Shevanel'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 What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
Shevanel Link ParentI totally get what you mean on the cozy / “autumnal” vibe of Opeth haha, I feel very similarly. I think those are some great callouts on the musicality points as well. I remember watching some BTS...I totally get what you mean on the cozy / “autumnal” vibe of Opeth haha, I feel very similarly. I think those are some great callouts on the musicality points as well. I remember watching some BTS videos leading up to Watershed’s release and the band was talking about using major tonality and clean vocals on top of blast beats. I hadn’t yet discovered atmoblack/blackgaze stuff yet so the variety within the orchestration was really mind-blowing to me at the time. And speaking of, to your point, I feel like their earlier stuff does scratch a similar itch to a lot of atmoblack from a “vibes” perspective, despite not really sounding anything like it.
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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
Shevanel Link/Noise, but last night I re-installed and played FO:NV for the first time in five years completely on a whim. What are the odds? Maybe I should get my PS4 out of storage and boot up Bloodborne… NV.../Noise, but last night I re-installed and played FO:NV for the first time in five years completely on a whim. What are the odds? Maybe I should get my PS4 out of storage and boot up Bloodborne…
NV still remains my favorite Fallout game, so while I’m saddened at the prospect of folks being pulled away from something about which they may have had passion, I’m also selfishly excited to see what they can do with the IP this time around.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
Shevanel Link ParentI can appreciate all the various “seasons” of Opeth’s sounds, but man, anything from Watershed and earlier is, IMO, the peak of progressive(/prog-adjacent) metal. It’s insane what they were doing...I can appreciate all the various “seasons” of Opeth’s sounds, but man, anything from Watershed and earlier is, IMO, the peak of progressive(/prog-adjacent) metal. It’s insane what they were doing for what felt like decades before anyone else really caught up with their sound in earnest.
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Comment on What are your favorite custom games? in ~games
Shevanel Link ParentI’m jumping the gun mentioning this, because I’m not even done with the proof of concept yet, but I’m working on setting up a sort of self-contained DoomRunner configuration that has all of the...I’m jumping the gun mentioning this, because I’m not even done with the proof of concept yet, but I’m working on setting up a sort of self-contained DoomRunner configuration that has all of the Cacoward-winning DOOM mods preloaded and preconfigured so it all works “out of the box” with zero tinkering for the end user. If I can figure out a few OS-specific scripting tweaks, my hope is to be able to share it out with anyone interested. End goal would be that folks who own the requisite IWADs could download my installer package, plug a few file paths in, and have access to ~350 of the best WADs and WAD packs. It’s a niche that I’d love to get more people interested in!
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Comment on What are your favorite custom games? in ~games
Shevanel LinkI’m on mobile and can’t find the link to my old comment at the moment, but I’ve posted on Tildes before about the world of DOOM WADs, aka downloading free user-created maps and levels for a lot of...I’m on mobile and can’t find the link to my old comment at the moment, but I’ve posted on Tildes before about the world of DOOM WADs, aka downloading free user-created maps and levels for a lot of the old id2 engine games from the early-mid 90s. It requires a healthy bit of tinkering to get everything playing nicely, but there is a TON of content out there for free (if you own the original game files that are needed to run the mods). Some play just like old DOOM games, some might as well be entirely new games in and of themselves, like Ashes 2063 and Castlevania: Simon’s Destiny. If anyone is interested in learning more about how to do this, I’d be happy to help get them set up!
Ninja edit: Selaco is a modern (paid) DOOM WAD taken to the extreme - an entirely new game built off the same engine. The devs just chose to charge for this one (and I don’t blame them) vs. many other free offerings.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
Shevanel Link ParentFrom one Casiopea fan to another, I feel obligated to evangelize Sam Greenfield just in case you haven’t heard him. Active composer / saxophonist who channels the Japanese fusion scene in a big...From one Casiopea fan to another, I feel obligated to evangelize Sam Greenfield just in case you haven’t heard him. Active composer / saxophonist who channels the Japanese fusion scene in a big way while still managing to do his own thing. Some of his stuff errs on the side of being tongue-in-cheek but most of his stuff is just legitimately hard hitting fusion-adjacent stuff. Really big fan! This entire LP feels like a love letter to that entire genre.
