#kind of a basic UI analysis

[tbonechessor]

I think titanfall's first-person perspective helps drive a lot of aesthetic UI elements. Titans also mostly move in 2 dimensions as opposed to an AC or even a pilot. You notice most of the cluttering happens near the top corners where there isn't likely to be alot of threats besides maybe a Northstar or a pilot. The overlays are there to imply scale and weight while hunting for good sightlines.

AC6 has a lot of its enemies use 3D attacks that require perceiving a lot of depth and windup. When Balteus gets ready to swing that fire sword, it's nice to know what angle it's coming from so you can move opposite to it in whatever 3d direction serves you best. I think a clean UI helps serve the kind of frenetic mech ducking n weaving. Let's you put a lot of different kind of attacks in to keep up the pressure too since the Player can always see where they ended up after a move and where to go next. Informed gameplay n all that.

Its almost strange how clean the UI for AC6 is while on mission. Like really strange when you consider how many games in the genre are obsessed with having their UI as bloated as possible.

Not that i mind lots of information at a glance, its just hard to do right sometimes (titanfall1/2 are good examples)

I think it really comes down to making room for the spectacle that is ac6 to explain why the ui is so simplistic.

Thoughts?

[yggdraseed]

An Incomplete Analysis of the Sukunadome

I stress the point that this is an inherently incomplete analysis. It's getting late, I'm tired and unhappy, and… well, the fight isn't over yet, so there's no way this analysis could be complete even if I felt like it. However, it's on my mind, and I feel the need to start exerting myself more on these things. Sometimes sweat is the better medicine. I know this is a long one and doesn’t have any pictures, but if we all support each other, we’ll get through it together.

Full disclosure, I wish more people had gotten filtered by this fight and just stopped talking about Jujutsu Kaisen by now. Like yeah, I think it's great different people see things in different ways, but let's all be honest with ourselves here, most of the people criticizing this fight are not doing so with any sort of literary or artistic perspective or good faith. Most of it is Gojo fans who are still crying, seething, vomiting, pissing, and shitting over the fact that the character they attached their ego to didn't win Jujutsu Kaisen like they wanted. If this describes you, well, this post will probably do you some good, but I'm confident nobody who takes the stance that Gojo should have won would have the space in their mind for what I'm about to say about Sukunadome.

Because that's what I'm calling it. "The Sukuna Cycle" was maybe a little funny for a week or two, but like most memes about this series, it wasn't really based on the story so much as it was on an agenda. Kusakabe was part of the fight since Yuji and Higuruma entered, and up until Miguel, we knew all the combatants who would be tagging in were there. We knew Yuta was off dealing with Kenjaku and would return, we knew Maki was in play, and there really weren't a lot of switches. Just Choso leaving and coming back, Ui Ui retrieving Higuruma's and Gojo's corpses, and… you know, actually, I think that's it. Sure isn't as much as the "Sukuna Cycle" memes made it out to be, huh?

Okay, if you haven't noticed yet, I'm a big JJK fan and a big JJK fandom hater. I think JJK has the worst Western internet fanbase I've seen in a long time, with only a few oases scattered across the internet where you can find intelligent life. Like it's insane what kind of bullshit a person can convince themselves of.

However, I'm not analyzing JJK's fanbase, I'm analyzing JJK. Someday we'll litigate whether or not Lobotomy Kaisen was really funny enough to justify how badly it ruined this fanbase's ability to objectively, productively engage with with one of the most competently written and culturally impactful manga to come out this century. Today is not that day.

So Sukuna's got four arms and knows how to use them. He's got four eyes and so much sass one mouth wasn't enough for the amount of trash he's got to talk to the youths of today. Just on a basic level, having four arms would be such an insignificant power in any other Shonen as to almost be a joke. Yet with how jujutsu sorcery functions as a power system and how adept Sukuna is at using every possible advantage at his disposal - even going so far as to take what probably should be disadvantages and twist them to work for him - having the ability to make hand seals while fighting hand-to-hand, and being able to chant without interrupting his breathing, are inseparable from Sukuna's godlike fighting ability. I love how something seemingly so mundane is such a huge x factor for Sukuna.

We continually see how Sukuna is a complex, but fundamentally vile antagonist. He has a very rich, detailed view of the world, but one that fundamentally reduces every other human being to be his playthings and food. It's just that Sukuna says, "Don't like it? Then get stronger." It's a very Social Darwinist, late stage capitalist view to be coming from the Heian Era, and I think that maybe it's intentional. Shitty people are shitty in mostly the same ways, it's just they find new things to be shitty about or to use to be shitty with.

Like if that were all it is, it'd make Sukuna so effective as a villain to hate and would slot so nicely into Jujutsu Kaisen's overarching social and political commentary. Cruelty within suffering, selfishness as a strength and a weakness, the unfairness of how the strength to pursue one's agency is unevenly distributed and how the haves don’t realize how easily they could have instead been have-nots, it's all there.

But there’s this inherent charisma to Sukuna that I think is intentional. He has this noblesse oblige where he’s so inherently aware of his greatness that he doesn’t have a problem with giving credit where credit is due. Like he talks all the trash when he’s fighting Jogo, but where Gojo’s insults come across as puerile and blunt, Sukuna’s always displaying this wit to him. And when the battle’s over, he acknowledges that even though Jogo wasn’t as strong as him, he was stronger than most and could have gone even further if he hadn’t held himself back. He starts off belittling Gojo in their fight, but by the end, he expresses a profound respect and gratitude towards Gojo. Like it’s a very warped form of those sentiments, but I think it’s sincere. Even with Ishigori, when Sukuna fails to cut him the first time, he just acknowledges it was disrespectful to hold back and that he’ll give it full force the next strike.

Something to keep in mind is that everything Megumi warned Yuji about when it comes to ancient sorcerers applies to Sukuna as well. They’re not treated as uniformly, unambiguously evil anymore than anyone else in JJK is, and are acknowledged as having fundamentally different world views about violence and the value of human life. Kashimo, for instance, seems to value his life only because he’s able to risk his life and lay it on the line. They’re people from an era where children died so young that parents often gave them numbered names so as to not get too attached until they’d see if their kids actually were going to make it or not. If you didn’t give your whole life over to a goal, you probably wouldn’t achieve it. Whereas modern sorcerers, modern people, have all these complex and sometimes contradictory views and needs, ancient sorcerers show a tendency to shave everything away except their one singular conviction because that was what you had to do in an era of much shorter life expectancies and peril on all sides. You’d be very lucky to accomplish one life goal, let alone as many as people of today set out to achieve: graduating high school, graduating college, getting a job, starting a family, and hopefully having one or two passions on the side. Fundamentally different worldviews from fundamentally different periods of history.

And Sukuna is no different. His goal is simple: partake in the many colors and flavors of humanity through mortal combat in the arena of sorcery. Sukuna’s love for sorcery runs deep. He’s always curious about different cursed techniques, even ones that are pedestrian to a sorcerer of his level, like Nanako’s smartphone-based technique. He reminds me of a quote from Baki: “Someone who works hard can never beat someone who enjoys himself.” Sukuna has clearly put forth great effort to master sorcery, but clearly doesn’t see it as work. He sees it as just doing what he enjoys and is good at.

Unfortunately for everyone else, he enjoys killing and is extremely good at it. Sukuna is the ultimate ethical heat death of the “live for yourself, cherish your own agency, don’t let yourself be controlled” mindset that is the ideological starting point of JJK. It’s a very dark, extreme interpretation of Buddhist non-attachment, where even compassion is an attachment to ultimately shed. Sukuna lives perfectly freely, including being free from guilt or compassion.

Naturally, there’s an exception. All things seem to have exceptions. In Sukuna’s case, that would be Uraume. I’ve been fascinated by their dynamic since we first learned of Uraume’s allegiance to Sukuna during Shibuya and I still can’t wait to know more. Suffice to say, Sukuna dotes on Uraume, forgiving their mistakes and seeming to enjoy their company not just because of their service to him, but because their existence makes him happy. I’m reminded of Power in Chainsaw Man, how she was seemingly incapable of empathy or mercy until she met Meowy.

Honestly, Sukuna reminds me a lot of a lot of characters in Chainsaw Man. People who are trying to climb from this state of misery, of struggling just to meet basic desires, and learning to be human. Yet Sukuna is so strong he never needed to learn to be human. He never needed to cooperate with others to survive — or at least, doesn’t seem to believe he did — and so he never saw the value in it. And so he’s basically brute forced his way around having to undergo an arc like Denji’s, and has instead ended up a hedonistic black hole devising all these complicated philosophical arguments to justify what is, really, a very simplistic, predatory desire to only satisfy his basic material wants and creative interests and nothing else for anyone else.

But like, it’s not that simple. If you give to others, you get something immaterial in return. I can’t quantity it or define it, but I’m sure most of you know what I mean. The happiness that comes from taking care of others’ needs, and the deeper levels beyond that happiness. Like I do believe that’s the subtext behind Binding Vows as metaphor: that you almost never give without getting in return. You might not get the same thing back, in the same form, but being changed by the act of putting the needs and wants of others before your own even temporarily still is part of the exchange. It’s part of becoming complete as a human being.

Sukuna has defied that exchange and broken the cycle, and I don’t think it’s inherently for his own benefit. There are some thing about being human that you don’t just get to opt out of, no matter how much you claim you’re more than or less than human. Even if Sukuna doesn’t think he’s lost something of value, he has. And that something of value is inherent to the whole point of this final battle.

Jujutsu Kaisen is basically working on two big problems. There are lots of ideas at play in the series, but there are two fundamental problems for which every fiight, every character arc, every turn of the gears consitutes part of the calculus to solve one or both of those problems.

The first problem, a thematic and philosophical one: “How do you love and fight for something when you know you’re going to die?”

The second problem, a metatextual one: “Is there any artistic and social value left in the Shonen formula as it stands in the modern day?”

And this fight is, ultimately, where GeGe is showing their work. It’s where Yuji has to defeat Sukuna, if not in terms of out-boxing him, then in terms of prevailing over his beliefs about humanity and the world as a whole.

GeGe has stripped Yuji of everything that is supposed to determine the worth of a Shonen protagonist’s victory. He’s not fighting alone, he didn’t go off and train all by himself, he trained with a lot of powerful, smart people who helped him. And Yuji is arguably not even the most important participant in the fight. So why should we care if Yuji wins?

The answer is so simple it’s easy to lose track of it. Yuji is risking his life to rescue someone, his friend, from being exploited, and to save the people of Japan from being exploited. Even after everything that’s happened, Yuji plants his fucking feet and takes a stance that no, shithead, there is such a thing as the right thing. Maybe it isn’t obvious all the time, and it sure as hell isn’t always easy to know what it is, but he knows now with certainty what it isn’t: to exploit others or to destroy yourself. We can find our answers somewhere in-between.

Sometimes we can’t resolve our problems with a tidy solution that makes everyone happy and sometimes we have to carve a piece of ourselves out and give to something we won’t be sure to see the fruition of, but that’s just life. It doesn’t mean we have to throw away all hope for things to get better. Even if the world won’t become utopian, it can still become better, no matter how many nihilists hide their own inequities behind assertions that there is no point.

Nihilism is not a solution to the problems of life, it is the choice to run away and hide. To give into nihilism is to give up the fight even while other people are still fighting all around you.

So that’s the fucking point of the Sukunadome. Nobara already said it better than anyone else has before she made Mahito look like the bitch he was and always will be: “Sometimes you need to fight even when you know you can’t win.” Because you won’t always win and you won’t escape death, nor will you know what lies beyond death. However, you can still live according to your principles and fight for the things you see as meaningful even if other people don’t.

That is why so many characters have come and gone from the fight. All gave some, some gave all. Nobody is truly useless — even if Miwa self-deprecatingly jokes about being useless, she still was the one thing standing between Maki and Malevolent Shrine’s eviscerating hellscape. Even Amai’s sweets-conjuring joke technique saved Hana from a would-be fatal fall and helped to supply sugar to the brains of people using reverse cursed technique in Shoko’s triage. Larue couldn’t do much, but they caught Sukuna’s eye at the perfect time for Yuji to land a Black Flash, and that means something. It all means something.

