zoroa's recent activity
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Comment on What's a product or service that you use but don't want to pay for and why? in ~life
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Comment on What's a product or service that you use but don't want to pay for and why? in ~life
zoroa Linkhttps://webtoons.com They're a website where authors can publish "long-strip" digital comics (i.e. webtoons). And relevant to me, it's one of the primary places you can read official translations...They're a website where authors can publish "long-strip" digital comics (i.e. webtoons). And relevant to me, it's one of the primary places you can read official translations of Korean comics (i.e. manhwa).
For the most part, I generally do enjoy using their site. They're one of the more "generous" webtoon platforms. Almost every series that's still in serialization is readable for free, barring 3-10 most recent chapters. You generally just have to pay to read series that have completed, or the most recent chapters of series that are still in serialization.
And you can even use the platform using some 3rd party comic readers (which is bizarre given how litigious their parent company is).
Now that I'm an "adult" and have been wanting to do a better job financially supporting the things I like, I thought about whether it made sense to pay for webtoons in some way. There are a couple completed series that I wouldn't mind reading. But ultimately, I decided against it because their pricing structure is insane.
On a lot of webtoons platforms, https://webtoons.com included, you pay-per-chapter using a virtual currency ("coins"). On webtoons, it's usually around 3 coins (30 cents) a chapter. So if I ever wanted to binge a decently sized manhwa (~200 chapters), it'd cost around $50 dollars. Which I find especially egregious, since I could probably blow through that many chapters in 2-4 hours. I think webtoons does (did?) offer ways to unlock chapters for free, but they were either gated by time (1 chapter/day) or by ads.
(It also doesn't help that there's tons of examples of fan translations with better translations and WAY better typesetting than the officially translationed manhwa on Webtoons)
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Comment on What game is your personal "Silksong"? in ~games
zoroa LinkIf I can bastardize the prompt a little bit, my current Silksong is the Katana Zero DLC. Katana Zero's main story is short and leaves you with more questions than answers. But I still really...If I can bastardize the prompt a little bit, my current Silksong is the Katana Zero DLC.
Katana Zero's main story is short and leaves you with more questions than answers. But I still really enjoyed the 2 hours I put into it. Enough to put another 60 or so into the hard mode/speedrunning content, whose gameplay is way more fun than the gameplay in the story.
I waned off the game after a couple weeks in Summer 2020, and read that the developer was planning on releasing DLC. I would have been (and still would be) totally happy with just "a bit more Katana Zero", and just waited for more news. That wait lasted 2 years, when the Katana Zero discord held an event that ended with a developer walkthrough of a demo level (HD Footage). And that shot my expectations WAY up, since even that slice was showing a bunch of ways the game was improving in all areas (art, gameplay, writing) but developer was still insisting that the DLC would be free. And then we got more silence. For another 3 years. Until randomly, right at the end of a indie video game showcase (iii initiative) we get a new trailer for the DLC that blows me away again.
I'm starting my 6th year waiting on the DLC at this point, and I'm still riding the expectation that I'll eventually get a DLC that's just "Katana Zero, but better everything".
I don't really mind the wait either. It'd be nice if this was another Silksong situation, where the dev is happily making a banger game at their own pace that's out when it's done™.
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Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (April 2025) — Version 1.4 adds a text size setting in ~tildes
zoroa Link Parent1.4.5 seems to have fixed it, thank you again1.4.5 seems to have fixed it, thank you again
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Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (April 2025) — Version 1.4 adds a text size setting in ~tildes
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Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (April 2025) — Version 1.4 adds a text size setting in ~tildes
zoroa Link ParentNo inconvenience at all, really appreciate you looking into this.No inconvenience at all, really appreciate you looking into this.
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Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (April 2025) — Version 1.4 adds a text size setting in ~tildes
zoroa Link ParentI tried: Going to System Settings and deleting the account under "Accounts" Clearing all app data + clearing cache, then doing 1 Uninstalling and reinstalling Three Cheers In each case, I...I tried:
- Going to System Settings and deleting the account under "Accounts"
- Clearing all app data + clearing cache, then doing 1
- Uninstalling and reinstalling Three Cheers
In each case, I experienced the same behavior as in the bug report immediately after logging in again.
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Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (April 2025) — Version 1.4 adds a text size setting in ~tildes
zoroa LinkBug Report: Unable to vote on comments or topics Description It currently isn't possible for me to vote on topics or comments with 3C. Video/Screenshot I believe these were both recorded on...Bug Report: Unable to vote on comments or topics
Description
It currently isn't possible for me to vote on topics or comments with 3C.
