StaceyPowers

Thanks so much for taking the time to type all of this out. That confirms what I was thinking about leveling Alistair wrong (I was distributing his points way too evenly). Funny you haven't figured out Leliana either. One thing I haven't figured out--do merchants restock? If I buy all of a merchant's injury kits, will he restock later, or are they gone forever? I'm on PS3, btw.

I don't know why I forgot to mention the Misty Grove from the quest where you get the Sanguine Rose.

Why can't I picture this? Was I just not paying attention to stuff going on in the background?

A friend sold me his PS3 for cheap with a bunch of games last year, and since then, I’ve fallen in love with my PS3 games. The thing is, I have zero extra space where I live, so I can’t really buy a PS4 unless I was willing to give up my PS3 and 1-live without a lot of games I enjoy, and 2-spend more money buying remasters of those which are available. I’ve opted not to do this.But that means I can’t play any PS4-only titles for the indefinite future. Does anyone not find the lack of backwards compatibility in PS4 maddening? I really, really hope they change this with PS5. But what are the odds they will? I think they have to if they want to stay competitive with Microsoft. What do you all think? For those of you who bought a PS4 and got rid of your PS3, what games do you miss the most? Are you happy with your decision, or do you sometimes regret it? If PS5 isn’t backwards compatible, will you still buy it?

If you’ve seen more than a couple of my posts around here, you probably know that I’m obsessed with The Last of Us. There are a hundred reasons I could give, but probably the main one is that it’s a strong character-driven narrative, and it was easy for me to feel like I was walking in Joel’s and Ellie’s shoes. I got really attached to them, and even though it’s been months since I finished the game, I still think about it at some point of the day on most days. Does anyone have any other recommendations for other character-driven video games with compelling storylines like The Last of Us?

That's why I like that in Skyrim, you can switch back and forth at will, and even circle around your character to admire your gear.

Does anyone here have any tips to offer for combat in Dragon Age: Origins? This is my first play through. I'm playing a fighter class character (which I already regret; I’m totally going to play a mage next time), and for the life of me, I cannot seem to get the hang of group tactics. No matter what I do with the settings, it seems like Alistair is constantly getting himself killed (I think I screwed up distributing his stats from the beginning). I can’t figure out what to do with Leliana, beyond getting her to open chests, and every member of my party seems to have 2-3 injuries at any given time. I open the radial control in the middle of fighting to pause it constantly, but it’s like I still can’t issue orders fast enough. And is it just me, or is there a massive difference between “Casual” and “Normal?” Seriously, it’s like they’re missing 2-3 difficulty tiers. Casual is absurdly easy, and Normal is like “hard” on any other game.

Pretty broad question here. Which video games have the best combat experience? What makes you enjoy them? What do you look for in combat? Customization? Tactical game play? Intuitive controls? For my part, The Last of Us leads the pack. Usually I’m more of a run ‘n gun type rather than a stealth player, and I liked that it pulled me out of my comfort zone and forced me to become patient and strategic. I always felt like every challenge I was facing came down largely to tactics and depended only a little on luck. In a lot of other games, I feel like that situation is reversed, and whether I’m successful hinges mostly on my luck (either because there is only a minor tactical element, or the tactics are simply beyond my capabilities to master).

I don’t think this post needs much of an intro—we all know that MMOs are a huge industry trend, and that single player games are becoming less popular. From a developer standpoint, it makes sense to focus efforts on MMOs—they can easily be monetized for long-term profits. We’re seeing a similar trend with FPS games. Most are focused on arena-style multiplayer combat now, with less and less emphasis on single player campaigns. So, is single player gaming going away? I don’t think it’s ever going to be extinct, but I am concerned we’re going to see relatively few AAA single player games going forward. I actually strongly preferred multiplayer gaming for most of my life, but I’ve come to really enjoy single player games for “getting away from it all” in a pressure-free environment with zero social aspect. If they become a thing of the past, I’ll be really sad to see that. What do y’all foresee in the future for single player gaming?

