speaker-0: I always joke around that I'm like the sling slut because like that's legitimately what I, slings were one thing that I was collecting like crazy because I absolutely love slings.

speaker-1: Slingslut, I think you should utilize that word for your next thumbnail or whatever it might be. Hello everyone, welcome to another Ismono podcast. And today I have the pleasure to have Zach from Visionswell as my guest. Thank you so much for taking the time, and being here in this early hour on your end of the world and joining me. How are you?

speaker-0: ⁓ I'm doing great and thank you so much for having me. I've been a long time fan of your channel, so it's really a pleasure.

speaker-1: That's so cool to have you on the channel. Maybe for all of the people who don't know you, can you introduce yourself and let us know what you're doing on your YouTube channel?

speaker-0: Yeah, absolutely. So I'm Zach from Vision Swell. And basically, like my channel had its roots in like a wellness blog. I had a wellness blog for a long time and I used to write a lot and it's kind of a focus of mine and it kind of spawned into some of my other interests, which is like EDC, one bag travel, minimalism. So. I've kind of just spawned from that. So I do a lot of product reviews, EDC, bag reviews and like minimalist principles.

speaker-1: Interesting. ⁓ can you elaborate a little bit more about because this potentially shows how it influences your current topics of bags. What kind of wellness topics were you kind of covering in the beginning?

speaker-0: Yeah, so a lot of things like how to be more intentional in your life, some of the minimalist principles. Like I'm not one of those people that's an insane minimalist, meaning like I count that I have 50 shirts or something. Like it's not like that. It's more practical where it's like, do I use the things that I own? And if I don't, then I get rid of them. And you know, lot of the topics were like how to do volunteer work, how to like... ⁓ you know, give intentional gifts and meaningful gifts and ⁓ like defining your relationships and boundaries. And it's kind of like, I'm going back to school right now, ⁓ changing careers, even though I just turned 40, ⁓ in social work. So it's kind of like, it's imparting parts of those interests as far as like,

speaker-1: so cool that you changed career path. And I applaud you for that. ⁓ So much respect for that because I actually know a couple of people who are so miserable at their jobs. ⁓ Not at their jobs, they are good at their jobs, but where they are in, they are so miserable. And I'm always kind of asking them, do you really want to stay in that place? Don't you? want to change and they are so afraid of changing where they're at and therefore I think what you're doing to kind of make the decision to change career path it's amazing kudos to you that's that's really cool and especially going into the social aspect of life I think that's amazing

speaker-0: Yeah, I that's why I really resonated with your channel too, because you always say how you're like a cinematographer and videographer and such. like my degree, my undergrad degree was in film and I worked a little bit in it. ⁓ after graduation, I worked for like the NFL and I worked for some other stuff. And it's like, I didn't like working professionally in it as much. So that's why I kind of just.

speaker-1: Mm-hmm

speaker-0: I fell into, was in digital advertising for like over a decade and I just, to your point, I just hated it. So.

speaker-1: I can understand that, that at some point you get a little bit frustrated, especially when it comes down to advertising and media and stuff like that. Yeah, it's understandable. ⁓ I think this is actually looking at where you're coming from. This might be a cool segue because you mentioned intention. ⁓ On your channel, you talk a lot about reducing, be it your bag collection, your wallet collection. maybe go into that a little bit or elaborate on that, what actually sparked that urge and why potentially you could kind of recommend that to other people because I feel like this is a good conversation starter, not necessarily only about bags, although the bag enthusiast world, we tend to kind of collect a lot of bags, but I think this could translate very well to other areas of life. So what exactly sparked that urge to kind of Minimize your collection.

speaker-0: Yeah, it's been a wild ride because right before I started this channel, I had gone through this huge purge. So as you can see from the Chrono Trigger stuff and some of the stuff around me, like I love 80s, 90s pop culture, video games, advertisements. I had this massive collection of toys, Ninja Turtles, all kinds of stuff. And I just it sat on a shelf and it just started to like get to me. So

speaker-1: Awesome.

speaker-0: I ended up selling almost everything and only keeping very little. I have my Super Nintendo games, I have a couple little art pieces and stuff, and that pushed me down that path. And then when I started the channel, I was just reviewing my own gear. I wasn't really working with brands and all this stuff. And then now that the channel has had a little bit of momentum, I'm still on the micro level, but I've worked with a lot of brands now. And I just started accumulating, as I'm sure you understand, so many backpacks, so many slings. Like I had so much stuff and I was just like getting overwhelmed with the consumerism of it all. And all my reviews are honest, but I held onto stuff just to do comparisons or whatever. And like it, it just started to really get to me. So I got to a point where I was like, I need to like. practice what I preach as far as this minimalism stuff, even as a product reviewer. So I need to decide a hard boundary of like, what am I keeping? Do I actually use it? Which ones matter to me? And I just decided to just like do that. And it was influenced honestly from talking to my wife as well as Alex from Out in the Lights, who I know you had on before, but I was like, I really need to just like. minimized my collection. He was like, just do it. And I was like, all right, well, okay. Then I just started doing that.

