Let Us Sail Toward the Stars

'All things considered...'A bitter and sleepy kid attending MICA and trying to figure out how to adult. Personal blog.

[felikcs]

hey guys as we’re moving into this brave new world of The Arcana Pricing Discourse, let’s try to consider how much/how little control, input, or say that the creative team actually has over the pricing of their game. they’re who we, the fans, interact with the most, so that makes it feel like they’re the ones to talk to in this situation, but they really aren’t.

i think the pricing is bad too, and have a lot of questions about the situation at hand (like after the routes are finished are we gonna be able to unlock them as one purchase, and will that purchase be the ~$150 that it costs to unlock book by book?? how would that make sense???), but as the situation develops, the best place to point those concerns are at their feedback email at [email protected]

[skittykittys]

relevant thread from the devs on twitter! like they said please remember that it’s someone higher up at nix hydra the company that controls things like pricing, not the people we’re used to interacting with here and not customer support reps. hopefully nix hydra has gotten the message and will be implementing changes, but updates take a while to roll out and there’s probably a lot of discussion they need to have about how best to address these concerns. yes, they haven’t let us know that things will change, but they clearly haven’t let the devs know either.

[nebty]

So The Arcana’s pricing scheme is exploitative and terrible and I’m astonished nobody is talking about it.

The standard response from the developers is that all of the paid content is ‘optional’, but you know what I want out of my romance game? Romance. 90% of which is paid content.

Also, this assumes I don’t want to pay for the game. Except I do! I backed it on kickstarter! I want to give these people my money. But I also don’t want to be bled dry.

This isn’t even getting into how the kickstarter promised backers the game itself as a reward, then reneged on their promise, offering a paltry $10 refund to make up for it (which will buy you a grant total of 1 chapter for 1 character’s route). 

This kind of business practice hurts other kickstarter projects down the road, because it erodes people’s trust in the platform. A lot of indie otome game devs rely on kickstarter. But my experience with The Arcana has sure made me think twice about supporting any other projects.

The worst thing is I like the Arcana. The art is gorgeous, the characters are fun. I supported it on Kickstarter. I told my friends to support it on Kickstarter. But I can no longer turn a blind eye to how Nyx Hydra seems to be willfully exploiting their fans.

UPDATE: So this is what they posted in response to a fan asking them about this on twitter

I’m sorry, but this kind of snark in response to a legitimate question is horribly disrespectful towards your fans.

[somniopiate]

I’m sorry, but you’re insidious framing doesn’t give you an excuse to call out another’s person snark when you and your supporters have already repeatedly harassed a single person despite their intentions in pointing you towards the right direction (hey, how about you send an email??? ¿¿).

You want to know what’s horribly disrespectful?  Egging on and then omitting all of the terrible replies your ‘supporters’ have hurled at the game devs and intentionally framing the person who is handling all of this negative feedback when they honestly can’t handle the attacks anymore.

Yes.  You guys are being manipulative and exploitive (excuse me for using your own buzzword on yourself).  You deliberately alter the image of a person through the use of selective evidence and then deride the person because you supposedly have the moral high ground in this ‘argument’ (you don’t).

You guys are honestly being super ungrateful about all of this.  It’s rare to be able to receive a game where there are major genderfluid and POC characters.  The game devs and artists work very hard to bring you all this content, be it free or paid.  The main story of the game is free to play and paid content is strictly extra.  Honestly, you guys are all really privileged to be able to receive such good writing and art without an active paywall blocking you.  You might complain that the extra content is ‘too much’, but you are also deliberately ignoring the fact that many other games in the same genre have all features completely blocked with a paywall.

And the ‘paltry 10$ refund’ is a highly misleading statement also.  Backers were given a choice to either wait for a free full release after the game was complete or choose to be refunded 10$ due to the rules placed by the apple app store where paid content could not be given out for free.  In this situation, it isn’t that the refund is too little, but that you don’t seem to have the patience to wait for the completion of the full game.

All in all, this entire post is just misleading.  You’re simply cherrypicking facts and circumstance and running it with your own unscrupulous motives.  When faced with all the facts, this entire ‘argument’ falls flat and appears as only a shallow attempt to garner 15 minutes of self righteous infamy.

