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Latest Comments by Cyril
Chiaki, an open source PlayStation 4 Remote Play client is out and it works on Linux
29 September 2019 at 10:07 pm UTC

Quoting: jorge_aparicio14Would it be possible to connect the PS4 directly to the PC with an Ethernet cable and use this to stream directly from the console?

I don't think so, your PS4 needs to have an IP and if you do this it won't, except if your PC have a DHCP server too for example.
It needs that or a router between your PS4 and your PC, IMO, but maybe I'm wrong, and I can't test it out because I don't have a PS4.

The Linux and gaming Sunday round-up paper
29 September 2019 at 9:54 pm UTC Likes: 1

Quoting: BotonoskiMy general rule is to not touch any used PC game that obviously requires Steam, in this particular case it wasn't as obvious as it usually is for me as all Steam reliant DVD games I bought prior had a Steam logo somewhere on the case, this one did not. I also tend to skim over system requirements on older PC games for perhaps obvious reasons, though I guess I oughta keep an eye on that now. I bought other 2K published games such as Bioshock and Borderlands 1 recently and those relied on SecuROM rather than Steam for DRM, so I wrongly assumed Borderlands 2 would be the same.


I think the store is ultimately at fault here, they did not inform me of the no return policy on PC games and refused to take the game back for store credit. The cashier I was talking to when trying to return the game was also the manager so... well, I'll have to take my complaints elsewhere. Though I'm not certain how much of a fuss I'm willing to stir over $8.

On the plus side on the same visit I also bought a copy of Witcher 2, and while the DRM servers for that were down I was able to redeem the CD key over at GOG. I was thinking of throwing out the now useless DVD to prevent it from re-entering the second hand market and then maybe filling it the case with a burnt copy of the GOG release.

You played the Russian roulette but with a full loaded gun.
Even if you don't see a Steam logo, there is none Borderlands 2 boxed edition without Steam, it doesn't exist.
You can check for example on pcgamingwiki.com for that stuff.
There are exceptions, but "98%" of PC games need Steam since many years, unfortunately.

And yes I have the Bioshock 1/2 DVD and The Witcher 2 DVD too, and some other games but that's not a lot, really.
But of course I'm not defending the store, it's either fraud or profound ignorance.

The Linux and gaming Sunday round-up paper
29 September 2019 at 2:19 pm UTC

Quoting: BotonoskiSome irrelevant local news: I recently purchased a used DVD copy of Borderlands 2 for $8, the only place it mentioned needing Steam was in tiny font in the system requirements, as such it was a dud since the cd key had already been used, and the cherry on top: the place I bought it from has a no return policy on PC games. Now I sit here contemplating whether or not pirating the game is morally justified at this point or if this is all really my fault for expecting anything different.

Sorry but for me it's obvious that this game was using Steam, all boxed versions need it. I hope you know perfectly well that Steam have the monopoly now on all boxed PC games. There was no way this used copy have worked. Of course the code was already going to be used.

Quoting: Admiral AckbarIt's trap!

A French court has ruled that Valve should allow people to re-sell their digital games
20 September 2019 at 12:19 am UTC Likes: 1

About this topic, I think we can go back at the time were customers started to accept to buy DVD with Steam codes only, where now it became a habit. And now it's "impossible" to buy DVD games on PC without the need of a Steam account (or an internet connection, Games For Windows Live etc.) to even install it. I never accepted that.
People tend to accept more than they refuse...

Also, I understand the gaming situation is not the same as 15/20 years ago, but I don't think it's so different than selling your old DVD/CD/Floppy disk.
This industry evolved badly and now we faces it, it's like an overdose.

The non-linear hack-n-slash platformer Blasphemous is still coming to Linux but it's delayed
10 September 2019 at 5:23 pm UTC

I have the game in my GOG library waiting for the Linux build (backer key). :)

Józef Kucia, Wine developer and founder of Vkd3d has passed away
10 September 2019 at 3:48 pm UTC Likes: 1

28 years old, damn. R.I.P

FOSS voice chat application Mumble has finally put out the massive 1.3 overhaul
10 September 2019 at 12:11 am UTC Likes: 1

Quoting: ObsidianBlkI don't know because until this particular thread, I never even heard of those applications before, and I consider myself generally well versed in most FOSS software. Perhaps I just missed them... but if I missed them, I can virtually promise you, most everyones friends and family have never even heard of them!

Damn, I'm really surprised. Maybe I know some alternatives because I wanted to found some. And I like to search some new stuff around... yeah.

Quoting: ObsidianBlkDepends on your definition of lazy, though. How hard is it to change the oil in your car? Yet so many people would rather go to a mechanic and have them do it.

