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Qazi’s Disposable 2024 – Highlights

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With the conclusion of my entertainment round up in 2023, I outlined some vague plans for these twelve months – catching up on my library, buying some new tech and doing some more streaming. And so when I started collecting my notes filed under “Qazi’s Disposable 2024”, In all honesty I probably didn’t get as much done with my plans as I would have liked, but I’m still content with the year in entertainment.

Qazi’s Disposable 2024: Watching

Qazi’s Disposable 2024

In my round up for last year I mentioned that I never got around to Barbie or Oppenhemier, so I made a point this year to watch both and write my thoughts on the films. Scheduling a block of two days to watch the two films, I began with Oppenhemier and enjoyed the atmosphere and tension; less so the nonlinear storytelling which came across as a bit clumsy and unnecessary. Barbie, on the other hand, was a fun commentary on identity and self-image, but was light-hearted enough for anyone to enjoy it. I also took some time to watch Fallout, the Prime Video series based on the popular post-apocalyptic RPGs. Whilst I haven’t played the games myself, I enjoyed the dark humour and the contrast of the three main characters, but also the moralising and the depth of emotion in the scenes. Purnell, Moten and Goggins were a joy to watch, and despite being talked into watching the series I ended up looking forward to each of the episodes.

Elsewhere, I did more catching up on older films, and I think I explored both ends of the emotional scale. The Mike Judge film “Idiocracy” had been on my bucket list for a while and I finally rented it in June. A fantasy comedy which follows two individuals into a stupider future, it’s a brilliant commentary on our own sense of intelligence, and I enjoyed it so much that I searched around for somewhere to order it on disc the next day. The other bucket list film – on the other end of the emotions – was “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale.” I vaguely knew about the story of Hachikō and so I had a general idea of how the film would play out, but it still got me pretty choked up. It inverts your typical animal tragedy by framing the dog as the one continuing life after the passing of their owner, and even though it gets a little bit samey in the middle, the last half hour or so was genuinely moving. I figured that as I grew older I wouldn’t have the same emotional reactions to tear-jerkers with cute animals, but this film managed it.

I don’t have any massive regrets about movies I missed, but I can’t deny that I’m falling behind on a few long-running series. The third Sonic movie was being talked about this year and I still haven’t got around to watching the second one – meanwhile, there are around four Avengers movies now and I think that I’ve only watched up to Age of Ultron. Oops.

Qazi’s Disposable 2024: Listening

Qazi’s Disposable 2024

Conveniently enough, I’m drafting this article on the same day that Tidal has published my “Most Listened” of 2024, although its summary of the year’s music isn’t too surprising – I ended up listening to plenty of EPs and singles in 2024, and a lot of “high energy” genres such as drum & bass. Under Influence Records, Bungle continued to deliver some dreamy D&B vibes with things like the Black Waves EPs. Squarepusher made a return with “Dostrotime”, his follow-up to 2020s “Be Up A Hello” (I particularly liked the “Arkteon” acoustic pieces that served as nice interludes between the more intense tracks) and even the dubstep producer Sharks decided to pivot into a high tempo number with (checks notes) “watching everything burn right in front of me”. However, if I were to settle on one standout I’d probably pick something from the Bungle EPs, because each one absolutely dials into the kind of vibes that I enjoy in electronic music.

(Although it isn’t a genre I typically follow, I also need to give a special mention to the feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar – it’s been highly entertaining and captured the attention of all kinds of people who weren’t keeping up with the modern rap scene.)

I’ve also been revising and refining the sources of music discovery available to me – making regular visits to the Vision Recordings YouTube channel and their radio show (the show has a lot of exclusive early reveals and I often end up having to write myself reminders to hunt down tracks when they’re released for purchase and streaming), bookmarking the channels for Liquicity and Night Bass for my liquid and house needs, and keeping my one dormant X account alive just so that I still have a list of musicians, labels and DJs I can continue to follow. And of course, I’ve been insufferable on social media – filling Bluesky timelines and Discord channels with links to whatever tune has dominated my attention span on a given day. To everyone’s credit, I haven’t been met with any resistance and all of my mutuals and contacts seem pretty tolerant of my enthusiasm. The one thing that’s kind of remained dormant in 2024 has been my listening tech – I got some Marshall Mode EQ earphones in a sale, but that’s about it. Then again, not much is wrong with my current setup – I’ve generally covered my needs for home and portable listening. The only possible future purchase would probably be an optical drive for my desktop that actually works… but even then I have a dedicated CD player…

Qazi’s Disposable 2024: Playing

Qazi’s Disposable 2024

I was pretty excited going into this year. The inaugural Qazi’s Disposable 2024 article would have so many good things to say with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth being released and Metaphor: Refantazio finally making an appearance. What was more surprising, however, was that my favourite RPG was neither of these games. Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth wasn’t just a riot from beginning to end – it’s probably provided me with the most fun over an RPG’s hour count since Persona 4 Golden. It filed the rough edges of the seventh game’s pacing whilst also making nearly every interaction fun and rewarding. The instant takedowns and pursuit of job skills made combat incredibly satisfying, the playground of minigames and side-stories managed to provide hours of distractions, and there are no difficulty spikes as notorious as chapter 12 in the predecessor. Did I enjoy it more than P4G? Not really, but in my mind – in my world of likes and dislikes – it’s one of the first games that’s comparable to P4G in terms of polish and quality. Tellingly, I’m already considering buying it again on Steam.

