Some Sweet Cosplays, pt. 2

Okay, so since I made my first post on video game cosplays, many months ago, I have developed a sort of guilty pleasure involving the subject. While I've never really cosplayed, myself, it's not too unusual for me to get caught up in looking at other people's cosplays on deviantART, sometimes for an hour at a time. So without further ado, I present you: Some Sweet Cosplays, pt. 2.

This one just cracks me up. Not only are the costumes themselves very well-done, but those of you who are familiar with Team Fortress 2 and have seen the "Meet the Spy" video know that the Scout's mom is, apparently, quite the catch. So here, we have a hilarious and unmistakable demonstration of just that. It's title? "Dat Ass". Photo and cosplay done by PANCAKEScosplay on deviantART.com where you can find lots more cosplay goodness in their gallery, including more delightful TF2 ones.

I think it's safe to say that I have a certain, uh, fascination with the Splicers from the BioShock games. But that's not all that makes this cosplay so great, to me. The costumes are exquisite and the photography is spot-on, AND the setting looks like it came straight from Rapture, like a real-life scene from the game. And after all, isn't the recreation of beloved nerdoms what cosplay is all about? Photo uploaded by Dids-91 on deviantART. The rest of her BioShock cosplays can be viewed here.

In my opinion, some of the best cosplays on the internet are ones from the Final Fantasy series. The games themselves are an impressive demonstration of interesting character design, so it's no wonder that so many people are inspired to recreate their favorite Final Fantasy heroes and villains. This one of Lightning and Serrah from Final Fantasy XIII is one of favorites, for obvious reasons...great costumes, great photo, great emotions. Photo uploaded by RainerTachibana.


Those of you who have played Fallout 3 can appreciate the awesomeness of this Lone Wanderer cosplay by Frauette. I don't think I've ever seen a better Lone Wanderer costume. I mean, with her Pip-Boy 300 and everything, she looks like she just came from Vault 101! The setting in the photo is perfect and a common sight for players in the game, making the whole thing all the more delightful. Be sure to check out the other Fallout 3 cosplay photos in her gallery, as well.



I've liked this one for a long time. If you've played Final Fantasy IX, then you should recognize Kuja (in his Trance form) as cosplayed by Demented-Kid (she's got lots of other neat Kuja cosplays, as well). What impresses me the most is the hair--or rather, feathers. I've seen lots of people attempt it, but few seem to be able to pull it off...let alone this good. Aside from that, the makeup and costume are all fabulous, too.


That's all for now. I'm sure I'll have more neat cosplays to share in the future, though, so keep your eyes peeled.

A brief update!

Okay, so I know it's been a long time since my last post. As is quite usual when people go missing from the internet, I've been pretty busy with my life. However, I plan to very much get back on track with all of my stuff online, this blog and my new gaming YouTube channel included. Just wanted to give those of you who read this regularly a little insight as to what's going on in my life and to let you all know that there are many blog posts to come in the near-future, including some more cosplays, my thoughts on BioShock 2, League of Legends, Fallout: New Vegas, and more.



Other sites where you can find me:
deviantART
Twitter

Day[9]

For the last few months, I've been playing a lot of StarCraft II and trying to get better. This led me to do a bit of exploring around the SC community, which then led me to Day[9]. Sean "Day[9]" Plott is a professional StarCraft II caster who also runs the Day[9] Daily: a live, online StarCraft and StarCraft II show. Aside from the usual casting and commentary on professional games, his show also features "Funday Mondays", "Newbie Tuesdays", and the occasional "Friendday Wendsday" which keep the show entertaining for more casual viewers.

Not only is Day[9] insightful and good at what he does, but I think he's absolutely hilarious and fun to watch. If you're into StarCraft, I would most definitely recommend checking him out. Odds are, you will benefit from it in some way or another. You can watch him live, Sundays through Thursdays at 9 PM CST or view his videos on YouTube.

Day[9]'s other pages:

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BioShock Review

Once I again, I was late to the party with BioShock, but it was an absolutely amazing experience, nonetheless. I don't think that I've enjoyed a single-player game as much as I enjoyed BioShock in years. Everything about this video game is simply exceptional and aside from the fact that I think it's pure genious, it's just a darn fun game...and not one you'll likely soon forget.

When it comes down to whether or not a game leaves a lasting impression on me, mood is a critical factor and rest assured, this stellar first-person shooter has plenty of it. Set in Rapture, an underwater city that was once an anarchical utopia ("No Gods or Kings. Only Man."), BioShock entices the player with intrigue, motivates them with horror and suspense, and rewards them with the continuous discovery of this eerily beautiful and ruined world. Once the game sinks its hooks into you, simultaneously filling you with unease and delight, you can't help but want to cozy up into it and hope that it never ends. As long as you don't mind a duely M-rated game, I would recommend BioShock to just about anyone.

