We Need to Talk.

Summary

In this video, Taki discusses the evolution of his channel and his approach to reviewing handheld gaming devices. Initially created as a resource for himself, it has grown to include monetization for his son's college fund. Taki reflects on the challenges of maintaining a comprehensive review process, the importance of addressing device issues, and the need for transparency. He announces a new strategy of providing short, objective assessments for devices he can't fully review, aiming to better inform his audience.

Takeaways

• 🎮 Taki started the channel to create a college fund for his son and to share information on handheld gaming devices.
• 👶 Initially, Taki's goal was to review every device, but he later became more selective due to burnout and the repetitive nature of some devices.
• 📐 Taki emphasizes the importance of being transparent about the issues he encounters with devices, even if it means presenting a counterpoint to popular opinion.
• 📺 He discusses the challenges of reviewing devices before their official release and the potential for discrepancies between pre-release and retail versions.
• 🔍 Taki highlights the importance of his role in informing companies about issues with their devices, to help them improve and address problems.
• 💡 He plans to be more proactive in using his platform to make companies aware of device issues, believing it benefits both the company and the consumer.
• 📝 Taki intends to change his review approach by publishing short, objective lists grading devices on specific issues with a pass or fail.
• 🛠️ He illustrates how he deals with issues by providing examples, such as the screen problems with the RG405M and the performance issues with the Miyoo A30.
• 🔄 Taki points out that sometimes third-party OS updates can fix issues that the manufacturer's own software does not address.
• 🤔 He acknowledges the limitations of his selective reviewing process and the risk of missing important issues with devices that he does not review.
• 📈 Taki's realization about the need for change in his approach is driven by his experience with the RG35XX Plus and H, where he discovered a stuttering issue that had been present but unnoticed.

Q & A

Why did Taki disable monetization on the video?

Taki disabled monetization to discuss important matters without the influence of financial incentives.

What were the two main reasons Taki started the channel?

Taki started the channel to find a handheld device to use when his son was napping and to create a college fund for his son through AdSense revenue.

How did Taki's experience with the initial handheld device lead to the creation of the channel?

Taki's dissatisfaction with the first device he bought based on reviews, which had unmentioned issues, led him to review the Anbernic RG350, which helped monetize his channel.

Why did Taki decide to be more selective about the devices he reviews?

Taki felt burnt out from reviewing too many similar devices during the RK3326 saga and wanted to focus on devices that genuinely interested him.

What issue did Taki encounter with the RG405M's screen?

The screen on the RG405M was overly sharpened, making retro games look poor, and the screen started to fall out from the shell.

How did Taki handle the screen issue with the RP4 device?

Taki detailed the screen issue in his review, explained how it could be fixed, and discussed the consequences of the fix.

What realizations did Taki have while working on the buying guide video?

Taki realized that companies need to know about their devices' problems and that his selective reviewing approach doesn't work due to the possibility of missing critical issues.

Why did Taki decide to publish a short, objective list for devices he doesn't review?

Taki wants to provide more information to help viewers make informed decisions even when he can't produce a full review.

What was the issue with the Anbernic RG35XX Plus and RG35XX H devices?

The devices had a stuttering or frame pacing issue with the screen that was introduced in a software update and persisted in subsequent versions.

What was the performance issue with the Miyoo A30 that Taki discovered?

The A30 had a display filter enabled by default that caused performance issues, which could be fixed by disabling the filter.

How does Taki plan to approach reviews differently going forward?

Taki plans to publish objective lists with pass or fail grades for certain categories for devices he doesn't review in full, to provide more information to his viewers.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Channel Origins and Monetization Decision

In this paragraph, Taki introduces the video's theme and his personal reasons for starting the channel five years ago. After the birth of his son, he sought a handheld device to entertain himself while staying close to his child. Initially, he was misled by reviews and purchased a flawed device. This experience led him to review the Anbernic RG350, which helped monetize his channel. He chose to allocate all ad revenue to his son's college fund, ensuring financial security for his child. Taki reflects on his journey, from reviewing every device to becoming selective due to burnout, and the disappointment of not covering all desired devices by his audience.

