kfwyre's recent activity
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Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of September 6 in ~games
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Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of September 6 in ~games
kfwyre LinkState of Mind is currently free on GOG. It's a stylized sci-fi adventure game. I gave it an hour, and it didn't grip me, but some of the reviews say it's a slow-burn that's worth sticking with....State of Mind is currently free on GOG.
It's a stylized sci-fi adventure game. I gave it an hour, and it didn't grip me, but some of the reviews say it's a slow-burn that's worth sticking with.
Nevertheless, free is free!
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Comment on Screenless Day discussion topic: September 2026 in ~life
kfwyre Link ParentBig internet hug from me, monarda! This was so great to read. I'm glad your day went well. I know you're thanking me, but really you were the driving force behind getting this going again, so I'm...Big internet hug from me, monarda! This was so great to read. I'm glad your day went well.
I know you're thanking me, but really you were the driving force behind getting this going again, so I'm returning that thanks right back to you!
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Comment on Screenless Day discussion topic: September 2026 in ~life
kfwyre Link ParentI like Digital Detox a lot better. It also opens these up to being more than just a specific "screenless day" and people can set their own goals to their liking. I'll change it over next month....I like Digital Detox a lot better. It also opens these up to being more than just a specific "screenless day" and people can set their own goals to their liking.
I'll change it over next month. Thanks!
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - August 2026 - Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki in ~books
kfwyre LinkI read this book a few years ago for my IRL book club and didn't re-read it for this one. I remember almost nothing about the details of the book, but I do remember how the book made me feel:...I read this book a few years ago for my IRL book club and didn't re-read it for this one.
I remember almost nothing about the details of the book, but I do remember how the book made me feel: warm, like we were sharing a hug.
I remember that it was the kind of book where, if you attempt to explain it without reading it, it sounds absurd, but the author did a really good job of writing everything so it made in-universe sense while also humanizing its out-there elements to the point that they resonated strongly with the reader.
Our book club tends to be highly critical of everything that we read, but we really liked this one. I wish I could say more about it, but my memory of it is no longer intact, and even reading the comments here simply has me feel as if I'm discovering those elements for the first time rather than refreshing my understanding.
The good side of this is that it means that, if I ever do pick the book back up, I'll be able to experience it mostly fresh again!
Also, thanks ICN for hosting the remainder of our Book Club!
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Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of September 6 in ~games
kfwyre LinkHumble Beyond the Metroidverse Bundle $10 USD for the top tier (which is pretty low compared to Humble's usual), and it's worth it entirely for Supraland Six Inches Under. It doesn't hit the same...Humble Beyond the Metroidverse Bundle
$10 USD for the top tier (which is pretty low compared to Humble's usual), and it's worth it entirely for Supraland Six Inches Under. It doesn't hit the same heights as the original (which is an unbelievably high bar), but it's safe to say that if you liked the original you'll like this one.
I believe the devs said it was meant to be "Supraland 1.5" -- not a full sequel but a fresh twist on the familiar groundwork of the first. (Related: I am beyond hyped for the full release of Supraworld).
I haven't played anything else in the bundle and would love to hear any thoughts, as metroidvanias are one of my top genres.
As always, if you pick this up, make sure to change the sliders to your liking.
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Comment on I made a chill minimal 3D golf game that fits in 13 kilobytes - Sunshine Golf Classic in ~creative
kfwyre LinkThis took me back to the Links games I spent way too much time playing way back in the 90s! I know I've said it before, but you are a literal, modern-day wizard able to conjure magic from code....This took me back to the Links games I spent way too much time playing way back in the 90s!
I know I've said it before, but you are a literal, modern-day wizard able to conjure magic from code. Incredible work once again, kbap!
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Comment on CGA-2026-09 🕹️🙎‍♂️🛹 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 in ~games
kfwyre Link ParentI've finished career mode on the Dreamcast version (well, one character). I played as Tony Hawk and got all levels to 100% completion. It didn't take me very long (maybe 3-4 hours total?), but...I've finished career mode on the Dreamcast version (well, one character). I played as Tony Hawk and got all levels to 100% completion. It didn't take me very long (maybe 3-4 hours total?), but also I've played the game SO much that it went really fast for me.
I'll save my full thoughts for the Remove Cartridge topic, but the short of it is that I was happy to return to this. It didn't let me down!
