I try them out. Been gaming since I could hold a controller. Been reading for the same. Been drinking since well before it was legal, I know what its like to drink a warm 40 cause you had to hide it, no fridge. I avoid ads like the plague and I’m old enough that listening to youtuber shills is like ear sandpaper, the only thing they influence me to do is turn them off.

I am constantly seeking new experiences, that is the fun in life. With games my tastes have changed because of it. I barely play shooters anymore when it used to be a core genre because really it just feels lile same old with a new coat of paint. I go to beer and food festivals and try whatever looks good… Basically everything. And my book list is much like my gaming back log - I need more time, theres just too much. This is where reviews and recommends help - how do I prioritize my list otherwise? If I just select at random I will waste my time and money on things I dont enjoy. But taking a recommendation doesn’t mean I must like the thing, I can still experience it and form my own opinions, as everyone else does. Hell, its good when I agree with a reviewer - if they have similar tastes as me it becomes an opinion wprth listening to.

You seem super jaded about liking something that this community mostly hates. Whats the point though, why not just go enjoy what you like? You’re obviously not persauding anyone here, but I bet you can find communities for those types of games - I know for a fact clash of clans, fire emblem, genshin, all have them.

I’m not looking down on anyone, but dont pretend that’s high quality stuff over there. Just like with the games, I said earlier theyre having fun and thats great, but its still low quality games. I can continue the comparison - beer. The most popular ones are complete swill (bud miller coors). Books - James Patterson and Danielle Steel will keep pumping shlock out until they die, and I bet that shit will still sell like hotcakes for years after. Its not like I’m going around knocking burgers and beers out of hands going “hey loser get some taste!” I just choose a higher quality item for myself. Dont be too much of a victim here, you’re allowed to enjoy those things too, by all means. Just dont fool yourself into thinking it’s high tier premium grade caviar.

I love a good burger and fries, but mcdonalds is fuckin awful

Its the age old subjective vs objective criteria, and for certain people of different perspectives one will outweigh the other. Nostalgia is very subjective - most of those classics are called classics because they were fantastic at the time of release. They dont hold up today on a technical level, so objectively their quality by today’s standards is dirt, but whether or not someone still finds it entertaining or fun to play is entirely dependent on that person. The only way to measure that is to take an average of the judgemental reactions of many people - essentially consensus.

The problem with phone games is that objectively the large majority of them are poorly made, with subversive mechanics meant to manipulate the casual audience into spending on them. Their goal isn’t fun so much as addiction. It works because it is so largely available to a massive casual audience. The large majority of these people wouldnt bother to purchase a console or a PC for gaming. I’ve met people who actively say they think video games are a waste of time but they’re on level 1000 of candy crush and spending money on power ups. These people do not visit gaming forums and are not gaming enthusiasts, they dont see an issue, nor would they care if you point it out. Subjectively, they like it, they’re having fun, and that’s fine, but that is not the audience you are speaking to here. For this crowd the issues are readily apparent. Its immediately obvious to use why these games are balanced poorly, why ads are shoved in our faces constantly, why the constant updates are anti-consumer. An enthusiast audience will always be more critical of such practices that the larger casual crowd easily ignores.

Last time I went to mcdonalds it was because of that same kid who loves phone games. He was so excited for chicken nuggets. I tried one, it was horrible. I choked down a burger that is an insult to burgers. No food enthusiast would ever recommend this, no self respecting chef would ever endorse this, and I can easily make better food at home for cheaper. But they’ve served millions, and have franchises world wide! People love it, so it must be great! It sure as fuck is not, and I certainly have the capacity to be a more discerning consumer with that just like I am with video games or any other interest.

The potential has always been there for phone games, but its far a few between that are worthwhile. Touch screens suck for controls, really limits to a few good genres, but the stores suck too for any form of support. I’m still bitter that they updated iOs and not xcom so I lost that game and couldn’t get a refund. Most good phone games are ports though, and otherwise so riddled with poor design and mtx its not worth the time. Honestly, the buggest disappointment with phones is that games could be awesome on them and they’re not.

