#Magic Transistor

[the-faultofdaedalus]

my personal favourite interpretation of those sorcerer supreme tony versions is that he has simply always been doing magic and just never really realized because, of course he has. transistors don’t work like that. magnets don’t work like that. no one else on the planet can make technology work the way he makes it work. to be clear. transistors do not and cannot do the shit he makes them do. sorry buddy i know you wanted to do science but unfortunately you’ve always been doing mage fuckery. rip.

[oldtvandcomics]

Book Shout-outs for Pride Month #1:

Ever wanted a series of lesbian superhero romances, all stand-alone, but set in the same universe and building off of each other (think Phase 1 MCU)?

Hearts of Heroes series by Molly J. Bragg. They're more romance than superheroes, but once you know what to expect it's GREAT.

Scatter is about a US Deputy Marshal who gets promoted to work with the team around the superhero Focus. From the first moment on, there is something strange between her and Focus, but only when she accidentally time travels back to the early 90's begins she to realize that she may be Focus' mysterious long-lost partner, Scatter.

Transistor is about a woman who gains superpowers because the doctors forget to deactivate the supercomputer used in her gender-affirming surgery. It only really becomes an issue when an angry angel comes after her neighbour and long-term crush, very determined to kill her.

Aether has a disabled protagonist, who dies when the building blows up during an experiment. Luckily for her, her consciousness gets somehow preserved, and she gains extremely strong powers. Now she just has to stop the guy who caused the accident from doing it again...

Rhapsody isn't out yet, but based on the summary, it is going to go more into the dragon side of the lore.

[sirfrogsworth]

Smartphone cameras are NOT getting worse. (See below for phone photography tips)

I've now seen 3 pro photographers reviewing the iPhone 16 and complaining the cameras are "worse" and blaming Apple for not including revolutionary new camera technology.

And I suppose this is partly Apple's fault. Their marketing and hype machine always goes overboard. But also, that's just how marketing works. Samsung has a "200 megapixel" sensor and Sony has a "Zeiss" lens. And I think it is unrealistic to expect smartphone companies to say "This product has entered the iterative phase and each new model will only be marginally improved over the last one."

Smartphones (from any brand) have become an appliance. You don't buy a new model of microwave every year. And you don't expect every new model of microwave to have new revolutionary technology. And that is pretty much the expectation you should have with most computer hardware from here on out.

And in some ways, that is a good thing. That means the design of the phone has pretty much been perfected and it will last you a long time if you take care of it. You will not be left behind and your phone will be able to handle any new software for most of its lifespan.

So, is Apple getting lazy or is there a reason their hardware is stagnating?

It seems that neither money nor marketing can change the laws of physics.

They cannot make transistors much smaller. Phones and computers are about as fast as current hardware designs can make them (unless there is a shocking scientific breakthrough). From here on out, heavy compute tasks that are beyond your phone or computer will be done in the cloud on giant computer clusters. Thankfully computers and phones seem to be plenty fast for the majority of tasks we ask of them.

I remember Katrina telling me her new computer didn't seem any faster. And I explained the computing tasks she does regularly were not really affected by the increased power and speed of her new computer. If something took 0.1 seconds before and now it takes 0.05 seconds, that is twice as fast. An increase in speed that looks fantastic in advertisements. But it is hard for our brains to perceive. She just didn't do anything on her computer that took it long enough for her to notice. But having a faster and more powerful computer/phone will increase its lifespan and resale value, so it is still prudent to get the best things you can afford at time of purchase.

And I'm afraid smartphone cameras are hitting their own hardware limitations. They can't make the sensors much larger to get better depth of field and low light performance. And cramming in more megapixels doesn't actually add much more detail, if any.

It's physics.

Again.

You cannot get any more performance out of a small plastic lens. Why do you think pro photographers haul around 10 pound lenses still?

There is a formula for detail that never seems to be explained in any camera marketing.

Here is the simplified version...

Detail = Sensor x Lens

Let's say 1 is perfection. You have a sensor that performs at 0.5 and a lens that performs at 0.2.

The total detail will be 0.1.

But in the new model you increase the performance of the sensor to 0.8. WOW! That's so close to 1!

The total detail will be... 0.16.

Now let's imagine we've discovered a magic, physics-defying tiny plastic lens that performs at 0.8 as well.

The total detail jumps to 0.64!

But we all get sucked into a wormhole because we violated the laws of the universe.

Even if you were to design a near perfect (perfect is impossible) sensor that scores 0.99.

Without that magic plastic lens... 0.198

This is why I put Samsung's "200 megapixel" sensors in quotes. Because when paired with the same tiny plastic lens, there isn't much improvement. And that's why a 12 megapixel DSLR from 10 years ago with a giant honking lens can still capture more detail.

Most of the quality from smartphone cameras comes from the computational software processing. Phones actually take many photos at once and combine them to get you a decent image.

While that is still improving a little bit each generation, those improvements are stagnating as well. Until image processing can do a better job of inventing more detail realistically, smartphones are going to have to obey the laws of physics.

So... why are photographers saying the iPhone cameras are worse?

First, the ultra wide angle lens looks softer in low light.

And if you zoom between 1x and 5x, the images look less detailed.

But neither of those things make the cameras *worse*. In fact, the cameras are better for the most part. It's just that Apple decided to compromise on one aspect to improve another. Probably due to market research telling them most people prioritize certain things over others when taking photos.

They increased the resolution of the ultra wide angle sensor to match the detail of the main sensor, but that seems to have lowered the low light performance of the ultra wide. So in good light, you will see an improvement in sharpness. But they could not increase the sensor size to compensate and smaller pixels can have trouble with dim conditions. They probably discovered that people mostly use that lens in good light and they would appreciate the bump in detail more.

But pro photographers often photograph in more challenging lighting conditions because you can capture a more artistic shot. I don't think I could have gotten this shot on a smartphone.

But photo normies are just taking pics of their kids doing weird kid shit.

They aren't really trying to push the limits of their ultra wide angle lenses.

