Balladeer

I have a newborn. This'll be easy.

The sight of this has had me humming the rolling ball tune like a deranged loon all evening. *ba ba ba ba ba ba, ba ba ba* while my partner begs me to stop

How to compose classical music as an amateur 101:

a) Take 2-3 motifs
b) Play with and vary those motifs until it sounds good to the repetition-loving ear
c) You are now stuck in a sea of unending variations and can't find a way out
d) aaaaaaa

@tickerscricket.bsky.social One for the log.

Nine Sols cover

REPORT: Local Nine Sols Fan Thinks It’s Cute When Silksong Players Complain About Difficultly

Dad’s books are full of empathy, common sense, and a healthy suspicion of the powerful. But at its heart his work is also about how systems keep people poor while pretending it’s their own fault. So I hope Kemi’s taking notes as well as reading the jokes.

A model of the first level from Mario 64.

A model of a snowy level from Mario 64.

The Japanese Mario 64 official strategy guide is an incredible thing. "Can we make little hand-made dioramas of all the levels?" "Sure, why the hell not."

A triangular range chart labeled "Indie Game Vibe Check", where the three axes are "Enpoisoned", "Pumpy's Big Clumpy", and "Misty Cube". Each intersection features a game - Lunacid is the most Enpoisoned, Untitled Goose Game is the most Pumpy's Big Clumpy, and Manifold Garden is the most Misty Cube. Undertale is directly in the center, surrounded by Tunic (Pumpy), Void Stranger (Misty), and Star of Providence (Poison)

I strongly believe in the breadth and influence of independent art, to grant us oblique angles on the world and ourselves.
But also every indie game is somewhere on this spectrum:

...as the actress said to the bishop.

What if Games Court *is* the great work?

Don't threaten me with a good time!

Hey, I've barely played any SF or Resi. Nice to have one Capcom vote playing to my particular niche. *pours one out for the Monster Hunter fans*

Conversely every chance Ghost Trick tips my vote. Top ten game ever for me.

Okay Bavuma

Quite possibly. I guess that's what happens with Nintendo being handheld-focussed and therefore slightly out of step.

That's true of (almost) every generational leap isn't it? Compare with N64 to GameCube or SD to HD. Ever-diminishing returns.

Obviously we don't actually have it every week. That would be ridiculous.

We alternate it with curry.

It's the secret sauce. Maybe also the juice. Possibly the gravy.

Here's hoping.

Love* it when a new Gail's opens just opposite a local non-chain bakery. 😐

And relative to all that you get paid Peanuts for it.

Plot twist: it's a racing game.

something something average CEO

Might do the same if I were India to be honest.

If I were England I would just take ten wickets with the new ball. #ENGvsIND

Oh dee- *removed from Bluesky*

Managed to avoid quoting the context like an idiot. 🤦🏻‍♂️ Last 5 Games of the Year. (Of which Nine Sols was played mid-2025.)

2020: Sakuna Of Rice and Ruin
2021: NEO The World Ends With You
2022: Xenoblade 3
2023: Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
2024: Nine Sols

Two big Nintendo games, another JRPG, and a couple of weirder offerings. Feels about right.

Can't wait for Sam Cook to bowl the first ball of the series.