CptBluebear's recent activity
-
Comment on With most information hidden, the game Stratego had stumped AI—until now in ~games
-
Comment on With most information hidden, the game Stratego had stumped AI—until now in ~games
CptBluebear LinkAnyone played this game? It's Dutch in origin and so quintessential in Dutch upbringing I long held the notion it did not exist at any significant scale outside of the country. It comes to no...Anyone played this game? It's Dutch in origin and so quintessential in Dutch upbringing I long held the notion it did not exist at any significant scale outside of the country. It comes to no surprise the champion is a Dutch player.
There have been four player variants of the game, king of the hill variants, you can even play it in real life which is an experience many Dutch people share from their youth.
Oh and yeah the ai won some games or something.
-
Comment on Do you have an "anime of the season"? | Summer 2026 (June - Sept) in ~anime
CptBluebear Link ParentThere will be a new november movie cut release that reedits the six episodes, with added scenes. Perhaps that's a better way to experience the dread: all at once and never again.There will be a new november movie cut release that reedits the six episodes, with added scenes. Perhaps that's a better way to experience the dread: all at once and never again.
-
Comment on Got my hands on a Steam Frame. Can't use it much for not having prescription lenses yet, but AMA. in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentThat is assuming they charge at the same rate for two hours, which they don't. Charging slows down at the high end. Gamers Nexus's testing showed some troubling signs but those aren't supposed to...That is assuming they charge at the same rate for two hours, which they don't. Charging slows down at the high end.
Gamers Nexus's testing showed some troubling signs but those aren't supposed to be the way it works, as Valve indicated by sending their own reports as a response.
I don't know if anyone else verified the GN results.
-
Comment on Who gets the Steam Frame? Did Valve pick you for the first wave? in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentFair enough. I don't particularly like selling it for a profit, brushes too close to scalping that I'm comfortable with, but it'll sell without too much effort.Fair enough. I don't particularly like selling it for a profit, brushes too close to scalping that I'm comfortable with, but it'll sell without too much effort.
-
Comment on European governments see a threatening Russian campaign of covert and deniable actions aimed at unsettling Ukraine's allies and eroding Western unity in ~society
CptBluebear (edited )Link ParentWhat if two? I don't think European citizens are aware of how weak the actual Russian army is at this point in time. Combine that with the shambling corpse they call an economy and there is...what happens if 28 out of 32 NATO members step up?
What if two? I don't think European citizens are aware of how weak the actual Russian army is at this point in time. Combine that with the shambling corpse they call an economy and there is shockingly little they can do in a conventional war.
Manpower is a Ukrainian problem and they're still making gains. What if just two middle or even one large power steps up? Turkey looking for some extra black sea ports perhaps? Poland that's currently sharpening their teeth at an alarming rate? Finland, whose force design is made specifically to fight Russian armies?
It's not free, it never is, but I strongly doubt there is any real chance for a Russian victory through Russian aggression. NATO sans US still vastly over matches Russia in economic power and technology. With the new spending targets the EU is set to outspend the US, or at least get damn near close.
A fraying NATO is problematic and Teflon Mark is totally the wrong leader for that large an organisation, but even then the alliance still has a mean hook.
-
Comment on Who gets the Steam Frame? Did Valve pick you for the first wave? in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentI have an 8bitdo Ultimate 2 already. Great for smaller hands and thus my wife. It can't hurt to stay in the queue I guess. Perhaps I can send it to you if I don't need it 😉I have an 8bitdo Ultimate 2 already. Great for smaller hands and thus my wife. It can't hurt to stay in the queue I guess. Perhaps I can send it to you if I don't need it 😉
-
Comment on Who gets the Steam Frame? Did Valve pick you for the first wave? in ~games
CptBluebear (edited )Link ParentYeahhh that's my take on it as well. If I don't buy it right now who knows when the next opportunity will come up. I signed up for the Steam Controller too and that one will not happen until 2027,...The difference is I can buy GPU anytime I want, you can't do that with Frame.
