#ui politics

[rigil-kentauris]

i hate this thing thats going on where everyone blames allowing trump to take hold of the republican party for all Americas Current Right Wing problems. it allows republicans to so neatly dodge the majority of blame by making their actions out to be a single mistake, that of supporting a single person. in reality, trump is a symptom of republicans numerous actions and beliefs for *decades*, and i cant believe we are letting them off the hook for those hateful deliberate steps just because they are finally deciding to vaguely say trump might maybe has issues

[mysharona1987]

[purpleleavesday]

Don't usually post about Epic but my deranged friends (they aren't on tumblr but I love them all the same) somehow came to the conclusion amongst themselves that Polites should be a minecraft youtuber.

So I. Had to deliver

(I don't watch minecraft YouTube at all. So. I did my best lol)

[icewindandboringhorror]

Recent game related things .. hrmm...

[sharkneto]

oof yeah this update is Not Good. i miss seeing all y'all faces

[brbuttons]

so i just found this from today's stream and anyway hi it's atticus i accidentally took front from alice so uhhhhhhhh

[villain-sympathizer]

aye yo Ultra Impact whats up with this?? hm???

[theskyexists]

God I want to make that multiplayer game but it is ten times the time and effort and skill of this single player game

Dbjdbdwhy can't. I remove a poll accidentally added on mobile

[piosplayhouse]

The amount of terminally online animosity towards staff on this site is honestly insane like obviously you can be mad about the shitty flagging system and UI changes but I'm gonna be real guys I don't think harassing a random millennial 9-5 PR employee who runs a basic Tumblr blog where they like to talk about veganism and drarry on the side is doing anything to fight the current conservative politics of big tech

[txttletale]

Hi! So I have been seeing your posts talking about AI art and tbh it has made me reconsider my stance that was admittedly very reactionary and I was wondering if you could clarify something you said "the sooner people give up on luddite dead end pursuits of turning back the clock to more indivualized production the sooner they can put their energy into productive working class organizing. " Does this mean as in artists genuinely starting to recognize themselves as part of the working class and forming "collectives" and working as such? Or is it in the sense that art as a career will always inherently be part of the petite bourgeoisie? I hope I worded this correctly I am genuinely interested in hearing your thoughts as it has helped me rethink my stances thank u!! :)

the former! there's nothing about being an artist that automatically makes you petit bourgeoise (even if that is a common aspirational vision, most working artists are straightforwardly proletarian & doing work-for-hire projects, animating trolls 7: return of the trolls or desigining ui elements for FIFA 27--when i say 'productive working class organizing', i mean in their capacity as working artists, i'm not doing some kind of 'get a real job' routine.

for an exmaple of what effective working class organizing can look like for artists, look at the recent SAG-AFTRA agreements. instead of hoping that yelling at people on the computer would make the technology magically go away forever, they levered their industrial action to extract concessions about its use, including requiring the consent of actors to recreate their likeness digitally and requiring actors to be paid for the appearances of that likeness.

similarly, the WAG strike resulted in an agreement under which studios can't edit already written scripts with AI or produce scripts with AI and demand that an uncredited human edit them. these are actual, practical concessions extracted from employers that preserve working conditions and livelihoods. these are good political aims worth fighting for! but as you quote me saying, they are achieved through organized industrial action and not through shouting at twitter users innit

[englishotomegames]

Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom (薄桜鬼 真改 風華伝)

Release dates (Nintendo Switch) Japanese: September 16th, 2018 English: August 1st, 2024

"Two legendary visual novels come together in Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom, a remastered compilation of Hakuoki: Edo Blossoms and Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds, each among the most beloved entries in the acclaimed Japanese otome series. Players take the role of young heroine Chizuru as she is surrounded by the handsome warriors of the Shinsengumi. As battle ensues, who will emerge victorious and who will claim Chizuru’s heart?

