#(according to steam screenshots)

[adorablegorilla]

The best part of the StS 2 Reveal Trailer for me is the lineup shot

Ironclad and Silent are both clearly in battle-ready positions, prepared to fight, and meanwhile the new character is like

HITTING THE SASSIEST POSE IVE SEEN FROM A SKELETON

She isn't just here to Slay The Spire, she's here to SLAYYYYYYYYY The Spire (Two)!

[critfailcleric]

OCtober day 5 - re-designed oc

I thought this would be fitting for my longtime companion Nyx Dragonwhiskey. I started playing Elder Scrolls Online back in 2019 and since then, it has become my biggest comfort game. It has seen me through deaths of pets and family members, rough work days/weeks, sickness, and more. Nyx is my main character I play with and she's very close to my heart.

She went through a couple re-designs early on as I tried to get a feel for her vibe, and the newest change is a recent one. (New hair, makeup, eyes, and headband) I'm very happy with her current look and I love her very much, chaos gremlin that she is. <3

[felassan]

According to SteamDB, the screenshots on the Steam page for DA:TV have been updated. Six have been removed (example), nine have been added (example). Of the nine, I remember seeing all of them in screenshot format before other than this one of Ghil below the cut. (under a cut in case anyone considers it to be spoilers)

this cap is a scene from this gameplay trailer [source].

[rivalsforlife]

I did it.... I finished aai2.......

according to steam, it took me about 42 hours. Some of that was looking through the gallery so maaaaybe 40 is a good estimate? which is longer than the game normally takes to play but I was looking through EVERYTHING. And comparing to the transcript on the wiki. And screenshotting. And yelling my thoughts at my friends.

It's fascinating comparing the fan translation and official localization! I wanted to make a post comparing everything but I took 629 screenshots of the game! So that's a bit easier said than done!

I think I'm going to sit with this a little bit. And eventually I am going to make posts of my thoughts and try to break down both overall thoughts on the comparison of the translation (less thoughts about aai2 though since I've been talking about that forever) and specific thoughts on certain lines. There's some lines that took on a VERY different meaning between the official and fan translation and I'd eventually love to be able to dig through the japanese script and identify which of the two was more accurate. (Particularly in the case of a historically iconic narumitsu line that is now not at all narumitsu.)

I love this game so much and loved being able to revisit it. I hope everyone's enjoying these games, especially if it's their first time playing it!! I have no idea how long it will take me to put those posts together buuut if anyone wants to talk about something particular they noticed I probably have thoughts on it.

[pictuajjx]

Hi! Here’s what I caught so far in the game. Unfortunately I don’t have any clips or screenshots because my computer is pooey. Warning, this is very long! Then my next post will have my theories and analysis pookies ❤️

In the beginning, it shows clips of the protagonist’s set up. A magazine appears with the headline of Indigo Park shuts down

There’s two graffiti outside of the park, one has wings the other says nostalgia so mostly likely other trespassers like our protagonist has came through

Rambley is always watching you through the cameras or the tv screen

Gear conveniently falls down when he asks us to find it

He hasn’t seen a visitor for at least 8 years 

There is no signs of Salem anywhere besides in Rambley’s ride (now ruined) and their keychain in the merchandise store 

speaking of the merchandise store, the hole up the ceiling looks like somebody is building up to reach there. 🤨 maybe it correlates to the gear conveniently falling

The creators head statue follows us

Something collapsed behind us when we went inside the tunnel going to Rambley’s ride

Inside the tunnel, all picture frames are up beside one. Is it Lloyd’s or Salem’s?

THERES A PICTURE OF LLOYD AND RAMBLEY SHAKING HANDS but Rambley starts glitching

Mollie Macaw is stalking us

After mollie macaws scene of the train ride one of the birds are down

She says something after the lights go off in Finley’s scene

Salem’s cut out is cut in half and is ruined

Mollie’s animatronic says “Not Rambley, he hurts Lloyd” maybe she’s copying what a staff said and therefore that’s why Rambley is not allowed backstage

Inside the backstage of Rambley’s ride when we fix it, there’s a graffiti saying “Lloyds limos” or something behind Finley’s animatronic

HOLY SHIT MOLLIE MACAW LITERALLY SNEAKS UP BEHIND YOU IN THE CURTAINS AROUND LLOYD’s SCENE???

Mollie macaw is shown chasing on the rail road track

The statue of Rambley eyes looks like a fan?

There’s food on the floor that looks like bait inside the cafe

Rambley’s eyes have a loading circle when he plays something (like the advertisement and audio recording)

Mollie plush (Important) mollie meet and greet in jet steam junction was around summer (maybe June) maybe they were meeting the flesh mascot

Lloyd plush according to the protagonist, felt like he was used a lot more

Indigo park would send items to people’s houses advertisements and dvds?

