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@grumpygamer IN MY DEFENCE, if I don't at least play with the graphics options, there won't be much game to play with my crappy hardware (I love my 1660 super, but its time is coming to a close)

@grumpygamer I always go into the settings but I rarely change anything. Do I have bipolar disorder?

@grumpygamer I used to do B, but since I got kids, anything exploratory now feels like a waste of very precious time. So A.

@grumpygamer
One time I played a game where the Options menu was only available during gameplay instead of at the title menu.
0/5 would not play again.

@grumpygamer@mastodon.gamedev.place Somewhere in between. I have to make sure there are subtitles, and that the graphics settings are correct. And whenever possible, turn the sound off.

@grumpygamer the in-game music might be great, but it's not 100% volume great.

@grumpygamer Always gotta check out the options first. This is partly because some of my preferences tend not to be default, and partly because I'm still stuck in the mindset of old dos games, with separate setup programs for hardware and control config.

@grumpygamer honestly, it's why I hate a lot of FPS and turn-based games, and just go for puzzles and platformers. I don't want to have to invest hours in a game before I can play it.

@grumpygamer A lot of these options first answers seem PC oriented, but I do it even on consoles because most games don’t seem to default to surround sound even if you’re connected to a receiver.
And to set up defaults how I want them, only to be prompted a few minutes later when picking “New Game” to set the same defaults.

@grumpygamer I start playing, immediately get annoyed by motion blur, mouse acceleration, resolution scaling and fov too low and then begins the options quest + modding

@grumpygamer quickly explore options with a purpose:
- max out fov if applicable
- turn down/off motion blur, film grain filters, screen shake
- decide if it wants me to use keyboard or controller and act accordingly
- turn on closed captioning (for now) if it’s now problem or a distraction I may turn it back off
- ensure audio is tuned for headphones if applicable

Get to gaming!

@grumpygamer endlessly exploring the options and settings comes after I've played a couple hours and determined I like the game.

@grumpygamer Hard of hearing so I make sure captions are on. Not endless settings though.

@grumpygamer I'm an optimist, I prefer to find out while playing that WASD is automatically adapted to my keyboard layout and be pleasantly surprised (or disappointed if it's not) than killing the surprise by checking the options.

@grumpygamer endlessly explore options and settings like a normal person

@grumpygamer Configuration of software is the best game!

@grumpygamer I tend to assume the defaults are as the creators intended. Unless the game runs like garbage.

@grumpygamer glad I’m not alone

@grumpygamer let's say I'm still trying to give this poll a funny hat...

@grumpygamer
- Volume to 30-40 if the game blasted my ears off
- Disable screen shake
- Disable motion blur
- Fix resolution
- Double check screen shake is disabled, or look harder for the setting if I can't find it
- Turn up fov if it's a 3d game
- Hit cancel on accident and start at step 1

@grumpygamer 2 but not "needlesly" : I want to know asap if controls are hardcoded to wzsd so I can quit and refund then play a game that doesn't disrespect me...

@grumpygamer
Turn down all volumes except voice and start playing.

I find nearly every game is mixed in a way where I miss half the dialogue unless I turn on subtitles and hate resorting to that. Obv not a problem for games without voice acting.

I bet many people have that one thing they flip in settings before playing (inverted, subtitles, text speed, screen flashes, etc.)

@grumpygamer Product of spending the first half my life with low-end computers. Now it’s mostly maxing out settings on good hardware and ensuring that subtitles are on.

@grumpygamer If the game looks overwhelming, and I realize I don't have that much time right now, I'll probably poke around in the options and settings just to see if there is anything funny hidden away there.

@grumpygamer the only setting I always check is the background music, which I lower to around 25 percent. I hate background music.

@grumpygamer The only setting I really care about is the font size. It really seems like no modern games are designed to be played on a TV from across the living room.

@grumpygamer Accessibility settings and making sure the game doesn’t run at 5FPS first.

By “Start playing” I mean I enable subtitles and calibrate HDR, if those options are presented.

And adjust resolution if for some reason it thinks I really love VGA.

@grumpygamer

@grumpygamer I mostly play games on Linux, where a little fiddling at the start can really help lead to a smoother experience.

@grumpygamer depends. If it's on PC, I'm going straight to the setting menu. Anything else and I just start the game.

@grumpygamer Depend of the game.

And "endlessly" probably not that long, no. But it's quite often that I goes to the option before starting a game.

And I even feel it distasteful when a game force you to play some bit before you can tweak the options.

@grumpygamer@mastodon.gamedev.place I always head for the options to disable some visual effects.

@grumpygamer I look for accessibility options.

(Visual representation of settings by the side of the options works best)

Is font large enough? Can I increased it?
Does it have QTE? Can I disable it?
Does it have a button to press for running? Can run be ser to default? Can it be a toggle instead of hold?
Can I change speed ot text?
Whats the key/button mapping? Is there quicksave and how can I use it?
Can I invert X/Y?

Those and more. I might not need for specific game

@grumpygamer I've told the story before of how I am compelled to play with options and configuration, to the point that I once almost accidentally started a Mastodon account migration because the link text was something like "configure account migration" and my brain went "ooh, configuration! I love configuration!"

@grumpygamer Apparently most people aren't normal.

@grumpygamer With the added surprise once you launch the game : Do they support AZERTY keyboard?

@grumpygamer Wait? You want to imply that it's normal to start the game without look at every setting first? That's nuts!

@grumpygamer And then the first thing the game does is making you adjust the settings. The illusion of choice.

@grumpygamer Most games don't like my tiling window manager, so I have to fiddle with their settings before they are remotely playable.