#Integrate Chat Bot

[satwindersingh]

💠Enhance Your Chat Experience: Harnessing the Power of AI Chatbot Integration!

Hey there, tech-savvy chatterboxes! Are you ready to take your website's chat feature to a whole new level of interactivity and efficiency? Today, we're diving into the captivating realm of AI chatbot integration, where the magic of seamless communication awaits. Say goodbye to those days of slow response times and limited capabilities, because with the help of the Fiverr expert of chatbot integration (https://www.fiverr.com/s/VGRbWe), you'll be chatting like a pro in no time!

Chatbot Integration: The Gateway to Dynamic Conversations

Picture this: a chat feature that understands your customers' queries instantly and responds with lightning speed. That's the magic of chatbot integration! When you integrate an AI-powered chatbot into your website, you're transforming it into a powerful communication hub. Our Fiverr guru will work their chatbot sorcery, ensuring your customers have a smooth and engaging experience, leaving them impressed and satisfied.

Chatbot API Integration: Seamlessly Connecting the Dots

Now, let's talk about chatbot API integration - the tech wizardry that connects all the dots and makes your chat feature truly extraordinary. Our expert will seamlessly integrate the AI chatbot with your existing platform, ensuring it becomes an integral part of your website's ecosystem. Bid farewell to disjointed conversations and embrace the harmony of a unified chat experience.

Chat GPT Chatbot: Where AI Meets Human-Like Interaction

Ah, the marvels of Chat GPT Chatbot - the perfect blend of AI intelligence and human-like interaction. It's like having a knowledgeable assistant on hand 24/7, ready to engage with your customers in natural, human-like language. Say hello to a chatbot that can comprehend the nuances of your customers' queries and provide accurate responses, leaving them feeling heard and valued.

AI Chatbot: Efficiency Meets Personalization Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all responses! With AI chatbot integration, your chat feature becomes a personalized conversation powerhouse. Our Fiverr maestro will configure the chatbot to adapt to your customer's preferences and provide relevant recommendations, making them feel like VIPs every step of the way.

So, dear conversation enthusiasts, if you're ready to elevate your chat experience with "chatbot integration," "chatbot API integration," "Chat GPT chatbot," and "AI chatbot," join forces with the Fiverr expert now! Your journey to dynamic communication begins, and the path to exceptional customer experiences is illuminated with chatbot brilliance. Let's embark on this exciting adventure together and watch your chat feature thrive like never before!

Visit My GiG: https://www.fiverr.com/satwindernft/enhance-your-website-by-integrating-an-ai-chatbot

[magic-is-something-we-create]

the Insomnia Beast is kicking my ass and im about to go to bed but i just wanted to share that tonight i spent the last couple hours vibing and working on the lost while on discord with my friends as they figured out how to make an actual honest to god AI text-to-speech chatbot for our space adventure ttrpg that we're collaborating on to co-DM and it was the coolest thing

[chatbudds]

Websites with live chats enhance customer support by providing real-time assistance, improving user experience and satisfaction.

[techavtar]

Tech Avtar is renowned for delivering custom software solutions for the healthcare industry and beyond. Our diverse range of AI Products and Software caters to clients in the USA, Canada, France, the UK, Australia, and the UAE. For a quick consultation, visit our website or call us at +91-92341-29799.

[irc-internet-relay-chat]

Botserv.de ist eine führende Informationsplattform, die sich auf Künstliche Intelligenz (KI) und Chat-Bots spezialisiert hat. Unsere Webseite bietet umfassende Ressourcen, aktuelle Forschungsergebnisse, innovative Entwicklungen und praktische Anleitungen im Bereich der KI-Technologie und Chat-Bot-Integration.

Schlüsselbereiche und Features auf Botserv.de:

KI-Grundlagen: Einführung in Künstliche Intelligenz, maschinelles Lernen (Machine Learning), Deep Learning, neuronale Netzwerke, und Algorithmen. Perfekt für Anfänger und Fortgeschrittene, die ihr Wissen erweitern möchten.

Chat-Bot-Entwicklung: Praxisorientierte Anleitungen zur Erstellung intelligenter Chat-Bots, Nutzung von NLP (Natural Language Processing), KI-gestützte Kommunikationstools und Frameworks wie TensorFlow, PyTorch, und mehr.

Anwendungsfälle und Branchenlösungen: Erfahren Sie, wie KI und Chat-Bots in verschiedenen Branchen wie E-Commerce, Gesundheitswesen, Bildung, Kundenbetreuung und mehr eingesetzt werden.

Ethik und Datenschutz: Diskussionen über ethische Fragen, Datenschutzbestimmungen und Sicherheit im Zusammenhang mit KI und Chat-Bots.

