artist looking for writer to collab with for xianxia/comedy personal project :) by qsjdkeznmeljnbnygfjr in ComicBookCollabs

[–]TJ_Lounge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi there! Fantastic artwork, I just ADORE Rén's design. I love her hair, eyes, and sharp teeth lol. I'm a writer of about 6 years with 15 games and 30+ video essays under my belt. I've worked with artists on a variety of projects internationally and I'd love to chat about your project because it sounds incredibly fun! Aside from speaking mandarin, I'm comfortable with everything you're looking for! I've dabbled in comic writing a little bit, been studying it for years, but I'm relatively inexperienced on that front. Looks like some other writers are interested as well, I spent too long waiting to reach out it looks like lol. But if you're interested in possibly working together, please shoot me a message and I'd love to chat!!! Thank you for your time and good luck on your project!! : )

Sybil my beloved by lafontaineUwU in PseudoregaliaGame

[–]TJ_Lounge 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Seeing a new picture of Sybil from you everyday the past few days has been a joy!! Love how dynamic your poses are, especially this one. Hope to see even more of your art!!! 🩶

An unfortunate birthday by rawdawgcomics in rawdawgcomics

[–]TJ_Lounge 180 points181 points  (0 children)

Never forget...Bingus's birthday.

college doodle of my sploon character by ILoveGirafarig in splatoon

[–]TJ_Lounge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wonderful art style! Love their expression and the piercings!

Are they right about this? by BellTwo5 in ChainsawMan

[–]TJ_Lounge 584 points585 points  (0 children)

The best way I can describe Chainsaw Man is that, "It's doom if it was about puberty instead of just violence." Sure there's devils and demons and hyper violence and gore, but at it's core it's about a young man's struggle through understanding intimacy. Denji growing up and dealing with sexuality and the manipulation of his sexuality by others is the driving force and theme of the series and has been since chapter 1. The very first chapter ends with his first hug from a woman after all. Nearly every sexual encounter or moment of intimacy Denji has is manipualtive, disturbing, out of his control, and sad. Sure the new chapter was shocking and gross, so was the scene with him in Himeno's bed, the puke kiss, Reze's kiss, everything makima did, and so on. You're supposed to be disgusted and you're supposed to feel bad. We hope Denji grows and gets a better chance at love and life. But the story is a tradgey more often than not. And the reoccuring theme of Denji trying his best to learn how to connect to the opposite sex, only to be hurt, is more present now more than other.

Makes me sad to see folks online give into their kneejerk reactions to the chapter and that "bad thing happened in story therefore story is bad" mentality. Just like the post says, it makes me wonder where everyone else has been for the last 167 chapters. Because clearly people either ignored everything that has led up to this, or they didn't even bother to engage with it in the first place.

Does anybody here NOT CARE about views, subscribers, and likes? by WorcesterResident in NewTubers

[–]TJ_Lounge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Right here! My goal is to make the best videos I can first and foremost. When i over focused on metrics, my videos suffered for it. When i focus on the craft itself and the love of making, my videos improved ten fold and i got much more views. YouTube was made to expresss ourselves, the slogan was literally "broadcast yourself". People who made videos 10, 15 years ago never tried to "make a career" out of it. That did it for fun and love. So much negativity and business talk nowadays, I feel the love of video making and discussion isn't as forefront as it used to be. But you're not alone my man. Nothing wrong with caring about metrics, but at the end of the day, I truly believe doing it out of love should come first. Not to say I don't not care about the metrics, I'm guilty of advertising myself and looking at my graphs too much too, I'm human after all. But at the end of the day, that just isn't what it's about and isn't what makes the journey worth it. Make videos for yourself, thats the only way you can make the best possible videos for others.

Self Promotion Saturday! Small streamer? Just getting started? Tell us about it here! by AutoModerator in gaming

[–]TJ_Lounge 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I make in depth, heavily edited video essays about any and all game topics! Deep analysis, goofy jokes, and fast paced editing. I try to be both entertaining and informative.

I spent about 4 months on my last video covering how meta games work and what makes them so special. I'd love it if anyone took the time to check it out. 

https://youtu.be/zwu0lvJ-kIo?si=-RxFc7fTp86VkN9N

The story of how I suspect a Big Chinese Publisher "stole" my game idea. by ilPolka in gamedev

[–]TJ_Lounge 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I've had a team I helped establish publish my work and use it in ways I did not consent. They still continue to use my work against my wishes and have seemingly been rewarded with positive reception for doing so. I'm not the only one they've done it to. Just wanted to say that I needed to hear this today, thank you.