One curtain is torn at the theatre

Rambley says he doesn’t have access to the backstage, but for some reason the cameras still follows us? Maybe it’s because there’s no tv screen and it’s only the camera

Files are dropped backstage

There is a Lloyd statue in the backstage 

A loud screech sound is played when you use your critter cuff on Lloyd

There’s a secret area in the arcade game, Mollie is trapped inside a cage

I think squirrels are making love in the background. LMAOOO

Starts to glitch a little when Salem appears

Starts to glitch after we beat the game

Rambleberry popped out of the arcade machine. Rambley is fully aware of it and says maybe one day he can jump out to take a bite?

Mollie drools and bleeds out in the slide

She takes a bite out of us when we get caught

Rambley stops talking about the Mascots? (Scene after Mollie chases us and gets decapitated, he starts talking about less staffs and less visitors)

Mollie says something while chasing us

Rambley claims that he can’t do certain things and needs human authorization?? 🤨

Mollie is now dead lol

Rambley talks about the registration after this scene, and saying it’s exhausting to say?

He also try’s out the trademark which according to him, expired yesterday

Royal ranglers room closed on us by Rambley, says it’s only for them and tells us maybe we can grow big and strong to enter. What’s behind there? Why can’t he upgrade us now if we’re helping him?

When we enter the ranglers room, it shows camera footage of everywhere

Rambley head has a footage of two employees talking, asking if the flesh mascots will put them out of business. According to the protagonist they retired these. Rambley says he’s never seen anybody wear them before

Poodle plush, what is its significance? Rambley’s pretty mean about it. He starts glitching when he mentions a non-brand indigo park toy?

Retro Lloyd plush according to the protagonist there was a cartoon of indigo park. Rambley starts to be mad about it, or maybe sarcastic? He also seems to glitch every time he expresses extreme emotions

During his song, Rambley expresses his feelings and hope? He also plead with you to stay with him (what’s up with ai’s and their abandonment issues? Not complaining 🔥)

that’s all I have!! Thanks for reading hehe :P

[sunbeamstress]

i've noticed an increasing trend in game names that are like

TITLE OF GAME: ENTIRE OTHER SEPARATE TITLE OF GAME

and it's kinda fascinating to see! i'm a little obsessed with naming trends, names themselves, and their natures, being a subject of endless personal fascination; for most of my entire life, works of media in the US were typically given just a single TITLE. if you make a sequel, that's TITLE 2. if you make a spinoff? sometimes it's a different TITLE, but sometimes it's TITLE: SUBTITLE.

except now we have tons of games in the public space that are called TITLE: SUBTITLE as singular works!

the evolution of the SUBTITLE component of these names is so interesting. usually it was something descriptive that hinted the work was derivative (The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall; Banjo & Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts; Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty; etc.), but the SUBTITLE's role is changing.

here's a fun trend: games with simplistic (possibly difficult to trademark) names, with a tacked-on subtitle whose job it is to better illustrate the primary title

is "smalland" the actual name of the game, or do we say "smalland: survive the wilds" every time in accordance with the 2005 Pimp Named Slickback ruling? do you say "divinity original sin" as a singular noun or are you meant to inject a little micro-pause where the colon should be?

better yet though, what if the SUBTITLE didn't have to clarify the TITLE? what if it could just be a whole-ass other name for the game?

i totally get why you can't just name your game "metal," that isn't what makes this game name so deliciously weird. the name's components are clearly related, but they seem to point to different spheres of information.

what is this game actually called? do you just call it "metal hellsinger"?

is "metal" meant to hint at the musical lexicon and the game is just "hellsinger"?

is the main character the hellsinger and is she herself implied to hellsing?

does "metal:" imply that this is a singular title in the Metal series?

what if they make a sequel with an EDM or a rap soundtrack? do we get "Drill: Barspitter"? actually i'd play the shit out of that.

btw you should try this game, it fucking rips and it's on sale for like USD$12 right now

by this point i think i got across what i was going for, so now we're just taking a tour. this one's fun because both of these are pretty good names for games, but they couldn't seem to settle on one so they just took both. i respect it!

bleak faith is a game of putting on airs; it wears the trappings of a soulsborne but like most derivative soulsbornes, it assigns its own rules to combat, character building, etc.

it also wears the trappings of my favorite TITLE: SECOND TITLE naming convention, but decides to toss the rules out the fucking window. there is no other Bleak Faith game, so this isn't simply the "Forsaken" offering of that series. and "Forsaken" kinda illustrates "Bleak Faith" like, a little? it pays lip service to it? they both give vaguely Judeo-Christian vibes but honestly the Forsaken bit isn't pulling a lot of weight here.

