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Random Game Saturday!

I was obsessed with the demo of this game as a kid. Never actually played through the entire game though. Maybe I'll make it a point to beat it this year.

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Steam Next Fest Log Part 3

Demon School

Very much Persona light, but in a good way plus it has tactical twist. The game plays more like a Fire Emblem or X-Com than a traditional JRPG. This then leads to something new, chain enemies based off their location. You can hit enemies into each leading to bigger damage. Its definitely a game I have my eyes on.

Tactical Breach Wizards

Woo another tactics RPG, this one is more a traditional X-Com type though. The two defining features of this game are the ability to see in the future and rewind back if you don't like the outcome of your actions and the superb writing. The game is full of humor at every intersection. This is another I can't wait to play the full game.

Additional Demos

Of the Devil

Selfloss

I played both of these demos, yet neither of them really clicked with me. Honestly it was primarily the art style for both of them initially. With Selfloss I didn't find the main mechanic to be very interesting. The story was present in finding bits of lore if you felt like it and otherwise you get interspersed dialogue or environmental storytelling. With of the Demon it was more that I didn't an Ace Attorney-like game right now and probably didn't give the demo a fair shake.

Steam Next Fest Log Part 2

This was a short log of demos that I played during the Summer Next Fest. Never posted it over here, but since cohost is shutting soon I figure I transplant some of the post from there over here.

Victory Heat Rally

One of my favorite demos of this next fest. Its a super fast paced arcade racer with a colorful pixel art style. The music is amazing and the gameplay felt great.

Tiny Glade

A cozy building game with zero resource management. You just go build your cute little castle or house and just chill with the nice atmosphere.

Grunn

The best way to describe this game is a gardening sim with constantly ominous vibes. Everything about it is neat, but I always have this nagging at the back of my head that something is wrong. Which at one point was my suspicion was confirmed when I got a nice jump scare.

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Steam Next Fest Log Part 2

This was a short log of demos that I played during the Summer Next Fest. Never posted it over here, but since cohost is shutting soon I figure I transplant some of the post from there over here.

Victory Heat Rally

One of my favorite demos of this next fest. Its a super fast paced arcade racer with a colorful pixel art style. The music is amazing and the gameplay felt great.

Tiny Glade

A cozy building game with zero resource management. You just go build your cute little castle or house and just chill with the nice atmosphere.

Grunn

The best way to describe this game is a gardening sim with constantly ominous vibes. Everything about it is neat, but I always have this nagging at the back of my head that something is wrong. Which at one point was my suspicion was confirmed when I got a nice jump scare.

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Steam Summer 24 Next Fest Log

This was a short log of demos that I played during the Summer Next Fest. Never posted it over here, but since cohost is shutting soon I figure I transplant some of the post from there over here.

Disco Samurai

The game itself play as a rhythm game with goal of beating of enemies rather than finishing out a song. The core of the game is to parry or block incoming attack set to the beat of the enemies and attack in the timings when they aren't fighting back. I found the timings of the beats a bit challenging (maybe from my own rust at these games) and if you do lose the rhythm then its hard to jump back into the thick of it. Yet even with these minor gripes I keep finding myself wanting to come back. I stuck to the beat of Disco Samurai.

Pipsqueak!

A new indie metroidvania is on the horizon. Unfortunately I don't really know how to feel about this one. One hand I want to reserve judgement until I play (or see as I went in blind) more of the game. Another the other hand want is in the demo felt very uninspired. The only saving grace was the single boss battle in the game, it wasn't anything special but it felt more interesting than anything else in the demo. Side note: there is an audio bug/glitch that makes the sound effect of picking up coins extremely loud and grating which hampered my enjoyment a bit.

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo

An action based adventure looking to recapture the magic of the gameboy advance. Which I honestly think it nails. I loved every second I put into the demo. The creativity with they way you can bounce your yoyo around a room. The way the music and pixel give me warioware and warioland vibes. The whole concept of the game itself. This is one game I am super excited to play in full.

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Neo-Twiny Jam 24

Hey all I made a little thing for this years Neo-Twiny Jam if you want to check it out. Its a small dark fantasy / vaguely horror interactive fiction thing.

