cheep_cheep'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 May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 3 Discussion in ~games
cheep_cheep Link ParentI like playing VNs, walking sims, and "traditional" games, as long as they're done well, and a lot can be said for how different player interactions can be immersive. It's cool how some game...I like playing VNs, walking sims, and "traditional" games, as long as they're done well, and a lot can be said for how different player interactions can be immersive. It's cool how some game descriptions seem bland when you read about them, but become much more interesting when you sit down to play them. VNs can suffer from bad plot, bad writing, and bad art, and I probably have less tolerance for a bad VN than other genres, but a good VN is pretty magical. Good VN characters often have a lot of depth and I remember them far longer.
Analogue is a memorable VN - a lot of the interface/context is unique, and way the story is gradually revealed was very satisfying for me. I remember being so captivated that I still remember where/when I was when I read it, and that's pretty high praise considering my memory these days. It's not a long game, but very memorable.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 3 Discussion in ~games
cheep_cheep Link ParentI'm honoured by the recognition. I'm so happy my collecting of unwanted game keys has brought you joy! Meanwhile, my backlog only gets larger as I foolishly chose to play two epic trilogy RPGs at...I'm honoured by the recognition. I'm so happy my collecting of unwanted game keys has brought you joy! Meanwhile, my backlog only gets larger as I foolishly chose to play two epic trilogy RPGs at the same time, while also working full-time. D'oh! I'm the meantime, I'm having a great time reading about all of your adventures! Thanks for sharing.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
cheep_cheep Link ParentI made the same realization about summons! Once I realized that spell cooldowns were so punishing, I went all in on minions, and that did help a lot. I also try to make sure party members have...I made the same realization about summons! Once I realized that spell cooldowns were so punishing, I went all in on minions, and that did help a lot. I also try to make sure party members have ranged attacks as much as possible, because if they get surrounded it's going to be a bad time. AOE attacks are also essential, but usually have cooldowns.
I can't remember what they're called, but the trio of bosses you fight on the first map, whom you defeat and then you fight as undead versions of themselves - I think I'm several levels higher than them, and I walked into the arena and my entire party got one-shot before the battle even started. That was my ragequit moment, and I'm still a bit salty! But generally I love many aspects of the game, especially all the extra information and flavour text from talking with animals, the cats in town and the obnoxious rooster were both awesome. I feel like it might be helpful for me to read a character skill guide, but honestly I just want to play the game and figure it out without turning the difficulty down, but we're at the point where I'm not actively playing it, so maybe I just need to get over it and make it easier to play. I think I'll try to finish one of my other RPGs first and come back to it.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
cheep_cheep Link ParentI got partway through Divinity and I ragequit temporarily because boss combat seemed unnecessarily difficult, it was stressing me out and I've since gotten distracted by other things. I find the...I got partway through Divinity and I ragequit temporarily because boss combat seemed unnecessarily difficult, it was stressing me out and I've since gotten distracted by other things. I find the game really fun to play otherwise! I did find the crafting pretty satisfying, I made a couple of weapons that were superior to what I could buy, as well as additional craftable items, and I just liked to discover new recipes generally. I found too during combat that sometimes if I clicked near an enemy but not exactly on them (which could be hard to tell depending on how much crap was on the field), I would move next to the enemy instead of attacking with no way to cancel, and that was contributing to my frustration. Glad to hear you're progressing, though! Is there anything in particular about the game that stands out to you, or any particular questlines you've enjoyed? I'm trying to motivate myself to return to it.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
cheep_cheep LinkI've finally gotten around to playing Mass Effect 3 (Legendary Edition), and I've spent about 35 hours so far in my first playthrough. Initially I was very excited about the return of old...I've finally gotten around to playing Mass Effect 3 (Legendary Edition), and I've spent about 35 hours so far in my first playthrough. Initially I was very excited about the return of old characters, more choices in gun options and mods (compared to ME2), and the return of real sidequests (even if it's just scanning planets sometimes - it's still less annoying than ME2 and I'm still happy that Batarian guy in the Citadel was so moved). I don't like that missions can be missed, but I've got a guide up and I'm slowly making my way toward the Tuchanka plot-centric mission. A former roommate played the original back when it released and so I have a pretty good idea of what's coming (including the ending), but so far I've really enjoyed it. Grunt's cameo was awesome, the character interactions on Sur'Kesh were great, and I love Javik. I wonder how people feel about the series now - I hate shooters and I'm currently playing on casual to avoid the shooty gun tedium, but I like the series a lot. Once the galaxy opens up to exploration, the game is fantastic.
