Wes's recent activity
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentWell you've promptly eviscerated that one. Between the doldrum story, repetitive style, and heavy-handed homages, it seems like the gravest sin here was simply not being very fun. Shame you didn't...Well you've promptly eviscerated that one. Between the doldrum story, repetitive style, and heavy-handed homages, it seems like the gravest sin here was simply not being very fun. Shame you didn't like it, but it let us both cross an item off our backlogs, so at least it was a two-fer.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentThat sounds very interesting. I've seen a lot more games playing with the throwback "desktop companion" idea lately (basically since the success of Rusty's Retirement), but creating an application...That sounds very interesting. I've seen a lot more games playing with the throwback "desktop companion" idea lately (basically since the success of Rusty's Retirement), but creating an application that spans multiple windows to feel like retro software is actually quite clever.
It certainly beats Bonzi Buddy.
Here's the OST for Subserial Network, should anyone else want to listen.
Seems I own this title from some bundle as of six years ago. I've added it to my small but growing Itch.io collection named "Backlog". Burn a backlog item, add another. Now that's keeping it mellow.
... and also because the Humble App seems like it's on life support and might not be there indefinitely
For the same reason, I keep a copy of their Android launcher around. They've already basically disowned it, and it's veery slow to use, but it does work.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentAh, man! I'm sorry to hear about your new job. Who knew Albuquerque could be so rough? Well, other than Weird Al.Ah, man! I'm sorry to hear about your new job. Who knew Albuquerque could be so rough? Well, other than Weird Al.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentOh wow, that's fascinating. I'm somewhere between impressed at the efficiency of that response, and a little intimidated at the display of force it represents. I do have great respect for...Oh wow, that's fascinating. I'm somewhere between impressed at the efficiency of that response, and a little intimidated at the display of force it represents. I do have great respect for emergency operators, though, and can only imagine the strain of that job.
I think "Chaos" is perfect descriptor in this case.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentYou've gone and intrigued me now. They really left you hanging after 100 days?! I would hope that a replay is at least expedited! I'd be glad to hear an update should you reach day 200. We've...The biggest tension is just that they don't know what they're doing and why they are there. Why would humanity entrust defense of the planet to a bunch of high schoolers? And several times, when someone is about to reveal some information, that person disappears.
You've gone and intrigued me now. They really left you hanging after 100 days?! I would hope that a replay is at least expedited!
I'd be glad to hear an update should you reach day 200.
JC's Mellow Flow
We've claimed another one! Keep calm and mellow on.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentOh cool, another Supergiant game being featured. Pyre did always feel like the odd one out, and I didn't know much about it before reading your comment. It almost seems like a sports game, wearing...Oh cool, another Supergiant game being featured.
Pyre did always feel like the odd one out, and I didn't know much about it before reading your comment. It almost seems like a sports game, wearing the skin of a visual novel? I have to wonder if they came up with the story or gameplay first, since it doesn't feel like a natural pairing to me.
I do like how you've set up the save syncing between devices. I've used FolderSync on Android to the same effect, for sharing saves on games like Stardew Valley. Though it's honestly a credit to the Steam Deck that it allows such system-level access in the first place, for when Steam Cloud isn't available.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentI've really been enjoying your write-ups so far. You use a lot of visual language (white glove animations, burst of colour) that makes it easy to imagine what you're describing. Also, I love...I've really been enjoying your write-ups so far. You use a lot of visual language (white glove animations, burst of colour) that makes it easy to imagine what you're describing.
Also, I love making predictions while playing games! I'm often wrong, but it's so satisfying to get them right.
It is pretty remarkable just how much influence Bioshock has had on modern games. For good reason, admittedly. Its story structure and environmental design remain some of the best I've seen.
You'll have to let us know just how much trash eating you end up doing.
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Comment on Multi-Token Prediction (MTP) with Gemma 4 in ~comp
Wes Link ParentNo worries. The URL formatting is a little confusing because it encodes the section symbol (§) into this mess (%C2%A7).No worries. The URL formatting is a little confusing because it encodes the section symbol (§) into this mess (
%C2%A7). -
Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentNice job with the three-in-one. Machinika looks very up my alley with its The Room-style design. Knowing it's short actually intrigues me more. I was just reading through your full bingo card, and...Nice job with the three-in-one. Machinika looks very up my alley with its The Room-style design. Knowing it's short actually intrigues me more.
I was just reading through your full bingo card, and there's some good picks in here. Talos I've played through and really enjoyed. There's others I've been interested in, like Wanderlust Rebirth, but haven't had the chance to play because it seems designed for a coop experience.
