#the evolution of game development technology

[slots-a-fun]

Slot Evolution

Explore the evolution of slot machines from the 1960s electromechanical Money Honey to the advanced video slots of the 1970s and 1980s. Discover how technological advancements transformed gameplay and added excitement to casinos.

Slot machines have come a long way since their inception in the late 19th century. As the 20th century progressed, technological advancements brought about significant changes in the design, functionality, and complexity of these popular gambling devices. From the electromechanical innovations of the 1960s to the introduction of video slots in the 1970s and 1980s, each decade has seen remarkable…

[hexhomos]

The 'Talis' hypothesis

So I think the S2 trailer confirms something central about Arcane I've wondered for a while. This has plot bearings to it, namely what nebulous purpose 'Magic' serves in the story -- how they're changing the role Hextech has in the game lore, incl. its power system & ruleset -- and what kind of hubris is associated with it historically. But it also answers something that has always nagged at me: why the fuck did they change Jayce's name?

So let's talk about this picture. And I'm going to give you the rosetta stone in 5 seconds:

This is Hextech now. Like that is just an incredibly concise and complete descriptor of Hextech-in-Arcane, right. It 'harms' Jinx, it 'protects' Jayce in the snowstorm, it 'heals' Viktor to a degree. It is installed permanently in architecture; the Hexgates ARE the brand.

First off, we have this fucker carrying around a talisman from back when he was 7, and the cinematography of the show agonizes over showing you this throughout all of ep2:

Jayce's bracelet is a bang-on definition of a historical talisman. The way hextech *functions* in the show is inextricable from the promises and rites associated with talismans, a word appropriated/popularized by the French - which I'm going to conservatively argue Fortiche would be familiar with;

Which brings me to the subject of what Hextech is, and how Hextech was changed for the tv show (and what its possibly being retconned to in the game)

Hex'tech' is not technology. The name is a carryover from a bygone era of leagueoflegends speak; Hextech in Arcane, and presumably in expanded lore going forward (given Skarner's rework and other things) - is the study, development, and the building of an industry around the craft of practical Talismans. If you want to understand how this shit works you need to promptly abandon the assumption that it is 'manufactured' magic -- its pure magic. It's raw magic. The tech part is a red herring misnomer.

The beliefs around this already cover links to 'the Arcane' as another, ethereal destination realm with Inhabitants that learn and change, ontop of rune-carving as magical instruction;

This also covers Viktor's impending transformation and the changes made to his character.

IN MY OPINION, via the content released so far and what we've already witnessed in S1, Viktor has been shifted away from becoming 'the machine herald' and re-positioned to become the Herald of Divine Rune Alchemy or whichever name they end up using.

I don't doubt that he'll get the armor at some point, because that's a recognizable visual and as much fanservice as they owe his decade-long fans, but... I would temper my expectations around the thought of machine evolution. It's not what this Viktor does, and it's not what he (or the narrative,) is interested in -- My guess is that the armor comes into play as a secondary way to AVOID overusing limited magical power, as we've seen runes can be depleted, and the hexcore tends to kill things in exchange.

Now that we've established all that, here is the bridge that I'm going to sell you.

Now, for today's homework, I expect you to run off to do something useful and homoerotic with this information.

[starryoak]

Basic Pokémon Worldbuilding Headcanons

Decided to write down my base worldbuilding assumptions about the Pokémon World, in case anyone else would like to share them;

Pokemon types are not fully a human-made classification system, but rather a metaphysical property of a Pokémon’s aura, the same aura that Lucario and many other Pokémon manipulate; the ‘frequency’ of their type is unique to them, and the combination of types makes its own unique ‘frequency’, much like coordinates on a chart with 18 different axiis on both sides.  This means that classification was first made and named by psychic humans who could sense them, until humans developed machinery for proper classification. The formal classification of a type is conditional on being detectable by modern technology, which is why the Fairy type remained unclassified for years, as it was very similar to Normal type in makeup.

This energy is also how Pokémon can be contained in Pokeballs and transferred electronically; Pokemon are naturally capable of converting from energy to mass and back again, though the exact mechanics of this transformation only became known in the 90’s as advances in science allowed the Pokémon Storage System to come into existence.

Psychic humans, of course, as we know, exist. Up to 5-10% of the population is some form of psychic, the extra 5% having psychic potential of some manner that, while not offering powers of any kind, makes them extra vulnerable to psychic effects or attacks.

This fact mixes explicit canon with my own headcanons; evolution for Pokémon is a process entirely separate to aging or the biological meaning of evolution in our world. Pokémon evolve for a variety of factors that are often connected but not always related to aging; if their territory is suited for them and would not support their larger evolution, many Pokémon simply choose not to evolve, leading to strange (for humans) sights like encountering elderly Treecko. As Grovyle are significantly larger than their prevolution, the Treecko would have had to leave his family behind to seek new territory, so it simply never did. Evolution is not the process of aging for Pokémon, though it’s often intimately connected with it, most Pokémon are fully capable of reaching maturity and breeding prior to their final evolution, so many simply choose not to do so for their own reasons. 

The act of evolution consumes a large amount of energy in a short period of time; this is the cause of the glowing light seen in the anime and some games, while others feature large bursts of swirling wind, the method of energy dispersal can vary, but all evolution causes some form of sudden energy discharge.

The process that is described in our world as natural evolution, and this is explicitly canon, does occur to Pokémon, though often it can be much more rapid than in our world. For example, and this is implicitly (though not explicitly) canon, Electrode and Voltorb’s species was originally a species of Apricorn mimics; this is implied by the Temple of Sinnoh’s statue of the original Lord Electrode, which has no dividing line between the upper and lower halves. As Pokeballs came into existence, they pivoted to mimicking them instead.

Pokémon breeding is more complicated than canon presents, obviously, but the base premises the game uses, of “Egg Groups”, is fundamentally still correct. Pokémon reproduce in different ways based on their species, but all Pokémon capable of breeding are in some form capable of laying eggs, often with the more mammalian Pokémon simply being ovovivaparous, giving live birth to their young, but still having eggs inside their bodies rather than placentas.  Under stress or other conditions that make it more favorable, often these Pokémon can choose to lay their eggs rather than develop them internally. Despite most technically being capable of doing so, most Pokémon simply do not choose to breed outside their species, and in fact, interbreeding between species in the wild is a likely sign of a disturbed ecosystem.  Obvious incompatibilities due to size can be overcome through artificial insemination, and Pokémon breeders often use these technologies to help create more effective battlers. As in canon, male Pokémon pass on very little to their offspring. To elaborate on that fact, male Pokémon pass on their aura to their child more than genes, and this leads to the influence of the father on a Pokémon expressing themselves subtly, often offering the capabilities to learn moves that may not be natural to their offspring. Very occasionally the father’s genes will express themselves in minor physical differences to an average member of the species, but this is very rare and usually very subtle.

Pokémon that are not biological in nature and/or in the No Eggs Discovered egg group tend to reproduce in their own unique ways, but due to unknown reasons, speculated upon wildly by scientists, usually still produce some form of egg in the process of reproduction.  For example; Magnemite and its family reproduce by two or more Magnemite collecting magnetic minerals together into a roughly egg-shaped ball, which eventually solidifies into a Magnemite egg. This type of reproduction is common to most Pokémon in the Mineral egg group. Most Ghost types are capable of natural reproduction, despite their appearances, and simply collect energy together during reproduction that coalesces into an egg once a male Pokémon has provided their aura.

