I’ve found a concept that captures what I’ve been trying to put into words: affective stickiness.

Feelings, memories, and associations accumulate until they cling to a place, object, or experience.

I think that explains why some game worlds stay with us.

#GameStudies #AffectTheory #MassEffect

The 9 Games That Shaped Who I Am

There are more than nine games I love.

They’re the ones that have a special place in my heart, that I played for far too many hours, or that stayed with me long after I finished them.

Nine little pieces of my gaming life.

#My9Games
my9games.net/en/share/d1d...

Just checked the system requirements for Nivalis Nights.

Apparently, a slice-of-life in Nivalis requires a PC powerful enough to run the city’s entire infrastructure.

Cloudpunk ran beautifully. Nivalis, on the other hand, seems to have some optimization issues.

#NivalisNights #Cloudpunk #PCGaming

Grow your business, uncover strange stories, and write your own future in the city that never sleeps 🌃

Nivalis Nights is out now on Steam!

Your ambition is your greatest weapon. How far will you go?

🔗 505.games/NivalisNight...

Nivalis Nights is out, and I can’t wait to return to Nivalis.

As a spin-off of Cloudpunk, I’m curious to experience this familiar city from a new and possibly different perspective.

It’s been a while since a game has made me this eager to play.

#NivalisNights #Cloudpunk #GameStudies #IndieGames

Still writing about Mass Effect: Andromeda — and I keep coming back to one question:

Why does this game’s version of catastrophe feel so different from Mass Effect 2?

There’s something fascinating going on beneath that polished, hopeful surface.

#MassEffect #Andromeda #GameStudies #AffectTheory

Nivalis is a crumbling dystopian city — and somehow, it feels like home.

My new deep dive explores Cloudpunk through affective dissonance: why does flying through the rain and delivering packages feel so comforting?

laurieplays.com/cloudpunk/

#Cloudpunk #Nivalis #GameStudies #AffectTheory

That “origin” game that flipped the switch and made you a lifelong gamer? For me, it was Civilization III. “Just one more turn” somehow turned into five hours later — or, on occasion, morning. I was completely immersed in it. 😅

#CivilizationIII #OneMoreTurn #GamingMemories

Something new is about to leave Nivalis.

My Cloudpunk deep dive is heading to Zenodo and ResearchGate.

One night in Nivalis. A delivery job. A city that never sleeps.

And a question I couldn’t shake:

Why does this dystopia feel so comforting?

Coming soon.

#Cloudpunk #GameStudies #AffectTheory

Road 96 looks like a road trip. It sounds like the 90s. It feels like freedom.

But beneath the colorful visuals and upbeat soundtrack lies a game about scarcity, vulnerability, and powerlessness.

My new deep dive explores that tension.

laurieplays.com/road-96/

#Road96 #GameStudies #AffectTheory

How do I research a game?

I play it and jot down what gets under my skin, catches me off guard, or stays with me.

When I’m done, I revisit my notes and add the moments that felt most intense or remarkable.

Then the real research starts with one question:

Why?

#GameStudies #AffectTheory

My next deep dive is about Mass Effect: Andromeda.

Often dismissed as inferior to ME2. But I loved it.

The Kett are no less monstrous than the Collectors. Both do horrible things and take the story to dark places.

So why does Andromeda feel so different?

#MassEffect #GameStudies #AffectTheory

Hi, I’m Laurie 👋

I’m a game studies researcher with a PhD in Media Studies, exploring why games make us feel the way they do.

I’ve just launched Laurie Plays — deep dives into games, affect theory, and experiences that stay with us.

laurieplays.com

#GameStudies #GameResearch #AffectTheory #Games