zod000'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 are some of your favorite PlayStation 1 games? Any odd or unique ones worth playing? in ~games
zod000 LinkThe PS1 was jammed full of great games. Most of my favorites have been mentioned, but I don't think I've seen anyone mention the following favorites: Tactics Ogre Persona 1 and 2 Soul Blade...The PS1 was jammed full of great games. Most of my favorites have been mentioned, but I don't think I've seen anyone mention the following favorites:
- Tactics Ogre
- Persona 1 and 2
- Soul Blade
- Toshinden 3
My favorite weird/uncommon games would be:
- Tecmo's Deception: Invitation to Darkness (I seriously live this game)
- Tobal #1
- Tobal 2 (much better than the first game, but it is a Japan only release)
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Comment on Discord to start showing ads for gamers to boost revenue in ~tech
zod000 Link ParentWow, those "quest ads" sound horrific to me. Maybe I'm just out of touch with the general user base.Wow, those "quest ads" sound horrific to me. Maybe I'm just out of touch with the general user base.
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Comment on "PS5 has no games" in ~games
zod000 LinkThe comments make me feel like I'm in bizarro world. I have no concerns about games for my PS5, and I find it weird that people are upset that Sony and their publishing partners now generally opt...The comments make me feel like I'm in bizarro world. I have no concerns about games for my PS5, and I find it weird that people are upset that Sony and their publishing partners now generally opt for timed exclusives instead of outright exclusives. Games, especially AAA games, are ludicrously expensive to create these days, OF COURSE they are going to try to eventually sell them on every platform possible.
I have a gaming PC, PS5, and Switch and I use the PS5 about as much as my PC (Switch is a distant third place). My PC is even hooked to the same TV as my PS5 and I prefer the PS5 for lot of games. The PC ports are almost always more prone to bugs/evil-DRM/incompatibility edge cases and publisher's haven't priced PC game MSRP lower in a good decade.
There are definitely some good reasons/situations that I'd choose to play a game on PC over a console such as games where I'd prefer to use a mouse and keyboard, Steam Deck usage, and for multiplayer games as I have no interest in paying for the privilege of online multiplayer.
If anything, I feel like people will be shifting more and more to consoles because I don't think many people can stomach getting their next gaming GPU for twice the price of an entire console.
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Comment on Folks in those $100k+ jobs, corporate types, office workers... What would you say you actually do? in ~life
zod000 LinkI'm in the lead software engineer at my small company and I manage our small team of developers as well as manage our infrastructure, technical planning, high level support, and also software...I'm in the lead software engineer at my small company and I manage our small team of developers as well as manage our infrastructure, technical planning, high level support, and also software development. I also work as a consultant for our sister company because their needs do not usually require full time developers in house. I probably do more work than a lot of the the stereotypical person that you were describing, but meetings only take up 20% of my time. And I am technically on call 24/7 and end up working after hours for support or significant infrastructure launches. My wife was a teacher, so I know how hard that job is and how unfair the pay is. I think that my time and stress are probably about the same level as a teacher (ignoring summers), and I make over double what the average teacher in my area. My wife left teaching because it was clear that her pay was vastly out of line with the workload, stress, and poor treatment by administration.
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Comment on Are Swedish dishcloths more environment-friendly than paper towels? We investigate. in ~enviro
zod000 Link ParentI hadn't heard of municipal composting until I moved from FL to MN, but it is widespread and doesn't appear to be a particularly new thing here. I am surprised this state isn't listed in the quote...I hadn't heard of municipal composting until I moved from FL to MN, but it is widespread and doesn't appear to be a particularly new thing here. I am surprised this state isn't listed in the quote you had.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
zod000 LinkNecesse It's a fun top down 2D open world crafting game. It feels like a bit like a mix of Terraria and Stardew Valley. It's still in early access, but it has a lot of content and pretty fun solo...Necesse It's a fun top down 2D open world crafting game. It feels like a bit like a mix of Terraria and Stardew Valley. It's still in early access, but it has a lot of content and pretty fun solo and co-op.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon Pretty fun game, and the first AC game I have played in many, many years. It's honestly a bit more punishing than I'd like, but I think that From Software simply can't help themselves since they've become so enmeshed in the Souls games.
