Wes's recent activity
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Comment on GPT-4o in ~tech
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Comment on GPT-4o in ~tech
Wes Link ParentIt's definitely an interesting consideration. You certainly don't want to accidentally build a racist AI. I do wonder though if it might also have positive effects as well, such as responding with...It's definitely an interesting consideration. You certainly don't want to accidentally build a racist AI. I do wonder though if it might also have positive effects as well, such as responding with appropriate language and cultural norms that the speaker would expect.
It had never even occurred to me that a speech-to-speech model might be possible. I'll need to give this one some consideration to better understand it. The early demos do seem awfully promising though.
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Comment on May 2024 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentThat seems like a great pick for golf mode! Nails some of the really difficult categories. The game has certainly had an impact on gaming, and I can't count the number of clones that have...That seems like a great pick for golf mode! Nails some of the really difficult categories. The game has certainly had an impact on gaming, and I can't count the number of clones that have appeared. Some have been rather good!
By the way, try adding an extra line break after the closing
</summary>tag. That should fix the table issue. -
Comment on Tildes Book Club - How is it going with The Dispossessed? in ~books
Wes (edited )LinkI'm also about half way through. That said I'm enjoying the book very much, and not considering it a slog at all. My schedule has just been busier than usual, and I haven't had a day that's...I'm also about half way through. That said I'm enjoying the book very much, and not considering it a slog at all. My schedule has just been busier than usual, and I haven't had a day that's allowed me to sit down and chew through a big chunk of it at once.
Do you have a date in mind for when to the discussion will occur? I was just planning to take the extra week (or however long I might need) and add my thoughts after the thread was already started. The longevity of Tildes discussions means that isn't as big of a deal as it might be on other platforms.
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Comment on OpenAI considers allowing users to create AI-generated pornography in ~tech
Wes Link ParentThanks for pointing that out. I clicked through to the spec proposal and all of the examples were for text, but it seems like maybe they're considering artistic nudity as well (so separating...Thanks for pointing that out. I clicked through to the spec proposal and all of the examples were for text, but it seems like maybe they're considering artistic nudity as well (so separating nudity and sexuality) then?
I think the headline is still misleading in this case, but that is still an interesting proposal.
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Comment on OpenAI considers allowing users to create AI-generated pornography in ~tech
Wes (edited )LinkTitle: "OpenAI considers allowing users to create AI-generated pornography" Article: "An OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday that the company had no intention to create...Title: "OpenAI considers allowing users to create AI-generated pornography"
Article: "An OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday that the company had no intention to create AI-generated pornography."
Pretty darn misleading. They seem to be talking about allowing some NSFW writing, only when the user specifically asks for it. Yes the word "pornography" might refer to writings if you squint hard enough, but the article also mentions DALL-E right before describing the new proposal. I don't see any indication that this relates to their image generator at all.
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Comment on May 2024 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentShmups are not my genre, but I've heard Andro Dunos II is among one the better ones available. It seems like a lot of fans of the original were very hyped for its release, and the devs actually...Shmups are not my genre, but I've heard Andro Dunos II is among one the better ones available. It seems like a lot of fans of the original were very hyped for its release, and the devs actually delivered. Especially from your description, it seems like they really nailed the "modernized retro" feel.
It's probably the Shmup I'd choose to play if I suddenly forgot just how bad at these games I am. I picked it up from a Fanatical bundle last year after some very strong recommendations.
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Comment on Bitwarden transitions from Manifest V2 to V3 in ~tech
Wes LinkLooks like a pretty good architecture upgrade. The move away from background pages has definitely been hard on devs. I hope the performance and memory improvements end up being worth it in the end...Looks like a pretty good architecture upgrade. The move away from background pages has definitely been hard on devs. I hope the performance and memory improvements end up being worth it in the end though.
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Comment on May 2024 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentElden Ring is 100% a Dark Souls 2 2. They finally paid homage to their history, and brought the best ideas forward. I've missed you, twinblades! I really need to play more ER. I explored every...Elden Ring is 100% a Dark Souls 2 2. They finally paid homage to their history, and brought the best ideas forward. I've missed you, twinblades!
I really need to play more ER. I explored every inch of that game on my first playthrough, and spent a long time trying to string together lore before all the fan theories started coming out. It kind of wore me out though, so I haven't spent as much time with it as I have the other titles. I'd like to get back into it once the Backburner ends, and in advance of the DLC release. I need to get reacquainted and finish up my current NG+ playthrough.