if Read Only Memories glommed on to two perfectly serviceable titles, this is a great example of a game that really only needed one. "Bleak Faith" sounds pretty cool; "Bleak Faith: Forsaken" sounds like i'm about to enjoy 2-3 hours of a 20-hour indie title

and yet Faith: The Unholy Trinity says "ah but what if the game's primary title was so meaningless you literally couldn't even hold it in your head?" i don't know about you but i am looking at this screenshot i took from Steam myself, i'm reading the name, and my brain is still telling me that this game is called "The Unholy Trinity."

now we're talking! these ones are fun because the subtitle isn't a subtitle at all, it's describing what the game is like - and yet you gotta have it there. it's a style thing.

remember when you'd fire up Metal Gear Solid and it'd SLAM the title on the screen and then there was that stylish "TACTICAL ESPIONAGE ACTION" thing at the bottom alongside some minimal katakana? fucking peak aesthetics

this is a game name that feels like there should be a colon there. it absolutely should be called "Bomb Rush: Cyberfunk". artistic integrity, and a less-than-subtle nod to the precursor (Jet Set Radio) have rescued this title from the Tyranny of the Colon.

unfortunately the latte i made this morning has not rescued me from the Tyranny of the Colon, so if you'll excuse me this is probably a good place to stop

[vikinglanguage]

Top ten Danish sayings according to me

My ten favourite Danish sayings/turns of phrase (in no particular order), just because I love language. I say all of these regularly. Enjoy!

goddag mand, økseskaft – hello man, axe handle

This one is used when someone answers a question you asked in a nonsensical way or just in general when someone has said something foolish or nonsensical. you can read about the origin in Danish here.

det kan ske, det kniver med gaflerne – it may spoon it knives with the forks / it happens that the forks are in short supply

Not used in any specific situation other than when someone says det kan ske 'it happens', because ske 'spoon' and ske 'happen' just so happen to be homonyms. Additionally kniv 'knife' and knibe 'be in short supply' are almost homophonous, especially if kniv was a verb.

fra folk og fulde børn skal man høre sandheden – from people and drunk children you will hear the truth

This is not actually the saying, it's supposed to be børn og fulde folk, but it's more fun like this. Originally, this refers to the fact that neither children, nor the drunk tend to think too hard before speaking, thus they tend to tell the truth.

det haster ikke mere end det jager – it's no more urgent than urgency

Excuse my creative liberties here, as both haste and jage mean 'be urgent'. It is more or less synonymous with "take it easy, no rush" – a sort of Danish hakuna matata.

To me, as someone from Western Jutland, jager should always be pronounced jawer ['ja.wʌ] in this saying.

stå med håret i postkassen – to have gotten one's hair stuck inside the mailbox

A metaphor for when you are in some sort of trouble or problematic situation where you feel like you have no power to change your unlucky situation. Often used when you are disappointed as a result of being cheated somehow.

det kan noget – it does something

My best approximation of an English version is "it's got a certain je ne sais quois", because that's literally what it means. It does something for you, specifically, but you're not entirely sure what exactly it is that it does – but it works!

man kan æggehvide, hvad man æggeskal – one egg whites what one eggshells | one cannot know what one should not do

Another pun, I am sorry for being your literal dad, I guess. Basically æggehvide 'egg white' sounds like ikke vide 'not know' and æggeskal 'eggshell' sounds like ikke skal 'should not'

ikke nå nogen/noget til sokkeholderne – not being able to reach someone/something's garters

When someone/-thing is not nearly as good as someone/-thing else. You know, it barely reaches above their knee!

hvor der handles, der spildes – where stuff gets done, stuff gets lost

Exactly what it says on the tin. Its English cousin is "you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs".

fanden og hans pumpestok – the Devil and his pump stick

Yes, this is as vulgar as it sounds. This one is used last in lists of things that are excessive, e.g, vi skulle støvsuge, slå græs, fjerne spindelvæv, dampe gulvtæppet og Fanden og hans pumpestok 'we had to vacuum, mow the lawn, remove cobwebs, steam the carpet and God knows what else'.

Honourable mention for this one that I learnt while looking stuff up in the dictionary:

[ID: A screenshot from Danish online dictionary ordnet.dk of the entry for the saying 'anbringe bagdelen i klaskehøjde'. It explains the saying and additionally recommends the entries for smæk and øretævernes holdeplads. End ID]

Translation:

to place one's backside (ass, bum) in smacking height.

TRANSFERRED MEANING cause oneself to end up in a situation where one might very easily be exposed to criticism and negative reactions from one's surroundings – e.g., by speaking openly about a certain case USE informal

SEE ALSO spanking | the whoopings' parking space

[lulu2992]

Uncovering the unreleased Far Cry 5 in-game Encyclopedia

Aside from the places that still exist in the game, I also found a few that don’t!

