“But I think we could do more here in Europe to have a focus on developing new capabilities,” Poulsen said, adding that military investments would make it “so that we are not that dependent on the US”.
Sounds like he’s saying that we’re so deeply dependent on the US for now that a screeching halt to our purchasing of US military equipment would de facto dismantle our defences. But that we should work to get out of that dependency.
I wonder why they have those rigid “sails”, do they function like regular sails?
Is RNG always bullshit?
Do you feel like that’s the case in Blue Prince?
To me, the RNG feels fundamental to the puzzling in Blue Prince, not something that could be removed to make a better game. And Blue Prince is undeniably an interesting game.
No, that sounds like a terrible game. How exactly is this relevant?
Well… A puzzle is a challenge. In Blue Prince, part of the challenge is that you need to engage with the clues you have available, not necessarily the clues you hoped for. Removing that challenge is to remove part of the puzzle.
You’re fully within your right to say that’s not your cup of tea, but I think it does contribute something meaningful to the puzzling.
While there is one main goal in front of you, all the shit they pile in front of you is more mystery, the solution of which will carry you closer to your goal.
It’s more like if Obra Dinn randomly had you play an Outer Wilds loop or Chants of Sennaar segment, with all the mysteries tying together.
Thanks for the long reply! To me, there is another element that RNG can add: the challenge of adapting. Think of x-com: you’re immediately told the odds that a shot will succeed, and have to decide whether to take that shot based on that chance and the consequences of it failing.
You know that on average things will work out fairly, but you have to be ready to push the successes without letting failure trip you up.
During most of the game, Blue Prince poses many different puzzles and riddles to you in parallel. If you focus on one thing you’ve had a eureka moment about, you’ll be frustrated with the lack of control, but if you approach the situation holistically, and pursue all puzzles at the same time based on what is available, it’s a very different experience. Your thought processes and realizations are shaped by the randomness of the day.
Furthermore there’s always an interesting strategy element of mitigating the chance by ensuring lots of redraws in different ways, upgrading rooms to serve several purposes, piling up resources between runs etc.
I do think it’s novel and interesting, though not necessarily the best idea in the world. To properly do the holistic approach I mention you need a massive infrastructure of photos and notes to keep track of all the clues you’re pursuing. I wish it had some kind of overview of found documents and clues, though I can see how that’s not so simple to implement for this game in particular.
Do you feel the same about other games that involve random chance, such as roguelikes and RPGs?
The Enigma of Amigara Fault
I’d say symbols are a constant negotiation between meanings. The swastika is lost, but other symbols like Nordic runes are only fully lost if we surrender them. We must fight to insist on the meaning of the symbols not yet lost to evil.
“From the river to the sea; Palestine will be free.” This is the slogan I hear. I hear no violence in these words, only a call for freedom for all Palestinians in what used to be Palestine. I can’t help but think that the misunderstanding of this slogan is willful.
If this slogan is surrendered to evil, how long before the accusations start against the next slogan? Is waving a Palestinian flag the same as condoning terrorism? Is saying the word “genocide” an act of aggression against Israel? Shouldn’t we defend that when we call for freedom, we mean that and just that? And refuse those who would make such a simple call for freedom illegal and associated with evil?
We can be part of controlling the meaning of these things, not only evil can do that.
Why does Hamas get to decide what the slogan means? Psychos in the US are using the punisher logo, does that mean that Marvel is promoting what they do?
Part of freedom is to not relent when you are being told to shut up, to change your message, to obey. If you are fighting for the freedom of oppressed people and the cessation of violence against innocents, and the people hearing you say “stop saying that, say something else”, you don’t obey, you say it harder until they listen to what you’re actually, clearly stating: all people deserve freedom and a life without violence.
Interesting perspective. When you say any town, do you include places like Aarhus and Odense? If yes, what are the symptoms of the country dying there?
What small towns are you talking about specifically? There are definitely struggling places out there, in curious if we’re thinking of the same places.
Also what’s the issue with the prime minister drinking?
What was cool about Denmark 40 years ago?
Didn’t all the mink farms close?
The game is The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy
Oh, the Germanity
Sometimes you think you say the right thing, but you didn’t, and you’ll have to live with the consequences. This is a major part of the Witcher games, that your actions have possibly unforeseen consequences that you’ll have to live with.
Accept that Triss has made her choice. If you don’t want to be with Yen, then don’t be with anyone, that’s completely fine.
For a while my go-to move after leaving a restaurant with a date was to say something to make us both laugh, and then put an arm around them and squeeze a bit in a friendly way.
If they lean into it, keep the arm there, physical contact makes it much easier to flirt.
If they don’t lean into it, just let go and drop it for now. It’s easy enough to brush off as a friendly gesture.
I also found that it’s generally very sexy to actively make it easy for the other to say no. The easier they feel it is to just shut things down, the easier it is for them to keep exploring where things might go.
Interestingly, the value of the Danish krone is pegged to the value of the euro, meaning the job of the national bank is to ensure a more or less constant exchange rate of 1€ = 7.45DKK.
So when the euro performs well, the krone performs well.
Why does AI use this beige background color?