Well, after bugging people here and poking around a bit I bought 'No
Man's Sky' from GOG.

This morning I started playing it, put in two hours on it.

It seems like exactly the kind of game I was looking for, some crafting
and tool upgrades as one wanders around a universe looking for things to
do and trouble to get into. So I'm happy about that part.

But....

The interface is ... not good IMO. I'm having trouble doing the things
I'm being told by the intro tutorial mission because it is very NOT
clear HOW to do them. I'm talking simple things like "merge these two materials to make this tool". Some search-engine-fu and looking on game forums has enabled me to keep moving forward so far but it is
frustratingly non-intuitive (at least to me).

I suspect the design is partly playing to the "You wake with no memory
next to a wrecked spaceship on a radioactive planet" start to the game
'cause I'm definitely feeling a bit like a brain-damaged amnesiac trying
to figure some of this out.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Dimensional Traveler wrote:

Well, after bugging people here and poking around a bit I bought 'No
Man's Sky' from GOG.

This morning I started playing it, put in two hours on it.

It seems like exactly the kind of game I was looking for, some crafting
and tool upgrades as one wanders around a universe looking for things to
do and trouble to get into.ÿ So I'm happy about that part.

But....

The interface is ... not good IMO.ÿ I'm having trouble doing the things
I'm being told by the intro tutorial mission because it is very NOT
clear HOW to do them.ÿ I'm talking simple things like "merge these two materials to make this tool".ÿ Some search-engine-fu and looking on game forums has enabled me to keep moving forward so far but it is
frustratingly non-intuitive (at least to me).

I suspect the design is partly playing to the "You wake with no memory
next to a wrecked spaceship on a radioactive planet" start to the game 'cause I'm definitely feeling a bit like a brain-damaged amnesiac trying
to figure some of this out.

I started playing it some but I kept getting a creepy feeling like I was
being watched or maybe that this is something Zaghadka would probably play.

--
Pharaoh was so pleased with Hadad that he gave him a
sister of his own wife, Queen Tahpenes, in marriage.
The sister of Tahpenes bore him a son named Genubath,
whom Tahpenes brought up in the royal palace. There
Genubath lived with Pharaoh?s own children.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:40:45 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> said this thing:

Well, after bugging people here and poking around a bit I bought 'No
Man's Sky' from GOG.

This morning I started playing it, put in two hours on it.

It seems like exactly the kind of game I was looking for, some crafting
and tool upgrades as one wanders around a universe looking for things to
do and trouble to get into. So I'm happy about that part.

But....

The interface is ... not good IMO. I'm having trouble doing the things
I'm being told by the intro tutorial mission because it is very NOT
clear HOW to do them. I'm talking simple things like "merge these two >materials to make this tool". Some search-engine-fu and looking on game >forums has enabled me to keep moving forward so far but it is
frustratingly non-intuitive (at least to me).

I suspect the design is partly playing to the "You wake with no memory
next to a wrecked spaceship on a radioactive planet" start to the game >'cause I'm definitely feeling a bit like a brain-damaged amnesiac trying
to figure some of this out.

I have to admit, I can't remember any specifics about the interface,
and even if I did I'm not sure my recollection would be relevant. I
played the game five years ago, and everything I've heard is that
there have been significant improvements to the game, which presumably
also includes the interface. It didn't merit notice when I wrote about
it in the 'what have you been playing' thread.

Which isn't to say that you're wrong about the interface; just that I
didn't find it any worse than found in other crafting/survival games.

I was more disappointed by how shallow the world-design felt; the lack
of story or characters, and that the universe exists only to be
exploited so you can find more planets to exploit. It was a grinding
tedium that chased me away from the game in mere hours.

From what I understand, though, the game has seen remarkable
improvement in that area since I tried it; there's more to see and do
and the universe is more than ores-and-plants to be vacuumed up as
crafting materials... or so they say. I haven't seen it myself,
although I've been tempted to to return (but you know how it is: too
many games, too little time). So it may still be worth the effort to
keep at it... if you can master the interface.



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 4/26/2026 8:08 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

On Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:40:45 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> said this thing:

Well, after bugging people here and poking around a bit I bought 'No
Man's Sky' from GOG.

This morning I started playing it, put in two hours on it.

It seems like exactly the kind of game I was looking for, some crafting
and tool upgrades as one wanders around a universe looking for things to
do and trouble to get into. So I'm happy about that part.

