StaceyPowers

What are some connections you’ve found between various TV shows and video games? For instance, the Stranger Things creators were inspired by TLOU. And it seems quite clear that Battlestar Galactica was a huge influence on Mass Effect. I also just started The Outer Worlds and was not surprised to find the creators were inspired by Firefly.

In what games do characters move in the most realistic ways?

What are some games with weird concepts that play well?

Seems lots of companies are heavily investing into VR. What do you think VR will be like next year and beyond?

Does anyone here buy into the Mass Effect Indoctrination Theory and/or like it?

What are some of the stupidest things you’ve done while gaming? For me, it was every time I accidentally sent a tell in a MUD to the person it was about.

What are some quests in games where you have two options that are both necessary/good, but can only pick one? I.e. you have a medicine and can only give it to Party A who needs it or Party B who needs it.

What are the best and worst systems for dealing with being over-encumbered in RPGs? I think the worst approach to me is the one in ES Oblivion, where you literally cannot move at all until you drop stuff. What I prefer is the system in Dragon Age, where it just tells you your inventory is full and to remove something before you add something.

What were the most important games in your childhood/teen years? Mine were: Myst/Riven Original Starcraft/Warcraft games Zork series

What are some interesting RPG mechanics you’ve run across? Like, I think the “flaws” system in The Outer Worlds is interesting/distinctive.

What are some of your favorite easter eggs in games?

Do you get fatigued (not bored, just literally fatigued) quicker playing some types of games than others, necessitating earlier breaks?

You know how for a lot of games, you have to pick a setting where you can “just barely see” a logo or such? Does anyone else have a hard time interpreting what “just barely see” means when doing this?

What are some fun, cool, odd facts you know about various video games?

https://elderscrolls.bethesda.net/en/article/REybYU3Gy2InVlHmus4UC/skyrim-10th-anniversary-fan-celebration “Current and future owners of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition on any platform including Xbox Game Pass Subscribers will receive access to three free pieces of Creation Club content: Fishing, Survival Mode and even new quests with Saints and Seducers. Additionally, Skyrim Special Edition owners on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | S, as well as Xbox Game Pass subscribers on Xbox Series X|S will receive a free upgrade to an enhanced version on November 11 for their respective PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | S systems!”

Have you ever participated in a study or survey involving gaming? What was it about?

Now that I’m playing PS4 games (on my PS5) after nothing but PS3 games for ages, I can’t get over the smoothness of movement when I walk or look around. Ignorant question: What technological change makes for this enhanced smoothness of motion?

If you abruptly jumped from one game generation to another, what were the biggest adjustments you had to make? For me, it’s been the whole “press vs. hold” button thing jumping from PS3 to PS4 games. But expanded fields of view aren’t far behind (thankfully, it seems one can usually turn them down or off).

What are some moments in games where you can’t decide whether you are moved, or can’t stop laughing? My example is when Leliana sings in Dragon Age: Origins. The song is beautiful and the moment is unexpected and lovely—but the animation is SO bad and awkward, lol.

In games with a “helmet off” display option for your character and/or followers, do you usually take it? I do. I know that the helmet is “on” in terms of armor, and am fine with accepting the idea of invisible helmets since I prefer to look at the characters.

While I loved all the customization options for my character in The Outer Worlds, I find it somewhat bizarre that one almost never gets to see one’s character in that game after being given so many options. Another game like that is Fallout 3. What are some others?

Usually on character customization screens, I’m desperately looking for the only hair I can stand. I actually really liked all the hair and makeup options in The Outer Worlds, so it’s been my favorite set of customization options in a game so far. What game features yours?

What are some games that had overly confusing opening sequences, to the point where you weren’t sure what was going on?

Games often have “paused” screens where you can manage inventory, crafting, etc. without the game world intruding. There is a moment in TLOU 2 where you are attacked abruptly on one of these “safe” screens. It is quite a shock when it happens. What other games have done this?

I like reading both video game reviews and essays, but often find the essays (or essay-like reviews) more insightful, maybe because they tend to focus more on overarching themes and ideas. Which do you usually find the more insightful format?