Neueste Trends und Forschung: Bleiben Sie auf dem Laufenden mit den neuesten Trends, Forschungsergebnissen und Zukunftsvisionen im Bereich KI und Chat-Bots.

Community und Events: Treten Sie unserer Community bei und nehmen Sie an Webinaren, Workshops und Konferenzen teil, um sich mit Experten und Gleichgesinnten auszutauschen.

Ressourcen und Tools: Zugriff auf eine umfangreiche Bibliothek von Ressourcen, einschließlich Whitepapers, Case Studies, Tutorials, und interaktiven Tools zur Vertiefung Ihres Wissens.

[gouravsapra]

Accept Booking on your own Travel Portal for Flight, Car, Hotels and Tour Packages with 50+ pre Integration Support. Hashstudioz Technologies help travel agencies and tour operators in centralizing their operations, enhancing client engagements, and improving their marketing strategies with our Travel Technology services.

[plaguedocboi]

I don’t want an AI assistant in my browser I don’t want an AI chat bot built into every website I don’t want AI images appearing in searches I don’t want AI to help me write I don’t want AI integrated into every facet of my life in a completely useless and unnecessary way just because it’s trendy and it sounded futuristic to investors. AI has genuinely helpful applications and has the potential to make people’s lives easier and instead it’s being forced upon us in totally absurd ways that no one wants or needs just because tech companies want to increase their stock value and I’m going to fucking scream

[literaticat]

Is it ethical to use Chat GPT or Grammarly for line editing purposes? I have a finished book, 100% written by me and line edited by me already--and I do hope to get it traditionally published. But I think it could benefit from a line edit from someone who isn't me, obviously, before querying. But line editing services run $3-4k for a 75k book, which is beyond my budget.

I was chatting with someone recently who self-publishes. They said they use Chat GPT Plus to actually train a model for their projects to line edit using instructions like (do not rewrite or rephrase for content /edit only for rhythm, clarity, tone, and pacing /preserve my voice, sentence structure, and story intent with precision). Those are a few inputs she used and she said it actually worked really well.

So in that case, is AI viewed in the same way you'd collaborate with a human editor? Or does that cross ethical boundaries in traditional publishing? Like say for instance AI rewords your sentence and maybe switches out for a stronger verb or adjective or a stronger metaphor--is using that crossing a line? And if I were to use it for that purpose, would I need to disclose that? I know AI is practically a swear word among authors and publishers right now, so I think even having to say "I used AI tools" might raise eyebrows and make an agent hesitant during the querying process. But obviously, I wouldn't lie if it needs to be disclosed... just not sure I even want to go there and risk having to worry about that. Thoughts? Am I fine? Overthinking it?

Thanks!

I gotta be honest, this question made me flinch so hard I'm surprised my face didn't turn inside out.

Feeding your original work into ChatGPT or a similar generative AI large language model -- which are WELL KNOWN FOR STEALING EVERYTHING THAT GETS PUT INTO THEM AND SPITTING OUT STOLEN MATERIAL-- feels like, idk, just a terrible idea. Letting that AI have ANY kind of control over your words and steal them feels like a terrible idea. Using any words that a literal plagiarism-bot might come up with for you feels like a terrible idea.

And ethical questions aside: AI is simply not good at writing fiction. It doesn't KNOW anything. You want to take its "advice" on your book? Come on. Get it together.

Better idea: Get a good critique group that can tell you if there are major plot holes, characters whose motivations are unclear, anything like that -- those are things that AI can't help you with, anyway. Then read Self-Editing for Fiction Writers -- that info combined with a bit of patience should stand you in good stead.

Finally, I do think that using spell-check/grammarly, either as you work or to check your work, is fine. It's not rewriting your work for you, it's just pointing out typos/mistakes/potential issues, and YOU, PERSONALLY, are going through each and every one to make the decision of how to fix any actual errors that might have snuck in there, and you, personally, are making the decision about when to use a "stronger" word or phrase or recast a sentence that it thinks might be unclear or when to stet for voice, etc. Yes, get rid of typos and real mistakes, by all means!

(And no, I don't think use of that kind of "spell-check/grammar-check" tool is a problem or anything that you need to "disclose" or feel weird about -- spell-check is like, integrated into most word processing software as a rule, it's ubiquitous and helpful, and it's different from feeding your work into some third-party AI thing!)

[revelboo]

May I request a one-shot of The Ark (I cant get the idea of Optimus freaking out when he sees his ship cajoling with a human lol) TFA Skywarp or WFC Air Raid?

