That’s a really unfortunate philosophy because at best it guarantees things never improve

I think if you could opt out of you really really didn’t want to do a particular job then it would be fine. Maybe if it’s a job that a lot of people dislike, like sanitation, you could provide an incentive to make it worthwhile - like you get the next season off.

I don’t track or rank joy like that, but discovering the dark world in The Legend of Zelda a Link to the Past is definitely up there. Just realising the world had this whole extra dimension to it.

I still love dimensionality / hidden depth in games.

I mean, who doesn’t?

Wow that does sound incredible

Reminds me of the advertisements for DVDs that would play on VHS tapes, like… I’m watching this on a VHS.

I heard one video essayist identify it as a “metroidbrainia” - a game where progression is gated not simply by items/keys, but by knowledge of systems, many of them hidden.

Yeah I remember being in my twenties and absolutely salivating over a $2 Tuesday lunch special near my work, which is not something I could stomach now that I’ve got some years of home cooking in me.

Haha I’m not familiar with that stereotype, but that’s understandable. My family is full of more of the out-of-sight out-of-mind types.

Apologies on my “infiltrate” joke. I meant it in like an anti establishment way rather than an antisemitic way!

Damnn are you folks trying to infiltrate every Commonwealth country or what? Impressive spread you got there.

Yeah that’s what I was trying to imply: that he’s not supporting a bigot empowering fascist leader to save his actual skin, but to keep his personal business running smoothly.

Whereas queer folk without money are existentialy threatened by this administration and those it emboldens.

Finally someone said it

Heard that. I hear people complaining about being forced to use WhatsApp to keep in touch with “boomer relatives.” Man I wish WhatsApp was the worse tool I was compelled to keep an account on.

I’m really not sure what the threat to him is though. Does “die” in this case mean lose out on money? One would think he already has his walk away money.

Also, interactivity. Both games you mentioned have unparalleled interactivity when compared with the triple A space.

Not saying it’s necessary, but at a certain level of fidelity/realism it starts to look really weird when the world doesn’t meaningfully react to your actions.

I wanted to be a cop, so nah. Dodged a bullet.

I do like working out though, so glad it got me into that at least.

I like the way you think. The logic of video games and what they display don’t have to be limited by anything in the real world. They can invent entirely new forms of perception even (like that Devil Daggers sequel that lets you see behind yourself using colour overlays).

Sure you can, just do like “reviewers/players gush about ‘riveting plot’ and ‘characters that feel real’ and ‘a truly compelling story’” or whatever it is.

I remember stepping on a rusty nail as a kid, and I noticed that a plank of wood was stuck to my foot before I even registered how much pain I was in.

What have you tried so far?

Never noticed the hotdog in the background before.