Reflections on Gaming

Why do we feel Call of Duty is overrated, and what are our thoughts on F.E.A.R., a relatively unknown and undiscussed FPS? What makes a game "overrated" or "underrated?" We discuss some broad questions about how games are seen and considered in the public eye, and focus specifically on two games to investigate some of those questions with a case study of both an overrated and underrated game today on Reflections on Gaming.

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What kind of games do you enjoy to play, and who do you enjoy to play them with? How do you play video games? We explore several theories that try to explain why people play the games they do the way they do. You can probably learn a little bit about what kind of gamer you are, and stick around to the end to hear some suggestions that appeal to several different types of players today on Reflections on Gaming!

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Why are FPS games some of the most popular, lucrative, and talked about games in the gaming industry? What do Call of Duty, Titanfall, and Fortnite all do to rope in players and keep millions of people coming back for more day after day? Westin and Jordan explore these topics as they dive deep into the history, mechanics, and appeal of the FPS genre and how it has stayed relevant in the industry in this episode of Reflections on Gaming!

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What are the defining characteristics of one of the most expansive game genres? What makes RPGs great and what are some missteps from RPGs of the past? Westin and Jordan discuss these questions and several more on this episode of Reflections on Gaming as they talk about one of their favorite types of games in the industry today!

What have been the business practices of one of the big three game developing companies over the last 35 years, and what have been the longstanding effects of those practices? How have the practices changed? What does the future hold? Westin and Jordan discuss their personal feelings about Nintendo and how they conflict with general sentiment regarding the developer giant in this episode of Reflections on Gaming.

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**NOTE**

With the announcement of a new installment in the Ratchet and Clank series, the first new non-reboot title since 2013, we take a look at the series as a whole: Analyzing what makes the series fun, what are its best aspects and its biggest missteps of the past, and spend a bit of time discussing what we hope to see in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart.  

With the impacts of COVID-19 still impacting everybody around the world, how did the gaming industry still manage to have an E3 style conference filled to the brim with gameplay, game announcements, and console reveals? Jordan and Westin discuss how game marketing has changed and how it operates today, including why these game developer conferences are so integral to the industry today; how did Sony's PS5 reveal event succeed, and why?

How did a walking simulator from the mind behind Metal Gear Solid manage to make money and engage so many players? What makes games like the Vanishing of Ethan Carter, Animal Crossing, and Zelda all fun to play, despite their vast differences? Join Jordan and Westin as they discuss these questions and more. 

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This episode we discuss some of our favorite games, including those that others don't like quite as much, and tackle the recent controversy that has cropped up due to the Last of Us 2 leaks over the last several weeks.

Let us know how you liked the podcast, what we can improve, and what YOUR favorite games are at: [email protected]! 

Messages about anything and everything related to what we talked about or gaming in general is welcome.