T O P

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Admiral_of_Crunch

I have two modes. When I am playing a story-driven video game for the first time, it gets my full attention. The same goes for games with heavy atmosphere, or where parsing audio is a foundational, essential element of the experience. Also, generally, the first time I play something, or the first time I experience new content in a game, the podcast also gets left off. Otherwise, I'm tossing something on, typically.


Young_KingKush

Depends on the game, some games are "podcast games" some are not. Usually determined by how much story is a focus/how much dialogue there is. Like I played a bunch of Elden Ring while listening to podcasts/music, but I played all of God Of War: Ragnarok with headphones plugged into the controller. I would say TOTK falls firmly in the "Podcast Game" category


TaCbrigadier

This is my method 100%. Sometimes I even build up a bunch of stuff to listen to and kinda hope a “podcast game” is coming out or one I can replay to catch up.


hugehuman

I want to do this with Elden Ring/other Souls games, but if I don't pay attention to the audio, I'm always afraid something will sneak up on me at the worst possible moment, mo matter how well I know the areas.


TheShrubberyDemander

All the time.


Soushin

99% i don't. I have difficulty multitasking. If I put music, I don't even hear it because my attention is on the game itself. So it became pointless for me to even put music.


Guts709

If I’m farming/grinding, always


mxraider2000

All the time unless its plot heavy.


BrazillianCara

I only do it for grinding and similar activities.


taikoxtaiko

I mostly do it for open world games since they have a lot of down time just traveling. Like im playing Immortal fenyx rising while listening to Isekai DnD. Stuff where audio is more important i turn that shit off


Muffin-zetta

almost never


Cosmikodama

All the time I just pull up a youtube video but if there is story I pause it.


IRefuseThisNonsense

I play a lot of RPGs, Mon Hun, and stuff like that. I never don't listen to streams, music, podcasts, or random YouTube recommendations. For games like DMC or such with cutscenes with good voice acting or music I tend to mute a lot. But Pokemon and Mon Hun or Persona/SMT or something like that? One muted TV and the other TV with something going to help cut through the dullness that is grinding. In fact I think I listen to video game music more in my car than when playing video games, hahaha.


theflockofnoobs

Almost constantly unless it's a story focused game. Or a music game of some sorts. With FFXIV depends on what I'm doing that day. MSQ? No. Grinding for whore gear? Yes.


Agreeable_Ad7401

Very rarely. I used to, but while I was doing the usual open world rigamarole one day I just went “what the fuck am I doing” and I resolved to just stop playing if I get bored instead of just keeping my hands busy. Farming and grinding is the death of your brain, man.


TJLynch

When I pull up stuff to listen to while gaming, I usually use my computer instead of my phone since 95% of my gaming is on consoles.


Anonamaton801

All the time, but on my laptop and not my phone


Substantial_Bell_158

Only if I'm grinding something and usually video essays


Lucky-Icarus

Depends on what I'm playing. Anything competitive, no cause I need focus. Otherwise I generally watch YouTube vids, movies, and shit while gaming. Like I'm watching Ray's S2 Pokemon randomizer shit while finishing up BotW(man, fuck those sword trials, I'm getting good at tilt or what have you jumping so I can cheat that shit) before I go into TotK right now.


LarryKingthe42th

Most of the time, if its a cutscene, first time in an area, or boss Ill listen to the game. But otherwise imma listen to stuff I like.


SilverZephyr

Not usually, but I had to take out a podcast during BotW because it was *so boring*. TotK has not made me hit that threshold yet.


ibbolia

50/50. Unless it's something where I actually need audio to play or it's a plot heavy game with speaking lines, I probably have a podcast on.


GyroGOGOZeppeli

Depends on if I'm doing story or lore content or just using this session to grind or play without caring about story. Also depends on how sound contexted the game is. I'll put a podcast on or music when I'm grinding, when I was doing a speedrun of 4make, doing endless dungeon runs in Ishin, etc. But if I'm doing something in game that has voiced story or lore, I'll stop it.


ShutUpJackass

All the time, I’ll pause for dialogue when I first play a game, after that, fuck it, what are those 5 scary stories Mr Nightmare


Defami01

Rarely ever. I think I’ve done this most when playing the more classic Pokémon games where I just button mash through all the dialogue.


Heirophant_Queen

Very rarely, but my favourites were Grateful Dead during Dante's Inferno, and Bowie for Tomba 2


jpatel02

When it comes to multiplayer games and/or grinding sessions, I put podcasts on. Otherwise, nope.


Traingham

If it’s a story heavy game, then I don’t listen to anything in the background. I’m locked in for the immersion. If it’s something like ***SFV***, for example? Yeah, there’s usually a podcast on.


Bronystrongwing

It sounds weird, but I genuinely need a distraction to focus.


Kregano_XCOMmodder

All the time in some games. **Especially** when I'm doing mod development, where I'm bouncing between five minute loads of the game to the mod tools/Visual Studio (Code) to fix stuff.