I'm also trying to do a full trilogy run of the Witcher, currently replaying The Witcher 2. I played the first two during COVID and really loved them, and since I bought Witcher 3 finally I'm trying to give myself three differently-aligned Geralts for the finale. One place that ME is superior to Witcher is the save selection screen - ME is great about letting you know which is which, whereas in Witcher you have to guess a bit, and this has led to me picking the wrong save twice now, and I'm replaying chapter 1 for the third time. (I accidentally killed Siegfried in one playthrough and you're forced to kill him in one route, so I really want him to be alive for 3). The game is beautiful, though, and I've gotten so used to the controls that it's flying by pretty quickly, and I'm actually appreciating the game more. It has most everything I like - well-developed characters, excellent sidequests (including some very silly ones, and many that do not require combat (unlike ME, where most involve shooting things with guns or scanning planets)), excellent loot options, and quite a lot of customization on gameplay. In Witcher 1 Igni is massively overpowered and destroys mooks with ease around Chapter 3 if you level it right, and although it's not quite as OP here, it's still pretty powerful if you spec yourself right. I think Witcher 1 was a little more fun and creative in the potion/oil department, but enhancements are a good addition in 2 and allow a lot of different approaches to specialization. (And, of course the soundtrack is incredible in both games.)
I might load some of my chiller farmy games like Harvest Moon or No Man's Sky, but so far I've been too sucked into the world-ending drama to relax.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 1 Discussion in ~games
cheep_cheep Link ParentThat's the best news I've heard all week! Enjoy, and you are always welcome to any future keys I have available for giveaways :)That's the best news I've heard all week! Enjoy, and you are always welcome to any future keys I have available for giveaways :)
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Comment on Why so many people are going "no contact" with their parents in ~life
cheep_cheep Link ParentThanks for the kind words. It's very frustrating, isn't it, when you see someone who needs help and you understand how they got there, but they refuse to do a thing that will probably make them...Thanks for the kind words. It's very frustrating, isn't it, when you see someone who needs help and you understand how they got there, but they refuse to do a thing that will probably make them feel better in the long run? I really wish my sibling would allow themselves to get help, but emotions are "icky" for them. It means though that they're stuck, and that lingering trauma can't be discussed and healed, because they won't let anyone touch it.
This conversation has made me reflect on my childhood and some of our family relationships, so it is a bit like free therapy! And I think both of our family situations illustrate your exact point: children experience abuse differently, and sometimes the cascades of that abuse can manifest so that one sibling may receive more direct harm from a crappy parent, but a different sibling ultimately is much worse off from the indirect effects that abuse had on family dynamics (and the development of boundaries, coping mechanism, and self-worth).
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Comment on Why so many people are going "no contact" with their parents in ~life
cheep_cheep Link ParentI hear you and I totally agree that siblings frequently get treated very differently, and the abuse that one child sees may be very different from what another child sees. I really appreciate that...I hear you and I totally agree that siblings frequently get treated very differently, and the abuse that one child sees may be very different from what another child sees. I really appreciate that you shared all the details of your specific situation - it shows just how complicated and person-specific abuse can manifest, even in one family.
Without getting too in the weeds on my own situation, my sibling has been very open about their grievances with our parents; their primary trauma came from a psychotic episode from our abusive parent, and my sibling did not get much support at the time from our non-abusive parent. The non-abusive parent wasn't at home and afterwards was uncommunicative about what had happened, and my sibling felt deeply neglected. There are layers to this story, but my sibling's reaction has been to blame our non-abusive parent for neglect and to nurse that grievance for decades, when my perspective is that our non-abusive parent had suffered the most abuse at the hands of our abusive parent, which my sibling has zero empathy for. (Meanwhile, our abusive parent was emotionally and mentally abusive to me and others in our household, which my sibling never acknowledges...probably because they are my abusive parent's golden child. No one's abuse matters but theirs, and they never discuss our abusive parent in that way.)