But....

The interface is ... not good IMO. I'm having trouble doing the things
I'm being told by the intro tutorial mission because it is very NOT
clear HOW to do them. I'm talking simple things like "merge these two
materials to make this tool". Some search-engine-fu and looking on game
forums has enabled me to keep moving forward so far but it is
frustratingly non-intuitive (at least to me).

I suspect the design is partly playing to the "You wake with no memory
next to a wrecked spaceship on a radioactive planet" start to the game
'cause I'm definitely feeling a bit like a brain-damaged amnesiac trying
to figure some of this out.

I have to admit, I can't remember any specifics about the interface,
and even if I did I'm not sure my recollection would be relevant. I
played the game five years ago, and everything I've heard is that
there have been significant improvements to the game, which presumably
also includes the interface. It didn't merit notice when I wrote about
it in the 'what have you been playing' thread.

Which isn't to say that you're wrong about the interface; just that I
didn't find it any worse than found in other crafting/survival games.

I was more disappointed by how shallow the world-design felt; the lack
of story or characters, and that the universe exists only to be
exploited so you can find more planets to exploit. It was a grinding
tedium that chased me away from the game in mere hours.

From what I understand, though, the game has seen remarkable
improvement in that area since I tried it; there's more to see and do
and the universe is more than ores-and-plants to be vacuumed up as
crafting materials... or so they say. I haven't seen it myself,
although I've been tempted to to return (but you know how it is: too
many games, too little time). So it may still be worth the effort to
keep at it... if you can master the interface.

Apparently I'm not the only one frustrated by the interface. On the
Steam forum for the game there are a few current threads complaining
about the initial learning curve too very steep. Most of the responses
are variations on "Git Gud!" with some sympathetic "just keep at it"
posters. But what I notice is there really aren't any "Here's how to do
that" actual _answers_.

Myself I've made some progress. I'm still opening the wrong menu
sometimes but I've managed to "claim" a base site (think homesteading)
and build myself a small shelter. Now I've just got to figure out how
to explore farther. But I think the game would be much better served if
the initial planet wasn't so intensely hostile, give players a chance to
play around and explore a bit at the start without worrying so intensely
about dying so quickly just from being outside.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Dimensional Traveler wrote:

On 4/26/2026 8:08 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

On Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:40:45 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> said this thing:

Well, after bugging people here and poking around a bit I bought 'No
Man's Sky' from GOG.

This morning I started playing it, put in two hours on it.

It seems like exactly the kind of game I was looking for, some crafting
and tool upgrades as one wanders around a universe looking for things to >>> do and trouble to get into.ÿ So I'm happy about that part.

But....

The interface is ... not good IMO.ÿ I'm having trouble doing the things
I'm being told by the intro tutorial mission because it is very NOT
clear HOW to do them.ÿ I'm talking simple things like "merge these two
materials to make this tool".ÿ Some search-engine-fu and looking on game >>> forums has enabled me to keep moving forward so far but it is
frustratingly non-intuitive (at least to me).

I suspect the design is partly playing to the "You wake with no memory
next to a wrecked spaceship on a radioactive planet" start to the game
'cause I'm definitely feeling a bit like a brain-damaged amnesiac trying >>> to figure some of this out.

I have to admit, I can't remember any specifics about the interface,
and even if I did I'm not sure my recollection would be relevant. I
played the game five years ago, and everything I've heard is that
there have been significant improvements to the game, which presumably
also includes the interface. It didn't merit notice when I wrote about
it in the 'what have you been playing' thread.

Which isn't to say that you're wrong about the interface; just that I
didn't find it any worse than found in other crafting/survival games.

I was more disappointed by how shallow the world-design felt; the lack
of story or characters, and that the universe exists only to be
exploited so you can find more planets to exploit. It was a grinding
tedium that chased me away from the game in mere hours.

ÿFrom what I understand, though, the game has seen remarkable
improvement in that area since I tried it; there's more to see and do
and the universe is more than ores-and-plants to be vacuumed up as
crafting materials... or so they say. I haven't seen it myself,
although I've been tempted to to return (but you know how it is: too
many games, too little time). So it may still be worth the effort to
keep at it... if you can master the interface.

