Matthias720

Matthias720, 9 months ago

I made sure to grab a deck of these. Have to help and support beginning designers!

Matthias720, 10 months ago

I believe that the Steam version comes with both Cyber Sleuth and Hacker's Memory, or at least the version I have does.

Matthias720, 10 months ago

I cannot stress enough how awesome Monster Sanctuary is! It's a 2D side-scrolling monster collection metroidvania. However, unlike Pokemon, it feature a 3v3 battle system without power points, using a mana system instead. All 100+ of the available monsters are viable through the end game, and each one can be equipped with a weapon, three accessories, and can be fed three stat-boosting food items. There is also an extensive skill system, with most attack and buff skills having multiple versions of increasing effect and cost, along with passives skills that include overlapping auras that improve synergies between monsters of similar types. I feel like I'm just scratching the surface here, as the game is mechanically deep, but if any of this sounds interesting, please check this one out! It's a crime it isn't nearly as recognized as it should be.

Matthias720, 10 months ago

Not only that, but mods are not a "one size fits all" group. A mod for r/gaming is not going to automatically fit in on an arts and craft sub. Though I guess it make sense; CEOs behave the exact same way, jumping between industries without regard for what product or service they are actually selling.

Matthias720, 10 months ago

Basically. I think there are certain cultural aspects of Russian society that are stuck over a century in the past. Unless those things get brought closer to the present, their society won't change; we'll see this whole thing play out again in the future. The average Russian citizen needs to see that the West doesn't want to destroy them, that life can be better than what they currently experience, and that the world doesn't need to be as harsh and demanding as the believe it ought to be. That's a tall order though, so there's no telling if that can happen in the near-future.

Matthias720, 10 months ago

The thing that bothers me is the number of people on the r/steam announcement commenting that the mods are doing this to hold on to power and have sold out to the admins. Speaking as someone who has previously run a community (though a much, much smaller one) there is a lot of hard work and effort that goes on behind the scenes to make sure that these kinds of internet spaces stay clean and healthy. It's easy to say "Look at the power-tripping mods", and yes those do exist, but to pretend that every mod is like that sells short the people who sacrifice of themselves for the betterment of the community. A lot of metaphorical and occasionally literal blood, sweat, and tears go into managing an online social space, which I can attest to. Does that excuse poor mod behavior? Never! However, we shouldn't cut off our own nose to spite our face. I just hope that we can stop fighting ourselves and direct our collective vitriol at the real perpetrators; spez and his cronies.

Matthias720, 10 months ago

While I appreciate that point of view, and it absolutely feels that way, I can relate to the reluctance the r/Steam mods to torching everything. They have carefully cultivated the sub like a garden, and even though the local HOA (the admins) are threatening action, the mods aren't happy with the idea of immediately ripping out their prize-winning tulips and replacing them with cardboard cutouts just to be spiteful. I'm sure they want to try less extreme measures to salvage as much content as they can before making a riskier decision. Again, I get that things seem hopeless from the user side of things, but I know if I was in their shoes I'd be searching every avenue for a solution, even ones I wouldn't normally consider.

Matthias720, 10 months ago

Yeah, and all of Darren Korb's music slaps. Literally every song is a masterpiece.

Matthias720, 10 months ago

Of course not! Only a deranged individual who is completely divorced from reality would do such a thing!

Matthias720, 10 months ago

Same. I just got here and already I'm seeing obstacles. That doesn't give me warm, fuzzy feelings.

Matthias720, 10 months ago

• DemonCrawl: It's basically RPG Minesweeper, with hundreds of items that you can encounter as you work your way through 10 progressively harder levels. You could be an armored knight, a snooping detective, a fiery pyromaniac, or even a sneaky ninja. There are several dozen of classes that take your standard Minesweeper mechanics and subvert and reframe them entirely. If you like puzzle games, this one is worth playing.

• Backpack Hero: It's an inventory management roguelike. Use your limited inventory to hold all the weapons, armor, consumables, and trinkets you need to reach the end and claim your prize. Don't forget to optimize the placement of your various items, so that they can all combo together. Different characters have different play styles, each with some mechanic that is partially or wholly unique to them. Is your backpack big, small, or filled with many pockets? Do you fight with totems, summon minions, or charm your enemies to your side? There's lots to see and do in what is possibly one of my favorite indie games of the past year. Highly recommended!

Matthias720, 10 months ago

Full disclosure: I work in a library shelving materials.

This take overlooks one of the factors that really needs to be addressed: mental illness. I have seen people without full control of their faculties outright refuse assistance because for whatever reason they believe that what they are being offered isn't good for them. Some of them want help, but some of those also want help on their terms, which is not how a lot of social/outreach programs work. And that's not even getting into the issues of substance abuse that act as a black hole for any material gain. Granted, there are people who will jump through any hoop to escape being homeless, but many who suffer the most really need more than just a place to live; they need to completely overhaul their lives, and our social system isn't currently designed to do that.