rtxn

@rtxn@lemmy.world

I take my shitposts very seriously.

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rtxn,

It’s a combined disability discount: people with hook hands, peg legs, and eyepatches may be entitled to a price as low as 0%.

The biggest video game stinkers of 2025, according to Metacritic (www.polygon.com)

Everywhere you look right now, there’s a gaggle of nerds foaming at the mouth to share their list of the very best video games of 2025. (And we’re no exception!) But what about the stinkers, the flops, the dead-on-arrival turds? We want to take a few moments to honor the low achievers of 2025, the absolute worst games of the...

rtxn,

Nintendo sees rock bottom as a challenge.

rtxn,

Horrid article, unless the intention was to throw shit around and hope to cause a commotion. There are no AI assets in Clair Obscur, and it should have been made clear by the article. From the IGA’s own statement:

[…] the use of gen AI art in production […] does disqualify Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from its nomination. While the assets in question were patched out and it is a wonderful game, it does go against the regulations we have in place.

rtxn, (edited )

The issue is not that the game was disqualified. If the rules clearly and unequivocally state that at no point can generative AI be used (and also clearly state what, in the spectrum from algorithms -> machine learning -> chatbot slop, they consider to be unacceptable, which I don’t know if they did or not, guess what, they didn’t, but that’s not the point), then there is no controversy, and I’m not criticising that.

The issue is that the article completely disregards mitigating facts that counter the narrative. There are no credible sources linked in the article save for one that was grossly misrepresented. Critically, we don’t know what Sandfall actually said before the nomination or after, or how the decision to disqualify was made, only the second-hand account in the FAQ. The article presents circumstances in a biased way, leading the reader to interpret it with the assumption that there are AI-generated assets currently in the game. It is, frankly, sloppy journalism.

rtxn, (edited )

The rules are on the same page I linked (www.indiegameawards.gg/faq), under the “Game Eligibility” tab. I gave them the benefit of doubt and assumed that they had defined the exact terms of what is and isn’t allowed, but apparently I was wrong. Regarding AI, the document contains a grand total of one sentence:

Games developed using generative AI are strictly ineligible for nomination.

I’m assuming the definition of what that entails is “at their discretion”, meaning whatever they feel like at the moment. I see that sentiment reflected in this thread too.

It’s possible that potential nominees have to sign some kind of declaration that they’ve complied with the rules, and that might include a more detailed list of rules, but I have no evidence to support this.

Unfortunately the boundary between “AI” and “not AI” is the polar opposite of sharp and well-defined. I’ve used Allegorithmic Substance Designer a lot for CGI work (before Adobe ate the devs; fuck Adobe, all my homies hate Adobe), and it contains a lot of texture generator algorithms from simple noise to complex grunge textures. Things like Perlin noise and Voronoi diagrams are well-known algorithms and definitely not AI. Chatbot slop is right out, but in between those two, things get remarkably fuzzy and Heisenbergian. What about an algorithm that uses real-world samples, like an image? Or multiple images? Machine learning is not the same as AI, so is that allowed? Where’s the line? I’m reasonably certain that everybody has a different answer for different situations based on different criteria.

rtxn,

For fuck’s sake CA, please let me give you my money

rtxn,

You know it doesn’t have to be all or nothing, right?

In the early design phase, for example, quick placeholder objects are invaluable for composing a scene. Say you want a dozen different effigies built from wood and straw – you let the clanker churn them out. If you like them, an environment artist can replace them with bespoke models, as detailed and as optimized as the scene needs it. If you don’t like them, you can just chuck them in the trash and you won’t have wasted the work of an artist, who can work on artwork that will actually appear in the released product.

Larian haven’t done anything to make me question their credibility in this matter.

rtxn, (edited )

This year I unsubscribed from FFXIV. Speaking only for myself, Dawntrail was a massive drop in nearly all aspects after Endwalker. The music and environment were great, I was positively giddy when I reached Solution Nine… but the characters are unlikable, the antagonist is boring and one-dimensional, there is hardly any payoff for setups, one of the most significant conflicts gets resolved with a fucking pep talk, most of the first half of the main story only exists to extol about how much of a chad the current monarch is. Somehow the second half gets even worse with multiple contrived plot points relying on characters being idiots and the player being a passive observer, including the reintroduction of a high profile issue that had been present for the entire DECADE of the game’s existence and resolved in a high profile way in Shadowbringers. Wuk Lamat was fine. Overused and dumb as a pair of boots, but fine.

I got to the final region, got the “I will now genocide the multiverse because my obviously unsustainable economy is running out of resources” monologue, and just stopped playing. Unless 8.0 sees some massive improvements, I have no plans to finish Dawntrail.