Apparently I'm not the only one frustrated by the interface.ÿ On the
Steam forum for the game there are a few current threads complaining
about the initial learning curve too very steep.ÿ Most of the responses
are variations on "Git Gud!" with some sympathetic "just keep at it" posters.ÿ But what I notice is there really aren't any "Here's how to do that" actual _answers_.

Myself I've made some progress.ÿ I'm still opening the wrong menu
sometimes but I've managed to "claim" a base site (think homesteading)
and build myself a small shelter.ÿ Now I've just got to figure out how
to explore farther.ÿ But I think the game would be much better served if
the initial planet wasn't so intensely hostile, give players a chance to play around and explore a bit at the start without worrying so intensely about dying so quickly just from being outside.

What I think is this is one of those outside publishers who have to
goosestep across eggshells to avoid getting lawsuits for cloning similar games. You get what they had in Old World. They took a cake blender to
the Civilization 5 interface to scramble it and confuse it just to not
get sued. These guys don't want to get sued either and they took a cake blender to the interface, so it is totally not self-evident nor self-explanatory. You've got to spend three or four days getting used to
the interface and then maybe, just maybe you'll start to wing it and
find it comfortable. You know the feeling, the entire Endless franchise. Confusing irrefgular interface. I think I'm right.

I look at the No Man's Sky listing on Steam and I just say to myself
outside, alien publisher, I can't seem to put my finger on just what
makes it this way.

--
Pharaoh was so pleased with Hadad that he gave him a
sister of his own wife, Queen Tahpenes, in marriage.
The sister of Tahpenes bore him a son named Genubath,
whom Tahpenes brought up in the royal palace. There
Genubath lived with Pharaoh?s own children.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:06:11 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:

On 4/26/2026 8:08 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

On Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:40:45 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> said this thing:

Well, after bugging people here and poking around a bit I bought 'No
Man's Sky' from GOG.

This morning I started playing it, put in two hours on it.

It seems like exactly the kind of game I was looking for, some crafting
and tool upgrades as one wanders around a universe looking for things to >>> do and trouble to get into. So I'm happy about that part.

But....

The interface is ... not good IMO. I'm having trouble doing the things
I'm being told by the intro tutorial mission because it is very NOT
clear HOW to do them. I'm talking simple things like "merge these two
materials to make this tool". Some search-engine-fu and looking on game >>> forums has enabled me to keep moving forward so far but it is
frustratingly non-intuitive (at least to me).

I suspect the design is partly playing to the "You wake with no memory
next to a wrecked spaceship on a radioactive planet" start to the game
'cause I'm definitely feeling a bit like a brain-damaged amnesiac trying >>> to figure some of this out.

I have to admit, I can't remember any specifics about the interface,
and even if I did I'm not sure my recollection would be relevant. I
played the game five years ago, and everything I've heard is that
there have been significant improvements to the game, which presumably
also includes the interface. It didn't merit notice when I wrote about
it in the 'what have you been playing' thread.

Which isn't to say that you're wrong about the interface; just that I
didn't find it any worse than found in other crafting/survival games.

I was more disappointed by how shallow the world-design felt; the lack
of story or characters, and that the universe exists only to be
exploited so you can find more planets to exploit. It was a grinding
tedium that chased me away from the game in mere hours.

From what I understand, though, the game has seen remarkable
improvement in that area since I tried it; there's more to see and do
and the universe is more than ores-and-plants to be vacuumed up as
crafting materials... or so they say. I haven't seen it myself,
although I've been tempted to to return (but you know how it is: too
many games, too little time). So it may still be worth the effort to
keep at it... if you can master the interface.

Apparently I'm not the only one frustrated by the interface. On the
Steam forum for the game there are a few current threads complaining
about the initial learning curve too very steep. Most of the responses
are variations on "Git Gud!" with some sympathetic "just keep at it" >posters. But what I notice is there really aren't any "Here's how to do >that" actual _answers_.

Myself I've made some progress. I'm still opening the wrong menu
sometimes but I've managed to "claim" a base site (think homesteading)
and build myself a small shelter. Now I've just got to figure out how
to explore farther. But I think the game would be much better served if
the initial planet wasn't so intensely hostile, give players a chance to >play around and explore a bit at the start without worrying so intensely >about dying so quickly just from being outside.

*--

Doesn't sound like fun to me at all, especailly with crafting a big
part of it and doesn't seem to work.

