Flashfall's recent activity
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
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Comment on Do I belong in tech anymore? in ~tech
Flashfall Link ParentI work in a pretty new AI tech division of a fairly non-tech company, and a lot of the people around me (in spirit anyway, it's a remote team) are extremely hard working and genuinely seem to...I work in a pretty new AI tech division of a fairly non-tech company, and a lot of the people around me (in spirit anyway, it's a remote team) are extremely hard working and genuinely seem to enjoy or at least have great interest in the work they do; they keep up with the latest developments, attend talks and stuff like that, and are excited to share things they learn. I uh, I really don't give a shit. I probably should, I'm pretty young and early in my career and if I did care more it would probably lead to greater growth and pay, but I just really do not care. I don't hate it, and I do have a tech background so I'm not entirely unfamiliar, but the ONLY reason I am doing this job is for the solid pay and good benefits. I do not do tech related stuff in my free time to build more skills, I play games and watch shows like the common consumer sheep. I do my job and I do it to the standard it should be done, and if I'm asked to do a bit more then I do that, maybe I'll spend some time after hours to finish something I'm stuck on (it's remote so it's barely an issue for me honestly).
Point being, my work life and my personal life are somehow very separate from each other but it works and I'm not particuarly keen on disrupting that balance. I like to think I'm part of a silent majority but I'll never know because usually people that are satisfied don't feel the need to talk about it.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Flashfall LinkStarted a few more of this season's shows and keeping up with a few others. Ongoing Sparks of Tomorrow still feels like it could almost just be an audio drama, that's how little time is left for...Started a few more of this season's shows and keeping up with a few others.
Ongoing
Sparks of Tomorrow still feels like it could almost just be an audio drama, that's how little time is left for silence. At least we got some actual electricity stuff going on finally but all these personalities are just suffocating.
Yani Neko has introduced more catgirls living in the same building and all of them are degenerates in one way or another. Funny to watch but I would absolutely despise needing to put up with any of these people in real life, which is kinda the point I guess.
I do like how Youjo Senki S2 makes use of the character's knowledge of politics and history from their past life to their advantage. Still jarring to see the lieutenant whenever she shows up, I can't get used to her eyes being the size of dinner plates.
Yomi no Tsugai continues to be a fine shonen anime. They did have clips from that one episode in FMA playing on the TV, which is a fun easter egg.
Didn't think I'd be learning this much about Mongolian ceremonial traditions from Tenmaku no Jaadugar but it's pretty interesting. Seems like we've also gotten to the point where the plot's about to get a lot more interesting, so I'm committed.
Just started
Saw the first episode of the new Ghost in the Shell adaptation. I love it, I love it a lot. There's so much more personality to all the members of section 9 compared to all the other shows and movies, especially the major. It's funny and so colorful while still maintaining the dystopian cyberpunk undertones, which is kind of incredible. Between this, Jaadugar, and Dandadan, Science SARU has been absolutely cooking lately.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Flashfall Link ParentReading this made me slightly annoyed that people don't know about Nanahira but then I remembered that normal people listen to whatever's topping the charts on Spotify rather than random Japanese...Also, aside from IOSYS, I don't recognize anything else, who Nanahira is, etc
Reading this made me slightly annoyed that people don't know about Nanahira but then I remembered that normal people listen to whatever's topping the charts on Spotify rather than random Japanese songs with anime thumbnails on Youtube (recently it's been more alt-rock and shoegaze). Rhythm games aren't really my thing but I bet some of the tracks in that game are going to end up in my playlists at some point.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Flashfall LinkStarted a few of this season's shows. Youjo Senki Season 2 continues the story of the ruthlessly efficient office worker reincarnated as a female child soldier with a talent for magic in...Started a few of this season's shows.
Youjo Senki Season 2 continues the story of the ruthlessly efficient office worker reincarnated as a female child soldier with a talent for magic in totally-not-WWI-Germany due to Christian God having a bone to pick with him in particular for being staunchly atheistic and also kind of an asshole. For the sake of simplicity we'll just refer to them by their reincarnation, Tanya. The quality has definitely been retained from the first season, as well as the other hallmarks of this series, such as our protagonist suffering the reward of doing good work (more, harder work), lots of violence, dramatic music, and some intentionally cringey moments when the protagonist tries to leverage their "cute little girl" aspect to some end.