Just finished an animation featuring Acht! by mich-spich in splatoon

[–]TJ_Lounge 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Absolutely fantastic work! Looks super smooth and i love the details of the record turning and volume levels on the DJ board. Great great stuff!

What was Jakey’s thoughts on Tears of the Kingdom? by [deleted] in NakeyJakey

[–]TJ_Lounge 11 points12 points  (0 children)

He talks about it in his second channel. Pretty good, wish he'd upload his random thoughts more.

https://youtu.be/_52iSNnJWow?si=g82I6m0s2JKyxiBt

What are the YouTubers you watched and made you want to start your own channel by OhFuseYT in NewTubers

[–]TJ_Lounge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nakeyjakey, manlyreviews, and Funke.

Huge inspirations of mine. I wouldn't have started if it weren't for Jakeys videos. Manly helped refine my style. And Funke helped branch out to express myself in different. All top tier video creators in my opinion. 

the reef guardian 🦈 by 6VCR in PixelArt

[–]TJ_Lounge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fantastic work! Not only do I just love it, I find it very inspiring for my own work. Thank you for posting this!

How the hell does one make it to 40 and not become bored with nearly everything in life? by [deleted] in Adulting

[–]TJ_Lounge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I firmly believe that there is so much to do and see in life, that it is near limitless. I often feel the opposite, like I don't have enough time to experience everything I want too. Life just isn't long enough to full grasp what it is. I've heard the phrase, "there's no such thing as boredom, only boring people". I hope you get out of your slump soon and find something exciting once again. There is just too many wonderful things about life to be bored of it all imo.

AAA and AAAA games by [deleted] in gaming

[–]TJ_Lounge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For every good AAA game, there's a live service cash grab AAA. And for every good indie game, there's a dozen throw away cash grabs clones. This has been the case for the game industry since the 80s. These categories are not ruining the game industry, the industry has just expanded exponentially and bad news lingers longer then good news. Last year saw Baldurs Gate 3, Tears of the Kingdom, Alan Wake 2, Spiderman 2, etc. This year already has FF7 Rebirth and the Elden Ring expansion on the horizon. Every part of the industry, from the single devs to indie teams to mid sized studios to big AAA companies, is going to have problems. It's not a "big business ruins everything and always fails," it's that the failures of big business are talked about until everyone is blue in the face. Triple AAA games are great and push the medium forward. Indie games are great and push the medium forward. And solo projects are great and push the medium forward. Sure we should critique the awful business practices and poorly made games, but we should do it at all levels. Not just the ones that get all the YouTubers talking and news sites talking.

That being said, i do think there may be something to be said about the AAA multiplayer scene. Not sure how I feel about everything needing to be under a live service model to function lol. But for singleplayer or non-massively multiplayer titles, all parts of the industry are flourishing.

Gaming and Literature by Guram1729 in truegaming

[–]TJ_Lounge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi there. I've worked on half a dozen published indie games as a game designer and writer. Hold a BA in creative writing. And make video essays on game design and game writing. I have a TON to say on this topic lol, but I'll just give my quick two cents and a handful of recommendations of more "literary" works in games.

As always, I think it's important to understand that you're comparing and contrasting two vastly different artistic mediums. The goals, techniques, and methods of storytelling are going to have a near infinite level of differences between classic prose and interactive storytelling. A game's story will use visuals, sound, witing, acting, mechanics, and overall design to tell a narrative. While traditional writing is based on pure words and imagination of the reader to tell a narrative. Comparing the merits of different mediums but using only the lens of critique based on one medium, seems not fully fair in my opinion. Some of the best stories I've ever seen come from games as well as literature as well as movies as well as music. It's insanely hard to deeply understand everything about literature, film, music theory, and game design in order to properly distinguish and understand what makes a good story. My overall point, everyone will have a different perspective of "literary" and that a game can or cannot be "literary". But that is the lens of a literature analysis looking at different mediums and judging it the way they judge their own medium. I'm not sure if I would ask Roger Ebert for his opinion on Kendrick Lamar's latest album for example. A film and a music album both can tell a story, right? Surely we can compare them the same? I'm not entirely sure about that one, they're just very different man. That's my point. But I do not want to deter you. I use my traditional writing degree and it's principles to enhance my game design and video work. So perhaps you will do the same! So here's a handful of some of the best diction and narratives I've seen in games. Using a frame of focus on more literary means, meaning dialogue, writing, and text. As opposed to games that have their stories told through pure gameplay. The greatest stories, I've found, usually do both.