speaker-1: That's awesome. Yeah, I think it's a really cool ⁓ thought process to kind of minimize, but I feel like it's so difficult sometimes. ⁓ Do you have, especially when looking at bags and I know that you have this is it in kind of narrative when it comes down to your videos, what are the features? I mean, sticking to bags now, because I think this is the most relatable example here in this niche. What do you think are the features or the must haves that the bag needs to have to be an in item?

speaker-0: Yeah, I think a big part about it, I try to be fair, meaning like, not everyone travels or lives the way that I do. when I say something's deleted from my collection, it's not to say like, this is not a good item. It's not that, it's just for me specifically. So what I look for is I always travel personal item only. I have for the past two years now, 100%. And yeah, I've used some items that were a little bit a bit. bigger than dimensional limits a couple of times and kind of just like cheated it. But for the most part, I want them to be within those like under seat limits of dimensions. I want it to be have enough organization, but not too much. What I mean by that is like to me, I try to quantify this as like, I want a couple slide pockets of varying sizes that aren't specific to devices so that I could fit a number of different things. I want one or two internal zipper pockets just in case you have like loose small items. And then on the exterior of the bag, I want one to three quick access pockets because I use them constantly when I'm going through the airport and stuff. ⁓ I want the materials to be weatherproof for the most part, but they don't have to be like completely waterproof. I really, I tend towards nylon, but like I love Ultra and EcoPak too.

speaker-1: Ultra is amazing. Yeah, that's

speaker-0: Yeah, and all those things like the and with water bottle pockets to me I know are very polarizing things for me. I Don't I don't personally care about them. Yeah, they're nice to have but like that's not gonna turn me off from a bag So that's less important. It's like comfort aesthetics the organization I mentioned and being within personal item limits are kind of like my bottom wrong have to kind of thing

speaker-1: People. And maybe to elaborate on that a little bit, can you walk us through your, not all of them, but some of the items that you usually pack, let's say for a day-to-day work situation or when you're going to school now is what do you usually pack inside that bag just so that we can kind of get an idea what you put into those small little pockets that you just mentioned that you need. For example, you mentioned two. two to three quick access pockets that would be interesting. What do you pack into those usually?

speaker-0: Yeah. So two to three quick access pockets. That's typically like my regular EDC items, which it depends on where I'm going. If I'm traveling, I'm not bringing all these things, but if it's like to school or to like go out for the day, typically I always have my wallet, obviously keys. And I've gone over like my whole key setup and everything. Phone. I always have at least one battery backup just for emergencies. ⁓ I Usually will have like an EDC knife depending on where I'm going from going like inside a school or somewhere That's not cool then no, but most of the time I have like what some kind of blade on me just for like opening packages that kind of stuff and then I usually have a tech pouch of some sort to have like charging cables my like power brick or GAN charger whatever ⁓ I always have over your headphones my laptop And I really like those like roller ball mice that have like a thumb ball on them because they're really, they're really good for travel. And I just, I've used them for years and I'm so used to it now.

speaker-1: Yeah, yeah. Very rare. I think I've only seen those in music studios, but no one else uses them for some reason.

speaker-0: I found such joy, I use it for gaming and everything. yeah, I just, it's just something about how you can get that inertia when you like flick your thumb, can move the mouse cursor like really fast and I've gotten so used to it. ⁓ And then like the, it was started out as an ergonomic thing, like just not putting strain on your wrist.

speaker-1: Amy? Yeah. was just about to say that so many tech channels talk so much about ergonomics, yet no one uses those kinds of mice. I'm so confused about that because it's arguably less... I'm not a doctor, so I don't want to say arguably, but I would assume it's much less strain on your... What's these bones called? don't know. ⁓ I'm so confused why those have never been in the discussion when it comes down to everyone's talking about those vertical mice or the ergonomics of an MX master, but no one is talking about those little track ball things that is really confusing. So it's cool that you use one.

speaker-0: Yeah, well, it's funny you bring those two things up. So like when I used a regular mouse, I started getting like wrist pain because I was working a computer job. I was on it all the time. I tried the vertical mouse too and that helped, but then it transferred from my wrist to elbow pain. I was like, what's the... Difference here and yeah, I know just having a stationary hand and only using my thumb has been nice for me Not that I have to go down this whole rabbit hole, but that's my reasoning. Yeah And as far as I can other stuff in my bag I'm a big journal er and I always take notes obviously in school so I always have some kind of like nice pen and nice notebook set up and

speaker-1: Yeah, I saw that in your video about practicing penmanship. that the word? ⁓ Writing ship? That was really cool. I really liked the topics that you're going into your videos. there, ⁓ so with that now covered, I assume you just mentioned the tech pouch. I assume you pack predominantly modular or are you actually utilizing all of those? Because On one hand you mentioned that you want to have those little drop-in slots and stuff like that in zipped pockets, but on the other hand you also mentioned tech pouch, but also big items like a headphone that I assume won't fit into those slots. Are you packing predominantly modular and just occasionally use those slots or are they good to haves? how do you kind of go about that?

