#gits 2017

[disk28]

[salvadorbonaparte]

2024 in Films Part II

The second quarter of 2024 and the films I watched during that time

April

Chuck Berry - Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll (1987) - What I learned is that Chuck Berry was difficult to work with but probably fun to hang out with

Billy Joel: A Matter of Trust - The Bridge to Russia (2014) - Billy Joel ended the Cold War. Jokes aside a really good documentary about a historic tour and how music connects people across ideological and geographic borders. the song Leningrad hits very different now.

Next Goal Wins (2023) - the most underdog story to ever underdog story

Gran Turismo (2023) - What if gamers were oppressed???

Az Men Git Nemt Men (1982) - charmingly bad yiddish disco musical. As a living language, Yiddish has the right to have bad media produced in it. It doesn't just have to be serious, sad classics.

May

Batman Returns (1992) - Iconic

Batman Forever (1995) - Obsessed with the outfits

Batman & Robin (1997) - Obsessed with the outfits again

Chantal im Märchenland (2024) - Surprisingly fun

The Batman (2022) - Dark but like visually as well, couldn't see half the film. I rewatched The Lego Batman Movie immediately afterwards and it was such an experience. I also rewatched the Dark Knight trilogy the day before.

Sleepless in Seattle (1993) - Cute but I feel soo bad for Bill Pullman

July (I didn't log any films in June so I am including July in this quarter, sue me)

Psych: The Movie (2017) - I binge watched Psych in a worringly short time span and then binged the films in one evening. You know I am NOT normal about this because I screamed when Shawn had the glass fish in his office

Psych 2: Lassie Come Home (2020) - the totally legal website I watched this on kept recommending me Beethoven and Hachiko. Also seeing how they incorporated Timothy Omundson's stroke in universe and how he is recovering nearly made me cry. Also seeing the credits say James Roday Rodriguez for the first time also nearly made me cry

Psych 3: This is Gus (2021) - That ending is so chaotic and I hope they make a fourth film. "Previous Holiday" by Curt Smith is a banger

[transbookoftheday]

Meanwhile, Elsewhere: Science Fiction and Fantasy from Transgender Writers by Cat Fitzpatrick and Casey Plett

Winner of the 2018 American Library Association's Stonewall Book Award Barbara Gittings Literature Award, this original collection brings together 25 beautiful, funny, and fantastical short stories of science fiction and fantasy from transgender writers.

In 2017, MEANWHILE, ELSEWHERE, a large, strange, and devastatingly touching anthology of science fiction and fantasy from transgender authors was released onto the world. The collection received rave acclaim and won the ALA Stonewall Book Award Barbara Gittings Literature Award. When its original publisher went out of business, the book fell out of print, and LittlePuss Press is now pleased to bring this title back to life for a new audience of readers. What is MEANWHILE, ELSEWHERE, SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY FROM TRANSGENDER WRITERS? It is the #1 post-reality generation device approved for home use. It will prepare you to travel from multiverse to multiverse. No experience is required! Choose from twenty-five preset post-realities! Rejoice at obstacles unquestionably bested and conflicts efficiently resolved. Bring denouement to your drama with THE FOOLPROOF AUGMENTATION DEVICE FOR OUR CONTEMPORARY UTOPIA.

[aquadestinyswriting]

Old writing snippet-ish

I was looking though my notes folder for something to inspire me and came across this scene I had originally written for Nano 2017. Naturally, I want to re-write this at some stage, but I thought the taglist might appreciate some of my early attempts at Edwin/Selene angst

Taglist: @druidx, @sparrow-orion-writes, @mariahwritesstuff, @ashirisu, @thesorcerersapprentice, @philosophika, @the-down-upside-finch, @lexiklecksi

Edwin frowned as he knocked on the door to Selene’s office, unsure of what to expect after Chrackle’s sudden and unexpected appearance in his bedchambers. While the cleric was no arcanist, he knew the magpie well enough to know that something was wrong for him to wake the Galanite up at this ungodly hour. The frown deepened when he received no response from the other side. He rapped more firmly on the door,

“Selene, is everything ok in there?” he called, “Chrackle was pretty insistent that I follow him all the way up here.” The cleric waited with bated breath as he heard a groan, a shuffle then, finally,  a soft click as the door he stood in front of was unlocked. Edwin gingerly took the handle and pushed the door open, peeking nervously into his old friend’s office. The room was dimly lit, but Edwin could make out the piles of books and scrolls scattered on top of the various tables around the room, but he paid them no mind as his gaze settled on the Grand Wizard. Selene was sitting at her desk, her head buried in her arms, glasses perched on top of her unruly mane of hair. She looked up with an unreadable expression as Edwin closed the door behind him, cast her gaze to her familiar, who was still sitting on the man’s shoulder, and glared at him. Edwin winced as Chrackle squawked indignantly in his ear, ruffled his feathers and took off to land on a hat stand that had been placed behind the door, keeping his back to his mistress. Edwin tentatively looked between Wizard and Familiar for a moment, noting with a great deal of worry how exhausted Selene looked at that moment. Selene sighed irritably, finally pushing herself into a more upright position,

“I’m sorry for the disturbance Edwin, Chrackle should know better than to go disturbing other peoples’ rest over nothing.” Edwin shrugged and walked over to the desk, freeing his arms from his cloak,

“It’s no trouble Selene. He seemed fairly worried and I believed it best to come by and make sure nothing was amiss.” Selene shook her head and rubbed at her eyes,

“Everything is fine, Edwin.” she retorted, “The feather-brained git is clearly going through a ‘mothering’ stage.” she muttered. Edwin crossed his arms and leaned against a nearby table, narrowing his eyes a little,

“I think I can see why. When was the last time you slept?” Selene glanced at the cleric, her own eyes narrowing a little as she perched her glasses back on her nose again,

“I really don’t think…” Edwin merely raised an accusatory eyebrow, causing the woman to trail off and look at the floor. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Edwin sighed and gestured to the chairs by the fireplace,

“I’ll get us some tea, and then we can talk about what’s on your mind.” he said firmly. Selene grumbled slightly, but nodded and pointed to a door off to one side of the massive room,

“There’s a small kitchenette through there, I should have some tea knocking about in there somewhere… at least I think it’s tea, it’s been a while since I last checked.” Edwin bit back the urge to ask what else might be in the larder, it was probably best he didn’t know. He cast another, somewhat worried look around the room, noting how… higgledy-piggeldy everything looked. He had visited the Library since arriving and it was completely immaculate; this was anything but. 

