delphi's recent activity
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Comment on 007 First Light fans are requesting refunds after learning about Denuvo DRM addition ahead of launch in ~games
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Comment on Asteroid Drift - help me playtest my first serious game! in ~games
delphi LinkI answered your feedback form, but I'd like to present it here too: It wasn't immediately obvious to me that the game wanted me to drift the ship, rather than shoot and avoid the asteroids. Only...I answered your feedback form, but I'd like to present it here too: It wasn't immediately obvious to me that the game wanted me to drift the ship, rather than shoot and avoid the asteroids. Only when I was hit by one and didn't die it occurred to me that I was meant to drift around them. If the asteroids aren't enemies, then why do I have a gun? They didn't have a hood-mounted machine gun in Initial D either. Instead, maybe have the ship bounce off the asteroids, which breaks the current combo like in Forza Horizon.
The ship's controls feel good, but with only two axes (speed and rotation) it can hardly be called drifting. Real drifting of a motor vehicle requires a differential lock that allows both wheels to spin at the same speed regardless of their position, sending the car into a controlled partial spin (the oversteering that you see in drifting). I'd love to see a creative approach as to how this could be handled with a rear-drive spaceship, because as of now, you're not really drifting but just oversteering.
It also means that in microgravity, you can't cancel that oversteering without significant compensation. You'd have to turn into the opposite direction and fire a reverse or RCS thruster. I know what you're trying to do - you want to slingshot around asteroids, and in the relevant literature this is called "fuckin' sick, bro", but it's not really drifting as you've presented it if there's no source of friction. That friction can come from the ground with a car, but can also come from grazing the atmosphere, a magnetic medium, or gravity from, say, a bunch of asteroids.
The aesthetic is fine, I quite like Asteroids and really enjoy games that ape its aesthetic like Utopia Must Fall, so this is an easy win for me.
Looking forward to seeing this game evolve!
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Comment on ‘Michael’ passes $700 million worldwide at box office in ~movies
delphi Link ParentMichael Jackson is Pop, not Rock'n'Roll, maybe you're thinking of ElvisMichael Jackson is Pop, not Rock'n'Roll, maybe you're thinking of Elvis
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Comment on ‘Michael’ passes $700 million worldwide at box office in ~movies
delphi Link ParentIt's about Michael Jackson. Opinions are mixed on the quality, but it's for sure very popularIt's about Michael Jackson. Opinions are mixed on the quality, but it's for sure very popular
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Comment on Energy supplier abandons Lake Tahoe residents to serve data centers in ~tech
delphi Link ParentThis move has been planned since 2009 and was extended several times up to 2025, it has nothing to do with datacentres or the AI gold rush. Infrastructure decisions of this magnitude aren't made...This move has been planned since 2009 and was extended several times up to 2025, it has nothing to do with datacentres or the AI gold rush. Infrastructure decisions of this magnitude aren't made on a dime
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Comment on Google Chrome silently installs a 4 GB AI model on your device without consent in ~tech
delphi LinkI can't imagine it's without consent. Like, sure, maybe without what we, the nerds with strong opinions, would call consent, but there's DEFINITELY a provision somewhere in the EULA that they're...I can't imagine it's without consent. Like, sure, maybe without what we, the nerds with strong opinions, would call consent, but there's DEFINITELY a provision somewhere in the EULA that they're allowed to do this.
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Comment on We must keep age verification from killing anonymity online in ~tech
delphi Link ParentI was surprised too, but more about the automated aspect than the self-checkout. I guess there are attendants around, albeit one per six check stands instead of two per one.I was surprised too, but more about the automated aspect than the self-checkout. I guess there are attendants around, albeit one per six check stands instead of two per one.
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Comment on We must keep age verification from killing anonymity online in ~tech
delphi Link ParentThat model works fine for buying booze because you, y'know, are buying booze. You're acquiring a physical object. Having to go somewhere, in person, just to verify your access to a service would...That model works fine for buying booze because you, y'know, are buying booze. You're acquiring a physical object. Having to go somewhere, in person, just to verify your access to a service would be a huge source of friction, enough that people wouldn't want to do it.
Plus, why should stores bother? There's no money in this. You just get non-customers into your store that don't buy anything and are probably pissed off that this is necessary at all.
