Thursday Next

Yeah so, on the politics front. I don't generally agree with people calling for a legal ban on anything. Unless it is inciting hate or unlawful, have at it. However, I do agree that people should be allowed to ask e.g.: Hideo to change his stance on gender politics issues like Quiet's attire; or to take issue with DoA Beach Volleyball being objectifying as hell. I also think that if the publishers or developers then listen to that criticism and choose not to release a game or to edit a game, then that is fine too, similarly a retailer may choose not to stock it, also fine. They are making a choice to listen to a criticism and change their behaviour. As Ethan says, they could choose to stay the course or double down instead of changing, and I am fine with that as well, even if it is a direction I disagree with. The point is that the discussion should happen, people should listen, and then they should choose to change (or not) their development, selling or buying habits in accordance with their own morality. As to communities. I think the issue comes when people misunderstand or misuse terms like censorship and freedom of expression. Femfreq for example, is not attempting to limit free speech, or to ban stuff. She is instead, using her freedom of expression in an effort to make others look at games in a different way, and (I guess she hopes) change how they freely express themselves as a result of being persuaded by her. People who are anti Femfreq and other political critique are essentially saying that the industry must never change, new ideas are not welcome and that any effort to introduce them is a form of oppression. Regarding Nazism, I see your point, that there can be a victory in ridiculing them, but I think that presupposes that everyone is in on the joke, when generally speaking, there are a fair few people who are clearly not troubled by a duality of meaning and will take the terms at face value. I suppose my issue with it is that it is used not within a closed group context so that its intent is and will remain clear, but that the phrase is so often tossed out, without context so that it is not clear that the intent is to ridicule those who think themselves superior by birth (or platform choice). Then again, I suppose this is a danger with all satire when stripped of its context. Poe's law, and so on.

That's exactly my issue with it though. The idea that casual Nazism (or indeed sexism or racism etc.) can be just a bit of fun. The people who use it tongue in cheek are helping to erode the stigma of Nazism. It's not just a games thing, I'm similarly uncomfortable with terms like grammar-Nazi too (I'm not perfect in this regard and I'm sure that a search through my internet history will reveal an inappropriate use of the term myself, we all make mistakes). I also fundamentally disagree that politics can (let alone should) be separated from entertainment. Any artistic work is going to be laced with the politics of its creators.

Ugh... I really fucking hate that term. As if game culture wasn't toxic enough without throwing in lowkey Nazism.

I like the bit around the 40's where Germany moves to occupy France...

Yeah, why not sell it on Gumtree, eBay or trade in at GameStop?

Assuming you mean bending and not teleporting, because that would be one hell of an undisclosed feature.

Don't think so. Or I woulda tagged it as such. It's lore stuff, not story stuff. Tag away if you want though...

Got my Horizon Zero Platinum. On to Gravity Rush 2 now I think.

Also Horizon Zero Dawn. Amazing fun. Want more!

That was such a goooood game. Just need to knock over the dummies for the platinum.

Yeah found it, noticed I can trade it in for a "mysterious box" from the "mystery box" seller in Meridian. No idea if I should though, or if I just hang on to it and see if it is used for some as yet to be released content...

I only just realised that one of the random items I picked up is a Death Stranding Easter egg...

My main issue with the flowers and the mugs is that the reward for collecting them all is garbage.

I actually enjoyed the trials. Except for the stealth one. Which was not too difficult, but also not too fun. On the subject of busy work, I'm onto flowers and sculptures now.

Past the cracked mountain.

Good point, I really need a Goose skin for a pouch upgrade and some other bits of animal to buy a Shadow Rattler. I'm just past that bit. Gonna do the hunting trials and score the lodge weapons, then finish collecting all the flowers and vantage points, then finish the story. I scored the ancient armour which is OP af. Gonna be sad when this game is done.

I just completed that section. FWIW it's not so much a "point of no return" as a point of "no deviation for quite some time". I don't *think* there are any missable side quests to worry about.

The processed blocks are indeed a lootable item Dean. I got the impression Apocashitstorm logs were just some rando grunt. Not watched them all yet though. I guess what I'm saying is that up to that mission the story of what happened is more suggested and drip fed, then in that mission you suddenly get this massive info dump. That said, they do lampshade it somewhat by Sylens saying that you found out more in a few minutes than he has in a long time of searching, and as Goh points out, it does make sense where the things are found.

That's where I am too. Quite liking the way the story unfolds generally, but the last two missions with Sylens have been a bit of an exposition fest.