While Edwin busied himself with making the tea, Selene grudgingly collapsed into the wingback chair closest to the fire and ran a hand through her hair,

~If you were better at accepting help in the first place -~

~Oh do shut up you insufferable creature! I already told you I don’t need help.~

~Sure you don’t. It’s totally normal to not sleep for three nights straight and blow up at the junior wizards having a bit of fun before the New Year holiday.~

~I really should have picked a familiar that didn’t know what sarcasm was. At least then I wouldn’t need to put up with snarky attitudes.~

~My attitude is fun, carefree and loves to take long flights around the Garden of Galana thank you very much!~

~I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. It’s just… Of all the people to go and wake up in the middle of the night, why Edwin?~

~He’s the only one you’ll listen to.~

~*~

“I can’t help you if you keep pushing me away Selene!” Edwin snapped, his patience finally wearing thin, “What in all the hells are you so afraid of?” That seemed to finally get the woman’s attention as the wizard spun around to glare at him,

“I am not afraid, Edwin.” she hissed, “I just fail to see how any of this is any of your damned business!” Selene hugged her arm and turned back to the window and sighed, “Look just... go back to the Garden… please.” Edwin’s glare lifted as he watched his old friend continue to close him out, “Jij heimsk kvinde…” he sighed, “This whole situation is my business, Selene. It’s kind of in the job description to listen and advise, even when the people in question don’t want to hear it.” he said. He watched Selene’s expression from the reflection in the window. The wizard’s jaw twitched slightly, it seemed Edwin had struck a nerve. Seizing the opportunity, he pressed on, “Besides which, you are afraid, you just don’t want to admit it.”

[val-creative]

Fictober Day 13: “that’s not the point”

Hutch/Luke

For @fictober-event Day 13 prompt!

Type: Fanfiction | Fandom: The Ritual (2017) | Ship: Luke/Hutch | Warnings & Triggers: Explicit Language, Implied Sexual Content

---

Separate tents never worked for them. Hutch makes himself right at home while Dom snores away and Phil mutters from the depths of his own tent, crawling into Luke's doss bag, stealing all of the heat.

"Fuck hiking," Luke mutters, shivering, fisting whatever of the insulated doss bag to him. "Fuck whichever one of you suggested it."

A snort of air hits his Luke's ear, warming it.

"That would be all of us, mate," Hutch reminds him.

"Hate to admit it because it's Dom," Luke says, "but he was right... going on holiday? Everyone would be less miserable. Think about it."

"That's not the point."

"Well. Fuck me then. Dunno what I was thinking in agreeing..."

Luke's complaints vanish, as Hutch's hands turn him, as the other man half-presses against Luke's chest. Hutch's blues piercing in the dark. "Careful what you wish for," Hutch breathes out, smiling like a git into Luke's face. "There's only a few of layers between us, as it were, and your arse is the closest thing to a radiator as I'm getting..."

Quiet and mutual laughter.

Luke shakes his head, still lying back.

"Fuck off," he mutters again, feeling Hutch's mouth pressing on his. Luke arches his neck, pressing closer, kissing him more openly.

[bilmece]

Bizde her düğün sezonunda başka başka abiyeler alacak ne sabır var ne bütçe. Bu nedenle misafir listesinin çakışmadığı etkinliklerde elbiseleri tekrar tekrar değerlendiriyoruz.

Yıl 2017, düğünümüz olacak. Annem tabi gelinin anası mod on çok şık olmak istiyor. Annemin İstanbul’da yaşayan bir kuzeni kendi kızının düğününde giymek için kendine çok zarif, şık, mor bir elbise diktirmiş bir tasarımcıya. Bu annemin aklında kalıyor, kuzenden rica ediyor elbiseyi. Kuzen de severek veriyor, annem düğünümde giyiyor bunu.

Yıl 2021, annemin 40 yıllık dostunun kızı evleniyor, kız kardeşim sayılır. Annem bu sefer anne yarısı pozisyonunda, yine şık olacak tabi! Mor elbise tekrar çıkıyor meydana, bu düğünde de giyiliyor.

İstanbullu kuzenin kızının boşanma kararı aldığını duyuyoruz. Ah vah, iki çocuk var, olur öyleler, kabulleniş ve kapanış. Gel zaman git zaman ben boşanmaya karar veriyorum. Annem espri yapıyor mor elbise lanetli hangi düğüne giyildiyse çift boşanıyor diye.

Az önce annem, bahsi geçen kız kardeş arkadaşım ve ben görüntülü konuşma yaptık, arkadaş da boşanmaya karar vermiş. Annem artık mor elbisenin suçlu olduğuna emin asdfjslf. Üç çiftin evliliği boşanmayla sonuçlandı yani?! diyorum teyitlemek için, meğer kuzen de kendi yeğeninin düğününde de giymiş onlar da boşanmış!