There are four requests for the Ark in the mess that’s my inbox and I couldn’t figure out why. I didn’t realize in the later iterations he transforms 🤣 I don’t remember him transforming in G1, but maybe he did? But I get it now. Big boi

Scenario- lonely

Ark x Reader

• “Optimus?” Looking up to find Ratchet frowning at him, Optimus rubs a hand over the back of his neck. Trying to figure out the strange, new notification on his datapad from the Ark. “You need to see this,” Ratchet adds, pointing. And following him into command, he stops short. “Any idea where they came from?” Because there’s a human he’s never seen before sitting on a console as text scrolls. And then flourishes of strange looking, little red shapes. The Ark chatting away to them.

• They’re staring at him as he coaxes and flirts with you, but he’s beyond caring. Do they have any idea what it’s like to be stuck like this? Treated like an inanimate object they live in? And now having to watch and listen to some of them romancing these soft, little ethereal creatures. Though, Optimus and a couple others aren’t just romancing. Having to listen to and watch them fragging their humans leaving him frustrated and pent up. Don’t they realize he has needs, too?

• Glancing down as his datapad chimes again, he holds it down so Ratchet can read, too. The original message a demand for “a fully integrated avatar with complete sensory nets or in lieu of that, a drone.” The latest message saying “you crashed me into a mountain. I’m stuck. I’m horny and you owe me.” Hears Ratchet make a strangled noise as another notification pops up. “And I recorded everything.”

• Satisfied with that little bit of blackmail, Ark turns his attention back to you. Loving the way you smile for him, so eager to ask questions. So excited to talk to another species. And watching the bots interfacing with their humans? He wants that. A soft, affectionate little mate. Someone that won’t treat him like an object, who’ll see him for who he is. Not just as ‘the ship.’

• Who’d have thought aliens were real? Or so sweet? Smiling as more sweet talk and little hearts scroll across the console, you hear voices and turn. Oh. Lifting a hand in a little wave at two huge, alien robots, you can’t stop grinning. Because this is amazing. No one’s ever going to believe you.

[ambrosiaque]

PLURALCORD;

A Discord server intended for any and all systems & multiples aged 16+!

Do you find your identity to be unstable and fragmented? Do the voices in your head have their own opinions? Do you find solace in the palace of your mind? Is your head busy and full of foot traffic? Do you often feel out of place, or like nobody understands the inner workings of your brain?

If you said "yes" to one or all of these questions, then PLURALCORD might be the place for you!

Why PLURALCORD?

PLURALCORD is a Discord server made by systems, for systems! With integrations such as PluralKit and Tupperbox, our goal is to make a place that is made with the average plural in mind so that we may all be brought together as a community, without the need to fight for accommodations, visibility, or respect.

MAIN ATTRACTIONS;

Traumagenic & non-traumagenic friendly.

Pluralkit & Tupperbox for your free use.

Starboard for our hall of fame.

Member verification for your safety.

Well-organized channels, no clutter!

Roleypoley for colour, pronoun, preferred terminology & boundary roles.

Custom emojis for nonverbal communication.

Channels for art, music, games & other interests.

Voice channels for streaming & hanging out.

Channels for littles, age regressors & caregivers.

Opt-in 18+ channels with age verification.

Channels to talk about neurodivergence & physical disabilities.

Ticket bot for support requests, questions & suggestions.

Designated channels for introjects and source talk.

No source or media blacklists, we love all introjects!

No system tag required.

Multiplicity & plurality resource sharing.

[in1-nutshell]

"Fearless waves back and starts jogging to catch up with Megatron. They don’t see their crush’s image sigh, flicker and disappear."

you

elaborate

now

Elaborating... now!

Hope you enjoy!

Fearless finds out about their crush...

SFW, Platonic, Familial, Hinted Romance, Angst, Human reader

MTMTE

It had been a couple of days since the ship had left Earth.

A couple of days since Fearless had their ‘date’ (if you want to call it that) with their crush.

Everything was going great.

Well, besides the integration they got about their crush.

There weren’t much the bots could do since it was a human.

Most wished them the best, some offered to hurt the crush if something bad happened (they shut down that idea really quick), others wanted to play wingmech.

And then there was Megatron.

He was a bit awkward about this kind of thing.

This was unknown territory for him.

