#building plans online software

[insurance-brokers-india]

What are the next steps after obtaining an insurance broker license, and how can you generate potential leads using Mzapp CRM software?

Congratulations on securing your insurance broker license! The journey doesn’t end here; it’s just the beginning of building a successful insurance brokerage. Here’s how you can proceed and leverage Mzapp CRM software to find potential leads:

Steps After Getting Your Insurance Broker License

Understand Your Market: Research your target audience (individuals, businesses, or specific sectors).

Develop a Business Plan: Set goals for client acquisition, revenue, and operational processes.

Build a Network: Partner with insurance providers and attend industry events to establish your presence.

Create an Online Presence: Build a professional website and maintain active profiles on social platforms.

Offer Value-Added Services: Educate customers on policies, claims management, and risk assessments.

Using Mzapp CRM Software to Generate Leads

Lead Capture: Utilize Mzapp’s integrated forms and web tracking tools to capture inquiries from your website or social media.

Automated Follow-Ups: Set up personalized email and SMS follow-ups to nurture leads effectively.

Lead Scoring: Prioritize leads based on their interaction history, ensuring you focus on high-potential prospects.

Data-Driven Campaigns: Use analytics to identify what works and launch targeted campaigns.

Seamless Policy Management: Impress leads by showcasing how smoothly you manage policies and claims through Mzapp.

Why Choose Mzapp CRM?

Mzapp CRM simplifies lead management, streamlines operations, and provides insights into customer behavior, making it easier to convert prospects into loyal clients.

Learn more about how Mzapp can transform your insurance business here.

[empty-movement]

Welcome to Something Eternal: A Website Forum in 2023 wtf lmao

It's 2023, and a single belligerent rich guy destroyed one of the primary focal points of uh...global communication. Tumblr is, shockingly, kinda thriving despite the abuse it gets from its owners, but that I will call the iconic refusal of Tumblr users to let Tumblr get in the way of their using Tumblr. Reddit killed its API, removing the functionality of mobile apps that made it remotely readable (rip rif.) Discord, our current primary hangout, has made countless strange choices lately that indicate it has reached the summit of its usability and functionality, and can only decline from here as changes get made to prepare for shareholders. (NOTE: WROTE THIS POST BEFORE THEIR MOBILE "REDESIGN" LMAO)

The enshittification is intense, and it's coming from every direction. Social media platforms that felt like permanent institutions are instead slowly going to let fall fallow incredible amounts of history, works of art, thought, and fandoms. It kinda sucks!

A couple years ago, I posted about a new plan with a new domain, to focus on the archiving of media content, as I saw that to be the fatal weakness of the current ways the internet and fandoms work. Much has happened since to convince me to alter the direction of those efforts, though not abandon them entirely.

Long story short? We are launching a fucking website forum. In 2023.

If you remember In the Rose Garden, much about Something Eternal will be familiar. But this has been a year in the making, and in many ways it's far more ambitious than IRG was. We have put money on this. The forum is running on the same software major IT and technology businesses use, because I don't want the software to age out of usability within five years. It has an attached gallery system for me to post content to, including the Chiho Saito art collection. It has a profile post system that everyone already on the forum has decided is kinda like mini Twitter? But it is, fundamentally, a website forum, owned and run and moderated by us. We are not web devs. But we have run a website on pure spite and headbutting code for over twenty years, and we have over a decade of experience maintaining social spaces online, both on the OG forum, and on our Discord. Better skilled people with far more time than we have can and will build incredible alternatives to what is collapsing around us. But they're not in the room right now. We are. And you know what? Maybe it's time to return to a clunkier, slower moving, more conversation focused platform.

You're not joining a social media platform with the full polish of dozens of devs and automated moderation. Things might break, and I might need time to fix them. The emojis and such are still a work in progress. Because e-mails no longer route in reasonable normal ways, the sign-up process instead happens within the software, and has to be approved by mods. Design and structure elements may change. Etc. The point being, that the forum isn't finished, but it is at a place where I feel like I can present it to people, and it's people I need to help direct what functions and things will be in this space. You all will shape its norms, its traditions, its options...choices I could try to make now, but really...they're for us to create as a group! But the important stuff? That's there. Now let's drive this baby off the damn lot already!

Come! Join us!!

PS. As always, TERFs and Nazis need not apply.

[leatherfaggotgayscally]

The New Life

Martin had always been the quiet, unassuming type. A software engineer by trade, his days were spent coding, sipping black coffee, and meticulously planning every moment of his life. His evenings were reserved for gaming marathons, vinyl record sessions, or quietly nurturing his bonsai tree. Moving into a small flat on the outskirts of Birmingham was supposed to be a practical step, a chance to save money and focus on work.

The flat wasn’t much, but Martin liked its simplicity. The only peculiar thing was the landlord, a man he had never met. The lease was finalized online, and the key had been left in a lockbox. Every question Martin emailed received curt, almost cryptic replies signed simply, “J.”

One late night, after staying up to debug an infuriating piece of code, Martin collapsed into bed, still wearing his plain grey hoodie and jeans. He drifted off immediately, his laptop humming softly on his desk.

When he woke, his world had changed.

The first thing he noticed was the weight on his chest. Groggily, Martin looked down and saw a thick, gleaming gold chain resting against a black Nike tracksuit. The outfit was completed by a black puffer jacket and a pair of pristine white Nike TNs on his feet.

Panicking, Martin stumbled out of bed and caught his reflection in the mirror. His neatly combed hair was gone, replaced by a sharp buzz cut. His room, once spotless, was a wreck—empty takeaway containers, cans of lager, and scraps of paper were strewn everywhere. His laptop was missing, replaced by a battered Bluetooth speaker blaring grime music at low volume.

His heart racing, Martin snatched his phone off the bedside table, only to find it completely wiped. All his apps, contacts, and files were gone. The only thing left was a single number saved under the name “J.”

Trembling, he pressed the call button.

“’Bout bloody time,” a deep, gravelly voice answered on the first ring. “Come ‘round the back o’ the block. We need a word.”

“Who are you? What’s going on?” Martin stammered.

“Quit yappin’ and get yer arse down here, mate.” The call ended abruptly.

Martin didn’t know why, but he felt compelled to obey. Pulling on the puffer jacket, he stepped into the cold evening air and walked around the back of the building.

There, leaning casually against the wall, was a man in a black puffer jacket and trackies. He was smoking a cigarette, his buzzed head gleaming in the faint glow of the streetlight. His posture was relaxed, but something about him radiated authority.

“’Ere he is,” the man said with a smirk, exhaling a cloud of smoke. “Sleep well, bruv?”

Martin stared. “Are you… J?”

“That’s what they call me,” the man said, tapping ash off his cigarette. “So, what d’ya think of yer new look?”

“I hate it!” Martin snapped. “What is this? I didn’t ask for this. I don’t want this!”

Jay laughed, his voice rough and mocking. “Come off it, lad. Don’t act like you’re not buzzin’. I’ve seen yer socials, seen all them scally pages you follow. Don’t lie to me.”

Martin’s cheeks flushed. He had spent hours scrolling through photos of lads in tracksuits, admiring their swagger and confidence. But that didn’t mean he wanted to be one.

“This isn’t me,” he insisted, backing away.

Jay took a slow drag of his cigarette and stepped closer. His voice dropped to a low, commanding tone. “Stop pretendin’, mate. This is who you’ve always wanted to be. Now, take a drag o’ this cig and let it sink in.”

