Protected's recent activity
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Comment on Sleep struggles: how do I get better sleep quality? in ~life
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Comment on Jet Lag Season 19: Japanorama | Trailer in ~hobbies
Protected Link ParentClick to expand spoiler. I've historically been prone to fainting (low blood pressure) and the kind of weather they were in made me dizzy just to watch. I know southern Japan has a reputation for...Click to expand spoiler.
I've historically been prone to fainting (low blood pressure) and the kind of weather they were in made me dizzy just to watch. I know southern Japan has a reputation for being really hot in the warm months and judging by the humidity on display, it must have felt really oppressive... I'm glad to know that Tom was OK and that they made that choice.
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Comment on Founder of collapsed Chinese property giant Evergrande sentenced to life in prison in ~finance
Protected Link ParentSelling real estate "on paper" (with a construction project that hasn't yet been initiated) is also a thing here. It can be cheaper for the buyer than making the purchase after the building is ready.Selling real estate "on paper" (with a construction project that hasn't yet been initiated) is also a thing here. It can be cheaper for the buyer than making the purchase after the building is ready.
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Comment on Jet Lag Season 19: Japanorama | Trailer in ~hobbies
Protected Link ParentClick to expand spoiler. Didn't they also say it was the longest Jet Lag season? If so then there just might be enough to show that they felt the need to not cut too early...Click to expand spoiler.
Didn't they also say it was the longest Jet Lag season? If so then there just might be enough to show that they felt the need to not cut too early...
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Comment on South of Spain / Northern Africa travel recs in ~travel
Protected Link(Speaking only of Spain, not Morocco.) I've never been but my friends say good things about Tarifa for beachgoing. It's an extremely hot time of the year so you could bathe in the sea and you'd be...(Speaking only of Spain, not Morocco.)
I've never been but my friends say good things about Tarifa for beachgoing. It's an extremely hot time of the year so you could bathe in the sea and you'd be as close as it gets.
If you want to see old places though I'd personally just vacation in Granada and hop south for the eclipse.
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Comment on Jet Lag Season 19: Japanorama | Trailer in ~hobbies
Protected Link ParentIt was very long! But I guess it was the Click to expand spoiler. whole Saga of the Cursed Scavenger Hunt in one go, no cliffhangers.It was very long! But I guess it was the
Click to expand spoiler.
whole Saga of the Cursed Scavenger Hunt in one go, no cliffhangers.
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Comment on What game are you terrible at? in ~games
Protected Link ParentI think we all have our strengths and weaknesses. And that's also why I'm a big fan of well stuffed settings menus that give everyone the option to enjoy the game in the way that works best for...I think we all have our strengths and weaknesses. And that's also why I'm a big fan of well stuffed settings menus that give everyone the option to enjoy the game in the way that works best for them. "Enable quest markers" seems like an easy setting to add!
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Comment on Jet Lag Season 19: Japanorama | Trailer in ~hobbies
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Comment on Order of the Sinking Star | Release date announcement in ~games
Protected Link ParentYou know, you're right. I've been trying to be less negative about random stuff lately but sometimes I forget.You know, you're right. I've been trying to be less negative about random stuff lately but sometimes I forget.
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Comment on Order of the Sinking Star | Release date announcement in ~games
Protected Link ParentI agree with you there. I'm not sure I have such a generous reading of Blow's opinions as you do, and I think that's essentially the difference here.Is there no recovery once you've failed publicly?
I agree with you there. I'm not sure I have such a generous reading of Blow's opinions as you do, and I think that's essentially the difference here.
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Comment on Order of the Sinking Star | Release date announcement in ~games
Protected Link ParentI wasn't going to respond since you come off as overly defensive, but apparently this is actually an exemplary take, so let's see. OK. If this matters, where do you draw the line? Do I have to see...I wasn't going to respond since you come off as overly defensive, but apparently this is actually an exemplary take, so let's see.
financing any specific group
OK. If this matters, where do you draw the line? Do I have to see his bank statements before I'm allowed to not want to support him financially?
some sort of purity contest
What are you even talking about? There is no contest. I pointed out there are things he has said that make me uncomfortable with supporting him. I can only control my own actions, and I have a moral duty to try to make choices I think are right and to think inconvenient thoughts like how a famous videogame designer using his platform to say things that might convince even a small proportion of his audience not to vaccinate might compromise herd immunity and indirectly result in an increased number of deaths somewhere.
