Chris

If your point is that the US government has been doing these things to the rest of the world for "decades," and will continue to do so regardless of who is elected, then how exactly is Clinton "directly responsible"? By your own logic, it seems reasonable to assume that ANYONE involved in administering US foreign policy at such a senior level would be culpable in your eyes. If that is the case, the salient factor is what ELSE the candidate is likely to do that isn't already essentially pre-written, and on that score there is an overwhelming amount of difference. If you are going to deride that kind of distinction as a mere manifestation of privilege, then what is even the point of engaging in discussion of presidential politics in the first place? If it's simply to express frustration, fine. Everyone has that right, of course. But at the end of the day there are two candidates who actually have any chance of becoming president, and if foreign policy isn't going to undergo a seismic shift anyway because history suggests it never will (and I'm essentially adopting your assumptions for the purpose of this discussion), then the focus should be on the policy that can change, or can continue to be improved. On a separate note, but to me, much more importantly: Liberals must focus more on downticket elections. Republicans have done an amazing job at this over the last decade, including basically locking in the House for possibly a generation by focusing on winning statehouses from 2008 on and dramatically redrawing district lines in 2010. The picking apart of presidential candidates by the left is extremely tiresome in part because without backing up the presidency with local, state, and federal offices, the president can do little more than either continue current policy or veto far more extreme right-wing policy. (And of course the president cannot veto the Supreme Court, which now only lacks a clear conservative majority due to a fairly unlikely death.) If Hillary Clinton is elected, and especially if the Democrats don't take back the Senate, I fully expect her to be just as stymied, if not more, than Barack Obama was, from day one. Frankly it's a miracle that even something as limited and imperfect as Obamacare got passed, and that sure won't last if the Republicans have both the White House and Congress. (I'm not expecting them to but it's becoming more likely by the week.) Meanwhile Democrats fight over $12 and $15 minimum wage as though either of those is something an essentially-guaranteed-Republican House of Representatives is going to pass. I hope we do raise the minimum wage but that's the kind of thing you get to do when you control the legislative branch.

For what it's worth, I totally agree that city builders and the like are a segment of strategy games (and anecdotally I know more women who play those than other flavors of strategy game) but I don't think I'd put DOTA or LoL in there. A game where you control one single avatar and are essentially ONLY micromanaging feels like it's basically just an action game from an atypical perspective. The only thing those games really have in common with strategy, to me, is that they were originally mods of strategy games, and you look at them top-down, but both of those feel incidental to me. They can also only be played as extremely intense team-based multiplayer games, which are their own beast at this point given esports emerging as an entire category.

Idle Weekend July 16, 2016: Diamonds in the Rough The weekenders discuss the rarest and most magical of gaming experiences - when a game that looks like generic garbage surprises you in the best way. Elsewhere, the Weekenders ponder the mysteries of Pokemon Go, Rob reads about time travelers and jerks in the 1940s, and Danielle listens to bedtime stories about messed-up mermaids. Discussed: Crush Your Enemies, Infested Planet, Gray Goo, A Boy and His Blob, Candy Box, A Dark Room, Dropsy, Her Story, Pokemon Go, Weapons of Choice (Axis of Time #1), Myths and Legends Podcast Listen on the Episode Page Listen on Soundcloud Listen in iTunes

I did another RimWorld stream! Part 2 is here:

Forgot to note that the episode is up and the original thread post has been updated!

Idle Weekend July 10, 2016: Roughing It Rob returns from a major cross-country move with stories of his Zombi adventures, surviving the apocalypse on the mean, dead-infested streets of London from his new home on the west coast. Danielle recounts her own move last year, and the comfort that her little virtual buddies brought her in Animal Crossing. And both Weekenders are hooked on new TV series. It's back to the home routine for Idle Weekend! Discussed: Zombi, ZombiU, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Killing Time at Lightspeed, Quentin Tarantino, Alfred Hitchcock, Occupied, UnReal Listen on the Episode Page Listen on Soundcloud Listen in iTunes

2013. Ever since the Kickstarter, we've paid rent on studio space (and had numerous other software and services expenses) and the Kickstarter money wasn't going to last forever!