In BioShock, you play as Jack, who at first seems like a simple enough protagonist, but by the end of the game, we learn that there is much more to him than the earlier parts of the game let on. After his plane crashes somewhere in the Atlantic, Jack finds himself caught up in Rapture, struggling just to survive, let alone escape. Guided through the vast city by a number of mysterious characters--all of whom have their own motives--via radio broadcast, the player faces constant adversity from what's left of Rapture's citizens.

There's the Splicers, whose minds and bodies have been wrecked by excessive modifications to their genetic makeup, leaving them violent and insane. They're also probably my favorite "common" antagonists of any video game, ever. Not only does fighting against the many varieties of Splicers throughout the game pose a fun challenge for the player, but they're also legitimate video game characters with an unmistakable depth to them; not just a random gameplay component like so many other games' bad guys. Then, of course, there are the iconic Big Daddies and the seaslug-possessed Little Sisters that they guard with their lives. These creepy little girls wander the city, extracting ADAM from corpses. If the player succeeds at killing a Big Daddy, he or she must then decide whether to save the Little Sister or "harvest" her for more ADAM. ADAM, in addition to plasmids (commercially-sold DNA-altering potions), essentially gives a person super powers. Therefore, more ADAM means Jack can become more powerful. However, harvesting a Little Sister also makes you a bad person and changes the outcome of the game. These are the sort of choices that the player must make.

As if that wasn't enough excitement, the player is constantly being threatened and pursued by Rapture's founder, Andrew Ryan, who would like nothing more than to have you "eliminated". He also bears strikingly similar philosophical views to those of Ayn Rand, and I think it's safe to say that BioShock is a response of sorts to Rand's fictional works. This is just yet another thing that makes the game so compelling and unique.

While adventuring through the city, the player may pick up a number of audio diaries. These recordings tell the stories of Rapture and its citizens, helping the player understand the city's fascinating history. Even still, greater secrets await Jack as the player nears the game's end and discovers the true meaning behind his arrival in Rapture.

All images are (presumably) the property of 2K Games.

Some Very Awesome Video Game Soundtracks

When it comes to entertainment, there are usually two things that catch my attention: the aesthetic and the soundtrack. This is true of movies, TV shows, and especially, video games. The way a game looks is an obvious determining factor in its appeal, but I cannot tell you how many times I have been compelled to buy a game simply because of the music playing in its trailer. Every good game needs a soundtrack that helps set the mood and immerse the player in the game's setting. However, over the years, there have only been a handful that have truly moved and inspired me, so for this post, I thought I'd share some of them with you and say what I think makes them so great.

Shadow of the Colossus

Despite being a cult classic of sorts, everyone knew that this game was going to be epic the moment it was announced. The objective of the game was simple enough: journey across a dreamy and mysterious land on your trusty steed in search of colossal beings...once you find them, climb them and kill 'em dead. While the thrill of taking one of these huge things down (and I mean HUGE) is undeniable, you can't help but feel a sense of remorse for destroying something so magnificent. All of this is and more is portrayed perfectly in Shadow of the Colossus's ethereal and grandiose soundtrack.

The Kingdom Hearts series
It's no secret that I love this game. I still remember the first time that I saw a trailer for it on TV. I had read bits and pieces about it in gaming magazines, but none of that could hold a candle to the trailer. The moment that I heard Hikaru Utada's "Simple and Clean", I knew that I must acquire this game as soon as possible. And that's not the only thing that makes the OST so awesome. Among its dozens of tracks, listeners will feel nostalgia, excitement, fear, and longing, all of which beautifully compliment the memorable adventure that is Kingdom Hearts.

Fallout 3/Fallout: New Vegas
Made up of a satisfying blend of already existing oldie classics and original instrumental tracks, the music of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas not only acts as a fantastic backdrop for the game's retro, post-apocalyptic, out-west setting, but gives players the delightful feeling of ominous adveturousness, which is--I believe--what Fallout is all about. Fallout 3's soundtrack was impressive, no doubt, but I think that New Vegas's takes the cake.

BioShock/BioShock 2

Set in the 1960's, BioShock and BioShock 2's soundtracks have a retro feel to them, similar to Fallout 3/New Vegas. However, what makes BioShock and it's sequel so special is the games' use of mood. Everything from the story to the game's art sets out to create a world of horror, beauty, and loss, and the OST is no exception. Players and listeners alike will find the game's music unsettling, but at the same time, will want to loose themselves in it, and that's what makes BioShock and BioShock 2's soundtracks so fantastic.

The Final Fantasy series

When I think of expert story-telling in video games, the Final Fantasy series is the first thing that comes to mind. Distinct characters, mind-blowing worlds, and intricate plot-lines are what make these games such a success, but the games' soundtracks add another whole new layer of depth. These OSTs are fully capable of telling the games' stories, in and of themselves. With each new title, fans are reminded that no combination of feelings is too complex to be perfectly captured in this series's amazing soundtracks.

