alp's recent activity
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Comment on Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 – 4.2.2025 in ~games
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Comment on Tetris The Grand Master 4 -Absolute Eye- in ~games
alp Link ParentHaha, no rush! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts whenever you write them. And good shout with the port, thank you! Shame it's not on physical cartridge so will die with the respective...Haha, no rush! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts whenever you write them.
And good shout with the port, thank you! Shame it's not on physical cartridge so will die with the respective online shops, but beggars can't be choosers, I'll nab it. It would be really cool if it supports TATE mode for a portable vertical screen, but I can't find much information on that so I'll be finding out!
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Comment on Tetris The Grand Master 4 -Absolute Eye- in ~games
alp Link ParentThank you so much for your thorough response, this made my morning to read! Wow, so many changes already visible. The TTC/Arika politics run so deep I hope we get a second Tetris film about this...Thank you so much for your thorough response, this made my morning to read! Wow, so many changes already visible. The TTC/Arika politics run so deep I hope we get a second Tetris film about this saga instead!
I get the impression from your comparisons that if it wasn't for the oddly positioned next box, it would still be a relatively faithful successor with some changes and tweaks to modes and grades. I really hope your efforts and those of other fans make a difference and potentially see an option added!
I'll definitely be picking this up if I can just to support this series (I can't imagine what it was like for dedicated fans to wait all of this time since TGM3...) but in the meantime stick with practicing with other variants. This post has revived an old Tetris kick in me with new spice, and I've had such a great time this week learning pyramid technique and planning ahead—thank you so much! I'm enjoying playing Heboris for now in lieu of any feasible legal ways to play the official series; just praying I don't get hooked enough to end up plunging my savings in a year's time into a JAMMA PCB...
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Comment on Tetris The Grand Master 4 -Absolute Eye- in ~games
alp Link ParentWow, this looks so exciting! I haven't really followed TGM much in the past but I just watched your video and I slightly wish I hadn't as I foresee the rabbit hole approaching quickly. You sell...Wow, this looks so exciting! I haven't really followed TGM much in the past but I just watched your video and I slightly wish I hadn't as I foresee the rabbit hole approaching quickly. You sell its heart so well, especially in the conclusion section of your video!
You mentioned near the end the tendency for the series with each additional entry to have extra features mandated by The Tetris Company, bringing it further from the purity of the first TGM. Do you think that this applies to TGM4? What are your thoughts on the new entry from what we know so far?
I gasped at the realisation that the piece preview is off to the edge in this entry instead of directly over the spawn point! The Asuka mode looks interesting for players like me totally new to 20G play.
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Comment on Anyone interested in trying out Kagi? in ~tech
alp LinkI am quite intrigued, I'd love to try if anybody has invites to burn! It seems like a decent effort, and perhaps the thing to get me to ditch Google.I am quite intrigued, I'd love to try if anybody has invites to burn! It seems like a decent effort, and perhaps the thing to get me to ditch Google.
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Comment on Nintendo Music | Announcement trailer in ~games
alp Link ParentWould anybody else really give this away for free? Of course, who wouldn't accept it were it given for nothing, but this is their huge catalogue of much of the most beloved music in some circles...Would anybody else really give this away for free? Of course, who wouldn't accept it were it given for nothing, but this is their huge catalogue of much of the most beloved music in some circles of the past four decades being made legitimately available in a bespoke format—I'd never expect for a moment to not pay for something like this from anybody, and I think that almost nobody in Nintendo's position would charge less than that.
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Comment on Nintendo Music | Announcement trailer in ~games
alp LinkWow, this is fantastic. I can finally legitimately listen to this music without relying on a fan upload of a bootleg (which in the interim were of course much loved). This being bundled into the...Wow, this is fantastic. I can finally legitimately listen to this music without relying on a fan upload of a bootleg (which in the interim were of course much loved). This being bundled into the basic NSO tier is also a steal, as I'd gladly pay far more than that tier's price for this service alone. Plus I like the acknowledgement that this type of music is wholly different from other types in the way the service is designed, with spoiler protection features, thoughtful extended mixes coming from each song having its native loop information associated, and other things too.
Can't wait to see more games added to this!
