#explain Android Studio

[doubleddenden]

The topic of Palworld is pretty charged, but often times I see people be shamed for liking it because the CEO tweeted stuff about NFTs and the company using AI art in a separate game. Acting as if that's the most damning thing ever for a gaming company in an industry filled with similar people.

Make no mistake, I dislike both AI art and nfts, but do you realize how many gaming companies have involvement with that?

To begin with, Pokémon used AI art in a promotional piece for Pokémon Go in September, and nobody gave a shit because uwu Pikachu. The Pokémon Company also put a job listing some months back seeking an expert in NFTs. That's not quite damning evidence, but if I were a betting man, no "NFT expert" will willingly say "yeah nfts suck are bad for the environment, man, I'll take my paycheck and fuck off now." There's also a strong argument to be made that Pokémon has stolen ideas from fakemon artists (Finizen and Palafin, Scovillain, Dipplin, etc) and other franchises (kaiju movies, Dragon Quest, Megaman, final fantasy, western cartoons and food mascots, etc), a dubious legal statement that claims they own all fan art from the remixes and fakemon made on youtube to the pikachu your kid drew at breakfast; they have yet to apologize for the state of Scarlet and Violet while charging full price to millions of paying customers for a clearly unfinished and barely functioning game (which i did enjoy, but you can't tell me it was finished baking when it struggles not to shit itself just to run), and a bunch of other things people shit on Palworld for, but A. It's Pokémon so people don't care and think it's fine, and B. That's not the point of this post.

You know who else does NFTs and AI art? (Yes I heard Muscle Man from Regular Show in my head just now, too, moving along)

Square Enix sold several of their IPs for NFTs and claims to have used AI art "a minimum amount" in Foam Stars, yet I see nobody yelling for boycotts of Final Fantasy 14, 16, Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Quest, Life is Strange, etc etc etc.

Sony has invested in both, they want to implement AI into gaming, and has a patent for nfts to be used in games and consoles, yet there's no movement to throw out your playstations.

Bandai Namco- you know, that company with a hand in pretty much most anime games on the market and popular games such as the Dark Souls games? They have a game called RYU that's essentially a virtual pet game that uses the blockchain, and its AI driven, among other projects. Yet there's no outcry to stop playing the many, MANY games they brand with. This also includes quite a few Nintendo games (btw they just partnered together to form a special studio quite recently) like Smash Wii U/3ds and New Pokémon Snap. Nobody gives a shit though.

Android, Microsoft, Google, Apple- I don't even need to explain those, they have whole teams dedicated to both. Even popular VPN companies accept crypto.

I'm just saying an awful lot of you guys that scream and shit bloody murder about Palworld's company being involved with that shit are either the biggest "It's okay when my favs do it" type of hypocrites, or you're sorely ignorant to just how evil and greedy most corporations are. You'll be hard pressed to find a game company with popular AND fun games that DOESN'T have some interest in either, let alone movie and show studios. That's the awful reality we live in.

You have 2 options

1. You basically stop doing anything involving most modern tech, including throwing out your pc and smart phone. You could probably live a comfortable life with tech circa 2010, but you have to be aware that any thing you buy may go towards a cause you don't like.

2. You accept that people can enjoy a product while not necessarily agreeing with the CEO of said product. Most CEOs tend to be jackasses anyway, that's kind of the shared trait they all have. You can also discourage companies from using them while understanding it is everywhere.

Palworld at the end of the day is just a toy, that's it. From the looks of it, it's not even actually hurting anyone, and it seems like the company at least treats their employees pretty decently- at least according to a few things I've seen here and there that seems rather progressive for a Japanese studio (with room for doubt obviously, it's a company after all and as we've established, they're all evil). At the least its not like when people supported Hogwarts Legacy and directly put money into JKR's wallet so she can openly hurt more Trans women. In fact, the only people seemingly hurt in all of this Palworld drama are obsessed Pokémon stans that can't accept a parody, or the Pokémon Company themselves, who rightly deserve some punching up tbh.

You can just say you dislike the game, that's fine, I totally get that. Even though I personally think The Pokémon Company deserves a few nut shots after the way they've treated fans these last few years with the state of their games (and you know, stealing ideas from fans without credit), I can see why someone would be turned away from a parody that's literally meant to be Pokémon with guns. I can totally understand all of that, personally I'd prefer if the game was MORE like Pokémon with turn based combat.

But if you're going to defend Pokémon because you think its perfectly innocent because of Wooloo or something like that, just be sure you're aware you're defending the World's Richest Franchise and their own attempts at AI and NFTs while calling out an indie company (a real one thats learning as they go, not the fake "We're totally indie" franchise that hasn't been indie since gen 3) for having a ceo that also seems interested in the same stuff. And remember, you don't become number 1 without hurting people somehow (we could dig up receipts about certain partners Pokémon has teamed up with, such as Tencent with Unite, but I'd rather not right now.)

Just saying. I don't think you're an irredeemable person for still liking Pikachu, cuz I do too believe it or not. I've been a life long fan and still have fun with the games despite the clear scummy business practices towards their paying customers. Just maybe extend that courtesy to the millions of players just trying to have fun in this awful, putrid, shithole planet that just keeps getting worse and worse with each passing day.

Plus... you know, think about it. Do you think Pokémon would ever get around to making a gunless Palworld? Probably not. Do you think Palworld would exist if The Pokémon Company and Nintendo were the slightest bit chill about Pokémon fan projects like SEGA is with Sonic? Also probably not. From what I've read, the devs just wanted to make a fun game that happens to mostly be ARK with Pokémon adjacent monsters. That's not really a bad thing, all things considered, and it seems like the worst they've done is reference official Pokémon when making their own models.

Palworld being successful is actually beneficial to Pokémon fans, as well. It'll never really truly compete, but it has outsold Legends Arceus in terms of units sold (not as much financially because Palworld was only $30 plus a sale recently, but still impressive), and it is enough that Game Freak is aware of its existence. Let Palworld light a fire under their ass, and maybe GF will actually finish their next game before releasing it for full price (and no, we're not bringing up the tired imaginary ball and chain game devs, game freak owns 1/3rd lf the franchise and can easily take methods to get more dev time, they just haven't because money). Just saying, at least the Paldevs were honest enough to sell it in early access for half the price.

[crabsnpersimmons]

Hello there!

I'd like to know your advice on drawing tablets?

As in, what do you use for your digital art? Is there any you suggest?

I'm planning on getting one, but there are so many options, and I'd like to know your opinion and preference.

Thank you ^^

hi anon! thanks for the question!

i draw with a samsung galaxy tab s7!

BUT if this is your first time drawing digitally, then it's a good idea to test out if you like it with cheaper options first (so you don't drop a whole lot of money on a hobby/medium of art you don't enjoy)

some suggestions:

if you have a smart phone, try drawing with your finger using free to use drawing apps like ibispaint X or HiPaint (i recommend HiPaint cuz the UI is a lot simpler and less overwhelming, but both have a good selection of tools. i wanna say ibispaint has better text tools tho and there's A LOT more tutorials and resources online) drawing digitally with your finger is different from drawing digitally with a pen AND drawing traditionally, but this is a good way to familiarize yourself with digital art tools. a very simple entry point if you already have a smart phone.

if you don't want to draw with your finger (understandable, i personally couldn't stand it) you can try simple drawing tablets, which are the tablets that you plug into your computer/laptop, come with a pen, but they don't have a screen you draw directly on. they're actually a lot more affordable nowadays (i saw some for under $50 CAD, which is WILD), so that’s a good starting option if you want to draw with a pen. with a pen, you have more control with line weights than you do with your finger, but it takes practice to get used to. it also takes some getting use to drawing on a tablet and looking at your monitor, but this is where i started haha. i still have my old bamboo wacom create drawing tablet. but nowadays, other brands like xp-pen and huion are very comparable to wacom, so definitely consider getting a cheaper one to try out first. of course, if you go with a drawing tablet, you'll need an art program on your computer. i've used photoshop and clip studio paint and they're very good, but probably overwhelming for people who are new to digital art (they are loaded with tools and you have to really familiarize yourself with the menus and everything). there are probably simpler options available... but i'm not as familiar with them. oh wait, i think there are some drawing tablets that can also connect with your smart phone too nowadays. man, that's so cool. that's probably a better option instead of purchasing photoshop or clip studio paint right off the bat.

if you REALLY want a screen display experience, try a cheaper general tablet. iPads are a popular option if you're comfortable with the Apple ecosystem (i'm not 😅) but they can be pricey PLUS you have to buy the Apple pen separately. for Android, I'm pretty sure even the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is a solid choice and it comes with a pen unlike an iPad. the SPen is built with Wacom tech, so you know it's quality. and while iPad has Procreate, HiPaint is available for Android and it's basically a Procreate clone (i explain more about HiPaint here) otherwise, ibisPaint X is also good and infinite painter is probably the most sophisticated free to use drawing app i've encountered (sophisticated as in it does a pretty good job at imitating traditional media in their brushes. it's cool, but the free version is very limited).

also if you like watching videos, Brad Colbow and Teoh on Tech on YouTube are great resources. they specifically review tech from an artist's perspective.

why i suggest testing it out is because if you're used to drawing traditionally, then switching to digital is a different experience. some artists can't get used to drawing digitally, and that's fine. that's why it's a good idea to test it out with a cheaper option first to see if you like it and to give yourself time to familiarize yourself with drawing apps/programs. i actually kinda hated drawing digitally at first. i didn't have the same level of control that i was used to with drawing traditionally. and overtime i made a lot of bad habits with my digital art that i had to unlearn by switching back to traditional art for a couple years (some bad habits like: relying on the Undo button to make "perfect" lines; trying to draw really fast because the pen glides over the screen unlike a pencil has friction against paper) so... give it a try and just let yourself have fun. don't worry about making anything perfect, just have fun!