I would love to hear which video games you think have excellent soundtracks in a comment below.

Games would like their own classy awards ceremony, please.

If you're like me, you've probably never seen a Superbowl game in its entirety, but the Oscars--now that's a live event that's worth spending a night in front of the TV for. Well, if that's the case and you are like me, then I can assume that you watched the 83rd annual Academy Awards ceremony last night. It was nothing out of the ordinary...actors, producers, writers, directors and so on all dressed up with their family members, big-name presenters, entertaining hosts, heartfelt speeches--the usual. Now, I'm not suggesting that the Oscars is a perfect example of what I believe an awards ceremony should be, but I would love to see something similar become a standard part of video game culture.

Sure, video games already have things like the Spike TV Video Game Awards and countless Game of the Year titles are declared every year, but I would like to see something a little more official and organized. Spike's VGAs are all fine and dandy, but for starters, rather than being chosen by people with experience in the industry, the winning games are voted on by the public. I have no problem with things like The People's Choice Awards, but it would be nice to see video games recognized in something other than a popularity contest. Aside from that, Spike is a network specifically geared towards men. I understand that gaming is still dominated by guys, but an awards ceremony hosted by an institution that is specifically trying to appeal to one gender seems a bit unproffesional. And last but not least, the Spike VGAs feature guests like...the cast of Jersey Shore. Snooki? Really?

I'm not sure if I would like to see a new organization rise to the occasion, or one that already exists take it to the next level, but I do know one thing: gamers deserve better than this.

Video Game Romances that I Love

For people who don't play games, it may be hard to believe what gamers have long-known: video games tell some of the best love stories you could ask for. In fact, romance has been a common theme in video games since the days of Pacman and his beloved Ms. Pacman. Personally, I find that games that successfully integrate a compelling love story are far more memorable, so I thought that in honor of the holiday, I would share some of my favorite video game romances with you all (contains spoilers).

Zidane and Garnet/Dagger from Final Fantasy IX

The romance between these two all starts when Zidane, who is part of a plot to steal Princess Garnet, bumps into her as she's attempting to make an escape from Alexandria, the kingdom over which her mother rules. As if drawn to each other by fate, Garnet agrees to let Zidane "kidnap" her so long as he and his band of thieves, Tantalus, assist her in getting to Lindblum to meet with Regent Cid who, as it turns out, was the person who hired Tantalus to kidnap her in the first place. Along their journey, they encounter many sinister foes and witness horrible destruction caused by said foes. This only fuels the involvement between Zidane and Garnet. Initially, Zidane's interest in Garnet is little more than one of his frequent displays of shallow womanizing, but as the two get to know each other and Garnet becomes "Dagger", her non-princess cover, Zidane's feelings for her turn into something more. At the realization that there's little chance of them hooking up with each other, he is left heartbroken, convinced that even if Dagger did love him in return, he would never be suitable for royalty. However, towards the end of the game, Zidane is believed to be dead and when the two are reunited some time later, they embrace their love for each other, making for a very happy ending.

Ico and Yorda from Ico

More innocent than most other game romances, perhaps, Ico and Yorda's is not only essential to their survival but a crucial gameplay element. Ico being a horned outcast and Yorda a strange, gentle sort of ghost, all they have is each other. Both characters are trying to escape from a large and haunted castle inhabited by Yorda's evil, shadowy, ghost queen of a mother and a host of other frightful specters that appear to be made of the same shadowy stuff as their queen. Both characters also possess unique abilities that compliment eachother's. For example, Yorda has supernatural powers that allow her to open certain magical doorways and Ico is strong and agile, able to push around large stone blocks and climb chains to solve puzzles. Ico literally holds Yorda's hand throughout most of the game in order to lead her through the castle and prevent her from being stolen away by the queens shadow monsters who are constantly pursuing the two. After a final showdown with the Yorda's mother, both Ico and Yorda escape the castle as it is turned to ruins and wake up together on a beach after.

The Prince and Farah from The Prince of Persia: Sands of Time trilogy

The unnamed Prince and Farah's relationship is similar to that of Ico and Yorda in that the two are alone in a world filled with fearsome monsters and depend on each other for survival. The Prince is handy with his sword and dagger while Farah is good with the bow. Farah can slip in through small openings to poke around on the other side, and the Prince can scale walls and swing from pole to pole. One of my favorite things about these two is their constant bickering throughout the games. Believe me, it's very entertaining. The Prince and Farah meet in the first SoT game when the Prince's kingdom is overthrowing hers. While this would normally make these two mortal enemies, they don't really have any choice other than to team up after the Sands of Time are unleashed and turn everyone else except the evil Vizier into sand monsters. During their journey to restore normality by reversing time, the two start to fall in love. They even take a bath together at one point. Sadly, at the end of the game, the Prince is forced to go back in time, erasing his relationship with Farah in addition to saving the day. However, he drops some hints before it's all said and done and the pair meet again in The Two Thrones.

