#(my friend who i bought my ps4 from gave me all her old games but i just keep playing my special me legendary edition instead lol)

[simmonsized]

I have been sick for seven days straight now and I am getting pretty tired of it!!!!

[standardquip]

FF8 Live Reacts

Started the ps4 remaster of final fantasy 8 in may 2024. Finished in August. I've never played it before. Here's my live reacts. This is a compilation of the discord messages I sent during this time period while playing it.

Spoilers: I didn't like it and this is mostly a rant of me hating on it

(dates are dd/mm/yyyy)

Got rid of my ps5 a couple weeks ago, but guess who remembered there were still ps4 games they were interested in? I just bought disco elysium and ff8 remaster. Will be delivered on the 20th I've actually never played ff8 at all, but have always wanted to and now I'm going to attempt to make more headway in ps4 ff8

and boy do I have THOUGHTS about ff8 most of which are "ff9 is better" and "man RPGs back in the day really expect you to already know how RPGs work" but I'm only 2 hours in so who knows!

I definitely didn't pay enough attention to the dialogue originally, so I had to pull out a game walkthrough for THE FIRST AREA Which is fine, I guess, because this is a direct repeat of what happened when I played ff9 for the first time - got lost in the world map when the area I was supposed to go to was literally straight ahead quest markers and shit were amazing inventions, man, I'm glad those exist now

27/05/2024 11:21 I'm trying to give ff8 the old college try, but if I keep having to consult the playthrough every 5 minutes, I might just pull the plug

anyway I did not have much on the to do list for today, but I somehow finished it I will now go off to try to progress in that ps4 ff8 I could go off on complaining about stupid things with this game but I've brought on enough negativity for today ps4 ff8 it is, then I have come to a good point in the game to start grinding Somehow this is more fulfilling than the actual story

I guess I know now why I've wanted to play ff8 for so long. Teenage me would have loved ff8 First of all, squall (the main character) is just the perfect character design for my desires at the time, bonus points he looked just like me fr Also I love scars on the face, he was probably the whole source of that archetype The story is about them becoming mercenaries and doing mercenary things. Like's like, the bread and butter of every kid chat roleplaying those days, myself included of course. Who WASN'T a mostly silent merc who secretly hated everything but everyone looked up to? Unfortunately, my disappointment starts with the very beginning of the game: the opening cinematic

It plays off like some kind of abstract dream thing, but no, you're actually supposed to believe this is a thing that actually happened in real time. it's not an epic battle, it's just a stupid sparring match between classmates(? friends?) random visions of a woman are totally what causes squall to not beat seifer!! /s the scar DOESN'T HAVE ANY SPECIAL MEANING :tisacry:

Epic battle, epic music, mysterious circumstances

Actually just a training exercise between two 15 year olds who should not have been given the ability to use real weapons The first thing that happens in-game is squall going to the infirmary for his new injury, which somehow isn't serious or prevents him from doing anything that day, but is also enough to leave a scar. On his face.

Then we have Quistis, his instructor, who has only been teaching for 1 year, and turned 18 while she was teaching (Why are these people so young?) And she very much behaves exactly like a 17-18 year old, so it's no wonder that after the merc test she reveals to you (Squall) that 1. she got fired from teaching and 2. She's definitely DTF you (Squall is completely oblivious though) You finally meet the girl of your dreams at the ball you're voluntold to go to as a new merc, her name is rinoa and her opening line to you is "You're the best looking guy here" except that LATER you learn this is actually seifier's (the guy who gave you a scar) girlfriend Now, don't ask me how this works, because rinoa says that she met seifer that night but then when seifer "dies" when he encounters the sorcess for the first time, she says he was her boyfriend and has lots of good memories of him so yeah this doesn't make sense at all but WHATEVER

The "main" story is that a country(?) Is attempting to establish independence from another country, who is trying to take over the world with the help of a sorceress. I am currently only 6 hours into the game / not that far into the story. I have only just seen her for the first time, where she is like "You should come with me" and seifer just goes with her because he's a fucking tool One of their teammates blabs that this coup is from their organization ("the garden" ), so there might be some retribution (surprisingly there is none??????) and by the time the group gets back to a garden (HQ), they say that seifer was tried and his sentence was served, and everyone assumes it's execution. I have just left the garden and am on my way to… somewhere (I honestly forgot where lmao). And I am taking this break to grind Which leads me to my next complaint: the gameplay I HATE THE JUNCTION SYSTEM I like the IDEA of the junction system, and I can kind of see how FFX's sphere grid (and aeon upgrading) grew from it (I love the sphere grid, but it was also very imposing to a newbie). My main problems with the junction system, aside from the fact that it's got a severe learning curve, is that a GF (summon) must be junctioned to a character in order for that character to be able to have ANYTHING on their battle menu aside from "attack" Do you want to be able to use magic in a battle? haha fuck you, need a GF junctioned. How about an item? Nope, hope you have junctioned a GF to this character! haha!! Who the fuck decided to link these things

The OTHER main thing I hate about the junction system is that no character can perform magic innately. It has to be junctioned too. And in order to cast a spell, you have to steal it from someone else first ("stock" the magic). And what's even worse about this magic stocking thing, is that your stats are connected to your magic stock, so using any of your stocked magic will result in lowering your stats, creating this awful system where you should get 100 (the max) stock of every spell that has worthwhile stats increases and then NEVER CAST THEM IN BATTLE EVER So anyway I'm grinding in order to get 100 of the spells FOR EACH CHARACTER so I can get max stats I also am grinding to overlevel my characters because this absurd system has made it guaranteed I will concentrate on physical attacks OH THE OVERDRIVE SYSTEM It's called something else but I can't remember what atm It kicks in when you're low on health, or, in the ps4 version (which I'm playing) you cna press a button and it becomes available whenever. But the thing about it is that the interface sucks. It's not a separate menu option. It's a submenu of attack. so in order to use your overdrive, you have to put your cursor on "attack" then move it to THE RIGHT and then select the overdrive you want to use. (side note: pagination in this game is to the right/left, which I also hate) So if you are like me, and have the battles on x3 speed (another thing they added to the ps4 version) and are just holding down X to get through most of the boring ass battles, you will never do any overdrives I have the cursor thing on memory, so maybe if I turn overdrives on manually and select them once they'd automatically do it from that point forward, but that seems like cheating? So I haven't done it Actually I'm very confused on why the manual overdrive button is a thing that was added at all well anyway this concludes the rant I had bottled up from yesterday I will now start grinding on ps4 ff8 (As I chose to write this instead of actually starting the game when I mentioned it)

I discovered the written seed tests. I couldn't get higher than 80 on the first one. So of course I looked up the answers and now I'm at max level with no more tests to take 😂

At least I won't have any money issues anymore now

07/06/2024 23:47 I think I hate all the characters in ff8

Not only that, the music choice sucks ass

Like it actively makes every scene more boring

Idk how they got so much so wrong in this one. I'm glad 9 was my first ff

I just got to the scene where squall "dies" from the first fight with the sorceress.

Ff8 is just boring so far. I'll keep playing it until I either beat it or actively hate it

29/06/2024 18:48 I made it to disc 2 of ff8 Kind of disappointed there's no in-game indication that you have moved to disc 2 [in the remaster], aside from the subtitle in the save file

23/08/2024 21:35 Turns out the button that gives you the attack specials in ff8 also makes it so you never take damage wtf I could have been using god mode the ENTIRE TIME THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING

I guess after I get this gf I want I'll plow through the rest of the game on god mode… Although with godmode now I don't even need this gf… Ugh

24/08/2024 00:07 Made it to disc 3 Game story still feels pretty stupid. But I'm more than halfway so hopefully I can just get through it. Godmode certainly makes that way easier

30/08/2024 01:12 I am about to fight the final boss of ff8 The story never made sense, was always stupid, and I never would've made it here without a guide But it will be over soon and I can maybe start disco elysium and hate on that next

30/08/2024 01:53 I'm done With ff8

[Someone else says: bit of a mindfuck innit? ]

No I'm just disappointed in it

------------

My final thoughts: So many things went unanswered. Rinoa and Squall's sudden romantic interest in each other never made any sense. Maybe the [possession + time travel + teen mercs/renegades + amnesia] plot points were semi-original for the time, but nowadays they feel lazy and overdone.

The junction system is horrible. The card game was too confusing to me so I never played it, however that's definitely on me and I feel like if I were younger it would've been a great game (I was a huge fan of Tetra Master in FF9).

The game controls are too clunky with no hints and there were several areas where if I had not looked at a walkthrough I never would have found or did the thing the game needed me to find/do to progress. It seems like they fixed that in FF9 with the little "?" thought bubble when you're near things that should be interacted with.

The one redeeming thing about the FF8 ending was that the sorceress Ultimecia is obviously AMAB but uses female pronouns, so I guess we could say that technically FF8 was before its time in trans representation lmao.

[ivorystand]

List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who reblogged something from you! Get to know your mutuals and followers (ू•‧̫•ू⑅)♡

Holy shit I wasn't expecting this!

Uhhhhh

Manga. I have a pretty good manga collection! All of Attack on Titan (in the omnibus format), all of Tokyo Ghoul (still need to get the last side story novel), some Legend of Zelda manga (all of Twilight Princess and the Majora's Mask one, can't wait for them to hopefully do Skyward Sword), 4 of the 6 volumes od AKIRA if i recall right, aaaaaand a bunch of Junji Ito's manga! I always try to get them as they come out, but guh hardcovers are so expensive

Gaming. I've been a nerd about video games since I was a little kid. I have a Gameboy color (which I need to actually get games for), Playstation, two Playstation 2s (well technically the ps1 and ps2s were bought by my dad BUT he doesn't use them so I just have them, sadly collecting dust because I lost all my old favorite games), a PSP, wii u (which is also collecting dust since I gave my brother the gamepad since his broke), DSi, 2DS, PS4, Switch, and a gaming PC.

On the topic of gaming: Final Fantasy games. I've played a tiny bit of 4, all of the original FF7 (on PS4 and Switch, not the ORIGINAL original on the ps1), got through post-endwalker on Yuhki in FF14, and beat FF15 twice, going on a third time on pc (originally played it on PS4). I really want to play the FF7 remake and FF16, but I don't want to get a PS5.

My OCs. Yuhki and her friends are all comfort characters at this point and I hope that they all eventually get the recognition they deserve. Not trying to mean that in an entitled "if people don't immediately like and reblog my gposes they suck and i hate them" type way, but in the way that I hope that they resonate with people at least a little bit. That they can be relatable and likable.

Writing my fanfictions. Even tho I don't do much writing at all recently, I still enjoy when I do get the inspiration.

Thank you for the ask! It was nice to post something about me as the admin for a change, but now back to the Yuhkiverse content 😂

[tomyo]

Kingdom hearts 3, finally finishing it 4 years later

A game I honestly didn't think would be off this list for a while. I bought the game when it came out and then never finished it because I was using my roommate's PS4.