speaker-0: Yeah, that's a really interesting question because a lot of commenters and people on Reddit have asked about those things. Not to me specifically, but just in general. it's hard because we live in this space, especially as reviewers, where modular is helpful when you're reviewing multiple bags because it's like, can keep this tech patch loaded up and then just move it. when I... I've been really experimenting with the less modular. So in like my last two videos, I've, I have some pouches, but what I've really found to be useful in the last couple of weeks is like breaking down my tech pouch into a couple smaller pouches and then using those pouches to put into like the slide pocket or here, depending on how I use them. And then to your point, like there is some items that I would prefer to just have in a slide pocket, like my wallet, a passport, like for the tech stuff, like the backup charger, I always just have in a slot. And then for over your headphones, that's why I love the quick access pockets because I love one where I can just like fit that in either. I've had experiences with like Bellroyd bags where they have that like taco pocket, like the transit work back. That's really nice to put headphones in or the front pocket on the city pack pro if it's, if it's not super loaded out. But for me, like the Panda Pack top front bottom pocket, it's perfect for like a pair of headphones and also the Able Carry daily backpack, like that front vertical quick access pocket. Even when it's packed to the brim, I can still fit headphones in there. that's, those are big for me like that.

speaker-1: today. true. I saw your video today about the Panda pack and I still adore that bag. That bag, especially with that mandarin fabric and those chunky zippers. It's such a cool bag. ⁓ That's really cool. But now that you mentioned quite a couple of times now, wallet, phone and keys, that you put them into your backpack. Is it fair to assume based on that information that you don't use a sling bag?

speaker-0: I do, but not always when I'm carrying an EDC bag. Typically when I'm carrying a sling, it's two situations. So it's either if I'm bringing just a sling, when I'm going out for the day, if I'm going to like appointments, if I'm going to the park, I'm a sling guy. And then when I travel, I'm a hundred percent a sling guy because I love when I'm walking around a city, not having that pocket bulk. ⁓ just putting a couple extra things, maybe even a small water bottle or whatever, depending on the sling. ⁓ I always joke around that I'm like the sling slut because that's legitimately what I, slings were one thing that I was collecting like crazy because I absolutely love sling.

speaker-1: Slingslut, I think you should utilize that word for your next thumbnail or whatever it might be. is such a polarizing word. I think you should make that ⁓ hashtag that goes viral or something.

speaker-0: I have like merch for it that I made that's the funny part like I have like stickers and a shirt that I have and everything so I think like I know it's a polarizing word but to me it's like if I'm self-referential it's yeah inoffensive that's what that's how I see

speaker-1: way. Honestly, think that is so funny because especially if you are not in the space that we are in, and especially with some male demographics who still scoff at the idea of a sling bag and the idea of, that's just a man purse or whatever, which I think is ridiculous in my humble opinion. think kind of bringing that term into the conversation is so funny actually.

speaker-0: bring up such a good point because I've had that with like my held closely bag or other slings like people always go your man purse like I've seen comments and it's just I hate that so much because this is the reasoning I use. If you look at the history of mankind and the history of Carrie in jail. Exactly every society since cavemen have carried a satchel. So like.

speaker-1: Satchels and stuff like that

speaker-0: That is such a ridiculous argument asking, first of all, the whole masculine versus femininity of bags thing is weird anyway, but saying that it's a feminine thing is just stupid to me because that's like, no, it's not. It's always been a thing for everyone because it's useful.

speaker-1: And even if so, why should it bother you? That is something that I just don't understand. If you don't like it, then you don't need to do it. So why do you need to rain on someone else's parade? That's stupid.

speaker-0: How is that in Germany for you? Because I know like in the UK and especially in like Southeast Asia, like everyone wears slings. Like in America is the only place where people are like weird about it. So is that like in Germany are people like generally wearing slings a lot? Yeah.

speaker-1: Yeah, basically, many people do, especially I would argue, I mean, we are already at the point where you can pay everywhere with digital payment methods, but it doesn't always work. And there are a couple of restaurants where they have a machine, but they would say, Oh, no, it's broken. need to pay cash. So you need to have a wallet with you. And I would speculate that most people, regular people, I mean we in our space we all have basically minimalist wallets, right? But most normal people I've seen some people with wallets that thick, like two inches thick and then obviously they need a sling bag because if you put that into your pocket it's either you sit like, tilt it, wherever you are or your big pockets look like you are very excited. So I do see a lot of people with slingbacks. It's very normalized. yeah, it's basically, I would say whenever someone comments, ⁓ I want to offend anyone, but most of the time it's from the US. And I don't really understand it that much. This masculinity thing, basing that on the back is weird to me, but hey, to each their own, right?

speaker-0: Yeah, and you bring up good points too about like why you would need a sling. mean, I love having a wallet and things like that, like not in my pocket. And it's safer when you're traveling to just have it right up against your chest. I can feel if someone's pickpocketing or whatever, like it's very like much a safety feature too.