Yeahhh that's my take on it as well. If I don't buy it right now who knows when the next opportunity will come up. I signed up for the Steam Controller too and that one will not happen until 2027, I don't know if the Frame will have similar delays (side note: I doubt it will take that long, it's probably not as in demand as the Controller because of the price alone but still). Which reminds me that I should unsubscribe for the Controller, I don't actually need one anymore since I got the Steam Machine + Controller bundle.
ypu explained the family/personal finances sometime ago in some other thread. Seems like nice system.you have.
It is. I never have to discuss with my wife whether or not our finances are able to take a hit like that. I do tell her if I spend a lot, it's still good to know how much we roughly have should something crazy happen. The important thing is that we don't have to ask for permission if it's our own money. Like me, she has her own bank account too for her own spending. We set aside a default amount of our salary for ourselves and send the rest to our shared account. The separation makes it easy to have a little freedom in buying frivolous shit like a Steam Frame or too much Elden Ring collectors edition paraphernalia.
-
Comment on Who gets the Steam Frame? Did Valve pick you for the first wave? in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentI reserved the 256gb model. I don't see the added benefit of adding 800gb for another €200 when I'll likely be streaming games through my much more powerful PC. My finances do allow it though I'll...I reserved the 256gb model. I don't see the added benefit of adding 800gb for another €200 when I'll likely be streaming games through my much more powerful PC.
My finances do allow it though I'll be draining my personal savings. Not a huge deal, my family bank account is in good standing and my own savings will not impact my ability to afford my house. Those are separate bank accounts, and my personal cash is for personal use so in that sense my family would be fine if I got the Frame.
I recently had a scare the RAM in my PC was dying and if I had no savings I couldn't replace them. Healthy finances mean being able to take emergency hits without it impacting day to day life, which I'd be straining if I got the Frame. Now again, these are not life threatening emergencies. The personal "emergency" would mean my hardware or other personal effects breaking down without being able to replace them.
Luckily it's not a terribly difficult choice but I did want to have a little more saved up before spending another rack shortly after buying the Machine. It basically comes down to the fact that I was perfectly ok with waiting but they now "force" me to make a choice.
How are you in EU and moving from waitlist to reservations when I didn't get an order e-mail yet???
No idea. It does imply that someone else dropped out and I may be part of the same first wave as you.
-
Comment on Who gets the Steam Frame? Did Valve pick you for the first wave? in ~games
CptBluebear LinkNo Valve! It's too soon! I mentioned earlier that I was fine with being on the wait list as I recently bought the Machine and getting both would be an expensive ordeal but now I received the...No Valve! It's too soon!
I mentioned earlier that I was fine with being on the wait list as I recently bought the Machine and getting both would be an expensive ordeal but now I received the reservation email too.
I'm genuinely torn. I do want it. But not yet. Maybe.
That aside, getting the email does mean the wait list is moving up. I can't tell you if that means people are dropping out or if the stock is replenishing though. Either way, others may receive their reservation emails too so keep an eye on your mailbox if you were on the wait list and hoping to snag one.
Important to add, I'm in the EU so this may not apply to the US or elsewhere. -
Comment on Toem 2 | Launch trailer in ~games
CptBluebear LinkTOEM 1 was a weird game. Not in the sense of what the fuck am I playing though. I remember getting this game for free through PlayStation Plus a couple of years ago. I didn't know what it was and...TOEM 1 was a weird game. Not in the sense of what the fuck am I playing though.
I remember getting this game for free through PlayStation Plus a couple of years ago. I didn't know what it was and it looked rather simple. I ended up 100% completing it in a few sessions because it just took me in with its simple but charming gameplay loop. It's weird how it took me in.
The game is simple. You take pictures of things. You have to find those things first though, which can mean you talk to NPCs and do puzzle adjacent tasks that unlock new areas or create scenarios that allow you to take the picture. It all culminated in a pretty and sweet ending that made me internally happy with its message.
I never did the expansion, nor is it likely I'll play this one as playing more might taint the experience of completing the first entirely by how it took me in by surprise. Knowing myself I'd probably go in like a completionist making the experience a lesser one through no fault of its own.
If you haven't played TOEM, and this is assuming 2 is as interesting as 1, I'd say go for it. Let yourself be guided by the world for a couple of hours and end it on a happy note.