“I don’t smoke,” Martin mumbled.

Jay raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. “Didn’t ask if you did, did I? Now, stop bein’ soft and take it.”

Martin hesitated, but Jay’s imposing presence was too much. Slowly, he took the cigarette. He brought it to his lips, inhaling deeply. The smoke burned his throat, making him cough, but as he exhaled, everything began to shift.

A strange warmth spread through his body. His muscles tensed and grew, filling out the tracksuit. His back straightened, and his posture shifted to one of casual confidence.

Jay chuckled, clapping Martin on the shoulder. “There ya go, lad. Told ya it’d suit ya.”

Over the next few days, Martin’s life unraveled completely. He quit his office job without a second thought. “Desk jobs are for nerds,” he scoffed when Jay asked him about it. Instead, he took up a hard labor gig at a nearby warehouse. The pay was awful, but Martin didn’t care. He liked the physicality of it, the way it made him feel strong and capable.

Every night, Jay would knock on his door, and they’d head out together. They’d hang around the estate or outside the local chippy, blasting grime music and chatting with Jay’s mates. At first, Martin felt out of place, but as the nights went on, he began to embrace it.

He started rolling cigarettes with ease, perfecting his swagger, and adjusting his tracksuit to show off his gold chain. He even picked up a thick Brummie slang, finding himself talking more like Jay and less like his old, nerdy self.

His flat became a reflection of his new life—messy, lively, and filled with the sound of music and laughter. The Martin who once prided himself on his orderliness and ambition was gone.

One evening, as they leaned against a wall under a dim streetlight, Jay passed him another cigarette.

“Told ya, lad,” Jay said with a smirk. “This is where you belong.”

Martin lit the cigarette, exhaling a plume of smoke as he nodded. His gold chain glinted in the light, and his buzzed head shone faintly. “Yeah,” he said with a cocky grin. “You were right, mate.”

The transformation was complete. The quiet, bookish Martin was no more. In his place stood a confident scally lad, unbothered and unapologetic.

[gaza-giving-tree]

Imagine planning your future with the person you love—your wedding, your home, your life together—only to have it all destroyed in an instant by war.

Imagine losing your home, your job, and your sense of safety, and watching your dreams turn to ashes while you struggle just to survive.

For Yossef, this is his heartbreaking reality.

@yosef-gaza113

Story written by @rumiandroses

Yossef, a 24-year-old from Gaza, once lived a life filled with hope and joy. He had a steady job as an accountant, a warm home, and a bright future planned with his fiancée, Ruba. They were eagerly looking forward to their wedding, set for February 2024—a celebration of love and unity. But the devastating effects of war have shattered all those dreams.

The bombing of Gaza stripped Yossef and his family of everything they held dear. Their home, once a sanctuary, was reduced to rubble. His job, a source of pride and stability, disappeared as the company where he worked ceased operations. Now displaced, Yossef, his family of 12, and his fiancée’s family are struggling to survive in temporary shelters, scattered and unable to reunite easily due to the cost and danger of travel.

Ruba, a bright and ambitious young woman studying software engineering, has also seen her life upended. Her family’s home and all her belongings, including her wedding dress, were destroyed. The cost of her online education, once a beacon of hope, has become an impossible burden. Both she and Yossef are determined to create a better future, but they lack the resources to move forward.

For two years, they’ve clung to the dream of getting married and building a life together, but that dream feels increasingly out of reach. They have no home, no income, and no means to afford Ruba’s education or even basic necessities. Despite all this, they remain steadfast in their hope and are reaching out for help.

Yossef and Ruba’s story is one of resilience and love in the face of unimaginable hardship. They are asking for support to rebuild their lives—support that can help provide shelter, continue Ruba’s education, and restore the future they’ve been fighting to hold onto.

Every donation, no matter how small, is a step toward reuniting this young couple and helping them create a life filled with the love and security they deserve. Please consider donating to their campaign and sharing their story. Together, we can make a difference.

You can donate to Youssef's Chuffed campaign [HERE].

UPDATE (12/25/24):

This morning, I received a message from Youssef. He is just $350 away from being able to evacuate to safety from recent attacks. This is such an attainable goal if we band together! Please consider donating, and if you’re unable to, sharing his story can make all the difference. Thank you! 🙏

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing an oc that's a streamer?

Writing Notes: Streamer Characters

Live Streamer

Also livestreamer or online streamer

Someone who makes videos that show them playing computer games, talking about products, or doing other activities, and streams them (i.e., puts them on the internet) at the same time as they are being made.

An individual who broadcasts real-time video content over the internet, engaging with an audience through online platforms.

Transmits live or on-demand audio or video content while users listen or watch.

Livestreams are deployed over various platforms, including social media platforms like YouTube Live, Facebook Live, Twitter, Instagram Live, and TikTok, as well as through professional business services, such as Kaltura and Dacast.

Unlike pre-recorded videos, live streams occur in the moment, allowing viewers to interact with the streamer through chat functions and other interactive features.

This immediacy creates a dynamic and engaging experience for both the streamer and the audience.

Live streamers cover a wide range of content:

playing video games,

hosting talk shows,

conducting interviews,

cooking,

crafting, and

live vlogging daily activities.

The versatility of live streaming content means that streamers can find their niche and build a community around shared interests.

Successful live streamers often cultivate a loyal following by maintaining a consistent streaming schedule, engaging directly with their viewers, and creating a sense of community.

What your Character does as a Live Streamer

Content Creation: Live streamers plan, prepare, and execute engaging live broadcasts. They choose topics or activities that resonate with their audience, maintain a consistent streaming schedule, and ensure that their content is entertaining and relevant to their viewers.

Audience Interaction: Interacting with viewers in real-time is a key responsibility. Streamers engage through live chat, responding to comments, questions, and feedback during the stream. They foster a sense of community by acknowledging and involving their audience, using interactive features like polls, Q&A sessions, and shout-outs to enhance viewer engagement.

Technical Management: Managing technical aspects is crucial to a successful stream. This includes setting up and maintaining streaming equipment such as cameras, microphones, lighting, and streaming software. Streamers must ensure a stable internet connection, troubleshoot technical issues promptly, and optimize stream quality to deliver a seamless viewing experience.

Monetization: Monetizing their channels is an important aspect for many streamers. This can involve receiving viewer donations, earning subscriptions (e.g., Twitch subscriptions), securing sponsorships and partnerships with brands, and generating revenue through advertising. Streamers may also leverage merchandise sales, affiliate marketing, or exclusive content to diversify their income streams.

Community Building: Building and nurturing a community around their content is essential. Streamers cultivate a loyal following by creating a welcoming environment, engaging with viewers regularly, and participating in community events or collaborations. They may also moderate chat and ensure a positive and inclusive atmosphere during streams.

Continuous Improvement: Successful streamers constantly strive to improve their content and grow their audience. They analyze viewer analytics to understand audience preferences and trends, experiment with new content formats or streaming techniques, and stay updated with industry trends and platform changes to maintain relevance and competitiveness in the streaming space.

What Type of Live Streamer is your Character?

Live streamers can be categorized into various types based on the content they stream and the communities they engage with. Here are some common types:

Gaming Streamers: Gaming streamers focus on playing and broadcasting video games live to their audience. They may specialize in specific genres such as first-person shooters, role-playing games, or multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs). Gaming streamers entertain viewers with their gameplay skills, commentary, and interactions with their audience through live chat.