speaker-1: Yeah, I think there's this stupid argument, which to some degree I understand, then people are saying something along the lines, ⁓ then someone's coming behind your back and cutting that and then runs away. But my argument then, my counter argument is, then at least you notice it and you can kind of at least decide, do you want to attempt to run after that person? When someone steals something out of your pocket without you noticing, I would argue that is even worse. So I would rather have someone somehow trying to get that sling back from my body and I notice it instead of someone stealthy stealing something out of my pocket. yeah, fingers crossed that that will never happen to me, hopefully.

speaker-0: Yeah, and my argument to that to those people's comments is basically like if someone caught a sling off my bag my back I would have a second to like catch the bag in it. That's Then doubling up if the guy already has a knife and he cut my bag. I'm probably not gonna fight him anyway I'm just gonna be like exactly I'm not trying to like die over my thing back. So it's like, you know

speaker-1: very well. I thought your second name is Action. Are you not Zack Action Visionswell? What the hell is going on here?

speaker-0: Yeah, like, mean, that's like my whole thing with the PacSafes I did recently. Like, they're cool bags, but at the end of the day, like, if my bag is locked down, like Fort Knox, and someone like has a weapon, I'm just gonna give it to them anyway. Exactly. It's kind of like why I might as well just do like the night eyes locking carabiner and call it a day.

speaker-1: I need to ask this and I hope no one at the PaxSafe team, if they listen to this, is offended and I'm sorry if you potentially are. It's beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What's your opinion about the look of the PaxSafe bags?

speaker-0: So I just think, so I think aesthetically they're very generic and boring and I don't mean to offend them either, but like, don't, I think they're like very like dad bad. And then the like locks and stuff are very like, I just, they remind me of, this is a weird comparison, but they remind me of those like pass throughs that were those like big chunky USBC pass throughs. they just stick out from the bag and I just.

speaker-1: Exactly, right?

speaker-0: Style wise, not my thing.

speaker-1: Yeah, I think they should hire some designer who can spice up their look because that bag is a very good description of those bags. And it's a shame because I think the feature is not necessarily something I'm looking for, but I can see people really liking that feature, but then be turned off by the looks of it. And it's a shame because... It's a very unique selling point that they have. yeah, looks...

speaker-0: I think that the best feature of it to me and one that they can hide more easily is like that rhubarb system or whatever, how you can like take the strap off and put it around something and lock it. Cause that's not, that's not obtrusive. You could put that on basically any bag as just like an extra feature. And it's like, that to me is like the key to where they should go with their design where it's like, it's there, but you don't notice it, you know?

speaker-1: It's such a good idea, especially in some of the European countries where these pickpockets are, there is this method where they basically go in groups of lots of older women that look non-threatening so you wouldn't do anything. And what they do is they crowd basically, they go into a restaurant with so many of these older ladies basically. And then kind of confuse everyone and steal whatever's on the table. So that system would be amazing for those situations because I wouldn't just lock my sling back to the table when sitting and eating and I wouldn't be worried that someone tries to just walk away with the bag, probably pull the whole table with them. But I mean, that feature is amazing. Or if you are, I don't know. at the beach for example and you happen to have a seat next to a fence or whatever and you want to go quickly to the water. For that, that would be amazing. But these bags, they don't look attractive to me unfortunately.

speaker-0: And like to your point, I mean, to me, it's the same way I feel about like, you know, security at your home or whatever. It's like you don't have to be impenetrable because that's impossible. Yeah. All you want to be is harder to get into than the person next to you. Like that. That alone will like thieves or people who want convenience in their theft. like if your bag is slightly hard to get into, they're just going to move to the next person. It doesn't have to be like locked. Yeah.

speaker-1: Exactly. Yeah. And let's segue to something a little bit more positive. So what's your current favorite bag at the moment?

speaker-0: So, I mean, honestly, the one I've been using the most, twofold, the one I've been using the most for travel has been the Panda Pack, because I just am in love with it. And in terms of EDC, just, there's something about, there's two, but it's like the two in my collection that I love, the Able Carry Daily Backpack, I think is absolutely beautiful, functional for me. And then the regular. ⁓ I like mine a little bit smaller, so.

speaker-1: The Lord, or the Plus.

speaker-0: It's been really nice for me. And then the double oak wax canvas one has been a newer pickup for me that made it in. that's like, it's just something about the heritage. I don't know. It's like, I'm getting so beaten down by like minimalist tech backpacks, not that there's anything wrong with it, but it's just, I'm getting bored of them. And this double oak essentials wax canvas backpack is like for the price. The wax canvas is excellent. has leather straps and metal accents. I love it.

speaker-1: I'm so late to the party. I wasn't aware that I only know the double oak wallets. wasn't aware that they hold on. Am I thinking of am I? Yeah, I only know of the wallets. I didn't know they make bags now. That is so cool. It's a very heritage design. It's it's kind of like East pack, a Jansport style, but cool.

speaker-0: Exactly, like an elevated, I kind of like how brands are doing those like elevated JanSport styles lately.

speaker-1: looks really cool, didn't know. And the pricing is actually, considering for what it is, very competitive. Okay, interesting.