Embrace the political and interpersonal drama of feudalism while navigating romantic scenarios and witnessing events inspired by Japanese history, brought to life through beautifully illustrated cutscenes and passionate dialogue sequences. Explore multiple story routes across both epic visual novels, renowned by long-time fans of the series while serving as a standalone jumping-on point for new players.

This updated version includes revised text for the best possible experience, making Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom the definitive way for players to enjoy the game!"

This is a remaster / port of the original Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom, called Shinkai Fuukaden in Japanese. Like Hakuoki: Edo Blossoms / Kyoto Winds, it includes six additional routes with three new characters, a new soundtrack, and an enhanced UI.

You can get the digital version here, or the physical version here!

[burning-academia-if]

Burning Academia: Chapter 2 Release

Play Here | Intro Post

Burning Academia is a 17+ paranormal dark academia IF about family, magic, school politics, and the ghosts which haunt you.

Total Word Count (w/code): 89.2k

Words Added (w/code): 47.9k

Chapter 2 Features:

Have a weird encounter at work

Enjoy an almost normal day for once, or another bad one

No really, if you have a bad day this time it's on you

3 endings, each with their own lasting consequences

3 achievements, if that's your kind of thing

Content Warnings:

Severe: Discussions and depictions of death, gaslighting, emotionally unstable parent

Moderate: Scopophobia (eyes/staring), references to alcoholism, references to unhealthy coping mechanisms

Mild: possession

Chapter 1 Change log:

Added piercing and facial hair options during the customization screen

a handful of variable fixes

gonna be honest, I edited this chapter a few months ago and I don't remember what else I fixed, but I remembering fixing them

Upcoming in Chapter 3:

Consequences for your actions...or not

Go to your magic elective and listen to the voice in your head roast your professor

Pop quiz, because said professor hates you

Hit up the town, go to the freshman party, or break into one of the school buildings. You can even do two of those things, if you're lucky

Notes:

Chapter 1 saves might not work, but if you have any saves from the end of the prologue, those should work so you don't have to start completely from the beginning if you don't want! I'd recommend keeping a save for a chapter prior from now on, ie keeping a chapter 1 save for chapter 3, since there's always a possibility I will need to fix or adjust things in chapter 2.

Also I just wanted to give a vague update schedule. So 3 things: Zoe's backstory is going to be released in July! This is the only thing with a set time frame for release. Next, I want to focus on updating/fixing the UI before anything else, just because it's kinda been bothering me. This will be the next "game update" for BA. After the UI release will come Chapter 3. I'm hoping chapter 3 doesn't take 5 months this time, but that's up to life which has had a sniper riffle on me for the whole of 2024, so we'll see.

Lastly, as always, if I broke something feel free to send an ask or submit it through the google doc here!

[signalhill-if]

Signal Hill Update 1.2.0 is Live

...been a while, huh?

After a long hiatus from this project to focus on my schoolwork, I have a whole update for you lovely folks including over 27,500 words of new content.

For new players, Signal Hill is a text-based interactive fiction RPG set in the post-apocalyptic utopia of Signal Hill. After your caravan is ambushed on the way to the city, you're stranded here- penniless. As you try to recover your cargo, you'll meet a cast of morally dubious characters looking to use you for their own benefit and uncover a web of intrigue far vaster than you ever imagined.

In this update...

DRESS UP GAMES (8.5k). As you embark on your quest to become Yvette's little helper, you'll need to do some dirty work for him- but before you can do that, you've got to look the part. Meet up with him at Darling's Boutique to play dress up with a number of cheeky, route-exclusive clothing items to disguise yourself in an underground genderfuck club.

CROSSROADS (7.5k). The local cult leader wants to meet with you- how could you say no? With tensions high, learn about Levi, the beliefs of him and his followers, and the strange living god they follow.

WHISPERING STREETS (8k). You've been tasked with figuring out who stole that precious cargo from the caravan- who shot you. Ask around, push, prod, and put the pieces together to figure out what the word on the street is. Ask the right people, and you might just learn a thing or two about the twisted web of politics going on behind the scenes.

