Sheep's recent activity
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Comment on There is no reason to buy another PlayStation or Xbox in ~games
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Comment on There is no reason to buy another PlayStation or Xbox in ~games
Sheep Link Parent800 dollars a year is most certainly not a rounding error for a big portion of the world's population. I hope you have the self-awareness that this is an extremely privileged position to be in.800 dollars a year is most certainly not a rounding error for a big portion of the world's population. I hope you have the self-awareness that this is an extremely privileged position to be in.
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Comment on There is no reason to buy another PlayStation or Xbox in ~games
Sheep (edited )Link ParentNot only that but if sitting on the couch in your living room is paramount, it is so extremely easy to connect your computer to your living room tv even without a single cable (steam remote play,...Not only that but if sitting on the couch in your living room is paramount, it is so extremely easy to connect your computer to your living room tv even without a single cable (steam remote play, parsec, moonlight, etc.). That means you not only get to enjoy kicking back on the couch, you don't even take up any extra space in the living room. Building a dedicated PC just for your living room is completely unnecessary.
And no, you don't need to walk all the way to where your PC is to turn it on if it's off. Pretty much every modern motherboard has the Wake on LAN feature which lets you remotely wake up your pc as long as it's connected to a router in your home, so it literally is just kick back on your couch and play.
I have a PS5 and happily use it, but it takes me the exact same amount of time to boot into it and play a game than it does to boot into my pc and play a game. And it also has to deal with random updates. I fail to see how one is more convenient than the other, they are both just as convenient.
It has never been easier to play PC games in your living room.
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Comment on There is no reason to buy another PlayStation or Xbox in ~games
Sheep Link ParentNot only will it be a worse PC, it is almost certainly going to start being priced like a PC due to the ongoing memory crisis. Other than exclusive games, the rationale to get a console is gone...Not only will it be a worse PC, it is almost certainly going to start being priced like a PC due to the ongoing memory crisis. Other than exclusive games, the rationale to get a console is gone for me. The PS5 is going to be my last console as far as I'm concerned.
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
Sheep Link ParentThat was actually my plan! Cloudflare should fit all my needs since it's just a static portfolio page that I'll only update every once in a while.That was actually my plan! Cloudflare should fit all my needs since it's just a static portfolio page that I'll only update every once in a while.
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
Sheep LinkI'm a completely non-technical person but I've always wanted to host my own website for my portfolio instead of paying for carrd every year, so I finally took the plunge into static website...I'm a completely non-technical person but I've always wanted to host my own website for my portfolio instead of paying for carrd every year, so I finally took the plunge into static website generators.
After some research I decided to install and test Hugo yesterday and was shocked at how easy it is. It seemed daunting from the instructions but after choosing a theme I liked and inevitably asking an LLM some questions about the folder structure and how I can add my own overrides to change colors and stuff, I realized just how trivial the whole thing is. (seriously reading the documentation for it was not very fun or easy to understand. I have to give the win to the LLM this time)
I'm pretty confident I can spin up my own static website soon enough once I'm happy with the layout (I'm using aafu as a base). And the best part is that if I'm not, it's trivially easy to switch themes and preserve all the content I wrote. Very excited!
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Comment on Finland offers a glimpse of the hurdles Chinese electric vehicle makers face in winning over Europe – consumers ask whether the cars spy on them, or if they have kill switches in ~transport
Sheep Link ParentIt's nice to see someone share such a close opinion to mine. Every time I hear politicians like Von Der Leyen talk about how China is being dishonest with business practices and taking advantage...It's nice to see someone share such a close opinion to mine.
Every time I hear politicians like Von Der Leyen talk about how China is being dishonest with business practices and taking advantage of "loopholes" to sell things cheaper, in my head I'm like "so do the same? Sell us things for cheap?"
Why the hell is a country investing in and subsidizing its industries bad? Something that literally provides benefits for its citizens? Hello??? Can I get some too??? Oh we're just shutting them down and letting our private sector ravage us with no benefit? Okay then.