speaker-0: Yeah, for the materials, like the wax canvas is really nice. And then you have like the leather carry straps and everything. And they actually like really comfortable and it has a nice sternum strap that's metal. And it's just like, there's something about it that like sparks joy in me. So I just, I, it's been my alternate EDC bag. I use it like, you know, the Able Carry is probably like my go-to. And then the double oak is like when I want to look a little bit more fashion.

speaker-1: thing. How about the zippers on the double oak? look, you know, I recently had a bag in the same design language that also had these zippers that seemed a little bit rougher or just looking at the pictures look rougher and I felt that they didn't move as smoothly as I would have liked. And these zippers on this double oak look similar. Are they operating smoothly or are they a little bit more Ruffa. Let's say it that way.

speaker-0: So I think I would compare it to a mix between two things. Like you have the super buttery smooth YKK on like the Pioneer. These are a similar size and I think they might even be the same like size YKK zippers because they feel similar on the zipper pull and everything. Don't quote me on it, but like I think they're similar size. But then the zipper track is similar to the ones that Belvoir is using as on like the classic bag. So to your point, they're a little bit. more metallicy and like rougher on the outside and they're not as smooth as the Pioneer but they function just fine for me.

speaker-1: Okay, cool. Yeah, I think I need to check that out. Thanks for the recommendation. It's really cool. So we talked a lot about bags and for anyone listening a little bit of one, I will put chapter markers in here, but I kind of want to talk about something else because I noticed that Zack is also into gaming and specifically as some of the video viewers, I will explain to the audio listeners in the back he has the characters from Chrono Trigger. ⁓ In the back for those of you who don't know it's a JRPG from I would say the 90s something it was released on the Super Nintendo and ⁓ Yeah, I kind of like to talk about these old games and stuff like that. So first and foremost, I would kind of like to know what device are you currently utilizing to play games, be it retro gaming or new games? What kind of systems are you utilizing?

speaker-0: Yeah, so to break that down specifically, I have my at home console for playing like Super Nintendo games. So I have my original Super Nintendo, but I found that the analog Super NT ⁓ is amazing. It's an FPGA console. So it's not to go on nerd talk, but it's like instead of when you use certain devices that are like emulation consoles that you plug a game into like the ⁓ The Retron, for example. Basically what that does is it creates like an emulated version of the game that you're playing on whatever device. Exactly. So FPGA functions more like an original console. like it's actually the electrical movement, like through the chip and everything on the game. So it's like a very, there's no input lag and it's like a very like pure experience. So it's so nice because it has an HDMI out.

speaker-1: without cartridges.

speaker-0: You can also load games onto it on like an SD card and use regular original games, which is what I do on it.

speaker-1: Do you actually notice the lag? Yes? ⁓ okay.

speaker-0: Yeah. yeah. If you're using like a super, well, especially if you're using like a newer TV. So if I took my regular Super Nintendo and I have like an RGB cable for it and I plug it into my big TV downstairs, like, of the way that it has to interpret the signal of like that, you know, the aspect ratio of those games. It... there's like a processing time in the TV using an old console. So if you're doing like a super precise game, like, you know, you're playing like an old shooter, like our type or something where it's super twitchy. That matters a lot for JRPG who cares, but like for action games, it's, it's pretty important. then on the go, use the, uh, Ambernic RG 35 X X H. It's just, it's the one I've been using for a long time. like the form factor, you know, it's kind of like wide.

speaker-1: Yeah, mine broke unfortunately. Yeah, I had the age that was the first one that I had and it actually fell off my couch. I would say about a feet, 30 centimeters or something. no, a feet is, yeah, it should be 30 centimeters. Fell from the couch on a hardwood floor. And I don't know it fell.

speaker-0: Did you have the H too?

speaker-1: I guess a little bit weirdly and then I had streaks on the display. I wasn't able to get it away so I bought myself the RG35XX Plus and that's the one I am using at the moment but the horizontal version is great.

speaker-0: I just love it because you can play such a variety of games. Like I have PlayStation games on it. I have like arcade games and they run really well. So it's the perfect thing to take traveling. It's about the size it.

speaker-1: That's why I love it so much. love these devices so much, but I currently am still looking for something new to play. I'm currently stuck at the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle ROM hack and Aladdin. And I really enjoy Aladdin for some weird reason. It's really fun. ⁓

speaker-0: Is it like the Genesis one or the Super?

speaker-1: No, it's the Super Nintendo one, but I've heard now so many times that the Genesis one is better, but I don't know why. Is it different?

speaker-0: Yeah, so I had the Super Nintendo one. I didn't have a Genesis, but my friend did. And I played both. The Genesis one is better because A, it's a little bit more difficult. So the end is like a little bit more satisfying to me. B, like Super Nintendo used to like censor. And in the Genesis version, he has like a sword, whereas in the Super Nintendo, he just has apples.

speaker-1: ⁓ really? So does he throw the sword then?

speaker-0: It's just like slash. think I don't quote me on this. I think you have apples too in that game, but the sword is just for like slashing. Yeah.