[silvers-smuttery]

Commission: Bribing with Bodies

Ruby finds out Oscar has a magazine featuring her and Penny on the cover, the result of a wild night out. To what lengths will they go to have him keep it a secret between them?

How did it come to this? Ruby was panicking. Her semblance carried her from one corner of their Atlesian Quarters to another in the blink of an eye, muttering how her life has been ruined over one silly moment of weakness. Oscar could only watch Ruby's episode in shocked embarrassment. He really didn't mean for this to happen while he packed his bags to go on this adventure. But really, Ozpin could have warned him when he chose that one exact obscure Mistralean smut magazine to take with him on his journey. But honestly, how could he know? He bought the damn thing way before he ever met either Penny or Ruby. And with trade between kingdoms taking a massive hit after the Fall of Beacon, the magazine was never even distributed anywhere outside of Mistral.

Months ago, when the Vytal Festival had just started, Ruby took her dear friend and very real human girl Penny out for a night in Vale. They had a great time in Junior's club, dancing and laughing and singing. But dumb mistakes were also made that night, such as drinking a bit too much alcohol. And maybe wearing a bit more revealing clothes than what was appropriate. And of course, the biggest dumb mistake, taking a "reputable" photographer up for his offer to do a photo shoot for some extra cash, as the two of them had spent theirs already. To be fair, he DID take their pictures in his studio/loft, and the way he touched them afterwards did feel good - really good -, but the two of them had barely a way of knowing that the photos were going to be published in a magazine. At least the sleazeball had the decency to censor their faces. Or rather their eyes. The girls' very distinctive hair was still fully shown, along with Ruby's perky breasts, and Penny's curvaceous figure.

The hair was the main giveaway for Oscar to finally recognize the two of them, when they reunited in Atlas, making him blush crimson when he realized not only did he buy the magazine, but was actually carrying it in his backpack. A little later in the Atlas dormitory the teams would be stationed in, and after a small accident causing the contents of Oscar's bag to spill, the cat was finally out of the bag. Before Ruby's and Penny's feet laid the result of their night out. "Thiscan'tbehappeningThiscan'tbehappeningThiscan'tbehappeningThiscan'tbehappeningThiscan'tbehappening!!!!", Ruby muttered, face flushed as crimson as her cape, all while spilling rose petals everywhere.

Oscar only stood frozen, unable to move or even say anything while his blush matched Ruby's in intensity. What should he say? Should he explain that he brought it even before getting to know them? Or why he even brought it along?

Penny was the only soul in that room who remained calm about the situation, even picking up the magazine. "I do need to say, this gentleman really captured your appeal friend Ruby!", Penny giggled, though her friend wasn't listening.

"You! Can! Not! Tell! ANYONE! OKAY?!" Ruby's fluster finally dissipated enough to direct it at a target, Oscar, as she grabbed the collar of his shirt and shook him violently. "BURN IT!"

"Now now, friend Ruby. It is clear Oscar finds great enjoyment in this magazine. If you demand he get rid of it, you should offer adequate compensation!", Penny chimed in from behind Ruby. The magazine showed signs of wear and tear, but was still in excellent condition. Obviously he cared for it, taking it this far to boot.

All movement in the room came to a sudden, abrupt halt when Ruby and Oscar realized what Penny had done. The android had reached around her friend, clutching her corset dress, only yank it down and reveal that Ruby's breasts had a perky bounce to them. Ruby's face lit up in the color of her namesake whole Oscar's complexion darkened even more with a pink tint. "PENNY! WHAT THE-" RRRIIIIP

Ruby's cry was cut short by the loud tearing of a pair of pants echoing off the walls of the dorm, followed by another round of silence. Ruby felt a heat between her legs. She felt it lift her skirt, smacking right against her covered pussy, only to be held there by her instinctively clutching her legs closed. Sweat formed on her brow. If she hadn't kept her eyes locked with Oscar's, her gaze would have been drifting downwards to stare at…

"Oh my, that is quite the erection. I had no idea you were a Horse Faunus, Oscar", Penny broke the silence in her usual voice. It usually conveyed innocence and naivety, but in this context, it just sounded like a girl excited for a big, meaty cock. Penny's synthetic hands grasped the flared cockhead poking out from Ruby's skirt, inadvertently rubbing it along Ruby's throbbing mound. Her actions elicited a moan from both the dumbstruck teens still gazing into each other's eyes.

In the blink of an eye, Penny had swept the two of them off their feet. Ruby now laid on top of Oscar, rubbing her pussy along his ever hardening shaft. For a moment still, the two only let out panting moans, before Ruby spoke up. "So uhm…think we could do something to make you… forget about that magazine?"

"Uh-hUH!" Oscar's plea was accompanied by a splash of precum erupting from his dick, splashing onto Ruby's skirt. Another twitch of the hard rod was enough to soak her entire back in hot, gooey liquid, which she simply decided to ignore. If she even looked at this massive horse cock, if she as much as acknowledged that it was there and as abnormally huge as it was, there was no doubt in her mind, she'd get second thoughts and chicken out in the end. So she ignored it. Not that Penny was much help in that as Ruby stood up to line the tip of his cock up with her pussy.

"Golly, that was a big load. I take it you haven't released your seed in quite a while", the Android mused as she dove down to his crotch, cradling Oscar's balls like a kitten playing with yarn.

"You're not helping Penny!", Ruby said through gritted teeth, just before the gynoid slipped the reaper's panties down. Ruby's pussy was met with the wet heat of both their genitals meeting and mixing, pulsing through her body and no doubt his as well. Ruby kept looking at Oscar's face, panting as she ground his flared tip against her soaking pussy, trying to slip it inside. The boy clearly saw her struggling and interjected

"R-Ruby, you really don't need to fo-HOOOH!" Just as he tried to plead to her to go easy, Ruby managed to finally fit it in her cunt. The wide head stretched to the entrance of her womb beyond what she could have possibly imagined.

"This is normal! This is normal! This is normal!", Ruby winced in a breathy high pitch over and over, her legs and muscles locking in shock. Fingers twitched and toes curled as her body got his with her first climax, sudden like a lightning bolt hitting her. Was she really this turned on already? No time to think about that, this was for Oscar after all. As soon as her legs could move again, she started descending more, filling her birth canal to the utmost limits. Slowly and bit by bit, did her pussy grow accustomed to the size she was accommodating. More moans escaped her the further down she went. This felt so good, and watching Oscar writhe underneath her in pleasure was making her smile as well. Especially when he began to grip her thighs to help her bounce.

Soon Ruby could take him halfway inside her pussy. His flared tip kept hitting her womb while her lips kissed down on his medial ring. The moment was perfect. There was nothing else left but the two of them in unison. The sound of their breaths and moans and whimpers, the pumping of his dick in and out of Ruby's pussy, the rumbling of his balls churning with cum, ready to flood Ruby's womb any moment now…

"Ru-Ruby, I haven't… cum since I left on my journey…", Oscar admitted through his whimpers of pleasure.

"Bu-but that was like, two months ago…", Ruby retorted, finally shocked enough to look over her shoulder at his balls. Aside from Penny kissing them, sucking the leathery skin, Ruby was shocked at the sheer size of the sack, rivaling grapefruit with its girth. The reaper couldn't deny the flutter in her stomach when imagining this cum factory unleashing its load into her womb, but rational thought still won out as she started sliding the dick all the way out of her. "O-okay, I'll just finish you with a handjo-"

"Nope. You have to give it your all. Or would it be, 'take his all'?", Penny declared with a firm grip on Ruby's waist. Both sex partners grew a shade paler when they realized her intent, but could do nothing to stop it. Penny pushed down with a force Ruby's wobbly legs could not hold up against, buckling and yielding as Ruby got slammed down. The medial ring forced its way inside her cunt, Oscar's back arching from the sudden jolt, which only drove his hips closer to Ruby's. Her womb shifted in her stomach, driven further up by the immense, hard length inserted in her.

