culturedleftfoot's recent activity

  1. Comment on The death of simple racing games in ~games

    culturedleftfoot
    Link Parent
    In theory, yes, with regard to gameplay. In practice, however, a game will fall by the wayside as subsequent generations of consumers enter the market, and the game's technology and supporting...

    That was a longwinded way of saying that simple racing games CAN'T 'die', because they have absolutely no need for new releases to 'live'. They are functionally immortal.

    In theory, yes, with regard to gameplay. In practice, however, a game will fall by the wayside as subsequent generations of consumers enter the market, and the game's technology and supporting infrastructure age. A 14-year-old today might be willing to try a racing game released 10 years ago, but if they can't play online multiplayer with their friends because the servers are shut down, and the graphics look weird on their hi-res monitor, and then there's no VR support, etc., they'll soon go get their kicks from the latest NFS or whatever. And, even as someone who will happily play the original OutRun today, I don't blame them. They've grown up with a certain standard.

    In any case, I think your point doesn't address the real reason, which is that developers think the incentive for new simple racing games has dwindled. AveragePixel alludes to the same point in the the first 3 minutes of this video. Basically, it's indicative of the death of AA games on the whole, and that's the category in which those arcade racers tended to fall. There are quite a few good indie racing games, but I imagine the opportunity cost of developing something with the level of polish of Ridge Racer, Blur, and the rest is prohibitive for most indie devs.

    4 votes

  3. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    culturedleftfoot
    Link
    A few days ago I beat Nine Sols, a fantastic action platformer with Sekiro-inspired combat and some light metroidvania mixed in. It was a day-one buy for me when it released last year, as I was...

    A few days ago I beat Nine Sols, a fantastic action platformer with Sekiro-inspired combat and some light metroidvania mixed in. It was a day-one buy for me when it released last year, as I was totally hooked by its "Taopunk" premise blending Chinese mythology, science fiction, and Taoism, but I never sat down to play it until this month.

    Now, it's up there as one of my favorite games ever - but good LORD is it tough! I'd never played Sekiro or any of Fromsoft's Soulsborne games, but I've seen comments from people who have, saying that the final boss in Nine Sols was a harder challenge than Isshin in Sekiro. I myself took about nine hours to finally win the last fight, spread out over a week and a half. My total playtime was approx. 58 hours for a completionist playthrough.

    This game was a breath of fresh air, and fit perfectly with an interest I expressed years ago (damn, didn't realize we've been here that long) in seeing some originality and different perspectives in video games. Overall - great story, awesome setting, challenging yet enjoyable combat, and notably excellent sound design. Highly recommend it if you are at all interested.

    Aside from that, I recently had a rally racing fix and had significant trouble finding a suitable game. I gave V-Rally 4 a go, and it's been much better than the reviews gave it credit for. Despite some occasional wonky physics, long-shutdown multiplayer servers, and a software crash maybe every 7 or 8 hours, it's great fun! It's a decent challenge and has a good variety of tracks, cars, and race types (even hill climb and rallycross!).

    2 votes

  4. Comment on What does a newcomer moving to your town/city/state/country need to know? in ~life

    culturedleftfoot
    Link Parent
    A hilarious recent comment on that vid:

    A hilarious recent comment on that vid:

    The sound that harbors the torment of a thousand damned souls, a chorus of eternal suffering intertwined with the mournful call of the underworld, demanding one more sacrifice to satisfy its insatiable hunger. It is the echo of Charon's bones clashing together, like a macabre drum marking the passage into the unknown. And then, the final shriek: a heartbreaking scream that tears the fabric of the universe, leaving a dark, bleeding wound, an impossible-to-bridge abyss where despair becomes perpetuity.

    2 votes

  5. Comment on What does a newcomer moving to your town/city/state/country need to know? in ~life

    culturedleftfoot
    Link Parent
    I'd never previously heard the term "social elevator" outside of usage as a metaphor for class mobility. Today I learned about segregation in elevator use in Brazil.

    I'd never previously heard the term "social elevator" outside of usage as a metaphor for class mobility. Today I learned about segregation in elevator use in Brazil.

    3 votes

  6. Comment on What does a newcomer moving to your town/city/state/country need to know? in ~life

    culturedleftfoot
    (edited )
    Link
    Not exactly my city, but I can vouch for it: Washington DC. Capitol Hill is NOT the end-all be-all of DC. That is its own weird bubble that excludes pretty much everyone else... especially the...

