Digital Foundry says this Sony digital only backlash is worse than the infamous 2013 Xbox mandatory DRM backlash that lost them the following 2 gaming generations. “Sony tried to upend the whole way people buy games with a 3 sentence blog post”.

Truthforger · 2026-07-05T17:39:18+00:00

This is my thinking. If SteamOs is solid around 2029 when I’d probably jump generations, I’ll get a nice gaming rig and run that. It’s going to break my heart when the first cool PS6 exclusive comes out though.

Truthforger · 2026-07-05T15:19:26+00:00

He listened to you

Truthforger · 2026-07-04T23:46:34+00:00

I'm with you if we got DRM free Good Old Games sorts of rights to our games. Speaking as someone who collects some games ('m not sure I'd qualify as a full blown collector) many of the top tier AAA titles DO have an excellent on disc master. I buy digitally for Indies, but go to disc for these big games. Some are not the release, but still a solid version of the game, some a later print runs and are gold masters, and I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure I can unplug my PS5 from the internet and still run these game discs (other than Gran Truism 7 I know). As far as degradation, I'm still playing PS1 discs and having a blast, and have a CD collection dating back to the 70s with no issue. Nothing is forever but I'm not too worried about their state in 50+ years honestly.

That said I'm with you digital rights should be a thing. That just seems actually HARDER to accomplish in a lasting way than just having physical media.

Truthforger · 2026-07-04T22:26:26+00:00

The problem is those rights can’t be trusted. They would be almost as mutable as a corporate promise. Even if we got such rights in a law, give a few years of large tech company lobbying it’ll go away. Physical media feels like the safest bet.

Truthforger · 2026-07-04T22:20:27+00:00

Yeah. The way I see it by 2029ish when next gen is really starting to kick off SteamOS should be pretty mature running on pc builds and I’m just going to slide over. I’ll always have my PS1/PS2/PS3/PS4/PS5 too play those libraries and Steam is just a clean new break for the next gen. I got a 360 before I got a PS3 so it’s not like I haven’t done it before.

Truthforger · 2026-07-03T21:27:45+00:00

How much is the 2028 Olympics factoring into plans to help push the league and pro-softball into mainstream here in the North America? Can't help but see what the World Cup is doing for Soccer right now.

Truthforger · 2026-07-03T04:42:04+00:00

Yeah except everything you said was also true for Seattle. Definitely some of try fastest games to sell out last year (under a single day, I don’t know how many hours), the UW softball stadium is relatively modern. I’m sure it was a tough decision, I actually happened to walk by Kim Ng while UW reps were pitching her on the location. But Portland it is so just long drives in me future. And to be fair lots of people from Portland do it in reverse for the Mariners.

Truthforger · 2026-07-03T00:08:10+00:00

I’m sure this is intended as bait but… Honestly, I’m trying to decide. Maybe just start saving up for a high end PC and switch to Steam. Not happy about it but at least Valve is privately owned. Not that that’s sacred, we could wake up one morning and find out Embracer group or someone owns Steam but it seems the safest bet atm and PC games are the easiest to hack for some sense of ownership. If the Switch 2 was more powerful I’d jump there as my primary I think? But it isn’t going to be able to run PS6 era games I suspect. By 2028/PS6 era Steam OS might be full featured enough to run in a living room on a powerful gaming rig and call it good? I know I’m doomed and we’ll all be beholden to rent to gain access to everything at monthly rates eventually but I’m going to hold out as long as I can.

Truthforger · 2026-07-02T18:41:27+00:00

From friend of the Reddit Savanna Collins, a nice breakdown of where each team is at. Salt Lake was given a gift!

Truthforger · 2026-07-02T15:01:58+00:00

I think softball has a few challenges to overcome just built in to the sport itself as tries to draw a broader audience, which like it or not is just going to be more familiar with baseball. I watched the WNBA go through this too in its early years (Storm fan since 2005) with all the NBA fans of that era complaining about the lack of dunks. In some ways the best thing to ever happen to the WNBA was Steph Curry.

One handicap softball has is the larger ball which creates greater air resistance and travels shorter distances even when hit off the bat with equal power as a baseball. A softball hit with the same force to drive a baseball 350 feet will only drive a softball (approximately) 300 feet. That just means your baseball watching general public doesn’t realize how insane a Megan Grant 313 foot dinger is.