Given all the time left in the month, it's only fair that I try out the GBA and GBC versions. Also I might return to the remaster just so I can give it a comparison with fresh eyes.
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Comment on Screenless Day discussion topic: September 2026 in ~life
kfwyre Link ParentThis is a really good point. I knew in the abstract about the effects of variable rewards schedules on conditioning, but I never really applied it to this situation. Thanks for this.This is a really good point. I knew in the abstract about the effects of variable rewards schedules on conditioning, but I never really applied it to this situation. Thanks for this.
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Comment on Screenless Day discussion topic: September 2026 in ~life
kfwyre (edited )Link ParentSCREENLESS DAY LIFEHACK: If you want an easy and foolproof way to not look at your phone, simply get a migraine! Okay, so it wasn't a full-on migraine (I honestly don't know if I've ever...SCREENLESS DAY LIFEHACK: If you want an easy and foolproof way to not look at your phone, simply get a migraine!
Okay, so it wasn't a full-on migraine (I honestly don't know if I've ever experienced one of those). Let's call it a "minigraine." I had to lie down, turn the lights off, and just sort of exist in a low-energy do-nothing state for two-three hours. For some of it I just chilled there in silence, and for some of it I put an earbud just outside my ear and played music on the lowest volume setting.
My dog, who seems to have a sixth sense for when I'm sick or in discomfort, came and snuggled up next to my chest for the duration, so despite feeling pretty dire head pain, my heart was warmed and I didn't feel the pull to check anything, get any work done, or fill any time, which was genuinely nice. As someone whose toxic trait is that I always feel like I need to be getting something done, I think one of the most transformative things I can do is give myself permission to simply stop.
Or, barring giving myself permission, I can have an external force like a debilitating headache do it for me. XD
The rest of the day went fine. I did end up finishing the book, reading it during the morning and then coming back to it after my minigraine (mostly) subsided. Despite its length, it was a quick, easy read -- The Girl Who Could Move Shit With Her Mind by Jackson Ford, in case anyone was curious. It's been a good while since I sat down and read a full book over the course of a day, so that honestly felt like a genuine accomplishment.
Because of the time pressure on finishing the book, as well as my want to avoid my usual phone and internet habits, I found myself opening my reader app during times I would have otherwise scrolled idly (e.g. my morning coffee tea, meals/snacks, that window of time when you’re waiting for something but it’s still twenty minutes away, etc.). This meant that, in addition to big periods of time where I just sat and read uninterrupted, I also found little snippets of reading time throughout the day. You know, six minutes of reading here, twelve minutes there, etc.
It's kind of impressive how much those added up over the course of the day. I kind of wished I'd tracked it, but I have to guess that I got at least an "extra" hour of reading, maybe even close to two.
I don't think I could necessarily do this all the time, but it was a nice object lesson in just how much time I fritter away on a daily basis. I also don't think it would work as well if I were reading a more serious book that demanded more of me -- this one was exceptionally easy to duck in and out of at will. But rather than thinking "oh I need to always be reading" (which is unsustainable), I think the takeaway is that consciously replacing even some of my idle downtime with something more deliberate can help me quite a bit in working towards things I actually want to do (e.g. reading more books).
Also, it was unintentionally a really great calibration for just how much time I have on a regular day off:
- I finished a 130,000 word novel (granted, I got through about a quarter of it on Friday night, so I really only read ~100,000 words).
- I went on my treadmill for an hour and a half.
- I laid down and did nothing for 2-3 hours.
- My husband and I went out to a nice lunch to celebrate his student loans being paid off.
- I also finished THPS2 for CGA which took another hour or two.
I know I said my toxic trait is that I always have to feel like I'm getting something done, so listing this out makes it look like I'm leaning into that. Rather than seeing them as a checklist, instead I'm choosing to see it as "there's a LOT of surface area on any given Saturday" -- something that isn't necessarily visible if I'm losing time to idle, meaningless scrolling instead.
So, all told: my return to Screenless Days was a success, even in spite of my minigraine (which kind of did help me out with my goal if I'm being honest).