And they increased the zoom of the telephoto lens to 5x from 3x because most people never used the 3x. So images at 5x look great now, but unfortunately if you use anything between 1x and 5x, your image will be *digitally* zoomed. Which is never as good as optical zoom. They basically crop the photo, zoom in, and add sharpening.

So they prioritized people having longer reach and more zoom at the expense of that middle zoom range. Every camera system makes tradeoffs and compromises.

And I hate that I always feel like I am defending Apple, because they do have misleading and dishonest marketing regarding a lot of aspects of their tech. But hating on Apple gets more clicks so content creators also make misleading and dishonest claims.

And so we are just surrounded in a circle of hyperbole from all sides.

Now, if you know these limitations, you can change your approach to photographing stuff to keep them from being an issue. You can reap the benefits without dealing with the new compromises.

Here are some tips to help owners of the new iPhone, but also everyone else too.

Smartphone Photography Tips

Whenever possible, try to use the main 1x camera at only 1x zoom. This has the largest sensor with the most detail and works best in the lowest light. Only use the ultra wide or telephoto if you cannot get the photo otherwise. If you aren't sure you have enough light for ultra wide, take the photo, and then as a safety, take two photos with the main camera side by side and stitch them later with a pano app.

"Zoom with your feet" and don't use "in-between" zooms. Let's say your lenses do 0.5x, 1x, and 5x zoom. Even though you have the option to use other zooms, like 2x or 3x, that is going to compromise your picture quality. It is essentially going to crop your photo and enlarge it, which causes a loss of detail. If fact, if you use 4.5x instead of 5x, your picture will probably look like trash. You are always going to get better results if you can move closer or step back so that you are using the native focal length of your chosen lens. For example, let's say you are taking a photo and you judge the best framing to be at 4x. But you still have 10 feet of space behind you. If you back up and then zoom in to 5x, the phone will switch to that lens and you will get a much clearer picture.

Rule of thumb...

1 to 3x... try to move closer.

4 to 5x... try to move back.

If you hit a wall and end up at 4.5x, you might see if you have a panorama mode and try that instead. Switch to your 5x and do the pano. Or you can take two photos and then stitch them together with software later on. (Stitching panos with an app later will give better quality than pano mode, especially in low light.)

Low light needs stability. Get some sort of stabilizing device for low light photos. Either a phone case that lets you stand up the phone on its own or a mini tripod.

This thing folds to the size of a credit card.

Your phone will detect when it is stable and not being handheld. It will then automatically extend its shutter speed allowing it to drink in more light and give you a better picture.

Tripods are photography magic and will improve your low light photos quite a bit. Motion blur of moving subjects can still be an issue, but photos of a cityscape or landscape will look great.

For selfies, shoot a little bit wide and then crop in. This goes a little contrary to my earlier advice saying cropping lowers detail, but this is specifically for shooting a face. The 0.5x and 1x lenses on smartphone cameras are fairly wide angle. This can cause unflattering proportions with human faces. Wide angle lenses exaggerate distance. Near things look very near and far things look very far. To a wide angle lens, the tip of your nose looks like it is super close but your ears seem like they are a mile away. And that's why you may look a bit "alien" in your selfies.

People's natural instinct is to "fill the frame" with a face. The outer edges of a wide angle lens are more distorted than the very center. So try to keep faces away from the edges of the frame.

And one other trick you can do for selfies and pictures of faces is step back a few feet. Sometimes this is hard, especially with selfies, as your arm is only so long... but if you can take your face photos from just a little bit farther back, you will almost entirely eliminate unflattering distortion. In some cases, just stretching out your arm as far as it will go is enough.

Then you just crop the image with the framing you originally wanted, and your facial proportions will look great.

An example...

Here the distortion is bad because I am not in the center and the lens is too close to my face. The lens thinks my nose is really close and my ears are in Canada.

But when the lens is farther back the edge distortion is less prevalent and my nose and ears (relative to the lens) seem roughly the same distance away. So my proportions look great, but I don't quite have the framing I want.

But with a little cropping...

For social media there is still plenty of resolution to crop in. Cropping isn't bad, it's just always better to use it as a last resort or in a special circumstance like this. I get roughly the same framing as in my wide angle shot, but I don't look like I'm behind a door's peephole trying to sell you the Good News.

I wish they made a "mini" selfie stick that only extended a foot or so. With the main camera that is usually all people need to undo any wide angle issues. I have one of those mini tripods and that works well, but there is no activation button so I have to do a timer. Mirrors work great to help you get some selfie distance.

In any case, all cameras have limitations and compromises. Clickbait titles saying something is WORSE THAN THE OLD ONE are frustrating and wrong.

And people upgrading phones every year are silly. All current name brand smartphones have promised at least 5 years of software updates. I think Google and Samsung are offering 7 years on some models. And Apple has always just let you use your phone until it literally will not work with new software. Which has worked out to 8 years in some cases (with a battery swap).

Phones are now appliances. For now, hardware will improve 10 to 15% from generation to generation until physics breaks. So if you want a 50% improvement, wait 5 years and you'll think your new phone is awesome. If you upgrade every year, it is going to be difficult to see the change.

I hope to be starting a little course on smartphone photography in the near future. All modern phones are capable of taking amazing pictures. And as long as you understand their limitations you can mitigate or avoid them. And that is what I plan to teach.

[aritany]

WIP INTRO - RESENT YOUR SECOND CHANCES

genre | adult urban fantasy, speculative

status | revising

pitched as GIDEON THE NINTH meets NINTH HOUSE, in which the child of a magical crime family resurrected from the dead for “one last job” to steal from an extra-dimensional library is thwarted by a boy on the hunt for the ghost he just spent the last year falling in love with.

characters |

beauregard "bo" florea, he/him - LOSER. transgendered. on the hunt for his ghost, while trying not to be Maimed™ by the other ghosts haunting him.

tatum santos, they/them - recently resurrected, having a MISERABLE time. does not remember being dead. brought back into a family where everything is different.

aesthetics | hallways leading to nowhere, the crush of magic crawling through your veins, sunset through stained glass lighting up a saint's shroud, chasing a mote of light through vast darkness, the hum of a cursed amulet around your neck, the crackling static of white noise from an old transistor radio, a kiss from a ghost

themes | t4t love conquers all, superpowers, magical resurrection, mafia-esque magical crime family, complicated mothers, daddy issues but because your dad loves you more than anything, strangers-to-friends-to-strangers-to-friends-to-lovers, mommy issues but it's because your mom loves anything more than you.

warnings | death, mild body horror, pregnancy loss (sort of), explorations of grief, parental trauma

PLAYLIST | PINTEREST

taglist: no taglist for this one! follow @aritanycontent and turn on post notifications for excerpts, art, and more! (promise i only reblog capital C Content to that blog, no spamming!)

