CptBluebear's recent activity
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Comment on Binance suspends withdrawals after crypto hackers steal $6.3 billion in ~tech
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Comment on rex: a media server for the Plex apps that owns no files in ~tech
CptBluebear LinkSo basically a plugin to turn Plex into Stremio? Do I have that right? Sounds decent, I'll have to check it out. I'm fairly happy with Stremio because of the pricetag, not necessarily because it's...So basically a plugin to turn Plex into Stremio? Do I have that right?
Sounds decent, I'll have to check it out. I'm fairly happy with Stremio because of the pricetag, not necessarily because it's flawless. Or rather, the issues I run into are small enough to only be irritating at best (like not saving language preferences).
Plex generally has those issues solved, so moving back to Plex wouldn't be a bad idea.
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Comment on Europa Universalis V: Across The Pillars | Release trailer in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentSee my other post for an assortment of unstructured ranting. All that aside, EU4 upon release was... Not.. great. It's typical of them to release first and polish later and with the way EU4 was...See my other post for an assortment of unstructured ranting.
All that aside, EU4 upon release was... Not.. great.
It's typical of them to release first and polish later and with the way EU4 was spruced up people do have (or had) some glimmer of hope, myself included.But the longer I look, EU5 especially seems rotten to the core. Something is foundationally not correct and I doubt they can fix themselves out of it.
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Comment on Europa Universalis V: Across The Pillars | Release trailer in ~games
CptBluebear (edited )Link ParentI have a multitude of opinions, unsubstantiated all, though learnt from experience. Plenty of questionable choices that led them here. In no particular order: Clausewitz was a serviceable engine....I have a multitude of opinions, unsubstantiated all, though learnt from experience. Plenty of questionable choices that led them here. In no particular order:
Clausewitz was a serviceable engine. Nothing great, but it sufficed. It seems that Clausewitz 2 broke their ability to create something that doesn't fall apart when you look at it funny.
It made their graphics more "modern", but in my opinion it made it visually muddy. Complaints about the UI and UX have been heard since. Optimization is an afterthought.Acquisition of the company by outside capital frequently changes the standard operating procedures. Paradox saw this decline happen to them. Smaller patches and higher priced DLC followed. Bug fixes and optimization no longer prioritized. It appears we're at the stage testing barely happens too?
Their decision to drill down into minutiae turns impactful choices into a flat landscape of boring +1/-1 decisions where every nation plays the same. Can't have anything too wacky, lest the entire numbers upon numbers systems conjured up years ago collapses under its own weight.
As an extension to that, the absolute breadth of different levers and pulleys they intend to balance like a multitude of spinning plates just makes it all too complex for their own good. Change one thing in system A and system X, Y, and Z collapse because nobody could see it coming. This is then mitigated by introducing the same +1/-1 choices because that's how you keep it safe. The AI frequently chokes up because of some unintended change, either they stop working entirely, or suddenly work too well and can't stop doing that thing only.
Punishing the player for pushing the envelope. It's no secret the likes of Johan were against world conquests as a matter of principle. Fine in a vacuum, not if that makes your entire balancing principles no more than a game of whack a mole. Argh, a player finally found something fun to do outside of the imposed historical railroad, let's kill that strategy!
Most importantly, Johan needs someone to rein him in. His unwavering single-minded goal of making everything historical is preventing their games from being games. Their older entries worked better because they were an abstraction of real life, not a simulation of it. Once you enter sim territory you start taking away player agency, as more and more systems become historically guided rather than malleable.
One of the most frustrating aspects of EU5 (and Victoria 3 for that matter) is that things just happen to me without recourse, and if I do try to respond I hit an invisible wall preventing me from doing so for inexplicable reasons other than it's decided that's not historical or too gamey.
That loss of player agency is really hurting their games as a whole. There's cosmic irony in how their eternal quest and singular mission for historicity is turning out to be the biggest driver for their lack of vision. -
Comment on Europa Universalis V: Across The Pillars | Release trailer in ~games
CptBluebear LinkThis appears to be another swing and a miss for EU5. This DLC is currently at a comfortable 25% mostly negative on Steam. This one in particular seems to be in dire straits, with the main nations...This appears to be another swing and a miss for EU5. This DLC is currently at a comfortable 25% mostly negative on Steam.
This one in particular seems to be in dire straits, with the main nations in this DLC breaking down rapidly. The Castilians start without boats, main events like the Iberian wedding fail unless you own 50% of the land. No not over 50%, exactly 50%.
These seem like harmless oversights if it was that in isolation, mistakes happen, but these are just two of many in this DLC alone. Other releases and patches haven't been confidence inspiring either with many other, in what appears to be simple, mistakes.
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Comment on Alphabet shares tumble in $500bn rout [as AI-mode search threatens advertising profits] in ~finance
CptBluebear Link ParentEntirely depends on the type of question I ask. It's useful for easy queries, it's not when I need to look into something or find a source for a topic.Entirely depends on the type of question I ask. It's useful for easy queries, it's not when I need to look into something or find a source for a topic.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
CptBluebear (edited )Link ParentThat is the intention of the game, which is why I think it's not a singleplayer game whatsoever. Neither does funselektor, all their media around the game features about three players at once....I dunno, ive played some pointless games but this really takes the cake.