    Not exactly my city, but I can vouch for it: Washington DC.

    • Capitol Hill is NOT the end-all be-all of DC. That is its own weird bubble that excludes pretty much everyone else... especially the people born and raised there. Also, the city's bigger than just northwest.

    • Maybe like 2/3 of people are transplants from elsewhere, either for work or school, and that's a conservative estimate. Most of the locals are being pushed out into the surrounding areas, and they are adamant that it's not the same thing as being from the city. To that point, there is no "DMV" to the locals. There's DC, MD, and VA.

    • A significant portion of people (50?%) have a level of self-importance and entitlement that can be quite annoying to navigate on a day-to-day basis. In social situations, you can often sense them categorizing people according to how they can benefit from them. However, you can get by sticking with the rest who don't act like that.

    • Quite a few of the above-mentioned transplants are making good money. Some come from good money and are subsidized by their parents, even after leaving school. LOTS of people are living in quiet desperation with mountains of debt in order to keep up appearances. Don't get caught up in comparisons.

    • I don't know if it was just me, but it felt like practically everyone is into some kind of hardcore BDSM and kinks. I suppose the national seat of power would almost have to be an undercover hotbed of sexual perversion.

    • There are lots of free things to do, which is great! However, the social scene really revolves around happy hour, there's no escaping it.

    • THERE ARE RATS. Not as bad as New York, but THERE ARE RATS. EVERYWHERE.

    • This is an issue I have with the country in general, but there are too many homeless people for the kind of money that's in the economy. You see someone sleeping on the grate on the sidewalk for warmth in winter and your heart just breaks.

    • Public transportation is indeed quite good. However, if you are ever in a hurry to get somewhere, there will probably be a delay on the Red line. If you're hustling to get to work, it's guaranteed.

    • Also, do yourself a favor - don't take the 70 bus. Just don't.

    • It's quite bike-friendly in most areas. There are plenty bike lanes and lots of short-term bike rentals stands everywhere. However, I do not trust drivers there AT ALL. Drive around for a couple weeks and you'll understand why. Ride at your own risk.

    • You can pretty much expect everything to shut down if there's 2 inches of snow on the ground. No one has snow tires either.

    • The left side of the escalator is for walking, the right side is for standing.

    • Expect to hear some people stubbornly referring to the Redskins instead of the Commanders.

    12 votes

  7. Comment on What does a newcomer moving to your town/city/state/country need to know? in ~life

    culturedleftfoot
    Link Parent
    I'd never heard of or seen the "you're sorry" side of Canadians before, and I have to say I'm not mad at seeing everyone kinda collectively stand up for their country.

    I'd never heard of or seen the "you're sorry" side of Canadians before, and I have to say I'm not mad at seeing everyone kinda collectively stand up for their country.

    13 votes

  9. Comment on What's the oldest tech you use, and why do you still use it? in ~tech

    culturedleftfoot
    Link Parent
    My first and so far only PC build from 2011 is still my daily driver... although it's quite Ship of Theseus at this point. Practically everything else has changed, but the motherboard and CPU are...

    My first and so far only PC build from 2011 is still my daily driver... although it's quite Ship of Theseus at this point. Practically everything else has changed, but the motherboard and CPU are still the same, so I'm claiming it. I don't see why I can't get another 3 or 4 years without issue.

    2 votes

  10. Comment on Steam Spring Sale suggestions in ~games

    culturedleftfoot
    Link Parent
    Seriously, between stuff like Humble Bundles, Steam sales, GOG, etc. it's INSANE the number of high-quality games you can get for cheap nowadays, not to mention emulators and playing stuff for...

    Seriously, between stuff like Humble Bundles, Steam sales, GOG, etc. it's INSANE the number of high-quality games you can get for cheap nowadays, not to mention emulators and playing stuff for free. There's a lot of dreck too, so you do need to know how to filter, but still.

    "Entertaining ourselves to death" is steadily becoming more feasible.

    5 votes

  11. Comment on Steam Spring Sale suggestions in ~games

    culturedleftfoot
    Link Parent
    This is useful! I imagine you probably have to get to something like 50000+ Steam reviews to really qualify as hugely popular though.

    This is useful!

    I imagine you probably have to get to something like 50000+ Steam reviews to really qualify as hugely popular though.

    2 votes

  12. Comment on Steam Spring Sale suggestions in ~games

    culturedleftfoot
    Link
    I just bought Dirt Rally 2.0 with all its DLC for 8 bucks. A bunch of games that I follow are currently on sale. Here are a couple lists, where bolded titles are personal recommends. Almost...
    • Exemplary

    I just bought Dirt Rally 2.0 with all its DLC for 8 bucks.