[astrojulia]

When I started the astrology course I found out that you can be a researcher in the area and you can publish official works on any topic and here I am, already training for that. The logical thought behind this post was: we always liked games, when the first decks were produced it was crazy, so I encompassed all the planets for this. But of course I had some focal points, which were: Mercury talks about digital communication and logical reasoning; Mars speaks of sports and competitive activities; Uranus rules over electronics and gadgets; Neptune speaks of fantasy and imagination; 5th house is connected to all hobbies and 11th to technology and the online world. In the signs I focused on Aquarius, Gemini and Aries, but everyone can be included in this as well as the planets.

Neptune/Moon in the 5th house, Jupiter in 9th house, Cancer and Sagittarius placements may enjoy story games, with deeper characters they can relate to and become emotionally involved with the story. Suggested Games: Spiritfarer, The Last of Us.

Venus in the 11th house, like games that allow socialization and that everyone can have fun together: Suggested Games: Fall Guys, Mario Party.

Mercury in the 3rd and 11th house, likes games that allow interaction with other people but also allows you to lie/bluff in games to win: Suggested Games: Among Us.

Mars in 5th/11th house may like farm games. Suggested Games: Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons, Stardew Valley, Slime Rancher.

Mars in the 1st house, may enjoy games that allow them to express their individuality and create their own character. Sun/Pluto in the 8th house may enjoy activities that allow them to explore their own transformation and evolution, such as playing videogames that involve role-playing or creating and developing a character. Suggested games: Fallout, Skyrim, Cyberpunk 2077.

Pluto/Scorpio in the 11th may like games with replayability since when they like a game it stays the same for several hours. Suggested games: Monster Hunter, Hades.

Sun/Venus in 5th may like music games. Suggested games: Project Diva, Just Dance.

Sun/Mercury in 5th also like games that allow them to create and use their creativity. Suggested games: Animal Crossing, Minecraft, Okami.

Uranus/Sun in 1st/11th likes activities that involves social groups and allow them to connect with others in a laid-back way. Suggested games: Stopots.

Saturn in the 10th house may enjoy activities that challenge them to improve and achieve mastery, Suggested games: Dark Souls.

Lilith in 10/11th house in women it can show that this girl has always been interested in games, but since she is a woman, she is not allowed to play because it is not seen as a woman thing (10th) or that she suffered so much hate for being a woman and playing online (11th) that she may play alone. Suggested Games: any single player that you like, really, just play girl.

Sun/Jupiter in the 9th may like open world/sandbox games where they can explore and see new horizons. Sun/Neptune in 12th house enjoy games that allow them to escape reality and tap into their creative and imaginative side. Suggest games: Death Stranding, Journey.

Mars/Sun/Mercury in Leo/Aries may like games that require quick reflexes and decision-making, they also like competitive games where there can be a number one. Suggest games: Mario Kart, .Forza.

Venus/Moon dominant have preference for games that have rich, immersive environments and a strong aesthetic. Suggested games: Gris.

Mercury dominant may like strategic thinking and problem-solving, such as puzzle games or strategy games. Suggest games: Alice Madness Returns, Portal 2.

Sun/Lilith/Moon in 8th house/Scorpio may like games that can shake with their emotional, talks about taboos and dense topics and changes their worldview. Suggested games: Disco Elysium.

Gemini/Virgo in 5th/11th house may like games that you need to quickly manage something or somewhere, like cooking simulators. Suggest games: Lemon Cake.

Sun/Venus/Libra/Pisces in the 5th/7th/11th house may love any dating simulator. Uranus in the 7th also would like some unconvencional dating games that which merges dating simulator with other types of gameplay. Suggest games: Dream Daddy, Boyfriend Dungeon, Arcana Famiglia.

Mercury in Capricorn/Virgo/10th house may like games that you need mastery and discipline, such as fighting games or games with steep learning curves, or just games that you can make combos. Suggest games: Devil May Cry, Bayonetta.

Mars in Aries/Sagittarius/Scorpio may like games where you can shoot things but also get involved with the history and the characters. Suggest games: Mass Effect.

Sun/Mercury in Gemini may like games where you can have different types of gameplay in just only one game. Suggest games: Yakuza.

Saturn/Moon/Venus in Cancer may like games with elements of caregiving or raising animals or characters. Suggest games: The Sims, Cult of the Lamb.

Pisces Sun/Neptune/Uranus can like games that explore mystical or supernatural themes. Suggest games: The Witcher, Silent Hill.

Where your Aquarius falls can also show what you generally look in a video game: 1st - character creation and first-person games; 2nd - games with an aesthetic you like; 3rd - games with many characters for you to meet; 4th - cozy games; 5th - rhythm games; 6th - life simulator games; 7th - dating simulator,co-op games; 8th - deep story games, +18 games; 9th - open world games; 10th - roguelike or city building games; 11th - online games; 12th - sandbox games

Sun in the 6th house may enjoy games that involve organization and strategy, such as management or simulation games. Suggested games: Planet Zoo, Football Manager.

Moon in the 1st house may enjoy games that provide an emotional experience and allow them to explore their own feelings. Suggested games: Life is Strange.

Jupiter in the 5th house may enjoy games that involve exploration and discovery, with a focus on learning and expanding their knowledge. Suggested games: No Man's Sky, The Witness.

Mars in the 7th house may enjoy games action gamesthat involve teamwork and cooperation, such as multiplayer games or co-op campaigns. Suggested games: Left 4 Dead.

Saturn in the 11th house may enjoy games that require planning and strategy, and that involve long-term goals and rewards. Suggested games: Civilization VI, XCOM 2.

Uranus in the 5th house may enjoy games that are unconventional and challenge the status quo, with a focus on innovation and creativity. Suggested games: Katamari Damacy, Journey.

Neptune in the 7th house may enjoy games that allow them to escape reality and immerse themselves in a fantasy world, with a focus on exploration and discovery, as well some good interactions with the characters. Suggested games: World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV.

Pluto in the 1st house may enjoy games that allow them to explore their own identity and transformation, with a focus on personal growth and development. Suggested games: Persona 5.

Sagittarius in the 5th/11th house may like games plataform games where the objetive is really clear, there can be challenges to achieve it, but what you need to do is straight foward. Suggested games: Donkey Kong Country 1,2 and 3.

Saturn in the 11th house may enjoy games that involve building and managing communities, such as city-building or simulation games that allow them see how this society grows. Suggested games: Cities: Skylines.

Pluto/Saturn/Mars in the 11th house may enjoy games where you cause mass destruction. Suggested Games: Plague Inc.

Sun/Pluto/Capricorn/Scorpio/Leo/Aries in 5th, may like games that allow them to feel powerful and in control, such as action or adventure games where they can take on challenging foes and overcome obstacles. Suggested games: God of War, Assassin's Creed.

Mars in the 11th house may enjoy games that require quick thinking and strategic planning, such as real-time strategy or fast-paced action games that test their reflexes. Suggested games: Starcraft II, Doom.