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Comment on No one’s laughing now: ‘Joker Folie à Deux’ falls down with $39m-$40m opening: How the sequel went sideways in ~movies
alp LinkI'm quite surprised by just how negative this response has been. Personally, I thought it a very interesting film that surpassed the first, and while it attempts something wholly different to the...I'm quite surprised by just how negative this response has been. Personally, I thought it a very interesting film that surpassed the first, and while it attempts something wholly different to the first film (so I expected at least some backlash from those expecting that) I think in its own right it's something quite new and interesting.
I'm glad that they avoided any sequel branding, as this film didn't provide a sequel-like experience or any of what the original did but seemed to act more as a reaction to the first film and its response (to the extent of the first film canonically, to an extent literally being referred to as a "TV-movie" in this). As opposed to the original acting as an excellent thriller providing an update to that so-loved Taxi Driver formula, this new film was brave in subverting that, almost staring down the camera and asking why we respond to a film like that, or similar real-world events, in such ways. It's definitely one that'll take me a rewatch or two to process fully but I'm really glad that I saw it and really disappointed that it is being cast as some worthless failure despite boldly trying something new; may willingness to try such risks on such a huge budget not be reduced as a result.
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Comment on Timasomo 2024: Roll Call in ~creative.timasomo
alp LinkIt begins—good luck, everybody! I hope it's a really fulfilling month for every one of you. I'll be making a new second section to my song "Comes the Isle"; this section will be hefty enough to...It begins—good luck, everybody! I hope it's a really fulfilling month for every one of you.
I'll be making a new second section to my song "Comes the Isle"; this section will be hefty enough to fil this month quite easily, I think. It'll be a build from the current ambient intro to the climax that follows it, and it'll take a lot of musical development that's been always beyond me! No more excuses, time to learn and experiment and love. :)
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Comment on Announcing Tildes' Make Something Month (Timasomo) for 2024! in ~tildes
alp LinkAh, how exciting! I can't wait to finally participate this year. I've been working on an album for about five years ago, and its centrepiece is this one huge song, many parts, sixty-one minutes...Ah, how exciting! I can't wait to finally participate this year.
I've been working on an album for about five years ago, and its centrepiece is this one huge song, many parts, sixty-one minutes long. I may sound a bit silly for saying this, but I'm starting to realise that this song was missing one thing to say what I want it to say, and that's a build-up section between the quiet opening and its climax, to actually convey journey, acceleration, the approach to what's to come.
It's going to be very different to anything I've made before, very traditional instruments, and the plan I have in my head has it sounding like a steady snowballing motorik driving a melodic progression that will likely end up poorly aping Philip Glass. We'll see!
This Timasomo, I'll be making that. :)
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Comment on The Office (Australia) | Official trailer in ~tv
alp LinkHm, I'm intrigued. It seems like instead of doing their own thing for its own virtues (like how the American version succeeded alongside the original) it's really heavily going for the same...Hm, I'm intrigued. It seems like instead of doing their own thing for its own virtues (like how the American version succeeded alongside the original) it's really heavily going for the same approach as that US version. Which is interesting, given the opportunity an Australian culture could give to that format in terms of humour.
I suppose that the US version also started in something of an identity crisis too, so perhaps this'll find its feet eventually also!
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Comment on Russians assaulted, threatened and abused in UK as hate crimes linked to Ukraine war surge in ~news
alp Link ParentFrom the Information Commissioner's Office: Cost limits are £450, or £600 for central government. That is interesting, though—I've very rarely seen that come up, albeit in my limited experience.From the Information Commissioner's Office:
You can only refuse a request if:
- the information is subject to one of the exemptions (these are listed in Part II of FOIA)
- complying with it would exceed the appropriate cost limits under section 12, or
- it is vexatious or repeated under section 14.
Cost limits are £450, or £600 for central government. That is interesting, though—I've very rarely seen that come up, albeit in my limited experience.
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Comment on Slugs - how are you coping? in ~life.home_improvement
alp Link ParentI'd genuinely read "bear traps" in your original post and was slightly horrified, if a little tickled by the elaborate and mediæval approach of tiny little metal spring-traps in your garden. I...I'd genuinely read "bear traps" in your original post and was slightly horrified, if a little tickled by the elaborate and mediæval approach of tiny little metal spring-traps in your garden. I hadn't heard of a beer trap—that sounds like a good way to go, if any :)
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Comment on Slugs - how are you coping? in ~life.home_improvement
alp LinkFellow Brit amid slugseason here, hello! I'm sadly not too equipped with advice with this problem which does seem like a nightmare for those in your position... I'm mainly commenting as somebody...Fellow Brit amid slugseason here, hello!