Can I live with that? I'll think about it. If you can, that's up to you, and no one implied otherwise. I'm not saying the man is Satan incarnate. He's a videogame designer who suffers from that problem where people who are really smart in a certain way sometimes overestimate themselves and neglect to think about the consequences of their actions.
And yes, he's the type who's "just asking questions". He frames these things as questions, and says these things about "talk," but he's not really having a real conversation, is he? He's soapboxing to a lot of followers while apparently (judging by the quote you edited in) "filtering out" any pushback.
his art doesn't lean one way or another and generally helps with critical thinking
If only he engaged with it himself
Jokes aside, as I've already said, I enjoy his games. I play a lot of puzzle games, I'm good at them. I'm not entirely sure I'd say they helped with my critical thinking, but they certainly exercise the brain. If I found Blow's videogame work repugnant I would not engage with it; I agree it's apolitical. But my reticence to contribute to his profit has nothing to do with any of that.
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Comment on Order of the Sinking Star | Release date announcement in ~games
Protected LinkI want to play this game obviously, since Blow is a very good videogame designer. I'm conflicted on the morality of paying for it though. Maybe I'll get it from, uh, long distance friends.I want to play this game obviously, since Blow is a very good videogame designer. I'm conflicted on the morality of paying for it though. Maybe I'll get it from, uh, long distance friends.
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Comment on What server location should I use for a VPN? in ~tech
Protected Link ParentIf it's just for keeping your ISP in the dark it can be literally anywhere. You can use a commercial outfit, but you can also run your own on any internet-connected device, such as a rented...If it's just for keeping your ISP in the dark it can be literally anywhere. You can use a commercial outfit, but you can also run your own on any internet-connected device, such as a rented server, an office, a friend's home or even your phone if it has a different ISP. Aim for geographic proximity as long as the server is on a different (trustworthy) ISP.
Commercial VPN providers that don't keep logs have the added benefit of intermingling your traffic with a bunch of other people's (who are using the same endpoint) which improves anonimity, although make sure your setup doesn't leak any information via DNS or fingerprinting.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Protected Link ParentDescribing things is always fun, as is trying to communicate without words. We haven't done that much yet (3 towers) but I'm looking forward to more puzzles that require separation. We've only had...Describing things is always fun, as is trying to communicate without words. We haven't done that much yet (3 towers) but I'm looking forward to more puzzles that require separation. We've only had two, one with a chair lift and one with a flare.
Motion-based (toss-based) puzzles have been a bit hit and miss I'd say.
Some of us hate it when you're forced to leave your items behind!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Protected Link ParentHurray, congrats on finishing Big Walk! (holds Q+E) So you call them gourds, do you? My designation of noses (because they look like the noses on the ants) isn't very popular. One of my friends...Hurray, congrats on finishing Big Walk! (holds Q+E)
So you call them gourds, do you? My designation of noses (because they look like the noses on the ants) isn't very popular. One of my friends wants us to use McGuffins, reminiscent of Supraland. Another one prefers pears. I think it's a tildes users type situation though.
If I know this group, we're definitely 100%ing it. I think we have seen what we need to do to reach the ending though.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Protected (edited )LinkI played Trombone Champ, a gift from @ricewind . For all my life I've been deaf to the truth, but this excellent rhythm game has taught me the real history of trombones, classical composers, hot...I played Trombone Champ, a gift from @ricewind . For all my life I've been deaf to the truth, but this excellent rhythm game has taught me the real history of trombones, classical composers, hot dogs and baboons. It's packed with educational, 100% legit information. Trust me, swear to Babi and hope to toot.
The core gameplay is very simple: Levels require pressing and holding a key (or clicking) to the tune of a song. But in order to succeed you need to use your mouse to align an on-screen target up and down to match the pitch of each note, the resulting arm movement presumably evoking the motion of operating the slide of a trombone. It's a really neat idea, very fun, not too punishing for the most part, and the trombone sound generation works really well! During the level, on-screen elements and musical arrangement plot twists will try to distract you, typically by making you laugh. The laughter is compounded by trombones naturally sounding funny when you play them poorly, which you will. There are a whopping 75 levels in the base game (plus several DLCs I don't own for things like Celeste and Deltarune, a level editor and many free user-published levels on Steam workshop.)
The game also features a meta-story-progression that ties in with unlockable content such as new trombone sounds, trombone colors, characters and a card collecting minigame featuring classical composers and other things. I had a lot of fun completing all of this. Trombone Champ is a charming game whose base content can be completed in 5-6 hours and which definitely doesn't overstay its welcome; I can understand why people wanted more of it.
