EmperorPenguin's recent activity
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Comment on Does anyone play older versions of Minecraft? in ~games
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Interesting material types for fantasy resources/macguffins other than crystals or metals?
Warning: this post may contain spoilers
You know the trope: an epic fantasy world with magic materials that have strange properties or give people superpowers or what have you. It seems half of the time, this material is a type of crystal with some kind of electric power, and the other half of the time it's a type of metal that's basically steel, but stronger or something. The main examples that come to mind are Marvel, where you have the Soul Stones, Adamantium, and Vibranium.
Are there any other cool types of materials to use for this type of resource? Like maybe an obscure type of material that certain scientists study, but the general public doesn't know much about?
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Comment on Dune: Part Three | Teaser trailer in ~movies
EmperorPenguin Link ParentThey are weird, infamously so, but admittedly the first two have some weird stuff as well. Villeneuve notably cut or changed the weird stuff, such as first book Alia. He made the call that an...They are weird, infamously so, but admittedly the first two have some weird stuff as well. Villeneuve notably cut or changed the weird stuff, such as first book Alia. He made the call that an unborn baby with superpowers was better than a two year old with superpowers, and it makes the story a lot less goofy for general audiences. I'm sure it's possible to similarly tone down the later books with the right creative liberties.
Are we ready for God Emperor?
Leto, for example, seems like something that really wouldn't work. But I think modern sci-fi and fantasy viewing audiences are willing to accept a lot of wacky stuff. Story tone, character design, visual spectacle, and actor performance could do a lot to make "giant worm man discusses philosophy and politics" palatable. Directors were able to get general audiences totally on board with Vin Diesel playing a talking tree that only says his own name, and on board with spending 3 hours mostly focusing on blue cat people.
I kinda liked how absurd the books were willing to get. The stuff that happened felt like the natural consequences of the stuff introduced in 1 and 2. People like the Bene Gesserit were afraid of certain things happening or being invented, they happened anyways, then we see that it led to nightmare scenarios. God Emperor was basically "What if Harry Potter doubled down on becoming a time travel series once time turners were introduced, instead of writing itself out of that corner?" Some parts really felt like people exploiting video game mechanics that had been discovered. Stuff that felt meant for a one-time cinematic moment was able to be mass produced because, well, it's a mechanic the universe established now, so of course you can reproduce it!
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Comment on Dune: Part Three | Teaser trailer in ~movies
EmperorPenguin LinkI see that they're hyping this up as the finale of a trilogy, and I remember the director saying he planned to only adapt the first two books, but it's leaving me wondering: they're gonna do the...I see that they're hyping this up as the finale of a trilogy, and I remember the director saying he planned to only adapt the first two books, but it's leaving me wondering: they're gonna do the other books, right? With or without Denis Villeneuve? They already jumped on making a TV show set in the era of the prequel books, so I can't imagine they wouldn't do all 6 of the mainline books. This trailer even name drops the titular Children of Dune.
Has there been any news of future films of TV series yet? Personally I've read up to the fourth book. While reading, I felt that, pacing-wise, the third and fourth books would work well as a series more-so than films. They focus on slow paced talking and worldbuilding scenes in fantastical locations more than action, especially the fourth book.
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Comment on 'They saw them on their dishes when eating': The mushroom making people hallucinate dozens of tiny humans in ~food
EmperorPenguin LinkWhen I saw the headline, the first thing I thought of was the animated series Common Side Effects, where the macguffin mushroom causes this same hallucination, and uses that hallucination as the...When I saw the headline, the first thing I thought of was the animated series Common Side Effects, where the macguffin mushroom causes this same hallucination, and uses that hallucination as the show's motif. I checked if the show was inspired by this mushroom at all, but it looks like it was based on researchers who studied "magic mushrooms" instead.
I was also surprised to not see the article give a quick mention of the series, since I recall the Cow Tools Far Side comic being referenced in some articles about a real cow using cow tools. I might've expected it since it was actually a science magazine that gave me the recommendation to watch the series.
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Comment on open_slate: private and powerful 2-in-1 tablet in ~tech
EmperorPenguin LinkLooks cool. If this product line is still around next time I upgrade, I'll look into these again and see if they ended up being well received. I recently got one of the 2-in-1 models that's...Looks cool. If this product line is still around next time I upgrade, I'll look into these again and see if they ended up being well received.
