What preferences do you have when it comes to games that you like to play that are not typical of the gaming populations?

Now, I do have to make one rule here: I ask that any preferences regarding DRM not be discussed in this topic, as there's plenty of other topics on this forum to discuss DRM (or you could make your own).

For me, the big ones for me involve RPGs. RPGs are my preferred genre, but:
* I do not care about story, except when story is forced on the player, wasting their time. I play RPGs for the gameplay, not the story.
* Assuming turn-based combat, I do not like the most common alternative to random encounters, as I do not like the game turning into an action game; I would rather have invisible random encounters than enemies that chase the player in real-time.

So, what atypical gaming preferences do you have?

Edit: Why the low rating? Why do people have trouble with game discussion on a gaming forum?

From discussions in previous topics.

Also, from browsing sites like reddit; there's far more topics about non-gameplay aspects of JRPGs in particular than about gameplay aspects. I've seen people review RPGs, and not mention the actual gameplay in them, for example.

(It's also worth noting that the way I define the term "RPG", at least in the context of video games, is not actually typical; I exclude games like Ys and Kingdom Hearts, which for some reason people like to count in that genre, but which I place firmly as action games.)

Edit: Again, why the low rating?

Probably reversed vertical camera controls AKA airplane controls.
No idea how it started, I think the first time I played a game with vert camera, I just did it and it stuck.

Preference of single player in real-time strategy games. We've got a lot of single-player lovers here in the GOG forum, but that was definitely not the case in the RTS communities (think Age of Empires). Single-player was almost frowned upon and considered something for "noobs".

In the turn-based strategy community, however, single-player is king.

Apparently, my strong preference to invite people over and play on my LAN or on the same screen rather than play across the internet seems to make me atypical nowadays, judging by what a lot of people are saying and what is happening on the market right now.

Otherwise, my graphics threshold are about NES-level. You can go all the way down to that level and if the game is goods and the aesthetics are sound, I won't mind that the graphics are that primitive. But if you go lower than that, I start minding a lot. Probably true of a lot of people whose first console was the NES, but given that it's an ever shrinking percentage of the population, that might make me atypical.

Also, I like A LOT of game genres. I'd be game for playing at least 95% of GOG's catalog if time allowed for it. I don't think that makes me unique, but uncommon maybe (none of my friends can make that claim anyhow).

local co-op (same screen) && voice dubbed games.
New launches have been on decline, so I think I am out of trend (atypical then?)

You DO understand that preferring certain things =/= wanting to discuss those things? In fact, I would say that there is little in jRPG that you can discuss in terms of gameplay. Unlike western RPGs that are made with the intent of many paths and playstyles, games like Final Fantasy usually have just one optimal strategy to beat them. So, after someone makes a walkthrough guide there is no point to argue or discuss any gameplay.

As for atypical preference, I actually DO prefer the story part of the game. And I prefer it when the gameplay is consistent with the story and rules that the world operates, even if that sometimes makes playing less convenient. For example, I prefer drinking potions in the first Witcher where it's animated and all to potions in Witcher 2 and 3 where drinking is instantenious.

There's still a lot to discuss, though, particularly if you look at the Final Fantasy games I happen to like. FF1, FF5, and even FF3 have a lot of strategy to discuss; you have many possibilities for party construction, and (especially in FF5) tons of different viable strategy. There may only be one path (excluding sidequests), but there's still plenty of room for battle strategies.

FF2 has the option of exploring the world early, provided you have a way to handle encounters that are not meant to be fought at that point, as well as a growth system that makes character growth something worth discussing (and the common strategy of hitting your party members to gain HP is actually not the best way to go about playing the game).

Speaking of routes, FF6 has one part where the game branches off into 3 paths (all of which must be played), and later in the game goes full open-world non-linear.\

Going back to the main topic: There are some popular RPGs that I happen to dislike, including Ultima 7, Final Fantasy 7, and Baldur's Gate 1 and 2.

The only thing atypical I can think of regarding my preferences, though perhaps several others share it, is that I for the most part hate breaking of the 4th wall in gaming (and really media in general). For most genres I don't want to be jerked away from the experience, which it seems is what invariably happens when a game or film breaks the 4th wall.

I am reminded of that infernal Wilhelm Scream in films. I can't stand it!

Interesting comments, but to be honest, I'm not reading anything really atypical in this thread. Now, if someone would use their toes to play a real time strategy game, or play a FPS with a steering wheel, that would be atypical.

The only thing atypical I can think of regarding my preferences is couch Co-op as while that used to be typical preference that is seemingly no more .. Granted I am more a single player sort but if I want multiplayer of any sort it needs to be in person/real life rather then elsewhere where the person can't be seen and/or felt in real life ..

granted maybe my mindset of ''so log as the graphics does the job needed they are good'' is atypical ..Because for me I don't care for graphical demanding stuff in general as to me its rather odd to care about it .. because at a point you get no noticeable differences as a whole .. Plus I prefer if anything good gameplay and sound when it comes to mechanics and design .. That doesn't mean I shun more graphical demanding stuff I just don't see a need to always pursue it and I also don't understand why more and more people shun less graphical demanding games

Ah I just thought of a atypical thing for pc gaming .. I far more prefer a controller over mouse and keyboard .. Yet I won't go to consoles for gaming if avoidable

One other thing: I prefer Final Fantasy 2 to Final Fantasy 7. I really don't think many people have that particular preference. (FF7 is one of the most popular games in the franchise, with FF2 being one of the least liked.)

Reminds me of another preference I have: I prefer keyboard-only to keyboard+mouse. I don't like having to juggle multiple input devices.

Also, I tend to favor the arrow keys over WASD for many games.

Ah you and me when it comes to keyboard inputs have a similar preference when it comes to not using a controller as Keyboard only and Arrow keys for movement is my preference when needing to use computer based controls .. But ya my preference is born from too many games with none rebindable keys or at least none rebindable keys for movement .. But yet too many you can't rebind to be a unified control scheme for my tastes so I moved more and more to controllers for gaming on pc .. I'll even use a joystick over keyboard or keyboard and mouse .. Because it keeps things far more uniform and easier to keep track of

The preference of WASD over cursor key will depend in how your computer or keyboard is placed. And/or the space you have.

With my old PC keyboard and chair were placed in a specific way and for me it was easier and more natural use cursor keys when playing a game. In my current laptop the computer and the table is placed in a way that WASD now is easier and more comfortable when playing a FPS plus a mouse.