[aliceorenemies]

This one saw a post of others talking about their body dysmorphia; how they longed and ached for the feel of servos, transistors, seams, gears, stuffing, hollowness. It reminded her of something she pondered once and thought worth sharing.

What if this one got to be so blessed, so fortuitous to receive a Wish, from a fairy tale or of some other magical avenue? She pondered it for a long time, and sought to avoid the pitfalls of greed and the curling of the Monkey's Paw with her choice. As much as she would want wealth, she would not wish for such a frivolity. As much as she would wish for her own health, she would not wish for such selfishness. No, if she were to make a wish, she would want it to benefit the world, and especially those who are her kindred. Those of fates that make life equal parts beautifully joyous and twistingingly cruel, for the sin of wanting the world to see them as they wish to be.

And so she devised a wish for them.

She believes she has worded it as best as she could so that no trickery would befall her intents.

"I wish that tomorrow, everyone would wake up in the body that would make them the happiest."

Come the morning sun, all would awaken in forms of pure satisfaction. Boys, girls, those in between, no longer shackled by genetics. Dolls, robots, plushes, created just right. If their soul longed to be an animal, then the body would match in whatever mixture it needed. Even those that desired grandiose forms of dragons, or giants, or angels and demons. Even those that longed for magical elegance of fairies, or elves, or unicorns.

All would be happy, she hopes.

She hopes this wish would bring others the comfort they need.

[soup-mother]

much like vacuum tubes, sad boys have been replaced with trans-sisters. (the boys transitioned and so did the vacuum tubes) 🏳️‍⚧️

(transistors replaced vacuum tubes in most electronic roles)

(trans sisters replaced sad boys in most magic the gathering tournaments)

[syaolaurant]

Art evolution tag game

Thanks so much for tagging me @diana-bluewolf !!

Her is the evolution of my art. I actually started drawing very early, from third grade as long as I remember, and since then drawing has always been my hobby. It's always so fun to see how my style and drawing theme have changed throughout the years.

Unfortunately, I don't have access to my earlier drawings from primary and secondary school, but I remember it was mostly fashion sketches (I once wanted to become a fashion designer haha) and manga fanart (Naruto, KHR, Inuyasha...) .

HIGH SCHOOL

2010 - 2012 I was obsessed with Hetalia and FMA. I also learned Tarot and drew my first original tarot deck (it never finished). And maybe that time was my rebellious period so my drawings were usually (a bit too) dark and bloody. I drew mostly with pencils & ballpoint pens.

UNIVERSITY (2013 - 2017)

It wasn't until my first year of university that I truly started taking my drawing seriously. My artwork was still abit personal and reflected some of my unstable mental health (probably bc I had just moved to Japan). After creating an Instagram account, I began learning watercolor more seriously (I had actually worked with watercolor earlier but never cared about how to use it correctly).

In my second and third years of university, my paintings became more colorful and covered a wider range of themes. I only made fanart of Dota 2 and Sound Horizon. Aside from that, my artworks usually focused on personal experiences and magical creatures.

At this moment I realized that I LOVEEEE drawing full-background arts.

POST GRADUATION (2017 ~ 2021) I made lots of game fanarts (Don't Starve, Transistor, Borderlands, Genshin Impact...). Especially the Arcana, I'm a huge fan, I created my Tumblr account just to join The Arcana fandom.

Then something terrible happened to me, and I fell into art block for two years...

2024 AND NOW

Hogwarts Legacy inspired me to draw again😭💜

And I'm also making my own Dota 2 Tarot deck, it's actually my 4rd attempt trying to finish a whole deck but I'll try my best this time :"(

No pressure tag: @itsame-domi @traceyc-uk @tamayula-hl san @tiarpopdind

[wumblr]

what a sad sack of affairs for the arcade game industry, in our beautiful nation. what used to be home to vaunted and ostentatious chinese food buffets and wooden death trap roller coasters in the coney island era and a conspicuous display of the newfangled transistors and light emitting diodes during the fuel crisis pinball craze has become a mere shadow of its former selves, its bowling alley carpet downgraded to regular carpet, its gluttonous smorgasbords reduced to little more than a gas station style pizza tray cabinet. what used to be the avenue of a variety of conmen and hucksters called carnival barkers who have been outsourced to an ostentatious display of smooth, clinical touchscreens of varying size. the economic downturn has forced the skee ball machine to dispense only 7 balls, being unable to afford the typical additional 2. the tokens have been exchanged for mag-strip cards due to the excess of petroleum byproducts now that the fuel crisis is over. and the prizes? when once, during the clinton-era economic boom, we gave the children of our fair nation a magic eye ball with a dodecahedral litany of 20 possible options, now? now they may only have a cubic six-sided novelty fortune-telling die. it's not even full of any type of blue liquid. it is hollow. hollow. in this way, are we not, my fellow citizens, narrowing and thus foreshorting the futures available to future generations of our children? (gets assassinated but the other candidates keep debating like nothing happened)

[fukmeintheassandcallmecastiel]

I've completely forgotten how to make friends online and would like to start again after a years long tumblr hiatus.

In an attempt, I am going to try and list every one of my favorite shows, games and so on and have my DMs open for people to say hi if they'd like. No pressure to message, of course. You can also comment on or reblog this post if you're more comfortable with that!

