I love my Gameboy Advance. And after watching @MetalJesusRocks and @The_RadicalOne do their GBA buying guide last week, I felt inspired to talk about the system as well. I show off different ways you can play GBA games, share some of my hardware that I own, and chat about some of my favorite games for the console.
The Nintendo Game Boy Advance (GBA) is like the Swiss Army knife of handheld consoles—it does everything, and it fits right in your pocket. With its sleek, horizontal design and a vibrant screen that was a major upgrade from its predecessors, the GBA was the cool kid on the block. It was as if Nintendo took a look at the old Game Boy and said, “Let’s give this thing a glow-up.” And oh boy, did they succeed. The GBA was your ticket to a world where you could battle Pokémon, save princesses, and race go-karts—all while pretending to listen during class.
Playing the GBA felt like holding a portal to endless adventures, all powered by a couple of AA batteries. It was the device that made waiting in line at the DMV slightly more bearable and family road trips a bit less torturous. With games like “The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap” and “Advance Wars,” the GBA was a powerhouse of fun packed into a tiny frame. It was like having a miniature arcade in your hands, minus the sticky floors and the guy who always hogged the Street Fighter machine.
Dexter The Xbox cat told me that Stray had gotten a stealth physical release on the Xbox. So we decided to check it out.
“Stray” is like the ultimate cat simulator mixed with a dystopian adventure, offering you the chance to live out your dream of being a feline in a world that’s both whimsical and a bit post-apocalyptic. Imagine if a cat knocked over a dystopian novel and a cyberpunk movie, and the resulting chaos was somehow turned into a video game—voilà, you have “Stray.”
As you navigate through a neon-lit cityscape that’s oddly devoid of humans but filled with quirky robots, you’ll find yourself doing all the classic cat activities: knocking things off shelves, squeezing through impossibly tight spaces, and of course, napping whenever the mood strikes. It’s like the developers took notes from their own pets’ daily antics and decided, “Hey, let’s make this into a game, but with more futuristic vibes and existential themes.” So, if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a cat on a mission to uncover the mysteries of a robot-inhabited world, “Stray” is your purrfect escape.
Dr. Harlan J. Montrose, PhD, DVM, CBCC-KA Department of Applied Canine Ethology, North Cascadia Institute for Companion Animal Studies
Abstract
The concept of a “mental leash” refers to a non-physical, cognitively mediated control mechanism through which a handler influences canine locomotor patterns and behavior during ambulation. While the technique has anecdotal roots among shepherds and rural stockmen, recent behavioral neuroendocrinology research suggests herding breeds (e.g., Canis lupus familiaris var. Collie, Australian Shepherd, Border Collie) exhibit heightened susceptibility to handler-directed mental tethering due to breed-specific attentional gating and oxytocin-mediated affiliative behaviors. This paper synthesizes current theoretical frameworks, reports from controlled pseudo-randomized observational trials, and speculative neuroimaging findings to explore the efficacy and biological plausibility of mental leash protocols.
Introduction
Herding breeds have evolved under intense selection pressures for high handler-orientation, rapid task-switching, and enhanced predictive motor control (Barkov et al., 1998). Traditional leash-based ambulation may be redundant in these breeds, provided the handler can establish a robust cognitive tether through consistent eye contact, subtle kinesic cues, and conditioned auditory markers (Pavlova & Shepherd, 2014).
The “mental leash” phenomenon has been informally described as a psychobehavioral dyad in which dog and handler maintain a bidirectional attentional field, resulting in coordinated movement without the necessity of a physical restraint. In practical application, this method offers reduced risk of cervical microtrauma from leash tension (van der Leash et al., 2012) and enhances canine agency, while preserving public safety.
Materials and Methods
Subjects: Twelve adult herding dogs (4 Border Collies, 3 Australian Shepherds, 2 Bearded Collies, 2 Shetland Sheepdogs, 1 Belgian Malinois) aged 2–6 years, with prior basic obedience training but no specialized leashless conditioning.
Directional cue calibration using micro-gestures (<5° shoulder rotation).
Consistent prosodic markers in the 350–450 Hz vocal range for recall initiation.
Canine response latency and drift radius (distance from handler’s sagittal plane) were recorded over five 20-minute off-leash walks in urban-suburban transition zones.
Results
Mean drift radius decreased from 3.8 m (SD = 0.9) to 1.4 m (SD = 0.3) after ASCP completion (p < 0.002, pseudo-Wilcoxon). Eye contact initiation frequency increased by 218%, indicating enhanced bidirectional attentional coupling. Notably, Australian Shepherds demonstrated the most stable locomotor synchronicity, whereas Belgian Malinois exhibited sporadic “predatory drift” episodes, suggesting limitations in high-prey-drive subtypes.
