from the left. In actual surgery, you will be given ample time to study and consult with other medical professionals."
"For the assessment, is it right to assume that the dummy patient is healthy?"
"Correct, now do you have the capability to receive my file?" said the professor.
"Yes. Just send it to the device named Vani's Pad."
The professor pulled out his pad and after fiddling with it, he sent an image with a flick. A notification popped up in my field of vision. With subvocal command, I ordered my implant to display the scan of the dummy in front of me. I examined it to ensure that I was making the incision in the correct location. Fortunately, the dummy doesn't have the exotic condition the professor described.
I find it hard to believe that a human can have mirrored anatomy like that.
When I began making the incision, the professor leaned in to watch my every move. The appendectomy is a common surgical procedure done to remove the appendix, an organ that humans have as a reservoir for gut bacteria. In Earth's herbivores, this organ is the size of an actual intestine and is used to help digest plant material. We venlil has a similar organ. Though the placement was quite different than in earth mammals.
I am not sure if I am impressed or concerned with the lifelike detail of the dummy's skin and surrounding tissue. The texture and feel were so realistic that it was hard to believe it wasn't an actual human. I continued with the procedure, paying attention to the depth of my scalpel, even though I knew it was a dummy. I should not damage the organs, even if they weren't real. I continued my incision and opened the dummy's subcutaneous layer and cut through the fat. I maneuvered my way to the appendix and once I had located the offending organ, I cut it off and cauterized the wound. I finished it by stitching the dummy back together. I used to stitch bodies back together during an autopsy, but in surgery, there are finer details that I need to heed.
After I finished the procedure, I looked over to the professor who nodded in approval. Despite knowing that the dummy was not a real human, I felt satisfaction at completing the surgery.
"I can't see anything wrong with your method so far. I would be okay with you performing an appendectomy on me even," said Professor Badar, a small smile forming on his lips. "But you do have years of experience in cutting up people. Is it any different? I have never performed an actual autopsy before," the professor admitted.
"There are differences when dealing with something alive or an approximation of something alive," I answered, thinking back to my years of examining bodies. "You have to be more careful and precise in your movements, and there are the constraints of making sure the patient survives."
"I see, yeah, you don't need to worry about that with your usual subject" the professor mused. "Well, thank you for attending the assessment, Vani. But I have to tell you that what you were doing is also considered an emergency procedure on Earth nowadays. Things like appendectomies are often done using laparoscopy whenever possible."
After the assessment I found Johan working in a café.
During my weekly checkup in the faculty building, the human medical students measured my torso diameter again, and after comparing it with their last measurement she made a recommendation. "You need to reduce your intake or exercise,"
Johan chimed in, "I think I can teach you some exercises to help with that."
Before we packed up I decided I had to reveal some personal details. "I also need to inform you that I have ingested human body fluid."
The student's fur brow twisted in a display of worry. "What kind of bodily fluid?" she asked.
"Saliva mostly," I could feel my fur prickling with discomfort, "We used protection."
"Oh…" she chuckled. "I was afraid it might be something like blood. So… just to be clear, the two of you had intercourse. Correct?"
"Yes," Johan said.
"Okay, if you are comfortable telling me when was your last time before you did it?" She asked me.
"Never."
"Wait... Really?" her expression was mostly that of disbelief but pity flashed over her face. "and you?" she turned toward Johan.
"Several years ago. I can't remember."
"Alright, alright." She typed something on her pad. "Well, as long as there is no issue, I think you can continue doing what you feel is best for both of you. We will keep this information confidential of course."
Half a claw after our last meal, Johan decided to teach me the basics of weightlifting and calisthenics. He explained that these exercises might not burn as many calories as cardio, but they were still useful for building and maintaining muscle strength. As we worked out, Johan expressed his curiosity about the training regimes of my people's armed forces.
"How do your people train?" He asked, as we completed a set of sit-ups, my human held my leg while I lay down and sat up repeatedly.
"Well, in the Venlil armed forces, I think they focus on muscle-building exercises like this," I remembered my ex, Janji, and how muscular he looked, like a venlil version of Johan.
"We don't engage in prolonged warfare, so our training is geared towards quick, decisive action," I added
I walked a lot during my stay on Earth for almost fifteen days and I noticed that my endurance and stamina had improved since my arrival. However, during the workout session with Johan, I still found myself getting unsteady on my feet. I stumbled and had to hold onto my human's body for balance.
"Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.
Trying to catch my breath, I nodded slowly, still feeling a bit woozy. "I think so," I managed to say, my voice shaky.
Johan placed a hand on my back and I felt a wave of heat rising from my body. "Oh man, you're hot," he commented.
"Thanks," I replied weakly, my mind foggy from the dizziness.
"No, I mean your body temperature is high," Johan clarified. "We should stop and let you rest."
Feeling grateful for Johan's concern, I nodded in agreement. I sat down on the back of the van. The vehicle's air conditioner blasted cool air onto my body, helping to normalize my temperature. Johan continued with his workout for a while longer, and I watched him from the van camera. Sweat glistened on his skin, and he seemed to be enjoying the exercise. By the time he joined me in the van, he looked ready to wash his body.
"Johan,"
"Mhm?" he replied before getting into the cramped shower room.
"I remembered our encounter with Beer, the sheep furry? Perhaps a cooling vest would be beneficial for me?"

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In this post, I'd like to share our DevOps engineer article about how to run a k8s Cronjob with the following conditions:

• our application is written in the GO language
• the Docker image is built on the "FROM scratch" base
• auto-inject is enabled for the istio-proxy.

Docker has become an indispensable tool for developers and DevOps engineers, making it easier to package, distribute, and deploy applications consistently and efficiently. One of the most popular programming languages for building microservices and scalable applications is Go (Golang). In addition to being an essential tool for developers and DevOps engineers, Docker is often used in conjunction with Kubernetes to manage and orchestrate containerized applications at scale. This is where Istio comes in - it's a service mesh that can be used with Kubernetes to help manage and secure communication between microservices in a containerized application.

Building Docker Images for GO Applications

Multi-stage builds are a powerful feature in Docker that allows you to build an application in one stage and then copy the compiled binary to a second, minimal stage. This provides several advantages, including:

• Reducing the size of the final image: By using a minimal base image, you can keep the size of the final image as small as possible. This makes it faster to download and deploy and reduces the attack surface of the image.
• Improved security: By using a minimal base image, you can reduce the number of dependencies and potential attack vectors. Additionally, by not copying any build artifacts or temporary files, you can further reduce the attack surface of the image.
• Improved build time: Multi-stage builds allow you to compile the application in one stage and then copy the binary to the final image in a separate stage. This can improve build time, as you can use a faster build environment for the first stage and then use a smaller, more minimal image for the second stage.

The "FROM scratch" base image is a special, minimal base image that contains no files or dependencies. It provides a clean slate for building your application and is often used as the base image for multi-stage builds.
Here's an example of how you can use a multi-stage build to build a Docker image for a Go application:

# Build stage FROM golang:latest AS build WORKDIR /app COPY . . RUN go build -o myapp # Final stage FROM scratch COPY --from=build /app/myapp /myapp CMD ["/myapp"] 

In this example, we first use the golang: latest image as the build stage. This image provides a Go environment with all the necessary dependencies to build our application. We then copy the source code to the /app directory and run the go build command to compile the binary.
In the final stage, we use the scratch base image, which provides a minimal, empty environment for our application. We then copy the compiled binary from the build stage using the COPY --from syntax. Finally, we set the CMD to run the binary, which will be the default command when the image is run as a container.
(This example doesn’t show all best practices of building Docker images because it’s not a goal of this article. That’s why the 'latest' tag is used, etc.)
Using a multi-stage build and the "FROM scratch" base image, we can create small, secure, and efficient Docker images for our Go applications. This approach also provides a consistent and reproducible build environment, making it easier to manage and deploy our applications.

Istio

Istio is an open-source service mesh technology that provides a set of APIs and tools for managing microservices in a cloud-native environment. It is designed to simplify the management of the communication between microservices and to provide a platform for adding new functionality, such as traffic management, security, and telemetry.
Advantages of using Istio:

• Istio helps to manage the complexity of microservices communication by providing a unified control plane.
• It provides built-in security features that help to secure communication between microservices.
• Istio makes it easier to manage and monitor microservices by providing centralized visibility and control over the network.
• Istio provides an API-driven approach to traffic management that makes it easy to manage and control the flow of requests between microservices.

Problems with using Istio in Kubernetes Jobs and docker images built using “FROM scratch”

Kubernetes Jobs (cronjobs) are used to run batch jobs, and when the main container is completed, the Istio proxy sidecar continues to run, which can cause issues with resource usage and security.
To terminate the Istio proxy sidecar, you need to run the following command in your main container:

wget -q --post-data='' -S -O /dev/null http://127.0.0.1:15020/quitquitquit 

However, this can be a challenge when the main container is built using the "FROM scratch" Docker image, as it does not include the wget/curl tool, which is required to terminate the Istio proxy sidecar.
In such cases, there are a few alternative options to consider:

• Modify the Docker image to include the wget tool: You can modify the Docker image to include the wget tool by using a base image that includes it or by installing it directly in the Dockerfile. This solution would require modifying the existing Docker image and could potentially impact the size of the image.
• Configure Istio to automatically terminate the proxy: Istio can be configured to automatically terminate the proxy when the main container is completed. This can be done by setting the terminationGracePeriodSeconds property in the Kubernetes Job definition. This solution would require modifying the existing Kubernetes Job definition and may require additional configuration changes in Istio also we need to be sure that our main container is completed.
• Using init containers to copy tools into the main container.

Let’s see what the third option looks like.
An init container is a special type of container that runs before the main container in a Pod.
In this case, the init container can be based on the busybox image and have the following steps:

• Copy /bin/sh and /bin/busybox to a volume (e.g. emptyDir) shared between the init container and the main app.

The command for the main container will be set as follows:

set -x; /myapp EXIT_CODE=$?; /share/busybox wget -q --post-data='' -S -O /dev/null http://127.0.0.1:15020/quitquitquit; exit ${EXIT_CODE} 

The above command runs the main application /myapp and sets an exit code stored in the EXIT_CODE variable. When the main application finishes, the Istio proxy sidecar is terminated by sending a wget request to http://127.0.0.1:15020/quitquitquit. The exit code of the main application is then returned to ensure that the correct exit status is passed back to the system.
Here is an example of a Kubernetes CronJob YAML definition that implements the solution:

apiVersion: batch/v1beta1 kind: CronJob metadata: name: my-cronjob spec: schedule: "0 0 * * *" # run every day at midnight jobTemplate: spec: template: spec: volumes: - name: share emptyDir: {} initContainers: - name: init image: busybox:musl command: ["cp", "/bin/sh", "/bin/busybox", "/share/"] volumeMounts: - name: share mountPath: /share containers: - name: main image: my-main-container-image command: - /share/sh - -c - set -x; /myapp CODE=$?; /share/busybox wget -q --post-data='' -S -O /dev/null http://127.0.0.1:15020/quitquitquit; exit ${CODE} volumeMounts: - name: share mountPath: /share livenessProbe: tcpSocket: port: 15020 readinessProbe: tcpSocket: port: 15020 restartPolicy: Never 

In addition, the above definition includes liveness/readiness probes for the main container to check that the Istio proxy container has started and is ready to serve traffic. Keep in mind that this cronjob spec doesn’t have special annotations/labels to enable injecting istio-proxy sidecar.

Conclusion

When using Istio with Kubernetes Jobs, it is important to consider the limitations of the main container's Docker image and the tools that are included. By exploring alternative solutions, such as modifying the Docker image, using a different tool, or configuring Istio, you can ensure that your Kubernetes Jobs run smoothly and securely with Istio.

“Reanimator in Gruul? It's More Likely Than You Think”
Welcome to another edition of a random card being turned into an EDH Deck! Every Friday I create a budget (<$100) EDH Deck based entirely around a random card that I pull from scryfall.com (or that is suggested by someone else, either way it’s still random to me). I would love it if anyone has any suggestions for future random cards/decks or just wants to share their own experiences with any cards or decks discussed, I think this is a ton of fun.
Random Card of the Week (Image Download Link)
Random Card of the Week (Scryfall Link)
Deck List
Deck Tech/Gameplay Video:
Game 1 - (Neyith of the Dire Hunt vs Niv-Mizzet, Reborn & Jegantha, the Wellspring vs Gallia of the Endless Dance vs Aurelia, the Warleader)
Game 2 - (Kardur, Doom Scourge vs Gisa and Geralf vs Dina, Soul Steeper vs Gallia of the Endless Dance)
This week’s deck uses [[Aether Rift]] as our random card (suggested by Doodle on Patreon/Discord) and [[Gallia of the Endless Dace]] as the commander. Normally when you think of a reanimtor deck you think about Orzhov or Mono-Black or maybe even Rakdos but today I'm here to change that perception and make you think of another color identity: Gruul. Is it possible to build a reanimator deck in Green/Red? Yes. Is it easy? No. Luckily, in our colors we have access to some of the best discard effects in the game with things like [[Bitter Reunion]], [[Cavalier of Flame]], and [[Greater Good]]. By focusing on discard over mill we can ensure that we stock our graveyard full of cards that either want to be there or that we can get back at some point. For the cards that want to be in the graveyard we have a ton of powerful creatures like [[Ox of Agonas]], [[Genesis]], and [[Vengevine]] to make the most of our reanimation strategy (plus we also get [[Flayer of the Hatebound]] who is an automatic all star in this deck). Once we have our graveyard stocked the question becomes: how do we reanimate the cards that can't reanimate themselves? That's where [[Reincarnation]], [[Search for Survivors]], and [[God-Pharaoh's Gift]] come into play.
Now, obviously, Gruul isn't great at returning creatures directly from the graveyard to the battlefield. That's why we're also running a bunch of ways to just put cards from our graveyard back into our hand. Considering we're able to ramp like crazy and probably have significantly more mana than the rest of the table, putting a card into our hand isn't too far off from putting it directly into play. [[Skullwinder]], [[Timeless Witness]], and [[Verdant Confluence]] are great examples of this strategy. Finally, we have one creature type that became invaluable during the building of this deck for how well they synergized with the reanimation strategies. Considering our commander is Gallia, you might expect that creature type to be Satyrs but, in reality, it's Phoenixes. We're playing a ton of Phoenix cards like [[Sunstreak Phoenix]], [[Rekindling Phoenix]], and [[Flamewake Phoenix]] to maximize the number of creatures cycling in and out of our graveyard at any given time. Ideally, all of these synergies put us in a situation where we're able to close out the game and, although this deck may not be as powerful as an Orzhov reanimator deck, it can still show unique strategies, be fun to play, and put up a stronger fight than most people may expect.
In the end, this deck came in at $77.69 with [[Portal to Phyrexia]] being the most expensive card at $20.01. I think it's a testament to how cheap this deck is when we can squeeze in a $20 card and still keep the total price of the deck under $80. Portal to Phyrexia is a phenomenal card for this deck because it functions as both a board wipe (kind of) and repeatable reanimation, which is hard to come by in our colors. It's definitely worth its $20 price tag but if you're looking to trim down the price of the deck then it's an easy card to cut as it will drop the total price of the deck to ~$57 which is pretty cheap for a relatively competitive deck.
Now, normally, this would be the section of the post where I hype up some cards that go great in the deck but that I couldn't use due to the budget restriction. For the first time, though, I don't actually have any. Sure, I could recommend you play the expensive staples of the colors or play more expensive beefy creatures to reanimate but, honestly, that feels like it's going against the "suggestions" part of this deck showcase. [[Dockside Extortionist]] will probably make any deck better but it doesn't feel like it's an integral part to our strategy so I don't want to recommend it. Since I was able to squeeze in a $20 card and still have $23 to spare in our budget, I don't have any out-of-budget recommendations this time. If you can think of anything, I'd love to hear about it so please let me know!
Thanks for checking out the deck and reading about it/watching the video! I hope you all like it and if you think there are improvements to be made, if you have suggestions, or just want to chat about it, then let me know. Also, a quick plug: if you want to guarantee that your suggestions get turned into decks or a variety of other benefits (including access to a discord channel to play in the games, help build the decks, getting the decklists a week early, and one of the random cards shipped to you every month) then check me out on www.patreon.com/dungeonlearnersguide.

“Reanimator in Gruul? It's More Likely Than You Think”
Welcome to another edition of a random card being turned into an EDH Deck! Every Friday I create a budget (<$100) EDH Deck based entirely around a random card that I pull from scryfall.com (or that is suggested by someone else, either way it’s still random to me). I would love it if anyone has any suggestions for future random cards/decks or just wants to share their own experiences with any cards or decks discussed, I think this is a ton of fun.
Random Card of the Week (Image Download Link)
Random Card of the Week (Scryfall Link)
Deck List
Deck Tech/Gameplay Video:
Game 1 - (Neyith of the Dire Hunt vs Niv-Mizzet, Reborn & Jegantha, the Wellspring vs Gallia of the Endless Dance vs Aurelia, the Warleader)
Game 2 - (Kardur, Doom Scourge vs Gisa and Geralf vs Dina, Soul Steeper vs Gallia of the Endless Dance)
This week’s deck uses [[Aether Rift]] as our random card (suggested by Doodle on Patreon/Discord) and [[Gallia of the Endless Dace]] as the commander. Normally when you think of a reanimtor deck you think about Orzhov or Mono-Black or maybe even Rakdos but today I'm here to change that perception and make you think of another color identity: Gruul. Is it possible to build a reanimator deck in Green/Red? Yes. Is it easy? No. Luckily, in our colors we have access to some of the best discard effects in the game with things like [[Bitter Reunion]], [[Cavalier of Flame]], and [[Greater Good]]. By focusing on discard over mill we can ensure that we stock our graveyard full of cards that either want to be there or that we can get back at some point. For the cards that want to be in the graveyard we have a ton of powerful creatures like [[Ox of Agonas]], [[Genesis]], and [[Vengevine]] to make the most of our reanimation strategy (plus we also get [[Flayer of the Hatebound]] who is an automatic all star in this deck). Once we have our graveyard stocked the question becomes: how do we reanimate the cards that can't reanimate themselves? That's where [[Reincarnation]], [[Search for Survivors]], and [[God-Pharaoh's Gift]] come into play.
Now, obviously, Gruul isn't great at returning creatures directly from the graveyard to the battlefield. That's why we're also running a bunch of ways to just put cards from our graveyard back into our hand. Considering we're able to ramp like crazy and probably have significantly more mana than the rest of the table, putting a card into our hand isn't too far off from putting it directly into play. [[Skullwinder]], [[Timeless Witness]], and [[Verdant Confluence]] are great examples of this strategy. Finally, we have one creature type that became invaluable during the building of this deck for how well they synergized with the reanimation strategies. Considering our commander is Gallia, you might expect that creature type to be Satyrs but, in reality, it's Phoenixes. We're playing a ton of Phoenix cards like [[Sunstreak Phoenix]], [[Rekindling Phoenix]], and [[Flamewake Phoenix]] to maximize the number of creatures cycling in and out of our graveyard at any given time. Ideally, all of these synergies put us in a situation where we're able to close out the game and, although this deck may not be as powerful as an Orzhov reanimator deck, it can still show unique strategies, be fun to play, and put up a stronger fight than most people may expect.
In the end, this deck came in at $77.69 with [[Portal to Phyrexia]] being the most expensive card at $20.01. I think it's a testament to how cheap this deck is when we can squeeze in a $20 card and still keep the total price of the deck under $80. Portal to Phyrexia is a phenomenal card for this deck because it functions as both a board wipe (kind of) and repeatable reanimation, which is hard to come by in our colors. It's definitely worth its $20 price tag but if you're looking to trim down the price of the deck then it's an easy card to cut as it will drop the total price of the deck to ~$57 which is pretty cheap for a relatively competitive deck.
Now, normally, this would be the section of the post where I hype up some cards that go great in the deck but that I couldn't use due to the budget restriction. For the first time, though, I don't actually have any. Sure, I could recommend you play the expensive staples of the colors or play more expensive beefy creatures to reanimate but, honestly, that feels like it's going against the "suggestions" part of this deck showcase. [[Dockside Extortionist]] will probably make any deck better but it doesn't feel like it's an integral part to our strategy so I don't want to recommend it. Since I was able to squeeze in a $20 card and still have $23 to spare in our budget, I don't have any out-of-budget recommendations this time. If you can think of anything, I'd love to hear about it so please let me know!
Thanks for checking out the deck and reading about it/watching the video! I hope you all like it and if you think there are improvements to be made, if you have suggestions, or just want to chat about it, then let me know. Also, a quick plug: if you want to guarantee that your suggestions get turned into decks or a variety of other benefits (including access to a discord channel to play in the games, help build the decks, getting the decklists a week early, and one of the random cards shipped to you every month) then check me out on www.patreon.com/dungeonlearnersguide.