Kids are easily entertained by all kinds of arguably crappy things. Similarly mine has access to tons of great games but will spend weird amounts of time on some janky web based crap. Its not a sign its good, he just has no taste cause he’s an inexperienced kid. I similarly wouldnt look at his choice of mismatched clothes and chicken nuggets for every possible meal and think “wow that stuff’s great!” Maturity and judgement take awhile to develop, so I dont think its bad that he does that, but roblox is still utter garbage no matter how much him and his friends love it. A lot of people love garbage - it doesn’t make it good.

This could literally kill you. You should stop using them immediately. Sensationalist headlines are rapant, but this is a serious problem worth getting attention over.

Baby gates. Baby gates everywhere.

Also thats a weird toddler lock. Ours you have to push and hold a button to activate it and it wont run until you push and hold something else.

…yup. I didn’t get far. I vaguely remember there were a bunch of other little things but that one drove it home. It was literally a tamer version of fallout 3 opening.

Besides that I just kept feeling like it was “been here, done that”. I remember at one point there is a small village and you have to choose to pull their power source or leave it and it felt so damn familiar, I didn’t bother continuing much past that. I felt like if I hadn’t played a bunch of elder scrolls and fallout games it was probably great but for me it was so much retreading old ground I couldn’t stay interested.

FYI - nitrile gloves aren’t for everything, and have different breakthrough times for different chemicals. Some chemicals may need to be handled with latex, vinyl, polyethelene, or otherwise. Some manufacturers of lab gloves will have charts depicting which gloves to use when handling various materials like alcohol vs acetone etc, but you can also reach out and ask them whats best for your situation. I think if you are itching like that this is worth looking into because they aren’t protecting you like they should. Some people will even develop a sensitivity after awhile - something that didn’t bother me before now gives me a rash when I handle it.

Can jesus microwave a burrito so hot that even he couldn’t eat it?

I’m actually not sure, its my kid who plays. He was very excited and playing on xbox. I thought it was cool and unexpected but I guess maybe it died back down again.

I thought BL3 tanked so I’m pretty surprised they think they can charge this month. Did it review poorly and still sell well??

In this one you can get away with blocking too. You take some damage but you have a short time to regain health by attacking right after. I think it makes it a little more forgiving when you are learning enemy moves and fine tuning your reaction.

Titanfall 2 servers were brought back online after being down for awhile.

I still play Starcraft 2 occasionally.

As the one in my family who always does the farming while the others ignore it and explore it hurts me. I need things efficient, or I will never escape!

Demons souls doesnt explain any fucking thing. Theres a lot that would take incredible effort to figure out on your own, I think they intended for it to take a community to get things figured out together.

Its been a really long time but I remember theres a ring in the first area that lets you have a lot more health while unkindled or whatever they call it in that one. Its sort of secret, I think just before the first boss in that area you drop down a hole into a room. For me at the time this was a major boon.

I also found it way easier to start as a spellcaster. Many traps and fights are easier from a distance or by using magic to bait enemies out so you can fight one on one and avoid group ambushes. There really is so much trial and error in this one, you are going to get blasted and have to memorize it all.

There are a lot of NPC phantoms that only appear with certain world tendencies, usually full white or full black. Its really a major bitch to get everything because of the effort to manipulate it. I made it through most of the game without even realizing what was happening. I do remember in the last area farming flying manta ray things and using black world tendency to get more souls so theres that if you get desperate. Good luck!

Man I played the living shit out of elden ring and the dlc but this battle royale roguelike reskin does not have me excited to fight the same enemies I already fought many times already. Might be the first fromsoft thing I pass on in a very long time.

Thats fair. When I had a smaller phone I did use a case. It took me awhile to get used to not using one, I have to grip it differently to prevent slipping.

$450. Its a pixel 8. Admittedly I have also considered a case just to streamline the shape, I really really hate how the camera bumps out the back. It really was designed with the expectation people would use a case.

I have been scolded by my SO for going caseless, but I also hate how rubber ones turn my pocket inside out as I retrieve my phone sometimes, and I dont drop it. If I was prone to being more clumsy I might concede