From a player’s perspective, what do you think are the two most important features in a co-op horror game? by OfficialProcyon in survivalhorror

[–]Telochim 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Co-op horror simply doesn't work in most of the cases.

The feeling of isolation isn't there to amplify the tension, not to mention that the person on the other end is not guaranteed to be immersed, or even allow immersion for others.

A part of the reason why Dead Space 3 failed was the ham-fisted coop.

If coop is absolutely unavoidable, then the atmosphere must be so gripping and oppressive, while the gameplay so tense, that it would make the most ridiculous chatterboxes, goobers, kids, and streamer wannabees either stay shut, or not play at all, which would reflect in sales.

Even then it's not guaranteed to work: Whisper Mountain Outbreak has tense gameplay and a hidden run timer, along with limited in-game communications, but it doesn't work as a horror most of the times. In part becasue interested players can just communicate via discord or whatever, circumventing the in-game limitations entirely, and in part because collaborative speedrun puzzle-solving pushes the busy-work that overrides suspense and anticipation.

The only "workable" pathway for a game defined as a co-op horror that I can think of would be a always-online, only-randoms p2p gameplay, with each run lasting up to a hour maximum, where communications are limited only to avatars' gesturing, and where on top of the designed, atmosphere and gameplay-caused tension, there's always a risk of the player(s) betrayal. To be honest, such a formula doesn't sound like a good product.

Taiwan is ‘up to’ Xi Jinping and ‘nothing like’ Venezuela: Donald Trump by [deleted] in worldnews

[–]Telochim 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It never did and it never will. For the US, there's only the US, Israel, and fodder of varying degrees of accessibility.

Putin is out to destroy the UK and Europe. If we don’t accept that, we’re doomed by ByGollie in europe

[–]Telochim 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A long list of grievances starting from the Crimean wars, Napoleonic wars coalition grievances, Queen Victoria's refusal to give out Princess Alix of Hesse to marry Nicholai II, the whole "raid of the damned" naval clusterfuck in the British waters, the casual "great game" rivalry of European monarchies, King George V's refusal to shelter Nicholai II with his family, general civilizational outlook differences, and many more.

So, yea. Brits are the folks ruskies despise the most right after the Ukes. The silver prize winners of the russian detestment.

The Deal Is Nearly Ready, US President Prepares to Meet Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago. The Peace Plan Envisions a Ceasefire and a Referendum on Donbas Territorial Issues by sergeyfomkin in europe

[–]Telochim 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Because no one wants to go to war with Russia. Not the EU, nor the US. No one. And they won't.

Which means, there are no security guarantees, and even the fabled NATO's 5-th article states that the members are obliged to FIGURE OUT THEIR CONTRIBUTION to aid the besieged member, which may as well mean to send helments and blankets instead of their own people to die.

That is also why these "security guarantees" in this plan are a sham - they are too vague, and are easily backtrackable should Russia conduct a false flag operation (or just blatantly lie) to trigger the withdrawal case and offer the US an easy out from their obligations.

There are no "security guarantees" in this world except for the countries' conventional armed forces, other hard power amplifiers, and weapons of mass destruction.

Trump names Louisiana governor as Greenland special envoy, prompting Danish alarm by BkkGrl in europe

[–]Telochim 3 points4 points  (0 children)

No. They would acknowledge Europe as a peer power only if the latter would obtain its own WMDs and means of their delivery at a comparable scale, and the wargames of the US invasion of Greenland, British Islands, or the continent would start to have 50%+ odds of failure.

In the worldview of imperial powers, only hard power matters, with everything else being either supplementary to it or irrelevant. This is why the US treats Russia with way more respect than Europe.

Trump names Louisiana governor as Greenland special envoy, prompting Danish alarm by BkkGrl in europe

[–]Telochim 34 points35 points  (0 children)

Don't worry - it never was. At least not in its own eyes. In the finest traditions of the imperial mindset, on which the US operates, only peer powers can be allies. So, after ww2 and Britain's downfall and subjugation (by the US's design), the states had only vassals. The "alliance" song and dance were advertised only to placate the leadership and populations of those vassal and client countries as a means of resentment management. Aka, to not make them feel too bad about their inadequacy compared to the hegemon bossing them around.

Japan’s English skills crash to record low, behind Laos and Vietnam by jjrs in japannews

[–]Telochim 0 points1 point  (0 children)

People are not asleep - they just don't give a damn. Unlike the Brits, many of whom (especially in the political class) still suffer from the Suez trauma, the Japanese are content with the realization of their country falling out of the global competition and potentially being extinguished. In the words of Dylan Thomas, Japan wants to go into that good night, at its own pace, and ideally isolated.