Video/Screenshot
I believe these were both recorded on 2025-04-12 (verson 1.4.1), but I observe the same behavior on 1.4.3
- Topics: https://imgur.com/a/NJWqB3g
- Comments: https://imgur.com/a/6OIRKfD
Reproduction Steps
Topic
- Open Three Cheers
- Navigate to any list of topics (home page, group) or click into any topic
- Click on the button displaying the number of votes
Comment
- Open Three Cheers
- Click into a topic
- Vote on a comment
Expected Outcome
In both cases, I would expect Three Cheers to toggle my vote status for the entity in question (unvoted -> vote or vote -> unvoted)
Actual Outcome
The vote button grays out, and stays grayed out even if the page is refreshed. Visiting Tildes in a browser shows that my vote hasn't been registered.
Device Info
OS: Android 11
Version: 1.4.3 (I'm pretty sure I'd had that issue for a couple months before I recorded the screen recordings) -
Comment on Modos debuts an open-source e-paper with a 75-Hz refresh rate in ~tech
zoroa (edited )LinkI was really confused reading the headline and the article, since I was under the impression that e-ink's slow refresh speeds was a physical limitation of the technology. I found some technical...I was really confused reading the headline and the article, since I was under the impression that e-ink's slow refresh speeds was a physical limitation of the technology.
I found some technical discussion on how Modos is achieving this performance in the README of an associated project: https://gitlab.com/zephray/glider/-/blob/main/README.md?ref_type=heads#design-of-caster-and-glider
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
zoroa LinkPokemon Radical Red (Romhack) I haven't played a pokemon game in years, but kept hearing about Radical Red enough that I ended up trying it on a whim. I haven't been able to put it down. It's a...Pokemon Radical Red (Romhack)
I haven't played a pokemon game in years, but kept hearing about Radical Red enough that I ended up trying it on a whim. I haven't been able to put it down.
It's a romhack of the Pokemon Firered that adds:
- Almost all 1000+ pokemon in the series
- Trainers with way smarter AI and pokemon raised with perfect individual values (IV) and maxed out effort values (EV).
- A bunch of restrictions in battle:
- You can't use items from your bag in trainer battles
- You don't get the option to swap out pokemon when you make an opponent faint
Radical Red's difficulty is tuned to force you to engage with pokemon's battle system in ways the official games never did, since even a random trainer on the road might set up a combo that sweeps your entire team.
I probably have 20 EV trained pokemon now that I have to swap between whenever I need a new approach to beat a trainer. I spent a bit of time learning about competitive team building in pokemon, since I found myself needing answers to problems I never had to deal with before (how do you safely swap to other pokemon in battle, keeping your team healthy without items, etc..).
Raising so many pokemon would be tedious in the official games, but everything in this romhack is designed to make it easy to do that experimentation. Once you've encountered a pokemon in the wild, you can use your DexNav to encounter it again. You don't need to teach your Pokemon HMs to use their effects in the field. You can fully EV train your pokemon in 5 minutes or so. If you care enough, you can spend money to max our a pokemon's IVs. And it's very easy to get any new pokemon to the same level as the rest of your team.
Radical Red has been a fun excuse to re-experience Kanto and the romhack adds a bunch of small story additions from other regions (rivals, gym leaders) that I find really fun. This probably as close as I'll get to the pokemon game I wish Nintendo would make themselves.
Artis Impact (demo) (again)
I replayed the demo again (see original thoughts).
I love this game so much. I caught myself with the silliest smile on my face while I was playing. I replayed this expecting to just re-experience what I'd already done, but this playthrough felt very fresh because I'd somehow missed a bunch of mini-cutscenes/events. I noted 20 or so that I hadn't experienced in my first playthrough, and then found out later that there's still more stuff that I hadn't seen.
I really hope the full game lives up to the quality of the demo, because I've been having a blast.
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Comment on What's an opportunity that you missed? in ~talk
zoroa LinkWhen I was in college, a professor I really respected offered to help me get a job a research lab he was involved with. I already had a job lined up, and ended up turning him down without much...When I was in college, a professor I really respected offered to help me get a job a research lab he was involved with.
I already had a job lined up, and ended up turning him down without much thought.
The more time I spend at the job I turned him down for, the more I regret not taking him up on it.
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Comment on Exposing the Honey influencer scam in ~tech
zoroa LinkHoney's co-founder did an Ask-Me-Anything (AMA) on Reddit 2 days ago where he responded to the allegations in this videoHoney's co-founder did an Ask-Me-Anything (AMA) on Reddit 2 days ago where he responded to the allegations in this video
I’m Ryan Hudson and I co-founded Honey in 2012, helped lead it until we sold it to PayPal in early 2020, and officially left PayPal three years ago.
I messaged him [Megalag] directly in early January to share in good faith much of what I share with you here below. I hoped he would incorporate the missing information and context into his follow up videos. But three months later nothing has materialized, with no explanation or corrections issued.
So, I’m here to attempt to share crucial missing context about Honey.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
zoroa Link ParentUp until your monetization strategy, I think you just described Ladybird https://github.com/LadybirdBrowser/ladybirdUp until your monetization strategy, I think you just described Ladybird
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
zoroa Link ParentIt's funny you mention Trails the 3rd since that's the next game I need to play in the franchise! I guess my issue is less with "dialogue scenes I can't skip" and more with "dialogue scenes I...It's funny you mention Trails the 3rd since that's the next game I need to play in the franchise! I guess my issue is less with "dialogue scenes I can't skip" and more with "dialogue scenes I can't progress through at the pace I would like".
