Macka1080

I, too, find refuge from both depression and anxiety in video games. When I was at my worst several years ago now, games were the only place I felt safe and in control. I didn't need to worry about letting anyone down or being permanently punished for my mistakes. I credit games with helping me survive those rough times.

My symptoms are less severe now, and I have techniques to manage them. But games still provide an escape, as cliche as that may be.

Kudos on balancing your engineering degree, your family, and your novel all at the same time! That's no mean feat.

I've written a few self-published novels (through the Kindle store), although I haven't had as much time for fictional writing recently since taking up more analytical think pieces on the tech and gaming industries. Finding the free time to commit to a project as large as a novel is difficult, and with my job, I currently prefer the shorter-form opinion articles.

I don't know how much my advice is worth, but I will recommend Smashwords as a good resource for self-publishing tips and style guides. For the act of writing, I actually tend to use OneNote, as it syncs automatically between my multiple devices, meaning I can write on my phone in the middle of nowhere, should I so wish.

I'm so with you on writing what you want to write. As you said, it's a way of having an impact on the world, no matter how minor, and a means of expressing yourself like any other. The best of luck with your novel, and your future!

Congratulations Jeff!

@ravey: Fair enough. I guess it's the difference between role-playing and bipartisan storytelling, both of which are just alternate approaches to the same situation. Whether player and character are intertwined or discrete is a matter of perspective.

@ravey: For me, the way a character is portrayed in cutscenes and the way they behave when the player is in control weave together to form a persona informed by both those representations, rather than one distinct from them. The ludonarrative-dissonance argument is fair when the two representations are practically polar extremes, but done well there's no reason for the different perspectives of the character to be separate characters entirely.

I also feel that games allow the player to make significant choices all throughout, regardless of whether they feature true branching stories or not. Simply the way that a player chooses to interact with the world contributes to the nature of the character: are they a headlong-charging fighter, or a stealthy pacifist? Do they scour the environment for resources, or are they always in a rush? These are non-traditional aspects of storytelling, but no less valuable for that.

@ravey: Isn't that what the player-character is, though? They are defined by the way in which they interact with the world and its denizens, their personality and predilections moulded according to the intent of the player. It is not the same as a traditional, scripted character, but it is still just as valid.

@medacris: I definitely know that feeling. Games I only played demos of, or read previews for, back in my childhood maintain this magical allure, this aura of potentiality born of the wild imaginings I experienced at the time. Unfortunately, actually going back and playing those missed games tends to spoil the magic, as you realise that the game (or movie/other experience) inside your head far exceeds the real thing.

Not sure if there's a specific word for it, but there definitely should be!

Damn. I've been seeing reports of his death, but this is the first I've heard that it was a suicide.

I really enjoyed the Mirra games, as well as the man's X-Games' performances. This news sucks.

That's some pretty impressive attention to detail. A whole lot of unique elements by the looks of it, which goes a long way to making a virtual space feel real. I've always liked just pottering around in open-world games, examining the backgrounds for hidden jokes and the like. Seems like The Division might hit those notes.

That is awesome! I love Contradiction, and I love it even more for how earnest the actors and devs are in their engagement with fans. What a brilliant video!