On the completely different end of the spectrum, Warframe is in the best place it’s ever been. The last four major updates (1999, Isleweaver, Vallis Undermind, and The Old Peace) have been fucking phenomenal, both in terms of story and gameplay. The Old Peace (released literally a few days ago) also contains the most valid crashout in history. Rap tap tap, little piggy. The new gamemodes are fun, fast-paced, and so far haven’t outstayed their welcome, although like always, I’m worried about their longevity since they’re essentially content islands.

Warframe’s music is exceptional. I’ll always appreciate the works of Keith Power (he gave us We All Lift Together and This Is What You Are), but the current composer Matt Chalmers has elevated the game’s music both in quality and variety. Starting with 1999, there are no songs that I ever want to skip, and that includes the virtual boy band. Even if you have no interest in the game, you shouldn’t skip the music: TennoConcert 2025 (Matt is the eternally chilled out dude who sings From The Stars), Tethra Jahrak, Lullaby of the Manifold, and (potential spoilers) Roses from the Abyss.

In terms of smaller games, I fell off the wagon and had several all-night benders in Factorio. If you’re anywhere near the spectrum, that game is like crack cocaine. I had a lot of fun in Project Wingman and the biggest furball in history, I replayed Star Wars: Republic Commando, and rediscovered my appreciation for games where the player is not the Chosen One. Against all wisdom, I finally played The Mystery Of The Droods. Even knowing what awaited me, I was unprepared for the absolute jank.

rtxn,

Most of those games are no longer being sold outside secondary markets (used games, collectibles, that sort). Neither the publisher nor the developers will ever profit from a “legitimate” sale.

For other games that are still being sold on first-party marketplaces, which is more or less limited to Switch 1 games, you tell me why Nintendo deserves to be treated charitably.

rtxn,

Chemistry. Gets really dull without ions.

rtxn, (edited )

(I’m not a lawyer, this comment should not be viewed as a credible source)

They probably mean professionals that are hired by clients on a retainer agreement as opposed to working for an employer on a permanent or semi-permanent basis. Legal advice, legal representation, financial advice, personal assistants, individual contractors, and so on.

One could make the argument that since the retainer is not an employment contract, and the retained professional is not one of many employees (instead usually individuals or small teams), then collective bargaining doesn’t make sense. The difference is that the retainer agreement is much more specific and favors the person whose services are retained, compared to employment contracts and labour laws in the USA. It’s also a legally binding contract and the client can be taken to court if it is breached (e.g. by withholding payment).

On the other hand, if those people are also employed by a company (e.g. a non-partner associate in a law firm) or employ other people in turn, then those people can (and should) also benefit from collective bargaining.

rtxn,

Half-Life Alyx 2

rtxn,

!clem

rtxn,

Megaman hasn’t even done anything wrong (yet)… but we HATES IT!

rtxn,

consumers

This is very much a pet peeve, but be careful about how you use “consumer” versus “customer”. They each imply completely different power dynamics.

rtxn, (edited )

Maybe some people, who are an ocean away from me, have been gaslit into thinking they can’t be anything other than consumers. I know it can be difficult to grasp the concept, but you can refuse a service if the terms are unacceptable. It is possible to go into a transaction with open eyes and full knowledge of the rights granted to you by law and responsibilities demanded of you by the contract.

That’s why I say “customer”. It’s a reminder to myself that I should demand equitable treatment, even if the chances are slim unless the courts get involved. You don’t have to jump into the meat grinder willingly.

rtxn,

Then you should hold yourself to higher standards than “people”.

rtxn, (edited )

auto complete

It’s called lexical analysis or lexical tokenization. It existed long before LLMs (as long as high-level programming languages have, since lexical analysis of the source is the first step of compilation), it doesn’t rely on stolen code, and doesn’t consume a small village’s worth of electricity. Superficial parallels with chatbots do not make it AI – it’s a fucking algorithm.

Besides, there is a world of difference between asking a clanker to spit out a Python function that multiplies two matrices, and putting the knock-off Shadowheart from TEMU in a million-dollar game.

rtxn,

I want to see puzzles that are implemented using the physics engine. And I don’t mean “toss the axe in the proper arc to trigger the gate” physics. I mean “stack the bricks on one end of the seesaw to balance it long enough to make the jump to the next platform”. Or “use the blue barrels’ buoyancy to raise the platform out of the water”.

rtxn,

My opinion is the exact opposite. Narrative games, even action shooters, need to have high action and low action parts in balance. If high action segments are excessive, it can lead to combat fatigue. If low action parts are excessive, the player gets bored and the pacing dies.