I hate the age verification scheme too, but this would arguably be the worst way of doing it. And let's not leave it merely implied - very quickly this would be outsourced to startups that offer an appliance or a verification machine at the gas station so that no workers need to be involved, and those will absolutely store your ID after scanning. I could be wrong here, but I'm not. It's already happened. My local (German!) grocery store has started rolling out little phone-looking attachments to self-checkout kiosks that verify your age for 18+ items, with a truly horrifying privacy policy, that of course... no one reads.
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Comment on Where can I find the best lanyard? in ~life.style
delphi Link ParentSorry, should have been more clear. Yes, I guess I just need some way to keep all my things together and tie a ribbon loop to it. I'll check out Nite-Ize, thanksSorry, should have been more clear. Yes, I guess I just need some way to keep all my things together and tie a ribbon loop to it. I'll check out Nite-Ize, thanks
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Where can I find the best lanyard?
I really don't know where to put this, so feel free to move, but I have this issue. I carry a LOT of shit on my keychain. Two sets of keys of four each, a SIM removal tool, a tiny retractable box...
I really don't know where to put this, so feel free to move, but I have this issue. I carry a LOT of shit on my keychain. Two sets of keys of four each, a SIM removal tool, a tiny retractable box cutter, a USB drive full of installer ISOs (you never know), an AirTag, a CPU with a hole punched through, a 3D printed whistle, and that may very well grow.
Now the problem I have is that the lanyard that I currently have has, over time, widened the gap on the karabiner to the point that I'll regularly lose a key ring in my pocket when pulling it out. Nothing major's happened yet, but it's a matter of time.
So, clearly, I need a better one. A higher quality one. But going on the eTailers of today I really only get garbage. A pack of 20! For ten bucks! Well, thanks, but we all know they'll suck. And frankly, I really don't know how to get my hands on a high quality one. I bet they're out there, I'm sure, but where do I look? What's good, what's bad? I really don't need the high-end climbing gear, or do I? Is my key lanyard a candidate for buy it for life, and if so, am I ready for that commitment?
Looking for any and all advice on this.
PS: I don't wear the lanyard. I'm one of those assholes that puts the active end in my pocket and lets the lanyard itself dangle out.
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Comment on "Why was I invited to Beast Studios?" - A comprehensive investigative analysis of YouTube's biggest channel in ~tech
delphi Link ParentI hope that's what they're doing, especially with how dark it's in that sound stage and you'd kind of have to be binning down, but considering how incompetent they've been I have little hope. The...I hope that's what they're doing, especially with how dark it's in that sound stage and you'd kind of have to be binning down, but considering how incompetent they've been I have little hope. The "Two Drink Limit" sign in the editing bay is also telling a different story.
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Comment on "Why was I invited to Beast Studios?" - A comprehensive investigative analysis of YouTube's biggest channel in ~tech
delphi LinkThe biggest indictment of the entire operation to me was using an Alexa 65 as an A camera for a game show that is 95% B-roll by volume. That camera shoots in 2.4 x 1 by default, he's not even...The biggest indictment of the entire operation to me was using an Alexa 65 as an A camera for a game show that is 95% B-roll by volume.
That camera shoots in 2.4 x 1 by default, he's not even using most of that sensor when shooting in 16:9-style 4K (which you wouldn't do, but he's been shown to be incompetent in everything else, so I can only assume).
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Comment on Brave Origin (Nightly), a paid, bloat-free version of Brave in ~tech
delphi LinkObligatory reminder that the Brave company is the brainchild of Brendan Eich, inventor of JavaScript and the largest homophobe in Silicon Valley, to the point where Mozilla fired him for this....Obligatory reminder that the Brave company is the brainchild of Brendan Eich, inventor of JavaScript and the largest homophobe in Silicon Valley, to the point where Mozilla fired him for this.
Obligatory secondary reminder that Brave Browser includes a cryptocurrency mechanism that rewards you with tokens upon viewing ads shown to you on your new tab page.
I can’t imagine why anyone in their right mind would pay money for this. I haven’t the least bit of interest in this.
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Comment on What is Mastodon for? in ~tech
delphi LinkI personally feel like any discussion of Mastodon's numerous failures as a social media replacement[1] fall apart when you realise that nothing of any mainstream value ever happens on Mastodon....I personally feel like any discussion of Mastodon's numerous failures as a social media replacement[1] fall apart when you realise that nothing of any mainstream value ever happens on Mastodon. It's all theatre more than anything. The ants in the ant farm insist that it's a bold experiment in federation and free speech, but it's all just roleplay as far as I can tell.