I understand there's nuance and that of course China is not perfect, just like no country is, but the discourse on the topic at the EU-level is eye-roll inducing. Politicians out there bashing China for being literally 1984 while we're having the 3rd vote on chat control tomorrow for crying out loud...
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Comment on Finland offers a glimpse of the hurdles Chinese electric vehicle makers face in winning over Europe – consumers ask whether the cars spy on them, or if they have kill switches in ~transport
Sheep LinkThere is massive anti-China propaganda across Europe. It is practically impossible to have any honest discussion about any Chinese tech products without someone bringing up how they spy on you. I...There is massive anti-China propaganda across Europe. It is practically impossible to have any honest discussion about any Chinese tech products without someone bringing up how they spy on you.
I can't help but feel it's been a successful distraction campaign from how our politicians are literally voting on stuff like chat control to break encryption and actually pay on us.
It also has been used as leverage to impose high tariffs on Chinese EVs as a way to protect domestic car manufacturers, but all that I see as an end consumer is that now every EV is equally as expensive instead of there being price competition.
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Comment on Give me your culture clash stories in ~travel
Sheep (edited )Link ParentI wonder if this was a general European thing. That kind of peanut butter was also very common in Portugal when the product first started appearing on shelves a decade or so ago. It tasted...I wonder if this was a general European thing. That kind of peanut butter was also very common in Portugal when the product first started appearing on shelves a decade or so ago. It tasted digusting and made me wonder how Americans ate the stuff.
But after some time brands started making peanut butter with peanuts only and I discovered it is actually supposed to taste good... Like peanuts! Wow!
Now, on top of the big selection of brands, some supermarkets even have machines to crush and squeeze peanuts for you on the spot if you want.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (July 2026) in ~health.mental
Sheep (edited )LinkOver half a year ago I posted for the first time in one of these monthly threads about going through the absolute worst time of my life. This was quite literally my only outlet. I am happy to say...Over half a year ago I posted for the first time in one of these monthly threads about going through the absolute worst time of my life. This was quite literally my only outlet.
I am happy to say that I am doing much better today and for one big reason in particular: at the age of 30 I have for the first time been diagnosed with ADHD and was put on appropriate stimulant medication for it (Elvanse, for those curious). I later came to learn that I was actually formally diagnosed with hyperactivity as a child but my parents and the pediatrician just never followed up once I "calmed down" around middle/high school (read: developed enough coping to mask it).
What this has resulted in over the past month that I've been medicated is that I've been able to just do things I need or want to do, be them chores or my job, create routines I can stick to, start eating healthy (down 5 kilos and counting, my weight is finally 2 digits again!), actually pay full attention to stuff, sleep better because my brain isn't running a mile a minute with 50 different thoughts at night, have a good sleep schedule where I wake up in the morning and not in the afternoon, and just overall feel like I'm a functioning human being. My personality hasn't changed, but now I don't feel mentally checked out at every hour of the day.
My entire family has noticed how different I am. I actually talk to people now and can hold that conversation, and I also feel like I want to keep talking. With my hobbies I can do long sessions without feeling bored. And being glued to my phone is no longer something I have the urge for.
I didn't know medication could be this life altering (in a good way!) and I am so thankful that, even though it took 30 years, I managed to talk to a friend who was also diagnosed, and who noticed I had all the telltale signs and suggested I book an appointment with a psychiatrist. It took a while for me to find the courage/motivation to do it, but I'm so glad that I woke up one day and finally called and booked an appointment.
Aside from that, I mentioned in my previous thread that I was having trouble interacting with my dad and sister because it feels like they don't care about me or our living situation and treat me like an obstacle.
Their overall behavior hasn't changed, but my ability to process it in a less negative and spiraling way has. Now I realize that while yes they aren't perfect people and I have my issues with them , they aren't necessarily out to get me. For example me being mentally checked out of everything was a big part of the friction I was feeling back when I made that post, and once I started being able to communicate and be less angry, it alleviated a significant amount of the stress involved, since I could communicate with my dad and sister without feeling angry instantly. That communication has also resulted in at least my dad paying a bit more attention to me and my needs.