Given how deeply GeGe clearly respects Hunter X Hunter, I want to end off by citing one of the quotes in Hunter X Hunter that has been the most impactful for me and I suspect has been about as impactful on GeGe: “It seems small things… infinitesimally small things… are needed to build the entire universe. The size of a thing has nothing to do with its power.” We always seem to direct our senses to the superlatives. The largest, the oldest, the loudest, the things that hit the hardest. But while it would be wrong to throw those out, we often lose sight of how many little, important things there are in the midst of those huge, important things.

Seeing someone’s smile when you remembered something they said that showed you were listening to them. The feeling of a warm breeze on a summer morning. The smell of honeysuckle on your walk home. Waking up to rain on a Sunday. The taste of watermelon. Getting married. Having your heart broken. Songs that make you smile, songs that make you cry — songs that do both, and songs that make you feel things you can’t describe. When you’re always looking to those immense, monolithic things, always comparing your seemingly small, seemingley meaningless life to them, you lose sight of just how meaningful all of it is.

Just because it doesn’t have cosmic, absolute meaning doesn’t make it meaningless. Every little thing that means something to you is worthy of being cherished. The people around you, the things that bring you happiness, even if that happiness is going to ebb and flow. It’s all worth fighting for and living for. It just takes bravery and conviction to keep fighting and keep living with authenticity and love. And if there’s an artistic value, a greater meaning to Shonen, now and always, it’s the unerring, unabashed belief that there’s a reason to aim high and not give up.

Because sometimes, life hurts. But if it’s just pain, Yuji Itadori will never stop. We’ll see what I have to amend, reconsider, or elaborate on when the fight is finished. I hope this gave some of you a new way to look at it.

[electric-eulogy]

Thoughts on the Tomodachi Game Manga: Yutori Kokorogi

Wanted to put this out here because my friend told me that my thoughts were interesting, haha. Several months out from when I finished the manga itself, but my motivation to post things online isn't exactly great... Regardless, Tumblr is the only place to get my thoughts on the media I consume at the moment (as this is the site that I find has the friendliest UI for me).

Anyway, this is more like a character analysis for a few of the characters than any kind of story evaluation for the most part. I'll put the actual analysis under the cut for people who don't want to read it.

Keep in mind that I've only read the manga, so I don't know anything about anything that's (presumably) only in the anime.

I want to talk about the main cast here... Yuuichi Katagiri, Shiho Sawaragi, Tenji Mikasa, Makoto Shibe, Yutori Kokorogi, and Kei Shinomiya. I'll likely touch on Yuka Katagiri, Taizen Shiba, Masakazu Shibe, Yutaka Mikasa, and everyone else that comes to mind with that list more briefly… Not individually, but in their relation to the others and the parent/child parallel in the story.

This post is for Yutori, though.

Please note that there will be spoilers for Tomodachi Game below.

Yutori Kokorogi

Starting with Yutori, as she's one of the ones I found the most interesting by the end of the story....

Her character is rather... interesting, and feels similar to D'arce from Fear & Hunger to me. They're both... incredibly bold and opinionated individuals, but their whole world revolves around one man. For D'arce, it would be Le'garde, and for Yutori, it would be Yuuichi.

Yutori doesn't read to me as though she has a particularly cohesive sense of identity. From the beginning, her personality was an act (which I thank every star above for), but she's not actually that stable of a person once that facade falls. She's obsessed with Yuuichi.

But before we get to that, I want to talk about her beginning personality in the manga. The classic... moe air-headed klutz girl. Honestly, this is one of my least-liked tropes in the media. I don't like it. But I do think that it's worth mentioning as her facade of choice. I wonder if it's because that's the kind of personality that can be effectively utilized to elicit sympathy and pity points if not exasperation and/or a sense of protectiveness... if only because she acts so much younger than her age.

It'd be easy to get close to people that way, and she'd also be filling a niche in the group that they didn't have filled yet. In the most surface-level, distilled way of phrasing it: Shiho is the upright law keeper, Yuuichi is the glue that holds everyone together, Makoto is the rich kid who's... constantly wavering on the borderline between "normal guy" and "creepy pervert," and Tenji is basically the upright law keeper 2.0 (male edition). And Yutori can step in as the "cute nieve klutz that everyone steps in to protect."

It feels like she made the personality explicitly to target that protective instinct in people who have a concious. She's the sad, wet cat on the side of the road with the big eyes that everyone pities, but only a few will actually step in to help. And she's made it so that Shiho, Yuuichi, Tenji, and Makoto will all step up to help her.

But once that mask drops, it does get painfully apparent that she doesn't know what a real friendship looks like. She'll act out the fantasy of one, but I don't think she knows what it actually is. But it's not about the friendship to her; it's about Yuuichi.

Rounding back to my idea that her entire sense of identity is dependent on Yuucihi: When she talks about him, she talks as though he's a god, and she also quite literally refers to him as one (if memory serves). She sees him as a sort of arbiter of divine will-- if only because of how fucked up he and Taizen ended up making her family situation (although I'll talk about that more when I talk about Yuucihi. Because I'm not sure that Yuucihi is the one that should shoulder that blame).

Anyway, she has this... obsessive, perhaps religious, view of Yuucihi... And similar to how some people make things like Being a Christian (TM) their whole personality, her entire personality is dependent on her perception of Yuucihi and what he's done. I phrased it to my friend as follows: She spent so long pinning things on Yuuichi to the point that it's become a fanatical, cult-like obsession for her. Her sense of self is tied to that. Her sense of self is innately connected to her sense of "past" and not a (her) sense of "like/dislike" or "hobbies," so the idea of what she "knew" being wrong would naturally fundamentally shake her sense of self.

Her entire personality is based on her personal worship of, and eventual vengeance upon, Yuuichi. So it's only... normal that learning or realizing that things were at least a little different from the way that she initially pictured it would destroy her. The idea that Yuuichi isn't the sole incarnate of pure, true evil and that there were more factors to blame than a child no older than her would also be something that I think wouldn't be pretty for her.

Because that's her obsession. That it's Yuucihi who did it, it's Yuuichi who did it, it's Yuuichi who... well, you get the idea.

But, in the end, she's also aware that she's no better than he is. An eye for an eye makes for an endless cycle of vengeance; somewhere in there, you will eventually become that which you hate. In an attempt to constantly get the better of, or win the battle between, you will sink to their level and worse because there are just some things that you can't feel like you've won/been vindicated by if you don't throw away your morals. Fire can only be fought with fire sometimes, and sometimes that means being worse, or at least on the level of.

And it could be said that Yutori is worse, just like it could be said that Yuuichi is worse. That's all a matter of personal perspective. But they're both not good people. And she knows that. So, by the end of the story, when everyone decides whether or not they want Yuucihi to live, she doesn't say anything until Makoto does because she knows that she's sunk to his level, sort of like the idea that her horse in this race is weaker than the others.

She's almost on the level of Yuuichi when it comes to manipulating others or at least pulling an act in front of them. This can be seen in how long she's able to fool everyone, including the cult leader Saika Kamishiro. However, it could be debated whether or not Saika was actually that perceptive to begin with.

Doesn't change the fact that she manipulated him so successfully, though.

Regardless, I get where she's coming from, but I don't necessarily sympathize. I can't condone her decisions and behavior, especially towards her mother and friends in the story (even if that's rectified in the epilogue).

I also want to mention what her name means: 心木 ゆとり... With 心 (kokoro), meaning "heart" in a sort of cutesy way (though it can also mean mind and soul). And 木 (ki/gi) meaning "tree/wood". ゆとり (yutori) all together can mean something like "space/affluence/time/reserve," and it'd be used as a noun that way, but broken up ゆ (yu) would mean "hot water" and とり (tori) would mean "bird".

I'm sure that I'll have more thoughts bite me later that I'll regret not expanding upon here, but this is it for now.

[naresh83067]

Where to Start? Software Companies in Jaipur for Freshers in IT & Finance Fields

Are you a fresher wondering where to start your career in Jaipur? If you’re from an IT or finance background, the city has some promising opportunities waiting for you. Jaipur is fast emerging as a growing tech and business hub, offering a variety of roles for fresh graduates in both private and corporate sectors. Among the most in-demand workplaces are software companies in Jaipur for freshers, which offer not just technical roles but also exciting entry-level openings in finance, data, and operations.

Whether you’ve just completed your B.Tech, BCA, B.Com, or MBA, you’ll find numerous roles across development, support, accounting, and business analysis that align with your skills. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to begin your job search, what kinds of roles are trending, and why Salarite is the ideal platform to help you land your first job in Jaipur.

Why Jaipur is a Great Place to Begin Your Career

Jaipur is not just a city of culture and heritage—it’s now home to an expanding ecosystem of start-ups, MSMEs, and private companies, especially in the software and financial services sectors. For freshers, this means:

Easier access to entry-level roles

Cost-effective living compared to metro cities

Strong mentoring and training culture in smaller teams

Growing number of IT parks and business zones

And the best part? Many software companies in Jaipur for freshers offer hybrid and full-time roles with supportive work environments.

Popular Job Roles for Freshers in Jaipur (IT & Finance)

Thanks to platforms like Salarite, it’s now easier than ever to explore job listings tailored for freshers in Jaipur. Here are some popular job roles currently being posted on the Salarite job portal:

In the IT Sector:

Software Developer (Fresher) – Basic knowledge of programming languages like Java, Python, or PHP is required. Many companies also train you on the job.

Front-End Developer (Intern or Junior Level) – For candidates familiar with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

QA/Software Tester (Entry-Level) – Ideal for those with analytical minds and basic knowledge of testing tools.

Technical Support Associate – Great for freshers who enjoy solving tech issues and want client-facing experience.

UI/UX Design Assistant – Creative roles for candidates with knowledge of design tools and user interface principles.

In the Finance Sector:

Accounts Executive (Fresher) – Candidates with B.Com or M.Com degrees are often preferred.

Finance Analyst (Junior Level) – Great for those with good Excel skills and knowledge of financial reporting.

Tally Operator – Suitable for commerce graduates who are familiar with Tally ERP software.

Billing & Invoicing Coordinator – For candidates interested in financial operations and client invoicing processes.

Back Office Executive (Finance) – A mix of admin and financial work, suitable for detail-oriented freshers.

All these roles are currently live and frequently updated on Salarite, ensuring that freshers have access to verified listings directly from Jaipur-based companies.

How Salarite Helps Freshers Get Hired

If you’re not sure where to begin your job search, Salarite is your go-to job portal for discovering software companies in Jaipur for freshers. Salarite focuses on connecting job seekers with local start-ups and MSMEs, helping you find the right opportunity based on your profile.

Here’s how Salarite supports freshers:

Fresher-Friendly Job Listings – Many jobs are specifically marked as “Fresher Openings” so you don’t waste time applying to roles needing 1–2 years of experience.

Smart Profile Matching – Based on your qualifications and preferences, Salarite recommends roles that suit your strengths.

Simple Application Process – Apply to jobs in just a few clicks. No complicated forms or unnecessary documents required.

Career Counseling Support – New to job hunting? Salarite offers guidance for resume writing, interview prep, and skill assessment.

Focused on Start-ups & MSMEs – These companies often offer flexible roles, training, and faster growth opportunities for freshers.

Tips for Freshers Applying to Software Companies in Jaipur

Before you start applying, here are a few tips to boost your chances:

Polish Your Resume – Highlight any internships, certifications, or college projects.

Learn Basic Tools – In IT, basics of Git, VS Code, and SQL help. In Finance, Excel and Tally are a must.

Prepare for Interviews – Salarite can connect you to mock interview resources and tips to help you stand out.

Be Flexible – Consider roles that may not match your degree 100%—skills matter more than titles.

Follow Up – After applying through Salarite, follow up politely with recruiters via email if you don’t hear back in a week.

