The Daily Valet. - 7/12/23, Wednesday
✔️ Game Over?
Wednesday, July 12th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
Do you have it in you to sit in a movie theater for over five hours?
Today’s Big Story
Game Over?
Classic video games are disappearing faster than silent films, according to study
There's something about old movies, right? They don't always stand up, of course. Culturally, the mood changes and some scenes can feel a little cringe-y, but overall, it's cool to go back and watch the James Bond films that were released before we were born. The same cannot be said about video games.You see, antique books are constantly sold and resold. You can download some of the oldest films and decades-old music is still easy to buy and enjoy. But old games? It's not so simple. In fact, a whopping 87% of video video games released before 2010 are not commercially available on any modern platform, according to a new study conducted by the Video Game History Foundation.According to their research, the availability of classic video games is incredibly “low across every platform and time period tracked in the study.” Outside of the 13% of older games available to the public, much have either been lost entirely, or hidden away in private collections.Researchers checked to see if games on older systems were offered by their rights holders today, through continued sales of the originals, remasters or any other version that didn't fundamentally change them. What they found was that the survival rate was even worse than that for American silent films.Not surprisingly, games often become unavailable because the constantly evolving tech standards lead to platforms that simply don't run older software. Video game historians have been warning us about the preservation issue for years, with the conversation reigniting earlier this year after Nintendo shut down the WiiU and 3DS eShops. Especially as games get away from hardware and move entirely digital, these works will get lost in the shuffle without better preservation efforts taken.
Dig Deeper:
The New Yorker introduces us to the seasoned collectors who are trying to save video-game history from oblivion.
Inflation Has Cooled Off
but “back to normal” is still a long way off
Today, economists and other experts will be watching for signs that inflation is easing across the nation when the Consumer Price Index for June is released. According to the Associated Press, U.S. inflation is expected to post its lowest level in more than two years—a slowdown that, if sustained, could lead the Federal Reserve to halt its interest rate hikes later this year.A “soft landing”—bringing inflation down without significant job losses—has effectively already been achieved, economist Riccardo Trezzi told NBC News, given that the 9% inflation rate the U.S. saw in June 2022 is now a distant memory. But it's still too early to celebrate, he warned. Rough waters are likely still ahead, as the 12-month core inflation rate has stagnated above 5% after decades of averaging just 3.6%.Not everyone agrees with this gloomier outlook though. Speaking to CNBC, Austan Goolsbee, president of the Chicago Federal Reserve, suggested the economy may be on a rare “golden path” to achieving lower rates of inflation without a recession. Still, measures of underlying inflation could remain chronically high—well above the Fed's target level through the end of this year, in the view of most economists.
Dig Deeper:
Florida is America’s inflation hotspot because of a persistent problem with sky-high housing costs.
‘Barbenheimer’ Is More Than Memes
this year’s summer of blockbuster movies is really only just beginning with 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer'
Barbieheimer. It's more than just black and pink side-by-side or a battle of the sexes manifested on the same opening weekend. Sure, it's a meme. And it's definitely a mood. A vibe. But it's also a legit phenomenon—Greta Gerwig's Barbie and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer are officially coming on July 21st—and some say it could save cinema as we know it.While Vox says this is tinged with irony, there's so much genuine enthusiasm for both films offline that cinephiles have made the movies' opening weekend into an excuse for an unlikely doubleheader. AMC Theaters confirmed that over 20,000 tickets have already been sold for back-to-back screenings. Keep in mind, Barbenheimer is a five-hour commitment to the bit and testament to the cultural impact of memes. And the dedication to these films doesn't end with just seeing the movies. Online, a divisive debate swirls over what order to see the films, what to consume in between screenings, and even what to wear for the occasion. Do you start with a delicious and satisfying dessert (Barbie) or a hearty meal and cigarette (Oppenheimer)? Some have planned out a whole day. For example, one popular tweet planned: “the schedule needs to be black coffee and a cigarette, Oppenheimer around 11, mimosas and brunch, Barbie around 6/7, drinks, dinner, club.” We'll see you at the movies.
Meanwhile:
The faith-based movie Sound of Freedom has already earned more than double its budget since its release on Tuesday.
Rev Up Your Walls
Porsche has collaborated with Backdrop on some auto-inspired paint colors
Backdrop, the modern cool-kid paint brand, has joined forces with Porsche to release a limited-edition paint collection that pays homage to the iconic automaker for their 75th anniversary.Sure, you've probably never seen a Porsche and thought, “I wish my home looked like that,” but the four car-centric hues are pretty damn good-looking. And they have a rich heritage: Irish Green made its debut on a Porsche 356C in 1964. Two of the colors (Speed Yellow and Ruby Star) first appeared on the Porsche 911 in 1991. And Riviera Blue is the newest of the four, having arrived on the scene in 1994. That one's been available on the Porsche 911, 928 and 968.The colors would definitely look good as an accent—kitchen cabinets or bookcase maybe? And they'd certainly make an interesting conversation starter when someone compliments them. And as Autoblog notes, there's one more incentive to sweeten the deal for buyers—free keychains with each paint purchased.
In Other News
Justices should aline with other branches of government.
Have you heard about ...
Summer Survival: The DIY Haircut
A simple three-part plan to clean yourself up
It's summer. Between work, play and the travel between the two, finding time for a trip to the barber can be tricky. Why not take things into your own hands (while saving a little cash on the side) and cut it yourself? Of course, we're not advocating replacing professional haircuts altogether. The idea is to keep a good cut looking fresh and keep your hair from weighing you down and heating you up when the weather's oppressive. Besides, there's something freeing about cutting your own hair. It only takes a few minutes and because the result is never a dramatic change, you always look clean and kempt. All you need is a steady hand, the right tools and some basic tips.
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What We’re Buying
The Valet. Team's Actual Purchases
We know that Prime Day can be a lot. It's not even a day—now it's two days, and there are plenty of pre-sales, post-sales, and even competitors hosting similar sales to keep up with all the discounted Joneses. But that's not to say, it's not a good time to buy.Our team is just like you, scouring Amazon to see what deals we can find. But we're also in the business of sharing those items with you. Here is what the Valet. editors—from our cofounders to our resident experts in cocktails, grooming and fitness—have picked up for themselves.
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Morning Motto
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