skaruresonic

[skaruresonic]

Don't wanna reveal too much because this is still very much in the brainstorming stages, but since the project is going to tackle themes of commodification... I was thinking Eggman might serve a role as an antagonistic shopkeeper who locks many of Sonic's basic features behind an impossibly expensive paywall. Merely talking to him will cost money.

So then I sketched this lmaoooo. buy my shit or scram, Sonic

Sonic: Eggman was such a drag. Every day he'd eat the same kind of food, dress the same, code the same kind of games... Yeah, he was just that kind of guy. But then one day, he goes and kills us all! He couldn't even be original about the way he did it. I'm not complaining... I was dying of boredom anyway. But guess what? We'll be coming back, and he's bringing his new toys with him.

me: Sonic I just wanted to play a VN wtf

[skaruresonic]

Sonic: Eggman was such a drag. Every day he'd eat the same kind of food, dress the same, code the same kind of games... Yeah, he was just that kind of guy. But then one day, he goes and kills us all! He couldn't even be original about the way he did it. I'm not complaining... I was dying of boredom anyway. But guess what? We'll be coming back, and he's bringing his new toys with him.

me: Sonic I just wanted to play a VN wtf

[skaruresonic]

He also made maid robots to sweep the floors of the inside of the Egg Carrier:

You're so right about Eggman being sexist, and I am tired of pretending to be fine with fanon saying he isn't.

You raised a question for me: has canon Eggman ever created another feminine (ish) machine other than Sage? I think he had Mom-Bot and Cute-Bot in Sonic Boom but that's a very different Eggman. Her design is also quite different to anything else he has made.

I wouldn't go so far as to say 'the only girl robot he ever made is one he sees as his possession', because they're all his possessions, but he definitely does use Sage differently to the others. Could be because she's more advanced but it did strike me interesting.

Yeah it's just funny when you see people running with a bio and using to say he drinks respect women juice and shit and cares about anyone else's rights than his own, when in the games he's boldly and unashamedly being a huge sexist. Get real and acknowledge just how much of a asshole he is lol

Eggman rarely creates feminine robots/ones that are supposed to be female but they do exist. Like two of the Hard Boiled Heavies which surprisingly keep the same build as the male ones, you wouldn't expect it if it wasn't for the bios

But then he also creates ones that look like this lol

It's very "this is the girl so she's pink and has very pronounced eyelashes" type shit so then suddenly the Hard Boiled Heavies' genders look like an after thought in comparison but even then 1/2 is pink too lol

I'm of the theory that Eggman didn't design Sage because she was just a disembodied voice at first. She just came out like that when she manifested as an actual being, hence why he didn't see her as a she and only a program and "it" initially

Otherwise chances are her design would've been a lot more exaggeratedly stereotypical. The only thing he's confirmed to have designed for her appearance are her shoes in Sonic Channel because he said she was "unbecoming" without them

And you can see the attempts he wasn't happy with in the back so he engineered shoes for her until he felt she looked acceptable enough to be his creation and be seen around him lol

His battle robots and immediate assistants are always designed to be male deliberately so it's telling that the female creation/female in general that he thinks most positively of and has in the most important role is the one he didn't actually design to be female as just a program and voice at first and has proven herself to be loyal and perfectly effective and useful to him

[skaruresonic]

There's a lot to be said about the idea of the aesthetics of depth. How, if video game stories simply adopt aesthetics and commonly-agreed hallmarks of "good writing," then they will be considered good, regardless of whether the content is actually well-written from a literary standard or whether the gameplay complements the writing. And what does a "literary standard" mean for an interactive medium? What are the biases we might be dragging into that? How does all of this manifest in fandom spaces and discussions of remakes vs. originals? How do those implicit expectations of "progress" and "depth" impact game preservation? No longer are games considered historical artifacts to be studied and preserved for posterity, but products to consume and discard, because they've failed to achieve some sort of imaginary rubric of potential.

