sundaybest's recent activity
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Comment on ‘I took two bites and had to spit it out’: US candy makers are phasing out real cocoa in chocolate in some products in ~food
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Comment on Steam Next Fest recommendations and game demos in ~games
sundaybest LinkCatlands, 3.5/5, Play Time: 77 minutes. Wishlisted: Yes. Review here. Cute and cozy puzzle game with nice music (if a little repetitive, I did end up turning it off). I like the art a lot. You are...Catlands, 3.5/5, Play Time: 77 minutes. Wishlisted: Yes.
Review here.
Cute and cozy puzzle game with nice music (if a little repetitive, I did end up turning it off). I like the art a lot. You are assembling landscapes from puzzle pieces that slide on pre-determined rails (some vertical, some horizontal). Your reward is some xp and a choice between tilesets (random type, random amount) which you can use to build up your own tiny cat village with cute little cat NPCs (non-playable cat?) that wander around.
My main frustration point was feeling like the puzzles were not being presented in such a way to provide more complexity/interesting challenges fast enough but that really might be a me problem rather than a problem with the game. As you level up you unlock new things (new puzzle modifiers, new difficulties) but it felt entirely too slow for me (or maybe my variety of ADHD). You play 1 or 2 star difficulty (out of 5) for 13 levels until you unlock 3 star difficulty at level 14. The puzzles provide varying amounts of xp but this progression still feels too slow. I tried selecting puzzles with the most tiles or that provided the most xp but it didn't seem to make a major change in difficulty of the puzzle itself. I really think this likely more of a me issue if you're playing this for cozy vibes and just enjoy the puzzles for what they are.
The NPCs are very cute with different little outfits as you find new ones (there are 3 to find in the demo) and the village building system is also quite intuitive and enjoyable. One thing I really liked and wanted to highlight is that each tile has a few varieties so there was an unexpected amount of customization that made it very nice to design my little cat village. I will say I wish the rewards per level were a bit less random. Your initial village is 3x3 (it upgraded to 5x5 at some point but I don't see it listed as a reward so somewhere between levels 1-13) and you unlock a few slots so you can build multiple, separate villages. However, levels can offer the same/similar rewards where you get like...23 sea tiles or 19 sand...What am I going to do with 23 sea tiles on my little 5x5 square? I would really prefer a mix of tiles rather than just wild amounts of one type. Ultimately wishlisted but I don't suspect I'll go out of my way for it if it's priced over $15.
Abyss Depth Control, 1/5, Play Time: 6 minutes. Wishlisted: No.
Review here.
I think I may have to give this one another shot but the beginning was painfully slow, the controls were clunky, the audio directional (somehow too loud and too quiet?) and I was honestly not in the mood to continue trying to work past my issues with it. I enjoy spooky games and I've enjoyed other "do this menial task for your unseen corpo overlords" games of this genre (see: Iron Lung, The Oily Depths, Cloverpit, etc.)
I think this might be a solo dev but even so...the lack of polish just felt overly frustrating. The game description still seems interesting and I think there might be quite a lot of demo in there if I can just make it past the beginning...I may revisit this review later.
The Last Gas Station, 4.5/5, Play Time: 3.9 hours. Wishlisted: Yes.
Review here.
Incredibly polished and very enjoyable pixel game where you're running one of the last gas stations out in the middle of nowhere where strange happenings may or may not be afoot.
Like many other shop simulators, you buy supplies and keep your stock fresh, you help refill gas, and pick up after messy customers. I don't have much to say about this one because it largely focuses on mechanics you would find in other games and the mystery that is unfolding around you is too spoiler-y for this type of review. One interesting thing I will note is that, towards the end of the demo, you unlock "trends" where customers are more likely to buy an item if it's in a trending theme. I haven't seen that in other games and thought that was fun and unique. Would absolutely recommend.
One weird thing that did stick out to me is that the cover art for the game doesn't seem to portray the character you are in the game...? I'm not sure if it's referencing a different character altogether or if perhaps the art changed directions during development. Given the polish on the rest of the game this was something that struck me as a little strange but it's probably not a big deal to anyone but me :)
Let's Build a Dungeon, 4.5/5, Play Time: 87 minutes. Wishlisted: Yes.