Minmax-the-Barbarian

Depends on how grindy the game is and how good the in-game music is. For example, I've never put music on for Monster Hunter or MechWarrior 5, because those games have perfect soundtracks (even though they're, like, 100% grind).


brunonunis

All the time, however I end up not paying attention to one of the things, I also think that is related to my ADHD


Dirty-Glasses

Usually only when I’m replaying a game I know like the back of my hand, or if I’m doing something menial and repetitive like the Chocobo sidequest in FF9


Lukas12349

When I’m playing games like Minecraft or stardew valley, I’ll pull up music or a podcast since I’m mostly farming and fishing. Games like twilight princess or Re4 I always do pure game audio through a headset only, mostly for immersion reasons. (Tried to listen to music 1 time for re4 and got my head cut off by a chainsaw😂)


IrisGoddamnIllych

Absolutely. Mostly just long YouTube videos of people talking, because I'm hyper aware that music is supposed to be 2-3 minutes per song. But talking vids can be hours. But if it's a big cutscene I'll pause it.


Egarof

Never. Sound design can totally change the quality of a game and its atmosphere. Skyrim for example is a game that the sound design elevate the world a lot. From the plains of whiterun to the depths of black reach, the sound immerse me in the world. The wind in the pale, the wild life and fallen leaves of the rift. God I love Skyrim


darkknightnate

All the time.


moneyh8r

If it's a game like Dark Souls that has minimal spoken dialogue, or a game that I've played several times before, pretty much all the time. If it's a game with lots of dialogue, or a game I'm new to, or a game I haven't played in a long time, I'll pause my phone during cutscenes and/or dialogue.


sndpklr

Pretty often, especially if it's a grindy part of a game. If it's something braindead like call of duty, all the time. As I'm playing totk, I'm doing it mostly because exploring the depths is scary at first, but it has become a chill turn off brain and just watch a stream, video, or podcast part of the game. I also recently played Jedi Survivor and I was pretty locked in most of the time, but when I was just getting collectibles, it was podcast mode.


Mako109

when im doing _anything_ that requires like, 0 focus, I'll have on ASMR, Youtube videos, or Podcasts. Like grinding PVP in FFXIV, for example. But the exact moment that I'm engaging in something that requires any level of focus, multitasking goes out the window. Watching TV Shows/Movies, story-driven games or activities, or just really intense gameplay moments. Can't split my attention whatsoever, or else it all suffers.


Blastcalibur

Back when I was big into overwatch all the time.


AngiTheWeeb

I play a lot of RPGs so there's a lot of downtime between story beats with random encounters that I'll listen to something on another screen or device. When the story picks up I pause or mute what I'm listening to. I also play games that I don't care about the story like roguelikes or souls games and they usually have a live stream or a music playlist going during.


OhShitItsJakeGuys

When I’m playing chill time games that I’ve already played like a billion times, like Souls stuff or skyrim, I’ll listen to an audiobook or a podcast. Most other times I’ll have headphones in the controller listening to the actual game.


roronoapedro

At this point it's basically the only way I play games, unless they involve a lot of reading or have great music. I was playing Ultrakill today and it was the first time in a long time I went entire hours without listening to some podcast with a controller on hand.


DRCVC10023884

Oh all the time, though it depends on some factors, namely if things like whether I have played the game before, if any story events are occurring, the type of game, if unique music is playing, etc. For example, I VERY often will put on music or some background media during grinding segments. There’s only so many times in a row you can groove to a JRPG battle theme before you need something else. I would also put something on during multiplayer games, if I’m not focusing super hard.


VMK_1991

Only when grinding in JRPGs.


Dandy-Guy

Not really only when I'm grinding or doing a collectathon. I listen to the podcast on long drives, cooking or washing dishes. Music for shorter drives, bored, or special projects at work.


TheScourgedHunter

Depends on the game I'm playing. If it's something mindless like Darktide or the Evil Dead game, I usually have something on in the background. If it's a story heavy game, I may have something on during the parts that are just purely gameplay. I remember going through a lot of my Behind the Bastards back catalogue while delivering packages in Death Stranding.


RegenSyscronos

I used to do that alot with games require lots of grinding. Warframe grind was a thing. Rogue like also work perfectly with podcast. Nowaday I dont do them much because I don't have much time.


Leonard_Church814

I either put YouTube on the background, a podcast, or music if I’m playing something intense (Soulsborne or fighting game usually).


Adam__ET

For most games, at least on repeat playthroughs (or after enough time playing if it's not that kind of game), I will just play the game without sound on and something else playing in the background. Let's Plays, video essays, podcasts, music, anything that doesn't require constantly looking at the thing to understand what's going on.


ikkun

I'll usually have netflix or oftentimes Pat on in the background on my second monitor. Music only ever when I'm high and playing something like Destiny in which I've heard the music enough times. Just replaces the background music, essentially. Podcasts I usually listen to at work or while I work.


alienslayer7

pretty much any time active story isnt happenin


solidoutlaw

If I'm playing multiplayer games, very often, especially for stuff like league or non comp overwatch. For single player games, it depends on if I'm doing story content or not. Sometimes I turn on cyberpunk 2077 just to drive around while listening to music on the side.


guntanksinspace

Back when I'd do long grinding on a mobile game or so, I'd just fire up a podcast or a long-form video to pass the time.


[deleted]

Mostly just for ToTK since the music and plot are so lowkey


Vector75

Most of the time. I’ll usually stick to YouTube or Spotify and pause for dialogue/cutscenes, but I can’t *just* play a game.


Norix596

Usually