How does everyone here feel about first person versus third person gaming? For most of my life, first person gaming was pretty much what I was used to. Maybe that’s because I’ve leaned heavily toward FPS games. In any case, I’ve always found it comfortable, intuitive, and immersive. Then I finally got a PS3 (after years of playing nothing but my super old PC games), and I discovered that the vast majority of new games are in third person. Ugh. In fact, I’d even go so far as to say one of the reasons I play Bethesda’s open world games so addictively is because they can be played in first person. Third person gaming not only makes me feel emotionally removed from the action, but whenever I turn, it feels like the world is “spinning” around me in a dizzying way. During combat, I struggle to remain oriented and see what’s going on. I read an explanation once which asserted that some games are in third person because the developers want you to stay a little detached, so that you can feel more comfortable carrying out tasks you might not otherwise. The third person vantage point is a reminder that the character’s motives are driving the action. That does make sense to me. That fits for example with The Last of Us, where all the decisions are Joel’s to make, not the player’s. Then again, The Last of Us also handled third person much better than a lot of other games I’ve played. In combat and while sneaking around obstacles, the camera angle would be close enough to Joel’s actual vantage that I’d sometimes forget I wasn’t playing in first person. As a result, combat was easier and more immersive. I still have a strong preference for first person, but I don’t think third person is going to stop dominating gaming anytime soon. What do you all think?

I was heartbroken when I realized I couldn't join my friend in Elder Scrolls Online because of the lack of crossplay 😞

I call them 'Get me a bucket" quests =D

That's the appeal of the marshes for me. I like them at night with the northern lights too, and the mist glowing. It's eerie, but also really peaceful. At least when a giant isn't trying to murder my poor chickens.

I’ve seen plenty of debates over the merits and drawbacks of open world and linear game formats. I was wondering what you guys and gals prefer? For my part, I lean toward open world games because I like the freedom to follow my curiosity, explore, discover surprises, and transport myself to a different world. It’s relaxing, and the perfect way to unwind before bedtime each night. That being said, it seems a lot harder to craft a compelling narrative within an open world format. To construct a large universe with open possibilities, developers are forced to spread their efforts pretty thin. The result is a lot of loose ends, plot threads that can never be pursued, and so on. So it’s harder for me to become emotionally invested, and when I do, I often end up disappointed when I realize I can’t pursue any sort of closure for a particular story or character. So I think for me the answer is, “It depends on what I’m trying to experience,” but still narrowly leaning toward open world games.

What upcoming video games are y’all most excited to play? For me, it’s The Last of Us: Part II.

That's me as well!

I have a cheap laptop which doesn’t play newer games (it barely handles old ones), and didn’t even own a PS3 until last year. Prior to that, my most recent console was … an original Nintendo. Anyway, as you might expect, I am only now catching up on PS3 games from years ago. The downside is that I know every spoiler in the universe about most of the games I play, but the upshot is that I can buy everything I wanted to try ages ago for like $5 each. That actually works out for me, because I don’t really have the deep pockets I’d need to buy everything when it releases. I always wonder how many other people are like me, lagging years behind on games, and how many actually are able to buy new games when they come out. How long do you usually wait (or have to wait) before you buy a new console or game that interests you?

I’ve only recently really gotten back into gaming, but I loved it when I was a kid, and sometimes I really miss some of the classic games I had for console or PC back then, like: · Solstice. An isometric game for Nintendo which I thought was totally amazing at the time because … ISOMETRIC. Plus, it had a super cool theme song and was very atmospheric. · There were some rather primitive-looking point-and-click games for PC that I really got into, but sadly their names are lost to the mist of time. I do recall that they were murder mysteries or something similar. · Myst. The game that got us all to purchase CD-ROMs back in the day. To this day, no other game I’ve played has been that unnerving. Nothing bad ever happened to you in it, and it still made you constantly want to look over your shoulder. · Old Warcraft/Starcraft games. · Half-Life. That game really took shooters to the next level, and while it inspired a lot of great games since, the thrill of playing something so groundbreaking can never be replaced. · Zork. Any and all Zork. What games do you get the most nostalgic wishing you could play again?

