EsteeBestee's recent activity
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Comment on Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 - Race Weekend Discussion in ~sports.motorsports
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee LinkI continued the seamless co-op playthrough of Elden Ring. We eviscerated the last few bosses and beat the main game in just under 8 hours. We’re about halfway through the DLC now and are also...I continued the seamless co-op playthrough of Elden Ring. We eviscerated the last few bosses and beat the main game in just under 8 hours. We’re about halfway through the DLC now and are also doing Malenia for fun since she’s my favorite boss.
I’ve also been watching lots of Elden Ring speedrun and randomizer content lately. Over the weekend, there was a 6v6 team USA vs team France randomizer relay race that was a ton of fun to watch. I do want to eventually try out the randomizer for this game, but I have to get a bit better, first, before I’m good enough for that.
My friends and I also started up another Minecraft server. We have about 8 of us playing regularly and we found a pretty nice starting area with a good mix of biomes and caves to explore. I definitely don’t know how to do advanced things with redstone and all that, but I do like decorating my house and our little town and exploring caves and stuff.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee LinkI rolled credits on Hades II and did some progression afterwards as well. This is my personal game of the year. It's just so well crafted and lovely. It's exactly my kind of game and I love the...I rolled credits on Hades II and did some progression afterwards as well. This is my personal game of the year. It's just so well crafted and lovely. It's exactly my kind of game and I love the gameplay, the characters, the story, all of it! I'll continue going back to this for a time. I do need to finish up the list of fates, which requires quite a bit more progression.
I also picked up Megabonk on a whim. I had heard of it when it came out and knew it would be my kind of game, I was just trying to finish up a bunch of other games I was halfway through. I can confirm this is also a fantastic roguelike. I think it being 3D is adding a lot for me over vampire survivors or the like. It feels a bit like Risk of Rain 2, I love it. So far, I've had quite a few varied builds, so I'll also be coming back to this one for a while.
I also rolled credits on Star Wars Outlaws. Yet another fantastic game that I played recently. I didn't play this game on release, so I can't say if the internet chatter was accurate at that time, but by the time I started playing this this year, I really don't understand all the hate it got. The immersion is excellent and it's one of the most "star wars" feeling star wars games. It really brings me back to the early 00's lucasfilm games. It feels like you're living in the world and while the stealth and combat are systems you've seen before in other ubisoft games, I think they're done well enough in this for it to be a great experience if you're okay with open world games. I do heartily recommend this to star wars fans.
I then started Lies of P this week as I've been in a soulslike mood. I'm only about four hours in, but the game feels crisp so far and is scratching the souls itch. I'm not a fan of victorian steampunk settings at all, but the gameplay is good enough for me to keep going.
On a whim, a friend also invited me to play Elden Ring with the seamless co-op mod. We've both played the game a bunch (me for 100 hours and my friend for 900), so we kind of already knew what builds we wanted to do and in the last 7 hours, we went from game start all the way through killing Malekith before I called it a night for myself. We only have three main boss fights left, though we are also going to do the DLC and I want to do Malenia. But still, even though I know speedrunners can do all main bosses in an hour solo, I'm proud of my friend and I for absolutely wrecking the game tonight. The most attempts we needed on any boss was two (on multiple). We otherwise downed most of the bosses on our first attempt, lol.
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Comment on McDonald’s is losing its low-income customers in ~food
EsteeBestee Link ParentOh yeah, prices are definitely up at many fast food places, I just wanted to note that it’s still very possible to get meals for $5ish, you just sometimes have to be a little savvy with the menu,...Oh yeah, prices are definitely up at many fast food places, I just wanted to note that it’s still very possible to get meals for $5ish, you just sometimes have to be a little savvy with the menu, maybe not get a drink, etc. Most combos are absolute ripoffs these days. A whopper meal is like $12 and I feel just as full with a $5 meal deal at McDonald’s or getting a couple ala carte items at Taco Bell.