Start Your Journey Today

Finding your first job doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right tools and a targeted job portal like Salarite, you can confidently explore software companies in Jaipur for freshers that match your interests in IT or finance. Whether you're aiming to become a developer, analyst, or accounts executive, there’s a role for you—and your dream job could be just a few clicks away.

Visit Salarite today, create your profile, and start applying. Your career journey begins now—right here in Jaipur!

[cryptoplatformapp]

Instant Akpro Review 2025 – Is It A Legit Crypto Trading Platform?

Anyone else feel like every other day there's a new trading platform popping up?  It’s honestly getting tough to tell which ones are actually worth checking out and which are just trying to ride the crypto hype wave. That’s exactly why I decided to take a deep dive into Instant Akpro, one of the newer names making rounds in trading forums and Telegram channels lately.

👉 Open Your Instant Akpro Account Now

With the rise of AI-powered trading tools and platforms that claim to simplify crypto investing, platforms like Instant Akpro are gaining attention for their plug-and-play approach. Whether you're a total newbie or a semi-pro looking for smoother execution, this platform seems to be built with both in mind.

So in this review, I’m cutting through the fluff and giving you a realistic look at what Instant Akpro offers, who it’s for, and what you should watch out for. I’ll share my experience, cover the main features, and even point out a few weak spots. If you’re thinking about jumping in, this post should help you decide if it’s worth your time and money.

What is Instant Akpro?

So what exactly is Instant Akpro? At its core, it's an automated trading platform designed to help users trade across multiple assets — mainly cryptocurrencies, but also forex and commodities. It uses algorithms to analyze market data in real time and suggests or makes trades based on pre-set strategies.

It’s tailored for those who want to enter the trading space without needing to babysit charts all day. Think of it like a smart assistant that doesn’t just follow orders but can make decisions based on data. While it's not unique in offering automation, it does stand out for being easy to use and fairly responsive even during market volatility.

Who Created Instant Akpro?

The team behind Instant Akpro hasn't gone public, which is pretty common with platforms like this. That said, based on the UI design and backend functionality, it seems to share a lot in common with platforms like Bitcoin Era or Immediate Edge. These platforms typically have a team of developers, financial analysts, and marketing heads working behind the scenes.

While the lack of transparency might raise eyebrows, it doesn’t immediately scream scam. It just means users need to be a bit more cautious and do their own due diligence before diving in too deep.

How Does Instant Akpro Work?

Instant Akpro uses automated trading algorithms to scan the markets and find potentially profitable trades. Here's the simplified version of how it works:

You create an account and deposit funds (minimum $250).

The platform lets you choose between manual and auto modes. In auto mode, trades are executed automatically on your behalf.

It uses real-time data analysis, which supposedly helps it make smart trade decisions faster than a human could.

You can set your own risk levels, trading parameters, and even use the demo mode to test strategies before going live.

It’s not a magic money maker, but it does take a lot of the heavy lifting off your shoulders, especially if you're new to this.

Instant Akpro Pros and Cons

Let’s break it down:

Pros:

✅ Beginner-friendly UI – Seriously, if you can use a smartphone, you can use this.

✅ Real-time trading signals – Useful for both passive and active traders.

✅ Supports multiple assets – Not just crypto, but also forex and commodities.

✅ Demo account – You can test without risking real money.

✅ Fast withdrawals – Usually processed within 24-48 hours.

👉 Open Your Instant Akpro Account Now

Cons:

❌ No detailed info about creators – A bit of a red flag for some.

❌ Not regulated – Like most platforms of its kind.

❌ Aggressive marketing – Expect follow-up emails after sign-up.

What Devices Can be Used to Access Instant Akpro?

This platform is web-based, so you can access it from basically any device with an internet connection. That includes:

Desktop PCs (Windows and macOS)

Laptops

Smartphones (iOS and Android)

Tablets

There’s no native app, but the mobile browser version works surprisingly well. It’s optimized for touch, and all major functions are accessible without bugs or lag.

Instant Akpro – Top Features

Real-Time Market Analysis

The platform’s real-time scanning feature is one of its strongest points. It pulls live data from various exchanges and markets, analyzes price movements, and helps spot potential trends. This is great for people who don’t want to get bogged down by candles and charts but still want up-to-date intel.

User-Friendly Interface

This is where Instant Akpro really shines. The dashboard is clean, intuitive, and doesn’t overwhelm you with jargon. Everything is labeled clearly, and you can navigate between tools and features without needing a manual. Ideal for people who are just getting their feet wet in trading.

Mobile Accessibility

While there’s no dedicated app, the mobile version of the site is fully optimized. You can check trades, adjust settings, and even withdraw funds without needing a laptop. It’s responsive and smooth, which is not always the case with trading platforms.

Customizable Alerts

You can set custom price alerts and risk thresholds. This gives you control over how aggressive or conservative the auto-trading bot should be, which is a nice touch. It’s not one-size-fits-all — you can tailor the experience to fit your comfort level.

Multiple Asset Trading

Instant Akpro lets you trade more than just Bitcoin. You can dip into Ethereum, Litecoin, and some lesser-known altcoins. It also supports forex pairs and commodities like gold and oil. Great if you want to diversify without jumping between multiple platforms.

Is Instant Akpro a Scam?

Short answer: It doesn’t appear to be a scam.

Longer answer: While the platform lacks transparency about its team and regulatory status, the actual user experience appears solid. Deposits are processed quickly, the trading tools work, and withdrawal requests are honored in a reasonable time frame.

That said, always remember — automated trading comes with risk. No platform, including Instant Akpro, can guarantee profits. Use the demo mode, start small, and don’t invest what you can't afford to lose.

What is the Minimum Deposit Required on Instant Akpro?

The minimum deposit is $250, which is pretty standard across the board for platforms like this. It’s enough to get started without being too painful to lose if things don’t go your way.

Once you deposit, you can either activate the auto-trading bot or start trading manually. Either way, your balance is visible and can be withdrawn at any time.

Instant Akpro Customer Support

Support is available 24/7, and honestly, I was impressed. You can reach them via:

Live chat

Email (usually replies within a few hours)

They’re helpful, not overly pushy, and pretty patient with beginner-level questions. Not bad at all.

How do you start trading on Instant Akpro?

Step 1: Sign Up for a Free Account

Head to the Instant Akpro homepage and fill in your name, email, and phone number. You’ll get a verification code or a follow-up call to confirm your info.

Step 2: Verify and Fund Your Account

Once verified, you’ll be prompted to make your first deposit. As mentioned, the minimum is $250. You can use credit cards, debit cards, or wire transfers.

Step 3: Start Trading

After funding, you can jump into demo mode or go live with auto or manual trading. The platform gives you a breakdown of your account balance, open trades, and profit/loss info in real time.

How to Delete an Instant Akpro Account?

If you want out, it’s pretty simple:

Contact customer support and request account deletion.

Withdraw any remaining balance.

You’ll receive a confirmation email within 24-48 hours.

Just a heads up — once deleted, your data is wiped, so make sure you’re absolutely done before pulling the trigger.

👉 Open Your Instant Akpro Account Now

The Verdict

Instant Akpro is a legit option for beginner and casual traders who want a simple, automated way to get involved in crypto and other markets. It’s not perfect — the lack of transparency and regulation is a valid concern — but from a usability and functionality standpoint, it delivers.

If you’re looking for a low-barrier way to test the waters, it’s worth a shot. Just keep your expectations realistic, start small, and use the demo mode before going all in.

Semantically Similar FAQs

What is the purpose of Instant Akpro?

It’s designed to make trading easier through automation and real-time data analysis. Aimed at beginners and casual traders.

Who are the developers behind Instant Akpro?

The creators haven’t been publicly disclosed, but it shares similarities with platforms like Bitcoin Code.

Can you explain how Instant Akpro operates?

It uses automated algorithms to analyze the market and execute trades based on user-defined parameters.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Instant Akpro?

Pros: Easy to use, real-time data, multiple assets. Cons: Lack of transparency, not regulated, some aggressive marketing.

Which devices can I use to access Instant Akpro?

Any internet-connected device — desktop, smartphone, tablet. No app needed.

In which countries is Instant Akpro available?

Most of Europe, Australia, South Africa, parts of Asia and Latin America. Not available in the U.S.

What features does Instant Akpro offer?

Real-time analysis, mobile access, customizable alerts, multi-asset trading, and a demo mode.

Is Instant Akpro a trustworthy platform?

It appears trustworthy based on user experience, but it’s not regulated and lacks team transparency.

[jeremy-ken-anderson]

Feature Creep Can Be Fun!

Also, illuminating.

I made the Bookbot set forth in the Boot.dev projects. This was mostly for teaching basics of file analysis, but also had a little bit of string manipulation.

Anyway I thought - and this was almost certainly done because it was way outside the scope of the class - it was a shame that the bookbot didn't count words, only letters.

Now, the words thing revealed an interesting UX quirk I hadn't thought about, which was neat: When I was doing "here's the number of time each alphanumeric character appears in Moby Dick" the UX kind of handled itself. The list was maybe 35 items long, having stuff like ö and æ in it, but definitely didn't go over 50.

Meanwhile the list of different words in Moby Dick is over 20k.

So if you just try to list off all the different words in Moby Dick, each on its own line, you overflow the number of lines a regular Terminal retains almost immediately and what you can actually see is probably the last 300 LEAST common words (words that appear just once) unless you've actively changed how many lines your terminal retains.

You can kludge this by reversing the order of the list, so it's showing the 300 most common and the most popular is last, but I fixed it by making it a query, where there's an input line in a while loop that keeps asking for a word, and if the string put in isn't in the list of words it tells the user so, and if the string is "quit!" it quits, and otherwise it tells the user how many times the word appears.

Today I added in another feature, where it also tells the user another random word that has the same word count, if such a thing exists. If the word's word count is unique - No other word comes close to the word count of "the" in Moby Dick, at over 14k - it says that instead. And it really is random! It propagates a list of all words with matching count (that aren't the original word) and then uses random.choice(word_list) to return a word.

I was worried about the inefficiency of going through the entire dict every time in order to propagate the list, but then I realized: The size of the dict is the number of different words in the book. There are hardly any books that come in at over 50k - I suspect my copy of William Shakespeare: The Complete Works may, but Pride & Prejudice hardly breaches 12k - so it ends up that the O of doing that has a cap that's quite reasonable for such a low-impact behavior, especially when that loop occurs just once per query.

So just as the number of characters that exist was facilitating the reasonable UI outputs from the original bookbot, the number of words that exist permits a slightly less optimization-intensive approach to the finding of a randomized matching value.

[seansilv25]

With the 2024 "season" of Death Battle now two weeks behind us, I think it's about time I give my thoughts on and rank all the episodes. But unlike last year, I won't be doing a whole tier list for them. There's only four episodes, so why bother? So instead, I'll be going more in-depth on my thoughts instead of just a simple sentence or quip.

So, without further ado...

4: Omni-Man vs Bardock (6.5/10)

This honestly didn't feel like the best foot to start on after the big hiatus. The analyses felt like they were trying to rush through everything (especially on Nolan's end), the models were exceptionally shiny and kind of ugly (ESPECIALLY on Nolan's end), the animation felt too sporadic to really get a grasp on what was happening, the ending felt hella abrupt, and the outcome's explanation... HOO BOY! Hell, even the music I have gripes with. I don't exactly like how it was basically "Diabolical Invincible Me 2" and would have preferred more of a lean towards Solid State Scouter, especially since this might be the only time we'll ever SEE Bardock on the show. I'm not sure I would have even led the return with OmniDock as a whole, as it doesn't feel like that big a matchup to do it with. Though I will say that this episode having a huge-ass controversy based off the outcome certainly made it feel like the show never left.

3: Among Us vs Fall Guys (7/10)

In all honesty, I didn't think I'd like this episode. The DBcast they did on it a few years back made it feel like an absolute trainwreck of a debate, so when it was revealed after Bowser vs Eggman, I was like Patrick in the Valentines episode of SpongeBob; my face just dropped into a hard frown. But after the episode itself, it at least felt like the most "fun" of the four. Both the analysis and the fight had a good few gags that got a chuckle out of me (Like when the Impostor's knife couldn't stab Pink. Though the Among Us call in the rundown did drag for a bit too long). A lot of people are calling this episode "peak fiction" which, while it's certainly not bad... no. The other two are far closer to that claim.

