John Ball
@thatjohnball.bsky.social
Husband, father, firefighter/EMT, & Christian.
I love video games, TTRPGs, comics, books, hockey, and just people in general.
I love video games, TTRPGs, comics, books, hockey, and just people in general.
Honestly, there's still some decent storytelling in the new games. The core is there. I think there's something larger at play in the game industry where this pursuit of realistic graphics robs a lot of IPs of their previous charm and creativity. We're getting fairly entrenched in pretty but hollow.
December 31, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Honestly, there's still some decent storytelling in the new games. The core is there. I think there's something larger at play in the game industry where this pursuit of realistic graphics robs a lot of IPs of their previous charm and creativity. We're getting fairly entrenched in pretty but hollow.
I LOVED the original FF7. The story felt surprising and sprawling and mysterious. I also loved the eclectic party of characters that walked the line between cool and absurd. The new games feel somehow both sterilized and obsessed with flash. They seem well-made, but don't feel quite right.
December 31, 2025 at 5:32 PM
I LOVED the original FF7. The story felt surprising and sprawling and mysterious. I also loved the eclectic party of characters that walked the line between cool and absurd. The new games feel somehow both sterilized and obsessed with flash. They seem well-made, but don't feel quite right.
When I first played BG3 I was simply amazed at the level of choice to solving situations you have. The whole game was such a cool experience!
December 29, 2025 at 6:41 AM
When I first played BG3 I was simply amazed at the level of choice to solving situations you have. The whole game was such a cool experience!
It is REALLY good! My wife and I made it part of our refular Christmas movie rotation after watching it the first year.
December 29, 2025 at 6:38 AM
It is REALLY good! My wife and I made it part of our refular Christmas movie rotation after watching it the first year.
Christmas of 1997:
A playstation with FF7, Croc: Legend of he Gobbos, and Jet Moto.
It marked an incredible introduction year to the playstation and an amazing library of games. I was blown away.
A playstation with FF7, Croc: Legend of he Gobbos, and Jet Moto.
It marked an incredible introduction year to the playstation and an amazing library of games. I was blown away.
December 26, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Christmas of 1997:
A playstation with FF7, Croc: Legend of he Gobbos, and Jet Moto.
It marked an incredible introduction year to the playstation and an amazing library of games. I was blown away.
A playstation with FF7, Croc: Legend of he Gobbos, and Jet Moto.
It marked an incredible introduction year to the playstation and an amazing library of games. I was blown away.
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is amazing with a group of friends in local co op! It takes some real teamwork, but we really had a blast with it!
December 25, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is amazing with a group of friends in local co op! It takes some real teamwork, but we really had a blast with it!
What a fragile, little crybaby Donald Trump is; constantly whining like a child about how mean people are to him.
A pathetic manchild, he seems to effortlessly prove himself incapable of leadership in any fashion.
A pathetic manchild, he seems to effortlessly prove himself incapable of leadership in any fashion.
December 24, 2025 at 9:56 PM
What a fragile, little crybaby Donald Trump is; constantly whining like a child about how mean people are to him.
A pathetic manchild, he seems to effortlessly prove himself incapable of leadership in any fashion.
A pathetic manchild, he seems to effortlessly prove himself incapable of leadership in any fashion.
I think it also robs us of opportunity. I love talking with people who disagree with me because, if it's a real conversation, I get to experience ideas and viewpoints I may never have come across on my own.
The internet just makes real dialogue so tricky to accomplish.
The internet just makes real dialogue so tricky to accomplish.
December 24, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I think it also robs us of opportunity. I love talking with people who disagree with me because, if it's a real conversation, I get to experience ideas and viewpoints I may never have come across on my own.
The internet just makes real dialogue so tricky to accomplish.
The internet just makes real dialogue so tricky to accomplish.
I love genuine conversations about assessment and critique of just about anything. And I find it particularly useful to use the phrase "I don't agree with you" when I disagree with someone's point. The good folks will talk and the awful people will start insulting you. It triggers their toxicity.
December 24, 2025 at 2:28 AM
I love genuine conversations about assessment and critique of just about anything. And I find it particularly useful to use the phrase "I don't agree with you" when I disagree with someone's point. The good folks will talk and the awful people will start insulting you. It triggers their toxicity.