I'm also sad we didn't get any Sekiro DLC. I think it's possible they'd make a sequel, but probably not for a while. I get the feeling FromSoft has been growing restless with their formula and wants to start experimenting again. They do have two teams so we might see a mixture of "safer" and experimental games, but who knows.
If you choose to do any more modded runs, feel free to shoot me a PM. I'm sure I'd be happy to discuss further!
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Comment on Should moderation be more transparent? in ~tildes
Wes Link ParentRight. Tildes doesn't really have the concept of a mod. It has separate permissions which can be given out to users, but not a large number of users have them, and the big perms (removal, locking)...Right. Tildes doesn't really have the concept of a mod. It has separate permissions which can be given out to users, but not a large number of users have them, and the big perms (removal, locking) aren't currently given out to anyone else, I believe.
Deimos has mentioned that he has less time to spend on the site these days, and probably finds removing a thread a lot easier than babysitting it all day. I understand the desire for more overall transparency, but I think that's really all that's going on. Just a lack of resources.
I do think a lot of old users now have a pretty strong understanding of what kind of sites Deim wants this place to be, and it might make sense to grant some more powerful permissions to others to help him with the heavier moderation duties. But ultimately that's his decision, and for one reason or another he's not chosen to take it yet. I would harbor a guess that managing others introduces another layer of complexity that he might not might feel is required yet at the site's currently popularity level.
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Comment on May 2024 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentThat's awesome! I love when Souls games finally click for people. It's like finding a rhythm and staying on beat. You might still fall off from time to time, but you understand it now, and can...That's awesome! I love when Souls games finally click for people. It's like finding a rhythm and staying on beat. You might still fall off from time to time, but you understand it now, and can practice your consistency.
Has driving
✔ Elden RingHey, a horse counts! Too bad Bloodborne Kart needed to be rebranded, though.
You could probably make use of "Part of a Trilogy" for the next Souls title. And both DS1 Remastered and DS2: Scholar of the First Sin fit the remake/re-release category too.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the game/series!
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Comment on May 2024 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentOh, and here I was trying to show restraint by not talking about modding for three pages. First of all, if you've finished the Scorched Contract mod, then congratulations! That mod is genuinely...- Exemplary
Oh, and here I was trying to show restraint by not talking about modding for three pages.
First of all, if you've finished the Scorched Contract mod, then congratulations! That mod is genuinely one of the most difficult gaming experiences I've persevered through. I did a completely blind run, but in hindsight got pretty lucky with the order in which I killed bosses.
For passers-by, the mod works by giving you an additional debuff every time you defeat a boss. By the end of the game, you're afflicted by permanent curse (half-health), calamity (double damage taken), a permanent egg parasite (halves your soul gain and prevents you from wearing a helmet), and have a constant health drain effect. You have no status resistances and your weapon durability is constantly degrading. Strong weapons damage you when you use them. Enemies scale their health and damage to New Game+4. Most bonfires are disabled. Bosses regenerate health over time. Offensive magic spells are disabled, and enemies become extremely resistant to all but a single damage type (which randomly cycles throughout the fight). Additional enemies are added to boss fights. The game's most notorious boss has five different phases you have to fight through.
It's a very difficult mod, and I commend anyone who has completed it. I will say though that it's also one of my most memorable gaming experiences. There's nothing like exploring each new layer of hell to discover the innovative new ways they've found to torment you.
Thankfully however, most mods are not so diabolical. The Daughters of Ash mod that I mentioned in my previous comment is definitely one of the larger expansions I've played. I also played that one blind, and as a result did end up missing a lot of things. But it was a very different way to play a game I thought I knew every inch of. It relies heavily on event scripting so the environments and enemies are mostly the same, but the way things work and function are very different. There were a lot of surprises - some bad, but most good.
The Prepare to Die Again mod was one of the first I played. At the time, modding was in its early days so it was mostly tricks like moving enemies or bonfires around. Some of the new bonfire locations were really clever though, I thought. One notable one was in a normally unused section of the Sen's Fortress exterior. The mod has gone through drastic changes since I last played it though (back in 2018), so I expect it's nothing like I remember it today.
