raze2012's recent activity

  1. Comment on Valve announces new hardware: Steam Frame, Steam Controller, and Steam Machine in ~games

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    I agree the interface is annoying with a TV PC. That's one place I ultimately found the Steam controller I got on a fire sale to be really nifty. A gamepad with built on mousing was great, once I...

    I agree the interface is annoying with a TV PC. That's one place I ultimately found the Steam controller I got on a fire sale to be really nifty. A gamepad with built on mousing was great, once I got used to it.

    I understand your situation, but I mainly wonder for people with your problem how many wouldn't simply choose a console instead of go for a "PC console". The latter will still have some configuration overhead to do anyway. But it's mostly down to branding.

  2. Comment on What is going on with the Epstein files? in ~society

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    Given the context of these files, I find that to be a positive. last thing we need is to cast any doubts on hallucinations or other signs lacking authenticity.

    Unfortunately they didn’t connect an LLM to it so its pretty basic term-search.

    Given the context of these files, I find that to be a positive. last thing we need is to cast any doubts on hallucinations or other signs lacking authenticity.

    5 votes
  3. Comment on Valve announces new hardware: Steam Frame, Steam Controller, and Steam Machine in ~games

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    Yes, it is a bit confusing to me why you don't find any other pre-built, install steam, and set it up to run Big picture mode on boot up. Windows or Linux, that really feels like the gist of...

    Yes, it is a bit confusing to me why you don't find any other pre-built, install steam, and set it up to run Big picture mode on boot up. Windows or Linux, that really feels like the gist of "running PC games on your TV" at this point.

    I suppose I'm skeptical because there's have been many other "console for PC/mobile" solutions, and their results are varied. Those more technical audience don't need a set top box's convenience, those not technical enough find a Playstation or Nintendo or Xbox. The console market is just very hard to box into.

  4. Comment on UC San Diego sees students’ math skills plummet in ~society

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    I'm very confused about this because the SAT/ACT scoress for pretty much all UC's were pretty high. I reember having a 750 in math (out of 800) and that was pretty much "average" for any decent...

    I'm very confused about this because the SAT/ACT scoress for pretty much all UC's were pretty high. I reember having a 750 in math (out of 800) and that was pretty much "average" for any decent engineering program. Even outside of that we were talking mid 600's average. Looking up the 2025 results suggest as much.

    Is this a case of the SAT getting easier, or that lower 25% really cratering and struggling?

    this is a bad metric that will almost certainly lead to racial and class biased admissions.

    That is a dreadful process. It'd be better at that point to simply re-indtroduce IQ tests. You have some agency towards testing. You have almost no agency in what school you get to attend.

    2 votes
  5. Comment on Valve announces new hardware: Steam Frame, Steam Controller, and Steam Machine in ~games

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    at the same time, I'm not quite sure how high the demand will be for yet another pre-bult PC. Unless they want to price these very aggressively (and their words seem to suggest against this), I'm...

    at the same time, I'm not quite sure how high the demand will be for yet another pre-bult PC. Unless they want to price these very aggressively (and their words seem to suggest against this), I'm not sure what really maes these stand out outside of branding. But the brands in the desktop space aren't small startups like it was for handheld PC's.

    The Steam Deck was a good compliment to a lot of Pc gamers's desktop setup. At best the Steam machine may simply be a very luxurious secondary gaming machine. Maybe a starter machine for a loved one (should finances permit).

    2 votes
  6. Comment on Valve announces new hardware: Steam Frame, Steam Controller, and Steam Machine in ~games

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    If there's multiple versions, it probably won't be different from the Steam Deck. configurations that change how much ram and storage it has, and not too much more. Valve does advertise this as...

    If there's multiple versions, it probably won't be different from the Steam Deck. configurations that change how much ram and storage it has, and not too much more.

    Valve does advertise this as "just a PC", though. So it's probably going to be easy to change out most parts.

  7. Comment on James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers in ~science

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    Rarely does. You'd think proper scientists would be willing to be open to new discoveries and evidence. But Sinclair's principle ("It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his...

    His PhD couldn't protect him from his ego

    Rarely does. You'd think proper scientists would be willing to be open to new discoveries and evidence. But Sinclair's principle ("It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.") applies here just as much as any other field. People like fame and money and we for some reason have this very primal urge to associate "wrong" with "not smart".

