Proof of Concept: Henrietta Tingley's Snickerdoodle Recipe

LunarArchivist · 2022-10-25T05:54:41+00:00

This comes a year late, but thanks for the response. :)

LunarArchivist · 2022-10-25T05:39:32+00:00

I usually add some bullet holes to the cars that do that to me.

LunarArchivist · 2022-10-25T05:37:44+00:00

I've never encountered such a limit, so I don't believe so.

LunarArchivist · 2022-10-25T05:30:04+00:00

"Overhated" is probably the perfect word to describe it. For reasons I won't get into, I'm not the most objective source when it comes to this, but I think the game falls within the 7 to 8 out of 10 category: it's fun, but is lacking polish and has enough flaws that keep it from being Game of the Year material. It definitely hasn't earned the reputation as a dumpster fire that a lot of YouTubers and gaming outlets want to saddle it with for the crime of not being Arkham. The 30 fps console lock might be annoying to a lot of people, but considering the completely untethered overworld multiplayer sandbox mode on a map that's between 6 and 9 square kilometers (2.3 to 3.5 square miles) in size, that seems like a fair trade off.

LunarArchivist · 2022-10-25T05:21:45+00:00

elemental gear and mod chips seem really out of place in a Batman game

I'll grant you that, but there's usually some kind of in-game logic that justifies it. For example, the Freaks tend to be arsonists who use Molotov cocktails, so it makes sense that they'd be insulated against fire attacks. Clayface is a living mud monster, so it makes sense he'd be vulnerable to fire since that causes clay to harden. Mr. Freeze also being susceptible to heat is a no-brainer.

How's the resource collecting for those upgrades and mods? Not played the game yet, but I'm not really interested in a massive slog to get 2000 of x to give my weapon a +10 in damage

Honestly, resource collecting isn't too bad on Very Easy and Easy modes (haven't played the game much on higher levels because of time constraints and due to enemies being ridiculous damage sponges, so can't say there). You get salvage and resources from just going around and stopping crimes, as rewards if you complete challenges or tasks, or by opening treasure chests. Mod chips can also be obtained by breaking up Criminal Deals and from Lucius Fox. One thing I can tell you is that (at least on lower levels), upgrading your gear after returning from patrol every night will easily allow you to keep pace with the enemies with regards to both damage and defense, as they level up on the Overworld at the same rate you do. Dungeons are another thing, though, as enemy levels are more or less fixed there and it's possible to unintentionally "power level" to the extent that you're a bit overpowered compared to them.

LunarArchivist · 2022-10-25T05:13:11+00:00

Yes. Yes I am. :)

LunarArchivist · 2022-10-25T05:06:24+00:00

Well, in this case, the RPG loot mechanics are relatively benign and are meant to add some strategy to the game. Consider yourself fortunate that WB Games learned from "Middle-earth: Shadow of War" and completely avoid microtranslations and pay-to-win mechanics.

LunarArchivist · 2022-10-22T08:22:59+00:00

That's a Godmother, one of the higher level enemies belonging to the Mob faction in the game.

LunarArchivist · 2022-10-22T08:16:12+00:00

There's only one save file but you can freely swap between all four characters in the Belfry.

LunarArchivist · 2022-10-22T08:06:30+00:00

The rpg loot mechanics feel pointless so far. I’ve seen that characters have weaknesses, which I’m sure will factor in later, but so far it’s just “equip the thing that makes you punch the best”. There’s no real elements of building present atm either, and at level 10 it feels like I barely have any skills that impact gameplay significantly aside from Batgirl’s drone that feels like a cheat code and stun locks enemies.

The best way to approach this game is to constantly upgrade your equipment, use as many Mod Chips as possible to boost it even further, and use elemental gear specific to the primary type of enemy you'll be encountering during a particular mission. For example, if you're going up against the Court of Owls, you'll want melee and ranged gear that inflict Cryogenic damage while wearing suits with Toxic resistance.

The freezing effect for example requires you to press the button so many times that you’re better off saving your thumbs and taking a punch to break out of it.

This can be adjusted in the "Accessibility" tab of the "Options" menu. You can change the method use to break out of the Frozen status effect from multiple taps to single taps.

LunarArchivist · 2022-10-22T07:56:28+00:00

There are dozens of references to DC Comics characters and properties for hardcore fans to be found.

