Eh, I’d say the biggest learning curve is updates and how they’re generally password protected.

It’s actually not straightforward to a new Linux user how to bypass entering your password every time there are updates, and with how often Linux updates, this can create headaches and confusion for new users.

Especially with coming from Windows and being used to Microsoft arbitrarily forcing updates in the background. They are confused because Microsoft gave them zero control, while Linux actually gives them full control, and that can be confusing when you’re used to updates being forced on you in the background.

Linux expects you to be an adult and handle this shit, and does a lot less hand-holding for the casual user, and this can be overwhelming for some new users, because it’s a lot of extra personal responsibility they formerly didn’t have to think about. Some people just don’t have the extra mental energy to dedicate to it all.

You’re already closer to using Linux by doing so. Lots of people are unaware that macOS continues to be Certified UNIX. Many of the command line tools function very similarly to their Linux counterparts.

I’m waiting for Microsoft to inevitably be forced to keep supporting 10 for free^[1] longer than they planned, because 11 uptake just isn’t fast enough.

What happened with 7 will happen with 10, and they’ll end up supporting it for another year or two.

Microsoft is trying damn hard to not care about consumers, but the consumer market still matters, so I suspect angry customers will force their hand.

Due to the increasingly high cost of living, more and more consider the alternative.

That NSA data center in Utah has been around since the Bush years. None of it was “new” when watch_dogs came out, it just wasn’t in the public consciousness. Most of the stuff was happening or being developed at the time.

The year checks out.

I’m lazy and old so I’m doing it the least efficient way by just putting all updates into a daily cronjob (or doing updates on reboot). Much more modern ways to handling it than the crontab, but I too, am lazy.

It’s tricky to know how to feel about this when so much of what Musk’s companies produce amounts to vaporware.

It’s definitely an amazing technical achievement, and props to the engineers, but it definitely feels tainted when the man who finances the whole thing really shouldn’t be allowed to still have security clearance for a litany of painfully obvious reasons.

Beautifully done, honestly amazing, but with Musk it’s always in the back of my head “what aren’t we being told about this?”

Normal People: Ananas

Fucking English Speakers Somehow: Pineapple

Microsoft taught people to distrust updates because they break shit and don’t ask if you want them or not.

That leads a lot of people to being “scared” of updates, and Linux updates literally constantly (a good thing).

Further, Ubuntu as well as others have moved towards phased rollouts, to ensure new versions don’t break things. I constantly have updates say “These updates have been held back due to phasing” which is intended to save me from any trouble if the small number of users who they have phased the updates to start having issues. Easier to roll back and fix for a small number of users as opposed to the whole world.

Linux doesn’t just handle updates better, but they’ve continued to grow and change how they handle updates to make them better for end-users long-term.

Breaking Microsoft ingrained habits is hard for some people.

Sea of Thieves but the ocean is made of sand.

To your edit, similarly the final sequence of Nier Automata is so deeply rooted in not being alone, and encouraging one another, and being there for one another. A chance to break the cycle.

If I recall correctly, Yoko Taro had said he had been somewhat inspire by this Coca-cola campaign the “Small World Machines.”

Perhaps RPG’s with a party

Going more old school, Chrono Trigger is another great one with awesome supporting party characters.

That’s a neat fun fact I didn’t know, thanks! Looking it up now.

I wanna wad you up into my life / Let’s roll up to be a single star in the sky

Such a killer fucking happy/upbeat soundtrack, too.

Bioshock Infinite - Elizabeth as a constant companion is a big theme in the game.

Beyond Good and Evil - A lot of great supporting cast like Pey’j.

Baldur’s Gate 3 - Massive emphasis on the relationships you have with your companions.

Brutal Legend - A quasi-RTS where caring for your bandmates and roadies is the only way to win.

Disco Elysium - Kim Kitsuragi, enough said.

Firewatch - Story driven rooted in character relationships, about being alone but trying to stay connected.

Hi-Fi Rush - Great cast of characters who are heavily involved with story and often around or talking to you.

Just Cause 3 - Probably the best in the series, for threading the comedy/action needle and giving you characters that are really lovable.

Katamari Damacy - Feel the love of the King of All Cosmos!

Life is Strange - Rooted entirely around your relationships with close friends and classmates.

Mad Max - Your own personal Gollum!

Nier Automata - You’ll always have your PODs.

Portal 2 - Wheatley will keep you good company.

Psychonauts / Psychonauts 2 - How can you be lonely when you’re inside someone else’s mind?

SkateBIRD - Make friends with birds!

Terraria - There’s always some new villager to find.

Like my life has been stolen from me. I am left with nothing.

Isn’t having cancer alone ba enough?

Fuck yes. It is not enough to boycott companies with your money. You must also do so with your labor. Thank you for making a carve out exception for the little people in the picture. It would be better if they could withhold their labor as well, but many of the lowest in companies simply cannot afford to work somewhere else for less pay. As you pointed out, the engineers truly can take a pay cut and survive. Thank you for sharing your likely-to-be unpopular opinion.

So many franchises need to be laid to rest.