Velhasıl varsa arayı bozmak istediğiniz bir birliktelik bizde boşanma garantili elbise var asdfldşg

[govindhtech]

What is Argo CD? And When Was Argo CD Established?

What Is Argo CD?

Argo CD is declarative Kubernetes GitOps continuous delivery.

In DevOps, ArgoCD is a Continuous Delivery (CD) technology that has become well-liked for delivering applications to Kubernetes. It is based on the GitOps deployment methodology.

When was Argo CD Established?

Argo CD was created at Intuit and made publicly available following Applatix’s 2018 acquisition by Intuit. The founding developers of Applatix, Hong Wang, Jesse Suen, and Alexander Matyushentsev, made the Argo project open-source in 2017.

Why Argo CD?

Declarative and version-controlled application definitions, configurations, and environments are ideal. Automated, auditable, and easily comprehensible application deployment and lifecycle management are essential.

Getting Started

Quick Start

kubectl create namespace argocd kubectl apply -n argocd -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/argoproj/argo-cd/stable/manifests/install.yaml

For some features, more user-friendly documentation is offered. Refer to the upgrade guide if you want to upgrade your Argo CD. Those interested in creating third-party connectors can access developer-oriented resources.

How it works

Argo CD defines the intended application state by employing Git repositories as the source of truth, in accordance with the GitOps pattern. There are various approaches to specify Kubernetes manifests:

Applications for Customization

Helm charts

JSONNET files

Simple YAML/JSON manifest directory

Any custom configuration management tool that is set up as a plugin

The deployment of the intended application states in the designated target settings is automated by Argo CD. Deployments of applications can monitor changes to branches, tags, or pinned to a particular manifest version at a Git commit.

Architecture

The implementation of Argo CD is a Kubernetes controller that continually observes active apps and contrasts their present, live state with the target state (as defined in the Git repository). Out Of Sync is the term used to describe a deployed application whose live state differs from the target state. In addition to reporting and visualizing the differences, Argo CD offers the ability to manually or automatically sync the current state back to the intended goal state. The designated target environments can automatically apply and reflect any changes made to the intended target state in the Git repository.

Components

API Server

The Web UI, CLI, and CI/CD systems use the API, which is exposed by the gRPC/REST server. Its duties include the following:

Status reporting and application management

Launching application functions (such as rollback, sync, and user-defined actions)

Cluster credential management and repository (k8s secrets)

RBAC enforcement

Authentication, and auth delegation to outside identity providers

Git webhook event listener/forwarder

Repository Server

An internal service called the repository server keeps a local cache of the Git repository containing the application manifests. When given the following inputs, it is in charge of creating and returning the Kubernetes manifests:

URL of the repository

Revision (tag, branch, commit)

Path of the application

Template-specific configurations: helm values.yaml, parameters

A Kubernetes controller known as the application controller keeps an eye on all active apps and contrasts their actual, live state with the intended target state as defined in the repository. When it identifies an Out Of Sync application state, it may take remedial action. It is in charge of calling any user-specified hooks for lifecycle events (Sync, PostSync, and PreSync).

Features

Applications are automatically deployed to designated target environments.

Multiple configuration management/templating tools (Kustomize, Helm, Jsonnet, and plain-YAML) are supported.

Capacity to oversee and implement across several clusters

Integration of SSO (OIDC, OAuth2, LDAP, SAML 2.0, Microsoft, LinkedIn, GitHub, GitLab)

RBAC and multi-tenancy authorization policies

Rollback/Roll-anywhere to any Git repository-committed application configuration

Analysis of the application resources’ health state

Automated visualization and detection of configuration drift

Applications can be synced manually or automatically to their desired state.

Web user interface that shows program activity in real time

CLI for CI integration and automation

Integration of webhooks (GitHub, BitBucket, GitLab)

Tokens of access for automation

Hooks for PreSync, Sync, and PostSync to facilitate intricate application rollouts (such as canary and blue/green upgrades)

Application event and API call audit trails

Prometheus measurements

To override helm parameters in Git, use parameter overrides.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[morganhopesmith1996]

Ghost in the Shell DVD 📀 💕 It also came with this cool little picture with Scarlett Johansson On It.

[bluepeachstudios]

If you’re still taking playlist song recs, then I recommend Patchwork Staccato [English Version] by JubyPhonic for the Ghost In The Shell playlist! (Also, fun fact, your GotS fic shares a name with a manga that got adapted into a 90’s animated movie that later got a live action adaptation in 2017! Interesting little tidbit I learned the other day, right? :D)

I actually know about the Ghost in the Shell movie! I watched it a long time ago. Can't remember it much now. I actually did this on purpose, because the movie had a huge theme of humans being over-dependent on technology, which suits Ghost for reasons that shall come later. Also theme with Donnies, though.

It's why I tag all my GitS stuff with "tmnt ghost in the shell". I feel so bad for the people on tumblr who just wanted to find stuff about Ghost in the Shell the anime and got a sad old ninja turtle instead fhgkdjfgkhdj

[starrybluez]

Thanks @modernmanblues 💙

Rules: shuffle a playlist and write down the first 10 songs without skipping.

Tagging @vanillaveils @musicacuantica @tiggertaylor @pauls-mccharmly @lovevoodoo @shoutlikethewolf and whoever else wants to participate!

[alika-a-moribitolover]

At first, with Ghost in the Shell_2045, Purin Esaki was a character who got on my nerves... but after having watch the Season 2, and know more about her background, I began to appreciate her more and more! So, I remember in the episode 4th of the Season 2, Tachikomas were talking about her member family and we could see their name.