I'm pretty sure I've explored almost all of Skyrim. To me, the most beautiful locations to revisit just to look around now and again are: · Eldergleam Sanctuary, especially if it’s around 6-7 in the morning, when the light comes through all golden. · Markarth. I hate the politics of the place (I’m a fan of the Forsworn, wear their armor, and self-identify as one on every playthrough), but the design of the city is absolutely gorgeous. The scenery of the Reach is beautiful as well. · That area with the geysers that is south of Windhelm. · That bridge with the towers that’s near Whiterun, with the bandits that want to charge you a “toll.” I love the view from the towers. · The spot in the marshes where you can build Windstad Manor. · The Rift. All of it, but especially up by Froki’s Shack. · There’s a sort of “outdoor dungeon” area not far from Froki’s Shack with amazing view of the Throat of the World. I can’t recall the name, but the view is awesome. · Once while I was watching someone else play, they found this really cool dungeon which was outdoors and featured a lot of greenery, but you enter through a cave to get there? I have no clue where it was. If anyone can identify it, please let me know. I’ve never found it myself. What are your favorite spots in Skyrim?

When I was a kid, I loved Choose Your Own Adventure books because of the challenge of finding a single right pathway through (almost every ending was disastrous, so nearly all choices were bad). A lot of video games are kind of the opposite of that in that player choice plays a factor in outcomes, but quite often, regardless of your choices (especially in dialogue), you can usually find a favourable outcome. The only time so far I’ve had a particularly regrettable outcome was when I decided to be neutral in the Skyrim civil war, and then during the negotiations, Markarth got traded to the Stormcloaks. Unfortunately no matter how you play the game, there’s really nothing you can do to improve Markarth’s situation, but giving it to the Stormcloaks definitely takes it from bad to worse in my opinion. In fact, it was such a hit that I ended up starting over again with a new character not long after, since it felt like I’d “lost” in a meaningful sense. It also made me see how sometimes the worst decision is no decision. Anyway, what are some video game decision points you ended up particularly regretting in any game?

I take as long as I can on a playthrough of any open world game. I don’t want to rush to the end. Plus, sometimes I want a break from killing things, so I have a few silly activities I do in Fallout games. One of them is pretty typical from what I’ve seen, which is collecting teddy bears and piling them up on my bed. Loads of people do this. The other I haven’t seen anyone do, and that’s make a sort of “feature” out of Nuka Cola quantum bottles on my front porch. I noticed my neighbour has a porch light in Fallout 3, and I don’t, so I thought, “How can I outdo his porch light?” And I came up with this idea of lining up Nuka Cola bottles to form a glowing border around the perimeter of my porch. It’s taking forever, but it’s slowly getting there. Hopefully it will look awesome when it’s finished. What are some fun/silly/random things you do in Fallout games?

Hey everyone! What are you listening to right now? Share a track! From Secret Garden by Angra. Your turn!

When I was younger, I used to play MUDs. If you don’t know what those are, don’t sweat it. I’m from the dark ages. If you do, you know how tight-knit some of them could be as gaming communities (and presumably still are—I just have been away a long time). I admit I have next to no experience with current major MMOs, i.e. World of Warcraft, Elder Scrolls Online, etc. But part of the reason for that is that I have read time and again that it’s common for players to largely ignore each other in a social sense, simply running past each other on their way to doing one task or another. In short, there’s an environment for PVP combat and such, but not much in the way of actual roleplay and interaction. I was wondering to what extent that impression is actually accurate? If anyone here is into MMOs, have you found any games which provide a tight-knit sense of community?

Multiplayer games can be a lot of fun, but nothing ruins it faster than someone engaging in totally lame behavior. For me, here’s what drives me bonkers: Medics that won’t bother to heal you. Gamers who are in it only to boost their own scores and who ignore team objectives completely (and/or steal frags). Uneven teams where I wind up doing all the offensive work (why am I always the one who has to capture the flag?). Players who ignore in-game logic for the sake of out-of-game convenience. This is mainly an issue in RPG-style MMOs. And not everyone is going to agree with me about it. What are your multiplayer pet peeves?

Kind of like Stormtroopers =D