    A bunch of games that I follow are currently on sale. Here are a couple lists, where bolded titles are personal recommends. Almost everything is at least 50% off.

    Games under $5

    80 Days - $3.89
    A Memoir Blue - $3.99
    BELOW - $4.99
    Braid, Anniversary Edition - $4.99
    Cursed To Golf - $2.99
    Dust: An Elysian Tail - $3.74
    El Hijo - A Wild West Tale - $3.99
    Enter The Gungeon - $1.49!! I've got like 600 hours on this.
    Firework - $4.99
    Gorogoa - $4.94
    GRIS - $2.99
    The Gunk - $4.99
    Helldivers (1) - $3.99
    Indivisible - $2.99
    INMOST - $4.49
    INSIDE - $1.99!
    Journey - $4.94
    Juicy Realm - $4.99
    Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes - $4.49
    La-Mulana - $3.74
    LIMBO - $0.99!
    Linelight - $1.99
    Long Dream - $3.84
    LUMINES REMASTERED - $4.49
    Midnight Ghost Hunt - $4.99
    Moon Hunters - $1.49
    Neo Cab - $2.24
    Neon Abyss - $4.99
    Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) - $2.99
    Night Call - $4.49
    Octahedron: Transfixed Edition - $1.29!!!! This is an absolute hidden gem!
    Once Again - $1.19
    One Finger Death Punch - $1.24
    Orbital Bullet - $1.69
    Pipe Push Paradise - $4.99
    Planet Cube: Edge - $4.94
    The Red Strings Club - $2.99
    Road 96 - $4.99
    Room 301 NO.6 - $2.39
    Souldiers - $3.99
    Stealth Bastard Deluxe - $1.29
    Super Magbot - $1.29
    Tales of the Neon Sea - $2.88
    Tokyo 42 - $1.99
    WuJiDaoRen - $3.49

    Games under $10

    Antichamber
    The Artful Escape
    Bonfire Peaks
    CrossCode
    Cyberwar: Neon City
    Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
    ElecHead
    The Heroes Around Me
    Invisible, Inc.
    LOCKDOWN Protocol
    Loretta
    Mondealy
    Overgrowth
    Pid
    Planet of Lana
    Raji: An Ancient Epic
    The Rewinder
    Sayonara Wild Hearts
    Shadows of Doubt
    Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate
    Soda Crisis
    Superliminal
    Twelve Minutes
    Undying
    Wavetale
    The Witness
    Xuan-Yuan Sword: Mists Beyond the Mountains

    Games over $10

    Kenshi
    Minds Beneath Us
    Nine Sols - Currently at the final boss! This game can be really tough, but it's really good. Well worth it at full price.
    Pinball Spire
    Tetris® Effect: Connected
    ZERO Sievert

    25 votes

  13. Comment on Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance – the hidden message in ~music

    culturedleftfoot
    Link
    Yeah, as @datavoid said, this is pretty surface-level and fairly reachy. Half of his points are more about topics Kendrick addresses all the time rather than specifics of that performance. Here's...

    Yeah, as @datavoid said, this is pretty surface-level and fairly reachy. Half of his points are more about topics Kendrick addresses all the time rather than specifics of that performance.

    Here's a more thorough breakdown of the symbolism of his halftime show from Justin Hunte.

    1 vote

  14. Comment on What are your favourite time-loop based books, movies and video games? in ~talk

    culturedleftfoot
    Link Parent
    Man, it sounds like you weren't able to experience all that the game had to offer (there's sooooooooooooooooo much more to this game than just the thing)... that's a shame. I wish I knew the right...

    Man, it sounds like you weren't able to experience all that the game had to offer (there's sooooooooooooooooo much more to this game than just the thing)... that's a shame. I wish I knew the right thing to tell you that would help you shift your perspective!

    I will say, the pace of the platforms, elevators, and everything else is deliberate and does match with Blow's statement of respecting the player's time. The best analogy I can give is that it's intended to serve a similar purpose to negative space in photography/cinematography. It's easy to think, "that space is empty, it's a waste to include it," but the emptiness is what frames and focuses your attention. It's needed context, and the shot isn't effective without it.

    I understand if you're skeptical given your experience with the game, but... maybe we just need to slow down sometimes? Otherwise we miss the forest for the trees.

