Monday, August 20, 2018

Open letter to Netflix about how to improve it

I have not been part of this but I have seen several people's reactions to commercials during their Netflix routine. I understand what you are trying to do and agree with the idea of it but your execution is flawed.

There are two main modes of thought people go through then starting up Netflix;
1) Lets watch that movie that I picked out a while ago (and hope it is actually on Netflix)
2) I am not sure what I want but I feel like a *insert movie genre here* right now

Sounds like you are trying to appease group 2 but are pissing off group 1.

My suggestion? Here are a couple of random ideas to throw your way.

- you need a "not interested" section. Not a thumbs down, but specifically not interested. Thumbs down is saying, I saw at least part of it and I did not like it. Not interested is saying, I never saw it but judging by the cover, I would not probably like it.

- bring by the star rating system (not really related to this but I just really miss it.)

- have a icon, either at the top or along the side where someone can click to ask to look at random stuff. Either totally random, or specific to a genre they feel like watching.

- if you wanted to get crazy, you can find a way to check two different "watch later" lists for any common elements and point those out. When I go over to my friend's and after we have dinner we either chose board games or Netflix (or both) but when we try to find a movie we all would want to watch, we mostly end up with a list of movies they have not seen but ones we have.

We are fast growing into a new machine learning age, and we as your consumers are begging to give you more data so you can help us with what to watch but instead of embracing that, you are reducing it in favor or "figuring out" what we might actually want. You need to do both, not ignore and guess.

Let us all chill together. 

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Graveyard Keeper Random Details

So far I am loving this odd game. It has the feel of Stardew Valley but has a very dark sense of humor around it. If it sounds interesting, take a look at several reviews popping up,

This is more of a random fact list of things that took me a while to learn that I sort of wish I learned earlier.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/599140/Graveyard_Keeper/

Build That Bridge
There is a bridge to the West of the graveyard. It will lead to a more open area with a swamp and a witch and more iron. A specific white small plant you might be looking for is there as well. Also, while there, there is another bridge in the swamp that you might want to build to make a shortcut. It costs 6 planks, 3 boards and 10 nails so bring those with you if you can.

Teleport anyone? 
A little bit in the game, the bartender will offer a teleport stone for 2 silver, get it. You can use it as many times as you want (it will need to recharge after each use) and you can have it send you to your house or to the pub.

Blue Experience?
That is the hardest to come by. It is not important for the first part of the game so don't worry about it until after you open the church. After that, get some cake, some faith and some science and learn about all the body parts you have been collecting and each will give you a one time huge amount of blue.

Science!
To get some science, after opening the church, you need to "decompose" books. Buy a good 15 science one from the astronomer for 2 silver to get you started.

Open That Church
Speaking of the church, to open it up, you need +5 prettiness from the graveyard. One essential unexplained part is each corpse has red and white skulls associated with it. You need to get rid of the red skulls to make any good difference. If there are more than one red skull after you autopsy it, then just throw it in the river (or cremate it later on with 8 circle wood just south of the graveyard). To get rid of 2 red no matter what (with the exception of making a "mistake") is to remove the blood and fat. The rest seems to be rather random but there is supposedly a pattern to them.

Moths
You need the skill to find them, then just pick flowers after dark

Improve That Chruch
You want to get at least 10 faith inside and outside the church. Easiest way inside it to make some benches.

Church Interior Improvement Cost
Candlelabra = 6 simple metal
Wall Candlelabra  = 6 simple metal
Church Bench = 8 board, 8 nails

Bees Among Us
There is a place to grow your own bees but it is a little out of the way north of the graveyard. You also need 4 boards, 4 simple metal, and 2 paper to get it working order. After that you still need the tech to actually make the beehives so don't bother until you have learned it. Beehives are 4 planks, 6 nails and 20 bees each.

Some Random Costs
Swamp
Swamp Bridge = 6 plank, 3 boards, 10 nails
Swamp North Blockage = 10 knobs, 2 boards, 4 simple metal

Under Church (study)
Study Blockage = 10 knobs, 1 block, 4 simple metal
Study Desk = 8 planks, 8 nails
Study Scrollshelf = 8 planks, 4 simple metal, 12 nails
Study Bookshelf = 8 planks, 4 simple metal, 12 nails
Study Alchemy Rack = 12 planks, 10 nails, 4 blocks
Study Desk II = 6 boards, 12 nails, 1 lens

Under Home (basement)
Trunk = 4 planks, 4 nails, 3 simple metal
Fermentation barrel = 8 planks, 4 simple metal
Brewing Stand = 24 stone, 4 simple metal