Yuna and Tidus from Final Fantasy X (and X-2)

Yuna and Tidus's love story is one of the most popular of the series, and for good reason. These two star-crossed lovers are destined to save the world together, but in doing so, they must ultimately part from each other in a very permanent fashion. They initially meet after Tidus wakes up 1000 years in the future while Yuna's just beginning her pilgrimage to become a Summoner in the hopes of defeating the monsters known as Sin. This would be a very quick fix that would--as Tidus discovers later--take Yuna's life. For as long as anyone can remember, Summoners have repeated this process in order to grant brief, decade-long periods of peace between Sin's rebirths. From the start, the romance between the two isn't looking too bright. However, after some groundbreaking truths are revealed, plans are changed and things begin to look up for the couple. They get to thinking that there's a way to defeat Sin for good without sacrificing anyone's life. This is all good, but it's later revealed to Tidus that he isn't exactly "real", but rather, a dream of sorts that the Gods (called "the Fayth") came up with in order to put a stop to Sin. When that happens, the Fayth will stop dreaming and Tidus ceases to exist. Knowing this, Tidus continues with his mission and ultimately helps destroy Sin for good. Afterwards, Tidus leaves Yuna with a very touching goodbye and disappears, leaving Spira behind, finally at peace.

Sora and Kairi from the Kingdom Hearts series

What can I say? Square Enix is good at romance. Sora and Kairi, along with their friend, Riku, crave adventure. They build a raft together and while they're preparing to embark on their journey to other worlds, the two start to hint at their interest in each other. Unfortunately, before they get the opportunity to make anything of it, their world is overcome by Darkness and destroyed. However, before Sora is transported to another world, he encounters Kairi whose heart, rather than being taken by the Darkness, becomes one with Sora's, unbeknownst to him until much later. Seperated from his friends, Sora begins his journey not only to find them, but to save the worlds from the Heartless. Along the way, he encounters many obstacles and is filled with intense longing for Riku and Kairi. But Riku becomes jealous of Sora, who has been chosen as the Keyblade Master, as well as his relationship with Kairi, who, without her heart, has become "a lifeless puppet". By the end of the game, Sora battles a possessed Riku, sacrifices himself to restore Kairi's heart, and in turn is saved by her. Then, finally, he seals the door to Darkness, restoring peace to the worlds. After this is done, he finds Kairi on a patch of land that is slowly turning back into Destiny Islands. Separated from her, he reaches out and assures her that he'll come back to her. The two are finally reunited towards the end of the second game and all is well.

Well, there you have it. I would love to hear what your favorite video game love stories are in a comment below. Happy Valentine's Day, everyone.

Rift beta: initial thoughts

Last weekend, I participated in a beta event for Trion's upcoming MMORPG, Rift: Planes of Telara. If you've been keeping up with this blog since I first started it, then you'll probably recall one of my earliest posts, expressing my feelings about MMOs. Let's just say that I'm generally not too crazy about them. While I have a pretty good idea of what makes them appealing to a lot of people, games like WoW and Final Fantasy XI/XIV tend to lack practically everything that I find makes video games enjoyable for me. However, despite this, I am determined to continue to expose myself to the genre as it evolves and changes, in the hopes that I will find something that I like. This being the case, when I received an invitation to take part in the three-day beta event for Rift this past weekend, I gladly accepted. Afterall, at the very least, who doesn't like freebies?

Given everything that I had seen/read about the game, Rift actually piqued my interest somewhat. One of the central concepts of the game is that, in order to make things more exciting and less "same old, same old" for players, in places where the barrier between Telara and the other dimensions are weak, openings called rifts appear at random and unleash all sorts of fearsome creatures. This idea was a major plus for me. I have always found the typical MMO formula--accept quest, grind, grind, grind, complete quest, level up--to get old real fast. In addition to the rifts, the process of creating your character and determining his/her class emphases seemed like an improvement over that of other MMOs. And it is...kind of. Ultimately, from what I've experienced so far (about four or five hours of gameplay), Rift is essentially a more polished and somewhat more advanced version of World of Warcraft.

While it's very difficult for me to pick out any specific flaws with the game, I can't really say that it's anything special. Another typical MMO, really. Though, it seems to be one that many MMORPG fans are thoroughly enjoying. While I would not be so audacious as to suggest that Rift is likely to boot WoW off of its throne--a claim that many players are already making--there is no denying that Rift is striving to take the genre to the next level. The game's premise is actually semi-interesting, the soundtrack inspiring, the artwork and animations appealing, the characters unique, and so on. That being said, as someone who has a very difficult time getting into MMOs, I would not pay for this game, as its central design is the same as always with a few perks, here and there. However, for those of you who enjoy games like WoW but are looking for something new to delve into, I would definitely suggest giving Rift a try.

Rift: Planes of Telara is due to come out March 1st, this year. I'll play as much of the beta as I can before the game comes out, and if my opinion of it changes, I'll be sure to make an update in a later post.