I consider many Sonic games to be well-written because they are thematically coherent. They have something to say, and they say it well. Of the entire series, I would consider SatSR the most well-written from a literary standard because it employs masterful characterization as well as meaningful symbolism and subtext. But that doesn't necessarily make the others badly-written. In that vein, I think I want to explore the idea that simplicity is taken as a sign of shallowness on the game's part when the player is refusing to engage with the work in a meaningful way.

I know they might get dismissed as trite, but meta elements really do form the backbone of the VN's themes. And this commentary wouldn't really exist without the medium being an interactive one.

OaS was about the player's relationship to Sonic and the idea that, even though Sonic may be considered just a means to an end, he still considers you a friend; therefore there is an added moral dimension to indulging your curiosity in his games just because you can, prioritizing your desires over his welfare.

I think, as an extension of those themes, this new project will explore remake culture and game preservation. Specifically, the commodification of the creative process.

OaS was also designed to critique the idea that Sonic is just a "vehicle" to get you from point A to point B, inspired by an old forum post that described Sonic as such in order to portray Modern as "soulless" compared to Classic; similarly, I just saw a post implicating that Sonic games aren't well-written because they, seemingly, lack a focus on long-term consequences.

...So I think maybe now I want to critique the idea that Sonic games are devoid of literary merit just because they don't fulfill player expectations. Should they be under onus to show us the gritty details? Why does the player harbor these expectations? How to meet a game halfway, and what does that look like? Etc.

[skaruresonic]

I know they might get dismissed as trite, but meta elements really do form the backbone of the VN's themes. And this commentary wouldn't really exist without the medium being an interactive one.

OaS was about the player's relationship to Sonic and the idea that, even though Sonic may be considered just a means to an end, he still considers you a friend; therefore there is an added moral dimension to indulging your curiosity in his games just because you can, prioritizing your desires over his welfare.

I think, as an extension of those themes, this new project will explore remake culture and game preservation. Specifically, the commodification of the creative process.

OaS was also designed to critique the idea that Sonic is just a "vehicle" to get you from point A to point B, inspired by an old forum post that described Sonic as such in order to portray Modern as "soulless" compared to Classic; similarly, I just saw a post implicating that Sonic games aren't well-written because they, seemingly, lack a focus on long-term consequences.

...So I think maybe now I want to critique the idea that Sonic games are devoid of literary merit just because they don't fulfill player expectations. Should they be under onus to show us the gritty details? Why does the player harbor these expectations? How to meet a game halfway, and what does that look like? Etc.

[skaruresonic]

OaS style babeyyyy

[skaruresonic]

On a Monday. Sonic trudges into the SEGA office with a coffee cup labeled "FML." it'll be a big hit with all the kids, you'll see

randomthefox said: Even after finishing the game you're not safe from feature creep lol

Even if it's been two years? :P

The original plan was to add CGs for important character moments, but since that fell through, I don't think I'd want to add onto the original game so much as make a new story set in the same universe. not sure if that counts as feature creep so much as sequelitis

the checkers. they call out to me

[skaruresonic]

randomthefox said: Even after finishing the game you're not safe from feature creep lol

Even if it's been two years? :P

The original plan was to add CGs for important character moments, but since that fell through, I don't think I'd want to add onto the original game so much as make a new story set in the same universe. not sure if that counts as feature creep so much as sequelitis

the checkers. they call out to me

[skaruresonic]

...now that I'm remembering it, there was that cut Rouge-Shadow chapter I just don't know how well those two would fit the aesthetic and such

getting the urge to make yet another Sonic VN set in OaS's universe. tbh I really miss the process of making something like OaS. the aesthetic. the vibe. the writing. even the frustration seems a distant memory since I've gained a lot more experience since them, so the VN-making process probably wouldn't be as difficult as it was before.

I don't want to remake the VN, necessarily, but I do want to do something with the universe again, if just to play around in the sandbox a little while longer.

huehuehuehue Sonic sprites <3

[skaruresonic]

what if it really was an uneventful Sunday......

lol. lmao. nah son

we're gettin weird with it

getting the urge to make yet another Sonic VN set in OaS's universe. tbh I really miss the process of making something like OaS. the aesthetic. the vibe. the writing. even the frustration seems a distant memory since I've gained a lot more experience since them, so the VN-making process probably wouldn't be as difficult as it was before.