So, I tried to translated them to know Esaki's last name, as well as their parents' and her sister name. I'm not talking or learning japanese (so if there's any mistake, I just did my best as even the japanese result couldn't give me these information) I think I greatly managed to know "approximatively" their name despite the blurr picture! *remember, we're in 2045 in GitS*

笹山 務二 Sasayama Mutsuji – 1991 August 16th

笹山 千代子 – Sasayama Chyoko – 1997 June 13th

笹山 祥子 – Sasayama Sachiko - 2017 September 7th 江崎プリン – (Sasayama) Purin Ezaki – 2022 July 9th (she's almost 1 year old from now on, lol!)

[madamlaydebug]

Happy 62nd birthday to actress Dawnn Lewis, @dawnn_lewis.

She is best known for her role as Jaleesa Vinson–Taylor on the NBC television sitcom A Different World, in addition to co-writing the opening theme song for the series.

Her other notable roles include portraying Robin Dumars on the ABC sitcom Hangin' with Mr. Cooper for its first season and as Cheryl Spade in the 1988 film I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. Since then, she has appeared in numerous TV series, including other sitcoms, and has also performed on stage.

Her A New Day Foundation, which she formed in 2017, is a continuation of work she's been doing for 40 years. The organization offers programs targeted to teenagers by exposing them to different cultures and career opportunities that they might not normally be able to access. In addition to the scholarships and mentorship programs provided, activities include trips to a recording studio to teach young people how to produce animated and video game projects, and visits to City Hall so they can learn how government works. 🥳

[himanshu123]

Top Android Development Tools Every Developer Should Know About 

Android app development has come a long way since its inception, and with the rapid advancements in technology, developers are continuously on the lookout for tools that can enhance their productivity, streamline their workflow, and improve the overall quality of their apps. Whether you're working as an individual developer or part of an Android app development company, using the right set of tools is crucial to building efficient, scalable, and user-friendly applications. In this blog, we will explore some of the top Android development tools that every developer should be familiar with. 

1. Android Studio 

Without a doubt, Android Studio is the official integrated development environment (IDE) for Android app development. Developed by Google, it provides a comprehensive set of tools for building, testing, and debugging Android applications. Android Studio comes equipped with features such as a code editor, project management tools, and a rich set of testing tools that allow developers to build apps from start to finish efficiently. 

Android Studio also supports multiple programming languages like Java, Kotlin, and C++, and it provides essential components like Android SDK, which makes it easier to access the Android APIs and build native apps. The emulator within Android Studio is one of the most powerful features, allowing developers to test their applications on various devices without needing the physical hardware. 

For anyone serious about Android app development, Android Studio is a must-have tool in their arsenal. 

2. Kotlin 

Kotlin is a modern programming language developed by JetBrains, and it has gained massive popularity among Android developers. In fact, it’s now the preferred language for Android development, with Google officially endorsing it in 2017. Kotlin is designed to be fully interoperable with Java, meaning developers can use both languages in the same project seamlessly. 

Kotlin comes with many features that simplify development, including null safety, concise syntax, and better support for functional programming. By using Kotlin, developers can write cleaner and more concise code, which ultimately results in faster development and easier maintenance of Android applications. 

3. Firebase 

Firebase is a comprehensive mobile app development platform developed by Google that provides a host of services such as databases, authentication, cloud storage, and app analytics. It allows developers to focus more on building features rather than worrying about managing infrastructure. Firebase is particularly helpful for app developers looking for backend-as-a-service (BaaS) solutions. 

Some of the key features of Firebase include real-time database syncing, authentication using Google or Facebook accounts, and powerful analytics tools. Firebase also supports cloud messaging, which is perfect for sending notifications to users, and it has integration capabilities with other popular Android tools and services. 

4. GitHub 

Version control is essential for any development project, and GitHub is the most popular platform for managing Git repositories. GitHub provides developers with the tools needed to track changes in their codebase, collaborate with other team members, and roll back to previous versions if necessary. It also provides features like pull requests, issues tracking, and project boards, making it easier to manage complex development workflows. 

Moreover, GitHub's integration with CI/CD tools (Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery) ensures that code changes are automatically tested and deployed, which speeds up the development lifecycle. 

5. Android Device Monitor 

When developing an Android app, it's important to be able to monitor the app's performance in real-time. Android Device Monitor is an invaluable tool for tracking various aspects of an app’s behavior, such as CPU usage, memory usage, and network activity. With this tool, developers can identify performance bottlenecks, memory leaks, and other potential issues that might affect the user experience. 

Android Device Monitor can also be used for debugging, viewing logs, and monitoring devices during runtime. This helps developers ensure their applications are optimized for performance and stability before releasing them to the public. 

6. Retrofit 

Retrofit is a type-safe HTTP client for Android that makes it easier to integrate APIs into your Android app. It simplifies the process of making network calls and parsing the responses into usable data objects, saving developers time and effort. Retrofit automatically handles issues like request cancellation, response handling, and error handling, making the developer’s life easier. 

This tool is perfect for developers who need to fetch data from web services or APIs as it integrates effortlessly with popular libraries like Gson for JSON parsing. It’s widely used in modern Android app development and is an essential tool for building apps that rely on network interactions. 

7. Jenkins 

Jenkins is an open-source automation server that is used to implement continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines. By integrating Jenkins with Android Studio, developers can automate various stages of the app development process, including building, testing, and deploying the app. 

Jenkins makes it easier to detect issues early in the development cycle and ensures that code changes are continuously tested and integrated into the codebase. This leads to faster development cycles and higher-quality applications. Jenkins can be configured to work with a variety of Android tools and services, making it an indispensable tool for teams working on large Android projects. 