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Comment on McDonald’s is losing its low-income customers in ~food
EsteeBestee Link ParentThe bell is my go to for cheap lunch. A double stacked taco and a potato taco was $3.78 today and I just had a la croix at home with it. That’s cheaper than a non frozen chicken breast at the...The bell is my go to for cheap lunch. A double stacked taco and a potato taco was $3.78 today and I just had a la croix at home with it. That’s cheaper than a non frozen chicken breast at the grocery store.
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Comment on McDonald’s is losing its low-income customers in ~food
EsteeBestee Link ParentI should also note that prices can vary wildly depending on region. I do live in a large city, but I seem lucky compared to some. That same order you get at taco bell is $8 for me, with chips and...I should also note that prices can vary wildly depending on region. I do live in a large city, but I seem lucky compared to some. That same order you get at taco bell is $8 for me, with chips and nacho cheese being $3 of that. A hard shell taco is $1.69 for me. My usual at TB is a cheesy double beef burrito and a soft potato taco, $4.28 right now.
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Comment on McDonald’s is losing its low-income customers in ~food
EsteeBestee Link ParentMcDonald’s has had $5 and $6 meals available at any time, without the app, for years now. I get the $5 McDouble meal deal (McDouble, 4 nuggets, small fry, small drink) every week in the drive...McDonald’s has had $5 and $6 meals available at any time, without the app, for years now. I get the $5 McDouble meal deal (McDouble, 4 nuggets, small fry, small drink) every week in the drive through. Even besides that, they have a buy one get one for $1 menu, so you can get a mcchicken and small fries for under $5 as well.
It’s true that meals like the Big Mac or quarter pounder meals are ridiculously expensive for what they are, but McDonald’s is still offering $5 meals without needing the app and I keep seeing articles saying McDonald’s is too expensive when it’s extremely cheap if you just don’t order the numbered meals (same with Taco Bell).
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee Link ParentI’ve never heard of Starwind, but that sounds ridiculous and I want to try it!I’ve never heard of Starwind, but that sounds ridiculous and I want to try it!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee Link ParentYeah, there are a ton of interactions like that where I’m surprised there’s dialogue for it!Yeah, there are a ton of interactions like that where I’m surprised there’s dialogue for it!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee Link ParentI know modern WoW gets lots of shit for shuttling people to the most recent expansion as quickly as possible, but you’re absolutely right that leveling was just absurdly long and tedious in the...I know modern WoW gets lots of shit for shuttling people to the most recent expansion as quickly as possible, but you’re absolutely right that leveling was just absurdly long and tedious in the MoP days, having to go through all of the expansions. Going through all the content was really only acceptable up through TBC or WotLK. That said, MoP is so good, I’ve been fighting the urge to play MoP classic…
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee LinkI’m utterly addicted to Hades II still. I’m now up to 35 hours (and I only picked it up on the 1.0 release date) and still having a blast. I can now see the two incantations required to beat the...I’m utterly addicted to Hades II still. I’m now up to 35 hours (and I only picked it up on the 1.0 release date) and still having a blast. I can now see the two incantations required to beat the game(?), but in a way, it feels like I’m still only scratching the surface. For example, I found a secret weapon aspect and so I’m guessing there’s one for each weapon that I now need to find. I’ve also barely explored builds with some gods and I keep finding new and unique builds. This game is just insane. This is all me talking about gameplay, but the story, art, and voice acting are all superb as well. I think this might be my favorite game that I’ve played this year, it’s just excellent.
So yeah, while I’m playing that, I’m making no progress on my backlog, but so many fantastic games are coming out that I want to play that I’m not worrying about the backlog too much. I still want to get Ball X Pit and Powerwash Simulator 2. Tavern Keeper also looks very cute and I’m actually thankful it’s in early access and not full release as that means I’m going to wait to pick it up.