Ninja edit: album opener is probably the least fusion-sounding on the whole album, weirdly misleading way to start it. Tracks 2-7 sound like they could come straight out of a Casiopea LP.
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Comment on We're so back in ~tildes
Shevanel Link ParentShould’ve been more clear, @Sunbutt23 is already a member. But in case you ever want to pop by, here’s an invite link! It is VERY sleepy, mind. Like basically dead. But in this one instance it was...Should’ve been more clear, @Sunbutt23 is already a member. But in case you ever want to pop by, here’s an invite link!
It is VERY sleepy, mind. Like basically dead. But in this one instance it was helpful!
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Comment on We're so back in ~tildes
Shevanel Link ParentYou could have hopped over to our sleepy LFG server, a few of us checked in to see if we were experiencing the same thing :)You could have hopped over to our sleepy LFG server, a few of us checked in to see if we were experiencing the same thing :)
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Comment on Searching for neighbours on the indie web in ~tech
Shevanel Link ParentSaw your edit - thank you for putting this out there so folks could find each other, and for the kind words about the site!Saw your edit - thank you for putting this out there so folks could find each other, and for the kind words about the site!
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Comment on Searching for neighbours on the indie web in ~tech
Shevanel Link ParentNo preference but I appreciate you asking! Got you added on my side as well :)No preference but I appreciate you asking! Got you added on my side as well :)
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Comment on Searching for neighbours on the indie web in ~tech
Shevanel Link ParentI already shared as a parent comment, but I'd love to exchange if you're open to it! I've got two button styles available - bordered and unbordered if you'd like to link back to https://plots.club.I already shared as a parent comment, but I'd love to exchange if you're open to it! I've got two button styles available - bordered and unbordered if you'd like to link back to https://plots.club.
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Comment on Searching for neighbours on the indie web in ~tech
Shevanel (edited )LinkHey there! I’m currently piloting a site that has exactly those things. I went ahead and published the dang thing - it’s live at plots.club. Most importantly, of course, here’s my 88x31 and I’d...Hey there! I’m currently piloting a site that has exactly those things.
When I publish it, it’ll be at plots.club, but until that point, I have a staging version of the site that I pulled some folks in to test. That being said, it’s pretty sleepy, so I should probably just release the site to the masses.If you’re curious, the staging site is at staging.plots.club and I have a soft auth landing to keep bots out for now. u: psu, p: psp. That block won’t exist when I do go live.I went ahead and published the dang thing - it’s live at plots.club.Most importantly, of course, here’s my 88x31 and I’d love if you linked to plots.club - I’ll do the same back to you! (My 88x31s are the end of the docs which are also present on the staging site)
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
Shevanel Link ParentThis sounds really cool, thanks for sharing! Anytime someone mentions Clapping Music, I am obligated to post this important rendition.-
This sounds really cool, thanks for sharing!
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Anytime someone mentions Clapping Music, I am obligated to post this important rendition.
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Comment on The 100 best novels of all time published in English in ~books
Shevanel (edited )Link ParentI keep waffling on my opinion of this approach. On one hand, I completely agree that it feels a little underhanded, though on the other hand, I’m glad that translated works that hold up (decently)...I keep waffling on my opinion of this approach. On one hand, I completely agree that it feels a little underhanded, though on the other hand, I’m glad that translated works that hold up (decently) are acknowledged too. I’m monolingual and am incredibly grateful that excellent translations of works like Don Quixote and One Hundred Years of Solitude exist, and that lists like this shine a spotlight on them instead of leaving them off because they weren’t originally written in English, otherwise a dunce like me might never have given them the time of day.
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Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of May 3 in ~games
Shevanel Link ParentProbably easiest to describe as a low-poly cozy 3D platformer. But it’s more exploration based than anything, and a very relaxed pace. Cute writing, fun inconsequential story, just a nice chill...Probably easiest to describe as a low-poly cozy 3D platformer. But it’s more exploration based than anything, and a very relaxed pace. Cute writing, fun inconsequential story, just a nice chill experience overall. The controls are a little funky (flight mechanic can be finicky) but the game isn’t too punishing in any regard so it’s not a big deal.
