Even Death Stranding NPC Looking to Get Past This Cutscene and Get Back to Playing Already

A Non Playable Character who seems mostly responsible for pushing around medical equipment in the background cut-scene of porter meeting his mom has told sources close to the situation that even he thinks it’s time to wrap things up and fucking play the game.

“We get it. He’s a tortured soul with some traumatic past so he is resistant to his family urging him to help. But holy shit at some point he is going to say yes and see how high he can stack some cargo, right? LET’S FUCKING GO.”

The NPC has tried jamming buttons to skip the scene himself, but says his efforts haven’t paid off. He has plans to organize his coworkers and demand a limit on time players can go without actually playing the game.

“A lot of people don’t know this but each cut scene is actually live action, like a play you’d see in a theater. I lost my gig at Mass Effect 3 and this was the only thing I could find. I’ve got kids to feed man.”

The NPC also reportedly told sources that he doesn’t get paid by the hour, instead receiving a flat day rate regardless of whether or not the cutscene is truly watched. He also complained about the pay gap between him and his coworkers. 

“I’m not union so I get fucked pretty hard when a game forces people to watch the whole cut scene. Meanwhile these bridge babies are getting time and half and are only allowed to work 4 hour days.”

“Don’t even get me started on how much they are paying the Walking Dead guy,” he added.

As of press time, management had declined to meet with the NPC, saying they were busy having back to back meetings deciding whether or not Death Stranding would one day land in RedBox’s video game or movie section.

Check out the newest episode of the Hard Drive podcast where we watch and discuss every episode of 1989’s The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!

China Lifts Infamous “One Band” Policy

BEIJING — Chinese punks were astonished today after their government officially repealed the long-standing policy of penalizing citizens who play in more than one band, Beijing sources report.

“There comes a time when we must examine the choices made by our forebears and determine whether they truly support the growth and development of Chinese punk,” said Minister Xu Exiang of the National Band and Gig Planning Commission. “This policy was born of the fear that oversaturation could lead to an unsustainable musical landscape. As harsh as it seems, we can’t blame our predecessors for wanting to forge a future in which no basement-venue thrash show would ever be overbooked at the last minute.”

“However, times have changed,” Xu continued. “If we are to compete with the hot shit coming out of the West, every Chinese citizen must do his or her duty by playing in as many cheesy metalcore acts as possible.”

While the government’s announcement received effusive praise from the international community, many commentators still harbor grave doubts about the future of the Chinese scene.

“This is welcome news, but the damage is already done,” said China analyst Pegah Fardeen. “The one-band policy has dramatically disrupted scene demographics: Chinese culture has always privileged guitarists over their peers, and the guitar-playing population has exploded. Now, an entire generation of musicians is searching fruitlessly for drummers, whose limited numbers are concentrated in the overcrowded rehearsal spaces of urban centers.”

At the ground level, Chinese punks are similarly ambivalent about their futures in the newly deregulated Chinese scene.

“Don’t get me wrong — a world of possibilities just opened up, and I’m excited about it,” said Shanghai bassist Qiao Lingxin. “My father started four power trios by the time he was my age, and I’ll finally be able to carry on his legacy. But I can’t help feeling like this is just the eye of the storm. It’s only a matter of time before the government tries to regulate our DIY spaces or push state-sponsored crowdkilling techniques. You saw how they came down on the Hong Kong crust scene — the same thing is bound to happen here.”

At press time, Chinese officials refused to comment on whether this policy change would result in leniency for the thousands of ska musicians currently being detained as enemies of the state.

Local Man Takes Up MMA to Defend Himself in Fight He’ll Probably Instigate

SYLMAR, Calif. — Local tax consultant Brian Weldon signed up for a beginner-level mixed martial arts class last week to defend himself during fights he will inevitably instigate in the near future, confirmed sources excited to see how this plays out.

“Considering the growing amount of people training in hand-to-hand combat looking to take their aggressions out on anybody, I’d be a moron not to prepare myself,” claimed the CPA, who in four months will be forced to take court-mandated anger management sessions. “I want to make sure I can handle myself on my feet if a fight hits the floor — you never know when someone will throw a punch at you for yelling slurs in the PF Chang’s parking lot.”

Weldon’s soon-to-be-estranged older brother Christopher was concerned Brian’s lifelong propensity for violence would only be more finely tuned after enrolling in the bi-weekly “Full Body Combat” course at the Fistworks Gym.