Anyone object to moving this thread to Idle Banter rather than Video Gaming? Seems more appropriate.

This download seems to be failing on itch.io. Have you got another copy uploaded somewhere?

Wizard Jam 2016 part 2 is happening this Saturday, July 9, at noon Pacific. Join us!

Welcome, new folks!

Right but what Jake was asking is, where does the actual liquid cash come from? Like, are kids actually losing money? Or are they mainly just losing skins they obtained without sinking cash into them?

It's all in there!

Idle Weekend July 2, 2016: Going Solo This weekend, Rob takes a quick break to do a tiny errand - that is, move across a continent - and Danielle opens up the mailbag. It's a quickie, but don't worry - Rob will be back next week! Discussed: Fallout: New Vegas, Dropsy, The Magic Circle, The People vs. OJ Simpson Listen on the Episode Page Listen on Soundcloud Listen in iTunes

I thought this episode was charming and great! That's all.

Idle Weekend June 10, 2016: One (Million) Console Future With the PlayStation Neo and Xbox Scorpion potentially (probably) getting their big stat reveals next week at E3, the Weekenders ponder the brave and/or very annoying future of console iteration. Elsewhere on the cast, Danielle has a giant philosophical brainfart and Rob ponders the real meaning of the best BioShock movie: Snowpiercer. Discussed: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Diablo 3, Doom, Hearts of Iron IV, Snowpiercer, The Three Body Problem Listen on the Episode Page Listen on Soundcloud Listen in iTunes

Idle Thumbs 268: Cheatin' Hitman Look, I am amazing at sneaking. Everyone knows I’ve always been amazing at it. It’s breathtaking–just incredible–how well I hide in a box. Cheating’ Hitman has all the codes and tricks, and everyone still sees him. Ruins all credibility of the franchise. Just pathetic. Can’t even find the secret ghost window. Sad! Discussed: Hitman (2016), The Haunted Mansion: Ghost Post, The Witness, The Matrix: Revolutions, accessibility in games, robot escapes Listen on the Episode Page Listen on Soundcloud Listen in iTunes

I have no memory of Norsca. I wonder when it was introduced.

Idle Weekend June 24, 2016: 2016 Halftime Show 2016 is half over, so the Weekenders have chosen to review their favorite games (and non-The Americans TV series!) of the year so far. You know, so we don't forget about them in December. Elsewhere, they contend with movies depicting sad-but-true historic events of the 90s and remember that The Expanse is really, really good TV. Discussed: Warhammer: Total War, Hearts of Iron 4, Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, Uncharted 4, XCOM 2, The Witness, Wit.Nes, Superhot, Doom, Overwatch, Dark Souls III, Hyper Light Drifter, Throne of the Crescent Moon, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson, Foxcatcher, The Expanse Listen on the Episode Page Listen on Soundcloud Listen in iTunes

Hello!

Idle Weekend May 27, 2016: We've Been Playing The Weekenders break with their usual format to discuss the sort of thing most gaming podcasts do: what they've been playing. Rob charts the waters of Uncharted 3 in preparation for A Thief's End, Danielle dives into Overwatch fandom, and everyone is enamored with The Witcher 3 all over again. And spy TV shows. It must be Idle Weekend! Discussed: Uncharted 3, Uncharted 4, Overwatch, The Witcher 3, Person of Interest, The Lives of Others, Game of Thrones Listen on the Episode Page Listen on Soundcloud Listen in iTunes

Welcome!

Oh whoops, yes, we should fix our website. It's now: Idle Thumbs 355 Bryant St. #108 San Francisco, CA 94107

I am pretty skeptical of them generally as well, in large part because the stuff in them seems so cheap and disposable. But the Ghost Post has been a legitimately clever and well made series of puzzles, essentially. And even the trinkets are pretty cool--porcelain teacup and saucer, miniature wooden player piano, etc. It feels like a significant step above "put a bunch of stuff in a box." Of course, it's only at its most effective for those who love the Haunted Mansion, but we do, so that part was covered.

YouTube version: