CannibalisticApple's recent activity
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Comment on GOG apologies for emailing Nazi runes to its followers in ~games
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Comment on Persona 6 | Teaser trailer in ~games
CannibalisticApple Link ParentIt's kind of a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, I strongly relate because I typically play through games once (and often without actually reaching the end). I didn't finish Persona 5 (though was...It's kind of a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, I strongly relate because I typically play through games once (and often without actually reaching the end). I didn't finish Persona 5 (though was at the end game), and after getting Royal I haven't gotten very far in it despite enjoying it a lot. Persona 5 is just long.
But the way they handle it is different from how DLC expansions usually work. They don't just add an extra semester, they add multiple new characters, a new area with lots of beneficial locations that can boost stats or social links, expand existing dungeons and Mementos, add some new combat mechanics and do some rebalancing, add new Arcana for personas, add more effects from weather, new scenes for some existing social links (and one important link is completely overhauled)...
Basically, it doesn't just add some extra story or bonus content, it overhauls the base game by introducing a lot of new content and quality of life adjustments that significantly impact overall gameplay. (Actually, looking up a list of changes, I was surprised to see how many features and mechanics I'd forgotten were new or changed, like Showtime attacks or bad weather boosting gains from studying.) Even without accounting for the new characters and third semester, it's the kind of total overhaul where many players would likely want to start a new file anyway to experience the benefit of all these features from the beginning.
They actually do a pretty good job at making it a "definitive" edition rather than just a basic expansion, and I'm not sure I want them to abandon that model in favor of exclusively add-on DLC. I've been sad by Pokémon shifting to that model because the third versions were typically the best versions of those games due to how the base game was expanded and altered.
And on that note, it really sucks when the DLC feels like part the definitive way to play a game because that raises the "entry" price tag. I can't recommend Pokémon Sword/Shield without the DLC because the base game is so short, and that makes the price tag $90. Meanwhile I have no interest in getting more than one version because DLC is tied to each individual version. At least when there was a third version, new players could just buy that and skip the first two.
I think the ideal model for Persona might be to sell a special edition as both a standalone for new players, and a cheaper add-on for people who already own the base game. Not sure how they could make the overhauled features and new characters/content work with existing saves, but people can at least start a New Game Plus file.
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Comment on Among Us S01E01 - ”A Pizza Party Where Nothing Bad Happens” in ~tv
CannibalisticApple Link ParentI'll pop in to note that Infinity Train is aimed at older kids than most kids' shows. The target audience is in the 12+ and teens range, which is a fairly neglected demographic as this article...I'll pop in to note that Infinity Train is aimed at older kids than most kids' shows. The target audience is in the 12+ and teens range, which is a fairly neglected demographic as this article about its cancelation notes.
That older demographic means it can tackle a lot of heavy themes very directly (death and grief/loss is a big recurring theme throughout multiple seasons), and have a lot more nightmare fuel moments. It doesn't need to be subtle or try to soften blows for younger kids, which lets it explore its themes and characters with much more depth. Every character has serious internal turmoil they need to work through.
This becomes really clear with season 3 in my opinion, because that's when the tone gets really dark. Both in terms of content and themes, and that one death at the end which is particularly gruesome for a kids' show. I don't know if they always planned that death to be that dark, or if they got even more freedom since seasons 3 and 4 were exclusive to HBO Max. The first two seasons aired on Cartoon Network (which is where I watched them), which likely merited some restraint given younger kids could easily find it, but that wasn't a concern with season 3.
Overall: really good show. The anthology format means the show's cancelation doesn't leave the audience with a massive cliffhanger, as each season does tell a largely contained story focused on different characters' journeys on the train, but we still want the full planned eight seasons because it's really good. There are connecting threads throughout each season telling a greater story about the train, and we want to see what that full arc is!
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Comment on Among Us S01E01 - ”A Pizza Party Where Nothing Bad Happens” in ~tv
CannibalisticApple Link ParentSadly, I think that the decision isn't entirely his. grumble grumble stupid legal rights, grumble grumble stupid networksSadly, I think that the decision isn't entirely his. grumble grumble stupid legal rights, grumble grumble stupid networks
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Comment on Persona 6 | Teaser trailer in ~games
CannibalisticApple LinkThis got an actual gasp from me. But so far no Steam page. Looks like it may very well be an Xbox exclusive, at least at first, which makes me sad.This got an actual gasp from me.
But so far no Steam page. Looks like it may very well be an Xbox exclusive, at least at first, which makes me sad.
granted my Steam Deck is weak and I don't have a PS5, so I'd likely have to wait for a Switch 2 port, but still -
Comment on I'm ever more annoyed with Steam in ~games
CannibalisticApple LinkSo I'd written up a comment about how the conversations around the review system reminded me of a recent game that had some... interesting reviews, and I had a small epiphany about why Steam...So I'd written up a comment about how the conversations around the review system reminded me of a recent game that had some... interesting reviews, and I had a small epiphany about why Steam likely weighs positive reviews a bit more.
Basically, we're kind of hardwired to vent about stuff we don't like. It's not just gaming, we're more likely to rant about a bad day at work than talk about a regular or above-average day. Unless something exceptionally good happens, typically bad stuff will stand out in our minds more.
In the case of games, players who fall in love with a game will sing its praises and find excuses to rave about it, but not many games will evoke that sort of passion on a wider level. Players who merely like or feel content with a game aren't as likely to have much to say.
In comparison, it's a lot easier to be irritated by a game's issues, and a review is a great space to complain.
To add to that, leaving a review requires buying a game. For the most part that's good since it limits review bombing, but it also acts as the first "gate" to the bias by limiting it to people with an interest in the game. For more niche genres, the players are more likely to be passionate, so reviews can lean in either direction for valid reasons. For more broadly appealing genres, though, they'll need more motivation to leave a review. And as I said above, we have an easier time complaining than just saying something's is alright.
Also, sometimes people leave negative reviews for really dumb and petty reasons. And people are unlikely to ever change a negative review, as many bad reviews come after reaching a final straw that causes them to drop the game entirely. Even if the issues that they complained about are fixed, they're unlikely to return. This is why Steam specifically mentions "overall" versus "recent" reviews, as updates can bring out large waves of bad reviews as people quit. Satisfied and content players likely won't feel compelled to leave a new review on every update.
Altogether, review systems are just really complicated to keep balanced and fair, let alone nuanced. There's a reason other storefronts dropped them entirely. Steam does a pretty good job all things considered.
By the way, if anyone's curious about the game that brought on this revelation (spoilering because it's tangential and also has racist and political themes):
It was a game released last month called Plantation Manager. Title says it all. You play as a white guy with a big hat who whips black men to make them more productive. Initially all the reviews were positive, because you need to own a game on Steam to leave a review and obviously non-racists didn't want to pay money to people behind such a project, while racists are always eager to sing the praises of anything racist.
I became aware of the game's existence after it was updated to replace the black men with white women in bikinis (or maybe femboys, given other games by the same developer), and had the player kiss them instead of whip them. Obviously, the reviews tanked because all of the racists were very mad about being trolled, and racists are loud and vocal when they aren't being actively ragebaited by a massive troll of a developer. The devs were clearly having a lot of fun poking at bigots and getting them to froth at the mouth.
The developers have since had the game delisted from Steam since they felt they've "said what needed to be said" (though unfortunately guides apparently float around to get the original version running). But reading the reviews from angry bigots ranting about the updates made me keenly aware of just how much buying a game creates an immediate bias in reviews. After all, the only people who'd buy it in the first place were racists. All initial critique was external.
Most games won't have such an extreme bias in the reviews (or come from such a vocal group), but a bias does automatically exist on Steam reviews, for better or worse.
Moving on, I want to comment on this point:
Refund window is a bad joke. For some kinds of games it is fine, for others it does not even allow to get out of tutorial. Sadly it is still better than a lot of other platforms
Refund systems are also complicated, as even now, the 2 hour refund window causes issues for smaller indie devs. Several indie games can be completed under 2 hours, and there have been cases of developers leaving game development because of mass refunds despite the game getting good reviews. A friend active in the game development scene mentioned knowing multiple indie devs who had issues with "4chan memers" in particular bulk-refunding short and inexpensive games, and that it apparently caused issues for some due to the refunds being processed before they got paid for the initial sale.
