kfwyre's recent activity

  1. Comment on Tildes Book Club schedule 2025 - 2026 in ~books

    kfwyre
    Link Parent
    Now it's my turn to miss the sale! It's back to full price for me. I didn't get an email for that one either, but I have to assume that any price tracking services are running up against rate...

    Now it's my turn to miss the sale! It's back to full price for me.

    I didn't get an email for that one either, but I have to assume that any price tracking services are running up against rate limits with all the deals at this time of year, so I can't really hold it against them.

    2 votes

  2. Comment on Tildes Book Club schedule 2025 - 2026 in ~books

    kfwyre
    Link
    How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying is on sale for 3 bucks for the next 6 hours (according to Amazon.ca). @cfabbro @Zorind

    How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying is on sale for 3 bucks for the next 6 hours (according to Amazon.ca).

    @cfabbro
    @Zorind

    4 votes

  3. Humble Choice - December 2025

    ~games Text 86 words
    Steam Page OpenCritic Steam Recent/All Operating Systems Steam Deck ProtonDB Nine Sols 86 94 / 95 Win, Mac ✅ Verified 🎖️ Platinum Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name 79 92 / 96 Win ✅...
    Steam Page OpenCritic Steam Recent/All Operating Systems Steam Deck ProtonDB
    Nine Sols 86 94 / 95 Win, Mac ✅ Verified 🎖️ Platinum
    Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name 79 92 / 96 Win ✅ Verified 🎖️ Platinum
    Streets of Rage 4 84 87 / 93 Win, Mac, Linux ✅ Verified ✅ Native
    Lost Skies -- 69 / 67 Win ❌ Unsupported 🎖️ Platinum
    Intravenous 2 -- 98 / 96 Win 🟨 Playable 🎖️ Platinum
    Dungeon Tycoon -- 92 / 78 Win, Mac 🟨 Playable 🟨 Gold
    Beholder Conductor -- 98 / 87 Win, Mac ✅ Verified 🎖️ Platinum
    Godlike Burger -- -- / 76 Win, Mac, Linux ❓ Unknown ✅ Native
    13 votes

  4. Comment on Tildes Book Club schedule 2025 - 2026 in ~books

    kfwyre
    Link Parent
    I caught the sale late — my usual price drop platform didn’t notify me so I only stumbled on it last night. It looks like it was a Cyber Monday sale only, unfortunately.

    I caught the sale late — my usual price drop platform didn’t notify me so I only stumbled on it last night. It looks like it was a Cyber Monday sale only, unfortunately.

    2 votes

  5. Comment on Tildes Book Club schedule 2025 - 2026 in ~books

    kfwyre
    Link
    The ebook for Pnin is on sale for $2 USD (including on Amazon.ca). @cfabbro @Zorind

    The ebook for Pnin is on sale for $2 USD (including on Amazon.ca).

    @cfabbro
    @Zorind

    5 votes

  6. Comment on November 2025 Backlog Burner: Conclusion and Recap in ~games

    kfwyre
    Link
    I know I say something to this effect every year, but I really do mean it: I love this little event we've got here! It's feels like one big concurrent Let's Play (which is quite literal when it...

    I know I say something to this effect every year, but I really do mean it: I love this little event we've got here! It's feels like one big concurrent Let's Play (which is quite literal when it comes to @JCPhoenix!). It's so nice to share our love of games with each other and explore new titles.

    I think my actual backlog progress ends up being a wash, because it feels like, for every game that I played and took off my plate, I end up wishlisting something else that someone else played. I don't mind it at all though! Being awash in great, interesting games is a wonderful problem to have.

    The quality of the writeups we have here never ceases to amaze me. The comments here take me back to when I used to read gaming magazines cover to cover, trying to get as much information as possible about all the different titles that they discussed. Also, I know firsthand just how much time it takes to do long writeups, so when I scan through our topics and see literal hours of writing time on my screen, I can't help but be amazed at how much effort y'all are all putting in. Thank you. It’s so cool to be around other people who love games (and talking about games) as much as I do.

    Finally, I have to once again give a shout out to my amazing co-pilot @Wes. I know he doesn't love the limelight, so I won't say too much, but know that I think it’s genuinely special how you respond to literally everyone with such thoughtful (and often hilarious) comments.