However, in a year without Infinite Wealth, Rebirth and Metaphor would still be remarkable achievements as well – one an extravagant celebration of FFVII’s world and characters; the other a stunning entry into the fantasy genre from a studio that leans more towards modern urban settings. Both impressed me to the extent that I’m already keen for news about the next game in the FFVII Remake trilogy and the next Metaphor game.

Finally, I was able to get around to some classics that I always wanted to play – I managed to complete Super Metroid at last (I enjoyed the adventure but I will never forgive how vague the in-game map is. I know that it’s nice to give the player room to speculate, but the map could at least colour-code the pink, green and orange doors on the map once I’ve seen them! In the end, I actually created my own map in Google Drive, but it’s likely to be full of errors…) and set aside four or five hours for Doki Doki Literature Club – the sugary-sweet visual novel which I… can’t really talk about. Just like Undertale, it’s the kind of experience you enjoy more if you know less beforehand.

As with most years, I wish I had more time to play more things, but I already have gaming plans outlined for 2025. Oh, and I didn’t play the Elden Ring DLC because I lent my disc to someone – so that’s why we haven’t covered it this year.

Qazi’s Disposable 2024: Streaming

I don’t have much streaming news to reflect on this year, save for one long-term project; I played through Final Fantasy V Advance on stream. I’ve streamed a few highlights from RPGs before, and I’ve previously streamed a full “Hero” playthrough of the charming Half-Minute Hero, but in terms of total hours streamed for a single game this is easily the most – 13 hours of stream footage over 16 sessions. I even streamed a separate window with the pages of notes I had written from a previous playthrough, so that I had something to refer to and so that anyone watching could see my inner madness. And although FFV Advance actually took more than twice that many hours to finish once the stream was done, I wasn’t going to broadcast all of my grinding. Personally I’m really happy with how much I was able to stream, and I have a more ambitious stream planned for next year…

Future adventures

As ever, I don’t know how much any kind of life stuff is going to affect me and the time I have to enjoy my favourite entertainment, but I’ll have some things lined up for when opportunities present themselves. For instance, I’d like to check out the new Monster Hunter but also get into a few older games, I’ll continue to grow my digital music library and look at more films to stream, and I’m considering some new hardware too. For now, I’ll just say thanks to anyone who has clicked on any of our articles this year, or followed us on social media – your support is always appreciated, and we hope you have a great 2025 planned. And while you’re here, don’t forget to take a look at Dan’s Disposable 2024 highlights as well.

Stylish New GravaStar Mercury M1 Pro And M2 Gaming Mice

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There’s nothing wrong with wanting your PC gaming set-up to look cool and interesting. And the hollowed-out style of the new GravaStar Mercury M1 Pro and M2 gaming mice offers weight saving along with the cyberpunk aesthetic.

In addition to the lightweight benefits of the curved design, you also get more airflow to cool your hands during longer or intense game sessions, or if you’re busy working for hours.

The GravaStar M2 gaming mouse costs $79.95 and weighs 79g, with specs including a 1K Hz pollin rate and 26,000 DPI sensor, connectivity options including 2.4G, Bluetooth and wired modes, five dunamic LIGHTSYNC RGB modes, and programmable buttons.

The new GravaStar M2 gaming mouse
The new GravaStar M2 gaming mouse

Meanwhile the Mercury M1 Pro comes in either Gunmetal Gray or Battle-Worn Silver Mist for $129.95, and is made from handcrafted magnesium alloy for durability. In addition to the 26,000 DPI sensor, you also get TUROSPEED wireless connectivity, customisable GLOWSYNC RGB lighting, and five fully programmable buttons.

The GravaStar M1 Pro mouse in Battle-Worn Silver Mist
The GravaStar M1 Pro mouse in Battle-Worn Silver Mist

GravaStar was founded by Yong Huang in 2018, offering a range of science fiction inspired peripherals, including speakers, earbuds and chargers. All of them look like they’ve possibly been lifted from the set of a sci-fi film, which is an aesthetic I can certainly get behind, and I suspect I’m not alone in that.

“These mice are more than just tools; they are an embodiment of the gamer’s spirit. My approach was not solely focused on functionality but on crafting an extension of the gamer’s own persona. The unique bio-inspired design of these mice, which emphasizes both aesthetics and ergonomics, is a direct reflection of this vision,” said Huang about the M1 and M2.

You can pre-order the Mercury mice via the Gravastar website. Their range is also available in the UK via Amazon.

Qazi’s Disposable 2023 – Highlights

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Preface: Hints and inaccuracies

When I concluded last year’s round-up, I hinted at a few things that might end up in the highlight reel that is “Qazi’s Disposable 2023” – new tech purchases, gaming and streaming projects, lots of film watching. And, well, some of those hints were more accurate than others. So let’s get right into it.