Sparks of Tomorrow is an original story that's animated by Kyoto Animation, and naturally it's gorgeous, especially the character designs and the eyes. The premise itself seems interesting, with electricity not taking root as quickly as it did in our timeline, so we get to see a much more steam-oriented version of pre-WW2 Kyoto. The storytelling though, at least from the first 2 episodes, has been at a breakneck pace. Characters are constantly yelling, running, chasing, doing things, and basically never really slowing down to allow viewers to absorb what's going on or just admire the art for a bit. Maybe it'll slow down later and actually explain more of what's going on but for now it's kind of loud and overwhelming.
Yani Neko makes me really glad I don't have any close friends or family members that have a crippling addiction to some substance. This catgirl is a total disaster and it's funny to watch her fail at stuff but it's also painful to see her younger sister doing her best to still love and take care of her. It's good propaganda to scare people out of smoking or doing drugs while still being humorous about it. Also the opening is a straight banger.
Tenmaku no Jaadugar so far seems to be the sleeper hit of the season for me. I don't want to spoil any of the story here since I think it's something worth experiencing without any prior knowledge, but yeah I like the story a lot so far. The art style is also a far departure from typical anime, with more of a children's storybook look that seems simple and very clear, but also quite pleasant to the eyes. It's got some historical elements in it too, though I think the character and events aren't based on anything from real life. Out of all of the ones I've listed here, I would recommend this one first.
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Comment on Obsidian Entertainment reportedly lays off a quarter of staff, cancels multiple projects, and begins work on new Fallout game in ~games
Flashfall Link ParentHonestly I think I would prefer a CRPG at this point. As much as I enjoy the free-roaming design of all the games built on the creation engine, the actual gameplay has always felt a bit stiff,...Honestly I think I would prefer a CRPG at this point. As much as I enjoy the free-roaming design of all the games built on the creation engine, the actual gameplay has always felt a bit stiff, especially when it comes to interacting with NPCs.
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Comment on Obsidian Entertainment reportedly lays off a quarter of staff, cancels multiple projects, and begins work on new Fallout game in ~games
Flashfall Link ParentFar Harbor takes place in Bar Harbor in Maine, and the only place in the US further north than that would be Alaska. Unless you count Operation Anchorage (it's a simulation so not really), that's...Far Harbor takes place in Bar Harbor in Maine, and the only place in the US further north than that would be Alaska. Unless you count Operation Anchorage (it's a simulation so not really), that's the farthest north the games have gone.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Flashfall LinkFinished the last episode of Nippon Sangoku and damn what a way to finish the season, everything is just delivered with such gravitas. It really nails the romance part of Romance of the Three...Finished the last episode of Nippon Sangoku and damn what a way to finish the season, everything is just delivered with such gravitas. It really nails the romance part of Romance of the Three Kingdoms. There's some massive setups for the next arc in the story as well, so I'm hoping the sales do well and a second season gets greenlit because this was definitely my favorite watch of the season and that means a lot when you have Witch Hat Atelier as competition.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Flashfall Link ParentIt's not so bad if you view it more as a very expensive adoption for a very traumatized orphan.It's not so bad if you view it more as a very expensive adoption for a very traumatized orphan.
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Comment on Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 is coming this fall in ~anime
Flashfall LinkI can't believe we're getting cyberpunk Sasuke before GTA 6. Jokes aside, this looks like it's going to be another wild and beautifully animated ride with a depressing ending. How are they...I can't believe we're getting cyberpunk Sasuke before GTA 6. Jokes aside, this looks like it's going to be another wild and beautifully animated ride with a depressing ending. How are they possibly going to top the emotional trauma of listening to I Really Want to Stay at Your House?
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Flashfall LinkPlayed the Breach of Trust DLC scenario for Frostpunk 2 and it was fun and a little challenging, albeit short. The premise of this scenario is that there are two colonies, the main colony built by...Played the Breach of Trust DLC scenario for Frostpunk 2 and it was fun and a little challenging, albeit short. The premise of this scenario is that there are two colonies, the main colony built by a volcano using geothermal energy for heat, and another built by a frozen lake with effectively unlimited food, which are dependent on each other, but the last captain of the main colony was a bit of a tyrant so the food colony revolted and seceded, and then the captain offed himself, which is how you assume the position of First Citizen. Your job is to get the colonies back together, whether that's by peace through trading, or by force through war, while also managing the threat of increasing unstable geothermal activity.