-
Comment on I don’t feel like I’m a creative person. How could I fix that and get ideas? in ~creative
CptBluebear (edited )Link@lostwax alluded to it, but I want to reiterate it: creativity is something you can practice. "Just do it" sounds like bad advise, but perhaps it's one you need. Try different types of creative...@lostwax alluded to it, but I want to reiterate it: creativity is something you can practice.
"Just do it" sounds like bad advise, but perhaps it's one you need. Try different types of creative outlets. Draw, paint, sing, practice.
I'm a member of a small group of people that create art every month based on a single word or concept. Because there's a word associated with it, it introduces restrictions that allow people to focus their time and attention on creating something rather than think about where they should start.
We see stuff like poetry, drawings, linguistic word webs, videos, music, even the occasional game. All because people wanted to make something that was based on a single word.So again: practice. Once you start practicing you'll see that other things will trigger that creative thought saying "hey this could be something".
We are our own biggest critic. "Just do it" also means letting go of that critic. The simple fact you made something is the goal. The goal is not to make something great or perfect, but to make anything. Over time you'll see it comes easier, gets better, and becomes more fun.
Edit to add: Timasomo just started here on Tildes. Perhaps a good start?
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentCompletely agree with this. It's great when you can throw funny units against the wall and laugh at the blowing away animation when you shoot at things, but it becomes a chore when you have to...I eventually stopped following the series because all that brain strain just wore me down
Completely agree with this. It's great when you can throw funny units against the wall and laugh at the blowing away animation when you shoot at things, but it becomes a chore when you have to brutally optimize every move. I don't mind difficult games, but I do mind when there is no reprieve from the intensity. Advance Wars lures you in with somewhat casual play and then at some point on no longer lets up. Perhaps if it signposted its intensity more through other means it wouldn't feel so incongruent.
And this is by no means an indictment. I like the games and if someone hasn't played them I definitely recommend it. Just be aware that the campaign missions turn into well designed but rather long slog fests.
-
Comment on Men arrested on suspicion of explosives offences near US air base in Britain following "major incident" in ~news
CptBluebear Link ParentKilling is only part of what constitutes a genocide. Ethnic, religious, racial cleansing or forcibly relocating peoples and children is also part of the terminology. That is a good thing, because...Killing is only part of what constitutes a genocide. Ethnic, religious, racial cleansing or forcibly relocating peoples and children is also part of the terminology. That is a good thing, because the only "killing is genocide" allows people to weasel themselves out of calling it what it is. Specifically targeting a people with the intent to cause their destruction is genocide, whichever method is used. Whether that's relocation or "reeducation" doesn't matter when the intent is to remove said people.
Russia taking Ukrainian children is also considered genocide under the same umbrella, even before the wholesale slaughter of Ukrainian civilians that happened in places like Bucha and elsewhere.
In other words, though not to you specifically since I think you're aware already, don't let people tell you that without killing it's not genocide.
-
Comment on Control Resonant PC performance review – beautiful tech, scalable visuals, and optimised settings in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentI'm of two minds about this. I commiserate with this sentiment, but something in me appreciates it when developers (games or otherwise) push hardware to their limits while keeping it optimized....I honestly have always found it a little insulting to the customer when the specs of a game demand so much of us when we're in a cost of living crisis.
I'm of two minds about this. I commiserate with this sentiment, but something in me appreciates it when developers (games or otherwise) push hardware to their limits while keeping it optimized. Crysis, at the time of release, didn't run on anyone's PC really. But it was used as a benchmark for at least a decade. There is something cool about that, same as how humans generally find progression at the extremes.
At the same time, yeah. Not making it accessible, and not for the foreseeable future either with these hardware prices, just means it's out of reach for most. To push back against my own example, Crysis had the benefit of having a healthy progression within the PC hardware space and never felt completely out of reach.. at least not with time.