2: Bowser vs Eggman (9/10)

Unlike SusGuys, I certainly understand where people come from when they call this episode "peak fiction". The fight was absolutely bonkers and hype all in one, with some of the best rig animation I've seen from the show. Like, the part where Metal takes out Bowser Jr. and Bowser goes full Will Smith mode with the backing track of Game Over going full hype choir was one of the hardest moments in the show since UI-Kaioken-Kamehameha vs Sun-dipped Supes. It also has the bonus of showing that Metal Sonic is, in fact, the GOAT, as well as Infinite getting Thwomped somehow reaching big meme status (It got on LIMC. That's never happened with DB before!). Although, there were a few questions that the episode left me that I'm not entirely certain on. A few for example include "Why did Eggman's arsenal seemingly not include the Master Emerald?" or "Is King Boo really a part of Bowser's army? I thought the Boos were their own faction". But nevertheless, this episode was amazing. Though not as amazing to me as...

1: Joker vs Giorno (9.1/10)

To steal a line from memes "This is brilliant, but I like this". Even if I went into this dreading the outcome since this is one of the most toxic vs debates known to the internet, as well as GER being the certain type of OP that just isn't fun (Like Bugs Bunny), it still produced something incredibly cool. The analyses were fun and I liked the running gag of Godfather and Goodfellas references in Gio's, with the fight being the epitome of one specific word: STYLE. The way Joker's Persona's and Gold Experience's life abilities is so damn stylish and cool. Hell, even the fight music, Requiem for a Thief, with the idea of mixing Last Surprise with Il Vento D'oro is the purest example of "Oh we GROOVIN'!" in music ever. And the way Joker broke out of GER's Infinite Death Loop and fired back with Sinful Shell... fuckin' immaculate. Like Joker said, "We never saw it coming"

Why didn't they lead with THIS one instead?

[joomladevelopment25]

ASP.Net Development | ASP.Net Develoment Company

Need a strong, adaptable, and reliable platform to carry your company into the next phase of growth and success? Microsoft created the open source ASP.NET (Active Server Pages.NET) framework primarily to aid programmers in creating dynamic, reactive, and responsive web pages and apps. When it comes to software design and development, there is no tool as strong or versatile as ASP.NET. You can create an unbeatable combo that is scalable, safe, and strong enough to be paired with SQL Server on the back end!

Blue Summit is an ASP.NET development company that combines technical expertise with practical business knowledge to create and implement successful web applications. We combine a lightweight UI framework with Microsoft.NET and SQL Server to give users of the application, a distinctive experience.

Why We Standout?

Performance and quality have been the main drivers of our success as an ASP.NET development firm. We have worked on a number of new product development projects using the .Net framework that effectively crossed industry verticals. .Net-based porting projects that were completed by our teams add to our portfolio of accomplishments. In accordance with your needs, we provide different options for hiring ASP.NET professionals. Hiring ASP.NET web developers will allow you to grow your company without incurring additional expenditures while creating specialized corporate solutions. Our team of skilled and knowledgeable ASP.NET programmers unleash one-of-a-kind, specially designed solutions that guarantee customers' commercial progress.

The following are some grounds for you to consider using our exceptional ASP.NET development services:

A team with an average experience of 8+ years that is productive, proven, and result-oriented.

Concentrate on producing enterprise-grade apps of the finest quality.

Using the most up-to-date equipment/technologies and software engineering best practices.

A cost-effective worldwide development and delivery methodology.

Concentrate on providing software that is of high-quality, high- performing, and secure.

A track record of delivering all C#/.Net projects prior to the deadline.

Committed technical support for all ASP.NET components and versions.

Our ASP.Net Development, Desktop and Mobile Applications Development Services

Our ASP.NET experts work in the following fields:

Server scripting, ASP.NET MVC.

CMS, CRM and OMS.

Development of website forms.

HTML, DHTML, ASP.NET Ajax, CSS.

Continuous support for JavaScript, C++, and C#.

ASP.NET-based custom web application development.

E-commerce and Shopping Cart development.

Third Party Tools.

20 languages for ASP.NET coding, including C, Visual Basic, and JavaScript.

Using web server controls like RSS feeds, XML, and XSL.

We can also migrate your applications from any obsolete legacy version to the latest one.

QA testing for your ASP.NET application

Blue Summit's ASP.Net Developers

Our team of skilled and proficient ASP.NET developers has a proven track record of delivering exceptional results for our clients. With their expertise in creating bespoke, interactive, and high-quality web, desktop, and cloud-based applications, our ASP.NET programmers are committed to enhancing your company's online presence with scalable and high-performing software solutions. Trust our team to deliver software that adds value to your business.

Our Development Process

01

Understanding Requirement

We assign a exclusive team to work with you and understand all the concepts and requirements of your project.

02

User Interface Design

At Blue Summit, user needs come first and our products follow industry UX design standards.

03

Software Architecture

While Agile questions upfront analysis, some solution architecture is necessary for effectiveness.

04

Implementation

Upon obtaining design approval, we build the product according to the client's requirements.

05

Deployment

After rigorous testing and QA, our experts will launch your product on app stores and web browsers. Get ready to see your masterpiece live!

06

Support

We regularly monitor and maintain the application and environment to ensure proper functionality.

[coconutsplit]

Creating a tool that helps manage digital mental space while sifting through content and media is a valuable and challenging project. Here’s a high-level breakdown of how you might approach this:

1. Define the Scope and Features

Digital Mental Space Management:

Focus Mode: Create a feature that blocks or filters out distracting content while focusing on specific tasks.

Break Reminders: Set up reminders for taking regular breaks to avoid burnout.

Content Categorization: Allow users to categorize content into different sections (e.g., work, personal, leisure) to manage their mental space better.

Content Sifting and Filtering:

Keyword Filtering: Implement a keyword-based filtering system to highlight or exclude content based on user preferences.

Sentiment Analysis: Integrate a sentiment analysis tool that can categorize content as positive, negative, or neutral, helping users choose what to engage with.

Source Verification: Develop a feature that cross-references content with reliable sources to flag potential misinformation.

2. Technical Components

Front-End:

UI/UX Design: Design a clean, minimalistic interface focusing on ease of use and reducing cognitive load.

Web Framework: Use frameworks like React or Vue.js for responsive and interactive user interfaces.

Content Display: Implement a dashboard that displays categorized and filtered content in an organized way.

Back-End:

API Integration: Use APIs for content aggregation (e.g., news APIs, social media APIs) and filtering.

Data Storage: Choose a database (e.g., MongoDB, PostgreSQL) to store user preferences, filtered content, and settings.

Authentication: Implement a secure authentication system to manage user accounts and personalized settings.

Content Filtering and Analysis:

Text Processing: Use Python with libraries like NLTK or SpaCy for keyword extraction and sentiment analysis.

Machine Learning: If advanced filtering is needed, train a machine learning model using a dataset of user preferences.

Web Scraping: For content aggregation, you might need web scraping tools like BeautifulSoup or Scrapy (ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards).

3. Development Plan

Phase 1: Core Functionality

Develop a basic UI.

Implement user authentication.

Set up content aggregation and display.

Integrate keyword filtering.

Phase 2: Advanced Features

Add sentiment analysis.

Implement break reminders and focus mode.

Add source verification functionality.

Phase 3: Testing and Iteration

Conduct user testing to gather feedback.

Iterate on the design and features based on user feedback.

Optimize performance and security.

4. Tools and Libraries

Front-End: React, Redux, TailwindCSS/Material-UI

Back-End: Node.js/Express, Django/Flask, MongoDB/PostgreSQL

Content Analysis: Python (NLTK, SpaCy), TensorFlow/PyTorch for ML models

APIs: News API, Twitter API, Facebook Graph API

Deployment: Docker, AWS/GCP/Azure for cloud deployment

5. Considerations for User Well-being

Privacy: Ensure user data is protected and handled with care, possibly offering anonymous or minimal data modes.

Customization: Allow users to customize what types of content they want to filter, what kind of breaks they want, etc.

Transparency: Make the filtering and analysis process transparent, so users understand how their content is being sifted and managed.

This is a comprehensive project that will require careful planning and iteration. Starting small and building up the tool's features over time can help manage the complexity.

[govindhtech]

Mizuho & IBM Partner on Gen AI PoC to Boost Recovery Times

IBM and Mizuho Financial Group, worked together to create a proof of concept (PoC) that uses IBM’s enterprise generative AI and data platform, watsonx, to increase the effectiveness and precision of Mizuho’s event detection processes.

During a three-month trial, the new technology showed 98% accuracy in monitoring and reacting to problem alerts. Future system expansion and validation are goals shared by IBM and Mizuho.

The financial systems need to recover accurately and quickly after an interruption.

However, operators frequently receive a flood of messages and reports when an error is detected, which makes it challenging to identify the event’s source and ultimately lengthens the recovery period.

In order to solve the problem, IBM and Mizuho carried out a Proof of Concept using Watsonx to increase error detection efficiency.

In order to reduce the number of steps required for recovery and accelerate recovery, the Proof of Concept (PoC) integrated an application that supported a series of processes in event detection with Watsonx and incorporated patterns likely to result in errors in incident response.

By utilising Watsonx, Mizuho was also able to streamline internal operations and enable people on-site to configure monitoring and operating menus in a flexible manner when greater security and secrecy are needed.

In the upcoming year, Mizuho and IBM intend to extend the event detection and reaction proof of concept and integrate it into real-world settings. To increase operational efficiency and sophistication, Mizuho and IBM also intend to cooperate on incident management and advanced failure analysis using generative AI.

WatsonX for Proof of Concept (PoC)

IBM’s WatsonX is an enterprise-grade platform that integrates generative AI capabilities with data. It is therefore an effective tool for creating and evaluating AI solutions. This is a thorough examination of WatsonX use for a PoC:

Why Would a PoC Use WatsonX?

Streamlined Development: WatsonX can expedite the Proof of Concept development process by providing a pre-built component library and an intuitive UI.

Data Integration: It is simpler to include the data required for your AI model since the platform easily integrates with a variety of data sources.

AI Capabilities: WatsonX comes with a number of built-in AI features, including as computer vision, machine learning, and natural language processing, which let you experiment with alternative strategies within your proof of concept.

Scalability: As your solution develops, the platform can handle handling small-scale experimentation for your Proof of Concept.

How to Use a WatsonX PoC

Establish your objective: Clearly state the issue you’re attempting to resolve or the procedure you wish to use AI to enhance. What precise results are you hoping to achieve with your PoC?

Collect Information: Determine the kind of data that your AI model needs to be trained on. Make that the information is adequate, correct, and pertinent for the PoC’s scope.

Select Usability: Based on your objective, choose the WatsonX AI functionalities that are most relevant. Computer vision for image recognition, machine learning for predictive modelling, and natural language processing for sentiment analysis are examples.

Create a PoC: Create a rudimentary AI solution using WatsonX’s tools and frameworks. This could entail building a prototype with restricted functionality or training a basic model.

Test & Assess: Utilise real-world data to evaluate your proof of concept’s efficacy. Examine the outcomes to determine whether the intended goals were met. Point out any places that need work.

Refine and Present: Make iterations to the data, model, or functions to improve your Proof of Concept based on your assessment. Present your results to stakeholders at the end, highlighting the PoC’s shortcomings and areas for future improvement.

Extra Things to Think About

Keep your point of contact (PoC) concentrated on a single issue or task. At this point, don’t try to develop a complete solution.

Success Criteria: Prior to implementation, clearly define your PoC’s success metrics. This may entail cost-cutting, efficiency, or accuracy.

Ethical Considerations: Consider the ethical ramifications of your AI solution as well as any potential biases in your data.

Goal of Collaboration:

Boost Mizuho’s event detection and reaction activities’ precision and efficiency.

Technology Employed:

IBM’s WatsonX is a platform for corporate generative AI and data.