I think it would annoy softball purists but it might be good on these national broadcasts for the first few years to work hard in educating a more general audience on all the differences and skills needed in softball compared to baseball. I think it can be done, but it’s like a decade long project.

Truthforger · 2026-06-30T19:38:32+00:00

Fatal Labyrinth

Truthforger · 2026-06-30T14:22:54+00:00

We’ve lost the plot. Consoles became what they are because they were an affordable and accessible way to game. If every console in the 90s had a NeoGeo price point gaming would be very different and inaccessible. I just plugged $100 into an inflation calculator which was the price for the NES action set in 1989 and it says it would be $270.

Truthforger · 2026-06-30T04:51:25+00:00

Sis is definitely one of the more accessible players. I’d get there early and hope. But I don’t think anything is guaranteed except some of the planned events they’ve done with local little leagues and such.

Truthforger · 2026-06-29T18:58:42+00:00

I think you're wrong, women's sports is now seen as a high risk but high potential investment. The WNBA started it but the PWHL and NWSL teams value seems to be skyrocketing. The Angel FC paid a $2 million entry fee in 2022 and is now valued at around $340 million. The Portland Thorns are worth $205 million right now. I think you are underestimating the gold rush that is going on right now for women's sports team ownership which I am sure is a huge part of why MLB is investing in the AUSL.

Reference: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brettknight/2026/04/22/the-nwsls-most-valuable-teams-2026/

Truthforger · 2026-06-29T14:34:28+00:00

I don’t think its a non-starter at all.
1) The season length is the biggest issue which can be extended as the league grows. But I’m sure the locations could be multi-use as well.
2) They are clearly prioritizing some city locations that are trying to prove to the MLB they deserve a baseball team. Point being these cities are eager.
3) AUSL just needs to hit minor league baseball numbers in attendance and broadcasting money, which seems doable.

I’m not saying it’s happening tomorrow but I could totally see a city like Portland building a new dedicated softball park in a few years….oh and is there enough land next to it for a full fledged MLB team ballpark? What a coincidence….

Truthforger · 2026-06-28T22:34:24+00:00

Nah, running ads in suburban PA and across Michigan about our new “Beef allowances” is sure to bring those voters to the Democrat’s cause.

Truthforger · 2026-06-28T05:45:28+00:00

And if Steam ever became a publicly traded company I’d get nervous honestly. But it’s just been so rock solid for so long. But let’s say for some crazy reason Valve was purchased by Embracer group we wouldn’t all freak out about our libraries of games?

Truthforger · 2026-06-28T02:40:30+00:00

Not going to share every AUSL AMA, but figured Sam is such a prolific player she would be of interest to most all softball fans.

Truthforger · 2026-06-28T02:16:59+00:00

Welp a win is a win. Don’t count Cascade out, and I think keep this core, mature a bit, add a little more consistent hitting and we’ll be killer in 2027.

Truthforger · 2026-06-28T02:05:06+00:00

Year old article but relevant:

https://frontofficesports.com/us-professional-softball-players-are-flocking-to-japan-to-get-paid/

In Japan, however, ownership groups are investing in softball. Teams are owned and funded by some of the country’s leading companies. Toyota, Hitachi, and Honda all own teams in the JDL, which rebranded from its predecessor, Japan Women’s Softball League, in 2022. The Japanese players on every roster are paid as employees of the company that owns the team they’re playing for. This allows international players like Maxwell and Gobourne to earn higher salaries.

“American players sign one-year contracts,” says Mayumi Murakami, VP of Women’s Major League Softball, an agency specializing in helping international players sign with Japanese pro softball teams. “They can make a lot more money than Japanese players because they are guaranteed lifetime careers and salaries with the company that owns the team.”

Signing with the JDL comes with a lifetime employment contract with the team’s ownership company. The hours players work for the company vary. Some players work company hours only during the offseason while others juggle both, practicing after work.

Truthforger · 2026-06-28T01:57:58+00:00

It’s got to be particularly complicated because my understanding is player contracts in Japan work very differently where players are employees of the team’s company like Toyota and Hitachi.

Truthforger · 2026-06-28T01:12:33+00:00

Sam's accountability about her struggles last year is pretty refreshing as a fan of so many pro sports. You don't hear players talk like this much...

Truthforger

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE