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u/muchbemused

r/civic r/IconicArcadeGaming r/MetroPCS
▲ 3 r/MetroPCS

Did I port correctly?

Yesterday I signed up for Metro’s $15/month unlimited-for-three-months promo. I’m porting over from Visible and using an iPhone.

The initial signup on Metro’s website was easy, but there didn’t seem to be any way to port my existing number during checkout. Once the order was complete, I saw a message saying to call Metro if I wanted to port a number.

So I called before activating the eSIM. The first rep basically didn’t seem to know how to handle the port, or confused I had already made an online order, and I was hung up on while she was researching it.

Thinking perhaps this is easier if I activate the new number and new eSIM first, I activated the Metro eSIM, and ended up with both my Visible line and the new Metro line active on my iPhone.

I called back using my Visible number. The second rep needed to send me one-time passcodes, but they weren’t coming through while I was on the call using the other line. So I hung up once she started talking about waking into a store. Of course the passcode texts came through immediately after hanging up.

On the third call (for a process that should be a step on the website), I just asked to cancel the whole thing. That rep transferred me to the porting department, and from there the port went through without any trouble.

They also mentioned something about crediting my account for three months, which I wasn’t expecting and still don’t totally understand. But at this point everything is working: I have my original number on Metro, only one active line, and my Metro account shows a $0 balance.

So my question is: what is actually the smoothest way to do this?

I may be moving three more lines from Visible to Metro in the near future, and I’d really like to avoid the three-call adventure next time. Should I:

Sign up for the new Metro line
Activate the eSIM
Keep both lines active
Then call the porting department directly?
Or is there a better process?

reddit.com
u/muchbemused — 11 days ago
▲ 12 r/IconicArcadeGaming

Basic Batocera instructions for XT cab

OK, so after fiddling with it early in the weekend, I reset it all and kind-of-speedran getting it set up today.

So, basic tips/sequence in my book:

  1. Download the official batocera image for raspberry pi 5
  2. Use the Raspberry Pi Imager app to write the image to a NEW SD card
  3. Power off cabinet; remove the factory SD card; and replace it with your new one
  4. Boot the system – the Batocera image will boot, and will resize the partition to fit your card
  5. Connect Batocera to WiFi or hardwire ethernet; confirm you get an IP address on the network settings page
    1. Navigating Batocera works by default with the P1 joystick and the bottom middle and bottom right buttons; but if you prefer you can plug in an Xbox controller/etc to the front USB ports
  6. Install this theme to have a centered Batocera theme, which will mostly not run off behind the bezels: https://github.com/anthonycaccese/es-theme-crt-centered / or the Canvas theme from the built-in theme downloader is pretty good once you adjust the aspect ratio to 4:3 and Detailed view
  7. Under Batocera, Press Start  - UI Settings, select your new theme
  8. Under Batocera - Game Settings - Shaders, set a system-wide shader set – I liked “Curvature” from the built-in themes, to get a nice CRT arcade effect
  9. Reboot the box for good measure, to make sure you still have a network connection
  10. Mount the Batocera “share” from your main computer (laptop, desktop) by connecting over the network to it:  smb://batocera.local (or IP address) – connect as a Guest / no login, password needed
  11. Dump your (legally obtained) BIOS files as needed into the /bios folder over the network
  12. Dump your (legally obtained) roms to the appropriate /roms directories over the network
  13. Under Batocera - Game Settings, update the Gamelist to have your roms available
  14. Under Batocera - Scraper, launch the scraper to get artwork etc
  15. Under Batocera, GAME SETTINGS > PER SYSTEM ADVANCED CONFIGURATION > (Go to each system you have). Scroll down to GRAPHICS API and change it from Auto/OpenGL to Vulkan.
  16. Map your controller! Go to the Batocera mapping, and for each controller (P1, then P2) -
  17. Top Row (Left to Right): Map to Y, X, and L1 (Using SNES controller convention)
  18. Bottom Row (Left to Right): Map to B, A, and R1 
  19. Joystick: Map to D-Pad Up, Down, Left, and Right.
  20. Coin & Start: Map to SELECT and START.
  21. Hotkey: Map to SELECT (unless you have a dedicated 7th admin button on your panel).
  22. (Now, navigating Batocera menus will be bottom left button to select, and bottom middle button to back out)
  23. For games that don’t fit well with the 6 button Capcom layout (like Mortal Kombat), consider putting those ROMs in the MAME folder, since the included MAME has auto mapping and game detection for most stuff like that
  24. System Settings > UI Mode > Kiosk. This locks the main menus down so guests cannot accidentally delete ROMs, mess up your scraper artwork, or remap your controllers!