Man, bold take in today's climate of AI in game development...
I cannot wait to see them discuss how much they regret this stance when everything their AI makes is shitty and no one wants their games.
I cannot wait to see them discuss how much they regret this stance when everything their AI makes is shitty and no one wants their games.
December 24, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Man, bold take in today's climate of AI in game development...
I cannot wait to see them discuss how much they regret this stance when everything their AI makes is shitty and no one wants their games.
I cannot wait to see them discuss how much they regret this stance when everything their AI makes is shitty and no one wants their games.
Really? I didn't have any idea. I'm not interested in buying one. I just thought they had a funny definition of the word "available".
December 23, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Really? I didn't have any idea. I'm not interested in buying one. I just thought they had a funny definition of the word "available".
I think, from my understanding, it's the response we desperately hope for from a game developer. They started to use AI for simple placeholder assets early in the AI craze and then decided not to use any AI in the game itself. Seems to me like they learned more and chose.
December 22, 2025 at 10:26 PM
I think, from my understanding, it's the response we desperately hope for from a game developer. They started to use AI for simple placeholder assets early in the AI craze and then decided not to use any AI in the game itself. Seems to me like they learned more and chose.
Ironically OR just celeb status. A big name as a lead who is just... themselves... No characterization or acting really. Just the same celebrity being themselves in a Christmas themed story.
December 22, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Ironically OR just celeb status. A big name as a lead who is just... themselves... No characterization or acting really. Just the same celebrity being themselves in a Christmas themed story.
"in limited quantities"
"at participating retailers"
"while supplies last"
Translation?
"Good luck!"
"at participating retailers"
"while supplies last"
Translation?
"Good luck!"
December 22, 2025 at 6:45 PM
"in limited quantities"
"at participating retailers"
"while supplies last"
Translation?
"Good luck!"
"at participating retailers"
"while supplies last"
Translation?
"Good luck!"
It is SO GOOD.
Hope you have a great time with it!
Hope you have a great time with it!
December 19, 2025 at 11:55 PM
It is SO GOOD.
Hope you have a great time with it!
Hope you have a great time with it!
Good. Not that Disney is great at everything, but I hope Roblox shuts down completely for the way they protect the accounts of pedophiles and child predators. Hopefully no companies work with Roblox ever again.
December 17, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Good. Not that Disney is great at everything, but I hope Roblox shuts down completely for the way they protect the accounts of pedophiles and child predators. Hopefully no companies work with Roblox ever again.
Oh man, that sounds tempting but I probably won't have the time. Most of my gaming lately has been No Man's Sky because it's just so chill to explore galaxies and build weird bases.
December 15, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Oh man, that sounds tempting but I probably won't have the time. Most of my gaming lately has been No Man's Sky because it's just so chill to explore galaxies and build weird bases.
Seriously though, several of the games just use such great mechanics and the overarching meta narrative of this fictional software company with little bit of history hidden in the game descriptions is so great. I just love it so much and you should play it!
#UFO50 #indiegames #videogames
#UFO50 #indiegames #videogames
December 14, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Seriously though, several of the games just use such great mechanics and the overarching meta narrative of this fictional software company with little bit of history hidden in the game descriptions is so great. I just love it so much and you should play it!
#UFO50 #indiegames #videogames
#UFO50 #indiegames #videogames
Dude, the little rewards and endorphin bumps from map completion in that game are so nice. I haven't played in a couple years and even just thinking about finishing the last thing on a map and getting the reward makes me smile.
December 14, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Dude, the little rewards and endorphin bumps from map completion in that game are so nice. I haven't played in a couple years and even just thinking about finishing the last thing on a map and getting the reward makes me smile.
Of course. I love indie everything (very much including indie music in high school). But this pretentious elitism of believing they are more distinguished because they don't like mainstream things is so exhausting. People are allowed to like what they want. No one is in charge of your heart.
December 14, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Of course. I love indie everything (very much including indie music in high school). But this pretentious elitism of believing they are more distinguished because they don't like mainstream things is so exhausting. People are allowed to like what they want. No one is in charge of your heart.