IRL (In Real Life) Streamers: IRL streamers share their real-life experiences and activities in real-time. They broadcast everyday activities such as traveling, exploring new places, attending events, or participating in challenges. IRL streamers often engage their audience by interacting with them while showcasing their daily routines or special events happening in their lives.

Talk Show and Podcast Streamers: Talk show and podcast streamers host live discussions, interviews, or debates on various topics of interest. They invite guests or panelists to join their streams, engaging with them and their audience through insightful conversations and debates. Talk show streamers may cover topics ranging from politics and current events to pop culture and entertainment.

Creative Streamers: Creative streamers focus on showcasing their artistic talents and skills live. They create art, music, crafts, or digital designs while interacting with their audience. Creative streamers often provide tutorials, share their creative process, and take viewer suggestions or requests for their next project.

Music Streamers: Music streamers perform live music sessions, DJ sets, or music production sessions for their audience. They may cover popular songs, perform original compositions, or engage in interactive music creation with their viewers. Music streamers often use platforms that allow them to receive song requests and interact with their audience in real-time.

Fitness and Sports Streamers: Fitness and sports streamers broadcast live workouts, training sessions, or sports events. They provide exercise routines, fitness tips, and motivation to their audience while demonstrating exercises or participating in sports activities. Fitness streamers may also engage in challenges or competitions with their viewers.

Educational Streamers: Educational streamers conduct live tutorials, lectures, or workshops on topics such as science, technology, languages, or academic subjects. They share knowledge, answer viewer questions in real-time, and provide interactive learning experiences through demonstrations or experiments.

Cooking Streamers: Cooking streamers broadcast live cooking sessions where they prepare recipes, share cooking tips, and engage with their audience while demonstrating culinary techniques. They may also take viewer suggestions for recipes or cooking challenges, creating a community around food and culinary arts.

What Would your Character's Workplace Look Like?

The workplace of a live streamer is typically centered around creating a conducive environment for broadcasting engaging and interactive content.

Unlike traditional office settings, live streamers often work from home or a dedicated studio space that they have set up for streaming purposes.

This space is vital for maintaining control over the streaming setup and creating a comfortable atmosphere conducive to content creation.

At home, live streamers often have a designated area or room where they set up their streaming equipment.

This might include a high-quality camera, microphone, lighting rigs, and a powerful computer or gaming console capable of handling streaming software and gameplay simultaneously.

The setup is tailored to their specific streaming needs, ensuring optimal audiovisual quality and reliability during broadcasts.

Beyond the physical setup, the digital workspace of a live streamer involves managing streaming software, interacting with viewers through chat functions, and monitoring analytics in real-time.

This requires multitasking skills to engage with the audience while focusing on gameplay, discussion topics, or other content being streamed.

Streamers also use this digital space to collaborate with moderators, manage community interactions, and coordinate special events or collaborations with other content creators.

Some Streaming Strategies your Character Could Use

Makes their livestream unique

Focuses on their livestream audience’s needs

Surprises their livestream audience

Promotes their livestream

Interacts with their viewers

Tells viewers what to do at the end of a livestream (e.g., see more content, attend an event)

Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 ⚜ More: Writing Notes & References

Hope this helps with your writing!

[mariacallous]

Centibillionaire Elon Musk’s takeover of the former US Digital Service—now the United States DOGE Service—has been widely publicized and sanctioned by one of President Donald Trump’s many executive orders. But WIRED reporting shows that Musk’s influence extends even further, and into an even more consequential government agency.

Sources within the federal government tell WIRED that the highest ranks of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)—essentially the human resources function for the entire federal government—are now controlled by people with connections to Musk and to the tech industry. Among them is a person who, according to an online résumé, was set to start college last fall.

Scott Kupor, a managing partner at the powerful investment firm Andreessen Horowitz, stands as Trump’s nominee to run the OPM. But already in place, according to sources, are a variety of people who seem ready to carry out Musk’s mission of cutting staff and disrupting the government.

Amanda Scales is, as has been reported, the new chief of staff at the OPM. She formerly worked in talent for xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence company, according to her LinkedIn. Before that, she was part of the talent and operations team at Human Capital, a venture firm with investments in the defense tech startup Anduril and the political betting platform Kalshi; before that, she worked for years at Uber. Her placement in this key role, experts believe, seems part of a broader pattern of the traditionally apolitical OPM being converted to use as a political tool.

“I don't think it's alarmist to say there's a much more sophisticated plan to monitor and enforce loyalty than there was in the first term,” says Don Moynihan, a professor of public policy at the University of Michigan.

Got a Tip?

Are you a current or former employee with the Office of Personnel Management or another government agency impacted by Elon Musk? We’d like to hear from you. Using a nonwork phone or computer, contact Vittoria Elliott at vittoria_elliott@wired.com or securely at velliott88.18 on Signal.

Sources say that Riccardo Biasini, formerly an engineer at Tesla and most recently director of operations for the Las Vegas Loop at the Boring Company, Musk’s tunnel-building operation, is also at the OPM as a senior adviser to the director. (Steve Davis, the CEO of the Boring Company, is rumored to be advising Musk on cuts to be made via DOGE and was integral in Musk’s gutting of Twitter, now X, after his takeover of the company in 2022.)

According to the same sources, other people at the top of the new OPM food chain include two people with apparent software engineering backgrounds, whom WIRED is not naming because of their ages. One, a senior adviser to the director, is a 21-year-old whose online résumé touts his work for Palantir, the government contractor and analytics firm cofounded by billionaire Peter Thiel, who is its chair. (The former CEO of PayPal and a longtime Musk associate, Thiel is a Trump supporter who helped bankroll the 2022 Senate campaign of his protégé, Vice President JD Vance.) The other, who reports directly to Scales, graduated from high school in 2024, according to a mirrored copy of an online résumé and his high school’s student magazine; he lists jobs as a camp counselor and a bicycle mechanic among his professional experiences, as well as a summer role at Neuralink, Musk’s brain-computer interface company.

Among the new highers-up at the OPM is Noah Peters, an attorney whose LinkedIn boasts of his work in litigation representing the National Rifle Association and who has written for right-wing outlets like the Daily Caller and the Federalist; he is also now a senior adviser to the director. According to metadata associated with a file on the OPM website, Peters authored a January 27 memo that went out under acting OPM director Charles Ezell’s name describing how the department would be implementing one of Trump’s executive orders, “Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce.” This has to do with what’s sometimes known as Schedule F—a plan to recategorize many civil service jobs as political appointees, meaning they would be tied to the specific agenda of an administration rather than viewed as career government workers. The order would essentially allow for certain career civil servants to be removed in favor of Trump loyalists by classifying them as political appointees, a key part of the Project 2025 plan for remaking the government.

“I think on the tech side, the concern is potentially the use of AI to try and engage in large-scale searches of people's job descriptions to try and identify who would be identified for Schedule F reclassification,” says Moynihan.

Other top political appointees include McLaurine Pinover, a former communications director for Republican congressman Joe Wilson and deputy communications director for Republican congressman Michael McCaul, and Joanna Wischer, a Trump campaign speechwriter.

“OPM is not a very politicized organization,” says Steven Kelman, a professor emeritus at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. “My guess is that typically, in the past, there have been only one or maybe two political appointees in all of OPM. All the rest are career. So this seems like a very political heavy presence in an organization that is not very political.”

