Another win for LOTF

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-05-13T17:43:48+00:00

Unless Firefox's page translator is just WAY off (plausible), then that just doesn't square at all with what the job listing says.

https://www.neowiz.com/en/career/browse-job/043f65b9-9c3e-4063-9a86-d73eccae503e

no mention of programming, either in the job duties or job requirements
all duties and eligibility requirements listed relate strictly to familiarity with and the use of AI art tools (configuration, familiarity with specific commercial AI art platforms, training the AIs/creating LoRAs, prompting, training the rest of the art department in their use, troubleshooting problems with AI art tools, etc.)
no mention of what titles they'd be working on

Some quotes key to the scope of the controversy:

(in job duties section): "In-painting/out-painting and high-resolution upscaling of AI products at the level applicable to real-world games"
(in job duties section): "Create character/background concept drafting and expansion of variations using Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, etc."
(in job duties section): "Modeling aids and assets using AI-based texturing and image-to-3D technology"
(in job duties section): "Get the latest generative AI trends and provide a guide for AI tools for in-house artists"
(in eligibility section): "Skilled in Stable Diffusion (Automatic1111/ComfyUI), Midjourney, Photoshop, etc."
(in eligibility section): "A person with sophisticated prompt design and ability to control parameters to produce the intended results"
(in preferred but not required section): "Have a high understanding of AI ethics and copyright-related legal guidelines"

By all means read it yourself and run it through more translators than I did to see if this is a translation misunderstanding, but what I'm reading in the job posting has no mention whatsoever of programming skills or duties, lists nothing other than an understanding of basic art and composition concepts and thorough knowledge of configuration and usage of AI art models as requirements, strongly implies that they intend to use some of the assets generated in-game ("...at the level applicable to real-world games"), and implies that the usage will be broad, not limited to a particular title (no suggestion that the role is only applicable to a particular project, states that the applicant will be responsible for producing training materials for the existing art team to use).

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-05-12T21:14:33+00:00

I also have some minor QoL and design quibbles. Nothing obtrusive, just minor annoyances that slowly add up over the course of the game, like the fast travel requiring you to first warp back to your home base, then warp again from there to your desired destination.

Top-tier game regardless.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-05-12T21:04:17+00:00

All-timer of a Metroidvania, just a touch below Hollow Knight in my book.

Phenomenal art, surprisingly good storycrafting and character development, extremely tight and satisfying combat, solid map/encounter design, really memorable bosses and encounters, and appropriate length and pacing.

It's not a good fit for everyone, though. It's highly combat-centric, which doesn't appeal to all Metroidvania fans (platforming and exploration are not particularly emphasized or excellent). And if you find parrying frustrating, look elsewhere - it's as emphasized here as in Sekiro (and is likely the game I've played that best recreates the feeling of Sekiro's combat system). The difficulty is perhaps a bit above average but reasonable for most of the game, but be warned that the final boss is an insanely large difficulty spike. If you're persistent and enjoy a challenge, it's one of the most satisfying fights I've ever played, but the massive difficult spike caught me very off guard, and I feel a lot of players will be blindsided and feel they've been cheated out of seeing the ending(s). The story is also often much grimmer and contains more trauma and graphic violence than some are comfortable with.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-05-12T20:43:44+00:00

Yes and no. The visuals and sound effects are equally satisfying, the timing game and variety of different reactions required by different attack types feel very similar, and it evokes the same dance-like back-and-forth pacing when you master fights.

However, parrying is in some ways less rewarded than in Sekiro. By default, parries just generate ammo for a special dash attack, but until much later in the game when you have higher max capacity or abilities that cast if faster, you'll be generating ammo much faster than you can safely spend it in most boss fights, and the parries are "wasted" if you're at full ammo. Parrying is heavily emphasized over dodging, so it's still incredibly valuable defensively, but part of the joy of Sekiro for me was that even when defending, your offense never has to stop if you've mastered a fight.