In the first few minutes of Grandia, the pace I wanted was "extremely fast" since it didn't feel like they were saying much of anything yet and I wanted to get to gameplay.
I thought the first two Trails games were pretty good at letting me speed through dialog I wasn't interested in, which admittently wasn't much of it.
People spoke highly enough about Grandia that I might go back to it eventually if I'm ever in the mood to futz with performance or quality of life mods.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
zoroa (edited )LinkSome old thoughts (~ 2024-11-28) when I tried to play Grandia that I just never posted Grandia I'd heard good things about Grandia's battle system and the story, and finally decided to pick up...Some old thoughts (~ 2024-11-28) when I tried to play Grandia that I just never posted
Grandia
I'd heard good things about Grandia's battle system and the story, and finally decided to pick up during the Autumn Sale. It then hit me with what felt like all of my pet peeves with video games, and I ended up refunding it:
- The first time you get control of your character is after what feels like 15 minutes of unskippable credits, and then multiple cutscenes.
- You can't skip voice acted dialogue.
- I've never played the original, but I think a lot of the HD filters they applied probably made the game look worse?
- Performance was atrocious.
edit: crediates (?) -> credits
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Comment on CITY The Animation | Preview 1 in ~anime
zoroa LinkNichijou is probably one of the funniest anime I've ever watched, so I was over the moon a few years ago when I found out the author had published another manga City. I'm pretty sure City had me...Nichijou is probably one of the funniest anime I've ever watched, so I was over the moon a few years ago when I found out the author had published another manga City. I'm pretty sure City had me laughing more than Nichijou, so I'm really excited to watch this.
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Comment on Post something from your notes app in ~talk
zoroa LinkContext: A chat message that made me laugh, directed at someone who was being unruly in the chat of a livestream. Context: Note dated 2024-07-04 Context: This was relatively soon after I'd started..."I bet he's 15 or 16 with parents that tried"
Context: A chat message that made me laugh, directed at someone who was being unruly in the chat of a livestream.
Got rid of my Radeon HD 7770 that I got from
<Classmate>in<Middle School>. Was the thing that let me start playing video games (Minecraft + Rocket League) on my PC.He was running 2 of those cards in SLI, had just upgraded his PC, and just gave it to me for free. Was really thankful for that.
Context: Note dated 2024-07-04
Watched a Game Developers Conference (GDC) talk called Make the Trailer Before the Game: A Marketing First Way to Prototype by Derek Lieu .
Why wait until the game is deep in production before you think of its first trailer? Thinking about what a trailer for your game will look like when you're at the prototyping phase can be an effective lens through which you can assess the appeal and viability of a game idea and show it to collaborators and business partners. Prolific game trailer editor Derek Lieu shares step-by-step instructions and best practices for conceiving game ideas via mockup trailers.
The key insight to this talk was that thinking about marketing early helps identify the selling points of a project, and gives it a north star during development.
That point feels a lot like my entry from [[2023-10-29]], and Derek gives a more articulate argument for why "marketing-first" is important in a way that I think is cross-disciplinary.
Context: This was relatively soon after I'd started wrapping up a programming project, and realised that I didn't know how to communicate the value of what I made. Sure, if you gave me 5 minutes I could stumble my way through it. But I had no elevator pitch. This talk helped me realize that figuring out your "elevator pitch" early is helpful in a ton of ways.
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Comment on Post something from your notes app in ~talk
zoroa Link ParentThis made me laugh more than it should've.The singular of erotica is eroticum
This made me laugh more than it should've.
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Comment on How come the mods on here keep editing the titles of my post to be exactly what they already were? in ~tildes
zoroa Link ParentOh wow, I've had Tildes ReExtended installed for over a year and didn't know this was a thing. Thanks for shouting out the feature!Oh wow, I've had Tildes ReExtended installed for over a year and didn't know this was a thing. Thanks for shouting out the feature!
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Comment on Introducing two new PebbleOS watches! in ~tech
zoroa Link Parent- The first new Pebble smartwatches are coming later this year, The VergeThe first watch that Migicovsky and Core plan to ship is called the Core 2 Duo (not to be confused with the old Intel processor), which Migicovsky says will cost $149 and will ship in July. The name explains the whole idea, he says: “It’s like a Pebble 2, but it’s made by Core devices. And then ‘Duo’ is for do-over.”
- The first new Pebble smartwatches are coming later this year, The Verge
Totally fair. The calculus of price to enjoyment never really worked out for me, so I just stick to their free stuff and move on.
My dream would be if they offered something like VIZ or Shonen Jump manga subscriptions , which as far as I can tell are just a flat fee to read as much of their catalog as you want.