Marathon free week and despite it being something I would be interested in trying it would involve me booting into Windows for like the first time in like months? Like the linux journey has not been painless but does not fill me with absolute dread the way that modern Windows does. Weird feeling
If you need more reasons to stop using Chrome here you go. Wtf is wrong with them.
https://www.thatprivacyguy.com/blog/chrome-silent-nano-install/
Google Chrome silently installs a 4 GB AI model on your device without consent. At a billion-device scale the climate costs are insane. — That Privacy Guy!
Google Chrome is downloading a 4 GB Gemini Nano model onto users' machines without consent, with no opt-in, no opt-out short of enterprise tooling, and an automatic re-download every time the user deletes it. The pattern is identical to the Anthropic Claude Desktop case I wrote about last month, but the scale is between two and three orders of magnitude larger. This article does the legal analysis and, for the first time, the environmental analysis. The numbers are not small.
Just a great laugh, a match 3 game with a striking art style that only gets more and more extra as you progress. Curious to know what they do mechanically as you progress but also tell me more about these weirdos in this Court
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4210280/Titanium_Court_Demo/
Titanium Court Demo on Steam
A surreal strategy game for clowns and criminals.
Some demos that I've played before this next fest but worth shouting out. Just a great cartography game, can't wait to get more real tools to accurately put pins on paper. 0.6 steps being only 2 stars is a bit harsh tho
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3672480/Map_Map__A_Game_About_Maps_Demo/
Map Map - A Game About Maps Demo on Steam
In this game YOU make the maps! Become the cartographer of a small crew of adventurers and use proper navigation tools like a real explorer. Map the environment to turn unknown islands into a hand-drawn journey toward a legendary treasure.
And speaking of visual touches. This one is a little bit gross at times (positive). The meta narrative behind the game seems absolutely wild, and the FMV is appropriately ridiculous
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/Forbidden_Solitaire/
Forbidden Solitaire on Steam
Forbidden Solitaire is a card-slashing horror game about unearthing the contents of a cryptic 1995 CD-ROM that should have never existed. From the creators of Ancient Enemy and Home Safety Hotline.
Narrative game about loss, adulthood and lonliness. Really heartfelt. Mechanically it's a pretty simple game but just some really good writing some fun visual touches add a whole bunch to this
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2824290/Fishbowl_Demo/
Fishbowl Demo on Steam
Experience the first day in Alo’s month-long story in this demo. Talk to loved ones over video calls, work from home as a video editor, sort through puzzles to rediscover childhood memories and get to know yourself better. Fishbowl is a slice of life visual novel about grief and self discovery.
A few others. Over the top action about beating up things in stylish ways. Obvious DMC comparisons, but the trappings of keep things entertaining for your live streaming audience is a fun bit
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4159360/MIGHTREYA_Demo/
MIGHTREYA Demo on Steam
Join schoolgirl superhero Reya and her manager Nio as they embark on their journey as Hero Content Creators, fighting monstrous beings that emerge daily from a dimension beyond. Anime-inspired, heart-pounding hero action is waiting for you!
A not well liked demo on Steam, has some real rough performance. But! There's a good strategy game managing combined arms attacking Monte Cassino as you push through the city up to the ruins. Really hope they pull this one through
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4370310/Sudden_Strike_5__Demo/
Steam：Sudden Strike 5 - Demo
第二次世界大戦を舞台とするミリタリーRTS『サドン ストライク 5』のデモ版として、「モンテ・カッシーノ攻撃」（連合軍）と「スターリングラード防衛」（ソ連軍）の2ミッションを収録。連合軍・枢軸国・ソ連の3陣営のうち2陣営を指揮し、地形と補給を重視したリアル志向の戦術と本作の中核となるゲームプレイを体験できる。
Roguelike Total War battles. Really cool combination. They've sped up and simplified that style of combat almost to it's breaking point. Interesting to try and build your army in that roguelike context
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3337380/Tabletop_Tavern/
Steam：Tabletop Tavern
『Tabletop Tavern』は、ゼロから軍勢を築き上げ、部隊を率いて過酷な戦役へ挑むローグライクRTS。多彩なユニットを徴募し、強力なシナジーを生み出し、プレイごとに運命を左右する戦術的判断を下していこう。
More direct followup that you would expect from the Othercide devs. Timeline mechanic is great, plenty of ways to manipulate turn order as well as push pull on how much you want to do on a turn as using over half your ap delays your next go
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3275050/Ex_Sanguis/
Steam：Ex Sanguis
戦術的でターン制の血にまみれた戦いで、世界を再び生へ導け！精鋭戦士 STILLAE を率い、STASIS の軍勢から死にゆく世界を救え。敵を斬り、時間軸の彼方へ蹴り飛ばし、優雅さと血が交わる連鎖反応を引き起こせ。