I've had some really memorable randomizer runs. I usually use just the item randomizer mod, which I've played normally but also before with a "use what you see" rule in place. In that case, any item you visually spot needs to be picked and immediately equipped. This can lead to some really amazing - but usually awful matchups. One time I had to equip both the Symbol of Avarice and the Dusk Crown Ring. ie. Half health, and constant health drain. Later I needed to fight Pinwheel with a catalyst - with no magic - in my left hand.
So there's definitely some fun to be had there. I later did a semi-coop/semi-competitive run with a friend using the fog gate randomizer. We enabled every possible setting, which adds both sides of the fog gates to the pool, as well as multiplayer zones and map borders. By the end I had a notepad file with a list of descriptions to try to form a map of that giant mess. "Okay, so the asylum takes you to The Depths, then turn left and dip through Demon Ruins...".
For a truly wild experience, you can enable item, enemy, and fog wall randomization all at once.
I like the permanent gravelord mod because I almost never do NG+, and thus never get to see the gravelord phantoms spawn. I was really hoping that they'd enable them for NG cycles in the Remaster, but I guess they didn't want to scare off newer players.
I remember the Gun Game mod you mentioned and always intended to try it, but never did. I did try Roguelike Souls which was interesting but felt a bit unbalanced and could be frustrating to restart (such is the rogue life).
I haven't modded DS2 and DS3 as much, mostly because I worry about slipping up and getting my account softbanned. I will say though that the DS2 LightingEngine mod is extremely good, and another dev is working on a lighting and gameplay overhaul with impressive visuals as well, though still unreleased. (Finally, Iron Keep makes sense)
For DS3 I've played through the Cinders mod a couple times. It's a strange one. To use your own term above, they take the "TNT approach" where more is more. They introduce in some way nearly every mechanic or feature you can think of from other FromSoftware games. Tons of new classes, weapon types, bosses, upgrades, NPCs, and so on. Choose where to spawn. Opt to use Bloodborne dashing instead of rolling, why not!
It lacks the polish of a much more refined experience like Archthrones, but there's definitely a ton of wacky builds and fun to be had. It asks you to break it in the same way games like Morrowind do. The mod also changes rapidly, and every time I look some system has been overhauled or reworked.
I've done a little Sekiro modding too. Before the post-release content update, I installed a boss rush mod which actually had a lot of interesting features. It had a sort of roguelike system with upgrades between boss encounters. Later of course they added an official boss rush mode, so the mod had less reason to exist.
I tried to get the Sekiro co-op mod to work, but I guess the server was down at the time. It's by the same author as the Elden Ring seamless multiplayer mod though, which as I understand is very good.
There's a number of quality-of-life mods that I think Sekiro kind of needs. For example I don't like having to hold down a button to hoover up any money, so there's a mod that makes that automatic. I also like to include a borderless fullscreen fix since FromSoft has been slow to adapt in that area. I don't think it was the one I used originally, but this tool seems to offer both of those features and more.
I tried running a mod that gave you infinite spirit emblems, with the goal of exclusively using prosthetic tools (except when required). Unfortunately after a few hours I found I just wasn't having much fun, and the Kusabimaru is just much more engaging to play with. I do wish there were more incentive to experiment with prosthetics and combat arts in the game, though. Sword is just too good.
I think those are all the major mods I've used/can recommend. I sometimes use small mods, like hiding enemy health bars, or porting the objectively best DS2 parry sound back into DS1. Of course if playing DS1 PTDE I'll use DSFix.
The Remaster is a lot less effort in that respect, but I do feel a lot more comfortable modding PTDE because there's no player bans (or servers at all, for that matter). As mentioned above, I use Steam's Family Sharing with a second account when modding any other game out of an abundance of caution.
Sometimes vanilla challenge runs can also be fun. I shared a couple of those I've done a few months ago. I used to bounce between these games constantly, but now I tend to just play when the mood strikes, usually after a year or two away. So instead of going for full blown challenge run, I might just choose a suboptimal build, or add some more minor restrictions or themes to keep it interesting.
Anyway, those are just some thoughts. Sorry to be so brief.
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Comment on May 2024 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentI think that definitely counts! Maybe you could have found another free game online, but I think it's even more in the spirit to pick something from your existing backlog, which it sounds like you...I think that definitely counts! Maybe you could have found another free game online, but I think it's even more in the spirit to pick something from your existing backlog, which it sounds like you did. So I'd say that's perfect.