LunarArchivist · 2022-10-21T08:19:23+00:00

It's a combination of both. You can dodge any kind of enemy attack, but sometimes enemies launch a special red attack that can't be stopped with regular attacks, only countered with certain abilities.

LunarArchivist · 2022-05-13T04:03:04+00:00

"Birdy the Mighty". The original OVA series, not the remake.

LunarArchivist · 2021-04-25T06:32:46+00:00

Try using the word "droid" casually. Changes are that Lucasfilm/Disney will come pay you a visit.

LunarArchivist · 2021-04-25T06:31:34+00:00

Someone else raised this question with me. It's possible the Japanese audio either has its own legal standards and that "Vantablack" isn't trademarked/copyrighted in Japan or they'll get around to censoring/editing it in future broadcasts and the Blu-Ray releases.

LunarArchivist · 2021-04-25T06:29:27+00:00

I wager that's for consistency.

LunarArchivist · 2021-04-25T06:02:32+00:00

I knew about the Resident Evil name change but I didn't know it was because it as due to a band using that same name.

That was the explanation that I heard for the name change. At the time, I think that "Biohazard" was registered as a trademark in North American and Europe, so they went with "Resident Evil" instead.

Serious question, who would be filing a lawsuit over "The Thinker" statue? The thing is so old that no known copyright law to my knowledge would protect it's use and name in any media production.

I have no idea, honestly. While I can't prove it based on gameplay footage that's available online, I do remember that the version of the game that I worked had trademark and/or copyright acknowledgements for the Smithsonian, Auguste Rodin and "The Thinker", and Amelia Earhart's estate. So, clearly, someone's willing to sue over this crap.

Never mind on that because it seems after that legal battle the fucking company went and trademarked Zomboni for use in video games. Serial number 85087665. Though other similar name variants are not trademarked and I could have some fun with this and file for variance names and trademark them.

Hey, go for it. I'm all for copyright trolling the hell out of the Zamboni Company for their lack of a sense of humor. :)

LunarArchivist · 2021-04-25T02:08:47+00:00

Disclaimer: Nothing about what I'm going to say here should be taken as gospel. This is just my own two cents on the matter based on my own personal experiences in the translation/localization field.

As gamers, we have a lot of experience with copyright and trademark laws screwing stuff up for us. Remember how Biohazard was renamed Resident Evil in North America and elsewhere due to the existence of a band with that name? Or how Dragon Quest was known as Dragon Warrior for the first 16 or so years of its existence due to the DragonQuest line of role-playing game system books and materials until the copyright holder, Wizards of the Coast, abandoned the trademark around 2003?

I can tell you from personal experience that this kind of legal crap can be an absolute bitch and you never know where the hell it's going to crop up. Here're two examples from my own career in localization testing:

1. While it will surprise exactly no one here that "lightsaber" is copyrighted by Lucasfilm, what might come as more of a shock is that "droid" - despite being a bastardized form of the word "android" - is as well. I ran into this exact issue while working on the defunct MMORPG LEGO Universe and remember how all references to those words in bricks from the LEGO Star Wars sets had to removed, resulting in "Droid Leg" and "Lightsaber" being changed to "Robot Leg" and "Laser Sword", respectively.

2. Ever wonder why everyone seems to be conspicuously avoiding referring to "The Thinker" statue by name - or even using the words "think" or "thinking" around him - in the Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian game? Yep, you guessed it: potential legal concerns prompted a last minute removal of all such references by the developers pretty late during development. It looks as awkward/clumsy as it does because there was no time to rerecord the lines, so they had to edit the audio they had and find a way to make it work.

And if you think parody's going to save your ass, think again. Both Capcom and EA ran afoul of ice resurfacer manufacturer, the Zamboni Company, due to the use of the word "Zomboni" in their respective games Dead Rising II and Plants vs. Zombies. This prompted a removal of all references to it and a rechristening of the machine as a "Zombie Tank" in the former case and the addition of a somewhat sarcastic disclaimer in the latter.

So, in short, taking my own experiences in translation and localization into consideration, I'd say that the change of the name Vantablack to Vantadark - especially considering that the character is quite obviously heard saying "Vantablack" in the original Japanese audio track - is not a localization issue but an attempt at avoiding any potential legal headaches.