I'm sadly not too equipped with advice with this problem which does seem like a nightmare for those in your position... I'm mainly commenting as somebody who looks after the silly little things! I'm sure you're much more well-versed than me in means of protecting vegetables from those hungry tiny lumps—I was just wondering if you know any alternatives in this field? Considering the agony in which salt specifically causes them to go out, the intense burning and the dehydrating it brings all at once, it can be a tricky one...
Slug vent
Last night I stepped on a curious miniature sausage that had wandered into my kitchen and it was just *awful*... it survived it and was clearly in a really bad way; I've never seen a slug writhe like that before, insides all coming out and clearly just in so much suffering. Once I'd stopped sobbing and apologising to it I covered it up, boiled the kettle, and poured it over as I hear that that's a relatively instantaneous way for them to go. I could see that it stopped writhing quite quickly then so I tearfully moved it away...So yes, boiling water aside, like you've mentioned above, I wonder what the best way about this is that leaves happy carrots and happy slugs. Or at least, not writhing-in-agony slugs!
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Comment on Lana Del Rey says her Bond theme was turned down in ~movies
alp Link ParentOne can't forget Radiohead's stellar original submission for the same film, Man of War, accepted until the eleventh hour before it was noticed that it wasn't exactly bespoke...One can't forget Radiohead's stellar original submission for the same film, Man of War, accepted until the eleventh hour before it was noticed that it wasn't exactly bespoke...
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Comment on Side projects that were actually good? in ~music
alp Link ParentTwo absolutely perfect suggestions; thanks so much. :) Bright side, I don't think that there's any credence for The Smile replacing Radiohead; the latter will almost certainly resume when its...Two absolutely perfect suggestions; thanks so much. :)
Bright side, I don't think that there's any credence for The Smile replacing Radiohead; the latter will almost certainly resume when its members are ready, I'm sure! Not that I'm too impatient—we're so lucky to have just received an album on the level of Wall of Eyes. I haven't felt this giddy about a new release of this scale since A Moon Shaped Pool...
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Comment on ‘Wonka’ hits sweet milestone as musical tops $500m worldwide in ~movies
alp Link ParentI don't think that it's really trying to be associated with those other lovely films that you mention bar the occasional nod for triggering nostalgic feelings. Definitely not a fair comparison! I...I don't think that it's really trying to be associated with those other lovely films that you mention bar the occasional nod for triggering nostalgic feelings. Definitely not a fair comparison!
I saw the new film in the cinema recently; it's certainly a fun experience to just switch one's brain off and see a story vaguely about Willy Wonka. I don't know if I'd recommend that anybody rush to see it while it's still showing, but it's hard to leave it with any regret!
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Comment on Starting out making music in ~hobbies
alp LinkI think that the best advice that I can give is to avoid, if possible, the hole of pursuing equipment or software above the act of creation itself. It's easy to view one's current setup of...I think that the best advice that I can give is to avoid, if possible, the hole of pursuing equipment or software above the act of creation itself. It's easy to view one's current setup of hardware and software as "inadequate" and so constantly being on the lookout for new things to round out what you have. In reality in almost all cases the most basic of setups is no more and no less adequate than the most complex! We all know that limitation provokes creativity, and that very much holds true here. I started making music by downloading Audacity, the free software that (well, at the time) was very much not intended to be used for musical purposes, and viewed using it and it alone to construct an electronic piece of music as a challenge, and if it wasn't for that little challenge that I set for myself one day then I wouldn't have the style of music that I do and I wouldn't have my dearest hobby of creating and touring and performing.
Find the bare minimum for now and start actually making things! Only look to expand your setup if you truly believe that a particular (and I mean particular) addition can truly open up a new type of musical creation that's currently blocked for you.
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Comment on MangaLove, a series sharing thread: January 2024 in ~anime
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Comment on Threads is blocking servers on the Fediverse. Here's how we unblocked ourselves. in ~tech
alp Link ParentCan't we criticise somebody's opinions on something without immediately dismissing everything else they think a priori? That feels like a bit of a worrying attitude.Can't we criticise somebody's opinions on something without immediately dismissing everything else they think a priori? That feels like a bit of a worrying attitude.
It's looking like Mario Kart World is a much dearer exception to the rule, with bigger-budget first-party games more likely £60 as standard, going from the Donkey Kong: Bonanza price tag.