video games
Showing posts with label video games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label video games. Show all posts

Blaugust #11: That one game you just can't shake

So most of the people I know have that one video game they just can't shake.  No matter what comes up in life, or game wise ... they always find themselves going back to that one game.  Mine is very similar to a large number of other people but it is World of Warcraft.  I have had an account since Vanilla and I quickly got addicted.  Not to the point where I was skipping school/work/social life to get some time in but I definitely spent a lot of my free time in the world of Azeroth.

I played constantly for a few years as Burning Crusade came out and I got really into PVP.  Running battlegrounds like it was NOBODY's business.  I particularly liked Alterac Valley and Arathi Basin.  I had a very detailed strat for AV that I would run daily, a bunch of people from my server knew me by character name and when I'd log on, they'd be messaging me to see if we were going to run a pre-made or not.  This had me very happy to play the game on a daily basis, my presence mattered to a group of people.  This is probably a large reason why Burning Crusade was my favourite expansion.

When I moved away to College, I started working at EB Games and that's when Wrath of the Lich King came out.  I didn't really have much time for WoW at that point, but I did play casually with a group of classmates.  They took the PVP player in me and turned her into a RP player.  I went from running Arathi Basin nightly to raids and questing.  This was much the matter into later expansions while I was just busy with life.  The group of people I hung out with at the time (school, work, etc) all played and we all played as a group.

While I started out as Horde (because, let's be honest, horde fucking kicks ass) the people I started working with at an EB Games in ANOTHER city wanted me to roll alliance, I was curious, as by this time Worgens were released and I really wanted to experience the class.  So I did, I made a few Worgen as well as Draenei.  Eventually though, I made the switch back to Horde, I just couldn't leave my roots behind.

I keep going back for every expansion, and there are moments in time where I really miss it... but with going to University full time and having a SO as well as friends and family, I just don't have the time I use to in order to dedicate to this game that used to be my life.  I will continue to keep up to date with the game and the lore itself but there are limits.  I will put my school life and social life before the game.  I'm not saying that those who play don't do that, I am just saying that I don't have time.

World of Warcraft will always be my favourite game, hands down... I just wish I had more time.  Do you guys have a game you just can't walk away from?  Something you've invested so much time in that keeps drawing you back, no matter how much time has passed?
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Blaugust #4: Earliest Gaming Memories


I'm not 100% certain on exactly what I'd like to jot down today, so I thought why not talk about the thing I enjoy most in my free time: Video Games!  And we all have to start somewhere, right?  So I'm going to vaguely share my earliest memories with you and all that fun stuffs.  Enjoy? :D

I can't remember exactly what age I was, but when I was very young, my family owned a regular nintendo.  I remember because every time I wanted to play any kind of video game, we had to try 4-5 times to get the game to actually start to the title screen, and a few more to play the game itself.  I started with Mario and Duck Hunt, and as I grew older we got a Super Nintendo.

When I think about playing video games on the Super Nintendo, I think of a handful of games.  Spiderman, Battle Toads, Earthbound, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Lion King.  Most notable really was Earthbound, because every day after class my brother and I would race home straight off the bus to see who got to play first.  The other would have to watch until it was their turn.

Again as we grew older, we got a Nintendo 64 for Christmas.  We were ecstatic!  We got The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Golden Eye 007, and Duke Nukem: Zero Hour.  No lies, I remember listening to Britney Spears first CD as I watched my brother kill pigs and rescue strippers.  Good childhood :P

Eventually, I graduated to World of Warcraft (last year of high school). I never really managed to create a character and level them up successfully until I got my own account, and my own computer at home.  Then the real addiction started for a solid number of years.  I go back every now and then when I want to nostalgia... but yeah.  Video games.

Sorry I can't really sentence tonight, I feel like my brain is fried.  What's your most cherished video game memory from your childhood?
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Blaugust #1: GTA V and my thoughts surrounding the game.


I'm not sure if many of you have tuned in to my streams in the past or not, but if you have, you may have heard me talk about my dislike of realistic/violent video games at one point or another.  I'm not a huge fan of games that in a realistic setting causing hard to innocent people (bystanders, civilians, etc.)  That being said, for the longest time I refused to play games such as Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, Battlefield and the like.  When I worked at a video game store, I would be extremely blunt with children's parents about these games and their contents.  I was that store clerk that ruined the games for so many kids, and I loved that part of my job the most.