Website: RIFT

Image property of Trion Worlds.

Yoshitaka Amano

One of the things that really got me interested in video games at a young age was the artwork that went into them. As a kid, I remember spending hours looking at the illustrations and concept art that were spread throughout the booklets that came with the games--particularly those of Final Fantasy games. Anyone who knows anything about Final Fantasy knows that the games' visual designs and graphics are some of the best out there. One of the people largely responsible for the series' prestigious aesthetic is Yoshitaka Amano who has been contributing artwork to the games since Square Enix very first started making them.

While Tetsuya Nomura has more or less taken over the art scene since Final Fantasy VII was made back in the mid-90's, Amano is still involved and is still the series' "title logo designer", among other things. With every new FF title that comes out, there's usually at least half-a-dozen new illustrations of his to go with it.

Amano is by far one of my favorite artists of all time. I fell in love with his work when I was just a kid and as I've gotten older, I've only grown more and more impressed by it. While he has lots of amazing stuff that has nothing to do with Final Fantasy, the series has no doubt helped him spread his wings as an artist. Well, enough of me talking about it...have a look for yourself:

All images were found on GiantBomb.com and are the property of Yoshitaka Amano/Square Enix.

2010/2011

First and foremost, I hope everyone enjoyed their New Year's Eve/Day and that 2011 sends lots of good things your way. Before it gets too late into 2011, I feel it wise to do a bit of reflecting on 2010 and maybe even share a few of my aspirations and plans for the new year. In list form, of course.

I don't know about everyone else, but 2010 was definitely an eventful year for me, but I somehow made it out alive. While my sanity was unquestionably stretched a bit thin at times, there were parts of 2010 that I enjoyed:

• Starting up this blog--it's helped me clarify a lot of my thoughts, opinions, and aspirations. It's also given me something to keep myself busy with.
• Playing lots of cool games like Fallout 3, Final Fantasy XIII, Team Fortress 2, Starcraft II, etc.
• Getting a (temporary) job at GameStop.
• Developing a comprehensive portfolio complete with artwork, gameplay overviews, and character descriptions.
• Joining and becoming an admin for the awesome gaming community, Addiction to Gaming.
• And last but not least, applying to and being accepted at Tribeca Flashpoint for their game development program.

As for 2011, I have a few exciting goals and plans on the horizon:

• Keep up with this blog and get even more familiar with video games and the industry as a whole.
• Continue to work on my portfolio and further develop my game ideas.
• Acquire a PS2/PSP.
• Play more games and keep up with big releases...study said games.
• Move to the city and start taking classes at Flashpoint in downtown Chicago, this September.

Lastly, having been out of a console for a large part of the year, I have a list of the games of 2010 that I missed out on but plan on getting to in the very near future:

• Bioshock 2 (and the first Bioshock, for that matter)
• Fallout: New Vegas
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (and the first two Assassin's Creed games)
• Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep
• God of War III (as well as God of War and God of War II)
• Red Dead Redemption
• Heavy Rain
• And probably many others.

Well, that's about all for this post. I hope every one has a happy new year and expect some sort of game review from me soon.

Gaming's Environmental Impact

If you play video games, you've probably been offended, at some point or another, by the ridiculously bad rap that gamers all too often receive. From invoking violence to brainwashing the youth, you'd think that gamers were the world's most fearsome terrorist organization. While most of the accusations about video games that make the headlines are unfair and based on questionable "evidence", there are always ways for gamers to step up their act in a proud and dignified manner. One of the more legitimate problems with playing video games is the impact that it has on the environment, and it's a fairly simple one for players to address.

Unfortunately, when I went to do a bit of research for this blog post, most of what I found when looking for ways to reduce the environmental impact of gaming were some rather insulting and unhelpful articles with titles like "People Playing Video Games Not Concerned About Its Environmental Impact". While this is clearly a broad and dubious statement, I was not able to find as much information on how to improve gaming habits as I would've liked. However, since the environment has long been a concern of mine, I can hopefully offer some advice based on my general knowledge of the subject in addition to what I've found specifically pertaining to video games.

One of the easiest, most effective, and financially smart things to do is to simply unplug your appliances when they're not in use. Even when electronic devices like video consoles aren't being used, they can still use up a ton of energy just by being plugged into the wall. An easy way to achieve this effect for your computer is to simply plug everything into a power strip and at the end of the day, flip the switch. It may seem like a pain, going around and making sure everything's no longer using power, but if you're like me, it's worth it if for no other reason than to get rid of all those stupid glowing lights that keep you up at night. These sort of habits are also beneficial in that they can substantially prolong the lifespans of your appliances.