I would like to find a game without crafting that I can just pick up
and enjoy playing, roaming around... Arc Raiders has crafting, and no
bathroom breaks from my experience so far for the SP, so I stopped
playing that. Got stuck early in Cyberpunk at the car on the lift,
trying to get to the rafters. Walkthroughs were no help, so I
uninstalled that one. Kingdom Come Deliverence II has a huge learning
curve. I guess I will just drive an 18 wheeler around again to relax.
:-)

Or get back to Mass Effect Legendary edition but it's been a year or
so since I played that.

But I am loving a couple gangsta games right now. Mouse PI for hire
(blown away) and for a sidescroller, Guns, Gore, and Cannolis 2 is
cracking me up. The Precinct once in a while, but the controls are frustrating.

I know, I should have waited for Spalls "What are you playing..." post
that will be here soon :-)

-pw

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 4/26/2026 5:41 PM, PW wrote:

On Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:06:11 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:

On 4/26/2026 8:08 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

On Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:40:45 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> said this thing:

Well, after bugging people here and poking around a bit I bought 'No
Man's Sky' from GOG.

This morning I started playing it, put in two hours on it.

It seems like exactly the kind of game I was looking for, some crafting >>>> and tool upgrades as one wanders around a universe looking for things to >>>> do and trouble to get into. So I'm happy about that part.

But....

The interface is ... not good IMO. I'm having trouble doing the things >>>> I'm being told by the intro tutorial mission because it is very NOT
clear HOW to do them. I'm talking simple things like "merge these two >>>> materials to make this tool". Some search-engine-fu and looking on game >>>> forums has enabled me to keep moving forward so far but it is
frustratingly non-intuitive (at least to me).

I suspect the design is partly playing to the "You wake with no memory >>>> next to a wrecked spaceship on a radioactive planet" start to the game >>>> 'cause I'm definitely feeling a bit like a brain-damaged amnesiac trying >>>> to figure some of this out.

I have to admit, I can't remember any specifics about the interface,
and even if I did I'm not sure my recollection would be relevant. I
played the game five years ago, and everything I've heard is that
there have been significant improvements to the game, which presumably
also includes the interface. It didn't merit notice when I wrote about
it in the 'what have you been playing' thread.

Which isn't to say that you're wrong about the interface; just that I
didn't find it any worse than found in other crafting/survival games.

I was more disappointed by how shallow the world-design felt; the lack
of story or characters, and that the universe exists only to be
exploited so you can find more planets to exploit. It was a grinding
tedium that chased me away from the game in mere hours.

From what I understand, though, the game has seen remarkable
improvement in that area since I tried it; there's more to see and do
and the universe is more than ores-and-plants to be vacuumed up as
crafting materials... or so they say. I haven't seen it myself,
although I've been tempted to to return (but you know how it is: too
many games, too little time). So it may still be worth the effort to
keep at it... if you can master the interface.

Apparently I'm not the only one frustrated by the interface. On the
Steam forum for the game there are a few current threads complaining
about the initial learning curve too very steep. Most of the responses
are variations on "Git Gud!" with some sympathetic "just keep at it"
posters. But what I notice is there really aren't any "Here's how to do
that" actual _answers_.

Myself I've made some progress. I'm still opening the wrong menu
sometimes but I've managed to "claim" a base site (think homesteading)
and build myself a small shelter. Now I've just got to figure out how
to explore farther. But I think the game would be much better served if
the initial planet wasn't so intensely hostile, give players a chance to
play around and explore a bit at the start without worrying so intensely
about dying so quickly just from being outside.

*--

Doesn't sound like fun to me at all, especailly with crafting a big
part of it and doesn't seem to work.

I would like to find a game without crafting that I can just pick up
and enjoy playing, roaming around... Arc Raiders has crafting, and no bathroom breaks from my experience so far for the SP, so I stopped
playing that. Got stuck early in Cyberpunk at the car on the lift,
trying to get to the rafters. Walkthroughs were no help, so I
uninstalled that one. Kingdom Come Deliverence II has a huge learning
curve. I guess I will just drive an 18 wheeler around again to relax.
:-)

Or get back to Mass Effect Legendary edition but it's been a year or
so since I played that.

But I am loving a couple gangsta games right now. Mouse PI for hire
(blown away) and for a sidescroller, Guns, Gore, and Cannolis 2 is
cracking me up. The Precinct once in a while, but the controls are frustrating.