    I don’t have time tonight to write up my personal recap, so I’ll share my favorite finds and highlights tomorrow. I’ve also got details of a “Sidequest” post planned involving all the games that I tried out (mostly to see if they would run) but didn’t play enough of for them to count as bingo entries. I’ve got lots of neat stuff in there as well.

    Thanks again to everyone for making this such a great event.

    Also, as much as I love the Backlog Burner, I’m also relieved that it’s over. 25 games in one month is a grueling pace for me! I’m looking forward to relaxing back into just a few games at my normal pace.

    6 votes

  7. Comment on November 2025 Backlog Burner: Conclusion and Recap in ~games

    kfwyre
    Link
    This is the final ping for the November 2025 Backlog Burner. Thank you for participating! Use this topic to share your final thoughts, favorite games, highlights, etc. Our next Backlog Burner will...

    This is the final ping for the November 2025 Backlog Burner. Thank you for participating! Use this topic to share your final thoughts, favorite games, highlights, etc.

    Our next Backlog Burner will be in May 2026. I will ping everyone on this list once more to let you know when the announcement topic for that goes live.

    Notification List

    @aphoenix
    @1338
    @BeardyHat
    @CannibalisticApple
    @dannydotcafe
    @deathinactthree
    @Durinthal
    @Eidolon
    @J-Chiptunator
    @JCPhoenix
    @knocklessmonster
    @Pistos
    @sotix
    @sparksbet
    @Wes
    @ZeroGee

    5 votes

  8. November 2025 Backlog Burner: Conclusion and Recap

    ~games Text 1087 words
    The November 2025 Backlog Burner event is officially over! Over the month of November, 12 participants moved 155 games out of their backlogs. Congratulations to the following Bingo winners:...

    The November 2025 Backlog Burner event is officially over!

    Over the month of November, 12 participants moved 155 games out of their backlogs.

    Congratulations to the following Bingo winners:

    A big thank you to ALL who participated in the event, whether that was by playing games, joining in conversations, or reading people's posts here.

    As always, it has been an absolute blast doing this with everyone. I truly love this event. Thank you all.

    Use this topic to post your final bingo cards, give recaps of your games, and share any thoughts you have on the event itself.

    See you again for the next Backlog Burner in May 2026!

    Statistics

    • We averaged 12.9 games per person and 36.2 games per week.
    • There were 229 comments posted across 4 topics.
    • Across all 155 game titles with thousands of letters between them, there was only one letter Q (in Titan Quest).
    • We have now passed a cumulative 500 games played since the first Bingo-based Backlog Burner back in November 2023.

    Platforms

    Games were played on at least 16 different platforms.

    • iPad
    • Macbook Pro
    • Nintendo 3DS
    • Nintendo DS
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • Nintendo Wii U
    • PC (Linux)
    • PC (Windows)
    • Playdate
    • PlayStation
    • PlayStation 2
    • PlayStation 4 (PS4 Pro)
    • Steam Deck
    • Steam Deck (RetroDECK)
    • Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Super Famicom)

    Highlights

    Nobody sent me any highlights. 😭
    Let's just say this WHOLE event was a highlight! 😁🥰

    Full Game List (alphabetical)

    A

    B

    C

    D

    E

    F

    G

    H

    I

    J

    K

    L

    M

    N

    O

    P

    Q

    R

    S

    T

    U

    V

    W

    X

    Y

    Z

    Full Game List (by week)

    Week 1

    Week 2

    Week 3

    Week 4 + 5ish

    13 votes

  9. Comment on Humble Bundle: Image Comics in the ‘10s in ~comics

    kfwyre
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    I have been kicking myself for not buying the Saga bundles the last few times they’ve had them available over the years, so I was thrilled to see it back. I’d be happy if it cost me 18 bucks just...

    I have been kicking myself for not buying the Saga bundles the last few times they’ve had them available over the years, so I was thrilled to see it back. I’d be happy if it cost me 18 bucks just for that series alone!

    The everything else that they added just makes the deal so much better. It honestly feels like a starter pack for digital comic collectors.

