Have You Ever... The Gaming Edition!
Oh look, another internet questionnaire blog post. By now you must be aware of my weakness for these sorts of things (if not then take a look at the links to related posts at the bottom of this article). It would appear that the “never have I ever” format has been adapted and we now have a “have you ever” set of questions specifically aimed at gamers. As usual some of the questions are trivial but others offer scope for quite interesting responses. Etiquette dictates that I credit those who have already participated and answered these questions. They are as follows. Michelle over at A Geek Girl’s Guide. Pix1001 from Shoot The Rookie. Joseph Skyrim’s post can be found at JVT Workshop and pkudude99 share their thoughts at Nomadic Gamers. Do check out their take on the questions as there are some interesting replies. On to the questions and answers.
Oh look, another internet questionnaire blog post. By now you must be aware of my weakness for these sorts of things (if not then take a look at the links to related posts at the bottom of this article). It would appear that the “never have I ever” format has been adapted and we now have a “have you ever” set of questions specifically aimed at gamers. As usual some of the questions are trivial but others offer scope for quite interesting responses. Etiquette dictates that I credit those who have already participated and answered these questions. They are as follows. Michelle over at A Geek Girl’s Guide. Pix1001 from Shoot The Rookie. Joseph Skyrim’s post can be found at JVT Workshop and pkudude99 share their thoughts at Nomadic Gamers. Do check out their take on the questions as there are some interesting replies. On to the questions and answers.
Q: Have you ever rage quit a game?
A: In the past, I have logged out of games when frustrated. But I don’t recall ever going the whole hog and logging out and immediately uninstalling a game. I try not to take things so personally these days. I try to foster a mindset that something can only bother you and get under your skin if you choose for it to do so. I do however, leave group games such as Call of Duty Modern Warfare/Warzone if they’re not proving to be fun or I’m playing against demonstrably superior players. I don’t see games as a test of character or some sort of rite of passage. They are services designed to provide enjoyment. I am a consumer and customer, not a zealous neophyte.
Q: Have you ever earned all achievements in a game?
A: Not that I am aware. However, I’m not motivated by such things, especially if all they reward you with is a title.
Q: Have you ever pulled an all-nighter gaming?
A: More times than I care to remember, although they are less frequent these days. However between 2007 and 2016, a period during which I lived alone, I would frequently burn the proverbial midnight oil. MMOs were at one point, a major source of all-night gaming sessions. Especially raids and tricky group content. It’s also relevant to point out that I never pulled an all-nighter gaming for negative reasons. It was all about having fun and from time to time being like a dog with a bone and chasing some reward. Nowadays, if I stay up late gaming, I usually only make it to about 3:00 AM.
Q: Have you ever live-streamed your gaming?
A: I’ve had several goes at streaming. At one point I thought that it may be an interesting alternative to podcasting. But ultimately, I find talking while playing a game difficult. It’s kind of like patting your head while rubbing your belly. If I concentrate on the talking, then the gameplay suffers. If I focus on the gameplay, then banter dries up. So my attempts never quite worked out. Plus another obstacle to cultivating a successful Twitch audience is the fact I swear like a trooper. I have no problem with profanity if used to underpin a strong sentiment. But both Twitch TV and YouTube are becoming generic corporate platforms and such “freedom of expression” does not fit with their business model.
Q: Have you ever pre-ordered a game?
A: I have in the past but having learned the hard way that paying up front is not always the best move, I seldom do it these days. When it comes to games from big companies, I like to wait a while so that all the bugs get fixed and that there are plenty of YouTube videos available to help me with tricky content.
Q: Have you ever bought a game and never played it?
A: Well I’ve bought a lot of game bundles, usually for a specific title, so there have often been games included with the deal that have shall we politely say, “fallen by the wayside”. But if we’re talking about more expensive, contemporary releases from so-called triple A publishers,I think I’ve always played what I’ve purchased. However, let me qualify that statement by adding that on occasions I’ve quickly found out that I don’t like what I’ve bought and those particular titles get uninstalled promptly.
Q: Have you ever been jump-scared by a horror game?
A: Yes, there have been some games that have caught me out with a jump scare. However, I have an abiding love of cinema, especially the horror genre. I’m not a fan of jump scares because they are relatively easy to achieve. Therefore any film that relies upon them too much is somewhat of a one trick pony. hence, I feel exactly the same when such a tactic is ported over to video games. Atmosphere, narrative, aesthetics, context and a whole host of other more subtle tools can be used to produce much better scares. However, for the sake of balance, the occasional jump scare, if thoughtfully used can be acceptable.