Part 5: Cut locations

In the files, each location on the map has a code. Thanks to location-specific Gun For Hire comments (found in a document that DanaDuchy shared here) and other information available in oasisstrings, I tried to find which code corresponded to which location. That took me some time because I had to take my companions to several places to see which comments would be triggered, find those comments in the files, and look at the associated location code. Sometimes, I even had to go find and hire new fighters who had the “right voice” if I knew they had something to say about a place I wanted to identify! When I was done matching all in-game locations with codes, I realized there were more.

The code looks different depending on how important the place is. For example, Fall’s End is D2_HERO_01, the Baron Lumber Mill is H5_MEGA_01, and the 8-Bit Pizza Bar is E5_POI_08 (I suppose “POI” means “Point Of Interest”). That helped me find which code was which location, but in the case of deleted content, also gives information on how big the place was supposed to be before it got cut.

Using NPC comments, as well as deleted notes and other information available in oasisstrings, here are the cut Far Cry 5 locations I could find and their description in the unreleased encyclopedia (or at least what I can hypothesize about those places).

You can read the oasisstrings file here. Pictures from this encyclopedia were also extracted and posted by @xbaebsae here.

(Below, for clarity, “RF” means “Resistance Female” and “RM” is for “Resistance Male”, which are the characters’ names in the files)

Fumaroles (F5_POI_03)

A hole in the planet's crust that belches steam and gases. According to Montana Parks and Recreation officials, fumaroles are not portals to hell.

Here, Guns For Hire would say:

RF1: "Took a field trip here once. Don't remember anything about this."

RM1: "Damn, look what they've done to this place."

Hurk: "Daddy calls this the Devil's Asshole because it smells so bad."

Old Lakeside Camp (E6_POI_05)

Probably some good memories were made here under the stars.

Pilgrimage Footbridge (E7_POI_01)

Located on high cliffs and above water, it's a part of Faith's pilgrimage. Not for the faint of heart.

Here, Guns For Hire would say:

RF2: "Wonder how many folks they've already forced to march over this bridge. Makes me sick."

RM2: "Please let's not cross that footbridge."

High Cave (F7_POI_01)

A cave that is high

Here, Guns For Hire would say:

Jess: "Check out that cave. I used to smoke tons of weed in there when I was a kid."

Western Radio Tower (code unknown)

A large aerial tower used to transmit and boost radio signals.

Abandoned Motel (D6_POI_01)

(no description found)

There was a note called “Abandoned Motel note”. Its content is unknown.

Shooting Range (F5_POI_06)

(no description found)

There was a note called “Shooting Range note” that said, “Grace Armstrong should own this.”

Here, Guns For Hire would say:

Hurk: “Whoo-ya, let's fire off some rounds!”

MX Trail Head (D4_POI_06)

(no description found)

There was a note called “MX Trail Head note”. Its content is unknown.

Boulder field (E7_POI_02)

(no description found)

There was a note called “Boulder field note”. Its content is unknown.

Bob’s Gun Shop (G5_POI_07)

This one is interesting because it looks like it wasn’t completely cut but rather turned into another location with a new code: the Can of Worms Fishing Store (G4_POI_01). Look at the picture associated with the location (see link at the beginning of the post), compared to a screenshot I took of the Can of Worms Fishing Store:

Here, Guns For Hire would say:

RF3: "Never fished outta here, myself."

(Unnamed location) (E4_HERO_01)

(no description found)

I didn’t find the name of this place, but it’s the one I’m the most curious about. The code says it’s a “HERO” type of location, which suggests it was probably important since, in this category, we also find Joseph’s Island (as a whole), Dutch’s Island (as a whole), John’s Gate, Seed Ranch, Fall’s End, the McKinley Dam, St. Francis Veteran’s Center, the Wolf’s Den, and Sacred Skies Youth Camp.

Here, Guns For Hire would say:

Nick: "I think my mic's on. ...The button's stuck... C'mon."

Sharky: "Did you know doctors used to finger blast women here when they were hysterical? I wish I was a doctor."

Grace: "I don't know much about this place. It's new to me."

Jess: "Fuckin' loonie bin. Always gave me the creeps."

Adelaide: "Can you think of anything scarier than places like this? Gives me the willies."

Hurk: "This is where I come to score chicks, man."

These comments, especially what Sharky, Jess, Adelaide, and even Hurk say, make me think it could be a psychiatric facility, possibly for women only. I really wish I knew more about this!

(Unnamed location) (J3_POI_01)

(no description found)

Here, Guns For Hire would say:

Nick: "Ugh. I hate seeing crashed planes. They look so much better in the sky."

This one could have something to do with the “Mayday” Prepper Stash, but I took Nick to that location and could never trigger his comment...

