And what if the full costs are partially (or even mostly) externalized onto someone else?

They are not making any money because because the legal/economic/social system of the US doesn't require profitability at this stage, that comes later once they achieve a monopoly-like position and they switch to more explicit rent-seeking behaviour and more direct corruption methods.

FWIW, we probably agree on much more than this short convo would imply. I am just looking at things from a different angle.

I guess this is a philosophical issue, to me it works the other way round.

It's not the tech that's the issue, but it is broader democratic social organizational forms that need reform to make adoption of tech (LLM/genAI or other technology) or a wide range of other issues a lot more equitable.

LLM/ML tech is the future, it's not like the crypto/NFT scams, not even close.

I am not really seeing any of these issues. One can dislike the graphical style without immediately assuming all art assets are fully ML generated.

Funnily enough, the original Fallout 2 had some splash screen art with rather awkward looking details.

In a statement posted on the site’s homepage, @encounter notes that while they don’t believe AI is the main issue in itself, because when used properly and ethically it “can expedite the decompilation process in a significant way”, the “community aspect of decompilation has been broken” by people using AI in more questionable ways.

I remembering trying Magna Cum Laude around the time it was released and it did not impress. Didn't really bother with other post-LSL7 games after that.

I did get this one on GOG though, review seem to imply it's better than Magna Cum Laude.

😁

If Molyneux is involved in any way other that acting like a mascot-like character for advertisement, it is guaranteed to be garbage.

It could still be garbage without Molyneux's involvement. Anyone remember the Deus Ex "remaster"?

I really liked Coteries of New York, it was fun and engaging. My only knowledge of Vampire: The Masquerade is from Bloodlines (OG of course) and I thought it was a good "side experience" to my perception of the VTMB universe. I liked the ending too (won't go into details because of spoilers). I wish was it was made in a patched version of the VTMB engine (with minor graphical updates).

I have Shadows of New York (bought it on release), but I put it on hold after about an hour or so. Just didn't engage me as much. Didn't buy Reckoning of New York on release because of my experience with Shadows of New York.

Not a big metal fan, but I would be lying if I said I don't love their Lecher Bitch track.

Also love the 90s style video (it seems the track was released in early 2003, with the DVD released in 2007, but I would argue you can still feel the 90s influences).

I don't have much belief in a good re-make after VTMB2. Would love to proved wrong, but it will almost certainly be a action-focused game with lite RPG elements. Nothing like the OG Bloodlines.

GTA2 has under-rated world-building (there is not much writing), it was humourous in many ways, but also subtly dark and dystopian in a way that I don't think we'll ever see in GTA again.

Even if avoid discussion about subjective versus objective, there is also context.

Ray Liotta, Michelle Pfeiffer and Al Pacino did a great job.

The soundtrack/score (remember the intro scene) was also very good and has only gotten better with age.

The film is also very stylish.

That covered for the writing, which is its own thing.