The moment her pale ass smacked against his olive lap, the seal on his balls shattered, unleashing a torrent of virile, thick spunk into the reaper's core. Ruby threw her head back when the scorching flood hit her womb, pumping it full. She clutched her stomach, feeling the distortion of it growing every second. Every pump of his dick seemingly added another month of apparent pregnancy to her bulging belly, until she looked like she might pop out triplets any moment. And then it stopped.

Oscar and Ruby both were frozen in the bed, too sensitive to move, too meek to try and do anything on their own, until Ruby finally collapsed backwards. Oscar's horse cock finally slid out, letting the sweating pair catch their panting breaths for a moment while cum streamed out of the reaper's gaping hole.

"Oh my, that was quite the load", Penny chimed in off to the side. The android let her hands roam over the pair, from Ruby's inflated stomach to Oscar's cock and balls, still hard and full. "This is nothing compared to our night with the photographer, but I am glad I got him to take those pictures so I could witness this."

Ruby's breath stopped when Penny's words hit her ears. Tearing her eyes open, something in Ruby clicked. Penny was an Android. A Robot. She couldn't really get drunk. Did Penny know from the beginning what that smut journalist would do? No, she just admitted to convincing him to use the pair as models while Ruby was off her rocker. A primal rage filled the as she leaped upwards at the ginger, seemingly undeterred by her heaving stomach.

"Get her, Oscar!", Ruby ordered, as she pounced on Penny, smacking her cum-stiffed cunt right over the android's mouth if she liked it or not. Her hands shift to Penny's bare tits. She had no idea when the gynoid undressed, but it didn't matter, as she dug her fingers and nails into the synthetic boob flesh. "Punish this foul witch! Make her pay for her transgressions! Punish her with your mighty horse staff, AND GIVE HER EVERY INCH!", Ruby cried out as Oscar's cum seeped into Penny's maw. Slaps resounded off the walls as Ruby let out her burst of fury by smacking the robot's fun bags, pulling them, stretching them like dough. L

Oscar of course didn't object, in part from Ruby's intimidating aura, in part because he was simply too turned on to turn down the offer of sticking his dick in the other girl featured on that fateful cover. Too turned on that none of them noticed their respective teams coming back through the door and witnessing the obscene display.

"Let's give them some more privacy."

Despite Ruby's intentions of punishment, Penny seemed to relish in slurping Oscar's cum from Friend Ruby's snatch. Moans reverberated not just through Penny's mouth into Ruby's pussy, but through the entire robotic body, down to Oscar's oversized horsecock. The sensation was divine.

Oscar had thought about using onaholes before, though never found an acceptably priced one to suit his needs, but never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined the kinds of pleasure these two girls were giving him. For his first time to boot. "Ruby, come here. Right now!" Overcome with passion, Oscar grasped Ruby's shoulders, pulling her in for a deep kiss. His partner accepted his tongue in her maw without question, yelping and shaking from too many things stimulating her at once.

"I think grunt I'm close again", Oscar moaned out in between breaths while making out with Ruby. Not once did his hips stop hammering away at the redheaded android though.

"Waitwaitwait, not like this!", Ruby yelped out as she shoved the horse boy away. Her stomach had deflated significantly by that point. Apparently, Penny had cleaned her out well so far, but now it was her turn. "Get up, slut. Now you get the filling!", the crimsonette grinned as she sat Penny up. She shoved her fingers carelessly between the ginger's teeth, prying her mouth open for her man to stick his dick deep inside her throat. Oscar understood and complied right away. Without a natural gag reflex, Penny could take all of him down without issue. It was only a matter of if her mouth could stretch that much around him. And it did. Ruby watched with sadistic glee as Penny's throat distended to the horsecock shoved in and out. Artificial spit flew everywhere, while Oscar kept thrusting away at her face, harder and faster with every beat until his balls could no longer take it. The dam broke, Oscar's dick exploding with another sea of orgasmic jizz, right into her stomach.

"Wow, she's… really good at it…", Oscar huffed and puffed as he drew each sensitive inch out of Penny's maw. To him, the girl looked beautiful, sloppy and slimy with synthetic lubricant and cock juice.

"Of course she is!", Ruby couldn't help but chime in. Still, a little anger dwelled within her. "She was probably made for this. Why else is her whole body so lewd and fuckable? It's like she's just a living sex d-"

Looking back at it, Ruby was glad she couldn't finish that sentence, given Penny's complexes about being a real girl. She was grateful to her friend for shutting her up at the right moment. Even more so since it happened by method of another loving tongue deep down her throat. Ruby's protests were short-lived as her eyes rolled back into her head, lost in blissful madness induced by the android with the ginger locks. "Stoooop~ I'm trying to be mad at yoouuu~~~", Ruby protested, but Penny only kissed her harder, her heavy, synthetic tits squishing against Ruby's more modest pair while their cunts mashed against each other.

Oscar felt like he was in a fever dream. Like the sight in front could not be real. But instead of running from it, trying to make sense of it, the horse boy simply threw himself at it and indulged himself. Seeing Penny's phat ass jiggle and sway, he grabbed them, fingers sinking into the fake, bouncy meat, giving one a swat and the other a backhand, grunting either way. Penny certainly didn't mind, not when she only raised her ass more at him. His dick throbbed, ached to use that back door of hers, as he watched Ruby spread Penny's cheeks apart. "She is an android, this should be nothing!", He had to tell himself as the flared tip of his cock pushed up against her puckered asshole, soon to be swallowed and gobbled up with one more push. Penny couldn't help but scream into Ruby's mouth, but still dropped her ass down further on that dick.

It was madness. Between screams and moans of pleasure and the senseless smacking of flesh, the entire room devolved into a debaucherous scene aiming to drain as much cum from Oscar's pent up balls as they could. Another climax approached for each one of them. Ruby's voice hit another octave, grinding on her friend. Penny was the only one mildly aware of the fact that they had neighbors just on the other side of the wall, but her circuitry was too busy firing sparks off in all directions to mention it, let alone stop. Oscar's balls clenched again and again, swelling up, before he blew his biggest load yet into Penny's ass. The hot seed traveled up inside her artificial intestines and bloated her stomach, squeezing it tighter against her friend underneath her as his dick plugged her ass tight. But Oscar wasn't stopping his thrusts, and neither was his orgasm. His equine equipment kept firing his hot load until it eventually traveled up Penny's throat. Ruby let out another shriek of surprise when she realized the sticky surprise oozing from her best friend's mouth, but quickly shut up as she tasted Oscar's seed again, shoving her tongue even deeper into Penny's throat to lap up as much as she could.

None of them knew the time when any of them could no longer go on. Nor could they say how long any of them slept, or how they got neatly into bed. Eventually, one after the other simply collapsed from exhaustion, only to wake up to the teasing glares and snickering laughter of their companions.

[satoshi-mochida]

Seedsow Lullaby coming to PC, iOS, and Android on May 1 - Gematsu

Publisher ANIPLEX.EXE and developer iMel will release visual novel Seedsow Lullaby for Switch, iOS, and Android on May 1, the companies announced.

Seedsow Lullaby first launched for PC via Steam, DMM Games, and DLsite on December 13, 2024.

Here is an overview of the game, via its Steam page:

About

Following three women on an adventure through the Land of the Gods, Seedsow Lullaby is a visual novel that features no choices or branching paths.

Story

Misuzu lost her mother at a young age. On her sixteenth birthday, in the spring of 2023, she is visited by a lone girl. The girl turns out to be her mother, Yoko, also aged sixteen. Yoko explains that she has been chosen as a Maiden to conduct the Seedsow Ceremony in the dwelling place of the gods, the Eternal Realm, and has traveled from 1996 to invite Misuzu along on her journey. The Seedsow Ceremony is a funeral for the gods, and is necessary for a new generation of immortal deities to usher in a new age. Seedsow Maidens must travel the Eternal Realm and have the ancient god elders accept their deaths before True Winter comes and defiles the land. Accompanying her mother Yoko, Misuzu travels to the year 2050, where her own sixteen-year-old daughter, Tsumugi, joins them as they make for the Eternal Realm. With the addition of Hiruko, who claims to be Misuzu’s younger brother and acts as the group’s guide, the foursome journey through lush landscapes made no less resplendent by True Winter’s looming approach. The young group has been brought together as though by a miracle, but what awaits them at the end of their journey?