Another OPM memo, concerning the government’s new return-to-office mandate, appears, according to metadata, also to have been authored by someone other than Ezell: James Sherk, previously at the America First Policy Institute and author of an op-ed advocating for the president to be able to fire bureaucrats. Formerly a special assistant to the president during Trump’s first term, he is now a part of the White House Domestic Policy Council.

The return-to-office policy, according to the November Wall Street Journal op-ed authored by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, is explicitly geared toward forcing the attrition of federal employees.

Last week, many federal workers received test emails from the email address HR@opm.gov. In a lawsuit filed last night, plaintiffs allege that a new email list started by the Trump administration may be compromising the data of federal employees.

“At a broadest level, the concern is that technologists are playing a role to monitor employees and to target those who will be downsized,” says Moynihan. “It is difficult in the federal government to actually evaluate who is performing well or performing poorly. So doing it on some sort of mass automated scale where you think using some sort of data analysis or AI would automate that process, I think, is an invitation to make errors.”

Last week, federal employees across the government received emails encouraging them to turn in colleagues who they believed to be working on diversity, equity, inclusion, and access initiatives (DEIA) to the OPM via the email address DEIAtruth@opm.gov.

“This reminded me,” says Kelman, “of the Soviet Stalinism of turning in your friends to the government.”

The OPM did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did the people whom sources say now sit atop the bureaucracy.

“I am not an alarmist person,” says Kelman. “I do think that some of the things being described here are very troubling.”

[brittanyearnestauthor]

How to Write Character Goals More Effectively

As writers, creating character goals can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when we're on the spot trying to decide what drives them. To help, I’ve compiled a list of goals to inspire your character-building process and add depth to your story.

Personal Goals

Personal goals contribute to character growth and make them complex and relatable. They also bring your story to life:

- Learn a new language

- Practice mindfulness and meditation

- Develop a growth mindset

- Enhance time management skills

- Become proactive

- Master new technology or software

- Start a new craft or hobby

- Improve public speaking skills

- Build self-confidence

- Refine writing skills

- Practice communication skills

- Acquire a new skill

- Become more organized

- Accept limitations

- Hone decision-making abilities

- Cultivate gratitude

- Stay open to new opportunities

- Improve financial literacy

- Diversify cooking knowledge

- Learn to play an instrument

- Solve problems creatively

- Pick up a new sport

- Start a blog or online journal

- Learn to code or build websites

- Become a mentor

- Practice active listening

- Be more empathetic

- Forgive oneself

- Learn to say no

- Manage stress effectively

- Gain emotional control

- Develop patience

- Strengthen resilience

- Foster optimism

- Embrace change

- Live in the moment

- Enjoy simple pleasures

- Appreciate small things

- Explore creativity

Family and Friends

Improving relationships and family dynamics can add rich layers of character development and bonding moments:

- Plan a family vacation

- Spend quality time with loved ones

- Strengthen relationships

- Organize a family reunion

- Host weekly game nights

- Volunteer together

- Enhance communication skills

- Enjoy outdoor activities together

- Practice patience with others

- Expand the family

Finance

Financial goals can introduce real-world challenges that make your characters more relatable:

- Pay off debt

- Create and stick to a budget

- Invest wisely

- Save money consistently

- Consult a financial advisor

- Achieve financial freedom

- Start a side hustle or part-time job

- Negotiate better deals

- Build financial literacy

Career

Professional aspirations are key to relatable character arcs:

- Earn a promotion or raise

- Change careers

- Become their own boss

- Start a business

- Learn new career-related skills

- Network with peers in their field

- Attend career development seminars

- Volunteer professional skills

- Mentor others

- Improve their resume

Travel

Travel goals add excitement, exploration, and opportunities for plot-building:

- Visit a new country

- Explore their local area

- Embark on a road trip

- Experience a cruise

Conclusion

This list provides a starting point for creating meaningful character goals that enhance their journeys and make your story stand out. Whether you use these ideas or create your own, the key is to craft goals that resonate with your characters' personalities and ambitions.

Happy writing!

[shipburner]

Internal Family Skills, part two! This is the Firefighter (FFR) Attribute: Your capacity to resolve crises and take deliberate action in the world. Its six Skills are:

Corpsework

Deliberation

Kagandahang-Loób

Master Plan

Machine Spirits

Utang

[ Manager | Exile | Self ]

Corpsework

Practice self-care and first aid. Understand and respond to the realities of meat.

COOL FOR: Street Medics, Neurasthenics, Trans-sexuals

If you've grown up accustomed to the life of the mind and little else, Corpsework fills in the gaps. You don't need to be attentive to "hunger" or "exhaustion" or "pain": all you need to know to keep your Health pool up is the multitude of ways by which life departs from the human body. In addition to patching up wounds and scrapes, Corpsework cares for the body by routine and procedure. It keeps you clean, fed, and medicated even in the depths of depression and puts you to bed out of the knowledge that revenge bedtime will ruin your tomorrow.

At high levels, Corpsework allows you to take care of your body and others in more and more extreme conditions. You may not be able to fix the problem, but you can keep a problem stable long enough to get the patient to someone who can help. On the other hand, you'll identify health risks everywhere: every surface is potentially contaminated, every meal an exercise in nutritional "balance". But if your Corpsework is too low, you'll blunder through the world in a feeble haze, and if you do notice infirmities, you won't know what to do about them.

Deliberation

Comprehend arguments. Logic it out.

COOL FOR: Academics, Social Maladapts, the Overcautious

Deliberation is your inner skeptic. It's the voice that gets you to slow down your thought processes and ask, "Is that true?" It's great for getting good grades, figuring out the reputability of a text, identifying disordered thought patterns, not getting mad at posts online, and asking yourself if you can really jump across that gap. For you, however, it also occupies the unenviable position of trying desperately to figure out what other people mean through sheer brute-force semantics and abstract knowledge of social convention.

At high levels, Deliberation makes you a lean, mean, reasonin' machine. High on reason, you'll become obsessive about clarity at the cost of social graces, and prudent at the cost of your entire ego when you do inevitably make rash decisions. But with low Deliberation, you'll make rash decisions all the time and generally show yourself as the idiot you're so scared of being.

Kagandahang-Loób

Demonstrate mercy and forgiveness in an entropic universe. Go above and beyond.

COOL FOR: Creditors, Parents, Moral Philosophers

Kagandahang-Loób is the beauty of the will: when Kapwa recognizes the inherent togetherness of people, Kagandahang-Loób inspires generosity to others and forgiveness of debts. Kagandahang-Loób is necessary for being a good person to yourself and others: without its migitating presence, relationships would be crushed under the weight of debts that can never truly be repaid, paradoxically hastening the decay that inspires Utang in the first place. Kagandahang-Loób is a necessary moral compass -- and a powerful tool for building relationships on mutual support rather than indebtedness.

With high Kagandahang-Loób, you'll be able to easily make friends and inspire them to new heights of reciprocal generosity: through teamwork, you may even be able to fly. However, you'll find yourself easily persuaded that wrongdoers had good reasons and find it hard to take decisive action against them. With low Kagandahang-Loób, however, you'll be a literal and emotional miser, ranting about how much everyone owes you.

Machine Spirits

Interact with hardware and software. Listen to and respect your tools.