Something that you should always do for a great number of reasons is to do your research before buying. If you were to, say, go out right now and purchase a PlayStation 3, you'd have several options. As far as energy efficiency is concerned, the newer PlayStation 3 Slims use about half as much energy as the original release PS3s and are cheaper. This is usually the case when comparing new and old versions of a console. You should also consider things like controllers. Buying brand new batteries for your XBox 360 wireless controller every time they run out would be costly and stupid when there are many other sensible solutions out there.

While I wasn't able to find any sort of specific information on the subject, I can pretty much gaurantee you that buying used and refurbished will save you lots of money and energy. I know that every once in a while, you're dying to bust open a brand new game on the day it's released, but if you're just browsing for something new to try, I seriously suggest going used. Especially in this day and age, discs are being made more and more resilient, making "used" hardly any different than "new". As far as consoles go, refurbs aren't always entirely reliable so again, do your research. Make sure that you're getting it from a legitimate vendor and that you hold onto your receipt.

Aside from those easily doable suggestions on how to reduce your environmental impact, there are always more ways to make a difference, so long as it's something that you care about. So keep your mind open and prove the biased, judgemental media wrong.

Some articles that I stumbled upon while writing this post:
"People Playing Video Games Not Concerned With Its Environmental Impact"
"Energy Savers: When to Turn Off Personal Computers"
"PS3 Slim uses half the power of PS3 'fat'"

[ATG] Addiction to Gaming

Last week, I sent out fifteen Team Fortress 2-themed holiday cards. They did not go out to family or old friends as one might expect. Instead, I sent the cards to fifteen of my fellow ATG members--only a few of whom I've met in real life. I became a part of the community/clan known as "Addiction to Gaming" or "ATG"--founded in 2009 by [ATG] Newman, [ATG] Stephen, and [ATG] Joe--back in August. I discovered the community through its TF2 servers--the 24/7 Badwater one, to be more specific. After playing there a few times, I found the overall attitude of the server and its regulars to be lots of fun, so I decided to stick around. Enticed by the all-talk key config that ATG offered on their forums, I made up my mind to introduce myself and begin posting regularly to further get to know the many, uh, interesting personalities that I had become familiar with in-game.

It wasn't long before I began to feel very much at home with everyone at Addiction to Gaming. I was welcomed quite graciously and discovered that there were many people there who had similar interests to me, even outside of Team Fortress 2 and other games like Left 4 Dead 2 and Starcraft II. After some time, ATG's self-appointed "recruitment officer", [ATG] Steak House asked me to where the clan tag in my screen name. At first, I was reluctant, as I've always been put-off by the idea of clans. But after I did, a sense of pride came over me. Not only did my playing stats improve (as is the case with most members), but I genuinely felt that I had become part of a very cool community--one that wasn't fueled by the ego-mania and bullying that I had observed of so many other clans, but rather, a simple desire to play well and have fun doing it.

Since I became active several months ago, I have met several people from ATG in real life. In November, Steak House took me and my boyfriend, who is also part of ATG (he's known as "Geoth" online), out for dinner. A couple weeks later, Steak had a bunch of us stay at his company's lodge in Michigan for a weekend. There were seven of us, total...as pictured above, left to right: [ATG] Stephen (in our hearts, anyway), Fluffy Harmless Kitten, [ATG] wisoka, Mala, Magus, [ATG] Geoth, me ([ATG] Tobuoi or "T"), and [ATG] Steak House. And yes, we did almost exclusively address each other by our screen names. The weekend was filled with movies, Texas Hold 'Em, video games, and much more, which I will refrain from writing about for the sake of a few ATG members' dignity. Regardless, we had a lot of fun. Upon meeting everyone there, I felt as if I was simply getting together with a bunch of old friends--no feelings of awkwardness in the slightest. In fact, I even enjoyed the company of a few people better than I thought I would.

While Addiction to Gaming is largely a Team Fortress 2 clan, we play all sorts of games together and discuss all sorts of things, from movies to technology and everything in between. If you're into gaming and looking for a bunch of awesome people to share the experience with, I suggest you check us out: Addiction to Gaming. We're always looking for new members. You'll find me there as [ATG] Tobuoi.

Fallout 3--finally!

We finally got our PS3 repaired a few weeks ago, so after many console-less months, I've gotten serious about beating a few games. The first one on my list was Fallout 3, which I had been wanting to play for a long time. I tried out the PC version but I wasn't too taken with it, so I decided to wait. So far, I am loving it. I would recommend this game to anyone who considers themselves a serious gamer.

While I have not yet "beaten" the game (with a role-playing game as big and open as Fallout 3, this term is used lightly), I have sunk many hours into it and am enjoying it emmensely. For those of you who don't know, Fallout 3 is largely an RPG in the traditional sense, meaning that you get to customize your character, explore the vast wasteland with little-to-no restrictions, choose what your character says, pick up hundreds of different items and weapons, complete quests, and pretty much have him/her do whatever you damn-well please. However, in combat, the player has the option to play the game like a first-person shooter. This makes for a very unique gameplay experience that is surprisingly satisfying. In many ways, the game is reminiscent of a Final Fantasy title, set in an apocalyptic wasteland. Despite this, FPS gamers should find plenty to like about it. In fact, players who are in search of a good game of either genre but want something that's a little different, Fallout 3 certainly delivers.

