3 months since my last video? Yikes, how embarrassing. Sorry about that guys, I'll try better to get back on track, in fact, I'm editing a video right now on a Shadow Priest guide to get back in action.
I didn't forget about making gaming coasters by the way. A trip to Home-Depot will be made this week, so I hope you'll get your supplies with me! Again, what you will need is Modge-Podge, seal spray, and 4x4 inch tiles! I'll be uploading classic gaming images for you soon, which you can print out at home if you have a colored printer, or if you're deprived like me and only have a B&W printer, you can make your way to Staples with a USB (with your images on it of course) and print them out there for cheap. Woo!
Not to be a salesman for WoW, but I'm seriously flabbergasted by the deal going on right now. 4.95 for all X-pacs (excluding Mists which is now only $10 anyway), and it comes with A FREE MONTH of game-time. Who can beat that?! Now is the time to get your friend a cheap Christmas present that may get them addicted to WoW, even if it's for a short little period of time :) I still wish Blizzard would say, "Hey veteran players, here's a special deal for you!" but alas, maybe someday...*raises fist*
ALSO: FOR ANY INDEPENDENT MUSIC ARTISTS, I NEED YOU! I've always been a huge advocate for promoting people who have a passion to make music and want to get their name(s) out there. Please, if you know anyone who makes music, or if you make music, send me some samples or some tracks to use in my videos. I'd love to help you get recognized, and I'd love to feature some independent music on my videos, so please help me to help you! :) /xo
It's no surprise that media convergence is happening all around us. From cellphones becoming our own personal computers, to different industries (as mentioned in a previous blog post) merging together. But how do we feel about video game consoles converging with all different types of media to essentially become one master entertainment system? With the release of the Xbox One and the PS4, gamers are seeing a change in consoles where these consoles not only serve as a platform to enjoy the act of gaming, but various forms of entertainment. This change is obviously seen moreso on the Xbox One versus the PS4, as the Xbox One incorporates gaming with quick switches to television, split screening with Skype, future Twitch streaming capabilities, and more. The PS4 has not made such a bold move, as they have standard social networking integration with Facebook as well as access to Netflix (which really is no surprise at this point).
This platform switch from gaming to various forms of entertainment is fascinating because one cannot predict the outcome of future consoles. When will we see complete convergence? Will families buy consoles not for the sole purpose of gaming, but to have more organizational control of various media platforms? Is this already occurring via the Xbox One? It should be interesting to see where this goes with the next generation consoles, not that we need to think about that anytime soon :)!
Today marks the 9th Year Anniversary of a game that has given most of us here so many fond memories. It's been almost a decade of my life that I have played, and it really is like a time capsule for me. I started WoW going into middle school, and here I am in my third year of college still being so totally fond of this game. I've made so many great friends who have given me helpful life advice, bared with my sick sense of humor on Ventrilo during raids, and have just been amazing people that made up a delightful community of gamers that I will never forget.
Being a GM during Wrath was one of my fondest memories. We were a guild of over 300 members with an impressive amount of active members that was recognized on our server. It was such a good experience to lead raids and to gain the satisfaction of downing bosses all as a part of our own independent guild. I will always miss those days. Being a GM of a busy guild will teach one a lot of vital lessons and open one to insight they otherwise wouldn't see. I'm glad I got to have that experience.
Seeing this game dwindle over the recent past has been sad. It's the flame to my candle of adolescence that finally seems to be burning out, nearing the end of the wick. I hope that Blizzard can transform this game into something lively with the next expansion, not just to save the game, but the memories of so many that have had similar experiences to mine, and to give young gamers the same experience. Hate it or love it, World of Warcraft is a game that will be imprinted in your brain when having played it long enough. While society may mock it as being a computer game that triggers addiction, it's so much more. It's a different realm that opens one to a timeless world where all you have to worry about is completing the next quest, downing the next boss, or getting that rare mount you always wanted.
Spend the rest of the day to show appreciation to this beautiful masterpiece. Blizz, although I may have been frustrated with you at times, I love you for giving me a game that will always bring a smile to my face and take me back in time. Thank you.