I'd played a good number of these games and I just didn't agree with the fact that they're not separating these violent acts/events from reality.  They're launching these ideas in such a realistic setting that there are people who take the plots a little too seriously.  That being said, video games like Gears of War, Halo, and the like are games that I don't mind playing.  They are clearly fantasy games where we have to defeats aliens to protect our own.

All of this being said... I purchased GTA V not long ago as it was on sale and I had a coupon.  I figured, if I was going to spend money on this game to stream it, I wouldn't spend much.  I started seriously playing it the other day and I'm pretty much hooked.  I can go out, steal some guys car, and as long as I put it in my garage, it's mine.  No matter what, I'm always left wanting more.  The recklessness in the driving of any vehicle, the fact that I can damage my car beyond repair, and the next time I bring it to my garage it's miraculously fixed.

The online missions are pretty fun as well.  I haven't really participated in a Heist as of yet, but that's coming.. don't you worry.  I think that currently, my biggest gripe with the game (online PC) would be the amount of hackers that come around to fuck things up.  I'm not sure I'd call them hackers, more like script kiddies looking for a cheap thrill.

Overall, while I'm still upset with myself for enjoying a game with so much realistic violence and the like, I have to appreciate the game for what it is.  It's an easy way to entertain myself, and feel like I can actually afford nice things!  If you're interested in checking it out, I'd recommend watching Twitch streams on it.  You can even stop by my channel to check me out if I'm online!

That's all for me for today folks!  What did you think of GTA V if you've played it yet?  What system do you own it for and are you happy with that choice?  Until tomorrow!
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Mojang, Microsoft and Notch!~

If you've been living under a newsless rock for the past little bit, then you wouldn't have heard the news that Microsoft is set to buy out Mojang for 2.5 billion dollars.  I'd like to preface this entire post by saying anybody claiming they wouldn't have sold for that amount is nuts.  I can't even imagine that much money being in my possession.  I took some time to dig deeper into the topic and here's what I have to say.

1. I'm glad Microsoft is the company buying Mojang.  WHY?  Simply because it has the resources to continue developing Minecraft, bring it to higher levels and improve on ideas originally implemented.  Some people are saying Microsoft will load the game with Micro transactions, and honestly no one knows what the future holds.  But I'm sure Microsoft will receive enormous backlash for doing that.

2.  I'm not sure what Notch expects for the future.  I understand him not really wanting to deal with the stress and business aspect of being a CEO, I don't think he can simply return to being some unknown Indy Developer.  He claims he's going to continue making titles, and if they become huge he's going to just stop development in its tracks.  Ultimately that's his decision, I feel that he's going to get a lot of hate, which will cause frustration and stress on his part, resulting in another Phil Fish situation.

3.  They won't remove production or support for other platforms.  Which, again in my opinion, is a very smart move.  I understand that Microsoft is all about exclusivity but they have a much larger fan base if they try to please all users on all currently supported platforms.  Four for you Microsoft... you go Microsoft.

4.  What's to happen with Scrolls and future projects?  So far, there's no word on what's going to happen to the other video game Mojang develops, Scrolls.  And that only leaves us to wonder, what else is going to come out of the company now that Microsoft has taken over, project wise.  I mean, are they going to take advantage of the well known name to release indy type up and comers?  Again, only time will tell.

I feel that a vast majority of people online view this change as Minecraft going from what it is now to some kind of cookie cutter RPG such as Call of Duty: Minecraft.  Funny right?  But if you look at past experiences with large companies buying the things we love, generally they sink money into improving the service and continuing to offer services we love.  There are some exceptions, obviously.

In summary, I'm going to continue to love and support Minecraft despite its three creators stepping down.  Everyone has a reason to what they do day to day, and in the long run, we have no say in their decisions.  I only wish the best for Notch, Carl and Jakob in their future endeavors.  I hope the shit storm doesn't hit them too hard.

What do you guys think about the whole deal?  Don't forget to comment below with your opinions or even tweet me!

Until next time!~
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