Since then, I've been a more active participant in the household and stopped developing an anxious persecution complex and needless hatred and started focusing on the more positive aspects, because being positive has allowed me to focus on saving money and improve my career as well which will hopefully one day let me live on my own. I still sincerely think my dad and sister have big issues they should work on, but I now have the mental fortitude to still press on despite that instead of letting those thoughts fester and bring me down mentally all the time.
So yeah that's the update. Pretty much only positive and I'm glad that I'm now slowly catching up with life I suppose. I hope I can continue this trend.
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Comment on Physical disc production ending in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles in ~games
Sheep Link ParentThis is where we fundamentally disagree. Backlash is worthless if you have no other options. That's the end goal of any company under capitalism, complete control over a monopoly and no...The backlash would be insane.
This is where we fundamentally disagree. Backlash is worthless if you have no other options. That's the end goal of any company under capitalism, complete control over a monopoly and no competition.
Obviously they will not do it overnight. But they will slowly boil the frog alive, and without pushback they can get to a point where enough consumers will be receptive to it by then because that's all they've known their entire lives. You just need enough of a generational shift.
I mean let's not forget Sony did just pull 500+ movies from people's libraries because you own none of them and people are mostly already not gonna do much about it, so I feel like I'm not talking that crazy when I say such decisions can apply to games in the future.
I don't want to let them take this inch or that mile. And just because the situation is already dire today (CDs that are just licenses or downloads are just as much BS in my book) doesn't mean we should be cool with letting it get even worse with absolutely no pushback.
I remember a certain segment of PC gamers saying the exact same thing when Steam came along over 20 years ago. And yet in all that time, has it ever happened?
I will say Steam is a very unique edge case because they are still privately owned and have a mostly pro-consumer mindset (I mean they're pushing Linux and open source which is unheard of), but they should absolutely be included in this argument and not be let off the hook either if they ever do anything anti-consumer.
I imagine if Steam were an Epic Games or an EA or whatever things would look significantly different right now.
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Comment on Physical disc production ending in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles in ~games
Sheep Link ParentI'll never deny that that it's much chiller to kick back and play a game on a console (though I will argue that you can absolutely make a PC function very close to that if you're willing to leave...I'll never deny that that it's much chiller to kick back and play a game on a console (though I will argue that you can absolutely make a PC function very close to that if you're willing to leave Windows, but I understand it's not apples to apples). The problem is that accepting this change in particular means you are now 100% beholden to Sony's whims and if nothing is done to change current laws you will literally have no power if they ever decide to pull the plug and take your games away.
Yes, that might not happen in 10 years or even 20, but at some point it will happen to some degree. And I don't want to support a future where consumers' only option is to buy a digital game that is just an ethereal license that can be revoked at any time for any reason.
I think we should fight for the right to own the stuff we buy at the very least instead of blindly trusting any multi-million dollar's company's pinky promises.
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Comment on Physical disc production ending in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles in ~games
Sheep Link ParentYes, with Nintendo and the very Sony that's the headline here. Along with announcing no more disc's after 2028, Sony has just announced they're shutting down ps3 and psvita store servers so you...Has it ever happened?
Yes, with Nintendo and the very Sony that's the headline here.
Along with announcing no more disc's after 2028, Sony has just announced they're shutting down ps3 and psvita store servers so you will no longer be able to get your digital games there anymore. Didn't buy a physical disc? Too bad.
With Nintendo, if you only owned digital copies of Wii, Wii U, and 3DS games, you can no longer download them.
And this will only keep happening without guardrails.
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Comment on Physical disc production ending in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles in ~games
Sheep Link ParentAs far as I know many Switch 2 cartridges already don't contain the game data, they just give you access to a digital download so really they've all gone down the same route.As far as I know many Switch 2 cartridges already don't contain the game data, they just give you access to a digital download so really they've all gone down the same route.
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Comment on Physical disc production ending in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles in ~games
Sheep (edited )Link ParentAt least for now as a PC gamer you have options to strip away the DRM from most Steam games, meaning you always have a chance to permanently backup your games wherever you want. There's also GOG,...At least for now as a PC gamer you have options to strip away the DRM from most Steam games, meaning you always have a chance to permanently backup your games wherever you want. There's also GOG, itch.io and others that offer you games with no DRM.
