Tag Archives: escape

Review of Wonderstop – A Fantastic Escape from the Stress of Competition | Gaming

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tHis “comfortable game” is what appeals to one of our two responses, the ones who typically engage in regular video game play. It beckons you with its promise of soothing, resource management-focused gameplay that offers a leisurely pace, providing a gentle escape from the intense action and high-stress adventures. Alternatively, it may repel you – certainly, it repelled me. “Cozy” often serves as a code for a twee aesthetic, avoiding drama in favor of repetitive tasks aimed at creating comfort, reminiscent of resource management sims like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing.

So when I encountered WonderStop, a vibrant game where a fallen warrior transitions to running a tea shop, I felt hesitant. However, this is Davey Wreden’s third project, following the success of Stanley Parable and Beginner’s Guide. If it’s anything like its predecessors, it’s bound to be full of surprises and crafted with meticulous attention to detail and artistic vision. Wreden is an auteur, known for exploring challenging postmodern themes in his work. His creations push the boundaries of what video game mediums can achieve, and luckily, this latest offering is no exception.

Your life… Wonderstop. Photo: Annapurna Interactive

WonderStop excels at blending gameplay with a narrative about the perils of burnout. The game embodies what it preaches – it isn’t merely paying lip service to a serene lifestyle. Instead, it constructs one around the player, whether they embrace it willingly or not.

The protagonist, Alta, the fallen warrior, clearly resists this change. Constantly losing battles, she ends up in the woods, seeking solace under the tutelage of her hero. Boro, a kind gentleman running Wonderstop Tea Shop, takes Alta in and encourages her to brew tea and engage in light chores to aid her recuperation. As players brew tea and tend to the colorful, perilous Ghibli-style garden, characters come and go. Apart from brewing tea, players can care for whimsical creatures, collect items, read books, cultivate plants, and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

The joy of growing up… Wonderstop. Photo: Annapurna Interactive

This scenario may not be entirely new. Games like Wytchwood, Spiritfarer, Spirittea, and Moonstone Island also involve combining ingredients to fulfill the whims of fantastical creatures. What sets Wonderstop apart is its refusal to focus on progress or resolution. There is no optimization, no ticking clock, no pressure. You won’t “win.” This game resists the gratification of grinding, clicking, and ticking boxes. The manner in which the story unfolds may unravel the game’s enchanting sleight of hand, but suffice it to say, I was pleasantly surprised by the narrative’s poignant harmony. Addressing burnout in both its dialogue and storyline is a noteworthy aspect of the game. While it’s easy to extol the virtues of rest, actively showcasing surrender and healing is a whole other level.

From a technical standpoint, WonderStop offers a seamless experience. The controls are user-friendly, the music is soothing, and voice acting, though minimal, is impactful. The game mechanics are finely tuned, with dialogues and incidental texts proving engaging, surprising, and poignant when necessary. There are no arbitrary obstacles hindering the immersive experience.

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Completing WonderStop typically takes around 12 hours, but for me, the game beckoned for an immediate replay. I yearned to return to the tea shop’s gardens and uncover as many secrets as possible. It lingers, prompting reflection on the relentless pace that consumes us all. Arguably, the frustration experienced by seasoned resource management enthusiasts due to the game’s slippery and enigmatic nature is precisely the point – play with surrender.

Wanderstop’s cozy and charming facade conceals something far more profound and clever than I’ve encountered in a long while. It’s a disguised masterpiece that offers players a sanctuary worth visiting, lingering in, and engaging with.

Wonderstop is now priced at £20

Source: www.theguardian.com

Is a comedian my only hope to escape my unlivable “boys room”? | Housing

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Snowboard boots on the kitchen table. A handle in the bedroom. And clothes are everywhere, and there's no system for determining which ones are clean.

These are just some of the sights that will tell you you're in the boys' room. It's a bedroom with little form or function, inhabited by a grown man who doesn't give much thought to either concept. The interior is usually made up of random trinkets, like your favorite old skateboard on the wall or your childhood action figures on the windowsill. Sneakers and trash are often so dense that it’s hard to see the floor. The thing about furniture is that there might be some furniture. Otherwise, the resident sleeps on a bare mattress placed directly on the floor with one pillow and an uncovered comforter.

To an outsider, it may seem immature and even unkind. Now, comedian Rachel Coster is exploring this phenomenon in her TikTok/Instagram series. boy room.