speaker-1: that's so cool, okay I'm gonna play that one then. I actually was thinking about getting one of these, ⁓ I'm not sure if it's Anbernic or Retroid Pocket who made ⁓ Genesis only version which basically has six buttons on the front and I'm kinda... kind of considering getting that one but I'm also considering getting a steam deck so I don't know what where my money is going next I don't know yet

speaker-0: to just like, it's hard for me. I have a switch like the original switch. I don't have a switch too. And I play it, but mainly at home. It's hard for me to think that I'm going to like bring a big device out with me to game. I, the little ones are better for me at least.

speaker-1: No, I'm actually thinking about because I'm so in the retro gaming world with this Anbernic and one feature that made these devices such a game changer for me is this instant playability. So you switch it on and you basically back at the point where you left off. And whenever I switch on my Xbox, I don't have that. So I actually started or wanted to start playing Hogwarts Legacy again on my Xbox. I started it up two days ago and it was like, ⁓ you locked out so you need to start up the game. And then started up, ⁓ we forgot to download your updates. Although my settings were all set up for keep that game up to date. So basically I wasted the day after yesterday, I wasted two hours just to kind of set it up and then was like, okay, no, I'm not gonna play. And that's the reason. why these small devices are so great and I saw that the Steam Deck allows the same ⁓

speaker-0: Like safe states or whatever.

speaker-1: Yeah, that's the only reason why I'm thinking, okay, maybe I get the steam deck and whenever I'm kind of waiting for my coffee machine to turn on, I can just play a little bit. So that's my thought process. If that's actually, do you have a steam deck by any chance?

speaker-0: I don't, but you also mentioned Hogwarts Legacy and that game was incredible. I ended up playing that last year and it was such an awesome storyline. I don't not to give it a whole review, but that was a great game.

speaker-1: Yeah, yeah, what house did you play in when you started?

speaker-0: ⁓ I am Ravenclaw, that's like my go-to. ⁓

speaker-1: I was Hufflepuff and now I really want to play a Slytherin and try to be bad but I noticed I always pick the answers that are good instead of, ⁓ dude you want to play bad?

speaker-0: I always play bad in games because it's just like it's something I wouldn't do in real life. So I think it's like fun and I don't know like getting the guy to unlock all the like curses and everything like that. That was so fun at the end of the game like using cruciatus.

speaker-1: Yeah, that's exactly what I want to try, but I don't know if I will actually get there if I always choose the appropriate answers. But it's such a fun game. But again, that was the reason why the last two days I was thinking, OK, maybe I should put my Xbox on crackless. I no idea how much I get for that. then order a Steam Deck. And then I went to the Steam Deck site and said, OK, we are out of... ⁓ out of stock for the next, I don't know, seven years or whatever.

speaker-0: It's funny you say that because like I'm mainly a PC gamer or like retro gamer now, but I played console for so long and I have like the newest Xbox and everything and I considered selling it because I never use it anymore. But like they don't sell for much. So I'm like, I might as well just keep it and use it as like a Blu-ray player.

speaker-1: you still have one with a disc tray?

speaker-0: Yeah. ⁓ wow.

speaker-1: Yeah, I'm the stupid one. I have that one that only downloads stuff and I think that one is worth nothing, basically.

speaker-0: Yeah, and it's like I have some downloaded games that I may still want to access to. So it's like, I don't know.

speaker-1: It's such a shame. I'm kind of missing. And now the, shows the boomer and me probably, these times where you were able to sell your games. It's such a shame that I cannot do that. So if I sell my Xbox, I lose all of the games that I bought on the Xbox store. That's, that's a shame. Back then I could just take that, go to GameStop, although they don't exist anymore. and just sell that to get a new game and now I'm like okay your digital games are basically lost now.

speaker-0: And for people like us who appreciate like bags and things like that, it's like I miss the the feeling of physical items. Meaning like because you talk about Super Nintendo and it also applies to music for me. So many good times in my childhood where like I bought an album or I bought a game and like an album and I'm sitting in my bedroom listening to an album and like going through the lyric pages or the art. Exactly. And same with a game like the old instruction manuals like.

speaker-1: Damn

speaker-0: I had art and story lines. It was such a better experience of immersion into the game to sit there and read it.

speaker-1: Totally. mean, I remember I played Final Fantasy 6 or 3 in the US, I think. And when I started that up, I was actually a little bit confused. And then I downloaded the manual and was like, holy crap, there's so much information that you need to play that game. And it's so beautifully kind of designed in a way. going okay this character has these character traits and that's his or her backstory and then here's your map without this map you will be lost and it's so cool and it's a shame that we don't do that anymore.

speaker-0: Yeah, and like, you would love this, I could send you a picture of this, but I still have my old strategy guide for that exact game. And it's so cool because all the character pages have like the original concept art for all the characters and like, that's one of my favorite games of all time, so that's so cool that you played that recently. It's such an awesome game.

