leaping_eels's recent activity

  1. Comment on Favorite hobby / subculture YouTube channels? in ~hobbies

    leaping_eels
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    I have to mention Spirit Of The Law for Age of Empires II content (yes, the old PC game from 1999). I stumbled upon this channel as I recently picked up Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition on...

    I have to mention Spirit Of The Law for Age of Empires II content (yes, the old PC game from 1999).

    I stumbled upon this channel as I recently picked up Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition on Steam during the Steam Spring Sale, and he's an excellent creator. Entertaining even if you don't play the game, and leans more into breaking down mechanics, explaining the math behind things, as well as plenty of goofy and funny videos about the game.

    This interview with him is really interesting too — essentially he was a high school math teacher for a while, making AoE2 videos in his spare time. His channel grew to over 300K subs, which is pretty cool for an old computer game from 1999.

    2 votes

  2. Comment on Cadillac reveals the 2025 Escalade IQ, one excessive EV in ~transport

    leaping_eels
    Link
    I'm really curious how GM's bet against Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will pan out over the next few years. When I first heard about this, I was honestly surprised. Whenever I rent a car for a...

    There's no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but the infotainment system uses Android Automotive OS and includes Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Play Store.

    I'm really curious how GM's bet against Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will pan out over the next few years. When I first heard about this, I was honestly surprised. Whenever I rent a car for a trip, I basically require Apple CarPlay now. It's so easy to use, has all of the apps & music I want, is a familiar and comfortable UI, and seamlessly bypasses the car's UI.

    In the market today, I can imagine most buyers are expecting at minimum Android Auto/Apple CarPlay feature, especially the type of customers who can afford a $130,000 luxury SUV. How will they position this to buyers with the latest flagship smartphones that aren't interested in learning another UI? I guess we'll see.

    8 votes

  3. Comment on My experience with Windows 10 in ~tech

    leaping_eels
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    I mean, yeah, just like you mentioned the things you put up with when setting up Ubuntu. You're running specific hardware from multiple vendors that likely require their own drivers on a system...

    Is this common? Do people who use Windows just... put up with this kind of thing? Or am I having an exceptionally bad experience for some reason?

    I mean, yeah, just like you mentioned the things you put up with when setting up Ubuntu. You're running specific hardware from multiple vendors that likely require their own drivers on a system managed by your employer -- I'm surprised you got as far as you did. I think the general expectation for a work system is that you'll maybe plug it into an external monitor with an HDMI cord and use a regular mass-produced headset that connects via USB or Bluetooth (or just use the internal camera and microphone).

    I'm not sure what you're expecting, it'd be like trying to configure a Ubuntu installation that's managed by someone else, right?

    2 votes

  4. Comment on Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Remastered versions of GTA3, Vice City, and San Andreas releasing on consoles and PC later this year in ~games

    leaping_eels
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    As a long-time fan of the series, I'm concerned that this intends to ship this year and they haven't shown any gameplay or in-engine footage. Fans of the series know that Rockstar Games doesn't...

    As a long-time fan of the series, I'm concerned that this intends to ship this year and they haven't shown any gameplay or in-engine footage. Fans of the series know that Rockstar Games doesn't have the best track record of remastering their games (see the PS3 "version" of GTA: SA, most mobile ports of these games, etc.), and often don't capture the game's look and feel on it's original hardware (namely, the PlayStation 2). Rockstar North seems to deliver a beautiful "master" version on the lead hardware platform once, then the remaining Rockstar studios are tasked with porting it everywhere else, with varying levels of quality. As a somewhat purist of the series, these particular games (GTA III, GTA: VC, & GTA: SA) are honestly best experienced on PlayStation 2 -- the target platform that Rockstar North created the games for.

    Based on their complete lack of awareness (or some 4D strategy I'm unaware of) with the "Expanded & Enhanced" version of Grand Theft Auto V, I really don't have a lot of faith that these will faithfully recapture the look and feel of the original games, while also providing a significant enough improvement to the visuals and gameplay experience to make them feel more modern.

    I suppose I'm cautiously optimistic here, but my hopes aren't very high. I guess we'll see.

    6 votes

  5. Comment on Song suggestions about: Cars, driving, trucking, racing, police chases, etc in ~music

    leaping_eels
    Link
    I Can't Drive 55 - Sammy Hagar I mean, that's just a classic banger!

    I Can't Drive 55 - Sammy Hagar

    I mean, that's just a classic banger!

    4 votes

  6. Comment on Star Citizen developers fed up after being expected to work during devastating Texas snowstorm in ~games

    leaping_eels
    Link Parent
    There was an interesting write-up over on /r/HobbyDrama that covered it well, at least from my complete outsider's perspective (aside from hearing the title a few times).

    There was an interesting write-up over on /r/HobbyDrama that covered it well, at least from my complete outsider's perspective (aside from hearing the title a few times).

    2 votes

  8. Comment on Do you still post on Reddit? in ~talk

    leaping_eels
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    Before I started actively browsing reddit around late 2010, I used to be super active in a number of different forums centered around my hobbies, even moderating and becoming an admin on a few of...

    Before I started actively browsing reddit around late 2010, I used to be super active in a number of different forums centered around my hobbies, even moderating and becoming an admin on a few of them. At the time, I really enjoyed it, and posting online to forums was one of my favorite things to do.

    Something about reddit really turned me off to posting in general, despite the excellent content. Maybe it was the karma system, or I had burned out from posting to communities online after my years-long stint as a moderator and admin in a few different forums. I really couldn't place it, but it was like suddenly I was more interested in just consuming content and moving on instead of engaging it. I rarely even upvote or downvote anything. I also think as I aged and matured, shouting into the void online seemed less and less interesting. I had a post or two on reddit that garnered thousands of upvotes, and I remember I didn't really feel anything, aside from just luck and a mild "huh, that's cool" feeling.

    These days, I'll rarely post (for generally no rhyme or reason), and when I do, it's in the small niche subs that are related to some hobby or topic I like. Some topics will get me going and I'll engage, or if I'm an expert on a topic and I think I can meaningfully contribute, I will. Other days, something will spark my interest and I'll post something. I suppose it also has to do with my profession—I write long technical documents all day, so coming home and writing even more feels like work.

    I've found that I really thrive in smaller communities with less noise, which is why I really like Tildes. I'm trying to "break out of my shell" so to speak and post more, but often times I'll read someone's comment and think "well, that's essentially what I would've said, so there's no use in posting."

    I suppose on the plus side, I haven't been in a internet argument in years, but likely because these days, I simply don't care. Trolls are a dime a dozen and I've been in plenty of internet arguments in the past that I'm not particularly proud of, so for my own sanity I just move along.

    8 votes

  9. Comment on What was the most fulfilling thing you did this month? in ~talk

    leaping_eels
    Link Parent
    Have you looked into technical writing? You can make some decent money with contract work (or become a full-time technical writer for a company like I did) and much of the work is similar to what...

    Have you looked into technical writing? You can make some decent money with contract work (or become a full-time technical writer for a company like I did) and much of the work is similar to what you're doing already on the Tildes wiki. You could even include the work you've done/are doing for Tildes in your portfolio!

    6 votes