sunset's recent activity
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Comment on Interview: Firefox’s chief on why he hopes a redesign will help win users from Chrome in ~tech
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Comment on Trolley problem, again in ~humanities
sunset LinkTo add to the criticism of the Trolley Problem: It really annoys me that it's giving certain, deterministic, known outcomes, while real life is anything but that. The moral intuition and decision...To add to the criticism of the Trolley Problem: It really annoys me that it's giving certain, deterministic, known outcomes, while real life is anything but that.
The moral intuition and decision making of humans has evolved over millennia based on real life situations, not on some ridiculously fake made up scenario that will never happen. The "paradoxes" you see are not showing inconsistency in human morals, it's just showing the thought experiment is really fucking stupid and wasn't designed well.
To give exact example: The entire gotcha of the Fat Man corollary relies on you believing that throwing a fat person in front of a trolley would somehow stop the trolley. That's really fucking stupid, it's just not how physics work. Sure, the experimenter could tell you it would stop it 100%, and you can agree to accept that as a given for the thought experiment... But deep down your subconscious will be screaming at you that there's a big chance you'll just be killing an extra person, because you evolved intuition on how physics and inertia works.
Also, deeper structures in your brain (instinct for self-preservation) knows that if you try killing someone with your hands, they might fight back and hurt you too. Again, the experimenter can assure you the fat person won't grab you and kill you by dragging you with them. But your brain didn't evolve in magical "we are 100% certain" made-up world, we evolved in actual real-life situations, where pushing people has real risks.
And I see zero implementation for any of this nonsense in real life. Everyone keeps bringing up self-driving cars for a reason, it's literally the only actual example anyone can think of. And it's completely useless in this example too - if your car is about to crash, you don't spend 816 miliseconds contacting Elon Musk's server to ask whether the life of 2 shoemakers is more valuable than 1 barista, 1 cook and a half-eaten sandwich. Instead, you do the sensible thing and apply the brakes.
The whole Trolley Problem discussion reminds me of classic philosophy. I understand (and admire) the desire to understand how something works and to try figuring it out by thinking about it... But at some point the thinking becomes so esotheric and detached from reality (and frankly up its own ass), it ends up having very little value in the real world. Hence why progress in our understanding was so slow until actual empirical science showed up.
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Comment on What is your pet peeve with language acquisition? in ~humanities.languages
sunset LinkToo many exceptions to the rules that you have to memorize (looking at you German)Too many exceptions to the rules that you have to memorize (looking at you German)
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Comment on The literary world’s DEI checklist in ~books
sunset Link ParentDo you mean tildes? It leans left, which is fine, I also lean left. What I don't want is for opposing views to be silenced and turn it into circlejerk. Nothing in the article was "borderline...Do you mean tildes? It leans left, which is fine, I also lean left. What I don't want is for opposing views to be silenced and turn it into circlejerk.
Nothing in the article was "borderline offensive". I am glad OP shared it.
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Comment on The literary world’s DEI checklist in ~books
sunset Link ParentStrongly disagree. Just because you disagree with something politically doesn't make it objectively offensive. Tildes shouldn't turn into another bluesky far-left circlejerk.Strongly disagree. Just because you disagree with something politically doesn't make it objectively offensive.
Tildes shouldn't turn into another bluesky far-left circlejerk.
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Comment on Do you think you're special? in ~talk
sunset LinkNot really, and frankly teaching people that they are has been a complete societal disaster. Teach everyone that they are the main character, then do surprised pikachu face when they behave like one.Not really, and frankly teaching people that they are has been a complete societal disaster.
Teach everyone that they are the main character, then do surprised pikachu face when they behave like one.
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Comment on What is your dream game? in ~games
sunset LinkLinear 3rd person space opera. With how popular the mass effect series were, you'd think there'd be more, but nope.Linear 3rd person space opera.
With how popular the mass effect series were, you'd think there'd be more, but nope.
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Comment on Owners mourn spoiled food after firmware update bricks Samsung smart fridges in ~tech
sunset Link ParentI've heard pretty much everything outside of screens and phones is very iffy with Samsung, especially home appliances.I've heard pretty much everything outside of screens and phones is very iffy with Samsung, especially home appliances.
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Comment on There's a new "Google Jail" for independent wikis in ~tech
sunset Link ParentTime to bring back StumbleUpon to stumble upon web rings!Time to bring back StumbleUpon to stumble upon web rings!
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Comment on I want an RPG with reverse leveling in ~games
sunset Link ParentWith an idea like this, you would obviously need to design the entire game around it to make it work. You can't just slap it on top of an existing game (like Skyrim) which was designed with...With an idea like this, you would obviously need to design the entire game around it to make it work. You can't just slap it on top of an existing game (like Skyrim) which was designed with regular leveling in mind, of course it will be terrible experience.
I do agree with your general point though, and assume that's why we haven't seen any serious implementation of the idea.
I just think there is a lot of untapped potential, both narratively as well as in gameplay if done well.