    2 votes

  10. Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of November 30 in ~games

    kfwyre
    Link
    This year's Jingle Jam Bundle is up. £35 GBP for 15 games, with all proceeds going to eight different charities. Clicking the "Donate Now" at the top of the page will spread your donation between...

    This year's Jingle Jam Bundle is up. £35 GBP for 15 games, with all proceeds going to eight different charities.

    Clicking the "Donate Now" at the top of the page will spread your donation between all of the charities. However, if you prefer to focus on a specific one, you can click "View Fundraisers" under the one you want and pledge money through one of the users there.

    It's admittedly a little confusing with so many options, but the way Tiltify works it that it lets individual users set up their own donation campaigns under the larger Jingle Jam umbrella. So, for example, streamer/YouTuber RTGame has his own donation page here which specifically benefits The Trevor Project.

    The only thing you have to watch out for is to make sure that you see "Jingle Jam Collection 2025" as a reward if you're on a specific user's campaign page. If you don't see it there, you won't get the keys when you donate.

    I have never watched Yogscast myself and don't follow the Jingle Jam event at all, but I will say that, as as frequent game bundle buyer, I think the annual Jingle Jam bundle is consistently THE best bundle out there each year. Great charities get great donations, while great donators get great games. It's hard to beat that!

    4 votes

  11. Comment on Humble Bundle: Image Comics in the ‘10s in ~comics

    kfwyre
    Link
    This bundle has a whopping 175 items(!!!) for $18 USD, including some big names (e.g. Saga, East of West, Paper Girls). They’re all DRM-free and come in EPUB, PDF, and CBZ formats. Hopefully this...

    This bundle has a whopping 175 items(!!!) for $18 USD, including some big names (e.g. Saga, East of West, Paper Girls).

    They’re all DRM-free and come in EPUB, PDF, and CBZ formats. Hopefully this one is available worldwide (unlike the last one I posted).

    If anyone has recommendations for where to start in this collection, let us know. Also be sure to click Adjust Donation and move the sliders to your liking before buying.

    5 votes

  13. Comment on November 2025 Backlog Burner: Week 4 Discussion in ~games

    kfwyre
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    Acid Web You're a spider that likes to wear hats, and you have to protect your web from repeated emergences of enemies in this single-screen twin-stick wave shooter made by our very own...

    Acid Web

    You're a spider that likes to wear hats, and you have to protect your web from repeated emergences of enemies in this single-screen twin-stick wave shooter made by our very own @text_garden.

    I bought the game back during the "Have you made a video game?" topic but hadn't actually played it until now. I'm happy to report that it's great! Very reminiscent of Geometry Wars, which is a good thing. Each enemy type has its own identifiable shape and its own unique movement/attack properties.

    The game is 100 total waves, with checkpoints and new hats unlocked every 10. Each wave has its own unique theme that's hinted at by the wave title. You'll also get different weapons depending on the wave. All told there's a lot of variety packed into those many waves -- I haven't yet felt like I'm just doing the same thing over and over again.

    Speaking of packing things in, this game is among the smallest I can think of in terms of file size. Steam says the game takes up a miniscule 5.52 MB of my hard drive. I'm pretty sure I have individual photos that are larger than that! In a world of games that want to take up the entire disk, it's genuinely nice to see something so tiny.

    You would think something with such a small footprint wouldn't have good music, but you'd be wrong! It's great -- thumping, intense electronica that matches the intensity of the play. I have to assume it's being generated by the game instead of something pre-recorded? I can't think of any other way to get audio files down so small.

    Right now I've played the game for less than an hour, and I'm in the 20s right now, trying to get to level 31 for my next checkpoint. I'm thoroughly enjoying it and will definitely keep playing it after this event. Thanks for making a great game, text_garden!

    The Operative: No One Lives Forever

    This is one of those infamous abandonware cult classic games that a small number of people feel very passionately about. There are frequently calls for it to be re-released, but that will likely never happen because nobody knows who owns the rights to the game:

    See, as of right now, it's unclear if 20th Century Fox, Activision, or Warner owns the franchise. Activision could lay claim due to the Vivendi name, Warner could lay claim on account of owning Monolith, and 20th Century Fox could lay claim due to their hand in publishing and funding it. Another twist of the proverbial knife is the fact that the legal rights to No One Lives Forever were agreed upon well before digital records were widely adopted. And given that the agreements are probably buried in a twenty-year-old file cabinet somewhere, neither Fox nor Activision were all too eager to dig through their archives.