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 1 Discussion in ~games
cheep_cheep Link ParentI'm so glad you've been enjoying Hatoful Boyfriend! I agree with you totally about VNs generally - I like the genre and I like being able to pursue different branching paths, but a lot of the...I'm so glad you've been enjoying Hatoful Boyfriend! I agree with you totally about VNs generally - I like the genre and I like being able to pursue different branching paths, but a lot of the stories that fans love are either totally bland ("slice of life"), the characters are weird and unlikable, or the stories and characters are overwrought and unbelievable. None of that is true with Hatoful Boyfriend (for me, anyway), and there are layers upon layers to the game. There's also interesting background lore in terms of why the player character is at a bird school, but you don't need it to enjoy the story. If you really love the game, there's also abundant and well-made merch, with pretty frequent sales!
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
cheep_cheep Link ParentGlad to hear you're enjoying Bendy! It's totally not my style of game, but it's cool reading about your experience, as well as the other flourishes (like the tape decks inspired by BioShock). I'm...Glad to hear you're enjoying Bendy! It's totally not my style of game, but it's cool reading about your experience, as well as the other flourishes (like the tape decks inspired by BioShock). I'm glad the game ended up with you, and please keep up the updates!
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Comment on Why so many people are going "no contact" with their parents in ~life
cheep_cheep LinkI've generally tried to avoid this thread because of the high emotions, but reading through responses I want to identify two things that are separate but are maybe not getting acknowledged as...I've generally tried to avoid this thread because of the high emotions, but reading through responses I want to identify two things that are separate but are maybe not getting acknowledged as such:
- There are people in this thread who have been abused and considered cutting off/fully cut off contact with their parents for being abusive. Many of them have been judged on whether their going no-contact was appropriate, which is causing them distress. I have an abusive parent whom I am currently low contact with, and I have noticed that people with happy, functional families totally do not understand what it's like to have an abusive family member. "Why are you so hard on them. They're your parent!". In my experience, when they actually meet said parent, their perspective changes pretty quickly, but in my experience, it's 100% true that people with functional families do not understand at all what it's like to have dysfunctional families, and make totally bone-headed suggestions about what to do about them. I personally believe that any reason a child needs to adjust contact with a parent is their prerogative, as silly or incomprehensible as it may seem to the outside, but I can also acknowledge how they might be hurtful to the parents.
I had a couple of friends with very abusive childhoods who maintained contact with these parents; the extent of the damage caused by their parents was enough that it warped them and their perception of the world, and I needed to cut them off for being toxic and abusive themselves. I think that to reconcile the harm done to them, they had to adopt a worldview that made that damage make sense (otherwise, they were abused for no fucking reason, and that was too much to take), but I couldn't remain friends with them. I wish that they had cut off contact with their parents, as I think they ended up causing them additional harm...but that is also their choice.
- Some children are abusive and awful themselves. I have a sibling who I think has a personality in the dark triad - they are manipulative, domineering, and incredibly self-centered. They nurse a "garden of resentments" and collect damaging information on others, for the sole purpose of using it against the owner at the most opportune and devastating time. I have also gone low-contact with them, as they have a tendency to make family functions and get-togethers a nightmare. My sibling is often awful to be around, and they have decided that our non-abusive parent is one of the main sources of all their problems, going out of their way to be rude, dismissive, and cruel publicly and at family gatherings. I've talked about this behaviour with them both - my parent feels that my sibling has never had much respect for them (based on my abusive parent's behavior and parenting), and most attempts they have made to try to talk about or address my sibling's pain are rejected. I really wish my sibling would either go to therapy or just cut our parents off, because they make home visits excruciating. I also recognize that my non-abusive parent contributed to my sibling's suffering, but I feel like my abusive parent gets hardly any blame for their role, because they have their own mental health issues.
Anyway - the tldr point I'm trying to make, regarding someone I personally know very, very well, is that some children may end up blaming a parent for issues in their lives that are not actually their fault, or greatly overestimate the role they played in those issues. I do think there are cases where the children probably are wrong in the extent to which a parent was to blame, and I think that is also a concern I have seen expressed in this thread (and which my non-abusive parent currently experiences with my sibling). In an article, showing the perspective of either my abusive or non-abusive parent would be interesting, I think - the abusive parent is genuinely confused about why no one likes them, and regrets their past actions (while continuong to repeat them), whereas my non-abusive parent has largely accepted their lot in life, but is sad about it. That being said, it is my sibling's prerogative to adjust the amount of time they want to spend with either of our parents, they just drive me nuts in terms of how they feel the need to publicly and inappropriately express their disdain, and ruin family time repeatedly.