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Comment on Screenless Day discussion topic: September 2026 in ~life
kfwyre Link ParentI didn't intend it to come across that way, but now that you've pointed it out I can't see it any other way. XD Thanks for the supportive brainwaves!I didn't intend it to come across that way, but now that you've pointed it out I can't see it any other way. XD
Thanks for the supportive brainwaves!
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Comment on Screenless Day discussion topic: September 2026 in ~life
kfwyre Link ParentOh do I ever. Movie gets a little boring? Check my email. Book is starting to slog? Pull up the news and half-read both things at the same time. Game has a cutscene? Play with my dog for the whole...Oh do I ever.
Movie gets a little boring? Check my email.
Book is starting to slog? Pull up the news and half-read both things at the same time.
Game has a cutscene? Play with my dog for the whole duration. -
Comment on CGA-2026-09 🕹️🙎‍♂️🛹 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 in ~games
kfwyre (edited )Link ParentYou're absolutely right! I went back to the Dreamcast version, and it's simply better in every way. The issue I was having initially was that, for some reason, the Flycast core absolutely chugs on...You're absolutely right!
I went back to the Dreamcast version, and it's simply better in every way. The issue I was having initially was that, for some reason, the Flycast core absolutely chugs on the level goals screen. I didn't really solve the problem, but since the game runs fine the rest of the time (including for the gameplay, where it really matters), I've just learned to live with it.
The draw distance difference is the biggest upgrade, IMO. It isn't super noticeable in The Hangar since it's so small, but the moment you unlock School II, it's night and day. For anyone curious, you can see the difference in this video (if the timestamp link doesn't work, the level starts at 4:06).
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Comment on CGA-2026-09 🕹️🙎‍♂️🛹 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 in ~games
kfwyre Link ParentThis isn't a high score screenshot, but I still think it's worth posting. I managed to finish a level mere milliseconds before disaster.This isn't a high score screenshot, but I still think it's worth posting.
I managed to finish a level mere milliseconds before disaster.
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Comment on Screenless Day discussion topic: September 2026 in ~life
kfwyre (edited )LinkI'll be taking my Screenless Day tomorrow. It should be a pretty simple setup: I've got an IRL book club meetup on Sunday to discuss a ~130,000 word novel that I have only just started. I've...I'll be taking my Screenless Day tomorrow.
It should be a pretty simple setup: I've got an IRL book club meetup on Sunday to discuss a ~130,000 word novel that I have only just started. I've estimated my reading speed before and think it's roughly in the ballpark of 17K words per hour. So, my day is going to include lots of couch, bed, and/or hammock time (weather permitting) with my ereader for the 7+ hours of reading I'll need to finish the book.
I have a bad habit of idly opening my phone even when I'm reading, so I'm planning on putting my phone somewhere else for the day, with maybe a few designated breaks to check texts and whatnot (I'm thinking mealtimes?).
In thinking about this month's discussion question, I think, if I really hone in on what's an issue for me, it's novelty-seeking. I'll pull out my phone and open Google News not because something might have happened in the last hour (or, worse, minutes) since I did it before, but because when I do I at least get something new to look at. The same goes for like, video game and ebook deals. I have enough of those to last me for more than a lifetime already, but I like the idea of seeing sales happen even if I don't intend to buy anything. Why? Because they happen ALL the time which means there's always something new there when I look.
Even Tildes, for all the great things about it, scratches this unfortunate itch for me. I'll open the app and refresh the feed not because I'm planning on reading the comments or articles, but just to see if something new has been posted.
It's like my brain wants a constant dripfeed of freshness, and it's satisfied by the mere existence of something new rather than whether that new thing carries any sort of meaning or relevance.
The worst part of this is that I think it makes my appreciation of things even shallower. I'll start to watch a movie or read a book, and I'll get legitimately into it. Like, I'll want to keep going with it because it has genuinely hooked me. But for some reason, that also starts an itch to jump to a different book or a different movie. It's like, once I'm in the middle of it I get too familiar with it, and my brain needs the "new" and starts telling me I should jump ship (even though I know it'll be more satisfying to see whatever I'm currently in the middle of all the way through).
Long-term, I'd love to reduce the noise of that novelty seeking compulsion. It would be nice to be able to appreciate things more meaningfully and feel connected to them for longer periods of time.