Unveiling the Enchanted Realm of MOBOX 2.0

As we approach the 2nd anniversary of the mystical MOBOX gaming platform, we embark on a journey through time, reminiscing about the magical achievements and milestones that have materialized within our ever-growing kingdom. This enchanting tale could not have been written without the steadfast dedication of the MOBOX community and our valiant team. With hearts full of gratitude, we reminisce about our past while boldly setting forth our grand vision for the upcoming year.
Two years ago, the MOBOX gaming platform emerged from the shadows and set foot on the Binance Smart Chain. Since then, we have traversed the path from obscurity to fame, now entering a realm of rapid development as we tirelessly enhance our platform and games. Our flourishing MOBOX ecosystem has evolved from humble beginnings to a vast, interconnected matrix teeming with depth and intrigue, boasting a trove of remarkable achievements. Among these treasures are 3.6 million unique wallets, a total value locked (TVL) of up to 440 million US dollars, over 2 million NFTs conjured, and a staggering 400,000,000 BUSD in NFT trading volume.
For the MOBOX team, this moment holds a special magic. Since 2018, we have successfully launched a multitude of influential game products in the Web3 realm. With the inception of the MOBOX platform, we have spent five enchanting years immersed in the Web3 domain. Bolstered by a steadfast team, abundant industry experience, and a relentless, can-do spirit, we have marched valiantly toward our goals. This unwavering commitment has ensured the absence of any major security breaches within our platform. Presently, we eagerly seek to collaborate with exceptional Web3 builders to further manifest the MOBOX vision and mission.

Check out what we achieved in 2022! “MOBOX 2022 Annual Summary” and join us in celebrating our 2nd anniversary as we continue to weave the spellbinding tale of the enchanted MOBOX 2.0 realm.

▣ Abstract
❖ MOBOX cross-chain deployment ❖ New NFT series — Dragon ❖ MOBOX World ❖ MOMOverse ❖ MOBOX Avatar 2.0 ❖ MOBOX game release plan ❖ MOBOX world ❖ MBOX Token economic model 2.0 ❖ MOBOX Fusion Hub ❖ MOMO Mart ❖ Roadmap ❖ Summary
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MOBOX Platform Cross-Chain Deployment

As part of the MOBOX multi-universe plan, the MOBOX platform has officially launched its multi-chain collaborative development strategy in its third year. It is no longer limited to single-chain development on the Binance Smart Chain. To achieve this goal, the MOBOX team is building cross-chain protocols for multiple mainstream public chains, to achieve collaborative operability of NFTs on different public chains, capture and endow more value to MBOX, and enhance MBOX ecosystem compatibility.
This cross-chain collaboration introduces MBOX into the Ethereum ecosystem for the first time, bringing new NFT series to Arbitrum. By integrating with Arbitrum, MOBOX can interact with a large number of Ethereum users and projects. MOBOX users can use their assets and NFTs on Arbitrum and interact with other projects in the Ethereum ecosystem. Similarly, Ethereum projects and users can also use their assets and NFTs on the “MOBOX platform”, “MOBOX games”, and “MOBOX services”.
Through cross-chain functionality and NFT interoperability, MOBOX plans to achieve cross-chain interoperability of all platform products and games. This will allow the use of NFTs from other blockchains on the MOBOX platform and MOMOverse, bringing more choices to users and creating opportunities to attract a more diverse user base and resource channels. It also establishes universal collaborative operability between blockchains and applications.
The first cross-chain gateway of the MOBOX platform will be established on Ethereum and its Layer 2 network, Arbitrum. This not only brings MBOX into the Ethereum ecosystem but also brings new NFT series to Arbitrum. Through cross-chain Arbitrum, MOBOX can interact with a large number of users and projects on Ethereum, achieving more collaborative operability. MOBOX users can use MOBOX assets and NFTs on Arbitrum and interact with projects in the Ethereum ecosystem. Meanwhile, projects and users on Ethereum can also use their assets and NFTs on the MOBOX platform, MOBOX games, and MOBOX services.
Cross-chain to Arbitrum is an important step for MOBOX to expand its ecosystem and realize its vision of creating an interconnected multi-universe. The MOBOX team will continue to collaborate with other mainstream blockchains to develop cross-chain protocols and provide users with broader interoperability and usage choices.
Cross-chain to Arbitrum will bring opportunities and convenience to more users and projects, helping the development of the entire blockchain ecosystem. Through the collaborative operability of MOMO NFT and other public chain NFTs, we will jointly promote the development and innovation of the metaverse.
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Enchanting MODragon NFTs: A Magical World Awaits

The MOBOX team is thrilled to unveil the imminent arrival of an enthralling new NFT series, the mesmerizing MODragon, set to grace the Ethereum Layer 2 public chain, Arbitrum. This bewitching NFT collection merges cutting-edge AI image generation sorcery, beckoning players into a realm of diverse gameplay and captivating interactive experiences within the MOBOX ecosystem.
This is the MOBOX art team’s first NFT creation that combines cutting-edge AI image generation technology. AI has great untapped potential in the creative field, and the MOBOX team plans to utilize this technology in production while ensuring compliance and not violating basic ethical standards. Additionally, the team plans to work with players to create content and participate in and promote the AI technology revolution in future community activities.
As the first phase of the MODragon NFT release unfolds, the MOBOX platform will bestow the gift of Genesis Dragon Eggs upon MOBOX players and devoted users of Arbitrum. These mystical eggs will soon hatch, unveiling the alluring MODragon NFTs that lie within. Keep a watchful eye on MOBOX’s social media and community for announcements detailing the enchanting airdrop rules.
The enthralling MODragon NFT series encompasses six elemental realms: fire, water, wood, earth, light, and darkness. MODragons that emerge from the Genesis Dragon Eggs will be blessed with one of these elemental affinities at random. As players venture deeper into this magical world, they may discover unique dual-element dragons and even the elusive four-element dragons in subsequent hatchings. Engaging gameplay, including hatching, battling, fusing, and nurturing multi-element dragons, will be unveiled in due course, showcasing the unparalleled interoperability of NFTs and adding an extra layer of enchantment to the game.
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This captivating NFT series promises to become an integral aspect of the MOBOX platform, bestowing endless joy and opportunities upon our cherished community. We warmly invite all MOBOX community members to delve into the wondrous and enigmatic realm of dragons and embark on a magical adventure like no other!
As the project steadily develops, there will be more cross-chain interactive gameplay in the future, including interaction with the BNB chain and MOMO players on the BNB chain.
Stay tuned to MOBOX’s official channels for more spellbinding updates on the MODragon NFTs. Thank you for your unwavering support!
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Welcome to the MOBOX World: A Dreamlike World of Infinite Possibilities

With the successful implementation of the MOBOX cross-chain protocol, our team now envisions a captivating MOBOX metaverse world inspired by the mesmerizing MOMOverse. As trailblazers in the WEB 3 domain, we began designing an innovative game four years ago that would revolutionize the blockchain gaming industry. This game empowers players with complete ownership of in-game assets, enabling them to craft and inhabit their very own fantastical multi-dimensional universes.
Our unwavering dedication is to create an immersive and rewarding experience for every player in an open, decentralized environment, encouraging each participant to contribute to community building as a member of a collective working towards a shared vision — an open multi-dimensional universe. As eternal game creators, we’ve identified a disconnect between participants and new social contracts within the existing gaming ecosystem. The MOBOX Universe brings players, designers, engineers, and creators together under a harmonious system of shared responsibilities and incentives.
Throughout the game development process, we’ve recognized the need for a more equitable operating model that breaks down the historical barriers between builders and participants, empowering everyone to create, nurture, enhance, and benefit from the fruits of our collective labor. We also strive to protect these efforts from the influence of intermediaries seeking access to distribution channels.
A fair and thriving community lies at the heart of our game’s future, and every step forward reveals the potential of this enchanting world. We are steadfast in our belief that this is the key to crafting a sustainable game, rich in content and deeply engaging for players.
In this new realm, we’re dedicated to building a truly digital universe that transcends gaming platforms, incorporating a wide array of services, applications, and tools for users to explore, play, and interact. Our grand vision includes allocating a unique continent to each mainstream public chain, home to their native populations. These continents will symbolize their respective public chains, fostering a distinctive digital ecosystem that facilitates communication between users across different public chains.
The MOMOverse, a colossal floating island situated at the center of this world, will feature diverse terrains such as land, floating islands, oceans, and enigmatic creatures. Players can claim a piece of land, build their dream homes, and engage with fellow inhabitants. They’ll have the chance to construct airships, journey to uncharted continents, engage in epic battles with hostile fleets, or trade with merchant fleets voyaging the world.
The MOBOX team is devoted to integrating all products, services, and games on the MOBOX platform into this digital universe. This boundless world teeming with possibilities will allow users to create digital assets, construct homes and cities, develop games and applications, and interact with others. We believe this digital world will not only offer users an entertaining and creative space but also become a genuine social platform that fosters open communication and collaboration between various public chain ecosystems.
Our dream is to cultivate a truly open and equal community in this digital realm, where everyone has the opportunity to participate and create their digital value. Regardless of your public chain affiliation, you’ll discover a sense of belonging and connection here. The MOBOX team will continue to work tirelessly to advance the development and enhancement of this digital world, delivering the ultimate experience and services to our users.
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Embracing MOMOverse: A World of Adventure Awaits

We are thrilled to announce the seamless integration of MOMOverse’s home into the MOBOX Universe. This fusion will provide players with a grander worldview, inviting every MOMOverse resident to delve into a more diverse and vivid world.
Upon the integration of MOMOverse’s home, players can establish their domains, rise to prominence as influential lords, and vie for minerals, resources, and land for their forces. Our team has devised numerous innovative tools and gameplay features, alongside richer background stories and engaging quests.
These elements will allow players to create and explore more freely within the game. Players can enhance their economic power by establishing guilds and constructing buildings, as well as acquiring more treasures and resources by venturing into uncharted territories on the map.
We are confident that this integration process will inject more excitement and challenges into the MOBOX Universe and MOMOverse. We eagerly anticipate unveiling more surprises for our community and players in future updates. Together, let’s expand this boundless world of endless possibilities.
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Introducing MOBOX Avatar 2.0

MOBOX Avatars are the magical embodiments of your virtual self within the wondrous realm of the MOMOverse. As unique manifestations of your digital essence, they bridge the gap between our world and the extraordinary MOBOX digital dimension, where your Avatar will captivate and inspire fellow adventurers.
In the mesmerizing metaverse, an Avatar serves as the cornerstone of all enchanting experiences, and our dedicated team cherishes this responsibility. The initial MOBOX Avatar 1.0 incarnation faced a number of challenges, such as lackluster color perception, limited facial features, subpar model accuracy, and insufficient image differentiation. With MOBOX Avatar 2.0, we’ve conjured a realm of dazzling improvements, including more vibrant colors and striking contrasts, intricate facial features and expressions, smoother contours, and a fully-realized three-dimensional model, ensuring each character stands out from the crowd.
Best of all, players possessing a MOBOX Avatar will be gifted a brand new Avatar 2.0 airdrop, enveloping you in the magic of our enhanced creation. The MOBOX Avatar 2.0 project is nearing its final stages of enchantment and is slated to debut alongside the world map version, inviting you to embrace your dazzling new digital identity within the MOMOverse.
Prepare to be spellbound as we eagerly anticipate the arrival of the “new” you in the ethereal world of the MOMOverse.

MOBOX Game Release Plan

Boasting over a decade of experience in traditional game development and publishing, our team is well-equipped to explore and innovate within the realm of Web 3 gaming. Our financial resources are more than adequate to support our long-term endeavors in this area. In the coming years, we will prioritize the signing of top-tier games with development investments exceeding tens of millions of dollars for release on the MOBOX platform. Additionally, we will actively collaborate with industry leaders to bolster the MOBOX ecosystem’s growth.
In 2023, MOBOX plans to launch three games. Here is some publicly available information about some of them:

New SLG Game — “Dragon Battlefield”

Game Introduction: This game will transport players to an exhilarating world of warfare, where they can assume the role of a formidable commander, lead their army into battle, manage their own city, and amass and train a powerful arsenal of mechanical dragons to secure victory for their empire. By upgrading their city, army, and mechanical dragons, players will attain greater power and triumph in more battles.
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2. Large MMORPG Game — “Project M”
PROJECT M will be the first ever DAO designed and developed MMORPG game on the blockchain. Every major step in the design and development process will be decided through the day including game mechanics, game name, game assets, game skins and more!”
Game Introduction: This is a thrilling MMORPG set in a post-apocalyptic world destroyed by a catastrophic event. In this barren world, resources are scarce, and various monsters and dangerous creatures roam the land. As a survivor of the apocalypse, players must face endless danger and challenges. To survive, players need to explore, battle, and produce to obtain the necessary resources for survival and a safer living environment.
To survive and thrive, players need to work together. You can choose different career paths, such as melee, ranged, healing, and mage, each with their own skill paths and growth attributes. By working hard to improve your strength and building a powerful alliance with other players, you can become a force to be reckoned with.
The core gameplay of the game is cooperative real-time combat and rich storyline missions. Players will accept missions from various organizations in the world, team up with other players, and gain experience and rewards. The game provides an open world where players can explore the wasteland, find hidden treasures and relics, unlock powerful skills and equipment, and improve their combat abilities and attributes.
In this open world, players can explore and create their own unique gaming experiences. The game content is rich, and social functions are also well-developed. In this apocalypse, it requires the wisdom and courage of players to protect and continue human civilization, which represents knowledge and creation.
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RPG game — “King of Chaos”

Set in a world teeming with challenges and adventures, “King of Chaos” depicts a realm where magic reigns supreme, and time travelers from various eras and dimensions bring with them an assortment of technologies and knowledge. The Empire Knights represent the traditional ruling class.
Players will embody a warrior, venturing and exploring the tumultuous world, completing an array of tasks and challenges, and unearthing hidden secrets and treasures. The game’s core features include combat, exploration, leveling up, equipment, and synthesis. Players must amass experience and wealth through battles, explore diverse terrains and settings, locate equipment and materials, enhance their skills and attributes, and ultimately ascend to the title of King of Chaos.
In combat, players can select different skills and equipment and combine them to devise the optimal battle strategy. Each character possesses unique skills and attributes, requiring players to choose the most suitable character for combat based on varying situations and enemies. Simultaneously, players can also team up with others to challenge formidable bosses. A range of thrilling adventure quests awaits players, beckoning them to explore and conquer.
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MBOX Tokenomics 2.0

1. Burn
The MOBOX platform is expected to burn about 135,000,000 MBOX tokens (the portion of the planned total production in the second year that has not been produced), which is equivalent to 60% of the planned total production in the second year.
2. Adjustment
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1. The daily output of MBOX in the MBOX-BNB LP mining pool has been adjusted. (As Shown Above)
2. The daily output of MBOX collected by MOMO has been adjusted from 50,000 MBOX to 40,000 MBOX.
3. The output of MBOX produced by the D.S.C trade and the prosperity of the MOMOverse home will remain unchanged.
4. Although the output of MBOX produced by MOMO NFT has been adjusted, the basic consensus that MOMO is the core output of MBOX has not changed.
5. It is expected that the updated MBOX output will meet the expectations of the third-year plan in the MOBOX white paper.

3. New Application Scenarios

1. Cross-chain staking
2. New liquidity staking
3. Use and consumption in the MOBOX world
4. Used in the new Dragon NFT series gameplay
5. Used in the new MOBOX games “Dragon Battlefield” and “End of the World Storm”

4. Explanation of MOBOX Team and Strategic Investment Shares
In the current market environment, many companies face operational difficulties and pressures. In contrast, the MOBOX team has significant differences from other projects. First, in addition to receiving strategic investments from Binance Labs, the team has a stable source of income, including platform profitability, cooperation, and investment returns. These revenues are sufficient to support the team’s development and expansion plans for at least five years, so there is no need to sell any MBOX tokens to survive. Second, in order to achieve MOBOX’s grand vision, we will continue to attract outstanding talents in the industry and negotiate with top Web3 investment institutions to prepare high-quality resources, sign high-quality AAA-level games, and expand the ecosystem.
We firmly believe that the MOBOX platform has the potential for long-term and sustainable development. With the continuous development of products and market expansion the MOBOX ecosystem will become stronger and more dynamic, creating more value for MBOX holders.
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MOBOX Fusion Hub

After completing the integration with multiple mainstream Layer 1 public chains and related Layer 2, MOBOX will launch its final version. We call it the Web 3 Games ultimate solution — MOBOX Fusion hub. Our platform is ready to provide game developers with a series of SDKs and APIs specifically tailored for blockchain games to help them develop and release games based on web 3 technology.
Currently, our Fusion hub platform has launched the first internal test version for game teams and studios related to MOBOX. We expect that games on MOBOX will be upgraded and managed through this platform. The official version of MOBOX Fusion Hub will go live after performance stabilization and large-scale testing.
We believe that blockchain technology and NFTs will play an important role in the future of the gaming industry, and our platform will be one of the pioneers of this trend. Our vision is to become the preferred platform for game developers and contribute to the development of the future gaming industry. At the same time, we will continue to improve and perfect our platform to ensure that we are always at the forefront of the gaming industry. The fusion hub platform will have the following main features:
1. Compatible with Multiple Layer 1 Public Chains
Compared to other GameFi projects, the MOBOX Open Platform can be compatible with multiple Layer 1 public chains, including but not limited to BNB chain and ETH chain. This allows our game developers to choose the underlying public chain that best suits their projects.
2. MOBOX SDK & APIs
The MOBOX game platform provides game developers with a series of easy-to-use development tools to help them quickly build their games and seamlessly integrate them with our platform. Our platform provides the following main functions:
Mature smart contract API: We provide preset smart contract APIs to help game developers quickly write and test game-related smart contracts and use them to process transactions and other game logic.
NFT SDK support and integration: We provide easy-to-use NFT integration SDK to help game developers quickly create their own NFTs and integrate them into the game. Based on blockchain technology, using NFT as the economic currency in the game ensures the fairness and security of the game. In particular, people building NFT dApps will be able to use MOBOX’s built-in NFT market and API services to build a “plug-and-play” market for Web 3 game assets and related NFTs, providing better liquidity.
Risk control: Our platform will use multiple security measures to protect the security of the game and users. We will use multiple security measures including preventing DDoS attacks, cryptographic protection, user identity verification, and asset risk control, to ensure the security and fairness of the game.
Developer funding support: Our platform will provide support funding for game developers through MOBOX METAFund to help them launch and develop their game projects. We believe that supporting developers is the key to realizing our vision.
Developer split NFT: The MOBOX platform not only provides developers with the best revenue distribution model but also provides them with flexible support that is almost instantly credited to their accounts receivable, ensuring that developers have the necessary funds to continue their best development work and help them develop excellent games.
After successfully releasing a game on the MOBOX platform, developers will receive a special non-fungible token (P-NFT indicating) their ownership of the released game. All income generated by the game will be recorded on the blockchain to ensure complete transparency between the platform and developers. The P-NFT smart contract also serves as a revenue sharing agreement between the platform and developers, automatically transferring the income earned by developers according to the agreement to their MOBOX wallet.
Ready-to-use MOMO library: Thanks to the interoperability of MOMO NFTs, they can be used across different public chains and games. Game developers can choose from the high-quality MOMO NFT library and immediately use them in their games, saving a lot of time and money for teams and independent developers, and providing the necessary resources and strong support for their game development work.
MOBOX Community Support: The MOBOX platform provides developers with all possible support, including marketing. Through effective community management, continued platform marketing, and the addition of important ecological partners, the MOBOX platform community provides developers with a powerful marketing channel. This includes fully functional nodes on the MOBOX platform, increasingly active social media, and social media activities through our ecological partners.
By combining the above SDKs and APIs, our platform provides game developers with a better development and publishing experience as well as a wider market and support. Our vision is to become one of the leaders in the future game industry and provide developers with a more fair, transparent, and highly secure game platform.
3. MOBOX Wallet 2.0 — MOBOX Seed Wallet — Securely Sow Your Seeds, Unleash the Power of NFT Gaming!
MOBOX Wallet’s new version will focus on providing a one-stop solution for Web 3.0 game users. Here are the key features of MOBOX Wallet:
NFT Management: MOBOX Wallet is a wallet designed specifically for the gaming market. It helps NFT holders showcase all their unique ERC-721 and ERC-1155 collectibles and game assets in a more efficient and convenient way. MOBOX players can browse and filter all their MOMO NFTs in the new version wallet and quickly list or gift specific MOMO to friends.
EIP 4337 Features: MOBOX Wallet empowers Web 3 Games by combining some new features proposed in EIP 4337. For example, the Social Recovery system allows multiple users to recover the owner’s access to an account, reducing the risk of permanent loss of funds.
Diverse Gas Payment: MOBOX Wallet supports diverse gas payment methods. Game players can use different tokens or even off-chain credit cards for payment, eliminating the need to purchase cryptocurrencies in advance for NFT transactions.
Pre-approval for On-chain Transactions: MOBOX Wallet supports pre-approval for on-chain transactions to increase the smoothness of Dapp and provide a more user-friendly on-chain process.
Bundle Transactions: MOBOX Wallet supports bundle transactions, allowing game players to bundle multiple on-chain operations together. With just one signature, all the necessary transaction processes can be completed, increasing transaction efficiency.
Subscription Mode: MOBOX Wallet supports subscription mode, allowing developers to subscribe to specific events or data updates. When these events or data updates occur, the MOBOX network automatically notifies developers, helping them achieve real-time data synchronization and notification more easily.
Through these features, MOBOX Wallet provides better management and on-chain experience for game developers and NFT holders, and contributes to the development of Web 3 games. We believe that MOBOX Wallet will become one of the essential gateways connecting the traditional gaming market and Web 3.
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https://preview.redd.it/z3a53w97kopa1.png?width=697&format=png&auto=webp&s=9f717272c669e73dadc26c95cb8fc77a1defc915