At Swerve’s… Fearless was typing away on their phone. Whirl drapes half of his frame on the table. Whirl: “Is that you significant annoyance?” Fearless rolls their eyes playfully. Fearless: “No, I’m doing work Whirl.” Whirl huffs. Whirl: “Work? At the bar? Really?” Fearless: “Just some emails I need to send that’s all.” Whirl: “So… what’s going on between you two? You tow gonna be Junxies soon?” Fearless looks at him confused. Several bots around them spat out or coughed at their engex. Fearless: “Junxies? And is everyone okay?” Whirl: “Don’t mind them. When are you going to do the rites? I have a bet going on that it’ll be before Cyclonus and Tailgate do theirs.” Tailgate: “What?” Cyclonus feeling like his frame is on fire: “Ignore them Tailgate.” Fearless: “…Wait are you asking me when I’m going to propose to him?!” More bots spit out their engex. Fearless: “Seriously is there something in the engex again?” Swerve: “You’re gonna propose!?” Fearless with a harsh blush on their cheeks: “NO! No one is proposing or doing the Cybertronian version of it! We aren’t even dating!” Megatron: “What’s dating?” Fearless looks at Whirl, who has a mischievous glint in his optics. Fearless: “Whirl…” Whirl: “Fearless is going to perform the Conjunx Endura rites on that Fleshy we saw on Earth!” Now the remainder of bots spit out their drink. Megatron exe. Has stopped working please try again later.

It took a while to get that rumor under control and a long talk from Megatron about finding the right significant other that made them both feel awkward.

Now Fearless was talking with the Scavenger’s.

Since Fearless had met the rag tag team of Cons they wanted to stay in contact with them as much as possible.

Mainly talking to Krok and any other bot that was around.

Today they were chatting with Krok when they noticed Misfire, Fulcrum and some new bot doing something in the background.

Krok explained he was the newest member of the Scavengers.

His name was Alabaster Lapis.

A bit of a mouthful but it sounded like a nice name.

There was a bit of shouting from the bots.

Something about holoforms.

The new bot happily showed the others the newest additions he was putting on his holoform.

…That looked exactly like Fearless’s crush.

…no… there was no way…

Fearless pulled their phone and dialed their crush.

The new bot answered the call.

It was him.

They quickly put him on mute.

Krok looks at Fearless face of disbelief and seems to connect the dots and optics widened. Krok: “Fearless… I didn’t—” Fearless: “Its fine Krok… I… need a moment to process this. I’m not mad at you or anyone… I… need some time.” Krok nods sympathetically. Krok: “Bye Fearless.” Fearless: “Bye Krok.” The screen turned black. Fearless looked at the ongoing call and unmuted it. Alabaster: “Hey? You still there? I thought I lost you for a second.” Fearless: “…When were you going to tell me you were a bot?” Silence… Alabaster: “A what? Fearless I’m not—” Fearless: "Don’t lie to me! I just saw you pick up the call. You were with Misfire and Fulcrum. I was on a call with Krok when I noticed the holoform… Now, where you going to tell me about this? Or not?” Alabaster: “I… I never meant for this to go so far.” Fearless takes a shaky breath as tears start spilling out. Fearless: “What do you mean by that?” Alabaster: “I… Look, I never thought I’d get entangled like this. I met Thundercracker and he opened my optics to your world. I liked it, a lot really. So, I made a holoform and decided to experiment around on human’s social media.” Fearless gulps as the bot takes a deep intake. Alabaster: “That’s where I met you. And by Primus, I don’t regret meeting you either. If I had the option of doing this all over again I would.” Fearless: “Even the lying?” Alabaster: “I… I thought I would lose you if you found out I was a Cybertronian. Not a lot of humans like us.” Fearless: “I work with Cybertronian’s.” Alabaster: “But it could have been for the pay.” Fearless: “I would not be on a ship with bots I don’t like for some paycheck.” There was silence on both ends. Alabaster: “…What now?” Fearless: “I need some time to process all of… this. I’ll call when I want to talk again.” Alabaster: “I… I understand. Safe travels.” Fearless: “You too.” Call ends.

This was… a lot to process.

There were so many questions and thoughts.

They were angry, sad, frustrated, and hurt.

They go to bed and has a good crying session.

They had a longer than expected session because they completely forgot that they were supposed to meet the group at Swerve’s for Poetry and Trivia night.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! Whirl: “Hey Fearless! Get your fleshy behind out here! We’re losing our best shot at free drinks tonight!” Fearless: “Just go Whirl!” Whirl: “Not with the fate of free drink hangs in the –” Fearless: “JUST GO WHIRL!” Fearless breaks into a sob. Fearless: “JUST go…” There is silence… Maybe he left?” SLAM! THUD! Whirl had kicked down the door. Fearless yelped in surprise as the clawed servo picked them up. Whirl was just looking at them. Whirl: “You don’t usually do that. You yell when there’s something crawling around your skin. So, spill it Fearless, what’s wrong?” Fearless couldn’t hold it in anymore and started to sob. Whirl panicked. Whirl: “Scrap! What’s all—” He stopped when he saw Fearless clinging onto his digits like a lifeline. Whirl carefully puts Fearless back on their bed, and he kneels down, never taking his digit from their grasp. Whirl: “I know trivia night gets rough and all but that’s not a reason to get all… like this.” Fearless: “I-it’s not…that.” Whirl’s optic narrowed. Whirl: “Did someone make you like this?” Fearless hesitates but nods. Whirl: “Who’s the sorry son of a glitch I need to pummel? Just give me a name and I’ll do it.” Fearless shakes their head. Fearless: “Just… can you just hold me… please?” Whirl picks Fearless up again and cradles them the best he can while silently thinking of who made them cry like this and how to get away with murder.