I swear sometimes that Blizzard secretly monitors some of my posts. Looks like we're finally getting new character models after all!!! So at Blizzcon, the NEXT WoW expansion was announced, titled "Warlords of Draenor" which really focuses on the whole relationship between Dwarves and Orcs. While a lot of information and features are still waiting to make their way to the public, we do know that the level cap will be increased to 100 (I never thought I'd see the day!) and players will have the ability to boost one character up to level 90 to be able to access the content without having to wait. Not a bad gig!
For all the players who want their own housing, this hasn't been implemented into the game yet (I'm hoping it will someday, shh it's okay to be optimistic), but you will have the ability to build, and upgrade your own personal garrison. Let's hope this is as cool as it sounds.
Other than that, the only other information we really know is that the expansion takes place in Draenor, which should be an interesting change in pace. Apparently the designer of this X-Pac was the same developer who worked on Diablo II and Burning Crusade, so I do have hope. Let's hope Blizz does something to finally resuscitate this game!
So. I'm officially partnered with TGN and my piano tutorials will be appearing on TGN Central! All of my other guides will appear on my Channel as they normally do, but for all of my piano-loving subscribers, make sure to look out for the playlist I added to my channel, titled "TGN Broadcasts", this way you are up to date with all of your piano tutorials. Songs up and coming are some fan requests such as the typical Zelda "Overworld Theme" from A Link to the Past, the "House Theme" from Ocarina of Time, "Dragon Roost Island" from Wind Waker, and much much more! We will also be branching out to other games as well, which is something that you guys have really been requesting. I've never played Kingdom Hearts, but a lot of y'all have been asking from some tutorials there. We also have to jump back to Skyrim since I have a subscriber who really wants to learn how to play the Age of Aggresion (good choice!). Keep the requests coming, because that keeps the videos coming! Thank you so much to everyone who has made all of this possible within the past few weeks. It's amazing how far some of you have gone just to push me that much forward. I'm eternally grateful.
The Video Game Industry is an ever-growing industry as graphics improve and story-lines become much denser than the standard, "There's a bad guy out there and I have to defeat him." With the growth of the industry, we see a convergence, or a growing "connectedness" of two mediums, in which video games and movies are slowly combining. There have been movies made about video games (but this is nothing new), and movies made into video games, but now we're seeing a different type of convergence. Video games are slowly turning into a personal movie for the player, in which they travel through beautiful plot lines and amazing action filled scenes in which they have the ability to contribute, adding their own personal spin to the story-line. Award-winning script writers are taking part in the industry to offer their work, and to get in on a piece of the action. Video game trailers are now resembling those often seen throughout Hollywood. But one question is, when did this whole transition start? What game caused the move towards total convergence? Did it start with the game that moved away from the traditional, "saving of the princess" story-line? It's difficult to pinpoint.
Gamers have different reactions to this whole change. Many don't want to be associated with deepened story-lines, and think it's a waste of their time. Other gamers love it since they can feel as if they are really immersed in the game since the story-line is that much better. All-in-all with change you're going to have the lovers and haters. What matters here is the proportion of both. The majority seems to favor the change. It'll surely be interesting to see how this all progresses with next-gen graphics and an ever-changing industry.
During Breaking Bad, I noticed the flood of GTA V commercials, and user comments on forums online saying how excited they are for the release of this game. I haven't been a huge fan of GTA games, but that's probably because the whole time on the game I spend driving the cars around, sometimes actually trying to follow the rules of the road (don't tell me you've never done this). I have to say though, the story line in GTA V from the previews looks super interactive and like a lot of sweat was produced working on this single player mode.
It's a pretty ballsy move to release a game so close to the release of next-gen consoles, but I have to say, the graphics in GTA V are very impressive considering they aren't next gen. Look at the GTA V graphics vs GTA San Andreas!
Crazy difference, huh?
The game will be based in "Los Santos" which is pretty much Los Angeles, and a map has even been released for the area. Click to enlarge the photo and dissect it a little more!