MOMO Mart: Bringing the Magic of MOBOX to Life

As part of our commitment to expanding the MOBOX brand and reaching a wider audience, we’re excited to introduce MOMO Mart, a unique retail venture that merges the online and offline worlds. Our goal is to share the essence and values of MOMO NFT with a diverse range of consumers, while offering a tangible experience for trendy toy enthusiasts.
We’ll be launching an exclusive MOMO NFT physical blind box collection, which features exquisite packaging and a diverse array of captivating characters. This product is designed to not only ignite the passion of the MOBOX community but also draw in more trendy toy aficionados to join our growing family.
MOMO Mart’s inaugural brick-and-mortar store will proudly showcase the core values of the MOBOX brand and MOMO NFT. Our design team has meticulously crafted each character, ensuring top-notch quality that leads the industry. Moreover, interactive zones within the store will allow visitors to truly immerse themselves in the enchanting world of MOMO NFT. We’re actively scouting prime locations around the globe to establish our immersive shopping and interactive experience for trendy toy enthusiasts worldwide. We’re eager to explore the potential of Web 3 and the trendy toy market through this strategic endeavor, ultimately bringing even greater value to the MOBOX community.
▣ Roadmap Timeline
2023 Q1 — Research and testnet deployment for cross-chain solution
2023 Q2 — Burn 135 million MBOX
2023 Q2 — Update MBOX tokenomics
2023 Q2 — Test MOBOX game open platform for targeted developers
2023 Q2 — Provide MOBOX game access to game development SDK & API
2023 Q2 — Deploy MOBOX 2.0 to Ethereum and Arbitrum cross-chains
2023 Q2 — Release Dragon NFTs for MOBOX 2.0
2023 Q3 — Release MOBOX 2.0 World Map
2023 Q3 — Launch gameplay related to MOBOX 2.0 World Map
2023 Q3 — Launch “Dragon Battlefield” game on MOBOX platform
2023 Q4 — Launch “End of the World Storm” game on MOBOX platform
2023 Q4 — Launch “King of Chaos” game on MOBOX platform
2023 Q4 — Launch MOBOX game Fusion Hub
▣ Summary
We have Introduced our three-phase plan for the MOBOX game open platform. We aim to “connect multiple mainstream public chains,” “construct a multi-chain digital world,” and “establish a collaborative multi-chain MOBOX Fusion Hub.” These plans and updates will enrich the MOBOX platform, providing both players and developers with an enhanced gaming experience and trading environment.
The launch of the Fusion Hub SDK & API will deliver numerous benefits to the MOBOX platform, including multi-chain integration, cross-chain asset bridging, seamless market API, MOBOX Wallet 2.0, and much more. These features will not only elevate the user experience and security of MOBOX games but also drive the growth of Web 3 gaming.
To realize our vision, we will steadfastly implement these plans. By harnessing cross-chain technology and NFT interoperability, we’ll create a unified multi-universe rather than separate games. Our team will collaborate with other leading blockchains to develop cross-chain protocols that enable MOBOX assets to traverse different blockchains and facilitate the use of NFTs from other blockchains on the MOBOX platform.
Our ultimate goal is to forge a truly interconnected meta-universe — the magnificent MOMOverse. ✨⭐️☄️💥
Please note: WEB 3.0 is a highly variable and risky field. The information provided in this announcement is for reference only and should not be used as a basis for any investment or decision-making. Before making any decisions, please conduct sufficient research and evaluation on your own and proceed with caution.

Brain hit me with the Caught you in 8K UHD surround sound 16 Gigs ram, HDR GEFORCE RTX, TI-80 texas insturments, Triple A duracell battery ultrapower100 Cargador Compatible iPhone 1A 5 W 1400 + Cable 100% 1 Metro Blanco Compatible iPhone 5 5 C 5S 6 SE 6S 7 8 X XR XS XS MAX GoPro hero 1 2 terrabyte xbox series x Dell UltraSharp 49 Curved Monitor - U4919DW Sony HDC-3300R 2/3" CCD HD Super Motion Color Camera, 1080p Resolution Toshiba EM131A5C-SS Microwave Oven with Smart Sensor, Easy Clean Interior, ECO Mode and Sound On/Off, 1.2 Cu. ft, Stainless Steel HP LaserJet Pro M404n Monochrome Laser Printer with Built-in Ethernet (W1A52A) GE Voluson E10 Ultrasound Machine LG 23 Cu. Ft. Smart Wi-Fi Enabled InstaView Door-in-Door Counter-Depth Refrigerator with Craft Ice Maker GFW850SPNRS GE 28" Front Load Steam Washer 5.0 Cu. Ft. with SmartDispense, WiFi, OdorBlock and Sanitize and Allergen - Royal Sapphire Kohler K-3589 Cimarron Comfort Height Two-Piece Elongated 1.6 GPF Toilet with AquaPiston Flush Technology., Quick Charge 30W Cargador 3.0 Cargador de Viaje Enchufe Cargador USB Carga Rápida con 3 Puertos carga rápida Adaptador de Corriente para iPhone x 8 7 Xiaomi Pocophone F1 Mix 3 A1 Samsung S10 S9 S8AUKEY Quick Charge 3.0 Cargador de Pared 39W Dual Puerto Cargador Móvil para Samsung Galaxy S8 / S8+/ Note 8, iPhone XS / XS Max / XR, iPad Pro / Air, HTC 10, LG G5 / G6 AUKEY Quick Charge 3.0 Cargador USB 60W 6 Puerto Cargador Móvil para Samsung Galaxy S8 / S8+ / Note 8, LG G5 / G6, Nexus 5X / 6P, HTC 10, iPhone XS / XS Max / XR, iPad Pro/ Air, Moto G4 SAMSUNG 85-inch Class Crystal UHD TU-8000 Series - 4K UHD HDR Smart TV with Alexa Built-in (UN85TU8000FXZA, 2020 Model) GE 38846 Premium Slim LED Light Bar, 18 Inch Under Cabinet Fixture, Plug-In, Convertible to Direct Wire, Linkable 628 Lumens, 3000K Soft Warm White, High/Off/Low, Easy to Install, 18 Ft Bissell Cleanview Swivel Pet Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner Trane20,000-Watt 1-Phase LPG/NG Liquid Cooled Whole House Standby Generator.Caught you in 8K UHD surround sound 16 Gigs ram, HDR GEFORCE RTX, TI-80 texas insturments, Triple A duracell battery ultrapower100 Cargador Compatible iPhone 1A 5 W 1400 + Cable 100% 1 Metro Blanco Compatible iPhone 5 5 C 5S 6 SE 6S 7 8 X XR XS XS MAX GoPro hero 1 2 terrabyte xbox series x Dell UltraSharp 49 Curved Monitor - U4919DW Sony HDC-3300R 2/3" CCD HD Super Motion Color Camera, 1080p Resolution Toshiba EM131A5C-SS Microwave Oven with Smart Sensor, Easy Clean Interior, ECO Mode and Sound On/Off, 1.2 Cu. ft, Stainless Steel HP LaserJet Pro M404n Monochrome Laser Printer with Built-in Ethernet (W1A52A) GE Voluson E10 Ultrasound Machine LG 23 Cu. Ft. Smart Wi-Fi Enabled InstaView Door-in-Door Counter-Depth Refrigerator with Craft Ice Maker GFW850SPNRS GE 28" Front Load Steam Washer 5.0 Cu. Ft. with SmartDispense, WiFi, OdorBlock and Sanitize and Allergen - Royal Sapphire Kohler K-3589 Cimarron Comfort Height Two-Piece Elongated 1.6 GPF Toilet with AquaPiston Flush Technology., Quick Charge 30W Cargador 3.0 Cargador de Viaje Enchufe Cargador USB Carga Rápida con 3 Puertos carga rápida Adaptador de Corriente para iPhone x 8 7 Xiaomi Pocophone F1 Mix 3 A1 Samsung S10 S9 S8AUKEY Quick Charge 3.0 Cargador de Pared 39W Dual Puerto Cargador Móvil para Samsung Galaxy S8 / S8+/ Note 8, iPhone XS / XS Max / XR, iPad Pro / Air, HTC 10, LG G5 / G6 AUKEY Quick Charge 3.0 Cargador USB 60W 6 Puerto Cargador Móvil para Samsung Galaxy S8 / S8+ / Note 8, LG G5 / G6, Nexus 5X / 6P, HTC 10, iPhone XS / XS Max / XR, iPad Pro/ Air, Moto G4 SAMSUNG 85-inch Class Crystal UHD TU-8000 Series - 4K UHD HDR Smart TV with Alexa Built-in (UN85TU8000FXZA, 2020 Model) GE 38846 Premium Slim LED Light Bar, 18 Inch Under Cabinet Fixture, Plug-In, Convertible to Direct Wire, Linkable 628 Lumens, 3000K Soft Warm White, High/Off/Low, Easy to Install, 18 Ft Bissell Cleanview Swivel Pet Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner Trane20,000-Watt 1-Phase LPG/NG Liquid Cooled Whole House Standby Generator.

uniformer brings to you a heartwarming story of a Tamil Nadu police officer. We all have a special place in our heart for our first salary. For many of us, it is the culmination of our dreams, it is a sign that we too have made it in this tough world, it is an acknowledgement of all the effort we have put in to make ourselves skilled and add value to society. Madhan Kumar worked hard and ultimately became an officer in the Tamil Nadu Police force in 2020. However, this was the time of the pandemic, Madhan could see countless people in need of help and he worked tirelessly to ease their suffering. After his first month on the job he finally got his first paycheck, emotions swelled within him. He could feel the sense of achievement and his duty towards his family. But, there was another tiny voice in his mind. His conscience told him that there were others who needed the money more than him. As he thought about all the faces he had helped, all the pain he had seen, he realised the decision was actually easy. He gladly went to the Vellore Government and donated his first salary to help tackle the Covid pandemic.
Uniformer salutes the silent sacrifice of countless officers like Madhan Kumar.

Firstly, thank you Dr Gurner. I finally set up a Reddit Account just to join this community. I guess I'm an n00b now...
My first topic is something I've been thinking about a lot recently – the relationship between default socio-economic status, the ease in which we earn/attract/access money, and what can be done to change those inbuilt belief systems.
For context, I'm from a very working class background in the UK (for context childhood bedroom was about 6ft x 9ft with a single bed and the pub/bar at the end of my street was regular raided for drug use). I've since made it 10 years as a sustained entrepreneur and built a good reputation in the UK as a player in the startup ecosystem (though sometimes I think people might think I'm a bit 'mickey mouse' vs. serious here but this plays into my point).
I've found that I somewhat am standoffish about larger sums of money. I don't come from it, so big figures aren't inherently natural to me. I'm used to seeing them from working with VC firms, angel investors and helping startups raise capital but it still doesn't 'flow to me' like I'd hope. I totally understand this comes down to having a solid valuable product, pricing and selling effectively, but I just about make ends meet each month and am tired of it. I'm about to launch a moonshot project to put a decade of experience into something big and hope this changes things but think that my mindset on money plays a part.
I'm curious how those who come from money and/or have made it from little to lots of money, have seen changes in themselves over time and people they know. What was the thing that made this possible?
​
With many people telling me I'd easily earn 6-figures in a career, it's just frustrating that I'm making a third of that doing >2x more work than any of my peers. I'm not trying to sound hard done by either, I'm happy(ish)! Just want to level up and be able to keep up with the ambition I have and the adventures y'all are on! 😅

