StaceyPowers

Most amazing gothic-style building you've ever visited?

The Witcher series was practically unknown outside of Poland before the Witcher games (which is why its author made a terrible financial decision when selling the rights for something like 10 grand—he expected nothing to come of it). Needless to say, the Witcher game series obviously did great things with its source material. Given that, what are some other books which you think would make an excellent basis for video games? @DylanC Especially interested in what you have to say on this one.

What are some games which initially were plagued by problems when they released (or were just poorly received), but which pulled it together over time? I’m thinking for example of No Man’s Sky. That game got a lot of flak after its release because it didn’t live up to the stratospheric hype. But I have noticed that over time, opinions seem to have changed on it. It’s had more staying power than I would’ve expected given the rough start. What are some other games like that which opinions became more favourable about over time? @The Blackangel @DylanC @killamch89 @skyfire @SpaceExplorer @LadyDay @UleTheVee @xXInfectedXx

@UleTheVee Ahh, the days before micro-transactions. That indeed is a thing well worth missing.

What were your evaluations like in terms of diagnostic tools they used? And do you have any advice for preparing for an eval? I’m seeking one currently. Interesting you got a false positive. I’m more worried about getting a false negative.

Oh, cool! I did not know that. How does it compare to the original?

@Bravosi That might be part of why it hasn't been so well-received--exactly what you pointed out. It was really hyped. I think when that happens, it actually makes it more likely a game will do poorly. If it disappoints in any way (which is easy with a ton of hype), that is what stands out to people.

@The Blackangel Doesn't it just drive you crazy when people say "it's easy to stay healthy if you just exercise!" I'm not in your situation by any stretch, but working out is definitely not easy for me. Anyway, as a more general answer to this question, I think if there is any social ill which contributes to poor health in this regard, it has more to do with folks being chained to their desks for 8-9 hours a day and stuck in traffic for another hour on average around that. There has to be a better way to organize work and income so that people have more time to do what they need to be healthy physically and psychologically.

What games have you played that feature the most visually impressive, realistic textures? @DylanC @killamch89 @The Blackangel @Alyxx @SpaceExplorer @LadyDay @skyfire @UleTheVee

As @Martin Berisford pointed out, gaming is pretty expensive. Actually, in some respects, I would say it is rather cost-effective when you consider the sheer number of hours of entertainment you can get for your money. If you buy a movie for $10-$20, you get around two hours of material. If you buy an open world video game, you get hundreds of hours of material. So even if it runs you $60, it’s still an amazing deal. Still, when I realize I’ve blown around $40 this year already on DLCs, I look at my budget and shudder. What are some ways to reduce the costs of playing games? Here’s what I do: Always wait and buy games used. Games that cost $60 a few years ago can often be purchased for around $10 today. Check if there is a GOTY edition before purchasing any game with lots of DLC. This is a massive cost-saver since DLC doesn’t usually drop in price. Lean toward massive open world games, and play games slowly and thoroughly. Replay games a lot. This is a personality thing, but there are obvious cost benefits to being someone who enjoys playing the games they love repeatedly. @DylanC @killamch89 @Alyxx @LadyDay @skyfire @UleTheVee @The Blackangel @SpaceExplorer Tagging you to see if you have any suggestions to share.

(delete this post please, it was in the wrong place)

One of the main justifications I hear for crunch time is, “They knew what they were getting into when they took the job.” I think that’s pretty short-sighted, as a person rarely knows what their limits look like until they’ve been pushed to or past them. Plus, there’s really no getting around the fact that crunch time produces health consequences physically and psychologically. In any case, it got me wondering—would anyone here picture themselves agreeing to work a crunch time schedule to make a video game? I wouldn’t, but that’s because I do know my own limits, and I know that even if I “got through it,” it’d be at the cost of my physical health (and mental well-being, as a result).

Does anyone know if I actually fetch the farming data in Veronica’s quest in Fallout NV to show the Brotherhood, do they actually get the tech, or just look at it? Same question regarding Archimedes. Also, is there any way to find the plasma gun outside of that irradiated vault? I can’t stand going in there.

My whole life, I never have gotten into handheld consoles. I find them less immersive, and a bit of a strain from an ergonomic standpoint. Do you like them?

I usually complete as many quests as I can in any game I play, but some quests never get finished. Usually I skip quests because of the following reasons: There is a location I find extremely tedious or frustrating (i.e. an irradiated vault in Fallout, or an extremely maze-like and/or repetitious dungeon in Skyrim). Moral issues (i.e. to progress in the quest would mean doing something my character is opposed to). Concern about companions (i.e. continuing the quest might harm my follower in terms of their storyline). What causes you to leave a quest incomplete?

What fight or level in any game did you have to re-play the largest number of times in order to advance? How many tries did it take you?

What’s the game in your collection which you have been playing more or less steadily for the longest amount of time?

What do you love most about playing video games?

A lot of people say that they miss games from their childhood. Aside from the nostalgia factor, what aspects of older games do you miss the most?

How many hours does it take to beat?

DUCK HUNT! A most excellent choice!

What do you mean by "how the games end?"

How do you unlock your fingers? RSI = Repetitive Stress Injury.

@skyfire @SpaceExplorer Great picks! I was going to mention Bioshock 1 as well

@UleTheVee Nice flow chart, thanks for sharing this! Nothing like a graphical representation of a concept to really get a point across.