Ian
@shepcommandr.bsky.social
Canadian, Dad, Comics, Games, Hip Hop and Wrassling
Longer form thoughts and reviews; https://oco.bearblog.dev/blog/
Longer form thoughts and reviews; https://oco.bearblog.dev/blog/
Pinned
Ian
@shepcommandr.bsky.social
· Jul 10
Again, what if we just didn't buy or talk about the shiny new game from the dog shit trillion dollar publisher that's trying to drive the industry into the ground while also actively supporting a genocide.
That would be super cool.
That would be super cool.
Given the amount of soft core porn on the eShop, it's super funny that Dispatch is censored.
January 28, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Given the amount of soft core porn on the eShop, it's super funny that Dispatch is censored.
I'm going to try and write a review for Chromatic Conundrum once I finish it, but I suspect a lot of that is going to be about the impossibilities of writing meaningful critique about a $5 game that's about an hour in length and pure gameplay.
pls b excited.
pls b excited.
January 28, 2026 at 7:20 PM
I'm going to try and write a review for Chromatic Conundrum once I finish it, but I suspect a lot of that is going to be about the impossibilities of writing meaningful critique about a $5 game that's about an hour in length and pure gameplay.
pls b excited.
pls b excited.
Why did IGN pen a second OpEd about people hating on Highguard.
January 28, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Why did IGN pen a second OpEd about people hating on Highguard.
Reposted by Ian
I reviewed Dispatch for @nintendoinsider.bsky.social on Switch 2. It plays great in handheld with touch controls, but the forced visual censorship is baffling. I still enjoyed it a lot, but some of this was just distracting: www.nintendo-insider.com/dispatch-swi...
January 28, 2026 at 5:06 PM
I reviewed Dispatch for @nintendoinsider.bsky.social on Switch 2. It plays great in handheld with touch controls, but the forced visual censorship is baffling. I still enjoyed it a lot, but some of this was just distracting: www.nintendo-insider.com/dispatch-swi...
anyways...
I'm looking forward to Scott Pilgrim EX. Glad it's coming out soon-ish. Should hopefully not have the weird Marvel premium on the price, since Scott Pilgrim is a little more niche at this point.
It's a very Canadian game lol
I'm looking forward to Scott Pilgrim EX. Glad it's coming out soon-ish. Should hopefully not have the weird Marvel premium on the price, since Scott Pilgrim is a little more niche at this point.
It's a very Canadian game lol
January 28, 2026 at 4:04 PM
anyways...
I'm looking forward to Scott Pilgrim EX. Glad it's coming out soon-ish. Should hopefully not have the weird Marvel premium on the price, since Scott Pilgrim is a little more niche at this point.
It's a very Canadian game lol
I'm looking forward to Scott Pilgrim EX. Glad it's coming out soon-ish. Should hopefully not have the weird Marvel premium on the price, since Scott Pilgrim is a little more niche at this point.
It's a very Canadian game lol
Excited for Disney Afternoon Collection to cost $20 more than any other platform, just to get 2 addition ROMs for games that aren't really the draw of the package.
Oh... and a Game Key Cart for Switch 2 for another $10 on top if you want physical.
Oh... and a Game Key Cart for Switch 2 for another $10 on top if you want physical.
January 28, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Excited for Disney Afternoon Collection to cost $20 more than any other platform, just to get 2 addition ROMs for games that aren't really the draw of the package.
Oh... and a Game Key Cart for Switch 2 for another $10 on top if you want physical.
Oh... and a Game Key Cart for Switch 2 for another $10 on top if you want physical.
I think I'm almost done Chromatic Conundrum.
I'll probably post some thoughts when I'm done... but as a side bar, it feels like it's extremely difficult to review a game that costs $5.
I'll probably post some thoughts when I'm done... but as a side bar, it feels like it's extremely difficult to review a game that costs $5.
January 28, 2026 at 12:57 PM
I think I'm almost done Chromatic Conundrum.
I'll probably post some thoughts when I'm done... but as a side bar, it feels like it's extremely difficult to review a game that costs $5.
