countchocula'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 programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
countchocula Link ParentYeah i used to do electrical engineering and it was a shock getting into that from a comp sci degree and then another shock 5 years later when i got back into a more traditional comp sci role. C#...Yeah i used to do electrical engineering and it was a shock getting into that from a comp sci degree and then another shock 5 years later when i got back into a more traditional comp sci role. C# is fun and a widely transferrable skill, congrats on the new job.
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Comment on Stream your own game with Xbox Cloud Gaming in ~games
countchocula LinkPretty awesome that this is rolling out. Interesting spread too. The list hits all of my games on the go right now: The Crew Motorfest, BG3, and Prince of Persia. Though admittedly racing on a...Pretty awesome that this is rolling out. Interesting spread too. The list hits all of my games on the go right now: The Crew Motorfest, BG3, and Prince of Persia. Though admittedly racing on a stream is one of the most unpleasant experiences but just cruising should be acceptable.
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
countchocula LinkMy goal weight when i started at 250lbs in October last year was 186lbs. I weighed in at 192.2 today and im pretty excited to be this close. And yet it feels like i should just try to keep going?...My goal weight when i started at 250lbs in October last year was 186lbs. I weighed in at 192.2 today and im pretty excited to be this close. And yet it feels like i should just try to keep going? Like, according to bmi id be in the middle of the healthy range at 160. Im now curious to see what lies at the top of that mountain? Im my mind, if we only get one life, why dont i just yolo this whole thing and see how far i can push myself? Put myself into that kind of shape one time in my life. Its going to be a ton of work though. Considering training for a half iron man. Is that nuts or obsessive?
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
countchocula LinkI'm playing The Plucky Squire and while it is very charming I'm fairly lukewarm on it. Combat is really shallow, enemy variety is non-existent and the switch to 3d doesnt really do anything crazy....I'm playing The Plucky Squire and while it is very charming I'm fairly lukewarm on it. Combat is really shallow, enemy variety is non-existent and the switch to 3d doesnt really do anything crazy. Its neat when you play the minigames but i feel like the novelty of those took away from the core gameplay. Like, the recent zelda gb remake was similarly charming and the combat was simple but i feel like the enemy variety and placement was much more thought out so it felt more fluid and fun.
Again though, it is a very cute game with great little characters and a couple of fun, memorable scenes. I think maybe a sequel would let them focus on stretching the mechanics rather than implementing the tech. Like, why does the book have to stay on the desk the whole time? Why not mid-bus ride or at the library and incorporate other book characters? I dunno, just feels a bit wasted. The Pedestrian did a really badass job of those 2d levels in a 3d environment type of thing.
Edit: also wtf is with the sword damage power up? It definitely doesnt do anything because the same enemies from the start of the game take the same amount of hits. Idgi
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Comment on Alan Wake 2: The Lake House | Expansion launch trailer in ~games
countchocula LinkPretty excited, im back on a horror/suspense kick and ive really enjoyed the cohesive universe theyre creating. Looking forward to booting the xbox up again for it.Pretty excited, im back on a horror/suspense kick and ive really enjoyed the cohesive universe theyre creating. Looking forward to booting the xbox up again for it.
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
countchocula LinkI had a bad weekend last weekend. Beer and pastries are my kryptonite and i basically somehow ended up with a croissant in one hand and a beer in the other several times. I was surprised at two...I had a bad weekend last weekend. Beer and pastries are my kryptonite and i basically somehow ended up with a croissant in one hand and a beer in the other several times. I was surprised at two things: how little it took to get nearly blackout drunk after having lost all the weight i have, and how bad it made me feel in the days after. Ive never been hit by post drink depression so bad. I think it was partially because i couldnt bring myself to go exercising so it was like a one-two punch.
I did bring myself to do it midweek and went back to bouldering/climbing at lunch but my performance wasnt my best, really took a lot of effort to stretch my climbing muscles and i couldnt do problems i had done last week. So i decided id go swimming in the evening and did 2k! It took 1h5m so now i have a swimming goal to beat too. I went back the next day and managed the 2k again but let me tell you... i was not at all ready to do that two days in a row.