One of the things that I think makes Fallout 3 a must-play is the game's atmosphere. As someone who loves all things post-apocalyptia, I find the game's careful blend of creepiness and anxiety exhilerating. It's a rarity that a video game has a noticable psychological effect on me but Fallout 3 definitely does. Between the many mutated creatures, masochistic Raiders, and merciless Talon Company mercenaries that wander the wasteland, and the overall sorry state of mankind, the game definitely has a way of putting you on edge. If you're like me and enjoy that sort of thing, Fallout 3 should be right up your alley. Aside from all that, the game's known for its commendable replay value. Even though I have lots of quests left to complete, I look forward to starting over again with a different character and see how everything would've turned out if I did things differently. Maybe I'll pick up Fallout: New Vegas after that.

Video Game Midnight Releases

I recently got a job at a local GameStop and my first shift was the midnight release of Call of Duty: Black Ops a couple weeks ago. While I had been to a number of midnight releases for movies and books, myself, I had never experienced one for a video game. I'm also not a huge CoD fan but I still had a good time, despite the fact that I was working. For those of you who have never attended a midnight release, they're all pretty much the same. If done right, they can be fun and surprisingnly organized.


Everyone at the Black Ops release was in a pretty good mood, as is to be expected with a midnight release. I mean, you're hanging out in line with a bunch of people who are excited for the same thing as you. Aside from that, GameStop gave out free food (Buffalo Wild Wings and Toppers, no less) and soda and had PS3 and 360 demos of the game going on just outside the store to keep everyone entertained. Though, given the general atmosphere and chattiness of everyone in line, I don't think anyone really would've gotten bored during the three-hour wait.


As far as people actually getting the game went, GameStop had a good system in place that made it easier for everyone than I thought possible. By 12:30, just about everyone had their game and was on their way home to play it. This meant that I got to go home around 1 AM. Really, if there's a midnight release for something you're into--whether it be a game, movie, book, etc.--I suggest you attend it if possible because it's a lot of fun. And of course, you get to get your hands on whatever it is you're waiting for ASAP.


I'm off to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at midnight, tonight.

Press Start

If you've been keeping up with this blog for a while, you probably read my post on YouTube makeup guru Michelle Phan. In the post, I mentioned that she was a gamer. Well, now her and pro competitive gamer sWooZie have teamed up to create "Press Start": a YouTube channel dedicated to gaming. New videos are available every Friday and while there have only been a few uploaded so far, a good deal of variety is to be expected. Both Michelle Phan (or "RiceBunny") and sWooZie have fun personalities and a good sense of humor which makes the videos all the more entertaining. You should definitely check it out.

J!NX: clothing for gamers and geeks!

If you're reading this blog, chances are you're probably a bit of a geek/nerd/whatever. Luckily for you, we are living in a time where "geek is chic" and just about everybody knows it. However, for most of us, being able to revel in our internal geekiness is not enough--we must express it outwardly, preferably in the form of clothing! Well, fortunately, there is a clothing company that allows you to do just that: J!NX. Whether you're a WoW freak, a lover of sci-fi, an oldschool gamer, or some other variant of nerd, I can pretty much garauntee that J!NX has something for you.

I've personally owned four J!NX t-shirts in the last year or so as well as a sticker that's currently stuck to the side of my computer tower. I have also shopped there for gifts for friends numerous times and I've never been disappointed. In addition to their absolutely stellar collection of t-shirts, J!NX offers hats, keychains, stickers, patches, and now even an original line of clothing (pants, jackets, shirts, etc.) for men, as well as other miscellaneous items. Never fear, ladies; a promised women's clothing line is said to be available soon. In the meantime, check out their unmatched selection of awesome-fitting women's t-shirts. In addition to their licensed World of Warcraft, Dungeons & Dragons, and Starcraft collections--among many others--J!NX offers an extensive line of original designs which, more often than not, feature nerdy wit and awesome art.

Aside from all of the amazing products that they offer, J!NX has a very enticing rewards program that you get to take part in just by shopping there, making it an even more fun and geek-tastic experience for all. Really, I cannot recommend J!NX enough. I buy my t-shirts almost exclusively from them now and I'm eager to get my hands on their other stuff in the future. Click the link below to check it out!

All images property of J!NX.

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty: game review/thoughts

Nearly two months after its release, StarCraft II fever is still running high. Finally, after forcing fans of the first StarCraft to wait over ten years for a sequel, Blizzard released StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty on the PC back on July 27th, and it's not ready to settle down just yet. Two expansion packs—Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the Void—are still to be released in the future. These expansions are meant to further explore the backgrounds and storylines of the Zerg and Protoss races, whereas Wings of Liberty mostly focuses on the Terran.