The game will feature three main characters which the player can switch between while playing, and you can find the leaked soundtrack list for the game online!
^ Make sure you SING the title, otherwise it makes me look like my addiction is way too out of hand. Anyways, moving on, a little update of what to expect next! I will be working on an OATH TO ORDER tutorial for you guys! So happy for the massive demand for this song, it's so beautiful and gives me these weird goosebumps on my arms and legs every time. Damn it...I really want to play Majora's Mask again now.
But before this guide is released, I will be making a WoW guide first, which is WAYYYY overdue. So ret pallies, be on the look out for it!!! The next guide to follow will most likely be shadow priest.
By the way, for anyone wondering exactly how the ranking goes for piano tutorial requests, it's really one of those demand type deals. Whatever users want the most is what I will be making, and Zelda songs come first before any other game (sorry, but that'd be like switching boyfriends/girlfriends before you're even ready to move on). Don't feel cheated if a tutorial for your song doesn't come up yet. These things take timeeee. Be patient, young cricket!
Also, later tonight I will hopefully be uploading the music tutorial of Zelda's Lullaby on Songs of Time. For some reason my blog format is messed up and I'm not too sure how to fix it, so I'm really hoping that ya'll can at least still see the link bar to access the page? If not pleaseeee let me know. I don't know if this is an issue with my computer or what.
Love love love! Thank you all for continuing to be awesome!!!!
Hey all! I will be uploading a tutorial to play Zelda's Lullaby shortly! Hopefully the tutorial isn't too tricky and helps ya'll out. This song probably triggers the most memories for me and truly is the most powerful song to bring me back to my childhood. /Nostalgia much?
I will be posting a written tutorial in the "Songs of Time" section later on this week. It won't be TOO detailed, but will give you an outline of the notes (by letter!). Please keep in mind that I cannot read music, so sheet music can be found online if you do some digging, I'm sure. Good luck and hope it helps you out!
You can see that the talk is going all around about WoW model updates. It's very interesting to see what other players have to say about it! Hopefully we see this released soon, because Blizz is WAY overdue to add a bit more to character customization and to update the way our characters look! I'm sick of my helms being overlapped by my character's hair in awkward spots, and armor just not laying right. I'm also bugged by how nice some NPC's look, and how blocky my character looks next to them. /huff
But a lot of hype has been going around one image of a female troll model, and god I hopeeeee this is what it will look like. It has been getting me so pumped to see where blizz goes with these updated models! Is this something we can look out for at Blizzcon? I sure hope so!
Badass! WoW will feel like a totally updated game with these features. If you had the chance to choose, what would you add to character customization? For me I'd add height and weight options, as well as more skin colors/features we see from other NPCs in the game. Another player mentioned being able to make a Wildhammer Clan dwarf, or a brown orc. This is definitely something to be considered by Blizz, and could be a grrrrrreat way to bring players back!!!
An article by Evan Narcisse on Kotaku displays even morepictures of various races!
I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with Mists. As I said before, I will be getting into detail, but I don't have the time to do so this morning since I leave for work in less than an hour. Let's just say I'm back in my WoW phase where I want to play WHENEVER I get the chance. I will be looking into doing streaming (although I don't know if my computer can handle it, but I guess we will see), and will be making guides again! Yeeeee-haw!
To give you some insight on what class guides to look out for, my highest levels are a priest, druid, pally, DK, and a rogue is quickly making it's way up there. I will eventually get around to guides for (hopefully) every class/spec. LET'S GOOOOOO!
It feels great to be back. I haven't really taken a break from WoW before, so I didn't realize how addicting it is coming back, even after such a short time away (3-4 months is short right?).
I know a lot of you are probably SUPER confused with the way my channel is going. We've been through a lot of different types of videos, and I know it has been anything BUT consistent. That's something I really want to change.