I think everyone here has a right to share how they feel; what I hope is that rather than thinking someone on either side is morally broken or evil, we consider that cutting off family members may be an important way children cope with the pain of their past, and sharing the view of a parent - even if they're abusive - does not necessarily condone their behaviour. When I got around to reading "Why Does He Do That?" after leaving a very abusive relationship, it was very hard to read, but also helped me understand that I could have recognized my ex's shitty behaviour if I had a better understanding of how his abusive mind worked in the first place. I needed more information to make better decisions, and I do think there's value in making those viewpoints public, especially for the happy-family folks who have no idea about these things at all!
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Comment on How are we all feeling about piracy these days? in ~movies
cheep_cheep Link ParentThis has definitely been my experience. If I can't swing open access, I put all my papers on researchgate, and I definitely have sent copies of my papers to interested people. Having people...This has definitely been my experience. If I can't swing open access, I put all my papers on researchgate, and I definitely have sent copies of my papers to interested people. Having people interested in reading your papers in the first place is great! And if they read it, they may cite it, so I always take the time to make my work available. I would guess that later career researchers don't care as much, whereas early career researchers need the citations, and are more interested in having you read their work.
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Comment on How are we all feeling about piracy these days? in ~movies
cheep_cheep Link ParentNot every researcher has a grant, especially these days, and not every grant will pay for every set of charges. Some big institutions have waivers now, but those also don't apply to every journal,...Not every researcher has a grant, especially these days, and not every grant will pay for every set of charges. Some big institutions have waivers now, but those also don't apply to every journal, so finding the right journal depends a lot on who you are, where you are, and how badly you want to navigate the morass of rules and exceptions...
Note too that unless you have the money, open access is much more expensive, always at least a few thousand dollars. And some journals are only open access now, meaning you either need good funding or a lot of disposable income.
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Comment on Graveyard Keeper 2 announced for 2026. Original game now free to keep on Steam. in ~games
cheep_cheep Link ParentAgreed on the grindiness, but also agree that the treatment of time was great. Sometimes I stayed up for days, and the penalty to health was so minor at higher levels that I could run around...Agreed on the grindiness, but also agree that the treatment of time was great. Sometimes I stayed up for days, and the penalty to health was so minor at higher levels that I could run around endlessly. I realized after that farming sims that arbitrarily force you to sleep every night are bs, I much prefer to be able to stay up forever! Curious to see what they add for the second game.
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Comment on Suggest media in which the antagonist is an idea or an abstract concept rather than a person or intelligent entity in ~talk
cheep_cheep Link ParentIt is definitely unique, and for that reason I think it's at least worth checking out from the library. Actually reading and enjoying the book is a different matter, and at times it feels like a...It is definitely unique, and for that reason I think it's at least worth checking out from the library. Actually reading and enjoying the book is a different matter, and at times it feels like a form of performance art. Ok for the first half hour, but I found it very tedious after awhile, and the payoff wasn't worth it. I don't regret reading it! But I wouldn't do it again, and I gave my copy away.
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Comment on TV series suggestions in ~tv
cheep_cheep (edited )Link ParentThat's awesome! I hope there's something in there that strikes your fancy. I asked my spouse directly, and he had a couple more suggestions (I haven't watched these, so I can't give specifics):...That's awesome! I hope there's something in there that strikes your fancy. I asked my spouse directly, and he had a couple more suggestions (I haven't watched these, so I can't give specifics):
Halt and Catch Fire
The Leftovers
Queen's Gambit
True Detective ("skip ahead to S4!")I didn't mention it at first, but you and your wife might like Pen15 - it's a show about middle school, but two women in their late 30s (I think?) star as two middle school best friends, and their classmates are all played by actual middle schoolers. It can be really ridiculous and absurd, but it looks back at middle school from an adult's perspective, and has a lot of nostalgia for 90s/early aughts culture, which resonated very deeply for us. It has off the charts cringe at times, but it's very memorable, and very well done!