Recently a friend lent me his PS4 now that the PS5 exists and after months of con season I finally sat down with it. I had intended to start from scratch until I learnt the several hours I played on the guest account where erased and my sanity would not allow several hours of tutorial again.

In the end, I bought a psn membership and reached out to that old roommate which was a nice experience. I missed them but have always just been to much in my bullshit to reach out until apparently *this*.

Maybe the funniest thing to say about all of this is this is my first and only time I've played a kingdom hearts game meaning my gameplay expectations were average. I had a goofy fun time after not having to play Olympus a third time and I relate to smooth brained Sora a lot, vaguely I get what's going on but I don't give too many shits. Yeah the start of the key blade war was a mess but my little gay ass cried at every XIII trio and co moment. That ending CG cutscenes was too short but I could easily wax on about how these characters have constantly sacrificed and gone through tragedy often in the name of each other and the hope that those in front of them could move forward. The prequel trio went through tragedy, the main trio constantly just out of reach from each other, the XIII trio stuck in an amnesiatic limbo and so forth. The fact most of them got to literally do fun kind shit together was a nice miracle.

Also bawled at the union cross cameos even though I barely played it. I love tragedy and I did earlier this weekend stop to let my avatar cry scared at their own death in the middle of war so the idea that maybe some actual users got to see their names on screen attacking the enemies but hard. Even though I haven't played the series, it's a permanent part of my life just from the cultural zeitgeist it caused in my adolescence. I wish they gave it more impact if anything but I get it, it wasn't something everyone was for.

Obviously though the biggest issue is Kairi per usual. Utada's song are sort of like a thematic tone to each chapter in the series with a theory that Kairi's designs being inspired from Utada's image at each point. Chikai is not just a love song but a wedding song, the progression from an immature and insecure relationship in the first one to one stubbornly proclaiming it's now or never with your devotion to me. It's a song meant to stand at the end of everything, it's someone waiting for you to meet them in the distance. I remember desperately trying to avoid spoilers for these past four years but being suggested from what I couldn't avoid that Kairi had proposed marriage to Sora at the end. It's also usually Kairi who gets a lot of attention in the CG openings and endings. The natural idea of this all is that it's sealing the idea of Sora and Kairi recognizing each other as a couple and potentially a maturing relationship from when they were children even though like, I don't even think two years have passed in world??? Either way she gets worse than nerfed at the end. You don't get to play as her, she doesn't get to do A N Y T H I N G aside from being said to still believe in Sora and be his emotional angst. And then she is kidnapped and killed. The worst is it failed to make it matter to me. The are a lot of reasons why everything with Kairi just did not hit any emotional level whatsoever as a Kairi stan. Riku had more romantic tension with himself on the beach honestly. And yes, I acknowledge there was literally a gay rainbow bonded key blade. I didn't really ever ship anything with kingdom hearts but I now believe in Sora and Riku I guess. Also the old dudes probably making out. Yeah, wasn't even pissed at that anticlimactic heel turn with the big baddie. Side note, buying the game was 100% worth it to have the immersive experience of Goofy and Donald call out for my from the controller. A+. Just, man, Kairi was more blank than wood this game despite them trying to say she was important. I think for a series so central on the bond of it's trios, keeping her out of the main fights was such a bummer.

Also I am not paying $30 for the dlc when I have already given the game $70+ of my money. I will absolutely watch a video of that instead.

Either way I'm happy I can finally watch videos that sat in my YouTube watch later since 2019 and I happily look forward to KH4. Bitches who know me know I'm a sucker for Shibuya and honestly I should have bought the world ends with us in the ds when i had the chance. Might come on my lists because street style is so big in that game.

With that one of the two most intensive games on this list can be crossed off. The other being GTA 5 but I also don't really plan to jump on that anytime soon. More concerned with playing the Kinect games on my 360 lmao.

[halberdierminister]

I have been here for an entire year.

Within one week straddling late March and early April 2019, I found out that I got passed over for the dream job I was certain I had in the bag, that the writing I submitted to Steam Ticket wasn't going to get published, and the job I had been doing for nearly two years and had seriously begun to loathe was firing me.

I did not recover from this smoothly.

Instead, I didn't find a new job, and months of being short on rent and bills caught up with me very quickly, and I was threatened with eviction. Luckily, a few of my friends were willing to help me with bills so that I did not get evicted, and another friend was willing to let me stay at her house once I had to leave the apartment until I had somewhere else to move to.

That move would be to my parents' new house outside of Sauk City, Wisconsin. They offered to let me stay with them on a few conditions. These conditions are here reproduced without any editing: You will daily look for a job Maintain a first shift sleep-wake schedule No video games No gaming equipment No anime or comics No occult books No hard rock music If friends come to visit, you will remain chaste in our home. We expect your help as we settle in, and that may vary as to tasks You will keep your room clean So over the course of the move, I sold my PS2 and my N64 and gave away my PS4 and my Xbox 360, though I kept the hard drive. I tried to sell my Gamecube, but it wasn't in good enough shape for anyone to buy. I kept my Nintendo Switch, my New 3DS XL, and my PS Vita, figuring I could keep those hidden enough as handhelds. My PSTV I had lent to a friend months previously. I also sold nearly all of my physical video games, my soundbar and my television set.

On June 19th, 2019, with the help of the friend who had housed me and now owned my old PS4, I moved from La Crosse, Wisconsin -- the city I had lived in on and off since 2008 and permanently since 2014 -- to my parents' house. On the way, we stopped in Madison, Wisconsin so I could rent a storage unit. In there I put a bunch of stuff I wouldn't need at my parents' house, including almost everything that they would have objected to. In went my Magic the Gathering cards. In went my anime wall scrolls. In went my comics and manga and Gamecube and remaining physical console games and books like "The Ethical Slut" and "Werewolf: The Apocalypse" and "Things Not Seen" which isn't even about magic or the paranormal but my mom still decided to steal it from my room once many years ago and hide it in the tool shed with my Harry Potter books and Bionicle trading cards. I also felt I should keep my Legos and stuffed animals in there too. But it wouldn't be long before I could find a full time job, get my own place, and get these things back where they belong. Except I have been here for an entire year. I was never supposed to be here this long! I really wasn't! I worked a hell of a lot. Daily looked for jobs. Even found a few. Overworked myself just about to the point of breaking. But just as I finally got a full time with benefits that would help me build a groundwork for the future… well, people realized that there was a global pandemic going on and shut down stores. My company laid off everyone who had been there 90 days or less. And I mean completely laid off with absolutely no promise of a return. My boss said that if they manage to get to a place where they could hire new people again, they would love to have me back. But she also said that she doubts that they will be in that position any time in the foreseeable future.

So.

I am still here. Which is not to say that it has been a complete wash. After all, as devastating as it was to lose my job, I cannot imagine how much more devastating it would have been if I had been living on my own and had to worry about rent or food. It really is too easy to dwell on the feeling of failure that comes from realizing I have been here for an entire year. I suppose I had better take stock of all the good things that have happened and that I have accomplished since I moved in. 1. I finished my writing portfolio, a project I started for a class in 2013 and had been absentmindedly poking at since then.

2. I rebuilt my entire resume from the ground up. 3. I read a total of 54 books in 2019. Not bad for only having read 2 the year before. 4. I started volunteering at the Sauk City Public Library, which has been fun and fulfilling. 5. I have been hired at Target, Madison College, PrePlayed and Half Price Books. I even managed to work several weeks between 40 hours and 65 hours, something I didn't think I was capable of. I may not have those jobs anymore, but being hired four times in a year is nothing to sneeze at. 6. Except I haven't been hired four times. I have been hired five times. The library was so impressed with my volunteering that when a position for Library Assistant opened up, they asked me specifically if I wanted it. Though I originally turned them down in order to work at Half Price Books, I was pleased to find that it was still open once I had lost my job and once libraries were re-opened for curbside checkout. So I asked and they hired me. It's only part time, but it is far better than nothing. 7. I have read a total of 66 books this year and we are not even at the halfway point. 8. I have finished writing two long-form fics: the poem fic The Revelation of Takaya According to Jin and the literal actual novel A Legitimate Businessman. In fact, at least 30,000 of the words for A Legitimate Businessman were written since I moved in here. That's some pretty hardcore proof that I can actually write an actual novel, something I assumed I just did not have in me. 9. I have paid off thousands of dollars in debt. All that remains is two friends and my student loans. I do not expect to pay off my student loans. 10. Through working at PrePlayed, I acquired for free two PS2s, an Xbox 360, one or two more Xbox 360 hard drives, and a Wii, which I gave to a friend. I have acquired at low cost two wireless guitar controllers for Rock Band, a PS3, and all the controllers and cables I needed to make these and my gamecube work again. I also got a bunch of games and a Gameboy Micro. On Black Friday, I purchased a steeply discounted new PS4 Slim. All of these now reside in my storage locker, except for the Gameboy Micro and the PS4, which are hidden in my room alongside my handheld systems. My hubris may be showing, but so far I have not been hit with a consequence. 11. I bought myself a new ukulele as an upgrade from the one I bought in 2011. It has a built in tuner, a neck strap, and a jack to plug into an amp. 12. I am now paying my own cell phone bill, which I have done reliably for an entire year alongside my storage locker bill. 13. I have gotten three works published this year so far and may still yet have a few on the way. 14. I've made more through Redbubble in the last year than I ever have before. In the process, I have learned a lot more about graphic design. 15. I may not be writing every day, but I am writing MOST days, something that was certainly unthinkable even last year, let alone two years ago. So. There still is lots of work to do. I still need a full time job. I will likely need to rebuild my entire resume from the ground up AGAIN. I still want out of this place. I still need a way to be authentically me. But my parents have been supportive and caring, even with their restrictive rules. And the environment has probably been less restrictive than I imagined it would be. But there's so much I still want to do and so many things I still want to be that I do not feel I can do or be here. In exactly three months, I will turn 30. I truly, truly, truly hope by that time I will have a concrete plan to get out of here. But I guess I have still done a lot.

[girlwiththegreenhat]

2, 23, and 67 for the viddy game asks please!!

2) A game that has influenced you creatively? Writing, drawing, etc.

Arguably most of the games I’ve played had some influence on me creatively. Like, I can’t tell you how much time I’ve spent drawing fanart for video games, and all their styles left some mark on my own. I think some of the biggest credits go to TF2 and BATIM, I really like how TF2 handles it’s characters both visually and… as characters, and I’ve done a lot of art studies based on it’s comic and you can prob see it’s influence on my art if you squint.  And while I didn’t get much visual influence from BATIM directly, the hundreds of hours I spent drawing either direct BATIM fanart or BATIM AU art did me a lot of good the last couple years xD It’s also the game I’ve written the most for, so I probably got the most writing experience from it too.

23) The game that you’ve logged the most hours into?