Staff

Planning / Scriptwriting: Kazuki (STUDIO HOMMAGE)

Character Design: popman3580・Maniani

Music: Moeki Harada

Direction: Yow

Programming: iMel Inc.

Production: ANIPLEX.EXE

Opening Theme: “Through the Night” (sola)

Ending Theme: “Seedsow Lullaby” (Rita)

Cast

Misuzu (voiced by Minami Iinuma)

Yoko (voiced by Sayumi Watabe)

Tsumugi (voiced by Yukimi Hayase)

Hiruko (voiced by Mutsumi Tamura)

[mikunology]

Locations in Sapporo

things in my personal life has calmed down somewhat for the time being so I figured I'd write up an easy lore post that I completely forgot I could make so here we are

I wanted to list some common locations found in Sapporo as featured in Vocal Android! I haven't actually talked about the setting too much and while I'm kinda bad at designing locations, I figured I could at least talk about them a little

But, yeah, I'll do my best to explain, so some lore under the cut?

Crypton Laboratories HQ/Crypton Towers: The place where the CVs live and where Meiko and Kaito work. A huge white, gray, and cyan building shaped like a C if you look at it from above, it's home to Crypton's various research labs. The building has floors entirely dedicated to be Miku, the twins and Luka's living spaces, and they each have their own color-coded rooms and living areas. There's a recording and dance studio in the building for the CVs to do their idol work and music playing, as well as a virtual reality training room. There's also the CVs' very own superhero base of sorts, which Gumi helped design, and allows the crew to oversee the city in case danger makes itself known (it's also a convenient place to hang out and take a nap). There's also a sizeable garage below the building, where Rin keeps the road roller.

Kenmochi Academy High School: Miku, Rin and Len's school. A large, clean campus made of three V-shaped buildings with their points pointing towards each other and hexagon-shaped windows. A pretty high-bar school with a lot of recent technology, it's one of the more popular and well-known high schools in town (and thus, an excellent candidate for Meiko's goal of having the CVs interact with humans their age). It is headed by Principal Sasaki. (Current Student List: Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin and Len, Kobayashi Matcha, Masaoka Azuki, Yumemi Nemu, Hibiki Lui, Akira Kano/Arsloid, Otomachi Una, Sato Sasara, Suzuki Tsudumi, Kokone Aime, Kizuna Akari, Futaba Minato, Hoshino Ichika, Tenma Saki, Hinomori Shiho, Mochizuki Honami, Koharu Rikka (formerly), Suzune Ring)

Ichikawa Academy High School: Gumi's school, a high school on the eastern side of the city. It's a more "normal" high school, less flashy than Kenmochi and looking more typical, but still has a few good programs to its name, including its science program (which Gumi tries to participate in). (Current Student List: Megumi "Gumi" Nakashima, Kotonoha Akane and Aoi, Tohoku Zunko, Gahata Meiji, Kamishiro Rui, Kusanagi Nene, Tenma Tsukasa, AiSuu, Tsuina-chan)

Utahako Elementary School: The local elementary school a block or two away from Kenmochi. It's a modest little elementary school, having been newly refurbished from an older building. Many of the students that go there end up graduating to Kenmochi later. Kiyoteru teaches here. (Current Student List: Kaai Yuki, Oliver Twitchell, Rana, Macne Petit, Tohoku Kiritan, Otomachi Unagi, Ryuuto Nakashima)

The Macne Cafe: A fresh-looking little internet cafe that sits in the town plaza and is the CVs' favorite hangout spot. Established by the Macne Family, it's become slowly but surely known around town for its delicious green apple cheesecake and desserts. Nana has been trying various ways to spread their customer base further.

The V5: A swanky nightclub and bar that is also in the plaza, run by four friends: Amy, Chris, Kaori and Ken. Many of the adult characters come there to drink and chat a bit.

UTAU Studios: A record label company and radio studio stationed in the industry hub of town, notable for its large staff and loooong list of talents. The studio runs a daily radio broadcast that's fairly popular, and their top talent is Namine Ritsu (or it was, anyway).

Sapporo University: The local college. A bit of an older building since it's been there basically forever compared to a lot of the rest of futuristic city. Has a small, colorful dormitory community next to it where students stay. (Current Student List: Galaco, Po-uta, Tsurumaki Maki, Shirosaki Yuudai; Utatane Piko isn't a student but he lives there)

Kamukura Shrine: A humble shrine that's only a little ways away from the beach, and is where most of the cast goes for holiday celebrations (such as New Years). It's headed by Kigashima Sourin and his protégés, Kurono Takehiro, Wakamatsu Akashi, Aoyama Ryuusei and Shirakami Koutarou, who are training to be proper priests. They also have their shrine maiden, a fussy teenage girl named Lumi who claims to be a jellyfish kami from the sea. Her antics tend to bring a lot of visitors.

SEKAI Auditorium: A venue a few blocks away from Crypton HQ and the main place where Miku and friends perform locally. Very spacious and known to host tons of acts, including smaller ones like local bands, singers and theater shows. Also functions as a sort of convention center at times. However, it's tendency to get raided by supervillains (mostly in pursuit of Miku and co.) has given it a bit of a weird reputation.

The Nebula: A recently-established nightclub in the plaza run by American DJ CYBER DIVA (and her partner CYBER SONGMAN), who is also the headlining act of the place. Used to have a bit of a rivalry with Miku, but they're both over it. Gets a lot of younger customers than the ones at the V5.

Dr. Momone's House: A modern house in a quiet neighborhood next to the industrial part of town where Dr. Momone, Momo and Defoko live. Their neighbors consist of Yufu (who lives down the lane), Eru (who lives at the far end of the lane), Tsukishiro Hakupo and his servant bot Kunishiki (who live next door) and Sensei.

Gumi's Apartment: Gumi, Gakupo and Ryuuto's small apartment in a building not too far from Crypton HQ. Not the nicest apartment that ever was, but it's homey.

Gin no Hana: A old-fashioned restaurant that has reasonable business and is popular due to the comfy atmosphere. Managed by Ginsaki and his wife, Koharu.

The Old Soul Theater: An old theater in town that's mainly still in the city for the sake of preservation, but still has small plays and acts now and again. Has been turned into an acting school of sorts by Miriam Stocks, a theater connoisseur.

Ruko's candy shop: A hole-in-the-wall shop in an alleyway managed by Yokune Ruko, where they sell candy, snacks and cheap cups of drip coffee. Totally not shady in the slightest. Is almost constantly out of coffee-flavored hard candy because Ruko keeps eating it.

Meiko's apartment: Meiko's home, a simple apartment in a simple complex where she crashes after a long day at the lab. The CVs have never been to it.

There's probably more than this but yeah :>

[illustrations-by-tram]

yeah this month has been a kick in the teeth almost literally. ironically my ebike getting stolen only slight annoys me. It needed some work that I really wasn't looking forward to and the battery wasn't on it so ether someone is riding around on a very heavy bike or they had to at least source that plus deal with whatever was causing the bike to ride rough and shift badly.

I'm slowly getting better at using the android tablet to draw with and with a lot of trouble got clip studio to work on it, Pro tip if you want to use clip studio on a tablet you will need the pc version not the phone version as I first thought however that is poorly (or not at all) explained by clip studio.

I can also be found on Cara as @tramram

[leelee120000]

Looking Back On: Fall Out Boy, “Folie à Deux”

April 12, 2020

“Folie à Deux” came out when I was eight years old. Fall Out Boy (FOB) was a band I enjoyed but it wasn’t my favorite yet. That didn’t occur until 2010 when I got my first laptop and suddenly had access to play any music I wanted. After countless times listening, I came to think of it as one of the most musically intricate and well-developed albums FOB has ever produced. However, “Folie à Deux” didn’t sell well and ultimately contributed to FOB’s hiatus.

There is a plot in “Folie à Deux,” however, it is very hidden and not really understood without the additional “Fall Out Toy Works” comics, which was published in ‘09 and continued into ‘13. The comics are mostly unknown by many which makes talking about them all the more fun. 

“Fall Out Toy Works” was created by Pete Wentz of FOB, Darren Romanelli and Nathan Cabrera. It is written by Brett Lewis and illustrated by members of Imaginary Friends Studios. The story is a cyberpunk tale set in futuristic LA centered around a gynoid (female android) named Tiffany, the Toymaker’s perfect creation. Think “Pinocchio” meets “Pygmalion.” 

Baron is the main antagonist and his company controls the production of pretty much everything in Los Angeles, even the weather but he has no control over his relationships. He asks the Toymaker to create a robot wife for him, named Tiffany. Talking about the story any farther without spoiling the ending is hard.

The trade paperback and webcomic version both had the final page of issue 5 removed, which changed the entire tone of the ending. (It is relatively easy to find online, though.) There are so many things that the comics explain, even the meaning of the album’s cover art: the bear is a boy robot named Crybaby.