[allmymetaphors]

My whole problem with the “I do makeup for ME! I’m EMPOWERED when I put on makeup!” discourse is that it completely erases the fact that women aren’t actually given the ability to MAKE that choice. It’s impossible to say that you’re doing it for self empowerment, or that “if it wasn’t so much fun I wouldn’t do it” because that’s just not true. Women who enjoy doing their makeup and women who don’t enjoy doing it both have equal pressure to wear makeup. Whether you enjoy the process or not, you will be taken less seriously as a woman, valued less, respected less, considered ‘unprofessional’ at work, etc. if you choose not to wear makeup. Men aren’t faced with the decision to get an extra hour of sleep or to be taken seriously. By writing it off as a cool empowering fun thing women do as an exciting entertaining hobby we’re just…. erasing the entire institution of makeup and of beauty standards that seriously harm women. If you enjoy doing makeup that’s great, that’s fine, and you should keep it up! But wearing makeup in the first place wasn’t ever your choice. We don’t GET a choice. I hate people saying “oh you don’t have to wear it! If you don’t like makeup don’t put it on!” As if I’m expected to just be cool with the way the world will treat me if I don’t conform to modern beauty standards! If you’re worrying about your eyebrows or lip plumpness or skin tone evenness that’s not you making a free willed cool decision to feel insecure and concerned about facial features that men never have to think twice about. That’s you thinking in a way you’ve been trained to think! And people wanna pretend that putting on makeup is Empowering… what the hell is empowering about making a choice that’s been forced on us since we were old enough to be seen as sexual objects lmfao… that’s bullshit that doesn’t empower me and having to give up valuable time and money and energy that men are never asked to give up makes me feel like shit!! It makes me miserable! It makes me dread every single morning because I know I’m gonna be putting forward all this bullshit labor just to exist and be taken seriously in my stupid body

[bonafidesprout]

A+ post. I would like to add, as well, that this sudden emergence of make up being cool and empowering for women comes directly from make up companies and Sephora, in particular. When I worked at Sephora they told us, in a hundred different and equally veiled ways, that the trick to getting people to buy something is to make them want it. When you need something you become restricted by the thing, but when you want something you’re exercising your free will. We were told we were “celebrating beauty” and making people comfortable in their own skin but in reality we were slinging $30 concealers at 15 year old girls who don’t understand that the skin around their eyes is thinner and therefore always darker. We were pushing eyeliner and mascara in “fun” colors to get young girls into make up under the guise of self expression. And the women who worked with me would go on and on about how their make up ritual was for them and how it was their “war paint” but then they would confess they felt uncomfortable leaving the house without a full face on. Most annoying to me was the short lived emergence of the naturally flawless skin trend. When I started at Sephora the trend was matte everything, full coverage foundation and strong controuring. It was a lot of make up to wear everyday and when summer came there was the biggest swing I’ve ever seen in trends where girls wanted BB creams and sheer foundations, no contouring, just the bare bones. From that we noticed a lot of people coming in for skincare. There were girls walking through the store with huge water bottles asking for sunscreen and face washes and Sephora was having NONE of that. It felt like a step in the right direction, taking care of your skin, protecting it from the sun, drinking water, and most importantly, it felt like the trends we’re moving away from “cover your flaws” to more of a self-care aspect (I’m very aware that the same motivations were behind the skincare trend but it wasn’t as sinister feeling). Sephora soon came out with the Celebrating Beauty focus where we were supposed to push the empowering effects of make up to people who weren’t in the store for make up. “Oh I see you’re buying a face wash for dry skin; let me show you this foundation that hydrates and gives a natural glow.” The goal was to get people buy make up in large quantities, not skin care. Sephora actively quashed teen girls’ attempts to take a step in the right direction by telling them make up is empowering. They are financially invested in the belief that make up is empowering.

[itsfine2009]

damn this addition that was added to my post from my main blog… great commentary from someone who has actually worked in the industry and seen the way it works to harm women first hand

[folievtrois]

ot3: clannigram – clarice, hannibal & will

“When is a monster not a monster? – Oh, when you love it.”

