Protected's recent activity
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Comment on Got my hands on a Steam Frame. Can't use it much for not having prescription lenses yet, but AMA. in ~games
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Comment on Chat Control 2.0 Trilogue update: No mass scanning deal for now in ~society
Protected LinkI'm sure the next Council presidency will try again. Somehow they always seem to hit the ground running on this matter, conveniently "forgetting" it's already been rejected and immediately...I'm sure the next Council presidency will try again. Somehow they always seem to hit the ground running on this matter, conveniently "forgetting" it's already been rejected and immediately announcing how much a priority it is for them to pass it. Whoever's pushing for this shit will be lobbying in the next country (Lithuania?) as early as feasible.
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Comment on Societal type of question in ~life
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Comment on Got my hands on a Steam Frame. Can't use it much for not having prescription lenses yet, but AMA. in ~games
Protected Link ParentThe desktop view. Can you interact with your PC's desktop? Maybe they fixed stuff recently. The VR linux community tends to not use SteamVR because the community alternative stack is generally...The desktop view. Can you interact with your PC's desktop?
Maybe they fixed stuff recently. The VR linux community tends to not use SteamVR because the community alternative stack is generally better (lower latency, better performance, better encoding) and because SteamVR just had a bunch of bugs (until very recently at least). It is possible that the bugs are tied to the android client of SteamLink.
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Comment on Got my hands on a Steam Frame. Can't use it much for not having prescription lenses yet, but AMA. in ~games
Protected (edited )LinkIt's good to read someone with a positive opinion regarding the controllers. I don't think much of the controllers of the other standalone headsets to begin with, but any improvement is good. It...Speaking of controllers, they're MUCH better than Meta Quest 3's
It's good to read someone with a positive opinion regarding the controllers. I don't think much of the controllers of the other standalone headsets to begin with, but any improvement is good. It is disappointing to me that they didn't include touchpads (even though they still put them on their other hardware) and longer handles.
the headset feels firmly held against my head
The problem is whether the pressure against your face will be painful/uncomfortable during long sessions. Your face gets hurt more easily than the top of your skull.
Pleasant surprise, as I was under the impression it didn't work on Linux yet
Was the remote desktop view working well? I was unable to get a good desktop experience out of SteamVR over Steam Link when connecting to a Linux PC (it used to work on Windows).
the SF works just fine in any kind of environment, even if it's pitch black
That's very good to know that it's not weak to lighting shenanigans. The Pico 4 certainly is.
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Comment on Jet Lag Season 19: Japanorama | Trailer in ~hobbies
Protected Link ParentClick to expand spoiler. A cliffhanger!!! How dare they? I thought they didn't do those anymore! This was a great episode. Lots of good feelings all around! Except when Ben was eating bad stuff, I...Click to expand spoiler.
A cliffhanger!!! How dare they? I thought they didn't do those anymore!
This was a great episode. Lots of good feelings all around! Except when Ben was eating bad stuff, I guess. And I knew right away there were going to be dam puns.
It might also be the episode with the best sum of beautiful views in the season so far.
I have to say, once again, I would not have chosen the curse Adam and Tom did, but maybe they'll get lucky (they are not the lucky team though; generally Ben gets the luck). Curse of the Clingy Lover seems great for overtaking?
In general throughout this season I've noticed both teams don't seem very keen on using curses that affect the other team at all. Shinkansen cards, skips and deck-related strategies seem much stronger.
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Comment on Interview: Firefox’s chief on why he hopes a redesign will help win users from Chrome in ~tech
Protected Link ParentI just don't use websites that only work on Chromium. And I develop on Firefox too! You know one of us now :)I just don't use websites that only work on Chromium. And I develop on Firefox too! You know one of us now :)
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Protected LinkAs a gentleman of learning and taste, this week I played Kyle Thompson's Well Dweller, which was just released. He used purchasing power parity pricing which meant that it was outrageously cheap...As a gentleman of learning and taste, this week I played Kyle Thompson's Well Dweller, which was just released. He used purchasing power parity pricing which meant that it was outrageously cheap for a game that (if you're good at Metroidvanias, meaning, fast) has at least a solid 13 hours of gameplay in it.
The visuals and polish are the best they've ever been (comparing to Crypt Custodian this time), while retaining the same familiar art style and animal characters! This time you play as Glimmer, one of the last surviving birds in a fairytale kingdom ruled by a cartoonishly evil Queen who really loves to torture birds to death. Throughout the game you assemble various beautifully illustrated fairytales page by page which are linked to the various horrifying monsters (and horrifying people) you have to fight as you recover your siblings and mother, who have been kidnapped and lost.
At its core this is a very solid and satisfying classic indie metroidvania, with a huge map, many grunts for fighting, collectibles for finding, little platforming challenges, time trials and boss fights. Glimmer fights using a lit matchstick, which can also thrown into a wall and used as a slightly bouncy platform (like a diving board) which aids in reaching higher or farther spots. Pretty original! It's hard to innovate in the metroidvania space these days. Other abilities are also acquired over time, but there is no air dash and no double jump ;) Kyle also included some cool frustration-minimizing mechanics like the ability to eventually equip a lot of trinkets at the same time, and a system for paying for locations of missing collectibles - only in previously explored sections of the map.
