Protected's recent activity
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Protected Link ParentI noticed it's on your wishlist. Lorelei is a little difficult to describe in that regard. Most of the time it's just kind of a dead, desolate world. You are pretty much always "alone" except for...I noticed it's on your wishlist. Lorelei is a little difficult to describe in that regard. Most of the time it's just kind of a dead, desolate world. You are pretty much always "alone" except for an old woman lying quietly on a bed and a labrador, who you can pet. He's a good boy.
When is Lorelei and the Laser Eyes spooky?
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Sometimes you will meet A Man, or The Man. He'll randomly come to you in the hotel when you do certain things that advance the plot, and have an interaction with you. You will progressively learn about him throughout the game. You never see his face. He may be unsettling because of his unsettling demeanor, because he loves brandishing a revolver, or because of you not expecting an interaction in a seemingly empty hotel, but that's all. Typically you hear the sound of footsteps before the beginning of the cutscene, although you'll also find him waiting in a couple locations.
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There are some very mildly unsettling scenes. A skeleton. A dead body. They don't move.
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The game features manifestations of the "supernatural" on occasion, including visits to a "spirit world" (spirit world locations flip the palette, using cherry red as the primary color). When you are close to something supernatural you are always forewarned by Lorelei's glasses flashing red. The closer you are, the more they flash.
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There is a ghost that appears almost at the very beginning of the game floating through a certain room. After that she will be waiting in a specific room and not move anymore. This is the first of two things you might actually find spooky, but it's a one and done thing.
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Finally, and this might be the most unpleasant to you, which is why I'm spoiling it (it's also the biggest spoiler here) - at one point nine ghosts will be "released" into the hotel. They all look the same. After this happens, a ghost will approach you at regular time intervals and chase you down until it touches you (or you can just turn around and touch it). Despite the flashing glasses forewarning you, this may be a little unsettling due to happening unexpectedly and regardless of where you are. The ghosts want to play a memory game with you and will reward you with Pages (maybe it's the tormented ghost of Atrus ;) ). You need to play all of the scenes and get all of the pages in order to complete the game so you might as well go and get it over with. After all nine memory games have been completed the ghosts stop coming.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Protected Link ParentOK, I've played a little more since I wrote that. I'm currently in chapter 4 (of 8). Cutscenes: Gave up on them almost immediately after. I'm just ignoring them all. I heard some things about a...OK, I've played a little more since I wrote that. I'm currently in chapter 4 (of 8).
Cutscenes: Gave up on them almost immediately after. I'm just ignoring them all. I heard some things about a foot fetish, but I guess I'll never know...
Orbs: I collect them when they're not too far out of the way. I think while you're carrying them they might let you survive a hit from the enemies? Not entirely clear on that though. A few more types of enemies were introduced but the combat remains pretty basic. I think for every enemy the game just wants you to press the right button with the right timing or they one hit kill you. That's it.
There have been some fairly satisfying parkour sequences to be fair. I'm more familiar with the controls, and sometimes the game gets it "right" for a while and traversal actually feels good... until you run headfirst into the next spot where for some reason you press left and P jumps to the right to her death, requiring you to repeat the same thing fifteen times. Camera/controls annoyances and the flashlight remain the worst part of the game.
I disabled the setting that allows the camera lens to get dirty from the dust clouds raised by the protagonist when she runs, requiring you to constantly "blink" the camera shutter. It was cute for a couple minutes but I appreciated being able to get rid of it.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Protected LinkI've completed Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. Good game on the whole! And started Motorslice. It's a "parkour" platformer game. Mildly apocalyptic aesthetic, with machines gone rogue. Megastructures...I've completed Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. Good game on the whole!
And started Motorslice. It's a "parkour" platformer game. Mildly apocalyptic aesthetic, with machines gone rogue. Megastructures that must be climbed/traversed, and such. @countchocula recently played it and had a very lukewarm opinion of it. Too bad it wasn't enough to put me off! Because I'm finding the game extremely mid.
