[Games with single/multiplayer modes you prefer as multiplayer?]

What are some games that come both with single player modes and co-op or multiplayer modes, where you prefer the latter?

I’ve been doing some No Man’s Sky with a friend for the first time, and I feel like I prefer the game like that to single player so far.

[Games that do best with random NPC encounters]

What games do the best job making for interesting encounters with random NPCs as you are out exploring the world?

I just started RDR 2, and so far the random encounters seem more varied and organic than those in other open world games I have played.

 

 

[What is the ideal level of complexity for any given game system/mechanic?]

Whether its fighting, hunting, crafting, fishing, or any other mechanic or system in a game, how much/little complexity do you want to see it involve? Do you get overwhelmed by too much complexity, or bored with too much simplicity? Does the right balance depend on the individual game and the specific system?

 

[Is nighttime too bright in most games?]

I started using a mod that actually makes nighttime dark in Skyrim, and since then, I feel like nighttime is so bright in most video games. Does anyone else find themselves feeling annoyed by how bright night tends to be in games?

[Games where challenges are not “leveling” based]

In a lot of games, the elements of “challenge” come from fighting harder and harder enemies, though they also get progressively easier to handle since you level up as you are doing it.

What are some games that by contrast do not focus on leveling (or maybe don’t even include it), but offer challenges in a more organic way?

[Realism that doesn’t translate well to video games?]

What are some examples of realism that just do not translate well to video games? For example, I like a small amount of camera wobble in first person, but if it’s a “realistic” amount, it just is awful for me to look at, and reduces immersion instead of increasing it.

[Are controls in games getting too elaborate?]

So, I love everything about RDR 2 so far (which I just started playing) except for the controls, which I find extremely elaborate (I mean, there are even nested control schemes). I think with a certain level of detail in terms of what you can do in games, elaborate controls may be unavoidable, but it is increasingly hard with modern games for me to keep track of how to do things. Is anyone else overwhelmed by modern control schemes in games? Can it go too far?

[Shopping in video games]

I love that in RDR 2, I can actually pick up items off shelves in stores and examine them and buy them, rather than just using a shopping menu. What are some other games that feature interesting shopping mechanics?

[What games have impressed you the most with their level of details?]

I just started RDR 2, and am blown away by the level of detail in environments, character interactions, character status, etc.

What games have impressed you the most with the level of detail they feature?

 

[Esports and jobs for humans]

I was reading a post the other day about Saudi Arabia’s government creating esports initiatives, and how they expect it to create tons of jobs in the economy over the years ahead. It got me thinking about how esports competitor may remain a viable job for humans long after AIs take many other jobs, because the entire appeal is to watch humans compete and excel. Thoughts on this?

[If I play a PC version of a game available on Xbox, will the sensitivity be weird on a DualSense?]

So, I have a weird question. Say a game is a PC/Xbox exclusive. I purchase it on PC, and then play it with my DualSense. Would the sensitivity with the DualSense be similar to what it would be on Xbox (i.e. completely reasonable), or will it be more like struggling to play a PC game without a mouse where the sensitivity is crazy on a gamepad?

[What is Microsoft/Xbox’s stance on exclusives these days?]

I feel like Microsoft/Xbox give a lot of mixed signals about exclusives. On one hand, I read Phil Spencer saying somewhere within the past year that he thinks exclusives are going to phase out of existence in the future. On the other hand, Microsoft keeps buying studios and making exclusives, including in series that were previously not exclusive. Thoughts?

[Sony is worried about Microsoft Buying Activision]

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/playstation-boss-jim-ryan-flew-to-brussels-to-voice-concerns-to-eu-over-xboxs-activision-deal/

“PlayStation boss Jim Ryan reportedly flew to Brussels last month to meet with European Union regulators currently scrutinising Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.”

Basically, Phil Spencer said that COD would be on PlayStation for “several more years.” The implication is that after that, it would be a Microsoft exclusive. This has Sony worried.

 

[Sony introduces PlayStation Stars rewards program]

Sony is introducing a new rewards program called “PlayStation Stars”: https://www.pocket-lint.com/games/news/playstation/162834-playstation-stars-explained-features-loyalty-points

One thing that made me laugh that I saw about this program is supposedly one of the rewards is better customer support.

[Using VR to meditate]

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-09-29/vr-meditation-taught-me-how-to-meditate-how-to-save-a-life

Here is an interesting article about using VR to meditate. This makes a lot of sense to me, as I actually seem to get the benefits of meditating more from playing video games than “just sitting.”

[Games with the most nuanced factions?]

What RPGs have the most nuanced factions? What I mean is, games where it is not a super clear-cut case of Good Faction A vs. Evil Faction B, and things are a bit more gray.

[Sequels becoming exclusives]

I was quite peeved today when I finally looked into The Outer Worlds 2 and saw it is an Xbox/PC exclusive (having just finished the first game on PS5). I worry about this happening with Elder Scrolls and Fallout as well since Microsoft bought all these studios.

Anyone else feel it is totally lame not to continue releasing series on their original platforms?

 

[The Outer Worlds 2]

Anyone have thoughts about The Outer Worlds 2? Mostly I just hope we do not see a lot of familiar corporation names, since it is meant to take place on an entirely different colony.

[Do you actively avoid walkthroughs some or all of the time?]

In another thread, someone mentioned they thought it’d be rare to miss certain details of a game’s mechanics unless one actively avoids walkthroughs. I actually do actively avoid them in most circumstances, but it never occurred to me this might be odd. Who else does this?

[What RPGs have the most varied ending branches?]

I feel like with just about every RPG, there are many complaints about the endings not having enough branching. This makes me curious--are there any RPGs that have largely escaped this complaint? 

[Functionality in games it took you years to discover]

15 hours ago, killamch89 said:

But how'd you miss that one? It's been around since Morrowind possibly even earlier...

Unintuitive controls, I think? I already forgot what button it is now =D

[Were you ever present for the end/shutdown of an online game?]

Were you ever present for the final moments of an online game?

I was fondly remembering the one week I spent in a MUD called Orone many years ago. I discovered it the week it shut down, and me and a friend challenged ourselves to try and accomplish as much as possible in-game before the plug was pulled. It was actually a lot of fun since there was zero pressure, and other gamers had no reason not to help us achieve our ridiculous goals. But they did pull the plug several hours early, which was a disappointment. I could have done so much with those hours.

 

[Favorite channels and videos for gaming humor?]

What are your favorite channels or videos for gaming humor?

Also, I apologize if I posted this already. I don't think I did, but I get overly excited about this video.

 

[What’s the longest it ever took you to download and install a game?]

What’s the longest it ever took you to download and install a game?

[What makes the biggest difference in how much drive space games take up?]

Why do some games take up so much hard drive space while others take up so little? Sometimes I am surprised, as it seems like games that I would expect to be massive given their graphics, etc. or the sizes of their environments are fairly small. What factors make the biggest difference?