To promote “Folie à Deux,” the whole label of Decaydance Records artists did a mixtape of demos and custom songs called “Welcome to the New Administration.” The promotional campaign began on Aug. 18, 2008, when Decaydance’s website was supposedly hacked by a shady group called “Citizens For Our Betterment.”

The link led to the group’s website which was red, white and blue. Links on the page were blocked needing specific IP addresses to work. The Decaydance site was normal the following day. 

The Citizens for Our Betterment web page was updated every day, many posts referring to Nov. 4, the same day as the 2008 U.S. presidential election. The locked links were gradually opened and by Aug. 24, one link led to a page saying “FOB – The Return – November Four” in large big bold letters.

This caused some fans to believe that Fall Out Boy would release their new album on Nov. 4. Others theorized that this was another one of Pete’s attempts to raise political awareness as he previously held a rally for then U.S. Democratic Party presidential candidate Barack Obama. Members of FOB members are publicly democrats. 

Many bands from the Fueled by Ramen label posted on MySpace that same day with the title “Welcome to the New Administration.” Every post contained the word ten. On Aug. 25, the Citizens for Our Betterment website was redirected to the band’s Friends or Enemies page. On which was an image of a voting booth and ballots with the names of several Decaydance artists. 

By clicking on each individual ballot, there was an audio clip from the band reading past posts on the Citizens for Our Betterment website. A mixtape was then made available for download. Listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUZKSsP8Sdo

As for the album itself, the album “Folie à Deux” itself is perfectly gapless as every song fades into the next. It starts with a hidden track called “Lullabye.” It’s a charming track featuring just acoustic guitar and Patrick singing. “Disloyal Order Of Water Buffaloes” is the first official song. The hook goes: “I’m a loose bolt of a complete machine. What a match, I’m half doomed and you’re semi-sweet.” These lines set the tone of the album with industrial elements and dark storytelling. The world of the Toymaker and how it intertwines with the music. 

“I Don’t Care” kicks off with a classic rock tone, and the accompanying music video is zany and weird. Gilby Clarke from Guns N’ Roses starts the video by saying, “what the hell happened to rock and roll? Eyeliner? Energy drinks? And no guitar solos? I’ve taken sh*ts with bigger rock stars than them!”

The video is filled with miscellaneous sights. There’s the infamous spaghetti cat clip, band members dressed as nuns, Joe flashing people – and it ends with everyone removing a mask and being a different rock star. Clarke himself reveals himself being Sarah Palin in the end, winks.

It’s an all-round weird video. A reminder that ‘08 was a different time, but all and all it fit into the political climate.

Next on the album is “She’s My Winona,” named after actress Winona Ryder. It is a true bop and a slower-paced song with the chorus of “hell or glory, I don’t want anything in between. Then came a baby boy with long eyelashes. And daddy said ‘you gotta show the world the thunder’.”  

This is followed by “America’s Suitehearts” with its nightmare carnival aesthetic that really adds to the story of the album and causes a lot of the nonsense to make sense. 

“Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown On A Bad Bet,” in which the beat goes hard but the lyrics go harder, follows. It’s a song blatantly about infidelity within a relationship. Considering Pete Wentz’s divorce, it’s safe to assume that this was somewhat based in reality. 

The music video is labeled as “A Weekend At Pete Rose’s,” and is on the old FriendsOrEnemies YouTube channel. In it, Panic! At The Disco’s Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith carry Pete’s dead body around the city. 

“The (Shipped) Gold Standard” is a sad masterpiece about fearing loving another person. This was written before gay marriage was legalized and at a time where the LGBT+ community found safety within emo music and the Fall Out Boy fan base because FOB supported them. 

“(Coffee’s For Closers)” is a song about lost faith, and it hits hard especially with its placement behind “The (Shipped) Gold Standard”. 

“What A Catch, Donnie” has a music video and it’s an odd, nostalgic chronicle of the band’s (at the time of the video’s creation) seven-year history. Filled with memorabilia for other music videos, the video shows Patrick saving his fellow bandmates, as well as Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith. The end of the song includes lines from Fall Out Boy’s most iconic songs at the time. 

“27” jumps the pace back up to fast rock and fades into (all songs fade, but this is the best fade on the record) my favorite song on the album, “Tiffany Blews.” The song makes almost no sense at all lyrically but musically it slaps. The best explanation I can give is that it’s about a hot girl. Lil Wayne has a spoken section that is my favorite part. “Not the boy I was, the boy I am is just venting – venting. Dear gravity, you held me down in this starless city.” It’s such a perfect moment of breath in a nonstop album.

Next is “w.a.m.s.,” which is an acronym that has never had a confirmed meaning. But, the bass in it is so good, and the ending’s stripped vocals are as well! 

“20 Dollar Nose Bleed” is about drug abuse. It includes vocals from Brendon Urie and ends with a creepy poem by Pete Wentz. “It’s not me, it’s you, actually, it’s the taxidermy of you and me / Untie the balloons from around my neck and ground me / I’m just a racehorse on the track, send me back to the glue factory…”

“West Coast Smoker” has the futuristic synth sound that ties the whole album together and that sound is on full display. The vocals pulsing with the music is almost spiritual. I’m skipping the remixes and acoustic versions off of the deluxe version. Instead, I’m hopping over to the bonus tracks. 

“Pavlove” is criminally underrated, and such a good song. The heavy rock cover of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” is also wonderful.

I love this album because every song in it is amazing – it goes without saying, “Folie à Deux” is my favorite album by my favorite band. 

LeAnne McPherson

[soulsoffairlight]

(Traducción al español al final)

I'm not sure if everyone has seen this, so I'll put this out here:

According to a comment posted on the Paleteria release date announcement blog post, Flipline is having trouble posting the game to Android because Google Play is taking forever to process it:

It's not their fault at all, and they don't prioritize IOS users, so no need to get mad at Flipline themselves! Google Play is the one at fault for this, and they need to hurry up

I'll now use my limited Spanish to explain the best I can for the Spanish speakers:

Mí español no es muy bueno. Lo siento.

El juego no está aqui para Android porque Google Play lo está procesando. Flipline Studios no favorece al iPhone. Google debe parar

[vok4l0id]

Hello,u may have noticed that some links don't work anymore so here I'm sharing those that still works

-Synth v basic

-Piapro studio

-CeVIO

-Vocaloid 4

(For Vocaloid 4 to work you will need at least one Voice Bank so you can start with this one and then uninstall it and install one better )

-Utau

(If it doesn't work then you can use the official Japanese website and just use the google translator extension)

-OpenUtau

-PaintVoice (For Android)

(You will need a VPN to install Paintvoice,I recommend using TunnelBear for this)

-DeepVocal

-Voicepeak (I will explain this one better later)

-Voisona

Thx for reading <3

[lookatmysillies]

Aoki Character Inspo Chart (Sona Season)

Made Aoki, my pathetic S10/Sona Season boy's character inspiration chart! Explanations for each character under the chart.

Moi: Self-explanatory, as a sona he inherited several traits from me! Which traits? Wouldn't you like to know, weather boy

Yoshiki, The Summer Hikaru Died: I've explained this before when I introduced Aoki, but Yoshiki is his main character inspiration. His relationship with Kay is very Yoshiki-Hikaru adjacent. Once Kay comes back as an android, Aoki doesn't want to recognize something is wrong with his childhood best friend for a long time, but after a while, he can't avoid the truth of it anymore. Still, he loves Kay no matter what, even if the Kay he knows now isn't really - well, the Kay he knew. Yoshiki's withdrawn and secretive demeanor also applies to Aoki.

Minato, Cherry Bitch Club: Ok listen man it's not what it looks like just hear me out okay hear me out. The crux of the conflict implied in CBC is driven by Minato's severe insecurities. He's desperate to be seen as someone worthy of attention by others, especially by his friends, and is a people pleaser to the extreme, all traits which Aoki shares. He's basically the "side character who everyone loves just enough to miss, but not enough to save" by definition, and he puts himself in the position of a side character by attaching himself to others and melting into the background of their stories. Plus, Minato's design is really cool and it gave me ideas of what I wanted Aoki's design to be.

Adam Stanheight, Saw 2004: You know I had to do it eventually. Adam struggles with anger issues and self-isolation, though at heart he's a kind person who wants the best for others, even strangers. His story is out of his hands and is entirely dictated by the actions of others; he lacks autonomy. Aoki shares those aforementioned traits and story points. Plus, he's a loser twink. There's that

Yun-Woo, Bittersweet Sentence (Studio Investigrave): Though we don't know much about Yun-Woo, I thought of him immediately for inspirations! He's very paranoid and anxious 24/7, which is exactly what Aoki devolves into over the course of his time in the 10th graduating class of Anakt Garden. Their designs also share some similarities, particularly when Aoki has his glasses on (yes, he has glasses!)