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Comment on Space Hauler | Announcement trailer in ~games
Shevanel Link ParentJust making sure you’re aware of Hardspace: Shipbreaker, which is a very blue collar flavored shipbreaking simulation game set in the future. Steel guitar, anti-capitalism, the whole nine yards!Just making sure you’re aware of Hardspace: Shipbreaker, which is a very blue collar flavored shipbreaking simulation game set in the future. Steel guitar, anti-capitalism, the whole nine yards!
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Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of May 3 in ~games
Shevanel LinkA Short Hike is at a historical low on Steam to celebrate its seventh anniversary. If you're one of the ~ dozen people in the world who hasn't happened to play it yet, I highly recommend it -...A Short Hike is at a historical low on Steam to celebrate its seventh anniversary. If you're one of the ~ dozen people in the world who hasn't happened to play it yet, I highly recommend it - charming little game that still works its way into plenty of "top x indie darlings" lists.
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Comment on What are your go-to meals that you cook? in ~food
Shevanel Link ParentThe kiddo looooves carrots, so yes, we do aim for smaller organic carrots and it’s still pretty carrot heavy. One medium carrot is plenty for the non-carrot-obsessed among us :)The kiddo looooves carrots, so yes, we do aim for smaller organic carrots and it’s still pretty carrot heavy. One medium carrot is plenty for the non-carrot-obsessed among us :)
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Comment on What are your go-to meals that you cook? in ~food
Shevanel LinkThis is super basic, but it’s an incredibly easy, relatively cheap one-pot pasta dish that’s supposed to be a more “wholesome” version of boxed Hamburger Helper meals. My whole family loves it,...This is super basic, but it’s an incredibly easy, relatively cheap one-pot pasta dish that’s supposed to be a more “wholesome” version of boxed Hamburger Helper meals. My whole family loves it, from the toddler up to the adults, and it dirties exactly four items (cutting board, knife, pot, wooden spoon or other stirring tool), five if you feel the need to measure everything precisely, but it’s a great dish to learn how to get comfortable eyeballing measurements. My wife found this on TikTok and we adapted it to suit our tastes, so no link or anything, just my handwritten sloppy notes:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb ground meat, we usually use beef, your preference of fat percentage
10 oz uncooked pasta (we tend to use fusilli, any short shape works great)
3 carrots, diced
1 onion, diced (we usually use white)
5 cloves garlic, minced
3c chicken stock
1c milk, any percentage works
1c tomato sauce
1t garlic powder
1t onion powder
1/2t smoked paprika
1t oregano
1t dried thyme or marjoram
1-1.5c shredded cheddarIn your pot, add oil, medium high heat
Add carrots & onion, 3-4 minutes
Add ground meat, break up and cook through
Add spices, 1 minute
Add garlic, 1 minute
Add all liquids and pasta, bring to low boil, stir occasionally
Cook 7-10 minutes until pasta is good, should still be a little liquid left
Remove from heat, stir in cheese, let sit for 5 min so sauce thickensObviously also a great pantry-clearing recipe if you want to throw in any additional vegetables or mix the odds and ends of pasta types with only a few oz left in each box.
King’s Field: The Ancient City
Games from FromSoftware’s King’s Field series, or at least inspired by them (affectionately referred to as “Fieldies” in some corners of the internet), are a very interesting pill to swallow. They are often unwieldy and obtuse, even more so than the games FromSoftware would go on to develop (Elden Ring, Dark Souls 2 and its inferior siblings, and the like). There exists plenty of media that goes into what makes King’s Field games unique, so I won’t dive too deep into that here. For now, it suffices to say that these games are old-school first-person dungeon crawlers with a decent cult following.
I posted a while ago about working my way through the first two King’s Field entries, and I’m happy to report that I’ve “beaten” all of them. That is to say, I properly beat King’s Field (jp) and King’s Field II (jp), aka King’s Field outside of Japan, as well as King’s Field: the Ancient City for the PS2. I got about 50% of the way through King’s Field III (jp), aka King’s Field II outside of Japan (confused yet?) but had to call it quits because my emulator ISO seems to be corrupted :/ the first half of the game seemed excellent and was a great send-off to the PSX era of the series.