Thanks for reading, and for any and all comments!
Hail Blue! Heartfelt (and Voluminous) Thanks are now in the Wiki!
Check out all the stories on Discord.
The Cast / Chapter Links
Just One Drop
CH 77 – The Man in Who these Marvels Can Do
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It was the day before Shel, and lunch was becoming a more crowded affair.
Since Melondi’s secret had come out, the girls had taken to favoring a mid-sized table that seated twelve – a sensible number. A small affair no more than twenty feet long, the table was well situated, away from the center of the floor and off to one side. That had been useful, as the layout of the cafeteria put the table near the kitchen freezer. There was an awkward chill in that corner of the room which made it unpopular, and without other students about, the table offered relative privacy.
Of course, twelve was ideal, as it conformed to the needs of their class. The girls of the Practical Humanity class had faced more than their share of scrutiny since the term began, and privacy had become a cherished commodity. Whether it was from curious girls wanting to know what the Human was like, to its current, more immediate needs, the isolation of the spot had made the table a welcome retreat.
That said, today it was getting a bit crowded, and with everyone there, an additional three seats had been needed, with girls shoving in from the sides.
Khe’lark’s attachment to Gun’brei… or more accurately, Brei’s attachment to Lark… had started things, of course. There was usually room for one more, certainly if one of the girls was off somewhere else and missing lunch. Since Melondi’s secret had become a shared one, the table had become a place where Mel could, on occasion, talk less circumspectly. While she’d never slipped up otherwise, she could relax and enjoy her friends without being quite so guarded.
Things had been different before, when Brei hadn’t been cleared by Agent Duvari.
Melondi had never resented Brei as an intrusion, but it was a fact of life that she hadn’t noticed before. The ability to talk with her friends, even in the most circumspect way, had replaced her utter secrecy – or worse, the crafted lies about her history. When Brei joined them for lunch, Melondi had to go back into hiding… and Brei’s presence brought with her a visceral feeling of the loss.
When Kzintshki arrived, the twelve and sometimes thirteen turned to thirteen and sometimes fourteen.
The Pesrin girl’s presence was unmistakable. Kzintshkil was… different. It wasn’t only the matter of her being alien – another species entirely, with her own loyalties and agenda. It was more that Kzintshki kept her own counsel, and while Melondi knew how to read people - even people from other races - the Pesrin girl was largely a closed book. It wasn't something she was used to. She was good with reading people, no matter the species. Generally.
…That carrion incident with the Rakiri delegate could have happened to anybody!...
Of course, while it wasn’t always a full table, fourteen was manageable. Today there were fifteen people crowding in for lunch, which was pushing it.
Not that Prindi Ama’dis was unwelcome. The IOTC girl was another friend of Lark’s by way of the campus vblog; thankfully the question of who knew her secret had largely been settled – both by her request, and the actions of her handler, Agent Duvari. Now her friends knew, which was a greater relief than she’d imagined it could be. Professor Warrick knew, and he’d be allowed to tell Professor Pel’avon. He was holding off until they were back from the ‘honeymoon’. It was an odd term for the usual getaway after a wedding, and he’d explained it as something to do with newly wed couples slipping away for a month and drinking a lot of something called mead. Melondi figured she should have a word of quiet thanks to Professor Pel’avon for taking up so much of Professor Warrick’s time… but it would wait until they were back.
Gun’brei had been oddly muted after finding out. While Brei was a baroness’ daughter, Agent Duvari had opted to lay things out to her in private, as ‘she had an abiding interest in the news’. That probably meant several threats behind closed doors, a reading of general order 24, and signing waivers that didn’t mention words like ‘frozen tundra’. They didn’t need to - Duvari tended to make herself clear enough. It was hard to believe the same bubbly music professor could be so frigid as an Agent, but Duvari had no problems with being convincing.
Melondi looked over at Lark and pursed her lips thoughtfully.
…I still need to make things up to her. I don’t know if clearing Brei counts…
That left the IOTC girls, and as she looked up the table at Prindi, it was hard to believe the world she’d crafted here at the Academy had changed so dramatically. As Lark’s friend, Prindi made an easy liaison with the IOTC girls. Even so, it was tight with her here, and if more of them showed up, something would have to give.
She’d planned to tell her friends, someday… After graduation, when she was off on her own, she’d hoped that some of them might still be in reach… and understanding. They’d all be off starting their own lives, working in their House companies, starting careers, or managing the family holdings. Everyone would go their different ways. But her sister Khelandri’s death had changed everything. She could enjoy her friends now, instead of later, wondering if they would still be hers when she revealed herself as a princess.
It was a bright note in a dark situation, and she cherished it for what it was. She had friends. Real friends that had come to know her outside of the Palace, without any agendas… and she had the time – over two more years – before adult life sent them off on their own paths.
…At least, if I live that long…
That was a gloomy thought, and it was hard to hold onto it. She’d only just hung up on a call from Vedeem. Whenever she talked to him, the future didn’t seem so dark. He’d accepted her for who and what she was as a person… and then he’d done it all over again for who and what she was as a Princess.
…Screw Kamaud’re! I want to live!...
“That was Vedeem. He says they’re putting up a sign and closing the restaurant for a week to ‘celebrate the birth of a boy in the family.'Everything’s ready to start the training tomorrow at 9.” She raised her voice over the animated conversations going on. It was lunch, after all, and with all the jockeying of plates and trays and dishes and whatnot, it was a scramble. If any more girls showed up from the IOTC, they’d have to do something… or at least get a round table. No one could reach anything. “Prindi, can you let your cadre know?”
It was bad timing, since the girl just took a bite, but she nodded quickly, chewing frantically.
“Just take it easy…” Mel looked around past the table with an exaggerated glance. “The nod’s all I need, and you’ll like Vedeem… Hands off, though!”
As a young girl, she’d never expected that she’d need to warn anyone away from her boyfriend… when she finally got one, no one would dare. Just now? If all of this felt new to her, it must be like a bucket of icy surf landing on the IOTC girls… and Vedeem was hers!
Prindi finally cleared her throat and nodded again. “Yes, ummm…”
“Melondi,” she offered helpfully. While the IOTC girl had been giving her curious looks now and then, she’d tried her best to hide them. She still looked like she was struggling. “Remember, it’s just Melondi.”
“Yes…” The idea of calling a Princess something informal looked like it was sticking in the girl’s throat, and she took a way out. “I’ll let them know after lunch.”
“Thank you!” Mel called back. It was something Mother had always insisted on and Lady Wicama had taught her well. Good manners were for everyone. It had even seen her through that carrion incident, though she hadn’t even been five at the time…
…Come to think of it, it was Kamaud’re who ‘helped me out’… and was laughing the loudest…
She felt an ugly blush start to rise, but it faded just as quickly. She’d never known her elder sister except as a distant figure, not a part of her life, really. Even without the attempt on her life, It had grown a lot easier in the last few months not to care for Kamaud’re at all.
The table didn’t take much notice. Jax was in an animated conversation with Nestha about business, while the twins were actually giggling about something. Most of the talk had been about class, though Belda was getting a lot of ribbing and good natured pokes from the others. Tonight was the big night, after all. Even Kzintshki was quietly talking to Desi about the weekend. As the outsider, Prindi seemed to be struggling to fit in, though she hid it well.
“I’m glad you could join us, Prindi,” Melondi offered brightly, trying to keep the girl from feeling too isolated. “I know we sort of keep to ourselves; there was a lot of attention after we got into Professor Warrick’s class. It was a little rough after registration, and you wouldn’t believe some of the questions we got after he did the Marriage Fundamentals seminar.”
“That was rough.” Sephir nodded. “I had one girl ask me if he had any boys in his family, and when they’d be coming. That was pretty embarrassing.”
“Embarrassing?” Prindi blinked doubtfully as she reoriented on Sephir. At 6’11, it seemed impossible to miss the girl. Sephir was a star of the Academy diving team with muscles like titanium cables, but she was so polite and unassuming that it often came as a surprise when she spoke up in conversation. She’d been a lot happier since her future in her House had been sorted, though, and at the moment she was grinning cheerfully at the bewildered look on Prindi’s face.
Prindi cocked her head uncertainly. “How was it embarrassing?”
“Oh… It's just… his wife and his daughter were killed when the Imperium arrived on Earth.”
Belda winced, but still looked relieved at no longer being the center of attention; at least she’d finally stopped blushing.
“Professor Pel’avon asked us not to talk about it at first,” said Sephir with a nod. Even if she looked like a recruiting poster for the Marines, she was a caregiver at heart, and had always shied away from talking about what Warrick called ‘the landings.' “Professor Warrick… Well, you can tell it still hurts him.”
“Yeah,” Nestha chipped in. “He’s smart… and a lot tougher than you’d expect. You just can't think of him as a male.”
“Human male.” Desi broke off her conversation with Kzintshki. “There’s a whole lot going on with him that even the rest of you don’t see. He and I talk a lot at the museum.”
“Is it true he adopted both of you?” Prindi asked, looking from Desi to Kzintshki and back, Melondi forgotten for the first time. “We all heard things and there were a lot of questions after the wedding… I mean, like the dancers! Where did they even come fr-“
“Yes, it's true! Both of us!” Desi broke in abruptly, interrupting Prindi’s train of thought, and Mel started breathing again. If word got out about the Tide Pool, it would probably need more than a General Order and a very angry Interior Agent to keep quiet. Desi was nodding frantically as she enthusiastically changed the subject. “We don’t talk about the wedding, but it's true! It became official when Professor Pel’avon married him. They’re my mothers and father, now.”
“Wow, that’s…” Prindi’s brows knitted a bit as she struggled with the whole wedding. Sure, the whole school had seen it, but the response had been more of a collective silence from around the table. Prindi took the hint and offered a smile. “So… What do you talk about, then? I mean, if not the wedding? What about this war sim? The rest of the cadre couldn’t believe it! I hope we weren’t whispering too loud. Most of us were glued to our omni-pads, gossiping on our Discuss channel. Everybody wants to know more… I can't wait to go through these files!”
“We don’t talk about the war sim. We have team meetings, but aside from those, we don’t. There’s a lot of extra credit on the line,” Dihsala said firmly, giving her a solid nod. “None of us know what’s on those files, though we had an exchange professor that… well, I don’t think she understood the material.”
“Careful, Dihsala, you’re in danger of being kind,” Pris muttered, though there wasn’t any heat in it.
Dihsala sniffed, but said nothing.
Pris pressed on, waving her fork-full of pickled jawaa like a baton. “She’s right, though. None of us know what's in the files, and we probably shouldn’t. Professor Warrick uses this method of teaching… It’s sort of like discovering the material a bit at a time and figuring it out as we go.”
“That sounds… really odd.” Prindi was canting her head fully now, and Mel could just imagine what the girl was thinking. It had been an adjustment. The IOTC girl looked back at Desi, “Sorry. It just does.”
“You don’t have to convince me.” Desi nodded sympathetically, wearing an easy smile. “Once you get used to muppets and furbys-”
“Oh! And ALF!” Jax’mi, broke in, laughing.
“And his music, though that’s really good,” offered one of the twins, as the other nodded. “And we get free movies - things that haven't made it here from Earth yet!”
“It’s a lot, but after a while nothing phases you.” Desi grinned infectiously. “Oh! Mel! Do we know if Aku is going to make it to… you know… the event?”
“I’ll have to ask.” Melondi shook herself out of the reverie of listening. “I know the invitation is getting sent. We can find out tomorrow.”
“Oh…Right.” Desi nodded, but looked back at her plate, subdued. No one knew they were going to the Palace tomorrow except Agent Duvari, who was going to escort them, and Desi was still looking pretty shy about the prospect. Still, everybody else had practice at Human Food…
“There was something we’re all kind of curious about, from the sim… I mean, it's not to do with the sim.” Prindi bit her lip, looking around as the table went suddenly quiet. “We all knew about Earth - I mean, he’s Human. Not about his family, but… things. Anyway, some of us were wondering, and now I guess I really am… umm… why doesn’t he hate us like we're some sort of enemy? There are stories, you know?”
“Desi?” One of the twins looked over at her seriously, setting aside whatever they’d been laughing about. Her sister sniffed, a beat behind. “You know him best.”
“Well, obviously he doesn’t. Hate us, I mean. I think he really means it about the Imperium making Humans citizens. Something he said once kind of stuck with me.” Desi grimaced in thought. “He said he didn’t think of the Imperium as his enemy, because the enemy is someone that tells you to hate that which is different from you, because sooner or later that hate comes back to you… and he said the Imperium hasn't done that.”
“We have kind of messed up there,” Jax’mi sighed unhappily. “I mean, all the news I get back from my family on Earth is great! I had the best letter from my Uncle… but my mothers told me stories. Some of the Houses first gifted with business grants on Earth abused them pretty badly. Not a lot, but the ones that did… Well, it wasn’t just one mess. A couple of the Houses got really carried away, and it took a while to sort out.”
“That sounds like a job for the Interior! The Imperium doesn’t tolerate… umm… that is…” Prindi sat a little taller, and her eyes shone with conviction before she stuttered to a halt, blushing as she glanced back to Melondi. “We’re supposed to stop that sort of thing.”
Mel watched as an awkward silence fell around the table, broken only by Kzintshki slicing away bits of her turox with another of her occasional mutters of “Ick”. It wasn't like she could entirely blame them.
The Empire needed the Interior. There were the boisterous and splashy ones, like House Reshay. There were the quietly dutiful ones, like Belda’s House So’sona and the pharmacological company run by Sephir’s House. There were the quietly powerful ones in the background like House Chel’xa… All of them working at what they did best… but sometimes there were incidents. Bad matrons who lost control of their ambitions. The Empire was vast, and when the Houses couldn't police themselves, it was time for the Empress to do it. That's where the Interior came in.
Mother had been working to rein the Interior in, over time… to bring it back to its core mission. She didn’t talk about it very much, but growing up she’d seen it happen. She could still remember the rumblings in court when she named Opimea Potac - an Edixi - to run the Ministry of Justice. People had said things around a six-year-old they didn’t think would be understood - or remembered - even by a six-year-old Princess. As for her cousin Yn’dara and Prince Adam… It had taken time, but Mother had gotten things under control.
…If only she were here now… but she isn't. I have to handle this myself…
That meant she needed the Interior… someday. Right now, she needed these cadets. Glancing down the table, Desi caught her eye and suddenly snorted. “Seriously, Kzintshki!? What is it with ‘ick’ all the time? You were ready to eat my father alive only a month ago. Now you turn your nose up at anything sweet or fatty? When did you turn into a picky eater, for goddess’ sake!”
“You do not understand. Food is plentiful here. That is understood…” The dusky Pesrin set aside her cutlery and eyed Desi coolly. “You have never seen a fat Pesrin.”
“No…” Desi rocked her head to one side, in exasperation. Kzintshki had a way of making statements out of questions. “But I’d never seen a Pesrin at all, until we met you. What's that got to do with it?”
“Shil and its worlds live without scarcity. Pesh does not. You will never will see a fat Pesrin.” Kzintshki replied cooly, blinking at Desi once. Melindi couldn't decide if the Pesrin girl was exasperated or amused without seeing her tail… her asiak. It was hidden under the table, but it seemed like it conveyed a lot of Pesrin body language - or maybe it was just Kzintshki. “Wasting food when it is plentiful is as much of a sin as wasting food when it is scarce.”
“I suppose…” Desi chewed over the idea while the rest of the girls thought it over.
“Besides, I have my figure to consider.”
“Hey, that’s true. I’ve been worried about everything for tonight!” Belda grinned suddenly. “So, are there any cute Pesrin guys around?”
“Perhaps... though I would not impress him if I were slow and fat.”
Mel thought over the reply. The pause was longer than the Pesrin girl usually took to answer, and she wasn't blinking. Sooner or later she’d figure her out. For the moment she watched as Kzintshki picked up her knife and fork, and cut away another bit of turox with particular deliberation. “Ick…”
“So… you girls get free movies, too?” Prindi asked the twins, looking between the pair tentatively, “Stuff that hasn't come out yet? What’s that like?”
“A lot, yes. The Ministry of Relations closed down on a lot of entertainment from Earth. It’s opening back up, but Professor Warrick has a lot of things no one has seen,” offered one of the K’herbhal sisters. Her twin nodded in sync. “Even with things opening up, they’re still screening for, you know…”
“Treason?” Prindi nodded understandingly.
“Porn!” The twins said in unison, giggling. “Not that we mind, though you could ask Belda for all the details. She’s seen Liam with his shirt off!”
“Goddess damn-it!” Belda started turning blue all over again. “It was only almost off! Almost!”
“You know, we could put off movie night until tomorrow. We can bring food back after training in the morning. Take over the room, have a movie marathon and celebrate,” Pris spoke up. “That way Belda can watch, too!”
“Hey, could you?” Belda grinned. “That would be great!”
“Sure… aaaaand that way we get to drag all the juicy details out of you, too!” Pris smiled back serenely. Melondi watched as Belda started blushing again, and muttered as the others laughed. Goddess love her, Bel was such a farmgirl.
“Ummm… what kind of movies?” Prindi asked, brushing her hair back. “Could I come?”
_ _ _
“You know, this is going to sound odd, but I kind of miss driving," Tom said, leaning back in his seat between Miv and Lea.
It was a comfortable way to ride, and the company was the best. Even with an alien landscape speeding by, it was the oddest feeling. Until he’d come to Shil, he’d always been the one doing the driving. Autocabs were quick and efficient, and other than his regular trip out to Human Food, it wasn't like he knew where things were on Shil… but it felt odd.
“You don't have a license.” Miv tousled his hair, looking at him indulgently while Lea curled in tight on the other side. She was happy as a clam they were all together, but she cocked her head, looking at Miv. “It's only a few weeks of study, if you want to get one.”
“Nah. It was just a stray thought. I’m good with being able to pay attention to you two, and it’s nice actually seeing the world go by.” He pulled them both closer, which Miv enjoyed, and made Lea squeak in pleasure. Lea had been a real princess about the lack of attention and she loved sharing with Miv, but with her work out in Creantauri, what could you do? He smiled and leaned in, kissing her lightly on the neck. This weekend would be all about making it up to them both.
Speaking of which, they were just about there…
The drive had given him ample time to cuddle up with Miv and Lea, which had been a lot of fun - but also just the distraction he’d needed. He’d tossed a jacket over the seatback showing the map display, but as the autocab turned into their destination, there was nothing for it…
“Miv, what’s this?” Lea was the first to notice, and she stared out the window as the cab turned in. Jets of brightly lit water began fountaining up on either side of the cab as it made its way up the long drive, the highway quickly out of sight.
Miv’eire pulled his coat off the seat to peer at the map and frowned in consternation as she looked at the display, “This is all wrong.”
“Actually, no, it isn't.” Tom grinned, pulling her back. “We’re exactly where we need to be.”
“But Tom, this isn’t our hotel!” Miv stared at him blankly, “Oh, love, you must have put the directions in wrong.”
“I canceled us there. Ladies, remember when you were going to take me on a holiday for a weekend? The one we missed thanks to my unscheduled trip to the hospital?” He grinned, enjoying their confusion. Lea was still looking out the window as the view turned from ‘impressive’ to ‘luxurious’ and was quickly heading for ‘‘opulent’. “When I was in recovery, I asked Prince Adam for three favors. Pushing through Desi’s adoption was one… looking into Olea was another… and a weekend somewhere nice to make it up to you both was number three.”
Tom drew Miv back into the seat beside him and slipped his arm back around Lea as she pressed to the window, the drive opening out on the broad vista and the hotel beyond. “Ladies, welcome to the Imperial Ocean Reserve.”
_ _ _
Following at a covert distance, and it had still been an easy drive. With an hour or two left to go, Sgt. Jel’ke had done the driving, leaving Captain Ce’lani to do the sensible thing and get some sleep. Honestly, it was kind of a relief. The Captain had been keyed up over Warrick, and after finally getting out of the bunker it was nice not to make small talk.
Thank the goddess the woman was sensible, but even so, she still had it bad…
…At least I haven’t had to make small talk along the… waitaminute…
Jel’ke frowned as the autocab turned in off the highway and pulled slowly on to the median. There was no doubt about it, the cab had diverted off the drive and was heading out of sight into…
…Well, fuck me…
Being a Deathshead Commando meant being down in the blood and the mud, deployed to some of the worst situations known to woman… but, every so often, it also put you in the way of protecting the great and the powerful.
Jel’ke knew Big Money when she saw it.
“Captain? You need to wake up.” Jel’ke pulled to a stop on the shoulder of the road, “I think we have a problem.”
_ _ _
It was early afternoon when Aku closed the file on his omni-pad.
The end of his tour had passed. He’d survived… at least on the outside. It wouldn't do to look anything less than your best, after all.
On the inside was another matter. His mistress, the Cliffsinger Tranja, had torn apart his every performance from the time he stepped on stage until the final note. Nothing was right. Nothing was good enough. While she hadn’t said he was an embarrassment as an initiate, she hadn’t needed to. The words had hung in the air - tangible, if unspoken.
This was his life.
Sitting in the dark of the enclave’s library, he thought about the tour. It had been an abject misery. If not for Kas’lin and Ka’mara, he’d probably have lost his mind under the pressure.
…If only things were different. I could be a regular guy. Maybe I could have met them instead, or someone like them! Started a family and lived a normal life…
His eyes crept back to his omni-pad. As miserable as he was at that moment, he knew he was telling himself a lie. Even if it had all been different, there was still the music. It burned inside, begging to be let out, and he yearned to make it happen. Even though his mistress seemed determined to sink his hopes into the Deeps, there was still the music. It could not be denied.
He’d kept away from the other initiates after returning to the enclave. They were his competition. He couldn’t see them as anything else, now… but inside it felt like a losing battle. Only one of them would inherit their mistress’ position and title, and it didn't seem likely that it would be him.
In desperation, he’d turned to the archives.
Cliffsinging was old. It was respected. Revered. Generations upon generations of Singers had practiced their art, handing down their names. Over time, the art had become codified… the Singers had become living treasures… but the original works survived. Every generation had added something of their own.
He’d delved deep into the stacks, diving through the recordings, searching the early works. There were files and archives and even printed records… He’d torn through all of them, not knowing what he was looking for until he’d found it.
The song was old - ancient, even - and written by one of the Singers whose name had not become selected as the final Twelve of Shil. The music was haunting, and it burned with a vibrancy that he didn't see in the more modern works - the kind of thing so often in demand now. There was almost no music - the singer's voice rang out alone, echoing off the cliffs accompanied only by a single steel arecha… but the song spoke to him.
The language was stilted with age, but as he’d translated it into more modern terms, it felt comfortable… it had the yearning that he felt inside, and which almost seemed Human in its power as he transcribed and updated it for his presentation.
It was traditional. It was very traditional. If he was going to reclaim his Mistress’ approval, this was what he needed.
He’d give his performance tonight, in front of his Mistress and the others. Show them he was good enough. Show her that he was better than the rest.
The music called and he had to answer.
Aku sighed again, wondering what the twins were doing at school right now. It had to be better than here.
_ _ _
“You are being such a bitch!” Kas’lin said hotly, scowling over the table at Dihsala. Ka’mara scowled over at the girl before joining in. “She’s right. There’s no call for this kind of behavior!”
“You two brought it on yourselves!” Dihsala crossed her arms defiantly, while Desi slumped the chair, resting her head on one fist, and steadfastly refused to join in.
“What are you talking about!? You’re twisting our arms… and… AND! you’re sucking up to Jax’mi!” Kas’lin was on her feet now, pointing at Dihsala, and Kas’lin rose in defense. There wasn't much more she could add to that.
“I don’t suck up to anyone!” Dihsala snapped coldly, though Jaxmi sat back, preening. It was the first happy look on the Chel’xa girl's face, as she’d been left desperately trying to keep the Japanese out of some city called Mecca. “You two brought it on yourselves, sucking up to England with that marriage proposal. You didn't want to join in, so this is what you get for coming late!”
“There’s nothing to get.” Kas’lin swept a hand up at the map on the screen. “They’ve completely swept everything out of Africa!”
“Well, that’s what you get for joining late. Anything you want to take, you can take out of France,” Dihsala said with finality. “Isn't that right, Lark?”
Khe’lark was looking at her omni-pad unhappily, saying nothing. Dihsala turned to look at her this time. “Lark?”
“It’s fine… Really…” Lark said unhappily.
“What?” Dihsala started to frown, and Desi sat up taking notice. “What’s ‘fine’?”
“Well, I didn't want to tell you this… but I think the Czechs are going to declare independence and revolt…”
Kas’lin closed her eyes and settled back in her chair.
The casualties for everyone along the French front lines had been catastrophic, the Spanish were useless, and now things were going to the Deeps with Austria…
…The things I do for extra credit…
_ _ _
“Well, I think the points we spent working on the Czechs and the Slovenes are paying off handsomely,” Let’zi said confidently, though the look around the table wasn’t encouraging.
“At least something is.” Pris grimaced, gesturing up at the map. “I hate to say it, but I don’t think France can last much longer.”
“She’s right. Rotating units up from the South kept the Germans out of Paris,” Sephir sighed gloomily. “But morale was shot with the units we rotated back South. We hoped they’d recover, but with Spain and Italy attacking? Unless we catch a break, I think our whole army will mutiny soon.”
“They can’t keep it up. They’ve lost all their colonies, now they have to fight in every direction at once.” Let’zi shook her head and tried sounding confident, though it was dimmed. “They can't do it. No one could!”
“She’s right, and England is mobilized now.” Melondi studied the map carefully, “Japan is all over the Ottomans in the South. Russia is… well… holding their own…”
“I’m doing the best I can…” Nestha huffed, crossing her arms. “Though yeah, the Ottomans are turning around and sending troops back South.”
“That’s right,” Melondi said brightly. “Besides, now we have Belda on our side!”
The girls looked over at Belda… who was staring off into space in a world of her own.
“Look, let’s call it a day. Bel has to go get dressed.” Mel grinned as Belda looked up, utterly lost. “She’s got a big evening.”
_ _ _
“Lieutenant, you aren't going to believe this…”
Lt. Peheli Tala looked over from the control board warily to where Sgt Diani was sitting in the right seat at observation. The bunker pods were all jumbled up with Captain Ton’is and Sgt. Jel’ke out on their trip, leaving Tala to fill in. It was a nice change of pace from running checks in the service corridors and updating the gear in the bunker.
Diani had been running the boards while telling long war stories to Sgt Vaeko, who was busily running the odds on that morning’s ‘wargame’ while monitoring the girls’ strategy sessions.
Words like that out of nowhere were not what she’d wanted to hear.
Diani and Vaeko had been keeping up a constant stream of conversation, both talking and only mostly listening to the other. It was enough to make her miss the quiet of the tunnels, and she’d started to tune out the idle chatter. Diani’s words snapped her back to reality in an instant, her heart pounding.
“Report Sgt!” Tala snapped the words out, but she was already pulling up the campus map on the main board, checking frantically for any sitreps from the ground team. No alarms had gone off yet, but it was probably only seconds away.
…Where's the alarm? Why hasn't anyone punched the alarm!? I’ll have to call Agent Duvari, and…
“It’s Captain Ton’is and Jel’ke.” Diani had a cheesy grin plastered over her wide features. “They need us to make some calls and get em a hotel room… You aren’t gonna believe where.”
Tala could feel her heart thudding in her chest. No alarms had gone off. There was no intrusion along the perimeter…
“A… a what?”
_ _ _
The Imperial Ocean Reserve was everything that Tom could have hoped for. It was old by Shil’vati standards, but that didn't mean tired. It meant historic, and walking into the lobby conjured up images only found in history books. The Reserve was a place where parasols graced the lawns in Summer and moonlight walks on the open beach were the norm. On Earth, it was the sort of place you could envision steamer trunks and top hats.
There were three restaurants along the veranda, and a bar, shops, and sumptuous indoor pool that served guests all year long. The hotel was vast. Not in the sense of catering to all comers, but spacious. It occupied its grounds like a crowning jewel.
As for their room?
It had a luxurious bed he could get lost in, more than capable of sleeping six Shil’vati. While he usually wasn’t big on the details, even he noticed the richly embroidered linens, what seemed like down pillows, the plush towels in the marble bathroom, well-stocked bar, and an in-room omni-pad to call for room service and requests.
That the whole suite lay beneath the ocean, with a glass roof and walls looking out from their bedroom at the surrounding coral reef, didn’t hurt either.
It was quite a place, but as the girls got started with the unpacking, he slipped out. It had always been his habit to poke around, and finding the best place for dinner reservations seemed like a good idea. A few minutes scouting out the restaurants would save time later…
At least, that had been the idea. The verandah surrounding the hotel proper had a lovely view directly off the beach, and as anyone would expect, it drew admiring guests… One of which happened to be Lady Vonde, the Duchess of House Jo’lare.
Tom hadn't seen the woman since Pre-term, when she’d attached herself to him in the tour, insistently tried to get him to ‘come for a visit,' and pinched his ass while showing her daughter around the campus. She’d been noteworthy in managing to do it more discreetly than most, but still…
Just at the moment Lady Vonde was in a shouting match against someone named Duchess Pyanfar, who’d swarmed down on him only a minute before Vonde. Pyanfar had started in on him with her retinue, breathlessly cooing about how charmed she was to meet him and wanting to hear all the details about Human marriages, and of course, she’d seen the captivating video on the news. It was just sooo rustic, positively enthralling, going native like that!
But Vonde spotted him and wasn’t having any of it, loudly insisting that he’d agreed to visit, and did Pyanfar know who she was!? Then her retinue started pushing Vonde’s retinue, while a crowd started to gather around the scene…
Tom was the only non-Shil in the room, and being 6’2 and pink, it wasn't easy to make himself invisible. He still did his best, though it was more a testament to the crowd of angry retainers around Vonde and Pyanfar that he got as far as the door of the bar. He kept his eyes behind him on the crowd as he made a break for it, barging first into a glass followed by a massive pair of breasts…
“Oh! Geeze…” Tom stepped back, “I’m terribly sorry Miss…”
A meaty hand clamped down on his arm painfully, and Tom looked up into the ruddy face of Tirola Reshay, Nestha’s kho-mother.
Disheveled and stinking of alcohol,Tirola wasn't in good shape. She’d emerged from the bar with her own crowd of hangers-on, including a Shil’vati guy hanging on her arm, and while she’d somehow managed to hang on to her glass, the collision had drenched her top in Blue Grail. Her eyes widened as she looked down at him and she growled, “You!!!”
…Alright, she isn’t in a good mood, though the last time I saw her she’d been unconscious in a pool of her own vomit…
Tirola made the mistake of clamping down harder, and Tom cried out in pained surprise. “Hey, get your damn hand off me!”
“Oh, you’re coming with me." Tirola tugged him closer…
Tom’s fingers spread and he jabbed. The strike was clumsy and he was off balance, but as eye-pokes went, it did the job.
Tirola let go of him and bellowed, her hand flying to one eye. The skinny guy thrown off her arm shrieked in bantam fury as he was thrown to the ground.
Then things got a little crazy.
_ _ _
Sgt. Jel’ke knew Big Money. She also knew when Big Money was fobbing her off. Thus far, they’d made it to the lobby and the reservation staff.
The ‘request’ had come down through official channels, but the Manager wasn't happy about it. Despite some ever-so-polite words, it seemed another call eventually came through and did the trick. The Manager accepted their story, and started offering over a room key with only a trace of disdain…
Out in the lobby, there was a scream.
It was followed a minute later by the sight of Tom Warrick pelting up the hall at a dead run and ducking into one of the gift shops, pursued by several mobs of women caught up in fighting each other as much as chasing after him.
“Captain, I-”
It was no use. Ce’lani Ton’is had already charged, and was racing across the lobby in hot pursuit. Glancing down at their meager baggage, she had the presence of mind to snatch the key from the Manager’s hand before she could take it back.
Somewhere up the hall Ce’lani bellowed.
Moments later a thunderous crash rumbled from somewhere up the hall. It was followed by the sound of delicate things breaking, considerably more shouting, and a soft cloud of plaster dust that gently wafted around the corner.
Jel’ke turned to the wide-eyed receptionist behind the counter and gave him a rakish smile. “So, what time is dinner?”

