Ever want to know what it’s like to work in a game studio? Double Fine has released a 33 episode series called PsychOdyssey which shows them developing Psychonauts 2 over 7 years.
The Long Dark was a great game I started playing during early access and really enjoyed. The lonely and desolate wilderness feel really worked well with the the struggle against very simple but brutal natural elements.
The game has been in development longer than some teenagers have even been alive – and has consequently changed a lot over that time. Kudos to Long Dark team for making a time capsule that lets you go back to those early drops by entering a release code in Steam.
While one should ALWAYS be cautious of trainers and save game editors (and there are some on the list that do have viruses (so it’s a good idea to scan them with a virus scanner and only run them in a virtual machine) here’s some of the older trainers for these early drops on GameCopyWorld.
Stable Diffusion really opened the world to what is possible with generative AI. Stable Diffusion 2 and 3 …well…did not go so well. For a while now, Stable Diffusion 1.5 was your best bet on locally generated AI art but it is really showing it’s age.
Now there is a new player in open source generative AI you can run locally. The developers from Stability.ai have founded Black Forest Labs and released their open source tool: Flux.1
While there are plenty of online generative AI’s like Midjourney, Adobe Firefly and others, they usually require paid or only give limited usage. What’s great about Flux.1 is that is allows completely local installation and usage.
Like many open source packages, there are free and paid versions. Their paid Pro version gives the most impressive results via their api (no purely local generation), a local dev version that can be used by developers but not for commercial use, and a free schnell version for personal use. Both the dev and shnell versions are available for local install and use.
So, lets get started with the shnell version – but the instructions are the same for dev except using 2 different model/weight files.
Instructions for installing Flux.1 on nVidia based Windows 10/11 system:
You might want to enable Windows Long Path support as python sometimes requires it for dependent packages. Be sure to reboot your system after enabling it.
Supported graphics card.
32gb of system ram (though again, you can use the smaller model if you have less ram)
Open a command prompt and make a local working root directory somewhere, I’ll use c:\depot\
You have a few options. First, you need to pick if you’re using the non-commercial Dev version or Schnell version. After that, each has the option of a single easy to use checkpoint package file, or each of the model data files individually. I’ll be using the Schnell ones, but you just need to get the Dev ones from the Dev branch if you want those instead.
C:\depot\ComfyUI>python main.py
A module that was compiled using NumPy 1.x cannot be run in
NumPy 2.0.1 as it may crash. To support both 1.x and 2.x
versions of NumPy, modules must be compiled with NumPy 2.0.
Some module may need to rebuild instead e.g. with 'pybind11>=2.12'.
If you are a user of the module, the easiest solution will be to
downgrade to 'numpy<2' or try to upgrade the affected module.
We expect that some modules will need time to support NumPy 2.
Traceback (most recent call last): File "C:\depot\ComfyUI\main.py", line 83, in <module>
import comfy.utils
File "C:\depot\ComfyUI\comfy\utils.py", line 20, in <module>
import torch
File "C:\Users\matt\AppData\Local\Packages\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.12_qbz5n2kfra8p0\LocalCache\local-packages\Python312\site-packages\torch\__init__.py", line 2120, in <module>
from torch._higher_order_ops import cond
File "C:\Users\matt\AppData\Local\Packages\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.12_qbz5n2kfra8p0\LocalCache\local-packages\Python312\site-packages\torch\_higher_order_ops\__init__.py", line 1, in <module>
from .cond import cond
File "C:\Users\matt\AppData\Local\Packages\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.12_qbz5n2kfra8p0\LocalCache\local-packages\Python312\site-packages\torch\_higher_order_ops\cond.py", line 5, in <module>
import torch._subclasses.functional_tensor
File "C:\Users\matt\AppData\Local\Packages\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.12_qbz5n2kfra8p0\LocalCache\local-packages\Python312\site-packages\torch\_subclasses\functional_tensor.py", line 42, in <module>
class FunctionalTensor(torch.Tensor):
File "C:\Users\matt\AppData\Local\Packages\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.12_qbz5n2kfra8p0\LocalCache\local-packages\Python312\site-packages\torch\_subclasses\functional_tensor.py", line 258, in FunctionalTensor
cpu = _conversion_method_template(device=torch.device("cpu"))
C:\Users\matt\AppData\Local\Packages\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.12_qbz5n2kfra8p0\LocalCache\local-packages\Python312\site-packages\torch\_subclasses\functional_tensor.py:258: UserWarning: Failed to initialize NumPy: _ARRAY_API not found (Triggered internally at C:\actions-runner\_work\pytorch\pytorch\builder\windows\pytorch\torch\csrc\utils\tensor_numpy.cpp:84.)
cpu = _conversion_method_template(device=torch.device("cpu"))
Total VRAM 24576 MB, total RAM 32492 MB
pytorch version: 2.4.0+cu121
Set vram state to: NORMAL_VRAM
Device: cuda:0 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 : cudaMallocAsync
Using pytorch cross attention
C:\depot\ComfyUI\comfy\extra_samplers\uni_pc.py:19: SyntaxWarning: invalid escape sequence '\h'
"""Create a wrapper class for the forward SDE (VP type).
