kru's recent activity
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
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Comment on Someone ‘torturing’ LLMs in a robot prison has triggered the dumbest debate in AI yet in ~tech
kru Link ParentI've thought about this before. I had some actual ethical qualms about it when I was starting out with model training. I chatted about this with some others at the time and we came to the idea...Ironically, you could maybe argue that the simple act of training a model is more similar to torture. What is a negative signal to a neural network? Well, in practice it means that gradient descent is moving away from something. That's the equivalent of a pain signal.
I've thought about this before. I had some actual ethical qualms about it when I was starting out with model training. I chatted about this with some others at the time and we came to the idea that, while backprop could be considered analogous to pain signals in a human brain, the actual experience is quite different. The key distinction is that we remember the pain, models don't. We remember the experience of the pain. The model, on the other hand, doesn't experience the change. The old model which made the high error merely ceases to exist and the new model, with the weights applied, springs into existence. There is no transition period where the model is conscious of the change. No pain for it.
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
kru Link ParentAre you attempting something akin to what C2PA is doing?Are you attempting something akin to what C2PA is doing?
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Comment on What is your dream game? in ~games
kru Link ParentThe hallmark of an amazing quest is the very non-obvious 'best of all worlds' solution that becomes available to players who put in the extra effort, or have a good blend of stats, or made some...The hallmark of an amazing quest is the very non-obvious 'best of all worlds' solution that becomes available to players who put in the extra effort, or have a good blend of stats, or made some other gameplay decisions that enable it.
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Comment on What is your dream game? in ~games
kru LinkArcanum, remade in the divinity engine (or a similarly physics-oriented engine) and designed/written by the OG Troika team. I'd also want to recreate the original (abandonware) Albion game as a...Arcanum, remade in the divinity engine (or a similarly physics-oriented engine) and designed/written by the OG Troika team.
I'd also want to recreate the original (abandonware) Albion game as a first person skyrim-like.
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Comment on VR questions, recommendations, tips, and tricks in ~games
kru LinkMy advice for anyone who wants to use VR for more than 30 mins at a time: Get a halo headstrap. For the quest 3, the best one I've played with is the Bobo S3 Pro (although I've tried cheaper ones...My advice for anyone who wants to use VR for more than 30 mins at a time: Get a halo headstrap. For the quest 3, the best one I've played with is the Bobo S3 Pro (although I've tried cheaper ones which are pretty good, too!).
The thing is, the default straps for the quest (and it looks like the steam frame as well) keep the device held in place by pressing it against your face. This is fine for awhile, perhaps even an hour or so of comfortable use. But during long sessions, or after many sessions over weeks, this constant pressure gets very uncomfortable. The halo strap instead is secured across your forehead and skull using less sensitive pressure points along your forehead and back the head. The device just sits gently in front of your face. And a good halo strap will counterweight the device by providing a small battery unit in the back of the head.
Why do the devices ship with simple, uncomfortable straps? Because it's cheap.
I'd also avoid straps that just add a top-strap, like meta's "elite strap" or the frame's "ergonomic kit" offers. These are a little bit better than the default face-squishing strap, but they're still not as good as a real halo strap.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
kru Link ParentHow's your take on the time as a resource mechanic? Have you ever spent time on something and been disappointed at the result?How's your take on the time as a resource mechanic? Have you ever spent time on something and been disappointed at the result?
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Comment on Nexon pursues ‘StarCraft’ sequel development rights from Blizzard in ~games
kru LinkThe top brass at Nexon have been fascinated by StarCraft for a long time. Personally, I'd love a starcraft sequel. I'd also love if they made a sequel to Shattered Galaxy but with the StarCraft IP.The top brass at Nexon have been fascinated by StarCraft for a long time.
Personally, I'd love a starcraft sequel. I'd also love if they made a sequel to Shattered Galaxy but with the StarCraft IP.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
kru LinkI picked up Magical Princess because it was highly reviewed and the top review said to go in blind. I'm a sucker for something interesting or unexpected will take place. This game is a perfectly...I picked up Magical Princess because it was highly reviewed and the top review said to go in blind. I'm a sucker for something interesting or unexpected will take place. This game is a perfectly fine princess maker, its live2d puppets give it top-notch presentation. It's initially a deep time management game, but the optimal path will become apparent very quickly, I think. The optimal path is so far ahead of any other that all guides agree to get skill X first, Y second, etc. When that happens, it doesn't matter how deep or complex the mechanics of the game are, the balance just isn't there. It was fun, competent and worth the ~12 hours I put in.