So. To give ya'll just a little insight. I will be shooting to make 1 piano tutorial and 1 WoW guide every month. 1337 Eats videos will be on a longer time schedule, just because I will hopefully be making a lot of original recipes soon, which requires a lot of playing around with ingredients until it tastes right. I'm not exactly sure yet how I want to do gaming update videos yet, that's something I haven't thought about yet. But gaming update videos and rant sessions will be around, although rant times being the least expected videos to look out for in the future.
I'm hoping to make a lot of videos based on demand though, so be vocal! The music tutorial community is overwhelming me with suggestions for songs which is a good thing, because it ensures that I have a ton of videos to make, and that you'll enjoy them!
"I'm back!!!"
I have been taking screen shots from my time in Pandaria, and I will be giving you an outlined look at my adventures on my characters soon. My priest is level 90, which did not take long at all, and my druid is up to 87 but I'm letting her rest up. I haven't wanted to play my pally yet, which I apparently should, since I've been told that ret pallies are pretty strong right now.
Here's a simple little screen shot for the time being. Pandaria is truly beautiful :)
Although there is not an "in-depth" starting post, I added a music tab to my blog that is called "Songs of Time". In this portion of my blog, I will be helping you with any questions you have concerning tutorials, and will try to dissect each and every song for you, addressing any problems you may encounter and tips and tricks on how to fix this. Also notes will be listed! I will try to bring attention to whatever song brings the most concern with viewers first, which I think may be the Lost Woods Theme. Give me a holler and let me know what songs you need help with :)
Also added the 1337 Eats page, but that will be a while until I get that footage back! Let me know some video game dishes that ya'll are interested in trying! I know there are similar people doing this, such as "Gourmet Gaming" and "Feasts of Fiction", but I figured we could have alternative recipes that are simplified, or just have a different taste!
If you haven't watched the reveal video for the next gen Microsoft console, do that ASAP!
You can find it on your home screen when you power up your X-Box. The game releases look pretty impressive (from the little bit that we have seen) and the graphics are just mind blowing. I don't want to give too much away in case some of you are trying to keep it a surprise, but there's a lot that you can do with the Kinect that really enhances the flexibility between console and television.
By the way, not a big fan of CoD but I must say that Ghosts looks amazing. Going to be a really good campaign mode, so I'm excited. The trailer actually gave me chills, and that's impressive, considering I really don't follow the game much at all. Check it out!
As for my channel, I apologize for the delay. In the meantime I will be working on a Piano Tutorial, and will hopefully be getting my laptop back somewhere in the next month. But yeah, I will be working on some subscriber requests. Later on I will be changing my blog so that there is a music corner where you can check the notes and I will list them for your convenience. It has been requested by a ton of users, so it's time to start organizing. Apologies for the mess in routine lately, but it gets hard to balance so many different things :)
We will also do routine voting on user demand for requested tutorials so that I know what my fans really want to see/hear. WoW tutorials will also be coming back soon, I promise. I've been a little out of the WoW swing lately and had to take a little break. Will be back on soon though. Let me know what videos/guides/games you want me to cover, and what you expect from my channel. It's all about catering to y'all!!
Much love, and check out the Xbox One! Seriously! And Ghosts!!!!!
So, it has been announced that WoW Subscriptions have fallen by a dramatic 1.3 million in the last 3 months. Owch. Activision CEO's are trying to offset the statements by saying that WoW is still the leading MMO with the largest subscriber base, but how long can they keep saying that before it isn't true? In 2010, Blizz had over 12 million subscribers, and now it has fallen to 8 over the course of about 3 years. The numbers are starting to drop faster and faster.
What does this mean for Blizz? How will they continue? This puts a lot of pressure on the next expansion, and I think it shows that there needs to be some change if WoW wants to keep their subscribers. A lot of people DON'T play the game because of the monthly charge. What if Blizz decreased the price down to about 10 a month, or maybe even 12? I know it isn't that easy, and would directly impact the company's income, but maybe it would draw more subscribers back, which actually would make the company more money.
Mechanics wise, I don't think it's easy to change mechanics and the way things run if players have been used to something specific for about a decade. Players are being taken over to other MMO's that feel more worthwhile, and honestly are a change of pace. I believe that every WoW player gets that hunch to play the game, and is drawn back after a break. In fact, I'm going through that hunch right now, and I only cancelled my account in February (don't worry, I promise I'll be back to make guides).