While not many games on Steam are under 2 hours, there are a lot of indie games in the 2-5 hour range, so extending the refund window would increase refund abuse. It's tricky to balance since there are long games that would benefit from a longer refund window, but Steam just doesn't have a good way to measure that sort of thing. Newly launched games don't exactly have stats they can use as a reference, and asking developers about the game's length would obviously be abused since they want to avoid refunds. Really no clean solution, the two hour window is probably the best "sweet spot" available without analyzing every individual game on a case-by-case basis.
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Comment on Steam Machine and Steam Frame will be shipping this summer in ~games
CannibalisticApple Link ParentThis case is a bit different from the usual complaining because people actively want these systems and many planned to get them. But until recently, $1k was on the higher end of predicted prices,...This case is a bit different from the usual complaining because people actively want these systems and many planned to get them. But until recently, $1k was on the higher end of predicted prices, and now it's looking to be guaranteed. A $1k+ price will place them firmly out of a lot of budgets, especially in the current economy.
So yeah. A lot of the complaints will be coming from people who'd actually wanted to get these instead of total outsiders just looking for reasons to be mad.
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Comment on Mighty Cuphead Adventure | Teaser trailer in ~games
CannibalisticApple Link ParentI didn't even think of it as a dig at AI, just a humorous nod to the fact it's made using actual, hand-drawn animation on paper. Even without taking AI slop into account, barely any animation is...I didn't even think of it as a dig at AI, just a humorous nod to the fact it's made using actual, hand-drawn animation on paper. Even without taking AI slop into account, barely any animation is made by drawing on actual paper these days.
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Comment on What are your predictions and wishes for the upcoming Nintendo Direct? in ~games
CannibalisticApple LinkI'd say the first year for the Switch 2 was pretty good, especially considering how the economy was thrown into a tailspin the day it was announced. (Seriously. That day is when Trump announced...I'd say the first year for the Switch 2 was pretty good, especially considering how the economy was thrown into a tailspin the day it was announced. (Seriously. That day is when Trump announced the tariffs and the global economy was thrown into a state of perpetually fluctuating uncertainty.)
So far my only exclusives are Mario Kart World and Pokopia. Pokopia did definitely steal the show for me, and is definitely a console seller. And while Mario Kart World fell a bit short of expectations from what I hear (I mainly remember complaints about how the races basically have a single lap around some tracks due to the travel part of the races), I find it still pretty fun and incredibly well polished.
Actually I really want to just walk around the world and talk to peopleThey also got some major ports and big updates to existing games that have been well received. Really, I think the biggest controversy is around the pricing of games, but that's pretty par for the course with Nintendo. I've been very satisfied with mine, though I'm also firmly locked into the Nintendo ecosystem as a lifelong Pokémon and Animal Crossing fan.
So! My predictions are as follows:
- Final trailers for Splatoon Raiders, since that comes out in July
- Zelda movie stuff, probably
- No news about mainline Pokémon games, I think Pokémon usually does their own separate directs for big announcements
- ...but I predict an announcement for the next in-game Pokopia event after the Hoppip and Sableye events, and an update to add it and maybe one or two future events into the code. No DLC news though. (Rumors are that DLC will come out next year and basically add five areas and hundreds of more Pokémon...? Not sure how true that will be, it's based on old plans found in the teraleak)
And my main wish: Animal Crossing news. PLEASE.
My biggest desire is a remake of the original GameCube game with new QoL features from the newer games. While I see a lot of people wanting a remake of New Leaf, the original had this special, truly cozy charm that the rest of the series has just never recaptured. I'd love to see them return there and add some newer features, like hairstyles, proper clothes, newer tools, swimming, the Roost, bigger houses, etc. They could have Kapp'n take you to an island with newer content too instead of the original island (though I think some players would LOVE the second house).
Next best option would be adding it to the virtual console, but the game's calendar ends on December 31, 2030, at which point it loops back to January 1, 2030. So a remake is probably a better option for longevity. And also, some features have a LOT more friction after experiencing the newer games. Storage sucks because dressers only hold 3 items, fishing is hard and I kept losing fish last year, moving items in your inventory is tedious because you can't just use a single button press but have to go through a small menu, customization is highly limited due to how clothing works, etc.
But I really just want a return to the original village. I even weirdly miss having to mail fossils to the Faraway Museum to examine them. Actually, I guess I just miss mail in general. The postcard kiosk in New Horizons really remove the charm of writing letters, I liked working on letters at my own leisure while walking around town.