Qazi’s Disposable 2023: Watching

Qazi's Disposable 2023

This was actually a lot more daunting for me to summarise than I initially thought – I imagined that I only found time for two or three big films, but I actually got through a number of decent movies in the past twelve months. As ever, I remained one step behind the cinema-goers and relied on Blu-Ray releases and streaming media access… but I still think I covered a number of great movies. After working through The Dark Knight Trilogy a while ago, I moved on to the moodier, darker “The Batman” film – a spectacular ride when you can actually see what’s going on amongst the darkness. I finally got around to watching Everything Everywhere All At Once – initially assuming it would be too wacky for my tastes, only to be blindsided by the rush of emotions and feels crammed into its runtime. I watched old and new David Leitch action films in the form of Atomic Blonde (which had plenty of atmosphere and great characters but perhaps moved a little too slowly at times) and John Wick: Chapter 4 (which had flashes of what made part 1 so special, but also got a bit silly), and enjoyed some thoroughly British comedy via Attack The Block and The World’s End. And I moved from the day-glo fantasy of the Super Mario Bros. Movie to the creepy horror of M3GAN. In all, I feel like I explored a decent amount of laughs, darkness, action and wonder spread across the year – and I have to commend streaming services for offering a generous range of rentals and purchases amongst their “free” offers.

There are more bits and pieces that could be mentioned, but I feel like the above gives you an idea about the range of films that have kept me occupied. I can definitely see myself going back to some of the films I streamed or purchased as digital rentals, and picking up Blu-Ray copies for my shelves. (I don’t know if it says anything about my bias when I recall that I only watched the Sonic The Hedgehog movie digitally but I bought the Super Mario Bros. movie as a physical disc.) As for the ones that missed out? I feel like a part of me wanted to completely dodge “Barbenheimer” (the social media trend referring to the releases of Barbie and Oppenheimer) – almost out of petty spite – because I was already tired of it filling up my timeline. Given that I’m used checking out older films months after the fact, I can see myself picking up both films sometime in 2024… and I’m sure you’ll get to read my ramblings about both of those in the future.

Qazi’s Disposable 2023: Listening

Qazi's Disposable 2023

After seeing Leftfield at Lakefest last year in one of the best live entertainment experiences I’ve been lucky enough to attend, I already knew that this year probably wasn’t going to top it. Even so, a few of my favourite musicians released some excellent EPs and albums. I already talked about The Chemical Brothers’ release of their tenth album (“For That Beautiful Feeling”) earlier this year, and even though I may have thought that it was a bit of a “safe” release that wasn’t taking many risks, that doesn’t mean that I don’t still listen to the likes of “Fountains” and “Feels Like I Am Dreaming” on a regular basis. Elsewhere, there was a short but sweet release from Aphex Twin in the form of the Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / in a room7 F760 EP. Seeing a listing of four tracks (well, one of them is a remix of another) might lead you to believe that it will all be over too quickly, but the EP manages to cover a decent range of moods and tempos – and honestly, it feels like so long since Collapse EP and the Peel Sessions release that I’m kind of happy to be getting anything new.

Additionally, there were a few decent individual tracks that slipped into regular rotation within the music library of my mobile. “All of My Love” by AC Slater and MPH is a glorious throwback to the house and dance sounds of the 90s, and rarely fails to put me in a good mood. “Catalyst” by Droeloe and Imanu sets a foundation of understated beats and a bouncy melody before building into a fantastic climax later on. And “Backshifting” by Ivy Lab demonstrated another shift in vibe that feels effortlessly slick and catchy. Finally, this was all helped by an impulse purchase in the summer when I received a discount offer on some wireless earbuds (Oppo Enco Air2 Pro). I’ve had some bad luck with wireless earphones in the past – they often lose sound in one ear, or they fail to charge after a few weeks – but hopefully these ones will be more reliable. I guess you’ll find out when I report back next year.

Qazi’s Disposable 2023: Playing

Qazi's Disposable 2023

This year I kind of wanted to avoid the outcome of 2022, where I ignored a bunch of notable releases in favour of playing more Elden Ring. It worked out, in a way – I got to play a lot of games I had been meaning to get around to. I covered Jet Set Radio, Final Fantasy XVI, Persona 3: The Answer and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow on this site – but looking at those games again, I see that one out of the four games was actually released in 2023. The thing is, I didn’t ignore the notable releases… but the notable releases weren’t from 2023. I skipped Bomb Rush Cyberfunk in favour of playing its inspiration. I skipped Sea of Stars – a game I had been looking forward to for months – but played through The Messenger for the first time. And I got around to checking out Super Mario RPG shortly before a remaster of the game would be announced for the Nintendo Switch. That being said, I feel like my year in gaming has been about as successful as my year in film, as these are all things that I had wanted to check out for a long time, and so it’s nice to finally see each of them through to the end.