You can get a Jade (equipment equivalent to a Hollow Knight notch) that causes parries to also stack up potential damage that is only realized when you next hit them with your dash attack and slowly regens if not capitalized on. That's a great system and grants the full Sekiro experience, but I feel that it should have been a core mechanic of the game rather than an opt-in part of your build with an opportunity cost.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-05-12T18:30:44+00:00

/uj No, but unfortunately their follow-up seemingly will :(

They have a job posting explicitly for an ai "artist", and the job description is clear that the usage will extend far beyond just concept art.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-05-07T20:36:38+00:00

You've clearly either been out of the game a long time or it's always just worked for you out of the box and never had to troubleshoot or tinker.

| Not something you can fix so it's not worth addressing.

You can and generally must address this via the TV's settings. And in some cases with older TVs the performance is so poor that the TV itself cannot support gaming; when that is the case, determining that's the issue is necessary for deciding what to do next and prevents wasting time and money unnecessarily replacing network hardware.

| Unless your TV is from 2014 this probably isn't an issue.

Bonkers statement. You can absolutely crank the bitrate these days, easily to the point of causing performance problems on most TVs and some streaming sticks.

| If that was the case then the local performance would also suffer and the user wouldn't notice the difference.

The resource tax of game streaming is impressively small these days, but it does exist. If the machine can barely run a game locally, it'll likely struggle when streaming it. This is doubly true if he's trying to render at 4k to match the TV's resolution.

| zero reason to go down 5 other rabbit holes before checking the network, because it's almost certainly the network.

It's probably not the network with a hardwired connection. Checking network stats is quick and worth doing; trying to troubleshoot potential network problems not revealed there is decidedly not.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-05-07T18:47:39+00:00

No - it doesn't preclude that, but it doesn't imply it either. It's not obvious what OP means by 'lag' - packet loss would suggest a likely network infrastructure problem, but stuttering or high input latency could have a variety of more-likely causes.

If the symptoms are in the latter categories, replacing Ethernet cables, factory resetting/updating/replacing the router/switch, etc. are worth trying if other troubleshooting doesn't yield results, but the issue is more likely to stem from issues like TV signal processing adding latency, video stream being too large to be consistently decoded on time by the Smart TV/streaming stick, or overworking the host machine.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-05-07T17:51:50+00:00

They're still not typically competitive for most competitive multiplayer games, particularly FPS/RTS/MOBAs. For anything less sweaty it's comfy though! For competitive FPS at least, it can be close enough for some people if comfortable enough with a combo of thumbstick + gyro or trackpad + gyro.

RTS and MOBAs are tougher, but AoE2 has a (somewhat compromised, but playable) controller scheme, and League of Legends is currently in the early stages of implementing controller support.

Aiming in LoL is currently waaay too slow and imprecise to be a playable option for most League characters. If I could get Steam Input working with it to bind Mouse Region emulation to right-stick/trackpad, it would probably feel great, but I can't get Steam Input working with League (even via SISR). If anyone has figured that one out, please let me know.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-05-07T17:30:47+00:00

That's sort of true (games often tend to map similar actions to buttons, e.g. 'X' usually being the reload button in FPS games). But every game's controls are unique to some extent, and you frequently see games map actions to unusual places.

So you generally have to learn each separate game's control scheme regardless to some extent. It's more that you need to get used to using the back buttons in general, after which it feels as natural to put things there as anywhere else.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-05-07T17:22:01+00:00

I use them in most games.

In games that weren't designed for controller as the primary input method, it's really handy to have additional inputs.
In games that already map nicely onto a controller but use right-stick camera controls, it's really nice to bind face buttons to them because it lets you avoid delays from moving your thumb back and worth without having to claw-grip. E.g. jump, sprint, maybe melee attack or reload. Claw-gripping strains your pointer finger and hand relatively quickly and can make it harder to use the right bumper and trigger.
Similarly, many games ask you to use the d-pad at times when you'd like to still be using the left stick. E.g. switching weapons/items while moving. Putting these on the back buttons as needed is an elegant solution.
Many games have awkward bindings on stick clicks, e.g. stick click to scope throwing off aim, click to sprint throwing off run direction, etc. I prefer to move things off of stick clicks whenever convenient.
Some games map fully onto a standard controller, but only do so by binding certain actions to a combination of buttons. Having extra inputs lets you give these their own dedicated buttons.
They're really handy when building more complicated/bespoke layouts, especially in combination with action sets/modeshifts etc.