In every episode, a man in his 20s or 30s living in New York City offers his bedroom for anthropological research. Coster walks around the room and asks the boys questions about the decorations.

“What's that over there?” she asked Luke, 24, pointing to a dirty container next to a step stool. “It’s a bottle of bleach,” he answered.

“What's with the hat?” she asked Jerome, 32, pointing to the baseball cap under the bed. “That’s a cat’s hat,” he explains.

Some videos go in an even more surreal direction. One video features a windowless room with residents' nicknames painted on the walls, like something out of a horror movie. Another boy is wearing a nightcap and has an empty condom box taped to the wall.


Rachel Coster investigates a phenomenon familiar to many who have dated in New York. Photo: Provided by the gymnasium

Koster then offers some very practical tips for improving your space. “My vision for Blake’s room is to install a trash can for him,” she suggests. “Place all clothing on the floor on readily available racks.”

The boys in question are mainly Although he may be a little confused when he receives attention, he is sincere and likable. One commenter on Instagram said: “Blake seems like a really level-headed person. I think we have a lot in common.”

The idea for the boy room came from a friend of Koster’s who said her room “scared every girl I’ve ever taken.” She said she could help fix it within a few hours. In just her five weeks since the show began, Koster’s most-watched video has been her 2.7 million views on TikTok, and her Boy Room followers have surpassed her 121,000.

Perhaps it’s because she finds such a rich theme. Socializing, especially dating, means being exposed to a wealth of unknown homes and lifestyles. Family life of young people special scrutiny. For example, on TikTok, users canThree typical boy apartments in New York City” (the eldest of the siblings, the “dad has money” guy, and the guy with the fireplace that will hurt your feelings).Natural things in my boyfriend’s apartment” (e.g. a fire hydrant that has been recalled for some reason).

Why on earth is the men’s room the way it is? Coster theorizes that while girls are raised with the expectation that they will one day take care of the house and “look out for each other” when it comes to cleanliness, “that’s not the case when boys go to each other’s rooms.” I’m wearing it. ‘Hey, hey, why don’t you have more than one pillow?’ And, of course, there’s the relentless advertising, she says, ‘Men are sold on ‘you have to be stronger.’ You need focus. You have to be hardworking.’For girls, “You have to be beautiful, you have to be clean, and your house has to be clean.”

My lover, who was probably trying to send a message, warned me about the boy room first. She’s only just turned 39 and I’m just a boy, with a room where I’ve been told in no uncertain terms that I’m eligible to be on the show. Since I live on the other side of the country, Ms. Koster kindly agreed to do an evaluation via video chat.

Her first question was how to get it across the bedroom since there is a TV stand at the foot of the bed and together they take up the length of the room. I explained that I would have to climb over the bed to get to the closet. “It’s amazing,” she said. “And all your clothes are shoved in storage shelves,” she said of the boxes in the closet where I stuff my clothes (I don’t have a dresser, but I do have storage shelves, so there is no need).


Some of the posters in my room have not yet fallen. Photo: The Guardian

She also took note of my pile of keepsakes (which used to be filled with keepsake bags). There I keep things I can’t bear to throw away, like postcards, the magic wand from my Halloween costume from seven years ago, and a brochure from a hang gliding museum in Texas I don’t remember visiting. Her grandfather’s electric chess set is also on the mountain. “Yeah, that’s where he wants to be,” Koster said. “How long has it been sitting there?”

“Maybe it’s because I moved here a year and a half ago?”

“So how often do you look at them and say, ‘Wow, thank God I have this ‘Hoppy Easter’ card?”

Coster “loves tossing” things he doesn’t normally use. “I’d rather have noise-cancelling headphones than a million letters from her parents,” she said, adding: “Maybe if my parents had died, I might have felt differently.”

She also suggested putting memorabilia in a chest, or at least organizing the pile into smaller piles. “You’ll find that there’s a better shape to it than just putting it in a lump in the corner of the room.” Her other key advice was to put back posters that had fallen off the wall, but the theme I thought it might be a good idea to change it a little. I suffer from a condition that could be diagnosed as extreme Anglophilia, and the poster included her two maps of Britain, a vintage tube ad, and an overhead view of London. Masu. She said, “I’m going to introduce France or some other white European country to get you excited.”


After all, the boy room is for boys. Photo: Provided by the gymnasium

Actually, I already have a discarded poster from France, but the simplicity of her other suggestions made me want to take action. I did it the next weekend, reupholstered the posters, and got rid of some of my worst memorabilia. Two monocles with broken glasses.