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Comment on What are your predictions and wishes for the upcoming Nintendo Direct? in ~games
CannibalisticApple Link ParentI played Legends Z-A and liked it. I think the city concept is actually really good, because the developers can focus more on developing one city than having to worry about designing a wildly...I played Legends Z-A and liked it. I think the city concept is actually really good, because the developers can focus more on developing one city than having to worry about designing a wildly diverse variety of locations and settings. Plenty of other games have been set inside a single city that felt visually amazing (Master Detective Archives: Rain Code and Gotham Knights come to mind). But it did fall short and would have worked better if they had more... Well, the city aspects.
Lumiose City is one of the most fleshed-out cities in all of Pokémon. It has a lab, a museum, stores, cafes, houses, hotels, multiple Pokémon Centers, Prism Tower and the gym—it has every major type of location in the franchise. If they wanted a game focused on a single city, Lumiose is genuinely the best choice.
But the buildings are underutilized. There are some clearly distinct buildings such as a bank and a town hall, places that I think are even mentioned as landmarks at points in the story, but we can't enter them. You can only enter a few buildings, and most of them only have two "rooms" (e.g. a lobby/entrance and maybe a second room). Stores and boutiques meanwhile are strictly rabbit holes where you just get a menu rather than a physical location you can enter.
What's particularly frustrating to me is that it barely makes use of returning buildings. I think I managed to find the Lumiose Press building in the same location as X & Y and it does look visually different from other buildings, but you can't go inside it and it has no relevance. The returning hotel also only has the lobby and a party room, despite being able to explore a few floors in the original game. We can't even enter the Prism Tower due to plot reasons.
The end result is that, despite being set inside a single city, it's still almost entirely outdoors. Heck, even the cafes are strictly outdoors. And in a largely urban setting, that can become monotonous, especially given how "basic" the city's layout and design is. It would be cool to have to go up and down stairs more to reach certain parts of the city, or have districts that are more visually distinct and thematic like an arts district or more industrial parts. Add new stores that reference Parisian culture, like a cluster of book and comic stores.
They had the opportunity to expand the city since it's now the sole focal point, but they kept the map and layout pretty much identical to X and Y while making most of the buildings purely decorative. And that's where the game fell short in my opinion.
still looks better than Scarlet and Violet though -
Comment on Bricks & Minifigs corporate stole a man's $200,000 Lego collection and told him to get bent in ~hobbies
CannibalisticApple LinkBy the way, Bricks and Minifigs submitted a formal legal complaint to Patreon to take down Reckless Ben's Patreon page. Here is the response from the Patreon CEO. It's a video, but less than a...- Exemplary
By the way, Bricks and Minifigs submitted a formal legal complaint to Patreon to take down Reckless Ben's Patreon page.
Here is the response from the Patreon CEO. It's a video, but less than a minute. If you want to skip it anyway and just want to know what he said, here:
"After an extensive review and investigation by Patreon's trust and safety team, we have in fact unfortunately determined that Bricks & Minifigs... can stuff it. We're keeping Ben's page up. And if Bricks & Minfigs doesn't like that, they can sue us."
...also I haven't been following this too closely, but apparently Ben had to flee to Mexico to avoid the police?? This case is genuinely getting even wilder.
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Comment on The rise of build-to-rent housing in ~finance
CannibalisticApple Link ParentThe too many people is usually more of a "symptom" than a direct issue (though parking would become a problem). Basically, most reasonable people wouldn't rent or buy a two-bedroom house and then...The too many people is usually more of a "symptom" than a direct issue (though parking would become a problem). Basically, most reasonable people wouldn't rent or buy a two-bedroom house and then cram in fifteen people of varying ages. And that many people in one small house are just naturally loud and messy. Some of the tales I recall hearing involve people coming and going at all hours, or young children being left largely unsupervised and screaming at all hours.
As for the other issues, while they should be subject to law or bylaw enforcement, the challenge is actually getting it enforced. It's not even an issue of not wanting to call the cops, but that they just can't or won't do anything. There are countless tales of how useless police can be when dealing with bad neighbors (including some where the police are sympathetic and NOT being lazy or dismissive) unless the neighbor is very obviously doing something highly illegal. Similar story with bylaw violations: it's dependent on the relevant agencies actually enforcing them.
