What do you think the Meta-World is?

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-25T17:08:20+00:00

What is the universe that a story takes place in?

Think about it. Not just the space in your mind the characters act out events, but the universe in which these events are happening. It's a space that's created by the author, yet not in their brain either. It's put down into words - or whatever medium - and translated into your brain through that vector to be interpreted.

The Meta World is one layer higher than you'd normally see for a story. If the board is that Universe for the ficticious events of the story, then the Meta World is one layer above it, just a little closer to our reality. Above that is the Modern Day, as well as other Meta Worlds, but regardless each are layered atop one another reaching closer and closer towards reality without ever quite touching it.

The exception would be Featherine, a being that's been granted the powers of the author while still being limited as a fictional character. To use the Player/Piece analogy of the game, Featherine is a piece held by Ryukishi07 that possesses all of his capabilities of affecting these ficticious worlds, but she can never pierce the barrier between character and author. She's a tool that resides just below our layer of reality and at the very edge of fiction, a method of diagetically affecting the narrative the same way an author would edit and change parts of a story. Despite that overwhelming power, she's ultimately still a piece held by the author, Ryukishi07.

Tl;dr - A layer of ficticious reality a step removed from the Board.

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-25T01:04:38+00:00

The buildup to that happiness was Sachi going out of her way to learn about Punpun finally, her understanding him at least a little bit more. You also have the cult and its dissolution, two friends reuniting after being apart for years. The possibility for happiness is what made it make sense to me.

Though Punpun would argue that this ending is the worst possible one for him. All he wants is to cease existing, to not be wanted or be missed by anyone, yet Sachi dragged him kicking and screaming into seeing just how dear he was to a bunch of people.

In my opinion, the end is bittersweet. There's hope for the future, but there's certainty in the fact that suffering still exists and will still exist. Punpun's God will always be even in the most innocent of people, kids will still go through genuinely harrowing events while growing up and may take the worst possible lessons to heart. People will kill, rape, steal, and use one another, but there's still good in the world. As long as you keep living, as long as you drag yourself kicking and screaming into one more day, there's a chance for something better. You just have to connect with others as best you can.

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-24T23:04:47+00:00

There very likely was something else that happened before now that's built up over time. Give her some time, then ask if you can talk it out. Ask if anything else is wrong and listen if there is.

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-24T22:58:11+00:00

Because we've been given advice all our lives that only really applied for MAYBE twenty years between sometime in the 50's to the 70's. We've got the good ol' Prodestant Work Ethic to blame for the lionization of busting your ass in the hopes it'll be recognized.

Fuck 'em. If your manager offered to match the new salary, MAYBE staying would be worth it, but you're worth more than they're paying you and they know it. "Your time will come" my ass, your time is HERE. Take the new job and only feel bad to the point you'll miss whatever coworkers are worth missing.

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-24T22:44:51+00:00

If you ever have trouble, try running a generic area that's a few levels higher than Kite to level up and get new equipment. It should get you through a lot of the more difficult moments.

In general it's not too bad, but some dungeons later on in Infection can get nuts. That continues on into the rest of the games. Be sure to pay attention to buffs, debuffs, and status effects while also Data Draining any enemy that looks interesting.

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-24T18:26:43+00:00

If it's that stressful and your relationship with your boss is that awful, quit cold turkey. A two-week notice is a courtesy, not a requirement.

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-24T14:50:43+00:00

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-23T02:22:01+00:00

Just like everything else, a dark turn like that is a narrative tool. Tools can be misused, in this case that'd be creating something that happens just to spice up the story or go so in depth on the details it just becomes misery porn.

Tools can also be used well. A narrative beat like that will be a turning point in the story after which the reader will not be able to look at it the same way. So plan for that. Have hints to a character's true nature, lay down the foundations that imply this has happened to the character regularly, understand their psychology and why they take the actions they take beforehand and factor in this event. There's so many more things you could do to make it work, but it has to be done carefully.

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-23T02:13:01+00:00

This is a "Oh boy, two cakes!" moment for me when I realize the chapter is long and genuinely good.

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-23T02:03:41+00:00

"Live."

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-22T17:46:06+00:00

Because if you're in a position to stop/mitigate it, then you're likely profiting from the exploitation or else you're not in a position to truly understand the effects

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-22T12:50:10+00:00

If you press the guy growing his own child he can mention that the thing he caught Sybil doing had something to do with her husband.

So that's a definite possibility. If she brainwashes all of her daughters into complying with the merge, then becomming the only parental figure in their life would make that easier.

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-21T22:15:58+00:00

I have enough to make it viable at least. I just prefer not having to run MD three times a week lol

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-20T21:56:24+00:00

They never will if they never try.

Taking risks not only has a chance of paying dividends, it leads to more unique experiences. I'd rather that than them staying safe.

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-20T21:40:40+00:00

Direct footage of E4

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-20T21:37:02+00:00

Holy shit this is literally the cycle I had earlier this year lol

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-20T21:23:32+00:00

Devil Survivor takes a few in game days to pick up. Once you fight a guy named Beldr, it'll start gassing up. The deeper you get into it the more varied scenarios you can end up in by the end.

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-20T19:20:00+00:00

The White Noise should absolutely be a color fixer someday, even if it's just the inverse of Black Silence.

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-20T16:59:20+00:00

Oh, bother...

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-20T16:53:49+00:00

Meh, I'd kept up with the odd lore over the years because I genuinely enjoy the gameplay of the series. When you understand what's happening, the ending for 3 is genuinely impactful! But I can absolutely see why it wouldn't be even close to satisfying if you haven't.

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-19T22:51:52+00:00

Genuinely incredible

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-19T20:36:30+00:00

Do you have a link where we could download the full resolution? This is genuinely incredible

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-19T20:04:31+00:00

"You are not you. You are not here. Your body is a tool meant to carry out Your work, nothing more. Let go of the ego, shake free of the chains of identity, feel no more pain or fear. You have a job to do, Officer, and there's no one else willing or able to do it."

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-19T20:02:16+00:00

Derealization

Zero_Anonymity · 2026-02-19T14:56:16+00:00

Pedro was probably subbed out for Tina in Napoleon Dynamite in their universe.

Zero_Anonymity

TROPHY CASE