Graffë Forums

Graffë Forums https://www.graffes.com/forums/ en Thu, 07 May 2026 08:46:23 GMT vBulletin 60 https://www.graffes.com/forums/images/misc/rss.png Graffë Forums https://www.graffes.com/forums/ <![CDATA[May '26 Release Thread]]> https://www.graffes.com/forums/showthread.php?82240-May-26-Release-Thread&goto=newpost Fri, 01 May 2026 19:03:32 GMT At first glance there doesn't seem to be much going on in May, but there are still a fair number of games coming out this month. Here is a short summary of the ones I recognize:

The biggest game this month, on paper, is 007 First Light. This is a game made from the developers of the Hitman franchise, games known for giving the player a large amount of freedom in choosing how they approach missions, blending both stealth and action. For this game they are leveraging those skills in order to tell a James Bond origin story. This is one of the most mass market, big budget game releases this year and despite that, or because of that, it also harbors a large amount of skepticism from the general player base. Ultimately this game is a big question mark and it's hard to tell how well it will be received.

For a more stable expectation of success, we have Forza Horizons 6. I consider the racing genre to be relatively niche, but the Forza franchise has long been one of the standout hits of its genre, with the Horizon branding in particular being generally more approachable and fun for wider audiences. Racing games have always been known for their visuals, with these in particular having great environment design, with each game taking place in a different part of the world. This one will be taking place in Japan.

This month also sees the release of Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, another franchise with a proven, if underestimated, record. These games take a silly and tongue-in-cheek approach to their source material, often featuring simple gameplay and a large roster of characters. This one in particular is said to be a love letter to the entire franchise and includes references from a wide range of media, as well as a revamped combat system.

Lastly, Nintendo has another exclusive this month with Yoshi and the Mysterious Book. Even by Nintendo standards, Yoshi games tend to be very kid friendly and often have unique art styles. In this one, rather than focusing on traditional platforming gameplay, the gameplay focuses on curiosity and discovery. The player is tasked with filling out the pages of an in-game book by observing and interacting with the world and the creatures inside it.

Not going to highlight any particular indie games this month, as I don't really know much about most of them. I will point out, however, that Subnautica 2 is apparently entering Early Access this month. I don't normally cover Early Access, but suspect there might be some interest here.

Spoiler for May releases:

]]> General Gaming Discussion Wool https://www.graffes.com/forums/showthread.php?82240-May-26-Release-Thread An ode to the Deuce-and-a-Half: the M35 Cargo Truck https://www.graffes.com/forums/showthread.php?82239-An-ode-to-the-Deuce-and-a-Half-the-M35-Cargo-Truck&goto=newpost Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:00:32 GMT An ode to the Deuce-and-a-Half: the M35 Cargo Truck (https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/ode-to-m35-deuce-and-a-half/) ---Quote--- *Summary* Soldiers from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan all have at least one thing in common: the Deuce and a Half.... An ode to the Deuce-and-a-Half: the M35 Cargo Truck

Quote:

Summary

Soldiers from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan all have at least one thing in common: the Deuce and a Half.

Quote:

It smelled like old diesel and sounded like the apocalypse. Its bench was a wooden plank bolted to an aluminum frame that felt purposefully designed to make your back hurt and your legs go numb. The canvas overhead snapped in the wind like it was trying to get the heck out of there, and who could blame it?

If you ever climbed into the back of a 2½-ton M35 cargo truck, you remember it. The shaking and flying off every bump. The guy across from you, knees touching yours, both of you pretending not to notice. The grab strap overhead, because whoever was driving had apparently never heard of a smooth transition between gears.

The Deuce and a Half. Not a tank, nor a helicopter. Nobody, anywhere, ever, said, “Hey, let’s make a movie about her.” It was just a big, ugly, loud, diesel-chugging, unbreakable truck that carried more American soldiers to and from war than any other vehicle in U.S. military history.

Across eight decades and every American conflict from World War II to the Global War on Terror, the deuce did not care what war it was. This baby just showed up, loaded soldiers in the back, and drove toward the problem.

...

The article continues with pictures and more history of the trucks that have been used for over 80 years... ]]> General Discussion Ackar https://www.graffes.com/forums/showthread.php?82239-An-ode-to-the-Deuce-and-a-Half-the-M35-Cargo-Truck <![CDATA[Does YouTube push “drama & controversy” more than actual useful content now?]]> https://www.graffes.com/forums/showthread.php?82237-Does-YouTube-push-“drama-amp-controversy”-more-than-actual-useful-content-now&goto=newpost Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:59:05 GMT Man, there’s something I’ve been noticing for quite a while now, and I’m not sure if it’s just me or if it’s actually happening…

Does the YouTube algorithm now genuinely push more “drama,” reaction, and controversy-type content over informative or helpful videos? Like, whenever I open the homepage, most of the recommended videos are either roasts or just unnecessary hype.
If someone creates proper educational or value-based content, do their chances of growing become lower? Or is this just a result of audience behavior?

Also, while observing this, I started paying more attention to how different types of content perform in real viewing sessions. I even used a YouTube mod APK from ytmodz for a while just to watch more content without interruptions (no ads, background play, etc.), and it kind of made it easier to notice patterns in what keeps people watching and what doesn’t. It still feels like the algorithm mainly rewards engagement and watch time, so even educational content can do well if it holds attention properly, but emotional or dramatic content just tends to grab clicks faster. ]]> General Discussion tahirmehmoodkhokhar https://www.graffes.com/forums/showthread.php?82237-Does-YouTube-push-“drama-amp-controversy”-more-than-actual-useful-content-now Movies Project Hail Mary https://www.graffes.com/forums/showthread.php?82236-Project-Hail-Mary&goto=newpost Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:23:36 GMT I haven't seen this yet, but really want to. The book was great, I thoroughly enjoyed it as an audiobook.

Anyone here seen it yet? I have read a lot of good things about the movie online, but first hand review(s) would be even better. ]]> General Discussion Bonlainy https://www.graffes.com/forums/showthread.php?82236-Project-Hail-Mary