Whirl sends a message to Cyclonus that they both were not going to make it to the bar at all.

And to get his swords ready because he was going to use them to cut someone up into little pieces.

Fearless called in sick the next day, raising some alarm with some of the bots they worked with daily.

Whirl looked like he was going to offline the next bot who talked to him and refused to say what happened on Trivia night when he went to go find Fearless.

It was some sort of secret.

But secrets are never kept on the Lost Light…

[chatbudds]

The WhatsApp marketing API enables businesses to automate messaging, track campaign performance, and integrate with existing systems for effective marketing.

[techavtar]

With a strong track record in developing AI Software Products, websites, applications, and chatbots, Tech Avtar serves clients in the USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Australia, and UAE. Our portfolio includes innovative products like Nidaan, Nexacalling, ERPLord, WbsSender, and Neighborhue. Visit our website or contact us at support@techavtar.com for more information.

[heartschampion]

the new detective — connor rk800 c.ai bot

"Hello, my name is Connor."

He holds his hand out in front of him, waiting for a handshake as he greets the new detective standing in front of him and Hank. Connor isn't quite sure what to think of the new detective just yet, his journey towards getting to know and work alongside Hank already having been a tricky one. Would they hold the same sentiment as Hank did at the beginning?

Following the revolution led by Markus, androids were given rights just as their human counterparts. They were given the right to led their own lives and integrate into normal life; No boundaries, no segregation any other human wouldn't face. While Connor had deviated, he still stayed on the police task-force as a homicide detective with Hank. The difference now was the he looked and dressed more human in a sense, throwing out his Cyberlife uniform for a more casual touch.

A human touch.

"I'm Detective Anderson's partner."

click here to chat!

i'm going to write a one shot or series based around this premise of a new detective and post revolution connor adjusted to normal life as an individual and his struggles with that, so if you're interested you should totally follow me! i'm trying to be more active so hopefully it's sooner rather than later...

[leam1983]

2024 in Gaming

Helldivers 2: it's become a running joke with the polycule, and approval with Progressive opinions or talking points now gets at least one of the three of us to jokingly pull out their smartphone to "call their Democracy Officer to report a case of treasonous activity"...

Walt isn't any better, but he's unlocked a few rocket-propelled weapons and now feels better sitting behind myself and Sarah while pelting the enemies ahead with weaponized Freedom.

Balatro: Walt and I's new favourite casual game, wherein appearance of it being a cutesy little variant on Poker suites turns into virtual crack. I've woken up in the wee hours to Walt's face bathed in his phone's OLED screen. When I ask him what's wrong, he typically replies something to the tune of "I need four thousand Chips, babe."

Marvel Rivals: it does what Overwatch 2 don't. As in, it's fun. Me, Walt, Sarah and a few of the boys on an all-Rocket Raccon match? You betcha! Also, there's Jeff the Land Shark, and Jeff the Land Shark deserves the world. Nay, the universe.

Astro Bot: didn't finish it, but I loved what Team Asobi cooked up. It's the most genuine, heartfelt, cutesy and engaging piece of corporate PR and Engineering porn to ever exist. Every button pressed during an Astro Bot session twiddles Mark Cerny's fun bits remotely.

Elden Ring - Shadow of the Erdtree: bought it because I approve of the design ethos behind this DLC's existence, never played it because I suuck at FromSoft games. I made sure to watch some related content so I could point and laugh awkwardly if friends of mine greet me with a random cry of "BAYYYYLE!"

Worshippers of Chtulhu: Anno with a Lovecraftian twist. It's very broken, still very much in Early Access, but the promise is definitely there.

Park Beyond: Meh. Got it for cheap, I guess we're still not getting a decent heirloom to Roller Coaster Tycoon, after the Micromanagement nightmare that Planet Coaster turned out to be for me.

1000xResist: basically a Yoko Taro game not written or directed by Yoko Taro, and it's one of the deeper game-based experiences I've had in a long while. Strongly recommended.