    Where legal avenues have failed, however, fans have collaborated and carved a path. I won't link it, but suffice it to say that there is a relatively easy way to get this game up and running on modern systems.

    I have no nostalgia for the game whatsoever, so I'm approaching it from the lens of a first-time modern player (albeit one who has a fondness for chunky graphics and old games).

    The game is a throwback to early first-person shooters that sort of reveled in letting you navigate 3D spaces. It starts you off in a contiguous exposition location that helps you established a firm sense of place (think Half-Life, System Shock 2, or Deus Ex). In this case, you're wandering around the spy headquarters (you're a spy, by the way), and you'll get your assignment and go through extensive tutorials on using weapons and gadgets and sneaking around.

    The game itself feels a bit like a PC version of Goldeneye 007. The levels are missions, each are on the longer side, they have different objectives you have to meet, and they have non-death failstates (e.g. letting too many civilians die). Furthermore, the game wants you to prioritize stealth and discretion over mindless shooting.

    I'm still in the beginning hours of the game, so I can't give my full thoughts on it, but I can say that I'm enjoying it so far and will keep playing it past the event. I even picked up a used copy of the strategy guide for cheap in case I end up needing help with the levels. I know I can just find the information online these days, but there's something nostalgic for me about gaming alongside a book for reference that the internet just can't quite replace.

    And with those two final entries, I HAVE HIT BLACKOUT BINGO STATUS BABY!

    Fireworks all around! 🎆🎆🎆

    4 votes

  14. Comment on Colossal Game Adventure Schedule: September 2025 - March 2026 in ~games

    kfwyre
    Link Parent
    Sorry to hear that, Mendanbar. I'm hoping things turn around for you soon.

    Sorry to hear that, Mendanbar. I'm hoping things turn around for you soon.

    3 votes

  15. Comment on November 2025 Backlog Burner: Week 4 Discussion in ~games

    kfwyre
    Link
    Pinging all Backlog Burner participants/conversationalists. Three things: I normally make a "Week 5(ish)" post for the last few days of the Backlog Burner, but this time I'm going to just keep...

    Pinging all Backlog Burner participants/conversationalists. Three things:

    1. I normally make a "Week 5(ish)" post for the last few days of the Backlog Burner, but this time I'm going to just keep this topic (Week 4) as the active one until the close of the event.

    2. I'll be posting the final recap in the evening of December 1st (US time), so get your final games in before then.

    3. OPTIONAL: PM me with any highlights from the event. I will share those anonymously with everyone in the recap.

    4. Please respond to this comment with a list of the different systems/hardware you played on. I want to see how many different platforms our games were spread between and include that in the recap as well.

    Notification List

    @aphoenix
    @1338
    @BeardyHat
    @CannibalisticApple
    @dannydotcafe
    @deathinactthree
    @Durinthal
    @Eidolon
    @J-Chiptunator
    @JCPhoenix
    @knocklessmonster
    @Pistos
    @sotix
    @sparksbet
    @Wes
    @ZeroGee

    4 votes

  16. Comment on November 2025 Backlog Burner: Week 4 Discussion in ~games

    kfwyre
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    PaRappa the Rapper This game takes me back to a time where getting a demo disc was as cool as (or possibly even better) than getting a new game and where we had to be more hands-on with our...

    PaRappa the Rapper

    This game takes me back to a time where getting a demo disc was as cool as (or possibly even better) than getting a new game and where we had to be more hands-on with our computer maintenance, remembering to degauss our monitors or deal with our hard drive fragmentation.

    It's a great game. Terrible timing windows though.

    Similar to my feelings about Vib-Ribbon: I have decent rhythm myself, but I never really felt like I was "going with the flow" in the game. I had to abuse save states to see it through, locking in good bars that I could only tell were good based on the in-game scoring system, rather than me feeling like I nailed the timings.

