Inanimate's recent activity
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Comment on Slay the Spire 2 | Official gameplay trailer in ~games
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Comment on Slay the Spire 2 | Official gameplay trailer in ~games
Inanimate Link ParentAm I missing something there? Not sure what joke you're talking about. Definitely loved the sense of humor throughout the trailer!The thumbnail/video content meta joke is also excellent.
Am I missing something there? Not sure what joke you're talking about. Definitely loved the sense of humor throughout the trailer!
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Comment on Favorite quick play tabletop game recommendations in ~games.tabletop
Inanimate LinkI can't recommend Skull enough. A bluffing game that boils it down to the essentials, and easily plays in 15 minute rounds. But usually longer, because after one round, people will beg for more!...I can't recommend Skull enough. A bluffing game that boils it down to the essentials, and easily plays in 15 minute rounds. But usually longer, because after one round, people will beg for more! It's always been a hit with everyone I've introduced it to; friends, family, and students all love it.
Oh, and I forgot, it's also on sale right now on Amazon for $12 after a coupon! It's a gorgeous game, but you can easily play it with a deck of regular playing cards (Black = Skull, Red = Rose) if you want to test it out before purchasing it. It is packed into a small box though, but with beautiful components, so it's well worth a buy.
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Comment on Great shows with interesting premises? in ~tv
Inanimate Link ParentAh, that make sense. Yeah, sometimes there’s certainly a few episodes in a row “exploring the new status quo” or whatnot, and I could see that getting old.Ah, that make sense. Yeah, sometimes there’s certainly a few episodes in a row “exploring the new status quo” or whatnot, and I could see that getting old.
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Comment on Great shows with interesting premises? in ~tv
Inanimate Link ParentSeriously up there for me, yes! At least in my top 5, and it's a go-to recommendation of mine. That's cool that it inspired you to such a degree!Seriously up there for me, yes! At least in my top 5, and it's a go-to recommendation of mine. That's cool that it inspired you to such a degree!
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Comment on Great shows with interesting premises? in ~tv
Inanimate Link ParentInteresting, I really felt like the later seasons were the best of the show! Someday I'll rewatch it and maybe I'll see what you meant. : )Interesting, I really felt like the later seasons were the best of the show! Someday I'll rewatch it and maybe I'll see what you meant. : )
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Comment on Great shows with interesting premises? in ~tv
Inanimate (edited )LinkOne of my favorites is Person of Interest. A former CIA agent, "John Reese", is recruited by a mysterious recluse, "Finch", to stop crimes before they happen. He is given only one piece of...One of my favorites is Person of Interest. A former CIA agent, "John Reese", is recruited by a mysterious recluse, "Finch", to stop crimes before they happen. He is given only one piece of information: the SSN of a single person involved in the crime. It's soon revealed (as in, within the first episode, so this still counts as the premise!) that the mysterious recluse receives his information from what he calls The Machine - a supercomputer AI that can predict premeditated crimes before they happen - and built a backdoor to provide him the SSN, but nothing more, in order to stop these crimes.
There's many mysteries nested within this basic premise, and the show's premise evolves from season to season, becoming an extremely interesting, both high-brow and action-packed exploration of the effect super-AI would have on our world, and how the government and individuals would grapple with creating such AI. It's really good, and I can't recommend it enough!
It does start as a relatively basic "procedural with a twist'", but personally, I found it compelling from the start, with better-than-expected cinematography and action. However, it really hits its stride about halfway through the first season, if I recall, so it's a show that rewards some patience.
Extreme spoilers on later seasons, for those who want to see if its worth it
In later seasons, other parties try to hijack the Machine for their own ends. The question of whether the Machine is sentient begins to be asked. And eventually, a competitor to the Machine - "Samaritan" - is created, which operates by a tyrannical and far more heavy-handed "ends justify the means" approach. This leads to a secret war between those loyal to the Machine, and those serving Samaritan. The show is ultimately about the delicate balance between privacy and protection, surveillance and safety, etc. -
Comment on Mindless games, preferably mobile in ~games
Inanimate Link ParentAlso recommend Simon Tatham's Puzzles, it's a great collection! Yes, you often get into a 'flow state' while solving a puzzle, so it can be tough to look away and come back to it without losing...Also recommend Simon Tatham's Puzzles, it's a great collection! Yes, you often get into a 'flow state' while solving a puzzle, so it can be tough to look away and come back to it without losing where you were.