Q: Have you ever had a set squad for a specific game?
A: No. The nearest I’ve got to this was back in my early MMO days. I played The Lord of the Rings Online with an active kinship (guild) so we always had competent players available to do the heavy lifting when it came to raids and instances. I’ve also over the years spent time in games where I’ve known other players and duo’d with them from time to time. But nowadays, I only group when I have to or if the game has an easy “auto grouping” facility like Star Trek Online.
Q: Have you ever bought a game on multiple platforms?
A: Only once. I owned Unreal Tournament (1999 edition) for the PC and subsequently bought it again when I purchased a bundle of games for the Sega Dreamcast. Since 2000 I have played games exclusively on the PC.
Q: Have you ever got a console for the games specifically?
A: I really wanted to play Red Dead Redemption when it came out and seriously considered buying a Playstation 3 to do so. But having to use a game controller instead of keyboard and mouse was the main stumping block so I didn’t actually do it. I recently gave serious thought to purchasing a Nintendo Switch but the main reason I didn’t is because there wasn’t a specific title that seemed “essential” to me. Unless the latest generation of consoles offers something groundbreaking, I don’t think I’m destined to buy one ever again.
"Have You Ever?"
As some of you may know, I have a weakness for internet questionnaires. Yes, they can be looked upon as self indulgent filler that you post on a day when you’re strapped for inspiration, if you want to be snippy about them. But I find them quite insightful as I like to know about the people whose blogs I read. Sometimes it’s just as much about the person as it is about the blog post. “You are your own brand” and all that. But I digress. I saw this particular questionnaire over at Ace Asunder. Solarayo borrowed it from Quietschisto of RNG, who in turn purloined it from Chrisse of Vamp It Up Manchester who created the questions. There’s a broad spectrum of enquiries and scope for some informative and entertaining answers. So let us begin.
Get you. Filling in a questionnaire with a fountain pen…
As some of you may know, I have a weakness for internet questionnaires. Yes, they can be looked upon as self indulgent filler that you post on a day when you’re strapped for inspiration, if you want to be snippy about them. But I find them quite insightful as I like to know about the people whose blogs I read. Sometimes it’s just as much about the person as it is about the blog post. “You are your own brand” and all that. But I digress. I saw this particular questionnaire over at Ace Asunder. Solarayo borrowed it from Quietschisto of RNG, who in turn purloined it from Chrisse of Vamp It Up Manchester who created the questions. There’s a broad spectrum of enquiries and scope for some informative and entertaining answers. So let us begin.
Driven or been driven at 100 mph/160 kmh?
I don’t drive, so I haven’t driven at such a speed. However, I have been driven by others and the experience greatly depended on who was driving. Mrs P is a good and considerate driver. My son on the other hand...
Learned a possibly deadly skill?
Yes. Flower arranging with Triffids.
Ridden in a helicopter?
Yes at Farnborough Airshow. I was surprised at the rapid acceleration and climb of the helicopter, which I was expecting to be slower. Although it was only a relatively short trip, it afforded a great view of the air field and certainly put in perspective why these vehicles are so important to the military. Damn noisy inside, though.
Gone zip lining?
Not been on a zip line but I’ve done abseiling/rappelling in my youth. Not too keen on heights so this was a real challenge. However, it was supervised by an ex-soldier who was calm and professional. If it was any other instructor, I probably wouldn’t have done it.
Been to an NFL game or Ice Hockey?
I’ve seen The Chatham Cyclones play Ice Hockey several times. It’s not exactly a difficult game to follow with excessively complex and esoteric rules (I’m looking at you Cricket). I especially enjoyed the Zamboni.
Watched Dr Who?
I am a child of the seventies. Doctor Who was an integral part of my youth. I watched from the Jon Pertwee years right the way up to Sylvester McCoy. I watched the rebooted show for a while and I recognise that it is a good modern presentation of the concept. But Tom Baker is my favourite incarnation of the Doctor.
Been to Canada?
Not yet.
Visited Disney?
We considered taking our son to Disneyland Paris in the late nineties but he quickly moved on from his “Disney phase” to being obsessed with Power Rangers and Pokemon, so we missed the proverbial boat and saved a fortune.
Visited an actual castle?
I live in the UK. You can’t walk for more than 10 minutes without tripping over a castle or some other historical building. So, yes, I’ve visited dozens and I still really enjoy doing so. Visited the Tower of London back in early 2018 and Rochester Castle last summer.