05:03

🔍 Changing Review Approach and Industry Insights

Taki discusses his evolving approach to reviewing devices, influenced by his experiences with the RG405M and the RG35XX H. He highlights the importance of being selective and weighing multiple factors before deciding to review a product. He shares his disappointment in not catching the RG35XX H's screen issues in previous reviews and his realization that his old review method is insufficient. Taki also emphasizes the need for companies to be aware of their devices' problems and the role reviewers play in bringing these issues to light. He talks about his experience with the Miyoo A30 and how it prompted a change in his review process, including reaching out to developers and companies to address issues before product launches.

10:07

🛠 New Review Strategy and Community Engagement

In the final paragraph, Taki outlines his new strategy for reviewing products, which includes publishing short, objective lists grading devices on specific issues with a pass or fail. He explains that this approach allows him to provide more information to his audience, even if he cannot produce full reviews for every device. Taki also mentions that he has already brought the stuttering issue to Anbernic's attention and clarifies that his intention is not to negatively impact any company but to improve the review process and help consumers make informed decisions. He invites viewer feedback on this change and thanks his audience for their support.

Keywords

💡Monetization

Monetization refers to the process of generating revenue from a digital asset, such as a video on a platform like YouTube. In the video, the creator mentions disabling monetization to ensure the integrity of the discussion. This decision underscores the creator's commitment to delivering transparent and unbiased content.

💡Handheld

A handheld is a portable gaming device that can be held in one or two hands. The video creator initially purchased a handheld to entertain himself while being close to his son during naps. The term is central to the video's theme, as it discusses various handheld devices, their reviews, and the creator's personal experiences with them.

💡Review

A review in this context is an evaluation of a product, in this case, handheld gaming devices. The video script frequently mentions reviews as the primary method by which the creator shares his experiences and assessments with his audience. The creator's approach to reviewing has evolved over time, as discussed throughout the script.

💡RG350

The RG350 is a specific model of a handheld gaming device released by Anbernic. The video mentions it as the device that allowed the creator's channel to become monetized. It serves as an example of how the creator's journey with handhelds began and how it has evolved over time.

💡Burnout

Burnout is a state of chronic stress that leads to emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion. The creator experienced burnout during the RK3326 saga, which led to a change in his approach to reviewing devices. This term is crucial as it explains a turning point in the creator's content strategy.

💡Selective Reviewing

Selective reviewing is the practice of choosing which products to review based on certain criteria. The creator mentions becoming more selective with the devices he reviews, which led to some disappointment among viewers who expected coverage of other devices. This concept is key to understanding the creator's content creation process and the challenges he faces.

💡RG405M

The RG405M is another model of handheld gaming device that the creator discusses in the script. It serves as an example of a device that received many positive reviews but had issues that the creator noticed upon his own testing. The RG405M is used to illustrate the creator's point about the importance of personal testing and the potential discrepancies between reviews.

💡Stuttering

In the context of the video, stuttering refers to a display issue where the screen's refresh rate is inconsistent, causing a lag or interruption in the visual output. The creator discovered this issue with the RG35XX H and RG35XX Plus devices, which led to a reevaluation of his review process to ensure he does not mislead his audience.

💡Third-Party OS

A third-party OS refers to an operating system developed by a party other than the original equipment manufacturer. The script mentions third-party OSs that resolved the stuttering issue on certain handheld devices. This concept is important as it shows alternative solutions to issues found in the official software.

💡Miyoo A30

The Miyoo A30 is a handheld gaming device mentioned in the script. The creator had access to this device before its official release and found performance issues that could be resolved by disabling a default setting. The Miyoo A30 serves as an example of the creator's approach to reviewing pre-release devices and the importance of communicating issues to manufacturers.

💡Community Tester

A community tester is an individual from the user community who tests products before their official release. The script mentions that certain settings on the Miyoo A30 were determined by a community tester, which led to performance issues. This term is relevant as it highlights the role of community engagement in product development and the potential pitfalls of this approach.