Speaking purely on what I have real statistics for, Team Fortress 2 recently overtook Borderlands 2 as my most played game. never thought that’d happen

(if you include the Borderlands 2 playtime logged on my brother’s PS4 though, it definitely still wins xD)

If we’re just doing estimates, probably MapleStory - I played that like, every day for years as a kid. I’ve only got 25 hours logged on it in Steam, but if I had a counter for how much I played it in my lifetime, it’d absolutely be in the thousands. I wasted. Soooooooo much time on that game lmfao. And it was time well wasted, mostly. Sometimes I still shudder over the time around 12 or 13 where I spent four straight hours trying to do the Zakum jump quest, and the only reason I stopped was because I had severe eye strain. Couldn’t see anything, it was all violent flashing black and white strips webbed across my vision. My mom had to lead me back to bed because I literally Could Not See. Almost thought I was drugged lmfao. The real kicker was nailing the quest first try the next morning…

67) Do you have a happy gaming-related childhood memory you want to share?

I’m pretty sure I already told the story Several Times about when I found my older brother’s GameBoy with some mario game loaded onto it and it was like one of the best weeks of my childhood, but it’s kinda tricky to think of any other memories. My parents were very strict ‘no video games’ people so aside from a couple free online games and chill stuff like Rollercoaster Tycoon and Zoo Tycoon I didn’t get to play them very often. They bought us a Wii for christmas when I was nine or ten, which was the point when they started to lighten up about them…

One of my fav memories is probably when I was 12, over the summer I decided I wanted to actually level up a character in MapleStory instead of just leveling when my friends wanted to. I made a character, a new class at the time called Aran, and decided I was going to level her up all the way to 200 (the max level at the time). This was before the Big Bang patch of late 2011 that made leveling STUPID easy, so having a high level character was a BIG deal. The first big milestone was having a character that was level 50, because at that level characters unlock Mounts, which were monsters you could ride. Prior to this it had taken me months to get my first character to around level 37, aaand I also fucked up all her stats so as a warrior she had like no strength but a bunch of health, cuz I was like ‘oh dying in fights suck, so if i have a BUNCH of health, i will have enough time to escape!! BRILLIANT LOGIC IN A GAME ABOUT FIGHTING MONSTERS, YES.’ (I distinctly remember finding a fellow warrior and telling them about how much health I had, and tldr their reaction was ‘!? you’re lying that’s illegal’).

BUT ANYWAYS, i set my first goal and ended up hitting it, which was getting my new character to level 50 in a month. There was a party quest I loved doing, I think it had a Real Name but everyone just called it the Ludi PQ. It was based in a town that was basically made of toys and legos, and it had the prettiest background music Ever. It also gave ASSLOADS of EXP for the time, so it was faster than farming monsters for EXP or doing regular quests. I played it more than any other party quest, and cuz it was summer I could literally play nonstop every day, so… I did! And I got my character to level 50 in exactly a month. It felt SO good running around towns on my fancy new mount, which for this class starts as a brown wolf.

(not my character, all my old MS screenshots are on my laptop = u =)

This is more like a long and broad story rather than one memory, oops. Anyway yeah, level 50 in a month, it was a Big Accomplishment back then. From there it was my childhood Mission to get my character to level 200, which I did end up doing three years ago. I hardly had much interest in MS at that point, but I was so close and I had to get to the finish line, if only for the dumb 12 year old who invested her heard and soul into being the STRONKEST ARAN EVAR SO I CAN DEFEAT THE B L A C K  M A G E… … … … … …

i’m sad they made the level cap 250, cuz i didn’t get the cool [GALAXXI HAS REACHED LEVEL 200! CONGRATS!] server-wide announcement when i finally did it, and they don’t do it for level 250 so there’s no point in getting that far 8) (level 200 is still the level cap… IN MY HEART.) i’m also sad you can get to level 50 in like two days now, mere hours if you grind like your life depends on it, but damn it’s fun having the memory of that month when my life was maplestory morning to night, playing the Ludi PQ for hours and bonding with strangers over memes and teamwork, and the EUPHORIC moment when i finally hit level 50 and all that hard work paid off.

... this post got Real Long but I got caught up in The Memories okay? xD thanks for the ask!!

[legendarymasterwolf]

E3 2019: My Thoughts on What We Saw

Alright, E3 is over this year, which means it's time to go over what we saw and my thoughts on it.

This is late, so some stuff here will be out already.

I'll be going by publisher alphabetically, so first up, we have...

Borderlands 3

I'm so freaking hyped to get lost in this hilarious world again. I've played Mordecai in Borderlands 1, Zero in 2, and Claptrap in Presequel. Still trying to decide who to play as in 3, but right now, it's looking like I'll pick FL4K, since he specializes in long range and has a few cute beasties by his side. Also, we're getting not one, but THREE action skills with each character. Not only that, but you can sacrifice your grenade skill for two equipped skills.

The Children of the Vault look like some worthy successors to Handsome Jack for title of "Best Borderlands Villains", though we'll see how they pan out on release date.

The gameplay that we saw of Moze looks smooth. Heck, everything about this game looks sleek and refined without doing away with the art style. Also, guns with legs.

Anyway, we not only got the gameplay reveal, but also Commander Lilith and the Fight for Sanctuary, a new DLC for Borderlands 2 that sets up 3, so I'm scrambling to finish the Handsome Collection on my PS4, which just got a lot more difficult now that I've bought RDR2 finally, along with several other games.

Control

I loved Alan Wake, and this is from the same people, so I’m hyped. The game looks great, has a suspenseful atmosphere, and it seems to play well. I’m looking forward to release date.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reboot

I haven't bought a COD game since "Black Ops 2", though I have played the newer ones with a friend of mine. It looks good visually from the reveal trailer I saw, I'll say that much. No gameplay yet, but I know it'll be gritty, focusing on some of the more shocking moments of the original trilogy, like "No Russian" from MW2 or the nuclear explosion from MW1, so it seems we're bringing in more edge to the series. Still, I'm glad the campaign is back, and I'm interested to see how it will look.

12 Minutes

A twelve minute time loop where you're forced to relive the death of your wife and the only way to break it is to find out why she was killed? Sign me up.

Code Vein

I remember this one from last E3. Still the same opinion, too. Anime style souls game that I might buy for the story, which looks interesting.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

So this looks REALLY good. It's like a deep RPG, deeper than Xenoverse was, with mechanics besides fighting like fishing, and as for the fights themselves, they seem to be more strategical than before, with a healthy dose of classic DBZ fisticuffs in there for good measure.

Elden Ring

A Souls game written by George RR Martin? Don't know too much about it besides that, but it looks cool based on the trailer.

The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan

Basically, another Until Dawn, but on the open sea during a storm. And I'm totally okay with that.

Deathloop

Another game from Arkane? The guys who made Dishonored? I'll take it. Besides, another time loop premise sounds interesting.

Doom: Eternal

If Fallout 76 was any indication, Bethesda desperately needs a win now to restore faith in their studio. Besides a few of the other games announced at E3 2019 that could do so, there was one that stood out in particular: Doom Eternal. I’ve already played all the Wolfenstein games, with the exception of one upcoming entry on this list, and based on what I’ve seen of Eternal, I’m going to like it due to the similarity in gameplay.

GhostWire: Tokyo

The presentation on the new game from the makers of Evil Within, another series to try now that I have a PS4, was memorable for a few reasons. First off, Ikumi Nakamura, the game’s creative director, was the main presenter and she was adorable. Seriously, it’s probably one of the best E3 presentations I’ve seen this year. I can’t remember the last time I saw one so genuine like hers, plus it helps that the Internet has fallen in love. As for the game itself, it looks great, with people disappearing in Tokyo and it being up to some guy with a bow and supernatural powers to find out why. The reveal trailer was all we got, but still, I can’t wait to play it.

Wolfenstein: Youngblood

The first game I’ve ever preordered, and this comes from a guy who never preorders on principle. It’s a Wolfenstein spinoff with BJ’s twin daughters, so yeah, I’ll buy it. Plus, it’s co-op, so I’m playing this with my best friend. Still trying to decide which twin to play, though. Probably Jessie, since my friend is gonna want to play Soph.

Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory

Looks interesting, plus the gameplay reminds me of Shadowrun Returns.

The Sinking City

This one’s already out, but it looks good. Hopefully, it’ll be received better than Call of Cthulu before it. Plus, I’m all for a game where the protagonist is losing his mind, like Dead Space.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood

Set in the World of Darkness universe, like Bloodlines, except you're a werewolf instead of a vampire and it's from a different studio. Gameplay was revealed behind closed doors, but it looks good from what I've heard. We don't have too many werewolf games around.

Cyberpunk 2077

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY ALREADY!

Yeah, this might be the first game I preorder for myself, since now we finally have a release date: April 16th, 2020. The new trailer we got gave us a glimpse of a default male V as well as what may be Jackie’s death (please don’t kill off Jackie, CD Project RED, I like him too much already). After V’s employer tries to double cross him, V tries to kick ass with his twin arm blades, which look really unique, before said employer shoots him in the head. The trailer ended with a major surprise: as V comes to in a junkyard, a figure in jeans, a tank-top, and a silver left arm approaches, and kneels to reveal a face and voice that sounds suspiciously like Keanu Reeves.

Yes, that’s right, for those who haven’t heard by the time this is posted, Keanu Reeves is in Cyberpunk 2077 and he’s playing Johnny Silverhand, a legendary rocker in the world of 2077 who may not be what he seems.

After the trailer premiered onstage, Reeves came out onstage to promote the game. He could barely get through the start of his speech, people were that excited to see him in the flesh. There was even a great moment where he described the game as “breathtaking”, to which a fan shouted out, “You’re breathtaking!”, to which Keanu responded in kind. We don’t deserve this man.

Anyway, at the end of his speech, Reeves gave a new look at gameplay as well as the game’s release date. The glimpse was only about 20 seconds long, but still, the new look at the combat, hacking, and what is presumably a digital afterlife or something like that was enough to get me even more hyped for this game.

Seriously, I couldn’t be more hyped. This game is gonna be massive and I just might preorder it.

My Friend Pedro

Switch game, but still looks cool. It’s already out now.

Sea of Solitude

I need to play more games that make me feel like this. The art style looks gorgeous and the theme is depression, so yeah, I may buy this one if I like what I’m hearing.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Honestly, EA's part of the the expo was kind of depressing, especially when it got to Anthem. However, we did get more of Jedi: Fallen Order, and for that, I'm grateful, because this game looks great. Both the combat and lightsaber look slick as does the gameplay in general, and the voice acting is on point, from Cameron Monaghan to Forest Whitaker. We need a good Star Wars game for current gen consoles, and while The Old Republic is still my favorite, that's for PC. Also, while it has been announced that there are no microtransactions in the game, I'm sure EA will find some way to screw it up, but for now, it looks awesome.

Greedfall

I’m interested. Story and premise have me, a mix of 17th century colonialism with horror and the supernatural. Gameplay looks like my kind of jam, and we may be getting romance options too, based on some trailer observations.

John Wick Hex

Gameplay seems unique, plus it’s John Wick. I will always take more of Keanu Reeves.

Grandia HD Collection

I like JRPGs like this one, though it’s for Switch, so I can’t play it.