I know, I should have waited for Spalls "What are you playing..." post
that will be here soon :-)

Think of it as all of us taking the newsgroup back from Spalls post
flooding! :D

(Joking)

But for NMS I did find a listing of keyboard commands and printed those.
Also managed to launch to the space station in the system. But
despite learning some alien language words couldn't really do anything
there. Couldn't sell anything (not enough language) and so couldn't buy anything. Managed to make it back to my ground base without crashing.
Yea! So I'm going to have to do some more homesteading and acquire more materials but while its slow I do feel like I'm making some progress now.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sun, 26 Apr 2026 19:06:37 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> said this thing:

Think of it as all of us taking the newsgroup back from Spalls post >flooding! :D

Go for it! I need a vacation! ;-)



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 4/26/2026 8:08 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

On Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:40:45 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> said this thing:

Well, after bugging people here and poking around a bit I bought 'No
Man's Sky' from GOG.

This morning I started playing it, put in two hours on it.

It seems like exactly the kind of game I was looking for, some crafting
and tool upgrades as one wanders around a universe looking for things to
do and trouble to get into. So I'm happy about that part.

But....

The interface is ... not good IMO. I'm having trouble doing the things
I'm being told by the intro tutorial mission because it is very NOT
clear HOW to do them. I'm talking simple things like "merge these two
materials to make this tool". Some search-engine-fu and looking on game
forums has enabled me to keep moving forward so far but it is
frustratingly non-intuitive (at least to me).

I suspect the design is partly playing to the "You wake with no memory
next to a wrecked spaceship on a radioactive planet" start to the game
'cause I'm definitely feeling a bit like a brain-damaged amnesiac trying
to figure some of this out.

I have to admit, I can't remember any specifics about the interface,
and even if I did I'm not sure my recollection would be relevant. I
played the game five years ago, and everything I've heard is that
there have been significant improvements to the game, which presumably
also includes the interface. It didn't merit notice when I wrote about
it in the 'what have you been playing' thread.

Which isn't to say that you're wrong about the interface; just that I
didn't find it any worse than found in other crafting/survival games.

I was more disappointed by how shallow the world-design felt; the lack
of story or characters, and that the universe exists only to be
exploited so you can find more planets to exploit. It was a grinding
tedium that chased me away from the game in mere hours.

From what I understand, though, the game has seen remarkable
improvement in that area since I tried it; there's more to see and do
and the universe is more than ores-and-plants to be vacuumed up as
crafting materials... or so they say. I haven't seen it myself,
although I've been tempted to to return (but you know how it is: too
many games, too little time). So it may still be worth the effort to
keep at it... if you can master the interface.

I don't remember that particular problem when I played it. But I do
hate relearning interfaces much more than I used to, which does somewhat
lead to me sticking with the same games (souls) in recent years, and
sometimes trying to get other games to adhere to that type of control
scheme.

--
-Justisaur

?-?
(\_/)\
`-'\ `--.___,
?ª'\( ,_.-'
\\
^'

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:41:20 -0600, PW <noneused@noneused.net> said
this thing:

guess I will just drive an 18 wheeler around again to relax.
:-)

ALways a good way to unwind... although I'm taking a temporary break
from that until the next expansion pack drops. Not so much out of a
lack of interest, but because:

a) I'm trying to work through the backlog and I can't play
other games while I'm busy speeding down the highways in
a truck simulator
b) I've run out of things to write about ATS/ETS2 in the
'what have you been playing' threads and am hoping
that if I take a break for a few months new things
will occur to me ;-)

But lemme tell ya, I've been jonesin' for a good ride down the
freeway, listening to my favorite tunes and obediently staying under
the speed limit. Good times, that!





--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 4/27/2026 5:09 PM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

On Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:41:20 -0600, PW <noneused@noneused.net> said
this thing:

guess I will just drive an 18 wheeler around again to relax.
:-)

ALways a good way to unwind... although I'm taking a temporary break
from that until the next expansion pack drops. Not so much out of a
lack of interest, but because:

a) I'm trying to work through the backlog and I can't play
other games while I'm busy speeding down the highways in
a truck simulator

You need a game that simulates playing a computer game while in the
driver's seat of an autopilot tractor-trailer rig!