Jupiter in the 10th house may enjoy games that involve leadership and decision-making, such as management or simulation games that allow them to run their own company or organization. Suggested games: Two Point Hospital, Tropico.

Venus/Taurus/Libra/Pisces in the 1st house may enjoy games that allow them to express their creativity and unique style, such as fashion or art-based games that let them create their own designs and aesthetics. Suggested games: Style Savvy, Art Academy.

Mercury in the 1st house may enjoy games that involve problem-solving and critical thinking, such as puzzle or mystery games that challenge their intellect. Suggested games: Myst, The Witness.

Sun in the 11th house may enjoy games that involve socialization and teamwork, such as online multiplayer games that allow them to connect with others and work towards a common goal. Suggested games: Dead by Daylight, Identity V.

Sun/Mercury/Mars in the 3rd house may like mobile games that are simple to play and that you can play it while waiting for your bus, for example. Suggest games: Candy Crush.

Aquarius/Uranus in the 11th may like games that are simply chaotic and really different. Suggest games: Untitled Goose Game, Cruelty Squad.

Venus/Mars/Saturn/Virgo/Aries in the 6th house, Saturn in the 5th house may enjoy games that involve self-improvement and personal growth, such as fitness or education-based games. Suggested games: RingFit Adventure, Brain Age.

Mars/Jupiter/Sagittarius in the 9th house may enjoy games that involve exploration and adventure, such as RPGs or action games that allow them to travel to new worlds and discover new things. Suggested games: The Legend of Zelda.

Mercury/Gemini/Virgo/Aquarius in the 7th house may enjoy games that involve communication and collaboration, such as multiplayer games or co-op campaigns that require teamwork and strategy. Suggested games: Overcooked.

Saturn in the 5th house may enjoy games that involve discipline and focus, such as puzzle or strategy games that require patience and attention to detail. Suggested games: Tetris, Legends of Runeterra.

Sources: PSD by wildfireresources on deviantart Futaba Render Template by sorberts on tumblr Template by minikyuns on deviantart

[masterhallmark]

You know, we all talk about how Maxie and Archie hate eachother...but do you know who else ORAS Maxie would despise?

Mr. "HuMaN sPiRiT iS bAd" Cyrus

In ORAS and Masters EX, Maxie firmly is all about humanity's accomplishments and spirit. He is very pro-human. In the latter game, he has a ton of quotes praising things like cities, technology, etc as proof of all the things humanity can accomplish.

"The beauty of city lights glimmering in the night is a triumph of human innovation and ingenuity."

"There is justice in fighting an old friend if it is to pursue your own ideologies."

"I'm the leader of Team Magma, an organization dedicated to finding paths upon which humanity may stride freely forward and evolve."

And then this whole monologue in Omega Ruby where he complimens the player's determination and believes people with strong spirits are the key to humanity's future:

"Hmm. Though you are but a child, your eyes tell me of your fierce determination. My heart is pounding in my chest... Yes, I think I can see why my lowly Grunts could not stand one minute against you. I am called Maxie. I stand as the head of Team Magma, a noble organization whose goal is to propel humanity to even greater heights of progress and evolution. Indeed. And you are one of the young persons who may shape our society's future. Considering that fact, I believe I shall educate you in the ways of the world. The land... It is the stage upon which humanity stands. The land exists so we humans might continue onward and upward, stepping into the future... For us to continue growing and evolving, humans require a grand stage upon which to stand. A land upon which we can stride forward... A land we can explore...develop...exploit... This is the basis for the growth of all human endeavor. That is why we, Team Magma, must increase the landmass of the world! Believe that this will lead to a future of eternal happiness for humanity... And consequently for all life!"

Now imagine him meeting Cyrus while Cyrus is ranting about how human spirit is bad, humans constantly screw up because of human spirit, people with strong wills are weak, and a world without human spirit would be better because humans are incomplete.

Maxie is throwing hands, setting Cyrus on fire, and possibly using this as an opportunity to show off the cool obsidian knife he made with an obsidian chunk he found by Mt Chimney....OK, maybe he wouldn't IMMEDIATELY resort to violence, but he WOULD decide Cyrus is Team Magma Enemy #1.

[dizordlizord]

Alright I’m speaking my peace on Pokémon LZA because holy fuck am I excited.

First off: RELEASE DATE IN 2025! GAME FREAK LISTENED! Hopefully this means they’re taking more time to actually develop the game graphically/game play wise. Only real worry is no game play footage which can be a double edged Honedge (please laugh) but I am so excited to see this game and play this game and live this game and augh.

Second off: I don’t think this is going to take place in the past. While it is called “Legends” Z-A, the overall feel of the trailer + comparing it to the Legends Arceus trailer is throwing up a few hints that we could hypothetically be going forward.

So the overall vibe of this “new” region (Im just gonna call it Kalos 2) appears very technologically advanced. Comparing it to the Legends Arceus reveal trailer back in 2021, the world plans appear more computer generated than the ink-and paper layout of the Hisui region.

Lumiose City is already shown to be pretty developed- if not already existing which begs the question: what is the “urban redevelopment plan”?

Urban Redevelopment is quoted as being “demolition and reconstruction or substantial renovation of existing buildings or infrastructure within urban infill areas or existing urban service area.” So if we were to argue that this is still taking place in the future, this could mean the complete and total redux of Lumiose City as we know it today, maybe even changing the city name entirely.

Then of course there’s this monster.

Admittedly while writing this, this has been the biggest wrench in my Kalos 2 theory because the return of Mega Ev could make this game go two ways:

If it’s in the past: it would finally clear up the contradicting stories about how Mega Evolution came to exist in the first place. However, because Karina says they still don’t know a lot about it even in XY, this means there’s not a lot of written record or contradicting oral record of how Mega Ev came about.

If it’s in the future: it could hopefully become a more widely researched topic and finally clear up how Mega Ev came to pass and become more accessible to the public. This could, in turn, become a piece of the main goal for the villains (if there are any) but also hopefully open the possibility to new Mega Evs entirely. (You could argue this for the past as well tbh)

Man I just want this game to come out Legends Arceus was so good it got my non-Pokémon sibling invested in a Pokémon game. Someone better get eeby deebied or else what’s the point

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

Can you recommend any dinosaur themed video games? Or maybe games that just have evolution somehow play a part?

sO

for one, you can always play Evolution! evolution is a video game based on a card game that is actually a pretty great game-ification of the process of evolution (I have a couple of big critiques - predators don't hunt their prey into extinction as a general rule, but that's a key game component) and fun to play

if you're cool with going retro, the game Spore is essentially an evolution simulation game, even if its a bit oversimplified

The game Ecosystem mimics evolution too, you essentially are creating an underwater ecosystem from scratch, but my immersion is broken by the modern-type plants juxtaposed with cambrian-era fish

ironically, games with prehistoric life and games about evolution? not the same two things. none of those games really feature actual prehistoric life.

But, there are games that do!

I actually really like Saurian. It's still in alpha, and has a lot of development to do, but it's essentially a complete recreation of Hell Creek, and you can grow up as a raptor or as a triceratops!

Then there's Prehistoric Kingdom, which is a park builder sim with prehistoric life. The online community for it sucks (major transphobia incident), but the game itself is a fun time, and the dinosaurs are gorgeous.