And that’s pretty much all the interesting things I found!

There were a few more “orphaned” codes that simply appeared in oasisstrings but for which I didn’t find any information. There was also this description:

The Forbeth family has loved the Father's message since day one. These people were told to prepare for the Collapse and abandoned their home.

Since the Rotten Mill (Joseph’s Island) apparently didn’t have a description yet, it could be for this place, but it could also be for another, deleted location.

Finally, it seems the Elk Jaw Lodge used to be called the “Bear Jaw Lodge”, and maybe there was a place called “Killburn Farm”, but maybe it was also one of the current in-game locations’ former name.

[drfirsnogayny]

A little bit of reasoning, because why not?

About the number of children in school

(Most of the screenshots in the article are not mine)

🔫 Kindergarten 1 🔫

Let's start with the fact that the corridor of this school clearly has a passage on the right side, where we cannot get to. There may be nurse's and psychologist's offices in that area, and possibly other classrooms.

And here's the class. Here we see six seats, excluding the Nugget seat. Therefore, it can be concluded that the classes are aimed at 6 children.

Now let's talk about the cafeteria

The situation is more interesting here. There are two double tables and one triple table, in total we have a capacity for 14 children.

Given where the Protagonist is and the hints in Buggs' dialogue, we'll get a chance to sit between the characters. In total, there are either 22 seats (if you count only the seats between the characters), or 28 (if you assume that you can sit next to each one). If you take into account the possibility of sitting on the edge, you will get 12 more seats, that is, a total of 34 or 40.

(At this point, I looked at the wiki and found that the numbers 16, 26 and 32 are listed there. I do not know why)

By the way, there are even more places in Kindergarten Stories. Can I not count it? Please

Total:

Class capacity: up to 6 students.

Cafeteria capacity: up to 40 students.

Are there any other students in the school? Probably, yes. First, Monty mentions bullies to whom he could sell the Applegate gold star, which makes these kids more likely to be Applegate students. Secondly, there are two trays in the dining room, standing where there are no children. Thirdly, one of the toilets is occupied by a person, and it can be both an adult and a child.

🧫 Kindergarten 2 🧫

Unlike the previous game, you can see the whole school here, so we can confidently say that there are only two classes here.

There are only six seats in a regular classroom, which is strange, because there are at least seven children, and moreover, Penny said that no one sits with her. I can assume that the other children were sitting in threes at the same table, especially in Kindergarten 2 it was shown when the Protagonist, Nugget and Jerome were sitting together.

By the way, this is a screenshot from Steam, where you can see an additional cube with a lighter. This is Carla's cube, isn't it?

I have no questions for the science class: there are eight seats here, and all the students can fit

Now about the cafeteria. We have four tables with four seats, a total of 16 seats. But since Cindy could sit between Felix and Ted, we have 24 seats in total.

Total:

Class capacity: up to 6 students on regular class, up to 8 students on science class.

Cafeteria capacity: up to 24 students.

Are there any other children here? Well… Ozzy mentions three of his friends, and the third friend could well be another, eighth classmate. According to the cut—out content, he has a girlfriend named Amanda, who could have been the eighth student (another option is the original name Madison, although the game did not mention that she was Ozzy's girlfriend). Although there is evidence that Ozzy did not have a third friend, and if so, that there are no other children at school.

🦆 Kindergarten 3 🦆

There may be inaccurate data here because the game has not been released. I will analyze the screenshots and the demo version.

To begin with, I will say that here, as in Kindergarten 2, there is no hidden part of the corridor, and there are two ordinary classrooms, one of which is abandoned. Unlike Kindergarten 2, where there were two classes for different purposes, the classes here are identical, so we can say that other children go to them.

There are only five desks in the class, and I was surprised by the way the children sit, namely on the corner. I would venture to assume that the desk is designed for one person, in total the class accommodates five people.

As for the cafeteria, it is more difficult to count the places here because of the round shape of the tables.

As for the dining room, it is more difficult to count the places here because of the round shape of the tables. However, if you pay attention to the fact that some children like Monty and Davey sit "straight", while others, like Cindy and Emmy, sit diagonally, then you can get a capacity of eight people at the table, a total of 24 seats.

Total:

Class capacity: up to 5 students on class. There are only 10 people in two classes.

Cafeteria capacity: up to 24 students.

Are there any other children here? More correctly, they were. Firstly, this is Kevin, Alice's best friend, who disappeared with her. Apparently, he is the fifth and last student in Alice's class.

Secondly, these are children from a closed class who left or disappeared after the incident on in previous days. There are probably five of them too, and at least two of them are gardening girls.