--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Dimensional Traveler wrote:

On 4/27/2026 5:09 PM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

On Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:41:20 -0600, PW <noneused@noneused.net> said
this thing:

guess I will just drive an 18 wheeler around again to relax.
:-)

ALways a good way to unwind... although I'm taking a temporary break
from that until the next expansion pack drops. Not so much out of a
lack of interest, but because:

ÿÿÿÿÿ a) I'm trying to work through the backlog and I can't play
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ other games while I'm busy speeding down the highways in
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ a truck simulator

You need a game that simulates playing a computer game while in the
driver's seat of an autopilot tractor-trailer rig!

That's only safe at intersections or while waiting in long traffic lines.

Or, in the spirit of this newsgroup, what you guys would say,

How about a texting while driving simulator like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2iGtRseS7E

--
Pharaoh was so pleased with Hadad that he gave him a
sister of his own wife, Queen Tahpenes, in marriage.
The sister of Tahpenes bore him a son named Genubath,
whom Tahpenes brought up in the royal palace. There
Genubath lived with Pharaoh?s own children.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote at 15:31 this Monday (GMT):

On Sun, 26 Apr 2026 19:06:37 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> said this thing:

Think of it as all of us taking the newsgroup back from Spalls post >>flooding! :D

Go for it! I need a vacation! ;-)

but will you still get your 0000$ paychecks????
--
user <candycane> is generated from /dev/urandom

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:20:08 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> said this thing:

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote at 15:31 this Monday (GMT):

Go for it! I need a vacation! ;-)

but will you still get your 0000$ paychecks????

Every week! Although I have to pay a 2% surcharge to cash them. ;-)



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:18:41 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> said this thing:

You need a game that simulates playing a computer game while in the
driver's seat of an autopilot tractor-trailer rig!

It's not quite the same thing, but I recall reading an article about a truck-driver who set up a computer in his truck so he could play
truck-sim games during his downtime (e.g., mandatory off time, or just
when waiting in shipping yards for his trailer).

Sort of like an Uber Driver playing "Crazy Taxi" between pick-ups, I
guess ;-)



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 4/28/2026 8:30 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

On Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:20:08 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> said this thing:

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote at 15:31 this Monday (GMT):

Go for it! I need a vacation! ;-)

but will you still get your 0000$ paychecks????

Every week! Although I have to pay a 2% surcharge to cash them. ;-)

Is that all? Does that include the AI Kickback Fee?

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:17:53 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> said this thing:

On 4/28/2026 8:30 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

On Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:20:08 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07
<candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> said this thing:

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote at 15:31 this Monday (GMT):

Go for it! I need a vacation! ;-)

but will you still get your 0000$ paychecks????

Every week! Although I have to pay a 2% surcharge to cash them. ;-)

Is that all? Does that include the AI Kickback Fee?

Oddly enough, the AI-bros don't seem to want to pay me for my
breathless 'endorsement' of their technology. Strange that; I'm ever
so positive about its benefits. ;-)

#

But since you got me started on the topic: another sign that the AI
bubble is closer to popping: like many other AI vendors, Github is
starting to charge its users per token rather than just offering a
flat rate. So instead of subscribing for, say, to use their services
for a month, and then being able to use it as much or little as you
need, now each query will cost you. The more you use, the more you
spend.

[It's actually more complicated than just "pay per
request", since different requests require differing
amounts of computation. So you buy tokens and an easy
request may cost you only 100 tokens, but a difficult
one may require 2000 tokens. There will still be a
limited, free option too, but only for smaller,
simpler requests).

With the old flat rate, you could consume millions of tokens and pay
the same rate as the person who used only a hundred. Obviously, this
was not a sustainable model for Github (and other AI vendors, who are
similarly changing their payment models). But this also meant that
many of their biggest users are now also suddenly saddled with much
higher costs... to the point where AI usage (at least at the scale
they need) no longer makes financial sense. So as the AI-companies
suddenly flail about trying to make their product even the littlest
bit profitable, they are also drying up their potential pool of
customers.

#

TL;DR: it's not my negativism about AI that's keeping me from getting
those kickbacks; it's that the AI companies can't afford my rates! ;-)



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Mon, 27 Apr 2026 20:09:19 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

On Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:41:20 -0600, PW <noneused@noneused.net> said
this thing:

guess I will just drive an 18 wheeler around again to relax.
:-)

ALways a good way to unwind... although I'm taking a temporary break
from that until the next expansion pack drops. Not so much out of a
lack of interest, but because:

a) I'm trying to work through the backlog and I can't play
other games while I'm busy speeding down the highways in
a truck simulator
b) I've run out of things to write about ATS/ETS2 in the
'what have you been playing' threads and am hoping
that if I take a break for a few months new things
will occur to me ;-)

But lemme tell ya, I've been jonesin' for a good ride down the
freeway, listening to my favorite tunes and obediently staying under
the speed limit. Good times, that!