I'll probably post some thoughts when I'm done... but as a side bar, it feels like it's extremely difficult to review a game that costs $5.
Gonna be honest, I think the success of BG3 went to the head of the CEO at Larian.
January 28, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Gonna be honest, I think the success of BG3 went to the head of the CEO at Larian.
If there's one thing I miss about Wii era Nintendo, it's all of the exclusives they managed to get from 3rd parties. Essentially out of necessity. The console wasn't designed to play "standard" games.
Sw2 is getting ports it shouldn't, because there's no reason to build something for the HW.
Sw2 is getting ports it shouldn't, because there's no reason to build something for the HW.
January 28, 2026 at 3:21 AM
If there's one thing I miss about Wii era Nintendo, it's all of the exclusives they managed to get from 3rd parties. Essentially out of necessity. The console wasn't designed to play "standard" games.
Sw2 is getting ports it shouldn't, because there's no reason to build something for the HW.
Sw2 is getting ports it shouldn't, because there's no reason to build something for the HW.
So I spent my spare time re-writing the rule book for the new board game I bought.
Partially, because re-writing the rules forces me to learn those rules. But also, I generally dislike how rule books are written/formatted. It's not hate to the people to do this, but it's not how my brain works.
Partially, because re-writing the rules forces me to learn those rules. But also, I generally dislike how rule books are written/formatted. It's not hate to the people to do this, but it's not how my brain works.
January 28, 2026 at 2:21 AM
So I spent my spare time re-writing the rule book for the new board game I bought.
Partially, because re-writing the rules forces me to learn those rules. But also, I generally dislike how rule books are written/formatted. It's not hate to the people to do this, but it's not how my brain works.
Partially, because re-writing the rules forces me to learn those rules. But also, I generally dislike how rule books are written/formatted. It's not hate to the people to do this, but it's not how my brain works.
lol eShop "leaked" the release date for the new Scott Pilgrim game from Tribute.
January 27, 2026 at 10:56 PM
lol eShop "leaked" the release date for the new Scott Pilgrim game from Tribute.
My copy of Sanctuary an Ark Nova game came in, and started to skim through the rulebook to verify that it does in fact solve one of Ark Nova's biggest issues... which is that the game takes too long to teach and play for most humans.
January 27, 2026 at 6:40 PM
My copy of Sanctuary an Ark Nova game came in, and started to skim through the rulebook to verify that it does in fact solve one of Ark Nova's biggest issues... which is that the game takes too long to teach and play for most humans.
Just realized that I'm a middle aged straight white man, and somehow I don't have a podcast.
January 27, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Just realized that I'm a middle aged straight white man, and somehow I don't have a podcast.
Windows 11 is an unusable operating system.
January 27, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Windows 11 is an unusable operating system.
Of all the QoL features they could have implemented in P3 Reload, why didn't they give inactive characters xp share.
I don't want to have to take random characters into Tartar Sauce, so they can level up.
I don't want to have to take random characters into Tartar Sauce, so they can level up.
January 27, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Of all the QoL features they could have implemented in P3 Reload, why didn't they give inactive characters xp share.
I don't want to have to take random characters into Tartar Sauce, so they can level up.
I don't want to have to take random characters into Tartar Sauce, so they can level up.
Glad that Nintendo fans now get to experience rock bottom Nintendo.
You thought the Wii U years were grim. Wait until you experience the Virtual Boy.
You thought the Wii U years were grim. Wait until you experience the Virtual Boy.
January 27, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Glad that Nintendo fans now get to experience rock bottom Nintendo.
You thought the Wii U years were grim. Wait until you experience the Virtual Boy.
You thought the Wii U years were grim. Wait until you experience the Virtual Boy.
Trend chasing in the games industry will come for every game design style and grind it into dust.
January 27, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Trend chasing in the games industry will come for every game design style and grind it into dust.
There's also a playtest going on for the digital conversion of Flamecraft, a game I found impossible to table because of the boards length. (It's pretty good based on what I played)
store.steampowered.com/app/3201730/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3201730/...