However, it's not just the children who have disappeared, but also the adults: the Principal, the Teacher of another class, the Cook/Lunch Lady, the Librarian, and possibly the Secretary. The disappearance of the Principal was mentioned in the trailer, the Teacher may have disappeared after the closure of the second class, and the fate of the Cook/Lunch Lady and the Librarian is unknown, but they were replaced by Applegate (she also acts as the Secretary, so I assumed that the Secretary was here before)

Conclusion

There are very few students for the school, in all three cases. Whether this is true or not, I do not know, since I am not an expert in American standards for schools. All I can say is that the three games take place in public schools, not private ones. First, mention was made of government funding. Secondly, as far as I know, principal is a position only in public schools in the USA (in private it is headmaster and headmistress). But within the game, it might be a good idea to let the player focus only on the main children and "cross out" the rest.

An interesting approach was at my favorite Kraken Academy, which is very similar to Kindergarten. There is only one classroom in each school, which does not accommodate very many students, and there are only four or five rooms in dormitories. Are there any other students here? Yes, and there are a lot of them, they can be found throughout the school. However, they do not play a role in the main quests and they do not even have names, even the sprites are almost the same. They are only needed to create extras and maybe a couple of jokes and hints about the secrets of the school.

This screenshot shows two people at the fountain and two people on the right — these are sprites and there are other students.

By the way, there are 32 seats in the cafeteria

[ouidamforeman]

Hii Ouida! Have you been playing the game Pentiment, is that what I've seen screenshots for on your blog? It's been on my Steam wishlist for a little bit, maybe I should get it.

Also, could I ask for a fun fact about Medieval Monasteries? :) I love learning about history.

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!! I played and finished Pentiment and it bewitched me body and soul :) highly recommend playing thru multiple times to get to see other story consequences and dialogue options bc like just talking to everyone is a treat

My medieval monastery fun fact is that according to what I’ve been reading lately enough Benedictines were so dedicated to breaking the Rule of Saint Benedict that there are still surviving primary sources complaining about it. Like these guys were out here rules lawyering the shit out of the system so they could eat more fancy food and talk to each other over dinner and i just think that’s delightful and very funny. Also that there were presumably enough monks and other clergymen having nasty sex that we also have surviving primary sources complaining about them as well like this one (warning for obvious religious bigotry and descriptions of sex acts jghgsdg, this is Seeing Sodomy in the Middle Ages by Robert Mills)

Like this guy was so mad he kept thinking about it and wrote a letter to the pope outlining a set of behaviors for censure that most people in authority didn’t even want to talk about explicitly lest it tempt others into sin. But i just like that this was considered enough of a problem at all for someone to notice it going down and get mad and have to categorize it all bc humans are hilarious. I find great delight in the fact that even though it could get you killed people continued to just do whatever the fuck even under some of the strictest cultural conditions in history

[satoshi-mochida]

JRPG-inspired turn-based fantasy RPG Runa announced for PC

From Gematsu

Madrid-based developer Fennec Studio has announced Runa, a turn-based RPG inspired by modern and classic Japanese RPGs. A Kickstarter campaign will launch on April 16.

Here is an overview of the game, via its Steam page:

About

Runa is an adventure game inspired by modern and classic JRPG, with turn-based battle system, social links and a story-rich science fantasy world. Promising to keep intact what makes classic JRPG games fun, Runa also features elemental puzzles and base building, as well as minigames like farming, fishing and cooking. Runa is set in a world in which runas symbolize the technological advancements of an ancient civilization. Whether for domestic use or combat, the use of runas is key. Only some people, known as adepts, are able to fully control them and unleash their true powers.

Key Features

-Explore a Huge World – The world of Runa is a colorful and vibrant fantasy one, but also full of mysteries and sci-fi elements. Follow the journey of a group of adventurers who, driven by their unique motivations, find themselves traveling the world and unraveling all its hidden secrets.

-Fight Turn-Based Battles – The “Elemental Break System” is a battle system inspired by JRPG classics: turn-based battles with ordered turns, elemental affinities and strategical approach. With four active and a total of seven party members, that can be swapped anytime (no turn wasted), group ultimates, and a lot of powerful skills!

-Relationships and Romance – Date different characters individually to strengthen your relationships with them. If you’re trying to find that special someone in the world of Runa, you’ll have more than 15 romance options, including same-gender relationships.

-Solve Elemental Puzzles – Solve a wide variety of elemental riddles, with seven different elements and 12 elemental skills at your disposal. Engage in quick puzzles in both the overworld and cities, and navigate dungeons designed around unique puzzle combinations.

-Base Building and Minigames – Build your own base in the city of Enyth by creating and enhancing buildings according to your preferences. Recruiting certain characters or completing important quests unlock the creation of some buildings, including: Residences, Canteen, Dojo, Lab, Farm, Runa Research Center, Antique Shop…

-And More…

Weather and time changes

Day and night cycle

Mixed calendar system

Elaborate dialogue system with choices

No silent protagonist

Elaborate quests

Hand-painted minimaps

Watch the announcement trailer below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.