Visited Vegas?
No and I’m not likely to do so. And yes, this is down to cultural snobbery.
Eaten alone at a restaurant?
In 2006 I went self employed and subsequently spent a decade working short term contracts and later running my own IT consultancy. During this period I would often dine alone and it wasn’t unusual to see others in a similar line of work do the same. Initially it was an odd experience and I felt a little self conscious but that quickly passed and I found it to be an agreeable experience. You don’t have to compromise on your choice of restaurant to please others, nor do you have to share your meal. Dining in silence after a long day can be quite relaxing. I would often read a paper or a book while waiting to be served. Plus I often passed on the cost to my clients or claimed a meal allowance.
Played an instrument?
I dimly recollect learning to play the recorder at primary school. With hindsight, I have come to realise that it is an inherently evil instrument designed to torment parents and music lovers alike. Beyond that I have little or no musical skill.
Ridden a motorcycle?
No. As I mentioned earlier, I do not drive. And if I did, I wouldn’t touch a motorcycle. I see them simply as a fast path to organ donation.
Ridden a horse?
I went pony trekking several times as a child. My sister-in-law also used to keep horses. Horse riding is uncomfortable and generates a lot of work afterwards as the beasties are high maintenance. Plus horses are not to be trifled with. I was in a horse’s way once, so it put its head against my back and just pushed me aside. I think it threw me several metres. The bastards also bite. So horses can sod off. Plus Haribo is mainly made from them.
Donated blood?
When I worked for the government, the NHS Blood Service used to come to our office and harvest our blood, or if you prefer, took donations. I did this as it got me an extra 30 minute break and a free cup of tea and biscuits. Quid pro quo and all that.
Been skiing/snowboarding?
Now you’re being daft.
Gone camping?
I could write an entire blog post on this subject. Let it suffice to say that camping is shit. I like comfy hotel rooms, clean bed linen, mini bars and room service. Plus I’ve yet to hear about someone having their face eaten off by a bear in any major hotel chain.
Gone to a festival?
Yes, several times. I used to like live music events in my youth. Now I’m happy to stay in the comfort of my home and watch them on TV. If I find myself nostalgic for the festival ambience I can piss on my own shoes, take a shit in the corner of the room and dine on pot noodles for 48 hours.
Driven a stick shift?
Do you mean a vehicle with a manual gearbox? No, again I do not drive.
Ridden in a police car?
Yes. Both as a passenger and as a suspect. Oh the heady days of my youth.
Driven a boat?
One of the best holidays I ever had was in 1990, when myself and three friends rented a boat and travelled the Norfolk Broads. Steering the boat was quite enjoyable and we only crashed into the Reedham Car Ferry once. Hitting my head on the low beam as I entered the “conning tower” was such fun. Oh how we laughed and continued to drink.
Eaten Escargot?
Yes. Last time was a few years ago at the Coq d’Argent restaurant at Poultry, London. No real difference between snails and regular shellfish really. The flavour really comes from the sauce that they’ve been cooked in. I got given a bunch of fancy tools to hold the shell and dig out the edible part. I coped well and didn’t disgrace myself.
Been on a cruise?
No. I have nothing against them, apart from the virus outbreaks, the fires and the capsizing. But have you seen the people that go on them? Awful.
Been on TV?
Yes. When I was a civil servant I was active in the trade union. During a strike, I featured in video footage that was used in a news bulletin. I also provided a soundbite about pay increases for a radio journalist.
Been in a paper/book/magazine?
I was mentioned again for similar reasons in a trade union magazine once.
Eaten Sushi?
Yes, frequently. It’s not unusual to quote Tom Jones.
Seen a UFO?
I’ve seen things that I cannot identify before (mainly due to alcohol) but upon mature reflection do not think that they were of extraterrestrial origin.
Been Bungie Jumping?
No. I see no need to detach my retinas and damage my spine at the hands of an Australian called Hunter or Ethan (It’s always Aussies that run these things in my experience).
Rescued an animal?
I put a spider outside this very morning.
Met someone rather famous?
This is another subject that could be its own blog post. Furthermore, I have a lot to say about the old adage of “never meet your heroes”. But not here. To summarise, I stood next to Ed Lauter at Embankment Tube Station. I literally bumped into Timothy West in The Strand. And as a member of the British Film Institute, I’ve met the following people after Q&A events that they’ve held. Ray Harryhausen, Rick Baker, Peter Jackson, Michael Winner and Nick Park among others.