    Also, the squeaky duck sound that plays when you drop below the "Good" rank is infuriating (and off beat!).

    I still really liked the game though? It's surprisingly short -- only six songs total. I genuinely enjoyed each of them. The different characters are memorable, each with their own vibe and setting. I uploaded the soundtrack to my Apple Music account so that I can M-I-X the flour into the bowl whenever I like.

    As is tradition for CGA, I feel obligated to highlight queer characters, and this game has (the unfortunately named) Mooselini, a femme-presenting moose with antlers. We love a gender non-conforming emcee.

    I do feel like the game's bright colors and flat character art aged quite well. I think it speaks to the universal truth that anything that's deliberately stylized is able to better hold on to its visual identity over time than something that goes for a more "standard" look.

    Also, I like the game's unabashedly weird angle. Like, I didn't expect to have to rap battle for a place in a bathroom line, and I legitimately chuckled at the cutscene that played when I failed that song (the first time -- after the fifth time or so, it got pretty annoying). There were lots of little moments that were great too. For example, Cheap Cheap singing:

    The other day I was called a little turkey
    But I'm a chicken, got it?
    Ya beef jerky!

    Or this moment where Mooselini closes the car door. The pause in the music... The "mmmh”...

    It's genuinely iconic.

    Like Vib-Ribbon, this is a game that gets by on aesthetics despite the fact that, mechanically, it is rather frustrating. The bright colors, catchy songs, and lovable characters cover a lot of sins.

    Mekabolt

    I played this game while walking on my treadmill and I'm currently grappling with some rather frustrating plantar fasciitis in my left foot so I bought new shoes to help with that and I was surprised at how comfortable they were while I was walking.

    They were, you could say, a big step up from what I was wearing before.

    Anyway, this game feels like a game jam graduate -- like something that was prototyped quickly and then fleshed out to become a tiny full release. It's got a small scope, some novel ideas, and great artwork. The soundtrack is also great, though the sound effects are WAY too loud in the mix and I had to turn them off.

    It's a puzzle platformer where you shoot your gun to activate/deactivate different robots in the levels, each with different abilities. Levels are bite-sized, and take a matter of seconds to complete. There are 96 levels in the whole game, and I completed it in about an hour.

    It's probably a little simple for most players, but I think this would be a stellar kids' game. The light puzzle solving and quick levels would play well with younger attention spans and problem-solving abilities.

    Roundabout

    You are Georgio Manos, a woman of few no words, impeccable style, and the progentior of an innovative new chauffeuring style: the revolving limousine.

    Encouraged by her mentor, Mickey the Mechanic, Georgio sets out to help the people of the city of Roundabout arrive at their destinations and along the way finds both conflict and sapphic romance.

    I didn't really care about the conflict, but I'll always support WLW.

    Gameplay consists of deliberately clumsy, cartoony isometric driving missions that are glued together by deliberately bad real actor FMV sequences.

    The game is clearly going for camp, but it admittedly takes a bit of time for that to really take off. At first you're subjected to actors woodenly reading lines in a way that's intended to be bad but isn't really entertaining. As the game opens up and the characters unfold a little more, the coldness thaws a little bit and becomes more fun.

    Driving the limousine is a good balance of awkward but attainable. As is Georgio's style, your limousine is constantly spinning. You don't drive it like you might cars in other games so much as you slide the spinning vehicle around like a puck. You will invariably hit lots of things, but you'll also learn over time how things work such that you'll be able to navigate some impressively tight spaces. You'll start learning how to account for the spin and seeing recognizable movement patterns/strategies in the environment.

    When you're not in missions, the game is an open-world collectathon. The world itself is pretty standard, with it being made noteworthy because even simple traversal is made more difficult and interesting because of your endlessly rotating limousine.

    If Mekabolt is a game jam graduate, then this game feels like an inaugural indie game -- the first one made by a studio that had a novel concept and enough resources to make it a full-fledged thing. I, personally, don't love it, as I'm not a huge fan of games with intentionally awkward controls, but if that's your jam, then this is definitely worth a spin.

    Metal: Hellsinger

    Shoot to the beat. Music goes brrr. Demons go destruction.