There's no way to say this kindly as the facts here are just unkind, so don't mistake this as me hating, I'm sure to some the Mastodon experience is ideal, but... when have you ever heard "oh, did you see that viral mastodon post"? And while we're on the topic, why is Mastodon just... like that? It seems deliberately designed to be as obtuse as possible, and thus self-organises and -selects for people willing to put in a lot of effort for a very tiny increase in quality of life. I don't think that's a good starting point for a platform that - in concept - was meant to be for "living in the moment" and sharing tiny snippets of your life, like Twitter was. A platform like that demands as little friction as possible. Hell, Twitter shipped with SMS posting as a core feature because it was the easiest way to bring your thoughts on there in 2006.
Add to that the fundamental friction of the federation as a concept and having to pick an instance as your first decision, before even having learned what Mastodon is all about, and this is just feels to me like another LessWrong. As in, "if you don't want to interact with our system and its numerous designed inefficiencies, you're not the kind of person who would be welcome or at home here". You can do that, Tildes' invite system fundamentally uses the same mechanism, but if you do you can't pretend to be the next generation's online town square.
[1]: Mastodon also conceptually fails at this because its community wants high quality respectful interactions with nuance, something the interaction model of modern social media simply is incompatible with. There's a reason Tildes looks, feels and plays like a BBS or a Usenet group.
[PS]: They also have to know that nobody in their right mind would willingly use the term "toot" to describe a post. The thing you share around? Farts. Inconsequential and unpleasant. Talk about setting yourself up for failure.
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Comment on Matt Mullenweg says “the wheels have fallen off” in wide-ranging WordPress critique in ~tech
delphi Link ParentSure, but it's not like he really ever cared about the best user experience. He wants clout. That's understandable if you ask me, and if I cared a little more about WordPress I'd call for it to be...Sure, but it's not like he really ever cared about the best user experience. He wants clout. That's understandable if you ask me, and if I cared a little more about WordPress I'd call for it to be turned into a consortium
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Comment on Matt Mullenweg says “the wheels have fallen off” in wide-ranging WordPress critique in ~tech
delphi LinkI mean, is he wrong? Wordpress is a slow, bloated mess that coasts largely on collective inertia and doesn't add anything useful in its many updates, aside from a much, much worse UX. What used to...I mean, is he wrong? Wordpress is a slow, bloated mess that coasts largely on collective inertia and doesn't add anything useful in its many updates, aside from a much, much worse UX. What used to be a lean, effective blogging platform now is a frankensteined-together hodgepodge of rent seeking plugins that barely work once you stack up even a small amount. The theme situation is somehow worse, the now four competing editors (MCE, Gutenberg, Elementor and the fourth one that escapes me at the moment) are all miserable to work in.
Delenda est, as far as I'm concerned. It's time we move on, for a multitude of reasons.
Edit: I mean, yeah, he's an asshole, but what else is new?
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Comment on Have you played with bubbles recently? in ~talk
delphi LinkI'd like to subscribe to all future entries under the "whimsy.childlike" tag pleaseI'd like to subscribe to all future entries under the "whimsy.childlike" tag please
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Comment on Valve is working on Proton for ARM processors in ~games
delphi LinkIf this means Proton for Apple Silicon... well, I don't know what then, but I'm cautiously optimistic.If this means Proton for Apple Silicon... well, I don't know what then, but I'm cautiously optimistic.
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Comment on Esoteric Ebb | Fully Ramblomatic in ~games
delphi LinkI haven't played the game and I doubt I will, but I did massively enjoy Disco Elysium and it's probably my second favourite game of all time. To those who have played it: Does it bring something...I haven't played the game and I doubt I will, but I did massively enjoy Disco Elysium and it's probably my second favourite game of all time. To those who have played it: Does it bring something new to the table other than "D&D Disco Elysium"? Because I struggle to contain my cynicism when looking at such a vulnerable, raw, angry, caring and earnest piece of art like Disco Elysium and seeing it filtered through the aesthetic and mechanics of Critical Role.
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Comment on The center has a bias in ~tech
delphi Link ParentI don't really wanna get into it, but I did mean "thin the population by removing those with undesirable traits so they won't reproduce" which unless I'm completely mistaken is eugenicsI don't really wanna get into it, but I did mean "thin the population by removing those with undesirable traits so they won't reproduce" which unless I'm completely mistaken is eugenics
There'd be a whole can of worms about preloading data to your computer and then legally not being able to touch it until you buy a license, and if I was on the side of the games companies here, I'd be concerned about cracking, reverse-engineering and exploits as well.