Half-Life 2 E1, the “Low Lives” chapter, has probably the most stressful combat in the game because the player has to balance so many things. Shooting the zombies attacking Gordon versus helping Alyx fight. Helping Alyx versus keeping the flashlight charged. Firearms versus explosive props. All of that in oppressive darkness. Combat fatigue sets in. The short puzzle segments, even as simple as crawling through a vent to flip a switch, are opportunities to take a breath, absorb the environment, and prepare for the next segment – especially at the end of that particular chapter, when the player escapes the zombies and has a chance to wind down.

At the same time, puzzles, by their slower nature, are excellent for delivering narrative and player training, and to let the player absorb the atmosphere. Alyx’s first encounter with the stalkers in “Undue Alarm” wouldn’t have had the same emotional impact if the player could just pop them in the head and move on.

In contrast, most of “Highway 17” is just a prolonged vehicle-based puzzle. By the time the player reaches the large railway bridge, they might be sick of driving. I know I was. It’s a relief to finally engage in some platforming and long-range combat while traversing the bridge.

So what are the narrative values of my two examples? The cinderblock seesaw in “Route Kanal” is just player training. A show, don’t tell method to let the player know that physics puzzles will be a factor. It’s also a short break after the on-foot chase, before the encounter with the hunter chopper. In “Water Hazard”, the contraptions serve a larger narrative purpose: they’re the tools of the rebels’ refugee evacuation effort. The player utilizes them like one of the refugees would have.

rtxn, (edited )

They absolutely are, in terms of gameplay. Ozzy Mandus and The Crank Hog Machine sacrificed most of the gameplay Frictional’s Amnesia became known for. There are no light mechanics. Barely any physics puzzles. The pigmen are braindead, which removes the challenge and the tension. Even if it’s a better story and atmosphere than The Dark Descent, it’s a lesser game. Even Still Wakes The Deep only goes as far as “throw the object to make the thing look away” when you’re not just responding to non-diegetic prompts.

You can make the argument that walking simulators have a place in the gaming landscape, and you’d be right, but by their nature, they are the exact opposite of what Bloodlines 1 was and what Bloodlines 2 should have been. Why Paradox decided it was a good idea to entrust with it a studio that has only made things that it never should have been is a fucking mystery to me.

rtxn,

Valve revolutionized Linux gaming; Tim categorically rejects it.
Valve banned shitcoins and blockchain scams; Tim welcomed them with open arms.
Valve enforces honesty regarding AI slop; Tim wants to literally deceive people.
All that on top of what they did with third-party exclusives.

He’s like that annoying kid who didn’t get invited to a birthday party and vowed to always do the opposite of what the popular kid does. Petulant fucking overgrown child.

rtxn,

There is a massive secondary market for in-game items (primarily CS skins) that Valve refuses to combat or even officially acknowledge. Some of it is legitimate, some of it is literal lottery for children. And since every transaction takes place on Steam, they get a cut of that.

Settings you believe ANY game should have? (This is me advocating for a restart/reboot button on ALL games)

Hear me out. A few games have shader installations that will usually apply any new settings you put down AFTER you restart the game, and a lot of other games have graphics settings that will only apply after you’ve rebooted the game....

rtxn,

For over-the-shoulder games, separate field-of-view AND CAMERA DISTANCE.

For player-hosted games, an option to reject hosts using unsuitable hardware or low bandwidth, high latency networks. My gripe is specific to Warframe on the Switch 1, but if the developers of any game can’t/won’t operate public game servers and choose to offload the responsibility to the players, the choice should belong to the players.

rtxn,

You have two kidneys, don’t you?

rtxn,

You can, technically, but there are some caveats.

SteamOS is not a general purpose OS. It is optimized to run on the Steam Deck (plus the Frame and Gabecube I guess). Its software components are tested on a limited range of hardware (specifically AMD silicon), and it might not have certain optimizations and compatibility fixes that are required by other consumer hardware. It also probably has some proprietary bits, especially the firmware.

The best option is Bazzite. It’s not based on SteamOS, but it is built with a robust gaming experience in focus. You can even get it to boot directly into Steam Big Picture. Watch this loud Aussie man do it!

The other option is HoloISO, which is an independent reimplementation of SteamOS. Their intention is to get as close to the real SteamOS as possible. Hardware support is limited (especially nvidia).

rtxn,

Floating point values: making your software misbehave out of nowhere since the year NaN.

rtxn,

Why does this guy sound like Filip Miucin? “We didn’t plagiarize, and if we did, we only did it by accident, and you’re the bad guy, actually, for reporting on it!”

rtxn, (edited )

Problem: the game is getting a notoriety for being infested by pedophiles and the developers are actively protecting them.

Solution: send your photographs to the game infested by pedophiles to prove you are a real child!