    I don't even like metal music, but the powerful rush this game generates when you're in the zone is unmatched.

    4 votes

  17. Comment on CGA-2025-11 🔴🟡🔵🟢 REMOVE CARTRIDGE ⏏️ PlayStation WHAT? in ~games

    kfwyre
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    PaRappa the Rapper Great game. Terrible timing windows. Similar to my feelings about Vib-Ribbon: I have decent rhythm myself, but I never really felt like I was "going with the flow" in the game....

    PaRappa the Rapper

    Great game. Terrible timing windows.

    Similar to my feelings about Vib-Ribbon: I have decent rhythm myself, but I never really felt like I was "going with the flow" in the game. I had to abuse save states to see it through, locking in good bars that I could only tell were good based on the in-game scoring system, rather than me feeling like I nailed the timings.

    Also, the squeaky duck sound that plays when you drop below the "Good" rank is infuriating (and off beat!).

    I still really liked the game though? It's surprisingly short -- only six songs total. I genuinely enjoyed each of them. The different characters are memorable, each with their own vibe and setting. I uploaded the soundtrack to my Apple Music account so that I can M-I-X the flour into the bowl whenever I like.

    As is tradition for CGA, I feel obligated to highlight queer characters, and this game has (the unfortunately named) Mooselini, a femme-presenting moose with antlers. We love a gender non-conforming emcee.

    I do feel like the game's bright colors and flat character art aged quite well. I think it speaks to the universal truth that anything that's deliberately stylized is able to better hold on to its visual identity over time than something that goes for a more "standard" look.

    Also, I like the game's unabashedly weird angle. Like, I didn't expect to have to rap battle for a place in a bathroom line, and I legitimately chuckled at the cutscene that played when I failed that song (the first time -- after the fifth time or so, it got pretty annoying). There were lots of little moments that were great too. For example, Cheap Cheap singing:

    The other day I was called a little turkey
    But I'm a chicken, got it?
    Ya beef jerky!

    Or this moment where Mooselini closes the car door. The pause in the music... The "mmmh”...

    It's genuinely iconic.

    Like Vib-Ribbon, this is a game that gets by on aesthetics despite the fact that, mechanically, it is rather frustrating. The bright colors, catchy songs, and lovable characters cover a lot of sins.

    5 votes

  18. Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of November 23 in ~games

    kfwyre
    (edited )
    Link
    itch.io has Creator Day today which waives platform fees so that more money goes directly to creators. If anyone has any itch recommendations, let us know! If you have published anything yourself...

    itch.io has Creator Day today which waives platform fees so that more money goes directly to creators.

    If anyone has any itch recommendations, let us know!

    If you have published anything yourself on itch, DEFINITELY let us know!

    6 votes

  19. Thankful for y’all

    ~talk Text 153 words
    American Thanksgiving was yesterday, so I get a nice long weekend. My husband and I spent yesterday with family, while today has been us chilling with our dog while enjoying canned cocktails and...

    American Thanksgiving was yesterday, so I get a nice long weekend. My husband and I spent yesterday with family, while today has been us chilling with our dog while enjoying canned cocktails and delicious leftovers.

    In the spirit of the holiday (and speaking on behalf of the drinks I’ve consumed) I want to let everyone know that I’m happy this place exists and is filled with kind, thoughtful people. Tildes is marked by a coziness that, I believe, is largely missing across the modern internet.

    I like recognizing people’s usernames and getting to know them. I like the slower pace of things here. I like that people put in effort. It feels good.

    I know we’re all random internet nobodies inhabiting a tiny, niche corner of the web, but I’m happy I get to share this space with y’all. What luck that we ended up here, together.

    Cheers, everyone. 🍻 Thanks for being awesome.

    109 votes

  20. Comment on I Wanna Lockpick: a free puzzle game in ~games

    kfwyre
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    It worked great for me on the Steam Deck. I added it as a non-Steam game and ran it through Proton. You have to manually rebind the controls, but other than that it’s flawless (because Proton is...

    It worked great for me on the Steam Deck. I added it as a non-Steam game and ran it through Proton.

    You have to manually rebind the controls, but other than that it’s flawless (because Proton is Magic).

    4 votes