so i just read this really interesting article about a former smoker who's struggling to stay quit, and it's got me thinking about how games can affect us. the author is barely hanging on, and it's crazy to see how many things can trigger their cravings - from seeing someone smoking in real life to watching characters smoke in games or movies.



it's pretty wild to realize how often cigarettes show up in games, even if it's just in the background or as a prop. the author mentions a few examples, like rv there yet? and burglin' gnomes, where characters are actually smoking. and it's not just indie games - big titles like cyberpunk 2077 and disco elysium have smoking in them too. i can see how this would be really tough for someone trying to quit.



the author is asking game devs to add a "no-smoking" mode, kinda like an arachnophobia mode that replaces spiders with something less scary. they're suggesting that games could replace cigarettes with silly things like lollipops or kazoos, or just remove them altogether. this seems like a pretty reasonable request, especially since it could really help people who are struggling with addiction.

i think it's also important to note that preorders are available at major retailers, and we can expect to see more games with this feature in the future. i'm not sure if it'll become a standard thing, but it's definitely something to keep an eye on. as for me, i'm all for it - if it can help someone stay quit, then that's amazing. and who knows, maybe it'll even help reduce the number of people who start smoking in the first place.



anyway, the article was a really eye-opener for me, and itRead more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com

What do you think about this?