Artificial Intelligences of Fallout: Part 2

[@samwill7259]

I'm glad Mr. Las Vegas got to have that little moment of feeling appreciated Even if he doesn't seem like the kind of man who really understands video games If only we all live to be so well remembered before we're even dead.

[@hammantor6145]

I live in a bad neighborhood and before I found this channel I had really bad anxiety when I went to sleep but radking has completely changed that for me I just put on headphones and cruise right off thank you radking🙏

[@jasonpiedra9633]

Try Oxhorn as well. Two goats of fallout lore!!

[@liamsproule97]

Try synonymous, as well as thenthapple and oxhorn as suggested already, all great channels for similar content.

[@parkersmith8711]

Well hope things get better for you

[@mexican_icecream]

Where do you live (genuinely curious)?

[@Yumao420]

I know the bad neighborhood feeling. Fallout actually helped me to pass time and get some evasion. And of course some crazy ideas that are probably illegal in a considerable amount of countries. Hope things get better for you pal and may Atom bless your kind soul

[@ginomctony6773]

Never knew mr new vegas was an AI even after playing the game a lot, but the radios intent is pretty easy, create a sense of community in the tribes and advertisements, you can hear the broadcasts on the edge of the map so it's safe to assume theres a pretty large broadcast range.

[@killzoneisa]

Been sometime that i played the dlc but can't it be pick up in zion ?

[@ginomctony6773]

is not 100% sure but I think remember it in a few DLCs

[@eur0be4t3r]

Me neither

[@ulfgard4734]

Had no idea that Mr. New Vegas was an AI before watching this video. Favorite line: "If you should find it, do not - repeat, do not - belittle a Super Mutant for taking the bunny slope." Still makes me laugh every time, after all these years.

[@hellspawn22001]

I’ve always considered the big MT auto-doc as a mechanical Doc Mitchel. The sink personalities are my favorite things in the entire Fallout universe, especially Muggy

[@Sgt_Robo]

Toaster supremacy.

[@Claymann71]

I always liked the Light Switches & Juke Box but every single one of the Sink Personalities was expertly VAed. Heck, all of Old World Blues was perfectly VAed!

[@MenaTube12]

The masterpiece of this game for me

[@humanlike_salamander4637]

Got any seeds? i'll clone the SHIT out of them

[@seanabbott3992]

I loved Big Mt. on my first time through. Now though it's too wacky and the brains never shut up, they must have hours of dialog. The whole dlc gets annoying after several play throughs and it doesn't fit the game. Lonesome Road is Best.

[@machine-shopbilly6584]

They should have uploaded John Browning's consciousness into an AI so we would have space 1911s. In .45 plasma round of course

[@Stoney3K]

Not to mention the consciousness of John Garand. Ping!

[@TheBiggyJMan]

The ammount of "AIs" in 76 is absurd, but it makes sense given the mmorpg aspect and the need for daily radiant quests.

[@MurdocsMinion]

Plus this is shortly after the war, so more AIs that might later be destroyed, break down or self terminate due to safety protocols or conflicting commands are still around at this point.

[@saturnalia__de_fala_amo__002]

it kinda makes since lore wise since most ai are still operating since it’s only been 25years and have the choice to become sentient since they’re lonely due to them being alone for said 25 years

[@lilyofshalott]

Also the Appalachian commonwealth was trying to automate, so there was probably a lot of machines with experimental AIs that were close to borderline sentience from their mods for automation like learning or adapting, plus a lot of enclave stuff was in the Appalachian area

[@zenoblues7787]

Let's be completely honest. Yes, the Encalve is the lore reason. However, the real reason there's so many A.I.s is because at launch, the game intentionally excluded NPCs. Of course, it was completely impossible to have a Fallout game with absolutely no NPCs. So they made a workaround by adding a bunch of A.I.s they functioned like NPCs but had less to say and do.

[@FecklessandKekless]

I'm actually surprised by how well that turned out. I remember hearing it initially and thinking it was just going to be a handful of Mr. Handy models with no unique personality giving you quest But no, i actually kind of like the whole idea of AI not being malicious, but just making bottom-line decisions without humans to keep them in check

[@scrunglebungle6767]

I'm not sure, but there are several similarities between MODUS and GLaDOS from the Portal series. Both are AI's developed to manage highly secretive scientific facilities, both kept things in their respective facilities under-wraps (MODUS kept the Whitespring relatively clean and secure, GLaDOS kept Aperture Labs functional and hidden from the outside war with the Combine). Both also were partially destroyed by former members/employees of their factions, and killed everyone inside the facilities by using a form of gas or denying them oxygen.