Koster understands that getting rid of things can be difficult. “I don’t think sentimentality and peace of mind really go together, because if you’re always thinking about the past and always trying to protect things, it’s really hard to stay in the present.”, it is also rewarding to correct your posture. “When I wake up in a clean room, I feel completely in heaven.”

Boy Room has plenty of jokes, but what sets it apart from your standard internet troll is its underlying warmth. Yes, we’re laughing in the boys’ room, but Koster works with a small team that includes a director, cinematographer, and editor. sexy damion, very much on the boy’s side. she told one of the boys’ room customers. “This has nothing to do with your personality. You’re nice. You just don’t know what you’re doing with your space.”

She, and by extension we, simply want what’s best for these men, starting with their ability to move from one side of the room to the other without tripping. “My true wish is that if possible, everyone should love themselves enough to value their own space,” she said.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tech-savvy Gen Zers opt for simple ‘dumb phones’ to escape smartphone stress

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Almost enough to stop doomscrolling. A boring device is now cool.

The Boring Phone is a new featureless flip phone that is catching the attention of young people seeking to switch from smartphones to basic phones.

The latest model, a collaboration between Heineken beer and fashion retailer Bodega, made waves when introduced at Milan Design Week this month, where designers worldwide showcase their latest trends. The Boring Phone is part of a growing trend of dumb phones evolving from Gen Z’s skepticism towards data collection and attention-grabbing technology. This skepticism has revitalized retro cultural items, known as nutro, seen in the resurgence of vinyl records, cassettes, fanzines, 8-bit games, and vintage cell phones.

“I always despised being constantly connected,” said Lana Ali. The 29-year-old, previously in finance and now a music producer and rapper known as Surya Sen, added, “I tried using a smartphone, but I always return to simplicity.”

Nostalgia for “brick” phones with long-lasting batteries led to the relaunch of the Nokia 3310 in 2017, but the trend really took off in the US last year, sparked by TikTokers using the #bringbackflipphones hashtag. HMD, behind the Nokia relaunch, saw foldable phone sales double by April 2023, while Punkt, which focuses on minimalist phones, also experienced a significant sales boost.


The Boring Phone is a retro flip phone with minimal functionality.

Mintel mentioned that Apple and Samsung are not yet threatened. Nine out of ten phones are smartphones, and dumb phones remain a niche market, as per Joe Birch, a technology analyst at the research firm. “Nevertheless, there are signs that this generation is altering their smartphone habits, and we are concerned about the potential negative effects of constant digital connectivity driving this change,” Birch added. “For instance, three out of five Gen Zers express a desire to disconnect from the digital world.”

This shift towards offline life or digital minimalism is also evident in Gen Z’s reduced use of social media. They are the only generation to have cut back on social media usage since 2021, as per GWI. Yet, seniors are also undergoing digital detox, including Lars Silberbauer, HMD’s chief marketing officer, who mentioned a transitional period after disconnecting. “In the first few hours, you may feel anxious,” he explained. “But soon, focus returns, and previous activities resume.”

According to technology analyst Portulance Institute, the internet now appears more as a surveillance tool for brands, governments, and scammers rather than a place for exploration or meeting interesting individuals, causing more young adults to prioritize privacy.

Older tech can offer greater freedom. Sampling music has become a challenge for emerging artists due to Spotify and YouTube’s algorithms, which detect uncleared samples. However, an underground artist can press 500 copies of an EP record and distribute it to DJs and fans without hurdles.

The downside to going offline is the increasing reliance on smartphones in today’s world. Hannah Whelan from the Good Things Foundation’s Data Poverty Lab noted that 2.4 million UK households cannot afford mobile contracts, and 2 million young people lack access to learning devices, hindering essential services now online.

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The Luddite Club of New York schoolchildren announced their decision to switch from iPhones to flip phones in December 2022, although Punkt founder Petter Nebby noted that smartphones are still necessary. “It’s impractical,” he commented. “While we discuss banning smartphones in UK schools, education systems rely heavily on online tasks for scheduling and assignments. I advocate for banning smartphones for children, but it’s a complex issue that requires balance.”

