StaceyPowers

Ran into a discussion about review-bombing somewhere else, and was curious what people here think of it. Ignoring the obvious purpose of trolling in many cases (which is clearly downright negative), do you think it is acceptable as a last resort to try and get developers to listen?

Kind of a silly sounding question, but … I started RDR last night, and whether on horseback or on foot, I seem to find it hard to turn while walking or running. It’s particularly awkward on the horse, like I’m trying to steer a grocery cart. I think this may be because the game is programmed with more realistic movement parameters than a lot of others (i.e. Skyrim), but I’m struggling to learn how to move, lol. Any suggestions?

Lol, I started last night. I can barely ride, hahah. I'm terrible. Any tips? Turning the horse seems oddly challenging, like steering a grocery cart.

One of the odd things about open world games is when you wrap up most of the major quests (or all of them), and find yourself with little to do, but you’ve finally got an awesome house/family/etc, and all sorts of cool weapons and abilities. What do you usually do when you reach this point? Quit completely with that playthrough? Return to it occasionally and mess around? When I hit that point with my first Skyrim playthrough, I figured I’d pop in occasionally, and I’ve actually found a surprising amount left to do there. But I just wrapped up my first playthrough in Fallout 3, and can’t see much to do with it at this point (other than start another, obviously).

Thank you both for your entertaining and instructive advice :)

I didn't actually know this before, but there are rumors that Take-Two is developing a new Bioshock game (I think those rumors have been around for almost a year now). It seems hard to picture Bioshock without Ken Levine, since my understanding is that he has always been the series' creative heart. Attempting Bioshock without him seems ... odd, but I suppose it could be done well if it stays true to his philosophical and political spirit. What would you be looking for from a new Bioshock game? Do you think there should be another?

The smartest. You can't bring the popularity with you when you graduate, but you can bring your smarts.

I often hear fans of retro games complaining about modern games, and longing for games more like those they enjoyed when they were young. I definitely understand nostalgia. But setting that aside, if you remember retro games fondly and feel frustrated with games right now, what lessons from those older games do you wish developers would learn and incorporate into modern games?

It's the calmest I typically feel on any given day. My games help me manage my OCD and sleep problems.

Just a silly random question. What is the longest time you remember waiting for a game to download to your console? Did you regret not just buying a physical disc?

I second this. Either of those would be my first pick!

If you could magically make changes to Fallout 76 which would just instantly be incorporated, what would you change about the game?

Fallout 76 has been something of a PR disaster for Bethesda. I know that there are a lot of folks who actually really like the game despite its flaws, but the voices of those who are disappointed with it are definitely the loudest. I don’t know what that reception will mean for the franchise’s future—I really hope there will be more Fallout games though. If there is a next Fallout game, what should it be? Where and when would you want it to take place? Would you want it to be a single player or multiplayer game?

Are there any video game characters you have found it particularly easy to relate to in some way? I find it easy to relate to Leliana in Dragon Age. Her personality and interests when she was younger remind me of mine when I was young (not as dramatic on my end of course), as does her evolution in Origins (and Leliana’s Song) toward replacing that with purpose and the desire to do right by others. I also love how she is able to reconcile her past in Origins and kind of bring both aspects of herself together in a more focused way. I’d like to be more like her in that respect.

I will be starting my first-ever playthrough of the original Red Dead Redemption soon. Anyone have any spoiler-free advice for getting the most out of the game?

That's true. What I found interesting is that in Booker's case, the same traits (his revulsion at the evils of the world and his part in them) that drove him toward damnation in one world were also essential to his salvation in the other. It was just a question of how they were directed. Anyway, the game has a lot to say about free will, free choice (not necessarily identical), and some comments on Christianity that I found interesting.

Okay, MASSIVE SPOILERS FOLLOW. Booker DeWitt is a fascinating protagonist because it turns out that he's also the game's antagonist, Comstock. His self from a parallel universe is the enemy he is battling through the entire game. But what makes this particularly interesting is that there is a deep logic to the situation. Booker's past involved him doing some horrible things and being exposed to some terrible situations (incidentally based on real world events). He was deeply traumatized by this, and in the other universe, he coped with the monstrous things he had done by going all out and embracing that monstrosity. So in a surprisingly literal way, Booker is battling his own psychological and spiritual demons through the game. Through the grace of his daughter and the force of his own will, he makes a choice at the end of the game to erase all possible futures as Comstock. Considering the evil within him was momentous enough to almost destroy the multiverse, the fact that he managed to beat it speaks volumes to his ultimate goodness.

Following up on @killamch89 's thread here: https://www.vgr.com/forum/topic/3524-most-interesting-video-game-protagonist/ Who are some of the most interesting video game antagonists? I would go with Zachary Hale Comstock in Bioshock Infinite, but saying why would be a spoiler. I also have enjoyed some of the antagonists in Dragon Age. I've only finished playing through Origins and the DLCs so far, but I found Loghain a well-developed and interesting character, and also the Architect in Awakening. Notably, they're both Well Intentioned Extremists, so I suppose I find those sorts of characters compelling.

Booker DeWitt, but it's hard to explain anything about "why" without massive spoilers for anyone who hasn't played Bioshock Infinite.

We usually talk console games here, but does anyone want to reminisce about old PC games they loved? The games I remember most fondly are Myst and Return to Zork. Oh, and Heaven and Earth.

True! Sometimes I can't be bothered with that either.

That's very exciting. I just finished my first playthrough of Origins and the DLCs, and am about to start DA II.

Follow-up question: What video games have the best character development?

I feel the exact same way about the issue - exactly why I asked :) By the way, I really enjoy your articles, so it's great to see you here on the forum!

In huge open world games where fast traveling is an option, how often do you do it, and do you have any “rules” for allowing yourself? Normally, I try to avoid fast traveling unless it’s to help me get around some kind of a glitch, or because I forgot to do something back in a previous location (i.e. buy something before I left). The rest of the time, I try to walk or use in-game transit options.