BailerAppleby's recent activity
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Comment on Coyote vs. Acme | Official trailer in ~movies
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Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of April 19 in ~games
BailerAppleby LinkFanatical Build Your Own Tactical Triple Pack Get 3 games for $3 USD, or 5 games for $4.75 USD. These are mostly strategy games that include turn-based tactics, real-time strategy, and base/city...Fanatical Build Your Own Tactical Triple Pack
Get 3 games for $3 USD, or 5 games for $4.75 USD. These are mostly strategy games that include turn-based tactics, real-time strategy, and base/city building games. For me, the standouts are ** The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk**, Evil Genius 2, and Railroad Corporation, though I leaning towards Castle of Alchemy and Mercury Fallen, which have much better reviews.
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Comment on Which covers did it better than (or put a fresh twist on) the original? in ~music
BailerAppleby LinkI Can't Cry Hard Enough by Victoria Williams. It's so good, you can't believe that she didn't write it.I Can't Cry Hard Enough by Victoria Williams. It's so good, you can't believe that she didn't write it.
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Comment on Train Jazz: A jazz combo played in real time by every active NYC subway train in ~music
BailerAppleby LinkPerfect. Now I can be confused about whether the band is warming up or performing free jazz, but at home.Perfect. Now I can be confused about whether the band is warming up or performing free jazz, but at home.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
BailerAppleby LinkSo I played Terror at Oakheart recently, and as much as I wanted to like it, it just doesn't work. The possibilities seem bright with a pixel adventure game that serves as a love letter to the...So I played Terror at Oakheart recently, and as much as I wanted to like it, it just doesn't work. The possibilities seem bright with a pixel adventure game that serves as a love letter to the slasher film genre, but the result is a disjointed mess. The dev seems quite taken with the horror/gore genre, but the games don't seem to demonstrate an adequate understanding to what makes the genre work.
Cliches are just an expected part of any genre, and this is certainly the case with a slasher film. One watched film is all that is needed for an audience member to go, "Oh yeah, they had sex, they're gonna die," or "He's a jerk, he's definitely going to meet his comeuppance." With expectations set, filmmakers operate within these parameters to deliver the necessary beats, but to do it with the flair and imagination required of telling a good story.
Terror at Oakheart doesn't have any of that. It steps onto and off home plate as though rounding the bases is some kind of antiquated traditions. In the first half of the game, you maneuver you pawns to the correct location and context so they can be properly disposed of in the most slasher film way possible. It's playing both sides of a checkers game, knowing exactly what the next move will be, just so set up these elaborate glory kills (which look great) that feel unearned. As a result, the game is mostly protagonist-less; and by the time you play a character that doesn't die immediately, the game shifts gear, changing from a suspenseful inventory fetch quest to becoming a jumpless side-scrolling shooter.
I am guilty of wishing this were another game, so let me lay out my elevator pitch for the pixel sidescrolling slasher game that I want to see: You play as the killer who is tasked with disposing of the victim in as a cinematic fashion as possible. Even though you are invincible and can walk up and murder them where they stand (as Terror at Oakheart does), you get the most points for killing them using situational props that lead to cheesy oneliners ("Welcome to Prime Time, bitch!" comes to mind). In order to do this, you the killer need to sneak around in shadows, keeping out of sight, holding back your murderous urges even though you're standing right behind them because the spot isn't correct. As levels become more convoluted, the killer needs to spend more time hiding behind curtains and in closets to avoid detection, and set up the props of the stage to unlock the cheesy oneliner. Think of it less like Hitman and more like the gameplay of Manhunt crossed with the cheesiness of Night Trap.
I would like say the requisite "fans of the genre will enjoy", but they won't. This is more for pixel purists who enjoy seeing the medium be explored in various genres. This is still great work for an indie dev, but man, do not expect John Carpenter's Halloween, more like John Carpenter's later work.
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Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of April 5 in ~games
BailerAppleby LinkWhale and Dolphin Conservation Charity Bundle Fanatical's latest charity Bundle gets you 11 games for $6.99 USD. Includes: Loddlenaut / Mudborne: Frog Management Sim / We Were Here Expeditions:...Whale and Dolphin Conservation Charity Bundle
Fanatical's latest charity Bundle gets you 11 games for $6.99 USD.
Includes: Loddlenaut / Mudborne: Frog Management Sim / We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip / Planet Coaster / SUMMERHOUSE / APICO / Don't Be Afraid / Imagine Earth / Beyond Blue / More
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Comment on Graveyard Keeper 2 announced for 2026. Original game now free to keep on Steam. in ~games
BailerAppleby Link ParentYes. This is the case for any game on Steam. You own it; you have access to it for as long as your Steam account exists.Yes. This is the case for any game on Steam. You own it; you have access to it for as long as your Steam account exists.