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Comment on Tilderinos in ~talk
EsteeBestee LinkI love y’all <3 Tildes has been healthy for me in helping ween me off from other social media and this place means a lot to me. I love the topics posted here and the discussions I’ve had. I look...I love y’all <3
Tildes has been healthy for me in helping ween me off from other social media and this place means a lot to me. I love the topics posted here and the discussions I’ve had. I look forward to the gaming thread every week, especially!
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Comment on The algorithm failed music in ~tech
EsteeBestee LinkThanks for sharing that article. It sums up a lot of my own feelings on “discovery” services. I dropped Spotify a few years ago when I realized that while I was “listening” to much more music than...Thanks for sharing that article. It sums up a lot of my own feelings on “discovery” services. I dropped Spotify a few years ago when I realized that while I was “listening” to much more music than I used to, I wasn’t actively listening, I was just letting it play and fill silence. I’ve since moved back to acquiring albums via bandcamp, record stores, etc. I haven’t been spinning as much vinyl, but I did get an iPod classic on eBay last year and it’s one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. I like that it’s filled with music that I organically discovered and that it’s completely divorced from my phone or any apps.
I do truly recommend everyone take at least one step to de-algorithm their media, whether that’s music, movies, tv, or anything else. You don’t realize how much apps are governing your consumption of art until you go back to the old fashioned ways of discovering media, actually doing research, instead of letting an app dictate your tastes.
One other thing the article mentioned that I agree with is that it noted many people are using apps like Spotify to be a background soundtrack to their life to fill silence. I largely agree with that, I know a few people that cannot just exist and need some sort of stimulation in everything they do. Like a 2 minute drive to McDonald’s or whatever requires a soundtrack. This extends beyond music, too. For example, whenever I go to a sporting event, it’s depressing that as soon as there’s a break in the game, everyone’s phones come out. People are just straight up addicted to algorithms. Tildes seems like the kind of crowd to be hyper aware of this already, but yeah, try to take steps to divorce yourself if you can.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee LinkI've still been playing Battlefield 6 most days. It's just such a solid multiplayer experience and very easy to spend an hour or two in without realizing it. That said, I've been losing most of my...I've still been playing Battlefield 6 most days. It's just such a solid multiplayer experience and very easy to spend an hour or two in without realizing it.
That said, I've been losing most of my gaming time to Hades 2. I picked it up when it hit 1.0, but this last week is when I really went hard on it. I'm too lazy to spoiler tag and I won't spoil anything, so I'll say that I beat the final boss on the first path three times and beat the first three bosses on the second path and only just saw what I think is the final boss on that path and what the fuuuuuuuck.
This game is just incredible and it might be my game of the year. The gameplay is ridiculously smooth, I've been having a ton of fun with almost all of the weapons and have put together some seriously bonkers builds. And there just seems to be more and more game that's unlocking even after having multiple successful runs. I'll be in this one for the long haul.
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Comment on Supermarkets intentionally charging full prices on sale items in ~food
EsteeBestee LinkWhile stores local to me aren’t as insidious as the exact techniques outlined in this video, even my local chains have started to lessen the number of products with a straight sale and have...While stores local to me aren’t as insidious as the exact techniques outlined in this video, even my local chains have started to lessen the number of products with a straight sale and have started to instead have sales that require a rewards account or require a specific quantity (and prices of everything have skyrocketed everywhere). Those aren’t exactly new, but when I live by myself, it’s annoying when something is $4 each if you buy five, but $7 if I just buy one when I can’t really use five before they go bad or I don’t have enough space in the pantry.
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Comment on NBA's Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier among dozens arrested in illegal gambling probe in ~sports.basketball
EsteeBestee LinkOkay, this is wild. Chauncey was coaching last night and arrested today. It appears that in addition to this poker scheme tied to the mafia that he was also possibly fixing basketball games, like...Okay, this is wild. Chauncey was coaching last night and arrested today. It appears that in addition to this poker scheme tied to the mafia that he was also possibly fixing basketball games, like using non public injury info about Damian Lillard to inform people on how to bet. Rozier appears to have bet against himself in games and underperformed on purpose or faked injuries. The NBA also previously cleared Rozier of wrongdoing after their own investigation.