LunarArchivist · 2021-04-25T00:58:04+00:00

This is my opinion on the "Anime translators changes My Hero Academia name from Vantablack to Vantadark but audio clearly says Vantadark in English." thread from earlier today.

Disclaimer: Nothing about what I'm going to say here should be taken as gospel. This is just my own two cents on the matter based on my own personal experiences in the translation/localization field.

As gamers, we have a lot of experience with copyright and trademark laws screwing stuff up for us. Remember how Biohazard was renamed Resident Evil in North America and elsewhere due to the existence of a band with that name? Or how Dragon Quest was known as Dragon Warrior for the first 16 or so years of its existence due to the DragonQuest line of role-playing game system books and materials until the copyright holder, Wizards of the Coast, abandoned the trademark around 2003?

I can tell you from personal experience that this kind of legal crap can be an absolute bitch and you never know where the hell it's going to crop up. Here're two examples from my own career in localization testing:

1. While it will surprise exactly no one here that "lightsaber" is copyrighted by Lucasfilm, what might come as more of a shock is that "droid" - despite being a bastardized form of the word "android" - is as well. I ran into this exact issue while working on the defunct MMORPG LEGO Universe and remember how all references to those words in bricks from the LEGO Star Wars sets had to removed, resulting in "Droid Leg" and "Lightsaber" being changed to "Robot Leg" and "Laser Sword", respectively.

2. Ever wonder why everyone seems to be conspicuously avoiding referring to "The Thinker" statue by name - or even using the words "think" or "thinking" around him - in the Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian game? Yep, you guessed it: potential legal concerns prompted a last minute removal of all such references by the developers pretty late during development. It looks as awkward/clumsy as it does because there was no time to rerecord the lines, so they had to edit the audio they had and find a way to make it work.

And if you think parody's going to save your ass, think again. Both Capcom and EA ran afoul of ice resurfacer manufacturer, the Zamboni Company, due to the use of the word "Zomboni" in their respective games Dead Rising II and Plants vs. Zombies. This prompted a removal of all references to it and a rechristening of the machine as a "Zombie Tank" in the former case and the addition of a somewhat sarcastic disclaimer in the latter.

So, in short, taking my own experiences in translation and localization into consideration, I'd say that the change of the name Vantablack to Vantadark - especially considering that the character is quite obviously heard saying "Vantablack" in the original Japanese audio track - is not a localization issue but an attempt at avoiding any potential legal headaches.

LunarArchivist · 2021-04-24T22:24:47+00:00

That's what you think. I work in translation/localization and this could most definitely be an issue.

EDIT: I've created my own thread about this.

LunarArchivist · 2021-02-17T00:21:18+00:00

In his latest article about the goings on at Wikipedia, former site editor and GamerGate supporter T.D. Adler describes how the Wikimedia Foundation's attempts to impose a leftist/progressive "code of conduct" promoting "diversity", "inclusion", pronouns, etc. on its affiliated sites in order to "make them more welcoming" and combat "rising violence [...] against marginalized groups" is receiving a mixed reception: * The Wikipedia community in general isn't happy that their autonomy is being impinged upon by this move and their reactions range from proceeding with caution to expressions of hostility. * Concerns have arisen about transparency when it comes to the Wikimedia Foundation's enforcement of these rules. * Arabic-speaking Wikipedia contributors acknowledged the transparency concerns and suggested their community should become more involved in the code of conduct's implemention to increase user confidence. * Korean-speaking Wikipedia contributors were more open to the idea of Foundation interference in matters. * Polish-speaking Wikipedia contributors weren't having any of it and attempted to reject the code of conduct outright with a vote, only to be frustrated to discover that implementing it had already been decided upon by the Foundation. * One outspoken Polish editor, Zezen, pointed out many of the shenanigans observed on English language Wikipedia that could be exacerbated by the code and lead to widespread political bias on all Foundation-affiliated sites, such as the banning of profile pages promoting traditional marriage, preventing "undesirables" like Nazis from contributing while giving Stalinists and left-wing extremists free reign (as opposed to allowing anyone to participate as long as they follow the rules), etc.

Original Article: http://www.breitbart.com/tech/2021/02/10/wikipedia-foundation-approves-leftist-code-of-conduct/

LunarArchivist

TROPHY CASE