Sometimes it's laziness or apathy on the part of the relevant agencies... and sometimes it's just that a neighbor being crazy or an asshole doesn't break any laws or bylaws. There are all sorts of examples I want to cite but keep cutting for being too tangential; tales of bad neighbors can be fascinating rabbit holes.
I want to emphasize this is a problem with all bad neighbors, not just renters. When they're homeowners, sometimes the only feasible solution is to just move away. But with renters, it can genuinely be more productive to alert the landlord to the issues. Local landlords have a lot more financial and social incentives to evict problematic tenants, or at least try to get them to tone down the worst of their behaviors.
National rental companies meanwhile... Really don't have a reason to care too much. They just want rent, and really don't care what people do in the houses so long as they're paying and the house is still standing. They can absorb the financial blow of a bad tenant much more easily.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
CannibalisticApple LinkMy mom and I just watched the first episode of The Boroughs. And we are definitely going to like this and are disappointed we can't watch more tonight. We went in mostly blind after seeing a title...My mom and I just watched the first episode of The Boroughs. And we are definitely going to like this and are disappointed we can't watch more tonight.
We went in mostly blind after seeing a title card for it after she watched the David Letterman show, and just thought it looked interesting. So I'll just say that if you like the sci-fi/horror vibes of Stranger Things, well the Duffer Brothers are executive producers and this show has a similar atmosphere. Just with old people instead of kids.
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Comment on The rise of build-to-rent housing in ~finance
CannibalisticApple Link ParentNational companies don't have any interest in making sure their tenants aren't nuisances to the surrounding community. I've seen multiple horror stories on reddit where posters struggled to get...National companies don't have any interest in making sure their tenants aren't nuisances to the surrounding community. I've seen multiple horror stories on reddit where posters struggled to get those sorts of companies to respond to renters who had bad behavior. Things like clearly having way too many people living there, engaging in shady behavior, harassing neighbors, getting constant noise complaints, etc.
Basically the companies don't seem to care too much so long as tenants pay rent and aren't outright destroying the house—and even then, they can just have their lawyers go after the tenants after they're evicted to recoup costs. They have so many rental properties that one house being trashed and off the market for a bit isn't a big deal.
Meanwhile more local landlords... Well, at bare minimum they're easier to find and goad into taking action if tenants cause problems. And they also usually have only a few properties, so they have stronger incentive to ensure their tenants aren't damaging the property.
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Comment on Alternatives to a straw hat in ~life.style
CannibalisticApple Link ParentYeah, this is important. If it's a problem specifically with straw itself, then some of the suggestions here might not work. And I'll add on to your warning about sunscreen that sadly, sunglasses...Yeah, this is important. If it's a problem specifically with straw itself, then some of the suggestions here might not work.
And I'll add on to your warning about sunscreen that sadly, sunglasses may still be a necessity. I have a wide-brimmed hat that I wear on walks with my dog, but I still need sunglasses because the sunlight reflects off everything. It's the glare that's the big issue...
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Conclusion and Recap in ~games
CannibalisticApple Link ParentThere is a cut dark ending, "Escape from the Margarita Zone". The game even still has some small hints towards it in a couple of the routes, I think they cut it fairly late into development. Data...There is a cut dark ending, "Escape from the Margarita Zone". The game even still has some small hints towards it in a couple of the routes, I think they cut it fairly late into development. Data miners managed to find old files related to it deep in the code, so they added it back in as an Easter egg and non-canon secret ending.
If anyone wants to experience it blind, I copied the steps from the wiki to activate it in the spoiler box below. If you're just curious, the wiki and pretty much anything else talking about it give away the details of why it's dark pretty much immediately.
Finish all routes in the game, then select the following settings during the Build that Dad:
Thick tank bod
Oval head
Balding hair
Wide eyes
Roman nose
Cheese mouth
Wizard brows
No facial hair
Pilot glasses
No piercing
Tommy bananas suit
Name = "Jimmy Buffett"
Hair color, skin color, and eye color have no impact.If you do all that, and then finish the Build that Dad requirements, creepy music will play while confirming the Dad. A pop-up should appear with a note from the developers. If you want to experience the ending, click "GIVE ME THIS NIGHTMARE" to cut straight to it. The other two options will prevent the ending from occurring.
