reviews
Tap Until You Bleed: For King and Country; for the Next Achievement!
An iOS App Review for Frontier Defense. Some games change the way we play games, offering new ways to look at gaming culture, and changing the paradigms we all know. Frontier defense is NOT one of those games.
Frontier Defense by Pine Entertainment feels more like a get-rich-quick scheme than it does a game. This is the Flappy Bird of tower defense/tapping games. For those of you unfamiliar with a tapping game, allow me to explain. A tapping game is a game played by tapping the screen as fast as you can; that’s it. It’s simple, it’s dumb, and it’s more addicting than I would ever care to admit.
When I picked up Frontier Defense, I thought, “Well, it’s free. I mean, it looks terrible, but it is free.” Four hours later I was still playing it. Tap, tap, tap, tappedy, tap, tap, tap. “I have to upgrade my tower, I have to kill the trolls, I have to kill the spiders, and don’t even get me started on the ogres; I have to win!” I didn’t get much sleep that night. So why am I writing this review? It’s to spare you from my fate.
Frontier Defense looks simple because it is, it plays on the lizard brain in all of us… “Just one more level, just one more upgrade.” Don’t do it. This is a game that has a cute art style, well-polished mechanics, and an intricate upgrade system. The tower changes as you upgrade it and, with each additional tower, you get more animations. Then, when you successfully defend the tower/slaughter creeps enough times, you get achievements. Oh, yes, the achievements. There are over a hundred achievements that plug into the Apple Game Center. About every fifteen minutes of carnage, a little golden exclamation point pops up to tell how good you’re doing being a mindless slave to the tap gods. You click the achievement and you get some gold, not to mention an endorphin rush of success and power. “If I can beat level 50, then I unlock the ninja. I’m a ninja in real life, so shouldn’t I be a ninja in the game? Yes, yes I should. Just six more hours until I get the ninja.” This is a drug induced euphoria of pointlessness.
This game offers nothing. When I was finished with it for the second time, having uninstalled it twice, I hated myself. I had to sit down in the dark asking why had spent so much time doing nothing with my life. The next day? I reinstalled it. That probably says more about me than the game, which is a fun way to spend a few minutes on the train or waiting in line, but if you have an addictive personality, run, run to the hills and far away.
If, however, you think I’m being silly and are masochistic enough to download the game, there are a few things you should know. 1) Don’t spend your first couple of gems on the wizard, you’re going to get her anyways. 2) Spend the gems on upgrading your heroes, and by all means, collect your achievements so you get gold—you need it! 3) And this one’s embarrassing…. You have multiple fingers, use them. I played with one finger for hours with drool falling from my lips before I realized I had thumbs and could press two buttons at once… yeah… it’s that bad. With all my silliness, however, the game is fun and simple. Wizards call down meteors, archers push creatures back, and the swordsmen just kicks butt. The game is also hard, which only makes the lizard brain want it more. It really is a fun game, even if it’s terrible.
I wouldn’t recommend Frontier Defense over any actual tower defense games because it’s NOT a tower defense game, it’s a tapping game. The best tower defense games are from the Kingdom Rush series by Armor Games. If you want a tower defense game, those are the games you want. But, if you want a side scrolling defense game, get Army of Darkness Defense. That’s right, Ash Williams has yet another videogame, and this one’s fun too, even if it is mostly a joke. The other side scrolling defense game is Swords and Soldiers by Ronimo Games, which is like League of Legends mixed with StarCraft, but in side-scrolling form. Whatever you decide to do, just remember, you’ve been warned. The tap gods are strong, and as the title says, you will want to tap until your fingers bleed. For king and country; for the next achievement!
AuKing Mini Projector Key Details
The Auking is a 1080p Mini Projector with built-in speakers that is compatible with Smartphones and laptops.* (Notice the asterisk) The ports are HDMI, USB, VGA, AV, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It’s $99.99, but you can usually catch it on sale for cheaper.
This projector is pretty popular online. There are tons of glowing reviews for it on Amazon, but I’m assuming if you’re reading this, you care about what I think. And what I think is that this projector is kinda bad.
Also, keep in mind I believe that this projector is being sold on amazon with different branding and shells, but essentially, they’re all the same projector.
These are just some I’ve found.
ALVAR 8000 Lumens Mini Portable Projector
TMY Projector 7500
Projector with WiFi, 2022 Upgrade 8500L
Mini Projector, Aokang 7500 Lumens HD Portable Projector
These all pretty much the same projector with different housing and branding
It is most certainly not for everyone, and it’s not for everyone who loves projectors. The projector has some issues with only a few positives.
Android smartphones are compatible, but only certain Androids, which they don’t tell you before purchasing.
List of Phones compatible with the projector
I’m guessing it’s “compatible” with all iPhones, but oddly enough, they don’t mention it. But I think it’s a safe bet to say that it is. Because saying the Aukling is compatible with smart devices and mac books is technically true, and it’s somewhat misleading.
It has no built-in features to make it compatible with other devices, just an HDMI input. This, combined with poor image and audio quality, means you’d be better off saving your money and buying something a little more expensive.
AuKing Mini Projector Full Break Down
The Auking has an HDMI port, which means it’s compatible with any device that can output through HDMI. But unfortunately, it doesn’t have any ports or software that would intrinsically allow smartphones to project video.
