I make more time to post and of course there's more closures.
I never heard of the game, but I'm not much of a sports gamer. Turns out Game Developer says it was a Netflix exclusive that Netflix called a "top tier" performer despite being critically panned.
This isn't about Flock, but public surveillance in general:
I've always been interested in the IDEA of something like CCTV used in some other countries. I see the value, but then i fear shit like this. I just can't say "yes let's do it".
But I recently saw something I found interesting. Last week the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced their new program to send drones to locations when they dispatch officers to that location. Given it's direct and in the air, it naturally arrives early, giving them a visual, and doesn't just stand somewhere collecting data on the public constantly. Seems like a good way to cut out many of the concerns.
I suppose there's the risk of crashes? Maybe even hacking? But barring that, anything come to mind?
I've seen a few Discord servers I'm on use some bot that creates a honeypot channel. It immediately bans anyone that posts in it. It's so low tech that it perfectly handled the weird problem of people getting their account taken and posting spam in every channel.
I can't help but wonder if honeypots could appeal to the "loose with rules" nature of modern LLMs/AI tools.
Don't even get me started on Facebook's "everyone's pivoting to Facebook video! Don't be left behind!"... "Oh, we lied about your views repeatedly. Sorry."
UPDATE: A WARN notice filed in Texas indicates 136 employees have been laid off at id Software, with another 22 people roles being cut at Bethesda Game Studios' office in Austin.
Out of those 158 workers being laid off in Texas, 146 are represented by labor union Communication Workers of America.
Nine Inch Nails released a new remix project album a few months ago called Nine Inch Noize. It's with a German DJ called Boys Noize. They fine tuned it during their last tour by playing together, and released it with a couple of live performances at Coachella. You can find the album anywhere you stream music, and here's the concerts if you're curious: https://archive.org/details/nine-inch-noize-live-coachella-archive
Also, been on a lot of Paris Texas lately. They're a rap duo with some heavy guitar usage, and punk/grunge/alt influences. Their most recent releases have been two EPs, of which I generally prefer They Left Me With the Sword. (but They Left Me With A Gun is good too.)
Also? I went back to Flobots too. And a little Czarface.
I'm not defending tipping. The business should pay them a livable wage. But if I'm going to go out to eat, which I have occasionally done, I'm not going to lecture the server about capitalism. They're relying on tips. They get it.
I remember long ago someone broke down the math for me and it became simple. If the bill is $53.27, for example, then 10% is $5.33, just by moving the decimal over one spot. A quick estimate tells me half of that is $2.50 (5 halved) + $0.15 (33 is close to 30 and that halved), so $2.65-ish. Add them together and 15% is close to $8. 20% is that initial $5.33 doubled to $10.66. Roughly between that is my tip on average service, probably rounded.
Before anyone skips over this, consider a show with the charm of Lost, with horror instead of sci-fi, but it feels like a much tighter long-term plan. And justice for Harold Perrineau, who is used pretty damn well in this! From is a really good show.
I'd love to piggy back on this (great) list and add that the Netflix Daredevil show's subsequent seasons are lesser, but if you enjoyed the first A LOT, then you'll probably enjoy the offers and at least Jessica Jones' first season as well. It was also pretty great. Subsequent seasons, Punisher, and the first half of Luke Cage were also "good" to me, but clearly not on DD & JJ s1's levels. (But I thought most of the Marvel Netflix shows save Iron Fist were worth the watch on rewatches.)
And I love to see that the first season of Westworld is still being recommended. Yes later seasons are very disliked, but I found SOME enjoyment in them. Not enough to give a blanket recommendation to anyone even if I rewatched them, but damn, that first season delivered.
You're not forced to upgrade to a new version, is the saving grace. Downloading old versions of Unreal is easy. But this is literally just diagramming code, but my understanding is at least some people prefer this. Though apparently not enough for Epic to keep it in.
Personally? I want money. It serves as a method to get ease of mind and relaxation I find difficult otherwise. I've got debt and I would like to feel like I'm gaining/progressing in life goals, instead of hoping to one day hit even.
To what end do I want money outside of debt? I want a new PC. A decent office chair to go with it. A house, or even a decent apartment where the A/C gets me before 85 on a hot day. Shit, some days a couch or recliner would be good instead of a living room that's just a few boxes from when I moved here 10 months ago.
I make more time to post and of course there's more closures.
I never heard of the game, but I'm not much of a sports gamer. Turns out Game Developer says it was a Netflix exclusive that Netflix called a "top tier" performer despite being critically panned.
This isn't about Flock, but public surveillance in general: I've always been interested in the IDEA of something like CCTV used in some other countries. I see the value, but then i fear shit like this. I just can't say "yes let's do it".
But I recently saw something I found interesting. Last week the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced their new program to send drones to locations when they dispatch officers to that location. Given it's direct and in the air, it naturally arrives early, giving them a visual, and doesn't just stand somewhere collecting data on the public constantly. Seems like a good way to cut out many of the concerns.
I suppose there's the risk of crashes? Maybe even hacking? But barring that, anything come to mind?
I've seen a few Discord servers I'm on use some bot that creates a honeypot channel. It immediately bans anyone that posts in it. It's so low tech that it perfectly handled the weird problem of people getting their account taken and posting spam in every channel. I can't help but wonder if honeypots could appeal to the "loose with rules" nature of modern LLMs/AI tools.
I get that. I'm still chugging away in the 1080 got in 2017, already behind the curve.
I assume it's due to wanting a quick rest headline that's relatively short. "Criticizes" is so many letters!
