kfwyre's recent activity
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Comment on Help me choose a small electric car in ~transport
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Comment on Steam Frame product page is now live in ~games
kfwyre Link ParentThis announcement got me to set my Index back up. We had some housework done earlier this year in which I had to take down my base stations and use my VR space for storage, and I never got around...This announcement got me to set my Index back up.
We had some housework done earlier this year in which I had to take down my base stations and use my VR space for storage, and I never got around to getting it back up and running until now. The lighthouses are up, the clutter is cleared, and the space is reconfigured and ready for play.
I seem to have this like, VR amnesia where I forget how much fun I have playing it if I take a break for a while. After setting everything back up, I booted up Synth Riders and played my usual warm up song ("New Game" by Nitro Fun). If I were playing on a Quest 3, Meta would have had full scans of the absolutely gigantic grin I had on my face as I once again remembered just how fun it is to move and groove to a high energy bop.
It's rare that I feel genuine joy when playing a video game, but VR rhythm games do that for me.
I played for 45 minutes and fully intended to keep going a lot longer, but my session was cut short by one of my controllers dying (I didn't think to charge them while I was getting everything set up). Nevertheless, I've once again caught the VR bug, because my amnesia had me forgetting just how. much. fun. I have in the headset. I'm excited to play more this week, this weekend, next week, and so on.
It was also a nice reminder that I genuinely do NOT need a Frame right now, but it did make me excited for all the people who are considering getting one (especially if they're first-time VR players), because I want them to feel that joy too. There's genuine delight to be had in putting your full body into a game.
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Comment on Steam Frame product page is now live in ~games
kfwyre Link ParentWhen I first got my Index I had two base stations. The tracking worked great unless one/both of them was occluded, at which point there were noticeable issues. I ended up buying an extra one and...When I first got my Index I had two base stations. The tracking worked great unless one/both of them was occluded, at which point there were noticeable issues. I ended up buying an extra one and setting them up in a triangle around me, with the idea that if I'm body blocking one of them, then the other two can make up for it.
It works really well in the center of the play area (where they're all pointed) but can get worse near the edges, as I can easily block on/two while going underneath the coverage area of another, dropping me down to one or zero active stations.
I love the hybrid idea. Being able to improve my tracking on the Index simply by adding a base station was really cool (and I could keep doing it if I really wanted too -- 4 or 5 base stations would be unstoppable!). It would be great if the Frame could take advantage of that as well and use base stations to supplement for when inside-out tracking isn't the greatest.
That said, inside-out tracking is definitely the future, because having to have base stations set up is a non-starter for a lot of people. It means your VR usage is locked to a specific area, and running power to them can be difficult. Add to this the fact that they look like cameras and anyone who's not familiar with VR setups can get suspicious around them (understandably so).
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Comment on KOReader: custom reader software for eink devices in ~books
kfwyre Link ParentOpen a book, then tap the top of the screen. Click the āļø, then click Status Bar > Status Bar Items This will show you a toggleable list of all the different things available for the status bar...Open a book, then tap the top of the screen.
Click the
āļø, then clickStatus Bar > Status Bar ItemsThis will show you a toggleable list of all the different things available for the status bar alongside their icons.
If you go to
Status Bar > Configure Items, there's an option forShow all selected items at oncewhich I really like. This will show all of the ones you toggle on at the same time.If you want to rearrange them, go to
Status Bar > Configure items > Arrange items in status bar -
Comment on KOReader: custom reader software for eink devices in ~books
kfwyre (edited )Link ParentI ran into the exact same issue with it telling me I'm not online, so I sideloaded one. I downloaded the StarDict version of this dictionary. It looks like it's behind a paywall, but that's only...I ran into the exact same issue with it telling me I'm not online, so I sideloaded one.
I downloaded the StarDict version of this dictionary. It looks like it's behind a paywall, but that's only for translation dictionaries -- single language ones are free.
Unzip it, then drop it in
data\dict\under the KOReader base folder.Unmount the ereader, KOReader will restart, and the dictionary should be good to go (I didn't have to change any settings -- it just worked automatically).
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 voting topic in ~games
kfwyre Link ParentMy husband is also a Chao Garden aficionado such that heāll play the Sonic Adventure games not because he likes the speed or platforming but because he likes raising chaos so much. As in, he...My husband is also a Chao Garden aficionado such that heāll play the Sonic Adventure games not because he likes the speed or platforming but because he likes raising chaos so much. As in, he thinks the actual levels of the game are obstacles to overcome so that he can get back to tending to his little creatures.