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Comment on Cornell won't, we will in ~news
Protected Link ParentWithout in any way meaning to justify anyone's behavior (or inaction), or implying this chat group is in any way redeemable (especially because I lack information), I just want to point out that I...Without in any way meaning to justify anyone's behavior (or inaction), or implying this chat group is in any way redeemable (especially because I lack information), I just want to point out that I am in many chat groups that I don't read, ever. I want to at least hope there are a handful of victims of circumstance in there.
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Comment on What is your pet peeve with language acquisition? in ~humanities.languages
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Comment on What is your dream game? in ~games
Protected Link ParentA full heart starting from The Womb! Unless you have The Wafer, then everybody does half a heart... You're right, it's easy to keep track. The nature of the game helps, too.half a heart, except champions which do a heart
A full heart starting from The Womb! Unless you have The Wafer, then everybody does half a heart...
You're right, it's easy to keep track. The nature of the game helps, too.
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Comment on What is your pet peeve with language acquisition? in ~humanities.languages
Protected Link ParentI'm working harder than I once used to in order to try to get to a point where I can jump into learning from reading books in Japanese (worked great for English after all), but it has been way...I'm working harder than I once used to in order to try to get to a point where I can jump into learning from reading books in Japanese (worked great for English after all), but it has been way harder than for a western language. I did not feel like I knew enough yet after Genki I - even kids' books still seemed very impenetrable with vocabulary, kanji and especially verb conjugations and constructs I hadn't learned yet. So I don't think of it as spending "too much" time (even though it is a lot of time), but a necessary evil for bootstrapping one's knowledge such that I don't have to translate word by word from a dictionary and even when I do, I know what to look up.
Tangentially, if anyone here is looking for a Genki II study group we're just getting started, so let me know if you'd like to give it a try; we have at least one spot open. You would have less than 1 lesson to catch up with.
Here are the requirements for applicants
- Ready to start immediately, with Genki I or equivalent knowledge (you can look up the curriculum online). It's basically level 1 knowledge.
- You will need the books but you can be in pdf if you like.
- Must join the discord and participate in a two hour long session for group work early on sundays (european-friendly time). We expect all participants to be serious about this, hang in there, and rarely miss a session; and if you do, try to alert us well in advance.
- Must commit to doing and checking the homework on your own every week (1/3 lesson, total 36 weeks). This will take a few hours of your time every week.
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Comment on EU turns to Norway and Canada for space launch sites – space commissioner is touring potential locations for launchers as the bloc tries to boost its satellite capabilities in ~space
Protected LinkI was going to say that it's weird to choose Norway when it's as far from the equator as you can get but the article goes into it. The Azores are a weird choice too. They are mostly small, steep...I was going to say that it's weird to choose Norway when it's as far from the equator as you can get but the article goes into it.
The Azores are a weird choice too. They are mostly small, steep volcanic islands. On most of them there isn't even room for an airport...
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Comment on What is your pet peeve with language acquisition? in ~humanities.languages
Protected Link ParentWow, I was going to write about the counters but you already did. That is my pet peeve. Stupid counters and weird readings for ordinals. I can't seem to get them down and I've been at it for years.Wow, I was going to write about the counters but you already did. That is my pet peeve. Stupid counters and weird readings for ordinals. I can't seem to get them down and I've been at it for years.
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Comment on VR questions, recommendations, tips, and tricks in ~games
Protected Link ParentIn Beat Saber specifically, a well designed level is a choreography. I always recommend playing curated/ranked community levels (ranked levels have to be manually approved by a team of experienced...In Beat Saber specifically, a well designed level is a choreography. I always recommend playing curated/ranked community levels (ranked levels have to be manually approved by a team of experienced players) with a good upvote/downvote ratio, rather than the game's native tracks - at least for much of the history of the game, the included levels were decent at best.
New players may be unaware that, with all modifiers off, the angle of your swing when you slice through a block does not matter. All you really need for the cut to count is to enter the block from the correct side (as per the arrow), meaning the angle is extremely permissive and you can play in your own way. Instead, scoring depends mainly on two things:
- Big swings! This is most of the score awarded to each cut. You want a big swing before and after the cut.
- Closest distance your saber reaches to the center of the note (how close to cutting the note perfectly in any two halves). This is the main accuracy factor, however it's only worth up to 15 points contrasted with the swing's 100 points.
Certain modifiers and certain map designs may demand greater accuracy (and very high level players may seek these out for the higher maximum scores), but both of those things can be avoided and players can still have a lot of fun.