Anyway, Final Fantasy XVI is pretty much my Game of the Year by default, since I barely played anything else that was actually released this year. (One possible exception could be the Quake II remaster, which manages to offer a fun oldschool experience in its single-player campaign whilst also providing unmatched entertainment in multiplayer – it’s that unique kind of pull where an entire evening can disappear in moments because the chaos experienced with friends is too good.) At the time of writing, Final Fantasy XVI has also received its first piece of DLC that expands the story experience with some new quest content. I’m not going to get back into it immediately, but it’s nice to know that I have a good reason to revisit the world of Clive & co. It also managed to provide a nice distraction before next year’s release of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (which I might actually play when it’s released, unlike Remake.)

Qazi’s Disposable 2023: Streaming

Oh dear. Nothing but bad news this year. I had a few positives with my streaming adventures – beginning with a Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland playthrough at the start of the year, and then with me reaching the true ending of Ghosts ‘n’ Goblins for GBC over Halloween. However… I really wanted to do a blind stream for my first playthrough of Final Fantasy XVI. And almost every time I tried, I would watch the stream back only to find that the audio glitched – or dropped out entirely – without me knowing. The first few streams came out fairly well, but I felt like the problems occurred more often as I got further into the game. Part of me is tempted to get new streaming hardware in the new year, but I have other purchases in mind that may be prioritised. Ultimately, I haven’t been completely deterred – I already have some ideas for streams next year that should be less ambitious but still quite enjoyable.

Time Extended

I feel like I’ve already planned out the first month or so of 2024 – I’ll have some music and films to catch up on, I have games from the Steam Winter sale that I’m going to get into in the new year, some retro games I want to attempt, and hopefully another stream project. I may even pick up that new tech I told myself I’d get in 2023. Thanks to everybody who has read, shared and enjoyed our content – I hope you stick around next year, and don’t forget to read Dan’s Disposable 2023 whilst you’re here.

The Lost Summer Editorial

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If you’ve been following this website for a while, you’ll remember that we never started out as a WordPress site. The original intention was to write content and create InDesign templates around it until everything could be put together into PDF format. And one thing we learned from doing so is that template production is difficult, and time-consuming, and often didn’t get completed until long after the plain text of the content had been written. This meant that we were sometimes reluctant to write features about “current” topics in entertainment when there was a risk of the conversation no longer being “current” by the time our features were published. Instead, we would sometimes try and discuss broader topics that were “always” relevant. Case in point: our summer editorial.

The Lost Summer Editorial – the brief

What we wanted to discuss in the article was simple. The entertainment experiences we covered in the magazine often took place in a dark room, in front of a large screen, and preferably with some quality headphones – and this is the last kind of situation you want to find yourself in during the summer months. This was understood within the industry as well; in particular, video game releases were known to “dry up” over the summer period, and there was often a shortage of new titles to talk about. (It didn’t help that we were active in the seventh-generation of consoles, when the Xbox 360 was put under the spotlight and the issue of overheating and the solder on your chips was brought into question.) I had a broad idea of what I wanted to achieve with the article – a general round-up of some of the best entertainment people can enjoy whilst at the park, under a parasol, or on the way to the seaside. What I didn’t realise, however, was that in the years that passed since the feature was conceived, enjoying new entertainment in the summer months would become easier – and more normalised – than it ever was when we came up with the concept for the summer editorial in the first place.

The tech effect

summer editorial

With the passage of time, entertainment become shorter, quicker and easier to consume. Your indulgent 3+ hour movies and epic 100+ hour RPGs were still being produced and were readily available in all of the usual places, but joining them were video shorts on social media, and polished, immediate games available on mobile app stores or dedicated gaming handhelds. We had moved on from the age of portables without backlights (a few years before conceiving articles for the PDF magazine I would have still been playing handheld games on an original Game Boy Advance, which was a good distraction during the summer months, but hardly ideal when you couldn’t see the screen), and the boom box (a summer staple for some garden parties) was quickly being usurped by the smart speaker, allowing hundreds of hours of summer tunes to be streamed during outdoor gatherings. (As mentioned in my Disposable 2022 article, I have since bought myself a CD boom box with radio and Bluetooth connectivity despite already having a standalone Bluetooth speaker – primarily because it serves as a better all-in-one solution.) Meanwhile, today’s e-readers allow anyone to take their entire library outside with them, whilst also offering useful bookmarking options and accessibility features to ensure that all bookworms are catered for with minimal hindrance. Crucially, none of this has to be costly anymore either; prices of consumer tech today open up more ways to enjoy new media releases without being confined to a single room (my own boom box might not have the best sound quality but it didn’t empty my bank balance either), and you won’t have to write up a budget for summer entertainment before allowing yourself to have fun.