speaker-1: those printed media. I don't know if you remember that Nintendo, at least in Germany, I'm not sure if it was in US as well. There was the Nintendo club where you got a magazine every month or so. Yeah, that was so cool. And I miss those times so much because ⁓ having that magazine that this

speaker-0: Nintendo Power

speaker-1: kind of feeling, okay, this is the new game that will come out next month. So I can ask my mom or my dad, okay, I want to get that Game Boy game next month. It's kind of lost today. It's basically this experience of going to a digital store and being so overwhelmed by all of the choices and not, and let's be real, I feel like the Nintendo game store is terrible. It doesn't give you proper kind of like description. what this game is about, then you need to push. I think that the web design is so terrible because you don't see pictures. You need to click on details and then maybe you get some pictures and it's terrible. And I felt the magazine back then was such a good tool to get you hyped in some of the games.

speaker-0: Yeah, and like the ⁓ the other aspect I've talked to people about gaming because I've played like World of Warcraft over the last couple of years a little bit and like everything so meta in it now, meaning like people know everything about the game, how to min max their characters, whatever. I miss those days when I didn't have the Internet and I had to like figure out a game like that aspect of gaming is so lost where you just like. have no idea what you're doing and you just like figure it out. Like that. I missed that as well as the gaming magazines. I used to have like GamePro and EGM and all that stuff when I was a kid. And like, I would get so hyped for like those games like you're talking about and they had mini strategy guides. It was just such like a fun read.

speaker-1: Yeah, but to the listeners, don't get us wrong. It wasn't all good. I remember some of the games when you've rented that at like Blockbuster. I think it was like either Terminator, one of the Terminator games, there was a point in that game where there was a bug or something. And don't quote me. I'm not sure if it actually was Terminator, but it was like a side scroll or something. you couldn't finish it because there was a bug in the game and you were like trying to figure it out and you felt so stupid and then years after someone said yeah there was a bug you went stupid there was a bug and stuff like that obviously i don't know does that happen nowadays in games i don't know but back then i felt like it did happen quite often

speaker-0: Well, now they can like patch it. back then, to your point, like, especially renting games, that's so nostalgic for me because I would rent games based on like the cover and the back cover. And nine times out of ten, they were awful. Yeah. And it was like, this game looks awesome. And then I bring it home for the weekend and it's like this.

speaker-1: Exactly sucks. There were so many games. I think Super Nintendo was such a great era. was your console of choice when you grew up?

speaker-0: Super Nintendo, like that was my first, me and my sister got it for Christmas when it came out and that was my first console and Chrono Trigger is my favorite game of all time. I replay it from scratch like once a year. That's like my game. love that

speaker-1: Yeah. But I do wonder, I feel like Chrono Trigger is a great game, but sometimes when looking at especially these Final Fantasy games, ⁓ the complexity of these games, especially Final Fantasy, with Final Fantasy VI in particular, where you, I'm not sure if they mention it in the manual, but some of these potions and counter potions, I would argue weren't properly explained either in the game or in the manual. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like if you were like a 90 year old kid, there was in my mind no chance that you would be actually be able to finish the game because there are so complex things inside. I mean, or am I wrong? It feels like very difficult for a kid.

speaker-0: It was something that I had to grow up to learn about. Like Chrono Trigger is a perfect example because of the rental thing we're talking about. So when I rented the game, there was a save on it that was like at the end of the game. And I remember beating it on someone else's character before like starting my own. that was a cool experience. But to your point, like I think Chrono Trigger is a good example of like, whatever, I don't have to give a full review here, but the... The downsides of that game are that it's not really that balanced and it's like kind of easy, but I kind of like that about it because it's a very like 20 hour or less game. can kind of just like breeze through it and the story is good. The music's incredible. it's just one of those. Final Fantasy is a little bit more like grindy. So like I love those games, but the systems are way more intense to your point. And there's like things that you could make as a mistake if you didn't know. And it's like, ⁓ at this point in the game, you should have gotten this item and you missed it and you'll never be able to get it now. And it's like, ⁓ that sucks.

speaker-1: Yeah, what is, as you just said, this grinding thing. I mean, you have, for those of you who never played that game, you basically have experience point, which is pretty much normalized in games nowadays, but they also had AP points. I forgot what AP stood for. And if you are a kid, I feel like you were grinding all of the way, only getting XP points and neglecting AP points. then you try to, and then you want to finish the game and then you can. because your characters are basically worthless. ⁓ And yeah, I I really want them because I was struggling a little bit in the beginning to understand, okay, what are these points for? And fortunately we have Google nowadays and Google Gemini. But as a kid in the nineties, I was actually wondering if any of those, no, let me rephrase that. If any of those kids in the 90s were able to finish Final Fantasy 6, I think you should get a Nobel Prize or whatever because it seems so difficult in a way.

speaker-0: Yeah, like that's why people bought those strategy guys because it wasn't really until like I would say N64 PlayStation era where like game FAQs and sites like that started popping up before that it was like you had nothing so You just had to like figure it out and like talk to your friends. Yeah, I would like share ideas or whatever

speaker-1: Yeah, that's true. And so let's talk a little bit about because you and I are in that scene, but let's say I had no idea about this retro gaming stuff and I come to you and I say, okay, I kind of want to dabble into gaming because I'm a casual gamer. What device and what route would you recommend to me? And what kind of games would you recommend to someone who's just getting into this? scene of retro gaming. more importantly, why? Why would you recommend retro gaming over, for example, just getting a PlayStation?