“With all the conflicts that’ll break out around him, I completely understand Brian’s need for a sense of security,” said the elder Weldon, who will soon get his collarbone broken by his brother in a misguided armbar demonstration at a family dinner. “I just worry that he’s actually going to hurt someone. A couple months ago, a Starbucks employee spelled his name with a ‘Y,’ and Brian almost jumped over the counter to fight the lady. Thankfully those off duty firefighters were there to get things under control.”

While local law enforcement encourages citizenry to take self defense classes, they also note that most casual MMA practitioners are the first to start fights at local bars.

“Every time Buffalo Wild Wings hosts a UFC pay-per-view night, there’s a drunken brawl or random fistfight in the parking lot — most of them involving my people attempting introductory MMA techniques,” explained officer Quincy Mendez, who will suffer a broken hip trying to detain Weldon outside a strip club next week. “Lots of us on the force actually welcome the challenge, because most of these tough guys are BJJ white belts and it’s fun to catch them in a heel hook when they’re resisting arrest.”

At press time, Weldon had just learned how to jab properly — a lesson that will prove useful next Friday during a fight with his landlord because the water will be turned off for three hours during the day.

Photo by Jake Mainini.

I Like Rage Against the Machine, but I Wish They Stayed out of Politics

Rage Against the Machine is reuniting for some shows next year and I for one cannot wait to rock out live to my favorite rap-rock-punk-funk-metal grooves! But elephant in the room- I really hope they don’t get all political on stage.

I like the band’s music, but last time I saw them the singer was on stage lecturing the audience about the Iraq war. Can you believe that?! What authority does some singer have to talk about such a complex subject? I wish he’d shut his fucking mouth and count the band in so he can go back to singing that song about collecting seashells. Now THAT is something we can all sing along to.

Seriously, why would a band like RATM want to risk ruining a great time by polarizing concert attendees. These aren’t liberal hippy-dippy festivals where everyone believes the same exact stuff! RATM needs to consider the diverse range of political beliefs held by their fans. The same fans whose taxes pay the band’s salaries, mind you. Just something to consider.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not some square that thinks that musicians should just completely lose their right to have an opinion. It’s just- don’t force it on me, you know? Take Ted Nugent for example. Pretty outspoken but his concerts are some of the best that I’ve ever seen! He doesn’t go out of his way to say anything political. The confederate flags made out of swastikas waving behind him do the job just fine.

Hopefully with this latest hiatus they’ve been on, Rage Against the Machine has grown up. I don’t think they fully understand their audience if they think we want to be preached to about political issues. Just stand up there, play your fun message-free music, and keep politics out of it. We all will be better off if you just stay apolitical and Kick Out the Jams.

Hundreds Bonded in Power of Friendship Reactor Meltdown

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A calibration error led to the devastating meltdown of a local Power of Friendship Reactor this morning that has brought nearby families closer together, strengthened bonds of married couples, and caused widespread emotional maturity in a 19-mile radius, sources have confirmed.

“Under normal operation, people living near the Power of Friendship Reactor are regularly exposed to non-lethal friendship levels,” said Dr. Chelsea Bidwell, a member of the Bulletin of Friendship Scientists. “Ordinary exposure is no more dangerous than a high five or a fist bump. Since the meltdown, we’ve seen that readings have spiked by several orders of magnitude. Long-term exposure is equal to the experience of unironically telling someone that you think they are a beautiful human being while they’re sobbing on your shoulder.”

“May God have mercy on their souls,” Dr. Bidwell added before calling her best friend and inviting them to go on a hike.

The impact of this incident is already being felt in the community, according to Shannon Phillips, who lives two miles away from the reactor.

“I didn’t think that the meltdown had affected our household, but I’ve noticed in the past few days that my husband and I have actually started to have conversations when we have dinner together instead of just silently sitting there while we eat. We’re both going to get checked out by a specialist tomorrow, and I’m praying that this doesn’t get any worse.”

At press time, city officials expressed their heartfelt sympathy and support for the victims in a statement so saccharine and melodramatic that citizens began to worry that the effects of the meltdown had spread as far as City Hall.

Check out the newest episode of the Hard Drive podcast where we watch and discuss every episode of 1989’s The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!

Aging Frontman Keeping Shirt on Later and Later into Set

BOSTON — Longtime fans of local hardcore band Turkey Neck report 30-year-old frontman Ryan Walsh is leaving his shirt on deeper into their sets than usual, leading to speculation that Walsh might be struggling with body issues.