****** User settings have been changed to be stored on the server instead of browser storage. ******
****** For multi-user setups add the --multi-user CLI argument to enable multiple user profiles. ******
[Prompt Server] web root: C:\depot\ComfyUI\web
C:\Users\matt\AppData\Local\Packages\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.12_qbz5n2kfra8p0\LocalCache\local-packages\Python312\site-packages\kornia\feature\lightglue.py:44: FutureWarning: `torch.cuda.amp.custom_fwd(args...)` is deprecated. Please use `torch.amp.custom_fwd(args..., device_type='cuda')` instead.
@torch.cuda.amp.custom_fwd(cast_inputs=torch.float32)
Import times for custom nodes:
0.0 seconds: C:\depot\ComfyUI\custom_nodes\websocket_image_save.py
Starting server
To see the GUI go to: http://127.0.0.1:8188
Open your web browser and go to http://127.0.01:8188
Click on the ‘Queue Prompt’ button to execute the current prompt
Technically it queues up the work and you should see progress in the command window where you launched python main.py
got prompt
model weight dtype torch.float8_e4m3fn, manual cast: torch.bfloat16
model_type FLOW
Using pytorch attention in VAE
Using pytorch attention in VAE
Model doesn't have a device attribute.
C:\Users\matt\AppData\Local\Packages\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.12_qbz5n2kfra8p0\LocalCache\local-packages\Python312\site-packages\transformers\tokenization_utils_base.py:1601: FutureWarning: `clean_up_tokenization_spaces` was not set. It will be set to `True` by default. This behavior will be depracted in transformers v4.45, and will be then set to `False` by default. For more details check this issue: https://github.com/huggingface/transformers/issues/31884
warnings.warn(
Model doesn't have a device attribute.
loaded straight to GPU
Requested to load Flux
Loading 1 new model
Requested to load FluxClipModel_
Loading 1 new model
C:\depot\ComfyUI\comfy\ldm\modules\attention.py:407: UserWarning: 1Torch was not compiled with flash attention. (Triggered internally at C:\actions-runner\_work\pytorch\pytorch\builder\windows\pytorch\aten\src\ATen\native\transformers\cuda\sdp_utils.cpp:555.)
out = torch.nn.functional.scaled_dot_product_attention(q, k, v, attn_mask=mask, dropout_p=0.0, is_causal=False)
100%|████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████| 4/4 [00:04<00:00, 1.18s/it]
Requested to load AutoencodingEngine
Loading 1 new model
Prompt executed in 23.65 seconds
When it completes you should see your image. You can then save your image or tweak the parameters.
Debugging help:
numpy is not available
My first runs, I got this from the console when I queued up a request:
got prompt
model weight dtype torch.float8_e4m3fn, manual cast: torch.bfloat16
model_type FLOW
Using pytorch attention in VAE
Using pytorch attention in VAE
Model doesn't have a device attribute.
C:\Users\matt\AppData\Local\Packages\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.12_qbz5n2kfra8p0\LocalCache\local-packages\Python312\site-packages\transformers\tokenization_utils_base.py:1601: FutureWarning: `clean_up_tokenization_spaces` was not set. It will be set to `True` by default. This behavior will be depracted in transformers v4.45, and will be then set to `False` by default. For more details check this issue: https://github.com/huggingface/transformers/issues/31884
warnings.warn(
Model doesn't have a device attribute.
loaded straight to GPU
Requested to load Flux
Loading 1 new model
Requested to load FluxClipModel_
Loading 1 new model
C:\depot\ComfyUI\comfy\ldm\modules\attention.py:407: UserWarning: 1Torch was not compiled with flash attention. (Triggered internally at C:\actions-runner\_work\pytorch\pytorch\builder\windows\pytorch\aten\src\ATen\native\transformers\cuda\sdp_utils.cpp:555.)