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Comment on DebunkBot in ~science
Inanimate LinkGave it a shot. I tried to use actual beliefs of mine. The AI responds very diplomatically, with a hint of ass-kissing in one of my trials. That makes sense, I suppose, since most people with...Gave it a shot. I tried to use actual beliefs of mine. The AI responds very diplomatically, with a hint of ass-kissing in one of my trials. That makes sense, I suppose, since most people with conspiracy beliefs have to be handled with kiddy-gloves, but it was a bit irritating if you're open to an actual dialogue.
For an AI trying to help break down conspiracy beliefs, I found its arguments quite weak and almost tautological. For example, one of my beliefs was "The CDC was pressured by corporations into hastening a return to 'normalcy' during the pandemic", and I noted that the studies used to support a return to unmasked-schooling felt cherry-picked, based on studies in higher-income schools with smaller class sizes and better ventilation than the average school. The AI just replied along the lines of "the scientific peer-review process helps mitigate factors like cherry-picking", which (A) doesn't actually prevent cherry-picking, it just means you need to pick more cherries, and (B) just leads us to the next issue, which is that the 'scientific peer review process' is already proven to have issues with replicability and the like. So, I questioned that, and then it just kept reiterating the same points, pretty much.
In my second trial, I chose a belief I felt less strongly about, but still felt reasonable: "John Barnett was assassinated for whistle-blowing on Boeing." This time, the AI's defenses basically boiled down to 'assassination is a risk that businesses and the US government would not undertake, because it would be illegal and breach the public trust'. When I noted that corporations and the US government both routinely engage in illegal actions that breach the public trust, it basically had no actual defense for that. It just kept reiterating that it's "good to be skeptical" but that we can't be skeptical about everything. It seemed to presume that all actors are rational and good-faith in its arguments. While conspiracy theorists often do presume too much competence and intelligence of people, you absolutely cannot trot out "They wouldn't break the law because it would be illegal" as an argument without it immediately devolving into tautology.
Basically, any amount of actual questioning of its initial defenses just lead to pretty much the same responses being regurgitated. Much like an actual debate that I'd imagine between anyone believing in a conspiracy theory, and anyone trying to refute it, I felt the arguments got circular pretty quickly.
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Comment on Endweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
Inanimate Link ParentSaw this as well, watched it at home with my wife the first day it was available for streaming. I both wish I'd seen it in theaters, but also am very glad I saw it in the privacy of my home,...The Wild Robot
Saw this as well, watched it at home with my wife the first day it was available for streaming. I both wish I'd seen it in theaters, but also am very glad I saw it in the privacy of my home, because we cried a LOT.
Totally agreed about the middle conflict, but everything surrounding that was surprisingly novel. Really enjoyed it.
about that middle
I think that it was resolved quickly was not the worst, though. Roz and Fink both *knew* this would happen someday, and we as the audience did too. *Immediately* after a falling-out like that, it does happen that both parties realize that they have messed up, but circumstances prevent them from making things right. I think the melodrama may have even been intentional as well - Brightbill is a teenager, after all, and Roz is just developing emotions herself, so the fact they're poorly handling them makes sense?It's implied that Fink himself had that happen with his mother, and is guided by that regret. (I was actually impressed that his backstory was never elaborated upon, and left for us to glean, by the way.) So perhaps it's less about the actual falling-out itself, and more about the consequences of it, and how that affects the rest of the plot afterwards. They both immediately realize they do love each other, and have to work extremely hard to earn the chance to profess that love to each other, to make up for that split-second, melodramatic mistake they both immediately regret.
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Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of October 6 in ~games
Inanimate LinkDemon Turf is on sale right now, 60% off! It's a great and charming 3D Platformer with attitude and a real cool style. This edition also includes all of the DLC and the level editor! I already had...Demon Turf is on sale right now, 60% off! It's a great and charming 3D Platformer with attitude and a real cool style. This edition also includes all of the DLC and the level editor! I already had the original edition on my Switch, but the deal was so good I swooped in and got it so I can play the DLC, and on my Steam Deck too. : )
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Comment on Where does punctuation come from?! in ~humanities.languages
Inanimate Link ParentI had never heard of dinkuses, that was a very fun rabbit-hole to descend into. I also hadn't realized there was such a rich history to dingbats. Thanks for sharing!I had never heard of dinkuses, that was a very fun rabbit-hole to descend into. I also hadn't realized there was such a rich history to dingbats. Thanks for sharing!