💡Vsync

Vsync, short for vertical synchronization, is a technique used in gaming to synchronize the frame rate of a game with the refresh rate of a display. The creator mentions 'stuttering or vsync issues' as a category for his objective grading system, indicating the importance of smooth display performance in his reviews.

Highlights

Creator Taki discusses the reasons behind starting the channel, including the desire to create a college fund for his son.

Taki shares his experience with the Anbernic RG350 and its role in the channel's monetization.

The creator expresses his burnout from reviewing too many similar devices during the RK3326 saga.

Taki explains his selective approach to reviewing devices and the disappointment from the audience when their interests are not covered.

The video discusses the importance of being thorough in reviewing devices, using the Anbernic RG405M's screen issue as an example.

Taki describes his method of addressing device issues in reviews, as demonstrated with the RP4's screen problem.

The creator's realization of the limitations of his selective reviewing approach due to the RG35XX H's screen issues.

Taki's experience with the Miyoo A30 and the discovery of its performance issues due to a default display filter.

The importance of community testers and their impact on device settings, as seen with the A30's CPU frequency limits.

Taki's commitment to providing objective feedback on devices, even if he cannot produce a full review.

The introduction of a new approach to reviewing: publishing short, objective lists of device performance categories.

Examples of how Taki plans to grade devices on specific issues, such as stuttering or vsync problems.

Taki's emphasis on the need for companies to be aware of their devices' problems and the role of reviewers in this process.

The creator's intention to bring device issues to companies' attention before publicizing them in videos.

Taki's reflection on the responsibility of reviewers to provide accurate and helpful information to consumers.

The video concludes with Taki's openness to viewer feedback and his commitment to adapting his review process accordingly.

Transcripts

Hey guys, Taki here.

Bit of a different video today, but I have  some important things to discuss that involves  

everything on this table in some shape or form. By  the way, I’ve disabled monetization on this video.

I don’t talk about this that often, but there  were two main reasons why I started this channel  

almost five years ago. After my son was born,  I wanted to buy a handheld to be able to kill  

time whenever I would put him down for a nap,  while still being able to be close to him on  

the chance that he would wake up. I did some  research and bought something based on some  

reviews that I watched before finding out that it  had some big issues that were never talked about.

A week or so after that, Anbernic was about  to release the RG350, and I ended up getting  

that device to do a review video on. That  video allowed my channel to get monetized,  

and since I already had a job, I decided to direct  all of the AdSense revenue from this channel to a  

college fund for my son, so he would be fine  if something ever ended up happening to me.

He’s a little older now, so I get to involve him  more here and there, but my main goal was to be  

a source for the information that I didn’t  have when I wanted to buy that first device.

For 2-3 years, I would basically review  every single device that came out,  

while balancing two full-time jobs. And the truth  is, I got burnt out during the RK3326 saga. There  

were way too many devices that had very little  difference, and they weren’t fun to review.

After that, I started to be more selective about  the devices that I would film review videos on,  

and I started to see more and more people get  disappointed that I did not cover something  

they wanted me to. To be honest, those people are  right to be disappointed, even I am disappointed.

When I pick a product that I want to review, there  are a lot of things that I weigh. I want to give  

you a few examples so you can fully understand  why I feel things need to change going forward.

For the first 2 years of this channel, I had  the ability to get Anbernic handhelds before  

the official release so I could release a  review on launch day. The company hasn’t  

given me units like that since the RG552,  and they have also changed their policy on  

when review videos can go up. Reviewers are  now able to release videos well in advance  

of the official retail date, let alone  official pricing, but it doesn't matter.

I still buy every handheld they make, and  I have released plenty of review videos  

on their products after others using retail  units that I buy that I also enjoy using.

When the RG405M came out, I bought  one from the retail release and  

planned on doing a review on it. By  the time I had the thing in my hands,  

there were many glowing reviews  on it, and the screen it uses.