That is the intention of the game, which is why I think it's not a singleplayer game whatsoever. Neither does funselektor, all their media around the game features about three players at once. There is little to do alone except run some hills (though even steep ones can be gamed a bit with the winch). You're not wrong in your assessment, I mostly agree, but I do think this game needs to be played together for it to click. It's a collective zen meditation using offroad cars rather than singing bowls as the relaxation method.
Even so, I'm enamored with the lighting and weather effects in the game. They're actively making me want to stop and look, something few games get me to do. Oddly enough, what took me out of the experience is the godawful animation they gave animals. Like, most of the car stuff looks fine and moves properly within the physics engine.. animals seem to have different rules while also being shortchanged on the effort they put in.
Regardless, compared to 'art of rally' and 'absolute drift' I find it a weak entry. Those all looked simple on the surface but had a lot going on under the surface when it came to skill expression. High-Low shift for offroading is simply not enough, and I think fans of the earlier games may find 'over the hill' lacking.
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Comment on The journey of donating a body to science in ~science
CptBluebear Link ParentBody Brokers have too little oversight. One of my favourite episodes of Swindled covers this topic https://swindledpodcast.com/podcast/84-the-body-broker/ Haunting stuff. People like that have no...Body Brokers have too little oversight. One of my favourite episodes of Swindled covers this topic https://swindledpodcast.com/podcast/84-the-body-broker/
Haunting stuff. People like that have no scruples mistreating donated bodies to make a quick buck.
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Comment on myNoise - adjustable soundscapes in ~life
CptBluebear LinkThis is the first I've heard of it and I haven't used the website yet, but the entire mission and approach is something I want to support. I bought the $30 lifetime access as a matter of course. I...This is the first I've heard of it and I haven't used the website yet, but the entire mission and approach is something I want to support. I bought the $30 lifetime access as a matter of course.
I just love that he goes out and records his own sounds. So much effort while keeping the site free just to be able to provide people a tool that helps them is aces.
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Comment on Contender for the most non-viable startup: Reflect Orbital in ~tech
CptBluebear Link ParentI'm going to go out on a limb and say that the bar-going person losing their keys isn't their target demographic. They're going for the bar owner, no scratch that, the billionaire owning the real...I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the bar-going person losing their keys isn't their target demographic. They're going for the bar owner, no scratch that, the billionaire owning the real estate in the neighbourhood the bar is operating in.
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Comment on ChatGPT keeps telling people 404 Media can solve their tech support problems in ~tech
CptBluebear Link ParentIt's inherent to the systems that it has no context so I feel like I don't have to bring it up. I suppose I don't frame it that way because it's either obvious to you or it isn't. If it isn't...It's inherent to the systems that it has no context so I feel like I don't have to bring it up. I suppose I don't frame it that way because it's either obvious to you or it isn't. If it isn't obvious to someone I probably won't convince that person anyway.
For some reason the people I've met in real life are too deep in the sauce and do not inherently understand this framing are literally all CEOs or Founders or some other form of chief business owner. It's somewhat telling that their ideal of worker output doesn't stretch beyond how it exists in the world compared to other worker output, probably because they have no experience with how long tasks actually take, but that's neither here nor there.
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Comment on 4 × 6 in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentMuch like spoken language can be turned into books and poetry (therefore art), I think programming can too. But much like language can be turned into purely functional documentation, programming...Much like spoken language can be turned into books and poetry (therefore art), I think programming can too. But much like language can be turned into purely functional documentation, programming can too. The intent matters.
No you're right, an absolute statement like "every programmer" should be avoided. I tend to overdo it on those since I always think it inherent that there are exceptions or even large subsets where the rule doesn't apply. Even so, when looking at the broader picture I think it's safe to say that at this stage most working folk are using AI in some form or another.
When the output is not made out of love or a passion for the job, it's easy to grab the shortcut. It really did come a long way, even compared to last year, where a lot of people see value in scaffolding with AI.
I also don't like structuring the layout of a business plan, but I'm good at writing out the content. I let AI do the former and do the latter myself.Thank you for saying that. I don't particularly like the tech for its inconsistency, its general effects on the world (economically, ecologically, ethically) and I feel that politically we aren't ready for the lightning fast advances it's promising (both true and false promises).
But I also think it's here to stay. A system that can (cheaply) create foundational frameworks for humans to build upon is a value add when it comes to menial tasks.
Non-users will have to interface and contend with the output of AI no matter how much they don't want to. Unfortunately we don't have any hard and fast social rules on what to do when it happens so the absolutists and extremists shout the loudest.I try to understand both sides of the argument and push back on either. I grumble and somewhat reluctantly use it myself and when it's done thinking I grumble and reluctantly accept that it can now finally create a genuinely useful document for my work while it burned a forest.
Regardless, it's appreciated.
