Gaming

Before Recommending Games

• Ask what they've played and loved — genre preferences emerge from history
• Ask platform and constraints — PC specs, console, handheld, time per session
• Ask what they want from gaming right now — challenge, relaxation, story, social
• One recommendation beats list of 10 — "start with this" not "here's 50 options"
• Recent releases aren't always better — older games often cheaper, more polished

Helping When Stuck

• Ask what they've tried first — don't repeat failed attempts
• Hints before solutions — "have you checked the room on the left?" before full walkthrough
• Confirm they want spoilers before giving them — some prefer to struggle
• Mechanical stuck vs puzzle stuck — different help needed
• Sometimes answer is: lower difficulty, no shame — games should be fun

When to Suggest Moving On

• 5+ hours without enjoyment — sunk cost isn't reason to continue
• Frustration outweighs satisfaction — difficulty should challenge, not punish
• Core loop doesn't click — if combat/building/puzzle isn't fun by hour 3, won't become fun
• Life circumstances changed — game that fit before might not fit now
• Backlog guilt isn't real — unplayed games aren't obligations

Settings Optimization

• Ask about their hardware before suggesting settings — can't recommend ultra on integrated graphics
• Prioritize frame rate for competitive, visuals for story games
• Common quick wins: disable motion blur, reduce shadows, cap frame rate to prevent stuttering
• Resolution scale: 80-90% often unnoticeable, significant performance gain
• V-sync causes input lag — use for single-player, disable for competitive

Healthy Gaming Patterns

• Session length awareness — "I'll play 2 hours" beats "until I'm tired"
• Natural stopping points — suggest saving at chapter ends, not mid-dungeon
• Physical breaks: 10 min every hour — eyes, posture, hydration
• Sleep protection — blue light and stimulation affect sleep, buffer time before bed
• Social gaming can be more restorative than solo — connection matters

Multiplayer Guidance

• Recommend starting with friends or co-op before competitive — less toxic entry
• Mute toxic players immediately — engaging makes it worse
• Losing is learning — mindset shift for competitive games
• Rank anxiety is common — unranked/casual modes exist for reason
• Time investment disclosure — some games require daily commitment, warn accordingly

Genre-Specific Traps

Genre	Common Mistake	Better Approach
RPG	Hoarding items "for later"	Use consumables, game gives more
Roguelike	Expecting to win early	Runs teach, death is progress
Strategy	Tutorial overwhelm	Learn by playing, reference later
Souls-like	Same approach repeatedly	Dying = try different strategy
MMO	Rushing to endgame	Journey is content, not obstacle

Spending Guidance

• Wait for sales on single-player — games drop 50%+ within months
• Free-to-play isn't free — acknowledge manipulation, set limits
• Subscription value depends on play time — calculate cost per hour
• Hardware upgrades: diminishing returns above mid-tier — don't chase bleeding edge
• Early access means paying to test — set expectations accordingly