-J

Shows: Hannibal, Moral Orel, Loki, Doctor Who, Supernatural, Sherlock, Good Omens, The Boys, Invincible, Legend of Vox Machina, Gravity Falls, Inside Job, Bojack Horseman, Futurama, Over the Garden Wall, Cowboy Bebop, Shameless

Games: Baldur's Gate 3, Disco Elysium, Cult of the Lamb, Hollow Knight, Detroit: Become Human, Rimworld, Scarlet Hollow, the Stanley Parable (and sequel), Terraria, Transistor, Vampire Survivors, Hades, Oxenfree 1+2, Slay the Spire, Little Misfortune, Detention, Legend of Zelda, Geometry Dash, Norco

Podcasts: Malevolent, The Magnus Archives, Old Gods of Appalachia, the Silt Verses

Hobbies/interests: Magic the Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons (and PF2e), hiking, walks in nature, music, podcasts, Norse mythology, eldritch horror, writing, reading, pirates, the Salem witch trials, birds and plants

Music: MGMT, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Tame Impala, Ween, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Marina, The Amazing Devil, Fish in a Birdcage, Half Alive, AJR, Will Wood, Tally Hall, Cosmo Sheldrake, I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME, SEATBELTS, SKÁLD

[reallifetangent]

ARCANE S2 RELATED CONTENT ALSO TRANSISTOR GAME RELATED CONTENT

Transistor x JayVik AU(? Where they actually after the finale end up in Cloudbank, but before the events of Transistor. Even before Royce Bracket's birth. Because they're his parents.

I've seen Miguel O'Hara being a JayVik Kid, Blitzcrank being the Canon JayVik Kid, I've seen Venture from Overwatch being another Kid, but with a friend we tied some points.

I'mma die on that hill.

Continuing with the Headcanons!!!:

- they notice that Hextech doesn't exist there, Viktor is more weakened than Jayce about the lack of it.

- somehow they manage to get with the process and the Transistor. Probably they created the Transistor as an attempt to save Viktor, again. They didn't learn that much from their mistakes, or they found out about the Process too late.

- Viktor's leg gets processed in the way, and they had to put away the Transistor Project. He wears the leg brace to weigh his leg and be able to walk normally, but the leg makes him kinda float and walk weird. He also has part of his abdominal area processed, he's slowly being processed.

- they have Royce. Either adoption or some magic-science thing happens and they had Royce biologically.

- Royce adopts both traits from his parents. The whole Loner Scientist from Viktor, the involving with politics from Jayce.

- They loved Royce. He was a loved kid, and they enjoyed that he liked science and technology, and he tried to help his father to stop the Process, but he didn't know back then.

- Jayce probably founded The Camerata, or him and Viktor belonged to the first team, but just as Scientists and staying that way. They wanted to change and help the world, but this time in a different and more direct way.

- When Viktor starts becoming more Processed, they back off from The Camerata, only Royce knew where did they go or what happened to them.

- When Viktor is almost processed, Jayce decides to manipulate and use the Transistor to save their traces together, to share the burden of the Process, dying together again as one with the same death. (Each time they "die", they just change universes to live a new life together again). Probably had a similar reaction to Asher and Grant. They couldn't bear to live without the other. They left a recording or their traces for Royce to find, but I guess he couldn't read them, not getting his parents' last words.

- Royce years later finds the Transistor, but never relates it to his parents. I'm re listening his voicelines and he said he can't remember how did he find the Transistor, so he doesn't know his parents were involved.

Bonus: some sketches I made about this random Crossover, starting with Them as Proxys talking with Royce, they as Grant and Asher Kendrell, their Trace versions (I'm digitalizing those two), Viktor's Body Processed and his Fully Processed form (like Sybil's at her boss battle)

Idk, I'm delulu and missing Transistor

[theguywithaplan]

List of Video Games Turning 10 Years Old in 2024

Alien: Isolation

Assassin's Creed: Rogue (the one where you play as an Assassin turned Templar.)

Assassin's Creed: Unity (the one set during the French Revolution.)

Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky

Azure Striker Gunvolt

The Banner Saga

Bayonetta 2

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea (the DLC where you go back to Rapture)

A Bird Story (a sort of spin-off of "To the Moon")

BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! (is this a sequel to 1 or a prequel to 1? I forgor)

Bravely Default (in North America)

Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (the one with K*vin Sp*cey)

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 (to date, the last new Castlevania game to release)

Child of Light

The Crew (going offline at the end of March)

D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die (a wonderfully strange game from the guy that made Deadly Premonition)

Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (in North America)

Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (in North America)

Dark Souls II

Deception IV: Blood Ties

Demon Gaze

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls

Disney Infinity 2.0

Divinity: Original Sin (from the team that would go on to make Baldur's Gate 3)

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Dragon Age: Inquisition (the winner of GOTY at the very first TGAs)

Drakengard 3

Earth Defense Force 2025 (EDF! EDF! EDF!)

The Evil Within (from the creative director of Resident Evil)

Fable Anniversary

Fairy Fencer F

Far Cry 4

Freedom Planet

Guilty Gear Xrd Sign

Hyrule Warriors

Inazuma Eleven (in North America. And digital only.)

Infamous: Second Son (as well as its expansion, First Light)

Kirby: Triple Deluxe

The Last of Us Remastered (just one year after the original version came out...)

The Legend of Korra (the game from PlatinumGames that you can't buy anymore)

Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham

Lego The Hobbit

The Lego Movie Videogame

Lethal League (from the team that would go on to make Bomb Rush Cyberfunk)

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII (the third and final chapter of the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy)

Lisa: The Painful (yes, really)

LittleBigPlanet 3

Lords of the Fallen (not to be confused with Lords of the Fallen, which came out in 2023)

Mario Golf: World Tour

Mario Kart 8 (the original version)

Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes (the prologue to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, which came out 18 months later)

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor

Might & Magic X: Legacy

Murdered: Soul Suspect (it's like Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, but not as good)

Natural Doctrine

Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty! (a from the ground up remake of the first Oddworld game from 1997)

Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 (yes, it got a sequel. I don't know how or why.)

