Thank you, Fireball.
This week, it’s a question of anxiety.
It should always do its best to focus on me, the star of this video game.
The teensiest break of the fourth wall.
Permapeeping cameras create a little mystery.
Who’s controlling this camera?
Why are they following me so intently?
Why are they not doing anything about all these problems I’m creating?
It implies a whole other layer of infrastructure and humans in this world.
I like how curious cameras in games indicate the opposite of in reality: no one is watching.
Whereas if I see cameras follow me around the Scotmid, my anxiety is spiking.
This is just decoration!
Ha ha, how fun!
What a fun little trick!
Crime all you like!
Unless… it wants to lull me into a false sense of security?
A game wouldn’t do that, would it?
You have been rude.
You have wasted the shopkeeper’s time.
You have raised their hopes then dashed them.
You have disrespected their livelihood.
You have treated their life’s passion as an idle distraction.
They probably think you’re a thief.
We all know you’ve failed.
We’re all disgusted with you.
They hope they’ll never see you again.
This is not so in games.
The shopkeeper is a medkit dispenser menu which happens to have a face.
You’ll rarely derive satisfaction from it as a social encounter either.
Sorry, no time for #bants.
So to make you feel something, fast, the game’s shopkeeper will slag you a bit.
I’m delighted by the rude shopkeepers of video games.
The emotion of this entire complex social encounter condensed into three words, and maybe a grunt.
you might always tell the writer and voice actor particularly enjoyed this bit.
And why shouldn’t shopkeepers be annoyed!
They spent 15 minutes showing you every Epic and Legendary in stock.
Maybe they can tell how little you care about them as people with lives of their own.
And yet, when you return, they’ll still greet you with a friendly “Hail!”
or “Welcome!”
That’s better than you deserve, you pauperous prick.
But which is better?
Honestly I’m getting too anxious thinking about these scenarios in real life and must abstain this week.
Which do you think is best in games, reader dear?
