Half-Life 2 in Asia

Back in 2015 there were few video games with authentic Asian environments, so I made a few experimental maps in Half-Life 2.

It was also common wisdom that games had to be complete and flawless on launch. Probabilistic monetisation such as loot boxes were a no-no. Triple-A games justified their price tags by being known quantities.

Now, in 2026 there are a deluge of high-quality games from Asia, featuring characters, motifs, and visuals from Asia, which are also turning the common wisdom on its head by being serialised, free-to-play, and with a strong 'gacha' component.

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Staying For the Kids

Will having children make marriages last? Children, it is supposed, so enrich a marriage that it is more likely to endure over time. They bring a unique stimulus, necessitate close teamwork, and foster intimate communication. While some would argue that they could seek such stimuli elsewhere, and others would say that they can do without that sort of personal development, the naysayers are not strong enough to displace a nuclear family ideal that has persisted despite change in the 20th and 21st centuries.

You Think You're Rich Now

A user asked r/geography, " Why is the modern Mediterranean so poor compared to the historical one? " The simple answer (not mine, unfortunately): "The world got bigger."

dtcwee: The Value of Nothing

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