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Comment on Screenless Day discussion topic: September 2026 in ~life
kfwyre (edited )LinkScreenless Day Notification: We have officially rebooted the series! I have started this new notification list with the people who mentioned interest in prior discussions. Anyone who comments in...Screenless Day Notification: We have officially rebooted the series! I have started this new notification list with the people who mentioned interest in prior discussions.
Anyone who comments in this topic will automatically be added to this list for future notifications. If you do NOT want to be added to the list, simply let me know in your comment.
Notification List
Note: I had originally intended to post an announcement topic for this earlier in the week but it got away from me (beginning of the school year and all that). So, I figured we’d just do it live instead!
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Screenless Day discussion topic: September 2026
The Reboot! I used to run a series of "Screenless Day" monthly posts that were aimed at nudging people to put a short pause on the toxic aspects of tech in their life. They never got much...
The Reboot!
I used to run a series of "Screenless Day" monthly posts that were aimed at nudging people to put a short pause on the toxic aspects of tech in their life. They never got much traction, but it was also hard to tell if people were participating because they wouldn't necessarily be here commenting on it and would instead be, you know, off doing other things.
There has been some renewed interest in the idea recently, so I decided to reboot the series and see how it goes now (especially because the wider tech landscape is arguably worse than it was back when I first started them).
The spirit of Screenless Day remains the same as it always has been:
a simple event aimed at encouraging people to take a temporary step away from toxic or consuming aspects of technology and spend their time and energies elsewhere
Anyone can choose to take a Screenless Day at any time, but the idea is to nudge people towards doing it over the first weekend of the month. Each new discussion topic will go live on the first Friday of the month, and it will remain open for the duration of the month.
It is strongly encouraged that you talk about your Screenless Day here, as part of the fun of the event is that, even though you might be doing something independently, your actions fit into a larger community picture of other people here sharing the same values.
Also, to promote both reflection and discussion on the goals of Screenless Day, each month I will be including a new discussion question to provide people the opportunity to reflect on their relationship with technology and keep the topic more “alive” and visible.
This Month
In addition to the once again regularly scheduled Screenless Day, there are a couple of housekeeping things for our first month back:
- Building a notification list.
I will be building a notification list to be pinged each time a monthly Screenless Day topic goes up. Anyone commenting in this topic will be included by default. If you do NOT want to be included in the list, please let me know in your comment.
- Changing the name?
"Screenless Day" can be a bit misleading (see the FAQ below), so I'm open to other name ideas. Everything I can come up with tends to sound negative however (e.g. "Pause Toxic Tech" day or something), and I want the name to be a simple but positive one.
Monthly Discussion
Use this topic to:
- Talk about your plans for an upcoming Screenless Day.
- Tell everyone what you chose to do for your Screenless Day, and how it went.
- Reflect on your relationship with technology.
This month's discussion question:
- Of all the tech you use in your life, what platform/app/device/etc do you feel has the most overall negative impact on you? Why do you think that is?
FAQ
What is a Screenless Day?
A "Screenless Day" is a simple event aimed at encouraging people to take a temporary step away from toxic or consuming aspects of technology and spend their time and energies elsewhere.
When is it?
A new discussion topic will go up on the first Friday of each month, with participants encouraged to make one of their days that weekend a "Screenless Day."
The topic remains open for the whole month, so people can choose to take Screenless Days whenever they like and talk about them in that month's discussion.
Does it have to be truly "screenless"?
"Screenless" is an ideal, not a mandate.
The spirit of the day is to deliberately step away from toxic or consuming aspects of technology, and what that means is different for each person. Thus, it is up to each participant to determine what "screenless" means to them. Some might only choose to not use social media for a day; some might choose to eliminate all "screens" but still use their ereader; some may maintain some screen use but only for necessity (e.g. work; classes; GPS; etc.). Some might get rid of screens entirely, or go fully "unplugged" for the day.
How do I participate?
You do not have to do anything formal at all to participate -- simply make your Screenless Day happen in whatever way is best for you!
If you’d like to, use this thread to share plans for your upcoming Screenless Day or summaries/reflections about it once it’s over.
Can I chat in this thread if I'm not doing a Screenless Day myself?
