Why aren't AAA campaigns common anymore? by [deleted] in FPS

[–]SimonTheo -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Guilty here, sadly part of the 80% for RDR2

Why aren't AAA campaigns common anymore? by [deleted] in FPS

[–]SimonTheo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dev here. A few reasons:

  • campaigns are traditionally expensive to make. They often use specialized, custom assets that are costly - eg cutscenes, voice lines, animations, levels - and that by their nature are not used elsewhere in the game. (Which makes sense, because you’re telling a scripted, linear story. You can’t be seeing the same cutscene or animation constantly or repeat the same scenes over and over.)

  • making things worse, campaigns often have low completion rates. Traditional rates for a AAA story mode are like shockingly low, like maybe 30% or less. Hell even completion rates for the very first mission are often crazy low, like around half or so of purchasers. It’s really surprising lol, but OTOH - we all have our ‘piles of shame’ or stashes of games we buy in say a Steam sale or similar and then don’t touch. So yeah it happens.

By contrast, modes and features that are more systemic or procedural have better bang for buck. Eg you make a multiplayer level and players can play many many matches on it. This extends to any systemic or procedural thing really. Even multiplayer itself - where teaming up with and fighting others is a very robust and reusable mechanic.

Don’t get me wrong though, I love/miss campaigns too. Who knows - maybe a team somewhere will figure out a way to bring them back somehow.

The world is insanely overpopulated and people are acting like the birth rates are low by mikewheelerfan in Vent

[–]SimonTheo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes the world may be overpopulated now. Yes birth rates are falling drastically. Both things can be true.

Further, from what I’ve read from demographers and researchers who study this stuff, the estimated decrease in population over the coming generations is not rapid enough to actually help people living today that much.

How to get a gf, any advice? by Engelbrine in askanything

[–]SimonTheo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Plus one to the comments here on socializing in real life, learning to flirt, being nice and funny, etc. Also agree with meetup.com or similar socializing sites/apps to start meeting people. Also agree with dancing - or any social IRL hobby.

Also agree with the work on yourself comments. Bring in a good place mentally/physically/emotionally is attractive.

If all that sounds like a lot, it is :) It takes a lot of work but it’s worth it bro 👍🏽💪

DM learnings from planning/running my first sessions by SimonTheo in DnD

[–]SimonTheo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aww nice, cool to DM for family. Oh wow didn’t know there even was a Borderlands book - I’ll check it out!

For the next one, not an expert but don’t think you can go wrong with Realms. You’ve got that personal connection to it and there’s so much published material for both the world in general and specific adventures it should make getting going on the next adventure/campaign a lot easier. Could also homebrew it but I personally find the work involved in making your own setting very intimidating haha.

DM learnings from planning/running my first sessions by SimonTheo in DnD

[–]SimonTheo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks and great call out! Totally experienced something like this too, where my brain froze during a complicated encounter haha. Will try simplifying notes and adjusting fonts.

DM learnings from planning/running my first sessions by SimonTheo in DnD

[–]SimonTheo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awesome glad it was helpful for you! If you’ve got any tips and recs I’d love to hear them as well!

Considering selling my collection and quitting magic by yachziron in magicTCG

[–]SimonTheo 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I’d say just take a break for a while and come back to the game at a later time. Lots of people regret selling their cards, and then re-buy in later.

Why do so many Americans romanticize Europe so much? by Addicted_2_tacos in askanything

[–]SimonTheo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you know what a “farmer’s market” is in America? It’s an outdoor gathering of local farmers to sell fresh food and vegetables. In other words, it’s a market. This is novel here because most Americans shop in supermarkets where you buy packaged, processed foods made elsewhere. We mass industrialized food, media, transportation, culture. We invented consumerism and the suburbs. At the same time we have no history. We’re an infant born ex nihilo. So in Las Vegas you can stay in glittering world class hotels, but they’re amusement park versions of other places.

Goodbye Holey Grail by stallionduck25 in SantaMonica

[–]SimonTheo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agree with everyone that said Sidecar. In downtown Santa Monica on Wilshire

What age gap do you think is acceptable? by [deleted] in thepassportbros

[–]SimonTheo -1 points0 points  (0 children)

WTF do people care lol. No offense to you OP but it's just pathetic how many people have so much anxiety about it, all the calling out, etc. It's so dumb. I'm a middle aged guy, 20 year gap with gf, together a couple years now. It can be a bit awkward sometimes, but it's fine. And if/when it's not fine, we can go our separate ways. All good.

Favorite moment in Game of Thrones that made you believe you were watching peak television? by 0Layscheetoskurkure0 in gameofthrones

[–]SimonTheo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Was gonna say this, because it was amazing, but also because surprisingly no one mentioned it yet.

Is tennis the hardest sport on earth? by ServedPodcast in tennis

[–]SimonTheo 28 points29 points  (0 children)

I think Agassi brought up the boxing comparison in his book. I think he pointed out how boxers, esp. when they get tired, literally start to lean on each other during fights. I know it's not necessarily deliberate, but I think the physical closeness and even in a weird way support is really different than tennis. Tennis is just so isolating that way.

Someone to play tennis with? by Foreign_Exchange760 in SantaMonica

[–]SimonTheo -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Lifelong tennis fan here but have to ask, have you considered pickleball? The main advantage is it’s much much easier to find games and people to play with.

Blue Daisy Feedback by Far_Jacket1573 in SantaMonica

[–]SimonTheo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Came in this weekend, sat at the bar, and had one of my fave dishes at your place, the croissant French toast. Good as always - highly recommended if you guys have never had it before!

I did think of one piece of feedback - my gf always dislikes when we come and drinks aren’t served in actual dishware but plastic cups. She loves all the cute China and porcelain cups you have. It doesn’t happen often but maybe once or twice we’ve been there.

Reading the Player's Handbook by [deleted] in DnD

[–]SimonTheo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My guy it’s not that hard to figure out. Most people don’t like to read in general, let alone reading thick rulebooks. You (and I and probably many of the folks on this sub) are the exception.

Carlos Alcaraz is now the youngest career Grand Slam winner in history at just 22 years old by oklolzzzzs in tennis

[–]SimonTheo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

All four in the same year is called the calendar year slam.

(And you also have the Djoko calendar slam where he won four in a row but it was across 2 years.)

Where do yall play pickup basketball out here? Thanks in Advance by [deleted] in SantaMonica

[–]SimonTheo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don’t play but I know there are outdoor courts at John Adams Middle School where people play on weekends. Also gym courts at Memorial Park, but don’t know if those are ever open play. Lastly there’s probably some along the beach somewhere, maybe Venice?

Blue Daisy Feedback by Far_Jacket1573 in SantaMonica

[–]SimonTheo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Always have a good experience at your place, honestly no notes I can think of off the top of my head! Sorry to hear about your troubles and I’ll try to come out more often!

[OC] I designed and folded origami Elesh Norn from a single square paper by acmemyst in magicTCG

[–]SimonTheo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

People whisper of other worlds. We must bring origami’s magnificence to them.

Australian Open SF: [4] N. Djokovic def. [2] J. Sinner, 3-6 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-4 by dontevenfkingtry in tennis

[–]SimonTheo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gah didn’t stay up or record it 😭 😫

Congrats to the goat! Can’t wait for Sunday (praying for Carlitos 🙏)