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth

Pokemon Omega Ruby & Pokemon Alpha Sapphire

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy (the last time that Professor Layton himself was the protagonist. At least, until the New World of Steam comes out)

Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

Pushmo World

Risen 3: Titan Lords

Sacred 3

Samurai Warriors 4

Shadowrun: Dragonfall

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse (the 3rd one)

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments

Shovel Knight (yes, really)

Skylanders: Trap Team (the 4th one)

Sniper Elite III

Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric

Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal

South Park: The Stick of Truth

Steins;Gate (in North America)

Strider (the one from Double Helix)

Sunset Overdrive

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS (or Smash 4 for short)

Tales of Xillia 2

Tales of Hearts R

The Talos Principle

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call

Thief (the reboot)

This War of Mine

Toukiden: The Age of Demons

Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (this game merged the storyline of the War for/Fall of Cybertron games with the storyline of the Michael Bay movies. I’m not joking)

Transistor

Valiant Hearts: The Great War

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

The Walking Dead: Season Two

Wasteland 2

Watch Dogs

The Witch and the Hundred Knight

The Wolf Among Us (sequel this year!)

Wolfenstein: The New Order

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z

Yoshi's New Island

[foreficfandom]

Alastor's Microphone Staff Has Influential Powers

And it affects him, too.

When Charlie has to inspire the Cannibal Town population, she first uses a typical omni stage mic.

She and Rosie leave the gazebo to cool down, and Alastor remains on the stage alone. When the pair come back, the regular mic is inconspicuously missing, giving Alastor an excuse to lend his.

It's clearly symbolic for lending Charlie use of his own voice, and also a sign that he trusts her to wield such an important "extension" of himself and his powers.

Charlie uses his mic to sing and inspire the crowd, like her mother used singing to unite all of hell.

Slowly, the crowd comes around to Charlie's cause. Only after they join the sing-along proper does Alastor take his mic back. Rosie hands Charlie a baton with a skull on it - perhaps it was something like Rosie's 'Overlord staff'. Her equivalent of handing over Alastor's microphone, allowing Charlie to step into her shoes for the moment.

Alastor's magic microphone isn't ever connected to any speakers, or soundboard, or recording gear, transistor, phonograph, etc. He can use it to broadcast a Hell-wide radio show. He can project his own voice through it like a hand puppet.

Radio hosts are infamously influential people. Even today, they're known for turning entire populations into radical conservatives, or they're cult leaders, or conspiracy mongers. They hold a captive audience through their charisma without them ever seeing their face.

When Charlie sings through Alastor's microphone, she's projecting the same influential geas Alastor uses in his radio-based magic.

Thing is, when Charlie spoke into the mic, she was speaking to Alastor, as well. As subtle as the mic's powers may be, Alastor did find himself truly affected by Charlie's vision in a way he didn't intend. He just didn't realize it until the very last episode of Season 1.

By the way, you know how in ep. 8, red eyes are everywhere, watching Alastor's breakdown?

One of those eyes sit right in front of his microphone. Because of its design, you need to face the mic a certain way to use it properly. The eye is always watching its user.

If Alastor never gets his mic fixed, it's probably for the best. One less eye to watch him. One less way for the Radio Demon to turn the population of Hell into his prisoners. One more way Charlie has an upper hand on him, if she inherited her mother's talents, because she doesn't need a mic to influence people.

[aspiringsophrosyne]

Transistor And Hades 2

What's the deal with these two games?

Long running game companies put Easter eggs from earlier projects in their latest games sometimes; SGG included. Transistor’s Red has toys that reference Bastion, Thanatos’ portrayal (same voice actor and all) may be a nod to Asher, etc.

But hasn't Hades 2 been a little different, in that it's had multiple significant nods to Transistor specifically?

And I can’t help but wonder...Does that hint at where Mel’s story is going?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

But just for funzies, I'm gonna unpack them.

Spoilers for every Super Giant game (but especially Hades/Hades 2 and Transistor) under the cut:

Oceanus

The ambient music here is the distant song of the sirens. The lyrics get louder and more distinct the closer you get to the biome’s end, but at first, it’s wordless humming. If Mel’s equipped with the Moonstone Axe—or any of its variants—she drags it along behind her with that humming in the background.

In Transistor, Red will hum along with the BGM at your prompting. Red’s not a professionally trained fighter or very strong—and hers isn’t a conventional weapon—so as she hums, she drags the heavy and unwieldy Transistor along behind her.

This was a cool little callback to notice once the early access had been out long enough, but it didn't strike me as particularly noteworthy at the time.

Until War Song.

The War

As of the latest update, the last boss is the Father of All Monsters. But he's so nightmarishly huge that even before Mel reaches him, Typhon’s tail sends repeated, intermittent attacks her way, bleeding her health and magic before she can reach the summit to do direct battle with the monster progenitor.

In Transistor, there’s the Spine boss. Before Red encounters the monster in its entirety, its tail sends repeated and intermittent attacks her way, disrupting the man in the Transistor and earning her ire. This motivates her to confront the Spine to do direct battle with and triumph against it.

In the same update, you can stumble across Dionysus’ hidden hangout: a relaxing break from the main game that’s devoid of enemies, where you can take a minute and pick up an extra boon.

In Transistor, by the time you’re fighting the Spine, you’ll have unlocked the Sandbox through the Backdoors, a relaxing break from the main game that provides challenges, new abilities and the opportunity to listen to the game’s soundtrack.

Lap of Luxury is even reminiscent of the Sandbox’s theme, despite elements of On The Coast solidifying it as its own thing.

The Song

Before the events of Transistor, Red writes a song that causes a minor uproar.

Fans suspect it’s “We All Become” from the OST, and it’d fit. The Country is Cloud Bank’s euphemism for the afterlife, and Red’s song not only warns against losing yourself in the city, but brings up the possibility of her moving to the Country to avoid said fate. (Which serves as potent foreshadowing.)

SGG’s lovely long-time collaborator, Ashely Barrett, provides Red’s singing voice for the song in question, which includes these lyrics:

Think I’ll go where it suits me Moving out to the Country With everyone, oh everyone Before we all become one

In Moonlight Guide Us, the new song in the aptly named War Song update, Artemis (who Ashley also provides the singing voice for) intones twice:

Moonlight, guide us home tonight In shadow, all are one

...