Announcement Trailer

[zee-reviews]

Cavern of Dreams (Steam)

First time?: Yes

[Note: this review will be as spoiler-free as possible, though some minor things from later in the game may be brought up in passing.]

If you're not aware of what Cavern of Dreams is, it's an N64-inspired exploration platformer by Bynine Studio. I've been following the creator on Tumblr for a while and this game has been on my radar since it released, and now that I've finally played it, I can honestly say I enjoyed it a LOT.

The plot of the game is that you are a young dragon named Fynn, and you are trying to rescue your siblings (who are eggs) from a bat artist named Luna. The cavern's guardian, Sage, helps you out by watching over your rescued siblings in the hub world, and giving you new powers when you reach certain milestones.

One of the game's defining traits is that there is no true "combat", to speak of. There are hazards, and you have attacks that interact with the environment, but there's no enemies or bosses to defeat, and no health or lives system. This works out well, as the focus of this style of game is exploration and platforming, so the experience doesn't feel lacking for the omission.

The movement in the game is somewhat unique, as Fynn doesn't quite have the jumping prowess that a Mario or a Banjo would have. However, he does have a roll ability that allows him to go very fast and even ramp off of sloped surfaces like Sonic. The roll controls similar to the roll in Yooka-Laylee, or the Spongeball in Battle for Bikini Bottom; it can be a little tricky to control, but you can carry the momentum into your standard run when you need more precise movement at higher speeds.

Fynn does get more abilities later on, such as a tail whip to slap objects, a glide, a bubble projectile, and perhaps most usefully, a bounce ability that can not only attack the ground, but also gives you more height than your standard jump. The sense of progression you get with each new ability is very satisfying, and towards the end of the game, you'll find the movement to be very complex and rewarding.

Now for the aesthetics. This game was designed primarily by a visual artist, and my god does it show. The game is GORGEOUS, and does a great job at paying tribute to the bold colors and lighting of games like Banjo-Kazooie or Spyro while also having a unique artstyle of its own. Different areas can have different moods; a wooded lake area in a cozy autumn sunset, the metallic interior of a sentient airship, the creepy black-and-white basement illuminated only by the occassional lightning strike, and so much more. I have so many screenshots just of areas I thought looked visually interesting.

My only criticisms of the game are nitpicks, really. For one, the sound design could be underwhelming at times. According to the credits, many of the sounds were grunts made by the people working on the game, or were sourced from freesounds. Nothing was egreiously out-of-place or anything, and it is a passion project by a very small group, so it's easily forgiven.

The only other thing is that I had my camera set to inverted, but the camera in first-person mode was non-inverted, and it would throw off my muscle memory when switching. Though, there aren't a lot of times where you need to switch to first-person mode, so it was never that big of a deal.

This isn't a particularly long game, it's maybe 2/3rds the length of a game like Banjo-Kazooie, but there's still a lot here to enjoy, especially considering the game is only $13 on Steam (even less if you get it in a bundle). I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who's even a little interested.

[demifiendrsa]

Dragon's Dogma 2 - 1st Trailer

Dragon’s Dogma II is in development for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. A release date has yet to be announced.

Key visual

Screenshots

Latest details

About

Dragon’s Dogma II is the highly anticipated action RPG successor to the cult-classic Dragon’s Dogma released in 2012. Dragon’s Dogma II boasts a richly detailed and deeply explorable fantasy world created using immersive physics, character AI and the latest in graphics from Capcom’s RE ENGINE. This single player narrative driven action RPG challenges players to use their creativity and curiosity to shape their own experience. Whether it is your Arisen’s vocation, the Pawns selected for your party, or your approach to multi-faceted gameplay situations, the world of Dragon’s Dogma II revolves around choice. Both your party of Pawns and enemies alike will react dynamically to your actions on the battlefield, whether you cling to the backs of monsters or seek to dispatch them from afar. Your vocation allows you to choose your playstyle, and whether you will use swords, bows, or potent magick to bring your foes to heel.

Key Features

A Grand Adventure – Dragon’s Dogma II begins in a subterranean jail, where the Dragon’s voice echoes in the fog of lost memories. With their heart taken by the Dragon, the Arisen is set on a path to slay that symbol of the world’s destruction as it soars through the sky on massive wings, breathing flames that scorch everything in its path. With the Arisen’s future veiled in mystery, what challenges and triumphs await on the path to their destiny?

Single-Player Cooperation – Up to three mysterious otherworldly beings, known as Pawns, accompany the Arisen throughout their journey. Pawns create the feeling of a cooperative gameplay experience by offering unique characteristics, skills, and knowledge gained from their experiences with other Arisen.

