Unmuted #005 - Kenzie Interview

Hey guys, I’m back with another edition of Unmuted. This time I’m interviewing Kenzie, whom I connected with through the Bluesky gaming community. Kenzie has a fascinating start in gaming: her parents were gamers too and introduced her to the hobby, a relatively uncommon experience back in the late 90s and early 2000s. Enjoy it!

Tell me a bit about yourself (you can share as little or as much as you want here, like your name, where you’re from, your age, and what you do for work).

My name is Kenzie. I am 31 and from Northern California. I am currently putting the finishing touches on my MBA in Healthcare Administration, and I work as a Revenue Cycle Manager for a private mental health clinic.

I also do independent contracting work as a bookkeeper and business consultant.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my dog Lucy, playing video games, and sharing memes with friends.

What got you into gaming in the first place? Do you have any memories of the first time you played a game?

My dad hooked me up pretty young - I started playing games on the family computer in the late 1990s. My first games included various JumpStart games and The Land Before Time: Preschool Adventure.

When I was 11-12, I started playing Unreal Tournament 2004 with my parents online, which is still one of my favorite childhood memories.

You mentioned playing Unreal Tournament 2004 with your parents as one of your favorite childhood memories. What was it like gaming with your family, are they still active players, and do you guys still play some games together?

I loved spending time with them and having a unique family hobby compared to many of my friends growing up. Gaming with my mom was particularly impactful since gaming often comes with a stereotype that only men can be gamers. Having that feminine influence kept me engaged with pursuing gaming on my own, and I don’t think I would have gotten as into it without her.

My mom doesn’t actively game anymore, but my brother and dad spend considerable time gaming. Due to our differing schedules, we haven’t gamed together in a long time, but who knows what the future holds.

Can you describe your gaming setup? What equipment or accessories do you use, and how do they enhance your gaming experience? What platforms do you play?

Oh boy. I recently built my PC in January of this year (and by I, I mean my father). It is an amalgamation of parts gifted to me from people upgrading their PC, and some new parts. I will be honest with you, I don’t know what’s going on with this thing, but I love it. My most notable parts are the Asus Prime B560-Plus ATX motherboard, the Intel i7-11700K processor, and the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti graphics card. She looks pretty and runs fast, what more can I ask for?

Accessory-wise, I have a beautiful green and white keyboard and mouse from Redragon. I broke my old Logitech headphones a few weeks ago due to a jumpscare while playing Bioshock. I replaced them with an updated version, but they’re not my favorite, and I wouldn’t recommend them. I prefer my accessories to be comfortable and functional. Boring, I know.

I mainly play on PC now, but I also love handheld gaming. Before my PC was built, I played exclusively on my Switch despite having an Xbox One and PlayStation 4. I would love to get a Steam Deck one day.

What are some of your all-time favorite games and/or genres, and why do they stand out to you?

I have always loved anything high fantasy. Growing up, I devoured book series such as Dragon Lance, The Belgariad, and The Lord of the Rings. As I got older, my love for high fantasy influenced my gaming tastes, and my all-time favorite game is The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Something about that world feels like home to me, plus the graphics, characters, and dialogue have their charm that has held up for me all these years.

I also enjoy other fantasy RPGs, even going more into sci-fi, such as Cyberpunk 2077, The Outer Worlds, and Fallout: New Vegas. I also enjoy various cozy/indie games. Currently, I am playing Dragon Age: Origins and Cabernet.

With your love of high fantasy influencing your gaming choices, are there any fantasy books you’ve read recently that you wish would be adapted into games?

Book-to-game adaptations can be done very well—just look at the Witcher franchise—but I don’t think I’d like to see any of my favorite books adapted into a game or a movie.

When I spend a lot of time imagining a world, characters, or plots, and the adaptation is not what I imagined, I tend to lose interest. Unfortunately, I am too literal and rigid in things. However, the older I get, the more I try to appreciate the book and whatever adaptation is made as two separate entities.

If you could erase one game from your memory to experience it fresh again, which one would it be?

I would love to experience Spirifarer again for the first time. The game is beautiful—the art, the storytelling, the theme of grief and death—and was a very cathartic and rewarding experience.

How do you balance gaming with other aspects of your life, like work, family, or other hobbies?