I think my exercise routine has become so baked into my life that missing those days clearly throws me off, im still deciding on whether thats good or bad.
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
countchocula (edited )Link ParentThat seems wild, hiking alone on tough trails is a PNW pastime. Unless you're rock climbing just tell someone where youre going, when you're leaving and when you expect to be back. Use alltrails...That seems wild, hiking alone on tough trails is a PNW pastime. Unless you're rock climbing just tell someone where youre going, when you're leaving and when you expect to be back.
Use alltrails and its almost impossible to get lost or be unprepared. Also, i have genuinely never heard of anyone considering 4 people the minimum number of people to go hiking.
Note: im not saying your therapist shouldnt be listened to cause i have no idea what your situation is (maybe you live in the arctic and there's polar bears everywhere), but im offering an alternative perspective from someone who goes hiking 2 times a weekend with nothing but a dog during the summer.
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Comment on FBC: Firebreak | Official announcement trailer in ~games
countchocula LinkThis looked awesome, very payday/deep rock galactic/left 4 dead-y looking which is exciting cause i love Remedy/Control and really think the FBC is a neat setting. Completely out of left field for...This looked awesome, very payday/deep rock galactic/left 4 dead-y looking which is exciting cause i love Remedy/Control and really think the FBC is a neat setting. Completely out of left field for me and i hope this works out for them.
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
countchocula Link ParentI like the minimalist style of your site. Did you make it yourself or build from some kind of template?I like the minimalist style of your site. Did you make it yourself or build from some kind of template?
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
countchocula LinkI binged Shōgun after seeing an episode Friday night. Fuji is my favourite character, she was so strong and immovable, one could say, in her duties as a woman in this world. The whole thing was...I binged Shōgun after seeing an episode Friday night. Fuji is my favourite character, she was so strong and immovable, one could say, in her duties as a woman in this world. The whole thing was visually impressive. I know Blackthorn is loosely based on a real character but i could never shake the feeling that the fish out of water guy was necessary to make white people comfortable with this piece of fiction. Its why i never read the book either and leaned towarda the Tale of the Heike.
I really felt like i was edged with Ochiba being that scheming, brilliant voice in the man's ear that Japan loves to have in stories. Like, there were moments where she seemed almost demonic/possessed, great. But they really let off the gas when she just kind of... gave up. We didnt even get to see her internal battle on the topic of her friends death so the side switching felt a bit shallow.
All in all, i liked it. Mainly for the costumes, sets, landscapes, and general immersion. It was neat.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
countchocula LinkI went to go see Strange Darling during one of its super limited showings out here. Which is nuts cause it was so good. The theatre really mucked it up though and for some reason the whole movie...I went to go see Strange Darling during one of its super limited showings out here. Which is nuts cause it was so good. The theatre really mucked it up though and for some reason the whole movie played in separated colours, slightly offset. REALLY ruined some of the cooler visuals like the neat truck scene in front of the motel sign and the pivotal bathroom scene. What a great movie though regardless, so much fun to watch and a joy to discover their weird relationship. And the fun, looney tunes style intro and music when either of their characters are on screen in the first part of the movie. The way the story is told. Would recommend. 5 bags of popcorn.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
countchocula Link ParentNice, the lady friend and i are planning to see Substance so cool that there's positive buzz around it.Nice, the lady friend and i are planning to see Substance so cool that there's positive buzz around it.
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
countchocula Link ParentNice, the climbing gym is such a fun way to exercise compared to picking stuff up and putting it back down again (i do still like that too though, no shade), especially if the gym switches up...Nice, the climbing gym is such a fun way to exercise compared to picking stuff up and putting it back down again (i do still like that too though, no shade), especially if the gym switches up routes regularly. Have fun and learn to fall properly if you boulder :)
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
countchocula Link ParentBummer about gaining it back, sounds like you're still quite the proficient climber though. You must be pretty damn jacked. Glhf on your journey!Bummer about gaining it back, sounds like you're still quite the proficient climber though. You must be pretty damn jacked. Glhf on your journey!