COOL FOR: Experiential Learners, Digital Natives, Girls Who Read the Manual

You are terminally non-mechanical; you balk without a user interface. If you're not constantly keeping your hand in with classroom assignments, you couldn't improvise outside of stopgap solutions. Still, technology is an essential part of humanity, and for that, you have Machine Spirits. This Skill uses humanity's great compression algorithm, ritual, to understand what a machine is doing, even if you don't understand the why; you learn from your elders (tutorial webpages), approach the machines with respect (following the steps), and enjoy a successful partnership with machines (your devices, generally speaking, function).

At high levels, Machine Spirits makes you obsessive and insecure: do you have a full collection of right tools for vaguely-defined right jobs? Can you get your laptop to do what you want if you spend another hour fucking with it? Have you stored too much of your knowledge outside of your own brain? At low levels, though, your clothes will fall apart, your bicycle will break, and your toilets will clog -- and you definitely don't have the money not to care.

Master Plan

Figure out how to achieve your goals. Control yourself and others.

COOL FOR: Functioning Executives, Evil Geniuses, The Goal-Oriented

Master Plan is a Skill of agency and delegation. Why try to take on the world yourself when you can get other people to take it on for you? Why solve other people's problems, when you can teach them how to solve their own and yours? Master Plan creates causal chains between your starting point and your goal -- not only does it show you the grand road you need to take, it'll give you options for the low road or the high road. Understanding how best to achieve your own wants also teaches you how to incentivize others, and Master Plan is more than happy to use others' wants to achieve your designs.

At high levels, Master Plan makes you arrogant -- you'll assume you know what's best for everyone and that your victory is already assured, and you won't know how to give others dignity or deal with your own failure. But without it, you'll succumb to learned helplessness, reliant on others' plans and too afraid of disturbing them to better your own position.

Utang

Keep track of debt and obligation. Employ financial literacy and historical materialism.

COOL FOR: Debtors, Negotiators, Political Animals

Utang is the understanding of debt; in you, it's an overgrown philosophical awareness that there ain't no such thing as a free lunch. That literal economic reality is rooted in the thermodynamic principle it famously describes: living as we do in an entropic universe, others expect debts to be repaid, and your own recognition of entropy creates the desire to repay debts. Not only does Utang manage your money, it opens you up to realpolitik on both literal and interpersonal levels. Utang gives you an idea of what people want, explaining the concerns that govern political action and what you can do for others to make both of you happy.

At high levels, Utang will make you see ulterior motives everywhere; treating everything as a transaction that must be balanced will ruin your personal relationships with bookkeeping and your politics with pessimism. Without it, though, you'll assume that politics and community boil down to stark moral principles -- and without a handle on your debts, you'll be too broke and alone to be able to hold to any principles of your own.

Notes

The visual design for Master Plan is based at least in part on the dual meaning of the Latin word textus, meaning both "weaving" and "narrative".

Thanks again to "Loób and Kapwa: An Introduction to a Filipino Virtue Ethics" (Reyes 2015).

[spark-hearts2]

Since Caine’s an AI and connected to a computer and in general being online for too long can be very bad for both.

But I have to ask when would Caine think to sleep? Or would it not help at all with the computer?

Also do you think Caine goes back to making horror centered adventures because he’s getting more information from it. If a player said “I hate this adventure” or “I love this adventure” and do not elaborate on the reasons for why they think that. Caine I assume would not know what to do with said information. Plus it caused more players to interact with each other.

Also have you read ‘An Amazingly Lethal Circus’ by GevaDiva20 on Ao3 before?

It’s basically the cast playing Lethal Company and trauma bonding, it’s really good I would recommend reading it and the tags especially.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/60770734/chapters/155203534

GREAT QUESTION! Ideally, runtime should not impact the performance of software. But when there's a lot of moving parts (so to speak) clutter builds up in the corners. A reset helps with that. While Caine can't take the circus offline to 100% reset everything, he can reset individual programs and restart tasks. Picture closing out of a game only to reopen it, you just restarted it without turning off/on your computer. It's not exactly the same, but it works as a quick fix.

As for when would Caine sleep, he doesn't need to but he is able to. 'Sleep' mode is a very real thing for computer (screen goes dark and it goes into power saving mode). But would it help him? Nope. He's not running off batteries, man is connected straight to the power grid. No need to conserve power. In terms of the benefits of sleep (moving memories from short term memory to long term) Caine does have to do that, but the processing and storing of data isn't a subconscious activity like it is in humans. That plus a refresh gives him all the benefits of sleep.

More horror adventures? Well, in terms of adventures I'm pretty sure that Gooseworks confirmed that episode 3 was the only 'scary' one, and I plan on following canon for the major plot points (at least for as long as I like where canon is going). So no more horror style adventures. And yes, Caine would not know what to do with positive or negative feedback without a proper explanation. He can't put himself in the perspective of the humans but he kinda sort of understands what makes a good game, so any feedback he gets is interpreted though that lens. I imagine that Caine wasn't built for humans to be stuck in the circus, so it's a classic case of 'this wasn't planned so now shits getting weird'.

I have not read An Amazing Lethal Circus! I usually avoid crossover fics unless they are highly rated. Unfortunately it's pretty hard to do a good crossover, but since you recommended it I'll give it a look.

[hoshibatake]

FREEDOM – Virtuality and Ideals/Chapter 5

Previous chapter

<An evening one week later. In the real world, Trickstudio>

Subaru: Oh. Anzu’s here! Otsukaresama¹～

Subaru: Come over here. Come laze around with us☆

Subaru: ...Huh? Work first, fun later? Oh, right. We were supposed to have a review meeting about FREEDOM.

Hokuto: Don’t tell me that you forgot.

Subaru: I remembered, but when I saw Anzu, I got so happy it slipped my mind♪

Mao: I’m glad to see her too, but isn’t that getting a bit too excited?

Mao: We’ve been seeing quite a lot of her since we started hanging out in Trickstudio regularly, don’t you think?

Subaru: You just don’t get it, Sari～. Any time you see someone you love a who~le lot is a time to be happy.

Subaru: Anzu, what’s up? ...Oh, you wanna hear about FREEDOM’s current status while we wait for Ukki～?

Hokuto: We can tell you that, but you have administrator privileges, so can’t you just check the data directly?

Hokuto: ...Fumu. You want us to be able to build freely without any worries, so you only log in when there’s an error?

Subaru: You don’t need to hold yourself back, though. You’re welcome at any time☆

Subaru: But thanks for being considerate, anyway. The current status, huh…?

Subaru: Oh, right. Our four avatars finally formed a unit～♪

Subaru: Out of their own initiative, of course. We’re Trickstar, after all☆

Hokuto: Yes. Putting the surrounding circumstances aside for a moment, I can’t help but be impressed at the realism.

Mao: Yeah, and their actions since they formed a unit have been reminiscent of ours as well. Subaru and Hokuto’s avatars have been jumping the gun, holding live performances in all sorts of places…

Mao: ...but my and Makoto’s avatars have been putting effort into city building and helping out citizens, instead of focusing purely on idol activities.

Mao: It kinda reminds me of the time when we just formed Trickstar♪

<Flashback. Five days earlier, in the information room>

Makoto: (FREEDOM is our first job of the fiscal year, so the agency must have high expectations too.)

Makoto: (In order to get good results, we first need to focus on building the city. This is my strong suit, so I’ve gotta give it my all!)

Makoto: (I’m following the plan I drafted using my experience with previous simulation games I’ve played…)

Makoto: (...but it’s pretty hard to balance it with those idol activities. A lot of things don’t turn out like I want them to.)