*--

:-)

It does take up a bunch of time!

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Mon, 27 Apr 2026 20:09:19 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> said this thing:

On Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:41:20 -0600, PW <noneused@noneused.net> said
this thing:

guess I will just drive an 18 wheeler around again to relax.
:-)

ALways a good way to unwind... although I'm taking a temporary break
from that until the next expansion pack drops.

For what it's worth: the release date of the next expansion to ATS
just dropped. It'll add the state of Illinois and it's coming out on
May 14th. So I guess I know what I'll be playing NEXT month ;-)

(Does saying this ahead of time excuse me from having to write out a
'what have you been playing' response on June 1st? ;-)


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:10:47 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

On Mon, 27 Apr 2026 20:09:19 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson ><spallshurgenson@gmail.com> said this thing:

On Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:41:20 -0600, PW <noneused@noneused.net> said
this thing:

guess I will just drive an 18 wheeler around again to relax.
:-)

ALways a good way to unwind... although I'm taking a temporary break
from that until the next expansion pack drops.

For what it's worth: the release date of the next expansion to ATS
just dropped. It'll add the state of Illinois and it's coming out on
May 14th. So I guess I know what I'll be playing NEXT month ;-)

(Does saying this ahead of time excuse me from having to write out a
'what have you been playing' response on June 1st? ;-)

*--

You are excited about Ilionois? What am I missing? Is this the last
state?

-pw

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 4/30/2026 7:30 PM, PW wrote:

On Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:10:47 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

On Mon, 27 Apr 2026 20:09:19 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson
<spallshurgenson@gmail.com> said this thing:

On Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:41:20 -0600, PW <noneused@noneused.net> said
this thing:

guess I will just drive an 18 wheeler around again to relax.
:-)

ALways a good way to unwind... although I'm taking a temporary break
from that until the next expansion pack drops.

For what it's worth: the release date of the next expansion to ATS
just dropped. It'll add the state of Illinois and it's coming out on
May 14th. So I guess I know what I'll be playing NEXT month ;-)

(Does saying this ahead of time excuse me from having to write out a
'what have you been playing' response on June 1st? ;-)

*--

You are excited about Ilionois? What am I missing? Is this the last
state?

Chicago. He'll get to run over mobsters! :D


--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:30:32 -0600, PW <noneused@noneused.net> said
this thing:

You are excited about Ilionois? What am I missing? Is this the last
state?

No, just the NEXT one. I've already fully explored all the other ones,
and -as mentioned earlier- the release of this expansion gives me a
reason to come back to the game.

There isn't, I don't think, anything special about the Illinois
expansion beyond that. I just like the game.



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Fri, 1 May 2026 06:42:14 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> said this thing:

On 4/30/2026 7:30 PM, PW wrote:

You are excited about Ilionois? What am I missing? Is this the last
state?

Chicago. He'll get to run over mobsters! :D

Coming soon: an expansion pack that links up American Truck Simulator
with the Mafia games! Relive the exciting 1920 adventures of
up-and-coming 'goodfella' Tommy Angelo... except this time he has a
30-ton truck! ;-)

Not quite the same, but a planned expansion for ATS is adding
driveable cars to the mix. The Illinois expansion is the first map to
take this into consideration with its design, and I look forward to
driving through the (abbreviated) Chicago map in a muscle-car ;-)



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> looked up from reading the
entrails of the porn spammer to utter "The Augury is good, the signs
say:

<snip>

You are excited about Ilionois? What am I missing? Is this the last
state?

Chicago. He'll get to run over mobsters! :D

Will there be a GTA1 style Gouranga?

If it was in Jersey it would of course be "Fuhgeddaboudit".

Xocyll
--
I don't particularly want you to FOAD, myself. You'll be more of
a cautionary example if you'll FO And Get Chronically, Incurably,
Painfully, Progressively, Expensively, Debilitatingly Ill. So
FOAGCIPPEDI. -- Mike Andrews responding to an idiot in asr

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)