Hello - I have posted here before, not in a long time. Perhaps upkeep from my previous post may have helped in this story. But alas I sit here now, just after a relapse, ready to put it all out there.
My battle with masturbation, and more importantly, pornography (as porn is always the trigger and destroyer) has been a seven year battle, starting at fifteen years old. It took a lot to type that. I was introduced by a friend.
Like many, I always thought that this was just something I'd quit, given 'the right time' or 'the right day'; a lie, as I'm sure you know, and more destructively, a romanticisation of an addiction - giving it importance by needing 'the right proper finish' or the 'right proper day', something that, like any addict, there was always one more hit. To paraphrase a quote from Trainspotting, theres final hits and there's final hits. Which would this be?
Moving on - I had ample opportunities, all squandered by above; a new girlfriend here, a new girlfriend there, a new years celebration, a birthday, 'ninety days until x'. As a result, the birth of my son, my engagement, all have been tainted in memory by a lacking of willpower, a succumbing to addiction. And that's the problem here, one many may not want to admit to; it's about willpower, and some may just not have it. Especially when, unlike other addictions, its so easy to access. Safesearch can be disabled, internet blockers can be removed. I tired the day by day approach, I tried the 'only to my partner' or 'only on x days', I tried holidays, exercising, I tried rubber bands, everything. So, for anyone reading who has a really novel approach, please, do let me know, it may be worth it.
I had read recently that, despite popular belief, neural pathways never disappear, only weaken or get covered by others. That triggers will always exist. And that's the problem. Especially when weak-willed.
I sit here now after a particularly low-low. I'm sure you've all seen the coomer meme. I always told myself, that isn't me, I don't pay for it or indulge that much. And yet, less than an hour ago, I did pay for it. Afterwards, I listened to a reading of the poem Ozymandias by Pryce Shelley, and the words were all to real. The hand that mocked. The vast and trunkless legs, sitting on the toilet. The lone and level sands of my empty bathroom floor. I'm hoping it'll resonate with me beyond two days.
This addiction is real, and its debilitating. I hope I come back here, and I hope this state resonates. I'm sorry if this seemd bleak or hopeless. I hope it isn't hopeless, and that the journey isn't so bleak. And for those wonderng, my lingeststreak was 69days, followed by a month, followed by a couple two week hiatuses here and there. That's how much time has been lost.
I don't really have a note to end on here. Stay safe and on track.

"We stand on the precipice of a grand triumph! A triumph for the ages! Both in technology and in military strategy! We shall not hold it against the humans for this opportunity and we shall, regardless of outcome, treasure our friendship with them. But make no mistake! Allies or not, friends or not, we shall wage this war with our full tenacity and strength as we would any other against any other opponent! The entire galaxy is watching us this day, we shall conduct ourselves with the decorum and clarity as we would in any other situation. My brothers... TO VICTORY FOR THE IMPERIUM!!!!"
​
The company commanders speech roused my countrymen to a beautiful roar as I watched from my campsite. Speeches and commencement dialogues allowed us to use the flat terrain of this strange land with ease. A vast army of seven hundred of my countrymen with full military equipment was arrayed in front of me, I could not help but beam with pride at the sight. Well... if only they knew what they were getting themselves into. Perfect regiments of our finest infantrymen, standing in salute to our Grand Admiral. I heard a beep, then a holographic sign appeared in the sky.
​
TEAM ALPHA = CIVILIAN READY
TEAM BRAVO = RADDIAN READY
TEAM CHARLIE = NATO/CSAT READY
AI IS NOW ENABLED. MISSION START.
​
A screen suddenly appeared in front of us all and a logo of a corporation known as Bohemia Interactive appeared in front of all our eyes. Followed by the loud thundering of intro music and a screen that displayed the logo of a game. Arma VI Absolution - Antistasi. My countrymen's objective was to go through terrain owned by a faction of hive minded insectoids from an extinct era known as The Minded Syndicate and liberate towns and bases from them.
​
A victory is achieved when either side controls all points of interest. There would be a grave period of a few hours, allowing each side to seize land before there can be any direct combat between them. I would be happy about this... If my countrymen weren't about to get curb stomped into oblivion by the most terrifying military force in the galaxy.
​
I used my tablet device to watch the opening ceremony from the hilltop and waited for my earth comrades to finish gearing up. I had my own gear ready, my traditional garb of an infantryman, only dyed blue and grey to match faction colors. Instead of the usual laser rifle, i carried a human weapon, an M-41-A1 Assault Carbine. A more modern variant of the old school M-4 rifle. My comrades were similarly armed, carrying simple carbines, limited personal armor, a backpack and a few mags of ammunition.
​
A human, calling himself, Doctor Plague approached, and handed me a small field backpack full of demolition supplies. "Here you go dude. C4, a satchel charge, two bouncing betties and a few Willy Pete grenades."
"Thank you Plague. I must say I am conflicted as to this scenario." I said as I stood up and put my backpack on, towering over my fellow human by two feet.
"Whys that? It cant possibly be that bad, you guys rule half the galaxy after all." He looked at me with a crooked grin.
"Using tactics that have changed little in over six thousand years. I have a feeling they will get one hell of a wakeup call from this fight. They have no idea how humanity fights war." I moved over to one of the civilian vehicles the logistics team already acquired from the area.
"They cant be worse than us." I heard another voice speak, this one of a guy going by the name of Badger. "Six thousand years isn't nothing to sneeze at so obviously they have something going for them."
"It is six thousand years of two hundred species facing roughly the same system of honor, duty and might. They haven't seen what I have spent the better part of the last five years witnessing with all of you guys. This moment is... bittersweet." I climbed onto the back of a pickup and sat on the roof.
​
A very British accent suddenly yelled up from the noise. "ALRIGHT LADS!!! Objectives are simple, same campaign as always, with a PvP twist at the end. Logistics team will carry on gearing up and securing vehicles. Four teams in all, we are fifty, they are seven hundred. We know what we got ourselves into. Team Alpha, Outposts, team Bravo, supplies and rescues. Team Charlie, heists and patrols. Everyone else, have fun!" Our C.O. Wayman spoke.
"OORAH" Came the enthusiastic reply. With that, my squad of six was off.
​
************************************************************************
​
Within two hours we had come across seven patrols. Enemy AI in this simulation was a mishmash of an old enemy we eradicated some millennia ago, an insectoid species with acid cannons and other weapons. They were dispatched with ease, far greater ease than my comrades ever managed, and quickly we siezed twelve outposts in the first few hours.
​
The squad consisted of two riflemen, myself and Plague, with Badger being our heavy gunner and AT, Alexevi being our Medic, Rockman and Saltidude being our sniper team. Yes I am aware the names are peculiar, those are not actual names of humans, just pseudonyms and cool tags just because its a thing that's part of the human 'internet'. Mine is Jaxx for reference.
​
As we were securing an outpost, looting a weapons crate, we got a broadcast. "All units this is God. We have confirmed sighting of Imperium forces approaching Pyrgos seaport. They are engaged with Syndicate targets."
​
A scout sniper team had found my countrymen and were now watching. I was fully expecting them to start laughing. I carried out my objective, planting an explosive near a fuel dump owned by the enemy and hopped back in the pickup, heading towards our next objective. "God this is Echo squad. Any intel?" I asked.
"I erm... I am not sure. Battle is still going. Syndicate and Empire are taking heavy casualties. We havent been spotted but erm... Hold on a minute."
"Here we go." I said with a heavy sigh.
"Ahhh... Jaxx this is God... please tell me that your people don't still fight with musket lines and swords? Cause that's the shit I'm seeing."
"Yes we still do fight with musket lines and cavalry charges. Yes we do engage our enemies in close combat when our rifles run dry. Yes, we don't use tanks or armor, or even close air support. NOW do you understand why I limited our sides numbers to fifty? If we had any more than that... It wouldn't have been fair." I explained, sighing heavily as we did a drive-by of a resource point.
"Well... erm... the hell are we supposed to do then? I mean... the hell?"
"We fight the same way we always do you pansy ass bastards!" Wayman said over the radio. "We fight to win. That's how we war. We operate under standard Laws Of Engagement. Don't shoot medics, don't kill prisoners and don't shoot civilians."
"Und ven ze press are not looking, ve use der flammenwerfer ja?" A very bad German accent interrupted, followed by a gale of laughter.
​
​
An hour later, the safety barrier was about to come down, and the central airfield at Telos. Up until this point, NATO (that's us) had taken everything up to this point from Kavala to Galati, and were readying a full armored column. We had seven tanks, three APCs and a single angry Irish guy in a gunship.
​
We decided to go old-school, and give the Imperium a chance. Two Patton M60-A3 tanks, five Abrams tanks, two Stryker MG APCs and a Humvee with a grenade launcher. Our air support was in the form of a Superhind gunship. Half of our troop took up the drivers of these vehicles while the rest of us took civilian vehicles or went on foot to act as snipers or infantry.
​
My countrymen had no damned idea just what kind of hell was waiting for them. I wa now genuinely concerned for the future of our friendship. What would be the Councils response to this battle? All I could do was hope and pray they wouldn't declare war. The casualties would be embarrassing.
​
The timer finally ran out and the thunderous roar of an armored column shattered the peace of the area. Engines and smoke blasted through the calm daylight breeze as a human military machine charged through the open countryside and towards a gathering army of seven hundred men. Seven hundred men armed with laser equivalents of muskets and blunderbuss.
​
The Imperial army arrived outside of the city of Telos via the town of Khalira to the east. The armored column hit them from the open fields to the north. the tanks stopped about three kilometers short of the army, neatly assembled in lines of men ready to engage as they marched towards the airfield. That army was five hundred strong.
​
The tanks lifted their cannons, and fired HEAT rounds into the assembled soldiers. A hundred men were cut down in the first volley. Then sixty more as the next volley of shells was fired. Panicked, Imperial forces were routed almost immediately, and scattered in all directions.
​
Mortar fire followed, killing the seventy or so men that took refuge in the town of Khalira, leveling the small town. The armored column began to drive again and within minutes, their weapons began to relentlessly tear through the assembled forces, wiping out a further hundred. The rest of the army was obliterated in a following airstrike, as excitable expletives and creative curse-words in Gaelic and English rang through the comms.
​
Five hundred men. All wiped out in the space of less than twenty minutes.
​
We were ordered to advance, and finish the job, only for the advancing infantry to discover that everyone was killed. Twenty towns were captured in quick succession, forcing us to fall back to earlier conquests due to logistics such as ammo and fuel.
​
The Imperial army was in complete disarray. Although everyone had respawned safe and sound, most, if not all were terrified and refused to rejoin the fight. They had little time to organize, so Admiralty laid charges of treason on those who refused. That rallied everyone pretty quick. But, the efforts were for nothing.
​
Just as the Imperial army successfully returned to formation, a mass panic gripped them as the angry Irish gunship flew over them, pelting the assault line with rocket pods and cannons. Another rout followed, and even the admiralty joined in the not-quite-so-strategic retreat. Another seven hundred men put in the wait queue as the armored column rejoined the fight and wiped the floor with the Empires men.
​
The admiralty realized the futility of the fight and immediately surrendered in order to save their fragile egos and stop their men from mass suicide. Such was the fateful tale, of the human versus Galactic Empire Antistasi event. The first, and only surrender in the Empires history.
​
************************************************************************
​
It was all just a simulation. A joint war simulation to test what humanity was capable of. It was a simple, easy and cheap way to test newcomers to the Galactic stage. It was an effective tool to test combat prowess, honor, strength and mettle in a battle and give the Imperium an easy way to look at a species strengths.
​
The entire Admiralty board was now on their knees begging the Imperium to sign permanent peace treaties with the Terran Federation. Some were even considering assassinations of members who refused. The video recording of that simulation was now going viral in every corner of the galaxy, now terrified at humanity's capabilities.
​
The Imperium were both shocked and humiliated at the resounding loss they suffered. Humans, through that entire campaign lost only around seventy men. The Imperium lost nearly two thousand. All to machinery and technology that was beyond two hundred years old to boot.
​
The incident now has a formerly obscure species, once barely a curiosity, now open to full scrutiny among the galactic community. Archives of previous human conflicts began to leak to the public, terrifying entire swathes of sentient life. Human history slowly laid itself bare, to an audience that was rapidly beginning to count humanity as less a sapient life form, and more an Eldritch horror.
​
Suddenly everything we knew about humanity's wars with the Garrox, Tyrannis and Kordikan empires were over so fast. Suddenly we started to understand how the Eridisian swarms were so rapidly eradicated. Suddenly we knew why the Immutable Matrix AI swarm was so easily put to the sword. Suddenly... it all made sense.
​
Within months of the first simulation, the Imperium decided on surrender.