8. Mobile App Cost Calculator 

For developers working with clients or looking to estimate the cost of their own app development projects, a mobile app cost calculator can be extremely useful. These calculators take into account various factors such as features, platform (Android or iOS), complexity, and design requirements to provide an estimate of how much it will cost to develop an app. 

By using such a tool, developers can offer transparent pricing to clients, streamline the proposal process, and set realistic expectations for project timelines and budgets. It's an essential resource for any Android app developer, especially those working with an Android app development company or independently as freelancers. 

9. Postman 

Testing APIs is an essential part of app development, and Postman is a popular tool for doing just that. It allows developers to send requests to an API and examine the response. Postman simplifies the process of testing, debugging, and documenting APIs by providing an intuitive interface to interact with web services. 

It also supports automated testing, so developers can write test scripts to ensure their APIs are functioning as expected. Postman is a valuable tool for developers working with backend services and APIs in Android applications. 

10. ProGuard 

For Android developers, keeping app code secure and obfuscated is critical. ProGuard is a tool used to shrink, optimize, and obfuscate Android applications, making it difficult for attackers to reverse-engineer your app's code. It works by removing unused classes and methods, which helps reduce the overall size of the app and improve performance. 

By using ProGuard, developers can protect their intellectual property and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information within the app. 

As the demand for Custom Android App Development continues to grow, it’s important for developers to stay up to date with the latest tools and technologies that can help them build better apps. The tools listed above are just a few of the many options available, but mastering them will give developers a significant edge in the competitive Android app development industry. 

[everygame]

Cuphead

Developed/Published by: Studio MDHR Released: 17/09/2017 Completed: 29/01/2025 Completion: Finished it.

Well, it’s only taken nearly 8 years but I returned to Cuphead after bouncing off it immediately at launch, but I get Cuphead now. Apologies if this has been obvious to you for almost a decade, but… it’s Alien Soldier.

Cuphead is just Alien Soldier!!!

While in some respects, this is a mea culpa, let me stick to my guns by saying that Cuphead does close to doing nothing to explain what it’s trying to do, and actively seems to obscure it. When you start playing the game unless you’re extremely contrary, the very first thing you’ll do is play one of the game’s (rare!) Run ‘n Gun levels, which, and I am not being hyperbolic, is absolutely miserable. The level is immediately insanely busy, while Cuphead controls well, feedback on your attacks is terrible, hitboxes are unforgiving, and with only 3 hit points and no way to recover, you’ll die quickly.

If you’re me, it will just seem like a “git gud” ballache that isn’t worth your time.

The thing is, Cuphead is Alien Soldier. It’s not Metal Slug. It’s not even really Gunstar Heroes (even if it does take a bunch of inspiration from it.) The game is a succession of boss battles, not video game levels.

The Run ‘n Gun levels are just boss battles.

I dunno, maybe this was obvious to you. The levels are not to be played and reacted to. They are, as the rest of the game, to be practiced and learned.

Now, they’re still–I’d say– one of the worst parts of the game, in that they’re some of the least balanced content (in my opinion.) The trick with Cuphead, though–which isn’t immediately learned–is that almost no part of the game is more than about two minutes long!

In some respects, Cuphead is a more perfect example of video game form and function than I could have imagined. Visually inspired by the rhythmic cartoons of the 1930s but design inspired by the strict boss battles of the 90s, each level is a short “cartoon” that you have to play to the beat of to complete. 

It’s interesting. You have almost no “play” in the expressive sense–a Cuphead level is played almost like a song, where you are just one member in the band. You can riff a little, but it’s no jam–everyone else is playing to the sheet, and if you miss your cue, it’s all going to come tumbling down.

It does, of course, make me wonder again as to the value of these certain kinds of play. In seeing Cuphead through, I had to dedicate myself to learning each level and boss battle till I could play it from memory. I could have dedicated that time to learning how to play an actual song with an instrument. You could argue that the value I got was in seeing the obviously incredible art, but I mean… I could just look at that. 

But as I said above: every level is only about two minutes long, and I was surprised to discover that I’m generally “gud” enough at this exact kind of video game that once I learned what I was supposed to be doing (memorisation, not reacting) I was able to polish this off in under eight hours total, with (probably) about two of those on the unbelievably annoying, blatantly Gunstar Heroes-inspired Casino boss-rush that more or less caps the game.

You will see this what feels like eleven billion times.

That boss-rush, I think, sums up the weirdest thing about Cuphead, a game that famously took seven years to complete, because it's the one part where you'll actually sit with the game's art and animation because you'll be stuck there for so long. Otherwise? Cuphead is full of insanely carefully made art an animation that you see for like… a few seconds, and which is never used again. It’s so… conflicting. 

On one hand, it does actually look amazing. On the other, any “normal” game developer, on creating an insanely expressive walking plant (or whatever) would go “alright, that’s the base enemy for the first world” and make a bunch of levels featuring it. Here it’s in about a third of one level then never seen again. There are entire bosses that I saw once because I beat them quickly (turns out I was particularly good at the levels which are shooters?) 

(On the other, special third hand, I will admit that packing the game with filler just because you made a bunch of incredible assets isn't actually an improvement. But here there's no time to get comfortable with anything, never mind luxuriate in it, unless you really just want to replay the game on higher difficulties. Which I don't.)

Another part of the game a “normal” game developer might have issue with is that the enemies and bosses have such specific and expressive animations and routines that there’s no place for actual feedback. There are no interrupts; as you shoot an enemy, some white flashes are the most you’re going to get. If I’m being completely fair, this was often true in the 90s, but I’m not sure I’ve ever played a game where my shots felt so… irrelevant. Like, they’re absolutely not, you have to be hitting the enemies, but as they cycle through their heavily animated stages, there’s this sense that they’d just… still do it if you weren’t shooting them. You actually don’t have any sense of how close you were to changing stages or defeating them unless you die.