I recently got one of the 2-in-1 models that's basically a laptop with a 360 degree hinge from a more mainstream manufacturer. A detachable keyboard version like open_slate or Surface would probably be better, but it works fine. I was originally looking at traditional laptops and tablets, but I started seeing videos about these types of devices, and saw people were able to get Linux on them with stylus support and everything. I realized that for my preferences and use cases, this form factor was by far the obvious choice. I didn't know much about these 2-in-1s before, but now that I've used one, it seems to me like this is the future of productivity/content consumption devices the same way that dockable handhelds like the Switch/Steam Deck feel like the future of gaming devices. It's the marriage of two types of device in a way that makes both better instead of just felling like a "jack of all trades, master of none".
The big question is what size to make these things. Mine is 14 inches, which is a perfect laptop size but a huge tablet. These open_slates and Framework's version are 12 inches, which is both a pretty big tablet and a pretty small laptop.
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Comment on Xbox confirms 'Project Helix', its next-gen console that will also play PC games in ~games
EmperorPenguin Link ParentIt seems like these days, if a rumor is big enough for the video game journalists and all the YouTubers to talk about it over some extended period of time, it's true. The few times that huge leaks...It seems like these days, if a rumor is big enough for the video game journalists and all the YouTubers to talk about it over some extended period of time, it's true.
The few times that huge leaks have not been true, it was very plausible that plans just changed due to market conditions at that time such as parts shortages, labor strikes, or poor sales of another product.
It makes me wonder how often big leaks like this are actually someone breaking an NDA, and how often the companies are purposely releasing into to build hype for big announcements or soften the blow of less popular announcements.
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Comment on Wonder Man S01E01 - "Matinee" in ~tv
EmperorPenguin Link ParentI really liked how it was able to resolve a Marvel show without resorting to big CGI fight scenes. Wandavision for example was a love letter to sitcoms across the decades, but it ended with a...I really liked how it was able to resolve a Marvel show without resorting to big CGI fight scenes.
Wandavision for example was a love letter to sitcoms across the decades, but it ended with a superhero fight which was very different from the rest of the show.
Wonder Man spoilers
So to end this story about a man hiding a part of himself in order to keep a job, they don't make him fight some twist villain. Instead, he has a slip up, but his friend who betrayed him steps in to take the blame so he can achieve his dream. He achieves his dream, but instead of continuing to act, he uses both his star status (the thing he's worked for) and his superpowers (the thing he's tried to hide) to break his friend out of jail.
This ending has some superhero stuff without feeling like a different show. I felt it was pretty well done.
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Comment on GameDate: An anonymous LFG forum for 'dead' games in ~games
EmperorPenguin LinkA word of caution for anyone using this service: "Dead" multiplayer games may have massive security vulnerabilities. Like, for the old CoD games for example, if you so much as boot into the...A word of caution for anyone using this service: "Dead" multiplayer games may have massive security vulnerabilities. Like, for the old CoD games for example, if you so much as boot into the loading screen, a hacker can leak your IP address at best, or install spyware and crypto miners on your PC at worst. I've seen firsthand hackers join game sessions in Black Ops 3 on PC they weren't invited to or brick my account on World at War Xbox 360 to be soft locked and not able to connect to servers anymore. I heard that the Little Big Planets games had issues like this, so Sony shut the servers down, but devs don't always go through the trouble. These old games aren't getting security updates anymore, so playing them can be like using the Internet with an old unsupported OS. I recommend looking into modded clients for the PC versions of these old games that add additional security features.
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D&D Beyond will label the 2024 rules as "5.5e" to match the community's naming
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Avengers: Doomsday won't be shown in IMAX on opening weekend in the US, because Dune: Part Three already reserved the slots
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Comment on Legacy sequels and remakes you think were actually good and worth making? in ~movies
EmperorPenguin Link ParentThat's an interesting case! Since it was a TV series that never got a proper ending, rather than a self-contained movie, it's hard to argue that a revival wasn't necessary. There was a legitimate...Not a film, but does the final season of Samurai Jack count?
That's an interesting case! Since it was a TV series that never got a proper ending, rather than a self-contained movie, it's hard to argue that a revival wasn't necessary. There was a legitimate reason to do it other than just "nostalgia sells." On the other hand, it's not quite the same as the other examples I gave. It's less like returning to a hobby after a long hiatus for a new project, and more like dusting off that one project you left in the garage and procrastinated on for years to finally finish it. Either way, I also quite enjoyed it, and was happy to finally get that closure. It wasn't perfect, but I liked how they let the revival of this kid's show be more R rated with blood and stuff, while still feeling like the same series. The audience who loved it as kids are all adults now so might as well. It's kinda like meeting your childhood friend years later; you've both grown up since then.
