iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

This is a proper Gears of War and I've been loving it. I was there when the trailer for the very first one dropped and I've finished every game. This has the juice.

040

The best thread maybe ever

130

The candle selection is amazing and the incense is thick. You know exactly what you're getting into. Good selection of 90s industrial near the back.

010

You get it. They're great places to be alone together, everyone loves a weirdo in those spaces as long as you're chill, and I love what each one is trying to sell me

110

(The best metal in Dayton is Catacombs, by the way.)

151

As funny as that story is, every Record Store Day there is coverage about how ignorant Taylor Swift fans who don't know why their record is fast are ruining the vibe. But EVERY record store clerk I've asked politely points out Taylor Swift pays for their Afghan Whigs back stock. It's all upside.

040

I drive all over creation for work and if I have time between appointments I find a diner, a record store, or a thrift store. Those three things are instant sanctuary. I know the best place for metal on vinyl in Dayton. Record stores are the best.

290

I'm sure there are bad record stores that live up to their reputation but on my days off I'm often drained and socially skittish and find most record stores to be full of people who also just want to quietly browse and clerks who honestly love music and want to help.

181

I asked if she felt silly having to explain to these people who may have never bought a record how to play a record. It turns out she worked in a record store and liked women and was amused at the idea she might not want to explain to blondes how turntables work. Record stores are great.

1141

I kept every handmade poster from every show I did in the 90s and I'm so glad I did. I even have some of the smashed together and glue sticked originals

110

I was once in a record store and asked the clerk if they get annoyed by Taylor Swift fans on Record Store Day and she said in the driest possible valley girl accent "yeah, we super hate it when big groups of people come in to spend a lot of money on music they like."

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Ben Kuchera @benkuchera.bsky.social · 14h

In high school back in the day music was so tribal, but hanging out in record stores these days and seeing hauls like this makes me so happy how many people are omnivorous with music. People into vinyl (often) aren't retro or into pop or prog they just like good music and it's the best

020

I did not expect to enjoy this rewatch so much but the series is really good!

010

Ben Kuchera @benkuchera.bsky.social · 14h

I have been working through the Hunger Games movies with my daughter and I've seen them all before but what's up with this cast? Just stacked with great actors. Jennifer Lawrence, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Jena Malone, Natalie Dormer, and I'm leaving so many out.

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Ben Kuchera @benkuchera.bsky.social · 21h

My kid just suggested we start Frieren and now we're two episodes in and I don't know what I expected but this is amazing so far.

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Reposted by Ben Kuchera

Russ Fischer @russfischer.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

... IT'S JUST THAT, IF THE RAGE VIRUS HIT IN 2002, THE ONLY VERSION OF KID A ON VINYL WAS THE 10". BUT IN THE BONE TEMPLE IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT A 10" PLAYING SO WHERE DID THE 12" KID A COME FROM IF THERE'S BEEN NO SOCIETY AND THEREFORE NO RECORDS BEING PRESSED FOR 28 YEARS

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Ben Kuchera @benkuchera.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

The other thing I'm learning about Galactic Racer is it leans into the roguelite (don't you dare correct me if it's a roguelike, bullets are shells and magazines are clips, you can't hurt me) genre and you will lose a LOT and that's fine. The side content also rules and will help you power up.

060

Ben Kuchera @benkuchera.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Underrated but cool Galactic Racer detail: the controls do neat things to simulate being strapped into a barely functional missile, but also ow my hands after an hour of play because it's tense as hell (complimentary)

080

Ben Kuchera @benkuchera.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

I used to be precious about ad blockers but sites aren't making money anyway and reading them in the wild is impossible.

000

I am begging websites to give like two pixels to the story and not just ads. Scrolling around Kotaku is satirical. This isn't the fault of the writers or editors, but damn this is user hostile as hell. It's unrelenting.

3303

Just got a copy of the police report, and I'm always nervous about paperwork or being stuck in the system but it states I was lucid, not distracted, driving legally, and there was fuck all I could have done. Comforting, but still scary to go through

0120

It's wild when the doctors say abusing ADHD meds is common because I haven't had a drink in four years but I used to drink daily and believe me, I never had to stop and make sure I drank. With ADHD meds I forget all the time. I've never had to be reminded of an addiction. They let YOU know.