But I hope that Blizz can find something to really make this game "come alive" again or so to speak. I will hopefully be interning with Blizzard next Summer, and as you guys all know, I have a bunch of ideas to share with them. Who know though, maybe Blizzard knows it's time to move onto something bigger and better. I hope not though, because WoW has been my baby, and to see it fade and die down the way it has is truly depressing.
Hey all, quick update. My laptop got into a fight with a glass of water, and all of my footage for my first 1337 Eats segment is currently unavailable. Sorry for the delay, it will probably take 3 weeks until I can get all of my footage off of my hard-drive. Sit tight!!!!
The first 1337 Eats video will be released May 12th, and our first dish on the menu will be Sweet Rolls from Skyrim!
Have you ever played a video game or watched a TV show that made you crave a food that simply doesn't exist in our world?
Just because it's fictional doesn't mean it can't become reality.
1337 Eats will take your fantasy foods and satisfy those insatiable cravings. With recipes and video tutorials, 1337 Eats won't let you down. It's time to teach fiction lovers how to make the foods they have been so curious to try, and to have fun while doing so! So come join us!
Bethesda has announced that they are finally ending DLC content for Skyrim....NOOOOOOOOOOO! If you think about it though, Bethesda has been completely generous with us. The game came out in November 2011, and they have given us plenty of content on top of what we had in the beginning in order to keep us entertained. But eventually, players had to see the end of the DLC's coming. Following the announcement that they are done with Skyrim, Bethesda stated that they are moving onto something even better than Skyrim, which I assume will blow our minds. To state something to be "bigger and better" than Skyrim makes me anxious to know what the next project is. There are rumors that this may be another Fallout game.
But thank god for mods that will be able to keep us entertained with the game far after we have finished all of the content from Bethesda.
It's been a good run Skyrim...I will always love you <3
It's no secret that the WiiU launch was a bit of a struggle for Nintendo, and sales for the WiiU haven't been what Nintendo projected. But as of 4/4, the WiiU sales are starting to turn around. Well...for the UK and Japan at least, where sales have actually doubled. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate seemed to be a big hit in the UK, boosting sales by 125%! Unfortunately, Nintendo is still struggling as other countries sit at a stand still in WiiU sales.
The problem has much to do with a lack of available game titles being out for the console, and a price that just didn't (and still doesn't, to me personally) seem worth it. US sales are still slugging behind for this console, which may be due to the fact that there haven't been any price cuts yet. Another major issue is a lack of game titles, and marketing for those game titles. Most games that ARE coming out for the WiiU aren't being marketed in a way that broadcasts it to the public as much as it should.
The WiiU console needs to come out with a kickass SSB or Zelda title to help them make their way out of this slump, and hopefully it happens soon.
If you've put down Halo 4, I highly suggest you pick it back up. Grifball, aka the "E" version of football, is back and it's awesome. Run around with a grav hammer and smash other players, while using your sword to slash the opponent ball carrier when necessary (or you can use a hammer as well, but be careful of launching the carrier towards your goal if he jumps)
Anyways, the game variant is so much fun. If you haven't tried it in Halo 3, and haven't played it yet in 4, go get started! It won't let you down!
I'm so thankful for you guys. I could never say it enough, but each and every one of you help me to get closer and closer to my dream every single day. I hope you know how much I appreciate everything, and hopefully I've helped you out along the way.
I've learned a lot. I've made a hell of a lot of mistakes, but I can say with each video I'm learning more and more, and I find new ways to be creative which I never thought was possible. Thank you all for being patient with me. Sometimes it's hard to please everyone, especially when you're new to the process and are still making some small mistakes. I do plenty of research on my topics, but it seems like there's always that ONE minor flaw in a video that makes me cringe time and time again as I watch it. But as time has passed, I have grown as my own marketer, film editor, film director, etc,etc. It's amazing how much you can do if you really set your mind to it.