I also enjoy Jurassic World Evolution 2. Sure, JW is inaccurate af, and every time I see manual unguals on digits 4 and 5 on the hands/front feet I scream internally, but a) there are lots of accuracy mods and b) the graphics are gorgeous

Let's Build a Zoo has prehistoric life, too! And things you wouldn't expect! It's kind of a basic game, but it's fun. And has more birds than fucking planet zoo does.

Zoo Tycoon 2 is still probably the best zoo game around, somehow, and there are tons of mods to add virtually as many prehistoric animals as you want. Hell, my friends and I made a Kulindadromeus mod for it! Literally! Any dinos you want.

Roots of Pacha is a game similar to Stardew that takes place in the Pleistocene! It's all about the power of human cooperation and community building, complete with Mammoths and Smilodon and Glyptodonts. Its a fun game, and I love it a lot. Can't wait for it to update more!

Dawn of Man is a pretty good caveman sim, as well, but it's very realism-focused, and killing mammoths is part of the game, so it's a bummer. But it's fun to go through the history of stone age human technology.

Dinosaur Fossil Hunter is... meh. the protagonist is a muscular white guy. the adventure side of paleontology is overemphasized. the controls are kind of crappy. I can't recommend it.

Tyto Ecology is a fun, if basic, ecology simulator, but it is no longer being developed or supported. Still, I enjoyed it.

aaaand... those are my recommendations. The pickings are kind of slim. Hence my desperate desire to make more prehistoric life and evolution themed games!

that said, keep an eye out - Paleopines and Super Zoo Story are both coming out soon, and they both have dinosaurs!

[impossiblesuitcase]

I wish someone would rewrite the lunar chronicles but better (no offence to Marissa Meyer) and make it cooler with minor alterations. Such as the cresswell age gap, the lack of futuristic or dystopian description besides the author’s own developed ideas like lunars and portscreens, more cyborgs mentioned so it doesn’t seem like Cinder is the only one really, and just overall slightly better writing minus the attributes that make it very clear this was made in the awkward 2010s. This series has so much potential, the whole idea is fantastic really, but the executions haven’t exactly shown that potential. It’s subjective and I’m not saying it’s a horrible trilogy, because it definitely is not, however, the initial interpretation or impression of the “futuristic cyborg cinderella/fairytales” is such an interesting and eye-catching topic on its own that it becomes a let down in certain ways. It could tell the story of all those Pinterest cyberpunk year 3000 cities. Additionally, various writers and authors have their own unique style of writing and it’d be quite compelling to read this series in a different style, preferably a dystopian author like the ready player one type

I agree to an extent. I too would want to alter some elements such as the wolfen soldiers and the alpha mate aspect. It would be cool to further enhance some of the futuristic elements of the setting. However what we have to consider is this--is there time for that? I personally don't see how more worldbuilding beyond the already extensive groundwork laid could work without slowing the story and pacing. Winter is 800 pages already--imagine if you added to it with further exposition! I feel it would suffer, not shine.

This is not a story about what a technologically-advanced society could look like, it's a story about a lost princess who reclaims her throne and overthrows a broken political system--set in a futuristic society. Marissa is foremost interested in characters and plot, still, when you sit back and analyse the worldbuilding, you can clearly see that she put a lot of thought into it. Cyborgs, escort droids, language evolution, robotic animals, political conflicts, space cruise ships; there's a lot of cool stuff in there! I think of all the things to improve about tlc, this would be low priority.

Moreover, this isn't intended to be a dystopian series, it's a sci-fi fantasy series. No, it doesn't have the social commentary like The Hunger Games, but it isn't trying to. The books in The Lunar Chronicles are based on fairytales, and are therefore meant to reflect the romantic, sometimes improbably fantastical elements of such. And yet still, this series explores themes of racism, ableism, sexual assault, suicide, domestic abuse and classism. These are not the main focus of the story, but they certainly aren't ignored. If the series was any darker, its core values of love, adventure and friendship could fall to the wayside.

You mentioned that the series is a trilogy so perhaps you haven't read all the books (the main series is actually a tetralogy, but the whole series is 7 books in total). If you are looking for a darker, more dystopian feel, try Fairest. For more cyborgs, try The Little Android in Stars Above.

So overall, would I enjoy reading tlc by a different author? Sure. I would love to see how an Asian author would depict New Beijing and the Eastern Commonwealth. However would I enjoy any other version more than the original? I don't think so. It would lose the humour, friendships and character developments that are uniquely Marissa. If The Lunar Chronicles isn't written by Marissa Meyer, then it just simply is not The Lunar Chronicles.

That's just my thoughts and I can understand your opinion.

[seat-safety-switch]

Years, many years ago, you may have looked forward to software updates. New features, bugs fixed, an evolution of an already pretty good instant messenger or paint program or Usenet pornography downloader. Nowadays, a software update is dreaded. There are many reasons: it may contain a grotesque new turn towards adware or algorithmic timeline bullshit, an eye-searingly-bad redesign, or the developers may have “accidentally” broken your favourite feature and want you to buy the Pro version to get it back.

Yes, software is very bad today, and getting worse. It’s ruining everything that our society used to love: self-driving cars, video game systems, laptop computers, and the sentient synthetic intelligence that spontaneously developed in your washing machine, which you can no longer connect to the internet in order to receive text messages of when your clothes are done being washed for fear of extinguishing this new and fragile form of sapient life with an update that makes the front-panel lights slightly less flickery. And I don’t think you need me to tell you that this fucking sucks.

Is there a solution, beyond fleeing into the woods and carrying half a 1980s Radio Shack worth of 8-bit microprocessors and firearms with you? Although that does sound pretty good, now that we’re talking about it, I think there is a way we can keep all of our modern conveniences (like roads, and freshly-squeezed high-octane gasoline) while turning back the tide of anti-progress. All we have to do is outlaw pie charts.

That’s right. Pie charts. We thought they were innocent when they first appeared, a way to use our trigonometry classes to make a cool-looking chart. Pretty colours. Hell, maybe they come in 3D, which makes them totally useless as a way to tell how big the slices are, but boy does it look cool. The problem is, some people took the pie charts way too seriously. Upper management began to obsess over them, their eyes seeing special secrets – margin, even – hiding at the border of each ridiculous pixelated slice. And they chased those secrets, drunk-driving the world into a technological hell.

Once we throw pie charts in the collective shredder of humanity’s memory, we can move on to things that make more sense. Bar charts, for example, can still lie, but they don’t exist purely as a function of lies. I’m not so naive to believe that humanity won’t re-invent the pie chart at some future date, of course, but I’m pretty convinced the extra productivity means that we’ll be able to build really reliable hunter-killer robots to wipe those folks out, and leave them behind for future generations. Even if those robots don’t have a “dark mode” or special new typeface every couple of months to boost engagement.