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That should say they told me they weren't hopeful, it sounds like I was abducted or something! Didn't mean to alarm anyone

090

Here are the updates: the cops still haven't found the guy that hit me and took me and they don't sound hopeful. The good news? Ibuprofen and a hot bath and stretches are helping me feel a lot better today. Yesterday was rough but they warned me the day after would be the worst day.

3170

I'm not trying to get high I'm trying to get my oil changed and do my taxes, usually they want me to fit into polite society!

020

I wish it was over diagnosed, ever time I try to get meds they act like I'm trying to fool them into giving me heroin.

2232

When I was a kid and then a teenager and then a student I published zines and chapbooks and released an album and did shows with people and I kept expecting someone to stop me but it turns out the entire secret is to do it and release it? When do we forget about that. There aren't any rules.

0142

If I say I'm going to put something in a special place so I don't lose it? That thing is gone. Done. Forever. I put things where I would lose them. Then they're always within reach.

1130

Go read old Hollywood interviews with stars and directors from 60s and 70s. People would just say what they thought before every word was free and it was buck wild. Wild takes all over the place, because they were easy to miss Incredible to think about print having the advantage of being temporary.

051

I was also told by everyone there that the day after would be my worst day BY FAR and yep, I hope that's the case because today suucckked and I would love a little relief after a good night's sleep

120

I cannot, and I'm mostly ok, but this is a good reminder to ibuprofen it up and take a blazing hot bath to relax the muscles tonight. My back and the side my head are sore as hell. The paramedics said if it still feels bad after ibuprofen by Sunday, get thee to the doctor.

140

But as always, we meditate on the live lobsters kept on the Titanic, waiting to be eaten. No matter how hopeless it feels, and how unlikely a happy ending may seem, sometimes the entire answer is "just give it another day, who knows?"

172

Right now I feel a little hopeless and put upon but also I'm exhausted, been up since 5:30 in the morning getting my other car running and then working a 12 hour day, and I was in a bad car accident yesterday. It would be weird if things DIDN'T feel hopeless! But hard work is how we win.

2100

I'm stuck waiting for the police report, to hear back from work, to get started on next steps, and usually I would be ruminating about everything but I'm drowning my sorrows in some games and if you work on gaming you rule and thank you for giving us these beautiful ways to pass time.

2220

Me too, that was scary as hell

000

Thanks, they had some witnesses and a bunch of calls so I'm hoping we have some closure. Mostly I'm just shaken up

030

I am a very safe driver and in all my years of driving I've dinged one bumper and gotten two speeding tickets. This time I didn't even have time to clock that something was going wrong, my first indication that an accident was about to happen was the collision itself. I was totally unprepared.

1120

I went out to mail a package and I was having a relaxing day and just as I was pulling into the Kroger and thinking about- SLAM a guy who had to have been drunk hit me from the side and took off. Car is likely totaled. My head is ringing. I'm home and fine, but that sucked

6290

I'm drowning in Galactic Racer and Resonant and E-Day I need some of these games to not be amazing

120

I'm lounging near the cat enjoying the heater playing all the new video games on my day off so I'm in the same boat. It's a great time to be an inside kid.

080

In a sunbeam. Near a space heater. On clean linens. Napping near a human because it's my day off. This cat is in the ZONE right now.

1281

Gears of War E-Day is a great ad for what Xbox can do well. Great game in a great series. Talented team behind it. Adds value to Game Pass, and since it's a Game Pass game I was able to find three other friends ready to play. Focus on THAT! The ecosystem! Good games and community! The fundamentals!

030

Games are amazing right now and there's not a ton of overlap which is great for us but terrible on the budget. Resonant, Ace Combat, Galactic Racer, E-Day, Zero Company, Requiem, and I'm sure I'm leaving a ton out, all scratch different itches. Whatever you're into, it feels like there's a good one.

040

It's called a spoon, maybe you've stirred of it

030

You'll recognize all the parts but they're put together so well. And just on a moment to moment basis it's pure adrenaline.

010

I went into Galactic Racer with super high expectations after all the buzz but this is an absolute rush. I like everything it's doing. This rules.

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