Review here.
Absurdly fun! I enjoyed Let's Build a Zoo and this is that but also so much more. There is a campaign mode, a "just build" mode, a creative mode, and a multiplayer mode (which was available last night but I didn't get into it and it appears to be disabled right now).
The campaign demo is bittersweetly short but offers some replayability which I appreciate. You play as an aspiring game dev building a fantasy mmorpg from the floor up (you have a budget, the playtesters leave little reviews, your boss is...interesting) and as you unlock new assets you set up dungeons for your playtesters, you set up the NPCs who give out the quests...it was just SO charming to me. There is even a portion where you play the game you're building and that's probably when I knew I would have to wishlist this.
The "just build" mode removes the company building aspects of the campaign even though you're still building a game. Instead you focus on gaining research points which in turn let you unlock things in a sort of deck building fashion. You're presented a few different choices (more money which you need to build the assets, more server space so your playtesters can save their characters, more bandwidth so you can have more playtesters online at the same time, a marketing campaign, etc) and you have to select one of those choices each time. This was a fun alternative to the campaign mode though I did find the budget constraints a little more noticeable and frustrating. In this mode you are limited to 14 days of in-game time for the demo which felt a little short but I think it offered a good idea of what to expect.
I only briefly looked at the creative mode but that one seemed really incredible. You're given access to all sorts of tools so you can control things at a much more granular level. Rather than randomly generating the starting map you can choose the texture of the tile, you can draw the map, you seemingly can write the quests...I didn't get super into it but I will absolutely be revisiting it because I'm very curious of how in-the-weeds you can get. There was also a mention that these levels will be something you can share with friends or have them play? It was 2am at this point and I had to go to bed so my memory is a little fuzzy. 100% wishlisted and will likely be replaying bits of the demo until it's no longer available.
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Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of February 15 in ~games
sundaybest LinkThere are some pretty hefty deals right now for Capcom via Steam. All prices USD. Resident Evil 4 - 60% off to $15.99 Resident Evil Village - 75% off to $9.99 Resident Evil 2 - 75% off to $9.99...There are some pretty hefty deals right now for Capcom via Steam. All prices USD.
Resident Evil 4 - 60% off to $15.99
Resident Evil Village - 75% off to $9.99
Resident Evil 2 - 75% off to $9.99
Street Fighter 6 - 50% off to $19.99
Monster Hunter Wilds - 45% off to $38.49Some bundles including...
Devil May Cry (3 titles) - $19.89
Megaman Complete Pack - $49.42
Resident Evil Reload Collection Extra - $39.44 -
Comment on Hacktivist deletes white supremacist websites live onstage at a cybersecurity conference while dressed as the pink Power Ranger in ~tech
sundaybest Link ParentIf other folks are looking just to watch the deletion of the websites, that segment starts at approximately 43:00. Thank you for sharing @TaylorSwiftPickles. My grandmother passed on Monday and...If other folks are looking just to watch the deletion of the websites, that segment starts at approximately 43:00.
Thank you for sharing @TaylorSwiftPickles. My grandmother passed on Monday and left Germany as a child because of the war. I think she would have liked this too. My heart is very heavy this week but this did bring a smile to my face.
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Comment on What was it like for you and your partner when one of you was losing a parent "slowly"? in ~life
sundaybest LinkIt feels weird seeing this topic today. I have just witnessed this from a slightly different perspective - where my parents were both caring for one of their parents. It was hard to watch. My...It feels weird seeing this topic today. I have just witnessed this from a slightly different perspective - where my parents were both caring for one of their parents. It was hard to watch. My grandparent's health was already failing when they were moved into my parents' house. I watched countless fights over medication, nurses, etc. Their presence took over everything. Someone always needed to be at home to be on watch. So you can't plan a trip to a restaurant, to a movie, shopping and errands becomes a rotation of the guard, who is awake at night...