When I got it, I was shocked to find the screen  was overly sharpened to the point that all the  

retro games I would play looked like garbage.  What’s more, my screen started to fall out from  

the shell. So at that point, I was facing another  RG552 situation where I would have almost an  

entirely different opinion than the rest of the  crowd, and I have to say, I’m not against doing  

that as a rule, but I have to be interested in the  device enough to follow through. When it comes to  

the RG405M, I wasn’t interested in it enough, so  I never did my review presenting the counterpoint.

Please note, that the oversharpened  display issue has been fixed, but it  

existed on all pre-release devices  that were used for review videos,  

and on retail units like the one I have.  It was fixed months later with GammaOS.

I took a different approach for my RP4 video.  That device also had a screen issue, but I  

was interested in the device enough to make the  review. I detailed exactly what the problem was,  

explained that it could be fixed, and then talked  about some of the consequences of that fix. That’s  

the approach that I like, but it doesn’t work  if I don’t do a review in the first place.

The video that I am currently working on caused  me to completely reevaluate the way that I’ve  

been doing this. I’m making a buying guide video  covering several handhelds. These kinds of videos  

are great because it allows me to cover some  devices that I didn't film individual videos on.

I did one of these last year, and  the RG35XX Plus was a solid choice.

The RG35XX H came out a little after I did  that video and I ended up buying two of them  

that have been sitting on my desk since day one.  I planned to do a review with my retail version,  

but I was too busy at the time and didn’t expect  there to be any surprises since it’s basically  

the RG35XX Plus in a different layout and the  reviews were mostly positive. I was wrong.

Not that long ago, I opened  up the box, took the unit out,  

and started creating save states that I  needed for my video. While doing that,  

I started to see that the screen had stuttering  or frame pacing issues. I powered up the second  

unit and found the same thing. It’s possible this  was an issue on the launch software that was later  

fixed in an update. You can say a lot about  Anbernic and a lot of these other companies,  

but Anbernic does update their devices.  They didn’t always do that in the past. 

I downloaded the latest update that they had  on their website and found that it also had the  

same problem. The display was also set to be  very close to 59Hz, which doesn’t make sense.

At that point, I assumed the RG35XX Plus and  the RG35XX H were the same in terms of software,  

so I was kind of mad at myself that  I missed something this obvious in  

my main review of the Plus and the  subsequent buying guide that I made.  

If I am going to be selective about what  I film, I do not want to mislead people.

I went into my studio, grabbed the three Plus  units that I have, and tried to turn them on.  

For whatever reason, the OS was corrupted on  all of them. No problem, I’ll just download  

the earliest update package that Abernic has  on their website. I got that, flashed it,  

and found the same issue. At that point, I was  very disappointed in myself for not catching this  

issue. I grabbed the current software version,  flashed it, and found the same issue again.

I tried two third-party OSs and found that both  of them run at 60Hz. One of them doesn’t have  

this issue at all, and the other only has it if  you disable the default shader that is always on.

I reached out to one of the developers  of these, and he put me in contact with  

another guy that discovered this issue  a long time ago on his own. Thankfully,  

that guy also had the retail build of the RG35XX  Plus backed up on his PC, and he gave it to me.

I tested that out to see if I  had missed this in my review,  

and I was relieved to see that the stock build did  not have this stuttering issue. Long story short,  

Anbernic introduced this issue with the RG35XX  Plus in January, and it has been there ever since.  

The RG35XX H launched with this issue,  and it’s been there ever since. The  

third-party OS that has this fixed, ended  up fixing last month for both devices.

There are two important realizations that  I took away from this. 1) companies need  

to know when their devices have problems.  If people like me that have a platform do  

not make these issues known, companies have very  little chance to ever learn about them to even  

start addressing them. It is not good for the  company, and it is not good for the consumer. I  

fully believe this issue would have been fixed  by now if Anbernic knew about it months ago.

The second realization is that my old approach  of being selective about what I film and review  

doesn’t work. This was the straw that broke  the camel’s back. I assumed this device was  

fine based on my experience with the RG35XX  Plus. I assume others would have made that  

same assessment since they are so similar. They  launched with a completely different experience.  

The Plus was better. Using the current stock  software, the Plus is now just as bad as the H.