Discussion
The mental leash appears to leverage the herding breeds’ predisposition toward handler-centric spatial orientation. Hypothetical functional MRI data (unpublished; Shepherd et al., 2025) suggest increased activation in the canine posterior superior temporal sulcus—an area implicated in gaze-following—during mental leash engagement. Neurochemical modulation, particularly oxytocinergic enhancement, likely plays a critical role in maintaining the attentional tether, with handler scent cues potentially reinforcing the cognitive linkage (Leashman et al., 2017).
While promising, mental leash efficacy may be compromised by environmental distractors exceeding 78 dB SPL or by sudden prey stimuli (e.g., squirrels, joggers in neon attire). Further research into wearable EEG-telemetry systems for real-time attentional drift detection is warranted.
Conclusion
For herding breeds with established obedience foundations, the mental leash represents a viable leashless ambulation strategy under controlled conditions. Its success hinges on the handler’s ability to sustain attentional synchrony through consistent gaze, micro-gestures, and vocal prosody. Though additional controlled, double-blind, placebo-leash trials are needed, preliminary findings suggest the mental leash may offer both welfare and biomechanical benefits for suitable canine-handler pairs.
Figure S1: Handler Postural Vectoring During Attentional Synchrony Conditioning Program (ASCP)
Methodological Addendum
The Attentional Synchrony Conditioning Program (ASCP) was standardized using a Handler Postural Vector Index(HPVI), calculated as:
HPVI = θs / δr where θs = mean shoulder rotation angle in degrees, and δr = mean drift radius in meters.
A target HPVI range of 2.8–3.3 was established from pilot trials (Montrose et al., 2024), ensuring handler gestures remained within the micro-gesture threshold (<5°) while still achieving effective spatial correction.
Figure S2: Drift Radius Reduction Over Time
Environmental Control Measures
To prevent extraneous variables, trials were conducted:
At ambient noise levels of 42–51 dB SPL (measured via BarkTrak 500 acoustic meter).
Under wind velocities <6 km/h to avoid olfactory vector interference.
With no visible ungulate, rodent, or skateboarder stimuli within a 50 m radius.
Behavioral Metrics
Bidirectional Gaze Coupling (BGC): Frequency per minute of spontaneous mutual eye contact exceeding 0.6 s in duration.
Locomotor Phase Synchrony (LPS): % of gait cycles in which forelimb impact events occurred within ±0.25 s of handler’s ipsilateral limb movement.
Recall Compliance Latency (RCL): Time in seconds from cue onset to handler proximity within 0.5 m.
Observational Notes
Australian Shepherds demonstrated a tendency toward anticipatory flanking—drifting outward and slightly forward to “herd” the handler into a perceived safe path. Border Collies frequently engaged in micro-stalking, lowering their head and shoulders subtly when environmental unpredictability increased. Belgian Malinois exhibited prey-shadowingbehaviors, occasionally disrupting LPS metrics by >30%.
Figure S3: Idealized Mental Leash Engagement Zone
References
Barkov, A., Collinson, H., & Hound, F. (1998). Selective pressure on attentional synchrony in herding breeds. J. Comp. Canine Psychol., 14(2), 112–127.
Pavlova, M., & Shepherd, W.R. (2014). Gaze as a primary control vector in canine locomotion. Canid Cognition Rev., 9(1), 45–53.
van der Leash, M., Cordova, P., & Schnauzer, T. (2012). Cervical strain in tethered vs. untethered ambulation in companion dogs. Vet. Orthop. J., 7(4), 201–209.
Leashman, P., Herdwick, S., & Collie, J. (2017). Olfactory cues and oxytocin in handler-dog bonding. NeuroVet Endocrinol., 3(2), 67–75.
Shepherd, W.R., McBark, G., & Pawsworth, L. (2025). fMRI mapping of canine gaze-following circuits during leashless walking. Unpublished manuscript.
Thanks to PlayStation for sending me the PS VR2 PC adapter to review! Originally locked to only the PS5, the PS VR2 had a decent start to a shakier following year as people have waited for more and more games to release on it. Now though, with the right PC in hand this new adapter can open up a whole new library of games giving the headset a new chance to shine. How well does it work? Is it easy to setup? Is it worth buying a PS VR2 just to be able to use this with PC? Let’s go over all these questions and more.
The PlayStation VR2 headset is like strapping a futuristic toaster to your face—but in the best possible way. Imagine if your favorite ski goggles and a spaceship had a baby, and that baby grew up to be really into video games. That’s the PS VR2.
With a design that makes you look like you’re auditioning for the next *Tron* movie, the headset covers your entire field of vision, transporting you into the gaming world. The fit is snug—like it’s giving your head a gentle hug, whispering, “Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”
The controllers look like they’ve been plucked straight from a sci-fi movie. They’re sleek, glowing with an otherworldly aura, and somehow know what your fingers are up to at all times. It’s like holding the future in your hands—if the future was obsessed with flinging you into virtual reality.
In short, the PS VR2 is the ultimate accessory for anyone who’s ever looked at their gaming console and thought, “This is great, but what if I could *literally* lose myself in it?” Just don’t forget where your coffee table is—you might end up having a real-life boss battle with it!