I, personally, have never played the first Starcraft, so I wasn't as psyched for SCII's release as, say, my boyfriend or half of my other friends. Before I get ahead of myself, though, I want to say right of the bat that I advise you take this review with a grain of salt, as I haven't really been able to play the game enough to completely stand behind my thoughts of it. With that being said, I think it's safe to say that I have mixed feelings about the game, though most of them are positive. In general, real-time strategy games and their ilk usually don't appeal to me all that much. However, with StarCraft II, I found that once I got into the swing of things and figured out what I was doing, the game genuinely took hold of me.

For the first couple of weeks playing online against other players, I was totally mesmerized by it. Even when I wasn't playing, my head was still busy with thoughts of all the methods and strategies to implement. However, after those first weeks, I found myself somewhat burnt out on the game. This was largely because--from what I can tell--the game has certain imbalances that still need to be worked out.

After having gotten a little tired of the online play, I decided to try out the campaign. I know that a lot of fans of the first StarCraft game had good things to say about it, but personally, after a few missions, I was straight-up bored with it. Granted, as I've already stated, I haven't played the first one and am only somewhat familiar with its storyline. However, I will say that the history behind the character Kerrigan (yay, Tricia Helfer) is rather fascinating, if not momentous enough to carry the rest of the game's storyline to the point of making it legitimately captivating for players like me.

Despite all this, StarCraft II really does have a lot of good things going in its favor. The ranking system alone is largely innovative and impressive, which, given StarCraft's status in the competitive gaming world, is a key component to its acclaim. Overall, a lot of care and effort went into the game, and I think it shows. I'm also fairly confident that a lot of its less favorables aspects will be addressed in the expansions and future patches. As far as RTS games go, this one is probably (one of) the best that you could ask for. If you're new to real-time strategies, I would definitely recommend that you give SCII a shot because it is certainly worth trying.

"Dead Fantasy": Dead or Alive meets Final Fantasy

As a rule, I typically steer clear of fan-made stuff. No matter what the fandom or whether it's a fanfic, animation, etc., you can usually expect it to be a lame and a complete waste of time. However, every once in a while, you'll find some quality fan-made stuff out there. Monty Oum's Dead Fantasy animation series is a good example. To be honest, I don't really know what to say about it other than it features a bunch of Dead or Alive and Final Fantasy characters (mostly female) duking it out, and it's freaking sweet to watch. In my opinion, the animation and choreography of the fight scenes is really impressive, and each new video gets better and better as more characters are thrown into the fray and the action builds. A sure delight for Dead or Alive and Final Fantasy fans, alike. Be sure to watch in the highest quality possible.

Monty Oum's YouTube page can be found here: Monty Oum's YouTube Chanel

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: movie review/thoughts

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World has been in theaters for about three weeks, now, so this review is a bit delayed. It's still out, though, so not all is lost. The movie poster tagline reads, "An epic of epic epicness". While I, personally, didn't think the movie was that  epic, the phrase conveys the movie's demeanor and sense of humor accurately. Now, let me say right off the bat that I enjoyed Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World considerably and if you have any appreciation for the genre whatsoever, you should definitely go and see it if you haven't, already. However, I went into the theater with some pretty high expectations that I didn't feel were quite met, and this left me a little disappointed.

What I was hoping for was something a little more like Kickass or Zombieland, both of which--I felt--did an exceptional job of combining comedy and action with sincerity. Directed by Edgar Wright, it seemed to me that Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World was having a hard time deciding whether it wanted to be more like the films mentioned above or Wright's own (equally amazing) movies, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. The result was, in my humble opinion, kind of sketchy. I have to cut it some slack, though, because it is a truly unique film, chock-full of comic book and video game elements that make it the first of it's kind, in many respects. I also haven't read any of the comic books, so maybe I just don't have the right idea in mind of what the movie was attempting.

What probably disappointed me the most was the fight scenes. As has been my complaint with several other films' fight scenes, rather than legitimizing them with actual stunts, it seemed to me that they relied much more heavily than I would've liked on crazy, distracting lighting and weird camera angles to keep things confusing and hard to follow. The scenes were far from bad, mind you, I just wasn't nearly as impressed with them as I had hoped to be. I mean, they were supposed to be like video game fight scenes, after all.

The acting was all good, as expected, though it would be nice to see Michael Cera play a character other than...well, Michael Cera. The dialogue was enough to keep me giggling more-or-less throughout the entire movie, and I particularly enjoyed Wallace: Scott's gay room/bedmate.

All in all, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is a quality, original, and entertaining movie. Though there were a few aspects of it that I felt were a bit rough around the edges, there's still lots about it that I enjoyed and I look forward to similar video game-style storytelling being used in other films in the future. If I had to rate the movie, I think I would give it a flat B. Go see it. It's one of the few movies out worth seeing, right now.

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.