Yes! The more, the merrier! Discussion from anyone, participant or non-participant alike, is welcome. Though, do understand that it might take a bit longer than normal for some people to respond. :)
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
kfwyre LinkNOPE (2022) I normally like a slow-burn buildup, but this one was a touch too slow, IMO. It felt like it tried to have the heft and pacing of a serious drama which detracted from its sci-fi/horror...NOPE (2022)
I normally like a slow-burn buildup, but this one was a touch too slow, IMO. It felt like it tried to have the heft and pacing of a serious drama which detracted from its sci-fi/horror elements. I think if it had been trimmed down a bit it would have gone from good to great for me.
Also, based on the (excellent) visuals and sound, I think this is one that was probably much better to experience in theaters than at home.
Mass (2021)
Speaking of slow-burns, this one is exceptional.
It’s about two sets of parents who meet up in a church after a tragedy to discuss it. The bulk of the film is simply them talking in a single room.
It takes a while to get going, but once it does it’s impossible to look away from. All of the actors do an exceptional job.
Given the spartan setup, I assumed this was a movie adaptation of a play, so I was surprised to learn that it was made for the screen. I think would do well on the stage too. The script is very strong.
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Comment on 1Password wades into a right-wing mess after funding a Linux project in ~tech
kfwyre (edited )Link ParentSame boat here too. I basically dragged my family on to 1Password by giving them the extremely good deal of “I will pay for it if you will use it.” As such, I’ve been shelling out for a family...Same boat here too. I basically dragged my family on to 1Password by giving them the extremely good deal of “I will pay for it if you will use it.” As such, I’ve been shelling out for a family account for years now that includes my parents, siblings, and their partners.
It took a lot of time and effort to get them on and used to it, especially because a few of them had never even used a password manager before.
Changing over simply isn’t going to happen for us, so I’m stuck with 1Password no matter what they decide to do. Instead, all I can do is cheer on the employees who are pushing back on this from the inside.
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Comment on CGA-2026-09 🕹️🙎‍♂️🛹 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 in ~games
kfwyre (edited )LinkI kicked this off today! I first tried the Dreamcast version via RetroDECK but it was stuttering really badly in menus for some reason, so I swapped over to the PlayStation version via Afterplay....I kicked this off today! I first tried the Dreamcast version via RetroDECK but it was stuttering really badly in menus for some reason, so I swapped over to the PlayStation version via Afterplay.
It was kind of wild to me that my fingers knew EXACTLY what to do. For example: the double tap up to get a Boneless for more air. If you had asked me directly about that prior to playing it just now, I wouldn’t have known what you were talking about. Nevertheless, it just automatically happened the moment I hit that first ramp over the halfpipe in the opening hangar level (and was naturally part of my tricking grammar as I played further).
Also, I had completely forgotten about
Extremely minor spoilers, if you can call them that
grinding the helicopter to have it take off and open up the outside area. Same for grinding the propeller in the half pipe to get to the wind tunnel area.
I’d genuinely forgotten that the levels had secret areas that you could unlock by tricking in the right places. I cannot understate HOW COOL THIS WAS to kid me. Genuinely mindblowing at the time!
I do plan on trying to get the Dreamcast one up and running by playing around with different settings/cores though, because going back to the PSX version is… shall we say… unflattering.
It’s so much chunkier than I remember. The polygons and textures do that PSX jittery/swimming thing constantly. The draw distance is very poor. It’s genuinely amazing to me because I do remember being blown away how how good the game looked back in the day. Maybe a CRT-filter would hide some of its more glaring eyesores to my modern, awakened eyes?
That said, it’s not a problem per-se. The game still plays well, and I actually have a fondness for early 3D chunkiness and jank, but I’m hoping the Dreamcast can give me those same vibes but smoother and with more visibility.
Also, I’ve had clipping’s “Dominator” on heavy rotation recently. I genuinely didn’t realize its first line (“Once again back, it’s the incredible”) was actually a reference until I heard it pop up in the game (via Public Enemy’s “Bring the Noise”). This was quite a serendipitous discovery.
Fanatical Build Your Own Killer Bundle
Fanatical does seasonal "Bundlefests" and they always have a "Killer" bundle as their headliner. This one kicks off their Fall Bundlefest.
It's got a broad selection of games (30 different available titles) and a low cost (starts at 5 games for $6 USD). Fanatical's bundle quality can vary pretty wildly, but this one looks really solid with some good stuff on offer.