Flamecraft on Steam
Flamecraft is a 1-5 player cozy strategy game filled with magic. Become a Flamekeeper and help adorable dragon artisans find the perfect home. Enchant the town’s stores and fill them with dragon cards...
store.steampowered.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:57 AM
There's also a playtest going on for the digital conversion of Flamecraft, a game I found impossible to table because of the boards length. (It's pretty good based on what I played)
store.steampowered.com/app/3201730/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3201730/...
Picked up Chromatic Conundrum today.
It's was under $5CAD.
It's a pretty neat little puzzle game.
store.steampowered.com/app/3081690/...
It's was under $5CAD.
It's a pretty neat little puzzle game.
store.steampowered.com/app/3081690/...
January 27, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Picked up Chromatic Conundrum today.
It's was under $5CAD.
It's a pretty neat little puzzle game.
store.steampowered.com/app/3081690/...
It's was under $5CAD.
It's a pretty neat little puzzle game.
store.steampowered.com/app/3081690/...
I, for one, can not wait for the time when Souls-like design is no longer in fashion. Difficulty for difficulties sake has never felt particularly enjoyable to me.
When the Souls trend inevitably goes out of fashion, I really look forward to the enormous post-mortem we’re going to have about what FromSoft has inadvertently done to action games.
January 26, 2026 at 11:39 PM
I, for one, can not wait for the time when Souls-like design is no longer in fashion. Difficulty for difficulties sake has never felt particularly enjoyable to me.
The Marathon Collectors edition looks nice, but we need to slowly back away from these $200+ SEs.
That shit is stupid.
That shit is stupid.
January 26, 2026 at 11:30 PM
The Marathon Collectors edition looks nice, but we need to slowly back away from these $200+ SEs.
That shit is stupid.
That shit is stupid.
Well shit...
There's someone running to be head of the Fed NDP that has policies.
Nationalized groceries.
Public telco collective.
Publicly built housing.
Public pharmaceutical.
Postal banking.
lewisforleader.ca/ideas/public...
There's someone running to be head of the Fed NDP that has policies.
Nationalized groceries.
Public telco collective.
Publicly built housing.
Public pharmaceutical.
Postal banking.
lewisforleader.ca/ideas/public...
Public Options to Stop Price Gouging - Avi Lewis for NDP Leader
Bold public alternatives to break corporate monopolies and lower costs
lewisforleader.ca
January 26, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Well shit...
There's someone running to be head of the Fed NDP that has policies.
Nationalized groceries.
Public telco collective.
Publicly built housing.
Public pharmaceutical.
Postal banking.
lewisforleader.ca/ideas/public...
There's someone running to be head of the Fed NDP that has policies.
Nationalized groceries.
Public telco collective.
Publicly built housing.
Public pharmaceutical.
Postal banking.
lewisforleader.ca/ideas/public...
Ebola Village, a game that looks like shovelware slop... is currently sitting at a higher user review score than Highguard on the PSN.
Which is hilarious, but also a direct representation of how worthless user reviews are because users are idiots.
Which is hilarious, but also a direct representation of how worthless user reviews are because users are idiots.
January 26, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Ebola Village, a game that looks like shovelware slop... is currently sitting at a higher user review score than Highguard on the PSN.
Which is hilarious, but also a direct representation of how worthless user reviews are because users are idiots.
Which is hilarious, but also a direct representation of how worthless user reviews are because users are idiots.
The series of adjectives used to describe what Highguard is, sounds like a bootleg quote from Randy Pitchford during the Battleborn release cycle.
You can not pay me to be excited for whatever this game is supposed to be.
You can not pay me to be excited for whatever this game is supposed to be.
January 26, 2026 at 7:22 PM
The series of adjectives used to describe what Highguard is, sounds like a bootleg quote from Randy Pitchford during the Battleborn release cycle.
You can not pay me to be excited for whatever this game is supposed to be.
You can not pay me to be excited for whatever this game is supposed to be.