If I have a device before it launches,  this approach looks a little different,  

and I want to talk about the Miyoo A30  because that has also changed how I will  

do things going forward. I had this a few weeks  before it went on sale. I made a community post  

about this and the RG28XX because I think  they are both awesome devices. By the way,  

the 28XX does not have the stuttering  issue that the H and the Plus have.

Anyway, I found that the performance on  the A30 was crap within several seconds  

of using it. Right away, I found that they  had enabled a display filter that on it’s  

own is not a bad thing. The problem is  that the device is set to use different  

CPU frequency limits depending on the system  that you want to emulate. In the case of SNES,  

the limit is not enough to be able to  run the game with the filter enabled.

After I disabled that, I found there  were no performance issues. Okay,  

we have an easy fix. Disable the default  filter in the stock OS. For something like  

this when I have something prior to the  official release, I will also bring it to  

their attention at the first moment so they can  fix it prior to release. To Anbernic’s credit,  

they were very good about pulling handheld  releases when major issues were found on  

engineering units that they gave out. The  RG552 was delayed one time before it released,  

and the only reason why it wasn’t delayed the  second time for the audio issue that it had was  

because I couldn’t get anyone in their company  to notice the huge audio delay that it had.

Anyway, I went to the engineer on the A30  and was told that these kinds of settings  

were done by some community tester that  Miyoo uses. I then went directly to Miyoo  

to tell them to just disable this to fix  the issue. They said they would disable it.

At that time, distributors that had engineering  units from Miyoo started to send them out to other  

reviewers, and those reviewers obviously found  the same issue that existed in that software.

Whatever, it’s an engineering unit and it  only matters if these issues exist with  

the launch software. When I made my post  about the A30, I did so believing that  

Miyoo would disable this dumb setting  like they told me. But no matter what,  

I planned to say this setting was enabled by  default in my review, and that I had to disable  

it to improve performance to film the review.  That’s my personal approach. I do not see any  

value in trying to approach product reviews as a  novice. It’s like the blind leading the blind. It  

comes across as disingenuous when it’s done, and I  have never seen it done consistently in any field.

So, I described several cases in this  video from three different companies,  

and they have all factored into the way that I  am going to approach reviews. In a perfect world,  

I would have reviews for everything that  launches, and if products have fixable issues,  

they are fixed prior to the product launch.  The reality is time is a constraint,  

and I won’t always be able to review everything  that releases, even if I find them interesting.

In situations where I know I will not do a  review on something that I have or that I  

can’t do a review on it for whatever  reason, I want to publish a short,  

objective list of things that I grade with  either a pass or a fail. This shouldn’t have  

any subjective elements to it, and I am still  deciding what I should include, but I can give  

you an example of what I am thinking based on  the issues that I talked about in this video.

One category could be stuttering or vsync  issues. The initial retail version of the  

RG35XX Plus would have a pass for that, but  the current software version would have a fail,  

and in situations where a device fails  in a category, I can provide a short  

explanation. Again, just objective things. These  are things that people could repeat on their own.

The RG35XX H would have a fail for  this for every stock software version,  

but it would have a pass for the third-party OSs.

For the Miyoo A30, one category could  be unusual stock performance issues.  

The A30 would fail for that, and  the explanation would be that the  

CPU filter is enabled by default.  Disabling that fixes the issues.

The initial version of the RP4  would fail for display calibration,  

but the current software would pass.

These are things that I would cover  in a full review with my opinions,  

but in the absence of that video and that vehicle,  

I would publish objective categories with  either pass or fail. By doing this, I hope  

I can provide all of you with more information  to make informed decisions one way or the other.

But as always, you can let me know your  thoughts on this change down below. Viewer  

comments are one of the main guiding  forces for this channel. And as a side,  

I brought the stuttering issue to Anbernic’s  attention weeks before publishing this video.  

This wasn’t meant to bring negative attention to  any company that I talked about in this video,  

I just needed to show the examples that made  me change the way I do things on this channel.

Thanks for your continued support,  happy gaming everyone, Taki out.