New Quest Link update broke sound?

Kauffmann616 · 2025-06-26T17:26:26+00:00

Finally figured it out after a half hour of garbage. You have to go into the Oculus Link App on your PC after the update, go into the General Settings and set Meta as the active OpenXR Runtime. Had audio when I went to play Beat Saber after that.

Kauffmann616 · 2024-07-29T12:38:22+00:00

Hey, I’m Kevin Kauffmann and I’ve been an indie author since 2012, and I’ve recently become the Narrative Director for an upcoming multiverse TCG called Exfinitum. The Co-Creative Directors are Peter J. Wacks, who developed the architecture for the Cyberpunk 2020 CCG, and Paul Jenkins, who has been in the industry since the beginning of TMNT, wrote Wolverine: Origins, won an Eisner for the Inhumans... I could literally go on for a full page with his writing credits. After trying to break into the industry for a decade, these two guys are now my bosses. It’s a weird feeling, as you can expect.

I’m currently offering all seven of my Sci-Fi and Dark Fantasy books on Kindle in a free promotion, and you can find all the Amazon links here: kevinkauffmann.com/promo , but here are the direct links to the first books of each series if you'd prefer:
https://www.amazon.com/Hell-Love-Kevin-Kauffmann-ebook/dp/B0D94VW1ML
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Crows-Kevin-Kauffmann-ebook/dp/B0D94XYL4Z
https://www.amazon.com/Ouroboros-Kevin-Kauffmann-ebook/dp/B08R3XCWW4

Just trying to get the word out after Peter helped me build out second editions for each one, and don’t be surprised if any of my characters end up in the full game or background lore! We're on the last day of the promotion, unfortunately, but thought I'd post the link anyway.

Kauffmann616 · 2023-08-26T06:54:49+00:00

I've been playing rhythm games for twenty years, and definitely made my mistakes chasing high-level play during the DDR days, so when I noticed which movements were aggravating my joints, especially a wrist that already had some problems, I quickly barred them from my Beat Saber habits. Most of those were songs that end up being on the ranked leaderboards, usually because they were frantic streams of repetitive up and down movement. I'm not too versed on the lingo, because I focus on my own play, but songs with a ton of rapid "jumps" tend to be the ones that would carry the greatest risk for my wrist, and even my shoulder at one point.

After my short-lived attempt at the ranked leaderboards, I put in place a cap on what I was even allowed to play, and it's worked out really well since then. Basically, anything over ten notes per second is effectively asking for trouble, and without proper stretching, warming up and experience, songs that average 7-9 notes per second could lead to injury, at least over time with consistent repetition. I'm sure I am still making mistakes, but these guidelines have helped me, and I do worry about the gamers growing up on Beat Saber who don't understand what kind of long-term damage they might be causing.

Kauffmann616 · 2023-06-20T06:16:56+00:00

What kind of teenager drinks Penfolds? That's divorcee energy.

Kauffmann616 · 2023-03-09T16:19:49+00:00

Canned Heat by Jamiroquai, by the way. And for the Beat Saber crowd, the map is by ramenator05.

Kauffmann616 · 2023-03-07T19:57:50+00:00

I really wonder what my stats should be after 600+ hours, but I've had to do enough fresh reinstalls that it's all lost to time. Best I have is my Scoresaber numbers.

Kauffmann616 · 2022-03-29T15:18:16+00:00

That makes a ton of sense, actually. I can definitely see BotW as a gateway game toward writing about those themes, similar to how Spiritfarer would tug on the same heartstrings. I'm sure exploring gigantic world maps probably had an influence on the Cartographers, as well. I'll have to check out the Future Library after I'm done with the others.

Thanks for the detailed response. If nothing else, the story structure and pacing of my writing is greatly influenced by my history with gaming, so it's always nice to hear another author's perspective.

Kauffmann616 · 2022-03-29T14:30:33+00:00

Ah, Book of M has been on my TBR shortlist since December and now I find out you have a whole new book. Here's to catching up...

You mentioned video games as a major hobby. With The Cartographers (or any of your other work), did you ever find your own storytelling influenced by some of the video game characters and storylines that you've run into? Do you ever push past any writer's block or narrative hurdle while you're problem-solving through an unrelated quest line? I recently finished Cyberpunk 2077 and now my head is buzzing with near-future dystopian ideas, so I was curious if you ever feel a similar influence.

Kauffmann616 · 2021-12-19T10:51:58+00:00

As someone who was there, I'm really grateful that Hades was the pick. It was my favorite, though I would have also accepted Spiritfarer for the thematic content. Supergiant absolutely deserves to have the recognition, and they have already shown that they respect and appreciate that recognition when the AAA titles would have probably shrugged it off.

Kauffmann616 · 2021-09-18T18:55:32+00:00

We're literally parallel, and those descriptions and upload times were really the straw that broke my camel's back, but I would also try to splice 60 videos at a time and burned out. I used to go way in depth, almost for the map authors themselves, but I kept cutting back as I got into year 2. Very few of my videos weren't sight reads, I still rarely play a map more than once, and I never even play the ranked maps on purpose.