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Comment on Everyday/week seems to fly by as I get older, how to change one's perception? in ~life
sunset LinkSorry for being pessimistic, but this is just part of being human. It will get worse the older you get.Sorry for being pessimistic, but this is just part of being human. It will get worse the older you get.
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Comment on I want an RPG with reverse leveling in ~games
sunset Link ParentI googled it, and while they seem to be doing something quite original, I don't think it fits. If I understand this correctly, every time you die, you lose some health but gain attack. If you die...I googled it, and while they seem to be doing something quite original, I don't think it fits.
If I understand this correctly, every time you die, you lose some health but gain attack. If you die ~55 times, you get perma-killed and have to start over. Though with each run you can unlock things that help you permanently for the next run.
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Comment on These cookies are 3D-printed and made of recycled plastic in ~science
sunset LinkWhy are they 3D printing it? If I understand this correctly, they used a bunch of modified bacteria to create some of the ingredients, then added starch, sugar, etc. to create the "slurry"... and...Why are they 3D printing it? If I understand this correctly, they used a bunch of modified bacteria to create some of the ingredients, then added starch, sugar, etc. to create the "slurry"... and then are 3D printing it for whatever reason? Why not just bake the resulting slurry?
Costing around $60 per kilogram (2.2 pounds) to produce, they’re far from an economical solution to world hunger. However, the SIU Carbondale researchers believe they can improve the yeast’s efficiency and, with scale, reduce costs.
I don't get it. If they want to bring the price down, why are they adding 3d printing to the process?
In any case, I've been seeing articles like this for decades. I doubt anything will come out of it, the price never comes down enough for stuff like this to be viable. Maybe I'm wrong and this one will be the real deal, but I somehow doubt the guys 3d printing cookies will be the ones bucking the trend.
Food is dirt cheap to produce in massive quantities and we already make more than we need to feed anyone on earth. The issue of world hunger is logistical (getting the food to where it's needed) and obviously ideological/political.
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Comment on I want an RPG with reverse leveling in ~games
sunset Link ParentUnderstandable, lol. It really makes no sense narratively, especially in story-heavy games like CP2077 and BG3, I don't blame you at all. At least most games started having "Are you sure? This...Understandable, lol. It really makes no sense narratively, especially in story-heavy games like CP2077 and BG3, I don't blame you at all.
At least most games started having "Are you sure? This will end the game." dialog before the final quest, giving you a hint now is the time to do unfinished side-quests.
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Comment on I want an RPG with reverse leveling in ~games
sunset Link ParentThis is a very interesting idea, I especially like the concept of not telling the player, lol. Maybe it could have some kind of addiction mechanic too, so when people figure it out eventually,...This is a very interesting idea, I especially like the concept of not telling the player, lol.
Maybe it could have some kind of addiction mechanic too, so when people figure it out eventually, they can't stop using the drugs even if they want to.
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Comment on I want an RPG with reverse leveling in ~games
sunset Link ParentI think you can compensate if you design the skill tree around the leveling down idea. Make the top ability of the tree super-overpowered supernova or whatever and start the player with that...I think you can compensate if you design the skill tree around the leveling down idea.
Make the top ability of the tree super-overpowered supernova or whatever and start the player with that selected as they play the tutorial. When they level down for the first time , they lose the top ability. Now they have to use one of the two next-to-best abilities. I mean, they could use lower stuff too, but it makes no sense to use some weak "sparks" spell when you can blast the enemy with a massive fireball.
But eventually you do lose the fireball too, so now you do have to use the "sparks" spell. But it's so weak, you need to learn to cast "oil" on the enemy first before sparks, to make them vulnerable to fire.
As you level down further, you have to learn and use more and more of the game mechanics to be able to defeat the enemies, while early on you just blasted everything with the fireball.
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Comment on I want an RPG with reverse leveling in ~games
sunset Link ParentI don't like it because I think it destroys pacing in story-telling. I don't feel any urgency even though narratively the world is supposed to be under direct threat, while I'm running around...I don't like it because I think it destroys pacing in story-telling. I don't feel any urgency even though narratively the world is supposed to be under direct threat, while I'm running around looking for someone's lost cat. And by the time I do get back to the main quest, I'm kinda tired of the game because I did so much side content. And I'm not as invested in the story because the thing that invested me happened 80 game hours ago. It's just bad pacing.
Not having the side content is an option, but then the game becomes very linear and there is no replayability, nor any choice in what you want to do. It's good to have side content, and I do want people to play the side content. I just think it should be paced, so you don't end up abandoning the main story for too long. Leveling down puts a limit on how much you do and puts actual weight in deciding what to do.
I do agree with your point that it's punishing gamers and that players will probably find it annoying, which is probably why we don't see it implemented. I just think there's a lot of potential there - and as the souls games have taught us, what some people see as annoying game design, looks like a fun challenge for others.
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I want an RPG with reverse leveling
You start at max level with everything unlocked. As you play the game, you slowly level down, choosing which attributes to reduce and which skills to forget. Obviously, it will have to be tied to...