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Comment on Demand is booming for new no tech, repairable tractor in ~transport
CannibalisticApple Link ParentI think that "no tech" isn't too much of an exaggeration here, since a big part of the problem is manufacturers adding unnecessary electronic technology to otherwise mechanical designs. And at...I think that "no tech" isn't too much of an exaggeration here, since a big part of the problem is manufacturers adding unnecessary electronic technology to otherwise mechanical designs. And at this point, I usually see "[X] tech" as short hand for more advanced and electronic technology. I mean, we generally refer to the career field involving computers as "the tech industry". "Low tech" might be a better fit (and I think the article's actual text uses that more), but the title got the point across to me instantly: farmers want tractors that don't have freaking software.
Come to think of it, there's not really a proper word to describe more advanced, electronic-heavy technology. "Computerized" doesn't really feel that fitting since some products don't really have a computer inside them. Similar thing going on with "digital". We have plenty of "smart" products, but that's largely used for branding and doesn't necessarily mean electronic technology is involved.
Huh. Wonder if we'll ever develop a proper word for it. "Technology" is pretty broad by definition, but we rarely use "tech" to talk about the simpler forms these days. At least, not in common conversation.
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Comment on Demand is booming for new no tech, repairable tractor in ~transport
CannibalisticApple LinkI'm genuinely surprised it took this long for someone to finally make a repairable, low-tech tractor. Good for them! Hopefully bigger companies will follow suit when they see the demand in action....I'm genuinely surprised it took this long for someone to finally make a repairable, low-tech tractor. Good for them! Hopefully bigger companies will follow suit when they see the demand in action.
Also, special shoutout to this line:
For years, people who don’t understand the repair monopoly issue—that John Deere controls the parts production and distribution for its tractors, the software that runs its tractors, the diagnostics for its tractors, and the repair guides for its tractors—have said that farmers should simply vote with their wallets and buy tractors from a different company. The problem has been that, until now, there hasn’t really been an alternative company that doesn’t have similar repair practices.
This is my biggest gripe with people saying "vote with your wallet" or "just don't buy it" whenever people complain about a product. Sometimes, there are literally no alternative options. It's either that product or nothing, or in some cases the options are worse. Just because something's more polished than the other pieces of shit on the market doesn't mean it's not a turd.
People stick with bad products and services out of necessity, not because they want to. Often when a better option arises, they'll immediately ditch it. Just wish more idiots would understand that rather than be condescending.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Conclusion and Recap in ~games
CannibalisticApple LinkMy Final Card Flux Custom bingo ✅ 20/25 ✅ Analogue: A Hate Story Has multiple playable characters ✅ Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls) Has a fishing minigame ✅...My Final Card
Flux Custom bingo ✅ 20/25 Set in space
✅ Analogue: A Hate StoryHas multiple playable characters Has both combat and puzzles
✅ Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls)Has a fishing minigame Is mostly text-based
✅ Analogue: A Hate StoryHas great reviews, but not your usual type Your friend loves it
✅ Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls)Came out more than 10 years ago
✅ Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls)Has been played at a Backlog Burner
✅ Another Crab's TreasureA romhack or total conversion mod
✅ Pokémon Kanto Expansion PackHas a calm vibe
✅ NUTSIt’s already installed
✅ Say No! More★ Wildcard
✅ NUTSHas more than 3 words in its title
✅ Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls)Has zombies
✅ Hate PlusFocuses on exploration
✅ Doki Monsters: QuestRecommended by someone on Tildes
✅ Say No! MoreYou're giving it a second chance Is beatable without killing any enemies
✅ Say No! MoreOwned for more than 2 years
✅ NUTSFrom a genre you don’t normally play
✅ Another Crab's TreasureYou have to tinker to get it running Features a mystery
✅ Analogue: A Hate StoryMakes you think
✅ Analogue: A Hate StoryHas a third-person perspective
✅ Pokémon Kanto Expansion PackSo in the end I guess I straddled the line. I started the month on Team Mellow, mainly because of my crippling Pokopia obsession. It was hard to pull myself away from it to play other games at first. But as the month went on I became more and more able to resist its siren call, and now I've been freed. And in the final week, I got put on Team Motivated because I managed to pull off two bingo's.