Way to the Woods

Looks like a cute adventure puzzle game. I might get it for PC.

Wasteland 3

This series looks like tactical Fallout, so yeah, I’m likely to give this one a shot since it looks good.

Blair Witch

A Blair Witch video game? That’s psychological horror?! With an adorable dog companion named Bullet?!?! Yes, please.

We didn’t get much besides a trailer and some gameplay, but I’m eager to see more.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Sequel

Ugh, why is it that last year I was complaining about not having a PS4, now this year I’m complaining about not having a Switch?!

Anyway, this looks great and I want to see more. Especially since I’ve heard it’s going to be scarier than Majora’s Mask.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

Looks good on the graphics front, plus the gameplay additions looks promising.

And once again, I can’t play it.

Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order

Out of all the games on this list, this is the one I want to play most that I can’t play because, you guessed it, I don’t have a Switch.

I loved the original Ultimate Alliance games, so I’m sure the new one is gonna be a hit, what with the new combos, character designs, and references to the MCU, plus it’ll tie us over until Marvel’s Avengers.

Pokemon Sword and Shield

The Pokemon look cute, it is set in the world’s version of the UK, gameplay looks improved, and once again, I can’t play it.

Empire of Sin

It looks cool, plus I need more Mob style games to play. It’s also made by the people who are responsible for the next game on this list...

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2

It’s only in pre-alpha, but still, this one looks good. The original is on the Steam store, and there are fan made patches that improved upon what was originally a disaster. The sequel looks like a smoother version of its predecessor, with a few new abilities and mechanics put in. Again, it's in pre-alpha, so the final product will look much cleaner, but for now, I'm excited for its release date.

Shenmue III

First off, I’m royally pissed that Epic stole this one. That being said, the game looks great and I’m looking forward to continuing Ryo’s story on PS4. The gameplay looks great, the atmosphere is enthralling, and the English dub sounds good this time around. Still pissed about Epic, but at least I can play it on PS4.

The Outer Worlds

This still looks great. Since Fallout 76 took a nosedive and kept on going, we need a game like this to get that bitter taste out of our mouths. This still looks like a cross between Fallout and Borderlands, the true New Vegas spiritual successor that we need right now. The companions actually look helpful, have personalities of their own, and the Flaws System sounds really interesting, giving your hero a perk in enchange for a debuff for the whole game. Also the humor is great, too.

Marvel’s Avengers

Yes, the character designs don’t look so hot. However, those can be changed on the road to launch. That aside, I liked what I saw. The gameplay looks great, the voice cast has some top tier talent for the industry, and the promise of more heroes to be added after launch without the attached microtransactions has my attention.

Dying Light 2

I only played the demo for the first one, a game I still need to play, but I liked it enough to want a sequel. The usual free running mechanics look smooth, plus the addition of player choice shakes up the game, making your playthrough unique, so yeah, more of the good old stuff with a few new things sprinkled in.

Final Fantasy VII Remake and Remasters

The remake of FF7 looks AMAZING. The hybrid combat system looks like a dream, plus the character designs look top notch. In addition, the voice cast sounds on point for their respective characters. The hype around this thing was evident from the incessant cheering, we want it that much. We even have a release date: March 3rd, 2020. It’s been a long time coming, but it seems the wait to experience this classic for the second time on a different system will have finally been worth it.

Also, there was content announced for FF14 as well as two remasters: Crystal Chronicles and FF8.

Bet your ass I’m buying the remaster for FF8.

Biomutant

This has been described as Fluffy Devil May Cry. It’s accurate. I didn’t know you’d be able to customize your character, to! Combat looks fun, and it appears there is humor present if the narrator is anything to go by, so I’m interested.

Destroy All Humans! Remake

I never played the original, but I did read about it and hear about it from a friend. From what I’ve seen, the remake looks fun! Good parody of the 1950s and the updated graphics look great. Plus, Krypto seems like a fun, grumpy protagonist.

Gods and Monsters

This looks like a cross between Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Legend of Zelda. Considering it’s being made by the same creators of the former, I can’t wait to see more of this in the future.

Ghost Recon: Breakpoint

I’ll be honest, I still haven’t played any Ghost Recon games, so maybe here would be a good place to start. Gotta say, I like the way Jon Bernthal presented. He just seemed at ease onstage. Plus, Bernthal’s dog looks adorable. Bam Bam is the real hero of the Ubisoft press conference.

Anyway, it seems Bernthal is playing Cole D. Walker, one of the antagonists of the game. Didn’t see any gameplay, but still, the game looks good. I need to play more tactical shooters in general.

Watch Dogs: Legion

I played the first Watch Dogs game. Thought it was cool, but overall it was a bit disappointing. I still need to play the second one, but I heard it was a major improvement, even if it wasn’t a financial hit. Still, this one put a smile on my face. The ability to recruit and play as anyone? A sarcastic AI as your companion? A grandma assassin? I will take all of it, thank you.

Also, grandma assassin.

Did I mention there was a grandma assassin?

Can’t wait for March 6th.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

The LEGO Star Wars games were some of the first games I ever owned back when I played on the PS2, so I’m hyped for a collection of all 9 films in one game. We don’t know much beyond the announcement trailer, but hey, I’ll gladly take this one when it comes out next year.

Baldur’s Gate III

A video game that plays like a DND game? I can’t wait. Haven’t played the other games, but I’m sure I’ll be fine once I play that tabletop prequel they mentioned.

Battletoads

It’s an Xbox and PC exclusive, but still, glad this is getting a remake.

Bleeding Edge

This looks like an Overwatch reskin. The combat itself looks unique, though, so we’ll see how it goes.

Gears 5

We got a little more on Gears 5 this time around. We’ve got a look at Kait and how the Locust influence is threatening to tear her apart (that’s what I’m assuming, I’ve never played the Gears games). We also got a new mode, Escape. I might get it, since it’ll be available for PC.

Halo Infinite

If this is what Xbox Scarlett looks like, then Sony might have actual competition for once. This is the best the Halo series has looked in years, and considering how let down some felt after Halo 5, it’s about time. We’re getting the same badass Master Chief back, this time with no AI companion, as Cortana has suffered corruption due to being around for longer than normal and has gone psycho as a result. Regardless, the graphics look amazing and I can’t wait to see how it looks when it releases Holiday 2020.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

I never played the original, but I might have to now, because this looks cute. The art style looks great and I’ll always be interested in games where you fight things ten times your own size. Plus, it seems to run smooth, and just by the sound of the story, it already has my heart.

Psychonauts 2

To cap things off, let’s end with a game I’ve been excited for since I finished the original months ago. The game seems to be coming along great, if the first level is anything to go by. Returning voice cast, new enemies and powers, new environments to explore, Jack Black voicing a Brain in a Jar, need I say more?

Also, this game looks to explore the water curse put on Rasputin’s family, so it will be a more personal and chilling story as well.

________________

So, there you have it. That’s my thoughts on E3 2019, half a month late.

What are you guys excited for? Leave a comment letting me know, especially if there was something I left out!

Until then!

[dimensionsblog]

