StaceyPowers

We all know what a pain microtransactions can be. Anyone have any examples of games which actually handle them right?

What are some of the best games to play in terms of being driven by a solid narrative and compelling characters? I really love The Last of Us and Bioshock Infinite in this regard, and am looking for other games to match them in terms of quality of story. In the case of The Last of Us, the story is surprisingly simplistic when you think about it, but it is just so well told and the characters are so great that the entire thing blows you away. Bioshock Infinite is obviously a great deal more complex, but once again, beautifully told. I walked away from these games feeling like I’d had these whole other lifetimes.

I really like games which force you to make complex choices and explore their ramifications, especially if those choices are morally gray. What are some of the best games to play in this regard?

Did you ever play any games which you actually thought were helped along by their technical limitations, especially classic games? A lot of people here probably have figured out by now that I recall Myst with great fondness. That game was decidedly one of the creepiest games atmospherically I ever played, despite the fact that one was utterly safe through the entire game and totally alone. In hindsight, I think part of what made it creepy was that it was made in the days before you could fluidly walk around in a game world. You couldn’t really look behind you in real-time … so you always thought something might be there. Even though you knew better, it was hard to shake the feeling.

Who here enjoys watching streamers playing video games? If so, what is the main draw for you? Do you just like watching the gameplay, or do you tune in for their sense of humor, their commentary on other issues, or to learn from how they play, or another reason altogether?

More than a wee bit, for me.

How do you feel about turn-based combat in video games? Initially, I hated it, because I played nothing but shooters for a really long time, and couldn't see the appeal of being pulled out of real time in any way, shape or form. But after playing some games with turn-based combat for some time now, I've come to appreciate the tactical side of playing in that way, and realize it just offers a different type of challenge. So now I enjoy turn-based combat as well. Where do you weigh in?

In Skyrim, I usually prefer single-handed weapon + conjuration, actually. So I guess a sort of warrior mage.

What types of games do you find most immersive to play? For me, among graphical games, I would say that shooter and stealth games seem to keep me most immersed in the moment. But in general, the most immersive gaming experiences I can remember ever were still MUDs.

In the dark. Easier for me to see the screen, plus less sensory distractions = greater immersion.

When I first started playing Fallout games, I found the VATS system annoying because it disengaged me from the present. But by now I am so used to using it that it doesn't feel disruptive at all. While it takes away the need to aim accurately, it does help me think tactically. And I'm a dreadful shot, so I don't mind leaning on it. Do you like VATS?

I second that!

I often am not really overtly aware of how repetitious most games are until I really think about it, but they do for the most part entail doing the same actions on repeat, more or less. That being the case, do you think games are annoyingly repetitious and wish there were more variation in what you can do in them? Or do you find the repetitious nature of games soothing and relaxing? I think I lean more toward the latter, but sometimes I do wish for more variety.

Do any of you have pets that do funny or annoying things when you game? I have this cat that seems to get jealous of the console. Whenever she senses that I’m hyper-focused on a tough fight in a game, suddenly she shows up and jumps up on my lap and blocks my view of the screen. Many a boss fight has been lost to her antics.

For a long, long time I was a PC gamer, and couldn't fathom how anyone could use a gamepad effectively. This was because the only gamepad I'd ever used was the original NES one, and I would be willing to wager I'd still be atrocious with it. I've been gaming almost exclusively on my PS3 for a couple years now though, and I've gotten used to the Dualshock. And what's funny is that every time I try and game on my PC with my mouse again, now I am totally uncoordinated and play abominably. What works better for you? A gamepad or a mouse and keyboard?

I run into a lot of folks who downright loathe open world games. I’m obviously not one of them, but I do understand some of their complaints. In particular, I agree that it’s easier to tell a story with a strong narrative and get a player emotionally invested in a linear game with a set storyline and character. But I don’t think open world games are necessarily impossible to do that with. It seems like even if you let the player create a character, it’s just a matter of having strong narratives tied to followers to create that emotional connection and context in the game. Thoughts?

I'm playing RDR for the first time, and one thing I've enjoyed so far about it is some of the silly, random stuff I'm able to do, like play horseshoes or watch a movie. I'd love to see more stuff like this in open world games. I know GTA is good for this too. Anyone else have any other suggested games that offer this sort of thing?

Awesome, thank you!

Thank you! Very nice review :)

Yes, I love narrative-focused games. That's insightful, thank you!

Have any reference links to share? I'd like to learn more.

I'm so far very much enjoying my first playthrough of RDR, but I keep thinking about all the awful crunch time stories I've heard about Rockstar (and other companies). It really bothers me that developers are seen as "throw away" resources--and it seems like even game creators often burn out from the high pressure involved with tight release schedules. Personally, I don't mind waiting a long time for a really amazing game, and wish that crunch culture would change. What about you?

I haven't played this game, but it seems to show up in lists of games that I might be interested in. Anyone have any opinions on it?

I had no idea, lol. That's ironic. On my first playthrough, I was an Argonian, and imagined I was a foreigner. On my second, I'm an Orc, and imagine that I'm (like the Forsworn) another displaced native.

Hello fellow gamer! Where in the frozen north are you from? I've spent some time up there. I also love Skyrim and will be playing Oblivion soon. Fallout NV is another favorite :)