I really was in-between though. I still wanted to get a bingo, so I went with a custom card that allowed for duplicates, but followed standard rules rather than a blackout like a golf card. And I also used the Flux instead of Flow style, because I do find Flow easier. And I avoided ticking off too many squares for each game, though partially because I knew there'd be some overlap.
But it was pretty laidback compared to the last few burners I joined. I just played the games I wanted, and was pleasantly surprised to get multiple bingo's.
This month's standout games for me are definitely Analogue: A Hate Story and Hate Plus. I actually waited to post until finishing Hate Plus's harem route yesterday. They're admittedly more stories than game due to being visual novels (especially Hate Plus), but they're thought-provoking. And Hate Plus... Let's just say I saw some unexpected parallels to current American politics. Even without that, they'll both stay with me for a long time. (Actually kinda wish we could get another one exploring a completely unrelated ship's files with our AI assistant(s). Hate Plus ends on a definite "and the adventure is just beginning" note.) Thanks again to @cheep_cheep for giving me the keys to both during a giveaway!
(Also, a tip to anyone wanting to check them out: use a mouse with a scroll wheel for Hate Plus. I confirmed that the Steam Deck works with wireless mice, and that's the main reason I was able to finish it. Because without the scroll wheel, the interface scrolls through files one single line at a time. It's a pain to reread logs on other routes when you just want to see the other girl's reactions to the contents. So, yeah. Scroll wheel is practically a necessity.)
Overall, this was a good month for me. I broke free of Pokopia's choking hold, my main goal for this month, and can now live my life. I can read more fan fics, and leave the house more. Right now I'm still playing Little Known Galaxy, the game I started at the end of the month, and it's definitely a nice and mellow note to end the month on.
.......Though, while I have been told I will no longer face trial for being switched to Team Motivated at the end of the month due to forgetting Another Crab's Treasure is a soulslike and just wanting to play it for the crabs (and thanks to @kfwyre for that game!), I do still have my defense prepared for anyone who might accuse me:
It's all @Wes's fault.
He pushed me to keep playing Another Crab's Treasure without changing settings any further until I beat the Duchess, which was a key factor in the decision to switch me to Team Motivated. He (and whoever voted for his comment) then encouraged me to count AI copies of dead people as Zombies, which is how I got my third bingo. If you look at all the bingo's, there are a lot of duplicate squares involved. Hate Plus is the only game on the entire card with only a single square on the board. Well, and Dokimon, but only because I'd already played games that fit the other squares that could work for it. I had no intentions of marking any squares for Hate Plus.
I wanted a bingo, sure, but Wes was the one who encouraged me to act with more motivation! He even admitted to corrupting me! And I was too mellow to resist his corrupting influence and just went with the flow. I am just fortunate it was late in the month and I only had one game with potential motivation-adjacent gameplay on my immediate priority list.
So yeah. To sum up my defense: the switch is all on Wes. Beware his influence, fellow Mellows, or you too may gain a burst of motivation and find yourself swayed to the motivated side...
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Comment on Serious relationship problem, seeking advice in ~life
CannibalisticApple Link ParentI mean... An affair would end in pain for everyone, but a polycule would mean everyone is happy and consenting. It's basically the "happiest" ending, and I'd say it's the "better" fantasy since it...I mean... An affair would end in pain for everyone, but a polycule would mean everyone is happy and consenting. It's basically the "happiest" ending, and I'd say it's the "better" fantasy since it at least implies caring about everyone's feelings rather than just your own satisfaction. Even fantasizing about an affair feels selfish to me, even more so in a situation with sisters since that would tear the family apart.
Also they used the term "poly V", which I just looked up. It's a polycule where there's three partners, A, B, and C, but the only romantic/sexual relationships are between A/B and A/C. B and C would have no such relationship to each other, and no outside partners. So no incest between sisters, they'd just share a single partner.
It's definitely the "happiest" ending since there are no breakups or family fights, but also the most unrealistic.
I also don't know if I would have automatically made the assumption without knowing the context. I've seen the double-sig, but it's been a while, and I definitely can't remember seeing the first two. So I showed it to my mom, and she recognized the double-sig from tattoos coming up in true crime shows. (And seriously, having that one twice has no plausible excuse.)
Though uh... The first two runes remind me of the article "Why do AI company logos look like buttholes?" So I wonder if we can somehow get some traction on that to either mock the symbols when used by neo-nazis, or get AI companies to hastily rebrand.