To get your iPhone or Android phone to connect to the projector, you have to do it through HDMI. So, you’ll need a USB-C to HDMI adapter for android and Mac Book or a lightning port to HDMI if you’re using an iPhone. The instructions also recommend a wireless dongle so you can connect your laptop or smart device via BlueTooth (more on that later)
Now here’s the thing, the projector only comes with a regular HDMI cord, so you would have to buy the other cords separately. They don’t mention that before you buy it, so it feels very misleading. Regarding the wireless adapter they recommend, you must connect to it via Bluetooth. Unfortunately, most streaming services have copyright features that won’t allow you to stream content via BlueTooth.
You could connect a chrome cast, Apple TV, or a Roku and mirror or cast your phone to that, but if you don’t have those devices on hand, you’re out of luck.
This means the easiest way to use this device would be with your windows laptop unless you have one of the cords they recommend.
But how does it perform once you get it set up and running? It’s ok.
We have to set our expectations for this price range. The project shows saturated color palettes well but struggles with darker colors.
Darker scenes come out looking grainy and blurry.
While brighter colors look ok.
But all things considered, the video quality will be worse than whatever you have connected to the HDMI. To its credit, however, the projector is bright enough to watch it outside with minimal light pollution.
The audio can be pretty loud, but loud doesn’t necessarily mean good. It does sound like it comes from out of a tin can, but it’s clear enough to hear what’s going on in a movie, so you don’t have to only rely on headphones.
Despite its small size, the Auking’s fans can be pretty loud when it’s on. (Imagine starting up your first-gen PS4 and trying to play Cyberpunk).
This projector isn’t for everyone. I wouldn’t recommend it to most people. However, if you’re a person who wants a bigger screen, you can buy a cheap 22′ monitor and connect you your phone or laptop to it, and the image quality would be better.
Verdict
In most cases, I suggest you save money and get something more expensive, like the ANKER Nebula capsule.
If you find yourself in a situation where you need a projector immediately, this will be ok. For instance, a backyard BBQ where it’s more about the people you’re around than what you’re watching or a party where you want to keep the kids distracted while the adults use the TV (shame on you).
Other than that, it’s worth saving your money.
FAQ
How do I connect my phone to my mini AuKing projector?
Through USB-C to HDMI cord or lighting to HDMI cord
Does AuKing projector support Bluetooth?
Rest in peace, watermelon.
The latest episodes in ‘Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid’ were very interesting to watch.
One was definitely a fanservice episode, and heck, even the producers know that! Episode 7’s title contains the phrase ‘The Fanservice Episode, Obviously’, so that cracked me up.
Episode 7 focuses on the elements of anime that will appeal to any nerd out there. By that, of course I mean bathing suits and comic conventions! Cue the beach episode!
Tohru and company decide to go swimming for the day. Kanna’s adorable as always, while Lucoa doesn’t realize just how sexual she is toward a small boy.
Like, really? You think wearing a very sexy swimsuit in front of a lot of kids on a beach is okay? And why do you insist on torturing Shouta with your breasts? It’s obvious that he’s tempted, but stop trying to seduce small children.
Of course, they’re dragons, so hilarious antics ensue. Tohru and Kanna get carried away in a swimming race, making water splash up everywhere. Also, a crab and watermelon are murdered. RIP.
However, one aspect that I thought was a nice touch was the backstory we got for Tohru. It wasn’t much, but Tohru and Kobayashi have a deep and meaningful conversation about their family’s lives, as well as how humans and dragons are different from one another. Fanservice episodes usually focus on that alone, but fortunately that’s not the case here.
The second half of Episode 7 focuses on Comiket. Tohru and Kobayashi help Takiya run a booth, and we learn that Fafnir is also participating by attempting to sell powerful curses. Wow, didn’t see thaaaaat coming at all.
Tohru notices otherworldly creatures in their true forms at Comiket, as they reveal that this is a great way to show their true forms. With Kobayashi’s permission, Tohru exposes her wings and tail, appearing to others as if she’s cosplaying as, well, a dragon maid.
Episode 7 was very nice because there were many heartfelt and adorable moments.
Meanwhile, Episode 8 FINALLY introduced the dragon that I keep on mentioning in my reviews. Her name’s Elma, a dragon who is a rival of Tohru’s. Elma accuses Tohru of disrupting the human’s ways and tries to force her to return to the dragon world. This doesn’t succeed, however, as Tohru sends her to an open field and leaves her there.
Unable to get back home, Elma stays in the human world and begins working at Kobayashi’s company. Kobayashi teaches Elma how to use computers and technology so that she can keep her job. Of course, this prompts Tohru to become jealous, smelling the scent of another dragon off Kobayashi like a dog does with a human. I won’t reveal how the episode ends, but it ends in a positive manner for Tohru.
Overall, I really loved these two episodes because they made me feel warm and fuzzy. They appealed to the emotional senses through a heartfelt conversation between Kobayashi and Tohru. Elma is also an innocent sweetheart who only wants to bring harmony to the human and dragon worlds. And I can’t wait to see more of her in the upcoming episodes.
I feel like in these two episodes alone, we learned so much about Tohru and her feelings for Kobayashi. She really wants to understand the human world and will do anything to stay with Kobayashi.
I’ll up my rating to a 4.7. These episodes were both fun, and we finally got the new dragon! Bless.
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