I hated watching my parents fight because of the added stress and, much as you described, one person being unable to look beyond what was a very inevitable death in the family. They were so caught up in grieving the thousand little losses experienced along the way towards losing their parent that they couldn't even see how negative their behavior was or how it was affecting others. Things were said that can't be taken back, minor inconsiderate acts that build up over time...And so, if you need to share a random stranger's personal anecdote to maybe gain some ground - that inability to see the future (and the subsequent behaviors stemming from that perspective) nearly ended my parents' marriage. How can you continue growing a life with someone who is so caught up in anticipatory grief that they neglect your needs within a marriage? At some point that death will happen and they will be left to reap whatever seeds were sewn along the way.
Maybe your partner needs therapy, needs some outside perspective from a friend or a family member...I'm not really sure what that looks like in your situation. But today my grandparent passed away. I suppose, for my parents, they will now have the time to try and recover their marriage from the damage left behind. I'm glad my grandparent is no longer suffering. I feel sick from the wash of relief that followed my initial reaction of sadness. I have therapy tomorrow so I hope that helps.
I hope that your situation finds a peaceful and happy resolution. I'm sorry for you, and your partner's, loss.
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Comment on Pope Leo, on Christmas Eve, says denying help to poor is rejecting God in ~humanities
sundaybest LinkIf you would like to the read homily in full, link here*. *Apologies to those who may not prefer a Catholic platform, this and the NCR were the only ones with the full text that I found in a brief...If you would like to the read homily in full, link here*.
*Apologies to those who may not prefer a Catholic platform, this and the NCR were the only ones with the full text that I found in a brief search and the media bias website I checked listed the NCR as being rather conservative, so I chose the other option. If there is a neutral 3rd option, please let me know and I'll be happy to edit the link.
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Comment on Steam Replay 2025 in ~games
sundaybest LinkThe one statistic I'm most proud of is my demo plays! I tried 92 demos this year compared to 61 last year. Actually, looking at the statistics is a little confusing - at the top for 2025 and 2024...The one statistic I'm most proud of is my demo plays! I tried 92 demos this year compared to 61 last year.
Actually, looking at the statistics is a little confusing - at the top for 2025 and 2024 respectively it says 92, 61 and, if I scroll down to the demo section of my replay, it says 88, 57 instead. Is the data pulled at different dates for these separate sections?
At any rate, I tried a lot of new games. Not all of them were great but many were fun. I really enjoy leaving feedback for developers after I try something and do my best to write detailed notes or suggestions. It makes me feel like I'm contributing to something and I always try to be encouraging even if I didn't necessarily enjoy the game.
It's also been really helpful in combating my ADHD - the urge to spend money or play a different game? Just find a new demo to try! They're free and their short nature means I'm not buying anything that I won't finish playing. If I don't like it, nothing but a bit of time was "wasted". And if I did enjoy it? I get something new to add to my wishlist (which has really turned more into a...collection of games I may or may not ultimately buy should they ever go on sale). I would like to start sharing the demos I'm trying with others so that might be on my list to do in 2026. I think everyone should try more things!
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
sundaybest LinkI can't get too much into the "why" but I've been trying to understand how to self-host an app that I found related to ticketing events. I'd like to self-host it to see how customizable it is, how...I can't get too much into the "why" but I've been trying to understand how to self-host an app that I found related to ticketing events. I'd like to self-host it to see how customizable it is, how functional, etc. but I have not found a good guide to self-hosting for someone who doesn't even understand what a "bash command" is and, at least in the one "guide" I read, they recommended I ask chatgpt to explain it to me. Sigh. I am hoping if I can find a good guide that I'll ultimately be able to test out the app AND I'll have picked up the skills to explore Jellyfin. I recently read that there's a plug-in that you can use to simulate a live TV experience with your own media library and that seemed pretty neat.
Unrelated, I'm still fine-tuning the theoretical UI of the games I want to build in Godot. Figma is a bit frustrating (maybe the paid version would be less so?) but I'm muddling through the best I can and trying to make thoughtful decisions that seem...easier to implement when I get there. Someday! As a person who hasn't ever worked "in tech" and certainly didn't go to school for anything code related, I have big big dreams and very few skills to implement them. But that's okay! One step at a time...oooone at a time...