The Lost Summer Editorial – the outbreak

summer editorial

As the UK government became more insistent on the precautions we had to take during the Covid-19 pandemic – staying at home if possible and sacrificing the get-togethers that would usually be in our social calendars – those who tried to comply with the guidelines found themselves confined to their households during the summer months, or forming a support bubble with friends, family or other trusted acquaintances. When introducing this article we began by saying that isolating yourself with only the latest entertainment to keep you distracted was as far removed from typical summer activity as you could imagine – but for a while some of us at least had to get used to the idea of this being a new way of living. And it’s not like there isn’t evidence that supports the fact that most of us tried to get used to this – the 2020s began in an environment where high street retailers were hit hard by a rise in online shopping, because everyone had been told to stay indoors when possible. The UK government’s advice at the time was “Stay home, protect the NHS, save lives” (this would later be amended to “Stay alert, control the virus, save lives”), and home entertainment played a crucial part in keeping us sane. Instead of heading out for spontaneous family picnics in crowded parks, we would dust off our summer playlists and portable consoles, or call up family and friends over FaceTime. The truth is that summer is just as good a time as any to enjoy the latest entertainment, and it only took a global event such as Covid-19 to provide some focus for the summer editorial we wanted to complete so many years ago.

Looking at today’s technology and the devices that will be available in the future, there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of ways to enjoy yourself without being confined to that dark room and large screen. Handheld gaming is becoming more ambitious, mobile internet plans are more widespread, and a smart speaker is part of the furniture rather than being an overpriced luxury. Our original summer editorial was conceived by myself and another editor on the team, and even after the PDF’s final issue it was something that I wanted to write. Irrespective of the final outcome, I hope you have a great summer ahead of you.

Qazi’s Disposable 2022 – Highlights

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Preface: managing my expectations

When I concluded my round-up for 2021 on this site, I explained that I initially thought the year would be uneventful as we wait for 2022 to deliver. However, they’ve both been equally great – I had a lot to fondly look back on at the end of last year… and at the same time, there have been a few releases this year that I either lost interest in or didn’t have time for. That’s not to say that I don’t have a “Qazi’s Disposable 2022” highlight reel to talk about, however. Let’s begin.

Qazi’s Disposable 2022: Watching

Qazi's Disposable 2022

As with most years, my 2022 has been spent doing a lot of catching up. My Prime Video subscription – combined with a busy Blu-Ray release schedule – means that I’m rarely short of things to watch, and so my film highlights have included some recent physical media releases as well as the occasional curio that I’ve streamed. For instance, I finally surrendered to the hype and bought Encanto following its disc release on February, and even though you could tell where it was going, it was still a fun ride. The premise initially sounds quite outlandish, following the lives of a family of gifted individuals… however, the plights facing each member – concerns of meeting expectations, of expanding horizons – can be relatable. I also rolled the dice with The Matrix Resurrections – it worked well as a reboot and was more interesting than the second and third films, but it definitely went to some weird places. I enjoyed the moments of self-referential meta commentary, and of course the action scenes were immaculate, but at times it did feel a little bit self-indulgent. A far more successful evening with Keanu came when I finally watched the copy of Bill & Ted Face The Music that I’d been waiting on for months – most of the jokes landed well, prior knowledge of the other films isn’t compulsory and I enjoyed the way in which the narrative kept shifting focus between Bill & Ted’s adventure and the journey that their daughters were going on.

The curios I watched were more random and slightly trashy, and most of them were watched on Prime Video. For example, one of the last films I watched before writing this was Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Until now, the only Terminator films I had watched were the first two, and I had the feeling that sci-fi fans would probably want me to pretend that any other movies after the second don’t exist. Personally I didn’t think it was a disaster, but it’s definitely not necessary viewing. The T-X is an impressive machine but it doesn’t quite have the menacing presence of a T-1000. However, the time-jumped John Connor was likeable enough, and a spectacular road chase scene in the first half of the movie felt like a cute homage to T2’s equivalent. Also, I’ll give an honourable mention to the 2014 Riley Stearns film Faults; a story about a man hired to “deprogram” a daughter influenced by a cult. Whilst it was no classic, the premise and the performance made it very compelling to watch, and the fact that the two lead characters had various quirks and flaws gave the story some surprising levity.

Qazi’s Disposable 2022: Listening

Qazi's Disposable 2022

The first thing that came to mind in my music-oriented draft for the “Qazi’s Disposable 2022” document was that this was the year I dropped Spotify. Well, for the moment. Following the Joe Rogan controversy and community fallout, many people on Twitter campaigned to persuade people to use alternative streaming services, and the truth is that since February of this year I’ve listened to most of my music through Tidal. The algorithm hasn’t always been as great at recommending things, but I discover music through Twitter and Youtube as well, so as long as you find ways to help yourself, there’s no massive loss. Honestly though, it’s been pretty good at streaming the random bass music that I find out about on Twitter – the range of artists and labels is a lot broader than I initially feared.

It hasn’t been a big year for new releases but what was there was fine. After all, I can’t complain about getting a new Leftfield album in December – four months after seeing them at Lakefest, in one of the best live music sets I’ve been to. Outside of that, I enjoyed “Closer” by Noisia, as well as various EPs from Wilkinson, Logistics and more. Right now, the “Forms” EP from Bungle is probably my favourite release of the year, but Leftfield’s “This Is What We Do” is a very close second. On a more personal note, I also got hold of an actual CD player after years of listening to music on my desktop. The humble Bush CD-78B-BTFM boombox I selected is hardly going to make the walls shake with bass, but it’s a lot more convenient than using my PC for everything, and the added bonus of Bluetooth means that I don’t have to listen to so many tunes on my mobile.