I've been slogging through Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew by the guys who made Shadow Tactics and the (excellent) Desperados 3. I love that Mimimi did the trifecta: ninjas, then cowboys, and now pirates. But, for some reason that I haven't fully grasped, this latest game failed to hook me the same way the first games did. I loved Shadow Tactics and Desperados. Amazing games. I'm going to keep pushing through Shadow Gambit until I can figure out what it is lacking, why it doesn't have the same soul that the others do.
Prior to that I played Until Then which is a VN with a great kinetic pixel art aesthetic. The presentation is solid, and the initial mystery certainly served to draw me in and get me wondering what's going on. Unfortunately, after about 18 hours to get through it, I can say that I felt the payoff was severely lacking. Also, the designers made some very questionable choices. If you're making a VN, please do not introduce an entirely new mechanic as part of the Act 1 denouement. The story was that the character had been practicing and training for months, making slow, incremental progress towards the goal. Then, during the actual event, a new (quite difficult) minigame mechanic is introduced and not only am I not able to enjoy the majesty of that character's achievements to get to the point, I'm instead being made to feel like a failure because I am unskilled at a never-before-seen minigame that takes place during the event. What is worst of all is that the whole thing is pointless. Failing the minigame has no bearing on the outcome at all. It's pure stupid. And it's not the only instance of this type of thing in the game. I do not recommend the game.
Lastly, I picked up Sandustry which is a 2d pixel-world factory builder. Imagine Satisfactory in a Noita-like environment. It's currently in EA so I only got about 17 hours before running out of content. I enjoyed my time with it. It's super cozy. It's focused on conveyors and converting materials to different forms. It has the same relaxed vibe that Satisfactory does.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
kru Link ParentWe need wreckfest and snowrunner together. Slide down that hill and watch your jeep get banged up, slowly deteriorating until it limps back to basecamp.We need wreckfest and snowrunner together. Slide down that hill and watch your jeep get banged up, slowly deteriorating until it limps back to basecamp.
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Comment on Master and Commander: The Far Side Of The World (2003) in ~movies
kru LinkThis film taught me how to properly rank and order beetles.This film taught me how to properly rank and order beetles.
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Comment on What is the oldest file you still have? in ~tech
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Comment on AI text watermarking is free and good in ~comp
kru Link ParentI use blast radius frequently when discussing the, well, blast radius of a feature or fix. It's a good term and useful shorthand for the connectivity of a system. I'll stop using it when I'm dead...I use blast radius frequently when discussing the, well, blast radius of a feature or fix. It's a good term and useful shorthand for the connectivity of a system. I'll stop using it when I'm dead or retired.
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Comment on Dictatorship in ~society
kru LinkHow much of this is top-down directed and how much is self-directed borne out of a culture of compliance and yea-men, I wonder. In other words, from whence did the decision originate? Did someone...How much of this is top-down directed and how much is self-directed borne out of a culture of compliance and yea-men, I wonder. In other words, from whence did the decision originate? Did someone high up order ways to get Yabloko off the ballot via legal means, and cronies executed, or did the cronies decide that attacking Yabloko was part of a strategy to curry favor and reap rewards?
Because I think a small cadre of powerful people directing subordinates to be evil is ultimately more manageable and recoervable than a culture where a majority of people are actively seeking ways to be evil in the hopes of reward.
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Comment on Bethesda, id Software reportedly hit hard by Microsoft layoffs in ~games
kru Link ParentObsidian got hit to the tune of around 25%. I doubt any studio escaped completely unscathed.Obsidian got hit to the tune of around 25%. I doubt any studio escaped completely unscathed.
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Comment on Does generative AI have a natural limit without a major innovation? in ~comp
kru Link ParentMost of the gains over the past cycle have come from better tooling. I think this is widely recognized. But it's a tit-for-tat thing. Tools get made. Models get better at generic tool use. Tools...Most of the gains over the past cycle have come from better tooling. I think this is widely recognized. But it's a tit-for-tat thing. Tools get made. Models get better at generic tool use. Tools get better/standardized. Models get better at using those tools. Rinse. Repeat.
I liken it to the development of software for creatives. Back in the days of yore, if you wanted to edit a digital photograph (not that those were easy to come by in the 80s/90s, heh), you were doing direct pixel manipulation. Then photoshop (and similar) came out and there was suite of nifty editing tools - but you had to learn how best to use them. Then those tools got better/more advanced and you learned the new usages. Then the tools got even better, and you learned more to keep up. Then the tools started being able to use themselves and here we are.