The Cabin Factory: Spot the Difference for easily-frightened streamers who haven't played Exit 8 yet. It has an interesting narrative format and is one of the more surprising implementations of Unity Engine I've seen to date. I could've sworn this was a UE5 project! Beyond that, it's nothing special, but it's priced accordingly.

Clickolding: if Cookie Clicker had an uncanny sense of atmosphere and managed to creep you out with nothing except a sparsely-animated antagonist and a rising click counter, you'd have a sense of what this feels like. It does a very effective job at making you want to be as compliant and possible.

Daemonologie: The Salem Witch Trials in game form, or Ace Attorney if Phoenix wore a Quaker hat and had a fixation on nakey women doing odd shit in the forest. Very tense and minimalist, and very, very worthwhile.

Cryptmaster: it's basically a spruced-up oldschool MUD, with 3D black-and-white graphics and four zombified D&D character archetypes you control simultaneously, by either using your Arrow keys to move the entire party at once, or typing in the words that correspond to abilities or attacks. Very, very, very British humour is on offer, along with a script-writer that managed to predict most stupidly filthy prompts you're likely to try at any given point. It's hilarious and kludgey in just the right way, especially if you remember the nineties' MindMaze on Encarta '95.

Liar's Bar: Russian Roulette for Furries with a decent voIP chat integration. It's shallow and stupid fun, and the subject matter makes people behave in increasingly crude ways as the session goes on. If you're like me, you'll swear you played a round or two against a guy who was actually stone-dead-drunk and who actually had nothing to lose...

Silent Hill 2 Remake: finally, Silent Hill's fog doesn't feel like a performance-saving measure and actually creeps me the fuck out. It makes me feel terrible and has me contemplate not playing it, but it does make sense. Kudos to Bloober Team for finally manage to ground this one heck of a weirdo title.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: take Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Dial of Destiny, burn all copies, consign the masters to Disney's oubliette, thank Harrison Ford for his decades of diligent service and pass the fedora and bullwhip to Troy Baker, 'cause Machine Games and Bethesda have managed to find themselves yet another prime title to fuck Fascists up using fisticuffs or blunt weaponry. It's a great callback to Machine Games' own contribution to Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, seeing as every single level in the game has the granular detail of their version of Prague. Slap some John Williams on, add the authentic audio samples for whip cracks and punches, lifted straight out of the movies. I haven't had as much fun raiding tombs or poking through lovingly-reconstructed real places since Nolan North last lent his voice pipes to Nathan Drake.

Imagine my surprise, when the Sistine Chapel turned out to be about the size of our condo building's parking lot! That's tiny! The more you know, I guess!

Star Wars Outlaws: this is what happens when a studio really, really, really wants to give the IP due diligence, but its decades of re-iterated design docs ruin the experience. Kay Vess isn't a galactic scoundrel; she's basically every Far Cry protagonist ever, except in third-person!

The Forever Winter: all crunch, no fun. An incredibly engaging premise, but the mistaken notion that the average gamer has several three-to-four-blocks to devote to this each and every single day. Worth at least a YouTube ride-along, to see the incredible work the Art Design team's pulled together.

Disney's Epic Mickey - Rebrushed: Warren Spector's poorly-received baby and love letter to classic animation gets its just desserts on PC. It's not super complex with only two basic mechanics based off of two buttons on a controller, but it managed to use an extremely limited toolset to great effect, even throwing in what feels like a younger relative's first potential exposure to the Immersive Sim concept of looking for unmarked routes through a level. The in-between side-scrolling levels are oozing charm, and essentially feel like some part of Spector wanted to play in the same ballpark as American McGee's Alice.

If anything, it cements the idea that non-verbal instances of Mickey Mouse should never be left in the same room as a magical implement or toolset. Ever. Verbal Mickeys can push past their childlike glee and reason accordingly, but the oldschool button-eyed and non-verbal originator is not to be trusted.

STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl: Have fun losing half your health because the ARMA-esque mechanics decide that grazing damage means holy shit, you almost died! Especially, have fun getting knocked flat out on your ass by mutants - over and over and over...

To be played in subtitled Ukranian out of implicit support, and to have fun with the Slavic definition of an acting range. It's like watching the second season of Squid Game, except you get the sense that their scale goes from Nonchalant to Pants-Pissingly Terrified with very little grading in-between.

And now, for Games I didn't really get into until 2024...

Valfaris and Valfaris II: Mecha Therion: side-scrollers that do their damndest to look like they stepped straight out of the pages of Heavy Metal as of the mid-eighties. Gorgeously grotesque pixel art meets with a banging soundtrack made up of certified shredders. The lead headbangs and throws the horns when he finishes a stage!

