this post was submitted on 11 May 2025
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Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted clever little truths, hidden in daily life.

Here are some examples to inspire your own showerthoughts:

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These days I have been playing the catalog of the PlayStation 1 and 2 games that marked me when I was young or at the time I couldn't play: the trilogy of Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Rayman, Jak and Daxter, Sly Cooper, Ratchet and Clank, etc.. And I realized that nowadays you practically don't see characters like that in video games anymore.

Just as there was a time when all games were made for children, nowadays it seems that all games are made for teenagers and adults. Even those that don't seem to be, such as Astrobot, appeal to the nostalgia of the more adult public.

What kind of heroes does my nephew have, for example? There's Sonic, and it's something in which we have a connection, but Sonic and other heroes that still remain current, like Mario or Link, are from an era that long predates him and perhaps for him they feel more like a thing of the past, similar to how I feel about Sailor Moon or Mazinger Z, which were heroes of my older siblings and parents respectively.

I don't know of any heroes that are specifically intended to appeal to young people like my nephew, at least not in a "wholesome" way. Much of what he likes was not made with the child audience in mind, such as Five Nights At Freddy's or Among Us; and what does, was made for more predatory motives, such as Poppy Playtime or Garten of Banban. The only thing I can think of is Minecraft and.... I don't know, it just doesn't add up for me.

My nephew doesn't have a Crash, a Spyro, a Sly to be nostalgic about when he gets to my age.

It's a little... Bleak...

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

This world needs a new Leisure Suit Larry.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

I think Astrobot is an example of what you're talking about.

Also really good observation about FNAF. I've noticed the same. What's interesting is that the longer the franchise go the more they push Purple Guy/Afton as the main antagonist and even make Freddy into a hero at times. It's like this big unexpected success and they need to make it more acceptable but sort of painted themselves into a corner over time lol.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

Gaming is an grownup hobby for adults. Under 18yo are less than a quarter of gammers.

This idea that games companies don't understand their customers is a myth. They know who plays their games and more importantly who buys their games.

When games companies act in ways that disappoint, cheat, or exploit their customers, it's not because they goofed (usually). It's because they're business assholes and customer satisfaction is subordinate to plenty of sinister things that are opaque to the gaming public.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 week ago

yeah kids that do game play free to play games for the most part

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

No, it's because consulting companies like McKinsey tell Microsoft, ea, and Ubisoft that micro transactions will make stock go up, then they go to investment groups and say micro transactions are the sign of a gaming company about to make money

They have all the metrics, they aren't doing what makes them the most sales or revenue. They're doing what makes the stock price dance

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago

They know who plays their games and more importantly who buys their games.

Is this not a bit of a "chicken and egg" argument though? Adults have pretty much always been the ones buying games, but they haven't always been making them for adults. Even if kids are less than a quarter of all gamers, they're still a sizeable chunk of the audience. Doesn't really make sense to just ignore them.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I literally made an indie game to fill in this gap. It's local coop and was designed for kids and parents to play together.

It's called:

INK INSIDE (PC now, all consoles soon)

Brain David Gilbert voices the lead: Stick the stick figure. The whole cast are children's drawings come to life living in a kids notebook that's getting corrupted by a slow leak dripping water into their world and warping them into "sog" monsters.

It's a game based on a lost pilot to a Nickelodeon show, and as such is both a cartoon and action RPG with a narrative that follows the first season of what you used to see on Saturday Morning.

It's pretty much what you're looking for imo, but since we're indie, marketing has not been treating us well 😅

Reception from our intended younger audience has been glowing. Just harder to sell to kids as they don't have money 😑

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I thought the name of the game sounded familiar, so I ended up looking at the Steam page and I was right when Stumpt did a video on it, pretty sure. Definitely gonna have to at least check out the demo because it looks interesting enough.

Looked it up and they definitely did a video on it. Sk definitely gonna at least check out the demo. Hope sales pick up.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Thank you so much! 😁

We lucked out and got some love from some great streamers like Stumpt, Atlas Anarchy, Blazekin, and some others. All organically through promoting the game at places like PAX and LA Comicon.

But since a good amount of that attention was before we launched, it mostly translated to wishlists. (Which certainly still helps).

Regardless, BOTH wishlists and reviews do amazing for us - so if you enjoy the "First Page" demo, let us know! 🙂

And thanks again!

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

This looks awesome!

It checks a lot of boxes for me:

  • Indie
  • local co-op
  • playable demo
  • Brian David Gilbert?!

I've never heard about this before, so I'm glad you shared. It looks like it'd be great to play with my nephew. Hope you can make the sequels!

For the rest of you's: https://www.inkinsidegame.com/

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

Thank you so much! Very proud of what we've made, as we made it exactly for people like you! 🙂 Hope you enjoy and thanks for sharing the link!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Sweet! Now i have something to gift my nephew and play together!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago

Awesome! Thank you so much! We love the support! And I'm sure you'll both get a kick out of it 😁

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Sony is trying to make Alloy from Horizon a mainstream titular Sony franchise character....poorly (LEGO horizon was the last straw)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago
[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago

Bring. Back. Maximo.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

They aren't really heroes, just mascots

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago

Like... Yeah. Heroic mascots.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I think a lot of it has to do with how we game. Older generation games we tended to play an actual character. Then gaming shifted to be immersive, where you, the player, are the main character.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago (2 children)

This.

Maybe that's why I personally get irritated by games that aren't hardcore RPGs (like New Vegas) where the character is an empty canvas with no personality of its own. I'm more used to being told "You're this hero. You need to go to this place and defeat this villain. You like chillidog and freedom. Have fun!"

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Immortals Fenyx Rising?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Halo 1's release (2001) is closer to the first appearance of Mario (1981) than present day (2025). I would definitely call it a legacy IP.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

Why would you do this.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Sorta, yes. Although I see Master Chief more like a teen hero.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Super Earth is the only hero I need!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago

Um, the point of Helldivers is that we are the baddies.

I feel like we have more than enough death-cult machismo fascism in real life.

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