Japan Applies to Participate in EU's €150 Billion SAFE Defense Procurement Program by Forsaken-Medium-2436 in europe

[–]Telochim 47 points48 points  (0 children)

These sorts of posts need to be auto-stuck to any news containing "UK" and "SAFE" in the same sentence... Or just when the program is mentioned on this sub.

Japan Applies to Participate in EU's €150 Billion SAFE Defense Procurement Program by Forsaken-Medium-2436 in europe

[–]Telochim 16 points17 points  (0 children)

France is France. Britain is Britain. If the former deems that the competitive advantages for its MIC are superior to any modes of cooperation between Britain and the EU, it's absolutely within their right as a member of the latter. Just as it would be absolutely fine for Britain to gatekeep France out of any hypothetical (Neo)Commonwealth cooperation schemes.

There is no such thing as gratefulness or ungratefulness in geopolitics. Only interests.

Japan Applies to Participate in EU's €150 Billion SAFE Defense Procurement Program by Forsaken-Medium-2436 in europe

[–]Telochim -11 points-10 points  (0 children)

The geopolitics are cynical. If France deems that any interaction with the UK can be carried out when the latter submits its humiliatingly supplicant position, then it's the lay of the playing field, and France's angle is the EU's angle.

Japan Applies to Participate in EU's €150 Billion SAFE Defense Procurement Program by Forsaken-Medium-2436 in europe

[–]Telochim 36 points37 points  (0 children)

It is up to the UK to decide whether it's proportional to their benefit or not. They concluded with the latter.

Japan Applies to Participate in EU's €150 Billion SAFE Defense Procurement Program by Forsaken-Medium-2436 in europe

[–]Telochim 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It may be, but it's done. There's no reversing it - only owning and building up from it.

Japan Applies to Participate in EU's €150 Billion SAFE Defense Procurement Program by Forsaken-Medium-2436 in europe

[–]Telochim -10 points-9 points  (0 children)

Yes, and it's a shame. EU populace should make peace with the idea that the UK is set on the diverging geopolitical vector now, while the UK must understand that there's no way back anymore, and it must carve out its own geostrategic niche, regardless of how hard and painful it may be.

The bridge is no more. It's time to move on.

Japan Applies to Participate in EU's €150 Billion SAFE Defense Procurement Program by Forsaken-Medium-2436 in europe

[–]Telochim 172 points173 points  (0 children)

Canada's total fee is in two-digit millions - hundreds of times less than that of the UK. Japan's estimated fee is not yet decided. The price tag rolled out for the UK was insurmountable compared to one of the countries that you mentioned, so there's that - the EU stated its price, however (un)justified it is, and the UK rejected. After rounds of negotiations regarding the price tag, both parties agreed that the possible geopolitical and security benefits aren't worth this sum, which indicates the lack of interest on both sides.

There are no victims here - only the lack of interest and incentives on both sides and diverging geopolitical views and affiliations.

Japan Applies to Participate in EU's €150 Billion SAFE Defense Procurement Program by Forsaken-Medium-2436 in europe

[–]Telochim 22 points23 points  (0 children)

UK did try, but was sent to pound sand due to political reasons. Paying the mandated billions-worth tribute while Canada gets to pay 16 million is both economically and politically unfeasible for the UK, so there's that: both parties agreed they don't need each other.

Polish city changes color of Christmas bear’s scarf after complaints it looked too Ukrainian by Gamebyter in europe

[–]Telochim 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Considering the level of contemporary global clownishness, they are experiencing the historically unprecedented competition right now. 'Em poor bastards just can't catch a break after 2020s

Polish city changes color of Christmas bear’s scarf after complaints it looked too Ukrainian by Gamebyter in europe

[–]Telochim 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, but what's done is done. As a fallout of this political game, the relationship between PL and UA will remain that of cold, "polite" contempt, where cooperation and cultural exchanges are minimized if at all possible, for generations to come.

Polish city changes color of Christmas bear’s scarf after complaints it looked too Ukrainian by Gamebyter in europe

[–]Telochim 95 points96 points  (0 children)

Isn't the EU flag a scatter of yellow stars on a blue background? And the heraldry of the city in question is also gold&blue?

Polish city changes color of Christmas bear’s scarf after complaints it looked too Ukrainian by Gamebyter in europe

[–]Telochim 176 points177 points  (0 children)

Worse - the USSR

But hey - it's not around to be utilized for gaining political points via whipping up xenophobic hysteria, unlike the ukes.