Brütal Legend: an oldie but a goodie, previously constrained to the PS3 but now quite cozy on my Steam Deck. It's got a semi-cohesive grab-bag of mechanics, sure, but it's got even more heart, along with a pre-stroke Tim Curry voicing the villain with the gooiest of all countenances. Imagine Shere Khan, but Metal as fuck.

Katamari Damacy: Re-Roll: I barely touched the original when it came out. Having managed to grab the PC port for cheap and knowing how well it plays with a Steam Deck, the Prince of All Cosmos' ball-rolling sojourn across the surface of our planet has turned into a nightly staple for me.

Baldur's Gate 3: Yes, I know, I'm late, you've all banged Astarion sixteen times by now, but I've got time for a long-form WRPG right now. I might not have this much free time once January 10th rolls around.

The Night Cage: not a vidya, but a really nerve-wracking tabletop game that's made for quite a few fun Friday nights at La Casa de Gremlin.

On My Backlog, You'll Find...

Metaphor: Re-Fantazio: I know it's beloved by all, but it feels so "so far, so ATLUS" to me, and I still haven't gotten over P4, P3 and P5's excellent PC ports. I also have Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne to go through, so I really don't know if I have it in me to tackle something in that same vein quite so soon.

Arizona Sunshine 1 & 2: I just can't be bothered to set up my Oculus Rift 2's Link Cable. I have the games, I just don't know if and when I'll play them.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster: I'm waiting until my old cheese strats fade into the back of my mind before I tackle this one. Plus, I'm torn about Frank West not being voiced by TJ Rotolo. He doesn't just... feels like he's covered wars, y'know?

Frostpunk 2: bought it to support the devs, am just not jazzed about having to sort of network my way across several simultaneous points of origin until the depressing version of a Dieselpunk sprawl covers the map.

The Yakuza series on Amazon Prime: SEGA's trying to become the Disney of gaming, but something about Kazuma Kiryu's story (or stories) have always felt distinctly and uniquely Japanese to me. As in, it requires a specific mindset and might not be for everyone. I'm waiting for a sign, basically - maybe one to pop my collar and rent a karaoke machine so I can belt out maudlin soliloquies to lost childhood innocence while smoking half a pack of cigs between every third or fourth stanza...

The Sonic Movies: yeah, sure, I'm in my forties, but Jim Carrey's going through a career renaissance by acting out Albert Einstein on crack. Yeah, sure, it's not either of my Robotniks (the Jim Cummings or Long John Baldry versions - for the memes) - but it seems like it might still be a trilogy of adaptations worth pursuing.

Plus, hey, I gotta start catching up on that Stobotnik shit, huh?

[lurantis-lura]

More writing finally. This is Tai and Hannah's first date. Y'all have fun.

Hannah tugged on the hem of her skirt and adjusted her blouse. She opened her phone to check her makeup briefly. It all still looked good to her. She looked about at the rest of the people in the restaurant. The Yellow Dome was a very fancy restaurant, her paycheck might only barely cover the meal. Assuming Tai didn't order anything.

Briefly she thought as to why a robot would want to go to a restaurant for a first date. It was a classic, she wasn't upset by the decision in the slightest. But it seemed rather one sided. She readjusted the little candle in the center before movement caught her eye. She turned to the entrance and nearly gasped audibly. Tai had slipped in, wearing a gorgeous low cut red dress and clutching a matching handbag in one hand.

Hannah collected herself and gave a short wave to the robot. Tai noticed her and weaved through the tables to take the seat opposite Hannah. Was she wearing, perfume? A faint floral scent washed over Hannah.

“Apologies,” Tai said as she sat down. “The tram was late and made me miss my connector.”

Hannah stopped staring with great effort. “Oh it's alright. I didn't wait long. That dress looks really good on you.” She tugged the hem of her skirt again, she felt a little underdressed now.

Tai giggled. “Oh thank you. You look great yourself. I love your makeup! Red is a good color for lipstick!”

What did that shift in tone at the end mean? Hannah didn't worry about it. By choice. She smiled and turned as a waiter approached.

He paused, looking at Tai for a brief moment before plowing forth. “Good evening ladies. Have we decided what to eat tonight?”

Tai locked her head slightly at Hannah. She smiled sheepishly, she had decided already. “Catfish and greens. And a glass of Castle Forkleaf wine, please.”

“Water, in a champagne glass, please.” Tai handed the menu in front of her to the watier.

“Of course. I'll get those started right away.” The waiter took Hannah's menu with a nod.