Made with RE ENGINE – Capcom’s advanced RE ENGINE produces vividly detailed, high fidelity graphics combined with immersive physics and complex and reactive character AI to create a setting where decisions, and their consequences, come to life

Story

The story begins in an underground gaol where the Dragon’s voice echoes in the fog of lost memories.

Ascend, Arisen, and best me, in accordance with the dogma of this world.

Betwixt the domains of human and beastren, A hero must fulfill their forgotten destiny.

What dogma does your heart see through your eyes?

‘Tis a tale of one who shall slay the Dragon and claim the throne.

Keywords

The Dragon – Symbol of the world’s destruction. Soars through the sky with its massive wings and breathes flames that scorch everything in its path. Some are terrified by its descent, while others revere it as a god.

Arisen – Whom the player controls. Their heart is taken by the dragon, setting them on a path where they must slay the Dragon.

Pawns – Mysterious, otherworldly beings devoted to serving the Arisen. With their character uniquely determined by the player and controlled by AI, they make gameplay feel like you’re accompanied by others.

[snakegirllovehandles]

Last week, on an impulse after seeing a screenshot from the inimitable @girlballs, I reinstalled Destiny 2 and booted it up for the first time in, according to steam, just over four years.

I started playing the game originally on its release in 2017, in a previous trump presidency. I played it a lot, actually, all the way to october 26th, 2020. and here I am. playing again.

just in time for the second go round.

I don't think this means anything, necessarily. It's just somethin' that is. a little coincidence. happenstance.

history doesn't repeat itself, but sometimes, it rhymes...

[8bitsupervillain]

Higurashi When They Cry Hou Ch. 8 Matsuribayashi pt. 8

Now, whether or not this sways your heart towards sympathy in the forthcoming events is really something to mull over. Can suffering tragedy at such a young age justify the eventual atrocities one winds up committing in their adulthood? That really depends on you, and your outlook on morality I suppose. Just as a random example, can having an abusive childhood excuse you from ordering the deaths of two thousand or so people?

Probably a smart thing to be doing when you’re not a hundred percent sure if you’re still being hunted for escaping the abuse factory.

Nothing to really do with anything, but how much do you suppose something like the console ports of Higurashi cost to make? Couple million, maybe ten at most (translate into whatever yen amount is appropriate, I used USD)? Obviously you have to pay your voice actors, and the artists for the new art, but it probably isn’t something that breaks the bank right? I know that it’s not exactly a precise tool to use, but according to steamcharts the highest player count for one of these games tops out at around 350 people. Again, not a precise tool because these have probably been available elsewhere for years prior to their steam release (for instance I play them on GOG, except for Hou+ which didn’t release on GOG for reasons I don’t know).

The reason I bring it up is because despite all the new art for some of the scenes, and characters and so on, I can’t help but love when it goes with a relatively low tech option and just zooms in on a characters face. Like the scene where Miyoko is yelling at God in a thunderstorm above. It just pixelates it a bit, and I find that kind of endearing that despite throwing more money at these higher-end ports it still has these small rinkydink workarounds.

Also, and I know I say this a lot, they haven’t quite said who the mysterious voice Miyoko heard was that day. Perhaps they’ll say who it was later on in the chapter, part of me wants to assume it is some aspect of Hanyuu. Even though that doesn’t make a bit of sense considering this scene occurs far away from Hinamizawa.

Another thing I thought about doing just because it amuses me is I’m considering plopping Miyoko’s head onto Arnold Schwarzenegger’s body from Predator.

Yeah, that’s the stuff right there. (The most annoying part is finding pictures for my little shitposts that are actually decent quality, and not 320x200, incidentally I had to get the screenshot myself from a copy of Predator I owned). I don’t know why you people put up with my medium effort sillies.

God’s not done with you yet Miyoko. Although it is remarkable you didn’t get blasted with a bunch of splinters when he struck the tree with lightning. Also, not to keep the plot from moving along, a burning tree does provide some warmth you know? Probably not where you should hide since the people from the orphanage would probably check around the remains of the tree, but you know, temporary solutions.

Also, just a fun amusing fact, when the lightning strike happened here it caused the game to crash. It was pretty funny timing all things considered.

Not to yell at the fictional child, but maybe you should count your blessings kid. You’re out of the rain for the moment, you don’t have to sit in the rain and catch pneumonia. I like the phrase of “it looked like this phone booth had been put there as punishment for doing something bad.” It’s a very amusing line, and it definitely strikes me as the sort of thought a kid would have despite their recent difficulties.

[amaiguri]

^^^ Most important marketing decision according to Chris Zukowski, the guy who studies Steam

(Screenshot from a Cam Stoker video)