I don't want to remake the VN, necessarily, but I do want to do something with the universe again, if just to play around in the sandbox a little while longer.

huehuehuehue Sonic sprites <3

[skaruresonic]

getting the urge to make yet another Sonic VN set in OaS's universe. tbh I really miss the process of making something like OaS. the aesthetic. the vibe. the writing. even the frustration seems a distant memory since I've gained a lot more experience since them, so the VN-making process probably wouldn't be as difficult as it was before.

I don't want to remake the VN, necessarily, but I do want to do something with the universe again, if just to play around in the sandbox a little while longer.

huehuehuehue Sonic sprites <3

[skaruresonic]

I think I need a break moreso than anything. The troll comment just Hit Me Wrong in a time when I was feeling vulnerable.

I don't mean to walk away from HL, but I do nurse doubts about whether my writing has a place here. There's a lot of stuff I need to sort out in my head before I can be in any proper space to write.

It's funny because I remember being so afraid to publish HL fic back in 2018 when there was a similar draught. What pushed me to do it was the thought that "Well, people can take it or leave it, I suppose."

At the time I had read tons of fics that seemed so perfectly-attuned to the world and characters, and in my head I was like "Oh God they're gonna think this is shit."

Seems not much has changed since then; I'm still the same anxious bundle of Gonna Scream The Whole Time While Writing, Someone Please Take the Wheel.

Some of my frustration comes from the fact that I've always felt like a second-rate writer compared to others, not just in HL, but in any fandom. I look at my prose and my descriptions are lacking and the prose is beige and the characterization is shit. I see such poetry in others' writing, and all I see in mine are the rough edges.

There are always better writers: you'd think that fact would be humbling, if not freeing. This isn't a competition, and I recognize that. But I'd be lying if I didn't say I often feel as though my stuff is worthless, or easily replaceable.

I don't know why these feelings have been so intense recently, considering I wouldn't even have the energy to write.

[skaruresonic]

Some of my frustration comes from the fact that I've always felt like a second-rate writer compared to others, not just in HL, but in any fandom. I look at my prose and my descriptions are lacking and the prose is beige and the characterization is shit. I see such poetry in others' writing, and all I see in mine are the rough edges.

There are always better writers: you'd think that fact would be humbling, if not freeing. This isn't a competition, and I recognize that. But I'd be lying if I didn't say I often feel as though my stuff is worthless, or easily replaceable.

I don't know why these feelings have been so intense recently, considering I wouldn't even have the energy to write.

[skaruresonic]

Not gonna lie, I've been struggling with wondering whether to keep writing Half-Life fic recently, and I just got a comment that pushed my doubts into full-fledged "fuck this" mode.

Not sure what baffles me more: the fact that a Freehoun shipper read the last chapter of a fic clearly marked Valhoun, or the fact that they believe one half of their ship is somehow tainted for touching a woman of color.

Buddy. Maybe we should reexamine this one because those are some rank implications.

Yes, it's probably a troll comment not worth acknowledging. Normally I'd agree with that. But given the fact that my HL fics struggle to get hits these days despite the content being the same as it was in 2018, just with perhaps sparser prose, I just don't see the benefit in continuing.

I've suspected for a long time now that the main reason for the steep drop-off in engagement isn't that I became a bad writer overnight, necessarily, I've always been a bad writer yarhar but because people realized I shipped Valhoun. Something I shipped since 2015 but never made public knowledge until several years ago out of fear that folks would Not Be Normal about it. One day people like my fics, and the next, radio silence.

I get it, but... It also makes me feel used, in a way. As though their acceptance was always conditional and hinged on their assumptions that I'd somehow agreed to never write any questionable content.

And it's like, sir, this is a Wendy's Half-Life. You know? The M-rated series where you shoot everything into bloody giblets and fight against alien fascism? I can have murder and torture in my fics, but not smut of my rarepair?

And then I feel guilty for thinking like this because there are a handful of lovely readers who do continue to support my work despite me being a hermit who's like Do Not Perceive Me in general. It's just... you definitely notice when the party you're bringing pizza into suddenly looks you askance and starts avoiding you.