So the part of the game that’s going to stick with you is the Casino, because it’s where the game design “shines” the most, while also being the most annoying (as it breaks the “two minute” rule.) There are nine bosses each of whom could be used as an entire boss in any other platformer, and by the end they were burned into my mind, as I had to work out how to most efficiently get through the level through my weapon and power up selections (though I haven’t highlighted it, that every boss is a puzzle of working out which loadout works best for you is one of the most enjoyable parts, and most obviously Alien Solider-inspired.) 

It turned out that after beating my head against it using the “smoke bomb” dodge–which was allowing me to cheap out on a few of the earlier bosses–it turned out that it was better for me to take the earlier pain by using the P. Sugar (one free automatic parry) which would allow me to more easily beat the final boss of the stage.

It’s something that I wouldn’t have worked out if I hadn’t had to play it for so long, but did I enjoy��that? Well, I felt the incredible shiver of relief endorphins on my winning run, but I can’t especially say it was worth it.

There’s a lot of artistry in Cuphead to go with a single-minded dedication to a particular kind of game design. I can say now that I respect it for what it is, and I’m glad it was over quickly.

Will I ever play it again? There’s a DLC, but I don’t actively see the point. This is one of those “ok, I get it” kind of games.

Final Thought: As I mentioned above, Cuphead took seven years, and as a game developer myself, I can’t help but wonder about some… inconsistencies(?) in the game’s setting that make me wonder if they were fixes to make up for cuts. Notably, not every cut-scene is animated, with some following a “storybook” format and some not, and the “storybook” concept doesn’t make any sense because all of the other signifiers imply that you’re not reading a book you’re watching a classic cartoon. 

If it was a result of late changes, as a video game developer myself I can relate… whatever you have to do to get the game out the door in the end!

Every Game I’ve Finished 14>24 is OUT NOW! You can pick it up in paperback, kindle, or epub/pdf. You can also support Every Game I’ve Finished on ko-fi! You can pick up digital copies of exp., a zine featuring all-exclusive writing at my shop, or join as a supporter at just $1 a month and get articles like this a week early.

[kirliansjrnl]

Quiero sobreescribir mi presente

Una sensación de Alegría cobra control sobre mi

ser frente a este pantalla negra. La Emoción

dentro de mi cabeza coge brilli-brilli a lo Pixar.

¿Cómo representar en 3D lo que hago con mis

pensamientos?

Los desecho en este diario a la deriva que ha

degenerado como espacio de confesiones

inconfesables. No merece ni estar publicado.

Me siento orgulloso del programa en Rust que

escribí que mapeaba el diario a archivo txt en un

repositorio Git. Principalmente porque llenaba de

contribuciones mi 2020. Y me hacía sentir menos

culpable.

El ordenador ha pasado de ser un instrumento de

tortura ligera a ser un arma de liberación a ser

un cacharro guiado por mis principios vaguíticos.

En mi imaginación fantasiosa lo idealizaba como el

instrumento de la liberación. Aquel = Generar

Dinero. Aquel = Independencia.

Sin embargo he acabado por aceptar el

tradicionalismo más fuerte con 25 años. Yo con 16

era más maduro que ahora. Me he vuelto deleble con

la edad.

Era más estricto. Era más autoritario. Era más

seguro. Auténtico. Si en 16 mi identidad

peliculera se forma ¿cuándo se deforma?

Claramente en el descubrimiento de la sexualidad.

Con Alice. Pero no se deforma por Ella. Se deforma

porque me canso de ser auténtico. Me canso de

tener valores fuertes. Y Ello desemboca en

enfermedad.

La enfermedad cambia radicalmente mi vida y se

convierte en la cura. Ser consciente de mi

enfermedad es mi cura a una sociedad enferma.

Mi cura del hiperproductivismo 1Bachibaquero.

De aquel experimento lineal matemático que

conseguí.

La ansiedad era el motor de cambio. Era un

¿León-Serpiente?

Una parte de mí desearía no estar enfermo para

recuperar Ese Yo Activo. Ese Yo Seguro. Ese Yo

Crítico. Que Destacaba sobre los demás. Ese Yo

Madrugador. Ese Yo Cumplidor.

Pero la nueva parte de mí, es la vieja confiable.

La asociada a la prehistoria de Kirlian. El de la

motivación del ordenador. El que escribe en jrnl.

Escribe en vim.

En el fondo Vim surge como sinónimo de pobreza

informática. De bajos recursos. Con el portátil

antiguo. Del control del propio sistema. De ser un

Hacker como Mr V.

Después de todos estos años.... ¿qué hemos

aprendido? ¿Por qué la actitud de 2017 me sigue

resonando más poderosa que la de 2019?

En 2019 yo cambio radicalmente. Nada más cabe ver

el gráfico de Github. Hay un repunte de entradas

de Kirliansjrnl. Pero ya han pasado 5 años de

entonces.

5 años.

Los mejores años de mi vida.

2020 - Pandemia + Instagram + Inicio vida granadina

2021 - PisoHet: Índigo + Fiesta + Dado de la muerte + Nique

2022 - Shayla, Julia, Payton, + Lepe > El Arte de Amar

> Samurai, Poppy Girl

2023 - Poppy Girl, Eileen

2024 - Eileen, Corpus-Sandly (Canoa + Cob + Bip )

¿Qué decir en este diario?

Que me asusta perder a Sandy como contacto de

verano. Que la facilidad de su contacto se ofrece

como solución recurrida y cómo bálsamo ante mi

todavía desolución con Eileen.

O sea solo amigos. Remarcar lo obvio. ¿Pero dejar

de hacer las cosas que hacemos?