What they Found Out:

Created a proof of concept (PoC) that monitors error signals and reacts with WatsonX.

Over the course of a three-month study, the PoC attained a 98% accuracy rate.

Future Objectives:

Increase the breadth of the event detection and response situations covered by the PoC.

After a year, implement the solution in actual production settings.

To further streamline operations, investigate the use of generative AI for enhanced failure analysis and issue management.

Total Effect:

This project demonstrates how generative AI has the ability to completely transform the banking industry’s operational effectiveness. Mizuho hopes to increase overall business continuity and drastically cut down on recovery times by automating incident detection and reaction.

Emphasis on Event Detection and Response: The goal of the project is to enhance Mizuho’s monitoring and error-messaging processes by employing generative AI, notably IBM’s WatsonX platform.

Effective Proof of Concept (PoC): Mizuho and IBM worked together to create a PoC that showed a notable increase in accuracy. During a three-month trial period, the AI system identified and responded to error notifications with a 98% success rate.

Future Plans: Mizuho and IBM intend to grow the project in the following ways in light of the encouraging Proof of Concept outcomes:

Production Deployment: During the course of the upcoming year, they hope to incorporate the event detection and response system into Mizuho’s live operations environment.

Advanced Applications: Through this partnership, generative AI will be investigated for use in increasingly difficult activities such as advanced failure analysis and incident management. This might entail the AI automatically identifying problems and making recommendations for fixes, therefore expediting the healing procedures.

Overall Impact: This project demonstrates how generative AI has the ability to completely transform financial institutions’ operational efficiency. Mizuho may be able to lower interruption costs, boost overall service quality, and cut downtime by automating fault detection and response.

Consider these other points:

Generative AI can identify and predict flaws by analysing historical data and finding patterns. The calibre and applicability of the data utilised to train the AI models will determine this initiative’s success.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[oblivionwonderlust]

see the thing is my imposter syndrome is like the world’s worst superpower.

i’m doing this absolutely massive group project this semester but before that we have a lil group project that’s basically the same thing but at a smaller scale and timeline kinda to get the team settled. the team is pretty well balanced, i’ve got 2 IT and 2 data science students to do the technical bits and my information systems ass does the system analysis and design stuff.

well last week wednesday asked them if any of them knew anything about UI and they didn’t. we needed a UI by monday so i learned how to put together high fidelity UI prototype in like 6 hours. now, when the thing is due in like 3 days, i’m learning that NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE A WEBPAGE so now i’m rushing to learn enough javascript in a day to create a website that works without telling them just in case like they can’t finish it and they blame me for it.

i know i should trust them but the voice in my head is going “see they’ll find out that you are a fraud because you don’t know javascript.”

like i know myself. i know i can pull this off (i’m delusional) because i’ve done shit like this before (my mental state is in shambles) and yeah, it’ll be impressive to some people but for me, i will be exhausted and burnt out and still think that this thing i’ve made is a hot pile of garbage— i mean it exists and it is functional but it will still feel like garbage to me.

because see the thing is, no matter how skilled i am or how fast i learn, how much i learn, how much i do, i feel like i’m not carrying my weight. it’s the “i must know how to do and be everything so i don’t get exposed” kind of imposter syndrome.

[felassan]

BioWare blog post: BioWare Community Update - All By Design

02/23/23

Welcome to the first Community Update of 2023!

As promised in our last BCU, this time around we’re discussing what our game designers are up to. The responsibilities of a game designer can differ from studio to studio, so we’ll first jump into how our team is handling the design work for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf™. Let’s get to it!

When we use the term “designer,” we aren’t referring to someone who visually creates outfits or environments, as you might expect from a fashion or landscape designer in the real world. In game development, those would be our artists. Our designers help craft, balance, and conceptualize the player’s journey—working with artists, programmers, writers, and more to build out the game in a highly collaborative process.

In this blog, we’ll look at a key RPG system and how three distinct types of game designers are involved in making them.

- Systems Designers work on a variety of features across the game, like skill trees and difficulty levels. Their goal is to create a vision for features that will directly impact the player’s experience. - User Experience (UX) Designers, collaboratively with systems designers, take the vision and explore how players will interact with it by creating mock-ups and early user flows. - Technical UX Designers then build it in-engine, working with the systems and UX designers in a constant back-and-forth, keeping the player’s experience and usability in mind at all times.

There are many other kinds of designers, too! Gameplay designers focus on creating and balancing the moment-to-moment gameplay, technical level designers create the building blocks for level designers to map out the player’s journey through locations, technical UI designers tailor how information is clearly surfaced to the player, cinematic designers craft scenes for the best storytelling experience, and narrative designers make sure the story’s flow of information to the player is a cohesive experience.

Now that we’ve gone over the basics of being a game designer, we’re going to talk about how they’re working together on Dreadwolf. Past Dragon Age™ games have all handled RPG systems, such as the player’s progression, differently, so naturally, we’re being just as experimental on Dreadwolf, taking the learnings of the past while also trying something new.

Skill Trees are a fundamental part of a deep RPG experience and give our players the ability to customize how their character functions in combat. A key belief on the team is that when a player invests a skill point, it should have a clear, tangible effect on the game, such as an ability or impactful perk. What those are and how they’re implemented in-game is handled by multiple designers, starting with a Systems Designer!

Luke Barrett: "Whenever we're envisioning something new, we're always presented with a Problem Statement we're trying to solve. Sometimes, especially for larger systems, they are very high-level, such as “The Player needs meaningful choices as they progress through the game,” or “The Player needs to feel more powerful as they progress through the game.” Together, these combine into a variety of different ideas as there are many ways to solve those problems, so it helps as a general rule to start introducing constraints and Player Statements to narrow things down. A Player Statement might be something like, "As a Player, I want my choices to matter.”" "Through the use of working sessions and brainstorming meetings, we narrow down what type of solution we want to pursue and then move on to doing competitive analysis. In this case, we made a vision board with pictures of skill trees, talents, etc. with a list of pros and cons. We also counted how many unique nodes existed and how far the player could realistically invest."

Intro of original design doc for Skills

Luke, cont.: "We take all of this information and write up a vision doc (sometimes called a 1-pager, design doc, or brief) that’s intentionally very brief and digestible and pulls together all of these problems, constraints, and user statements. It encapsulates our goals for how the design will solve them. Here is an example of two of our original statements and some bullet points under them:"

Luke, cont.: "We really wanted to have something that allowed the player to character-build in a way that allowed them to reach their “player fantasy.” And because we're supporting so many choices, we've designed something that can be customized widely, as opposed to a more linear progression system."

Initial design goals following the Player Statements

Luke, cont.: "Once we have enough constraints and player statements together, then we (finally!) start building the design. This is where we start doing prototypes and work with UX to flesh out ideas to see how a design may feel, both as its own entity and how it works with the rest of the game. Fun fact: I built a very early prototype in Excel for one of the ways we thought about solving the Problem Statements using a lot of buttons and scripting. (Important note: Designers aren't programmers! :) )"

Very early prototype for skill tree functionality exploration—names are placeholders

And that’s just the beginning! Once a game designer like Luke has established the vision of the feature to address the Problem Statement, it then moves over to one of our UX Designers to start exploring how our players might interact with it.

Bruno Porrio: "As a UX designer, my job is to approach design in Dreadwolf from a player-experience perspective. Our team partners up with other devs across the project and through ideation, prototyping, iteration, research, and feedback we help shape the vision for how players will interact with the game—from in-world signs and how the player affects the world to user interfaces and interaction design." "Let’s use the skill tree as an example. We take what starts as an early vision from the systems design team and poke holes, ask questions, and start developing what the feature will look and feel like (in this case, through user-interface design). We usually start with sketches, interactive wireframes, mock-ups, or in-game prototypes and validate them through testing and multiple rounds of feedback. At the end of the day, it’s a process where the system informs the experience design, and the experience design helps shape the system."

Initial class specialization skill tree wireframe—node total & layout subject to change

Bruno, cont.: "After multiple rounds of iteration and validation, we landed on the finalized design of the skill tree (which we can’t wait to show you). It was very important to us that the fantasy of playing a certain class and the customization options would come across clearly and at a glance without overwhelming the player. It was key to our team to take something that is usually complex and make it accessible and simple to read." "Overall, I love the skill tree. Not only because it’s an intuitive, fun part of our game, but because it’s also a great example of how the Experience Design team can help craft the vision in partnership with the systems design team."

From there, another designer jumps in to take the vision and mock-ups and turn them into something tangible in the Frostbite engine. We call those devs our Technical UX Designers. Game Designers, UX Designers, and Technical UX Designers constantly work together, providing back-and-forth feedback on each other’s work all the way until a feature is completed.

Kelsey Wicentowich: "Once the design is in a good place and the system has been stood up, it's passed over to a Technical Designer (like me!) for implementation. Technical UX Designers are actually a relatively new position at BioWare. The first ones were originally brought on a few years ago to help bridge the gap between the UX designers, programmers, and artists as UI (user interface) technologies changed and advanced."

In-engine mock-up—not representative art

Kelsey, cont.: "We use mock-ups provided by the UX Designer as a starting point and build out the UI in-game, including the general layout and navigation of the screen. Every UI is a collaborative effort between the XD (Experience Design) team and other pillars of the game team. We go back and forth with programmers and other game designers to figure out how to gather the data we need to display to the player. Larger features, like the character screen, really come alive once you start pulling in even more departments like character design and lighting to bring it all together." "But the work doesn't stop once the feature is functional in-game. It's at this point that we can truly start to evaluate how it feels and how it reads to a player. Does the navigation work well? Is the information overwhelming or confusing? Designs change and iteration continues until we find the right balance between the designer's vision and the player experience."

From features like the Detailed Stats page that cater to RPG enthusiasts to hand-crafted locations you’ll come to explore and more, design is a topic we could talk about endlessly. It’s a subject we’ll likely touch on again in the future, too, when we talk about other parts of game development, so keep an eye out!

Every week, we see so much amazing community artwork from all of you. It’s always a delight to share some of the incredible pieces here! Seeing you bring these characters to life in unique styles is such a wonderful treat for everyone on the team. [click here to see the art and art section]

This year, we also wanted to provide you all with a direct way of asking us questions. Now, we can’t answer every question, but we’ll try to answer what we can in our upcoming BCUs. There will undoubtedly be some that we’ll have to save for later, though.

Questions like “when will a big reveal trailer drop?” or “when does the game come out?” are things we’ll save for official announcements. However, if you have questions about a BCU’s topic (including past BCUs), games we’ve made, or other relevant questions that come to mind, please feel free to ask! You can even just ask a fun question you want devs to answer.

We’ll be keeping an eye out on Twitter (#AskBioWare), community subreddits, and community Discord servers for questions you all want to have answered. We’re looking forward to answering some!

Thanks for giving this a read! We hope you learnt something new and better understand how we’re crafting Dreadwolf. Everything we do is in hopes that we can make something great for you, and getting to talk about that is something we’re eager to do. We have a lot more we want to talk about, too.

As always, please let us know what you think of these blogs! We love hearing your thoughts—it really helps us when we’re deciding on the things we want to share.

Until next time!

—The BioWare Team [source]

[bentosandbox]

More sporadic Lone Trail ramblings/TLs

prev one here this time more about the saria/kirsten/mumu trio and fanservice and the CGs in general spoiler warning etc etc

1

(From 4-END) Silence asks Saria if she's incapable of standing against Rhine Lab because deep inside she's the same as them and when she finally answers she's like

......I'm sorry, Silence. I did think about it thoroughly, but I can't give you a definitive answer. If Kirsten's experiment does touch a law that should not have been, then I will stop her, just like all the mistakes Rhine Lab has committed over the years-- they ought to be corrected, for I have always believed, the more power one holds, the less they should act recklessly. But if I were to go back in time, to the moment where Kirsten and I first met, when everything had yet to transpire...I would not have stopped her then, nor the birth of Rhine Lab. Yes, even if I knew that Rhine Lab would create this many Catastrophes, even if I could have predicted that Kirsten, Parvis and Ferdinand would eventually grow out of control-- I would still have stood together with them as I did.

