StaceyPowers

I see lots of articles that assert that the draw toward VR and metaverse are just so we can escape our problems. But I think that for a lot of us, we are very aware of our problems, and how those problems prohibit us from doing other things (i.e. if you are poor and cannot travel, of course you are going to do the next closest thing by embracing meta-worlds). I also think meta-spaces can offer us places where we can experiment with questioning norms and exploring alternate ways of life. What do you think?

Favourite game you've played this year?

It's hard to think of specifics--I don't think I have anything as cool as @Reality vs Adventure's reply. But maybe standing at the docks at the Citadel in Mass Effect 3, looking out the window at the Normandy.

You definitely picked up fast on the concept! Those are excellent examples.

Games are aimed largely at people who are not deficient in certain areas—reflexes, executive function, etc. Alas, some people are deficient in said areas. Do you feel that in any situations, this is an accessibility issue (i.e. unexpected tasks/difficulty spikes in the middle of games that are uncharacteristic of the rest of the game)? What can be done to prevent such issues?

A large percentage of games seem to include tragic or quasi-tragic endings, where events often unfold unpleasantly and/or the protagonist dies. But I notice most games do seem to involve some type of moral victory or other. I find that interesting—that this is the form of optimism that is most prevalent in games. We can’t control outcomes, but we can try to do something right. I feel this is a viable lesson for RL.

What games say snarky things about your moral choices? Like, both The Outer Worlds and Fallout 3 have had snarky things to say about things I did.

What are some games that give you positive feedback as you play? Like in TLOU, Ellie makes a lot of dramatic comments whenever you/Joel take out a bunch of enemies.

The other day, a friend said that after he fails a video game task a certain large number of times (i.e. a few dozen), he would prefer if the game offers to skip him past it or offer a workaround. Would you want a feature like this, or would you not?

When you play video games, do you find it normally helps you to regulate your mood? Or does it more frequently dysregulated your mood? Or is it totally context-dependent?

As I start closing in on the end of an open world game and my quest list starts to trickle out, I always feel really depressed, like I am watching the world stagnate and die around me. Does anyone else get that hollow, dismal feeling?

What open world games do you think most manage to offer depth over breadth?

What are some games that actively involve creating in-game artwork as the player?

What are your favorite liminal spaces in games? And do games themselves to some degree have a “liminal” quality to you?

I love that in The Outer Worlds, my followers have their own bedrooms with individual possessions and décor. What other games have this feature?

What are some games that feature a large amount of unique ongoing comments or banter from followers? Like Dragon Age. Not like Skyrim, where the same dialogue repeats again and again.

I just realized that thinking through all the games in my collection, I cannot think of a single example of ad placement. I find that odd. Is there a specific reason ad placement is so rare in video games? (not that I’m complaining!)

When you play video games, do you usually tune out your physical environment? Do you do so on purpose, or does it just happen?

If you have kids, at what age did you introduce them to gaming? If you plan to have kids, at what age do you think you will introduce them to games?

This is really cool! I am lucky I am in the US and can enter 🙂

Can you think of any games where the loading screen tips display inaccurate lore? In Skyrim, for instance, there is this tip: “Years of living underground have rendered the Falmer blind, but their other senses have become more acute as a result.” But if you play Dawnguard, you learn that the Falmer are blind because the Dwemer made them blind, not because their eyes adjusted to underground living.

What are some games that feature major inconsistencies in lore? For example, between Dragon Age: Origins and Inquisition, there are some inconsistencies regarding the information about whether Templars do or do not require lyrium to access their abilities.

What games feature weather that is more than cosmetic in nature, and actually affects gameplay?

I think both Fallout and Elder Scrolls are incredibly relaxing game series. Though on the whole, I seem to find Fallout most relaxing. What about you?

I have noticed it is the popular thing to say that the single most important factor in determining the quality of a game is its gameplay. But tbh, for me, story and characters almost always matter more, and/or ambiance. What about for you? What is the most important factor that determines the quality of a game? Or is it more of a gestalt result of a combination of factors?