[Do you think games are too woke?]

On 1/8/2022 at 3:50 PM, Shagger said:

In response to the actual topic, there is only one difference between a game that's "woke" and a game that's "offensive", and it's not even in the game itself, but in the person observing it. They're both needlessly offended in a way that a civilised, sensible person wouldn't be observing the same thing, It's just as stupid for someone to be offended by a female character being needlessly sexualised as somebody being offended, and offended is the right word, by the same character now wearing jeans instead of skin tight short shorts.

 

I've been playing a game called The Vagrant on steam (I'm tempted to do a "Shagger Says" on this game when I'm done) and it's from a publisher that's known for catering to a, well, let's say "I'm not crying, but still need an ample supply of tissues" demographic. And yes, the protagonist looks lie she just walked of the set of "Lord of the G-Srings" or some shit. However, the game itself, that I only bought to use up leftover funds from my Steam wallet, is superb! A dark, gothic side scrolling JRPG in the art style of some Vanillaware games like Odin's Sphere. It's brilliant and I honestly don't think anyone's Steam library is right without it. The story is fantastic and really engaging, the gameplay is satisfying, it is gorgeous and at $4 it is the bargain of the century. The main character may be drawn like she belongs in a god damb hentai, but that is the last reason anyone should choose to buy or not buy this game. However, there will be people who will do one thing or the other and it is not fair on the game. So because of that, I would say they would have been better of designing the main character in a way that was more, let's say, subtle. Does that mean I'm offended by the way she looks? No. If I was, I wouldn't have tried the game to begin with. Did the way she looked persuade me to buy the game? Again, no. Like it or not, when you swim through the bargin basement on Steam, the kindest thing I can say is that it's an ocean of lowest common denominator mucus, so even The Vagrant actually stands out as something to take at least a little bit more seriously. Like I said, I might do a full boar full roar "Shagger Say's" on the game, but TL;DR is, it's $4, buy it, I promise you won't regret it.

 

I used "the Vagrant" as an example of how I'm a rational person and how I hoped everyone would view a game like that. I understand why some people would attack the game over the design of the main character and I would too if the game used that as crutch because it had no other way to stand on it's own, but that just isn't the case. There will be people who will defend the game from such attacks because "complaining about it makes you woke", and to me that's at least just as stupid.

 

Don't jump on hate trains or bandwagons, don't stand up for any cause other than your own and what you truly believe in, and if you do, make it about something that actually matters.

 

great point! 

[Playing with friends or strangers, which is more fun?]

On 12/15/2020 at 1:47 PM, Empire said:

This is a hard answer 🙂 

I have online friends that I know for years that who I meet online from doing gaming that I speak each day them. Haven't meet them in real life though. ANd we always have fun and great gaming times and never had very bad days. Yes, we have our ups and downs but that's normal. I even have the same amount of fun if I was playing with strangers on games. But rather play with those people that who I know the most since we know who is who and who is what and who is good at what. 

Each answer from different people will be different.

Building meaningful connections through online gaming is a testament to the power of digital communities. These friendships, forged in the realm of virtual battles and shared victories, can be just as genuine as those in the physical world. In some cases, they transcend the online sphere, with individuals cherishing bonds that last for years. While online friends may not be physically present, they offer camaraderie, laughter, and shared experiences. It's not unusual to have your gaming buddies become your confidants, despite never meeting them in person. However, as the post rightly mentions, the dynamics can vary greatly from person to person. It's also worth noting that friendships formed in physical spaces, like college, can easily extend to the virtual realm, reinforcing the idea that genuine connections can thrive in both online and offline settings. Ultimately, the value of these friendships lies in the shared moments and meaningful interactions, regardless of their origin.

[Is gaming the best stress relief?]

On 8/5/2022 at 12:05 PM, Empire said:

Yes and no. It depends on the game, really. In general, they can and do, but in specific, different people will respond differently to different stimuli. For instance, in World of Warcraft, it will actually induce stress with its skinnerian design principles focused on repetitive, time-consuming grinds. I've damn-near had a panic attack running raids in that game, that's how stress inducing it is (needless to say, I don't play that game much once I hit max level on any character)

MSFS is very relaxing but at times that can do both, stress and not stressing out. Yet Twitch streaming also can stress anyone out with chat talking.

 

I agree with you. In some cases, it depends, but in general, I think an hour or two of video game playing a day never hurt anyone. But it also depends on what you play. Let's say I'm quite exhausted by e-sports games. So I think scientists should study this issue in more detail.