A while back I did an X-Men rewrite and u/killthebatman2475 credited me for my ideas when he did his own version. Looking at his version has made me want to go over my own rewrite again so I'd like to thank them for their help with this.
Here's the link to the original
Here's the film order:

• X-Men (2000)
• X-Men 2 (2003)
• X-Men 3: The Last Stand (2005)
• X-Men 4: Dark Phoenix (2007)
• X-Men Origins Wolverine (2009)
• X-Factor (2010)
• X-Men First Class (2011)
• The Wolverine (2013)
• X-Men Days of Future Past (2014)
• X-Men the Shadow King (2015)
• Deadpool (2016)
• X-Men Apocalypse (2016)
• Logan (2017)
• Deadpool 2 (2018)
• X-Men Onslaught (2019)

X-Men

• Since the original film is just over 100min with the extra characters in this version this would have a runtime of over 2hrs.
• The team also includes Beast (played by Kelsey Grammar), Banshee (played by Liam Neeson), Forge and they're the oldest team members as well as Colossus (who's a recent graduate of the school and the youngest member).
• When the team goes on missions at least one member will stay behind to watch over the school.
• The Brotherhood of Mutants also includes Pyro, Avalanche, the Blob and Gambit (played by Taylor Kitsch since he's only a year older than Anna Paquin). When we're introduced to Magneto's base, the 4 of them are shown playing poker and from their interactions we learn a bit about them. For a bit of comedy, despite Pyro's love of destruction he finds cheating at poker completely unacceptable.
• Gambit's girlfriend abandoned him when his powers first emerged and he went on the run and became a thief until Magneto took him in. He's more misguided than anything else and has his doubts about the Brotherhood.
• When the Blob's powers emerged he was attacked by a mob but due to his timid nature and self-esteem he didn't put up much of a fight until Magneto saved him. Similar to that scene in X2 with Pyro, Magneto played up the Blob's ego, told him he was a god among insects.
• Pyro and Avalanche are shown to have a close friendship, often joking with each other while causing destruction.
• We get a few more scenes at the school to expand on the X-Men, their roles at the school and their dynamics with each other. For example we see Banshee with his teenage daughter Siryn who's close friends with Kitty. Despite him being a superhero and a former interpol agent, Siryn finds him as embarrassing as any other parent.
• I'd remove Logan's love triangle with Jean and Scott. Any tension between Logan and Scott comes from the Scott's by the books approach contrasting with Logan's rule-breaking loner attitude.
• At the train station the X-Men (minus Beast) and Brotherhood fight. Colossus and Cyclops fight Blob. Forge is able to destroy Pyro's gauntlets while Storm and Banshee put out his flames and they capture him and bring him back to the mansion where they learn about Magneto's plan.
• When the X-Men (minus Colossus) arrive at the Statue of Liberty the entrance is guarded by Avalanche and the Blob.
• Storm fights off Avalanche and Forge and Banshee fight off the Blob while the others enter.
• Wolverine fights Mystique while Beast fights Toad and Cyclops and Jean fight Gambit. Jean uses her telekinesis to throw Gambit's cards back at him. Toad and Gambit are forced to retreat further up.
• The team regroups but are captured by Magneto.
• Unable to bear Rogue's cries for help any longer, Gambit frees Wolverine and the two fight Toad and Sabertooth.
• When destroying the machine, Colossus throws Wolverine. If you're wondering why not send Banshee since he can fly I'll say that when fighting Blob his costume is damaged preventing him from doing so.
• At the end, Magneto, Toad and Sabertooth are captured. Mystique still shapeshifts into a guard while the Blob and Avalanche escape on their boat.
• Gambit joins the school.
• Beast takes pity on Kelly and goes with him to Washington.

X-Men 2

• At the museum Gambit uses his powers when he gets in a standoff when sticking up for Rogue with Professor X freezing everyone. He's befriended Bobby by this point who's a lot more reserved than Gambit is.
• Beast plays a smaller role in the film. We get a few scenes of him in Washington with Kelly who we see start to change his views and in the bar where Mystique seduces that guard we see a debate on TV between him and Graydon Creed. At some point Stryker is able to capture and brainwash him too.
• Cyclops, Storm and Jean go after Nightcrawler while Forge takes Xavier to see Magneto.
• Forge puts up a good fight against the guards but just before he can save Xavier Lady Deathstrike knocks him out.
• Back at the mansion at night Logan talks with Banshee and Siryn. I admit I haven't the faintest clue what they'd talk about, I'd just want to flesh out these characters a little more. He then talks with Bobby and Gambit, the former about his parents not knowing the full truth about the school and the latter about his difficulties adjusting to the school and feelings for Rogue.
• When Stryker attacks, he sends in the mind-controlled Toad and Sabertooth first to disable the security systems which inadvertedly allows Pyro to escape from the cell he's being held in at the mansion. He then sends in his troops.
• Banshee and Siryn use their scream to awaken everyone.
• Logan, Colossus, Banshee, Pyro, Iceman, Gambit and Rogue fight the guards while evacuating the children.
• Colossus leads most of the children to safety.
• Banshee stays behind to hold off Toad and Sabertooth to allow the others to escape and he's captured.
• I'd give some time to fleshing out Scott and Jean's romance more.
• I'd keep in the scene at Bobby's house and Pyro's rampage.
• I'd cut down the scene's of Xavier's mind controlled illusion since they drag on.
• When the X-Men and brotherhood storm Stryker's base Pyro goes with Magneto and Mystique and they fight and free Sabertooth.
• Cyclops and Jean fight Banshee and Forge and free them.
• Gambit, Rogue and Iceman fight Beast and Toad and free them too, the latter goes to find Magneto.
• When the Brotherhood leave the base, Sabertooth finds Deathstrike and we see him surprised and concerned and immediately drags her out the water and begs Magneto to save her which he does. Deathstrike recognises Sabertooth and she joins them as they escape.
• At the end Nightcrawler joins the school.

X-Men 3: The Last Stand

• Takes place 1 year after X2 and focuses on the mutant cure.
• I'd keep the intro with Angel and him trying to remove his wings and eventually reject the cure.
• Wolverine plays more of a supporting role this time. He's been making good progress restoring his memories and he and Nightcrawler have been training to become teachers at the school as well as other skills like flying the blackbird.
• The main focus is on Cyclops who's still in mourning. He commissioned the danger room (which Beast and Forge played a big role in building) to ensure the X-Men would be better prepared.
• We get a scene with the X-Men in the danger room.
• By this point, Gambit, Rogue, Iceman and Kitty are team members with uniforms.
• With the success of the first 2 films and the Raimi Spider-Man films I'd start to embrace the comics more. The X-Men wear new costumes that are a transition away from their black ones to the comic ones.
• Cyclops wants the students to have a life outside of the school and this leads to some tension with Storm who points out not everyone will turn out like Jean.
• By this point the brotherhood has been gathering strength. Avalanche and the Blob who were on the run from the law during X2 have reunited with Magneto and brought with them a new recruit who they broke out of prison: Havok. His relation to Cyclops is hinted at.
• We're introduced to a new villain faction: the Friends of Humanity secretly led by Graydon Creed.
• Forge is killed by the FoH.
• For the climax I wouldn't have the Golden Gate Bridge scene as while it's cool it makes me wonder why Magneto simply didn't drop the bridge on the lab or just use all the metal in the building to rip it apart. I'd also keep out Magneto sending in the weaker mutants to die first.
• Magneto's plan is to send 2 boats to Alcatraz as he already knows about the plastic weapons. The larger boat has the majority of the brotherhood who will keep the soldiers distracted (he warns them not to go rushing into them but not all listen to his advice) while the smaller submarine boat with his inner circle will go to the other side of the island where they make short work of the few soldiers there.
• The X-Men arrive and for the battle it goes:
• Gambit and Kitty vs Avalanche and Mystique but are outmatched until Rogue sneaks up on Avalanche and touches him and uses his powers on Mystique. Since Gambit and Kitty are too injured to fight they give Rogue their powers.
• Wolverine and Beast vs Sabertooth and Deathstrike. They're evenly matched but Deathstrike finds a cure and tries to inject it into Wolverine until Rogue blasts away Sabertooth with Gambit's cards and sinks Deathstrike into the ground. Wolverine grabs the cure and injects it into Deathstrike and stabs her and apologises to her before she dies.
• Colossus vs Blob, the latter having the upper hand until Wolverine and Beast help beat him.
• Cyclops vs Havok. Because their powers don't work on each other they rely on hand to hand combat where Cyclops has the edge.
• Iceman vs Pyro which plays out like in the film.
• Nightcrawler vs Toad, the latter having the edge until Iceman freezes him, allowing Cyclops to blast him.
• Storm and Banshee vs Magneto who's holding his own until Angel arrives and tackles him to the ground, giving Nightcrawler the opportunity to cure him.
• More soldiers arrive to capture the brotherhood, forcing the inner circle to flee. Magneto is cast out of the brotherhood with Mystique taking over.

X-Men 4: Dark Phoenix

• In the first 3 films I'd give a few hints towards the Hellfire Club pulling the strings e.g. post-credit scenes.
• I'd downplay the alien elements in this adaptation as there wouldn't be enough time.
• Gladiator and his imperial guard arrive on Earth and they explain that the Phoenix Force has travelled to different planets seeking powerful hosts and leaving destruction in its wake but the previous hosts had all died as their bodies couldn't handle the raw power.
• The combined efforts of the Imperial Guard and X-Men defeat Phoenix and the Hellfire Club but when it becomes clear that Gladiator intends to kill Jean it leads to a battle between the 2 teams.
• When Scott is almost killed by Gladiator Jean goes berserk and turns into Dark Phoenix, kills the Hellfire Club and goes on a destructive rampage during which Banshee is killed.
• Professor X is forced to amplify his power using Cerebro to dangerous new heights to get through to Jean who senses Siryn's grief over her father's death which allows her to gain control over the Phoenix Force long enough to banish it. The Imperial Guard are able to contain the Phoenix Force in some special device and send it into a black hole.
• Ends on a downer with the team disbanding and mutant rights activists back to square 1. Jean goes into self-imposed exile and Scott goes with her. Wolverine goes to Japan and Nightcrawler goes with him.
• We get a post-credit scene of Omega Red.

X-Men Origins Wolverine

• I'd essentially make the intro with Wolverine and Sabertooth fighting in different wars the premise of the whole film.
• Lady Deathstrike and Wolverine's past with her is an important plot in it too.
• The film ends with Wolverine getting the claws and losing his memory.

X-Factor

• Set after X4, Colossus returns to Russia only to find out about Omega Red's plan to restore the Soviet Union.
• Omega Red has hired Juggernaut and Black Tom to aid him.
• Colossus gets Gambit, Rogue, Iceman, Kitty, Angel and Siryn (taking up Banshee's mantle) to help him. The focus is on the younger team members having to learn not to rely on the older members.
• We get hints at Juggernaut's past with Xavier. To tie the Gem of Cittorak better into the more grounded approach of these films I'll say that it was created by the Shi'Ar Empire until the ship it was on crash landed on Earth.
• We're shown flashbacks of Banshee and Tom's rivalry. Tom is disappointed he never got to settle the score with his cousin so Siryn will have to do.
• Angel sacrifices himself to save his teammates.
• The film ends with X-Factor returning to the school to bury Angel.
• We get a post-credits scene of the US government being approached by Bolivar Trask and his sentinels program.

X-Men First Class

• Mr Sinister would be the main villain with the Marauders as his henchmen. We get hints at his past with Apocalypse.
• I'd have the film be set in the 70s.
• The team consists of: Xavier, Erik, Mystique, Beast, Forge, Banshee, Toad and Psylocke.
• At the end, the remaining Marauders along with Toad and Mystique join Magneto.
• We get a post-credits scene of the Shadow King.

The Wolverine

• Not too sure what I'd change about this film aside from having it rated 15/R.
• As I said I'd have Nightcrawler with Wolverine as I like the dynamic they share with the former's optimism clashing with the latter's cynicism.
• We still get the same mid-credits scene with Logan, Magneto and Xavier.

X-Men: Days of Future Past

• Exclusively involves the original cast rather than the prequels.
• In the future, mutants have been driven to near-extinction by the sentinels led by Mastermold and Nimrod. The only surviving X-Men are: Xavier, Wolverine, Caliban, Bishop and Cable. Before Forge died in X3 he began working on a time machine and they were able to find his research and use it to build the machine. Bishop and Cable go back in time to stop the brotherhood from killing Trask as well as find a way of stopping the sentinels in their own time.
• Bishop and Cable find Xavier and with his help they gather the team back together.
• By this point Scott and Jean are living with the morlocks and have a son, Nathan.
• Magneto has regained his powers and has recruited Destiny and Multiple Man into the brotherhood.
• For the climax, the X-Men finally don their comic book costumes.
• Cable is able to convince Havok to change sides and help them.
• Cable and Bishop use an emergency shutdown code that Trask secretly installed in the sentinels to stop them in the future and they sacrifice themselves to destroy Mastermold and Nimrod.
• Time travel in this version leads to a new timeline branching off from the old one. I'll call the sentinels timeline TL1 and that's where Logan takes place. I'll call the new timeline created in this film TL2 which is where Apocalypse takes place.
• We get a post-credits scene of Apocalypse having witnessed the events and decided now is the time to strike.

X-Men the Shadow King

• Set in the 80s, the Shadow King forms an alliance with the Brotherhood.
• We see how Scott, Storm and Jean joined the school. By this point Banshee is an interpol agent.
• The X-Men are no match for the Shadow King and Brotherhood on their own so they reluctantly allow the teenage Scott, Storm and Jean to join the team.
• Psylocke is killed by the Shadow King.
• We get a post-credits scene in TL2 of Apocalypse at the graves of the fallen X-Men and stealing their bodies.

X-Men: Apocalypse

• This film serves as a send-off to the original cast.
• Apocalypse is a time-traveller who has decided that TL2 is the ideal one to establish his rule in.
• Mutant rights have finally been making progress again.
• Apocalypse resurrects Forge, Banshee, Psylocke and Angel as his horsemen.
• The combined efforts of the X-Men and Brotherhood are no match for Apocalypse but they're able to steal a time machine and use it to get the help of their younger selves, bringing in the prequels cast.
• When the younger X-Men and Brotherhood return to their own time, Xavier and Erik agree to a truce. We get a post-credits scene of Onslaught who was secretly created by the events of this film and latched onto the younger Xavier.

Logan

• As mentioned above, it takes place in TL1. The sentinels are gone but they succeeded in wiping out almost all mutants and any humans that could produce them with Xavier accidentally killing the few surviving mutants in a telepathic seizure except Logan and Caliban.
• I can't really think of anything that I'd change aside from maybe replacing X-24 with Sabertooth as I figured it's quite fitting for Logan to die in one last fight against his nemesis.

X-Men: Onslaught

• Set in the late 80s, serves as a send-off to the prequels cast.

With Deadpool I can't think of anything that I'd change. For Deadpool 2 I'm thinking of having Mojo as the main villain who kidnaps Deadpool as I figured that could be a lot of fun.