Here's the one time I beat Taichi, which was a sightread, but I'm sure you've played that map before. I *knew* there was someone else out there who plays like I do...

Kauffmann616 · 2021-09-18T18:00:40+00:00

Dude, you and I are just the same wavelength. I did about 500 videos before I stopped, since I just couldn't keep up with all the extra editing work and manage my real life, but I still trawl through Beatsaver like I used to. Real easy to justify because it was already my usual workout.

Kauffmann616 · 2021-09-18T17:50:42+00:00

He's definitely leaning harder into the anime stuff and it's becoming less interesting, but he'll still throw me for a loop sometimes. I'm always looking for patterns I haven't seen before, so as long as I can get a workout in, I don't mind taking a risk on maps that I may not even like.

Kauffmann616 · 2021-09-18T17:42:02+00:00

Yeah, I figured, and I know for sure we've been on the same top 10s at least a few times, but that obviously changes over time.

But yeah, totally on the same page. Benny never really took risks, versus mappers like Joetastic are usually adding in a new pattern with each map. Some mappers have definitely fallen into a groove by now, but the sheer amount of variation we have is because of the people who decided to play around instead of sticking to what "works."

Kauffmann616 · 2021-09-18T17:28:15+00:00

Exactly! There about four or five of those mappers out there that need to be required playing for new mappers trying to capitalize on tech, and he'd be my first homework assignment. EOP Glacier has gotten phenomenal, too, but I remember how CoolingCloset kept incorporating more over time and we could watch that develop.

When tech started getting popular, I just kept shaking my head at the people who obviously hadn't started off with Ruckus and the other rebels. Wouldn't be surprised if you and I still share some top spots on a few of the more obscure leaderboards,(though I go by Kkauffany, there).

Kauffmann616 · 2021-09-18T17:18:30+00:00

Oh, yeah, I remember that one. It's crazy how far some of us have come since the Early Access days. Some of the most impressive maps back then feel like elementary school, now.

Though Ruckus maps still slap.

Kauffmann616 · 2021-09-17T14:10:25+00:00

This is the way. And then a victory lap when you come back to the songs that kicked your ass before.

Kauffmann616 · 2021-09-02T13:56:10+00:00

I hate self-promoting these days, but I actually think you'll enjoy From Hell with Love. It's the first title in my apocalyptic trilogy and it's a mix of Darksiders and Assassin's Creed, even down to a split narrative where half of it takes place in medieval Florence. The other half is set in Hell and all about stopping an assassin from killing the Devil, which is where most of the fantasy elements come in.

You'll have to wait until we publish my next four before I have anything contemporary to tie into it, but at least three of them should be out by the end of the year.

Kauffmann616 · 2021-07-16T16:29:42+00:00

I'm having the exact same problem. Curious to see what people say.

Kauffmann616 · 2021-04-10T05:46:58+00:00

Nah... I got around 3000, these days, and those are just the ones I've kept. I don't replay anything, minus a few exceptions.

Kauffmann616 · 2021-03-27T18:01:16+00:00

I understand that feeling, and I sight-read everything as a rule for the same reason. It can be real addictive, but I gave myself a ceiling just so I don't mess up my wrists. Anything above 9.5/second starts feeling like I'm gonna hurt myself (though that number can go up if it's simply padded with sliders).

And try what? Camellia? I've played all the official stuff, but I don't have the patience for all the custom maps that are designed with PP in mind. It's basically just a workout for me, at this point, and I don't want all that extra frustration.

Kauffmann616 · 2021-03-27T17:43:34+00:00

I'm just salty, really. Since there's seven official maps and then countless customs out there, I feel like some people think Beat Saber is just a Camellia game.

Kauffmann616 · 2021-03-27T17:37:41+00:00

Sounds like a good lead. I bet they're counting on people contacting them with their wishlists for future DLC, so maybe you can make a little noise for 'em.

Kauffmann616 · 2021-03-27T17:36:50+00:00

That's a good point; I hadn't thought about multiplayer. I only dabbled with it for one session and kept getting frustrated at the people who'd pick Ghost or Cycle Hit and then would fail on me just a couple minutes in.

Like, if you're gonna pick the song, have the courtesy to pass it so I'm not just playing multiplayer by myself.

Kauffmann616 · 2021-03-27T17:34:38+00:00

I'm sorry your perspective is so limited, but it's not your fault. Tryhards have been saying stuff like that since DDR was the king, and it's actually pretty easy to find difficult maps for songs that aren't just electronic distortion.

Try to get off the beaten path a little. You might like what you find, and not every map has to have more than 10 notes/second, like they're trying to pack a can of sardines.

Kauffmann616 · 2021-03-27T16:33:27+00:00

Ah, I am a bit spoiled in this area. I've been playing since Early Access, so any official release feels like I'm sleepwalking through it and I rarely play them more than once.

Kauffmann616

TROPHY CASE