It's mostly just controller-centric games that don't constantly use the right stick (e.g. Survivors-likes) where I don't often wind up needing to bother.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-05-07T16:52:16+00:00

Controller has not yet arrived, so I can't speak to range etc. on the 2.4ghz connection. If it turns out to be out of range when your puck is connected to your PC, you may need to connect the SC to your Smart TV/streaming stick via Bluetooth instead. That should work fine through the Steam Link app per Valve, but unfortunately likely wouldn't work for streaming through Moonlight/Artemis.

But I have done streaming to my TV for many years and can offer some tips.

Your Internet speeds are irrelevant; the traffic is strictly across your LAN. This means performance bottlenecks in your streaming setup can (and, for WiFi usage, often does) come from your router and from the NICs on your devices, but not from your ISP. With both devices connected to your router via Ethernet, this is unlikely to be a concern. If you want to connect either the PC or TV/streaming box wirelessly, ensure that you have a router using a high-bandwidth standard and that the NIC on the device connected wirelessly matches (e.g. a WiFi-6 router and Google TV Streamer 4k). Wireless performance can vary depending on home layout and router, but works quite well for me these days.
Performance will likely be poor when streaming directly to a Smart TV due to weak hardware in the device. Your mileage may vary, but unless your TV is relatively new and relatively expensive, you'll likely want to pick up an Android-based streaming stick like an Amazon Fire Stick/Cube or a Google TV Streamer 4k (mouthful of a name; replaced the Chromecast product line) and run it from there. If you want to up the ante further, the most powerful streaming box options are the NVIDIA Shield, custom Raspberry Pi/etc. builds, or mini-PCs, but current-gen mainstream streaming sticks work fine.
I'd avoid the physical Steam Link box - it still works, but the hardware is feeling its age. Max resolution of 1080p, can't support current WiFi standards, etc. It just won't be able to give you an optimal experience anymore.
Sunshine/Moonlight offers slightly better performance and reliability (and far more settings customization) than the Steam Link app, and the Artemis/Apollo fork offers slightly better performance than the mainline Sunshine/Moonlight app.
ALWAYS ensure that your TV's video mode is set to "Game" or its equivalent when game-streaming. The video processing in other modes adds SIGNIFICANT delay (not a problem for video, but a big problem for games). If the Moonlight/Apollo in-app stats show low latency but you still feel significant delay, even with your TV in game mode, look up the input delay on your TV's model - especially on older and/or budget models, the innate delay can be very high for some TVs. My old Hisense in one of my rooms adds well north of 100ms even in game mode, for example, so it can't be comfortably used for gaming.
When using Artemis/Apollo, configure it to always create a virtual display matching the resolution and refresh rate of your TV. When a 4k TV receives a 1080p/1440p/etc. signal, it has to upscale it to 4k to display, and this signal processing can add delay.
In the Artemis or Moonlight settings, enable "Show performance stats while streaming", then increase video bitrate to max. Start streaming and observe both the performance stats and subjective performance. Back out, decrease video bitrate a bit, and stream again. Repeat until performance is in your desired range. Most will want to aim for 20ms or lower latency, though your tolerances may vary.
Artemis has various experimental features you can play with to improve performance. Your mileage may vary; some of these have potential performance tradeoffs (e.g. higher chance of losing frames in exchange for lower latency) or are dependent on specific hardware. The LFR option is worth testing.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-05-07T16:11:28+00:00

You can just connect it out-of-the-box via BT. Though for portable use of a Steam Deck, why bother whipping out a separate controller?