[fyeahclaricestarling]

important things to remember about clarice starling:

actually wears bunny slippers

mimics hannibal’s head tilt when she’s putting chilton in his place

best inner dialogue:

fuckola

well fuck off, chilton

dr. fuckface

had a thing with bug nerd pilcher

ardelia mapp

flashed krendler

kept hannibal’s origami chicken

is compared to jesus christ

[theworthiestplace]

[Did you buy these two characters going off together into the sunset?] Yes, I did. Other people found that preposterous. I suppose there’s a moral issue there. I think it would have been a very interesting thing though. I think it would have been very interesting had she gone off, because I suspected that there was that romance, attachment there, that obsession with her. I guessed that a long time ago, at the last phone call to Clarice, at the end of SotL, she said, “Dr. Lecter, Dr. Lecter…”

Anthony Hopkins (via theworthiestplace)

[somniopiate]

The season 4 speculation that I’ve been reading for Hannibal is really interesting, especially the ones that refers to Will and Hannibal becoming similar/becoming one in the idealization of god.

The godhead of Christianity is a Trinity.  I wonder if that means Bryan Fuller will keep the symbology of the novels where Clarice is presented as Christ; the sacrifice given for 30 silver coins (or 5 million) by the very institution that she had trusted. it might be unlikely though since the Mason plot was taken and used for Will and Hannibal

un. yah im rooting for an OT3 if Clarice does get introduced into the TV series.  But that’s probably just my wistful thinking (please don’t do Clarice dirty tho, i’ll cry.  I really will).

also if you’re not going to romance Clarice with Hannibal please don’t romance her with anyone, i can live with that.

[angelaspicaa]

I’m rewatching Silence of the Lambs and all I can think the entire time is how the only man who didnt treat Clarice Starling like a piece of meat was a fucking cannibal.

[sherlokicks]

Why Hannibal Lecter isn’t a psychopath

What bugs me with a great number of Hannibal edits is labeling Hannibal Lecter a psychopath, because the point of the character is that he enjoys killing. The claim is about just as correct as Sherlock Holmes calling himself “a high functioning sociopath”. -I really have to disagree. Hannibal’s twisted in his way and he feels no remorse for things most of the people would feel terrible for. I do not say that he wouldn’t see the world differently, but a psychopath he is not. 

Where do I ground my claim?

1. Hannibal Lecter does love. I truly believe that he felt attached to Will Graham and Abigail Hobbs. Also, later on in the story he falls in love with Clarice Starling. 

2. In the series, Hannibal is fully capable of empathy, and most of his demonstrations of empathy are pure and meaningful on emotional level, not only calculated actions to cause a wished outcome on the subject to serve his ambitions. 

3. I think that Hannibal feels remorse, but not for the things people expect him to feel. He eats the rude because to quote the producer Bryan Fuller “If you are a pig of a human being, you deserve to be someone’s bacon.” -He didn’t want to kill Abigail, and he acted the way he felt was the best to get the situation solved. In my opinion he felt sincerely bad for that. 

[bonearenaofmyskull]

Hannibal Lecter is not INTJ

It’s pretty much been accepted for the past 20-25 years that Hannibal is an INTJ (from the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, or MBTI). I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone question this assertion, in spite of the fact that we have a completely new take on the character now, reconceived as a fallen angel in love with humanity (x). People seem to accept it for a few reasons: first, because they don’t know that much about the MBTI themselves, so they’re relying on others to tell them; second, because some people who think they understand the MBTI don’t really understand it; third, some people have a shallow understanding of Hannibal’s character; and finally, people often accept the status quo. (I don’t mean to imply that these apply to everyone who subscribes to the theory of Hannibal being an INTJ. I’m sure some have expertise and have put some time into considering it: these are simply my observations of most of the fan population.)

I recently expressed the opinion that Hannibal is not INTJ, and have received at least five requests to explain why I don’t think so and what type he does fit in, so in this post I will attempt to do that. If you are interested in this topic, buckle in and get comfortable, because that’s a lot of material to cover. 