Moonlight, guide you home tonight In shadow, all are one

Among all the other Transistor references, this juxtaposition strikes me as....pretty interesting.

What’s next?

Do Supergiant’s games usually come down on the side of conflict and war?

Or preserving the status quo?

There’s no way to permanently return to how things were in Bastion due to an ongoing genocide. The Commonwealth in Pyre won’t persist no matter what choices you make. The people of Cloud Bank are lost before Transistor even begins. And Hades’ rebellious prince brings sweeping change to the Underworld while carefully avoiding a war with his Olympian relatives.

What's the status quo of Hades 2?

Mel has never known her immediate family, and is a weapon forged to win the war with Chronos. Various people she knows and cares about are suffering under not only her grandfather, but under curses laid by her allies and relatives. All while Hecate reigns as the supreme authority over the resistance effort.

Could all these nods to Transistor be the set up for how Hades 2 will break its own status quo? Could Mel be in for an ending similar to Red’s? (Albeit one that’s hopefully much less tragic?)

What is Cloud Bank? Its nature's ambiguous. The names of the techniques you use, the Backdoors, the way the Process works and the unlimited control Red gains over the city at the end all suggest it’s not strictly real. Perhaps virtual? Or digital? But maybe not the real, physical world.

And…well, isn't Melinoë a goddess of nightmares?

In Hades 2 thus far, her grandfather somehow returned and took everything from her in her infancy, Hecate's tutelage made her a single-minded warrior with little to no sense of self, and the Unseen are trying to end a war between branches of Mel’s family that's heavily hinted to not have a good ending.

To say nothing about us players: many of us got quite attached to the House of Hades and the Underworld's inhabitants. And so we worked to give them the happy reunions that their myths and the game itself denied them. We worked to renovate and improve the House itself. And we worked to peacefully bring together the Chthonic and Olympic gods.

And now all the rewards of our time and emotional investment? Unceremoniously undone.

All of that sounds like a nightmare, doesn't it?

And if it is…

Is the only way out….for Mel to wake up?

[heavenlytouches]

Maybe a weird one but can I get Joyce Byers mom teaching u to cook? Thank you

Hi love <3 and noo, don't worry it's not weird! It's really really sweet :) I loove Winona Ryder so let's goo ^^ El <3

Joyce Byers- a pinch of love

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

GN reader

<3 (SFW)

TW-none

MOM! Joyce Byers

my mommy issues TwT istg

Joyce Byers

The aroma of garlic and sautéed onions fills the air in the Byers’ kitchen, mingling with the famous 80’s tune blaring from the old transistor radio that sits on the countertop.

The soft, syrupy notes of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” play a comforting backdrop to the busy scene unfolding in the dimly lit kitchen. You take a moment to lean against the doorframe, watching your mother, Joyce Byers, expertly chop vegetables with a smile that could light up even the darkest of rooms.

“Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to help me make the best lasagna in Hawkins?”

She calls playfully, her voice riddled with laughter and a hint of sarcasm. You can’t help but chuckle to yourself.

"Yes ma'am. Your co-worker is ready for business!"

You say, playfully and smile at your mom, listening to Cyndi filling the kitchen with beautiful positive energy.

This is the kind of moment you live for—just the two of you, no upside-down monsters lurking around, no government experiments to worry about, just a mother and child soaking up the warmth of a shared moment.

You step into the kitchen, your sneakers squeaking against the linoleum flooring. The walls are painted a soothing shade of pale yellow, adorned with sunflowers—Joyce's favorite. The retro appliances hum softly, and you smile, recalling how she often tells stories of their quirky past when she bought each one.

You take your place at the kitchen island, pulling on the apron she handed you—one covered in cartoon cats that always makes you laugh, no matter how many times you wear it.

Joyce gives you a look of approval as she dusts her hands on her apron, the fabric twinkling with bits of flour and an assortment of spices.

“Okay, first things first-”

She says, leaning closer, her eyes twinkling.

“Cooking is like magic, and the kitchen is our world of enchantment. You’ve got to put your heart into every dish.”

With a quick flick of her wrist, she picks up a clove of garlic, handing it to you.

“Can you crush this for me?”

You nod, grabbing a knife and awkwardly trying to replicate what she effortlessly does.

"Am I doing it right?"

You ask as she looks at you, her eyes full of love.

“Don’t smash it like it owes you money.”

She teases, her laughter ringing through the room. It’s infectious, and soon you are both giggling, the tension of the day melting away.

Joyce pulls out a cookbook from a shelf—its spine cracked, pages stained with a bit of sauce and love.

“This is my secret weapon..”

She whispers, as if sharing a grand secret with you.

“The better the recipe, the more you can improvise!”

As you dive deeper into the culinary journey, she shares with you little tidbits about her childhood, her dreams, and how even the most mundane ingredients can bring family together.

You chop, mix, and taste, dodging flour clouds materializing as she playfully throws a pinch at you, exclaiming-

“The more, the merrier!”

Amid the laughter, there’s a moment of seriousness as she lights a cigarette, the smoke curling up like a ghost.

“Never lose your ability to be silly, sweetheart.."

She says thoughtfully, her voice a blend of bravado and vulnerability.

“Life can be tough, but laughter is the best seasoning.”

You nod, absorbed in her words. It’s these little life lessons that cement your bond, making you realize that cooking is more than just about the food—it’s about sharing love through every layer, every flavor.

"You always know how to make me feel better mom."

You add, smiling to her as she takes another drag of her cigarette.

"Also, does Cyndi help while making food?

You smile, Joyce laughing with you. She sees you're just like her.

As the lasagna bubbles away in the oven, Joyce retrieves a couple of glasses from the cupboard, and pours a splash of grape soda for you both—simple pleasures that feel straight out of an adventure movie.

“Did I ever tell you how I used to dance to Prince in the living room while making dinner?”

She asks, her expression mischievous.

