Here’s a full list of crossplay Xbox and PC games. I figure if it’s on the pc, there’s a good chance it could be played on the steam deck as well.

Notable mentions in there that I’ve played and enjoyed are Destiny 2, Overwatch 2, Remnant 2, Left4Dead 2, (I’m seeing a pattern here), and Deep Rock Galactic.

It’s not out yet but Marvel Rivals looks like it may be a good fit. Hopefully they’ll announce the release date soon now that the closed beta is over.

Thimbleweed Park seems to fit your criteria. One of the reviews even compares it to Twin Peaks. It’s a point and click murder mystery adventure game with where you have to switch between 5 characters.

It’s been years since I’ve played but I think the setting was in a fake Northwest Pacific town.

Fun fact, the names in the phone book and the titles/stories of the books in the library came from Kickstarter backers. Some of the books were pretty funny.

Is there a nonpaywall link?

I’d agree with the exception of artists who sell their printed work (ex: photographers, graphic designers). They’re not only making money from their prints but also printing in color frequently enough that the cartridge doesn’t dry out.

Interesting read. Never thought about how the emotions of songs have changed. I wish they discussed more on how the different ways people listen to music affects the complexity of the song lyrics.

They briefly mention how most people listen to music as background noise and that the first 10-15 seconds are crucial to whether people listen to the song or skip it.

But there are also other factors I wished they mentioned like how easily accessible songs are (you don’t have to go out and buy a physical copy) or other types of audio competition (like audio books or podcasts). Since musicians have to try to appeal to as many people as possible to compete with so many other choices for people to listen to, the lyrics have gotten simpler and more repetitive/catchy.

But I guess it’s not so much an explanation of why lyrics have changed but proof that it has.

There are some games that are entirely story based that fit the criteria better.

One that comes to mind is To the Moon. There’s some puzzle elements to make it a game but its appeal is pretty much entirely based on its story.

Don’t worry, I’m sure at least 2 of them are RE 4 remakes

Proprivacy.com seems more like reviews for VPNs and other privacy services. They listed one service, blur that looked promising. Unfortunately, it’s only available to use for US merchants.

Privacy also looked promising. However, they require users to provide their SSN and that’s not something I want to give for something small like this.

Open box stuff is nice. I also like buying bigger items like TVs or appliances from them since it’s easier to return if I don’t like it.

Also it’s nice to demo stuff before buying if I’m not sure about the size, weight, screen etc.

And as some users have mentioned, Amazon has become kind of a lottery for actually getting new items

For the lazy:

The California High-Speed Rail took another important step toward becoming reality Thursday after the governing body’s board of directors began the process of obtaining possible vendors for the state’s most ambitious transit project in history.

The High-Speed Rail Authority’s Board approved the release of a Request for Qualifications, which clears the way for the Authority to obtain and screen vendors as well as establish a pool of possible manufacturers for the project’s trainsets.

Interested companies will need to submit a statement of qualification to the Authority to attest they can meet the demands of the project if ultimately selected as the winning bid.

Statements of Qualification will be due by November and the total pool of vendors will be whittled down by the first quarter of 2024, the Authority said.

“Our action today allows us to deliver on our commitment to meet our federal grant timelines to start testing,” said Board Chair Tom Richards. “This is an important milestone for us to deliver high-speed rail service in the Central Valley and eventually into Northern and Southern California.”

The Authority is looking to obtain six trainsets that are capable of operating at speeds of 220 mph and tested at speeds as high as 242 mph. Two prototypes will need to be delivered by 2028 to allow for testing and trial runs and the additional four will need to be delivered by 2030.

“These trainsets ensure that we are procuring the latest generation of high-speed trains for this first-in-the-nation project,” said Authority CEO Brian Kelly. “We look forward to working with members of the industry as we strive to develop a market for high-speed trains in the United States.”

The manufacturer who is chosen to receive the High-Speed Rail contract will be be responsible for designing, building, integrating and commissioning the trainsets, as well as maintaining them and their spare parts for 30 years. The manufacturer will also be responsible for testing and maintaining a driving simulator.

The California High-Speed Rail is tentatively planned to open in 2030, operating in the large middle section of the Central Valley which and connecting Merced to Bakersfield along a 171-mile track.

Construction on the project officially began in Fresno in 2015 after decades of discussion and voter approval for initial funding in 2008.

The Authority said it hopes to have service going by 2030, but transportation advocates and supporters of the project have urged the governing body to accelerate that timeline, possibly having the entire track from the Bay Area to Los Angeles up and running by 2028.

Despite clamoring from advocates and overall enthusiasm for the project, the Authority stresses that there’s simply not enough funding to get the project completed any sooner.

Still, Thursday’s procedural step is an important one and continues to solidify the Authority’s confidence that the project is past the “point of no return” and will be completed in the next decade.

Construction is currently underway along 119 miles of the proposed 171-mile track across the Central Valley. There are more than 30 active construction sites in the state, and the 422 miles of the program’s design has received environmental clearance.