[@flameconvoy7424]

Although I don’t think gLaDos purposely hid aperture science. gLaDos comments on not knowing what’s happening above ground and the facility is shown to be extremely deep underground, so it’s possible the combine just never noticed aperture labs, since glados activates and locks down aperture days before the invasion

[@scrunglebungle6767]

@@flameconvoy7424 She says she was the only thing keeping "them" out in Portal 1 I believe, so her focus at least probably shifted to keeping the place locked down after having killed the employees

[@klaykid117]

There is definitely that connection with portal and for visual/personality I see a lot of Armin Zola from Captain America the first avenger and Captain America Winter soldier. Both being of a speckled scientist with large round glasses. I haven't played fallout 76 so I don't know if modus has any kind of German accent but Armin Zola was a nazi/hydra scientist who would work for shield and then upload his personality into a mainframe

[@flameconvoy7424]

@@klaykid117 modus definitely looks a lot like Zola from winter soldier when he was in the computer

[@toxics.]

Mr. New Vegas is an A.I.? But.. But.. I thought we had something special... I need Three Dog now more than ever...

[@intentionally_obscure]

Bit late here but the entire time you were talking about MODUS, I kept thinking of the "Big Brother" announcer from Apple's 1984 commercial. It's a hell of a stretch, and it's only in my mind because of some retro-computer content I've been watching, but it's got a lot of the same elements. Thin face, sharp lines, washed out with blue tint, harsh reflection on the glasses, power-mad with an ideological hard line. Just a thought.

[@niloofarrafatpanah2]

love the book shoot, the cage and the mole rat is a reference to Orwell's 1984 book though. the biological unit felt like that co worker who always goes a little to far being friendly.

[@MediumRareOpinions]

Its book *chute* by the way, not trying to be mean just offering the information.

[@niloofarrafatpanah2]

@@MediumRareOpinions Thanks for the info 👍 I'm non-native.

[@MediumRareOpinions]

@@niloofarrafatpanah2 They're pronounced the same so it's an easy mistake, just another example of English being a confusing language.

[@niloofarrafatpanah2]

@@MediumRareOpinions it is indeed 😅

[@korbyynbear5592]

Caught the 1984 flub too, figgered someone else had beat me to it!

[@foxincrocs]

I think Mr. House basing Mr. New Vegas on Wayne Newton could be a pang of nostalgia for the old world. We already know he has some interest in old world relics considering how much he pays for snow globes. He is philosophically much more interested in progress, on the whole, but he's still only human, and he's just as susceptible to sentimentality as anyone.

[@maiqtheliar7552]

I agree entirely except the snow globes. I think that’s just because he can’t exactly go outside anymore and even if he could the worlds just a little bit different now. Snow gloves just remind him of pre war life I’d assume.

[@Lycor_]

I love seeing a new Radking video. I crave the fallout lore you provide. If possible, I think adding chapters would be really nice. Sometimes I can’t listen to a video all at once and it’s easy to lose your place when you can’t get an exact time stamp. Keep up the good work! Praise Atom

[@Rad_King]

Sure, I have time stamps in the description, are those helpful?

[@Lycor_]

Embarrassingly, I always forget to check descriptions… I greatly appreciate the response though!

[@porkflaps4717]

I find that the fastest and much more practical way to recycle food and meat paste is to run a tube from the rear back into my mouth so that it's a constant state refeed.

[@eclipseslayer98]

38:13 Before the advent of computers, computer was a profession that people held, so there were literally people called computers. I don't know if the name is enough to determine if the machine is a true A.I. or not.

[@attiescioneaux8691]

I just recently found this channel and I'm addicted. Thank you so much for these informative and entertaining videos! I really enjoyed hearing about Mr. New Vegas, and learning a bit about his voice actor. And poor Muggy! I would have loved to have both him and ED-E in tow. After going through the Big MT, I always liked the idea of the courier becoming a cyborg, and making friends with robotic life throughout the Mojave, and Muggy would have made a perfect addition.