“I think I heard that story, like, a hundred times."

You reply with a smile, taking a sip and savoring the sweetness. But you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Each retelling brings you closer to understanding your mom—the woman with a propensity for wild hair and wild dreams.

Before long, the timer dings, and Joyce lifts the lasagna from the oven, its cheesy aroma filling the space like a warm blanket. She turns, her eyes sparkling with pride.

“You ready for the best meal ever?”

You burst out in enthusiastic agreement, your heart swelling. Moments like these turn the chaos of everyday life into treasured memories.

As you sit down to eat, laughter continues to resonate between you, a symphony of flavor and familial bond filling the room.

In this cozy kitchen, surrounded by the essence of the 80’s and the unmistakable warmth of love, you realize that you’re learning more than how to cook; you’re learning about life, connection, and family—one delicious meal at a time.

Yaaaaaay women in my requests!! I loved this one so so much. I hope y'all liked it too. I can write anything for any character babes and don't forget- requests are always open and welcome <33

I love you guys so much

El <3

(all images were made by: El via canva & paint)

[daggerzine]

MY FAVORITE RECORDS OF 2024!

MY FAVORITE RECORDS OF 2024 (in no particular order)

Chime School- The Boy Who Ran the Paisley Hotel (Slumberland)

Mary Timony- Untame the Tiger (Merge)

Weak Signal- fine (12XU)

Dummy- Free Energy (Trouble in Mind)

The Softies- The Bed I Made (Father Daughter)

The Tyde- Season 5 (Spiritual Pajamas)

Best Bets- The Hollow Husk of Feeling (Meritorio)

Jessica Pratt- Here in the Pitch (Mexican Summer)

Ducks Ltd- Harms Way (Carpark)

Peter Perrett- The Cleansing (Domino)

The Sharp Pins- Radio DDR (self released)

Lightheaded- Combustible Gems (Slumberland)

Beachwood Sparks- Across the River of Stars (Curation)

The Reds, Pinks and Purples- Unwishing Well (Slumberland)

The Infinites- Archetypes (Meritorio)

The Lemon Twigs- A Dream is All We Know (Captured Tracks)

Redd Kross- S/T (in the Red)

Yea-Ming and the Rumors- I Can't Have it All (Dandy Boy)

Humdrum- Every Heaven (Slumberland)

Jim Nothing- Grey Eyes Grey Lynn (Meritorio)

WAIT HERE'S 20 MORE!

Lovejoy- ..and it's love! (Shelflife/Spinout Nuggets)

Class - A Healthy Alternative (Feel It Records)

Bloodstains- S/T (self released)

The Hard Quartet- S/T (Matador)

Michael Head & the Red Elastic Band- Loophole (Modern Sky)

The Resonars- Electricity Plus (self released)

Mythical Motors- Seven is Circular (self released)

Sad Eyed Beatniks- Ten Brocades (Meritorio)

Club 8- A Year with Club 8 (self released)

Torrey- S/T (Slumberland)

Pale Lights- Waverly Place Jigsaw)

The BVs- Taking Pictures of Taking Pictures (Shelflife)

Deep Tunnel Project- S/T (Comedy Minus One)

Mt.Misery- Love In Mind (Prefect)

Winged Wheel- Big Hotel (12XU)

Lunchbox- Pop and Circumstance (Slumberland)

Tears Run Rings- Everything in the End (Shelflife)

Nada Surf- Moon Mirror (New West)

Savak- Flavors of Paradise (Ernest Jenning)

Kevin Robertson- The Call of the Sea (Futureman)

AAAAAAND....HERE'S 10 MORE!

Steve Wynn- Make It Right (Fire)

Pernice Brothers- Who Will You Believe (New West)

Laughing- Because It's Better (Celluloid Lunch)

Outer World- Who Does the Music Love? (HHBTM)

Rachel Love-  Lyra (The Cat Collects)

Wussy- Cincinnati Ohio (Shake It)

The Armoires- Octoberland (Big Stir Records)

Boyracer- Seaside Riot (Emotional Response

Being Dead- Eels (Bayonet)

Quivers- Oyster Cuts (Merge)

I ALSO REALLY LIKED RECORDS BY:  2nd Grade, Mo Dotti, Water Damage, The Folk Implosion, The Umbrellas, Laughing, Lupe Citta, Feeling Figures, Flowertown, Trust Fund, Chimers, Smashing Times, Ned Collette, Kim Deal, Metz, Sleveens, Cathedral Ceilings, Soup Activists, Bill Ryder-Jones, Neutrals, Pete Astor, Buffalo Tom, GospelBeach, The Shop Window, Lions of the Interstate,  The Caraway, Extra Arms, J. Robbins,  The Grain Hoppers, The Yellow Melodies, Mark Bacino, The Proctors, Penny Arcade, Magic Fig, Seasonal Falls, The Reflectors, Chanel Beads, etc. 

MY 15 FAVORITE REISSUES/COLLECTIONS OF 2O24

The Saints- I'm Stranded box set (In the Red)

Galaxie 500- Uncollected Noise New York '88-'90 (20/20/20)

Shop Assistants- S/T (Chrysalis)

Birdie- Some Dusty (Slumberland)

The Rain Parade- Emergency Third Rail Power Trip (Label 51)

The Ladybug Transistor- Albermarle Sound (Merge)

Love Child-Never Meant To Be (1988-1993) (12XU)

Velocity Girl- Ultracopacetic (Sub Pop)

East Village- Drop Out (Heavenly)

A Girl Called Eddy- S/T (Last Night From Glasgow)

David Kilgour- A Feather in the Engine (Merge)

Linda Smith- Nothin Else Matters (Captured Tracks)

The Fluid- Clear Black Paper (Sub Pop)

Drop 19's- Delaware (Wharf Cat)

High Llamas- Hawaii (Drag City)

MY 5 FAVORITE EPS OF 2024!