Kim Dokja, Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint: The fluctuations between different personas with different people, the self-deprecation, the utter devotion and affectionate nature, it’s all extremely Aoki. KDJ feeling he’s only a spectator to life and not an active participant is particularly relevant to Aoki’s story.

Tagging @rockwgooglyeyes for the Kay mentions

[sirfrogsworth]

The Creator is very pretty.

I was going to write about The Creator and then I forgot that I watched it, which I guess kinda explains how I felt about the movie.

The visuals were extremely impressive. And the goal to make a blockbuster style movie for 80 million was achieved. It gives me hope that mid-budget movies may make a comeback at some point.

But I don't think the ambition of the story matched the ambition of the visuals. I think maybe they focused on making it look good and forgot the story is much more important.

The movie never stayed in one place long enough to catch your breath and absorb what was happening. They do all of this beautiful world building and don't give you any time to enjoy it. It's just, "okay, off to the next beautiful location."

Spoilers ahead...

.

.

.

One of the things that bugged me was that they would go from place to place and meet new and interesting characters... and then those characters die. This movie should be called, "Let's get everyone we meet killed."

When *everyone* dies, the deaths start to have less of an impact. Not only that, you don't have a second to acknowledge and feel the deaths. It's like, "Oh no I am sad, but oh no a car chase!"

Also, I am not a big plot hole person. I don't hyperanalyze every bit of logic and assess if it makes sense or not. I like to just absorb the movie for what it is and whatever I end up feeling from the experience is what I try to hold onto. But when the plot holes start piling up and you can't just ignore them, it can distract from the experience.

This movie tried to move on from thing to thing so fast, so many things were just not explained. And it's possible that is because no explanation was thought of. But, boy, some of this needed a little exposition. Why did the androids need to be unconscious while charging? Why do they eat? Where does the food go? Do they poop? Why do people donate their likeness when we already have technology that can generate a completely new face that does not look like anyone else? I have about a thousand of these questions. A few can be hand waved or ignored. But that is just too many to flush from your brain.

And then, one of the biggest mysteries of the movie, the catalyst of the entire conflict, was revealed in an almost throw away line. And the revelation didn't really make sense. It would be like if instead of Franz Ferdinand being murdered by Black Hand assassins, he slipped in the shower and that started a global conflict. Like, if they are going to make such an inconsequential thing responsible, that could actually be interesting. But I think it deserves a little more attention than an offhand remark. And, like, if the androids had evidence of this inconsequential thing, why in the world aren't they screaming it from the rooftops?

Yeah, too many plot holes to ignore.

I am very glad a movie like this was attempted. A new story, a reasonable budget, a lot of ambitious goals. It just didn't work out. Movies are really hard to make. And good movies are nearly impossible to make. So I hope this isn't seen as a failure. This movie succeeds on many levels. I think movies like this are needed and studios should keep trying to make them work. I like sequels. I like remakes and reboots. I honestly don't mind seeing different interpretations of the same thing. As long as there are also new stories along side all of that.

[33bowls]

An open letter to Tidal Streaming

I am both an artist ( 33 Bowls ) with material on Tidal and a satisfied, so far, customer. I know what my music sounded like and sounds like, and can state unequivocally that MQA is closer to the real thing than even hi-res HD PCM; the nuances, the textures, the relaxed ease of listening, the details, the space, the timing, the soul of the music are present with MQA in ways that, as good as HD PCM can sound, are simply not quite there with HD PCM (erroneously referred to as HD FLAC, more on that later). Compared to MQA, PCM (including “HD” high bit rate PCM) also has a glare, zing, edge that on some systems can sound brighter and therefore be mis-interpreted as better --- when in fact that is an artifact of PCM sampling that MQA uniquely ameliorates. When you listen to a good MQA demo at a salon, studio or show, you will understand why major players in the music biz have enthusiastically embraced MQA, with 20 Million tracks to date mastered in MQA.

It is understandable but not commendable for Tidal’s new management to hedge their bets on MQA. However, such a backtrack away from the customer base that Tidal built their reputation upon is not necessarily the brightest business strategy. Is Tidal management counting on very short term memory of the existing customer base when backtracking away from the millions of MQA mastered and remastered tracks described by Tidal as this?

“Master. Authenticated files from mastering process. Studio quality. Unrivaled clarity and depth.”

Going after a minority of customers from a smaller competitor while alienating existing customers will “bite you in the butt” eventually. Don’t alienate your existing customer base. All it will take is one streaming competitor, larger or smaller, hosting the millions of MQA tracks that already exist. It would behoove Tidal to pay attention to actual current long term Tidal customers who are the customer base and word of mouth that Tidal has built the business upon, and ignore haters and trolls who are not actually current Tidal customers.

Adding more customer choices, in this case, formats, is usually a good thing, however, excluding an existing customers’ preference as a default option is just plain short sighted.

See, if instead of being swayed by a small but shrill group of sock puppet trolls, haters, and shills, if you actually listen to a good MQA demo at a salon, studio or show, you will understand why major players in the music biz have enthusiastically embraced MQA as evidenced by 20 Million tracks to date mastered in MQA.

Unlike the hodge poge of so called “hi-res” HD PCM and DSD formats vying for attention as incremental improvement at an exponential cost of bandwidth and file size; with no standardized conjugate reconstruction filters, that all to varying degrees have inherent audible time smear aka temporal blur from gibbs phenomena pre and post ringing on transients; while providing no authentication --- no other format or process can do what MQA does: elegantly, efficiently and accurately reproducing all of the music end to end; being backwards compatible with existing equipment and infrastructure, and being able to clean up existing digital masters.

As to the misnomer of “specialized decoder” --- not needed. As MQA is backwards compatible, MQA files can play back with improved fidelity on legacy 1fs 44.1/48 DACs and decoders with no USB driver issues. So called hi-res HD PCM “FLAC” files are not plug and play, and do actually need specialized drivers, hardware and software. For instance, Tidal Desktop with MQA software decoding, aka first unfold enabled, feeding an R2R DAC can sound quite nice. Such an option as default needs to remain in future updates of Tidal Desktop, Android and Apple apps.

It’s ludicrous that this needs to be explained again: FLAC is a container, not the contents. When streaming bit perfect PCM material, whether CD quality 44.1/16, or so called hi-res HD PCM, or authenticated MQA, bit perfect lossless bit packing that FLAC uses was invented by the same Bob Stuart who also happens to be a co-developer of MQA. So, he wrote the book on that. He knows what he is doing. More here:

https://www.tumblr.com/33bowls/714450718525947904/mqa-faq

https://www.aes.org/journal/online/JAES_V67/5/

In summary: the internet is full of obnoxious sock puppets, trolls, haters, shills. You should know better than to listen to or be swayed by them. There are good reasons why top recording engineers, producers, mastering engineers prefer MQA as closer to the source than other formats and processes. Take good care of MQA, as MQA has taken good care of you, and will continue to do so, if you are up for it.

Update: 

It appears that at least some of the tracks that Tidal is now claiming are HD PCM “Tidal max” are likely up-sampled MQA 44.1k or 48k folded tracks. One label states that their streamed tracks, directly or via aggregator, are all MQA, and that none have been resubmitted as 96k or 192k HD PCM. Unlike MQA’s inclusion of embedded proof of provenance coded and buried in the dither, to indicate that the bitstream is bit for bit perfect from the studio, the flac container has no such provision for authentication. So, HD PCM “Tidal max” files could be upsampled versions of folded MQA sources, and there is no way to prove or disprove that assertion, except to perform real time FFTs of the files. And, there is more to MQA than just sample rate: correct conjugate filtering with minimal time smear or dispersion on transients also known as de-blurring is a perceptually significant feature of MQA, which is ruined when an MQA file is up-sampled rather than unfolded. Max, as HD or high bit rate PCM delivered via FLAC container as a “preferred” default is a step backwards compared to the excellent sonics of MQA, also delivered via FLAC container.

What say, Tidal?

What are the sources of your streamed files?

[thetadispatcher]

The RK900 gave him a suspicious look, deciding he'd show some of his internal emotions to see what reaction he'd get from the human. He felt showing a little would help him get a better read of Bishop, and exactly what he wanted from his attempts to upset him.

"Possibly, I wouldn't know as I don't have much to base it on. The only siblings I've interacted with are an android and a human, and two half siblings." And he felt basing anything on Gavin's behavior would be pointless, his partner wasn't a good tool for learning as he seemed to have behaviors that only applied to him.

