How can I get better at remembering names in video games?

Corroded@leminal.space to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world – 17 points –

I'm playing Cyberpunk 2077 and keep forgetting names. The database section helps but it can be tedious going back and forth when I'm reading emails and notes to see what is relevant. This isn't just limited to Cyberpunk though. I feel like I run into this a lot with games. Any tips for getting names to stick?

12

Turn on subtitles.

I don't really game, but it works for movies or TV shows. A lot of the time,the character name will be alongside the dialog, so you get that constant reminder as well as another sensory input to help it stick. I'm terrible at remembering things I've heard, but good at remembering what I've read.

Can't guarantee it'll work for you, but it helps me.

This helps me SO much. I used to be able to watch 100 episodes of a show and not know the main character's best friend's name, who had appeared in 65 episodes and had 6 focus episodes.

Turning on subtitles essentially cured this affliction.

I think it's a focus issue for me. I get distracted while watching TV. My mind wanders, and I start thinking about other things. But if I have subtitles on, I'm hyper-focused.

Bro I'm bad at names IRL. The best tip ive heard is, as soon as you learn it, repeat it till it sticks while picturing the person in your head. Not sure if that applies to games

You only need to repeat it once, but do it out loud in a really deep, raspy voice. Like if you meet a woman named Natalie, just say back to her in the deepest demon voice you can: "~NATALIE~"

I had this problem with Game of Thrones.

I also have facial blindness which doesn't help.

Not a clue who anyone is most of the time.

I don't know if I have any actual facial blindness, but I have a terrible time recognizing people. In tv shows, it takes me half a series to recognize the main characters by appearance alone. I think I recognize features of someone more than the person. I have terrible name recall to the point I don't usually ask people their names because I know I'll forget it almost immediately. I also almost never recognize people out of context.

Sounds like it! I have to identify people based on their hair or clothes, where they are, or even their voice. Once I asked where somebody was, turns out I was standing near them and even after they'd been pointed out I didn't recognise them (they'd turned up sporting a beard). It was only after they spoke that I said "oh, yeah'.

One trick I've used is when you hear someone's name, think about 3 other people with the same name.

For me the issue is that I forget their name like 3 seconds after they've introduced themselves. That or the name didn't even register in the first place.

Fine advice generally, but I don't know that many Panams or Reginas...

I don't know many Cirillla's, Stregobor's and Vilgefortz's.