(From 5-END) Mumu:

Did you know? Back then, Saria and I even picked out Kirsten's clothes. Yup, Saria cares about fashion more than she does! (Control truly only has 1[or 2 lol] things in her brain)

Yara (HR and the one responsible for Silence2's outfit) is basically kind of a parent figure to Kirsten 🥹 (so I guess they're a parallel to Silence and Iffy...)

uhm what else. the 3 of them used to go stargazing together and in a flashback mumu picks up a (shiny) rock

Mumu: Kirsten, see that rock on the ground? What does it look like? Kirsten: ...... Mumu: It's like Saria, right? It's so hard(like, firm) and yet it shines so 'perfectly'! Kirsten: ...Like the stars.

idk how global is going to do this part but in CN (and in JP?) Rhine Lab is literally 'Rhine Life' and mumu asks if Kirsten really wants to name it that instead of something like 'Rhine Physics' since she 'just wants to fly to the sky' and she says no, RL is good, because

I want to know what exactly are the stars we see. I want to know what lies beyond the barrier wrapping around us. I want to know...to see just what kind of land do we live in, if I can really take a look while standing among the stars.......Most of the answers I want are about 'us'.

oh one last one quote out of context for you fic writers Saria (to mumu): You're the same as always. The moment you get a little nervous, you forget just how frail your body is.

2

Love the idea of mumu being doc's bestie/oomfie but her and hol's lines/whatever else have irreparably damaged the AK ecosystem fr tbqhwyf and i thought skadol was bad lol. Now we'll have triple the NTR jokes great amazing wonderful (i launch myself into space)

'But its rationalized they're all the last of their kind!!!!' Justification doesn't fucking matter the damage has been done to their (perceived) characters i want my insane morally fucked up scientists not some generic lonely gf that steals the mc from other girls or some harem bullshit forgot what the term was and i dont want to know

Imagine getting a generic ass cg of 'pov mumu is so sad and helpless and needs your help to rescue her!!' (this happens after and not getting one for the extremely kino saria and mumu fight where you find out more about just how inter-connected the 3 of them were (are…?) and saria is first overwhelmed by all the water and she remarks how shes has never seen water(from mm) this turbulent before but within the waves she cant find the elf and all she finds is are sad eyes and tears…I can only feel pity for Mumu fans who don't give a damn about shipping themselves for her. speaking of CGs...

3

AK is clearly inspired and references a lot of IRL media and it shows with their graphic design work (UI, motion graphics etc) here's a link to a Lone Trail analysis but....for some reason the story CGs are quite bereft of the same energy (dare i say passion even lol) imo

ofc CGs are to immerse you in the story etc etc and they're really pretty but

how immersive is a fucking practically copypasted photobashed kirsten (the CG is very beautiful otherwise I love aZling4's rendering style sm.. probably my second favourite CG after the depressing 2nd lobby one you get post-ST4 where......shes also in the same pose.........motherfuckers)

Like man could you not have posed him any other way than hand in pocket with average cosplayer photoshoot lighting

this CG of hol almost getting rekt by saria is pretty weak imo that grip is non-existent nothing much to say (atm) about hol but that i love fanart where she looks/acts like a freak instead of (90% of fanart)

saria literally just fell from almost space back to earth and she looks almost unscathed lol mumu's water can't possibly be that rejuvenating

Maybe it's meant to be kind of incomprehensible but uh when the story went tonight the truth is finally glimpsed by humans for the first time or something I was like ....what is even happening in this picture lol

idk like doing partitioned CGs like how limbus does it would be so good tbh sometimes all they just show is a face and its like ? all that space? I'm guessing the artists have to do the concept/compositions themselves and some just have fresher ideas than others or time constraints etc basically i would just love to see CGs that are references to kino movie shots or something, they love movies so much right??? what about some good cinematography????

Dont want to sound like im flexing my useless veterans card or whatever but like. im a day 0 fan, i played their OBT, i started my acc on day 1, i remember being so excited about this game being so different from the other mobages, i didn't like how GFL was becoming way way more fanservicey then so AK was like a literal noah's ark with a whole bunch of artists ive revered from my touhou days, and now seeing it (inevitably!) slide towards GFL and the average mobage has me like 'well im glad limbus exists they let their women wear pants and be irredeemably insane(looking at you talulah 🥲)'

regardless of all that complaining this might beat italiano perros for favourite event because i was one of those kids with a space phase and something about the trio's dynamic.... (brain chugging) something about water unable to move unshakeable earth (but it can soften though...) that in turn can never reach the sky you know you know just like how a tiger can never be on the same level as a dragon 'real' animal vs mythical

[severepeacecolor]

Reimagining Product Innovation with a Smart Asset Finance Software

We are witnessing a paradigm shift in the asset finance industry, a shift from traditional finance and leasing to delivering a more customer-centric holistic digital experience. Customers today want the ease and convenience of doing business on a channel and medium of their choice, and your employees need a platform to collaborate and add value to the business, irrespective of their physical location. 

 

Lessors today recognize that to survive in this digital age they need to constantly re-invent and become a more agile and smarter version of themselves. Your asset finance business needs to go beyond the restrictions and rigidity of legacy systems that are impacting your business growth. From application development to business operations- speed, efficiency, and scalability have become the cornerstones for success today. But while this leads to the belief that rethinking the technology landscape is an existential imperative, simply upgrading the “as-is” business via a new software suite or product is not enough.

 

To understand how asset finance leaders envision the future, how they plan to build for it, and what capabilities they need to be able to do so, we brought together a panel of industry experts, leaders and solution providers in a two-part webinar ( To watch webinar click here). As a part of the webinar, we also asked industry leaders strategies on adapting to this digital revolution. Read to find what your peers think are the top capabilities that a smart asset finance software should be able to essentially deliver.

1.     The Shift to Consumption-friendly Pricing

The current shift toward more agile and flexible business models are pushing Lessors to build new products and services. Lessees today want to have the flexibility of paying only for what they consume and avoid getting into significant upfront capital investments. Under-utilized assets may come out cheaper for customers when compared with conventional leasing.

From an economic perspective, it means that lessors now will have to find ways to predict asset usage to set their price accordingly. This is because, with consumption-based leasing, it is difficult to predict what portion of the fixed expenses such as tax, insurance and asset depreciation should get allocated to every customer. 

Needless to say, that this culture of product servitization is difficult to drive with manual or legacy systems. As these consumption models change the form, lessors will be left asking themselves – how

do we build core systems that provide enough flexibility and enables us to make corresponding changes as these newer consumption models develop and mature. 

A smart asset finance software will provide a coherent platform ecosystem that helps you to build stability for your core business operations today while provisioning for iterations and incremental changes in the future without upsetting the entire tech stack. A centralized, platform-based approach will streamline your current operations, provide a granular level view across all stages of a customer’s end-to-end journey so that you can monitor, measure and build transparent pricing models. 

2.       The Rise of the Low-code Platform

 Gartner forecasts low code to increase its share in application development activity to 65%, with three-quarters of large enterprises running on multiple low-code development tools by 2024. Low- code development platforms provide organizations with the much-needed agility and speed that have become the cornerstone of modern-day app development. 

Conventional legacy systems were never built for the kind of changes, speed and flexibility that the market demands today. These monolithic systems are closely interlinked and hence, changes to a single component can impact the functioning of the whole system. This pushes organizations into a vicious cycle of development, tests and fixes, eating into precious time, efforts and resources. 

A framework-based low code environment enables developers to leverage an existing set of codes, behavioural and structural models, and pre-built modules in the development environment. This allows for more automation in the development and testing process, faster development and

delivery, and lesser requirements for resources, skill sets and engineering efforts.  

The right asset finance software is designed as a rich technical ecosystem built on top of the underlying framework so that changes made to functional modules don't upset the core structure. The pre-built system components and the underlying power of the framework enable lessors to configure and customize application on-demand, extend or build new applications, and make quick changes. 

3.  Adapt, Accelerate, Scale

With more than 60% of the respondents choosing a faster time to market and scalability as some of the biggest business priorities, it is evident that the rigid, obsolete legacy systems are going to be inadequate to meet the demands of the future. An intelligent asset finance software will help transform how you operate, speed up policy implementation and decision making while maintaining strong compliance.

Conventionally, business processes have mostly been built keeping an inward view of a company’s operations- concentrating on optimizing and automating core transactional processes and systems like accounts payable/receivable, order management, procurement etc. However, an architecture that enables companies to perpetually evolve their businesses cannot focus only on the journey that customers use in purchasing their offerings. Many asset finance companies are looking at transforming to an outward view focused on the customer experience online and offline and an IT architecture that reflects a larger journey. 

Technology lies at the heart of this transformation- an agile IT ecosystem that can provide end-to- end asset-based functionalities, data intelligence and extensibility in one seamless platform to bring value across all dimensions of the leasing business. By standardizing and digitizing, companies can remove friction from processes and the time and effort taken in tedious, manual paperwork. By leveraging the power of mobility and APIs and portals, companies can deliver a superlative customer experience- by facilitating transactions from anywhere, at any time. Be a customer who wants to apply for a new lease or a vendor who wants to reduce the time to funding, it’s all down to the ease of the digital experience.

4.    Data is the New Oil

Traditional asset finance organizations are realizing that advanced analytics can enable them to make better decisions quickly and consistently. By embracing data intelligence and analytics at multiple points across the asset-management value chain, asset finance leaders can transform business efficiency, from providing valuable insights to customers and help them make better investment decisions to drive changes in the middle- and back-office productivity internally. 

However, to be able to leverage the power of data, the most critical step in addressing the problems of the source data. Data stored in legacy systems, siloes or spreadsheets are poorly documented and formatted and are difficult to collate and integrate. For any data intelligence strategy to work, it is important that there is a seamless flow of business data generated across all business and third- party applications, with minimal manual intervention, and that the data is centrally located and accessible to all in easy to understand formats.  

Companies can then use this granular data to build pay-per-use models or leverage visualization tools to generate reports for critical business insights. 

 How Odessa’s asset finance software can help you

Over the last two decades, product innovation at every stage has been guided by us asking ourselves the following questions

·       How do we enable our customers to scale their business and operations on demand?

·       How do we help our customers deliver seamless digital experiences to their stakeholders?

·       How do we empower our users with insights through real-time data analysis?

We knew that to counter these challenges, most businesses would conventionally have to opt for multiple product-based solutions, all bolted on top of each other and creating a complex

environment that is rigid and difficult to scale.  

To solve this we extracted the core technology framework and put it down as the foundation layer. The basic technology framework provides a robust functional core build to global standards. On top of this foundation, we build our functional layer which hosts all our products, functionalities, and the business logic and rules. The topmost layer is a highly user-friendly and intuitive UI that allows for

integration and customization unique to your business.  

The Odessa Core platform is an asset-based, cloud native, end to end management platform that can streamline your business operations, build a centralized database and provide the right platform for your teams to collaborate- saving cost, time and resources and making your business more efficient. By choosing to host your infra on the cloud you can leverage the scalability, agility and cost-

effectiveness of the cloud. 

Odessa tightly integrates with a host of complementary surround capabilities for and a comprehensive digital transformation experience. Odessa Build and DevOps enable companies can

integrate their core platform with third-party applications or build, extend apps and workflows easily without any hassle. Various enablement portals make it easy for the customers and partners communities to do business with your organization. A low-code development platform for applications, mobility, data intelligence and analytics services are some features that cater to all dimensions of a leasing enterprise across captives, large customers, mid-size enterprises.

 We are not just another asset finance software. We are a smarter asset finance software. Contact Odessa to learn more.

[himbo-buckley]

Intimacy, Sex and Buddie (better known as I have a lot of feelings about this show, some of which are related to the before mentioned topics) - Part 2

G’day friends, family and lost travelers! Welcome back to another instance of: I read too much into things!