I had a little scare in the past week where I thought my RAM was no longer functional, which would've been prohibitive to replace. There was a moment there I thought I was going to have to scale down my PC because of it. Multiply this by many many more people in worse conditions than I am and I see how it's insulting they make it flat out unavailable to so many folks. -
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentWhat's interesting about resets in this setting isn't necessarily to level the playing field or to balance the game, it's to shake up the "meta". From day one until now has seen multiple different...What's interesting about resets in this setting isn't necessarily to level the playing field or to balance the game, it's to shake up the "meta". From day one until now has seen multiple different play styles emerge as people unlock certain items. In my mind, it helps keep it fresh. Or rather prevents it from going stale. It's a Little Bird Hydra fest right now (one of the vehicles that desperately need a nerf) but it wasn't like that all the time. In fact, when it started you saw a lot more sniping, which turned into tower camping with FOBs until mortars and artillery became ubiquitous. Which causes the game to change into manoeuvre warfare, which turned into combined arms when humvees came to the stage.
Another point of solace is that the short season was supposed to be a test. They will use this short season to see how fast progression goes, how that impacts the game and where balance is problematic. The idea was to extend seasons into longer periods later on to give people more time to adjust and reach higher levels.
It's literally the first season since EA launch so I expect there to be many changes coming in the future seasons. -
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentWardogs can be a little tough when you face tier 4 armor with your starting rifle, but luckily there are plenty of opportunities to make money elsewhere. Grabbing some binoculars and proceed to...Wardogs can be a little tough when you face tier 4 armor with your starting rifle, but luckily there are plenty of opportunities to make money elsewhere. Grabbing some binoculars and proceed to rake in cash just spotting everything from a safe distance for one.
That said, it's not impossible. I once went in with just a pistol and got the drop on someone wearing T3 armor, a good rifle and a buttload of ammo. Which I then took of course.
Positioning, being aware of sound, and good spotting can help a lot.In terms of jobs you have plenty that won't put you face first against a day 1 player. Doing logi or building fobs (and I do recommend beelining for the T3 hammer) can be relatively safe ways to make money.
Even so, the October wipe should level the playing field a bit. Besides those that are buying gold bars we'll see a more flat economy.
-
Comment on How mods changed video games forever in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentThey even released Forsaken Kingdom without fixing Reforged. You still can't play the original campaigns without a plethora of issues.They even released Forsaken Kingdom without fixing Reforged. You still can't play the original campaigns without a plethora of issues.
-
Comment on What is your pet peeve with language acquisition? in ~humanities.languages
CptBluebear (edited )Link ParentYes, but not in the way it influences articles like Der, Die, and Das do in German. I would even argue those leftover gendered nouns are on their way out. "De bank" (F) or "de dief" (M) is...Yes, but not in the way it influences articles like Der, Die, and Das do in German. I would even argue those leftover gendered nouns are on their way out.
"De bank" (F) or "de dief" (M) is perfectly fine.
Gender exists but is in many cases no longer applicable. Verpleegster (F) or Verpleger (M), to indicate if a nurse is female or male, is generally no longer used by anyone under 60. Chauffeur and chauffeuse for male and female driver respectively is definitely no longer used and one would refer to a driver as chauffeur regardless.
From your wiki article:
Almost all Dutch speakers maintain the neuter gender, which has distinct adjective inflection, definite article and some pronouns. The picture is less clear for the masculine and feminine gender, because in the standard language the adjective inflection of both is identical, and both share the same article and the same demonstrative pronouns.
In other words, gender is irrelevant to the conversation at hand about articles. Reading even further only reinforces the point the genders are remnants of yore as the wiki article states gender is rarely used with informal speech and sees use only within literary or formal areas (likely law).
-
Comment on Irreverent ads make me want to buy things even less in ~talk
CptBluebear Link ParentSponsorship requires viewership and since Sponsorblock is crowdsourced it's almost immediately covered. I don't think I've ever had to manually select a sponsor section even if I'm early to a video.Sponsorship requires viewership and since Sponsorblock is crowdsourced it's almost immediately covered. I don't think I've ever had to manually select a sponsor section even if I'm early to a video.
Yee the four player game was aces. Mine had a three player variant if you flipped the board. On both the three and four player variants you had to place a two ringed castle at the center which was a good way to control the center or had some rules around king of the hill type games.