Due to recent events, it's time I told my truth: So, we'll start from the beginning, when everyone knew me as the new affiliate on his cell phone playing Pokemon. At this point, I had been open about being transgender and bisexual. Right before I got the email saying I was affiliated, I met someone that went by the username AutumnLittleByte. This is where shit gets real. This is your one and only warning as I'm about to be fully honest about what happened. 2 weeks after meeting Autumn, she informed me to check my donations. Lo and behold, she sent me my first ever donation of $20, this was meant to go towards the PS4 or Steam games if I so chose. Whichever path I wanted to take to improve my streaming even further. In concept, this sounds like a kind and generous gesture, but in reality this was her way of "getting in". When I found out she'd given me this kind gift, I cried. I was honestly shocked someone would do that just to try to help. At the same time, she'd joined my old Discord. I'll get into why it's old later, trust. When she joined, she asked if she could add me as a friend so we could message each other. It seemed so harmless I immediately said yes. How was I to know any better? This was my first donation and my first real time properly using Discord. So what happened? Well, it started out harmless, as I said. She sent a picture of the shiny Mightyena she'd just captured on Pokemon X to me, helped me make a channel just to post shiny Pokemon in, and subsequently posted the same picture in there. Again, harmless at the time. Two weeks later, we'd been talking privately and learning more about each other. Apparently she was also transgender, but male-to-female. She claimed she was 19 and currently in her first year of college. Claim being the HUGE KEYWORD HERE. Seemed innocent enough, and she even sent a picture of hersrlf to confirm it. With no context she honestly looked 19. But did she act 19? Honestly, she was a bit immature. But I merely attributed it to how I am. I'm a bit immature and I won't lie about that. 2 more weeks of talking and she asked me out. Me. Me of all people. I was kind of floored as I had openly admitted I had a crush on another streamer, but it was just that, a crush. Nothing else came from it and that streamer and I remain friends. Especially in my heart, as she no longer streams or has been on Twitch in over 2 years. Now, being in this situation, getting to know this person and thinking what she claimed was the truth, she honestly seemed very sweet and I wanted to give her that chance. So I stupidly said yes. A few weeks into the new relationship and it seems to be going well. By this point, I had been gifted up to Stormblood on Final Fantasy XIV and was also gifted 6 months of subscription for the game. So that was extremely exciting and I chose to play and stream it quite often to hang out with my friends. Well, she started to get real jealous, real quick. It kind of worried me how quick. She basically didn't like my friend, who I previously stated I had a crush on, and claimed she knew 2 people that did not like her for manipulating others. Okay...? But where was the proof in that claim? I didn't really buy it either, but I let it slide. If we rewind just a bit, she'd done something that I was already weary of. So, my first game I ever streamed on the PC was Black Rock Shooter for the PSP, I did it using the PPSSPP emulator and my Xbox 360 USB controller. All seemed to go well and we had no problems. She even made me an overlay which my friends decided to have a little fun with after I set it up with my alerts. Well, Autumn upped the ante by continually donating with my friends, which started a donation war. Until she grew mad that she lost, stole money from her roommate, and called my friend a stupid slut on stream. All these donations, plus a very generous donation from my friend Chris later meant I could purchase Christmas presents for my family for the first time in a very long time. It felt nice to give back, but I also wanted to be a good boyfriend. How? By...spending $50 on Toothless from Build-A-Bear. He had chocolate scent. Toothless was apparently Autumn's favorite cartoon character and her favorite smell was chocolate. I had it sent to her and so in response, I got pictures when she received it and she actually gave me 2 $50 gift cards for my birthday and Christmas. Seems nice right? This is when things started getting noticeably bad. I was told I couldn't make any purchases without her permission. Nor could I spend any money on my mobile games. Nor could I get anything for XIV at all. And to me, that was a bit controlling and weird. But I let it slide. Remember? No one ever claimed to like me like she did before. So, I let her walk me through what she wanted it spent on. I got several Steam games I honestly wasn't interested in and....Minecraft. Yes, I had to spend $25 for the modded Minecraft. This way I could play with her on her server. This just seems controlling though? Some people are like that. Not in this case. I still haven't fully rewound so you guys would know more. I do this a lot so I can explain things. Let's head back to my birthday in 2017: The entire week, I had been told time and time again by my girlfriend that she had sent me a package for my birthday. She claimed it included a very personal letter, a ton of Reese's candies, and two large Treecko plushies she'd bought for me, as well as a Treecko poster. For those that know me well, Treecko is my all-time favorite Pokemon. Well, she promised and promised and promised it was coming, and so I was heartbroken on my own birthday to find out it never came. She claimed it was lost and sent me a tracking number. The tracking number didn't exist anywhere, I tried multiple places. So instead of getting angry, I knew I had problems with my bipolar depression at that point, I asked her what the letter was about. To try and get some insight as to why she nay not have sent it. She told me it said that she loved me. And that she was scared of how fast she'd fallen for me. And according to her, it detailed exactly how she fell and why she did. The last time anyone said that to me, I was being catfished for money. I was shocked and honestly I had some kind of feelings but I wasn't sure what they were. So I said it back to her, but I was honest and she claimed she was okay with that. Now we return to the gift cards and Minecraft time. Oh boy. You probably can already tell where this is going, but it's my truth and this is how I choose to tell it. Anyways, Autumn had become not only controlling, but very clingy at this point. I told her several times that I was going to sleep or taking a nap in the previous week and she'd begun to act like I was avoiding her or leaving her. It was this behavior that manipulated me to begin with. I did everything I could to reassure her that I wasn't leaving her and I cared about her very much. Well, one night she got very upset with me. This was because I refused to do 2 things: Let her control me on Minecraft so she could play with her apparent ex at the same time and flirt the whole time I was there doing basically nothing but continually mining for gems and dying to lava, and I also adamantly refused to take nudes and send them to her. She'd been trying to get me to do that for a solid 2 weeks and I simply wouldn't do it at all. And that pissed her off. She called me, on Discord, apparently crying. Telling me I made her feel like shit and it was my fault. I had to beg and plead for forgiveness, for her to take me back, because I was so manipulated at that point I thought she was as good as I was going to get. She finally caved after me breaking down on the phone with her. Her claim at the time was that she never had anyone fight for her like I did, and it made her like me more. Sure it did. Mhm. Anyways, we continued to have stupid little arguments since. Mainly involving me being forced into Minecraft with her and her ex once again, me trying to play XIV with my friends that she didn't like apparently before I was gifted the game and subscription, or especially me saying no to nudes. A week before our final fight, I was actually finally able to relax and spend some time with my friends that she didnt like, but we chose to do it off stream so she couldn't snoop. I even hid myself playing games on Discord so she wouldn't know at all. Both were concerned. I didn't seem happy, or myself. It kind of seemed like I was bending to her will and it scared them. Tbh it scared me too. I told them I was scared, and I didn't know if I could leave without more problems. More problems? What do you mean? Well, the night before, obviously Autumn and I had gotten into another fight. In that fight, Autumn let it slip that she wasn't transgender, and also wasn't 19. She lied about both things to get with me, she was really 16 and apparently gender fluid. Meaning she didn't mind being addressed as male or female. It scared me because I had just turned 24, I didn't want shit happening to me because she lied about her damn age. What was worse was that she actually sent nudes in the hopes I would send her some in return. Which is why we always fought. I deleted her pictures and when they weren't in our messages anymore on Discord she got pissed and cursed me out. She would attack all my insecurities and use my bipolar depression against me as if I was trash for having it. Then I would get the blame for her having to be mean and set me right when I didn't do anything to deserve that in the first place. I'm not into nudes, it's not shocking I don't want them. Both friends encouraged me to leave her, my mother even begged me to leave her and I just...I couldn't. I was stuck in this rut. She was underage and could use that against me. I wasn't going to do any better, I was going to feel like shit forever and never be happy again. I legitimately believed this. Well, everyone around me did what they could to help me try to be happy in this shitty situation. So a week after relaxing, I decided to stream XIV again, but I twisted it so I could include Autumn. She'd gotten a free trial, so this way we could play and enjoy ourselves....so I thought. Autumn was ADAMANT about barring my friend from even playing the game. No Discord chat or game for her, that's what she wanted. No, I want her to talk to me and I want to play this game with her. That popped into my head immediately, a clear light in a seemingly endless realm of darkness. So I did, I added her to the Discord chat and Autumn lost her shit. "Xion what did I just fucking tell you? I said don't add her to the call." Immediately came out of her mouth, she knew she'd been caught right then and there trying to bar me from my friends and manipulate me. There's still the clip of me being "dumped" by finally standing up for myself. Finally. And they were so concerned they did something wrong that when the breakup was finalized, they cheered. And did everything they could to keep me smiling and happy that entire stream. So why now? Why tell us all of this now? Because abuse of any kind, it's never okay. It's not okay to defend someone like that for supposedly changing as well, especially if they victim blame as I have seen. I lived through 3 months of pure hell, never again. You are not alone. If you are being abused, there's always a light in the deepest darkness. You can break free and be happy, I believe in you.

[cosmiciaria]

Persona 3 Dancing in Moon Night Review!

MILD SPOILERS OF PERSONA 3′S ORIGINAL STORY

Since the game's release more than a week ago I've been in a Persona 3 Mood™. I went back to my ps2 and started a The Answer playthrough. I also went to my (shhh secret) emulator and started a brand new playthrough in the psp version. I started listening to their songs again. I just couldn't help it! If you a pay a minimum of attention you'll see that my profile pic is FeMC. And with all the Persona Q2 thing, I was bursting with hype. I needed this game!

 When it comes to the Persona games, you know Persona 3 is by far my favorite. That doesn't mean it has the best story or the best characters or (cof cof ps2 version) best gameplay. But it's just too important for me. These tragic characters, this bittersweet main protagonist, always hiding their pain behind a smile or a supporting shoulder, these social links that added more drama, like the girl with divorced parents or the guy who was suffering from a chronic disease. The music. The music around the last part of the game, where everything screams THE END IS NIGH and the protagonist knows what's coming their way. The "you've been a remarkable guest" at the end, when our main character gives all they got to defeat a little part of their soul. I just can't! And this is something I haven't experienced in P4 or P5, or even some of it in P2. It's only here, and it's here where my heart has been broken a thousand times.

 SO

 A few days ago I bought the Endless Night Collection digital edition, but as you may've guessed, I mostly wanted to play this one. And it surely paid off.

 I have NEVER played a rhythm game before, but I made this sacrifice because we are talking about the SEES members. I plunged into this musical world after training with the demo (yes, I used the word 'training', yes, this game was too hard for me at the beginning). There is no actual plot here: all these characters are summoned in a dream to dance at Elizabeth's request. That's it. No ridiculous story (cof cof p4 dan), just straight to the point. And you know what? I DON'T MIND AT ALL!

 Well, there's a LITTLE plot going around. Elizabeth, eccentric as ever, has bet against her younger sister Lavenza that her team is going to win the dancing competition. Lavenza, of course, will try her best on her end (P5 dancing). So the goal is to give their all on the stage: to express themselves through their movements and yadda yadda. They needed something to fill some dialogues and I'm fine with it, because, like I said, I don't mind at all. Just seeing these characters in whole amazing 3D and HD, with normal proportions and most of their original voice actors and actresses gives me LIFE. Like, for real. This hypes me even more for a remake (but I'll never be fully content if FeMC doesn't make it to it).

 Judging by their conversations, this game happens almost at the end, when they already realized what the twelve shadows were and after Shinjiro's event. The most intriguing thing besides the dancing is that we have kind of social links here, called "social events". You have eight ranks for each of the characters that you can unlock if certain requirements are met and, although they play very similarly to the old good social links we're used to, this time around our male protagonist has the chance to interact with his male teammates, something only available for the FeMC until now. And it's really enriching, for I've always believed that THIS is what the ps2 version is lacking: being able to hang around with the guys, not only the girls. Somehow I think this is an apology letter after the psp version was released.

 You can also explore your teammates's rooms once you've reached rank 6 in their social events. There, Elizabeth has hidden a card, which you must find to get a reward. It adds a little gameplay to the dancing thing, but what's more interesting is that you can fully take your time inside each room and discover things about your friends. Their rooms are also well done in 3D, I could've never imagined I'd see them one day with this level of detail, when in the ps2 version the're just a box you can only see from an angle in and the psp version, just a picture on the background.

 What surprised me a bit is that they've confirmed the male protagonist's name: Makoto Yuki, the one he's given in the movies. Given that we already have a Makoto in P5, I don't think it's the best decision, but who cares what I think! (oh god no please keep reading the review I swear)

 Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the game: some songs are challenging and put me in an epileptic state (oh GOD Mass Destruction with Ken that was WILD). But what this game gave me the most were laughs. I laughed a lot. I laughed during their social events, I laughed during some choreographies, especially the one where all the boys dance as a boyband BTS it's prICELESS. Each of the routines were carefully created to fit the character's personality. It's so well done I don't think I have a single critique about them!

 But wait, you may say: laugh? This awful story with tragic endings? Laughter? Well, yes. That's why this game is so precious, and even the characters admit it at some point: this is a break from all those terrible things they're going through. This is a moment's respite for them. They deserve to just relax a bit and dance to their heart's content. Leave them be for a change, destiny!

 Although I believe it's a love letter to myself, this game is far from being perfect, and I wouldn't recommend buying it at full price. I thought it would have more songs, for instance, and there's one song I particularly didn't like, because it's just a video of a concert of a song I don't even know and it's not even exclusively from P3. They could've added ANY other song, Tender Feeling, Paulownia Mall, Shadow, Tartarus in any of its versions, but nooo you had to put THAT concert song ok sure THANKS ATLUS. It bothered me a bit because I know numbers are limited and this was a decision made with care, so it kinda bugs me. I would've preferred to see more choreographies than that, but that's just my opinion! Another thing that bothered me is that they couldn't stop referencing P5 throughout the whole game. I know P5 is what's hot right now, but I came here to spend time with my baby boys and girls, not the Phantom Thieves. I will eventually play the P5 dancing game and I HOPE there are enough references there to P3 as well, because if not, I'm gonna be a tad mad.

 Aside from those nit-picky things, this game is a gem to me. I already platinumed it and I wish there were more things to do because I need to spend more time with these characters. They're all so precious to me (ha ha no pun intended) and I just loved seeing them have a good time. There are some instances in which you remember this is just a dream and the outside world is harsh and painful, and those moments hit me hard, even more knowing what's coming. So that's why I say: enjoy it while it lasts!

Also, a friend of mine sent me this picture of her ps4 and it’s just too good not to show it to you, guys: 

Just, DANCE WATER DANCE no sorry wrong game. But dance. Dance with your friends and enjoy the moment. Thank you Atlus for bringing these characters back to life. 

[their-destinys-writer]

Connecting the Light - A Kingdom Hearts Fanzine Work

Did I tell anyone I participated in a Kingdom Hearts zine?