There have been a couple recent indie devs whoāve announced chao-likes, but the only one thatās actually released (that I know of) is Bobo Bay. Neither he nor I have played it, but it seems to have gotten a good reception. Might we worth looking into if youāre hankering for a new chao experience.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 voting topic in ~games
kfwyre Link ParentLove the energy (and I agree ā this is a great list of candidates!), but can you move the comment out of your ballot? Also can you make sure that you match the spelling on Resident Evil (REmake)...Love the energy (and I agree ā this is a great list of candidates!), but can you move the comment out of your ballot?
Also can you make sure that you match the spelling on
Resident Evil (REmake)so the program counts your votes? -
Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 voting topic in ~games
kfwyre (edited )Link ParentI started to make a list of my potential votes, saw that my initial list of games totaled 10, and decided that an even split between all of them felt right. No guarantees that I won't edit this...I started to make a list of my potential votes, saw that my initial list of games totaled 10, and decided that an even split between all of them felt right.
No guarantees that I won't edit this over the next four days, of course, but for now I'm feeling good about this.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 voting topic in ~games
kfwyre LinkCrystalis (2) Descent (2) Donkey Kong 64 (2) The Genesis of Treasure (2) The Grue That Binds (2) Ratchet & Clank (2) Sonic the 3D Hedgehog (2) Spooky Mansion Adventures (2) Wizball (2) Ys Origin (2)Crystalis (2)
Descent (2)
Donkey Kong 64 (2)
The Genesis of Treasure (2)
The Grue That Binds (2)
Ratchet & Clank (2)
Sonic the 3D Hedgehog (2)
Spooky Mansion Adventures (2)
Wizball (2)
Ys Origin (2) -
Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 voting topic in ~games
kfwyre LinkCGA Announcement: The Voting Topic is now open! We will be selecting the next 6 games/Arcade Specials we play. It will stay open for 4 days (96 hours). See topic instructions for formatting your...CGA Announcement: The Voting Topic is now open! We will be selecting the next 6 games/Arcade Specials we play.
It will stay open for 4 days (96 hours).
See topic instructions for formatting your ballot. Please remember to keep top-level comments as ballots ONLY so that they can be parsed by the scoring program.
Child-level comments can be anything, and it's encouraged for you to share why you voted the way that you did.
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Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 voting topic
Anyone can participate. CGA does not require membership and is always open to all. Ballot Formatting Ballot entries are NAME (VOTES) e.g. Pong (3) Copy and paste the game titles from the list so...
Anyone can participate. CGA does not require membership and is always open to all.
Ballot Formatting
- Ballot entries are
NAME (VOTES)e.g.Pong (3) - Copy and paste the game titles from the list so they match exactly.
- The ballots will be tallied using this script from u/Spore_Prince.
- Any improper ballots will not be counted (but you will get a polite message from me or someone else asking you to fix them beforehand).
Topic Rules
- All top-level comments must be ballots and ballots only.
- Child comments can be anything -- feel free to talk about why you chose what you did.
Voting Process
- Each person has 20 votes to distribute among games as they see fit.
- Each person can allocate a maximum of 5 points per Single Game/Arcade Special.
- Arcade Specials count as one block (do not vote for each game in them individually).
- Voting closes 4 days (96 hours) from the posting of this topic.
Example Ballot 1 - Valid Ballot
Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing (5) Portal 3 (5) Half-Life 3 (3) Team Fortress 3 (2) Night Trap (2) Xexyz (1) Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon (1) Left 4 Dead 3 (1)Uses 20 points total, and no game exceeds 5 points
Example Ballot 2 - Invalid Ballot
Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing (10) Protal 3 (7) Wand of Gamelon (5)Uses more than 20 points; games exceed 5 points; titles do not match
Voting Outcomes
- The top 6 games/Arcade Specials will become the next 6 months of CGA (or more in case of a tie).
- Of the remaining games, the bottom 50% will be cut from the list.
- The remaining 50% will stay on the list and will enter the next voting round with 30% of their final vote totals.
Game List
Game Rollover Votes Another World 6 Back in a Flash
Bloons Tower Defense
Line Rider
Motherload
QWOP
Stick RPG5 Beneath a Steel Sky 4 Crystalis 10 Descent 5 Donkey Kong 64 0 Freddy Pharkas: Frontier Pharmacist 8 The Genesis of Treasure
Gunstar Heroes
McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure
Dynamite Headdy
Alien Soldier
Light Crusader5 The Grue That Binds
Border Zone
Twisted!
