Khriistopher

Hands down I think the big issue with tutorials is impacting replay value. For example, Fallout 3’s opening is amazing. But doing a replay of the opening feels less satisfying because I just want to create my character and move on. Being able skip tutorials feels like a great compromise. However, in situations like Fallout 3, it’s a bit more difficult to decide since the tutorial is weaved into the game’s narrative.

Another element that could be touched is in-game “rewards” for morality. I know in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, it didn’t pay to be in the middle of morality. It was better to be very good or very evil. This would allow you to unlock perks that couldn’t be unlocked if you were in the middle of morality. It sucks because then the game forces the player to essentially pick a side rather than play it how they might emotionally want to , sometimes good and sometimes bad.

It’s why I praise Witcher 3 for putting so many moral dilemmas that don’t really impact the game other than the ending. I recall a moment when Geralt finds a massacred village and it’s because of another witcher. At this point, the player decides whether to kill him or let him be. If you let him live, Geralt recalls his past failures as a witcher and how he also has gone on a rampage so Geralt understands and forgives the witcher. I thought it was wonderfully written and puts an interesting dynamic on morality.

I think an interesting point that you mention is the identity aspect of social media. Whenever someone posts something, they post in a manner they want to present themselves, whether that be as a care-free individual or a motivating person or a comical person. I think that falls under “Media Psychology” and it makes me wonder if then media is affecting how we present ourselves outside of it too. I think the biggest examples are SnapChat (which I’m surprised wasn’t mentioned) and Instagram. People go to many lengths to present themselves in a certain manner.