“When we first started, Ryan would take his shirt off in the green room before the opener even went on — there were times he wouldn’t even bring a shirt to the show, even in the winter,” said scene veteran and longtime Turkey Neck supporter Jordan Murphy. “Now he doesn’t rip his shirt off and throw it into the crowd until their fourth or fifth song. Clearly something’s up: at Turkey Neck’s last show, Ryan lifted his shirt a little like he was going to toss it, and then yanked it back down when he saw some women by the stage.”

Even Walsh’s own bandmates noticed the peculiar change.

“In all of our band promo photos, Ryan is shirtless and flexing a little bit. It was always just part of his aesthetic,” said Turkey Neck bassist John Kiehl. “But he quit smoking and put on a few pounds, and suddenly he’s a little more self-conscious. He’s weighed about 140 pounds since high school… now, he has a little extra belly and wears a few layers of Black Flag shirts any time we get together. It’s kind of sad. The other day, it was hot in the practice space, and when he took off his Bane crew neck and his undershirt came up a bit, he got so embarrassed he cancelled practice.”

Walsh, however, refused to admit that his choice to stay clad has anything to do with his weight gain.

“Look, it’s almost winter in Boston. I’m cold. There’s nothing wrong with that,” said Walsh, tugging at his ill-fitting Pabst Blue Ribbon shirt. “People used to complain that me not wearing a shirt made them uncomfortable; now, they’re complaining I wear shirts too much. Maybe they should stop treating me like a piece of meat and listen to my music! There’s so much more to me than just six-pack abs.”

Sources confirm Walsh later used an online alias to purchase a new shirt in size XL.

Photo by Senny Mau.

Online Relationship Has No Plans for Physical Release

CHICAGO — Dave Mitchell, longtime fan and player of the online-only relationship Dave and Tina was disappointed today after developers confirmed that the relationship had no plans for a physical release.

“Look, I’m glad the relationship exists in the first place, and I totally respect all the effort the devs and her mom put into responding to my messages late at night,” said Mitchell. “But I’m the kind of person who really appreciates having something physical, you know?”

The announcement comes on the heels of increased fan pressure to turn what began as a small self-contained single-player experience into something more tangible. Lead developer Tina Weymeth says she is flattered by the fan response, but noted that she’s eager to work on new, more challenging projects. 

“I developed the entirety of Dave and Tina over a single weekend while super bored at my stepdad’s place,” she said. “I just opened up my laptop and before I knew it I’d created this, this thing. But that’s just not where my interests are moving forward, I’m afraid.”

Despite recent pleas for a change of course, Weymeth and her team remained focused on the future.

“The past is the past. And we hope our longtime fan can appreciate the new direction this studio is taking. We def welcome him to stay part of the community as it grows,” said Weymeth. “Dave and Tina will always exist in one form or another. But taking that product into the public space is just not something we’re focused on right now.”

“Also, I jerk off when we’re on Skype so it’s not like I’m get nothing physical out of it.”

Check out the newest episode of the Hard Drive podcast where we watch and discuss every episode of 1989’s The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!

DIY Project Abandoned After First Minor Setback

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — Aspiring influencer Joey Partouzi abandoned a much-hyped DIY project in record time yesterday after facing a small setback during the planning stage, disappointed yet unsurprised sources confirmed.

“I was going to show my 400 Instagram followers how to save money by making your own band pins at home, but unfortunately, I’m putting this project on the backburner for the time being,” said Partouzi from his would-be studio. “I didn’t have the right size casing for the buttons, and the Michael’s near my place didn’t have the ones I needed. Yeah, I could’ve driven 20 minutes to a different crafts store, but it was already 2 p.m. and I was worried rush hour might start early, and then my whole night would have went to shit.”

The staff at Michael’s confirmed Partouzi’s version of events, noting they’d encountered him before.

“Yeah, that guy’s always coming in here for something or other… but I’d be surprised if he ever actually finishes any of these projects he’s always telling us about,” reported Michael’s cashier Beverly Castanazzo. “Last month, it was this DIY sock project that apparently went nowhere. Then there was the whole ‘growing your own marijuana’ thing, but when he found out that could take months, he immediately backpedaled. I’m just glad he’s not trying to get us to invest in his products anymore. I gave him $20 for a zine I know will never see the light of day.”

Longtime acquaintances of the 30-year-old claim that this development is par for the course for Partouzi.