This is where we really dive into the Character analysis and it’s gonna be a fun ride!!! (well, maybe. For me at least because thanks to 3.16 I am living! That episode validated me so much and now I truly believe I am right)

This is part two of a three part Meta / Character Analysis, and while you probably don’t need to read part 1, I would recommend it, so here is the link:

part 1

Also:

I should preface this by saying this meta was supposed to be a lot shorter and only talk about how both Buck and Eddie use sex to distract their respective partners from whatever topic they actually wanted to talk about but since I decided to rewatch the show to make sure I don’t miss any such scenes, it has exploded a bit and taken on more topics.

I should also mention that I am a Buddie shipper and while I tried, you will find several references and arguments for the ship in this Meta, not all of which necessarily call for a romantic pairing but just: These two are deeply connected and you cannot look at one without discussing the other and they are each other’s strongest emotional connection.

I should also preface this by saying that the whole of the 118 has some obvious intimacy / commitment issues except Bobby (which is sort of surprising) but *John Mulaney* voice we don’t have time to unpack all of that!

On another note I cuss a little in this Meta because my parents let me listen to TicTacToe as a small child and after that it never stuck that cussing is wrong so, uhm, parental supervision is advised or something?

This Meta will so far have three parts (this is part two), one for each season and is organised by episode so you could technically follow along

So here goes nothing, Season 2: (Also called „Why is Ryan naked so much?“)

Episode 2.01:

I’m not gonna talk a lot about this episode, because I feel like it’s been analysed to death already. Important to know is that Buck hasn’t yet given up on Abby coming back (see the shower scene), he is very lonely and there is a lot of homo- erotic tension.

Basically this episode goes like this:

Buck *after meeting Eddie*: nooooo, Dad, I don’t want a brother! He’s better than me! Put him back where he came from!

Eddie *takes one look at Buck*: Ui, you guys lied, he’s an ass - I like it! This is way better! We’re gonna be friends!

And then Buddie decides to something stupid to prove themselves (to each other) and they end up saving the day and bonding.

Also Eddie saying: „You guys hungry?“ after the Ambulance blows up? Iconic! He is such a little shit.

Episode 2.02 / 2.03:

(I’m putting them together because two-parter)

This episodes truly proves how hard they’ve already bonded, despite Buck not even knowing Eddie has a kid yet, especially from Eddie’s point of view: I actually think he started seeing Buck as his partner first. 

I love how he always takes charge, even in his first episode and expects Buck to go along with it - which Buck does (after some initial reluctance), because Buck is good at following orders and trusts Eddie. It might be an army thing, probably is an Eddie likes control thing. What is truly unique about Buddie, is the fact that Eddie defers to Buck’s judgement as needed, something he doesn’t do with anyone else, I think, unless the chain of command tells him to. Just look at how annoyed he is by Ali and her interfering.

That being said it really isn’t all to relevant for this meta, except to say: Interest- ing how fast they trusted each other and became a unit - I guess it’s true what they say: birds of a feather flock together.

Episode 2.04:

Here we get our first real insights into Eddie’s character (aside from that he is a little shit and likes to take charge) as well as some very nice shots of the man’s body, proving my theory that someone in charge really wants to get busy with Ryan Guzman. Which I am not exactly complaining about.

I do think however it’s a very noticable shift from the way they treat the other young, attractive guy in the cast. I talked about this a little in the first part of this Meta, how they went out of their way to hold Buck accountable and make him relatable, but refused to bank on his sex appeal, aside from a few scenes which mostly were about explaining why Abby reached out to him (and uh, we do not need to talk about how creepy that really was, do we?). Eddie though really gets sexualised from the get go. Or maybe that’s just me and I missed something? (Someone with more insight on such topics take the wheel? Because that really isn’t my area of expertice and I don’t wanna say anything false)

A main difference between Buck and Eddie at this point (or in general) is that Buck is always looking for connection. He craves emotional intimacy but it scares him because he cares too much and people keep leaving so he searches out physical intimacy - or he used to. Actually by Season 2 Buck is actively looking to connect emotionally with another person.

Eddie on the other hand isn’t even on the same level as Pilot!Buck, because he avoids both physical and emotional intimacy (except with Buck because, you know, steam engine). The episode implies that it might be caused by Shannon leaving, but the rest of Season 2 and specifically Season 3 show us that it’s an Eddie thing (likely caused by his upbringing if you fast forward to 3.15). And it really makes me want to know how Shannon and Eddie met and how long they had been dating before she got pregnant. Probably not that long tbh.

One thing to notice about the episode is that it parallels Eddie both with Buck (neither wants to date one of those girls, both deflect about their reasons) and with Abby - watch 1.03 and 2.04 back to back, both are about a character taking care of a special needs family member, both have another family member consider them stuck when they themselves do not and both feature Buck trying to help (passively by talking to Abby on the phone vs. actively by having Eddie and Carla meet)

Also as I pointed out in another post the conversation about dating is kind of similar to the car conversation, and I really am clowning now - which is why I will not try and parallel the conversation between Maddie and Buck with the one between Bobby and Buck in 1.09!

I still don’t fully understand the need for that scene (you know which one) aside from being another instance where the boys get sexualised and giving us our first insight into Eddie romantically and also the first time he uses Christopher as a shield (also not the last).

The general take away from the episode is that Eddie is bad at asking for help and Buck is bad at asking for permission which means they fit really well - because Eddie doesn’t have to voice his needs and Buck doesn’t have to feel bad about steamrolling him.

In terms of the overall theme of this meta your main takeaway from this episode should be:

Buck - no longer substituting physical intimacy for emotional intimacy but also not seeking out emotional intimacy, both because he has a connection through Maddie and is building one with Eddie but also because he still considers himself spoken for, though the episode ends with him realicing he might not be (and then he keeps realising, because he is one stubborn mf).

Eddie - avoiding both physical and emotional intimacy and using Christopher to deflect, mainly because he doesn’t have the time for either (but still getting a connection through Buck, thanks to someone just punching right through his boundaries)

Episode 2.05:

no relevance, our boys are barely in it

Episode 2.06:

Well, if you want to write about Buddie crumbs than yeah, definitely important. Also, you can draw a definite parallel between Abby and Taylor, because Buck knew both their voices before he saw their faces and built an emotional connection to those voices. This fits because, well, Buck is afraid of emotional intimacy, but when it’s just a voice it’s easier for him to let himself be vulnerable cause it’s not an actual person.

Plus, considering the thing with Taylor is one sided prior to their meeting, he isn’t actually cheating on Abby. Or so Buck thinks. (Also Taylor doesn’t have a chance to hurt Buck and leave him because you know, she is not aware he exists?)

Also Eddie talks about becoming a firefighter because he missed the camaraderie of the army - aka the emotional connection he had with his squadron (is that the right term?). So technically he did actively try and seek it out - to a point at least. Because, as I will discuss in Part 3, Eddie may consider the 118 his family but his relationship with the other three firefighters in not on the same level than the one he has with Buck.

Episode 2.07:

Let’s all give a warm welcome to Shannon Diaz! I like Shannon, I think she is great (I also think she and Eddie are similar because they both run away from problems which is why they would never work out - unlike another possible relationship mentioned sporadically in this Meta, hint hint ;) ... okay, moving on)

We learn that „not in the picture“ means Eddie is still married, which begs the question how much Eddie has told Carla and the 118 about Shannon up to this point (as little as possible), what they assume about her (probably the worst) and if Eddie ever sets the record straight (I’m assuming yes, because while Eddie doesn’t share - Eddie is also protective of his family and Shannon is his family for better or worse - I really wish they didn’t kill her off and instead played out the divorce storyline because there was so much chance for growth! Although that was probably too similar to Athena and Michael, which is why they didn’t do it. So they fridged her. Damn, and I am still salty about it.)

I really love when she comes to the house, because we learn so much about them as a couple. Like how her eyes grow warm when he opens the door but Eddie’s don’t but then he goes in to hug her (and you can really tell that Ryan Guzman is an athlete in the way that he always acts with his whole body and conveys so much through movement). And the fact that Shannon immediately pushes to meet Christopher (probably because with Eddie you need to push, because he is very stubborn and also in need of control), and her saying she never thought Eddie would be into something so fancy? Yet another insight into Eddie���s character and into his upbringing, which while probably not poor seems to have been fairly modest.

Also love how they fight almost right from the get go, implying that it is their normal (as proven in 3.15). They really never stood a chance!

There is a lot of backstory we get through their fighting, both at the house and at the school, most notably that even in marriage Eddie was never able to fully open up to Shannon - aka be emotionally intimate with her. Which made her feel very alone.

And I don’t wanna defend Shannon and her actions because other people have said it before and this is not what this Meta is about but I can see her point of view. With Eddie and the way he just always needs to be in control and make the decisions she probably thought she had to do something drastic to get him to notice her and her struggles.

Interestingly enough Eddie is emotionally vulnerable with Shannon at the end when he tells her that he understands why she left and that he misses her, but then he immediately kisses her and look, we don’t know what happens next  but we can guess from the latter episodes.

And look, tbh with Eddie it’s a little bit harder to draw the line between physical and emotional intimacy than with Buck because Eddie’s love language is touch and actions, so technically in a way he is always emotionally intimate when he is physically intimate (probably why he didn’t wanna go out with any of the girls in 2.04 - Eddie, different to Buck, can not just separate feelings from sex, while Buck has a hard time reconciling the two)

On Buck’s side of this Meta he finally comes to terms with Abby leaving, which doesn’t have too much relevance for this meta except there are a lot of parallels between Buddie in terms of: how long is too long to wait - because while Eddie pretends to have given up on Shannon, he actually hasn’t, whereas Buck outwardly is still waiting for Abby but on the inside has given up hope - something they both come to terms with in this episode

Episode 2.08:

Fun fact: The german title of this Episode is Lovestorys. Can you guess if there is anything of relevance in it?

Okay, first off for the millionth time, in case you haven’t read part 1 or you aren’t convinced yet or maybe you just forgot: Evan „Buck“ Buckley was never a sex addict. Kay? Good.

Also, remember when I said the show doesn’t sexualise Oliver the way it does Ryan? Yeah, this episode exactly. Buck has sex twice and we see less of his body than of Eddie just getting out of bed. Is it a contract thing? Was Ryan always running around naked on set? Did Oliver refuse to take his shirt off? Is he always cold because he’s vegan? Should I figure out Twitter just to ask the cast these questions?

(Also, remember when I said with Buck it’s mostly Girl on top, yay, it stays true)

In terms of actual relevant story, there’s that woman on the freeway (highway? Idk guys, I’m not from the US) reinforcing that Buck has finally accepted that Abby and him are over and then there’s the Taylor Kenny - story, which is sort of just beating the bush of sexual vs emotional intimacy with Buck trying for the latter and only finding the former (remember the Brunette from the Pilot? Yeah, that’s why I’m reminding you).

What I like is the fact that, after spending so much time calling out Buck 1.0 (and they should, because stealing a fire truck? Twice? Babe, for realsies?), this episode went: look, maybe girls like meaningless sex, too? Although, technically they have been telling us from the the beginning, that those girl were using Buck in the same way he was using them (again with the Brunette) - Buck just never understood that until Taylor.

We also get the soulmate scene with the very sweet couple, once again, rein- forcing how lonely Buck is and how much he is craving love and a connection and stability. That really is what his character boils down to at the end of the day: a lost kid trying to find his place in the world. And now I’m sad.

As for the Ali storyline, oh man, I’d really rather ignore it? Not because I have anything against the character per sey it’s just - we get to see their first meeting and then 5 episodes later their first date and by the end of the season they are in love love except by Season 3 she is gone? And in between she is hardly ever mentioned? So I really don’t know how to comment on their relationship in terms of this meta and what it means for Buck except: I think it was one of those right times right moment kind of things and Buck is sort of transfering a lot of his wishes and needs and feelings onto her, but their relationship has a weak foundation, which is why it ended so fast (except we don’t know how fast it ended because there is a 5 month gap between Season 2 and 3 and the breakup gets mentioned one (1) time. Soooooo...)

And Eddie, well, he was in the episode.