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Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of April 5 in ~games
BailerAppleby LinkThe currently free Burning Skies Arcade will be delisted on April 27th. Looks like a neat little bullet hell WWII-themed shooter, so get it before it disappears forever. Don't forget to add the 3...The currently free Burning Skies Arcade will be delisted on April 27th. Looks like a neat little bullet hell WWII-themed shooter, so get it before it disappears forever.
Don't forget to add the 3 DLCs which are also all free!
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Comment on Graveyard Keeper 2 announced for 2026. Original game now free to keep on Steam. in ~games
BailerAppleby LinkIn other free Steam game news, the currently free Burning Skies Arcade will be delisted on April 27th. Looks like a neat little bullet hell WWII-themed shooter, so get it while you still can....In other free Steam game news, the currently free Burning Skies Arcade will be delisted on April 27th. Looks like a neat little bullet hell WWII-themed shooter, so get it while you still can. Don't forget to add the 3 free DLCs!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
BailerAppleby Link ParentForget to mention: Three Fourths Home was provided courtesy of @kfwyre! Thanks for giving me the chance to play this arty game that I likely would not have played otherwise.Forget to mention: Three Fourths Home was provided courtesy of @kfwyre! Thanks for giving me the chance to play this arty game that I likely would not have played otherwise.
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Comment on DORF: The last, best hope for real-time strategy in ~games
BailerAppleby Link ParentWith pseudo-3D graphics? With a Max Max mutant stand-in for the Zerg? And the Protoss stand-in armed with the future tank from the Terminator? This looks incredible. Y'all should watch the video....an isometric, sprite-based game
With pseudo-3D graphics?
3 asymmetric factions
With a Max Max mutant stand-in for the Zerg? And the Protoss stand-in armed with the future tank from the Terminator?
This looks incredible. Y'all should watch the video. This looks like nothing short of retro wish fulfillment. This game has been developed for such a long time; hope its successful Kickstarter will propel it to the finish line soon.
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Comment on Star Trek: Voyager Season One | re:View in ~tv
BailerAppleby Link ParentWithout any photon torpedoes, Kate Mulligrew put her malice to much better use as Galina "Red" Reznikov in Orange is the New Black. It's a very uneven show, they had no idea what to do with Jason...exclusively called Captain Janeway
Without any photon torpedoes, Kate Mulligrew put her malice to much better use as Galina "Red" Reznikov in Orange is the New Black. It's a very uneven show, they had no idea what to do with Jason Bigg's character, but there was some cool parts ("Pornstache", Laura Prepon wearing horn-rimmed glasses). It was totally stacked for character actors, basically doing the equivalent of Oz but for females.
I would love to say that sexy borg lady Jeri Ryan has commanding cultural relevance, but she doesn't, unfortunately. Even she couldn't raise the bar with her character's return in Picard.
To put forth an idea brought up in the video, I would be much more interested in a Voyager TV show in which the Maqui crew was replaced by a crew of Klingons. I know the series had moved on from using Klingons as an adversary, but watching weekly shenanigans brought on by an Odd Couple scenario with recurring lines like "It is not the Klingon way!" would not have gotten old. I mourn the loss of this show that will never come to pass.
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Comment on Star Trek: Voyager Season One | re:View in ~tv
BailerAppleby Link ParentI was doing the dishes when I watched most of this. I didn't realize it happened, and didn't see it happen again (maybe Jay shooed it out and closed the window behind the scenes?). Sorry, that's...I was doing the dishes when I watched most of this. I didn't realize it happened, and didn't see it happen again (maybe Jay shooed it out and closed the window behind the scenes?). Sorry, that's the extent to which I know about this video and its wasp content.
If you were to decide to watch it, you can see for yourself how high the Rich Evans Swear Count goes! I'd list it here, but the true joy is following along at home.
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Comment on Star Trek: Voyager Season One | re:View in ~tv
BailerAppleby Link ParentRequired watching: The Star Trek trivia game show episode in which nerd-culture-illiterate Jay doesn't care to know any of the answers. Further required watching: Having proven he has no nerd cred...Required watching: The Star Trek trivia game show episode in which nerd-culture-illiterate Jay doesn't care to know any of the answers.
Further required watching: Having proven he has no nerd cred at all, Jay makes an appearance on the Nerd Crew based on nothing except his love for Star Wars and all things nerd. -
Comment on Donald Trump says it's 'not possible' for the US to pay for Medicaid, Medicare and day care: 'We’re fighting wars' in ~society
BailerAppleby LinkAn important part to this story is that this admission was not supposed to have gone public. MS NOW reports that this video was "accidentally" uploaded to the internet by the White House, and then...An important part to this story is that this admission was not supposed to have gone public. MS NOW reports that this video was "accidentally" uploaded to the internet by the White House, and then quickly taken down. This is the President of the United States admitting to a closed-door meeting something that the rest of the world was not supposed to know about.