[rosiebee-18]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

The game explores a prevalent subject in Japan: societal pressure and individual identity. The protagonist, Rex, is under enormous pressure as a Salvager to provide for his community, reflecting the cultural expectations put on individuals in Japan to contribute to collective well-being. This reflects the strong pressure many Japanese, particularly teenagers, endure to conform to societal norms. Furthermore, the game addresses the friction between technological growth and traditional values, which is a major issue in Japan. In other terms globalization. In Alrest, new technology coexists alongside traditional ways of living, mirroring Japan's struggle to strike a balance between rapid modernization and cultural heritage preservation. The story frequently emphasizes the repercussions of misusing technology, serving as a warning about unchecked technical progress without ethical limits.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 explores the concept of objectification, particularly through the depiction of Blades and their interactions with their Drivers. Blades are powerful, sentient beings designed to serve those who are human, known as Drivers. Despite their sentience and distinct personalities, blades are frequently viewed as tools or weapons rather than individuals with rights and emotions. This relationship raises serious concerns about objectification and the moral implications of treating sentient humans like things. One example of objectification in the game is how certain Drivers perceive and use their Blades. Blades are frequently viewed as a means to a goal, valued largely for their combat capabilities or strategic benefits. It reduces Blades to tools of power and usefulness, denying them of agency and personality. The commodification of Blades, as evidenced by how they are summoned, exchanged, and sometimes even discarded, shows the game's ubiquitous objectification. The game also questions the consequences of objectification through Blades' character development and interactions with Drivers. Some Drivers see their Blades' humanity and individuality, which fosters mutual respect and understanding. This evolution represents a critique of objectification, pushing for the recognition of sentient beings' worth beyond utility.

[sixeightsuited]

The Evolution of Aloy

This time around, I want to talk about Aloy herself and how she's changed over the course of the two games.

It's funny how some characters in gaming franchises never change even after decades. World views, personal growth, temperment etc. They stay the same for better or for worse. Often, even after cataclysmic, world changing events, they remain the same.

In Horizon Forbidden West (PC) this does not seem to be the case. Yes, other characters have changed but I want to focus on our protagonist.

It seems to me that in HFW, Aloy has exponentially changed and not in completely positive ways. In what I believe to be a conscience choice by the writers to show this evolution, there are some things she has said where I found myself cringing and saying things like "Hey, easy now" or "Whoa! Come on. Don't be like that!" when she's addressing various characters during interactions that involve spirituality and belief.

I've found myself, without giving spoilers, thinking "Shit. That was a bit harsh!" as she intentionally or not, crushes someone's feelings either by indifference or action/inaction. As someone with Autism, I can very much relate to being perceived as indifferent or uncaring/unfeeling when that is not the case at all.

I also feel like she has become a bit of a chest puffer (gotten a tad full of herself) like when she threatens death to a highly respected Chief. Saying she could just kill hiim and take, instead of waiting to be given; what she wants. These aren't particularly likeable aspects of her growth but they are realistic and understandable given the unimaginable stress of being everybody's "Savior" when all she wants is to be Aloy.

As her knowledge of AI and technology, science, history etc. has grown, she has, as typically has been the case in humanity's evolution, begun to show a sometimes not so thinly veiled contempt for cultures that still practice spirituality and make a lot of decisions based on their beliefs and/or societal hierarchy.

There exists now, at least as I have perceived it, a new aspect to her very complex personality not just in her verbal communication but also in terms of subtle looks of exasperation, eye rolling, and an outright dismissive attitude towards spiritual practices by new cultures she's encountered.

When she meets a character that has far more knowledge and understanding of science, technology and history than her, they in a very Aloy way of doing things, make sure she's aware of that fact.

This is, to me at least, when she (to use a bit of a cliche) suddenly realizes she is no longer the smartest person in the room and she does not like it.

Now, since AI is a huge part of the story, I decided to ask one about this change/growth/evolution that has happened with her and here is what it said:

----------------------------------------------------

"Aloy’s character development in “Horizon Forbidden West” reflects her growing knowledge and understanding of the world’s history and technology. As she uncovers more about the ancient past and the true nature of the machines and AI, her perspective shifts 1. This shift may lead her to view the spiritual practices and beliefs of other tribes through a more critical lens, especially when they conflict with her scientific discoveries.

In “Horizon Zero Dawn,” Aloy is an outcast seeking the truth about her origins and the world. Her journey leads her to challenge the dogmatic views of her tribe and question the world around her. By the time of “Horizon Forbidden West,” Aloy has become a figure of significant importance, and her experiences have made her more confident in her knowledge 1. This confidence might come across as dismissiveness or intolerance, but it’s rooted in her deep understanding of the world’s workings, which often contradicts the tribal myths and beliefs.

Her character’s evolution is a complex interplay between her personal growth, the revelations she uncovers, and the responsibilities she shoulders. It’s a narrative choice that adds depth to her character and reflects the tension between tradition and progress"

--------------------------------------------------------------

Again, the section in quotation marks is the response from an AI and NOT something I wrote. Just making this extra clear.

This is pretty much the point I wanted to make. As an Anishinabe (Ojibway/Chippewa) living on the Rez, because of my people's complex, elemental, natural and spiritual belief systems, I have a good understanding of a lot of cultural practices portrayed in the game.

As a reasonably intelligent, compassionate and empathetic human being, I've also learned that I have to balance my cultural beliefs and practices with the realities of living in "modern" times and that means being respectful of not just my own culture, but to others whose belief systems may be perceived to be less enlightened than others.

This does not make me dislike her or playing as Aloy. It actually makes me enjoy it even more because it makes me feel and accept a lot of things few games do. Like, how we're not infallible. We are flawed. We can get our asses kicked. We have an ego that can get the better of us. it also makes me respect the writers even more for not letting her be a one dimensional, "White Savior"

I like the discomfort I feel playing as Aloy when she's constantly being put on a pedestal as if she had saved the world all by herself when she keeps telling people she was just one of many.

I like the annoyance I feel when someone makes a snide comment as I'm walking by them and I literally stop and turn around thinking "Say that to my face. Yeah, that's what I thought"

I like the frustration of wanting to scream "I HAVE A NAME FFS!" every time someone calls me "Outlander" and wanting to just get on my Charger and fuck off into the wilds and leave the world to it's own devices.

Yes, as she grows she develops some not so great character flaws but that's what is so great about it. It makes her even more real and relatable. After all, she's only human.

[roykleinberg]

a couple unpopular tron opinions!! lmao

Tron '82 > Legacy, but idk if that's an unpopular thought loll

What that makes Legacy's story go from good to great is all of it's various companion pieces— The Flynn Lives ARG, The Next Day, Betrayal, Evolution, Uprising, etc etc. The best thing about the Tron franchise is how it uses so many different mediums (and technology that viewers interact with in different ways!).

The Flynn Lives ARG, to me, is still the most ingenious thing that has happened to this franchise. Is it a little sad that the deeper aspects of Alan and Sam (and sort of Lora and Roy)'s characters get sidelined to something that average movie-goer isn't going to seek out? Yes, extremely. But the ARG is such a treat for fans that I'm genuinely surprised that Tronblr of the 2020s doesn't pay any attention to it. There's so much character and world building, and so many little, little easter eggs— I think the ARG deserves so much more attention!!!!

