Happy Alternatives

[Sivante]

Imagining the elden ring playthrough of an average ffxiv player is a fun exercise.

Annnnnnd that's my new game for the weekend. Imagining FFXIV players first playthroughs of Elden Ring is delightful and I'm a fool for not having thought of it. Thannnnk you vvery much.

[LilimoLimomo]

Annnnnnd that's my new game for the weekend. Imagining FFXIV players first playthroughs of Elden Ring is delightful and I'm a fool for not having thought of it. Thannnnk you vvery much.

Honestly, I find so much joy in watching unskilled players play games. Gaming has been my main hobby for decades now so the conventions of games as well as the associated problem-solving comes incredibly naturally to me, and it can be easy to forget just how different that can be for people with different life experiences. Watching the way someone who lacks my skills and experience engages with the game really gets me out of my own head; it's both educational and grounding, and I get a genuine kick out of both of those things.

(Probably especially because I've worked as a game designer and have a passion for seeing how the design of games can either lead players towards or away from success in various contexts.)

[Sivante]

Honestly, I find so much joy in watching unskilled players play games. Gaming has been my main hobby for decades now so the conventions of games as well as the associated problem-solving comes incredibly naturally to me, and it can be easy to forget just how different that can be for people with different life experiences. Watching the way someone who lacks my skills and experience engages with the game really gets me out of my own head; it's both educational and grounding, and I get a genuine kick out of both of those things.

(Probably especially because I've worked as a game designer and have a passion for seeing how the design of games can either lead players towards or away from success in various contexts.)

100%. I don't say it with any malice or judgement, but watching a less versed player go up against a boss I'm stuck on really opens my head up. That and it's just downright enjoyable watching them experiment and go through the cycle of suffering, into formulating a plan, into executing it.

My play: Ret, Ret, Ret, opening, exploit -> trigger grease wire, punish, push, lost momentum begin to ret, ret, repeat cycle for opening.
Boring, Sterile, clinical.

Their play: IS THAT GOD? AM I FIST FIGHTING GOD RIGHT NOW? ... ... I guess I'm gonna go punch god.
Exhilarating, fresh, excited.

Let alone, yeah, seeing how the games design directs them and seeing if they caught it, or if the design didn't quite capture their attention enough.