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Spooky Friends

Stuart sits on the comfy chair as the two love birds, Jason and Laurie, hog the couch. The screams of terror emanating through the tv as the slasher closes in on the damsel. The buzz of the doorbell rings through the house causing both Stuart and Laurie to jump from the unexpected noise. 

“So, rock paper scissors for who gets it?” suggests Stuart.

After a quick round of rock paper scissors that Jason and Stuart handily win with double paper, Laurie reluctantly gets up to go get it. 

“Hey. You know your girlfriend is a vampire, right?”said Stuart.

“What? She might be a bit goth but that doesn’t make her a vampire.”

“Fine. Then what about all of the blood that’s in your fridge?”

“Aren’t those just energy drinks? I think I saw an ad on tv the other week for Blud. I thought their branding was kind of cool. Leaning into the whole horror vibe and everything.”

“Dude, she never leaves the house without an umbrella, even when there is literally no chance of rain.”

“Maybe she just likes being extra cautious. There’s nothing wrong with being prepared.”

“Man, how can you be this dense? I thought her vampireness was obvious? Her reflection didn’t even pop up when she went past the mirror to pay for the food right now.”

“Are you sure? I think reflections are kind of weird in general. You could be looking at it from one angle and not even see something you think you should.”

Laurie walks back into the room carrying a large pizza and a box of buffalo wings, catching the tail end of their conversation. Her eyes are pointed sharp as blades in the direction of Stuart.

“Hey Stuart, can we talk in private for a sec?” asks Laurie, flashing a bit of sharp fangs.

Stuart visibly gulps. “Uh, yeah sure.”

The two walk out of the room to make sure that Jason doesn’t over hear them.

“Look. I know that I’m a vampire and I know that you know that. You think it’s something blatantly obvious. Yet, Jason can’t put two and two together. I want to keep it that way.”

“Why? What do you plan to do to him? I won’t let you hurt my friend.”

“What?! Nothing! It’s just when my ex’s have come to learn about my vampireness, as you put it, they tend to freak out and leave me. And I really like Jason, so I would rather not lose another boyfriend over this.”

“Uh, yeah sure. Just please don’t hurt Jason or well me.”

Laurie rolls her eyes at the last part. “I’m not going to hurt either of you. Now let’s get back to watching some slasher flicks.”

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New Coffee Shop

Tried out a new coffee place near me called The Grind. Got their vanilla latte since their monthly drinks didn't interest me and I don't really know what a good safe drink to get from places is. (I only started to drink coffee within the last two years) I thought the latte was decent but i don't know something seemed a little off about it. It might've been the whole milk or the way it was mixed or the ratio. It was fine otherwise and the place seemed neat to just chill in for a while. An added plus is that they are open til later in the day which for some reason is rare for coffee shops in my area.

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Book Haul of the Day

One Piece Volumes 12 and 105

Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer

A green moleskin notebook

The Art of Bravely Default

I feel like these make up the majority of my posts, but hey I enjoy sharing the new books I get. In this case I got two volumes of One Piece now meaning I have the first twenty volumes of the series and the most recent twelve. I love the art direction of Bravely Default, a 3DS jrpg from Square Enix, and found the art book for a decent price.

Currently Reading: The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey Decided to do a re-read of The Echo Wife while to get Acceptance. Not sure if I’ll start reading Acceptance after I finish Echo Wife since I’m into the mood for some good fantasy stories rather than the sci-fi/horror of the southern reach. If anyone has any recommendations for good medieval/Arthurian style fantasy novels, I would love to see them.

Currently Playing(Reading?): Misericorde Volume One Misericorde is an indie visual novel about a murder that happened in an abbey during the 1400s. I adore the story so so so much. This has the most I’ve been engrossed in a visual novel; the story is great, the music is amazing, the art style is wonderful.

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Finished my read of Authority by Jeff VanderMeer and enjoyed it way more than my read of the first book of the trilogy. Though my read of Annihilation wasn't the best since I saw the movie first and kept comparing the two as I read it (I loved the movie btw). Not sure if I'll hop straight into the third book next, do a re-read of Echo Wife, or just read something else.