With locked down consoles like Playstation, once they take away your physical games you are 100% at the mercy of the company and there is nothing you can do if they decide they don't want you to play anymore.
This is why movements like stop killing games are more crucial than ever. We need to ensure consumers get to keep and play the games they legally purchase and not be at the mercy of a remote kill switch or funny business like Sony discontinuing physical CDs.
Companies don't have to be forced to make physical media, but I should also not be forced to never own the games I buy.
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Comment on Reddit will require you to be logged in to use old.reddit.com in ~tech
Sheep (edited )Link ParentI believe this won't affect redlib because redlib uses Reddit's official OAuth API for authentication. It's not scraping old.reddit or anything, it works like a 3rd party client (specifically, it...I believe this won't affect redlib because redlib uses Reddit's official OAuth API for authentication. It's not scraping old.reddit or anything, it works like a 3rd party client (specifically, it pretends to be an Android app).
Full disclaimer: I'm not a developer, this is just what I read from the docs.
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Comment on Steam Machine prices revealed, starting at US$1049.00 in ~games
Sheep Link ParentBut it already verifiably can't. I'm not even talking about Linux incompatibility here (which will also be a big impact, mind you). Gaming performance tests regularly show fps values staying below...If the Steam Machine can land 99% or higher of games being released for the next several years as verified compatible/playable, then I think there's a market for people out there who will be satisfied with that.
But it already verifiably can't. I'm not even talking about Linux incompatibility here (which will also be a big impact, mind you). Gaming performance tests regularly show fps values staying below 60 in tons of popular games at just 1080p unless you significantly downgrade settings to medium/low. If you have a 4K TV you're certainly not gonna be enjoying those extra pixels. The Gamers Nexus review of it has a bunch of comparison charts and the Steam Machine is essentially always at the bottom compared to everything.
That's kind of a glaring issue, no? If you want to just kick back in the couch and play, which I feel is the consumer this is mostly targeting, this machine will throttle and give you a very poor performance on any of the big name games of the past few years, let alone the present and future. Now, whether 30 fps and below is fine for a lot of people or not is debatable, I'll admit, but you are paying what I think most people consider a very high price for an already outdated machine that will not get any better. Meanwhile, you could spend 400 dollars less and get a ps5 with those same games that you know will run consistently.
At least the Steam Deck has the excuse that it's a portable form factor so you shouldn't have any expectation that it can run demanding games that well. I don't think the same benefit of the doubt is warranted for the Steam Machine that has "4k gaming at 60fps" in its description and cannot deliver it for, as far as I can tell, most modern 3D games.
If you're Joe Shmo who doesn't know about computers and just wants something that works, how is the Steam Machine at all appealing for that price? I really don't see how it is competing with anything. It's in a microscopic niche of its own at this price point.
Want a powerful PC? Build a better one yourself for the same price or even get a prebuilt like the person further up above commented.
Want something for your TV? A comparable console is 400 bucks cheaper and comes with a controller.The only person for whom the steam machine makes sense is either a technology enthusiast with money to spend or someone who has at least a thousand dollars and for whom a bigger form factor and/or more noise than the steam machine is a non-starter. I'm sure they're out there, but I have serious doubts they are very numerous.
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Comment on Are there any video games that are/were popular in your country, that the rest of the world hardly knows about? in ~games
Sheep (edited )LinkFor MMOS, Metin 2 and Tibia were quite popular back when I was in middle/high school. Not sure how popular they are overall but they were a constant for me. Single player-wise I distinctively...For MMOS, Metin 2 and Tibia were quite popular back when I was in middle/high school. Not sure how popular they are overall but they were a constant for me.
Single player-wise I distinctively remember the Hugo franchise having a lot of staying power around the PS1 era. There was always a game for it, so from my kid perspective it was decently popular. Guessing it was likely because it was one of the few games translated into European Portuguese at the time. Native translations made a big difference back then because our country's overall English level was not what it is now, so without that most kids couldn't get the most out of games with dialogue/text. I don't think I've ever heard anybody outside of Europe talk about it.
