AriMaeda's recent activity
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Comment on I'm annoyed with mundane revisionist history in ~talk
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Comment on I'm annoyed with mundane revisionist history in ~talk
AriMaeda Link ParentThe catalog lists an RCA DVD player for $50 less, which is an apples-to-oranges comparison to a top-tier brand like Sony. Buying a PS2 was one of the cheapest ways you could get an excellent DVD...The catalog lists an RCA DVD player for $50 less, which is an apples-to-oranges comparison to a top-tier brand like Sony. Buying a PS2 was one of the cheapest ways you could get an excellent DVD player and you got the latest video game console bundled with it.
The fact that it was a cheap DVD player was absolutely a major factor in its success.
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Comment on We are witnessing the self-immolation of a superpower in ~society
AriMaeda Link ParentI'd be hesitant with this comparison because of the significant difference in public entitlements. A well-funded public pension, for example, contributes nothing to your net worth.The median European? A paltry $28k.
I'd be hesitant with this comparison because of the significant difference in public entitlements. A well-funded public pension, for example, contributes nothing to your net worth.
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Comment on Conservative activist Charlie Kirk shot and killed at Utah college event in ~society
AriMaeda Link ParentTo my understanding, Turan (TRN) doesn't make .30-06 ammo (the caliber of the rifle that was found), so I'm not sure if that'd be the case. The governor of Utah just stated in a press conference...To my understanding, Turan (TRN) doesn't make .30-06 ammo (the caliber of the rifle that was found), so I'm not sure if that'd be the case.
The governor of Utah just stated in a press conference that the four engravings were: (my transcriptions follow)
- notices bulges OwO what's this?
- Hey fascist! Catch! ↑→↓↓↓
- O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao
- if you read this you are gay lmao
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Comment on CGA-2025-09 🕹️🚂 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 The Last Express in ~games
AriMaeda Link ParentI think I'm a bit over halfway through and while I'm doing fine without a guide, I consulted a hint site for two snags that I'm not sure I'd have been able to get through on my own. Spoilers...I think I'm a bit over halfway through and while I'm doing fine without a guide, I consulted a hint site for two snags that I'm not sure I'd have been able to get through on my own.
Spoilers through Vienna
The first was getting the whistle from Francois. I haven't run into anything so far that indicates the second item in the trunk would have been that whistle, and after overhearing his remark about the beetle, I was unsuccessful at catching it despite several attempts, so I wrote it off as a background detail.
The second was in stealing the suitcase of gold. I'm really not sure how I was supposed to know that Wolff had the master key, that that key could secure me rooftop access, that said access could be used to break through a skylight I otherwise wouldn't have known about, and that I could blatantly commit this theft and walk right out in front of them with the suitcase in hand to no immediate consequence? That whole chain felt a bit much to me!
If anyone else has played before and knows what I missed, I'd be happy to hear it!
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: Voting topic in ~games
AriMaeda Link ParentMy picks are games that I've wanted to play but need the kick in the ass to sit down and do! Honestly, I'm just excited for whatever oddball stuff makes it in the top 6.My picks are games that I've wanted to play but need the kick in the ass to sit down and do! Honestly, I'm just excited for whatever oddball stuff makes it in the top 6.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: Voting topic in ~games
AriMaeda LinkAnother World (4) Descent (4) Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls) (4) The Secret of Monkey Island (4) PlayStation WHAT? (4)Another World (4)
Descent (4)
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls) (4)
The Secret of Monkey Island (4)
PlayStation WHAT? (4) -
Comment on Tildes' Colossal Game Adventure: Inauguration and nominations in ~games
AriMaeda Link ParentI found the original controls on the remaster to be a step down since the control scheme is built for a notched joystick that the Switch doesn't have, so not being perfectly centered causes you to...I found the original controls on the remaster to be a step down since the control scheme is built for a notched joystick that the Switch doesn't have, so not being perfectly centered causes you to turn and drift out of alignment. Walking a straight line was surprisingly difficult!
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Comment on US bombers strike nuclear sites in Iran in ~society
AriMaeda Link Parent"Was" is appropriate here because it's applying to "payload", not "bombs". A payload was dropped.Bombs were dropped, not bombs was dropped. Glad y'all gave him the nuclear codes...
"Was" is appropriate here because it's applying to "payload", not "bombs". A payload was dropped.
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Comment on A spoiler free but brief critcism of Blue Prince reviews/recommendation to play in ~games
AriMaeda Link ParentSure, but the scale of that "something new" really matters! As someone who wasn't enamored with the game, ending a half-hour run having found just a single new letter (that just got added to my...You basically never get a run where you don't accomplish or learn something new, often multiple new things.