"Wouldn't be the first time, and I doubt it's far from the last time any government body will do that." Hugh said with a roll of his eyes, he wasn't excited to see how the military would handle it once they found out. He knew it would just be a bunch of lies and finger pointing, not them trying to use the situation to look good for anyone who was pro android. They'd likely find it wasn't worth it to take that angle for the situation as there wasn't enough humans like that to make it worth it.

"I did send him their way, that was the only task I could think to give him." Dan had sent Kelvin to help box up whatever toys the group had picked out, after he'd asked the other androids if there was anything they might need his help with.

"I'm sure he'd appreciate any help that she can offer with his memory issues, I have noticed he does seem a little upset when he's forgotten something he's learned." Kelvin seemed the most upset by his memory loss then anyone else, they'd just accepted that they would have to reteach the android certain things and that he wasn't deleting things on purpose, so there was no use getting upset with him.

"I don't think that thought cross their mind, and if it did, they likely didn't want to explain why they had sold him." Brent had been a gift, not something the studio had ordered, so they likely didn't have to explain why he'd been sold off after they'd pretended to appreciate the gesture.

"He's just up in the garage." Most of the industrial units hung out in the garage, he suspected it was due to the environment being more of what they were accustomed to, as many had never stepped foot into a house so it was new territory for them.

"I have to talk to the construction units anyways." Dan explained as he lead the way to the garage, through the door that connected to two buildings.

A bunch of male and female androids were standing around talking happily and laughing, well some were working on various projects in different sections of the garage.

Dan walked over to the group that was gathered around a car listening to a far younger looking male android explain something in a heavily accented voice. He turned to look at the PL600 as he finished and the group dispersed to do whatever he'd instructed them to do. "Break somethin'?" The android asked with a chuckled, his smile widening at the annoyed look Dan gave him.

"Perhaps, you looking to be next?" The PL600 replied, knowing the other wouldn't take the threat seriously or be offended by it. "Not right now, but I'll let ya know if I change my mind." The other responded cheerfully, clearly enjoying the banter.

The android leaned onto the car jack he'd been holding onto as he looked Rook over. "Now you I don't recognize, name's Ellis." He paused as Dan said something to him using their link. "I don't go by anything else, in case ya thought I renamed myself like Brent. Comin' up with names is hard, and I'm fine with the one I got. Suits me jus' fine." He explained now that he knew why they had come to see him.

"Yeah, I got myself thrown in the junkyard 'cause apparently I wasn't the 'hot seller' my owner thought I'd be. He was wrong a lot, but I' glad I don't have to deal with 'im anymore. Hard to miss a man who felt the need to correct me, like I didn't know how to do the thing I was made for." He rolled his eyes as he recalled the man who'd been his owner, there wasn't much he could say that was nice about him and he wasn't about to try.

"I'm fine with people talkin' to me 'bout who I was modeled after an' stuff, don't bother me. Or other video games, old ones really. Like Jazzpunk, that's an interestin' one."

It was difficult to read Bishop when he could maintain his usual frowny look regardless of the circumstances. His android counterpart specifically chose not to show a greater range of emotions, despite being more open about them, but the agent had spent several decades pretty much surgically removing his.

There was no reason for him to stick around to play a card game and chat when he could be off helping with important research back at the base. But since going back currently wasn't an option, a usually well hidden side of him was beginning to show as he specifically went out of his way to bother Nines.

He couldn't do otherwise. He had to antagonize the other person in the room who was keeping him from having full control of the exchange.

"That's what they all say." At least it was entertaining enough to keep him from trying to find enrichment by starting a fight.

"At this point, all the military can do is hide its involvement in case there is an investigation." He would know. He had done that plenty of times.

"Yes, you can ask Willow to give it a shot." Rook replied, "She might not have a long conversation with him, but she might be able to give you some more information on Kelvin or the way he thinks. It kinda sounds like he's trying to save the stuff you're teaching him on bad sectors of his memory. Maybe she can do something about that."

It was likely that Willow was still listening in on the conversation, but she found showing up with a solution to somebody's problems unprompted could feel a bit condescending. The best way to do this was to inquire her directly.

"That sucks. But at least they didn't start selling him around like a rare collectible." She would make sure to not bring the topic up with Brent though. He deserved to be treated like he was his own person. "Sure, I'd like to meet this other guy."

It was better than getting chased around by mutants.

[lobajustdoodles]

Official FAQ because why not! Time to explain a lot of things!

BIO

Hallo, I'm LobaJustDoodles / Mr Voidess! I'm an African American Genderfluid in the US; pronouns She/He/Vois/Luns, He/Him preferred along with masc. terms. I am a hobbyist artist and storyteller, working on AUs and OCs for fandoms and for my original projects. I recently graduated high school and aim to work in Forensic Science & Criminology in the later future in college.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Bluesky | Instagram | ToyHouse | UnVale | Telegram | Ko-Fi | Patreon

Q&A

Gen Questions:

Q: "What's your intended audience for your socials?"

I am more comfortable with people following if they are at least 17+. I really don't feel comfortable with anyone 14-15 or ageless accounts following my socials. My space is curated to my likings, and I will block to keep my space safe and enjoyable.

Q: "Why did you leave certain mutual / fandom spaces? And will you return to them?"

Short answer - My reasons. And no, I won't return. Long answer - Leaving mutual spaces and fandom spaces are different but are similar in a way. Most of the time, I leave these spaces because of how my motivation and things that happen offline that affect me, and with what I experience or see around that gives off a bad vibe. For past mutual spaces, 9 times out of 10 it's because of things that gave off a weird vibe and burnout and not feeling like I really belong in the area. For past fandom spaces, it's mostly because of how the fandom acts within the community and interacts with the main media. As for returning, I never try to go back to a space I, by then, feel uncomfortable with. At most, I unfollow/block and mute the things/people of the past and move on to new things. I highly suggest if you are someone I knew from these experiences and spaces, stop block evading and let me live my life.

Q: "Where are you most active?"

I am usually resting and offline, but when I am fairly online, I am in the comfort of my mutuals-only discord. I do not mind making a technical public discord, but I am not that well-known in fandom spaces to reach that far (not that I mind). I'm fine where I am!

Q: 'Where do you post your art other than Tumblr?"

I mainly post on Bluesky and on Telegram. With the notice of people putting artist art in AI on Twitter, I do not feel comfortable posting any artwork there. I will post over on Instagram every month or so, every blue moon.

Q: "How can I support you?"

I have a Ko-Fi and Patreon! (both in heavy refurbishing!) For Ko-Fi, I plan to set up commissions there and sell adopts. You can also subscribe to my Ko-Fi membership tiers or simply send in a donation! For Patreon, this will be where I post most BTS things and other types of works! This space will become 18+ in the future so please, do not become a member if you are younger than 18!

Q: "Can we be friends/mutuals?"

Please don't expect us to be friends for simply following each other. You have to drag me into your space and interact with me to be considered a friend/mutual of mine. If not, I will only see you as a fellow follower who either engages in the posts or lurks around (which is alright). Don't push trying to be friends, it makes you look parasocial and that's an easy block.

Art & Fandom Questions:

Q: "What tools do you use to do artwork?"

I use CSP (Clip Studio Paint) PRO; Vers. 4 and Procreate as art programs. I mainly use a Artist 13.3 Pro XP-Pen and iPad Air 3 or GalaxyTab Android tablet.

Q: "What brushes do you use?"

Fair warning: I am a brush hoarder. My brushes tend to flip flop around because of my sensitivity and stabilization. But my sets will be on Ko-Fi sometime later this month or in July!

Q: "Aren't you a yumeshipper?"

I am (mostly doing OC x Canon), but as someone who falls for characters physically and aesthetically very easily, I have my favorites: Lady Death - Roblox Pressure Lloyd Garmadon - Ninjago Ballora - FNAF Pierce - Aphmau: My Inner Demons Narinder / Heket / Shamura (separate) - COTL Longan Dragon / Lotus Dragon / Latte / Red Velvet (separate) - Cookie Run Alva Lorenz (Hermit) / Ithaqua (Night Watch) / Grace (Naiad) (separate) - Identity V

Q: "How many OCs do you have for fandoms?"

Too many to count. Most of the time if I forget about them, I make new OCs in their place until I randomly remember them.

Q: "Do you still do PPT/SC (Poppy Playtime/Smiling Critters) content?"

Short answer - 50/50 that is looking to a no. Long answer - I have been unmotivated to work on anything for these fandoms out of burnout or leaving mutuals spaces. Of course, I love the characters, and the OCs I have made for it, but the amount of AUs I've concepted and have not done anything further leaves me in doubt of getting to work on other fandoms I enjoy. So, content for PPT/SC is in a hiatus with a low chance of returning. I enjoyed it but it looks like I'll be moving on from it nowadays.

Q: "Where's your stance on blocking people?"

I block freely and also if there is a callout post about someone. I try to block on all social media I have, but if I somehow missed one, let me know!