Dijimos de hablar.

Por un lado la exclusividad con Sandy me parece

algo pegajosa, una idea a evitar.

Pero por otro, la soledad afectiva ha sido

suficiente alta durante un tiempo como para

rechazar por vicio.

[stupid-backlog]

Mini Review Semua Game yang Kumainkan di 2024

Tradisi per tahun untuk kepuasan hatiku sendiri, catatan review untuk game yang kumainkan atau kuselesaikan di 2024.

Lies of Pi (2023)

Memulai awal tahun menyiksa diri dengan memainkan souls-like game. Setting Lies of Pi dimana pinokio (versi twink) menghadapi robot-robot lainnya sangat menarik untukku, jadinya walaupun aku sebenarnya tidak bisa git gud di game seperti ini, aku memutuskan mencobanya (dan ada di gamepass). Seperti yang kuprediksi, aku stuck di boss yang punya dua stage, dan walaupun akhirnya memutuskan untuk menyerah, aku bisa mengapresiasi yang ditawarkan oleh game ini. 8/10.

Into the Breach (2018)

Ini game yang sudah lama dalam backlogku. Terkenal karena strategi game dengan sistem kita bisa melihat apa yang akan dilakukan musuh lalu harus merencanakan step selanjutnya. Aku bisa melihat kenapa orang suka game ini, dan replayability nya juga tinggi. 7/10.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023)

Aku memulai TotK dari tahun lalu dan akhirnya bisa menyelesaikannya. Dan harus kubilang, another masterpiece. Sistem ultrahand dimana kita bisa membangun apa saja awalnya cukup mengintimidasi, tapi di akhir-akhir menjadi mainan yang sangat menyenangkan untukku. Ditambah open world yang kini ada tiga lapis, lalu story yang menurutku lebih baik dibanding botw, Tears of the Kingdom easily 10/10.

Toem (2021)

Toem adalah pilihanku untuk game yang tidak kusangka akan sangat kusukai di tahun ini. Simple dan relaxing, ini contoh cozy game yang sangat baik. Aku memainkannya di gamepass, menyelesaikannya 100% dan hampir membelinya lagi di Steam ketika tiba-tiba Epic kasih gratis. Game yang mungkin akan kumainkan lagi suatu saat. 9/10.

Darkest Dungeon II (2023)

Mix feeling untuk Darkest Dungeon II. Aku tahu banyak orang yang lebih suka game pertamanya (secara pribadi game itu terlalu susah untukku), dan walaupun aku suka secara overall, kurasa game ini memang sedikit mengecewakan. Aku tidak tahu apakah sistem roguelike adalah sistem yang cocok untuk game ini, tapi aku respek kepada dev untuk mencoba hal baru. 7/10.

The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve (2017)

Game of the Year ku tahun ini, dan iya, bahkan mengalahkan Zelda TotK. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles series karena 1 dan 2 bisa dibilang 1 game besar. Maaan aku gak nyangka aku akan sesuka ini. Semua case nya sangat menarik dan diakhiri dengan case yang menutup semua hal-hal misterius sepanjang game. Semua karakter di game ini juga menarik, dan dibantu oleh animasi mereka yang mulus. Bro jika kau penggemar Ace Attorney game, mainkan ini. Masterpiece, 10/10.

Let's Build a Zoo (2021)

Game management yang kucoba iseng karena tema nya cukup lucu. Kau bisa membuat fusion antar binatang, dan bahkan menjualnya ke black market. Untuk managament game, tidak terlalu rumit, aku bisa langsungv mengerti apa yang diminta. 7/10.

Usagi Shima (2023)

Game mobile imut dimana kau bisa membeli barang atau fasilitas agar kelinci-kelinci datang. Variasi kelinci nya cukup banyak dan imut-imut, tapi jujur aja tidak banyak yang bisa dilakukan. 7/10.

Cat Quest (2017)

Aku membeli game ini dan Cat Quest 2 untuk persiapan memainkan Cat Quest 3 setelah melihat trailernya yang menarik. Sayangnya, game pertama dalam series ini tidak terlalu kompleks dan cukup repetitif. Ada charmnya sendiri dan aku bisa membayangkan game selanjutnya akan lebih baik. 6/10.

Lonely Mountain Downhill (2019)

Satu lagi game yang tidak kusangka akan sesuka ini, Lonely Mountain Downhill bisa dibilang cozy game dimana kau bisa turun gunung dengan sepeda melewati banyak rute. Game ini sangat cocok untuk speedrun karena rute cepat membutuhkan skill yang lebih baik juga. Kontrol sepedanya juga sangat mulus. 8/10.

The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog (2023)

Game gratis yang dibuat sebagai game lucu-lucu April Fools. Sesuai yang kuharapkan, simple dan sangat linear. Aku lumayan mabuk untuk stage terakhirnya. Tidak banyak yang bisa kubilang sih, tapi aku senang Sonic Team mau effort mengeluarkan joke game seperti ini. 6/10.

Have a Nice Death (2023)

Maaan, aku kecewa dengan game ini. Artstyle, chef kiss. Setting, undeerworld office? chef kiss. Tapi gameplay, tidak jelek tapi kurang dari yang kuharapkan. Masalah utamaku di battle nya yang walaupun animasinya fluid, aku merasa kaku. Kurang pas sedikit. Dan itu entah kenapa lebih menyebalkan. Overall aku yakin masih banyak orang suka, just not for me. 7/10,

Guacamelee! (2014)

Game klasik yang sekali lagi sudah lama ingin kucoba. Dapat gratis dari Epic jadi aku memutuskan akhirnya memainkannya. Dan ya, aku mengerti kenapa orang suka. Gameplaynya solid, tema tentang lucha wrestler sangat kental. Me like it, akan mencoba memainkan sequelnya suatu saat (dapat gratis dari Epic juga). 8/10.

