Party like it's 2005!

Besides the Chromebook update I recently released, I've recently discovered through trial and error that there's a lot of great games that have been ported to Android, and thus, work on my Chromebook or my 2023 Motorola Moto G Stylus. The three in this example, I remember playing or hearing about a lot during my high school years, and when I found out that it was a thing, and scratched a nostalgic itch that had been hard to reach for awhile, naturally, I was ecstatic.

Space Cadet Pinball, on Chromebook

The first one, as seen above, was actually one I had been trying to get for awhile, either through WINE, flatpak/crostini, or any means possible. I then found out that someone ported the Linux version to Android, and aside from not being able to easily change the default flipper controls and having an obnoxious overlay, is otherwise a perfect implementation. 

Geometry Dash (Geometry Wars), Chromebook

Next is Geometry Dash, which, for any of you who owned an Xbox 360 in 2007, will probably instantly recognize as being Geometry Wars. I went ahead got it. It was actually recommended as being optimized for Chromebook in the Google Play Store, and worked like a charm, and I love the game. 

Hexic - Gameplay (Android)

Hexic - Boot, Android

Finally, is Hexic, which after all these years, I actually still have a physical copy of, despite not owning a computer that will run it. I was initially disappointed that it would only display in phone or tablet mode, and not in the resizable orientation that Android on Chrome OS is known for, but it meant that instead I had an experience that high school me would have only dreamed of while browsing pictures of Pocket PC PDAs in the current issue of Computer Shopper magazine. I'd been playing this one a lot over the Thanksgiving holiday, and am having an itch to go back to it even while finishing this article. 

Chromebook Update 2023: Finally Worth Buying!

On a complete whim, I went to Walmart one day and got myself a Chromebook. Since my last review on the subject, They've finally hit the point where I can use them as a daily driver and not feel restricted. I had been watching their development from the "safety" of various Windows and Linux installations, and was always apprehensive. Then all social Armageddon broke loose about four years ago, and suddenly I started hearing about how great they were. 

 Flash forward to now, and I can finally understand why everyone is singing their praises. I have an Android phone as my daily driver, and the fact that I have that synchronized convergence that Microsoft promised back in 2012 actually delivered by Google is a major win. Both allow me to use Play Store applications (as well as side-load my own android apps), and I can handle phone tasks from my computer without having to look over my shoulder as long as Bluetooth is enabled on both devices. 

On those notes, data transfer is a breeze. As it turns out, Bluetooth actually has a function outside of crappy short-range headphones. I'll be on my laptop downloading one app, and when I need it, I can push it to my phone within a click or two - and vice-versa. And, as demonstrated below, unlike the first generation device I reviewed and then donated as e-waste, this 14-inch Hewlett-Packard model has NO proprietary ports, opting for USB A, C, and a headphone jack. As I'm writing this, It's connected to my TV using a USB-C to HDMI cable along with a USB gamecube controller that's technically meant for playing Smash Bros Ultimate on the Nintendo Switch.

  

HP 14a with a Pentium N5030 Processor
Running Snes9x EX+ for Android w/USB Gamepad

I've bragged about it on Twitter and Facebook before, but an additional thing to point out is that this thing can GAME! Being android compatible, I can actually load most android games and emulators and get fairly decent results. In this shot is SNES 9x EX+ with Yoshi's Island running and I've not been disappointed, except that the only controller I can get working with it right now is the PowerA Wired Fight Pad (seen above). In all honesty, though, I can probably chalk that up to hardware quality. It also supports a Linux virtual machine for playing Steam games, but with only (never thought I would use that adjective) 64GB of storage, it's not worth the hassle. Last time I tried it was to get an external blu-ray drive working, without much avail. It and Steam are features better reserved for higher storage capacity models aimed at "cloud gaming."

As stated in the title, I would definitely recommend getting yourself one if you've been living under a rock since my last update. Adieu, homies!