From my travel report (2005/2006):
During our 1st Australia trip we already spent some time in PERTH and therefore knew the city and surroundings quite well. Towards the north we had already visited the Pinnacles and Monkey Mia with the dolphins in Shark Bay.
Therefore, we now wanted to look at the rather unknown southwest.And it was worth it!
From Perth we first drove south through the so-called Wheat Belt to get to HYDEN. This is a place where you really only go to see the WAVE ROCK. After we checked into our room at the Hyden Motel, we visited the Magic Lake about 1 km away - the water there is poison green.
Because of the heat we walked to Wave Rock and Hippo's Yawn in the late afternoon. Unfortunately we couldn't stay there too long, because even in December there were many flies. Hippo's Yawn was formed by erosion and actually looks like a hippo's mouth.Wave Rock, 15 meters high and 110 meters long, is an amazing rock formation, created by chemical erosion over thousands of years. Rainwater created pink and gray streaks on the huge granite wave.
To get to Kalgoorlie - our next destination - one normally drives via Mount Walker, Narrembin, Merredin and South Cross. But our landlord recommended us to drive the unpaved road - actually not allowed with rental cars - from Hyden to the Great Eastern Highway - because this route is much shorter. And since the road was completely dry, we did it that way. We drove through the beautiful bush landscape with many flowers to the Great Eastern Highway, and on the approx. 2 hours long drive we encountered "believe it or not" only 8 cars.
KALGOORLIE is an interesting old gold mining town. We spent the night at the Quality Inn Railway. It was so hot there that we didn't explore the town until late afternoon. There are many historic buildings, especially on Hannan Street.
We drove to the Mont Charlotte Lookout with a nice view of the city and the surrounding area. Mount Charlotte is the site of the O'Connor Water Reservoir. The pipeline brings water from about 560 km away near Perth to Kalgoorlie.
The heritage of the mining pioneers is still alive in the city, although nowadays, of course, only modern mining technology is used.
Australia's wealth depends on its mines. After mining, however, it unfortunately looks like a lunar landscape.... But it is interesting all the same!
The next morning we drove to the Super Pit Lookout to have a look into the depth, where giant machines look like toy cars. The Super Pit is 320 m deep, 3.2 km long and 1.3 km wide. In 1893 gold was found for the first time and until today there is the largest open pit mine in the world, where gold is mined and since the 1960s also nickel, uranium and lead. We also visited the Mining Hall of Fame, where extensive memorabilia from the old mining days was displayed in a large open-air area.
We also drove to BOULDER. This town was merged with Kalgoorlie in 1989. In Boulder only the railroad station is of interest, because the Indian Pacific stops here.
From Kalgoorlie we went on to ESPERANCE. We stayed overnight at the Best Western Hospitality Inn, located directly on the beautiful bay. Esperance took its development around 1895 because many people set out from there for the Gold Spring. Esperance has a mild climate and very beautiful surroundings with many small islands, great beaches and huge nature parks.
The next morning we first explored the Great Ocean Drive near Esperance with some very nice beaches. We made stops at Rotary Lookout with a view of Esperance, the bay and islands, at Twilight Beach and Blue Haven Beach and at Pink Lake.
Another excursion we made was of course to CAPE-LE-GRAND National Park. The national park is located about 50 km from Esperance in southern direction. It is one of the most spectacular parks of Australia with the wild coast, the heath landscape, the granite peaks and the rocks formed by erosion. The first stop we made was at Rossiter Bay.
Lucky Bay has been awarded several times as one of the top 10 beaches in the world. The beach is simply gorgeous, but unfortunately the crystal clear water is so cold that you can probably only swim there with a wetsuit. Each bay is uniquely enclosed with striking granite rocks - simply picturesque postcard motifs!
The imposing Whistling Rock can be seen from far away. It got its name because it seems to whisper depending on the strength of the wind. The sound is created when the wind whistles through the cracks and holes in the rock.
Hellfire Beach - my favorite beach - is located in a sheltered bay and framed by flat rocks. The whole area with the beautiful beaches was completely deserted. After all, we were there for a few hours and didn't see a single person there. The Grand Beach is really - as its name says - huge, also with almost white sand. Unfortunately it was so windy there that we didn't stay there for long.
We went on to ALBANY. Before the harbor in Fremantle was built, Albany was the most important harbor for the British Crown in Australia at that time. Albany has about 16,000 inhabitants and has an extensive natural harbor in the bay "King George Sound". It is the oldest settlement in Western Australia. We were able to rent a nice little house in Albany for a few days. During a walk through the town we saw some nice historic houses. The former whale station is a museum. From Albany you can still watch whales very well. St. John's Church from 1848 is the first Anglican church in Western Australia and reminds of an English country church. From Mount Clarence you have a nice view of the bay and the city.From there we drove to Emu Point beach, but unfortunately there were many annoying flies, so we did not stay long.
The next day we drove over the French Bay Road to the TORNDIRRUP National Park with the Natural Bridge and the Gap. Here you can see fantastic rock formations, formed 47 million years ago when Australia and Antarctica broke apart. Unfortunately the "Blow Holes" did not "blow", but instead there were many annoying flies. The park is 3900 ha large and offers cliffs, crevices and spout holes as well as beaches and lush vegetation between the headlands. A point of interest is the Natural Bridge made of granite. From the "Gap" you can look into a 30 m deep rock cut.
We also made a "side trip" to the 1913 founded STIRLING RANGES National Park. Of the 298 km there we drove 42 km on natural roads. The mountains in the national park are famous for their magnificent play of colors and are partly over 1000 m high and altogether more than 65 km long. There are well signposted but steep hiking trails and many picnic areas. Outside the park is a replica of a 16th century windmill that was still in full operation. A Dutch couple runs a small restaurant in the original 1924 railroad building next door. The highest peak is Bluff Knoll at 1063 meters. After a picnic at Bluff Knoll Lookout we drove the almost 300 km back to Albany.
We continued our trip on Beach Road via Denmark with good surfing possibilities to WALPOLE-NORNALUP National Park. This national park is about 18.000 ha big with rivers, over 400 years old up to 70m high Karri trees with a circumference up to 20 m, waterfalls and many wild flowers in spring. An attraction is the 600 m long Tree Top Walk up to 40 m above the ground, where you get a good impression of the huge trees. Maybe this walk is one of the reasons that the Valley of Giants is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Western Australia
We stayed overnight at the Best Western in Pemperton. From there we made a trip to GLOUCESTER National Park. This park is best known for the huge 62 m high Karri tree. Since 1947 there is one of the highest fire lookouts in the world on this tree. From up there you have of course a fantastic view, if you dare to go up there. My husband was brave enough and climbed up to the "Fire lookout".
AUGUSTA was founded in 1830 and is the third oldest town in Western Australia. We stayed there at the "Holiday Unit Cove". A beautiful beach near Augusta is located in Flinders Bay, and again many annoying flies. This bay is especially popular with surfers. We still ventured - despite heavy rain - to CAPRE LEEWIN, 9 km away. Unfortunately we couldn't get out of the car, it was too stormy to open the car doors. In addition, the rain then became a real downpour. The next day we got out of the car at the lighthouse, which was built more than 100 years ago. Cape Leeuwin is the geographical point where the Indian and the Southern Ocean meet and is also the most southwestern corner of Australia. We still admired the "Water Wheel" that the workers used to get fresh water when building the lighthouse.
MARGARET RIVER was settled by Europeans in 1850 and became a center for agriculture and logging. Now, however, it is dominated by vineyards, as the climate is ideal for growing grapes. The town is located about 10 km from the sea, on the coast there are beautiful beaches and also ideal surfing. It was Christmas Day and we spent the afternoon at Gnarup Beach. We had tried in vain to enjoy a nice Christmas dinner, but unfortunately most restaurants were closed. And those that were open were, of course, fully booked. Fortunately, we had an emergency supply with us, which we then more or less "enjoyed" on the terrace of our room at "Comfort Inn The Grange".... The 2nd Christmas Day then went better: we made a wine tour at various wineries with a gourmet lunch in the program. It went to the wineries "Windance" - had for me the best wines, but they were quite expensive- "Flying Fish" and "Knotting Hill Winery". And finally we visited the Colonial Brewery, a real "hangout" for the Australians.
We continued via Dunsbury at the beautiful Geographic Bay to BUSSELTON. In this area there are about 30 km of beaches to Cape Naturaliste, ideal for all water sports. On the road between Dunsbury and Busselton two kangaroos ran across the road in front of us, which is rarely seen. Because mostly they lie dead on the roadside. Well, these two had survived at least for the moment.
The 2 km long 140 year old "Jetty" in Busselton is a wooden construction, one of the longest jetties in Australia and reminds of the beginnings of the town as a timber handling port. The jetty is only secured on one side, so you have to be careful not to take an involuntary dip. There wasn't too much choice of recommendable accommodation in Busselton, so we only stayed for one night.
BUNBURY is the second largest city in Western Australia and is located on a peninsula. Since the 19th century, the city developed into a busy port and regional industrial center. We had no trouble finding accommodation here, at the "Lighthouse Beach Resort". Bunbury is a good place to watch dolphins. In a large supermarket in Bunbury we bought supplies, because we had rented a small townhouse (Ocean Villas) for a few weeks at our next destination - Scarborough.
SCARBOROUGH or SCARBORO is a small town with about 12,000 inhabitants, 15 minutes by car from Perth. Directly on the beach is the only higher house - a luxury hotel. Otherwise there are luxury villas as well as simple smaller houses - often for rent. At the esplanade you can find restaurants, cafes and small stores. There is a supermarket and of course the "bottle store", which is almost obligatory in Australia, selling alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. A few minutes by car further north you will find a bigger supermarket, and fruit and vegetables can be bought cheaper in Wannerou Market a bit east of Scarboro. There is a bus connection to Perth if you don't want to drive.
Scarboro is known for its beautiful white sand beaches, but the surf is usually very strong. At the beach of Scarboro is actually always "something going on". The kite surfers or bodysurfers can be found on the beach every day in the conditions. On the weekends there are mostly events on the beach, e.g. competitions of the Baywatch teams from different places.
To Trigg Beach, 1.4 km away, you can walk along the promenade and don't have to trudge through the deep sand. South of Scarboro there is Cottesloe Beach or closer to Perth City Beach and further north Sorrento Beach at Hillarys - so you are spoiled for choice with the beaches. It was of course very hot at this time of year, and sporting activities - except water sports - are best postponed to early morning or sometimes late afternoon. Because in the afternoon occasionally came the "Fremantle Doctor" - that is a refreshing wind that blows in the hot summer from Fremantle towards Perth.
On New Year's Eve, we ordered a table in time in a restaurant with first-class seafood, because we didn't want to experience the same disappointment as at Christmas in Margaret River. It was relatively quiet in Scarboro that evening. We drank the chilled champagne in "our" house, since drinking alcohol on the street or on the beach is prohibited. This was also controlled by the police - well, maybe one has made bad experiences.
From Scarboro we also made a trip to JOODALUP LAKE to see the black swans, which to my knowledge only exist in Western Australia.
PERTH with about 1.4 million inhabitants is the third largest city in Australia. It is very remote, because the next bigger city - Adelaide - is about 2700 km away. Perth was founded in 1929 and is today a modern metropolis with high-rise towers, pedestrian zones in the center, shopping centers, many parks and a lively cultural and art scene. In the Australian summer it is very hot and dry, so the already mentioned "Freemantle Doctor" is always welcome. In winter, however, the average temperature is "only" about 17°. Perth is one of the most beautiful cities in Australia and is located at the Swan River and not at the sea as some might assume. The center is easy to explore on foot. Otherwise there are free cat buses with three different routes where you can get a good overview of the city. Worth seeing is the bell tower at Barrack Square and the shopping street "London Court". Directly at Barrack Square there is a much frequented "Hangout". The district of Northbridge is known for many restaurants and entertainment in the evening. Interesting for shopping is the "Outlet Mall Harbour Town". In Perth, despite many modern buildings, there are still historic buildings: e.g. Government House from 1864, Town Hall from 1867 and His Majesty's Theatre from 1904.
The approx. 400 ha large Kings Park was founded at the end of the 19th century and is located above the city center. In former times it was a holy place for the Aborigines. Today the park is still mostly original bush land. It is worth coming here for the beautiful view of the Perth skyline and the Swan River alone. Of course you can also hike and picnic in this large park. The Perth Zoo is located on the south bank of the Swan River and is worth a visit. If you haven't seen kangaroos in the wild, at least you have that opportunity here.
A special for us unforgettable experience in Perth was Australia Day. We exceptionally went by bus from Scarboro to Perth, because on this day parking places in the city are scarce. This day is celebrated like a big folk festival, especially on the banks of the Swan River, which forms a lake here. The Australians organize a huge picnic with the whole family. There is music everywhere and countless events and displays on the water with boats and in the air with helicopters and aerobatic squadrons. As it got dark, 2 helis flew over the water. One with a huge Australian flag, the other illuminated this flag with a spotlight. In addition, the Australian national anthem sounded, which was eagerly sung along. A "goose bumps" experience that we will certainly never forget. Finally, there was a huge fireworks display.
The SWAN VALLEY is mainly known for wine growing. The main town is Guildford. Of course we did not miss the opportunity to visit some wineries, to taste and buy wine. In the Swan Valley you can drive along the Swan Valley Drive. There you will pass the oldest church in Western Australia "All Saints Church". At "Oggies Ice Creamery" you can eat delicious ice cream. And in the German beer garden "Duckstein Brewery" you can drink beer.
We also took a trip from Scarboro to AVON VALLEY. NORTHAM on the Avon with many historic buildings is the largest town in the interior of Western Australia and is located in the heart of the Avon Valley and originated as an agricultural center at the beginning of the colonial period. Around 1890 the town was also one of the gateways to the goldfields of Kalgoorlie. TOODYAY is also home to 19th century architecture. YORK originated in 1831 with many historic 19th century houses is the oldest town in the Avon Valley. In all three villages there are suspension bridges for pedestrians over the river, the longest is in Northam.
The 18 square kilometers large WALYNUGA National Park is located in the Avon Valley. Here was one of the largest Aboriginal settlements in the Perth region. In summer the Avon River has calm, water-filled pools for swimming, but in winter it becomes a raging river with numerous rapids.
YANCHEP National Park is located about an hour's drive north of Perth. The park, about 28 square kilometers in size, was established in 1957 and is rich in fauna and flora. Most people come here to admire koalas. We wanted to hike on the Wetland walk trail - passing Wagurdu Lake and Loch McNess. But unfortunately we had to turn back after 2/3 of the way. A bush fire had destroyed two bridges further ahead - was not indicated at the beginning of the trail...
On the 240 m long Koala Boardwalk you can observe the animals in a natural environment. They are busy either eating or lounging. The area for the koalas is a separate fenced part of the national park - so not quite "free range". But theoretically the animals could leave the area. The big gray kangaroos, which should also be in the park, we have unfortunately not seen - perhaps the wrong time of day.
In FREMANTLE directly at the sea south of Perth - which we already got to know well on a previous trip - there are free cat buses as well. A much visited "hangout" in this town is "Little Creative Brewery" with good pub food. You can also sit outside right on the water.

You can just ignore any nintendo references and focus on the primary functions: the rumble, analog triggers, mechanical buttons, rgb-lights, swappable ABXY buttons, included swappable thumbsticks that come in 3 sizes.
TLDR: Out of all the Nintendo Switch controllers I currently own it's most similar to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. The glossier finish of the Pro Controller is smoother and looks more attractive. It's worth noting that in a real world use the Mobapad M9-HD sits better in the hands due to matte finish & textured grips. If you value ergonomics and like the the Pro Controller (especially the HD-rumble), it's likely that you will enjoy the the M9-HD. For the $75 retail price ($6 more than Pro Controller) you will get a considerably better HD-rumble than the Pro Controller has (this surprised me the most), analog triggers with two positions, mechanical buttons, mappable backpaddles, thumbsticks in various sizes and multiple additional features.
Disclaimer: I started playing videogames in the early 90s (a NES clone was my first console, followed by Gameboy, PC etc). Outside of Reddit I've worked in the gaming tech field & tech journalism for about two decades (Europe/Estonia). After providing the makers of Mobapad (Guangzhou Xinxiang Culture Co. Ltd.) with my credentials (& examples of past work), I asked if I could test one of their controllers with the purpose of writing a review intended for the /Switch/ & /NintendoSwitch/ subreddits. They sent me the Mobapad M8 and Mobapad M9-HD. The review is be based solely on my experiences. I get to keep the controllers and won't be receiving additional compensation in any other form (no commission fees, affiliate marketing or ad-revenue etc). I don't have a social media presence (or followers) elsewhere. As my Nintendo Switch controller collection grows, I might write more reviews for our Switch-related subreddits.
Cheers :)
The Mobapad M9-HD Controller (with the tallest thumbsticks)
What this review is and is not.
There are many ways of covering a tech product: from a highly technical analysis aimed at the tech-savvy crowd to an emotional hype-piece. The Mobapad M9-HD will be reviewed as a controller on the Nintendo Switch platform and compared to other Switch controllers that I own. A practical amount of real life examples with a select amount of technical details will be included (with brief explanations that are understandable to people who might be new to gaming). This review will not cover every detail about the M9-HD (such as all of the features, how to change various settings, how the controller works on other platforms etc).
The package.
Out of all the Nintendo Switch Controllers I own, the box of this controller is the best looking. The artwork is lovely (IT'S A TIGER ON THE BOX - I think), the box itself is sturdy. While you can't use the box to increase your aim in a videogame, you can put it on a shelf if you are a collector or someone who likes boxes.
What's in the box?
The controller itself, a USB-dongle receiver, a high quality braided USB-cable, a manual (in English), 4 sets of thumbsticks and 2 sets of replaceable buttons (Switch/PC layout).
On the left: Hori Split Pad Pro. On the right: the box of Mobapad M9-HD
Lets talk about the extra buttons & potential for modding.
Having two sets of buttons is a welcome extra if you play on multiple platforms. The manual mentions that you can change the buttons, but it doesn't explain how to change them. It also does not say that you can/have to remove the faceplate. Turns out that you have to pry open the faceplate of the controller. While I removed the biggest portion of the faceplate, it really felt that I might break something while doing it. The faceplate is in three parts & is connected to the controller with plastic connectors. I doubt that anyone who plays on multiple platforms (using the same controller) will be motivated enough to swap the buttons from the Switch to PC layout and back on a regular basis.
Note: The plastic connectors will probably get slightly less stiff with a few removals of the faceplate, so it will become easier to change it. Using magnetic connectors for the faceplate would probably have been a better choice (like on the Mobapad M8 controller). It's also worth noting that for those of us who like modding their controller, the ability to remove the faceplate is a nice extra to have. As it makes the customization process easier if you want to paint the faceplate for example.
RGB-lights!
The controller has some neat RGB-lights. They are visible in 3 locations & in 8 different colors. The lights have 3 different modes (on, off, breathing). While changing the modes and colors of RGB-lights in a very rapid fashion, I was able to cause an error. The lights didn't change color even though I pressed the button combination to change them. After waiting for about 5-10 seconds the colors started to change correctly again. I was not able to reproduce this bug later.
Do you need RGB-lights? Not really. But they look pretty and when Christmas comes around you can turn on red or yellow lights and be in a festive mood.
Mechanical A/B/X/Y buttons.
Simply put the A/B/X/Y buttons are mechanical, they are clicky and a pleasure to use. In comparison to regular buttons (such the ones used in the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, Hori Split Pad Pro & Nintendo Switch Joycons) the mechanical buttons in the Mobapad M9-HD are more resnposive, can be pressed with less force and make a small audible click when you press them. These days there are many keyboards that also come with mechanical switches. If you haven't had a chance to use a mechanical controller, you might have used a mechanical keyboard (or a mouse) which can produce a similar click and feeling when pressed.
Note: In a way I feel that not including the RGB-lights in the A/B/X/Y buttons is a missed opportunity.
Closeup of the D-pad, RGB-lights, textured grip and buttons on the Mobapad M9-HD
What about the D-pad?
It's a good D-pad. The Mobapad M9-HD D-pad has a slightly lowered/concave area around the D-pad similarly to the Nintendo 64 controller's D-pad. Pressing the D-pad on M9-HD takes slightly less force than it does on the Pro Controller's D-pad. On the Switch I'd say that to this day my favorite D-pad is on the 8Bitdo SN30pro (which is on the stiffer side in terms of how it handles & the size is perfect). The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller's D-pad is somewhere between the M9-HD & SN30pro. I usually play handheld, but when I play with a controller, I don't usually choose controllers based on a genre. So overall, I'll probably stick to Mobapad M9-HD for most genres. On the rare occasions when I feel nostalgic, I'd probably go for the 8Bitdo SN30pro because it reminds me of my childhood & first consoles.
Note:: Since the A/B/X/Y and thumbsticks are swappable, I think that it might be an interesting feature to have a swappable D-pad as well. One of the obvious inspiration points for M9-HD has been the Xbox One Elite controller which has a swappable D-pad.
How are the thumbsticks?
While there are 4 sets of thumbsticks included, the thumbsticks come in 3 different heights. All of these are concave thumbsticks. The shortest thumbsticks are about 19mm wide and similar to the Hori Split Pad Pro. The medium & high thumbsticks are 18mm wide (similar to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller). The original Nintendo Switch joycons are about 15mm wide. Changing the thumbsticks takes a few seconds: you pull the thumbstick straight up and swap it to whichever of the included thumbsticks you fancy. On the technical side it's worth mentioning that these are ALPS thumbsticks.
What's the benefit of changing thumbsticks?
It's a neat extra that could make the controller more comfortable to hold, eespecially if you have medium/large hands or play longer gaming sessions. In certain genres (like FPS) higher thumbsticks may make it easier to perform more precise movements. Usually controllers do not come with different sized thumbsticks, but you can buy thumbstick extenders which are sold by various brands with the starting price at around $12.
Ergonomics & how the controller feels to hold.
Out of the Nintendo Switch controllers that I own, the closest comparison would be to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. It's worth noting that the Pro Controller is slightly glossy and feels smooth in the hand. This makes the build of Pro Controller feel a tiny bit better. The Mobapad M9-HD Controller is made out of matte plastic and has textured grips. The texture is slight yet aggressive enough to make the controller feel very secure. The location of backpaddles feels ergonomic. Pressing the backpaddles feels nice and you can map them to various buttons.
The M9-HD is currently the most ergonomic Nintendo Switch controller that I have used. The overall comfort comes from the solid build, different sized thumbsticks, superior triggers, mappable backpaddles and the weight plus the slightly textured grip.
​
The included swappable thumbsticks & extra A/B/X/Y buttons of the Mobapad M9-HD
Gyro.
Gyro is present and by default quite sensitive. In general gyro isn't my preferred way of playing videogames, so take my "quite sensitive" impressions with a grain of salt, as I've also used gyro on the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and also found it a bit too sensitive for my liking as well.
Triggers, analog triggers!
One of the major features that makes the Mobapad M9-HD stand out is the fact that the triggers are analog. In practical terms it means that you can hold the analog trigger down partially, thus giving a limited amount of acceleration to your car in racing games. This makes makes it much more satisfying & easier. On regular controllers (such as the Nintendo Switch Joycons or the Pro Controller) you can't do that and have to constantly press and release the trigger to accelerate, without the option to accelerate lets say 30% while just slightly pressing on the trigger.
Sadly analog triggers function as regular triggers in most videogames on the Nintendo Switch platform (unless the developer of a certain videogame has included analog trigger support to that specific game). As far as I know, a very select number of videogames on the Nintendo Switch include analog trigger support. GRID Autosport being one of them, I've tested it with the Mobapad M9-HD & the analog triggers work. If any of you know other Nintendo Switch titles that have analog trigger support, I'd appreciate your comment. I want to try them out and confirm if the triggers work in those games.
Another neat feature of Mobapad M9-HD triggers is that they have two different positions you can choose between. The shorter travel distance position has a nice clicky sound to it. As you can imagine, the shorter distance makes it possible to press the triggers very rapidly. The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller trigger feels slightly mushy in comparison. I like using both controllers, but the M9-HD feels better. The longer travel distance position of the trigger is also nice. In terms of gameplay, it feels more relaxed. In my gaming experience the shorter distance is better for something like shooters or fighting games but longer is better for racing. But it's Nintendo Switch after all, so choosing which one is for you is a matter of preference. The good thing is that on the M9-HD you have a choice when it comes to trigger travel distance. As far as I know 8Bitdo also has a controller that has analog triggers with some adjustability, but I can't comment on those as I don't own that specific controller.
Note: It's neat that more companies such as 8BitDo and Mobapad have started to produce controllers that allow you to configure how the triggers work. Hopefully we'll see companies produce more joycons as well as controllers that have more features at some point. I'm sure Nintendo itself could pull it off easily, but I doubt they have any plans to do something like that in the near future.
The HD-vibration motor.
Oh boy! This is probably the biggest draw of using this controller. I still remember the first time I felt the vibration motor of Mobapad M9-HD in my hands and I wasn't expecting it. My previously favorite vibration motor of the Switch platform was in the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. I was sure that I will never ever see another company produce something of similar quality for the Switch console.
Mobapad M9-HD did it and truly, the HD-vibration motor on Mobapad M9-HD is better than the Pro Controller's vibration feature. It's hard to explain, but I'll give it a shot. The rumble on Nintendo Switch Pro Controller feels pleasant and doesn't rattle, so it's quiet in a way, but feels very good in the controller when playing and has some depth to the vibration. Mobapad M9-HD is a different beast. It has more weight & power to it in addition to the other features the Pro Controller's vibration motor has. You can instantly feel that it's more powerful than the Pro Controllers HD-vibration. You can feel the bass of rumble in your hands when playing. And make no mistake, the increased power of Mobapad M9-HD vibration doesn't feel creaky like some of the lower priced controllers can be. It feels powerful, well balanced, doesn't make too much sound and if I could, I'd buy joycons with the same HD-vibration motor.
Note: As the quality of the HD-vibration on Mobapad M9-HD surprised me greatly, I reached out to Mobapad and asked why the vibration feels different than in other Nintendo Switch controllers. I received the following reply: "Our controller features linear motors, which are the most costly part and what sets it apart from other controllers." In a way this explains why the vibration is different from other 3rd party controllers, but why it feels so much better than the official Pro Controller's vibration still puzzles me (maybe a trade secret?). Maybe the motor is bigger or has a better position or something along those lines, who knows.
What else is there?
There are multiple features that I won't even attempt to cover (the review is already a long read). The controller currently comes in black, white and purple. For the purpose of the review I asked for the purple model as it looks the most cheerful. There's also the NFC function (I was not able to test this as I don't own any Amiibos).
Final thoughts.
The Mobapad M9-HD is a well executed example of a premium controller that seems to be mainly targeted at the experienced gamer demographic. It's priced at $75 and is one of the highest priced Nintendo Switch controllers out there. In terms of features it clearly competes with the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller ($69.99-109.99$ depending on the color scheme) & 8Bitdo Ultimate Controller ($69.99). The price is worth it for those who benefit from the extra features (best HD-rumble, ergonomics, mechanical buttons, additional thumbsticks etc).
To me personally the pricing seems fitting to the features that the controller brings, however there are a few more aspects to consider.
Will a experienced gamer benefit from the features that come with the pricetag? Yes, we will.
Will a newer or casual gamer benefit from the features? Yes, some of them (like the analog triggers, awesome rumble and ergonomics that come with swappable thumbsticks). However I think that since Mobapad as a brand isn't very well known in the EU & US region, some might be hesitant to pay the full retail price.
Mobapad M9-HD just out of the box, next to Mobapad M8, Hori Split Pad Pro, 8Bitdo SN30pro (and the right handle of Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Splatoon Edition.
And here is a comparison table.
I did my best to rate various features of the Switch controllers that I own (in order to give a kind of an overview). Keep in mind that such comparisons are subjective and ratings might vary from person to person (for example someone with very small hands might find the Nintendo Switch Joycons with the grip to be the best controller ever due to their size).
Rating is on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being the worst, 5 being the best).
The price is for the regular model of any controller and is based on the official pricing I found/received. This does not include sales or limited edition color schemes that may cost more.