You start at max level with everything unlocked. As you play the game, you slowly level down, choosing which attributes to reduce and which skills to forget.
Obviously, it will have to be tied to the story - maybe you are poisoned/cursed in a fantasy game, or an implant is malfunctioning in a sci-fi game. I'm sure a good writer can come up with something really cool to justify it narratively.
It will solve many problems modern RPGs have:
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Solves "the world-saving heroes are a bunch of murder hobos" issue. If killing levels you down, players will avoid killing as much as possible. Like, you know, actual heroes would.
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Fits the actual player skill level. When you start a new game, you are bad at it. Makes sense to compensate by giving you powerful abilities. Late game you know how to play well, you know the enemy weaknesses, you know how everything works. You can successfully kill the enemy with a much weaker character.
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Allows you try out stuff. You can try the abilities before you forget them, see what you like to keep. In current RPGs you don't know which are the cool (or needed) abilities so you might spec into something you dislike. The current "fix" is to allow players to respec later, but that always felt like a bandaid solution. And a bad one at that, as it removes the weight of making choices, as you know you can always undo it. And respeccing rarely makes sense narratively.
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Fixes pacing. Current RPGs start strong with the story, but then people put it on hold to do lots of side content. 80 hours of chasing question marks and 117 games of gwent later, people barely remember what the story was about and kinda speed through it just to finish it, because they are already kinda done with the game. But if you had leveling down, people would be naturally incentivized to move on and not level down too much in the same area.
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Creates urgency. I hate the ludonarrative dissonance in RPGs where the world is supposedly about to be destroyed, but the heroes are busy solving every rando's basement rats problem. It's ridiculous.
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Gives side-quests weight. Do you wanna help that orphan and level down, even though they won't give you anything? Or help the rich asshole who'll give you a powerful weapon you'll need late game? Or maybe you help both and spend hours on the next battle because you were underleveled, making you think twice before helping everyone in the next village?
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Solves item hoarding. People love to keep potions and scrolls for later "just in case". But that "case" never comes because you only get more powerful later on. But if you were to get weaker, those items are actually needed late game. A lot more uses for that stamina potion if your stamina actually is shit.
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Creates replayability. Instead of doing one run of a 200 hour bloated game, where you kinda got tired of it a while ago... you could have a regular 40 hour run and only do small part of the side-quests. Then you play something else. Then you come back to it and do another run, do a different set of quests, maybe this time spend more time in a different area.
Obviously I doubt any major studio will do something like that. I'm asking them to punish the player for playing the game. But maybe as the tools to create good-looking games become more accessible/cheaper, some smaller team can make something like this, I do think it has a lot of potential. I wouldn't be surprised if it already exists as a passion project in RPG Maker or something, but I kinda want to play something with actual graphics.
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Comment on Brad Pitt returning for ‘World War Z’ sequel at Paramount with Edward Berger to direct in ~movies
sunset Link ParentI never understood why this question is so common. Hollywood does not have a recommendation box, movies are not made based on what people are "asking for". The previous film made 540mil in the box...Hey, wait a minute! Has anyone been asking for this?
I never understood why this question is so common. Hollywood does not have a recommendation box, movies are not made based on what people are "asking for".
The previous film made 540mil in the box office alone (on a 190mil budget).
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Comment on Where do we go from here? (Regarding AI) in ~tech
sunset LinkI am concerned more about the public reaction than the tech itself. It's depressing to see how many luddites there are. People no longer trust science and technology.I am concerned more about the public reaction than the tech itself. It's depressing to see how many luddites there are. People no longer trust science and technology.
Privacy is irrelevant, the overwhelming majority of people straight up don't care. Seriously, it's been decades, at some point tech geeks simply need to put their heads out of the ground and face reality: The overwhelming majority of people never have and never will care about privacy. At all.
The fact that FF continued to bark up the privacy tree as their market share was collapsing, was 100% part of the problem. It's like having a sinking ship with a bunch of holes in it, while the captain is polishing the wooden figurehead because a couple of carpenters on board are really obsessed with it.
I don't think FF can do anything to fix things now. You say chrome is "buggy plugin hell" but that's not the average person's experience at all. The average person doesn't know what a "plugin" is. They open chrome, it works fine (no bugs) and does what they want. They'll stick with it.
IMO FF fell behind due to organizational issues. I was a big fan and wanted to donate a few years back. But when I looked into how, I straight up couldn't. Turns out FF was spun off as its own company and I couldn't donate to it, and they were actually being financed by other corpos (ironically, mostly Google). While the non-profit I could donate to was doing a bunch of unrelated side-projects, including charity stuff for Africa, stuff like that. I ended up not donating, I wanted to support my browser, not solve 3rd world problems. At that point I knew FF was doomed, their interests were misaligned. By their structure, they couldn't be supported by their users and were instead funded by their competitor (Google) and a bunch of other corpos trying to sell you stuff in the browser.
IMO from the very start, FF should have been a non-profit financed through donations. And they should have concentrated spending every cent on improving FF instead of doing side projects.