[@Rad_King]

Thank you and I totally agree about muggy! He would’ve been very entertaining.

[@noodlepotreal]

Ahh, to have covid with a new Radking upload, what a time to be alive... im actually happy to have covid this time, work was really killing me lmao

[@Rad_King]

Hope you recovered well!

[@kultur-vultur]

@RadKing in reference to Mr. New Vegas, obviously Mr. House is modeled after Howard Hughes, and after "Howard Hughes failed to purchase a controlling interest in ABC in 1968, Hughes' Hughes Tool Company purchased the Sports Network and renamed it the Hughes Television Network, with Dick Bailey continuing as president." Its rumored he bought the station in Vegas to play his favorite movies during his period of isolated mental decline. So I'd assume Mr. New Vegas was kind of a tribute to that in retrospect. Fun fact Hughes also disapproved of nuclear testing in Nevada. May Atom guide you.

[@wayneigoe6722]

M.O.D.U.S's design could be based on Arnim Zola from the MCU, they do share a very similar design.

[@TheBearInTheChair]

Haven't played much 76, but I've seen M.O.D.U.S, looks a lot like Dr. Zola, but after I heard he had a "Red Skull" mode I don't think anyone can tell me otherwise now.

[@MurdocsMinion]

Mr. New Vegas; "A constant companion" Me; Never plays with the radio on

[@ryanbusch2885]

The auto doc (and to a larger extent the stealth suit) makes me wonder if Big MT worked on the medic power armor in Fallout 3

[@ponyperson7513]

What a nice Christmas present, and it's 45 min long, happy holidays

[@knolty]

It's not surprising that the AIs of 76 take up a good chunk of the video, considering that the game had no NPCs on launch...

[@derekkorschinowski9294]

50 years early, but the sound invasion could be a reference to the British invasion

[@bubsterjohnson7438]

Merry Christmas Radking I hope you and your family have an awesome yr and thanks for all the videos you've made you're one of the few KZbinrs I have all notifications on for lol

[@Rad_King]

Hey I’m late to this but thank you and I hope you had a good Christmas season!

[@theonlybilge]

Did any of these AI stop a nuclear war by transmitting a message of peace, while drowning themselves while singing "Sing"? Didn't think so.

[@MidanMagistrate]

If this gets a part 3, I hope you dont forget about that A.I. from Fallout 3, in the presidential subway

[@connorsmith1005]

Mr New Vegas is the best radio announcer in the series. Always have Radio New Vegas playing every step of the Mojave.

[@avathememelegends1293]

29:27 Who Needs Project Purity When You Have This Sink Dude, If This Sink Was In Fallout 3 It Would Save The Tragic Ending Of Our Father! R.I.P James, He Was A Good Lad Who Wants The Best For Everyone.

[@theglitch_713]

Thanks for the Christmas entertainment in my lonely holiday. 💪

[@CMDR_CLASSIFIED]

Merry Christmas, Sir! All the best to you and yours this holiday season! o7

[@EnbyGaemer2005]

Ahhhh! A shout-out!! Thank you so much for noticing my comment. ☺️

[@ConiferCreates]

By my reckoning, 1 cap is worth 10 cents. See, in New Vegas, each Pre-war money has a value of 10 caps and when dealing with the cashier in the casino section of the Sierra Madre, in the dialogue for trading pre-war money for chips, it makes it clear that each pre-war money is 1 dollar.

[@hazcat640]

The toaster is probably an homage to Red Dwarf.

[@MediumRareOpinions]

Would you like some toast?

[@benjammin8184]

Love that guy.

[@timothyharris1125]

I think the voice actor was Hulk Hogan

[@hazcat640]

@@timothyharris1125 Nope, Toaster (AKA Talkie Toaster) was either John Lenahan or David Ross depending on episode.

[@MikefromTexas1]

A vid on Fallouts Stealth Tech/Equipment would be awesome.