Unicorn Overlord (Demo, full game is out soon) This is essentially a brand new Ogre Battle game, but made by Vanillaware. It's great and I love it, but the demo only lets you play for 5-6 hours so I'm waiting on the full release to come in a few days.
Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth This is part 2 of the FF7 remakes. I am about 20 hours into it and I like it a lot more than part 1. The game is much more open world than the first game (probably more accurate to call it semi-open world) and there is a lot to do and find exploring around the regions. Liking it thus far.
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Comment on What irrational video game requirements do you have? in ~games
zod000 LinkMost of my game annoyances have already been covered, but my biggest one is around games with time limits. Now I'm not talking about puzzle games or races or things where a time limit is almost a...Most of my game annoyances have already been covered, but my biggest one is around games with time limits. Now I'm not talking about puzzle games or races or things where a time limit is almost a requirement. I don't like being rushed and/or needing a guide or walkthrough to not missing things due to time constraints. A good example are RPGs with time limits, like the first Fallout, or in Persona 3 and after, or Majora's Mask. I remember Daggerfall's main story quest had fairly strict time limits. If you strayed into some dungeons or got distracted that was basically it, you couldn't do the story anymore, just play in the sandbox.
I now know to look for these before I spend money on a game at least.
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Comment on What irrational video game requirements do you have? in ~games
zod000 Link ParentI am in complete agreement with this. I like how Valheim does it where you don't "need" to eat, but it gave you boosts in health, stamina, and later their mana equivalent.I am in complete agreement with this. I like how Valheim does it where you don't "need" to eat, but it gave you boosts in health, stamina, and later their mana equivalent.
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Comment on What irrational video game requirements do you have? in ~games
zod000 Link ParentI like crafting in games (not ALL games, mind you), but I am with you on fishing. I still have never beat Stardew valley because of the fishing requirement and I refuse to go the "evil capitalist"...I like crafting in games (not ALL games, mind you), but I am with you on fishing. I still have never beat Stardew valley because of the fishing requirement and I refuse to go the "evil capitalist" route.
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Comment on Book recommendations, specifically in ~books
zod000 Link ParentThe Sands of Mars by Arthur C. Clarke should fit well here.The Sands of Mars by Arthur C. Clarke should fit well here.
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Comment on 350,000 Californians are now on the FAIR Plan, the last resort for fire insurance. Now what? in ~finance
zod000 Link ParentI do think that that some people are "stuck" as you said. I mostly attribute it to people, mostly older residents well past retirement, simply sticking their proverbial head in the sand and bring...I do think that that some people are "stuck" as you said. I mostly attribute it to people, mostly older residents well past retirement, simply sticking their proverbial head in the sand and bring stubborn. I think that some others also think that there is no way the government will "let" it happen and will bail them out in some way.
I do not think it is going to end well for many in Florida. The horrific FL governor is just hand waving the issue away right now so he can focus on important stuff like finding new and creative ways to harm vulnerable minorities.
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Comment on 350,000 Californians are now on the FAIR Plan, the last resort for fire insurance. Now what? in ~finance
zod000 Link ParentI think you just described my mother and my wife's parents in that third paragraph :)I think you just described my mother and my wife's parents in that third paragraph :)
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Comment on 350,000 Californians are now on the FAIR Plan, the last resort for fire insurance. Now what? in ~finance
zod000 Link ParentThe same, but FL is even worse. In Florida that's called Citizens, the state backed insurance carrier of last resort. I never had anyone other than Citizens when I lived there. The price of...The same, but FL is even worse. In Florida that's called Citizens, the state backed insurance carrier of last resort. I never had anyone other than Citizens when I lived there. The price of insurance, even on Citizens, has been rising like crazy in the past decade (Mine went up over 900% in 12 years in the same house). I think the price increases are going to slowly kill most of the current direct waterfront property. Most older people I know that still live in FL have cancelled their homeowners insurance and are just hoping that anything catastrophic will either happen after that pass away or they can sell the lot for enough to move away. While it may be possible in the short term as most homes in that area are less valuable than the lot itself now, once the cost of insurance is high enough (could already be there), no one is going to buy those lots. It's going to be quite the shit show down there and I am glad I finally left.