DEBRIEF (3.5k). Collect your thoughts, share your info, and make a plan for what comes next. This scene has two variations, one featuring Doc and one featuring Levi.

Also, look forward to...

New conversations with some fan-favourite NPCs

Four new route-exclusive clothing items for folks working with Yvette

A simple UI option for desktop users

PLAY NOW.

Cover image artwork by @wuntrum | Buy me a coffee? Bug reports can be sent to signalhilldev@gmail.com

[kingdoms-and-empires]

The King's Hound Review

I recently had to go travel and read a few works that I never got around to reading but was interested in.

PLEASE REMEMBER THIS REVIEW IS DONE BY ME AS A READER AND IS MY OWN OPINION.

This means I will review in accordance to my own tastes, how the game caters to me, and what I feel. Do not take my word as gospel, what I may not be interested in or dislike, may be what YOU are interested and love!!!

@the-kingshound

Synopsis:

You are the King’s spouse, his right and left hand, the unstoppable executor of his will. Your name is whispered by enemies and allies with fear and respect alike, some says it’s your arm that bears the weight of the entire kingdom.

They call you the King’s hound. It started as a way to taunt you but it’s not that far away from the truth. Your loyalty is blind, your devotion absolute. The King’s vision is your vision.

Your name will forever mark history alongside theirs.

But for now, you are being shipped to your betrothed, alone and powerless on your way to Camelot.

As the seventh child of the Venegard House, you’ve always had little to look forward to other than an arranged marriage to achieve a political alliance.

That’s exactly why, after your parents lost the rebellion against King Arthur, you were the one sent to him as a sign of newfound peace.

You don’t know what awaits you now, but after you Camelot will never be the same.

Review:

The Good: The project is 18+, and the writing is very well done. It just feels quality. Plus the UI and and dark background are classy. The game is Twine, so you get the save functions of Twine and all that jazz. Anyways, descriptions are well done, the worldbuilding is grounded and helps form the politics in-game. It's thought-out and noticeable. The player customization goes hard and you even get the option to play mute! In The King's Hound, you also find a game that provides the LGBTQ+ demographic and FemMC playing community a welcoming and acknowledging home. The descriptions of the fight scenes and battles (like action set pieces) are good and don't leave you scratching your head. The transitions between paragraphs and pages happen naturally and without breaking pace, which shows the talent of a writer that considers their audience. Also, in regards to the King Arthur mythos and worldbuilding done by the author, i just really appreciate the fact that Camelot is Welsh.

It just gives me an idea of how much the author researched or cares about the mythos to give that respect of origin for the story. I had problems with how King Arthur was being super nice at first, but the author recently stated in a post that Arthur was acting in such a manner because he is deliberately trying to be the opposite of King Uther!

And that in the future, the work will offer more text to reveal that to us, the player.

The Bad: I wouldve liked being able to marry a cousin, niece, sister, or even daughter of King Arthur (or genderbender him) but that is literally my only complaint as a straight dude tryna self insert. The author tells you explicitly that you are marrying the king. If the author decides not to, as is their right and vision, I have no problem whatsoever. I still think the work is well written, and has many elements that i personally fuck with (low fantasy, grounded narrative, adult themes) The fact that i wish the author could change this, is only because i like the work so much. Instead, in this playthrough King Arthur will find that the MC practices

The Ugly: The MAP. But that's only because my history buff mind thinks of the British Isle when hearing these names and when i saw the map it physically gave me whiplash. But youre making your own version of the story, so bully!

The Aftermath: I know this game isnt catered towards me as a straight dude. It is a proud queer game with quality writing, that'd also do really well for the FemMC readers. I would recommend this game to anyone who wants a low fantasy medieval setting, with good writing, and grounded narratives that isn't a straight dude's traditional power fantasy.