All of that said, upon booting up King’s Field: The Ancient City (TAC) for the first time, I immediately understood why the genre is experiencing a sort of resurgence, and why TAC is such a big influence. The game oozes atmosphere, the music is excellent, and there is so much of the current FromSoftware DNA that clearly got its start in this entry. There is still tons of the characteristic charm (read: obtuse and oft frustrating mechanics and design decisions) found in earlier entries, but a lot of the sharp edges have been filed away and it made for a really enjoyable experience.
I emulated all of these entries on my Steam Deck and I would highly recommend doing the same if you’re interested. Primarily because when you’re backtracking through the game, you can bump the emulation speed up to 150-200% for quicker traversal. I’m all about taking in the game at its intentionally slow pace, but when I’m backtracking to find a single item that may or may not exist several areas back, I lose my patience pretty quickly. At any rate, I’m glad to have finally immersed myself in the King’s Field universe.
Shadow Tower: Abyss
(note: I also emulated this on the Steam Deck, it’s a PS2 game like TAC)
While not directly tied to any of the King’s Field games, Shadow Tower: Abyss (StA) is the amalgam of everything FromSoftware learned while developing all of the KF entries. For the first time, you could control your character’s movement with two joysticks—what a concept. Every KF game before this used tank controls with a combination of shoulder buttons to strafe and change vertical look; it was pretty miserable.
In classic FromSoftware style, there are several new mechanics introduced in StA. Weapons were the biggest change by far, ending up somewhere a lot closer to some weird middle ground between a looter shooter and Breath of the Wild. Weapons in all of these games have durability, but it is purposefully incredibly low in Abyss. On the flip side, weapons drop from enemies somewhat frequently, and enemies have pretty quick respawn timers that are not associated with any sort of gameplay “trigger” like the eventual bonfires of the Souls universe. In other words, you’ll be coming across a lot of weapon drops in Abyss, but said weapons won’t last very long. On the flip side, you can repair weapons at special stations, at the cost of… your own HP. So if you find a weapon you like, there’s a constant dance of either spending your health to use it if you don’t mind the expense, or using worse weapons if you’re not in a good place to use the somewhat rare HP potions in this game (HP doesn’t refill at save points automatically). This mechanic is weird as hell, but in practice it works fine. If you like holding onto a single weapon to use it and you’re strapped for HP potions, I’d imagine this to feel pretty rough. I’ve not felt this pressure yet, though. I feel that the weapons are varied and effective enough that it’s worth trying new weapons as I find them and falling back to low-tier weapons that I don’t mind losing when I’m re-exploring areas or dealing with trash mobs.
There are two other “stations” associated with weapons, one as common as the HP->repair station, one unique to the hub of the game (as far as I can tell given my current progress). First are shops wherein you can use the in game currency to buy more weapons (and other equipment) or sell spares. Intact weapons give 2 of the currency, broken weapons give 1. Weapons range in price drastically but I’ve not seen any higher than the 20s. In other words, shops can’t be your primary source of weapons, but they are helpful to sell junk or pick up other items.
The final station will consume a weapon entirely, regardless of its condition, and refill your HP and MP. This is a great option if you start to accumulate poor weapons and break them over time, as you can repair your good gear with HP, then burn the junk to refill your health. The one catch: there exists only one of these stations and its unique to the hub world, so you can’t do this in the middle of clearing out a world.
All of this to say, Abyss tries some new things but it still feels like more King’s Field at its core, and that’s a good thing! Oh, it also has guns now. Did I mention the guns? It’s admittedly a very silly feeling to be creeping through what feels like a mystical medieval land, only to whip out a Glock and smoke a harpy with it. It works with the narrative but I won’t get into that now.
Anyway, that’s a lot of text to explain a single mechanic, but the point is, I’ve been enjoying it a lot and I highly recommend folks who enjoy the Dark Souls gameplay loop to try out any Fieldies they can get a hold of.