The Banner Saga 2 (2016)

The Banner Saga series pada akhirnya jatuh mengecewakan untukku. Walaupun ceritanya menarik, tapi battlenya sangat tidak kusukai. Gamenya terasa janky. Aku akhirnya rage quit Banner Saga 2 di salah satu stage yang rasanya tidak bisa kumenangkan sama skali. Mungkin ini skill issue, tapi yah aku sekarang jadi tidak berniat memainkan game ketiganya. 6/10.

Unicorn Overlord (2024)

My most anticipated game tahun ini, dan untunglah sesuai harapan, bahkan lebih. Unicorn Overlord gameplay sangatlah menarik, dan punya replayable tinggi, dimana kau bisa mengatur tim seefektif mungkin dan melihat strategi itu dijalankan secara auto di battle. Karakter-karakternya pun menarik walaupun mungkin story bukanlah daya jual utama game ini. Best JRPG yang kumainkan tahun ini, 9/10.

The Darkside Detective (2017)

Aku membelinya karena kudengar ini game lucu. di Darkside Detective kita akan memecahkan banyak kasus-kasus supernatural (yang dibagi ke chapter) dengan sistem point and click game. Tidak terlalu sulit, kebanyakan cukup simple. Dan game ini masih termasuk dalam kategori detektif game yang solusinya selalu dipecahkan secara linear. Lucu sih untukku. 7/10.

Venba (2023)

Short game yang menceritakan kehidupan imigran India di Kanada. Masakan-masakan india yang dimasak oleh karakter adalah cara dia untuk tetap mempertahankan tradisi India walaupun sudah hidup di luar. Ceritanya cukup mengharukan. Aku suka artsylenya yang seperti gambar di buku anak. Tapi game ini sangat pendek (4 jam paling lama), gameplaynya juga sangat simpel yang kau tidak akan salah. Overall 8/10.

FAR: Changing Tides (2022)

Aku sangat suka game pertamanya, FAR: Lone Sails, jadi bisa dibilang aku cukup hype untuk memainkan game ini. Tapi entah kenapa, Changing Tides tidaklah sebagus itu. Ada charm yang menghilang, walaupun aku akui dunianya masih sama breathtaking nya. Intinya aku tidak sesuka game pertama, but still good game. 7/10.

Transistor (2014)

Aku masih dalam misi memainkan semua Supergiant Game, dan setelah Hades + Pyre, aku akhirnya memainkan Transistor, game yang banyak orang bilang sebagai peak Supergiant. Aku malah merasa game ini adalah yang terlemah dibanding dua lain yang kumainkan. Tapi tetap saja, salut kepada Supergiant, game terlemah mereka pun masih sangat unik dan menyenangkan. Combine move di game ini satisfying dan world building dunianya juga menarik. 7 atau 8/10.

Football Manager 2024 (2023)

Sori ini kryptonite ku yang akan kumainkan tiap tahun. FM 2024 lebih baik dibanding FM 2023, tapi core gameplay masih sama. Aku saja yang tidak bisa berhenti main. 8/10.

Monument Valley: Panoramic Edition (2022)

Kumainkan bersama istriku yang ingin mencoba game puzzle, Monument Valley blow my mind dengan puzzle yang sangat kreatif. Aku tidak bisa mengerti bagaimana orang bisa membuat puzzle yang unik dan terlihat indah seperti ini. Agak terlalu pendek, i need more. 8/10.

Dungeons of Hinterberg (2024)

Game ini juga masuk dalam list game yang iseng kucoba di gamepass ternyata aku suka banget. Dungeons of Hinterberg mempunyai 25 dungeon yang cukup variatif dan surprisingly cozy. Lalu ada sistem Persona dimana tiap harinya kita bisa berinteraksi dengan penduduk kota untuk menaikkan level pertemanan kita yang akan membuka cerita mereka. Minus game ini adalah battlenya agak kurang, terasa janky dan tidak rumit, dan ada satu boss battle yang aku tidak suka sama sekali. Overall me like it, 8/10.

Sword of Convallaria (2023)

Kenapa, kenapa game ini gacha?? Ini bisa jadi game JRPG yang baik tapi kau greedy Sword of Convallaria, whhyyyy. 6/10 (aku benci gacha).

Kingdom Two Crowns (2018)

Kubeli karena DLC untuk game ini yang bertema ancient greek menarik perhatianku. Jujur aja, awalnya aku cukup obsess main game ini, tapi setelah agak lama, aku merasa gameplaynya terlalu repetitif. Tidak membantu adalah sistem dimana ketika kita mati, kita harus mulai membangun banyak hal dari awal lagi. Aku juga mencoba dlc nya dan merasa kurang lebih sama. Could be better i guess, 7/10.

Metal Slug Tactics (2024)

Aku suka Metal Slug games dari dulu, dan ketika aku tahu mereka membuat game tactic strategy (genre favoritku) aku harus mencobanya. Aku cukup kesulitan awalnya, tapi setelah mempelajari cara kerjanya, game ini menyenangkan. Kurasa minusnya agak repetitif karena kita akan sering melawan bos yang sama berkali-kali. Still good game. Aku berhasil membuka semua karakter dan itu cukup bagiku. 8/10.

Cleo: A Pirate's Tale (2021)

Menutup tahun dengan short puzzle point and click game. Aku suka pesan dari game ini dimana kita menceritakan cerita atau petualangan orang lain agar mereka bisa selalu diingat. Slow burner tapi jauh membaik di later chapter. 7/10.

Dan thats it, see you next year!