Sure, but the scale of that "something new" really matters! As someone who wasn't enamored with the game, ending a half-hour run having found just a single new letter (that just got added to my ever-expanding screenshot folder because it doesn't mean much to me in the moment!) was just not sufficient to keep me interested.
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Comment on The Great Tildes Archipelago Randomizer - May 8th YAML thread in ~games
AriMaeda Link ParentDo you know if that's the case for plando stuff as well? I remember AP used to eat all of those unless the host enabled it, but that was a few versions back.Do you know if that's the case for plando stuff as well? I remember AP used to eat all of those unless the host enabled it, but that was a few versions back.
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Comment on The Great Tildes Archipelago Randomizer - May 8th YAML thread in ~games
AriMaeda (edited )Link ParentIf needed, you can use the "View Markdown" feature which still retains all of the indentation. It's under "More..." underneath the post.If needed, you can use the "View Markdown" feature which still retains all of the indentation. It's under "More..." underneath the post.
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Comment on The Great Tildes Archipelago Randomizer - May 8th YAML thread in ~games
AriMaeda LinkI'm in for Hollow Knight! I do have a start inventory entry, and I'm not sure if the host still needs to enable something in their host.yaml to make that happen. YAML name: AriMaeda game: Hollow...I'm in for Hollow Knight! I do have a start inventory entry, and I'm not sure if the host still needs to enable something in their host.yaml to make that happen.
YAML
name: AriMaeda game: Hollow Knight Hollow Knight: progression_balancing: '50' accessibility: full RandomizeDreamers: 'true' RandomizeSkills: 'true' RandomizeFocus: 'true' RandomizeSwim: 'true' RandomizeCharms: 'true' RandomizeKeys: 'true' RandomizeMaskShards: 'true' RandomizeVesselFragments: 'true' RandomizeCharmNotches: 'false' RandomizePaleOre: 'true' RandomizeGeoChests: 'true' RandomizeJunkPitChests: 'true' RandomizeRancidEggs: 'true' RandomizeRelics: 'true' RandomizeWhisperingRoots: 'true' RandomizeBossEssence: 'false' RandomizeGrubs: 'true' RandomizeMimics: 'true' RandomizeMaps: 'true' RandomizeStags: 'true' RandomizeLifebloodCocoons: 'true' RandomizeGrimmkinFlames: 'false' RandomizeJournalEntries: 'false' RandomizeNail: 'false' RandomizeGeoRocks: 'false' RandomizeBossGeo: 'false' RandomizeSoulTotems: 'false' RandomizeLoreTablets: 'false' RandomizeElevatorPass: 'true' PreciseMovement: 'false' ProficientCombat: 'false' BackgroundObjectPogos: 'false' EnemyPogos: 'false' ObscureSkips: 'false' ShadeSkips: 'false' InfectionSkips: 'false' FireballSkips: 'false' SpikeTunnels: 'false' AcidSkips: 'false' DamageBoosts: 'false' DangerousSkips: 'false' DarkRooms: 'false' ComplexSkips: 'false' DifficultSkips: 'false' RemoveSpellUpgrades: 'false' StartLocation: king's_pass Goal: radiance GrubHuntGoal: '-1' WhitePalace: include ExtraPlatforms: 'false' AddUnshuffledLocations: 'false' StartingGeo: '0' DeathLink: 'false' DeathLinkShade: shade DeathLinkBreaksFragileCharms: 'false' MinimumGeoPrice: '1' MaximumGeoPrice: '400' MinimumGrubPrice: '1' MaximumGrubPrice: '23' MinimumEssencePrice: '1' MaximumEssencePrice: '1400' MinimumCharmPrice: '1' MaximumCharmPrice: '20' RandomCharmCosts: '-1' MinimumEggPrice: '1' MaximumEggPrice: '10' EggShopSlots: '0' SlyShopSlots: '8' SlyKeyShopSlots: '6' IseldaShopSlots: '2' SalubraShopSlots: '5' SalubraCharmShopSlots: '5' LegEaterShopSlots: '3' GrubfatherRewardSlots: '7' SeerRewardSlots: '8' ExtraShopSlots: '0' SplitCrystalHeart: 'true' SplitMothwingCloak: 'true' SplitMantisClaw: 'true' CostSanity: 'off' CostSanityHybridChance: '10' CostSanityEggWeight: '1' CostSanityGrubWeight: '1' CostSanityEssenceWeight: '1' CostSanityCharmWeight: '1' CostSanityGeoWeight: '8' start_inventory: Gathering_Swarm: 1 -
Comment on The great Tildes Archipelago multiworld randomizer! Interest thread! in ~games
AriMaeda LinkI'd be down to play! I'll probably play either Hollow Knight or the Super Metroid/Link to the Past combo randomizer.I'd be down to play! I'll probably play either Hollow Knight or the Super Metroid/Link to the Past combo randomizer.