Model	Nintendo Joycons + grip	Mobapad M9-HD	Nintendo Pro Controller	8Bitdo SN30pro
D-Pad	3	4.5	4	5
Thumbsticks	3	5	4.5	4
Triggers	3	5	3.5	3.5
Buttons	3	5	3.5	4
Build	5	4.5	5	4.5
Ergonomics	3.5	5	5	3
Features	3.5	5	3.5	3
Included accessories	3	5	3	3
Crossplatform support	2	5	2	4.5
Vibration	4	5	4	3
Price (not rated)	$79	$75	$69	$45
Weight (not rated)	197g	254g	249g	112g

What could be improved upon:

1. While the bundled items (such as the different thumbsticks etc) are worth the extra cost to those who use them, it's likely that some of the potential customers might not pay much attention to the included extras and/or just don't benefit from them (since they don't customize their controller in any way and are happy with whatever configuration is quickly accessible out of the box).
2. A slightly cheaper version of the Mobapad M9-HD that comes with less extras (no replacable buttons or thumbsticks for example) might be something that's worth looking into. Such a move may make it easier to lower the price slightly. An even cheaper model could be closer to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller (so something like the current M9-HD but without the option to change thumbsticks or buttons or faceplates).
3. Increased availability in the western market would be helpful (such as a US & EU official stores or resellers).
4. My copy of the Mobapad M9-HD had a small slightly sharp corner in one of the joints where the bottom & top part of the controllers case meet). If you hold the controller while gaming, it's unlikely that you would notice it. While it's a minor issue that can be easily fixed with gently sanding the edge with small piece of sandpaper or something abrasive, it's still something that could be fixed in the quality control or production process.
5. Additional color schemes and designs for the controller might appeal to gamers. For example the colored (Splatoon edition etc) Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers are very popular. Some companies have also produced controllers with a transparent casing which is also something that's worth looking into. An upgraded version with RGB-lit A/B/X/Y buttons would also be neat.
6. An updated manual that does a better job at explaining all the functions (such as how to replace the A/B/X/Y buttons) would be a welcome change.
7. The current package is very well produced and has an overall effect on the cost of the item. A slightly smaller package could reduce the production cost.
8. A semi-glossy version of the controller that uses similar plastic to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is something that would probably be well received by some gamers.

Here's a link to all of the photos that I included in this post.
https://imgur.com/a/dwGAFeP
​
Photography equipment used when taking these photos: Fujifilm X-T4 mirrorless camera, Fujinon XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR lens, Fujifilm MCEX-11 macro extension tube.
Closing notes:
I hope you like the review :)
My personal thanks to Mr. Zhang & Amy from Guangzhou Xinxiang Culture Co. Ltd.
Edit: I forgot to include this part. If you have some questions about the controller, feel free to ask. I will happily answer all the questions I feel competent enough to answer and the rest I'll collect and reach out to the people who made this. So we'll get answers from the company who built it.

You can just ignore any nintendo references and focus on the primary functions: the rumble, analog triggers, mechanical buttons, rgb-lights, swappable ABXY buttons, included swappable thumbsticks that come in 3 sizes.
TLDR: Out of all the Nintendo Switch controllers I currently own it's most similar to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. The glossier finish of the Pro Controller is smoother and looks more attractive. It's worth noting that in a real world use the Mobapad M9-HD sits better in the hands due to matte finish & textured grips. If you value ergonomics and like the the Pro Controller (especially the HD-rumble), it's likely that you will enjoy the the M9-HD. For the $75 retail price ($6 more than Pro Controller) you will get a considerably better HD-rumble than the Pro Controller has (this surprised me the most), analog triggers with two positions, mechanical buttons, mappable backpaddles, thumbsticks in various sizes and multiple additional features.
Disclaimer: I started playing videogames in the early 90s (a NES clone was my first console, followed by Gameboy, PC etc). Outside of Reddit I've worked in the gaming tech field & tech journalism for about two decades (Europe/Estonia). After providing the makers of Mobapad (Guangzhou Xinxiang Culture Co. Ltd.) with my credentials (& examples of past work), I asked if I could test one of their controllers with the purpose of writing a review intended for the /Switch/ & /NintendoSwitch/ subreddits. They sent me the Mobapad M8 and Mobapad M9-HD. The review is be based solely on my experiences. I get to keep the controllers and won't be receiving additional compensation in any other form (no commission fees, affiliate marketing or ad-revenue etc). I don't have a social media presence (or followers) elsewhere. As my Nintendo Switch controller collection grows, I might write more reviews for our Switch-related subreddits.
Cheers :)
The Mobapad M9-HD Controller (with the tallest thumbsticks)
What this review is and is not.
There are many ways of covering a tech product: from a highly technical analysis aimed at the tech-savvy crowd to an emotional hype-piece. The Mobapad M9-HD will be reviewed as a controller on the Nintendo Switch platform and compared to other Switch controllers that I own. A practical amount of real life examples with a select amount of technical details will be included (with brief explanations that are understandable to people who might be new to gaming). This review will not cover every detail about the M9-HD (such as all of the features, how to change various settings, how the controller works on other platforms etc).
The package.
Out of all the Nintendo Switch Controllers I own, the box of this controller is the best looking. The artwork is lovely (IT'S A TIGER ON THE BOX - I think), the box itself is sturdy. While you can't use the box to increase your aim in a videogame, you can put it on a shelf if you are a collector or someone who likes boxes.
What's in the box?
The controller itself, a USB-dongle receiver, a high quality braided USB-cable, a manual (in English), 4 sets of thumbsticks and 2 sets of replaceable buttons (Switch/PC layout).
On the left: Hori Split Pad Pro. On the right: the box of Mobapad M9-HD
Lets talk about the extra buttons & potential for modding.
Having two sets of buttons is a welcome extra if you play on multiple platforms. The manual mentions that you can change the buttons, but it doesn't explain how to change them. It also does not say that you can/have to remove the faceplate. Turns out that you have to pry open the faceplate of the controller. While I removed the biggest portion of the faceplate, it really felt that I might break something while doing it. The faceplate is in three parts & is connected to the controller with plastic connectors. I doubt that anyone who plays on multiple platforms (using the same controller) will be motivated enough to swap the buttons from the Switch to PC layout and back on a regular basis.
Note: The plastic connectors will probably get slightly less stiff with a few removals of the faceplate, so it will become easier to change it. Using magnetic connectors for the faceplate would probably have been a better choice (like on the Mobapad M8 controller). It's also worth noting that for those of us who like modding their controller, the ability to remove the faceplate is a nice extra to have. As it makes the customization process easier if you want to paint the faceplate for example.
RGB-lights!
The controller has some neat RGB-lights. They are visible in 3 locations & in 8 different colors. The lights have 3 different modes (on, off, breathing). While changing the modes and colors of RGB-lights in a very rapid fashion, I was able to cause an error. The lights didn't change color even though I pressed the button combination to change them. After waiting for about 5-10 seconds the colors started to change correctly again. I was not able to reproduce this bug later.
Do you need RGB-lights? Not really. But they look pretty and when Christmas comes around you can turn on red or yellow lights and be in a festive mood.
Mechanical A/B/X/Y buttons.
Simply put the A/B/X/Y buttons are mechanical, they are clicky and a pleasure to use. In comparison to regular buttons (such the ones used in the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, Hori Split Pad Pro & Nintendo Switch Joycons) the mechanical buttons in the Mobapad M9-HD are more resnposive, can be pressed with less force and make a small audible click when you press them. These days there are many keyboards that also come with mechanical switches. If you haven't had a chance to use a mechanical controller, you might have used a mechanical keyboard (or a mouse) which can produce a similar click and feeling when pressed.
Note: In a way I feel that not including the RGB-lights in the A/B/X/Y buttons is a missed opportunity.
Closeup of the D-pad, RGB-lights, textured grip and buttons on the Mobapad M9-HD
What about the D-pad?
It's a good D-pad. The Mobapad M9-HD D-pad has a slightly lowered/concave area around the D-pad similarly to the Nintendo 64 controller's D-pad. Pressing the D-pad on M9-HD takes slightly less force than it does on the Pro Controller's D-pad. On the Switch I'd say that to this day my favorite D-pad is on the 8Bitdo SN30pro (which is on the stiffer side in terms of how it handles & the size is perfect). The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller's D-pad is somewhere between the M9-HD & SN30pro. I usually play handheld, but when I play with a controller, I don't usually choose controllers based on a genre. So overall, I'll probably stick to Mobapad M9-HD for most genres. On the rare occasions when I feel nostalgic, I'd probably go for the 8Bitdo SN30pro because it reminds me of my childhood & first consoles.
Note:: Since the A/B/X/Y and thumbsticks are swappable, I think that it might be an interesting feature to have a swappable D-pad as well. One of the obvious inspiration points for M9-HD has been the Xbox One Elite controller which has a swappable D-pad.
How are the thumbsticks?
While there are 4 sets of thumbsticks included, the thumbsticks come in 3 different heights. All of these are concave thumbsticks. The shortest thumbsticks are about 19mm wide and similar to the Hori Split Pad Pro. The medium & high thumbsticks are 18mm wide (similar to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller). The original Nintendo Switch joycons are about 15mm wide. Changing the thumbsticks takes a few seconds: you pull the thumbstick straight up and swap it to whichever of the included thumbsticks you fancy. On the technical side it's worth mentioning that these are ALPS thumbsticks.
What's the benefit of changing thumbsticks?
It's a neat extra that could make the controller more comfortable to hold, eespecially if you have medium/large hands or play longer gaming sessions. In certain genres (like FPS) higher thumbsticks may make it easier to perform more precise movements. Usually controllers do not come with different sized thumbsticks, but you can buy thumbstick extenders which are sold by various brands with the starting price at around $12.
Ergonomics & how the controller feels to hold.
Out of the Nintendo Switch controllers that I own, the closest comparison would be to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. It's worth noting that the Pro Controller is slightly glossy and feels smooth in the hand. This makes the build of Pro Controller feel a tiny bit better. The Mobapad M9-HD Controller is made out of matte plastic and has textured grips. The texture is slight yet aggressive enough to make the controller feel very secure. The location of backpaddles feels ergonomic. Pressing the backpaddles feels nice and you can map them to various buttons.
The M9-HD is currently the most ergonomic Nintendo Switch controller that I have used. The overall comfort comes from the solid build, different sized thumbsticks, superior triggers, mappable backpaddles and the weight plus the slightly textured grip.
​
The included swappable thumbsticks & extra A/B/X/Y buttons of the Mobapad M9-HD
Gyro.
Gyro is present and by default quite sensitive. In general gyro isn't my preferred way of playing videogames, so take my "quite sensitive" impressions with a grain of salt, as I've also used gyro on the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and also found it a bit too sensitive for my liking as well.
Triggers, analog triggers!
One of the major features that makes the Mobapad M9-HD stand out is the fact that the triggers are analog. In practical terms it means that you can hold the analog trigger down partially, thus giving a limited amount of acceleration to your car in racing games. This makes makes it much more satisfying & easier. On regular controllers (such as the Nintendo Switch Joycons or the Pro Controller) you can't do that and have to constantly press and release the trigger to accelerate, without the option to accelerate lets say 30% while just slightly pressing on the trigger.
Sadly analog triggers function as regular triggers in most videogames on the Nintendo Switch platform (unless the developer of a certain videogame has included analog trigger support to that specific game). As far as I know, a very select number of videogames on the Nintendo Switch include analog trigger support. GRID Autosport being one of them, I've tested it with the Mobapad M9-HD & the analog triggers work. If any of you know other Nintendo Switch titles that have analog trigger support, I'd appreciate your comment. I want to try them out and confirm if the triggers work in those games.
Another neat feature of Mobapad M9-HD triggers is that they have two different positions you can choose between. The shorter travel distance position has a nice clicky sound to it. As you can imagine, the shorter distance makes it possible to press the triggers very rapidly. The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller trigger feels slightly mushy in comparison. I like using both controllers, but the M9-HD feels better. The longer travel distance position of the trigger is also nice. In terms of gameplay, it feels more relaxed. In my gaming experience the shorter distance is better for something like shooters or fighting games but longer is better for racing. But it's Nintendo Switch after all, so choosing which one is for you is a matter of preference. The good thing is that on the M9-HD you have a choice when it comes to trigger travel distance. As far as I know 8Bitdo also has a controller that has analog triggers with some adjustability, but I can't comment on those as I don't own that specific controller.
Note: It's neat that more companies such as 8BitDo and Mobapad have started to produce controllers that allow you to configure how the triggers work. Hopefully we'll see companies produce more joycons as well as controllers that have more features at some point. I'm sure Nintendo itself could pull it off easily, but I doubt they have any plans to do something like that in the near future.
The HD-vibration motor.
Oh boy! This is probably the biggest draw of using this controller. I still remember the first time I felt the vibration motor of Mobapad M9-HD in my hands and I wasn't expecting it. My previously favorite vibration motor of the Switch platform was in the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. I was sure that I will never ever see another company produce something of similar quality for the Switch console.
Mobapad M9-HD did it and truly, the HD-vibration motor on Mobapad M9-HD is better than the Pro Controller's vibration feature. It's hard to explain, but I'll give it a shot. The rumble on Nintendo Switch Pro Controller feels pleasant and doesn't rattle, so it's quiet in a way, but feels very good in the controller when playing and has some depth to the vibration. Mobapad M9-HD is a different beast. It has more weight & power to it in addition to the other features the Pro Controller's vibration motor has. You can instantly feel that it's more powerful than the Pro Controllers HD-vibration. You can feel the bass of rumble in your hands when playing. And make no mistake, the increased power of Mobapad M9-HD vibration doesn't feel creaky like some of the lower priced controllers can be. It feels powerful, well balanced, doesn't make too much sound and if I could, I'd buy joycons with the same HD-vibration motor.
Note: As the quality of the HD-vibration on Mobapad M9-HD surprised me greatly, I reached out to Mobapad and asked why the vibration feels different than in other Nintendo Switch controllers. I received the following reply: "Our controller features linear motors, which are the most costly part and what sets it apart from other controllers." In a way this explains why the vibration is different from other 3rd party controllers, but why it feels so much better than the official Pro Controller's vibration still puzzles me (maybe a trade secret?). Maybe the motor is bigger or has a better position or something along those lines, who knows.
What else is there?
There are multiple features that I won't even attempt to cover (the review is already a long read). The controller currently comes in black, white and purple. For the purpose of the review I asked for the purple model as it looks the most cheerful. There's also the NFC function (I was not able to test this as I don't own any Amiibos).
Final thoughts.
The Mobapad M9-HD is a well executed example of a premium controller that seems to be mainly targeted at the experienced gamer demographic. It's priced at $75 and is one of the highest priced Nintendo Switch controllers out there. In terms of features it clearly competes with the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller ($69.99-109.99$ depending on the color scheme) & 8Bitdo Ultimate Controller ($69.99). The price is worth it for those who benefit from the extra features (best HD-rumble, ergonomics, mechanical buttons, additional thumbsticks etc).
To me personally the pricing seems fitting to the features that the controller brings, however there are a few more aspects to consider.
Will a experienced gamer benefit from the features that come with the pricetag? Yes, we will.
Will a newer or casual gamer benefit from the features? Yes, some of them (like the analog triggers, awesome rumble and ergonomics that come with swappable thumbsticks). However I think that since Mobapad as a brand isn't very well known in the EU & US region, some might be hesitant to pay the full retail price.
Mobapad M9-HD just out of the box, next to Mobapad M8, Hori Split Pad Pro, 8Bitdo SN30pro (and the right handle of Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Splatoon Edition.
And here is a comparison table.
I did my best to rate various features of the Switch controllers that I own (in order to give a kind of an overview). Keep in mind that such comparisons are subjective and ratings might vary from person to person (for example someone with very small hands might find the Nintendo Switch Joycons with the grip to be the best controller ever due to their size).
Rating is on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being the worst, 5 being the best).
The price is for the regular model of any controller and is based on the official pricing I found/received. This does not include sales or limited edition color schemes that may cost more.

Model	Nintendo Joycons + grip	Mobapad M9-HD	Nintendo Pro Controller	8Bitdo SN30pro
D-Pad	3	4.5	4	5
Thumbsticks	3	5	4.5	4
Triggers	3	5	3.5	3.5
Buttons	3	5	3.5	4
Build	5	4.5	5	4.5
Ergonomics	3.5	5	5	3
Features	3.5	5	3.5	3
Included accessories	3	5	3	3
Crossplatform support	2	5	2	4.5
Vibration	4	5	4	3
Price (not rated)	$79	$75	$69	$45
Weight (not rated)	197g	254g	249g	112g

What could be improved upon:

1. While the bundled items (such as the different thumbsticks etc) are worth the extra cost to those who use them, it's likely that some of the potential customers might not pay much attention to the included extras and/or just don't benefit from them (since they don't customize their controller in any way and are happy with whatever configuration is quickly accessible out of the box).
2. A slightly cheaper version of the Mobapad M9-HD that comes with less extras (no replacable buttons or thumbsticks for example) might be something that's worth looking into. Such a move may make it easier to lower the price slightly. An even cheaper model could be closer to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller (so something like the current M9-HD but without the option to change thumbsticks or buttons or faceplates).
3. Increased availability in the western market would be helpful (such as a US & EU official stores or resellers).
4. My copy of the Mobapad M9-HD had a small slightly sharp corner in one of the joints where the bottom & top part of the controllers case meet). If you hold the controller while gaming, it's unlikely that you would notice it. While it's a minor issue that can be easily fixed with gently sanding the edge with small piece of sandpaper or something abrasive, it's still something that could be fixed in the quality control or production process.
5. Additional color schemes and designs for the controller might appeal to gamers. For example the colored (Splatoon edition etc) Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers are very popular. Some companies have also produced controllers with a transparent casing which is also something that's worth looking into. An upgraded version with RGB-lit A/B/X/Y buttons would also be neat.
6. An updated manual that does a better job at explaining all the functions (such as how to replace the A/B/X/Y buttons) would be a welcome change.
7. The current package is very well produced and has an overall effect on the cost of the item. A slightly smaller package could reduce the production cost.
8. A semi-glossy version of the controller that uses similar plastic to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is something that would probably be well received by some gamers.

Here's a link to all of the photos that I included in this post.
https://imgur.com/a/dwGAFeP
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Photography equipment used when taking these photos: Fujifilm X-T4 mirrorless camera, Fujinon XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR lens, Fujifilm MCEX-11 macro extension tube.
Closing notes:
I hope you like the review :)
My personal thanks to Mr. Zhang & Amy from Guangzhou Xinxiang Culture Co. Ltd.
Edit: I forgot to include this part. If you have some questions about the controller, feel free to ask. I will happily answer all the questions I feel competent enough to answer and the rest I'll collect and reach out to the people who made this. So we'll get answers from the company who built it.