Europa Universalis V confirmed

[Tamas]

I only partly blame YouTubers. They are all trying to get the algorithm to put their videos in front of you, and if clickbait titles (seem to) work, it's what they'll do, even if they'd prefer not to.

A channel I'm subscribed to did two videos on FM26. One with everything he likes, one with everything he doesn't like. YouTube only served me the negative one (I had to go to his channel to watch the other), and it had more than twice the views as the positive one had.

That's grim.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

What makes them worse, I guess, is that I do now usually lack the patience to read text reviews. I can listen to a Youtuber's opinion while, say, working in the garden, or, heck, playing a game. I can't read a text review while doing either of those things. So it's much more efficient time-wise (a resource most, most precious), to listen to one of these thumbnail people. Because many of them are actually decent, it's just that they feel obliged to join the thumbnail race.

Tangentially, this is an interesting perspective.  I've become very annoyed at the move from text-based reviews, tutorials, and game guides to video-based ones.  There are several reasons I prefer text to audio/video, but specifically to your post I can't do what you do.  I can't listen to anything I need to pay attention to while doing something else.  I will inevitably either stop doing the something else in order to pay attention, or I'll miss parts of what is being said.  There are cases where, when I really need to focus on the thing I'm doing, I can't even listen to music with lyrics.

My wife, on the other hand, listens to audiobooks all the time while doing other things.  Maybe I need to give something like that another shot, because I'm missing out on a lot of content that is only available via podcast or YouTube.

[crazy canuck]

What makes them worse, I guess, is that I do now usually lack the patience to read text reviews. I can listen to a Youtuber's opinion while, say, working in the garden, or, heck, playing a game. I can't read a text review while doing either of those things. So it's much more efficient time-wise (a resource most, most precious), to listen to one of these thumbnail people. Because many of them are actually decent, it's just that they feel obliged to join the thumbnail race.

Tangentially, this is an interesting perspective.  I've become very annoyed at the move from text-based reviews, tutorials, and game guides to video-based ones.  There are several reasons I prefer text to audio/video, but specifically to your post I can't do what you do.  I can't listen to anything I need to pay attention to while doing something else.  I will inevitably either stop doing the something else in order to pay attention, or I'll miss parts of what is being said.  There are cases where, when I really need to focus on the thing I'm doing, I can't even listen to music with lyrics.

My wife, on the other hand, listens to audiobooks all the time while doing other things.  Maybe I need to give something like that another shot, because I'm missing out on a lot of content that is only available via podcast or YouTube.

Same, also it is far more efficient to read text. We read more quickly than a person reading the text they prepared. 

And, as you point out, when reading comprehension increases.

[Tamas]

I won't debate the efficiency of reading text for comprehension - easier to skim over fluff, for sure.

And I should caveat that I "multitask" podcasts/videos with things that don't really compete for the same kind of brain attention, such lawn-mowing, furniture-assembling, playing Elite Dangerous/American Truck Simulator. For example I wouldn't do it with some FPS or something that requires more concentration, or while learning to play a boardgame.

And also, I do it with material I am not overly fussed about if I miss half a sentence here and there. So a novel? Rarely. A political podcast, game review, or some history book that goes into more detail than I care about? Yeah why not.

And yes, I was annoyed by the switch away from text-based reviews when it was happening, but I have tried to utilise the new world, as you can see.

[Valmy]

Clickbait video titles just drive me nuts. There will be some ridiculous title like "THIS SCANDAL WILL END PARADOX FOREVA!!!" and then the video is just some normal stuff that isn't controversial at all.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

> "THIS SCANDAL WILL END PARADOX FOREVA!!!"

> 45 minute rant on how the border between Serbia and Hungary is off by one pixel

[Zanza]

175 Euro spent in preordering EU V and Anno 117. 

Now I just need to buy a PC that can run them at an acceptable speed as my current machine might be a bit slow.

[Valmy]

I preordered for both myself and my son. He will be counting down the seconds tomorrow.

[crazy canuck]

I preordered for both myself and my son. He will be counting down the seconds tomorrow.

 

[Syt]

That's grim.

Yeah. He specifically did it as an experiment (esp. with the "volatile" initial reaction to FM26's new UI); he's usually pretty laid back and has a more relaxed approach to FM games and their drama. But it is annoying. Unless I click the bell thingy for a channel or go to my subscriptions page it's become harder than it should be to keep up with channels I follow.

And podcasts like Three Moves Ahead or Single Malt Strategy have become very sporadic in their episode output.

[Syt]

175 Euro spent in preordering EU V and Anno 117. 

Now I just need to buy a PC that can run them at an acceptable speed as my current machine might be a bit slow.

I admit my Ryzen 7 7800X3D has been a significant upgrade in speed (previously had an Intel chip that was by now 5 years old) for Victoria 3 or CK3 (which I didn't think ran particularly slow previously).

[Syt]

Oh my, a preload is available

[crazy canuck]

Excellent

[Syt]

45 minute video about population.

🔹 The Population Engine: How every "pop" represents real people with needs, jobs, and beliefs.
🔹 Culture & Religion: Managing diverse populations to maintain stability and fuel expansion.
🔹 Language & Geopolitics: How communication and regional ties influence diplomacy and rebellion.
🔹 Disease: Navigating plagues and health crises that can devastate your populace.
🔹 Pop Needs & Jobs: Balancing employment, goods consumption, and social mobility.

[Zanza]

I admit my Ryzen 7 7800X3D has been a significant upgrade in speed (previously had an Intel chip that was by now 5 years old) for Victoria 3 or CK3 (which I didn't think ran particularly slow previously).

That's the CPU I am looking at too. Seems to be the sweet spot of affordable and powerful.