A game like this lives and dies by the low friction of its controls and the smoothness of the player's movements throughout the in-game world, but this protagonist has a penchant for jumping into the void, or just from too high up. She'll easily push off walls into the void or drop like a rock, because the controls aren't always intuitive - the button for dropping without pushing off when climbing is the reverse of the one for doing that while running, for example. There's a button for softening falls but it only works on a narrow band of altitudes. And worse, there are only two camera modes: The one that swerves abruptly mid-sequence, changing the direction of your controls relative to the player and making you die, or the one that sticks very close to you, preventing you from seeing where you're going and making you die.
Narrative cutscenes are another problem. You do have the option to not engage with them, thankfully, although of course that means you will miss out on whatever story the game has. Or you can enter them and experience... Slow paced, unskippable lines of dialogue that force you to stare at the character for a long moment before allowing you to proceed. The camera will be positioned to get a good view of, say, her butt. Yes. Let's just say her butt. You will also get dialogue options for yourself. I'm sure the dialogue choices you make do something at some point but certainly they do not affect the dialogue (monologue?) progression, possibly because you play as an AI drone who is incapable of speech, so it's all actually just beep beep boop no matter what you choose. Plus, after you're done with the scene, you're still prompted to engage with it again - literally nothing changes.
The designers saw fit to be on the wrong side of realistic when it comes to the lighting inside the megastructures, perhaps to justify the presence of the player drone. You, the drone, turn on a flashlight in these situations so the character can, theoretically, see where she's going. Meaning in much of the game you can only see what you're doing through a narrow flashlight circle overlaid with a crappy, pixelated flashlight cookie sprite. I'd say this is a puzzling decision, except I find 9 out of 10 times a designer chooses to use any flashlight mechanics they're already as misguided as it gets.
Checkpointing is mostly OK if you're not trying to collect the optional floating orbs spread throughout the game world. If you are, expect some deaths to put you in a checkpoint that's beyond the collectible you were carrying to its drop-off location... without the collectible. Oops.
And I'm afraid there are several other small irritants. For some reason, if you go into the menu the game is incapable of remembering the status of the camera and flashlight for one. The radar button that shows interactables doesn't show doors at all, nor do they show any interaction prompt, even though they look just as flat as the many non-interactable doors save for different coloring (I think). Combat isn't super interesting as it doesn't follow typical industry practices; dodging works poorly because the little excavators (why are there even excavators of that size anyway?) beeline for you no matter what.
I should be clear in disclosing that I'm still early into the game. Maybe it gets better! There are certainly good ideas and typically most of this is stuff - the megastructures, the climbing, the parkour - would appeal to me, which is why I wanted to check out the game in the first place. Even the implementation details - the moves you have or the types of traversal you must perform - are theoretically appealing, but none of it ever quite feels good. It doesn't feel too bad either, which is what makes it even more annoying. I keep expecting better.
There are a lot of positive reviews on Steam which others may find more aligned with their own tastes. But there are also negative ones and they echo my opinions.
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Comment on There is no reason to buy another PlayStation or Xbox in ~games
Protected LinkQuality journalism, Gamespot...cloud technology–a tool that has been used in abetting the ongoing genocide in Gaza
Quality journalism, Gamespot...
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Comment on Of course viewers are giving up on Netflix shows in ~tv
Protected Link ParentAh, the Manga Problem! I don't disagree about length, but I'm demanding. My enjoyment is maximized when a story is good as a whole - the journey is very important, but so is the conclusion. The...Ah, the Manga Problem!
I don't disagree about length, but I'm demanding. My enjoyment is maximized when a story is good as a whole - the journey is very important, but so is the conclusion. The story stands as a cohesive construct with a beginning, middle and end (however long that is).
(Plus I prioritize good characters too!)
I have massive respect for the authors of serials who know to wrap things up and put an end to a story as originally planned even if it's at the height of its popularity. The problem with a lot of shows and comics is that they artificially extend the story not only in an unplanned manner but in actual contradiction of what they had previously envisioned for the whole of it.
I also loathe retcons, prequels and filler. Matter of personal taste though. Note that this isn't the same as a dislike of episodic tales, which I actually quite enjoy.