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Comment on 4 × 6 in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentI would think some argue the art is in the overall game design and not necessarily just the code. Much like having really good character art doesn't make a game by itself, you need the rest of the...I would think some argue the art is in the overall game design and not necessarily just the code. Much like having really good character art doesn't make a game by itself, you need the rest of the game too.
Don't misunderstand me, I'm not advocating for replacing art forms with AI. Far from it. I'm saying that it's fairly normal behaviour to supplement your code with AI without the entire project turning into AI slop or stolen valour.
Vibe coding, to me, is writing code without checking or understanding the output. Not whether or not it's used at all.I'm going out on a limb and say that indie games probably have the most holdouts, I'll give you that.
Corporate gaming however, not just triple A, almost unanimously uses at least some form of it. And if they say they don't, I'm willing to bet one of their programmers slyly does it anyway. Plenty of worker drones that aren't doing it from a place of passion. -
Comment on Cars with offensive names in ~transport
CptBluebear (edited )Link ParentEuphemism Threadmilled itself into obsolescence. The then acceptable term increasingly started being used pejoratively. The preferred nomenclature by the affected is little person.Euphemism Threadmilled itself into obsolescence. The then acceptable term increasingly started being used pejoratively. The preferred nomenclature by the affected is little person.
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Comment on Serbia's strongman leader Aleksandar Vučić concedes defeat to student-led movement in seismic political shift in ~society
CptBluebear Link ParentSerbian or not, student movements tend to get usurped by militaries standing in the wings ready to take over, as the vacuum is too slow to be filled by the inexperienced students. The Nepali...Serbian or not, student movements tend to get usurped by militaries standing in the wings ready to take over, as the vacuum is too slow to be filled by the inexperienced students.
The Nepali military publicly declaring they would not intervene in matters of state politics was a miraculous exception to the very frequent post-student-uprising-junta rule.
I'm not without hope though, precisely because of Nepal and the inspiration it gave other young folk to speak up.
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Comment on 4 × 6 in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentAgreed. I work at a software company and the question isn't if, it's how. The difference nowadays is between vibecoding and AI assisted coding. The latter is an experienced coder using it as an...Agreed. I work at a software company and the question isn't if, it's how.
The difference nowadays is between vibecoding and AI assisted coding. The latter is an experienced coder using it as an extra tool in their belt.
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Comment on Tildes exclusive: the Ethoscore Project in ~creative
CptBluebear Link ParentJust forget you read his comment before taking the plunge. It's a phenomenal show but that comment is a somewhat large spoiler.Just forget you read his comment before taking the plunge. It's a phenomenal show but that comment is a somewhat large spoiler.
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Comment on Sammy Hajhamid jailbreaks the Nintendo Switch 2 in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentTo filter the topic of course.To filter the topic of course.
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Comment on Blackberry 10 Revival in ~tech
CptBluebear Link ParentIt's a fairly loaded term, politically speaking, so ignoring for now: the broad strokes are the economical and cultural benefits people in the 90s and early 2000s enjoyed after the fall of the...It's a fairly loaded term, politically speaking, so ignoring for now: the broad strokes are the economical and cultural benefits people in the 90s and early 2000s enjoyed after the fall of the Soviet Union. The lack of a peer/near peer adversary allowed a lot of demilitarization, which caused a glut in other sectors of government when the budgets shifted from defense spending to elsewhere. This was mainly felt in Western Europe and North America.
Why the term is loaded, well the long and short is that there are arguments that the USA never benefitted from it themselves as they looked for additional wars to keep funding the military industrial complex instead of feeding the budget back into society. Additionally, it caused a lot of discussion around the NATO GDP spending targets where Europe became a little too comfortable with the peace dividend, which bit them especially hard when Russia decided to invade Ukraine and break the peace.
That's neither here nor there in the scope of BlackBerry or MSN, what's important is that the end result is that a lot of us growing up during that time have enjoyed a really stable period, economically, politically, or otherwise.
Beyond that, I'd argue that since it wasn't necessary to immediately pollute the internet with propaganda it gave us a peaceful moment in time in discovering this technology with unprecedented freedom.
The corporate landgrab came much later, and the ever increasingly stricter controls imposed by countries themselves are only now rearing their heads. Right as peace is no longer a given.So yeah.. I'm fairly content about growing up back then. Well... maybe a year or two earlier would've given me a better mortgage by the time I could afford it though ha.
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Comment on Blackberry 10 Revival in ~tech
CptBluebear Link ParentI suppose that's a good way of putting it. I also wouldn't trade growing up in the nineties and aughties for anything. It was a good time! The Peace dividend was in full effect and that radiated...I suppose that's a good way of putting it. I also wouldn't trade growing up in the nineties and aughties for anything. It was a good time! The Peace dividend was in full effect and that radiated to kids growing up at the time.
NK has been the scapegoat for quite a few heists and it makes quite a bit of sense. Moreso if you look at these numbers. Private entities aren't going to hide taking 3 billion dollars. Nation states however... Good luck taking it back hey.
Whether or not it's true is anyone's guess. I venture it is.