“You mean to tell me that in the face of mild inconvenience, Joey simply gave up rather than confront it? I am shocked,” sarcasticly noted friend Jess Fulcher. “As soon as he said he was starting this project, I knew it would amount to nothing. I love the guy, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone give up as easily as him: I’m still mortified from when I asked him to play softball, and he refused to go to bat unless he could hit off a tee and made everyone agree they wouldn’t try to tag him out.”

Upon being told that Partouzi was downloading software to compose his own drum and bass music, Fulcher rolled her eyes and gave the “jerk-off” hand motion.

Divorced Parents Put Aside Differences to Disapprove of Daughter’s Fiancé

VISTA, Calif. — Divorced parents Margaret Clark and Pete Doyle put aside years of mutual acrimony last night, reconnecting over their hated of daughter Kelsey’s fiancé, apprehensive sources confirmed.

“In the years since Pete and I divorced, we’ve barely spoken and those conversations have usually been fights. But since Kelsey told us she intended to marry that fucking loser Seth [Constantino], we’ve been able to reconnect a little,” noted Clark. “When she first brought Seth to dinner and told us that he was an aspiring Instagram influencer, Pete and I shared a look that we hadn’t shared since I found out he was cheating on me.”

Doyle, whom Clark described as a “pencil-dicked scumbag,” concurred with the sentiments of his “cold, passive-aggressive bitch of an ex-wife.”

“I have to admit, it was nice that Margaret and I were on the same page for once when it came to this fucking idiot,” said Doyle, who once called his wife a “whore” in front of their children at Thanksgiving. “I had my suspicions when Kelsey was telling me this guy has a great relationship with two out of his four kids, but the worst part was how drunk he got off two glasses of wine at our introductory dinner. If Kelsey wants to marry a raging wino like I did, that’s her decision, but I’m glad her mom and I can both recognize this guy sucks.”

The détente between the two has not gone unnoticed by their other children, who, despite their misgivings about their sister’s judgment, were happy their parents were speaking.

“I thought Mom and Dad would go to their graves hating each other, but ever since Seth came into our lives, we’ve been a little less dysfunctional,” noted brother Alex Doyle. “It warmed my heart when they both told him to “shut the fuck up” when he said he wants his marriage to always be open to other partners. I don’t get what Kelsey sees in that twat, and it’s probably not healthy that we’re bonding over our dislike of another person, but if it helps us at least appear to be a healthy family, I’ll go with it.”

At press time, Kelsey Doyle was pleased her plan appeared to be working.

Help! I Dropped the Gun but the New Tesla Is Still Saying I Have 20 Seconds to Comply!

When Elon Musk asked me to point a gun at his new Cybertruck I thought he just wanted to demonstrate that the glass was bulletproof. Musk wasn’t too pleased when that metal ball broke them so I figured he was just doubling down. But as soon as I raised the gun he shouted, “Activate urban pacification mode!” and the damned thing sprouted these crazy sci-fi machine gun arms!

The car instructed me to drop the gun and told me I had 20 seconds to comply so, naturally, I complied. I put the gun down and put my hands in the air and guess what? It’s still telling me I have 20 seconds to drop my fucking gun!

Jesus Christ, I’m just an administrative assistant. I don’t want to die here! Why the fuck does a hybrid sports utility vehicle even NEED an urban pacification mode?! I’ve tried to tell this fucking thing I’m unarmed in English, Spanish, and Klingon but it still deems me as a threat. Fuck, this is like, a serious thing, isn’t it?

OK a bunch of people in white lab coats are rushing to the control panel, is that bad? They look scared. Oh fuck this is bad, isn’t it?

Jesus Christ, it’s voice is so scary! Why would they make it sound like that? Who is that for? They could have made it sound like literally anyone! If I was hearing the voice of Jeff Goldblum telling me I had 15 seconds to comply I would be way less freaked out. Hey, future truck, you’re pointing a machine gun arm at me- I’m already intimidated!

“Ten seconds.” OK, not great. Everyone seems to be pushing a lot of buttons very fast, but I don’t think that’s doing a lot. OK now some of the machines are smoking and shooting sparks, is that good? Nope. If anything they seem more concerned now.

“Five seconds.” Fuck! That print out thingy with the little needle that goes up and down is going fucking crazy! Should I run? I’m gonna run!

*EDITOR’S NOTE: Although Peter was shot roughly 200 times by Cybertruck, researchers at SpaceX managed to save his brain. The brain will be placed into a cybernetic body so that Elon Musk and Grimes can make sex with it.

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