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Comment on Travel essentials: eight items to pack for your next trip – and what to leave at home in ~travel
sundaybest LinkI nearly talked myself into that Anker charger before I realized it was meant for Macs and would not work for my mismatched giant MSI laptop and itty bitty ASUS Zephyrus :( Dang. That really would...I nearly talked myself into that Anker charger before I realized it was meant for Macs and would not work for my mismatched giant MSI laptop and itty bitty ASUS Zephyrus :( Dang. That really would have tipped me into "I need it" territory. Honestly, my tech situation for travel is far from optimized and is more of a "well, I'm satisfied if the hotel has working outlets near my bed". Even in the nicest hotels the outlets seem a hit or miss...
In general, I'm far more interested in tiny...what would you call them? Creature comforts? I like things that smell nice, I like my soaps being organized, I like mini lint rollers that fit in my purse or blister bandaids for all the extra walking, etc. Those little things make traveling easier to bear when I'm very much a homebody. Traveling is great but I always miss my cat at the end of the day.
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Comment on iOS 26 is here in ~tech
sundaybest LinkIs there a place where I can view the changes that are being made between different iOS versions? I'm on a 13 Pro and currently have iOS 18.6.2 with the option to upgrade to 18.7 but I'm a bit...Is there a place where I can view the changes that are being made between different iOS versions?
I'm on a 13 Pro and currently have iOS 18.6.2 with the option to upgrade to 18.7 but I'm a bit hesitant to do so without understanding what features might be changed. It was a while ago but I was genuinely heartbroken when Apple removed skeuomorphic page turning from their Book app (but later returned it, yay!) so I get pretty nervous when my phone tells me it wants to update things. Is there any benefit to functionality in updating to 18.7 or will my phone then just want to jump to 26? I did a very basic search along the lines of "see changes between iOS versions" but that brought up a slew of articles talking about design changes between iOS versions which isn't really what I want >_<
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Comment on What's your go-to hot sauce? in ~food
sundaybest Link ParentAgreed! I really like the flavor and it is fantastic on eggs :) great addition on avocado toast with egg too.Agreed! I really like the flavor and it is fantastic on eggs :) great addition on avocado toast with egg too.
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Comment on What's your go-to hot sauce? in ~food
sundaybest LinkI'm a big fan of Melinda's "bhut jolokia ghost pepper hot sauce". I haven't had sriracha in years so I can't comment on their similarities but it miiight be in the same family so you might want to...I'm a big fan of Melinda's "bhut jolokia ghost pepper hot sauce". I haven't had sriracha in years so I can't comment on their similarities but it miiight be in the same family so you might want to try a mini bottle.
I'd add a +1 to Tabañero. Their "XXX" is like a spicier version of tabasco if I'm remembering correctly though I don't recall it being that spicy. Their "sriracha honey" flavor was pretty good on pizza.
Cholula's "sweet habanero" is also pretty good and you see that in stores plenty but take that opinion with a grain of salt because I only tried it after accidentally leaving a (sealed) bottle of it on a shelf for a year and then decided to try it on a whim. Might not have been an accurate representation of that product :')
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Comment on Silksong’s real final boss: The translator who broke his NDA and wrote like a dead poet in ~games
sundaybest Link ParentI think you could have a few "test players" from that target community to provide feedback on the translation during an alpha or beta phase to ensure you give yourself enough time to solicit and...I think you could have a few "test players" from that target community to provide feedback on the translation during an alpha or beta phase to ensure you give yourself enough time to solicit and implement any changes that might be needed. Perhaps not all devs have that budget but I'm in a few "indie game company" discords and if they're looking to get for localizations they will ask fans to help them on a volunteer basis.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
sundaybest Link ParentThat's okay - I totally understand. Thank you for letting me know :)That's okay - I totally understand. Thank you for letting me know :)
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
sundaybest Link ParentOh - I should have included my monitor; it's the MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED. It says it can handle up to 240Hz I think? I was originally just testing the game to see how it ran at different presets...Oh - I should have included my monitor; it's the MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED. It says it can handle up to 240Hz I think? I was originally just testing the game to see how it ran at different presets but it crashed when I switched it from Ultra to Low...oops! I'll have to play around with it more later. But my attention might be pulled away by the new season of Fallout 76 which starts today! I am so excited~
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Comment on Rust protection spray services question in ~transport
sundaybest LinkI'm not a mechanic or anything but I'm surprised the shop doesn't offer some sort of cleaning service prior to the application. Wouldn't a coating of that type trap any dirt or salt against your...I'm not a mechanic or anything but I'm surprised the shop doesn't offer some sort of cleaning service prior to the application. Wouldn't a coating of that type trap any dirt or salt against your paint and possibly result in rust? The same would go for the undercarriage too I imagine...I would probably consult a professional to see if you can get your car cleaned and re-coated but I think it'd be worth asking nicely that the shop do it again properly without charging you again.