I also recently bought Zero Escape, and will be curious to see if you get to that one. I think it's a longer title, and it's off your beaten bingo path, but I feel like it's a game that'd give one much to write about.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentNo kidding! And to just drop an "Overwhelmingly Positive" game that routinely drops to $1 with no warning?! This is like bringing a bottle of whisky to an AA meeting. Truly devious, @1338. Now...The purpose of this event is for me to reduce my backlog, not add to it!!
No kidding! And to just drop an "Overwhelmingly Positive" game that routinely drops to $1 with no warning?! This is like bringing a bottle of whisky to an AA meeting.
Truly devious, @1338. Now pass the whisky.
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Comment on Multi-Token Prediction (MTP) with Gemma 4 in ~comp
Wes Link ParentThanks. Sorry it took me a few days to notice. I'll add that some other resources have since come out on the topic. Google now has a blog post on MTP with a less-technical breakdown, which links...Thanks. Sorry it took me a few days to notice.
I'll add that some other resources have since come out on the topic. Google now has a blog post on MTP with a less-technical breakdown, which links to a research article (Nov 2022) with a more technical breakdown.
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Comment on Multi-Token Prediction (MTP) with Gemma 4 in ~comp
Wes LinkHey @hungariantoast, just to let you know, I was intentionally linking to the MTP section of this article. There's a lot of buzz about it right now and this was the best explanation I could find....Hey @hungariantoast, just to let you know, I was intentionally linking to the MTP section of this article. There's a lot of buzz about it right now and this was the best explanation I could find.
The rest of the article is good, too, and probably worth reading, but I thought that was the most topical bit. If changing the URL though, then the title should probably also be updated to reflect that.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentLibrary Of Ruina Around 25 years ago, I sunk my teeth into the Pokemon Trading Card Game for the original Game Boy Color. It adapted rules from the tabletop version of the game into handheld form....Library Of Ruina
Around 25 years ago, I sunk my teeth into the Pokemon Trading Card Game for the original Game Boy Color. It adapted rules from the tabletop version of the game into handheld form. I thought it was most excellent.
It played somewhat similarly to the mainline Pokemon games. You battle gym leaders wielding specific elements to earn badges, then work your way up to the Elite Four. In this case, however, instead of finding and catching 'mons along the way, you'd earn cards from battles. The game was thus more focused on building a powerful deck, and not on raising specific pokemon.
The game had a boppin' soundtrack, and apparently a sequel which was only released in Japan.
When I recently looked into Library Of Ruina, I learned it was a deckbuilding game with permanent progression through card unlocks. Of course, my mind immediately returned to that classic Pokemon game and how much I enjoyed it. Because as much as I enjoy the current crop of roguelike card battlers, there's just something about full progression that I miss. Meta-progression doesn't always cut it.
I thought then that I was prepared for Library Of Ruina. I was not. After a very long anime-styled intro and lore dump, the game drops you in -- and boy is it complicated. I confess to struggling to even navigate the menus.
The combat loop involves planning out encounters between your characters and the enemies. You choose a target based on the available cards you drew, ideally optimizing for damage type and other variables like the stagger bar. You roll dice for initiative as well as during clashes to decide who wins the exchange.
There's tons of mechanics to unpack, like various buffs and ailments, the stagger mechanic, and raising an "emotion bar" which triggers secondary effects and affects after-match loot. Though honestly, even after three hours of gameplay I still didn't really understand that one.
There's a story bit before and after each encounter. I like having a story, though this one was especially gruesome. Sometimes almost comically so, with lines like: "You got overexcited and killed 20 more people than we planned". It seems that everyone is always murdering or stealing organs or something to that effect. The story did at least seem fleshed out (sorry), and is part of a larger universe from this developer.
After each encounter, you have a chance to organize the deck of each character ("librarian") you manage. I basically just gave them all the same deck, trying to balance each of the combat styles, though I'm sure there's reasons to mix it up.
Winning encounters grants books, which you can then burn to turn into "pages" (ie. cards). This seems like a gambling mechanic that's designed to encourage replayability, though I didn't feel too much need to grind for new cards.
After a few hours with the game, my takeaway is that I think I'd like to go find an English patch of Pokemon Trading Card Game 2, and play with Squirtle and Charmander for a while instead. The macabre story and complicated mechanics just haven't drawn me in to the library.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 2 Discussion in ~games
Wes LinkIt's Week 2. Team Mellow is off to a slow but concerted start, filling in a respectable game or two each. Yet unbeknownst to them, @kfwyre and his team of Mischievous Motivateds are moving at an...It's Week 2. Team Mellow is off to a slow but concerted start, filling in a respectable game or two each. Yet unbeknownst to them, @kfwyre and his team of Mischievous Motivateds are moving at an alarming pace. Will the Mellows be able to stop them?? Find out in this week's episode of Backlog Burner.