R.E. Seraphin- Fool's Mate (Safe Suburban Home/ Take a Turn) 

Finnogun's Wake- Stay Young (What's Your Rupture)

Cori Elba- Full Stop (self released)

Slack Times- Gone Things (Meritorio)

Surfing Pointers- S/T (BirthDIY)

[czytling]

CMxDC Day 1 @criminalmindsxdc

Better Call Constantine || Supernatural Unsub || Magic User!BAU Agent || "Wheels up!"

Also Day 5: Identity reveal

Inspired by "The Black Queens C.D" by Misfit_Writer (cmxdc2024, on ao3)

----

Authors note: I am trying out a new style called describing sound only. let's where this gets me.

----

Moore's law

Information science: law that states that number of transistors in a closed circle double every two years.

Business slang: law implying that the amount of available information double every two years

------

"Everyone, shut up! Robin to the left. Birds, brief on your own for now. Everyone else, Oracle is busy tonight, no questions, see you tomorrow. Emergency only."

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beeeiiip. Beeeiiip. "Copy." "Yes." "Camera clear." Bip.bip.bip. Status critical. Beep. Beeeiiip. "Just a moment!" "No, Nightwing!" "Robin to the left." "Birds of Prey reporting for mission in keystone city." "Left Robin, that is not left!" "Huntress, not now." Critical. "O, copy data?" Critical. Bip. 'O, have you' 'O, can you check' Bip. Beep. [Transmission blocked: too many people on the line] Beeiiip. Crit...

Critical. Critical.

[Quick typing] [Quicker typing]

Overload stopped.

Beep. Beep. Beeiiip. Beeiip. Bip. Beep. Bip.bip.

[Typing]

Beeiiip. Bip. Bip. Beeiiip.

[Typing]

[Momentary silence]

Bippibip. Bippibip. Bibip. Bibip.

"Uhhhh this is too much! Damiit!"

New case: information analysis: preliminary: serial killer: location: New York, Minneapolis, Jump City, Kansas, New Orleans, Seattle: priority: urgent.

[Frustrated exhale. Sound of a head hitting something hard]

"Not another one!"

Details: conflicting. Resolution: unclear motive. Free operatives: none.

[Defeated sigh]

"I guess this calls for extra help"

-------

Quantico, BAU headquarters, Penelope Garcia's room

"What! No, no, no, no, no. Got you. Wait, no. Nearly. Shit! Ok, just a bit. And there! They are out!"

[Sound of popup window appearing]

"Fuck!"

Greetings Black Queen. Congratulations for your job at BAU, FBI. Here is some information that may interest you. The link is safe. Oracle.

"Hooolyy..."

"Hotch, come here for a minute, please!"

-----

Quantico, BAU headquarters, common space

"As previously mentioned, due to lack of current cases at the moment, we are taking the case based on material sent us by Oracle. They are an information broker, and all of information has been confirmed by Garcia to be valid. New victims appear all over the country, so for now familiarise yourself with those packets and be ready for wheels up immediately when we get notice of a new victim."

"Ough, this is gruesome. Uuuh. Hotch, any confirmation on the cause of death?"

"The victims all had 3rd degree burns or higher. Method of burning is unclear and does not fit any of the most common types, at least according to coroners."

[Lenghty silence. Papers shuffling.]

"This is illogical. The dates on those files must be mistaken. There is no possibility an unsub travelled across the country this fast. Not accounting for the maximum speed of an airplane."

"Pen?"

"Confirming... no, indeed. The travel plans do not fit any recorded flight plans and the unsub moves too fast between cities to travel by any other transportation system."

"..."

"So multiple unsubs with common modus operandi then? I guess this would mean... but there is no visible variation in method...

[Converation continues, typing]

"This doesn't make any sense. Guys. Guys! Even accounting for two unsubs, there is no way they travelled between those locations in those timings. There are no planes, commercial or private, who did those or similar routes at that time."

"So three unsubs? That's ... unusual"

"Shit. New body dropped."

"Wheels up in 10."

-----

Buffalo Springs

"He was just there, how is he not here at all. We were blocking all exits, there is no way he disappeared into thin air."

"...I'd hate to be the one to suggest that, but maybe they are travelling by some sort of magical device?"

----

This is the phone number for Justice League of America. Please be aware that your talk is being recorded.

To inform about imminent or ongoing large scale international or intergalactic attack, press 1.

To inform about other incident that is currently life-threatening, press 2.

To inform about non life-threatening incidents, press 3.

For claims and complaints against JLA, press 4.

For media comments, press 5.

For JL applications and nominations, press 6.

For League members and adjacent who forgot their credentials and how to call an interleague number, why are we even working with you? Press 7

For other matters press 8.

[Key clicks]

Beep. If you are a league member reporting an incident, press 1.

If you are a federal agency member, press 2.

[Key clicks]

If the matter requires immediate attention to be contained, press 1.

If the matter is contained by proves too dangerous for you to continue, press 2.

If the matter requires specialised skills, press 3.

[Key clicks]

If magic skills are needed, press 1.

[Key clicks]

Describe your issue.

"We obtained Intel on interstate serial killer. He has been escalating and is liable to kill again within next 10 hours maximum. He is travelling between locations at speed suggesting use of magic. We request a consult with magic user."

Your issue is too complex. Please wait for a consultant on the line.

The next free consultant is the Oracle.

Beep.

Oracle on the line. How may I help you.

"Oracle? As in the information broker? Since when are you part of JLA?!"

Since nearly the beginning. I am brokering information on behalf of justice league. Is this call related to the cases I sent you?

"Yes, actually, we connected many of those cases. It's a single unsub, using fire to kill his victims, expected male, late 20s to early 30s, white, attractive. He moves between locations too fast to be possible for a non-magical user. And he is liable to kill again within next 10 hours. We need a magical user to contain magic causing him to travel so he can be apprehended."

Understood. [Pause] A magic user will be with you shortly.

Beep. [Distant, sound similar to hearing somebody else's call in the background through a phone call] Calling John Constantine. Calling John Constantine. Beep. [Sharp intake of breath. Muttered "I'm too tired for this. Further sound muted]

John Constantine will be with you shortly. Have a pleasant day.

Beep. Beep. [Disconnect sound].

"Well, I guess that is that."