[@bocktordaytona5656]

Well we do not have any kind of Ai ( I think) like Modus but his face remembers me to Himmler and also the idea of a post nuclear or catastrophic event automated system wich "maintains" the goverment or the last goverment orders "if those orders where retaliation could be the "perimeter system" or Система «Периметр» also known as Dead hand protocol its an automated system that in case of nuclear attack activates and initiates sismic pressure and radiation scanning and then a special missile: command missile with a special 15B99 communications warhead from the other corner of Russia in vladivostok launches sending a signal to all nuclear silos on the soviet union/modern russia to create an event of mutual destruction non matter if there is still soviet or russian or civilian survivors. Paraphrasing Ulysses: your machine speaked and the titans under the divide awaken. And that is the only AI or better : automated system wich remembers me Modus or enclave in general because their primary directive its to awaken all west Virginia, or american silos to continue the war against China.

[@lerogal3663]

34:55 the Calculator could be based on C.A.B.A.L. Or Computer Assisted Biologically Augmented Lifeform from the Command and Conquer Tiberium series since Tiberium Sun came out in 1999 while Tactics came out in 2001

[@dorocook1426]

I'd like to imagine that Mr. New Vegas was a radio dj that Mr. House likes so much he saved him from the bombs and transferred his consciousness into an AI to keep him company

[@gabr.7878]

Atom has blessed with new knowledge, which was given to me through you, oh blessed mouthpiece of the glow

[@przemyshaw]

Episode about real life locations from F1 & F2 would be interesting... I have seen a map of fallout placed over Google maps. Lone Pine is Shady Sands!

[@animalmother9143]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmrWgKyQmdmJd5I

[@RebornRockerVids]

Whoa! I literally just finished watching part 1 of this.

[@trenaceandblackmetal5621]

Been waiting for this

[@chrisloUSA]

I still don’t understand how such advanced AI is possible in the Fallout universe with the most advanced electronics being vacuum tube based, let alone being able to condense it down into something the size of an Assaultron.

[@capadociaash8003]

Mister House Must have been a century ahead of his time and also made a pact with a demon lord

[@chrisloUSA]

@@capadociaash8003 The only logical answer!

[@Stoney3K]

The style of the MODUS computing unit is somewhat reminiscent of early 1950s tube computers. The Bendix G-15 with the vertical case style and the prominent center panel comes to mind here. The Sink's toaster is an obvious parody on Battlestar Galactica's Cylons, who were referred to as "Toasters".

[@lilyofshalott]

The punishment the book shoot mentioned is from 1984, not Fahrenheit 451, by the way, happens to Wilson

[@Grimpy970]

The 'chutes reference to a head cage and rats is a reference to 1984, not Farenheit 451

[@RustyguyTx]

You ought to do a video over the known vehicles in Fallout, like the enclaves vehicles brotherhoods Etc. I have a feeling there would be a Canon way to add land vehicles to a Fallout both time period and play style. We know the Enclave were able to mobilize and had the land base were there ever any other vehicles mentioned in early Fallout lore?

[@Merlin_Ambrosius_1100]

Regarding all of the Appalachian AI, it’s possible that in an effort to automate the region, they pushed product that wasn’t fully ready yet. And an AI model that had a “flaw” of self modification was one such products. Similar to, and correct me if i’m wrong, the superintendent, or whatever he was called, in the GA gallery. While he wasn’t an AI, he had a flaw in his code that infected all other systems and led to the place killing a bunch of people

[@Honor_and_Steel]

I would consider Curie to be an AI as well, especially if you're able to transfer her to the synth body. It's been shown that synths experience the same senses as human beings as well as the emotions. If Curie has the personality and processing power to run what is in effect a human body, I'd say she's the single most advanced AI in the series. I know I'm gonna get a lot of hate for that.

[@TheOriginalDuckley]

Hate. A lot of it.

[@TheOriginalDuckley]

Ooooodles of hate

[@jesseharlan2884]

I don't know how I feel about an AI being able to transfer its consciousness to a robotic body while fully maintaining its sentience. Some of the most intelligent AI's in fallout are the size of rooms (as it should be) how could any make or model of robot have the internal storage necessary to store an AI. Sure you could download or copy an AI to a robot but much like the debate of "if you upload your mind to a computer is that consciousness you anymore" the same argument could be made for the AI loading itself on to a robots internal storage. They would have to be diminished in some way, something is lost it becomes a mask of it's for AI self. Well that's my take on it anyhow.