At the risk of sounding extremely petty, I find it wild how I can spend six years writing a fic that puts almost every major character through extreme emotional and physical torment, yet it's a Valhoun fic that has folks reaching for their smelling salts.

I feel like at this point I've given about as much grace to nonshippers as I've could. I've never tried dragging you into liking it if it's not your cup of tea; curating your online experience and all that. All I've ever asked was to not be kicked in the face while you head out the door, and yet.

I'm done, dudes. I literally cannot right now. I need a smoke break and I don't even smoke

[skaruresonic]

A Ghost's Pumpkin Soup implies that the Master Emerald's power allows Knuckles to sense its shards.

There's also nothing to suggest Rouge inserted the dark blue Emerald into the Eclipse Cannon before the team returned to Prison Island, so you could easily assume she just took it with her to Security Hall.

This idea that the chaos emeralds are "drawn" to one another never really comes up in any other context, the only reason it seems like it was brought up here is Tails expositing about how he can use that factor to triangulate the location of the other emeralds. The implication to me seems to be that, speaking of dragon ball, the concept of an "emerald radar" would only be possible if he already had a chaos emerald on hand in the first place. It's only because he has one, and they act as magnets to each other, that he can hone in on that to find where the others are. But potentially wouldn't be able to detect them on their own if he was empty handed.

To my knowledge there has never been a depiction of an "emerald detector" that contradicts this information. Tails HAS an emerald detector in Sonic Riders intro cutscene that looks exactly like the dragon ball radar,

however one can infer that Sonic Tails and Knuckles already had an emerald of their own in that scene since one is needed to function as an entry fee for the Grand Prix, and there's never a scene after the intro showing them finding one to use as an entry fee. Therefore they must have already had this one before the intro scene. (It is also notable that the emerald Sonic uses for his entry fee is the yellow one, the same one Shadow also already has in his inventory at the start of Shadow Generations with no explanation of 'how' he found it.)

Eggman Nega also uses an emerald radar in Sonic Rivals 2, but in that game his radar is explicitly powered by the master emerald which Nega stole.

So to my knowledge in the video games, any kind of Emerald detection mechanism requires an emerald in the users inventory to be able to use that magnetism feature as explained in SA2 to locate the other emeralds.

Long story short: the IDW comics are non canon and Ian Flynn doesn't know anything about the franchise.

You can't just have a radar that detects the emeralds unless you already have an emerald on hand. They aren't the dragon balls. They don't give off a detectable radiation signature. They attract each other like magnets, and that's the only way Tails or anyone else is able to use any kind of technology to locate them. The "emerald detector" would act more like a compass than a radar, by that logic.

Knuckles and Rouge are able to "sense" emeralds as mechanically represented by the radar system in SA1 and 2. But considering this radar also works for the secret keys to Eggmans base, it seems to be an attribute of their finely attuned senses as expert treasure hunters. Rather than an inherent feature of the emeralds that they are sensitive to in some way.

[skaruresonic]

How to use Em Dash (—) and Semi Colon ( ; )

Since the ai accusations are still being thrown around, here's how i personally like to use these GASP ai telltales. 🦄✨

Em Dashes (—)

To emphasize a shift / action / thought.

They're accusing us—actually accusing us—of using AI.

To add drama.

They dismissed our skills as AI—didn't even think twice, the dimwits—and believed they were onto something.

To insert a sudden thought. Surely they wouldn't do that to us—would they?

To interrupt someone's speech. "Hey, please don't say that. I honed my craft through years of blood and tears—" "Shut up, prompter."

To interrupt someone's thoughts / insert a sudden event.

We're going to get those kudos. We're going to get those reblogs—

A chronically online Steve commented, “it sounds like ai, idk.”

Semi Colons ( ; )

To join two closely related independent sentences / connect ideas.

Not only ChatGPT is capable of correct punctuation; who do you think it learned from in the first place?

Ultimate pro tip: use them whenever the fuck you want. You don't owe anyone your creative process. 🌈

[skaruresonic]

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