Evolution does more for the main program characters of Legacy (Clu2, Quorra) character development than Uprising does 😭The existence of Abraxas makes Clu more sinister because we see him purposefully going behind Flynn's back, and as dark as it was, Quorra's personal losses almost felt more heavy in Evo than Uprising since Anon and Quorra work together through the game. But I'm also very biased because I liked Evo's story so much lmao

—— from @quorras :)

tron confessional with moss

alright let's break this down lol

1. 82 v Legacy

admittedly I have gone back and forth on this one a lot over the years. because I generally (obviously) love 82 to bits and it is my favorite part of the whole franchise. but at times I have questioned if Legacy is narratively the Better Movie(tm). and at the end of the day I think it's somewhat hard to compare because they're telling pretty different stories, once you get past the surface level sucked into cyberspace plot. 82 has a warmer fuzzier view of the potential of technology in the right hands compared to Legacy, which in my interpretation leans more into the idea that family -- human love and connection -- supersedes the more "alien" program way of life. 82 wants you to like the programs and see them as people just like us, whereas Legacy has more of a Basics kinda suck and only the more human ISOs are worth anything approach lol. and I think there's validity in both those takes, and I think the times and environments in which they were created has a huge impact on how they view and approach technology. but. yeah. 82 wins for me on its more optimistic hopeful vibe alone.

2. The Tron EU (extended universe not European Union)

100% agreeeeeeeeee. I sometimes catch myself lamenting the fact that it's such a small franchise, but when you add up all the comics and games and the ARG (Flynn Lives ARG light of my life we will get to you in a moment xoxo) and the show there really is a lot! honestly throw ElecTRONica in there too, there was lore there. half the reason I have such a hard time even recommending the movies to people is because I want to be like okay but you also need to watch/read/play all of this please you don't UNDERSTAND

the way Tron has been handled by some many creators and creative teams is honestly just.... really beautiful and special to me in the most unironic sense. it sucks that the mouse has never given the franchise the trust or the resources to grow, and I hate that so many projects are soured by this air of something being ripped away from people who clearly loved it and wanted to do more. but that love is so undeniable in all these bits and pieces of the franchise. there will always be people who love Tron as much as we the fandom do, and I would rather have a hundred of these one-off passion projects like Uprising or Identity than a bunch of soulless blockbuster movies

3. ARG my beloved <3

42 Entertainment I am kissing you on the mouth

I really can't even articulate everything that the ARG is to me, and I wasn't even involved when it was ongoing. when I was just getting into Tron after Legacy got the home release, a good chunk of the ARG sites were still live, and I remember digging into all of it and being amazed and obsessed. I still have the wiki site where everything is archived bookmarked. there's so much good background in there. and Roy! ROY!!!!!!! and the big reveals in The Next Day? OUR little operation, ISOlatedThinker???? I am not and will neve be normal about it, and it's sad to think the current iteration of the fandom doesn't know about or acknowledge it as much

4. Evolution v Uprising

I feel ya. don't get me wrong, I love the Uprising cast, but I was never completely in love with how the show handled the pre-established characters. like I was saying before I didn't like how Uprising made Clu a more detached / distant villain, so having him be a more direct bastard in Evo worked better for me. and Quorra ugh :( she really loses everything over the course of the game, and I think it makes her character in Legacy so much more poignant knowing that she went through all of that but was still so hopeful. Abraxas was such a good, tragic, fucked up antagonist. and Gibson oughhhhhh. again hard to say what would have happened in a second season of Uprising (pour one out), but Evolution is so deliciously bleak in a way the show never completely got to be. Uprising is mostly dark because we know or can infer what's going to happen, because we know where canon ends up. but Evolution has more of an opportunity to show us the dark and horrible things that went on after the coup, and it's a carries a little more weight as a result. rip Anon you will always be famous

[jeanjauthor]

I am really liking the video game Cell To Singularity. It's a "clicker" game where you click on the screen to generate in-game currency to then build chains of progression (evolution paths, tech trees, etc), and it turns out the creators have put a LOT of thought into the various pieces.

It has a couple of "main game maps," the first being the evolution of animals into humans into human technology, another being the development of the solar system, the third being the dinosaur ages, etc, etc, but it also has special short development-trees/maps that cycle through every 4-5 days. These have included the evolution of Cats, the development of Money, the evolution of Art, the various types of minerals...and right now, they're showcasing the various Mass Extinction Events versus the tenacity of the various forms of life that continued to survive each time everything collapsed, versus those forms that we lost.

I am really, really liking this. You have to understand, I'm a learning junkie. I've always been interested in educating myself on a variety of topics (except maybe not sportsball stuff, lol). The information is short, sweet, and builds a fascinating lineage of knowledge in a wide variety of topics.

I'd highly recommend it to educators, to share with their students as a fun way to learn a lot more about science and the world around them. One caveat: Because of the complex/scientific words used, the recommended ages would probably be late middle school or early high school onward, aka 15+ years old. (Please note that I was reading at the college level in 6th grade, so I am not the best judge of this.)

I most definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a fun game they can play for just a few minutes a day, slowly building up their knowledge & understanding of our complex world.

Apparently there's some sort of gameplay thingy...but that's not important. Learning is what's important! XD

[studiomastersgroup]

Birth of Art Nouveau House Media Group

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been captivated by the timeless elegance and intricate beauty of Art Nouveau. This aesthetic has not only influenced my artistic vision but has also guided me on a remarkable journey into the world of filmmaking.

Art Nouveau House Media Group is a proud division of Studio Masters Group, a holding company that encompasses all my creative ideas, products, and services. My adventure began with a simple yet profound realization: the power of storytelling through visual art. From customizing websites and exploring game development to delving into the depths of database administration and programming, my diverse experiences have shaped my understanding of the creative process. However, it was the enchanting allure of Art Nouveau that ultimately inspired me to start Art Nouveau House Media Group.

Art Nouveau House Media Group embodies the harmonious blend of classic beauty and modern innovation. Our mission is to create captivating visual narratives that resonate with audiences globally. As the filmmaking and art division of Studio Masters Group, Art Nouveau House serves as our creative cathedral, with Cathedral Films being our flagship brand. Every film produced under this banner will reflect the elegance and intricacy of the Art Nouveau aesthetic.

Building a Legacy and Starting a company has been both challenging and exhilarating. Every step, from conceptualizing ideas to actualizing them, has been a learning experience. With Art Nouveau House Media Group, I aim to inspire and captivate, much like the timeless works of the Art Nouveau era.

Join Me on As we embark on this exciting venture, I invite you to follow along and witness the evolution of Art Nouveau House Media Group. Together, let’s celebrate the fusion of art and technology, and the enduring legacy of Art Nouveau.

[science-lover33]

Revolutionizing Healthcare: The Marvels of Gene Therapy

Gene therapy, a cutting-edge medical technique, has emerged as a game-changer in the field of healthcare. This transformative approach involves the modification of a patient's genetic material to treat or prevent a range of diseases. Let's embark on an in-depth exploration of the technical intricacies of this revolutionary treatment, its historical evolution, and its profound implications for the future of medicine.

Gene Therapy in a Nutshell:

Gene therapy primarily operates by introducing, altering, or repairing specific genes within an individual's cells. By utilizing viral vectors, such as adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) or lentiviruses, scientists can deliver therapeutic genes into target cells with remarkable precision, thus opening up new avenues for combating previously untreatable conditions. This precision is akin to the delicate strokes of an artist's brush, where each modification holds the potential to transform lives.