out = torch.nn.functional.scaled_dot_product_attention(q, k, v, attn_mask=mask, dropout_p=0.0, is_causal=False)
100%|████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████| 4/4 [00:04<00:00, 1.19s/it]
Requested to load AutoencodingEngine
Loading 1 new model
!!! Exception during processing!!! Numpy is not available
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\depot\ComfyUI\execution.py", line 152, in recursive_execute
output_data, output_ui = get_output_data(obj, input_data_all)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\depot\ComfyUI\execution.py", line 82, in get_output_data
return_values = map_node_over_list(obj, input_data_all, obj.FUNCTION, allow_interrupt=True)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\depot\ComfyUI\execution.py", line 75, in map_node_over_list
results.append(getattr(obj, func)(**slice_dict(input_data_all, i)))
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\depot\ComfyUI\nodes.py", line 1445, in save_images
i = 255. * image.cpu().numpy()
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
RuntimeError: Numpy is not available
Prompt executed in 26.44 seconds
C:\depot\ComfyUI>pip install numpy==1.26.4
Defaulting to user installation because normal site-packages is not writeable
Collecting numpy==1.26.4
Downloading numpy-1.26.4-cp312-cp312-win_amd64.whl.metadata (61 kB)
Downloading numpy-1.26.4-cp312-cp312-win_amd64.whl (15.5 MB)
---------------------------------------- 15.5/15.5 MB 57.4 MB/s eta 0:00:00
Installing collected packages: numpy
Attempting uninstall: numpy
Found existing installation: numpy 2.0.1
Uninstalling numpy-2.0.1:
Successfully uninstalled numpy-2.0.1
Successfully installed numpy-1.26.4
C:\depot\ComfyUI>
Uninstalling all pip/python package, clear your pip cache, then re-install the requirements
The first time I installed, I got an error when downloading the numpy library during step in which you pip install the requirements. In order to clear the pip cache, uninstall all pip packages, then re-install all requirements again, I did the following:
I was recently making my own retro 486 DX 66 PC build and needed to add an ISA sound card that supported both DOS and Windows games. A genuine Sound Blaster card would definitely work, but buying an genuine Sound Blaster Pro will run you well over $150+ (over $200 with it’s box)
In googling around, I found this great thread on Vogons where someone asked the same question: Is there a cheaper alternative than finding a Sound Blaster/Sound Blaster Pro? It turns out there is – the really excellent ESS AudioDrive ES1868.
I had not heard of the ESS AudioDrive ES1868 ISA sound card before, but it is considered one of the best Sound Blaster clone cards. It has tons of features such as Sound Blaster Pro 2 compatibility (something even the Sound Blaster 16 doesn’t have!). It is extremely easy to set up for DOS and Windows, has mixer inputs for line-in, microphone, CD input, wavetable, and is a really quiet card (as opposed to Sound Blaster 16’s that suffered from chronic hum and pop issues to the point it was often called the ‘NoiseBlaster’). The drivers are easy to set up and even support non-PnP configuration. It makes the card work with 99% of DOS games. Even better, the cards are readily available for around $25-$30.
I bought a card for $25 off eBay and installed it without issue. The ESS drivers are available on Phil’s Computer Lab link (below). I download the drivers, ran the installer, and set the parameters during install to the same as a default Sound Blaster card: A220 I7 D1 H5 P330 T6 Address: 220h IRQ: 7 DMA: 1 Port: 330h Type: 6
I then popped up my copy of Wolfenstein 3D, chose the Sound Blaster output option with default parameters and got all the awesome audio of yesteryear.
Learning everything there is to know about the different Sound Blaster and clone sound cards:
DOS Days has really excellent write-ups on all the various Sound Blaster cards with pros and cons of each. I’m really glad I read up on the different models before buying a generic Sound Blaster 16. There’s a tremendous wealth of information about issues unique to each card. Definitely a site worth reading before buying a card from eBay.
Acerola created a graphics to text shader. He talks about a number of interesting techniques beyond just ASCII lookups such as: edge detection, depth color falloff, blooming and tone mapping, color tones, color quantization, and other filters, etc. Definitely worth a watch and you can check out a good amount of his code on his github repro.
It’s easy to get duped by home camera systems. Many of them sell you the equipment really cheap only to find out they have a limited trial and then require expensive long-term subscription services to even use the devices or store data.
Even better, it’s not like they are nerfed with expensive pay-to-play higher end features. The cameras are able to do person, vehicle, pet, package detection, capable of sound detection for a baby crying, glass breaking, and dog barking – all without paying a cent more or a subscription. It even has the ability to save to local or your own cloud storage.
It’s nice to see a company still keeping control in the hands of the users/owners.
My first video card was the original 8-bit Sound Blaster card. Besides upgrading to VGA graphics, nothing changed my gaming experience back in the day more than this one upgrade.
Enter the Snark Barker. It’s an open source project that gives you a complete bill of materials, circuit diagram, board fab files, and tons of other information you need to make your own. Yes, MAKE your own Soundblaster clone. It looks like a very doable project for those a little handy with a soldering iron.
David Larsson makes a bunch of clone ISA audio boards such as the Gravis Ultrasound, 8-bit ISA Soundblaster, MCA Sound Blaster, Disney Sound Source. He sells them on Tindie for pretty reasonable prices considering the ebay prices for the original boards.
Here’s a good review of his 8-bit Soundblaster card:
These aren’t the only sound card clones. Turns out there are lots of others too:
Remember that 8088 or XT based PC’s ran their ISA bus at 4.77mhz, AT ran at 6mhz, and 386 and beyond ran ISA at 8mhz (though many later ISA systems ran them at 10mhz since ISA is very forgiving and the higher clock speed gave better speeds). This means you may find old 8-bit or AT-based ISA cards won’t work in AT or 386/486 systems since the ISA bus runs too fast.
If your BIOS allows it, you may be able slow down the ISA bus speeds and that might help old cards work.