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Comment on Star Trek: Voyager Season One | re:View in ~tv
BailerAppleby LinkSomeone in the comments calls this "RedLetterMedia's Golden Age", and I'm tempted to agree. This YouTube channel remains relevant as ever after 10+ years of fucking around. They've been through...Someone in the comments calls this "RedLetterMedia's Golden Age", and I'm tempted to agree. This YouTube channel remains relevant as ever after 10+ years of fucking around. They've been through the Plinkett era, graduated to skits and blockbuster movie reviews, showed their true colors with Best of the Worst, introduced Wisconsin as a essential destination for celebrity guests, used their status as influencers to take the piss out of their own industry, and devoted their lives to condemning the excesses of the unstoppable Kurtzman regime.
Now, they've started talking about a sci-fi show from 30 years ago that has no cultural relevance. It's two guys in the middle of nowhere on a nostalgia bender, that's it. And their standing as shittalkers with decades of experience make the time fly by; Mike and Jay are simply effortless in the ability to produce the fastest 2 hours that a middle-aged nerd can watch on YouTube.
I think the real subtext to these videos is the value of friendship, that these guys will hang out no matter how bad the movies they watch get. Rich's assessment that he was wrong about Janeway shows a level of introspection not usually demonstrated in these videos, suggesting that we will get even more honest takes as they continue to talk shit about their nerd passions.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
BailerAppleby LinkI am continuing my playthrough of Planescape: Torment and, after saying I felt unchallenged by the beginning Hive part, I am totally humbled by the Lower Ward part. Like I don't remember anything...I am continuing my playthrough of Planescape: Torment and, after saying I felt unchallenged by the beginning Hive part, I am totally humbled by the Lower Ward part. Like I don't remember anything about it. I must have replayed the first part multiple times to have it stuck in my head. I don't remember Fall-from-Grace or Ignus much, but did know which stats to prioritize. Still all very amazing as a one-of-a-kind work. This will never be properly turned into a movie or book (as much as reviews say they'd rather "read it in book form"), and will also not likely be remade. It's just a unicorn of its times, something that you really had to experience during its heyday.
Have been enjoying Dying Light after picking it up from the Spring Sale. I have the most hours sunk into Dead Island on my Steam account, so it would only make sense that I would enjoy the game that original devs Techland would go on to make. I could see why their vision for the Dead Island sequel was turned down as it shifts away from gory combat to parkour. At the same time, all the DNA from the original Dead Island is in this game, everything from the looting to the city scape. It's great to see an evolution of game play, but I admit I miss the original gameplay with the analog melee swings. I suppose there is Dead Island 2 to look forward to, and its price has been dropping steadily after its migration from the Epic store.
Three Fourths Home is a video game you're not supposed to enjoy as you're playing it. It's a heady, conceptual offering that you muse over while smoking a cigarette as you look at a sunset. It's well written from a conversational standpoint; this is a case where your choices don't matter to the story, but they are wholeheartedly embraced by the in-game characters, giving emotional consequence to everything you say. At the same time, the game can't help but insist upon itself, remarking at its existence with indulgent stories that take the homey premise too far. Still, we can't help but marvel at this wonder--that is, those of us who like this kind of thing. Anyone else is going to complain about having to hold down the right directional button to advance the story.
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Star Trek: Voyager Season One | re:View
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Comment on Megathread: April Fools' Day 2026 on the internet in ~talk
BailerAppleby Link Parent“Each kart is turbo-boosted by 64 superconducting engines,” explains project leader Mario Idraulico. “When the engines are cooled to below their critical temperatures, the Meissner effect levitates the karts, allowing them to zip through the tunnels at high speeds and, mamma mia, they’re super!”
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Comment on Haliey Welch interview (Hawk Tuah) by Channel 5 in ~life
BailerAppleby Link ParentIt seems clear to me that she had a good upbringing that instilled a good sense of morality, otherwise she'd be completely wrecked by fame. Instead, she's like, yeah, if i wasn't famous I'd be...It seems clear to me that she had a good upbringing that instilled a good sense of morality, otherwise she'd be completely wrecked by fame. Instead, she's like, yeah, if i wasn't famous I'd be working at the spring factory, it's decent work that i enjoy. Total salt of the earth. Same boyfriend throughout the whole ordeal even.
I'd watch a podcast of her being a normal person while being in extraordinary circumstances. Like driving to a red carpet event in her pickup, ordering drivethru while wearing a gown.
Jean jackets are back in style, baby!