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Comment on The great Tildes Archipelago multiworld randomizer! Interest thread! in ~games
AriMaeda Link ParentIf you're anxious about blocking progress, Rogue Legacy's a good pick to help mitigate that! The item checks are fairly fast, easy, and front-loaded, so people aren't likely to be waiting on you....If you're anxious about blocking progress, Rogue Legacy's a good pick to help mitigate that! The item checks are fairly fast, easy, and front-loaded, so people aren't likely to be waiting on you.
One check of note is the carnival game where you need to hit targets with a limited number of knives/axes, it's so much less forgiving than everything else. If you don't think that one would be a good time, you can exclude specific locations like that one in your settings file when the time comes.
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Comment on Nvidia announces four next-gen RTX 5000 GPUs in ~tech
AriMaeda Link ParentIf I decided to withdraw my savings and send the bills through a shredder because it amused me, would you also think there's nothing wrong with that decision? While I'm allowed to make that...If I decided to withdraw my savings and send the bills through a shredder because it amused me, would you also think there's nothing wrong with that decision? While I'm allowed to make that choice, that doesn't make it a good choice: some uses of money are clearly better than others. And having come from a poorer background, there's a frustration I can't shake with people spending what would have been, to me, life-changing amounts of money on frivolous things.
Companies have every incentive to get consumers to buy far more than they need, and I just don't think we should respect succumbing to those pressures. If someone's buying thousands of dollars of collectibles that they keep sealed in the corner of a room somewhere, I think that's wasteful. If someone's buying a fishing pole that's marginally better than the one they have for five times the price, I think they've done a bad job of valuation.
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Comment on Nvidia announces four next-gen RTX 5000 GPUs in ~tech
AriMaeda Link ParentMost everything you've described sounds like a poor purchasing decision, an addiction to buying new things given the label of "hobby" to justify them. I think they ought to be viewed critically,...Most everything you've described sounds like a poor purchasing decision, an addiction to buying new things given the label of "hobby" to justify them. I think they ought to be viewed critically, not accepted as a valid niche; the expensive cards in question are no different.
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Comment on Jet Lag: Hide + Seek Japan | Trailer in ~hobbies
AriMaeda Link ParentI included the time it'd take to guess the hangman. Since it's played over text and there's going to be some time spent choosing a letter/considering possible words, I assumed about 10 minutes per...I included the time it'd take to guess the hangman. Since it's played over text and there's going to be some time spent choosing a letter/considering possible words, I assumed about 10 minutes per game. There's no time penalty noted after the third round, hence 50.
Episode 2 Spoilers
I took a look at that moment in the episode, and it looks like it took them 35 minutes to play two rounds and wait out one time penalty, so about 12.5 per game. -
Comment on Jet Lag: Hide + Seek Japan | Trailer in ~hobbies
AriMaeda Link ParentEpisode 2 Spoilers On top of not using the vetos, I found the hangman curse equally baffling. You spend three cards to stall for (at best) 50 minutes? When he drew it and the graphic was shown, I...Episode 2 Spoilers
On top of not using the vetos, I found the hangman curse equally baffling. You spend three cards to stall for (at best) 50 minutes? When he drew it and the graphic was shown, I said "that's awful!" just as Adam said something along the lines of "oh, that's a good one!", which was a really funny disconnect. -
Comment on Thoughts on a Democratic postmortem in ~society
AriMaeda Link ParentIt's true that we don't, but even if we assume that the remaining votes follow an (unlikely) 80/20 split, that would still put him on par with 2020's vote count with California alone, never mind...It's true that we don't, but even if we assume that the remaining votes follow an (unlikely) 80/20 split, that would still put him on par with 2020's vote count with California alone, never mind the other states that are still sitting at ~70–80%.
As for the percentages, the maps on Reuters, NYT, and WSJ all describe it in terms of counted votes, not precincts.
I'll agree that I doubt there was a significant contingent of buyers that bought a PS2 exclusively for DVD playing (though they existed, I had a roommate who did just that!). But we're talking about an era with fewer TVs per household, so mixed use was much more significant; a household might not be willing to spend on a DVD player, but if it also doubled as a game system for their kids, maybe it makes its way under the Christmas tree. "Cheap" and "plays DVDs" were major drivers for the console.
RCA was a budget name at least as early as the '90s. Decent quality? Sure, but again, it's not a top-tier brand, and people do go out of their way to pay for those.
Anecdotally, I'll add that I didn't know a single person who had the remote for watching DVDs on PS2—and close to everyone I knew had one! TVs were smaller and couches closer, I have my doubts that the DVD remote was all that significant a feature for people at the time.