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
countchocula LinkI am at 205lbs, down from 260 this time last year. Its been wild, im finally seeing veins in my forearms after a climbing workout. On the topic of climbing im now accessing V3's though not...I am at 205lbs, down from 260 this time last year. Its been wild, im finally seeing veins in my forearms after a climbing workout.
On the topic of climbing im now accessing V3's though not necessarily finishing them. V2's are now a regular completion, even late into a workout. Today i did a V2 where i skipped half of the climb and had a cool little jump and dangle type of thing. It felt great, really dynamic movements. For the rock walls 5.10-/+ are all doable though 5.11- are rough. I have managed to get most of the way up on one before my pinch lost strength. Still, these are climbs i never thought i could do. Very exciting. Looking forward to losing more weight and completing harder climbs.
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
countchocula Link ParentNice. I went through the same experience with a bike i had bought. Its now a regular habit and genuinely useful mode of transportation. I hope you get a lot of use out of it.Nice. I went through the same experience with a bike i had bought. Its now a regular habit and genuinely useful mode of transportation. I hope you get a lot of use out of it.
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Comment on The games behind your government's next war in ~games.tabletop
countchocula Link ParentI understood the israel/gaza benefit less as them directly benefiting from strategies and moreso just having previous access to the community and tools and learning how to utilize them better...I understood the israel/gaza benefit less as them directly benefiting from strategies and moreso just having previous access to the community and tools and learning how to utilize them better internally rather than relying on foreign strategies. Which implicates said community of indirectly, potentially, aiding israel.
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Comment on Friend: a new digital companion for the AI age in ~tech
countchocula Link ParentI think the tech bro label is so well understood that even the notoriously self-unaware tech bros have come to terms with the idea that the next batch of fad inspired e-waste/services need to be...I think the tech bro label is so well understood that even the notoriously self-unaware tech bros have come to terms with the idea that the next batch of fad inspired e-waste/services need to be marketed differently and move away from the old revolutionary language.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
countchocula Link ParentIt's definitely clunky but its got a charm to it and youre never really in jeopardy as long as you stay cool. I didnt die a single time or get frustrated. You just plan and set yourself up for...It's definitely clunky but its got a charm to it and youre never really in jeopardy as long as you stay cool. I didnt die a single time or get frustrated. You just plan and set yourself up for shots. I was not annoyed by any aspect of the game. On the ps controller you had the option to play tank controls (dpad) vs more modern(thumbstick) which was really neat.
I'm mainly driving casually around the new island in The Crew Motorfest and enjoying the custom mode races. I always felt as though there just wasnt enough unique sp racing content for me to burn through while listening to podcasts or whatever. Custom mode clears that up and i just finished the Made in Japan 2 playlist which then opens up a new Rivals mode that looks like a neat activity. Darn shame it can't be more akin to Shadow of Mordor with dynamic characters but its still pretty sweet and inventive compared to Horizon's constant churn of ideas from three games ago.
Ive actually really enjoyed a lot of novel aspects of TC:M, i think it does an awesome job of differentiating itself from the competition with fun, albeit sometimes frustrating handling model while being visually impressive at the same time. It even bucks the Ubisoft game model trend. And now theyve taken the time and effort to bolt an entirely new island onto the main map, which means you can actually use the dlc! No segmenting the population or anything. Wow, ive dreamed of this day since i stopped playing Burnout Paradise, crazy how jts taken this long. Real shame on Horizon, especially since that was one of their talking points for the latest one.
Non-racing wise i demolished Night Springs dlc for Alan Wake 2 and am gearing up for The Lake House. Night springs was awesome, i couldnt stop grinning during the waitress's episode, it was just so funny and charming. Cant believe I didn't know this was out for so long.