Games
Why do games have such terrible inventory systems?
There's some kind of evil extradimensional entity that makes developers simultaneously create huge, expansive open worlds for players to explore while also including a crafting system to make things.
Escape, power, or robot dinosaurs — how do you decide which game you’re going to play on any given day?
For me, the games I play -- be they video games or tabletop games or even the extremely rare incidents of me going out to throw a ball with my dog -- are chosen through a lens of escapism.
How does the tone of a game affect your enjoyment of it, and how much should a series’ tone shift over time?
There's an argument that the art direction of Diablo 3 was too 'light' -- an argument I find strange because there are still mounds of corpses, blood and gore strewn across walls and floors, and whole hosts of demons exploding out of every corner to destroy and consume all things.
What is your favorite genre of game and what makes it your favorite?
In terms of both video games and tabletop games, I tend to prefer role-playing games.
How do you feel when a game deviates from your expectations?
I really wanted to like Brutal Legend.
The Queue: Waiting for Download
It is apparently the season of enormous patches that take a year to download and install. The giant Cyberpunk 2077 patch just dropped, as did a surprise Baldur’s Gate 3 patch that finally lets us play Barbarians. They are 50 and 90 gigs, respectively. I had to delete several video games I’m not currently playing just to make room for them. So yeah, that’s pretty much what I did last night. What are you all up to?
What games did you pick up over the holiday break?
I know that's assuming you picked any up -- I actually didn't, myself, but I have been playing a lot of games this Holiday season.
What’s the easiest way to introduce someone to gaming?
If you're the gamer in your friend group or family, you often get asked about the various games you play, be they video games, tabletop RPGs, board games -- I have lost track of the amount of times I've been asked to explain Catan to people -- and you're put in the position of serving as a sort of unofficial ambassador for the hobbies you participate in and enjoy.
What do you most enjoy about the games you play?
I mean, straight up, transmog has made me love so, so many games — from World of Warcraft to Assassin's Creed Odyssey I enjoy playing dress up with my little POV character almost as much as getting a compelling story or satisfying gameplay loops.
What mechanic would you steal from another class or game?
My various Warriors absolutely want the Barbarian's Arsenal system from the Diablo 4 beta I played at BlizzCon 2019.