Episode 2.09:

I like this episode a lot and it tells us so much about Hen’s issues, but in terms of this meta: no relevance!

Sidenote: I do always forget they did Hen before they did Chim. Then again this episode in general feels very disconnected because there was no prompting, no connection to the present.

Episode 2.10:

Ah, yes, that one! The gift that keeps on giving in terms of Eddie and this meta (and also Buddie, but I’m trying not to be ship-y around here)

(One tiny sidenote though, I do think we see Eddie roll of off Shannon, and, while I don’t want to reinforce some stereotype about Top and Bottom, because I am not a gay man and therefore not qualified to comment, with Buck it’s generally girl on top? So Buck usually lets his partner set the pace while Eddie prefers to be the one in control? Okay, you know what, let’s just say it fits with their characters and maybe they match and leave it at that?)

(also, again with the Ryan shirtless, I mean, not that I am complaining, it’s just ... yeah, please, someone who knows this stuff come talk to me about it and explain because I don’t know and maybe I am seeing things?)

(sidenote #3 with actual relevance: They did not mention Buck’s girlfriend even once. They never do until the final.)

First of, this episode proofs what I said before: With Eddie there is no separating Sex and feelings. It is interconnected („We are working things out.“).

Also there is a point to be made about Eddie and control. So far we have always seen Eddie be the one in control and make decisions and this is our first real indicator that it actually bothers him, that maybe he wants someone else to tell him what’s right or wrong, too.

I’m gonna fast forward a bit, because we are nearly at the end of Season 3 irl and so far we have seen Eddie ask for help several times but only with two people - Buck and Lena - he actually takes the advice. I don’t want to say too much because it really fits better in Season 3, but wether you ship them or not, it is noticeable that out of everyone Buck is the one Eddie let’s help the most. The one he trusts the most.

(Man, they are both just two lost boys looking for their home, aren’t they? (and now I am sad again.))

There is also the topic of trust brought up, which you know, we hear about a few times from Eddie, and it really is such a big thing for him, isn’t it?

To fast forward again, that is one big difference between Eddie and Buck. Both struggle with self worth and trust but while Buck’s biggest problem is that he doesn’t trust people to like him, if they actually get to know him (or if they even want to get to know him), Eddie just plain old does not trust people? Because Eddie is a pessimist, so he doesn’t even try to connect, while Buckeroo trusts way too much and too easily and he is such an optimist and gives away everything and then he still isn’t enough - and then and only then does he give up hope (which is something we see happen in canon maybe twice? With Abby, maybe with Ali, and with Christopher, but again, Season 3 you guys!)

These two really are the different sides of the same coin, huh?

In relevance to this Meta, Eddie is trying very much this whole episode to be open and vulnerable and he struggles so much because he is very scared. The main issue with Eddie is always (and specifically with Shannon) by making himself vulnerable, he opens Christopher up to getting hurt as well (and vice versa because he can’t let Shannon into his son’s life without letting her into his own life) and this is what we see him struggle with in this episode and also what intensifies his already existing issues with intimacy throughout the show in general, his need to protect his son. 

It should be noted that in the end Eddie puts Christopher’s wishes above his own well-being which is in fact what he will always do because Christopher is the most important person in his life.

As for Buck in this episode, well, after having so much development in his last episode, he really was there more as a sounding board for other characters. However I will mention that, after the show points out the whole thing is none of his business twice, Eddie then turns around and makes the Shannon thing Buck’s business, because well, connected and all that. Trusting and giving up control. Emotional intimacy. Just repeating myself now.

Episode 2.11: No relevance.

Episode 2.12: No relevance.

Episode 2.13: No real relevance.

There is the scene in the hospital between Buck and Eddie that reinforces the peas in a pot thing they got going on and a reverse from the Christmas Episode when Eddie asked Buck about what he should do. Here Eddie acts as the sounding board (even though Buck has already done the thing but then so has Eddie by hiding Shannon).

This is also yet another instance of Buck trying to help another person with no regard for his own safety but I’m with Eddie here: I have sisters as well. I too would do countless stupid things to save them with no regard to my own safety and I’m a girl - I was not raised on the believe that is was my job to protect them from harm like both Buck and Eddie probably were (because gender rolls).

Also Buck thinks it’s his fault that Doug even found Maddie and Eddie explains to him why its bull. To reinforce the whole connection thing, it is very noticeable that these two always give each other exactly what the other needs - with Eddie from the get go always working on building up Buck’s self worth and Buck always lending a hand to Eddie and taking control when needed (remember Carla? That was Buck taking control for Eddie because Eddie didn’t know what to do).

There is also the short scene when Shannon comes to the hospital and it prob- ably did a lot to help rebuild Eddies trust in his wife.

Episode 2.14:

STOP MAKING EVAN BUCKLEY WORRY ABOUT HIS FAMILY 2k21 (because it’s too late for anything before that)

It’s also our first real: Eddie can be a dumbass, too sighting and there is that one scene (you know which one) which in text is not shippy at all, but ended up in every gifset because Oliver is looking at Ryan like he wants to eat him alive.

Aside from that, this episode really isn’t about them and that’s okay.

Episode 2.15: Crime is hard. That is all.

Episode 2.16: No relevance.

Episode 2.17:

First of all, Eddie is not shirtless? At the beach? Damn, what’s wrong, 911? Is it because Gavin was there? Have you used up all your contracted shirtless scenes by now? Did Ryan find out he was the only one running around set half naked?

Also poor Eddie, you know, you’d think getting married your done having those: what are we - conversations and then bam: there it is again. He really can’t catch a break, can he?

Also I know it’s been said before, but I’ll say it again: Eddie Diaz is not in love with Shannon. Maybe he has never been or maybe he just stopped at some point, but right then and there he isn’t in love with her. He does however love her deeply (she is after all the mother of his son) and she is his family which is sort of where the problem in their relationship lies. Because Eddie, who has problems with trust and intimacy, frankly doesn’t care enough about Shannon (and also doesn’t trust her enough) to try and be open and vulnerable with her, which is what he needs to be in order for them to work, a fact that Shannon seems to be aware of and have accepted.

(Because if you have to wait for a sign on what to do in your relationship, yeah, you already know - you’re just not accepting it.)

And this episode is so heartbreaking and I just had to stop myself from ugly crying because Shannon loves Christopher so very much. And I just hate that they killed her off, so in my mind I have already half plotted a fix it fic in which she survives because that was just unnecessary angst.

Though that’s the topic of another post.

In terms of the relationship-story I am similarly floored as I am by the „Help!“ scene because (at least for me) this is the first time I have seen media really address that yes, you can be a good parent and still not be ready for a serious relationship because those two things are very different. Sure, you sometimes see examples of it through subtext but never before has it been so outright stated.

And I like that both Shannon and Eddie ask themselves that question, but come to a different conclusion - or actually they don’t. Like I said above, for Eddie this relationship fits because it’s easy and he doesn’t have to change or better adapt. He can just keep avoiding the hard stuff (being vulnerable) and still have the good stuff (sex). And then Shannon might be pregnant again and look at his speech at the restaurant: He is basically saying our child is awesome, so we should get back together because if we make such awesome children than we can’t be that bad together. And that is so very wrong, which Shannon understands.

The problem is, that Eddie doesn’t fully understand why their marriage hasn’t worked in the first place. If you tie it into 3.15 Eddie Begins, I think for Eddie, the reason why Shannon left him was a little to get back at him for leaving her and a lot about feeling left alone and being unable to cope with raising their child alone, but all of that is gonna be different now because he will be there for her physically and emotionally as he is no longer in the army! So the issue is solved. They should be a family again. Even without a new kid. After all: they love each other.

And look, those are all fair reasons and true but the thing Eddie doesn’t understand about relationships in general and his marriage to Shannon in particular is that she also needs him to be emotionally vulnerable with her. Shannon needs Eddie to let her be there for him, just like he is trying to be there for her. Because relationships are always a two way street.

SO obviously this is where the episode ended. There were no more scenes af- ter that. Nope. Bit weird how it was so short but you do you, 911, you do you!

And well, Buck was there too.

Episode 2.18:

I’m just gonna come out and say it: Ramon and Helena are bad parents. Flying to your daughter-in-law’s funeral only to bad mouth her and then try to take your son’s son away again? Yeah, I do not like your style. I wonder how much of Eddie Begins was already planned at this point or if they built that plot about his family for 3.15 based on this episode. Huh. We might never know. (except Twitter)

Also me thinks Eddie choose LA because of Pepa and Abuela, not because of Shannon. She was probably just a bonus.

As for Buck (and Ali): the actors seem to have had fun doing those scenes? I guess? Other than that it’s a little cringy and very out of nowhere and probably more caused by the show having money left over and deciding to built a new set. ANd damn what a set. I wonder how Buck is supposed to be able to afford that because that apartment has probably about 50-75m2 considering there is a kitchen and a living room as well as a room behind the living room and probably an extra room in the upper floor as well (someone do a floorplan and also tell me why Buck needs so much space and wether they think I could move in with him. My apartment is not this nice and LA isn’t that long a commute).

Point being I don’t know why they brought Ali back in the first place, especially in this episode. She was never mentioned after their first date, so why? Just to give people something to discuss during hiatus?

There was no point to have those two incredibly lovey dovey scenes only to have that scenes about what he wants to do next because all those scenes? Would have worked just fine with, you know, his sister (except a little different because incest). Who actually has the what if you can’t go back to being a firefighter - scene with him. So why have a girlfriend you barely introduced and never used before? I’m not mad, 911, just confused! (Fuck me, I really am getting twitter)

As for the topic of this meta, there really isn’t much too tell. Ali honestly doesn’t figure into things except to create more abandonment issues.

I should point out that this episode reinforced the whole Buddie connection thing - from Eddie holding Buck’s hand the whole while he’s pinned to saying „Almost (back to normal)“ to Buck going to Eddie’s ceremony despite probably still being on somewhat of a bed rest.

Other than that, that’s it for Season 2. Whew!

Before I let ya’ll off the hook, though (look, you’ve read it this far, you can now just bear it a bit longer) I wanna comment real quick:

Compared to Season 1 Buck barely had any character development (mainly because he had so much in Season 1 and sometimes stuff like that needs to settle - real life would be the same way)

Eddie however has nearly no development at all and in fact as of Season 3, not a lot has changed in that regard. His issues just became more obvious. Which is something I actually like a lot, because one: he went through a lot of shit in a fairly short amount of time and two: he is such a stubborn and reserved character, anything else wouldn’t be in character and ultimately feel rushed. Plus, because this is his personality it’s feels like we’re actually getting to know him like you would a person in real life? Piece by piece, no unnecessary exposition. Or maybe that’s just me, I don’t really know anything about storytelling.

I also want to comment on Buddie real quick because it would be dishonest if I didn’t and also it’s just glaring me in the face:

The thing is, while I do not necessarily believe they have any intention of making them romantic (because I have been burned too often and just recently by a show that liked to praise itself for its diversity (so a heartfelt fuck you to Sera Gamble and who ever decided to kill off Quentin Coldwater, because that character mattered so much and you destroyed it)), I do think we are right when we talk about connection and parallels and being each others person and just generally being each others closest relationship. Because they parallel their stories so much and they connect them so often and they did do it from the get go like as early as Episode 4 - which was already written and probably already shot by the time Episode 1 aired. So there. I said it. Buddie is real, wether it’s platonic or romantic, it is real. And that also matters!

(although of course if they went with romantic? That would matter a bit more! Tim Minear, listen to me, you could make TV history! This would be bigger than Supergirl making the sister gay in the second season! Ya’ll would be legends, revered by fans for years to come! Also I’d bake you a cake?)

And there you have it! Season 2! We made it! And only like 2000 words more than Season 1.

Can you believe at this point I have written nearly 10.000 words on these two exceptional characters and their issues? And it’s technically only one issue, like I’m ignoring so much stuff just glaring at me right now!

(also on a side note, this is where I tag @angelcamael , who asked me to do so and @greyhello because she inspired me to write this meta in the first place and while it is now ... no longer about that original topic, I’m still gonna tag her)