It's surreal to me to finally be nearing 1k subscribers. A lot of people may laugh and say that that's chump change for YouTube, but I'm honored. I am so happy I have made a difference and brought some joy into 1,000 people's lives. I hope my guides have helped all of you gamers/musicians, who at some point, felt lost and confused without knowing what to do to fix the problems. I'm always here for that, just like you guys have always been here to support me, even through my flaws.
To thank all of you, I will be launching a new segment at 1,000 subscribers, and I'm super excited for this one. I've got an amazing feeling about it. I also want to make this promise to you (treat it as a contract), that if things ever skyrocket on YouTube and something happens, I will never forget the subscribers that helped me to get there. This means that if my channel ever starts to get a lot of notice, I will start doing give-aways and will give back to the people who helped me to get to where I am.
So again, thank you all for your messages, criticisms, comments, everything. I love hearing from all of you and it's been a pleasure talking to all of my subscribers. I love to hear that I've helped you guys with something in your life. That's what I strive for with every video. I hope that past the 1K subscriber point that I can continue to make ya'll proud.
It's amazing how much a game can bring you back to a memory. Not sure what game does it for all of you, but the minute I see, or hear anything from Ocarina of Time or Majora's Mask, I'm instantly a kid again. I don't know if it's the true strength of Koji Kondo's compositions, or if it's everything all together, but it's so bittersweet. I can remember rainy days with chicken noodle soup, playing Zelda with my older brother. Man, I miss those days.
On another note. I think it would be AMAZING to see an animated movie of a video game. I think it had a lot of potential, especially if it's something dreary and aimed towards adults. For instance, the games I just mentioned. Majora's Mask has an extreme amount of potential, since it is filled with so many trippy concepts and is very unique in it's own way. This animation made by a fellow YouTuber just really intrigued me. I wish he made a whole film... Check it out!
We are 11 days away from that time of the year where you're either celebrating your relationship, or mourning the fact that you're not in one. Screw that, don't mourn. Did you know that approximately 50 million Americans will spend Valentine's day by their lonesome? Americans spend over 277 MILLION dollars on Valentine's Day, it's the second most expensive holiday of the year next to Christmas! What I'm trying to get at is, be happy if you don't have a significant other on Valentine's Day, because this means you can take what you would have contributed towards that 277 million dollars, and buy a new video game :) ...And if you're in a relationship or have a Valentine, of course, enjoy it.
If you're both gamers, celebrate by doing something like this. Epic. Romantic. Dorky. What else could you ask for?!
...Now I wish they made 8-bit heart packaged chocolates that say "It's dangerous to go alone...Take this!"
...Oh my god, this is an awesome idea. I totally patent that.
Looking at all of these mod videos really makes me jealous of anyone with a nice gaming computer and the PC version of Skyrim. Damn. Check out some of these awesome mods!
After rewatching all of the LoTR movies last week, I literally am drooling over the Mines of Moria add-on!
Seems like WoW understands that I have had a rough week, and rewarded me by giving me quests to slay my rage, in the form of a black and white, monstrous, liquidy, blob-mob. I approve!
A lot of my friends who have been playing Mists have been saying it's actually a great deal of fun, but for some reason I simply cannot be captivated by the quests, and the content while leveling just isn't interesting enough to keep me playing for long periods of time. Does anyone else feel the same? Does this just mean, that maybe I'm slowly starting to grow tired of a game I have been playing for just about a decade? This is actually quite sad for me to think about... It's almost like letting go of a relationship that once treated you very well, but now isn't keeping your interest nearly as much anymore. Something that has started to fizzle out, like a soda that is turning flat. That stuff tastes icky. I don't like when WoW is icky (sorry for the abstract side tangent).