Maybe for the same reason? They trust them, they're afraid to do it themselves, and maybe they don't want to learn that's all. I don't think laziness is the real issue in this case.

Quoting: ObsidianBlkBecause the younger generation was moving to it. The generation coming out of college and realizing MySpace was way too juvenile found this new service that, generally, treated everyone like adults. No glitter bombed pages, just clean, clear pages for information and communication... for friends and (shortly after initial release) family. You could find multiple groups with similar interests without having to sign in to multiple forums (assuming the users even KNEW what forums were).

I have some doubts here. At least from my point of view (in France). I think most of people I knew/know weren't on Myspace or similar, they were just using Skype/MSN. Even at that time I didn't trusting Facebook at all, It seemed too good to be true. While all people were euphoric about it...

Quoting: ObsidianBlkAgain... friends and family. You can call that an excuse all you want, but you can't beat that! Only the young are willing to change, and they try all the things. They don't have years upon years of history with their friends yet, and they don't really care yet about the detailed comings and goings of their adult family. As such, they are the ones most likely to leave Facebook and cause a change... BUT... they're young.

I disagree with that statement. IMO, this have nothing to do with their age, thinking about my experience on it. Some youngs are really Facebook addicts, while I know some older people that understand the issues about it and try to learn to avoid it etc.

Quoting: ObsidianBlkThey're going to be attracted to the loudest new communication/social system.

If it's enough to bombard them with advertising... then they're sheeps, but this can change.

Quoting: ObsidianBlkAs great as many of these alternatives are, they have virtually no presence. Most people that find them are the jaded ones that are already sick of the mainstream (for whatever reason). Ultimately, even the young will flock to the service all of their friends are using, and, will probably stay their for the majority of their lives or until their children convince them to move.

I agree with you there.

Quoting: ObsidianBlkThey aren't harsh comments... and when I'm being particularly flippant about the world, I say much the same, or worse about people (I work in IT... gah! The stupid!)

Ah don't tell me about it... I know. :D

Quoting: ObsidianBlkNone-the-less, IMHO, to simply call people stupid for using the big named services is, ultimately, reductionist. History and society is far more complicated than "people are just too lazy".

Reductionist, maybe, but sadly I think it does a lot. And living in this system makes them lazy more easily IMO.

Sin Slayers, the dark fantasy roguelike RPG has released with Linux support
9 September 2019 at 10:42 pm UTC

Quoting: KlaasIt's great that there is a demo, but I don't like the way GOG has implemented demos in general. I'd prefer to be able to download them without having them in my account forever.

Ah... I agree, I would love to be able to just remove them in one click! For now they're just hidden.

FOSS voice chat application Mumble has finally put out the massive 1.3 overhaul
9 September 2019 at 5:47 pm UTC Likes: 1

Quoting: ObsidianBlkIt has nothing to do with apathy, it has to do with community. If you can't convince your family and/or friends to use these alternate services (and calling them stupid is FAR from effective in doing so), what's the point? Who wants to be in an empty forum or a dead chatroom? People aren't (totally) stupid, but most have neither the skill set, nor time to manage hosting all of their own services, and, for those of us that might, !great!, but your friends are still going to congregate where all of their other friends are, whether that be Discord, Facebook, Twitter, etc, and you're left being a lonely, smug, know-it-all screaming into the wind.

The question is not only centralized Vs self hosted, but rather trusty (being free software or at least open source ect).
At a time where there wasn't Discord or Facebook (or before it becomes a monster, like many services now), people were using softwares like MSN Messenger or Skype, and some still using it! We know we can't trust them and a lot of people continue to use them.
Now we know a lot of alternatives that don't require any skill at all. Tell me what skills you need to start using communication softwares like Tox or Riot.im for example.
Tell me how is it difficult to create an account on Mastodon instead of Facebook/Twitter...

(You know not you particularly)

A lot of people are just lazy, they don't need to be especially a geek guy.
When some say "all my friends and my family are on Facebook", in 2019 sure I believe you, but some ~10 years ago, "nobody" was on it, so why did they register at that time? Facebook has nothing to offer for people, but Facebook profits a lot what people share with it. People who use Facebook are not the clients, they're the product.
And guess what? Some people are great to find excuses to stay on these services, even when a lot know it's shit, they stay on it.

The worst it's when some tell you "it's difficult to create an account, using another service, find about alternatives, I need help etc."... But still you've been capable to create a Facebook account without any help, do you?

I'm sad for these people...
People who know me IRL know how much I hate Facebook (and the others).

I mean it's not having a perfect solution in 2 seconds, but willing to tend to the best not the worst.
Ah... sorry for the harsh comment. :S:

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