[@quiscon]

I being thinking this for a while mate, what do you think about making a video about the psychic powers that poeple have in fallout?. I never seen any videos about then in youtube

[@shiny1556]

MODUSClave is best Clave. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays :)

[@doctorouroboros]

A red skull!? How do you even get that one?? 19:52 Also idk if you mentioned this but I love the stealth suit from big mountain, absolute W

[@avathememelegends1293]

theory: Mr. Vegas Will Take Over New Vegas After Mr. House's Passing, Then He'll Continue Mr. House's Personal Goals About Leaving Earth To Go To Space. The Only Question Is Left, Is Will He Continue His Role As The Sole Leader & Protector Of New Vegas. #Fallout5

[@1musamune]

could MODUS's behaviour be a vague nod to GLADOS from the Portal franchise?. Also the emblem on the Auto doc is called a Cadacus and is historically tied to the Ancient Greek God Hermes.

[@SecondChannelForGaming]

The cage of mold rats is actually a reference to 1984

[@Rad_King]

Great catch, you’re right!

[@lo-fidevil2950]

Your sermons have helped me glow in faith & embrace the purity of Atom’s light. However, sometimes you reference a “Fallout 76.” This confuses me. I’ve heard disturbing rumors of a great apocrypha visited upon Atom’s flock. A Dark Codex who’s tendrils ensnare the casual in faith. Yet surely a stable isotope as yourself would sooner Go Critical than suffer Heresy? Perhaps it’s merely an errant “head cannon.” (Verily, the Jet will make you jittery.)

[@TobeWilsonNetwork]

We should all be a bit more like Wayne Newton. Signed on to a project he only partially understood, but he knows that people love his work.

[@EpicAwesomeWin87]

I've always seen MODUS as HARDAC from Batman for some reason

[@Searly255]

Mr house might have kept Mr New Vegas around for his own entertainment. Listening to his old tunes might have gotten boring without a DJ or something along those lines.

[@brianstabile165]

I would love to see a video about the lord of faction HQs

[@Obiwankenobi6287]

Merry Christmas everyone

[@hiddentruth1982]

Wayne Newton started singing in Vegas in 1959. We narrow down the split in the time line a little more.

[@that1guyalex509]

I did not know Mr. New Vegas was an ai

[@spookieboogi6161]

In tactics I sacrificed myself for the good of the wasteland it was my duty as a brother in steel to give of myself for the greater good

[@SasoriZert]

Glad someone else enjoys my own form of humor 😊

[@RealCeress]

Modus reminds me of the Marvel AI robot sort of thing named MODOC but thats just me

[@notnickyp6193]

new california republic and new canadian republic will someday engage in a great war for naming right

[@simac8396]

MODUS reminds me of Colossus from the film "Colossus: the Forbin Project" from 1970. Classic sci-fi film about a military super computer becoming self aware.

[@vomitedthoughts]

I am curious where and follow New Vegas do they explain that Mr New Vegas is an AI cuz I've never seen that

[@420-V.T.L-Machinist]

My favorite is the toaster and his death ray

[@shedninjareal]

hmmm

[@KuroToaster2199]

Toaster

[@shedninjareal]

@@KuroToaster2199 mmm toast

[@TheJuggerClutch]

For Mr. New Vegas, what is the source for finding out he is an AI? Does House have a line about it or something? Just don't remember when this was confirmed/where you find this out in the game. I don't remember a terminal entry or anything about it but maybe I missed it

[@keiser1188]

is not in the game, it was something that was revealed in a Bethesda webpage.

[@Frosty561]

Glock in FO blew my mind. Now we know even with nuclear winter, Glocks are the superior firearms. Glock over sigs any day.

[@shedninjareal]

shed~ i wasnt feeling too good yesterday so lets see how this one looks

[@cuff1626]

Merry Christmas atom :)

[@Aichi1138]

Makes me wonder which AI would win in a chess match: P.A.M or The calculator?

[@phaylnx]

Glock didn't JUST make fire arms. The company also sells Horse Semen, which makes total sense. Both are about shooting things into thing.

[@eichler721]

The Calculator is the most dangerous and powerful for sure. Hope they do a remake of Tactics with lore friendly stuff as it was fun and challenging.