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Comment on Introductions | July 2026 in ~talk
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Comment on Jet Lag Season 18: Stateside Scramble | Trailer in ~hobbies
Protected Link ParentClick to expand spoiler. Oof, things are really not looking good for Sam and Amy. I don't see how they can get the Margaritaville faster than Ben and Adam. I would say they should go west but I...Click to expand spoiler.
Oof, things are really not looking good for Sam and Amy. I don't see how they can get the Margaritaville faster than Ben and Adam. I would say they should go west but I don't have an awareness of flight availability in the US. It is apparently way worse than I would have expected.
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Comment on Jet Lag Season 18: Stateside Scramble | Trailer in ~hobbies
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Comment on Of course viewers are giving up on Netflix shows in ~tv
Protected Link ParentI mean those high profile disappointments haven't been reoccuring. Of course sometimes writers still can't finish their stories for one reason or another, but for the most part, successful...I mean those high profile disappointments haven't been reoccuring. Of course sometimes writers still can't finish their stories for one reason or another, but for the most part, successful mainstream writers seem to be keeping up with their successful mainstream writing.
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Comment on Of course viewers are giving up on Netflix shows in ~tv
Protected Link ParentMaybe it's because I've been reading less of straightforward fantasy trilogies, but it feels like stories such as Kingkiller, A Song of Ice and Fire or Locke Lamora were more of an unfortunate...or books
Maybe it's because I've been reading less of straightforward fantasy trilogies, but it feels like stories such as Kingkiller, A Song of Ice and Fire or Locke Lamora were more of an unfortunate period. Perhaps it's because publishers themselves got wiser and more cautious? The authors I've been reading more recently seem to all have been much more reliable, releasing their stories at a good pace without compromising quality too much.
That said, I can't fault TV shows for having weaker endings than beginnings. It just seems overwhelmingly common in serial tales - I gather endings are much harder to write than beginnings (they're certainly harder for me to write as well). I'll take a reasonably satisfying and dignified ending over none at all.
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Comment on Of course viewers are giving up on Netflix shows in ~tv
Protected LinkA reader commented: Yup. If Netflix is that lacking in employees who understand their own viewers, they should call me. I'm more than willing to, for just their median salary, put in a couple of...A reader commented:
It's shocking to me that Netflix doesn't know the answer to this question when everyone asked about it says the same thing
Yup. If Netflix is that lacking in employees who understand their own viewers, they should call me. I'm more than willing to, for just their median salary, put in a couple of hours of work per month summarizing relevant comments. I guarantee I'll do a better job, or their money back.
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Comment on Chat control passed, on Thursday only an absolute majority can stop it in ~society
Protected Link ParentThe problem is much more complicated than mere apathy. In the past, when I've attempted to contact MEPs about this subject, I've been met with silence. In fact, the only party that seems to...The problem is much more complicated than mere apathy.
In the past, when I've attempted to contact MEPs about this subject, I've been met with silence. In fact, the only party that seems to consistently voice an opposition to Chat Control is our far right party.
Naturally, they also have a history of going back on their word when it suits them and general political backstabbing. They're populists who will say whatever. But shit like this - this incompetence and arrogance from the centrists/socialists - is what, drop by drop, is empowering the far right over time. I think I've said it here before - I'd never vote for the far right but it's really hard to fault at least some of the people who do. It's like the traditional parties are doing this on purpose.
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Comment on Microsoft’s Xbox to cut 3,200 jobs, divest five studios in major overhaul (gifted link) in ~games
Protected Link ParentPerhaps, but I wish more people would draw any line whatsoever. Take my game dev brother. He's intelligent and competent. Obviously he's technologically savvy. And he's in the industry that...Nobody has ever loved Microsoft; it has only been tolerated, and increasingly less so with its embrace of AI and enabling of genocide in Gaza.
Perhaps, but I wish more people would draw any line whatsoever.
