I’ve started Black Mesa but haven’t finished it yet. What I’ve played has been fucking impressive.

Valve is sort of the best at what I’m asking about—all of their games have the greatest touches that make the settings feel like existing locations you’ve walked into. It’s what makes me wish they published more.

The insane detail that goes into aging Aperture throughout the second half of Portal 2, the way it starts in the 40s or 50s at the very bottom and has a distinct “era” for each level as you get closer to the surface, including Cave’s progressing illness . . . it’s such good storytelling, and it’s literally just window dressing for the already-great main plot.

Fool—the scroll wheel is a scalpel; the scrollbar is a broadsword. Use the right tool for the job.

My impression is that Sega’s always been pretty chill & receptive to interest in respectful revivals of classic IP.

It’s been nice to watch a large company respond to that interest with more accessibility, and not less (Nintendo).

I know he probably just travels everywhere with like three suits ready to go, but I dig that it looks like he’s just caught several fish here.

be still my heart

Tangentially it took me absolute years to start reading smh.com.au as “Sydney Morning Herald.com.au” and not “shaking my head.com.au.”

Mainly because the Herald’s news always seems to radiate deep Florida-man energy.

Their announcement doesn’t strike me as all that alarming. I could be mistaken.

It sounds like their mods have watched an unexpected expressway arrive at their door this week, Douglas Adams-style, and so they’re closing the door momentarily to evaluate what the new traffic will look like. Honestly feels reasonable, unless I’m misunderstanding it.

The message seems to be that this isn’t meant to be a permanent change.