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Comment on Texas is right. The tech giants need to be regulated. in ~tech
zod000 Link ParentAgreed, FF VI IS the best FF! Oh, and I also with the rest of your comment :)Agreed, FF VI IS the best FF!
Oh, and I also with the rest of your comment :)
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Comment on Signal messenger releases 'usernames' so you no longer need to tell someone your phone number in order for them to message you in ~tech
zod000 Link ParentThat sounds worth checking out, thanks! P.S. I think you mean the bus factor is high unless I and people I've heard use that phrase have all been saying it wrong.That sounds worth checking out, thanks!
P.S. I think you mean the bus factor is high unless I and people I've heard use that phrase have all been saying it wrong.
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Comment on Signal messenger releases 'usernames' so you no longer need to tell someone your phone number in order for them to message you in ~tech
zod000 Link ParentI was aware, but from my understanding, it can get dicey trying to use it without an actual phone with the app installed after the initial linking. From what I was told, the desktop app will...I was aware, but from my understanding, it can get dicey trying to use it without an actual phone with the app installed after the initial linking. From what I was told, the desktop app will unlink after a period of inactivity and the linking can only be done through the phone app. It was just far more hassle that I was willing to go for them since I know a small handful of people that would even consider using Signal (I'd have to push it on everyone), and I'd still have to give them my phone number. I suppose I could try to get a second GV/voip number for it, but it just wasn't worth it.
I refuse to believe that it isn't possible to make a secure messaging system that doesn't require a phone or phone number.
For now I just have a matrix server set up that I share access to friends inclined to try out a new system.
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Comment on How do you even find quality appliances anymore? in ~life.home_improvement
zod000 Link ParentThe funny thing is that I love some products from Samsung and LG (generally display and memory/storage components), but I feel like the mindset that comes with many of their electronics products...The funny thing is that I love some products from Samsung and LG (generally display and memory/storage components), but I feel like the mindset that comes with many of their electronics products (i.e. tons of features, not meant to be repaired) is coming through and is just bad for appliances. You're right though, substantial empirical evidence would be great to have. Manufacturers, even good ones, tend to want no part in sharing that sort of data.
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Comment on Signal messenger releases 'usernames' so you no longer need to tell someone your phone number in order for them to message you in ~tech
zod000 Link ParentI hadn't read deeply into the original announcement to know one way or the other, but I am not currently a Signal user so I didn't see a bug hurry. For me, it's less the phone number and more the...I hadn't read deeply into the original announcement to know one way or the other, but I am not currently a Signal user so I didn't see a bug hurry. For me, it's less the phone number and more the phone requirement that kills it for me (though I like neither). I do 95% of my messaging from my PC and I do not want it installed on my phone. Telegram allows this, as do most other services, but not signal. It's the only reason I kept around Google Voice for so many years as it allowed me full SMS functionality from my PC.
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Comment on Signal messenger releases 'usernames' so you no longer need to tell someone your phone number in order for them to message you in ~tech
zod000 LinkI was really hoping this would be a move away from requiring a phone number, and by extension a phone, to use signal.I was really hoping this would be a move away from requiring a phone number, and by extension a phone, to use signal.
I just finished Rebirth a couple of weeks ago and your criticism of the beginning is fair. Also, even though mini games were always a big part of FF VII, they kind of overdid it this time. I still think the game overall is great, and much better than part 1 of the FF VII remake.