Watchmen is a bit more in line with the prompt. It is an interesting case, since it's a legacy sequel to the source material, but is in a different medium. I will say, one thing the show made me really upset about in retrospect is that the 2009 film adaptation changed the ending. So for the HBO series, if you've seen the movie but haven't read the full comic (like me), 95% of things will make sense but when they start talking about squids you'll be really confused.
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Comment on Legacy sequels and remakes you think were actually good and worth making? in ~movies
EmperorPenguin Link ParentYeah, they're great films, but not what I was looking for. Batman (and the rest if DC) is essentially an evergreen multi-media franchise. The next Batman game, movie, or TV show adaptation is more...Yeah, they're great films, but not what I was looking for. Batman (and the rest if DC) is essentially an evergreen multi-media franchise. The next Batman game, movie, or TV show adaptation is more of an inevitability than bringing back something dormant. Compare that to The Naked Gun or Bladerunner, where there wasn't any guarantee we'd get another installment.
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Comment on Legacy sequels and remakes you think were actually good and worth making? in ~movies
EmperorPenguin Link ParentOh absolutely, but that's not quite the same thing? That's a fresh adaptation of the same source material, rather than a remake or legacy sequel of the 80s film. Blade Runner 2049 for example is a...Oh absolutely, but that's not quite the same thing? That's a fresh adaptation of the same source material, rather than a remake or legacy sequel of the 80s film. Blade Runner 2049 for example is a sequel to the original film rather than a fresh adaptation of the book.
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Legacy sequels and remakes you think were actually good and worth making?
Studios these days tend to make a lot of movies reusing existing IPs because that's what they know will sell. You have the "new entry in a long running franchise" kinda IP utilizing movies, like...
Studios these days tend to make a lot of movies reusing existing IPs because that's what they know will sell.
You have the "new entry in a long running franchise" kinda IP utilizing movies, like say Alien Romulus or the latest MCU film.
Then you have the "legacy sequel" and "remake", when there might have been only 1-3 original movies, and they bring it back 15+ years later. These are often called "cash grabs", "disrespectful to the original", "unaware of what made the first one good", or something similar. Other times, though, they can be genuinely good, if not better than the first one in some ways.
The Naked Gun (2025) is the one that inspired this post. I went in without any expectations, and I thought it was a great time. They had some really good jokes about life in the 2020s (such as Tesla door handles being death traps, for example) that I thought were delivered very well. Also, since the genre of parody movies in the style of The Naked Gun or Airplane essentially died off, having a new one felt actually necessary unlike many phoned-in legacy sequels.
Another example that comes to mind is Blade Runner 2049. Before it came out, the idea of a Blade Runner 2 was so ridiculous, I believe it was a throwaway South Park gag. People assumed that if it ever came out, it'd be a cash grab. But it ended up being so good, I've heard people argue in places like Tildes that it's better than the original.
The third example I can think of is Top Gun: Maverick. Ever since it's release I've see a lot of people online sing its praises whenever it's come up. In fact, there is a night-and-day difference in the Rotten Tomatoes score for the two films, with the original having a 59% and the legacy sequel having a 96%.
Can you think of any other legacy sequels or remakes that hold a candle to the original film(s), or surpass them? Bonus points if it's one nobody expected to be good until it released.
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Phil Spencer is leaving Microsoft/Xbox
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Comment on Hytale surges to the most-watched game on Twitch, attracting over 420,000 viewers with its long-awaited launch in ~games
EmperorPenguin LinkNot particularly interested in playing this game myself, but I think the best result of it being successful would be Minecraft having competition. I've heard that Overwatch 2 had to start making...Not particularly interested in playing this game myself, but I think the best result of it being successful would be Minecraft having competition. I've heard that Overwatch 2 had to start making good updates once Marvel Rivals came out.
Minecraft right now really feels like it's resting on its laurels in spite of demand for larger updates and massive issues plaguing the game. They've strongly committed to doing smaller updates rather than big changes like the Nether Update, even changing the game's version number system to reflect that. They have two entirely different versions of the game, where the vast majority of normal players use one version, and the vast majority of content creators on social media use a different version, and the two have massive parity issues that make building strategies, glitch exploits, redstone tech, loot tables, and even the combat system you'd see in videos nothing like what the viewers see in their own game. And each update, they fix a few of these issues but continue to add even more. One of the versions has a game breaking server-client error in single player and constantly pushes microtransactions on every menu screen, while the other is 17 years old but still doesn't have official friends lists, a way to join a friend's world for a small multiplayer game without paying for a whole server, or even official controller support. I'm sure it's also no accident that the version that younger children will find and be most able to play with their Switch or smartphone is the one full of microtransactions and dark patterns, and the version played by all the content creators who own a decent PC doesn't have those issues so they can be ignored. For it being the "best selling game" and as beloved as it is, it has a lot of issues, and doesn't show a lot of interest in fixing any of them.