Printable cheat sheet for controls:

======================================================================
          🕹️ ARCADE CABINET CONTROL GUIDE 🕹️
======================================================================
 [ START  ] + [ SELECT ] = Exit Game & Return to Menu
 [ SELECT ] = Add Coin/Credit
---------------------------------------------------------
 ⚙️ SYSTEM NAVIGATION 
---------------------------------------------------------
   (🕹️)         [        ]   [        ]   [        ]
  Scroll        [ CHOOSE ]   [GO BACK ]   [        ]
---------------------------------------------------------
 🔵 STANDARD 6-BUTTON (Street Fighter, MvC, CvS)
---------------------------------------------------------
   (🕹️)         [ L.PUNCH]   [ M.PUNCH]   [ H.PUNCH]
  Move          [ L.KICK ]   [ M.KICK ]   [ H.KICK ]
---------------------------------------------------------
 🔴 NEO GEO 4-BUTTON (Metal Slug, King of Fighters)
---------------------------------------------------------
   (🕹️)         [ H.PUNCH]   [ H.KICK ]   [        ]
  Move          [ L.PUNCH]   [ L.KICK ]   [        ]
---------------------------------------------------------
 🟠 3-BUTTON ARCADE (NBA Jam, Virtua Fighter)
---------------------------------------------------------
   (🕹️)         [ ACTION3]   [        ]   [        ]
  Move          [ ACTION1]   [ ACTION2]   [        ]
          (NBA:   Pass                        )
          (NBA:   Turbo        Shoot          )
          -------------------------------------
          (VF:    Guard                       )
          (VF:    Punch        Kick           )
---------------------------------------------------------
 🟡 2-BUTTON CLASSICS (Sunset Riders, NES, Mario)
---------------------------------------------------------
   (🕹️)         [        ]   [        ]   [        ]
  Move          [ ACTION1]   [ ACTION2]   [        ]
       (Sunset:   Shoot        Jump )
---------------------------------------------------------
 🟢 1-BUTTON ARCADE (Donkey Kong, Space Invaders)
---------------------------------------------------------
   (🕹️)         [        ]   [        ]   [        ]
  Move          [ ACTION ]   [        ]   [        ]
---------------------------------------------------------
 🐉 MORTAL KOMBAT (MK, MK2, UMK3)
---------------------------------------------------------
   (🕹️)         [ H.PUNCH]   [ H.KICK ]   [ BLOCK  ]   
  Move          [ L.PUNCH]   [ L.KICK ]   [  RUN   ]   
---------------------------------------------------------
u/muchbemused — 1 month ago
▲ 24 r/IconicArcadeGaming

Batocera on XT is easy

Yes, just by putting Batocera on a second SD card and swapping the cards, the XT cab boots into Batocera easily and you can customize it from there.

u/muchbemused — 1 month ago
▲ 16 r/civic

Comparing OTD quotes is meaningless and impossible

Guys, we have to put a stop to all the single-number, out-the-door (OTD) quotes people are posting, asking if they got a good deal -- "Hey guys, it came out to $35,500 in the end, OTD price -- how did I do?" I'm seeing 5 of these a day...

Comparing OTD quotes for yourself, across multiple dealers/offers, is essential. But comparing OTD quotes among strangers on the internet, across multiple states and localities, is meaningless. (I'm primarily talking about new car purchases here.)

We seem to need to establish some basic facts:

  1. An out the door quote is the total price of a vehicle you will pay, with all of the necessary taxes, add-ons, and other fees factored in. You absolutely need to obtain this quote from your dealer so that you eliminate surprises when buying the car, and so you can compare quotes across multiple dealers.
  2. All of the taxes and fees are specific to your situation.
    1. Maryland sales tax is different than Virginia or Texas or California, and it's not avoidable. Because you paid more tax in California -- and perhaps a higher total price OTD -- than someone in Texas doesn't mean you got a bad deal -- you paid the taxes you're required to pay. You can't compare final price across those two states.
    2. Same goes for whatever it takes in fees to title and tag your vehicle. That is specific to your situation, only.
    3. Your OTD quote should also include your trade-in value and possible negative equity or lease buy out fees, and other personal details that are totally not useful for comparison purposes with other people.
  3. What you CAN compare with internet strangers are:
    1. Dealer discount or upcharge on the sale price
    2. Required add-ons (wheel locks, floor mats, TrueCoat..)
    3. Dealer fees

I recently bought a 2026 Civic Hybrid Hatchback ST myself and this is my "deal" --

2026 Civic Sport Touring Hybrid Hatchback
MSRP including destination fees $34,790
Dealer discount -$2,334.34
Required add-on - Wheel Locks $103.65
Dealer processing charge: $800
Price before any required taxes and fees $33,359.31

^ So, these are things others can compare. You could get a dealer who charges a lower fee, or no fee at all. You could get a higher or lower discount off MSRP. I could have told them, "I'm not buying those wheel locks..."

I'd be thrilled to comment and help people on their potential deals, but you have to put in more detail -- not just your final OTD price, because I don't know your situation on taxes, fees, and whatever else is hidden in that number...

reddit.com
u/muchbemused — 2 months ago