Last month, @destiny-islanders and @novallion organized what was probably one of the biggest Kingdom Hearts events in all Tumblr: a special zine called The Ties That Bind Us, celebrating the much anticipated release of Kingdom Hearts III. I’m happy to say that I submitted a piece, and I am finally sharing it with my followers.

For the zine, you can get the download link here.

Connecting the Light

The power to connect. Hearts that rest and take refuge in mine. That’s what they said I can do: that I have the power of connection to other people’s hearts. But will it protect my friends when they need it the most?

Sora was ready to leave Destiny Islands once again, but this time, instead of looking for his friends, he would be saving people connected to the one residing in his heart. And the owner of it, too.

Call them ‘future friends,’ as Sora liked to think of them.

After all, if they were Ven’s friends, then by extension, they were his friends too. He just hadn’t met them yet. Or, at least, that he knew of.

He stared off into the setting sun on the beach, the one that left trails of orange on the surface of the ocean. The boy listened to the waves intently, wondering when would be the next time he would hear them again. Hoping it would be these same waves he would hear again, and not the ones in the Realm of Darkness.

“Sora?” a soft voice spoke behind him.

He turned to find Kairi standing there, giving one of her bright smiles. Very appropriate for a Princess of Heart.

“I thought you guys had left already,” she said as she walked to stand beside him.

“Riku needed some extra time before we left,” Sora shrugged. “I think he’s not very sure about our next adventure.”

“Oh,” Kairi uttered, her brows furrowing. She turned to look at the sunset. “He still thinks he’s not worthy, doesn’t he?”

“I guess,” Sora sighed. But he quickly grinned. “But don’t worry. I think this test is just the thing he needs to prove how strong his heart really is.”

Kairi giggled. “Yeah. At least he will have you there to remind him…” She paused. “Sora?”

“Hm?”

“Don’t ever let him forget it: that he is also part of the light, no matter the darkness he has fought inside him.”

Sora blinked at her. Slowly, a smile curled his lips, as he looked back at the sunset, placing his hands at the back of his head.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let him forget.”

“I thought you’d be on the gummi ship by now.”

Both Sora and Kairi turned to the new voice, only for both of them to let out sounds of surprise.

“You cut your hair,” Sora commented.

“It was getting a little long for my taste.” Riku shrugged, walking closer to his friends.

“It suits you,” Kairi giggled. “I’ve been thinking about doing the same thing.”

“It bodes well, when you’re trying to start anew,” the young man said, now standing next to the other two, lightly stroking his hair.

“Great! You’re going to pass that exam with style now.” Sora playfully punched Riku’s bicep.

The young man chuckled, right before turning his gaze to the sunset. “You really think I’ll pass, with all the darkness I let in my heart?”

Sora and Kairi exchanged looks, instantly nodding in understanding.

“What are you talking about? Of course you’ll pass!”

“You’re gonna do great!”

They spoke at the same time, both with a sense of purpose, including Sora making a fist of confidence. The reaction was so strong that Riku was startled by their enthusiastic support.

“You have us,” Kairi added.

“And King Mickey, Donald and Goofy,” Sora continued. “You’ve got plenty of friends rooting for you.”

“Right,” Riku chuckled. “My friends are my power. That’s what you said before, right?”

Sora nodded. “Right.”

The trio turned back to the light, seeing the last bit of the sun sink down the horizon. Knowing it would be a while before they got to see it together like this again. So, they cherished the moment, savoring every second of it.

“We should get going,” Riku said quietly.

“Yeah,” Sora whispered.

As the two boys turned to walk away, Kairi spoke up.

“Make sure you two come back here,” she teased, placing her hands on her hips and leaning forward.

Sora grinned. “We will.”

He then practically jumped as he placed his arms around Riku and Kairi’s shoulders. Riku got dragged down by Sora’s short stature.

“I promise that no matter what, we’ll always come back here, to this island, and hang out. Like old times. No darkness involved.”

Kairi giggled, while Riku let out a short laugh and shook his head at his always optimistic friend.

Someday.

Someday, it’ll be me, Terra and Aqua. We promised we would find our way back to each other, that our wayfinders would guide us, and keep us together in our hearts.

And someday, I’ll see Xion again. And we’ll go back to that clocktower to eat that sea-salt we loved so much. And maybe this time, Axel won’t have to keep any secrets from us.

Someday, we will reconnect.

Personal A/N: I cannot even begin to describe how much this series means to me. I have been playing Kingdom Hearts since I was about 12 years old (I am about to turn 27 next month). I remember watching Disney Channel and seeing an ad for the first game, and I immediately fell in love with the idea of Disney characters mixed with anime characters.

When my sister and I got the game, we still didn’t have memory cards for our PS2. So you can imagine my frustration when I had to turn off the PS after I heard Tarzan say “Not Clayton. Hee, hoo, hoo ha ha” about 10 times.

But after getting memory cards, this was the first time I ever took the time to complete a game at it’s fullest. And for once, uncover secrets my sister never did (she was usually better at videogames than me).

It was the first time I had ever felt I had some unique achievement that no one else I knew had. That I was good at something I normally wasn’t. I remember gaping the moment I beat Sephiroth and saying “never again”, without knowing I would beat his ass again in Kingdom Hearts 2 later on. It was the one series I played over and over again, trying to get better and better with each playthrough. Even as I turned into adulthood.

Sadly, that PS2 stopped working properly over time, and I was too broke to buy any consoles, like a PSP or a NintendoDSi. So, for the longest time, I missed out on the games. From then on, everything I knew about the games came from Wikipedia.

That was, until my boyfriend (now husband) gifted me a Nintendo3DS for our 9 month anniversary, with Pokémon Y. Finally an adult with a part-time job, one of the very first games I bought for that 3DS was, of course, Kingdom Hearts 3D. I took my time playing it, but unfortunately, I was unable to finish it because one of the buttons stopped working properly. The one button one smashes the most to beat Xehanort in the end.

So when I finally saved enough money to buy a console, you bet your butt that I bought a PS4. While there were other games my husband and I were interested in (like Monster Hunter World, the remakes of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro, among other games), there was one main reason I bought it for: Kingdom Hearts.

Because I grew up with this series. Because they gave me a sense of supporting friendships. Because it was beautiful. Because it made me feel whole. Because they made me feel capable.

And when I saw PSN was selling the All-in-One Package, I didn’t need to think twice to buy it. And the second those games downloaded, I opened the very first Kingdom Hearts game, I started crying like an idiot. Because finally. I finally had them with me again. And I could finally experience some of the stories that I had only read about.

These 14 years have been an emotional roller coaster. But this last month really takes the cake. I cried so hard with the new game, from beginning to end, and I am so happy I got to see and experience it. I, personally, feel Kingdom Hearts III was so much of what I wanted it to be. I experienced so much old and new, at the same time. The added pieces of Disney were fantastic, and once again, it proved that Kingdom Hearts is so much more than just a crossover. It’s more than its gameplay and companies. It is a piece of us, that helped forge who many of us are now.

Kingdom Hearts is, and forever will be, the greatest game in my heart.

[mamaluigi2018-commsopen]

Mama Luigi’s Top 10 Favorite Games of All Time.

Hey, everyone! Mama Luigi here. Just wanted to create this list to show appreciation to the games that have given me the most joys in my life and so you can all have an idea what kind of games I love. I will be going into small detail on each game, give a description on why I love these games. and also add my favorite track from each game. Alright. Let’s begin!

10. Mega Man 10 (heh....funny)

This was the most recent Mega Man game we got until Mega Man 11 arrived. This was released in 2010 for the PS3, Xbox 360, and WiiWare, and now available in Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. The story is that a virus called “Roboenza” has appeared and have caused robots to go out of control. It’s up to Mega Man and for the first time joining his side, Proto Man, to stop the menace and uncover the cause of the virus. Many would think that at the 10th game, the gameplay of Mega Man would get stale. Not so! The platforming is still tight and a fair challenge, the robot masters are some of my personal favorites of the series with Blade Man, Nitro Man, Strike Man, and my baby boi Sheep Man. The music is fantastic with tracks such as Stage Select, Solar Man stage, and Wily Stage 1. The weapons may not have been as useful as Mega Man 9, but the good ones are really good like Blade Man weapon and Nitro Man weapon. Plus the added DLC with playable Bass and 3 stages based on the Mega Man Game Boy games are a great bonus!

Favorite Track: Nitro Man

9. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Released in 1997 for the Playstation and rereleased on the PSN store and PSP as part of the Castlevania Dracula X Chronicles. After the disappearance of Richter Belmont, Alucard is tasked with invading his father’s palace and put an end to his reign of terror. Symphany of the Night broke the mold of  the Castlevania traditional platform gameplay with a non-linear explorative action adventure similar to the Metroid series, which coined the term Metroidvania. Later games would adopt the Symphony of the Night gameplay such as Aria of Sorrow and Order of Ecclesia. What I love about this game is just the amount of free roam the game allows for you to do and what kind of items you can find. If you are having trouble with a part of the game, there is a variety of solutions such as a certain spell or a certain weapon combinations that can help you out. The graphics are a clean, smooth sprite style and the music is some fantastic CD quality music. The love I have for this game makes me even more excited for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night to come out in 2019.

Favorite Track: Dracula’s Castle

8. Kirby: Planet Robobot

Released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2016. Planet Popstar has been converted in a mechanized world due to President Haltmann and his goons. Able to snatch one of the bots, Kirby embarks on a robotic adventure to free his planet from the machine menace. I love Kirby. I love Robots. Put them together and you get a absolute fantastic adventure with great Copy Abilities old such as Sword, Fire, and Hammer, as well as new such as Doctor, Poison, and ESP. The levels are well design to emphasized the robot theme and the soundtrack was given a more techno feel. The best parts are definitely the Robobot segments! It can not only smash enemies along the way, buy also copy it’s own set of abilites!

Favorite Track: Super Nova (vs. Star Dream Soul OS) or “P.R.O.G.R.A.M”

7. Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

Released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2014, Smash 3DS was a companion game for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Nintendo’s greatest are pitted against each other in battle to see who will come out in top. Due to not owning a Wii U, I was a bit skeptic about getting the 3DS version, thinking it was only a dumb down version. I can now say it was not the case! Smash 3DS is just about as a real Smash game as the Wii U version. Having a cast of 65 characters, there a character for almost anyone. The addition of Omega Stages allowed for any stage to be play for competitive match. The choice between For Glory and For Fun was a fantastic idea that allowed any kind of player to have fun. Smash Run was a fun game mode to run in a maze collecting power ups to face your opponents. The music was god like with themes coming from a variety of games and remixes included. So many hours playing with my friends, I know I will always cherish this game and am looking forward to Smash Ultimate this December. BTW, my mains are Pikachu, Luigi, and Lucina.