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Comment on Looking for Backroom games with something to do in them other than walking in ~games
EmperorPenguin Link ParentYes, I'm fairly confident that OP is referring to games with a similar vibe to the Backrooms 4chan post and the subsequent fandom built around it. In case anyone hasn't heard of it:...Yes, I'm fairly confident that OP is referring to games with a similar vibe to the Backrooms 4chan post and the subsequent fandom built around it. In case anyone hasn't heard of it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Backrooms
A note for whoever can edit tags:
"genres" and "games.backroom" aren't really appropriate tags. This thread is about games with a particular aesthetic. "Backroom" isn't a game genre. I assume mycketforvirrad wasn't aware of the Backrooms concept when tagging the post. I would replace both of these tags with a "The Backrooms" tag. -
Fitness tracker smart watches that work well without a smartphone app?
A family member of mine recently got a cheap smart watch online. They weren't planning to use it with a phone app for privacy/security reasons. They thought using it without a phone would be fine,...
A family member of mine recently got a cheap smart watch online. They weren't planning to use it with a phone app for privacy/security reasons. They thought using it without a phone would be fine, since they just wanted it for the time and for the health features like steps, blood pressure, blood oxygen, sleep tracking, etc. and didn't need to see their texts or other notifications on the watch.
Unfortunately, when we tested the watch, we found that basically all of the features required connecting to a shady no-name company's app. You couldn't even set the time! You can't set the time on a watch without an app!
Also, the watch was a bit bulky for their wrist, and they would prefer a slimmer one.
People of Tildes, do you know of any smart watches that allow you to use the health tracking features without ever connecting to a smartphone? If so, are there any that are slimmer instead of being bulky?
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Comment on Hollow Knight: Silksong | Sea of Sorrow teaser in ~games
EmperorPenguin Link ParentAll very good points! But I doubt this: The $89 million number for all platforms was as of last year, and when I checked the article's source (vginsights), they've made $23 million from just Steam...All very good points! But I doubt this:
they're definitely only in the seven digits apiece.
The $89 million number for all platforms was as of last year, and when I checked the article's source (vginsights), they've made $23 million from just Steam in the past year! As CptBlueBear mentioned, besides from selling units, they're also getting some money from Game Pass. Then there's also merch, which as George Lucas knew, and Spaceballs famously satirized, is a great revenue source. Then you can't forget the soundtrack. You might not think a ton of people buy those game soundtracks on Steam, but I just checked and I have 3 friends who've bought it. They even have a separate soundtrack available for one of the DLCs.
All this without saying, they just released another massive hit, Silksong, which was the #1 most wishlisted game on Steam, and crashed all the big storefronts at once. If they didn't have $10 million before, they probably do now.
Since you last played a long time ago, haven't kept up with all the new stuff added to the game, are interested in playing the game with your kids, and are interested in playing the older versions, there's a few things you should know:
Minecraft these days has split into two largely similar, but very, very different versions: Minecraft: Java Edition (descended from the one you played in Alpha), and Minecraft: Bedrock Edition (which presents itself as just "Minecraft", as if it was the main official version, but it's really descended from the "Pocket Edition" for mobile devices). Java Edition is available on Windows/Mac/Linux, while Bedrock Edition is available on Windows/Playstation/Switch/Xbox/mobile. Notice how, for people who don't own a PC, their only option is Bedrock Edition. Well, aside from having a lot more game breaking glitches, Bedrock is the edition where Microsoft has dumped invasive and predatory microtransactions, "brand collabs" (which are basically ads), and all that modern gaming goodness, which would genuinely shock an old school Minecraft fan like yourself, who may remember when the devs made fun of microtransactions for April Fools. The real kicker: Bedrock Edition doesn't allow you to install old versions of the game the way that Java Edition does. Also, while it's possible to install mods for the PC and mobile versions of Bedrock, the vast majority of mod developers sell paid mods on the Bedrock microtransaction store instead :/
The good news is, both editions are bundled together on PC, so if you buy one, you get the other, so you can play the version that you want (Java, in your case). But when you buy the game for your kids, make sure you buy them the PC version! Don't be fooled into buying it for them on Switch or PS5, because it won't have the features you're saying that you're looking for!