Next playthrough, ima be a mute straight girl thatll hoe around King Arthur's court out of sheer spite

^Marci from Dota: Dragon Blood

[mythsofher]

update: this is resolved! the profile button is back as it should be! thank you to everyone who sent in feedback in any way.

if you don’t like the ui changes from the newest tumblr update, please consider sending in feedback asking tumblr to change this

i’m hoping that i’m not just screaming into the void.

edit: i’m also encouraging everyone to go leave tumblr a bad review, citing this change as to why. don’t make it a four star review, i recommend a one star. ALSO @wip takes asks on mondays 6am-6pm est. be polite, but clear.

[gacha-incels]

you’re never going to have a real conversation about racism, colorism, misogyny, pedo-pandering etc in regards to gacha if you’re looking at one single game, especially a relatively new one. like anything, this will be a superficial look at these problems with no understanding of root causes. this has been most apparent when users will say “don’t play X gacha, play Y gacha instead.” these are industry-wide problems. you’re not doing anyone any favors pretending otherwise. I’m not saying this because I love or hate any of these games, I don’t really care, I’m not coming into conversations about this with the mindset of a “fan”. You need to objectively look at the function of these games in the society from which they come and the relation they have with their target market. Your frame of mind needs to be out of “fandom” mode to do this. You need to understand the target market these games try to reach and their reputation in their country of origin. The games are technically “free” - the consumer is not paying for the story, music, worldbuilding, etc. they are paying large amounts of money (for actual big spenders, thousands per month) to gamble for singular characters, so in turn these characters’ designs must reflect what the consumer most desires to an extreme extent- and this is of course informed by a lifetime’s worth of societal conditioning (media/advertising/gov/etc) and the prejudices that entails. essentially, because everything is banking on selling these characters, the designs are a direct reflection of the consumerbase who in turn are reflections of the society they’ve been conditioned by. they get shown what they want to see and expect to see what they get shown in what eventually becomes a feedback loop that enforces itself, this isn’t unique to gacha (though it’s extremely visible), you can see this happening in other forms of media as well. for something more benign, an example is in US media the eagle’s cry was replaced by the more dramatic sounding red tailed hawk because that’s what viewers expected it to sound like, and after seeing so much media where the eagle is associated with the hawk sound clip this falsity became reality to them through this “movie magic”. It doesn’t matter what reality is, it matters what the viewer’s perception of reality is. Power produces reality. media like this is used not so benignly. this is why good representation in media is fought for, there’s the ability to have a huge effect on a populace, also why “all art is political” it’s who greenlites it, who funds it, who hosts it, where is it shown, who sees it, etc this is all politics. all of this is related.

I would say the average gacha design/character doesn’t want to challenge anything but use the signifiers of contemporary stereotypes already rigidly in place to flatter the consumer’s already held beliefs- and typically it boils down to this is the “demure” (most often East Asian) girl who will fuck you, this is the “exotic” (most often generic fantasy SWANA-like stereotyped) girl who will fuck you, this is the “motherly” girl who will fuck you, this is the “little girl” who will fuck you, this is the “angry” girl that says she hates you but you still own, this is your “cool bro” who is designed to not make men feel uncomfortable. by doing this they are also entering the feedback loop of, for example, racial stereotyping, so this absolutely isn’t to say these designs are harmless.. one year thigh straps are in, one year bare feet are in, one year tech accessories are in, every year racism is in, every year misogyny is in. If you’re coming into this thinking a game like Genshin is leading the pack in any of these areas besides being an open world game and its UI you’re kidding yourself. There are thousands of these games, they’ve been coming out since like 2012 with Puzzle & Dragons, LL:SIF was huge on this website when Nozomi was the designated “thick” anime girl (plus ça change), FGO started in back 2015 and continues to reach new heights of pedophilic design and racism each day. The reason why you will sometimes see riskier design choices in music, NPCs, side stories, background design is that no one is paying to gamble for those things.