Zork13 Mother 3 11 Ratchet & Clank 0 Resident Evil (REmake) 8 Sonic the 3D Hedgehog
Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure 20 Spooky Mansion Adventures
Alone in the Dark
5 Days a Stranger
Maniac Mansion4 StarCraft 0 Tetris 11 Wizball 0 Ys Origin 0 13 votes - Ballot entries are
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Comment on Steam Frame product page is now live in ~games
kfwyre Link ParentMy fingers are crossed for you too. Good luck! If you do end up getting one, please let us know ALL about it. Just because I'm not getting one doesn't mean I can't live vicariously through those...My fingers are crossed for you too. Good luck!
If you do end up getting one, please let us know ALL about it. Just because I'm not getting one doesn't mean I can't live vicariously through those that do. š
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Comment on Steam Frame product page is now live in ~games
kfwyre (edited )LinkIt's real! It's FINALLY here! As much as I want one (and let me tell you, I want one real bad), I'm going to hold off. It's probably in the cards for me a few years from now, but not yet. For one,...It's real! It's FINALLY here!
As much as I want one (and let me tell you, I want one real bad), I'm going to hold off. It's probably in the cards for me a few years from now, but not yet.
For one, I've already got a perfectly functioning Index setup.
For two, I generally try to avoid being an early adopter of new tech (let them iron things out first and then I'll hop on board).
For three, it's pricey (though I actually think it's genuinely great for what you get -- I paid about the same amount for my Index only a few years ago. I was expecting the Frame to be MUCH higher).
That said, I think the value proposition for someone who isn't already a VR gamer is quite high here because it also plays non-VR games. I have a pair of XReal AIR glasses that I can plug into my Steam Deck and play games on. It's, like the Steam Frame, basically just a monitor that you put on your face. I wouldn't recommend that model in particular, but the ability to lie in bed, toss the glasses on, and just game is genuinely cool and comfortable. The "isolation" of the glasses can be genuinely relaxing, as it takes me out of the real world more than just playing on my Deck does.
Rough day at work? Don't just zone out when you get home, but literally check out by isolating yourself in a tiny little headset that's your portal to a virtual world! (This, uh, makes it sound less healthy than it actually is).
The Steam Frame gives you that monitor-on-your-face experience (I promise it's better than it sounds) while also being a full-fat VR device too. The fact that it officially supports prescription lens inserts is awesome as well. I have aftermarket ones for my Index, but I consider them an essential component for anyone that wears glasses. Nice to see that they're getting first-party treatment this time around.
I should also qualify that VR is definitely one of those "it clicks for you or it doesn't" kind of things. If you're someone for whom it's got legs, then there is a ton of fun to be had (even with the somewhat stagnant development scene). The Frame is potentially worth it for you. If you tried it out and found it mostly a novelty or gimmick, then this is an easy skip (unless the idea of lying in bed while being able to see nothing but Stardew Valley across your entire field of view sounds like a good time).
One thing I can add that can help take the sting out of its pricetag is to think of it as exercise equipment. I have played hundreds of hours in Beat Saber, Synth Riders, and Pistol Whip, each of which can get my heartrate up on higher difficulties (sidenote: another essential VR purchase = headbands to catch sweat). You can technically do better exercises elsewhere, but no other exercise I've tried has been as fun as VR is.
And the best exercise is one that you enjoy doing and thus want to keep doing. My Quest and Index have paid for themselves in that regard.
Despite my resolve to not get a Steam Frame, there's a little shoulder devil that keeps trying to get me to cave:
- It's only going to go up in price like all tech has been for years now.
- You work hard and deserve to treat yourself once in a while.
- That cord on your Index is REALLY annoying isn't it?
- You could take down those tacky base stations!
I'm going to do my best to ignore him, but he's definitely got my number and is going to be persistent over the next couple of weeks and find increasingly convoluted lines of reasoning. Wish me luck. I'm going to try to "love the one I'm with" and put all that energy into my Index instead of lusting after the new hotness that is the Frame.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 lobbying topic in ~games
kfwyre Link ParentThatās actually @PetitPrinceās vision for the month! I kept it as Tetris (generic) for accessibility purposes, but my thought was that, if it does get picked, the host and others can use the...Thatās actually @PetitPrinceās vision for the month!