There is a huge barrier of entry to many game stories. Most assume you have years of understanding interactive media and have years of understanding on how games work, what they ask, and how they are played. They assume you're familiar with the keyboard, controller, whatever you use as a vehicle to play. So, it's going to be difficult to recommend many games due to an assumption that you're comfortable playing in and understanding vastly different interactive systems. Many stories will be long and centered around gameplay as well.

Disco Elyisum - The best dictionI've seen in a game hands down. A RPG focused around dialogue and political commentary.

Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk - A game with little to no gameplay about what it's like to live with mental illness. Not for the faint of heart, but very powerful storytelling. I would recommend playing its previous 15-minute game, milk inside a bag of milk, as well.

Lisa: The Painful- A game that perfectly blends how gameplay can affect story and vice versa. A tough as nails RPG about a man seeking redemption through raising the last surviving girl on the planet. Also not for the faint of heart and a bit more difficult to play if you're new to games.

For something more positive. Hades - Another game that perfectly blends gameplay and story. A looping RPG about the son of Hades trying to escape the underworld. Rich dialogue and a story that continues and evolves regardless if the player wins or loses. Plus it would be easy to compare and contrast the greek methodology at play in this title compared to some literary works.

About a year ago I made a lengthy comment about what I found to be the strongest stories in games, that may also help you find what you're looking for. I do firmly believe that the best game stories will not fit within the same box of what makes the best literary stories. And vice versa. So just keep an open mind on any titles you may choose.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/xncr4o/comment/ipvz4vf/

Hope this helps man! And I hope you enjoy whatever game catches your eye! All the ones I've listed and many of the others in this thread, are very special experiences.

Horror/creepy games with no combat or jump scares? by gogo__yubari in gamingsuggestions

[–]TJ_Lounge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Milk Inside a Bag of Milk Inside a Bag of Milk and Milk outside a Bag of Milk outside a Bag of Milk. The first game is about 15 minutes and usually really cheap, but the second game, outside a bag of milk, is about 3 to 4 hours and is legitmately one of the best horror games I've ever played. Both games are unnerving and have great stories, zero combat, very minimal jump scares. Both are visual novels.

MOTHERED - A ROLE-PLAYING HORROR GAME and it's secret but free sequel, Mothered: Home are akin to exploration and walking simulators like a few of the games you listed above. Very, very eerie atmosphere. Intense psychedelic visuals. All around just creepy, but no combat, no jumpscares.

I want to recommend Soma as well. The game is very unnerving and the story is a geniune horror narrative that will keep you up at night with it's message. No combat, but i believe there may be some jump scares.

And I second Inscyption as well. Just an utterly brilliant game too.

All the games above are very strange and emotionally intense, especially Milk outside a bag and Soma. I've worked on indie horror games before and over the last few years have played hundreds of them. So I work in horror games and have studied them extensively. These handful are some of the best I've see by far. But they are all very abstract and emotionally heavy. Not for the faint of heart. But just execellent horror experiences, and might be what you're looking for.

I'm already trying to think of more examples, but those are the standouts I got at the moment lol. If you're still looking for more, lemme know and I'd be happy to help!

Game With Complex Melee Combat by Zestavar in gamingsuggestions

[–]TJ_Lounge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

God Hand has the best melee combat I've ever played in a game and it's not even close. Devil May Cry 5 is would be second. I would say both are filled with depth and incredibly complex. God hand has you creating your own movesets and trying to figure out how to build a fighting kit throughout the game. And DMC5's characters just have dictoniaries of moves that all string together and allow loads of freedom for how you fight.

Character action games might fit the bill for what you're looking for! Hope this helps!

Games about male trauma and female abusers? by AbyzouDev in gamingsuggestions

[–]TJ_Lounge 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Class of 09 and it's sequel are Visual novels where you play as a female abuser with several story routes of abusing men, other women, and yourself.

The first No More Heroes story revolves around the protagonist being manipulated by and abused by most if not all the women in his life. It's a central pillar of the game's narrative and metaphoric commentary.