I didn't actually know what Final DOOM was until reading this comment. It's interesting how much more open game devs were to collaboration with the community and smaller teams in the early days. I'm thinking about projects like Duke Nukem's "Duke It Out In D.C.", or Half-Life: Blue Shift (back when Gearbox was a tiny studio). Many of these expansions were accepted and made into "official" releases, which was pretty cool to see.
I'm guessing the scope and legalities of modern game development just makes things like that too difficult now.
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Comment on May 2024 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentOh wow, that's really neat. I've heard of the Satellaview before, but I didn't know any of the unique content had been made playable today. Nice touch with using the SNES classic controller....Oh wow, that's really neat. I've heard of the Satellaview before, but I didn't know any of the unique content had been made playable today. Nice touch with using the SNES classic controller. Definitely adds to the retro feel.
I actually started Chrono Trigger a few months ago, and have played maybe 20% of the way through so far. I've enjoyed it but JRPGs are hard for me to really sink my teeth into. If/when I finish, I'll be glad to know there's a way to play the tie-in story in English now.
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Comment on V Rising 1.0 out now in ~games
Wes Link ParentI ran a server for the Gloomrot update last year. Rather than try to get it working with Wine (which the Discord reported as unsupported and iffy at the time), I opted to bite the bullet and run a...I ran a server for the Gloomrot update last year. Rather than try to get it working with Wine (which the Discord reported as unsupported and iffy at the time), I opted to bite the bullet and run a Windows server.
Most Windows game servers are a lot more expensive than Linux, however Vultr allows you to upload your own ISOs when provisioning VPNs. So I grabbed the Windows Server ISO and set that up manually. You get something like 90 days to evaluate the OS, so it was enough time to finish a playthrough of the game with my group.
I definitely wish they'd put out a proper Linux release though. Would make things much easier on server admins, and I expect the hardware requirements would be lower as well.
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Comment on May 2024 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentOpen Roads, a narrative-driven game. I picked this one for the "Has Driving" category, mostly based on the name, but in the end I'd say only a small portion involved time in a car. Ah, so it goes!...Open Roads, a narrative-driven game. I picked this one for the "Has Driving" category, mostly based on the name, but in the end I'd say only a small portion involved time in a car. Ah, so it goes!
The format reminds me a great deal of Gone Home. You look through a series of belongings, explore memories and uncover a mystery. Ultimately I enjoyed the story, thankfully did not predict the ending, and found the voice acting to be well executed.
At first I thought I was getting poor performance, but I guess the animations are just designed with minimal frames and no lip sync, so it feels a little disjointed from the voice overs. It's not a big deal though and I got used to it pretty quickly.
I played the title on Game Pass, and that seems like the best platform for something like this. There's not really any replayability since there's few options in the dialogue. So it might not be something you'd want to buy at full price, but it's a great inclusion in a subscription service.
I was just saying in the last Backlog thread that I enjoy short narrative experiences, so this was a well timed pick. I completed it in one sitting, though it still took a few hours so I definitely needed a stretch break afterwards.
It might not on the level of a masterpiece like the first Life is Strange game, but I definitely enjoyed my time with Open Roads. The story it tells is human, believable, and likely relatable for many.
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Comment on May 2024 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentThis time I'm not submitting a game, but a mod. It's a small cheat but I hope you'll allow this for the "You have to tinker to get it running" category. The Archthrones mod for Dark Souls 3 is...This time I'm not submitting a game, but a mod. It's a small cheat but I hope you'll allow this for the "You have to tinker to get it running" category.
The Archthrones mod for Dark Souls 3 is extremely impressive. It's a complete overhaul mod that adds new areas, bosses, enemies, weapons, armours, quests, fully-voiced characters, and more. It may as well be a complete game.
It's been in development for four years, and in fact this release is still only a demo. Despite that, it still took me 16 hours to complete everything, and I'm fairly experienced with Souls games (1,500+ hours combined). I did play on the 1.0 release though, without the balance patches that smooth out the early game. I'd already started, so I decided to press on.
The mod completely reimagines some maps, replaces others with areas from previous games, and some maps are completely new. There's new mechanics, including the guard counter from Elden Ring. There's a whopping 17 unique bosses in the demo alone, and all of them are tough and interesting. Some animations have been lifted from other Souls games, but I don't begrudge the modders for this. They're good animations, and FromSoft themselves reuse assets all the time.
I even did some co-op! The devs run a private server which the game connects to rather than the vanilla server, so multiplayer works and there's no risk of banning. Out of paranoia I still opted to play on a second Steam account with family sharing, but I can confirm the save data was stored in a separate location.