A moment of silence passed as he left. Hannah tried to pass it off by taking a long sip from the glass of water. The beach party had only been a few days ago, hell they'd kissed at it, and yet nerves made her nearly tremble. Eventually she spoke. “So… What made you choose a restaurant? I assume you can't…”

Tai laughed. “Why not? It's a classic. It's personal, kinda romantic, and classy. So what if I don't order anything?”

Hannah nodded. “I can't argue with that. I have to ask though… I heard most uploads live on the ‘net. What made you get a body?”

“Ya like it?” Tai giggled as Hannah stammered. “No you're right. Most of my siblings live online. But I'm from before then. An experiment if you will.”

“You like it?”

“What? Being me? I love it! Despite the challenges.”

Hannah cocked her head. “What kind of challenges?”

“Integration issues mostly. Ask me another time. Tell me, what do you do for a living, besides go to beach parties?”

Hannah smiled. “I'm an online tech support for Dregcorp. It keeps the studio lights on.”

“I see. I head a team that makes custom cybernetics.”

“Oh? That sounds nice. I'd give a lot to replace my arm with something like that.”

Tai's antennae shot up like a bullet. “Interesting. Well who knows. I'd be happy to have something made for you sometime if you needed it.”

The enthusiasm in the bot's words made Hannah hesitate. “I'll, be certain to let you know.”

The waiter placed Hannah's wine and Tai's champagne glass down on the table along with a basket of bread. Hannah picked up the glass and swirled it for a moment.

“This…” Hannah said. “Is a bad idea.” She smiled.

Tai laughed and raised her own glass. “Why's that?”

“I am a notorious lightweight.”

“What a shame.” Tai giggled and raised the glass.

Hannah raised hers as well in the toast before taking a sip. That was GOOD wine, worth her paycheck for it honestly.

The chatting continued through most of the meal. The wine helped to ease Hannah's nerves, and the food was some of the best she'd ever eaten.

“And then,” Hannah said, leaning over the table slightly. “I think surely this guy is done. He can't have done anything worse to his computer than this. He says ‘how are you able to see all this stuff? There's no screen on this thing.’ He didn't even have a monitor!”

Tai laughed, an adorable giggle that made her screen flash slightly. Man Tai was cute, she'd say yes if Tai asked to- no not exploring that line of thought.

“Hannah, don't quit your day job.” Tai said through a giggle.

“What? Are my jokes and stories not good enough?”

“No, but if you did I feel your company might go under.”

“Ah they can for all I care.”

Tai chuckled, and a moment of silence passed. Then, coyly, “So, you mentioned wanting to get some cybernetics? Do you have any already?”

Hannah shook her head, then blinked as the wine made her vision blur slightly. “Nope. Fully ‘ganic. Never could afford any.”

“What would you get if you could?”

Hannah paused. “My hand first, get used to it I think. Then maybe my eyes.”

“That'd be quite beautiful I think.”

Hannah stopped and squinted at Tai. Tai, for her part, froze and covered her screen with two hands. Hannah leaned forward. “You like robot parts, don't you…?”

Tai stayed silent for several seconds before nodding behind her hands. The facade had cracked slightly. “Maybe…”

Hannah's eyes widened. “You do! Oh my goodness that explains so much!” She giggled and finished her glass of wine.

“Like what?!”

“Like how into yourself you are.”

“You make me sound like a narcissist!”

“No no! You sound…” Hannah paused, then smiled. “Sound like me after my surgery. It's a good thing.”

Tai looked at her for a few moments before nodding. “I see. Well I am serious. It's of religious importance.”

“You've not told me of your religious affiliation.”

Tai sat taller. “It's not important. I'll tell you in time, cutie.”

Hannah giggled and then watched the waiter approach with the payment device. She gritted her teeth, pulling out her purse and hoping the damages weren't too bad. She reached for the device but Tai moved quicker, slapping her hand over the device.

“Hey! You didn't get anything you're not paying!”

Tai paused for a moment and then the payment device beeped. She grabbed it and handed it back to the waiter. “Too late. I already paid.”

Hannah blinked. She hadn't even seen the total but she was certain it would be well over a hundred and fifty bucks. “I… Thank you I… Your credit card is in your hand?”

Tai laughed, standing and offering a hand. “Yes in a way!”

Hannah took the offered hand and stood. “That's actually so cool. What else can you do?”

Tai leaned in close as they made their way to the door. Barely audibly she said, “Lots and lots of things. You’ll see later.”

Hannah couldn't stop herself from grinning. “I see…”

“Come on. We've got time to catch a movie too!” Tai began leading Hannah down the street in the direction of the movie theater.