Keep reading

[somniopiate]

God this is such a good analysis and totally made me throw out any belief that Hannibal could ever be INTJ (even in the novels? People loving and senses based? Yep that’s him.  Willing to mentor and give? Who else could it be) and also thank you for adding the insightful explanation on how myers-briggs is such an incomplete measure of human personality

[kerbabbles-deactivated20211024]

He’s quite the songbird!!!

***

I HEARD LUCIO HAD A BROADWAY VOICE???? AND I ALMOST CRIED

AND I ALSO HEARD HE’LL BURST INTO SONG AT THE ONE HE LOVES????

A TROPHY IS USUALLY SOMETHING YOU’RE P ROU D OF

@thearcanagame aaaAAAAAA

[noseforahtwo]

As a chick married to an ex-cop, I say this all the time to people close to me, but it bears repeating here: No cop is your friend after you’ve been detained.

Get rear ended by a drunk at a red light? That cop will direct traffic around your vehicle, document the accident, sure. Call animal control on your piece of shit neighbor? You’ve got a pretty good chance the officer who shows up helps out in a meaningful way.

But after you’ve been arrested, when a police officer says, “Just be honest with me and I’ll do the same.” or the old “Help me and I’ll help you.” Politely ask for a lawyer. Shake your head. Ignore them. Pretend you’re Hollywood royalty being asked for a selfie. “ …mmmm… Sorry, but no.”

Keep your mouth shut. Don’t do their work for them. Wait for a lawyer.

[kedreeva]

I worked as a police dispatcher for a year and a half, and I’d agree with this. My cops were generally nice people (and I say this having been on the wrong end of their sirens twice, once before and once after being hired), and they often helped in good ways… on the street. Not so much in the station. Generally speaking (and I know this is oversimplification and is worse in a lot of places but), it went like this:

On the street, you were considered as a person/citizen they have sworn to protect who may have made a mistake or done something wrong.

Once you were in the station, you were considered as a criminal. In the station you are the only one on your side.

Stay safe.

[thebaconsandwichofregret]

TV and film has you thinking that only guilty people ask for a lawyer. This is not true. The law is complex and difficult and confusing and if you’re being questioned by the police you’re not going to be in your best state of mind. A lawyer is your basic civil right and you should exercise that right. Keep silent, ask for a lawyer, take your legal advice.

Guilty people don’t ask for a lawyer, smart people do.

[noseforahtwo]

“Guilty people don’t ask for a lawyer, smart people do.”

[thebestpersonherelovesbucky]

My uncle was a cop. My uncle is the most down to earth, wouldn’t hurt a fly person in the world. I don’t think he even arrested a single person ever, that wasn’t his job on the force. His advice? Get a fucking lawyer. Never say a damn word. A cop knows how to twist your words around and make you even doubt yourself. They know damn well how to make you feel guilty by getting a lawyer. YOU need to know that it’s SMART to get a lawyer. Get a lawyer.

[dynamicsymmetry]

People can be convinced that they committed a non-existant crime in three hours.

Don’t say shit. Get a lawyer.

[heirloomparasite]

anyways…….the str8s continue to be in denial about this but wonder woman is obviously A Lesbian

[candycanelance]

anyways she’s bi

[heirloomparasite]

she’s lesbian

[trashy-greyjoy]

[heirloomparasite]

cool, she’s lesbian

[lighter-dayss]

Oh my god stop she’s bisexual you’re so annoying

[yesbpdbabe-deactivated20210115]

i love bisexual erasure 😍😍😍😍👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽

[dr-lemonade-mouth]

Stop erasing bisexual icons.

[ifuckinglovedragons-deactivated]

Literally fuck you if you do that shit

[fishnbacon-deactivated20191024]

Him.

[jwhitnee]

Previews for my submission to the Diplomatic Relations zine! I’m so happy with how it turned out and am very excited for the opportunity to work alongside so many wonderful and talented artists! 

[spicali]

A better shot of the image of the Kamarx notebook cover! It’ll be printed on A6 sized notebooks. Preorder one at spica.tictail.com

[icingflower]

Gifts of Childhood He lived for her smiles, …and she was always happy to give them.

Happy Birthday Xander! 10.27.2016