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Comment on Metaphor: ReFantazio prologue demo arrives today on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in ~games
Inanimate Link ParentHuh, I haven’t had any issues with my Steam Deck performance! What about the gameplay loop of Persona don’t you like? It does look like it has a lot of similarities so far, but I have heard that...Huh, I haven’t had any issues with my Steam Deck performance!
What about the gameplay loop of Persona don’t you like? It does look like it has a lot of similarities so far, but I have heard that e.g. it doesn’t have actual romances. It does seem to me that it’ll have equivalents to Social Links, a calendar system, etc…
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Comment on Metaphor: ReFantazio prologue demo arrives today on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in ~games
Inanimate LinkBeen playing this and it’s been amazing!! So extravagant, love all of the flourish and style throughout everything - not just the UI, which is obviously jaw dropping, but animations,...Been playing this and it’s been amazing!! So extravagant, love all of the flourish and style throughout everything - not just the UI, which is obviously jaw dropping, but animations, worldbuilding, character designs, and more. It really seems to be suffused with a creative energy and passion, with an imprint of every hand that touched the process at some point.
The demo is quite generous, and even just two hours in with only a paltry amount of mechanical systems revealed, it’s a rich and exciting turn-based RPG. Can’t wait for the full release!
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Comment on UFO 50 discussion topic in ~games
Inanimate Link ParentYep! I've been enjoying it on my Steam Deck. I had a little issue with my input at first, since it recognized the Steam Deck as P2, but once I fixed that it's worked like a charm.Yep! I've been enjoying it on my Steam Deck. I had a little issue with my input at first, since it recognized the Steam Deck as P2, but once I fixed that it's worked like a charm.
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Comment on UFO 50 is the best retro-gaming homage I’ve ever played in ~games
Inanimate Link ParentSmall, more compact experiences have a joy of their own, though. For example, a game with a long playtime may have more drawn out parts, or gameplay elements that start off interesting or engaging...Small, more compact experiences have a joy of their own, though. For example, a game with a long playtime may have more drawn out parts, or gameplay elements that start off interesting or engaging but eventually wear out their welcome. Games designed to be shorter can distill their gameplay down to the most fun, exciting parts, and end before anything gets old.
“Good” is certainly subjective; my point is just that these aren’t designed like Action 52 games (I.e. shovelware), but are made with the intent to be fun, quality experiences. So the usual preconception of “XX-in-one” collections as being of lower quality is not applicable here.
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Comment on UFO 50 is the best retro-gaming homage I’ve ever played in ~games
Inanimate Link ParentThe thing is, each of these 50 games was designed specifically to be a good standalone game. The entire point of the exercise was to take the concept of a "50 games in one!" package and ask, "What...The thing is, each of these 50 games was designed specifically to be a good standalone game. The entire point of the exercise was to take the concept of a "50 games in one!" package and ask, "What if these were actually good?"
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Comment on What small questions do you have that aren’t worth a full topic on their own? in ~talk
Inanimate Link ParentFor #2, you got me curious so I did some research. It looks like this was a choice of some poets in the 50s as a part of the Beat Generation. The band Sonic Youth then used it in the 80s, and...For #2, you got me curious so I did some research. It looks like this was a choice of some poets in the 50s as a part of the Beat Generation. The band Sonic Youth then used it in the 80s, and that’s probably where many other musicians got the influence.
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Comment on Scientists receive Ig Nobel Prize for discovering mammals can breathe through anuses in ~science
Inanimate Link ParentAh, I see! I wasn't aware of the difference, but I've just looked into it. Thanks for enlightening me!Ah, I see! I wasn't aware of the difference, but I've just looked into it. Thanks for enlightening me!
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Comment on Scientists receive Ig Nobel Prize for discovering mammals can breathe through anuses in ~science
Inanimate Link ParentI believe they are referring to artificial lungs when they speak of 'ventilator care'.I believe they are referring to artificial lungs when they speak of 'ventilator care'.
Ohhhh!! That is awesome lol!