As for your other car - coatings are preventative and not...curative? If you'd like to protect your other car from a pre-existing spot then you should get that spot treated and covered before giving it an anti-rust coating. It might slow down the spread but it won't prevent it entirely.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
sundaybest (edited )LinkI just recently took the plunge to play Cyberpunk 2077 and finished the uhhh tutorial I suppose? The opening storyline? I had already read spoilers (not an issue for me, the game has been out for...I just recently took the plunge to play Cyberpunk 2077 and finished the uhhh tutorial I suppose? The opening storyline? I had already read spoilers (not an issue for me, the game has been out for years) but I still ended up crying. It all felt so unfair. I guess that's Night City for you :(
Cyberpunk 2077 Spoilers (if you've somehow avoided them all this time)
I know RPGs often rely on plot points you can't change (like Jackie's death) but I couldn't help but feel particularly frustrated by it. Aren't you carrying around a med-inhaler?! We're working for one of the biggest fixers in the city but we have no body armor, no med kit, no nothing? There's some world-building inconsistency I feel grating against how his death happened that feels a little frustrating to me and took me out of the experience a little. Granted, still cried so I guess the emotional impact was still there. But from a storytelling perspective I think I'd have been less annoyed if he'd caught a bullet with me while we confronted Dex together >_< Ah well. Take this as me complaining into the void.I'm hoping I can work out why the game is lagging so badly during...I'm not sure what to call them. In-game cut scenes? I'm not sure if it's related to my character being in the car or one of the texture mods I've added to the game...something is causing some pretty awful performance issues. Everything starts to go in slow motion essentially. My new computer should be plenty capable of running the game with high settings so I suppose I'll need to search around online to see if anyone's experienced something similar.
Computer Specs For the Curious
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
RAM: Corsair Dominator Titanium 64 GB
GPU: MSI GAMING TRIO OC GeForce RTX 5080
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
sundaybest Link ParentDo you mind linking your op.gg summoner profile? I'd like to have a look!Do you mind linking your op.gg summoner profile? I'd like to have a look!
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Comment on Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store in ~tech
sundaybest Link ParentWould you mind (and if you have the time) explaining your perspective a bit more? I've read a few of your other replies in the thread and you seem very...optimistic that this isn't a...Would you mind (and if you have the time) explaining your perspective a bit more? I've read a few of your other replies in the thread and you seem very...optimistic that this isn't a negative/inherently bad thing? I'm not sure if that's the appropriate word but that is my general impression.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
sundaybest Link ParentI watched about 30 seconds of the Wilmot trailer before turning it off to add it to my wishlist :) The narration gave me Henry Halfhead vibes which I just completed the demo for over the weekend....I watched about 30 seconds of the Wilmot trailer before turning it off to add it to my wishlist :) The narration gave me Henry Halfhead vibes which I just completed the demo for over the weekend. I suspect I have a soft spot for any "friendly British narrator" from all the PBS/BBC TV I watched as a kid. I'll have to revisit your review once I've had a chance to play. Thank you!
I've had a rather long day, but something about reading this absolutely sent me. They just became aware of the poor optics of...profiting from slavery? The absurdity is too funny. I needed a laugh.
More to the point of chocolate itself; I will gladly pay higher prices for ethically and sustainably sourced cacao. I also like trying new things so I'll have to keep an eye out for cacao alts like @kacey mentioned (though I haven't seen those at my local stores and may have to venture online to find some). I have no brand loyalty towards things like Hershey's or whatever. I really dislike how sweet milk chocolate is so most candy bars are a miss for me. I suppose I am not really their target demographic. They weren't getting my money to begin with and will continue to uh...not get it?