The first draft of my Mass Effect deep dive is done. Now comes the hard part: revision.

Writing the first draft is easy. Getting your points across precisely, making every argument work, finding just the right words — that's where the real work begins.

#MassEffect #GameStudies #AffectTheory

My Mass Effect deep dive is coming along nicely! I’ve had some great insights into why Mass Effect 2 was “too much” for me, yet I hugely enjoyed Andromeda — the game so often deemed the inferior one.

Turns out, there’s way more to it than I thought.

#MassEffect #GameStudies #AffectTheory

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

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

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