[@penguinsrockrgr8yt216]

Based MODUS Allowing wastelanders to join enclave since they are still technically US citizens

[@halolover6893]

I'm wondering something and maybe someone else's opinion might help me. The horrific launch of 76 just forever put a bad taste in my mouth. And it's lead me to disregard most aspects of it. Specifically in this case, the lore. There's alot of interesting things in the game at this point but.. is it all canon? Was it a 1 off thing created for a free community event, just to keep up with a live service model? Does it mesh well with past lore and games? Are the stories, factions, and all around storytelling good? As much as I want to play it for myself. The few chances I have given it, didn't end well. Most recently the game kept crashing. I found out people were crashing the servers to reroll for legendaries or some material, something like that. And I couldn't learn the mechanics of the game because of it. Plus the monetization of another one of my beloved franchises just boils my insides. There's a few other more personal.. grudges that I have with this game in particular but I mostly want people's opinions about this games narratives and weather it's worth investing into and does it cause more confusion and problems than it's worth. Because hearing about the lore from videos like these just isn't the same you know.

[@ritzlarka]

The torture method using rats and a cage is from 1984 not Fahrenheit 451. :)

[@Knower-of-all-things]

Good stuff. Many thanks.

[@tiffany3627]

The cage and molerats is a reference to a torture technique used in 1984, not Fahrenheit 451. The torture was also used in a 'reeducation' program.

[@valor1omega]

Sink doesn't count. Calling all of the AIs with self developed personality is like saying Liberty prime has a personality that developed on it's own. "Muggy couldn't be a full companion due to development time, where have we heard that before" They accepted the short development time which was fair given that they was retiring the engine in favor of the fo4 engine. So no one to blame but themselves.

[@wyattkefauver2055]

Motas' face is similar to Armin Zola from marvel comics

[@gran4916]

musicians and instruments of fallout pls

[@MrHathaway1337]

How did you get an explosive Pepper Shaker?

[@knightspearhead5718]

MODUS sort of reminds me of Control from Star Trek Discovery.

[@soccerstudpq]

My first sub of 2023

[@honinakecheta601]

I honestly haven’t enjoyed a fallout game since new Vegas, your vids really immerse me into the fallout universe. I usually only get that from Elder Scrolls. Thanks for the awesome content and happy holidays/New Year

[@ethanallan1254]

Where do the sound effects from your intro come from?

[@bubbadumps3747]

Missed oppurtunity for "Geiger-chads"

[@darcismith7295]

As a Canadian the whole ncr fighting the ncr got me laughing tho I think they would probably end up with the most in common with each other 😂

[@themaddoctor1741]

13:09 the ai do get a bit quirky at night

[@MoriShep]

I find it odd that the assaulttron is the go to AI chassy - and we know of one that went self awear and started its own weapons shop must be something special about them

[@MediumRareOpinions]

They seem to be designed with a degree of stealthy operations in mind, perhaps that necessitated hardware/programing that could think creatively to adapt to achieve their missions.

[@MoriShep]

@@MediumRareOpinions 100% solid head cannon

[@ianvital8834]

If there will be a New Fallout Game most likely the cannon END for NV is A House Ending. Just imagining the possibility of how Vegas be transformed to a power Hub. Courier being A hero of The Mojave. House next move after the Battle of Hover dam would be Stablizing everything around the vesinity of Vegas. House can Persuade Most of the NCR personel and Soldiers to stay at New Vegas being Crocker or Lee becoming president or mayor of new vegas under the power Mr. House. House knew how to use the Tech that the courier Can bring from the the Big MT and the Divide. I don't see nor imagine how would the NCR or the leagion do if the Courier would hand them tech from The Big MT or Divide. A Yes man Ending only ends with Chaos. With house a future for th Mojave can be visualized

[@Dodge_this]

I really like codsworth and curie but I feel like they need to have some sort of explanation for being so smart. Curie admittedly is a modified version so I guess you could argue but codsworth is a run of the mill mr handy

[@dailybugle2147]

I had no idea mr new vegas is an ai

[@JarrisGames]

Where does the thumbnail for this video come from? It's awesome

[@MediumRareOpinions]

Can't say for certain but I think its from the Fallout 3 concept art book, an early version of what Eden might have looked like inside Raven Rock

[@JarrisGames]

@@MediumRareOpinions thank you, it's genuinely an incredible picture, I wish the game had actually had something that looked that good

[@MediumRareOpinions]

@@JarrisGames Theres a lot of really cool art to go alongside it, sadly I think the artist passed away before or not long after the game was made.

[@GreyChimera]

What about synths?