Take my game dev brother. He's intelligent and competent. Obviously he's technologically savvy. And he's in the industry that Microsoft is treating like this. But even he can't (by his own admission) be bothered to let go of Windows and other such platforms. Hell, it's difficult for me, too - I've made efforts in that direction, but I feel like I could be doing more, too.
How can we expect people in different industries will ever care enough, if we don't? Sure, Gaza is horrible, but Microsoft have a long history of being shitty. I don't ever bring up the subject with friends, but when once in a blue moon they do I keep my mouth shut because I know they will dismiss out of hand anything I have to say on the subject, which always feels terribly insulting of my expertise.
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Comment on Tildes Game Giveaway: June 2026 in ~games
Protected Link ParentWelcome to Tildes. Congratulations, yours was the name drawn to win Lingo 2! Please DM me your steam username ASAP and I'll send it to you.Welcome to Tildes. Congratulations, yours was the name drawn to win Lingo 2! Please DM me your steam username ASAP and I'll send it to you.
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Comment on Modern, abstract art makes me angry in ~arts
Protected Link ParentThat gives me an idea for a piece of modern art: It's Michelangelo at a desk with a heap of bananas on it, pondering formulas for modern glue. He looks tormented, anguished. The scene is AI-generated.That gives me an idea for a piece of modern art: It's Michelangelo at a desk with a heap of bananas on it, pondering formulas for modern glue. He looks tormented, anguished.
The scene is AI-generated.
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Comment on Modern, abstract art makes me angry in ~arts
Protected LinkAfter reading what everyone else wrote, let me try to put some of my feelings on the subject into my own words. I "get" the concept of art being a conversation the artist has with themselves, and...After reading what everyone else wrote, let me try to put some of my feelings on the subject into my own words.
I "get" the concept of art being a conversation the artist has with themselves, and I also get that the point is for each piece to evoke something in the viewer. But isn't there also a fundamental contradiction there? When you take these pieces and put them in a museum, gallery or public place, there is an expectation of good communication.
No industry professionals or commercial creatives from any specialization can get away with poor communication and justify it as "that's what art is for". If I create an advertisement or direct a movie or whatever, and nobody gets it, and I say "oops, it's art" - most people wouldn't be surprised, exactly, but they would still be angry like OP if they spent their hard-earned money into something and then they're told they just don't get it, unless that's very specifically the expectation they had at the start. And the only reason they wouldn't be surprised is that poor communication between an artist and people engaging with their art is common enough for there to be a derogatory use of the moniker "art" to signify "something impenetrable".
You don't have to step in at this point to lecture me on how all art is subjective, the artist is dead once the piece is out there, you can interpret it how you like, etc. I enjoy some abstract art myself. But I think a truly good abstract artist whose work is unambiguously worth engaging with is actually good at conveying their message, no exceptions. People respect them more because when they're in our museums, town squares and parks, they're actually saying something to us that we can understand, rather than (unwittingly or not) insulting our intelligence.
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Comment on Summer Games Done Quick 2026, a week-long charity fundraiser featuring speedruns, is live (runs July 5 - July 11) in ~games
Protected Link ParentArgick was saying the other day how he cut ties with ESA (I think he's at this GDQ). Very unfortunate, but european speedrunners could always get together one day and start another event if they...Argick was saying the other day how he cut ties with ESA (I think he's at this GDQ). Very unfortunate, but european speedrunners could always get together one day and start another event if they wish to do so.
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Comment on Summer Games Done Quick 2026, a week-long charity fundraiser featuring speedruns, is live (runs July 5 - July 11) in ~games
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Comment on Thoughts on graphene OS? in ~tech
Protected LinkIt works just fine. It's almost boring in how normal it is, actually, which is probably a good thing. My biggest issue with it is that it lacks some of the bells and whistles of lineageos, but...It works just fine. It's almost boring in how normal it is, actually, which is probably a good thing. My biggest issue with it is that it lacks some of the bells and whistles of lineageos, but nothing serious.
It's not going to lose support, don't worry about that.
I had a lot of fun playing this but they definitely didn't think through the balance between length/grind and making people play multiple times. One playthrough was enough for me!