25 Ramblings of a Gamer

If you've been reading any of my posts prior to this one, you've probably figured out that video games have largely influenced my personality, artistic tastes, and quite simply, who I am as a person. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way, though. In fact, as more time goes by, video games are finally beginning to receive the respect and recognition that they deserve as a legitimate form of art and entertainment, and it's about time. I think it's even fair to say that gaming has become a rather integral part of our modern society, one that more and more people are partaking in every day. However, I figured I'd get a little personal with this post and share with you 25 of my thoughts, memories, aspirations, etc.--all to do with video games.



1. The first video game that I ever played was Sonic the Hedgehog when I was four years old--the first game that ever remember playing is Bushido Blade on the original PlayStation, a couple years later. I remember being very impressed with the way that the bamboo trees on this one level would fall over if you cut through them, and that's about all.

2. My mom is a billion times better at games like Tetris and Pacman than I will ever be.

3. I've been coming up with rather elaborate video game ideas (characters, story lines, gameplay--the works) for years now and I can't wait to put them into action.

4. We've only ever owned PlayStation consoles in my house (and the occasional GameBoy). Nothing against others, mind you, it's just safe to say that I was raised a PlayStation gamer. Maybe when I start making some real cash and I'm itching to spend it, I'll buy a 360 or something.

5. When I was younger, I used to hate action figures because, in actuality, they're more like statues than "action" figures. Now, however, I have a small collection started and I'm eager to get my hands on Lightning from FFXIII.

6. I still (vaguely) remember the day that my dad brought home our first PlayStation and our first game to go with it (Bushido Blade). The PS came with a demo disc that had at least a dozen different game demos on it, including Crash Bandicoot 2.

7. I'm not a huge fan of classic Nintendo games like The Legend of Zelda, Mario, Super Smash Bros., etc., but I've never gotten the chance to play too much of them, so maybe that's why.

8. I am way better at Team Fortress 2 and Left 4 Dead/Left 4 Dead 2 than my boyfriend, but he kicks my ass at Starcraft II. I don't understand what it is, but I just can't seem to get any better at that game. Congratulations.

9. I used to love horror games like Resident Evil and Silent HIill, but I've never actually played more than a couple minutes of any of them. I used to just stay up late and watch my dad play, too freaked out to play them myself. Sometimes I'd pick up the controller and start to play, but as soon as I heard anything in the game, I'd pause it and leave the room.

10. I would love to wear expensive high-heels and be in charge of my own game company, some day. In fact, that's what I intend to do.

11. Back when I was still in grade school, my uncle installed some chip in our PlayStation and burnt us a bunch of games for it like Crash Bandicoot 2 and Final Fantasy IX.

12. Kingdom Hearts (the first one, in particular), while not necessarily my favorite game (it's up there), has influenced my creative style more than anything else I can think of. I think I played it at such an age that all of its thematic elements really left an impression on me.

13. My screen name/gamer tag is a sort of variation of the name "Toboe", who was a character on the anime Wolf's Rain. Back when I was twelve years old, I went to register for Gaia Online and every other name that I could possibly think of was taken, so I just messed with "Toboe" and came up with "Tobuoi". It stuck, obviously. Oh, and it's pronounced "T'OH-boo-oy", by the way.

14. Nothing would make me feel more successful than going on The Daily Show/Colbert Report and talking about video games (preferably mine). I absolutely love Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

15. Even though I love playing online with other people, my fondest gaming memories are made up of those nights that I spend playing video games in complete solitude while everyone else is asleep. Good times.

16. I honestly believe that the video game industry can be used to do some real good in this world, and I'd like to help make that happen.

17. Most of my favorite video games are those that give you the same feeling as reading a really good book...games like Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, Shadow of the Colossus, Prince of Persia, and so on.

18. Katamari Damacy (and its sequels) never gets old.

19. I would be totally depressed if I were dating someone who wasn't as much of a gamer as I am. Luckily, that's far from the case.

20. I have ridiculously tiny hands, and as such, my pinky cramps up when I try to use the XBox controller for too long. I can't, like, wrap my hands around it right.

21. After I move into my own place, I plan on subscribing to Game Informer, buying my own PS2 and PS3, setting up a GameFly account, and decking my living room out with cool video game artwork and whatnot. I'd also like to get involved with some sort of local gaming community.

22. I wish more girls would get involved in gamer culture. I'm lonely!

23. I have plenty of friends who have played more games than me and even know more about games, and yet, I'm practically the only one who plans on going into the industry. I just don't get some people.

24. If for whatever reason I couldn't have a career in the video game industry, I'd go into movie-making. From what I can tell, in a lot of ways, they're very similar processes.

25. For the vast majority of video games, I will almost always prefer a controller to a keyboard and mouse. Sorry, PC gamers. That's just the way of it for me.