StaceyPowers

When you use stealth to get past an enemy without killing it, do you feel a sense of achievement, or do you feel annoyed you didn’t “defeat” the enemy? I feel the latter, but I also think it’s an irrational feeling.

Do video games help you fight anxiety? I think they help with mine in the following ways: -They give my mind something to focus on. -They play well to my obsessive-compulsive nature, hijacking my OCD and taking it away from ruminating on things that scare me. -They trigger a dopamine “reward” experience. -They are more ordered and safe than everyday life.

https://youtu.be/R_VzjFWrF6o I really enjoyed this video essay about Skyrim and RPGs. Its main point is essentially that video games offer us safe havens of order and meaning in a chaotic and confusing universe.

When it gets loud, it doesn't seem interested in dropping again, so I turn it off. then it behaves fine if I don't play TLOU. It has done this a few times with Dragon Age Inquisition too, but went back to behaving after I turned it off and back on.

BioShock Infinite

I've noticed a few times over the past few weeks, my PS3 is running hotter and louder than usual. It is well-ventilated, recently dusted, and is only doing this sporadically, usually while playing TLOU. Anyone have any thoughts about this?

I heard a rumor that there might be a new Quake game in development, maybe a sequel or a reboot. Which would you prefer, and what would you want from a new Quake game?

Both ideally and realistically, what do you want VR technology to be like in the future? What kind of gaming experience do you want it to bring you?

For games that you return to again and again for many years, what are the draws that keep you coming back? For me, it depends on the type of game. If it is an open world game, it is usually the atmosphere, the music, the scenery, and just the fun of exploring. For linear games, all of that is part of it, but also the story and the characters, and wanting to experience what it is like to “be” those characters again.

How long do you think the microchip shortage will go on (and the subsequent shortage of consoles)?

I really like the idea of a small open world game with a lot of detail—depth over breadth. So, like, instead of a country to explore or a whole city, maybe something more like one block in a neighborhood, or a really small town. But with really elaborate detail put into every location and character. Is there anything like this out there?

I'm playing through Darkfall Cave right now for the first time, and so far, it is my new favorite Skyrim cave. What do you think is the coolest cave in the game?

I’ve been curious about this game for a while. Has anyone played it?

What are some of the best super short games (let’s say … anything 6 hours or less) that you have played?

Does it trouble you that you cannot resell digital games you own?

How do you decide what difficulty level to play a game on?

Are there games you always play on easy/casual? For me, this is Dragon Age, because the difficulty jump at ‘normal” seems absurd to me, and more like “hard’ on other games.

I've had little moments like that too that made me attach to a character. For me, it was the moment in BioShock Infinite when Booker first encounters a vigor. It was my first BioShock game, so my reaction was like "what the hell was that??" And the Booker said the exact same line in the same tone. After that, I was Booker.

Are there games you kind of dread playing because they are so challenging (i.e. positive stress), but you love anyway?

I’m playing through Dawnguard, and finally understand that the Dwemer blinded the Falmer on purpose (previously, I thought it was just a side effect of life underground). I cannot for the life of me come up with an obvious logical reason to do this. Does anyone have any theories?

I’m playing through Darkfall Cave in Dawnguard in Skyrim for the first time. I really wanted to love Blackreach, and never did—it is too large, dark, and hard to navigate for me to enjoy. Darkfall Cave has a beautiful and unique ambiance like Blackreach, but is actually fun and not tedious to play through.

Welcome to RL.

Good point. If it is a character that was handed to me, not one I came up with, I do likewise. I want to be true to the character's journey.

What phobia?

By figuring out what has stopped me from not living by my stated rules. I've been researching a lot about childhood trauma, transactional analysis, and the mind, and have been doing an in-depth audit of my traits and past. The objective is to figure out what "bad code" is running in my brain--skewed perspectives, beliefs, and assumptions I'm not entirely aware of that are driving me. Once they are identified and dismantled, there won't be anything left to stop me from being my best self. Kind of funny, but Spec Ops: The Line was part of what inspired me to dive into this. What Walker went through made me realize that until we know what's driving us, we don't really have a choice. But once we do, we are finally free to decide.