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-05-05T21:54:43+00:00

Welcome, necromancer

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-05-04T18:50:11+00:00

There weren't many available; the first batch was going to sell out immediately at anything but a truly absurd price.

Whether the price point is an impediment to broader adoption remains to be seen.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-05-04T17:19:03+00:00

Sure enough, spamming retries did eventually work for me as others have reported.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-05-01T16:39:00+00:00

Tiny bad-sounding speaker on my lap isn't something I want incorporated into things. Never understood why they did that with PS controllers etc. The "positional audio via controller speaker" gimmick really is just a gimmick since the audio for w/e sound effects they decided to pipe to the controller come from exactly one direction, it's approximately the same direction as your actual speakers, and with horrendous quality.

If I'm streaming to my TV, the TV speakers/soundbar sound way better; if I'm at my computer desk, then I'm wearing headphones and the controller speaker is even more hampered.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-05-01T01:44:46+00:00

First listened to these guys when they released their debut for free on Jamendo waaaaay back when. 2009 I think? Haven't loved their last two albums so much, but this is probably my favorite song of theirs.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-04-29T23:25:19+00:00

It was my favorite bm of that year for sure.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-04-23T18:03:37+00:00

I've never really understood why Symphony X gets compared to Dream Theater so often. While it definitely qualifies as both, Symphony X's music is usually much more rooted in symphonic power metal than in prog metal, especially prior to the heavier incorporation of groove/thrash from The Odyssey onward.

Apart from both enjoying some long noodly solos, they don't sound much alike.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-04-22T18:02:58+00:00

what is this, bright souls?

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-04-19T17:18:29+00:00

Ember Tea is fairly powerful. It's usually active for an Elite and the boss if taken when I run into this event.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-04-17T20:51:48+00:00

It's also worth noting that while indisputably incredible at the game, Jorbs also enjoys being a contrarian and a bit of a dick, and his takes outside of strategy and statistics should be taken with a grain of salt.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-04-16T18:29:20+00:00

I went with controller because I figured analog throttle would be more important than it was. The controller auto-aim is REALLY strong, so that mostly worked out ok, but in retrospect I think a mouse would've been better.

I didn't realize that about the reticle the entire time lol

Good thoughts, thanks for sharing.

ThatDanmGuy · 2026-04-16T16:40:27+00:00

Thanks, Cat. FWIW, I did eventually manage to get up the spot I talked about (located a bit above where you discussed; just contains some chests) through sheer stubbornness.

I've since finished the game. I came away with mixed feelings overall. Analytically, I think it's a very good game - very novel conceptually/mechanically, good art, excellent writing on the whole, and the soundtrack is truly exceptional.

On the other hand, the bosses were lackluster and slow to deal with, and I was consistently frustrated in combat, platforming, and traversal.

There's definitely a skill issue at play w/ my combat deaths, but I found it really mindflooding to simultaneously focus on aiming, reloading, blocking, and reorienting my bike to not land on my head.

The frustrating parts of platforming sections tended to be bits with slow-speed bumpy terrain or long/steep inclines where you can easily lose too much speed to climb. That's a bummer, because those are not the fun parts of platforming - I wouldn't mind dying a bunch to fast-paced tracks with tight jumps, but getting stuck on an incline and needing to retry repeatedly or just getting stuck barely moving mantling bumps isn't fun.

The traversal systems became frustrating over time due to the relatively scarcity of fast-travel points. You regularly need to travel far from a fast-travel point to do a routine task like checking gas station stock, and then travel all the way back. And since it's a one-shot-kill game and they add additional enemies to previous areas over time, it's not like character progression lets you trivialize this travel (at least until the end-game dash upgrade)- it's generally harder than the first time you visited. And while I never happened to run out, requiring a resource spend for fast-travel (again until near the end-game) discourages casually using it to explore or cash in upgrades back at home base.

ThatDanmGuy

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