I kept it as Tetris (generic) for accessibility purposes, but my thought was that, if it does get picked, the host and others can use the Insert Cartridge topic to recommend specific versions/eras/etc.
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Comment on Nintendo - Customer appreciation sale in ~games
kfwyre LinkAh yes, the headers you expect to see for an official Nintendo sale: In all seriousness, Nintendo is very stingy with sales for its first-party stuff, so this is pretty big.Ah yes, the headers you expect to see for an official Nintendo sale:
All deals
Best sellers
Customer Appreciation Sale
Crash BandicootIn all seriousness, Nintendo is very stingy with sales for its first-party stuff, so this is pretty big.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 lobbying topic in ~games
kfwyre Link ParentFun fact: 5 Days a Stranger was made by Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw, better known for his web series of video game reviews, Zero Punctuation.Fun fact: 5 Days a Stranger was made by Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw, better known for his web series of video game reviews, Zero Punctuation.
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Comment on KOReader: custom reader software for eink devices in ~books
kfwyre (edited )Link ParentAdded a bunch of fonts to KOReader, and I don't want to sound like I'm just following the crowd, but Bookerly and Atkinson Hyperlegible Next are the clear standouts for me. I can't exactly explain...Added a bunch of fonts to KOReader, and I don't want to sound like I'm just following the crowd, but Bookerly and Atkinson Hyperlegible Next are the clear standouts for me.
I can't exactly explain why, but Bookerly just looks really nice. It feels super comfortable to have on the screen. Meanwhile, AHN is super clean and modern looking. Not sure which one will be my "main" font, but I'll have to read a bit with each to see how they hold up over an extended period.
I also found this collection of free fonts for ereaders made by someone who very clearly cares about fonts (which is exactly the kind of person I want curating a collection). I haven't gone through all of them (there's a lot), but I did install them and plan to dabble.
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Comment on KOReader: custom reader software for eink devices in ~books
kfwyre Link ParentI knew I could cycle between different options on the status bar at the bottom by tapping it, but it wasn't until I saw your screenshot that I realized I could have multiple ones show up at once....I knew I could cycle between different options on the status bar at the bottom by tapping it, but it wasn't until I saw your screenshot that I realized I could have multiple ones show up at once.
Thanks for the unintended tip!
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Comment on KOReader: custom reader software for eink devices in ~books
kfwyre (edited )Link ParentThe default is admittedly kinda ugly, but I was able to change mine to something I'm happy with. Have you played around with the settings? They can be hard to find. Tap the bottom menu section to...The default is admittedly kinda ugly, but I was able to change mine to something I'm happy with.
Have you played around with the settings? They can be hard to find. Tap the bottom menu section to pull up the text options. From there you'll see sub menus to change margins, font settings, spacing, etc.
For some reason, changing the actual font itself is separate from that in the top menu. Tap at the top of your screen, then go to the tab that looks like a page with lines on it. Underneath that you should see an option to change the font itself to something different.
There are only a few built-in ones, but you can also add your own. The only thing I miss about my old Kindle is Bookerly, so I might add that to mine.
EDIT: Found a reddit survey for preferred fonts. Iām going to try some of these out.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 lobbying topic in ~games
kfwyre LinkCGA Announcement: The Lobbying Topic is now open! It will stay up for a short 2 days (48 hours). This is your chance to sway the upcoming vote. Let everyone know the games you think...CGA Announcement: The Lobbying Topic is now open! It will stay up for a short 2 days (48 hours).
This is your chance to sway the upcoming vote. Let everyone know the games you think should/shouldn't be chosen and why.
Also, if I made any mistakes on tallying the rollover votes/boosts, let me know.
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@chocobean
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@zod000If you would like to be added or removed from the Notification List, please PM u/kfwyre.
Yeah, Chevy unceremoniously killed the Bolt lineup and then unceremoniously brought it back. š
2023 Bolt EUV owner here, @sparksbet. I love it. The photos make it look like a full-size SUV but itās really not that big. Itās more like a tall car.
I adore mine. If you have any questions about it, let me know, but I do think the Bolt line ticks most, if not all, of your boxes. I would recommend getting a newer model over an older one (they switched plugs and battery chemistry when they revived the line).
Also, I donāt know if itās still on offer, but they used to pay for the home install of the Level 2 charger when you bought a new one. Thatās how I got the plug in my garage. It was nice that it was included in the price of the car rather than a separate expense.