Fucking. Incredible. If this was written in a manuscript, it would be tossed for being too cartoonishly unrealistic.

rtxn,

Absolutely! Multiple, in fact. In order of preference:

  1. Shut down the game, dissolve the company, and donate all remaining funds to a women’s shelter.
  2. Prosecute groomers instead of banning and threatening the people who are trying to stop the fuckers and crying about vigilantism even when the proper reporting channels are used.
  3. Use AI for a beneficial purpose at least one goddamn time. Scan the text and voice communications (it’s a public game, there is no expectation of privacy), flag suspicious exchanges for human review, then ban and report groomers.

‘Clair Obscur’ Leads The Game Awards 2025 Nominees With 12 Nods; ‘Silent Hill f’ Has Four Nominations (bloody-disgusting.com)

Geoff Keighley and company are back again, revealing the nominees for the 2025 edition of The Game Awards, which will stream live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Thursday, December 11, 2025. This year the one to beat is Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which has received 12 nominations, and the...

rtxn,

Through brand recognition.

rtxn,

Sounds like it’s for the best. Paradox was killing CO.

rtxn,

That is still so fucking mysterious to me. The Chinese Room makes exactly one type of game, which is “guided-interactive narrative experience” to be diplomatic. The exact opposite of Bloodlines 1. Dear Esther, Ozzy Mandus And The Crankhog Machine, their entire portfolio follows the same formula: strong in art direction, atmosphere, and story; weak in gameplay. Even a hit like Still Wakes The Deep only takes gameplay as far as “throw object to make the thing look away”. Their gameplay systems are not just middling but comfortably average, just enough to keep the player engaged while moving through the (admittedly beautiful) environments.

So why the fuck did Paradox choose them for Bloodlines 2? Are they stupid?

rtxn,

That is a completely valid reason to hate Microsoft. Who the fuck wants another Apple?

rtxn,

A whole new way of enjoying your neofetch fastfetch output!

rtxn,

Archived link: archive.ph/ydtw4

Valve announces three new products: the Steam Frame, Steam Machine and Steam Controller (www.pcgamer.com)

Following on from the success of the Steam Deck, Valve is creating its very own ecosystem of products. The Steam Frame, Steam Machine, and Steam Controller are all set to launch in the new year. We’ve tried each of them and here’s what you need to know about each one....

rtxn,

Imagine. Product is released, people buy the Steam Machine, and Half-Life 3 is just… there. Preinstalled on some of the units. The buyers post it on the internet and get called bullshitters. Then Half-Life 3 is officially announced the next day. The internet loses it. Gaben ascends to godhood. He. Has. Cooked.

rtxn,

It probably will. Watch Gamers Nexus’ video, it has a short clip that shows the battery, and it looks like it’s held in a receptacle like removable phone batteries. Valve have already said that you’d be able to disassemble the controller with a screwdriver, but no word yet on replacement parts. But based on the Steam Deck, I would be shocked if they didn’t offer at least replacement batteries.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWUxObt1efQ&t=41m19s

rtxn,

The controller is exactly what I wanted. Take a Steam Deck, cut out the middle, glue the grips back together. Take my money.

rtxn,

“The Frame headset won’t be priced higher than the Index”:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWUxObt1efQ&t=1m57s

rtxn, (edited )

Looks like you’ll have to remove the entire bottom shell. From GN’s video:

A disassembled Steam Controller with its bottom shell removed and its insides visible.

The shell doesn’t seem to have a separately removable battery cover, although I don’t see a reason why someone wouldn’t be able to just cut a hole or 3D-print an accessible shell. Dbrand comes to mind. Or that’s just a show piece and the retail product might have a battery cover.

It also looks like the screw posts don’t have threaded metal inserts, which is concerning.

rtxn,

Elden Ring. It is good for what it is, probably the best in its genre, but after so many Soulsbornes, it just feels like more of the same. Formulaic. I’ve tried it three separate times and it never grabbed me.

rtxn,

DT770 gang!

Sliced off the tip of my thumb, what are some good one handed games?

Long story short, I was trying to make some pork buns and it ended with the tip of my thumb being sliced off, after hospital visit and six stitches and back. But I’m kind of bored out of my mind. Can’t do the steam deck. Can’t do really anything with a controller. I have a large library of games, most of which I haven’t...

rtxn,

You can probably play Vampire Survivors. All you really do is move around.

rtxn,

Having a consistent definition of “woke” is too woke for some fossils.

rtxn,

Best argument in favor of emulation so far.

rtxn,

You “own” your car, but the dealership stole the keys, removed the engine, and locked the wheels because you bought a used set of winter tyres from a reseller.

rtxn,

“game went woke”

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