Qazi’s Disposable 2022: Playing

Qazi's Disposable 2022

Paradoxically, this year in gaming was simultaneously extremely busy for me and somewhat quiet. At the time of writing I’ve only bought about three “games” that were actually released this year, with one being an expansion (Destiny 2: The Witch Queen) and another being a re-release on new formats (Persona 5 Royal). So it’s no surprise that the only brand new 2022 game I’ve played – Elden Ring – has overshadowed everything else. Even though my initial playthrough lasted just over a month, the experience stayed with me and made a lasting impression. What could have been a miserable time exploring an open world full of impossible encounters ended up being revelatory; defeat wasn’t a mere setback anymore – it was an invitation to explore elsewhere in the game’s open environment. Simply put, Elden Ring’s world shames the icon-filled maps of Ubisoft and Rockstar, whilst also feeling more refreshing than From’s earlier dark fantasy action RPGs.

A few months ago I also covered my experiences of a classic Square RPG on this site, with my belated look at Final Fantasy V Advance. I wasn’t expecting anything too mindblowing from the game – especially not after trying FFVI and Chrono Trigger – but I was pleasantly surprised by the depth offered by the job and ability system. With the power to take a learned ability from one job and keep it whilst learning a new job, a character can have several specialties (a thief who knows white magic, or a monk who can use summons) – and this opens up a lot of options during combat. It’s a lot more enjoyable than using jobs in something like FFI or FFIII, and although the story wasn’t that exciting, it made the gameplay frequently feel rewarding.

I’m expecting my gaming year to be more interesting in 2023, even without an Elden Ring on the horizon. I didn’t want to make too many impulse purchases this year, or end up with too many half-finished games – but it’s allowed me to fully appreciate the games that I have made time for, at least.

Qazi’s Disposable Miscellany: Streaming

Okay, it’s not exactly a conventional part of an annual round-up, but I did enjoy doing some more streaming this year. My setup has barely changed from before – most of my streaming is on PC only, with the help of XSplit and Twitch – and I’m still not ready to start offering voiceover or facecam just yet, but there’s something about the promise of streaming a game that incentivises a player to persist with it. The majority of this year’s streamed footage came from Final Fantasy III – a game that I gave up on many years ago, but managed to complete in June. It’s not really the best RPG I’ve played, and it can be a bit of a slog, but the way it was left unfinished had haunted me for too long. I’m glad that I finally have some closure, but I want to keep doing more broadcasts, and I definitely have one or two more streams in mind for the new year.

Moving forward

I already have some plans for 2023 – an endless backlog of films I want to watch, some gaming/streaming pet projects I have vague ideas about… and I’m sure that more new tech, in some form, is inevitable. 2023 could just be another year of me making up for lost time whilst catching up on old things, but I hope to cover some new experiences too. As always, thanks to anyone who’s read, shared or commented on our content, and we hope you enjoy the festive period and the new year. Also, make sure that you take a look at Dan’s Disposable 2022 for an alternative take on the year in entertainment.

New EPOS H6PRO Series Headsets Unveiled

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If you’re looking for some new headphones, then the new EPOS H6PRO Series headsets might be worth considering. And they should work well for gaming, as they’ll be the official kit for the various EPOS Esports teams, including Cloud9, MAD Lions, Toronto Ultra, Aston Martin Cognizant Esports, Toronto Defiant, Sprout and LDLC OL.

Available in your choice of Open or Closed designs, the wired acoustic headsets are available now for the PC, Mac, PS4 and PS5, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, and come in Sebring Black, Racing Green or Ghost White.

The new EPOS H6PRO Series Headsets have been unveiled
The new EPOS H6PRO Series Headsets have been unveiled

Obviously the Closed version will block out distractions more, while the Open option means you can hear your own voice without the need for additional monitoring.

They’ve got a lightweight design, which comes in around 20% less than the previous GSP 500 and 600 headsets, and feature a slimmer headband with memory foam of different densities, a 2-axis hinge structure, and replaceable earpads.

The new EPOS H6PRO look particularly good in the Racing Green and Gold option
The new EPOS H6PRO look particularly good in the Racing Green and Gold option

One interesting aspect is that the H6PRO speaker system aims to offer likelike sound across the full audible frequency spectrum to minimise fatigure by avoiding tricks like boosting the bass, which then masks midrange sounds like footsteps and over environmental cues. Plus it means your brain should have an easier time coping with game and team chat for longer periods.

Another neat trick is that the new EPOS H6PRO Series headsets feature a detachable microphone, which also has ‘lift-to-mute’ built in, which makes it slightly less likely your team-mates or streaming audience will hear something they shouldn’t.