Even though it's not Steam Deck certified, Trombone Champ runs perfectly on Linux. The reason it can't be certified is the mouse requirement. This game was designed to be played with a mouse - and which mouse you use does impact your experience (my shitty mouse had a tendency to be in the wrong place in my desk half way through the song and there is no time to reset it; I recommend a decent, big mouse you can rest your whole hand on). I read reports of it playing poorly on gamepads and touchpads, and promises of improvements from the devs, but didn't investigate further.
Before this I finished Deer & Boy. This game took 4h30m in total. In my first impressions, I highlighted the many similarities with Planet of Lana, but toward the end the game gets more abstract and melancholic. So there's your warning - this game may make you sad. Onions and all.
There are missable achievements for not doing certain things perfectly, but you can return to any point in the story later on using the main menu.
I've been playing Big Walk with a group of friends that overlaps those who played the Lingo games, Blue Prince, Neyyah and Windblown with me. Basically this is currently on my multiplayer slot. I was interested in this game, which was made by the devs of Untitled Goose Game, from the very first weird trailer, so I pushed for us to start this ASAP.
Since the game is actually blowing up you may already know this, but Big Walk is a multiplayer-ONLY game for 2 to 12 people designed around cooperative puzzle solving or challenge solving. Each player inhabits a goofy looking ant made of three spheres with stick limbs. Ants can only talk to other ants who are standing very close to them (you're not supposed to be on a voice call!), raise their arms, squat, push buttons, hold one item at a time, or hold another ant standing on their shoulders. Puzzles are peppered throughout a rough-terrained world, but the ants are bad at climbing and tend to get stuck on things, slip and fall on their asses when going downhill and drop what they're carrying. There's a day-night cycle, and nights are pitch black unless you carry a light source or leave beacons around. Puzzle solutions tend to require timing, describing images, matching patterns, sound recognition, opening shortcuts, bridging distances, tossing items and generally operating the many gadgets you find in your Big Walk, which include but are very much not limited to flashlights, cameras, laser pointers, walkie talkies, binoculars, maps, radios, compasses, etc.
All puzzles require 2 to 4 people each, with world generation not including certain types of puzzles if you tell it only have 2 or 3 players at time of generation. Having more than 4 players justs adds to the chaotic fun though! There's no minimap or any global way of synchronizing with your friends, so you're supposed to plan ahead and make use of things like radio communication, fireworks and landmarks or you risk getting completely lost.
I suspect it will be quite a while until we finish our run as we battle the hardest puzzle of all, scheduling timeslots when 6-ish people can all be available at the same time. But we will persevere!
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Comment on I'm not ready to let this place go in ~tildes
Protected Link ParentDoesn't seem to work for me on Firefox with Tampermonkey. The console logs an invalid assignment to const state error.Doesn't seem to work for me on Firefox with Tampermonkey. The console logs an invalid assignment to const state error.
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Comment on What game are you terrible at? in ~games
Protected LinkI played a lot of Rocket League back when the community wasn't yet all horrible (I'd say before the sale to Epic and it becoming free to play). Great game but boy do I suck at it! I mean I was...I played a lot of Rocket League back when the community wasn't yet all horrible (I'd say before the sale to Epic and it becoming free to play). Great game but boy do I suck at it! I mean I was better than a beginner, and did certain things well, but I just couldn't progress past a certain skill level, especially with aerial motion.
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Comment on What game are you terrible at? in ~games
Protected Link ParentIt can help a lot with this problem (motion sickness) when your system is capable of rendering a higher frame rate. Do you have a 144hz+ monitor?scrolling rhythm games
It can help a lot with this problem (motion sickness) when your system is capable of rendering a higher frame rate. Do you have a 144hz+ monitor?
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Comment on Epic Games Store will support Linux "soon" in ~games
Protected Link ParentI think they're starting to see the writing on the wall as the number of gamers on linux slowly becomes non-negligible. Valve's efforts were instrumental. (Also, Microsoft is literally a...I think they're starting to see the writing on the wall as the number of gamers on linux slowly becomes non-negligible. Valve's efforts were instrumental. (Also, Microsoft is literally a competitor in that industry, and not a very nice one.)
I'm just "about done" with my move to Linux this weekend (I ended up choosing CachyOS). There are a dozen or two of irritants or things that don't quite work as well as I'd like but most of them are details tied to my extremely odd profile as a user (ancient productivity software, VR, stuff like that). Everything big or important "just works", or works no worse than Windows, with wine and proton being the main reason everything is so smooth, I think. (KDE Plasma 6 is also pretty great!)
This is also my strategy, deliberate slow breathing.