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Comment on Kakao Entertainment to shut down Tapas webtoon platform in ~comics
Protected LinkI've never been able to read anything on Tapas over a long period of time because I always hated the UX there and the monetization tends to be too aggressive for my wallet. That said, it seems...I've never been able to read anything on Tapas over a long period of time because I always hated the UX there and the monetization tends to be too aggressive for my wallet. That said, it seems unfortunate for any creators that were relying on it. I hope alternatives arise.
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Comment on Wikipedia's list of the best video games: how many have you played, and what's missing? in ~games
Protected LinkFun exercise. I have played 128 of these games at least a little (completion or engagement not guaranteed), the list of which I bring to you through the magic of regular expressions (it didn't...Fun exercise. I have played 128 of these games at least a little (completion or engagement not guaranteed), the list of which I bring to you through the magic of regular expressions (it didn't take long!):
"Wikipedia's Best Video Games" that I have played
- Age of Empires
- Age of Empires II
- Angry Birds
- Arkanoid
- Asteroids
- Beyond Good & Evil
- Braid
- Bubble Bobble
- Castlevania
- Chrono Trigger
- Civilization II
- Command & Conquer
- Command & Conquer: Red Alert
- Contra
- Counter-Strike
- Day of the Tentacle
- Daytona USA
- Diablo II
- Divinity: Original Sin II
- Donkey Kong
- Donkey Kong Country
- Double Dragon
- Duke Nukem 3D
- Dune II
- EarthBound
- Final Fantasy IV
- Final Fantasy IX
- Final Fantasy VI
- Final Fantasy VII
- Final Fantasy VIII
- Final Fantasy X
- Frogger
- Grand Theft Auto
- Grim Fandango
- Hades
- Half-Life
- Hearthstone
- Hollow Knight
- Ico
- Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
- Inside
- Kingdom Hearts
- Lemmings
- Life Is Strange
- Limbo
- LittleBigPlanet
- Lode Runner
- Mario Kart 8
- Mega Man 2
- Metal Gear Solid
- Micro Machines
- Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
- Minecraft
- Missile Command
- Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge
- Mortal Kombat
- Mortal Kombat II
- Ms. Pac-Man
- Myst
- Nights into Dreams
- Outer Wilds
- Overwatch
- Pac-Man
- Panzer Dragoon Saga
- Papers, Please
- PaRappa the Rapper
- Pitfall!
- Plants vs. Zombies
- Pong
- Portal
- Portal 2
- Prince of Persia
- Psychonauts
- Quake
- Rocket League
- Sam & Max Hit the Road
- Secret of Mana
- Sega Rally Championship
- Shovel Knight
- Sid Meier's Pirates!
- SimCity
- SimCity 2000
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Soulcalibur
- Space Invaders
- Star Fox
- Stardew Valley
- Street Fighter II
- Super Mario Bros.
- Super Mario Bros. 3
- Super Mario Kart
- Super Mario World
- Super Meat Boy
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- Super Smash Bros. Melee
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Tekken 3
- Tetris
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
- The Legend of Zelda
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- The Oregon Trail
- The Secret of Monkey Island
- The Sims
- The Stanley Parable
- The Witness
- Theme Park
- Tomb Raider
- Undertale
- Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
- Wolfenstein 3D
- Worms
In addition, these are the games I've watched others play so thoroughly, or otherwise so memorably, that because of that I wouldn't want/need to play them myself (anymore):
I'm good thanks
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- God of War (Dad of Boy)
- Katamari Damacy
- Kingdom Hearts II
- Persona 5
- Return of the Obra Dinn
- Shenmue
- Xenogears
The above list excludes a lot of games I saw my brothers play, saw at GDQ, etc. that I don't feel I've paid sufficient attention to or could otherwise stand to play.
However, it seems to me that wikipedia's list isn't really a list of the "best" videogames as such, but of videogames that earned the love of the mainstream. Often that happened because they were quite good, but the list seems highly biased in favor of highly antecipated sequels (that didn't bomb), games that went viral, etc. There are many games missing, at least according to my preferences, and there are many games there I just don't want to play because they hold no appeal to me.
As a bonus, Spelunky is in my Steam library explicitly for a day when I need to play something while waiting for a game/sale/don't want to pay for something new right there and then, so I'm sitting on it on purpose.
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Comment on There's a new "Google Jail" for independent wikis in ~tech
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Comment on Jet Lag Season 19: Japanorama | Trailer in ~hobbies
Protected Link ParentClick to expand spoiler. That early episode made me groan out loud. Adam and Tom have no easy challenges and get a steal. They've realized their opponents were making a play involving speeding...Click to expand spoiler.
That early episode made me groan out loud.
Adam and Tom have no easy challenges and get a steal. They've realized their opponents were making a play involving speeding through multiple prefectures. So what do they do?
Obviously they steal to try to get a skip and disrupt their opponents' playHoard the steal and take a one way trip to the mountains one hour away of course...It's exactly what I previously wrote I was afraid would happen!
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Comment on Jet Lag Season 19: Japanorama | Trailer in ~hobbies
Some advice from an experienced VR user:
Get two powerbanks.
When one is used up swap it for the other and plug it in to charge.