Makoto: (The fact that it’s not just about city building is what makes this game so interesting, but it also complicates things, so I’m having a hard time.)

Makoto: (I feel like I’m doing exactly what I should be doing, but the results don’t reflect that. Hrm…)

Makoto: (An online strategy guide would… not exist yet. Of course it wouldn’t. The game isn’t out yet, after all.)

Makoto: (I could still give looking it up on our internal network a shot. Although I really doubt I’ll find anything♪)

Makoto: (...Huh? I got a hit.)

Makoto: (“City Building Plans ‘FREEDOM’. Documentation for internal use.” ...Some of this information wasn’t in the documents we were given.)

Makoto: (Actually, it seems like I’ve stumbled upon some pretty significant information?)

Makoto: (…)

Makoto: (“Choosing idols and having them freely construct a city, using the software we developed in cooperation with this game company.”)

Makoto: (“If they are successful, that virtual city will then be built in reality”...)

Makoto: I already thought that it was strange that this job only consisted of playing a game. So that’s the plan.

Makoto: The reason why they’re letting us build this city however we want is still a mystery to me, but I never thought our city would become real…

Makoto: Actually, that’s a huge issue!

Makoto: The four of us have just been building our own versions of an ideal city, but it would by no means be an ideal city in reality!

Makoto: It’s overrun by dinosaurs and full of factories, with the occasional zombie outbreak and a theme park that’s without power most of the time. We can’t let them build that in real life!

Makoto: There’s a high chance that they would just cancel the whole thing, but I don’t want to let our first job of the year end in failure either.

Makoto: I’ll just have to correct our course, and turn it into a city we can be proud of…!

<Several days later. The dormitory, Makoto’s room>

Makoto: (…)

Makoto: (...Oof. How many all-nighters have I pulled now? I’ve lost count.)

Makoto: (By overhauling the factory area, I’ve increased the factories’ energy consumption, but now they’re less destructive to the environment.)

Makoto: (And I tore down all of the city in order to fix the infrastructure. I’ve widened the roads and improved traffic flow…)

Makoto: (I’ve built more parks, improving the citizens’ living conditions. The ambiance in the city should be much better now, but…)

Makoto: (It’s nowhere near ideal. There’s just not enough time.)

Makoto: (I feel like the career system... or rather, the idol activities that are being organized because of it are getting in the way of the development of the city.)

Makoto: (When they’re called upon, the avatars automatically start prioritizing idol activities.)

Makoto: (Their training takes up a lot of time, and when people gather for concerts, they end up leaving a big mess in the city...)

Makoto: …

Makoto: Maybe I should make the avatar ‘me’ leave Trickstar.

Makoto: I feel like their idol activities wouldn’t really change, even if ‘I’ wasn’t there. I’m sure ‘I’ would have more to contribute in terms of city building.

Makoto: The others might be a little disappointed, but I feel like this is the better option…

Makoto: But my eyelids feel so heavy… I can’t……

TL notes:

This is a standard expression used when greeting someone who has been working.

Translated by me, proofread by Altea (@icaruswasthesun on Twitter)

Next chapter

[maziijapanese]

Tips for Learning Japanese for Beginners

Learning Japanese can seem like a daunting task, but with the right approach and resources, it can also be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Whether you're interested in Japanese culture, planning a trip to Japan, or looking to expand your language skills, here are some tips to help you get started on your Japanese learning journey.

1. Start with Hiragana and Katakana

The Japanese writing system consists of three scripts: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. For beginners, mastering Hiragana and Katakana, the two phonetic alphabets, is essential. These scripts form the foundation of the Japanese language and are used in most basic texts. Practice writing and reading them daily until you become comfortable.

2. Learn Basic Phrases and Greetings

Begin with simple phrases and greetings to build your confidence and start communicating right away. Phrases like "こんにちは" (Konnichiwa - Hello), "ありがとう" (Arigatou - Thank you), and "さようなら" (Sayounara - Goodbye) are great starters. Use these phrases in context to help them stick in your memory.

3. Utilize Flashcards

Flashcards are a great tool for memorizing vocabulary and Kanji. Regularly reviewing flashcards will reinforce your memory and help you retain new words and characters. However, traditional flashcards can be time-consuming and overwhelming. Consider using electronic flashcards or spaced repetition software to make the process more efficient.

4. Immerse Yourself in Japanese Media

Surround yourself with the Japanese language as much as possible to improve your listening and speaking skills. Watch Japanese TV shows, movies, and anime, or listen to Japanese music and podcasts. Try to mimic the pronunciation and intonation of native speakers. Additionally, consider finding a language exchange partner or taking a conversation class to practice speaking.

5. Learn Kanji Gradually

Kanji can be one of the most challenging aspects of learning Japanese, but don't be discouraged. Start with the most common and basic Kanji characters, and learn them gradually. Practice writing and using them in sentences. Associating Kanji with their meanings and sounds can help you remember them more effectively.

6. Delve into Japanese Culture

Understanding Japanese culture can deepen your appreciation and comprehension of the language. Learn about Japanese customs, traditions, and history. Try cooking Japanese dishes, practicing calligraphy, or participating in cultural events. This cultural immersion will make your language learning journey more enjoyable and meaningful.

7. Embrace Patience and Consistency

Learning Japanese is a marathon, not a sprint. With dedication, practice, and the right strategies, you can make steady progress and achieve your language learning goals. Set realistic expectations, celebrate your achievements, and don't be afraid to make mistakes. Remember, consistency is key to long-term success.

Additional Tips:

Find a learning method that suits you: There are many different ways to learn Japanese, so find one that fits your learning style and preferences. Consider taking a Japanese language course, using online resources, or hiring a tutor.

Set realistic goals: Set achievable goals for yourself and break them down into smaller, more manageable steps. This will help you stay motivated and track your progress.

Make it fun: Learning a new language should be enjoyable. Find ways to make learning Japanese fun for you, such as watching Japanese movies or listening to Japanese music.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes: Everyone makes mistakes when they're learning a new language. Don't let this discourage you. Instead, view mistakes as opportunities to learn and improve.

Immerse yourself in the language: Surround yourself with Japanese as much as possible. This will help you to learn the language more naturally and quickly.

Learning Japanese can be a challenging but rewarding experience. With the right approach and dedication, you can achieve your goals and become fluent in Japanese.

[eeyes]

it's time for a new computer.

Hello Darlings....,

im raising money for a new computer because my current one is on its last foot and likes to 💥BLOW UP💥 even when im just watching youtube videos. This is hard for me, a chick who likes to fuck around with software, run intensive programs, would like to 3d model, amd maybe even play games that have a bigger screen real estate of 300px. just in general. my craputer is holding me back from the mayhem i am trying to create in the world of art.