    It's a real shame because there may be some interesting discoveries to find based on how genes evolved in different cultures. But knowing someone is going to inevitably try to use it to tout superiority/inferiority makes a lot of that field a pandora's box to remain sealed. And all of that is before getting into the actual ethical quandaries a la GATTACA. We're not even far enough in the conversation for that discussion yet.

    1 vote
  8. Comment on Europeans recognize Zohran Mamdani’s supposedly radical policies as ‘normal’ in ~society

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    That is all true. But I mostly wanted to emphasize the sheer size of New York City vs New York State https://i.imgur.com/ZBXq6c3.png That cicle is New York City, roughly speaking (to be honest, I...

    That is all true. But I mostly wanted to emphasize the sheer size of New York City vs New York State

    https://i.imgur.com/ZBXq6c3.png

    That cicle is New York City, roughly speaking (to be honest, I was overly generous with that circle). It is such an utterly dense piece of land in a state that is already 4 times smaller than Spain itself.

    At least in comparison, California make sense when you see its landmass. But NYC is a lot of "old money" in comparison to say, Silicon Valley's tech space.


    And yes, I apologize. The US spent a good 80+ years building such soft power and becoming many country's reserve currency. And all that stood on an idea of trust and stability that is being torn apart in real time. This was decades coming but clearly things are now in free fall. And the reasons triggering it last year are beyond stupid when thinking on the global scale of things.

  9. Comment on Europeans recognize Zohran Mamdani’s supposedly radical policies as ‘normal’ in ~society

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    NYC is a big, dense population, but people have to remember that it's still only a city. Mamdami isn't govenor of the entire state. And that NYC is a very small fraction of land as a part of the...

    NYC is a big, dense population, but people have to remember that it's still only a city. Mamdami isn't govenor of the entire state. And that NYC is a very small fraction of land as a part of the entire state.

    There's only so much he can do. But that much can still threaten all the wealthy people who concentrate there.

    2 votes
  10. Comment on Square Enix says it wants generative AI to be doing 70% of its QA and debugging by the end of 2027 in ~games

    raze2012
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    It's not the journalists's job to make sure companies don't overhype themselves. Again, I don't like this implication of "well Square didn't say it". Sounds like the kind of thing a business who...

    If you, like the OP, believe that this will lead nowhere, then exactly that: nothing will happen. That's the difference.

    It's not the journalists's job to make sure companies don't overhype themselves.

    Square said none of that, by the way.

    Again, I don't like this implication of "well Square didn't say it". Sounds like the kind of thing a business who wants to throw a shell company under the bus would say

    https://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/ir/pdf/20251106_01_en.pdf (PDF warning)

    Page 5:

    5 Promoting AI utilization in Japan

    • Initiation of joint research with the Matsuo Laboratory at the University of Tokyo, aimed at improving the
      efficiency of game development processes through AI technologies.
    • Company-wide business idea contest held under the theme of AI, with several selected ideas developed
      into projects and currently being promoted internally.

    Joint Development of Game QA Automation
    Technology Using Generative AI with the Matsuo–
    Iwasawa Laboratory, the University of Tokyo

    [Goal]
    Automate 70% of QA and debugging tasks in game
    development by the end of 2027. Through the use of
    automation technology, aim to improve the efficiency of
    QA operations and establish a competitive advantage in
    game development.

    [Structure]
    A joint research team of more than ten members,
    comprising researchers from the Matsuo-Iwasawa
    Laboratory UTokyo, and engineers from the SQUARE
    ENIX group, is advancing the collaborative development

    It's on their financial report. Their intent is clear (Promoting AI Utilization in Japan). They associate with the statement from the university because it is in a report they send to shareholders. Short of Kiryu making a quote himself, that's pretty much an endorsement.

    I don't care for any technicalities that try to dissolve a billion dollar company of responsibility on something they are clearly investing in.

    And they did correct it lol.

    Title is the same as the article (and nothing is edited in topic log). I don't know what's "corrected"

    1 vote
  11. Comment on What makes a game, a game? in ~games

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    I won't push too hard on this because it ultimately is subjective. but I'd emphasize "engaging" a lot more than "enjoyable" in your lens. There's an entire category of gaming called "serious...

    I won't push too hard on this because it ultimately is subjective. but I'd emphasize "engaging" a lot more than "enjoyable" in your lens. There's an entire category of gaming called "serious games" (and I really hate this term aesthetically, but it is what it is) whose goals are certainly to engage a player but oftentimes not come out with an "enjoyable" experience.