Expect to see the EPOS H6PRO Series used by their supported eSports teams
Expect to see the EPOS H6PRO Series used by their supported eSports teams

There’s also a volume wheel located on the right ear cup for quick and easy adjustment in the middle of a game. The headsets are supplied with cables for both 4-pole jacks (consoles and phones) or a pair of 3-pole jacks.

The new EPOS H6PRO Series headsets are available in Sebring Black, Racing Green and Ghost White, and both the Open and Closed versions have a suggested price of £149.

New Trust GXT 323 Carus Headsets Launched

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If you’re looking for some affordable gaming audio solutions, then you might want to check out the new Trust GXT 323 Carus headsets. Priced at just £34.99, there are three models to choose from with the GXT 323 for the PC, the GXT 323W for the PS5 and the GXT 323X for Xbox Series X.

New Trust GXT 323 Carus Headsets Launched
New Trust GXT 323 Carus Headsets Launched

The Trust Carus GXT 323 is also compatible with the PS4, Switch and Switch Lite, Xbox One and Mac. And all of the headsets feature big 50mm drivers for the sound. You also get an omnidirectional microphone with 150 Hz – 16000 Hz frequency response to chat with other games or in online meetings.

The Trust Carus GXT 323 in black, the GXT 323W for PS5 in white and GXT 323X for Xbox Series X in green

As you might expect, you can change your volume and mute your mic, via the controls on the ear cup. The ear pads are made from mesh material to help keep you cooler, and the headband is ajustable to fit most craniums comfortably.

Without trying them ourselves yet, the new Trust GXT 323 Carus headsets seem pretty reasonable for the price. The 50mm drivers should do a decent job of transmitting in-game audio into your ears. The design looks OK to fit with the aesthetics of a modern console or gaming rig. We’d probably choose the white PS5 version as the best colourscheme.

And that’s about it. As an affordable option they’ll work well for occasional or younger gamers, and also provide a handy solution or backup if you need something that’ll do the job for a reasonable price. Trust have been producing products for a while to cover the cost-conscious part of the gaming market, so it’s a familar brand.

You can buy all three options on Amazon, with the Trust GXT 323W Carus for PS5 here, the Truxt GXT 323X for Xbox Series X here, and the GXT 323 here. And Argos will also be stocking them shortly.

Check out our technology section for more headsets and gaming peripherals, including the Trust GXT 488 Forze headsets launched in April last year.

Qazi’s Disposable 2020 – highlights from the year

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When I wrote my Disposable 2019 article in December of last year, I closed by thanking the people who have supported us; those who have taken time to read one of our articles. I suggested that together we could discover what the round-up that would be “Qazi’s Disposable 2020” had to offer, but nobody could have predicted the events of the past twelve months. It’s been a rough year for everyone, and I can only hope that we’ve helped to steer you in the direction of entertainment that can help you feel good, or at least distract you enough to help take your mind off things for a while. I’ve tried to avoid bringing the COVID-19 pandemic into too many of my articles… but in a year where many people have been advised to stay at home when possible, we’ve found much more value in our home entertainment. Consequently, the talking points in the following paragraphs held much more value for me than usual…

Qazi’s Disposable 2020 – silver screens and soundbars

Qazi's Disposable 2020

In terms of the small-screen shortlist of Qazi’s Disposable 2020…well, I’ve enjoyed getting what I can out of Amazon’s Prime Video service; catching up with films that I missed first time around, or even renting newer releases. Notable mentions – I spent three weekends watching each movie from The Dark Knight Trilogy, and took a look at the spectacular Mad Max: Fury Road. I was pleasantly surprised by the Sonic The Hedgehog movie (ostensibly a “kid’s movie” but with enough light entertainment to satisfy Sega fans of all ages) and enjoyed the time-loop silliness of Live/Die/Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow. I don’t think there’s really enough in my watchlist to recommend a bunch of 2020 film releases, but I guess Sonic The Hedgehog was okay? (As a random aside, I downsized from a chaotic multi-speaker setup to a single soundbar, and it’s been surprisingly satisfying when watching films and playing games, so the minor tech updates made here have been worthwhile.)

Grooves and games

Qazi's Disposable 2020

I listened to a few new music releases, but a lot of my usual favourite artists and groups have been pretty quiet, so I’ve had to broaden my range a little bit during this year. Special mentions go out to QZB and their catchy but understated D ‘n’ B tunes in the “Perspectives Vol.1” EP, Special Request’s moody melodies in their “Spectral Frequency” EP and the variety found when listening to Dom and Roland’s “Lost in the Moment”. Of course, I recently covered the new album by The Avalanches as well: “We Will Always Love You” ended up being a much more confident follow-up than Wildflower, whilst re-capturing the mood set by their debut. If I had to pick one standout for 2020, I’d recommend going and listening to the EP by QZB that I mentioned; it was a bit too slight to cover in a full article, but the rapid tempo and moody, crunchy beeps made it one of the more enjoyable releases on the Critical label.