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Comment on Any fellow software engineers using paid GitHub copilot? in ~comp
kru Link ParentEnterprise pays per seat and per token. (https://support.claude.com/en/articles/11526368-how-am-i-billed-for-my-enterprise-plan)Enterprise pays per seat and per token.
(https://support.claude.com/en/articles/11526368-how-am-i-billed-for-my-enterprise-plan)
Enterprise plan billing has two parts: a fixed seat fee and separate usage charges. The seat fee covers platform access. Usage is billed on top of that, based on what your team actually consumes.
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Comment on Humble Choice - June 2026 in ~games
kru LinkRiftbreaker is the sleeper hit. That game is an underrated gem. It's not as deep as factorio or satisfactory, but it's a wicked fun romp. I haven't tried coop. I did have a blast running through...Riftbreaker is the sleeper hit. That game is an underrated gem. It's not as deep as factorio or satisfactory, but it's a wicked fun romp. I haven't tried coop. I did have a blast running through the main story (no dlcs). I got about 30 hours out of it.
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Comment on Valve raises Steam Deck OLED prices by up to $300 in ~games
kru Link ParentYell abuse all you like with my blessings, but avoid spitting, unless you're willing to suffer a battery charge.Yell abuse all you like with my blessings, but avoid spitting, unless you're willing to suffer a battery charge.
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Comment on Dice Tower West 2026 in ~games.tabletop
kru LinkI figure the intersection of people who visit Tildes and people who attend Dice Tower West is exactly me. But just in case it's not, send me a message if you're attending and want to grab a game...I figure the intersection of people who visit Tildes and people who attend Dice Tower West is exactly me. But just in case it's not, send me a message if you're attending and want to grab a game or two.
The Dice Tower convention is a huge gathering of board gamers who just play board games nonstop for days on end. It's great fun, if you enjoy board games. It's not as big as spiel or gen con, but it's 100% focused on playing board games.
I picked up Underkeep the other week and I have very mixed, trending negative thoughts. I can't recommend it as a game, but I do think it's worth paying attention to, because it's an example of an RPG with text written mostly by LLMs(*). It's not bad at all, but it's exceptionally mediocre. However, the text isn't the reason I don't like it. The game makes several fundamental mechanical and game design mistakes that even a novice human designer would not make. But, I did put ~30 hours in, so I didn't hate it. And there's a dearth of blobbers, so this definitely fills a void.
I suspect that a large part of the mechanical balance was decided by LLM, or someone guided by one. I say this because there are a lot of very questionable mechanical decisions that were made. You can very easily create a party using the advice given in the character creation screen, and end up with a group that will get soft-locked about a third of the way through the game because your characters don't have the requisite stats to equip much of the gear you'll find. One example (of many): You might create a dwarf or stoneskin warrior (high str, low wis) only to later realize that all the belts in the game require more wisdom to equip than your front liners have. The only belt that doesn't is one which gives a small +1 str, which you'll find about 10 hours in. However, the mechanical advantages of having the extra str from a dwarf (over the other racial options) is minuscule. (Note: You may think I'm overstating this. I'm not. The only gear that provides wisdom bonuses all have minimum wisdom requirements! What?). This itemization and party-creation noob trap is all the more odd given the fact that the devs say they've been building the game for 5 years. They had 5 years to catch this type of thing and didn't? Hmm...
More egregiously, the game requires the player to make several irreversible decisions as part of the main quest. Choosing wrongly on any of them will lock you out of the option to get a good ending. Worse, the game provides you a quest to deliberately make a bad decision. There's no in-game text that would suggest you should actually want to fail this quest. But, 20 hours in, you get to the end of the game and get told that you made one of those bad decisions. Then you have to either restart or go back and replay 10+ hours. Sucks. (This is one of the reasons I think the games quests may have been designed by LLM. Because the quest design in this game suggests they were written by someone with a very strange sense of what other people know. It often assumes the player knows things they can't, or don't know things they probably do. This touches on what is known as Theory of Mind, which LLMs have but in a very uncanny valley way.)
(*)The devs don't admit to such, which is fair, because they can't. The community is too hostile to LLM writing at the moment. But if you've spent enough time working with LLMs writing fiction, or asked an LLM to write quests, you'll spot all of the tells immediately.
I also played through People of Note. This was a charming puzzle-battle jrpg, with surprisingly strong mechanics, that doesn't take itself seriously at all. I thoroughly enjoyed it, up until the last hour or so, when the shine of the absurd world and silly puns finally wore off. But, thankfully, the game provides good accessibility options, including the option to skip battles and puzzles. Perfect.
While I tentatively don't recommend Underkeep, I do definitely recommend People of Note.