You Can Help me...

i am raising money for a new computer, mostly through commissions! tips are also welcome. you can send them via ko-fi -> https://ko-fi.com/yanadose/goal ★ or, send me a commission and let's get to talkin 😏 -> https://ko-fi.com/yanadose/commissions

here's the planned build for my new computer if youd like to see the specs -> https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Pq8sLc as you can see, green case... kinda sexy.... the above image is the silhouette of her gijinka, i've named her Agape 🫦

When We Reach The Goal, Agape Will Be Revealed...

starlet i'm sorry but you've blown up too many times. you're being replaced by a sexier, more capable computer woman.

also im trying to keep it upbeat BUT! this computer would mean a lot to me. i genuinely cant even run art programs or check my e-mail sometimes and i'd really like to play games or do streams with my friends again. starlet's busted in several ways and it'd take too much money to rule out all possible issues, i got her a new PSU for christmas (haven't installed yet, we'll see...? >3>) but she has motherboard, gpu, and cable connector issues, not to mention the parts are mostly from 2011-13 and mad slow. i live in a place with a bad power grid and i think a lot of parts got fried from constant black/brownouts and starlet was 2nd hand in the first place.

i'm disabled/no income/have mobility issues and my computer has failed to be sufficient for online healthcare tools, it's jeopardized my livelihood as an artist, and it's made me feel alone when i can't leave the house with chronic health issues. i'm sure you understand... NOW LET'S GET THAT GREEN WOMAN!

★ commissions ☆ ko-fi goal ★

[demifiendrsa]

Bethesda Softworks will close Redfall developer Arkane Austin, Hi-Fi RUSH and The Evil Within developer Tango Gameworks, as well as Alpha Dog Games and Roundhouse Studios, according to a companywide email sent out by Microsoft Gaming president of game content and studios Matt Booty this morning.

Full email

Today I’m sharing changes we are making to our Bethesda and ZeniMax teams. These changes are grounded in prioritizing high-impact titles and further investing in Bethesda’s portfolio of blockbuster games and beloved worlds which you have nurtured over many decades.

To double down on these franchises and invest to build new ones requires us to look across the business to identify the opportunities that are best positioned for success. This reprioritization of titles and resources means a few teams will be realigned to others and that some of our colleagues will be leaving us.

Here are the changes going into effect:

Arkane Austin – This studio will close with some members of the team joining other studios to work on projects across Bethesda. Arkane Austin has a history of making impactful and innovative games and it is a pedigree that everyone should be proud of. Redfall‘s previous update will be its last as we end all development on the game. The game and its servers will remain online for players to enjoy and we will provide make-good offers to players who purchased the “Hero” downloadable content.

Alpha Dog Studios – This studio will also close. We appreciate the team’s creativity in bringing DOOM to new players. Mighty DOOM will be sunset on August 7 and we will be turning off the ability for players to make any purchases in the game.

Tango Gameworks – Tango Gameworks will also close. We are thankful for their contributions to Bethesda and players around the world. Hi-Fi RUSH will continue to be available to players on the platforms it is today.

Roundhouse Games – The team at Roundhouse Games will be joining ZeniMax Online Studios (ZOS). Roundhouse has played a key role in many of our recent game launches and bringing them into ZOS to work on The Elder Scrolls Online will mean we can do even more to grow the world that millions of players call home.

With this consolidation of our Bethesda studio teams, so that we can invest more deeply in our portfolio of games and new IP, a small number of roles across select Bethesda publishing and corporate teams will also be eliminated.

Those whose roles will be impacted will be notified today, and we ask that you please treat your departing colleagues with respect and compassion. We will provide our full support to those who are impacted in today’s notifications and through their transitions, including severance benefits informed by local laws.

These changes are not a reflection of the creativity and skill of the talented individuals at these teams or the risks they took to try new things. I acknowledge that these changes are also disruptive to the various support teams across ZeniMax and Bethesda that bring our games to market. We are making these tough decisions to create capacity to increase investment in other parts of our portfolio and focus on our priority games.

Bethesda remains one of the key pillars of Xbox with a strong portfolio of amazing games and thriving communities. As we look to the future, there is an impressive line-up of games on the horizon. In 2024 alone we have Starfield “Shattered Space,” Fallout 76 “Skyline Valley,” Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, and The Elder Scrolls Online‘s “Golden Road.” As we align our plans and resources to best set ourselves up for success in this complex and changing industry, our teams across Arkane Lyon, Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, MachineGames, ZeniMax Online Studios, and the Bethesda publishing and corporate teams will be well-positioned to build new IP, explore new game concepts, and expand on our existing franchises.

—Matt

Messages from each studio

Arkane Austin

Tango Gameworks

Alpha Dog Games

[the-dragon-grasp]

What's up? - Spring 2025

Hi all, I'm back with a new seasonal recap!

As planned, this Spring, I've been able to focus my work on the VN Project (called Project 2 in the previous recaps, but I'll giving it a more transparent codename lol). I've also taken on a short job in April, taking some time off my plate, and might continue to do so in the following months to help me have some income and fund our work.

Let's get to it!

Development - VN Project

Most of my work this season was focused on "Project 2", which is, as shared on our social media, a visual novel (VN) project! I've worked on the full scenario, with a more detailed pass on the first chapters. I've started writing the first bits of the game itself, in both English and French to lay some groundwork.

I've reviewed the softwares we could use to develop it and chose to go with Ren'Py, an engine specialized in VNs but also friendly to people without a developer background. Indeed: I am taking on a developer role for this one! I've been learning the ropes of the engine, from basic functions such as dialogue, images, and audio implementation to adding a working translation or making a shareable build.

Since it will involve a lot of 2D art, I've started organizing about how to work with artists on this project. A lot will depend on the funding and time we'll have on our respective ends, but we are excited by this project building on plenty of what we've created so far. In the meantime, I'll be working with placeholder assets, some of which I'm making on my own.

Studio

We wrapped up our first fiscal year this Spring! It was a learning experience for me as well, with the review of our first annual accounts.

On the media side, we have completely left Twitter, since the worrying management of this social platform, their push of the use of GenAI despite the myriad of ethical, financial and environmental issues of this technology, and the hurtful politics defended by its most prominent figure were clearly not resonating with our own values and work. We are now focusing our efforts on our Bluesky and our Supporter Discord, with our Tumblr and Ko-fi still being updated as I see fit. (And when I have time for them!) You can check out all of our running socials on our Linktree. 

Please note I will remain vigilant about how social media evolve in their implementation of GenAI. I do not wish to have our creative blood and sweat stolen to train these models (or at least limit this as much as I can), so I will continue to make decisions on where and how we communicate online accordingly.

Funding

These last few days, I've been spending some time on checking the possibilities we have for the remainder of 2025, from public to private funding. So far, I've managed to self-fund our work, and I'm keen on seeing how far I can continue to do this. I have also been learning about asset valuation, since all the work I have put into the projects so far has been on my time, without compensation from the company.

Events

I will be at Game Camp 2025 (in Lille, France)! I had a wonderful experience there the past two years so I'm excited to return. If you ever wanna meet there, feel free to reach out.

Outro

That's all for this Spring! Thank you for your support everyone and have an excellent Summer.

Cheers,

-Drad

[crossatlanticsoftware-blog]

How to Choose the Best Shopify Website Design Company for Your Store in 2025?

In the ever-evolving world of eCommerce, having a well-designed and fully optimized Shopify store is no longer just an option – it's a necessity. As more consumers turn to online shopping, brands must ensure their Shopify website delivers an exceptional user experience, reflects the brand's identity, and supports seamless transactions. This is where a professional Shopify website design company can make all the difference.

Cross Atlantic Software, we understand that the decision to hire a Shopify website design company is a major step in your eCommerce journey. With so many service providers available, making the right choice can be overwhelming. This article aims to guide you through the most important factors to consider when selecting the right partner for your Shopify website design in 2025.