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Latest Book Haul

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

One Piece Volumes 16, 17, 20

Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey

Hellboy Weird Tales Volumes 1 and 2

Set of books, manga, and comics I collected over the past few days. The jump of from vol 17 to 20 for One Piece was because I already owned volumes 18 and 19 from a library book sale ages ago. Never read Stardust before, but I have read and really enjoyed everything else of Neil Gaiman's and look forward to reading this one. I love Echo Wife and this was bought for a reread rather than a first read. Highly recommend Echo Wife for people that like stories about trying to cover up a murder.

Currently reading: Authority by Jeff VanderMeer Finished reading Acceptance a bit ago and just jumped into Authority and so far I'm loving it so much more than the first book of the trilogy.

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First Book Haul of 2024

Authority by Jeff VanderMeer

One Piece Volume 10

One Piece Volume 19

One Piece Volume 31

Currently Reading: Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer Enjoying it so far and can't wait to see what the rest of the trilogy holds.

One Piece collection now sits at 30 out of 104 volumes, nearly a third of released volumes are now owned. I'm all caught up on the manga but I decided to start collecting all the books in 2022 and am slowly working my way through buying them all.

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Got myself a Law figure with a leftover giftcard. He's pretty neat. This actually my first Law figure in general, but I have a small collection of Robin figures to go next to him.

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09 Book Club

I've never been a part of a book club or anything similar. The concept has always interested me though and I definitely read enough to be a part of one.

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The idea of the gods being defined by their appearance and where they hang out and do in the mortal world. Oh, that god that always shows up during a battle or at times of war, guess he’s just the war god then. One of the gods hangs out in the library constantly reading and learning and teaching, guess she is the goddess of wisdom and knowledge. Another hangs out in the clock maker’s workshop, guess he is the god of time.

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No More

Death is in full bloom

Everything is falling down

No life is left here

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Spooky Friends

Stuart sits on the comfy chair as the two love birds, Jason and Laurie, hog the couch. The screams of terror emanating through the tv as the slasher closes in on the damsel. The buzz of the doorbell rings through the house causing both Stuart and Laurie to jump from the unexpected noise. 

“So, rock paper scissors for who gets it?” suggests Stuart.

After a quick round of rock paper scissors that Jason and Stuart handily win with double paper, Laurie reluctantly gets up to go get it. 

“Hey. You know your girlfriend is a vampire, right?”said Stuart.

“What? She might be a bit goth but that doesn’t make her a vampire.”

“Fine. Then what about all of the blood that's in your fridge?”

“Aren’t those just energy drinks? I think I saw an ad on tv the other week for Blud. I thought their branding was kind of cool. Leaning into the whole horror vibe and everything.”

“Dude, she never leaves the house without an umbrella, even when there is literally no chance of rain.”

“Maybe she just likes being extra cautious. There’s nothing wrong with being prepared.”

“Man, how can you be this dense? I thought her vampireness was obvious? Her reflection didn’t even pop up when she went past the mirror to pay for the food right now.”

“Are you sure? I think reflections are kind of weird in general. You could be looking at it from one angle and not even see something you think you should.”

Laurie walks back into the room carrying a large pizza and a box of buffalo wings, catching the tail end of their conversation. Her eyes are pointed sharp as blades in the direction of Stuart.

“Hey Stuart, can we talk in private for a sec?” asks Laurie, flashing a bit of sharp fangs.

Stuart visibly gulps. “Uh, yeah sure.”

The two walk out of the room to make sure that Jason doesn’t over hear them.

“Look. I know that I’m a vampire and I know that you know that. You think it's something blatantly obvious. Yet, Jason can’t put two and two together. I want to keep it that way.”

“Why? What do you plan to do to him? I won’t let you hurt my friend.”

“What?! Nothing! It’s just when my ex’s have come to learn about my vampireness, as you put it, they tend to freak out and leave me. And I really like Jason, so I would rather not lose another boyfriend over this.”

“Uh, yeah sure. Just please don’t hurt Jason or well me.”

Laurie rolls her eyes at the last part. “I’m not going to hurt either of you. Now let's get back to watching some slasher flicks.”