Historical Evolution:

To truly appreciate the significance of gene therapy, it's essential to glance back at its historical evolution. The concept of manipulating genes to treat diseases has been a dream of scientists for decades. The initial steps in gene therapy research were taken in the 1970s and 1980s, but it wasn't until the 1990s that the first clinical trials began, marking a pivotal moment in medical history. Over the years, the field has witnessed remarkable advancements, from developing safer delivery mechanisms to expanding the range of treatable diseases. Today, we stand on the shoulders of these pioneers, poised to achieve what was once thought impossible.

Applications and Achievements:

Gene therapy has already demonstrated remarkable success in treating a wide array of genetic disorders. Conditions like spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), hemophilia, and inherited retinal diseases that were once considered incurable are now within the realm of possibility for effective treatment. Moreover, the revolutionary field of cancer immunotherapy, a subset of gene therapy, harnesses the immune system's power by genetically modifying T cells to specifically target and destroy cancer cells, offering renewed hope to cancer patients worldwide. Excitingly, ongoing research is exploring the potential of gene therapy to combat neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, promising a brighter future for those affected by these devastating conditions. The horizon of possibilities in gene therapy continues to expand, unveiling new hope for patients and their families.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations:

While gene therapy holds immense promise, it is not without its set of challenges and ethical dilemmas. Concerns about off-target effects and immune responses necessitate meticulous research and testing to ensure the safety and efficacy of gene therapies. Ethical discussions surrounding germline editing, the potential for unintended consequences, and the need for responsible genetic manipulation are ongoing, highlighting the importance of a balanced approach to this groundbreaking technology. These discussions underscore the critical need for transparent and collaborative decision-making as we tread carefully in this uncharted territory.

Gene therapy's potential to revolutionize medicine is undeniable. As research continues to advance and ethical considerations evolve, we find ourselves at the threshold of a new era in healthcare. Stay informed and engaged as we navigate this exciting frontier, where science fiction becomes science fact, and hope is restored for countless individuals and families around the world. The future of healthcare has never looked brighter, thanks to the marvels of gene therapy, and it's a future that holds the promise of healthier, happier lives for generations to come.

References:

Kaeppel, C., & Verma, I. M. (2018). Viral Vectors for Gene Therapies: The Road Ahead. Molecular Therapy, 26(3), 699-700. doi:10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.01.011

Rinaldi, C., & Wood, M. J. (2018). Antisense oligonucleotides: the next frontier for treatment of neurological disorders. Nature Reviews Neurology, 14(1), 9-21. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2017.148

Cyranoski, D. (2019). The CRISPR-baby scandal: what’s next for human gene-editing. Nature, 566(7745), 440-442. doi:10.1038/d41586-019-00550-9

[random-thought-depository]

OK, here's that write-up for catgirl humans I said I'd do, though in developing them I've moved away from the catgirl concept and toward imagining a species that might be less misleadingly called "bearfolk," so I think I'll just call them bearfolk from now on (at least until I decide on what they'd call themselves).

Bearfolk are a species for my sci fi setting. In the setting, they're one of maybe seven or ten sapient species descended from proto-humans transplanted to other planets by aliens in the Pleistocene for reasons I haven't decided on yet (and which may or may not be a mystery to humans in-universe). The ancestors of the bearfolk were transplanted to a world which has a long (tens to hundreds of thousands of years) cycle in which the axis obliquity changes from less than 10 degrees to more than 60 degrees and back again.

As well as the periodic climate changes, the bearfolk world had another environmental difficulty: many of the plants were poisonous or otherwise not nourishing or poorly nourishing to humans, and many of the small animals were poisonous or venomous. That left big animals as the best available food source, and pushed the ancestors of the bearfolk into relying on big game hunting as their primary food source (though it is important to note that the bearfolk never became pure carnivores; when they developed civilization the backbone food production system of their civilization was the same as ours; edible seed and tuber crop cultivation).

The proto-bearfolk at this stage were not very technologically sophisticated, and probably not yet fully sapient. Their primary big game hunting technique was to attack animals with stabbing spears. Unfortunately, this was quite dangerous against larger fauna, so the early proto-bearfolk suffered a high young adult mortality rate. This created a selection pressure for increased size, increased strength, increased resilience against injury, and increased intelligence. The biggest, strongest, toughest, smartest proto-bearfolk were more likely to survive their hunts long enough to reproduce, so over time the species started to get bigger, stronger, tougher, and smarter.

The proto-bearfolk got a stroke of genetic bad luck. Some of the changes that increased their intelligence mildly degraded their fine motor coordination (maybe the evolution of their sapience involved the cerebellum shrinking to make room for an expanded neocortex?). The effects were not very debilitating, and in the short term getting a little clumsier but smarter was a net-positive trade-off for survival, so these genes propagated and increased in frequency. But in the long term this had the effect of making them poor shots, which delayed the development of projectile weaponry. It didn't help that a lot of their prey were protected by natural armor, requiring relatively precise targeting of weak spots to take them down; this was much easier from close range. It also didn't help that limited ability to eat from the base of the food chain limited the proto-bearfolk population, and the very adaptations that made them better megafauna-killers (increased size, muscle mass, and brain power) also increased their caloric needs and further limited their population; this tended to make technological progress quite slow even given full human-level intelligence. As a result of these factors, the bearfolk remained locked into taking down prey in close combat with stabbing spears, and exposed to the selection pressures that generated, for a long time.

As their size, brute strength, resilience against injury, and intelligence all increased, fewer of the proto-bearfolk died on the hunt and they were able to tackle bigger and more dangerous prey, as well as more effectively compete against rival predators. Eventually they became one of their planet's apex predators, regularly taking down megafauna much bigger than themselves. The end result of this process was a sapient species significantly bigger and much heavier and stronger than Homo sapiens.

The other important selection pressure bearfolk got that we didn't is their ancestors experienced at least one of their planet's high obliquity eras. During these eras much of the planet experienced more than a month of continuous darkness in winter. This created a selection pressure for ability to operate in darkness, specifically for improved night vision, improved senses of hearing and smell, and increased reliance on senses other than vision.

So, modern bearfolk...

They have much better night vision than Homo sapiens, better hearing, and a better sense of smell. They tend to rely more on senses other than vision. One noticeable external anatomical difference is their earlobes are bigger and more conical than ours and have some mobility, to capture sounds better; they're not exactly cat ears, but they might look a little like that.

They're pretty big, and have much more muscle mass than Homo sapiens. I haven't decided exactly how big. My "not all that different from us" model is they're not all that much taller than us (average height six-foot-something), but much more heavily built, with much more muscle mass. If you want to imagine what a bearfolk looks like, a strongman like Hafthor Julius Bjornsson is a good place to start. Note that this is my "well, let's assume they're small enough their furniture wouldn't be too awkward for us and vice versa so shared social events and work-spaces would be relatively easy" model; I might make them bigger. As you might extrapolate from this description, they're very strong. Put the bearfolk equivalent of a moderately in-shape yoga mom in the Olympics and she might win a gold medal or ten.

They've retained more "primitive" hominid features inherited from the common ancestor; they have Neaderthal-like "chinless" jaws, heavier brow ridges than us, and a more robust skull. They're a bit like Neanderthals in combining these "primitive" features with a brain that's, if anything, bigger than ours. I think this would fit with them having evolved toward even more robustness instead of gracility. One exception to this is bearfolk males have lost male-pattern facial hair; this might be because it was easier to clean blood and other animal fluids off a hairless face, or it might be just a result of genetic drift.

