BLUF: Agreed. Games don’t need realism to be fun. They need fun to be fun.

Aside from obvious genres like simulators, horror, or other niche games, graphics don’t, and shouldn’t be, the main focus of a game.

It could just be plain fun. I’d prefer games with a bunch of sandbox niche mechanics than seeing a tree in 4k upscale. Like Noita or Terraria.

Or a deep story. The original Talos Principle was alright on its graphics at the time, but it prioritized the story and puzzles. It was a fundamental game that shaped many of the philosophies I hold still today.

Graphics can be important, but I’d also prefer stylized over realistic any day. That’s why some of the older games still hold up today, graphically.

Wind Waker, the old 3d mario games, Bioshock, Oblivion (terrain, not people lol)

All had really really solid art. And it still looks good. Because it didn’t try to push the limits on making the game look real.

Back when Modern Warfare 2 released on the 360, I saw little dust clouds, and thought that it was the greatest game for realism ever at the time. The graphics were so good. Going back? Dogwater.

To some extent they likely do. Nobody truly knows their “proprietary engine” other than dedicated modders and bethesda staff.

There’s definitely a level of negotiation that goes on between Microsoft and bethesda, which, outside of their massive titles Skyrim and Fallout, has successful games published (not developed) by Bethesda, like Doom, Deathloop, Dishonored, among others. If Microsoft makes demands, they could backstab the devs of whatever game they make, just like they did to new vegas.

So yeah, I doubt they’d let it happen again.

As if they’d let that happen.

The last time they let another studio develop something, it blew expectations out of the water and as a result made their game built on their home engine look like hot dog water.

New vegas is by far the beat fallout game, if for no other reason, it’s an actual role playing game, and not an action adventure game.

It’s small because I knew it was coming, but I got the job offer for a promotion! Not many people I can tell.

Is your soul a good fertilizer?

Outer Worlds. Specifically when you have the conversation with Parvati in the bar about asexuality.

As someone who’s generally not been sexually attracted to anyone but is masculine, I felt a connection in the dialogue that I’ve never really felt from any media before, ever.

“I’ve tripped up folks in the past. Folks I thought cared about me for me. People said I was Cold.”

Man I’ve never felt representation like that. Sex to me is so strange and often gives me a disgusting vibe, though I won’t deny it to my partner, its just not in my DNA I guess.

Anyways. Never finished that game. After that conversation, I lost most interest in any other dialogue in the game. Might go back at some point, but not yet.

Hp printers

Can’t keep Karlach if you side with the goblins iirc. She always wants out immediately after.