Honestly, there are often weeks I go without gaming. While it’s one of my favorite hobbies, I sometimes lack the mental capacity or find myself too overstimulated to sit down and game after a long day.

I know I have to take care of myself first, which may be the responsible way to balance gaming, but it is the least fun way.

Do you have a “comfort game” that you always go back to?

Oblivion. Always and forever.

Can you share a memorable gaming moment or achievement that you’re particularly proud of?

I found all of the Golden Walnuts on Ginger Island in Stardew Valley once, not to brag.

What do you enjoy most about gaming? Is it the story, the competition, the social aspect, or something else?

The ability to escape into a different world and experience a different life. Just like with books, various stories played out in games can teach you a lesson or allow you to explore a new perspective.

How do you think gaming has changed or influenced you as a person?

The biggest way gaming has influenced me is that it has brought me a community. Like many others, I have always struggled to fit in and find my people. For the first time in my life, I can say that I have found my people.

Being loved and part of a community has been healing and has improved my life immeasurably, not to be too sappy.

Do you have any gaming rituals or habits that you follow before or during a gaming session?

I always brush my teeth before I game. I don’t know what that’s about.

How do you choose which games to play next? Do you have a specific genre or criteria you look for?

I mainly go by vibes. Sometimes I cave to peer pressure from my well-intentioned friends.

Do you prefer single-player or multiplayer games, and why?

I prefer single-player games. I am very reckless and play without any strategy.

I will rush into battle and get killed immediately, much to the chagrin of other players. I like to be chaotic on my own time.

What role does nostalgia play in your gaming preferences? Are there any older games you still love to revisit?

Nostalgia plays a significant role in my gaming preferences. It’s 2025. There are so many beautiful games out there.

But here I am, playing Oblivion and Dragon Age. There is something about the graphics of games from 2005-2010 that I just adore.

If you could preserve one game for future generations to understand gaming culture, which would you choose and why?

The Sims 2. There’s something to be said about playing God in a social simulation video game that I can’t quite explain but thoroughly recommend.

I am sure there are research papers that dive into that concept.

Are there any upcoming games or releases that you’re particularly excited about?

I am so excited for South of Midnight! Also, either the official Oblivion remake or Skyblivion. Either. Or both. Just give me something.

How do you feel about fan projects like Skyblivion compared to official remakes?

I love it. Fan projects are a great way to keep things alive, fresh, and accessible to newer audiences. Part of me is more excited for Skyblivion because I am tired of giving Bethesda my money for remastering and pushing out the same game instead of making a new game, but that is a rant for a different day.

I’m guessing you are also pretty excited about The Elder Scrolls 6, if so. What’s your “wishlist” for the game? What are you expecting from Bethesda to take this game to the next level?

The two things I want to see in TES 6 are a more immersive quest system and romance options. I often felt you could complete the quests in Skyrim without reading journal entries and following the quest marker mindlessly. As I have been replaying Oblivion, you need to pay more attention and read your journal to complete quests, or even reach certain levels/achievements to unlock quests (such as the Daedric quests). I would love for quests to feel more immersive and interactive.

I would also love romance options, but I know that is a tall order. I enjoyed getting married and adopting children in Skyrim, but it would have been fun if you had to do a series of quests to win a spouse over, rather than just wearing an Amulet of Mara after completing one small task for them.

Have you ever made real-life friendships or connections through gaming?

A few years ago, I downloaded the mobile game Evertale. I became friends with a girl on there, and the friendship has evolved into one of the most incredible friendships of my life. Evertale is where I met my best friend, Macy. I am forever grateful for Evertale, which we lovingly refer to as the big titty anime game. (Can I say that?)

Do you think gaming will look completely different in 10 years? How so?

I don’t think gaming will look that different in 10 years, considering many games I enjoy are over 10 years old. While graphics have certainly improved, I think they still hold up. I am curious to see how the continued implementation of AI will affect the development of video games and our enjoyment of those games.

That brings us to the end of this Unmuted interview. Huge thanks to Kenzie for the fantastic chat about her gaming history, current favorites, and what she’s looking forward to (like TES6!). It’s always great connecting with fellow gamers like her from the community. Hope you enjoyed it, and catch you on the next one.

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