Wes' Mellow May - Week 2
Flow Standard bingo 3/25 Fragmentation Beauty Transformation Precision Erosion Exploration Abundance Dimension Contrast Absence Calm Isolation
✅ Hades★ Wildcard Brief Color Friction
✅ Library Of RuinaDefense Tense Chaos
✅ Yellow Taxi Goes VroomTraditional Duality Justice Fear Wonder Distribution -
Comment on Tildes Book Club - Have you started Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov? in ~books
Wes Link ParentSanderson books are nothing if not comfort reads. To me, they feel like catching up on a favourite sitcom. There's enough story to stay engaged, but you don't have to think too hard about it. I...Sanderson books are nothing if not comfort reads. To me, they feel like catching up on a favourite sitcom. There's enough story to stay engaged, but you don't have to think too hard about it.
I hope things improve soon. Sci-fi and fantasy are also my comfort genres.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club - Have you started Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov? in ~books
Wes LinkI've begun but I'm not far at all. I decided to start this one now, and try to squeeze in Tea Girl before the next month since I'm already behind. I did finish my Stormlight book though, so that's...I've begun but I'm not far at all. I decided to start this one now, and try to squeeze in Tea Girl before the next month since I'm already behind. I did finish my Stormlight book though, so that's a big obstacle out of the way.
How about you, @tanglisha? Did you get through yours? I just finished Oathbringer, the third mainline book. I'm enjoying them, but storms are they large. The latest, Wind and Truth, is 1,344 pages!
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Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of May 3 in ~games
Wes Link ParentGiving away a copy of The Light Brigade. Sorry, requires a reddit login to redeem. https://keyshare.link/k/gmk53thdl2Giving away a copy of The Light Brigade. Sorry, requires a reddit login to redeem.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 1 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentWelcome to Team Mellow. We continue to grow slowly but steadily. Pokemon games live in such a strange place in my head. I have a vast fondness for them in memory. They were one of the first games...Welcome to Team Mellow. We continue to grow slowly but steadily.
Pokemon games live in such a strange place in my head. I have a vast fondness for them in memory. They were one of the first games I played that we'd now describe as "open world", and I loved the sense of exploration and discovery. I also really liked the idea that we were taming these wild monsters and turning them into allies. I mean, that's still a cool concept.
Nowadays though, I do have a harder time looking past the jank and older design. The random battles that end up constantly interrupting you, unless you have constant repel upkeep. Losing legendary Pokemon forever because you missed the capture. Or even worse, tracking down the "legendary dogs" with their random spawns. Managing the IVs/EVs to get optimal battle stats. And later, the introduction of apricorns felt like it added more busywork. These frustrations do hamper my enthusiasm to do replays.
Admittedly, my experience is still with the earlier generations. I did finally play Pokemon Black recently, via PokeMMO, and was impressed by a number of the 3D effects in that game. I'll also give it credit for having a proper storyline that exceeded my expectations.
While I feel in my heart that Black is a newer title, a traitorous Google search tells me that it's actually 16 years old. So presumably, other advanced have been made since then... It's quite possible that my complaints have also since been dealt with.
While I don't revisit the series very often, I do give it a try every 4-5 years. And since I had such a positive experience with PokeMMO, I might continue my previous playthrough there to check out some of the other campaigns I've only briefly played (like Emerald).
Also, to set the record straight, Missingno is 100% a real Pokemon, and I believe in the mythos of the Mew under the truck. Pikablu turned out to be real, after all.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 1 Discussion in ~games
Wes Link ParentEarlier you coined the term Portal-like, and I feel like we're also bordering on a new pseudo-genre for these resource digging games. There's older ones now, like SteamWorld Dig, but it also seems...Earlier you coined the term Portal-like, and I feel like we're also bordering on a new pseudo-genre for these resource digging games. There's older ones now, like SteamWorld Dig, but it also seems like there's a bunch of new ones: Wall World, Dome Keeper, Coal LLC, Drillionaire, and the aptly named, A Game About Digging A Hole.
While maintaining the ever-important principle of "number goes up", these also introduce the brave new concept of "earth goes down".
More Supergiant! They're getting some (well-deserved) representation during this Burner.
Nice job on crossing off a game you started ten+ years ago. Those are always the most satisfying. It must also be nice to be able to match the tracks to their in-game context now, since I'm sure you've listened through the Transistor OST at least once before.
Now we just need somebody to play Bastion to complete the quartet.