Misc:

Q: "Why the change from lavenders_artistry to lobajustdoodles/mrvoidess?"

My old account handle never sat with me and most of ex-mutuals knew me by "Lavender". I wanted to embrace my nickname "Loba" more, honestly. The "mrvoidess" is part of my personal online brand, "misspara_melontea"!

Q: "Is the picrew your sona? Do you even have a sona?"

I have many designs of my persona, as it is a shapeshifter! The picrew is just one of many designs for my persona. The main design is still in the works as of now, but hopefully I will be able to draw a full piece with him!

Q: "What is Hellfire Spiral and Nandi's Clock?"

Hellfire Spiral is a storyline of my personal interpretation of some biblical storylines and worldbuilding for both Hell and Heaven and the Earth. Yes, from a high distance, this looks like I'm rewriting Vivziepop's Hazbin Hotel. But I'm not and I wish to not have Hellfire Spiral be compared to a storyline that cannot stay in the concept that was originally thought of. Hellfire Spiral is essentially me being theistic satanist and pagan and diving into the biblical text on Wikipedia and other sources because why the hell not. Nandi's Clock is an OC storyline, branching away from an ex-mutual's witches/supernatural storyline because me and this person aren't in touch anymore. At most, this storyline takes all OCs I have made in the past and giving them a better purpose, if they're not being smothered into new fandoms I leech onto. My OCs are my children and as their parent, I put them in chaotic situations. Both original projects do have a tag, but I will rarely post anything on them. And Nandi's Clock is in my Unvale!

Q: "What's with you drawing characters, mainly women, hot?"

You're in the space of an aroace omni-sapphic that gets attraction physically and aesthetically. Also, I just do, lol-

[ludoonline]

Game Development Services Explained: What to Expect from Leading Studios

The gaming industry is evolving rapidly — and with it, the demand for high-quality, immersive, and engaging game experiences. Whether you’re an entrepreneur with a new game concept or a business looking to gamify customer engagement, partnering with a professional game development company can make or break your project.

But what exactly do game development services include? And what should you expect from leading game studios in 2025?

Here’s a comprehensive breakdown.

🎮 1. Game Design & Conceptualization

Every great game starts with a great idea — and leading game development studios help you turn that idea into a winning concept.

Expect services like:

Game mechanics and logic planning

Storyline and world-building

Character development and art direction

Gameplay loop design

Studios will often collaborate with you on game design documents (GDD) that define every aspect of your game before development begins.

🎨 2. 2D & 3D Art and Animation

Visual appeal is crucial in game development. Top studios offer professional 2D and 3D asset creation, including:

Character models and animations

Environmental design

UI/UX elements

Visual effects (VFX)

They may use industry-standard tools like Blender, Maya, Substance Painter, and Adobe Creative Suite to craft stunning visuals that resonate with your audience.

⚙️ 3. Game Development & Programming

This is where the magic happens. Development teams bring your game to life using engines or game development tools like:

Unity (great for mobile and cross-platform games)

Unreal Engine (best for 3D, console, and high-fidelity experiences)

Godot (lightweight and open-source)

They’ll handle:

Game logic and mechanics

Input systems and controls

AI behavior

Multiplayer architecture (if applicable)

Cross-platform optimization (iOS, Android, Web, PC, Console)

☁️ 4. Backend Development & Integration

Modern games, especially multiplayer or real-money games, require strong backend infrastructure. Leading studios will offer:

User authentication

Leaderboards and matchmaking

Cloud saves

Analytics tracking

In-app purchase and ad integration

Platforms like PlayFab, Photon, Firebase, and custom Node.js APIs are often used to build scalable game backends.

🧪 5. Quality Assurance & Testing

No one wants a buggy game. Expect comprehensive QA services including:

Functional testing

UI/UX testing

Performance and stress testing

Device and platform compatibility checks

Security and anti-cheat measures

Top studios follow agile testing practices and often include manual and automated testing throughout development.

🛠️ 6. LiveOps & Game Updates

After launch, your game needs ongoing care. LiveOps keeps users engaged with:

Content updates and seasonal events

Bug fixes and feature rollouts

User retention tactics

Server scaling and monitoring

Many studios provide post-launch support packages to ensure your game stays fresh, fun, and functional long-term.

💼 7. Monetization & Strategy Consulting

It’s not just about gameplay — it’s also about growth. Leading studios offer monetization consulting, helping you integrate:

In-app purchases

Rewarded ads

Subscription models

Real-money gameplay systems (for skill-based games)

They can also guide you on market fit, user acquisition, and retention strategies.

📊 8. Analytics & User Behavior Insights

Data drives game evolution. Expect integration with tools like:

Google Analytics for Firebase

GameAnalytics

Mixpanel

You’ll get insights into:

Player behavior

Session duration

Retention and churn rates

Monetization performance

This data helps refine your game post-launch for better engagement and profitability.

🤝 What Sets Leading Studios Apart?

End-to-end services from concept to launch and beyond

Proven experience in your genre or platform

Transparent communication and project management

Scalable teams for small projects or AAA ambitions

Deep understanding of both technical execution and player psychology

Final Thoughts

Choosing a game development company is about more than price — it’s about partnership, capability, and vision. When you work with a top-tier studio, you gain a team that doesn’t just build games — they build successful gaming products.

If you're planning your next mobile, PC, or real-money game, make sure you choose a partner like ApperStudios who delivers more than code. Choose one who delivers results.

[fromdevcom]

TikTok has become a global sensation, with users sharing creative, entertaining, and educational videos daily. Sometimes, you come across a TikTok video so good that you want to save it, whether for offline viewing, sharing, or repurposing. However, TikTok videos often come with a watermark that can be distracting or unwanted. Fortunately, there are ways to download TikTok videos without watermarks easily. In this article, we’ll guide you through the best tools and methods to do just that. Why Download TikTok Videos Without Watermarks? Downloading TikTok videos without watermarks can be beneficial for several reasons: Clean Viewing Experience: Removing watermarks eliminates distractions from the video. Professional Use: Clean videos are better suited for presentations, compilations, or other projects. Sharing Across Platforms: Some platforms prefer content without branding or watermarks. While it's essential to respect the original creators and their copyrights, downloading watermark-free videos can be handy for personal and fair-use purposes. Method 1: Using TikTok Video Download Websites There are various websites designed to help you download TikTok videos without watermarks. Here’s how to use them: Copy the Video Link: Open TikTok, find the video you want to download, and click the "Share" button. Select "Copy Link." Visit a TikTok Downloader Website: Popular websites like SnapTik, SSSTikTok, or TikMate offer this service. Paste and Download: Paste the copied link into the website’s input box, click "Download," and select the watermark-free option. Save the Video: Once processed, the video will be ready to download without the watermark. Pros: Easy to use with no additional apps needed. Works on both desktop and mobile devices. Cons: Requires an internet connection. Ads may pop up on some websites. Method 2: Using Mobile Apps For frequent downloads, dedicated apps may be more convenient. Here are some reliable options: TikSaver (iOS/Android) Video Downloader for TikTok (Android) RepostTik (iOS) How to Use: Install the app from your device’s app store. Copy the TikTok video link as explained earlier. Paste it into the app, and select the watermark-free download option. Pros: Faster downloads for frequent users. Offline access once the app is installed. Cons: May require occasional updates or subscriptions for premium features. Method 3: Screen Recording If you’re unable to use third-party tools, screen recording is a universal method: Enable Screen Recording: On iOS or Android, use the built-in screen recording feature. On desktops, tools like OBS Studio or Camtasia work well. Play the TikTok Video: Open TikTok, navigate to the video, and play it while recording. Edit the Video: Crop out any extra portions or unwanted elements using a video editor. Pros: No reliance on external websites or apps. Works on all platforms. Cons: Time-consuming. Requires manual editing to remove unwanted parts. Tips for Ethical Use While downloading TikTok videos is easy, it’s essential to respect creators and their content: Give Credit: Always credit the creator if you plan to share the video. Seek Permission: When using videos for commercial purposes, obtain explicit permission from the owner. Fair Use: Use the videos responsibly and within legal guidelines. Best Practices for High-Quality Downloads Check Video Resolution: Ensure the video is in high resolution (720p or higher) for better quality. Choose Reliable Tools: Avoid suspicious websites or apps that may compromise your data security. Backup Videos: Save downloaded videos in a secure location to prevent accidental loss. Conclusion Downloading TikTok videos without watermarks is easier than ever, thanks to a variety of tools and methods available. Whether you prefer using online platforms, apps, or screen recording, there’s a solution for everyone.

Just remember to use these downloads ethically, respecting the hard work of content creators. Start exploring these methods today, and enjoy your favorite TikTok videos watermark-free!