Forgive me if I'm going on, but I'm just really impressed. I've played and enjoyed a lot of Dark Souls mods in the past: remixes, overhauls, difficulty enhancers, masochistic simulators, and various randomizers. But I can tell you that the modding tools are getting better and better every year. Where mods used to be simple texture swaps and event scripting changes, today they let you interact with nearly every system the devs themselves use.
As a side note, a lot of these tools were created for the upcoming mod Nightfall, which also released an impressive demo a couple years back. It offers a similarly impressive scope and is based on the Majora's Mask time loop mechanic. I hope to talk more about that when it finally releases.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing what else Archthrones has in store for us. The demo absolutely blew me away. If you're a big Souls fan and don't know what to do with your hands until the Elden Ring DLC comes out, this one is definitely worth checking out.
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Comment on May 2024 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes LinkFive down! I've been trying to get a bunch of entries in early because I knew the V Rising 1.0 release this month would steal my attention for a while. I'll definitely be circling back around for...Five down! I've been trying to get a bunch of entries in early because I knew the V Rising 1.0 release this month would steal my attention for a while. I'll definitely be circling back around for more though. I've already got a bunch of games in mind I'd like to try.
I hope everyone's been enjoying the event so far, and thanks so much to all who have participated, or plan to participate soon!
Bingo Card (5/25)
Mode: Standard Bingo! Finished 5/25 Has driving
✔ Open RoadsHas a lives system Is open-source Has/uses cards
✔ Vault of the VoidHas time manipulation Music/rhythm-focused
✔ Metal: HellsingerSet in a historical world Your friend loves it Uses a unique control scheme Has a time limit You can complete it in only a few hours
✔ The CorridorHas more than 50 achievements ★ Wildcard You have to tinker to get it running
✔ Dark Souls 3: Archthrones ModIs considered “abandonware” You heard about it in our weekly gaming topics Has a skill tree Known for its art style Popular game you never got around to playing You own it on physical media Uses procedural generation Nominated for a Steam award A solo-dev project You can create your own character Has gravity manipulation -
Comment on May 2024 Backlog Burner: Week 1 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentIf only we had more "AI companion" focused categories, your card would be locked down already! I'd not heard of this one, but I think narrative experiences are at their best when they're short and...If only we had more "AI companion" focused categories, your card would be locked down already!
I'd not heard of this one, but I think narrative experiences are at their best when they're short and sweet (or sometimes bittersweet). I can still enjoy those 30 hours+ treks with deep stories and character development, but there's really something about these short, poignant experiences that capture you for a day, and then you move on, having been enriched by them.
One that I still think about sometimes is Emily is Away. It's a free title, and I must have been in the right headspace for it because something about that twee, confusing experience of being a teen on instant messengers came flooding back to me.
I haven't played the sequels, and I suspect that I wouldn't see them in quite the same way now. But it really is nice when you connect with a game in the way it intends. I think a big part of the joy of these backlog events is putting out lots of feelers, and discovering which games click for you in a way you never expected.
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Comment on ‘The Fall Guy’ box office disappointment hurts more than opening weekend in ~movies
Wes Link ParentI know tagging is a bit of an arcane science, but if you copied a few of the common ones between your threads, I bet @cfabbro and @mycketforvirrad would appreciate it. But of course it's entirely...I know tagging is a bit of an arcane science, but if you copied a few of the common ones between your threads, I bet @cfabbro and @mycketforvirrad would appreciate it. But of course it's entirely up to you.
Hopefully in time we find better ways to automate that task so it's less human-intensive.
I don't think that's true. Bias and safety considerations seem to be one of the biggest areas of consideration when companies release AI models. Tech companies have spoken at length about this issue in papers, alongside product releases, and in their discussions with governments. It really seems like every new release spends half the page explaining safety issues before discussing the actual technical details.
The models have clearly been tweaked to try to minimize bias when possible. Google recently received heat for this by overcompensating and introducing people of color where it didn't make sense to.
Very few companies are willing to release a base model that hasn't had safety tuning applied. Unfortunately, this does harm the model's abilities, so a balance needs to be struck.
Prompts can also be modified for safety reasons. Some tools will automatically introduce variation suggestions to introduce more diversity.
Really it seems like an area of active consideration by all parties involved, whether they be developers, red team members, or independent researchers.