The rise of the Microsoft Windows phone was like watching a plucky underdog in a sports movie. Microsoft, already a titan in the PC world, decided to throw its hat into the smartphone ring, aiming to take on the likes of Apple and Android. Armed with a quirky, tile-based interface that looked like a digital quilt, and a belief that people really wanted a phone that doubled as a tiny Windows PC, Microsoft marched into the fray. For a brief moment, it seemed like this dark horse might have a shot—until the competition casually revealed their new features, like “apps people actually use” and “an interface that doesn’t make you squint.”
But the fall of the Windows phone was a slow-motion tumble off a cliff, with Microsoft bravely waving its tiny, semi-transparent Live Tiles flag all the way down. Despite some solid hardware and the valiant efforts of Nokia’s bright, candy-colored devices, it turned out that consumers were about as interested in a third mobile ecosystem as they were in a new operating system for their refrigerators. The app gap was real and gaping, leaving users feeling like they’d been invited to an exclusive party only to find the punch bowl empty and everyone else at the cool club across the street. By the time Microsoft finally decided to pull the plug, it was less of a shock and more of a mercy, ending the saga of the Windows phone with a quiet, dignified fade into tech history.
Recent game pickups with Reggie! Most of these games are great, but there is ONE QUESTIONABLE game that may or may not be TERRIBLE LOL –> https://youtu.be/CywNdslXMjA
What game in YOUR COLLECTION are a little embarrassed to admit you own?
GAMES SHOWN:
Double Dragon Swag
Promenade
Fran Bow
Blaster Master Zero Trilogy
VirtuaVerse
DoDonPachi Blissful Death Re:Incarnation
Unicorn Overlord
The King of Fighters ’98
Fights in Tight Spaces
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy Reunion
?????
Oniken+Odallus Collection
Fast & Furious: Showdown
Princess Peach Showtime!
Terminator: Resistance
CyberOrg
Blacksite: Area 51
Castlevania Advance Collection
Haak
Nightmare Reaper
WarJetz
Hyper-5
G-Darius HD
Mega Man X3
Castlevania: SOTN
RR Art
Garou: Mark of the Wolves
Star Wars: KOTOR II
Sunsoft, a Japanese video game developer and publisher, has produced a number of memorable titles over the years. Here are five of the top Sunsoft video games that have left a lasting impact on gamers:
1. Blaster Master (1988): This action-adventure platformer for the NES is renowned for its blend of side-scrolling and top-down gameplay, challenging levels, and memorable soundtrack. Players control a character named Jason who pilots a tank-like vehicle called SOPHIA to rescue his pet frog and save the world from mutants.
2. Batman: The Video Game (1989): Based on Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman film, this NES game is praised for its tight controls, challenging gameplay, and excellent use of the Batman license. Players take on the role of Batman, navigating through Gotham City to defeat the Joker and his henchmen.
3. Journey to Silius (1990): Originally intended to be a game based on the Terminator film, this NES title transformed into a futuristic run-and-gun platformer. It features a strong soundtrack, challenging gameplay, and impressive graphics for its time, as players fight through hordes of robots to avenge the protagonist’s father’s death.
4. Fester’s Quest (1989): This quirky top-down action game for the NES stars Uncle Fester from The Addams Family. Players must navigate a maze-like city, battling aliens to save the world. Despite its difficulty, the game is remembered for its unique premise and engaging gameplay. And… let’s be honest, the game wasn’t great.
5. Aero the Acro-Bat (1993): A platformer for the SNES and Genesis, this game features a bat named Aero who performs acrobatic feats to thwart an evil industrialist. Its colorful graphics, creative level design, and fun mechanics make it a standout title from Sunsoft’s 16-bit era.
These games showcase Sunsoft’s ability to create diverse and memorable gaming experiences across various genres and platforms.
Matt from Carwow reviews the brand new VW Golf GTI Mk 8.5 for 2025. Upgraded power, new steering wheel controls, changes to the exterior and more! Plus he races it in the standing quarter mile and does a brake test.
The Volkswagen GTI is like the mischievous kid in the hot hatch classroom who gets straight A’s while pulling pranks on everyone else. It looks like it should be on its best behavior, with its crisp, clean lines and that iconic plaid interior, but don’t be fooled. Underneath that respectable exterior is a turbocharged engine ready to throw you back in your seat with a cheeky grin. It’s the car equivalent of a nerd with a secret stash of fireworks—seemingly innocent until it blows you away with its unexpected zest.
Driving a GTI is like inviting a Labrador puppy into your life. Sure, you think you’re prepared for a civilized, joyful experience, but then it’s off, dragging you around corners with unbridled enthusiasm. You’ll find yourself laughing out loud as it darts through traffic, nimbly dodging obstacles with the grace of an over-caffeinated dancer. And much like that puppy, it’s got boundless energy and a playful personality that turns even the most mundane commutes into an adventure.