speaker-0: Yeah, so you in your own videos, you've brought up things that I agree with, which is like the analog nature of of gaming as weird as that sounds like compared to like being on your cell phone all the time and doom scrolling. Like, I think it does get your mind more active. So I think that's a reason. And number two, it's more approachable when it comes to like time constraints, because today's games, it's like to your point, they either have to update or it takes forever to get into the game. And it's this whole Like an open world game is like thousands of hours of content versus like an old game. You know, you can do like 10, 20 hours and you're fine. And as far as games, I would recommend people start with. It depends on your style, but like the easiest to pick up to me would be like puzzle games, like a Tetris, Yoshi cookie kind of thing. I love Super Nintendo. What's that? That's a great game. It's like a like a.

speaker-1: Yoshi cookie?

speaker-0: similar to a Tetris or something like a matching shapes kind of puzzle game. That's really cool. Wario's Woods is similar. And then I would suggest like the old classics like the original Mario Brothers or like Super Mario World because it just gets you familiar with like platforming. It's like the go to platformer that teach you.

speaker-1: Okay, okay, okay, okay. Now you get me to something. I love Super Mario, specifically the Vario games and the Gamer Advance Super Mario 3 where we had the feather and stuff like that. So I love those. And I was really thinking, okay, everyone was hyping or is hyping the Super Nintendo Super Mario World game. And maybe it has something to do with my Anbernic RG35XX +, but I do feel like that the Super Nintendo version compared to the other Gameboy or Gameboy Advance version is very floaty and feels like skating on ice. I find it so difficult and I'm not sure am I just... is it? skill issue? Or is it actually very floaty and not as precise as everyone makes it out to be? Or is my device to blame? What's your opinion on that?

speaker-0: I would say it's the emulation because like when I was a kid that there's a great like I said I'm a YouTube nerd there's a guy called the gaming historian it's one of my favorite his Super Mario World retrospective is why that is one of the greatest games of all time because the amount of design features and things that they like

speaker-1: Yeah. Okay.

speaker-0: completely innovated when it comes to like camera movement and how the character moves like it was mind blowing for its generation. So I think like the controls in that are extremely tight. So if it feels floaty, I would say it's probably due to the emulation. Like it might be like over overclocking it or underclocking or whatever. I just that game, the precision of controls in that game is incredible. The fact that you can jump in the air and move your character in the air left and right and the way the camera follows you. From a design standpoint, it's just an incredible game.

speaker-1: Yeah, design wise and overall I did remember playing the game on Super Nintendo, but I also remember that I was never able to finish it and then I started it up on my Ender Nick and it did feel so I jump and it feels like whenever Super Mario lands he kind of skates further and stuff like that. So it was really difficult for me to hit some of those landing points and I was confused about the argument because everyone's saying that, that the controls on Super Mario World is tight and I couldn't, I don't know. So it's good to hear that you speculate that it's my emulation, then I will kind of see if I find a better Nintendo Don'tserve, a better way to play it. I bought it, of course. I bought it, but I don't have a Super Nintendo Nintendo. I have the cartridge. Of course.

speaker-0: Always like if you have like I don't know if you have a switch or whatever But I know like on a lot of those you can get like the really and then get like the super Mario. What is it called? I Can't remember what the games called where it's like the best of Mario games those Those ones are pretty good. And I think a lot of them have super Mario world like the more updated ones I think there was an official release for their anniversary like a couple years ago to so I don't know

speaker-1: Okay. All right. was a huge departure from the back world. Thank you so much for kind of letting me talk with you about this kind of topic because I ⁓ think gaming is so much fun and I think I believe more people, the older they get, they should play video games. It's again. Such a stupid argument. Oh, you are over 40. Why are you playing games? Or you are a male. Why are you wearing a sling bag? Because it's fun. It's just fun. Enjoy it. All right. I don't want to take up too much of your time. Where can people find you?

speaker-0: So I'm at Visionswell on ⁓ YouTube and also Instagram. So those are my primary platforms. So follow me on either one of those. And I also wanted to mention before we go that you're my wife's favorite YouTuber.

speaker-1: Thank you so much.

speaker-0: When I sit downstairs and watch TV like I'll oftentimes have the YouTube app on my TV and be scrolling through stuff and whenever she sees your new video she's just like ⁓ put that on like she's she's a big fan

speaker-1: Well, that's so cool.

speaker-0: She does. She just likes your personality, honestly, She's big fan.

speaker-1: Thank you so much. ⁓ that's so cool. Say hi to her for me and I hope you will continue liking my videos in the future. And also everyone, please check out Zach's at Visions well ⁓ on YouTube and Instagram. Great stuff. And also I would say a new and very refreshing perspective on some of these bags, especially the ones where you kind of or kind of analyze if that bag is in your collection or not because I really like that approach to kind of review the bag so that's really cool. Alright Zack, thank you so much for your time and everyone thank you so much for listening and yeah maybe comment below if you have any questions or if you are into retro gaming as well let us know what's your favorite current game. Thank you so much.

speaker-0: Thanks for having me.