Favorite Track: Tie between “Gerudo Valley (Legend of Zelda)” or “Main Theme”

6. Shovel Knight

Released in 2014 for the PC and Wii U, with later releases on 3DS, PS3, PS4, Xbox One, PS Vita, and Nintendo Switch. Shovel Knight stars our titular character on quest to stop the evil Enchantress and her Order of No Quarter with his trusty shovel. Steel thy Shovel! Shovel Knight is an indie created by Yacht Club as their first game, and man do they give it their all! Shovel Knight is styled after the NES days not only in art style and music, but in difficulty as well. With exciting stages with their own gimmicks and precise platforming, Shovel Knight is definitely for those who want to relive the NES days. The music is amazing, the characters have so much personality, and the 3 DLC are basically full games put in. Plauge of Shadows is a fun mode with combining different potions. Spector of Torment is my favorite mode with wall climbing, slicing enemies, and Scythe Skating (yes I said Scythe Skating). King of Cards is not out yet, but is showing promise to be just as fun as the 3 other campaigns.

Favorite Track: La Danse Macabre (Spector Knight Stage)

5. Sonic Colors

Released in 2010 for the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS. Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles “Tails” Prower must stop Dr. Eggman from capturing planets for his Interstellar Amusement Park and free the captive Wisps. Sonic Colors takes the game play the day time levels from Sonic Unleashed and puts him in a high speed adventure with amazing level designs such as Tropical Resort and Starlight Carnival. The Wisp power up allow Sonic to absorb the Wisp and take a variety of forms such as the Cyan Laser or Yellow Drill. What I really enjoy is how the White Wisp the only thing that gave you the Boost so you had to plan out when is the best place to use it. The best feeling I get from this game is sense of speed I get.

Favorite Track: Planet Wisp Act 1

4. Hyrule Warriors: Definite Edition

Released in 2014 for the Wii U, released for 3DS in 2015, and finally for the Nintendo Switch. The Dark Sorceress Cia has called the greatest villains from across the Zelda timelines. Now Zelda, Link, the White Sorceress Lana, Self-Proclaimed Hero Linkle( and best girl), plus heroes from the entire series must stop her and save Hyrule. An absolute fantastic hack n slash adventure where you get use your favorite Zelda Characters and just wreck everything in your path. With a fantastic soundtrack of original tracks and remixes of past Zelda themes. An expansive Adventure Map where you can collect heart pieces and unlock new weapons, collecting material to expand your characters strength. You can spend so many hours on this game and just have a good time.

Favorite Track: Linkle’s Theme

3. Metroid Fusion

Released in 2002 for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. After an expedition to SR-388, Samus is infected with X-Parasite. After being given a vaccine containing Metroid DNA, Samus is tasked with investigating the BSL Station. This game. This god damn game was my first horror game. It terrified my 8 year old self. The tense atmosphere, the feeling of isolation, the horrible monstrosities all being after you was made perfectly. And we can not forget about the the nightmare fuel that is the SA-X. That thing was horrifying! The gameplay is fantastic with just shooting down monster after monster and fighting to survive.

Favorite Track: Vs. Nightmare

2. Super Mario World

Released in 1991 as a launch title for the SNES. Mario travels to Dinosaur Land to save Peach(again) from Bowser(again). Super Mario World was my first console game and I share many fond memories of it. The graphics are great with a nice color palette, the levels are fun and varied in design, the Super Cape is an amazing power up, allowing you to skip levels with the right timing. It also introduces one of our favorite dinosaurs, Yoshi. The music is catchy and is remixed into almost every track in the game. This game is truly a masterpiece.

Favorite Track: Staff Roll

1. Pokemon Emerald.

Released in 2005 for the Game Boy Advance, Pokemon Emerald is the 3rd game in the Gen 3 Pokemon games, following Ruby and Sapphire. As moving to the Hoenn Region, a young trainer travels defeating gym leaders, catching Pokemon and stopping the villainous Team Magma and Team Aqua. This is it. This is without a doubt my favorite game of all time. My very first game I ever bought with my own money. Many hours put in to catching all the Pokemon, training and raising different teams, competing in the Battle Frontier. Team Magma and Team Aqua were the first villains to actually feel like a threat, the Hoenn region is an amazing land scape with well known areas such as Mt. Chimney, Meteor Falls, and Sootopolis CIty. The Pokemon designs were made more excotic looking and the music is simple sublime with the use of trumpets. I love this game and I will continue to love and play for all of eternity.

Favorite Track: “Littleroot Town” “Route 120″ and “Ending Credits”

So what did you all think? Do you share any of my opinions on these games? What are some of your favorite games of all time? I would love to know! Have a great day to you all and this is Mama Luigi signing out!

[latinegro]

A Crush

“How the fuck did I get here?” Teddy mutters to himself. He had been playing a very dangerous flirting game with Linda and it resulted in him being parked right outside her campus apartment. He had to think about this for a minute...

This all started when he drove her home during that big ass snowstorm last week. Linda considers herself an activist and ever since that crazy man took charge in the oval office, she’s been busy protesting just about everything. Yet, somehow she has time for class. She comes across as a loudmouth if you don’t know her and since he knows her very well, all of that is just to hide her insecurities. The “loud Latina” routine is a defense mechanism for her but in reality, she has a heart of gold. She definitely has a way of making white people uncomfortable and in a big school like this, that’s all that matters.

There was a discussion they had in the car on the way to her place that centered on the fact that a fellow student of hers had a crush on him. He has always been a humble person and never bought into the fact that anyone outside of his ex-wife would have any interest in him, especially a student. Why would they? He’s practically an old man that would rather listen to Big Daddy Kane than Drake.

Rest assured, she told him that it was Tommy the bookstore clerk that had a crush on him. Tommy is her best friend and she readily admits that she loves hanging around gay men because they are not shy about sharing tips when it comes to their head game.

Teddy had a feeling that this was a conversation in which she was trying to feel out how much she can get away with. It was plainly obvious that she would say things that she would never say to an adult that she respects. “Yeah, so Tommy has such a crush on you. He’s well known for trying to turn out straight guys. In fact, there are a couple of TA’s he’s deep-throated”

Statements like that not only surprise the hell out of him because of her bluntness but leave him wanting to hear more. Deep inside he wants to know what else she’s gonna say. So he just chuckles and replies with an “Okay…”

“But, I told him that I think you would never go for that because you are an admin and you used to be married so you don’t seem like that type,” Linda continued.

“So you’re telling me that the only mysterious person who has a crush on me is Tommy?” He chuckles. He knows he’s pushing the envelope a little. The truth of the matter is that he does love to flirt with women. It has become a part of his nature and a part of the reason why he’s divorced. However, he’s made it a habit not to flirt with students but she is a few months away from getting her bachelor’s degree so in his mind, she’s really not a student anymore.

“Well, I can’t tell you, everyone. What I look like?” she answers and laughs.

He finally gets her home to her off-campus apartment. This is a part of town that has a lot of students and some faculty. It’s not too late so he’s not worried about what people may think of him dropping off a student because after all, in this weather, public transportation is not running well. He never wants to be that person to a let student freeze while waiting for a bus. He watches her go into her apartment and heads back home all the while not trying to think about the fact that he might actually like her.

This is what is going to get him in trouble again. He’s divorced because he couldn’t keep his dick in pants. He was far too curious about certain women in his life. Not to mention that his ex-wife was a general pain in the ass anyway, he’s always viewed her as a nag that he ended up with. But he knows that he’s the one who fucked up and that is why he lives alone, in a one bedroom apt, in a dump of a building.

He shrugged the feeling off that night and drove away. When he got home he told himself that we would put any thoughts about this chick behind him right after he finds a video on Pornhub to masturbate to. It was just his luck that she hit him up over Facebook while he was in the middle of it all. Of course, she will never know but the fact that she hit him up made things easier for him. 

Teddy: Wow, do I come across as a loner?

Linda: Well, no. But you look like you could use a friend every so often.

Teddy: I really do appreciate that. But I think I can get by. Besides, I figured you would like someone closer to your age.

He cringes as he types that. He’s not that old and now all the possibilities raced through his head. She’s got to be at least 15 years younger than him. She can probably break him in half and drain his balls dry. He would absolutely love every minute of it.

Linda: You right, but these boys are so immature!

Teddy: I have to agree with you on that, but that doesn’t mean that I have my own issues that I deal with. I have plenty of baggage I’m sure you wouldn’t want to do with.

Linda: See, that’s the thing. You own up to your shit like a real man and your overall demeanor is such a turn on.

He stares at the screen in awe. This is not how he thought his night would go. He’s totally being macked right now. A co-worker had told him once that young women these days are rewriting the way guys date. They are so aggressive that you will get punked for having no balls.

He must be thinking too much because she types again: Did I say too much?

Teddy: No. I’m just letting my imagination go wild.

Which was true. Linda is a thick girl which is right up his alley. She is about 5’2 with long curly hair and lips thicker than a roll of quarters. In fact, she has the nicest set of full lips that he has seen a long time.

Linda: Really? Care to share?

Teddy: Just thinking about those lips.

Linda: lol most guys do. What do you think about exactly?

Teddy: I love that red lipstick you wear. I wonder how those lips will feel around certain parts of me.

Linda: Trust me, I’m talented. My tongue would make your soul shiver.

Teddy: Wow.

Linda: Too much? I haven’t even told you how much I enjoy head.

Teddy: Damn, I bet you do. But, look… as much as I would love to take this further, you are a student and the last thing I want to do is lose my job. I mean, don’t you graduate soon? lol

At this point, he’s trying to reel it in. He refuses to let this go further because thinking with the other head never leads to anywhere good. He is better of sticking to the original plan for tonight.

Linda: I graduate in May, but you right. I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble.

Teddy: I tell what, once May rolls around… we can live out every fantasy we have with each other.

Linda: I can accept that but, you should at least tell me what fantasy you want to live out. I personally don’t see anything wrong with two adults talking.

Teddy: You really are talented alright. You have a gift for talking your way into things that you want, don’t you? lol

Linda: This is true. :)

This is how he ended that night. Teddy was able to talk his way out of doing something so incredibly dumb. Although the best part of the night was finding that right video on Pornhub, this conversation stuck out in his mind over the last several days. By the end of the week, he figured the best way to get this out of his system was to write a story about it.

The problem was that when they saw each other, their passing glances were filled with lust. Linda wore that red lipstick and it only made him think about her more. He had concerns that perhaps someone would notice. Although there were not particularly long glances it seemed so obvious to him. This is when he knew that he probably has a crush on her too if he is being so damn paranoid over a passing glance.

He thought about hitting Linda up on Facebook but he always made himself busy. He read somewhere that the art of distraction can stop anyone from doing something stupid. So when he thought about hitting her randomly he did anything from playing PS4 to re-watching entire seasons of Young Justice.

This all leads up to today with another impending snowstorm heading to New York, Teddy spent most of the day making sure that his snow tires were set. As he drove back home he heard his phone chiming and right away he knew that it was from Facebook. He knew it had to be her. Not many people message him there. Most people just text him directly. Interestingly, enough, he never gave Linda his phone number.