    And then on a lighter hearted tone, you have games like QWOP or "Getting over it", where the engagement lies in its intentionally frustrating controls and level design. But I suppose frustration can be its own type of joy, similar to a horror movie you go into expecting to be terrified.

    2 votes
  12. Comment on What makes a game, a game? in ~games

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    Most of it was straightforward to me, even if some of my answers would be hot takes in the wider community. But I am a game dev who has had to consider this question constantly, so it makes sense....

    Most of it was straightforward to me, even if some of my answers would be hot takes in the wider community. But I am a game dev who has had to consider this question constantly, so it makes sense.

    I think the one aspect that threw me for a loop (and a hint of my hot take) was "someone separate from the participant sets the rules", and even though I ultimately agreed, I'm still not truly sure. I can see a case of a self paced "game" where you are the rule maker and sole participant, but at that point you can consider the act of many activities like writing, walking, and commubicating a "game". And that didn't feel right.

    4 votes
  13. Comment on Square Enix says it wants generative AI to be doing 70% of its QA and debugging by the end of 2027 in ~games

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    At this point, I assume "okay so they are hyping up another initiative for shareholders that won't hit anywhere near its goal". But these announcements aren't for someone like me. You partner with...

    you would probably assume that they want to replace 70% of the work-hours spent on QA to be done by an AI.

    At this point, I assume "okay so they are hyping up another initiative for shareholders that won't hit anywhere near its goal". But these announcements aren't for someone like me.

    This is different in two fundamental ways:

    1. You partner with someone and you choose to become associated. If Square didn't want this potential confusion, they'd correct it and have a very heated meeting over the PR here. Realistically, these weeks of PR was already deliberated and approved.

    2. The vagueness is the point. Make it sound impactful but CYA when reality sets in. That's intended by square enix, not the partner nor the reporter. That's my exact point on "hyping up another initiative for shareholders that won't hit anywhere near its goal"

    The implication of the title is that Square Enix will start doing this imminently

    I don't personally consider "end of 2027" as "imminent" at this point in time even if Square themselves was doing the research in house. Nor do I consider "aims to" nor "wants to" as strong indicators. It's more like a goal to strive to.

    Idk, maybe I'm just so desensitized to corporate spin that I'm self filtering the spin out. Either way it's on Square to be realistic and transparnet if we want to strive for that.

    Which they (nor any other large scale businesse) will never truly be. It feels like half your job as an informed reader isn't being able to translate "corporate speak". Because all reporters will do is directly quote it with minimal analysis.

    1 vote
  14. Comment on Square Enix says it wants generative AI to be doing 70% of its QA and debugging by the end of 2027 in ~games

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    I don't know how it's wrong. It Doesn't matter who they outsource it to partner with. They want to use it in development by X time with Y metrics. Otherwise Square Enix wouldn't be involved. I...

    I don't know how it's wrong. It Doesn't matter who they outsource it to partner with. They want to use it in development by X time with Y metrics. Otherwise Square Enix wouldn't be involved. I don't particularly like implication of disassociatling a company from responsibility just because they aren't literally doing it themselves.

    Its "sensationalist" in that its probably a goal they will vastly underdeliver on, but that's not the story's fault.

    2 votes
  15. Comment on California voters pass Prop 50 to redraw the state's congressional maps in ~society

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    I'd argue the gerrymandering arms race was silently started when the GOP decided to filibuster the bill to ban gerrymandering back in 2022. You don't fight that hard to oppose a bill unless you...

    I'd argue the gerrymandering arms race was silently started when the GOP decided to filibuster the bill to ban gerrymandering back in 2022. You don't fight that hard to oppose a bill unless you have every intention to make use of that power.

    maybe if powers change we can try one more time to ban this once and for all. It's clear the current makeup won't.

    22 votes
  16. Comment on Zohran Mamdani wins New York City mayor’s race, capping a stunning ascent in ~society

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    It's has negative history because it's rarely used correctly. I don't blame the plank for breaking after months of use as a hole cover. I blame the company for not proceeding to properly fix the...

    It's has negative history because it's rarely used correctly. I don't blame the plank for breaking after months of use as a hole cover. I blame the company for not proceeding to properly fix the hole. I still think the plank is an important and useful tool, just not the singular solution to throw on and then move on from.