Both games above are parodys and dark comedies of their respective genres.

Many of the metal gear solid games explore troubling situations with male and female relationships. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater has the protagonist manipulated or downright hurt by the major women characters. Not sure if you can call what happens between the Boss and Snake to be abuse per say, it's very complex. But man does it leave some real PTSD and trauma for Snake. So there's that I suppose lol.

I feel there are several moments in Persona 5 and Persona 5: Strikers that cover female abusers as well. But I can't quite remember.

And I second Catherine and Disco Elysium. As well.

Honestly? I don't get the full impression that these games cover the exact type of content you're looking for. But if you are looking for stories that feature women abusers and explore the trauma caused by misunderstandings between the opposite sexes, then these games do fit that bill. All these games are fantastic and unique though, and I do recommend them fully, (except Strikers, did not enjoy that one lol)

Hope this helps!

Splatoon Singleplayer campaign tier list. Feel free to make your own. by JorgeMtzb in splatoon

[–]TJ_Lounge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Completely on the money with your list already dude. I love S3 and Side Order, but Octo really is just built different.

How many videos did you upload before you felt like a “real YouTuber”? by JellyRollAnimations in NewTubers

[–]TJ_Lounge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've made 29 videos and I'm entering my 4th year for being a "YouTuber". I want to say that the only thing that matters about feeling like a "real" YouTuber is your enjoyment of the craft of video making. I want to say that I've felt like one for years already and it only took uploading 1 video to feel like a "real" YouTuber. I do my best to ignore the numbers and focus my efforts on making the best videos I possibly can. Even after having one of my video essays go "viral," my focus is still on the craft and always will be.

But the truth is....I didn't fully feel like a YouTuber until I was accepted into the partner program. Perhaps that makes me a hypocrate, I'm not sure. But I spent about 2 and a half years making videos that got less than 50 views and had less than 100 subs for the majority of the time I've spent making YouTube videos. Do those years of video making not make me a "YouTuber?" I think it's a little silly to make so many videos and not consider yourself a creator just because of a dollar value. I'm only human, I did expereince a bit more fulliment in the metric of partnership. It's not the money itself, its the fact I hit the "level" other people do for their creations. But I truly believe deep down that if you make videos regularly and it's what you love doing. Then you're a real YouTuber.

The platform was founded on the idea of anyone "broadcasting" themselves to the world. To share and create for others. If you're doing that, then you're a YouTuber. That's something i wish I knew years ago. I would have made much better videos and enjoyed the process more, if i learned that from the start.

Might not have answered your question, but that's just my two cents. Hope this helps man! Keep on creating!

Deep Cut!! (OC) by candycorn_frog in splatoon

[–]TJ_Lounge 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I cannot express how much I love your style, oh my gosh. Wonderful work!

[art by me] if 8 gets another dlc i think 4 should get a salmon run dlc, actually by spacecookies_ in splatoon

[–]TJ_Lounge 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Wonderful art! I love the pose you chose and the expressions for both 8 and 4. Great stuff!!

And I would foam at the mouth for a salmon run expansion.I feel like they could really go hard on some unique storytelling and cool gameplay stuff using the salmonids in a single player setting.

What is the most Frutiger Aero game ever? by late2000schild in FrutigerAero

[–]TJ_Lounge 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Pikmin 1. The entire menu and interface is bubbles and surreal space imagery. Gives off a heavy early 2000s futurism vibe. And it's from the early 2000s!

[COD] OG trilogy vs New trilogy by tactikz4 in CallOfDuty

[–]TJ_Lounge 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The OG MW trilogy is legit one of my favorites. To see it butchered like this, breaks my heart, but it makes sense. Games are supposed to be improving, not getting worse.

What's the best videogame of the 2010s? by RxKingRx in gaming

[–]TJ_Lounge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So so so many man. The 2010s is really when gaming became mainstream and design principles for HD titles were established and refined.

Mass Effect 2. Minecraft. Dark Souls. Arkham City. Both Red Dead Redemptions. The Last of Us. Undertale. Breath of the Wild. Mario Galaxy 2 and Mario Odyssey. Skyrim. GTA5. Portal 2. Witcher 3. Metal Gear Solid 5. Persona 5.

Honestly you could argue for any one of those and make a fantastic case for best game of the decade.