Also, I don't think it was popular, but since I played the hell out of it, I have to make a passing mention to Frets on Fire, the poor man's guitar hero. This tutorial lives rent free in my head.
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Comment on Steam Machine prices revealed, starting at US$1049.00 in ~games
Sheep (edited )Link ParentPS5 tier performance costs the price of a PS5, about 600 bucks. Even acknowledging Sony's ability to subsidize the cost, you're still looking at an insane markup. And for 900 you can get a better...PS5 tier performance costs the price of a PS5, about 600 bucks. Even acknowledging Sony's ability to subsidize the cost, you're still looking at an insane markup. And for 900 you can get a better performing PS5 pro that includes a controller and leaves you with money left over for a year of Playstation Plus. I don't think it's crazy to say that's what most people will see at first glance. The steam machine is trying to be a more mainstream, console-like (ie plug and play) pc gaming experience, so the PS5/Xbox are the most direct comparisons at the moment.
But even if you want to compare to PCs, which yes will cost a pretty penny right now even at entry level (again, I built one a few months ago. It cost me about 2k euros for a ryzen 7 9800X3D, 32 GB of DDR5, and an rx 9070 xt, so I am keenly aware of how absurd prices are), you will always get better value than this machine because this specific hardware is purposefully underpowered to fit in that form factor and not have thermal issues.
I have also seen some pre-built PCs, which are probably the most analogous to a steam machine, with better base specs for similar prices. Ryzen 5 with an rx 9060 xt and 32 GB of DDR5 for about 1.3k euros, for example, or an rtx 5060 system if you're willing to go down to 16 GB of RAM, which gives you access to DLSS (I believe I saw two systems like that just around 1k). That's a very similar price to the steam machine but with significantly better specs and performance, and you didn't need to do any DIY. Plus you have more upgradeability. And pre-builts are extremely popular overall already, so the steam machine is competing with them whether it likes it or not. Sure, they will be bigger and less silent, that's one of the most impressive and unique things about the steam machine, but I'd wager most people who are trying to make the most sensible purchase will likely weigh those factors less compared to performance. This is the price range where you're counting every frame.
I just don't see a reason, outside of the enthusiast crowd that already has extra money to spend, why any regular consumer would go to the steam machine instead of a more full-powered PC for the same price if they're looking to get the most bang for their buck, or a much cheaper console for the same performance if they're looking for couch gaming at an "affordable" price (relatively speaking. Screw these prices to high heaven).
All tests that have come out from reviews show that this is underpowered by any metric even when you look at the current price of components. Yes, it is an absolutely cool machine that has more to it than just raw performance, I'm not saying it should be 600 bucks (in my personal opinion they could have gotten away with up to 800 without much of an outcry) or that it shouldn't exist. But the price is just not computing at all. And that's not through Valve's fault, I'm not blaming them. Screw the tech bros that made this hobby the price-gated absurdity it has become. But as an end consumer, with all the other prices I see, I feel it's fair to say the steam machine is not worth the money in most circumstances. Definitely something I'd love to have if I had a lot of expendable budget, but sadly I need to count every penny to get my money's worth.
Basically what I'm trying to say is I think at this price point this is a cool enthusiast-oriented machine, but it's going to have a rough time breaking into the mainstream like it was most likely hoping to when it was announced.
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Comment on Steam Machine prices revealed, starting at US$1049.00 in ~games
Sheep Link ParentPS5 tier performance in 2026 at this price point is not a good deal. All reviews are showing this thing is severely underpowered even for today's prices. I built a pc this year, I know prices are...PS5 tier performance in 2026 at this price point is not a good deal. All reviews are showing this thing is severely underpowered even for today's prices.
I built a pc this year, I know prices are ruined, but you can absolutely get better value if you build it yourself and honestly even some pre-builts.
800 dollars is an entire month's salary for me. How "fortunate" I am.