Designing quests, storylines, etc, for my own MMO plan has been a great amount of fun though. I am still far from complete, but it is nice to be allowed to let your mind roam whereever you want it to, in hopes of making your "dream game". I don't know where this plan will take me, or if it will even be successful, but I can honestly say that it has been a great experience trying to perfect it all. I would love to get all of my followers in on this game idea, and essentially form it together, with elements that all gamers would love to see in the next upcoming MMO. So feel free to contribute anything you want! I will send you proof that your ideas will be copyrighted in my huge document of game ideas, layouts, etc. So if your creative side is just bursting to be heard, send me anything you want. Story line ideas, quest ideas, combat, layout designs, character designs, environmental designs, music, animations, ANYTHING!!!! Again, I understand that what you submit is strictly YOUR content, and I will keep it that way.
Thanks for reading my blog. Ya'll are the best and inspire me to be a better person with each and every view I receive! Share with your friends, and contribute whatever you want! Have a gaming story you want to share? Funny screenshots? Fan pictures? Anything?! I'll feature you!
Okay. Don't get mad that I'm not onto the next steps yet, but I am restarting! I wasn't aware that Walmart had cardstock paper for CHEAP. When I say cheap, I mean cheap! I was looking all over for this paper, and it was about 20 bucks per pack, but Walmart sells it for 5.48 a pack! Check it out here!
Also free feel to dig through the coupons page to see if there's any sort of offer for the paper. Consider yourself super lucky if you find it! http://coupons.walmart.com/
So a minor setback for me, but it will be well worth it, since my armor won't cave in! Still doing some research on resin, and where I can get that cheap. I think for now I will be cutting out logos that I want to put on my armor, such as the UNSC one. Will hopefully be picking up my new paper and glue tomorrow on my way home. Yay! :)
Let's get crackin'!
Also, here is another AWESOME project that you can make yourself! Pretty cheap and worthwhile. I definitely want to do this in the near future.
My friend was given a topic by her professor at university, which in a nutshell asked, "Why do gamers game?" and it got me thinking. "Why do I game?" Surely there must be some official reason, that sounds better than saying, "because I like to fus-ro-dah things off of cliffs, playing in the woods with skull kid, jumping around Orgrimmar, and driving Mongooses over grav lifts!" Yeah, it's a little mind boggling when you think about it, but there's a reason behind why every gamer games.
For one, I grew up around gaming. Being the only sibling my brother has, he has always asked me to play games with him. I always wanted to be like my brother, so the day he asked me to play video games with him, I was in all my glory. The first game we ever played together was Mario Kart 64, but I had been playing the Super Nintendo (being about 4 years old it was probably entertaining) before that. Currently, I game not just because I have done it since I was young, but because it is my stress reliever. I like many things. I like cooking, playing music, drawing, you name it, but none of them compare to gaming when I want to RELAX. I've been through a lot of rough things in my life, and gaming has helped me to cope. It's helped me to take my mind off of things. It helps me to escape reality.
That's when I realized it. You may be thinking to yourself, "Well, duh!" but I never really thought about that for myself. Sometimes I wish I was someone else, or lived a different life. No, I'm not depressed by any means, but sometimes, I just wish I could change some things that can't be changed. I realized that I can change by leaving this reality for a while, and feeling like part of another one. I can feel like a different person by technically playing through a story as a different person. I can feel like I'm making a profound difference and impact by accomplishing things in a virtual universe that feels very much real. We can experiment with our characters in ways that give us more knowledge about ourselves, teaching us about actions we would do in real life, and ones that are just results of mere curiosity and/or fantasy.
Analyzing this truly makes me understand why some people become so crazily addicted to games: because gaming makes reality feel less gratifying, and makes us feel like we have less influence.
I understand some of you may whole-heartedly disagree, and I just want you to know, that this post is my mere interpretation. I'm not saying, "this is how it is for everyone", but out of my experiences, and others that I know, I can say this is what I have learned from gaming and what I have taken from it. I truly love how we can express ourselves through fantasy universes that feel so vibrant and alive. It makes it hard to understand how people don't enjoy gaming. To each is own, but when you have the time and just want to go somewhere else, and be someone else, gaming is truly extraordinary and a beautiful experience.
What do you think about all of it? Why do YOU game? Come listen to the Skyrim OST, the 10 hour crackling fire, and tell me your story. I wanna hear it.
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