My year in gaming was pretty modest, as I ended up indulging in a few mammoth RPGs and keeping the rest of my schedule open to other distractions. As if the offerings of Final Fantasy VII Remake, Persona 5 Royal and Yakuza: Like A Dragon weren’t enough, I also checked out Final Fantasy VI for the first time, and revisited other old games during my Twitch streaming sessions. (What was surprising was that none of these three “new” RPG releases this year – FFVII, Persona, Yakuza – blew me away in the same way that something like Nier Automata did in 2017. They’re all great games, but none of them had an earth-shattering impact that left a lasting impression. Maybe that will change when we see more of the FFVII project.) I followed the launches of the PS5 and Xbox Series S/X with interest, but held off picking any of them up this year. Put simply, I’m waiting for the games – Microsoft’s fumbling at the start of the last gen already pushed me towards the PS4, but Bloodborne, Persona 5 and the then-exclusive Nier Automata made a compelling case for the console. Nothing on Microsoft or Sony’s new consoles has really convinced me yet, but it’s still early.

Qazi’s Disposable 2020 – moving forward

Qazi's Disposable 2020

Much like the aforementioned soundbar, I’m wondering how much of my technology will be refreshed in 2021. Earlier this year I was talking to people about swapping my setup of two displays for one display with more inputs – meanwhile, I’m in a situation where technically I don’t own a current-gen console anymore, with the new generation represented by the Switch, the PS5 and the Xbox Series machines. If 2021 sees us continuing to stay at home, maybe I’ll consider a new gaming box to keep me occupied, but that’s still a distant plan. What is certain, however, is that I’ll keep finding things to talk about here (after all, I’m keen to find out more about the new Nier games and NEO: TWEWY.) As ever, thanks to everyone who’s visited the site this year – please take some time to check out Dan’s Disposable 2020 round-up if you haven’t already, and we hope that you’ll stick around to see what 2021 has to offer.

New Nintendo Switch Wheel From Numskull

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If you own a Switch and like racing games then you will probably be interested in the new Nintendo Switch wheel from Numskull. At £14.99, it won’t break the bank, even if the features are understandably limited at that price point.

The new Nintendo Switch Wheel From Numskull
The new Nintendo Switch Wheel From Numskull

The Numskull Nintendo Switch Joy Con Steering Wheel Table Attachment will probably take you longer to say, than it will to set up. Just use the suckers to attach it firmly to a suitable flat surface, put your controllers in, and you’ll be able to race in any game which enables motion control, such as Mario Kart.

The new Nintendo Switch Wheel From Numskull still lets you use the shoulder buttons
The new Nintendo Switch Wheel From Numskull still lets you use the shoulder buttons

It’s been designed to have soft mounting brackets to avoid any damage to your controllers, and there’s apparently some ‘resistance technology’ inside. Given the price, design and light weight approach, it’s safe to assume some rubber bands are being used for that resistance.

Some suction cups will hopefully keep the Numskull Switch wheel in place
Some suction cups will hopefully keep the Numskull Switch wheel in place

There’s not really much else to say about the new Nintendo Switch Wheel from Numbskull. It should make racing games feel a little more immersive and fun within reason, and it’ll be fun for younger racers to start using a wheel rather than an analogue stick.

The Numskull Nintendo Switch Steering Wheel is available now for pre-orders via Geekstore, priced at £14.99, and estimated to be available for shopping in October, 2020.

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Dual Wireless Headset Launches

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Looking for headphones for gaming and work which will be compatible with your PC and PlayStation, including the PS5? The SteelSeries Arctis 9 Dual Wireless Headset launches to answer that need. Xbox owners will need the 9X instead.

The Arctis 9 feature an ultra-low latency 2.4GHz lossless connection for gaming, and simultaneous Bluetooth for your mobile. So you can chat or even have a work meeting whilst also hanging out in-game. Very useful if your company has started holding meetings in Red Dead Redemption 2 or other gaming settings during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The SteelSeries Arctis 9 Dual Wireless Headset Launches for PC and PlayStation, including the PS5
The SteelSeries Arctis 9 Dual Wireless Headset Launches for PC and PlayStation, including the PS5

Other useful things to note about the SteelSeries Arctis 9 Dual Wireless Headset is that it should work for more than 20 hours on a single charge, and it features a Discord-certified bidirectional ClearCast microphone to handle noise cancellation and natural-sounding clarity. Plus it uses the Arctis soundscape so hopefully you won’t miss detailed in-game sounds during a work call.

The latest addition to the range, the SteelSeries Arctis 9 Dual Wireless Headset includes Bluetooth
The latest addition to the range, the SteelSeries Arctis 9 Dual Wireless Headset includes Bluetooth

There’s a ski google suspension headband for comfort, along with steel-reinforcement, Airweave fabric ear cushions, on-ear controls for ChatMix, and DTS Headphone:X v2.0 for surround sound positioning.

The SteelSeries Arctis 9 Dual Wireless Headset retails for £179.99, and is available now from the company website, and will be coming soon to the usual retailers including Currys PC World, Argos or Amazon.

Looking to upgrade your technology? Check out all our previous Tech articles, including gaming controllers and hardware, and other tech news. Including other PC and console peripherals from the SteelSeries range.

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