This is such a bad look for the NBA considering how much they've cozied up to casinos and sports betting companies over the last few years. It's dominating all advertising around sports and becoming ingrained. I'm not at all surprised to find out that players and coaches are fixing games...
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NBA's Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier among dozens arrested in illegal gambling probe
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee LinkI have been playing Battlefield 6 non-stop. This game is just so much fun and it's the first time in a while where I've sunk this much time into an online PVP game. It does such a great job of not...I have been playing Battlefield 6 non-stop. This game is just so much fun and it's the first time in a while where I've sunk this much time into an online PVP game. It does such a great job of not being overloaded with modern gaming bullshit like all of the dumb skins in CoD games these days. It was a one time purchase, the game works flawlessly, it's fun to play, it isn't monetized (yet), and free content updates are coming as soon as next week. I'll be playing this game for a loooong time. I'm playing mostly recon, which is my long time main in Battlefield games, but I've also been playing quite a bit of assault. Assault rifles are just ridiculously good on that class and I'm currently working to unlock spawn beacons.
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Comment on What's a product or service that you use but don't want to pay for and why? in ~life
EsteeBestee Link ParentI'll have to check out Lockbox and see what's up. As for FLAC, I use foobar to manage my library and there's actually a plugin that automatically converts my FLAC to ALAC when I load albums onto...I'll have to check out Lockbox and see what's up. As for FLAC, I use foobar to manage my library and there's actually a plugin that automatically converts my FLAC to ALAC when I load albums onto my iPod, it's super smooth!
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Comment on What ridiculous thing would you spend billions on? in ~talk
EsteeBestee LinkFirstly, I would immediately form a WEC (world endurance championship, car endurance racing) team for my friends and I to do endurance races IRL instead of just iRacing. This would then be my job...Firstly, I would immediately form a WEC (world endurance championship, car endurance racing) team for my friends and I to do endurance races IRL instead of just iRacing. This would then be my job as I want nothing more in life than to be a sports car driver.
The truly ridiculous thing I would also do is form a Formula 1 team, but not with the intent to race in it myself. I would lay low the first year and make it looks like I'm putting serious effort into a serious team. In year two, I would specifically go out of my way to make the team show off what a farce F1 could be. I would put the stupidest sponsors on my cars, not have a spec of paint on it (pure carbon fiber, baby!) until racing in the middle east and then my car would be covered in pride flags. I would put Colton Herta in the car so that I can ensure I write off a chassis every other race. I'd push the rules in any way I could because if I'm caught cheating, oh fucking well!
Also cars, lots of cars. I would have a 50 car garage with all the coolest cars. And maybe a helipad and a runway, I like helicopters and planes too. This would all be next to probably a modest 3 bedroom house, I definitely don't want or need a mansion. The garage would probably be five times the size of the house, if not more.
Oh, and I'd go to space.
And maybe for an unrealistic ridiculous goal, hire everyone involved in the production of the Lord of the Rings films along with thousands of actors and essentially create actual middle earth that I can live in so I can pretend I'm some shield maiden badass or something for a few weeks.
This year's championship fight was great, but unfortunately not many of the races were that exciting in a bubble. Out of Max, Oscar, and Lando, Lando is probably the driver I least wanted to win it all, but I can't say that it isn't deserved, he drove out of his mind this year. Max really just needed one more race to get it done or for them to have kept fastest lap points. Oh well, he's still the GOAT to me and will definitely have a shot at more titles.
I'm excited for the new regulations and teams to shake things up next year! The first year or two of these regulations were exciting, but these current cars have just raced like shit recently and DRS overtakes are just not exciting to me personally. I'm hoping next year will at least bring some drama in the form of some teams executing the new rules well and some not. I'm hoping that Williams can continue their upward trend. While Max is my favorite driver, Williams is definitely my favorite team and it just felt so wrong for them to be in the gutter the last dozen or so years before this year.