The closest comparison would be to the Fall of Winterhome scenario in Frostpunk 1 where you start off with a messy situation and need to figure out how to stabilize it, though I would say this one is easier than Winterhome once you learn what the proper "solutions" are. The trading and war mechanics are nice new additions but feel a little underutilized, as does the volcano, and the scenario's very front-loaded as you'll likely spend most of the run in the first chapter, while the second is pretty quick and the third has a short time limit. I managed to clear it on hard difficulty on the same day it came out, and then cleared it on very hard without any deaths the next day. Fun, but I hope any future scenarios they add last a bit longer.
Also tried out the new class in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, the skitarii alpha primus (non-40k translation: they're techno-cultist cyborg soldiers). Some folks are relishing in the futuristic M1 Garand and ripping heads off with mechanical claws, I on the other hand have focused more on electrocuting everything I can in every way I can. Having a skill that's literally just aimbot is also nice since I can be lazier with my target acquisition and still quickly drop priority targets at a distance. Praise the Omnissiah.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Flashfall Link ParentWith how many people in this community seem to be well-versed in tech, you would think there would be a decent number of anime and manga fans among them, but there surprisingly aren't. That or...With how many people in this community seem to be well-versed in tech, you would think there would be a decent number of anime and manga fans among them, but there surprisingly aren't. That or they're all introverts that don't feel like putting in the effort of posting about it, which I can totally relate with because that's me on many other things.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Flashfall Link ParentXXI-PCT-Delirium (for some reason they won't let you start names with an actual number), in honor of the machine gun in Destiny 2 with the same name. I was also considering AAP07-BALTEUS and...What did you end up naming your character?
XXI-PCT-Delirium (for some reason they won't let you start names with an actual number), in honor of the machine gun in Destiny 2 with the same name. I was also considering AAP07-BALTEUS and G1-Michigan but I'm not sure how many people would get an Armored Core reference.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Flashfall LinkThere haven't been any comments here for a whole 8 hours, so I'm gonna use this opportunity to glaze Nippon Sangoku again. The writing in this show is just so damn good, it definitely feels more...There haven't been any comments here for a whole 8 hours, so I'm gonna use this opportunity to glaze Nippon Sangoku again. The writing in this show is just so damn good, it definitely feels more seinen than shonen but it's so refreshing to have intelligent characters that aren't joking or shouting all the time. Last episode is coming out next Sunday so if you haven't started it yet, wait til then and binge the whole season.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Flashfall LinkPlayed more Destiny 2 and ran some dungeons and raids with my old clan members, good times and much shit talking were had, as well as the abuse of a certain glitch that is letting players do...Played more Destiny 2 and ran some dungeons and raids with my old clan members, good times and much shit talking were had, as well as the abuse of a certain glitch that is letting players do enough damage to basically one-shot any boss. Classic Bungie stuff, now we just need Telesto to break the game for the last time.
I didn't play these last week but they're getting major updates tomorrow so they're worth shouting out:
Frostpunk 2's Breach of Trust expansion releases tomorrow and it's a standalone scenario ala Fall of Winterhome from the first game, but instead of a failing generator this colony is centered around a dormant volcano they were using for geothermal energy that has suddenly decided to be very not dormant. Will provide updates on the political hijinks and casual crimes against humanity I get up to next week.
Warhammer 40k: Darktide releases it's next class, Skitarii, tomorrow. The playerbase has been frothing at the mouth for this to happen for over a year already so they are understandably very excited, and the pre-release content they've shown us does look great so I am looking forward to expressing the full wrath of the Omnissiah on Tertium. The hard part will be coming up with a suitably fitting but funny name for my cogboy.
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Comment on How much of an echo chamber is Reddit/the internet, really? in ~tech
Flashfall Link ParentWell there's levels to this, you know? The huge and most-trafficked subs, especially r/all, are going to be massive landfills of bot posts, beaten to death memes, circlejerks, and very rarely...As far as I'm concerned reddit is an utter cesspool and I wouldn't trust anything I read there.