Increased sharpness of the incisors and canines fits my mental image of them, but realistically I don't think it's plausible: knives and controlled fire are some of the oldest human technologies, and once you have them there isn't much selection pressure for tooth anatomy changes. Maybe it's a side effect of selection for some other trait, like the long hairs on the legs of big horses?

Despite their prehistoric specialization as mostly-carnivores, they never lost the human capacity to eat a wide variety of foods. Nowadays they eat more seed and tuber crop derived foods than meat, for the same reason we do.

A quick skim of a Wikipedia article says Hafthor Bjornsson took 8-10,000 calories a day to maintain his peak strongman physique, which would suggest if bearfolk have a similar physique they'd need to eat a lot. Then again, I'd guess an Earth human has to work out a lot to maintain that kind of muscle mass, whereas bearfolk would more-or-less just have it by default, so that might help. Even so, I'm pretty sure all that extra muscle would take a lot of extra calories and protein to maintain.

Ideas about bearfolk society and stuff:

Bearfolk population densities were pretty low in their ancestral environment; limited ability to eat from the base of the food chain and high individual caloric needs limited their population. Compared to Homo sapiens with equivalent technology and in similar environment, their social groups were smaller and more dispersed. On the one hand, this meant less selection for hypersociality. On the other hand, dangerous cooperative hunting selected for strong bonds within the group (nearest available Earth analogies: war buddies).

Translate this into modern times... On one hand, they tend to be less comfortable and more stressed when dealing with crowds and social interactions with people they don't know well. On the other hand, they tend to have strong bonds with romantic partners and close friends (the two are heavily overlapping categories in their society). They tend to have little taste for socializing in dance halls and big parties and the like, preferring small intimate gatherings with friends. Accordingly, their shared social spaces tend to be more set up to facilitate the latter kind of socialization. I think they might seem kind of autistic to us.

In terms of social structure, they actually have a lot of similarities with bonobo-like humans. Like bonobo-like humans, they tend to form large co-operative child-care units with lots of alloparenting. Like bonobo-like humans, they often rely on clubs, friend groups, extended family, worker cooperatives, group homes, etc. for cooperative child-care services that in our society would normatively be performed by the nuclear family. Like bonobo-like humans, they tend to live in group homes. In bearfolk this reflects patterns of social organization that were originally adaptations to the high young adult mortality rate of the hunter period (in bonobo-like humans they were partly responses to the higher risk of orphaning resulting from their age-mediated reproduction patterns, so there is some similarity there).

Thinking about sort of situation their society might have regarding gender and sexuality... Regarding gender, I think the short answer would be that bearfolk have a lot less of it than us:

Both sexes were hunters and heavily selected for large size and great strength. Sexual dimorphism is much lower than ours; bearfolk women aren't much smaller than bearfolk men. Native animal, bacterial, fungal, and viral parasites have difficulty infecting them because of how different they are from native animals physiologically, so pre-industrial child mortality was much lower than on Earth - in their hunter period young adult mortality was high, but it would have been greatly reduced by the development of effective projectile weapons, animal domestication, or agriculture (I haven't worked out which of those they got first). Childbirth is less strenuous to them because of how big and robust they are (I guess their babies might be a bit bigger than ours, but the difference is smaller than between sapiens and bearfolk adults). As I said earlier, they tend to form big cooperative child-care units and do lots of alloparenting. All this tended to reduce the degree to which their society treated men and women as different types of being with different rights, responsibilities, and roles.

Bearfolk men and women don't look very different. Bearfolk women have similar physique to bearfolk men, are only slightly smaller, and have small breasts. Bearfolk don't really have gendered clothing, or at least don't have much of it (at minimum, I guess menstrual pad equivalents are a kind of gendered clothing and they'd have those); men and women mostly wear about the same things (they tend to favor practical clothing). Bearfolk don't have the "women as the decorative sex" thing; they sometimes wear fancy clothing and jewelry of various sorts, but this isn't a gendered thing in their society, it's simply an attempt by the individual to look nice and/or advertise their high social status.

Perhaps because it has so little gender, Bearfolk society basically never stigmatized homosexuality.

Regarding sexuality more generally, I like the idea that Bearfolk are simultaneously a more and less sexual species than Homo sapiens, depending on how you look at it.

On one hand, they tend to have low libidos and be basically demisexual. One easily visible manifestation of this you might notice if visiting their planet is they don't do stuff like put suggestive images in advertisements and they don't have "sexy" fashion. I also think they wouldn't make much erotic art, and what they do make along those lines would look kind of weird to us; like, e.g. their movies might have sex scenes when they're character-significant, but I think they'd be shot pretty differently from ours. Casual sex, hook ups, and sex work would be much less prominent institutions in their society, since most of them would usually be uninterested in sex with strangers. Similarly, I think visual porn with minimum story wouldn't really be much of a thing in their society (but they might have more appreciation of romance novel and smutfic type things and have an equivalent literary tradition).

Side note: while they don't have "sexy" fashion and this does tend to result in generally modest clothing (at least in cooler climates), they also don't have much of a nudity taboo, and are quite chill about seeing each other nude in settings like public bathing facilities. These are to some extent two sides of the same coin; it doesn't occur to them that there might be something inappropriate about a bunch of strangers being naked together in a public bath or sauna or on a beach cause to them there is nothing potentially sexually arousing about this situation.

On the other hand, their society is polyamory-normative. They have a similar thing to bonobo-like humans going on where clubs, friend groups, small worker co-ops, etc. are often also polycules. They do tend to form very close, strong, intimate life partnerships with small numbers of people, but, 1) these are usually "open relationships," 2) they are often between three or four or more people instead of just two.

I think in the ancestral environment bearfolk romantic relationships (both homosexual and heterosexual) would have had a kind of Sacred Band of Thebes flavor. Not sure if or how this would influence their present society.

Also a major exception to bearfolk demisexuality is I think in the ancestral environment they'd have had inbreeding-avoidance behaviors like a woman who wanted to get pregnant sometimes waiting until she was nearing ovulation and then going to a neighboring group hers was on OK-to-good terms with and basically getting consensually gang-banged by the adult males of the other group, so that genes would be exchanged. They might have some modern practices distantly derived from such behaviors.

That reminds me, I think having a better sense of smell than us might have led to them getting a functional equivalent of modern birth control very early, similar to what happened with bonobo-like humans; they might be able to smell physiological changes associated with ovulation.

On a sad note, I think a high young adult mortality rate in the ancestral environment might lead to them getting less selection pressure for long lifespan, and hence being less long-lived today? They might have something kind of like the bonobo-like human late menopause relative to lifespan, but whereas bonobo-like humans got it by having really late menopause, bearfolk might have it just cause they kept a more chimp-like life cycle; adult by 15, menopause at 50 which is already elderly for them, usually dead by 70. :( On the other hand, high young adult mortality rate would mean the people who did manage to survive to older age were even more precious as teachers for the next generation of hunters and basically living libraries, so there'd be kin selection pressure for long lifespans that way. Also I could see them developing toward a pattern where reproduction and mothering tends to be done by older females who are past their prime as hunters, so they might get selection pressure for longer lifespan, later menopause, and slower female fertility decline that way (this arrangement would be something a little bit like our gender roles, but age-mediated!).