Piers Garrett, a 27-year-old tech sales executive, found a balance by using a Litephone, an e-ink device without apps. However, he eventually gave up. “The concept was good, but I lasted only six months,” he admitted. “WhatsApp is the main mode of communication. Now I maintain a strict app usage policy, only using banking and transit apps and turning off notifications. In the morning, I prioritize personal activities like coffee or reading, noticing a significant mental clarity improvement.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Escape through Animal Crossing: Psychology of the pandemic revealed’ | Games

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‘TToday is the first day of your new life on this pristine and beautiful island. Well then, congratulations! ” says benevolent raccoon landlord Tom Nook minutes into Animal Crossing: New Horizons. (Nook gets a lot of hate online, but there’s no denying he’s very welcoming.) Many players read this comforting message during a time of uncertainty and fear in the real world. Animal Crossing: New Horizons was released on Nintendo Switch on March 20, 2020., days before the UK entered its first Covid lockdown.

This was fortuitous timing. When we were all stuck at home, thanks to this game you can plant local fruit, take care of your flowers, see what’s on offer in the shops in town, and play with Tom Nook. I was able to repay a large loan (thankfully interest free) and escape. Chaos and daily death toll. We opened the gates to our island and welcomed friends and strangers into our pristine little world. When real life fell apart, we started anew glasses cat, Sheep in a clown coat and rhinoceros like cake.

Due to the sudden popularity of the game Nintendo Switch sales status surge amid pandemic shortages. new horizons sold 44.79 million units By December 2023 – almost 3.5 times more than any other game in the Animal Crossing series since 2001. This is his second best-selling Switch game to date after Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.


“I visited a friend who was far away in real life”…Many people still play this game.

Player April said she and her partner Matthew have spent over 700 hours playing the game, turning their island into a collaborative…

Source: www.theguardian.com

Escape to Summer House: A Pixel Renovation Game that Lets You Live Your Dream

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Imagine an idyllic vacation. Where is your mind wandering? Tolkien’s idyllic glade? Maybe a terracotta hut in a dusty desert? After living in a small town all your life, you yearn for a bustling city apartment surrounded by neon advertisements and walled gardens. Summerhouse is an intimate shoebox world that provides an outlet for such architectural fantasies, allowing players to meticulously craft living spaces that match their vision of the perfect escape.

The antithesis of Grand Design, Summerhouse is a pixelated playpen, an extravagant game for the kitschy, quaint, grand or unknown. You don’t have to worry about budgets, foundations, or planning permission. Developer Friedemann’s hazy, pixelated world will suit your tastes.




“Summerhouse nurtures your inner inventor.” Photo: Friedemann/Future Friends Games

Before donning your metaphorical helmet, choose one of four vibrant spots, including the foothills of a snow-capped mountain or the borders of a metropolis. Once in the field, we skim through the Microsoft Paint-like side menu, which includes windows, doors, and decorations.

Summerhouse is so astonishingly ignorant of physical geometry that his blueprints gather dust on the pavement. Line a tiled roof with a white picket fence like a medieval parapet, or reuse a vending machine as a door. The burden of choice that always overwhelms me when playing city-building games melted into quiet contemplation as I built a house made primarily of mailboxes in an arid valley.

As you arrange the building blocks of your summer house in an inspired manner, you’ll occasionally see cameos from cute characters and new objects that embody your cozy concept. But this is not something to work towards or plan for. Rather, Summerhouse nurtures your inner inventor and allows you to stumble upon progress. This approach lends itself to the game’s warm, welcoming atmosphere, and once you’ve developed a thriving space, it can take the form of a gentle diorama that you can sit and admire, much like in David OReilly’s game.
Mountain.




“A beautiful homage to my past.” Photo: Friedemann/Future Friends Games

With the push of a button, a crisp moonlit night transforms into a hazy, sun-drenched morning. He also liked to whip up a storm of atmosphere reminiscent of a wild Queensland camping trip or a summer barbecue gone wrong. She can explore mini-kingdoms in every state as if she were on a year’s worth of vacation. Summerhouse was the most powerful moment, recontextualizing my actual summer vacation memories. Some of the houses I built were beautiful homages to my past, others were twisted monsters of Escher-esque geometry, but I still fell in love with their tortured abstractions.

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Relaxing is not easy for me. I can’t sit still to save my life. Still, we enjoyed the tranquility of the summerhouse. I used the construction of my house as an opportunity to organize and rearrange my mental filing cabinet, to keep my hands busy and my mind wandering. With its minimalist feel and clicky sounds, Summerhouse is sure to take the frustration out of your day. It’s a thought-provoking addition to the cozy gaming cabal that is slowly conquering my hard drive.

Source: www.theguardian.com