Well there's levels to this, you know? The huge and most-trafficked subs, especially r/all, are going to be massive landfills of bot posts, beaten to death memes, circlejerks, and very rarely something actually new and relevant. However, niche subs are still some of the best sources of up-to-date news and communities that are actually knowledgeable or passionate about a particular thing while still having better regulation than, say, a discord server. In that sense you can definitely put yourself in an echo chamber or three, but at least it's ones of your choosing and hopefully on less serious things like hobbies rather than politics.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Flashfall Link ParentThe dungeons are doable but very challenging for a solo player. Basically all of the dungeon bosses have mechanics where you need to complete a task to open up a temporary damage window and it...The dungeons are doable but very challenging for a solo player. Basically all of the dungeon bosses have mechanics where you need to complete a task to open up a temporary damage window and it takes notably longer solo since you can't divide the work and you're also drawing all of the aggro. They're the best structured content outside of raids though, and significantly less punishing if you make mistakes since there usually isn't a wipe mechanic outside of the whole team dying, so I'd say they're worth it.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Flashfall LinkSpent a bit of time on Destiny 2 to experience the final update and so far I'm not disliking what they've added, but as someone that hasn't played since Final Shape, I will say this - the UI is...Spent a bit of time on Destiny 2 to experience the final update and so far I'm not disliking what they've added, but as someone that hasn't played since Final Shape, I will say this - the UI is somehow even more convoluted than it was before and I've already had years to get used to it, so I can't imagine how incredibly lost a new player would be trying to find a specific menu or activity. Some positive things though:
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All activities are pretty rewarding now and the ability to customize them with modifiers to either make things easier or harder with an impact to the score multiplier is nice.
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The hugely increased vault space and ability to access vault from the inventory menu is nice. Still not as good as DIM, but a big improvement especially for console players.
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Sparrow Racing League's alright. It's brutally simple and lacks a lot of the things that most kart-racers would consider core features but as a barebones racing game mode it works.
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Being able to swap between different seasonal artifacts is huge for buildcrafting since some of those artifact mods are super strong.
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Weapon tiers as a replacement for crafted weapons with enhanced perks isn't bad. Armor tiers are confusing to learn though, including the tuning slot you only unlock at tier 5. Armor archetypes are alright, being able to target certain ones through a ghost mod is neat.
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Armor set bonuses are an improvement from seasonal armor effects and actually give you an excuse to use non-pinnacle armor pieces.
Overall, definitely more positives than negatives, though still not enough to keep me around for a long time. I picked up the two latest expansions on the deep discount they're offering and I'll play through those, the new dungeons, and the new raids at least once.
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Comment on Are there any games that had their development abandoned that you followed where you wish that continued/completed development? in ~games
Flashfall LinkI saw a trailer over a decade ago for Little Devil Inside, and was immediately charmed by the artstyle and animations, but it seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth for a while after...I saw a trailer over a decade ago for Little Devil Inside, and was immediately charmed by the artstyle and animations, but it seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth for a while after that. Since then there's been like one or two more trailers a few years in between but the game is definitely in development hell and I'm surprised it hasn't been cancelled already.
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Comment on What are your gaming idiosyncracies? in ~games
Flashfall LinkI'll choose the "hard" difficulty for my first playthrough (this varies a lot between games, some Japanese games literally won't let you choose hard difficulty until you've cleared normal because...I'll choose the "hard" difficulty for my first playthrough (this varies a lot between games, some Japanese games literally won't let you choose hard difficulty until you've cleared normal because it's actually A LOT harder), but then I'll be aggressively chasing down upgrades to make things easier. I'll also try to 100% on my first playthrough within reason and I might not even do a second playthrough, depending on how long and/or tedious playing through the game again would be. My personal justification is that I'm trying to get the most out of my initial experience while also having a bit of challenge, but part of me says that I'm just trying to prove I'm not a casual playing on easy or normal.
Also, I never, EVER use numbers or special characters in my name for a multiplayer game unless it fits the character. Trying to come up with an actual unique name in an MMO is a core part of the experience.
Don't think I'll do a week-by-week update on all the stuff I'm following unless I come across something particularly intriguing in that week's episode. With that said:
Yani Neko continues to surprise both in how low it makes its characters go, and also how random some of the bits are. It just randomly name-dropped a niche manga that I really enjoyed and that was a total mental flashbang. Still have no idea how this got greenlit and has so much talent behind it but thanks I guess.
Finished the spinoff season of Ousama Ranking, Yuuki no Takarabako, which was only 10 episodes long and focused on other events happening during the course of the main story that really flesh out some of the characters. Huge positive energy in it just like the previous season, and another banger of an opening too. Not sure when we'll get a second season but I'm looking forward to it.