I’ve just (mere minutes ago at the time of writing) finished my very first playthrough of chapters one and two of Life Is Strange: Double Exposure. I’d like to share some insights and my two cents. Not only that, but I’ll do my darnedest to keep it spoiler-free; for those who don’t want to know anything, come back later. #SecretsOfCaledon

Shut Up and Take My Money?!

Let’s write “some words” until we get into the territory that some may consider the slightest bit spoilery and talk about money. The mere existence of this post proves it: I paid top dollar for the right to play the game early, get some outfits, and a cat. In case you didn’t know, there are three versions:

1. The basic edition - Includes a basic set of outfits and the full game.
2. The deluxe edition - Includes more outfits, but other than that, it’s just the basic edition.
3. The ultimate edition - Includes all the stuff from the previous editions, even more outfits, some “Cat Content” (Max owns a cat), and most significantly, the privilege to play two weeks early.
4. The collectors' edition - Includes trinkets, the soundtrack on vinyl, and the cute owl pin Max wears.

You may ask yourself, didn’t you say three editions? You are correct. The collectors’ edition doesn’t include the game, but let’s get back on track. Which edition should you buy? Assuming you aren’t an enormous fan and want to play right now before anyone can write up a guide (guilty as charged — but damn, are those guide writers fast) or you just can’t wait: buy the basic edition. Everything else is stupid (again, guilty as charged). The additional outfits surely aren’t worth about €30 (should be the same in USD), and the cat can only take you so far. It’s a shame; it’s almost normal to give advanced access to a game and charge extra for it. Day one bugs and all.

Going to the Tech Repair Shop

Nope, I won’t talk about Chloe yet. We just bought the game; now we still need to get it running and talk about the technical aspects. In general, I can report that the game is running smoothly. Even my ancient hardware (GTX 1070ti and a CPU of about 7 or 8 years old) is able to drive the game at a rock-solid 30 fps on medium settings. Medium settings actually look quite good in my eyes, so no fear of potato gaming — all around a pleasant experience. I did stumble into one bug, and oh boy, it was a big one. In the beginning of chapter two, in the scene where you visit the bathroom (you’ll know what I mean once you play), the game crashed, crashed, and crashed again, no matter what I tried. Different graphics settings? Crashed. Different rendering API? Crashed. Thankfully, after one astonishingly quick exchange with Square Enix Support, they provided me with a workaround, and I was finally able to game on. In case you hit the same problem: toggle “Simple Power Effects” to “On” in the Accessibility settings and try again. It solved it for me.

But What About Chloe?

I promised not to spoil anything, didn’t I? No Chloe talk for now. I may not be so kind once I write a full review. What I can discuss is everything else within bounds. The main location, Caledon University, is incredibly beautiful and incredibly detailed. It actually feels like a campus where art and science meet. Even the art on display — I’m curious who created it — is nice to look at. (I hesitate to say “great,” but that’s just because I’m no artist, after all.) All characters you interact with are filled with life and have actual personalities. Everyone else, on the other hand, is awfully silent. The NPCs are doing things, small things, but it’s a far cry from Hogwarts in Hogwarts Legacy. Double Exposure has its strengths elsewhere: it’s the storytelling. I was actually hooked on what comes next and who may be the culprit. I was close to crying myself; the hurt Chloe, Moses, and the other characters in the main cast experienced over the loss of Safiya Llewellyn-Fayyad (what a name!) was so palpable. And then there’s the cliffhanger at the end of chapter two. Chef’s kiss! (Don’t look it up. Trust me, you don’t want to. It’s a reveal on the level of “Luke, I’m your father.”)

Conclusion Time

If you’re still on the fence about which edition to grab, stick to the basic version unless you’re an absolute die-hard fan. As for Max and the rest of the gang, they’ve certainly set the stage for a hella exciting continuation. I can’t wait to dive deeper into their world and uncover more secrets. #SecretsOfCaledon

I wish everyone a happy new year.

2023 was a total shitshow in the grand scheme of things. There is no denying that, but we brought it to an end. 2024 won’t be suddenly better, no matter how ambitious our goal and how lofty our New Year’s resolution, but there is hope because we are here together. Hope, as Emily Dickensen put it, “sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all -” Let’s try together, you are not alone. We are not alone.

Ich wünsche allen ein frohes neues Jahr.

2023 war im Großen und Ganzen eine ziemliche Scheiße. Das lässt sich nicht leugnen, aber wir haben es zu Ende gebracht. 2024 wird nicht plötzlich besser werden, egal wie ehrgeizig unser Ziel und wie hoch unsere Neujahrsvorsätze sind, aber es gibt Hoffnung, weil wir gemeinsam hier sind. Die Hoffnung, wie Emily Dickensen es ausdrückte, “singt die Melodie ohne Worte - und hört niemals auf - überhaupt -”. Lass es uns gemeinsam versuchen, Du bist nicht allein. Wir sind nicht allein.

John’s Review of Auld Lang Syne

Working on my first eventually public facing writing project with a close friend where we don’t have any control over who might stumble upon it. It’s freaking scary! As someone who works in boring software by day, it is unknown to me: How do you NOT talk about the project for months with anyone??

The time is 30 years old, it’s not even midlife and it’s already crisis

People you love are dying, depressing, burning and isolating

People you hate are waring, bombing, advertising and market concentrating

The time is 30 years old, it’s not even midlife and it’s already crisis

visit the internet

there are billions of people

are you still alone here?

It’s a new year. The year 2023 has arrived. Technically, it is just another day in the life of us humans living on earth, but it’s also a chance to collectively hope for a happier, healthier and more peaceful future. To everyone who reads this: May it be a time worth living! :)

Winter is here!

I remember times when this wasn’t anything notable for someone like me, who is living near the cost of Germany, and I’m not even that old. #klima