A lot of my posting articles I find notable is on my lunch break when I'm done running errands... Man, some days are really shitty for this industry.
Don't even get me started on Facebook's "everyone's pivoting to Facebook video! Don't be left behind!"... "Oh, we lied about your views repeatedly. Sorry."
Lots of updates to this news today and likely to continue as the splitting studios find their own path forward. Here's some of them from GI.biz:
IO Interactive closing it's Istanbul studio because of a lost Xbox contact:
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/io-interactive-to-shutter-istanbul-studio-following-end-of-project-fantasy-deal-with-xbox
Bethesda/Zenimax losing staff, Obsidian losing dozens, id software possibly losing all (?!) of its programmers...
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/xbox-layoffs-july-2026
Xbox Game Pass subscriptions are at half their goal.
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/xbox-game-pass-reportedly-boasts-around-30m-subscribers
And the new Xbox CEO saying they were spread too thin:
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/we-simply-spread-ourselves-too-thin-xboxs-asha-sharma-on-firms-restructuring-plans
Wednesday, July 8th:
Hundreds of union members from the Communication Workers of America were affected by the mass layoffs at Xbox this week
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/workers-deserve-protection-not-to-be-treated-like-disposable-line-items-hundreds-of-union-members-affected-by-xbox-layoffs
&&
UPDATE: A WARN notice filed in Texas indicates 136 employees have been laid off at id Software, with another 22 people roles being cut at Bethesda Game Studios' office in Austin.
Out of those 158 workers being laid off in Texas, 146 are represented by labor union Communication Workers of America.
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/report-around-half-of-the-id-software-team-have-been-laid-off
Microsoft’s layoffs include the 37-year veteran behind Xbox backwards compatibility
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/microsofts-layoffs-include-the-37-year-veteran-behind-xbox-backwards-compatibility/
Thursday,, July 9th
Xbox has laid off 379 Zenimax workers in Maryland
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/xbox-had-laid-off-379-zenimax-workers-in-maryland
Update: WARN notice confirms at least 52 Obsidian workers are being laid off
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/report-obsidian-losing-around-one-quarter-of-its-staff-to-xbox-reset-
Life's been busy and I've missed lots of interesting news, but dropping in to share this big one we've all been waiting for.
Also, 500 subs here now. Weird times.
Nine Inch Nails released a new remix project album a few months ago called Nine Inch Noize. It's with a German DJ called Boys Noize. They fine tuned it during their last tour by playing together, and released it with a couple of live performances at Coachella. You can find the album anywhere you stream music, and here's the concerts if you're curious: https://archive.org/details/nine-inch-noize-live-coachella-archive
Also, been on a lot of Paris Texas lately. They're a rap duo with some heavy guitar usage, and punk/grunge/alt influences. Their most recent releases have been two EPs, of which I generally prefer They Left Me With the Sword. (but They Left Me With A Gun is good too.)
Also? I went back to Flobots too. And a little Czarface.
I'm not defending tipping. The business should pay them a livable wage. But if I'm going to go out to eat, which I have occasionally done, I'm not going to lecture the server about capitalism. They're relying on tips. They get it.
Damn, you're grumpy, huh?
I remember long ago someone broke down the math for me and it became simple. If the bill is $53.27, for example, then 10% is $5.33, just by moving the decimal over one spot. A quick estimate tells me half of that is $2.50 (5 halved) + $0.15 (33 is close to 30 and that halved), so $2.65-ish. Add them together and 15% is close to $8. 20% is that initial $5.33 doubled to $10.66. Roughly between that is my tip on average service, probably rounded.
... Is that weird written out like that?
Before anyone skips over this, consider a show with the charm of Lost, with horror instead of sci-fi, but it feels like a much tighter long-term plan. And justice for Harold Perrineau, who is used pretty damn well in this! From is a really good show.
I'd love to piggy back on this (great) list and add that the Netflix Daredevil show's subsequent seasons are lesser, but if you enjoyed the first A LOT, then you'll probably enjoy the offers and at least Jessica Jones' first season as well. It was also pretty great. Subsequent seasons, Punisher, and the first half of Luke Cage were also "good" to me, but clearly not on DD & JJ s1's levels. (But I thought most of the Marvel Netflix shows save Iron Fist were worth the watch on rewatches.)
And I love to see that the first season of Westworld is still being recommended. Yes later seasons are very disliked, but I found SOME enjoyment in them. Not enough to give a blanket recommendation to anyone even if I rewatched them, but damn, that first season delivered.
Also I hadn't heard of Scavengers' Reign. Thanks.
You're not forced to upgrade to a new version, is the saving grace. Downloading old versions of Unreal is easy. But this is literally just diagramming code, but my understanding is at least some people prefer this. Though apparently not enough for Epic to keep it in.
I feel you. Playing games with my family is the only reason I'm still using Windows at all at this rate.
An interesting write up on data from Game Oracle, so I'm going with PCG's overview, but here's the link: https://www.game-oracle.com/blog/ai-part2
Personally? I want money. It serves as a method to get ease of mind and relaxation I find difficult otherwise. I've got debt and I would like to feel like I'm gaining/progressing in life goals, instead of hoping to one day hit even.
To what end do I want money outside of debt? I want a new PC. A decent office chair to go with it. A house, or even a decent apartment where the A/C gets me before 85 on a hot day. Shit, some days a couch or recliner would be good instead of a living room that's just a few boxes from when I moved here 10 months ago.
The original source, Jason Schreier at Bloomberg, has a paywall: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-10/xbox-plans-significant-layoffs-as-it-transforms-under-new-ceo-asha-sharma