The good news is even if it bombs the whole franchise will see renewed interest. Whether as a last ditch effort to save the series or to capitalize on the momentum this release will be our best chance to see Dragon Age: Origins & Awakening remaster or remake.

I can agree with not engaging with hate and reporting it as encountered.

I don’t think anything about your attitude or demeanor when responding to others. I was referring more towards you saying to simply not engage with the trolls at all so that newbies would get the impression that we’re better than that as the difference between us.

You have found a method that works and you are putting into practice what you think is best. Automatically cements my respect for you because those are things I can get behind.

This isn’t a with all due respect statement, just sincerity, that method doesn’t work for me. I cannot walk away from every chance I come across to challenge my positions because I believe that means losing on opportunities to strengthen my beliefs. This means that sometimes I’m gonna need to get down in the mud, get my hands dirty and make an ass of myself.

Some mud wrasslin’ and chasing an oil covered squealer through a field is just old fashioned wholesome fun. Don’t knock it til you try it neighbor

Joining in on the fray with edgelords is the closest I want to be to bloodsports. Dark impulses are hard to stamp out of the soul.

Lot of words just to say that once the advertisers move in on a centralized platform its value is shot. A huge part of the reason I abandoned the last platform I was using and sought a federated alternative.

People get upset if you part your hair wrong. Forgetting a name hasn’t gotten me killed yet but stranger things have happened.

I can remember someone’s name after one meeting but when I can’t it makes me feel awkward. I feel less awkward when 9 times out of 10 they forgot meeting me the first time.

If it works for you I won’t dissuade. But hiding away from shit don’t do nothing about the smell.

I have maybe 20% total awareness of what’s going on at any one time.

Nah I’ll blame everyone else, I wasn’t counting on them anyway.

If the part that’s going to be pissed off is less than what could be won then is the risk worth taking? Some campaign manager must have thought so or this appeal against his own base is a terrible gamble.

I find his base to be largely split on this issue. There’s the bleeding hearts who cry for amnesty (Sky Daddy bless their souls) and the at best ambivalent and at worst lipstick racist others.

Yeah my claim is that Valve used the data from their monthly survey and anything that was not willingly provided from users was bought from Google to R&D the Steam Deck. If that isn’t a probable or plausible scenario to you then you simply don’t understand why marketing data is useful.

I never said anything about selling out to Google.

Not every drop of orange juice is worth the squeeze.

You’re right. But it’s not a question of buying consoles, it’s a matter of creating a free account. The majority of people have been conditioned to do so all their lives they won’t question another. If you really want to make a difference choose better battles, how about going after the system that allowed this problem to exist in the first place instead of getting caught up trying to put out the symptoms.

I’m not a defeatist, I’m just wondering if this battle is worth making a stand at when in order to change the gaming industry you first have to change the nature of industry itself. At what point do you stop trying to save the Titanic and start drawing plans for the Titanic II?

there’s the monthly hardware and software survey

It’s optional.

whatever users didn’t willingly provide was probably bought from Google.

Ah, yes, probably.

I mean I wish I could find a source

No surprise there.

We’re all voicing opinions. I chose mine and don’t begrudge yours.

More like false accusations.

Your words in bold to highlight how hard it is for you to believe that Valve bought data from Google to create the Steam Deck.

I understand what you’re saying but there will never not be mtx in games. Even if these guys are getting raked over the coals the only lesson being taken away is to nickle and dime you slower.

More like false accusations.

This is gold. Imma remember this one fondly.

I’m not accusing Valve of anything, other than presenting the likely scenario of how using monthly hardware and software survey in conjunction with data bought from Google went towards the development of the Steam Deck. If you cannot accept that as a plausibility that’s your problem not mine. The proof you keep getting your gaiters in a twist over could only come from corporate espionage or Valve themselves releasing to the public.

Picking my statement apart did you no favors in trying to prove your point. Honestly don’t know what your point is other than you’re mad I’m not on my knees gargling daddy Gabe’s balls as hard.

Well there’s the monthly hardware and software survey and whatever users didn’t willingly provide was probably bought from Google. I mean I wish I could find a source but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out how companies who want to sell you things would go about selling you things. I could if you ask nicely, give you a basic summary of how marketing data is used by entities seeking profit to R&D products and services.

We’re all voicing opinions. I chose mine and don’t begrudge yours.