The Sunday Papers

Sundays are a time for recovering from overindulgence, be it a wedding or other festivities. However, when the recovery phase has already passed, the next logical step is to assign blame. The usual culprits come into play: swivel chairs, mattresses, PC monitors, sofas, and the mischievous light walking. Sitting down to read the week's writing highlights provides a temporary distraction.

One such highlight comes from Mazen Haggag for Deleted Saves on Final Fantasy XVI's attempt at incorporating Middle Eastern and North African cultural influences. The issue lies in Dhalmekia, the only non-white nation in the base game, which is shallow and lacks depth. The country is described as a desert land of craftsmen who trade artisan goods across Valisthea, with each town specializing in unique goods or services.

Despite the visual appeal of the various objects and accouterments, the people inhabiting the nation are not given enough attention. Lilith, from Gamesline, examines the portrayal of violence in games, questioning whether violence is glamorous or cathartic. In Armored Core 6, death is depicted as ugly and brutal, while war is filled with people who don't get a chance to deliver a memorable last line.

However, depending on the storyline, violence can also be empowering. Dr. Michael Cook, an AI researcher, reflects on the shift from optimism in early AI work to the current state dominated by big tech. He critiques a recent AI paper, noting that it simply reports the ability of a product to perform a task without proper evaluation.

Cook expresses his discontent with the lack of genuine contribution to AI research and the industry's focus on capital rather than expanding our understanding of the world. The final segment of the Sunday Papers includes Niko Stratis's reflection on Nevermind's 35th birthday. The article explores how the band's lyrics and music resonated with the author during their formative years, providing solace and comfort amidst a turbulent period.