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Comment on Suggest media in which the antagonist is an idea or an abstract concept rather than a person or intelligent entity in ~talk
cheep_cheep Link ParentI know some people really love House of Leaves, but I found it to be kind of a mess. Yes, there is a significant part of it that covers the weirdness of the house and an attempt to really...I know some people really love House of Leaves, but I found it to be kind of a mess. Yes, there is a significant part of it that covers the weirdness of the house and an attempt to really understand its impossible dimensions...but there is a good chunk of framing story that is bizarre, rambling, and fairly nonsensical, and there's hundreds of pages of this. It can be quite a slog, which adds a layer of "creepy" but also becomes really tired and boring, at least it did for me.
The house-specific parts of the story start out as more surreal and impossible, but later, it definitely becomes much more horror-focused, when people attempt to study the house in more detail. I'm not a great person to ask, because I didn't really enjoy or appreciate the book aside from as a literary device, but based on what you've written, I think it falls into some of the tropes you dislike. You can always try it out and enjoy the story for what it is? It's definitely not like other things I've read.
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Comment on So it turns out I was cheated on in ~health.mental
cheep_cheep LinkI'm so sorry you're going through this, it's deeply unfair to you, especially after all the work you did trying to keep your household afloat. I think there's some great comments in here, so I'll...I'm so sorry you're going through this, it's deeply unfair to you, especially after all the work you did trying to keep your household afloat.
I think there's some great comments in here, so I'll highlight something a little different. I went through two different relationships that caused me a great deal of misery, and which took awhile to process and understand. I was deeply hurt by both, and only after the second relationship ended did I properly take a break from dating and really reflect on what happened to me, and how I treated myself.
I spent a lot of time by myself, and really allowed my thoughts and feelings to bubble up. I kept myself busy...but I also gave myself moments to just sit and think, no distractions. I realized that I had some pretty toxic ideas about relationship balance, and what was acceptable treatment from my partner, and the work I did to keep relationships working that really should not have continued. I realized that I had been taught that I "needed" to be with someone, and while I did appreciate having a boyfriend, I'd rather be alone than with someone who didn't care or was outright unkind or manipulative or gross. I did not come to that conclusion right away - I was hurt, and I was angry, and then I was really angry - like nuclear unhinged angry. I was angry at them, but really, I was mostly upset with myself. Why did I do that to myself? Why did I stay? (I know why I stayed, and there were reasons, but I realized that a bigger problem is that I was ok with being treated poorly, that for some reason I didn't think I deserved better...or, if I wasn't treated well, I somehow had "earned" it).
So I guess I'd recommend this - keep yourself busy...but not too busy. Let your brain process some of what happened subconsciously, and then take maybe an hour or two each week to be by yourself and just check in. What do you feel? What makes you feel that way? Is that feeling sensical? Is it actually based in reality? Who was your ex, really? What did you miss? What were the consequences to you? What would you do now if you were in that situation again, knowing everything you know now?
Your ex being a selfish asshole is not at all your fault. You did not deserve it, you didn't do anything to "earn" that outcome. But maybe consider, over the coming weeks - did you, like me, try too hard to compromise, when instead you should have advocated a little harder for yourself? Why did you do that? You can't change the past, and you can't change the person your ex is or was, but you can think about who you want to be, and the lessons you take from it. Feel all of your feelings, but try and draw out a little wisdom too, if you can.
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Comment on So it turns out I was cheated on in ~health.mental
cheep_cheep Link ParentIt's interesting that you mention this. I dated an abusive man for several years, who slowly destroyed my happiness, autonomy, and sense of self, but I had a very hard time reconciling the...It's interesting that you mention this. I dated an abusive man for several years, who slowly destroyed my happiness, autonomy, and sense of self, but I had a very hard time reconciling the friendship we had - which was very close - with the extremely shitty and selfish "boyfriend" side of him. How can someone love me and yet treat me so terribly? The way I have sort of reconciled it to myself after many years is that my friend died. He's somewhere else now, and the person that remains isn't the man i knew. It's taken years and a couple rounds of therapy to come to that place, but that "explanation" feels correct to me, and it's helped me apply a sort of logic to what happened.
Glad I'm not the only one! I'm at the point where I think a good cheese strat implemented well will do a lot toward making the game playable for me again. I will try it out! Thanks for the suggestion.