    2 votes

  15. Comment on What are your favourite time-loop based books, movies and video games? in ~talk

    culturedleftfoot
    Link Parent
    I don't want to argue the point, but I will just say it in case you are at all open to recontextualizing your experience: The Witness is just as respectful of your time as Braid, if not more. It...

    Braid - Another time manipulation puzzler, but probably one of the best (and more respectful of player time than The Witness.....)

    I don't want to argue the point, but I will just say it in case you are at all open to recontextualizing your experience: The Witness is just as respectful of your time as Braid, if not more. It simply depends on the mindset you bring to the game.

    2 votes

  16. Comment on Recommend me a racing/driving game on PC in ~games

    culturedleftfoot
    Link Parent
    I forgot to include R4 in my list! Had tons of fun with that.

    I forgot to include R4 in my list! Had tons of fun with that.

    1 vote

  17. Comment on What’s a book about your area that you think would be interesting to people outside of it? in ~books

    culturedleftfoot
    Link
    I have three recommendations, all in the same vein: Soccernomics and Soccer Against The Enemy, both by Simon Kuper, as well as How Soccer Explains The World by Franklin Foer. All three are books...

    I have three recommendations, all in the same vein: Soccernomics and Soccer Against The Enemy, both by Simon Kuper, as well as How Soccer Explains The World by Franklin Foer. All three are books that examine globalization, tribalism, and national psyches, all through the prism of soccer. While there are references made in each that the knowledgeable fan will appreciate, experience with the game is not strictly necessary. The target audience is simply anyone curious about the world.

    Well, why soccer, then? IMO, for a number of relevant reasons.

    1. It's the most popular sport in the world. The barrier to entry is very low; the only equipment you need is a ball.
    2. Even at the highest levels, it accommodates the widest variety of players in terms of physical attributes - tall, short, stout, thin, fast, slow, etc.
    3. During the game, a player with the ball has a lot of options - they can pass the ball forward, sideways, or backwards; they can go long or they can play it short; they can keep the ball themselves and dribble; they can shoot to goal. They can use any part of their body except their hands. As a result, the decision that you make tells me who you are, what you value.
    4. For all those reasons above, soccer is the most representative sport in the world. It continually shapes and is shaped by history, culture, politics, economics, and can be argued as one of the most representative human activities, period.

    Disclaimer - all three books were published between early 1990s and the late noughties, during the rise of the globalization we take for granted today. I believe they've all been updated in newer editions, but my copies all come from before the ubiquity of social media, so some of the points made may not seem as prescient today. Still, they can offer illuminating insights to anyone new to the sport, as well as longtime fans.

    1 vote

  18. Recommend me a racing/driving game on PC

    ~games Ask (recommendations)
    My parameters are Any kind of racing - F1, Moto GP, X games, rallycross, antigravity... you name it. No subscriptions I lean away from sim/management games... I don't mind some customization, but...

    My parameters are

    • Any kind of racing - F1, Moto GP, X games, rallycross, antigravity... you name it.
    • No subscriptions
    • I lean away from sim/management games... I don't mind some customization, but I don't want to have to choose from 10 different types of brake pads for best performance on each track.
    • Combat optional
    • If it makes a difference, I'll be playing with a controller, not a racing wheel.

    [Edit: I should have specified - a modern racing game. I'm pretty versed on the options pre-2010, it's the new stuff I'm looking for.]

    I originally wanted a rally game to scratch a hillclimb itch but I'm open to whatever now. Trawling through Steam has made my head spin though.

    Previous racing games/series I've played and liked - Rallisport Challenge (really, if I could just play this again I'd be set), Wipeout 3, Road Rash, Ridge Racer Type 4, Twisted Metal 2, Jet Moto, Wave Race, Mario Kart, Sled Storm... OutRun! Showing my age here.

    Somehow I've never really liked Need For Speed.

    22 votes

  20. Comment on What are your favourite let's plays? in ~games

    culturedleftfoot
    Link
    I don't think of it as a let's play per se, but Northernlion and Sinvicta Play - GeoGuessr! is great to run in the background or on a second monitor. They're both good at the game, they have an...

    I don't think of it as a let's play per se, but Northernlion and Sinvicta Play - GeoGuessr! is great to run in the background or on a second monitor. They're both good at the game, they have an easy chemistry with each other, there are four or five seasons with almost 300 episodes, and you can pretty much play any episode at random since there's no real progression to keep track of from game to game. It's good, entertaining banter with some passive learning about the world thrown in.