    Or if we want to be more topical: Tarriffs is a crap tool, if Americans do not follow up on it by using that time to become domestically competitive. Biden put tarriffs on Chinese EV's for some 3 years (and continued by Trump) and what do we have to show for it 12 out of 36 months later? Trump ending EV credits? Elon going full nazi? Ford simply throwing their hands up and giving up? Bezos using the opportunity to add cars to the data harvesting tech dystopia?

    (nevermind whatever the hell Trumps "everything is a nail" approach is.)

    If you do not increase supply or do something radically different this is likely going to last forever and only make the situation worse.

    I believe we are in full agreement here. I hope this situation actually creates radical reform this time. If not... well, I concede this is yet another EV tariff situation. We never even got far enough in housing reform to suggest "okay the rent control isn't needed anymore", so I guess we'll cross that bridge if we ever arrive there.

    13 votes
  17. Comment on Zohran Mamdani wins New York City mayor’s race, capping a stunning ascent in ~society

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    Rent control is a tool, not a solution. You use Rent control for short term relief while executing long term solutions of building more housing. If you are doing both, then rent control works. In...

    Rent control is a tool, not a solution. You use Rent control for short term relief while executing long term solutions of building more housing. If you are doing both, then rent control works.

    In times like these especially, it's very important to not miss the trees while looking at the forest. Long term plans mean nothing if your potential constituents go homeless while overhauling housing policy.

    17 votes
  18. Comment on Zohran Mamdani wins New York City mayor’s race, capping a stunning ascent in ~society

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    Let in as in "they changed their minds" or let in as "he snuck into the party anyway"? I think context is important here.

    Let in as in "they changed their minds" or let in as "he snuck into the party anyway"? I think context is important here.

    3 votes
  19. Comment on Zohran Mamdani wins New York City mayor’s race, capping a stunning ascent in ~society

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    My biggest fear is the opposite, given the tepid reluctance with the DNC to even endorse Mamdami. They'll try to pantomime the strategies without really committing to admitting what's really wrong...

    My fear is that Dems won't learn the right lessons from Mamdami or these other candidates and instead try to ape the aesthetics of these campaigns rather than the more substantive political strategies.

    My biggest fear is the opposite, given the tepid reluctance with the DNC to even endorse Mamdami. They'll try to pantomime the strategies without really committing to admitting what's really wrong with the nation right now. e.g. "We'll create more Jobs!" as a strategy without realizing that it's the quality of jobs and the lack of labor protections that's really hurting Americans as companies haphazardly layoff entire sectors. We don't desire more minimum wage healthcare jobs.

    And then their aesthetics will be half heated and non-genuine. Mamdami knew when to attack and push on opponents on issues that mattered, and he knew when to dodge their provocations and say "I'm here to focus on the cost of living crisis". do I think much of congress can do that as of now? I'm not too hopeful.

    17 votes
  20. Comment on Zohran Mamdani wins New York City mayor’s race, capping a stunning ascent in ~society

    raze2012
    Link Parent
    In the current environment I'd say they have a strong shot. I'm not going to say democratic socialism will always be a popular stance in the US (I just know that by the time I retire there's...

    If these two were running for statewide office or even US Senate from New York, could they win?

    In the current environment I'd say they have a strong shot. I'm not going to say democratic socialism will always be a popular stance in the US (I just know that by the time I retire there's probably going to be yet another red wave from my own generation. And I hate that notion). But c. 2025, after 10 months of Trump, I personally believe there is a wave of younger millennials and especially Gen Z waiting to be properly roused by policies that aren't sticking to the status quo. Boomers are starting to die out so this new wave will be the next demographics you really need to appeal to.

    Trump did take advantage of this himself... and proceeded to break every promise as he's done since before I (a young millenial) was even born. But those false promises clearly resonated. And he wasn't even talking that much about the economy past "I'll make tips tax free" (a very useless stance if you know how tips work these days). Or Healtchare past "I'll make pharmaceuticals cheaper"

    Now imagine someone who actually says "yes I want to tax the rich who have laid off our workforce and is trying to let outsourcing and AI ruin American jobs" and "I'll make sure every American has access to a doctor with the tax dollars they already pay". Billionaires have a lot of advantages, but they still only have one vote. They can't hoodwink an entire generation of people who can see the jobs being eroded in real time. Or at least, it'd be cheaper to just pay for their labor than attempt to do so.


    But that's simply my virew of it, from a lens that admittedly benefits me and my views.

    8 votes