1. Understand Your Goals and Business Needs

Before you even begin searching for a Shopify website design company, clearly outline what you want your Shopify store to achieve. Are you launching a new brand, rebranding an existing one, or scaling up operations? Do you need custom integrations, advanced product filtering, or mobile-first Shopify design?

Having a clear vision will help you communicate effectively with potential design partners and ensure they align with your goals.

2. Look for Specialized Shopify Expertise

Not all web design companies specialize in Shopify. It's essential to choose a team that lives and breathes Shopify website design. Shopify has its own ecosystem, with unique themes, apps, and a proprietary Liquid coding language. Hiring a company that focuses specifically on Shopify design ensures they understand the platform inside-out.

Cross Atlantic Software has dedicated Shopify experts who have built and optimized hundreds of Shopify stores, giving clients the edge they need to compete in saturated markets.

3. Review Their Portfolio and Past Work

A reputable Shopify website design company should have a robust portfolio showcasing their past work. Look for:

Aesthetically pleasing, modern designs

Fast-loading Shopify websites

Mobile responsiveness

Seamless checkout experiences

Custom features like animations or personalized recommendations

Pay attention to diversity in their projects. This tells you whether the company can adapt their Shopify design to different industries and audiences.

4. Read Client Reviews and Testimonials

Real feedback from past clients is one of the most reliable ways to evaluate a Shopify website design company. Look beyond just the star ratings. Focus on detailed testimonials that highlight communication, professionalism, turnaround time, and post-launch support.

Cross Atlantic Software, we don’t just deliver projects — we build partnerships that grow with your business. Many of our clients have been with us for years, and we’re proud to be part of their ongoing success stories. Our testimonials reflect our commitment to excellence and custom-tailored Shopify website design solutions.

5. Ask About the Design and Development Process

Transparency is crucial. A reliable Shopify website design company should be able to walk you through their process from start to finish:

Initial Consultation

Strategy & Planning

Wireframing & Prototyping

Shopify Theme Customization or Custom Build

QA Testing & Optimization

Launch & Post-Launch Support

Knowing how your design team works isn’t just helpful — it’s essential. When everyone’s on the same page from day one, the process becomes smoother, timelines are clearer, and there are no last-minute surprises.

6. Consider Their Understanding of UX and Conversion Optimization

Good design isn't just about looking pretty. A successful Shopify website should convert visitors into buyers. That requires deep knowledge of user behavior, sales funnels, and design psychology.

Choose a Shopify website design company that prioritizes:

Clear CTAs (Call to Action)

Simple navigation

Fast page load times

Engaging product pages

Mobile-first design

Cross Atlantic Software, our team fuses creative Shopify design with data-backed UX principles to help you maximize conversions and sales.

7. Evaluate Support and Maintenance Services

Your Shopify store needs continuous updates, improvements, and sometimes emergency fixes. Make sure your design partner offers ongoing support even after launch. Ask questions like:

Do they offer monthly maintenance packages?

How do they handle bugs or errors?

Will you have a go-to person to call when something breaks or when you need a quick update? A dedicated point of contact makes all the difference when time and clarity matter most.

Cross Atlantic Software offers flexible support plans to ensure your Shopify website stays up-to-date, secure, and optimized at all times.

8. Transparency in Pricing

Clear pricing is a mark of a trustworthy Shopify website design company. While it's tempting to go with the lowest quote, remember that quality design and development require expertise and time.

Request a detailed breakdown of costs, including design, development, apps, and post-launch services. A good partner will explain every line item and adjust to fit your budget where possible.

9. Look for Creative Collaboration, Not Just Execution

The best outcomes happen when the design company works with you as a creative partner rather than just following orders. You should feel heard, respected, and inspired during the design journey.

Cross Atlantic Software, we treat every client as a collaborator. Our team engages in regular brainstorming sessions and strategy calls to ensure your vision translates beautifully into a high-performing Shopify store.

10. Check If They Offer Additional Services

Many eCommerce businesses need more than just Shopify website design. Check if your prospective partner can also help with:

SEO Optimization

Email Marketing Integration

App Integrations

Product Photography

Social Media Integration

A company that offers a comprehensive solution can save you time, money, and the hassle of managing multiple vendors.

Cross Atlantic Software provides end-to-end services to make your Shopify store launch as seamless and impactful as possible.

Conslusion:

Choosing the best Shopify website design company in 2025 is about more than just good looks. It requires strategic thinking, technical expertise, and a collaborative approach.

With a trusted partner like Cross Atlantic Software, you can build a Shopify website that not only looks amazing but also drives growth and customer loyalty.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your current Shopify design, now is the time to make the investment in a company that understands your vision and has the skills to make it real.

Let’s simplify your eCommerce success — one pixel at a time.

Ready to build your dream Shopify store?

Visit us at www.crossatlantic.software and let’s get started.

[archaeren]

how did you get into game writing and VNs and such?? i did one freelance job a while back and loved it but since then its been so hard to get into the industry…. i keep getting rejected despite having writing experience/publication in other areas 😭

(omg I didn't realize I have a bunch of messages in my inbox oops) Unfortunately, my game industry work that pays the bills is mostly as QA director, for which we are contracted by other studios. I do writing for our own studio, but I tend to not pursue contract work for writing because I don't want the creative pressure. (Though I was spontaneously offered work on that by another studio recently, so who knows, maybe I'll cave XD) But I will tell you what I tell people who ask me how to get into the games industry. Sorry if you already know some of this, I can't tell from your profile how much experience you already have in the industry! >.< 1. Build a portfolio of game work. You can do this by participating in game jams, itch.io has tons of them running all the time. If you can find in-person game jams (such as the Global Game Jam), even better! They'll help you build connections. If you can show you have strong skills in branching narrative, that's a massive plus. (yeeeeah, this involves basically doing a lot of unpaid work in your free time. but hey, nobody else is getting paid for it either! game dev notoriously pays like shit anyway. XDDD as the joke goes, if we wanted to make money, we'd work in software dev.) 2. Go to where the game developers are. In person. I can't stress this enough. If you want work in the games industry, the best/easiest/quickest way to do it is to meet devs in person. Some people may argue this is not necessary and that you can find work online--in my opinion, those people are either very lucky or very hopeful. You can maybe find some work by hanging out in game dev spaces online, but from personal experience, every client our studio has EVER HAD was either someone we met in person or someone we were introduced to through someone we met in person. Every single one. Here's a list of ideas of places to meet developers: - IGDA meetups, see if there's a chapter in your area. (Or if there isn't and you have the time and ambition, maybe you could start one!) - Local non-IGDA dev groups, you can sometimes find these through Meetup or Facebook - If there are colleges in your area that offer game dev degrees, you could try asking their professors if they know of any local events - See if there are any local game studios in your area that would be able to point you toward the community. Game dev studios aren't just in big cities!! It's not necessarily comprehensive, but you can check out https://gamecompanies.com/map - Game conventions/expos such as PAX - Game developer conferences/events, such as GDC or language/engine-specific conferences such as PyCon (GDC is WAY more worth it than PAX, but extremely expensive. I don't advise going to either until you have a solid game plan of what you're looking for there. There are also organizations that are willing to sponsor people with less means and underrepresented perspectives to attend GDC, so make sure to investigate that!) (And if you do go to a major event like PAX or GDC, make sure to google the afterparties list) And final protip for attending any sort of in-person event: We don't use the word 'networking'. It is a cursed word. We are not networking. We're meeting new friends and like-minded creators. <3