After he parked the car, he checked his phone on his way to his apartment. Linda left him a message, I know that you said we should wait but I also know we’re pretending that we’re not thinking about the inevitable. So how about I, at least, make dinner for you. We can just talk. I make a mean arroz con gandules.

Damn! He thought to himself. What they say about the key to a man’s heart being is his stomach is so true. His family lives in Yonkers so he doesn’t get to see them as much as likes. Most of his meals consist of food from the student union and Burger King. So the idea of any homemade food is mouthwatering.

He doesn’t respond until after he gets into his apartment: That’s how you do me? haha How am I supposed to say no to this?

Linda: You can say no, but why would you?

He shakes his head thinking about this question. Why would he say no? He can come up with all the reasons in the world to go over there that don’t revolve sex but none of them would make sense. Besides, the food is a huge reason for him.

Teddy: You do have a point. I suppose there is nothing wrong with dinner.

Linda: Exactly, we can eat talk. Perhaps watch a movie.

Teddy: Did you just offer Netflix and chill?

Linda: Haha, and if you want, you can fuck my mouth.

Now, Teddy stares out the window of his car. Snowflakes begin to fall. How he got here is pretty irrelevant at this point. As much as he’s debating the right and wrong about all of this, the truth is that he made his decision the moment he opened the door to his apartment and walked out. Teddy knows that if he gets caught in a situation where this storm is so bad he might be stuck here. How bad could this be? As she said, aren’t we both adults in the end?

He finally shuts off the car and gets out. The evening flurries are now becoming larger. He walks quickly to her apartment in order to avoid people that may be walking around. The truth of the matter is that it is about 8pm on Sunday. People are home watching either football or zombie shows. It’s also really cold so he’s not surprised that people have seemed to stay in for the most part. He knows this is his last chance. He can walk away and not step into this situation.

He plays this out in his mind. Dinner will be great. They will joke and laugh and she will ride his dick all night. They will fuck like rabbits for the next few weeks until he gets tired of her and it will lead to her pain and misery. He will end hurting her and she will hate him forever or close to it. If he’s lucky Linda won't go to the provost, she will be another girl that he couldn’t deal with.

He knocks on the door. He can smell the aroma of the food and within a minute she opens the door wearing a black see-through fishnet bodysuit.

[rileyskys]

Must Have Video Games Tag Meme

Alright, so, I don’t post a lot of personal stuff on here, but I guess I can’t fight being tagged by the great @pi3pr0xy​. ;p

So, I got into videogames when I was really young because I had a hip disease, the name is lost on me, but it was something that caused my hip bone cartilage to deteriorate and my bones would start rubbing against each other. I was basically out of commission for playing outside for a few months and my mom had just bought my older brother (who is a big ‘ol redneck) a SNES, which ended up being mine, and the rest is history.

Megaman X - SNES

This was the first game I can remember playing as a kid. This game was the absolute bomb. It had amazing controls, beautiful jraphics, and a compelling story line that pulled me in immediately. This is also the only game I remember playing with my dad who passed away when I was still young. I highly recommend this game to anyone who loves old school platformers.

Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past - SNES

I can already sense people who are fans of Game Grumps that there’s a pattern of me picking some of Arin’s all time favorite games as my favorites, but long before I had the internet, I had a 12″ CRT TV at my grandma’s house. A TV on which I would first discover Link, a small boy tasked with saving all of Hyrule. This game was what jumped me into the LOZ series and I’ve fallen in love ever since. The feeling of adventure I felt in this game was immense. I spent hours finding new things, discovering secrets, and just enjoying being in the world.

Final Fantasy VII - Playstation

Call me a fanboy all you want, but this game revolutionized what I thought games could do. with very limited 3D graphics and pre-rendered backgrounds, this game might not look like much, but it’s storyline was amazing. I was engrossed the moment I turned on the game. The Chocobo, the size of Cloud’s sword, the Highwind, and for the love of God; Materia. The Materia mechanic is what really drove this game home for me. I would grind for hours to get the right Materia for the right fight and I loved it even nowadays when people hate the notion of grinding. I had the dopest selection of Materia for all situations and I couldn’t have been prouder.

Conker’s Bad Fur Day - N64

This is the game that gave me a potty mouth. This fucking squirrel was nuts. From helping a bee fuck a flower with boobs, to fighting a opera singing pile of shit, a creepy zombie level, and even a D-Day re-enactment between squirrels and Nazi teddy bears, Conker’s was Bonkers. Through all the horrible language and imagery, this game was an excellent platformer, and really got me into the N64. I guess the normal game to say you have to play on the N64 is Super Mario 64, but nope, this game all the way.

Left 4 Dead 1 & 2 - Xbox 360

This series was the absolute best at getting you to invite 1-3 friends over and just having a blast slashing and shooting your way through zombies. Seriously, this is the zombie equivalent of Mario Party. I honestly sunk hours and even days into this game trying to get all the achievements. The characters are lovable, the areas are interesting, and the Finales are kickass!

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Xbox 360

Here she is. Big Momma Fantasy. The game that made me feel like a God killing demon. Skyrim, for anyone who doesn’t know, is the fifth game in the Elder Scrolls series, and holy shit, I jumped into this series too late, but this is the one I started with. I’ve never spent so much hours in one day on a game then Skyrim. Playing it on a CRT TV with my iHome blasting Scary Monsters and nice sprites will stick with me until I die.

Borderlands 2 - Xbox 360

Handsome Fucking Jack is the best fucking villain of any game ever.

Nier:Automata - PC

Nier:Automata is a game about anime tiddies, androids, and huge swords, so it hits all my weak points. This game started out super intense and I wasn’t sure how I would enjoy it, but then the world opened up to me and suddenly I felt amazing being in control of 2B, the main character. Her fluid attacking animations and spacious areas to traverse and learn are intoxicating. I got lost in this game so fast. Everything in this game is polished (Besides the optimization issues) and being an android fighting machines controlled by robots is just sick as fuck. I liked the game so much I played it 3 times to get the final ending (Plus the 26 other endings. Yeah, 26 fucking endings), which holy shit, I didn't think there was a game I would enjoy playing 3 times in a row. Oh, but wait-

Bloodborne - PS4

You like Victorian architecture? You like horrible, malformed beasts? You like games that are HARD AS FUCK!? I introduce Bloodborne! I love everything about this game. From the art style to the combat, it's all golden. If you think you have what it takes, and it'll probably take a couple of times, you're gonna absolutely love this game. Oh, did I mention that you can just keep playing it into infinity or you can try your hand at PVP, or not. I sincerely hope you don't. I'm already on New Game +10

Stardew Valley - PC

So. You all know Harvest Moon, right? One of the pioneers of farming games. Want to know something cool? Stardew Valley takes everything that made Harvest Moon great and amplifies it by ten. With beautifully detailed 2D graphics, a lovable town filled with unique friends and potential partners, I played this game far more than any of the others. I've gotten quite bored of it after many, many hours now that I have oodles of money to buy anything, but just when I was about to hang up this game as done but fuck-

They introduced a multiplayer function which you can edit how much money you make from selling things, so you know I played that boy with one other person and made everything 1/4 the price so I can feel like a real farmer, struggling to make ends meet. Honestly though, if you love having a good time, this is the game to play.

Honorable Mentions:

Any Pokemon game, including Pokemon GO.

Fire Emblem: Birthright/Conquest/Revelations - In that order.

God Eater Ressurection - Giant beasts, and giant swords, truck yeah!

Overwatch - Please stop nerfing Mercy, Papa Kaplan.

No Man’s Sky - Everyone hated it, but I loved and still love it. SPACE SHOULD FEEL EMPTY

I guess I got to tag some people too... Hmm...

@point-and-click-adventure @sharkmittens @lilfoxcat Your turn!

[kirain]

Top Ten Favourite Anime Games

For this list, I will only be including games that are specifically considered part of the anime genre, NOT games that were created by Japan Studio or other Japanese companies/creators. So games like shadow of the colossus,  Bloodborne, Metal Gear, Resident Evil, etc., won’t be mentioned. While it is arguable that such games could fit the anime genre, it’s never been clarified. So here’s a list of my top 10 anime games.

1. Gravity Rush

There’s no real order for this list EXCEPT for Gravity Rush. It is easily my number one favourite pick. I bought it for next to nothing thinking it would be a cute little experience, but it ended up gripping my interest for four days straight; which is rare for me. While at work, all I could think about was getting back to it, and it’s one of the few games with trophies that didn’t annoy me. Seriously-- not one trophy pissed me off. In every game there’s at least two or three that really grind my gears, but Gravity Rush had nada.

There are several challenges in the game that are tough but fair, and they never become boring because they’re designed in such a way that the more you play them, the better you get. You begin to learn the controls, the landscape, the shortcuts, etc., which makes for some excellent gameplay. At no point in the game do you feel like a failure, which is nice once in a while. On top of that the story is fun, the characters are lovable, and the art is breathtaking. During each new chapter, we’re given information in the form of a hand-drawn manga, which only adds to the uniqueness. The language in the game is also made up, so anyone can relate to it. And the music? Oh, don’t even get me started:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxIC6Vu1ee0&t=43s

And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, they went ahead and created a sequel, Gravity Rush 2! It’s pretty rare, in my opinion anyway, that video games have sequels that measure up to their predecessor, but Gravity Rush 2 might be even better! It lets us revisit old friends, make new friends, explore more areas, it gives us grater challenges and a newly implemented difficulty setting, and additional online adventures that have nothing to do with achievements! What really hits me about these games, though, is the freedom. You get to fly wherever you want, anytime you want, at ridiculous speeds. The world is vast, beautiful, and so fun to navigate.

After playing and falling in love with these games, I can only assume they’re called “Gravity Rush” because they’re an absolute rush to play.

2. Devil May Cry

Specifically the first game, Devil May Cry will always have a special place in my heart. I played the game a lot when I was in grade school and kept replaying it well into my high school years. All the way up until my PS2 broke. :’)

Now, I do know that this game was created by Capcom and that it was supposed to be related to the Resident Evil franchise, but director Hideki Kamiya openly stated that the game is an anime-style hack and slash action-adventure game, and even gave the anime T.V. show, Devil May Cry: The Animated Series by Shin Itagaki, his professional seal of approval.

That said, Devil May Cry is addictive with its brutal but charming character Dante, and its dark and twisted plot/gameplay. If you’re into cool characters, blood and guts, and kick-ass combat, this is the game for you!

3. Catherine

Another nostalgic game for me, Catherine was something I played constantly when I was in high school. The animation is enticing, the story is a giant mind f*ck, and the English voice acting is stupendous. Like many story-related anime games, it has multiple endings, as well as a karma metre that wraps into your choices. The story revolves around a man named Vincent  Brooks, who is beset by supernatural nightmares while torn between his feelings for longtime girlfriend Katherine and the similarly-named beauty Catherine.

While the game is mostly a platformer, the challenges are unreal, especially in Babel (an extra area not related to the story) and the arcade game, Rapunzel. If you want your brain to turn to mush, I’d suggest setting this baby to the hardest difficulty. Naturally there’s a trophy for beating everything with a gold time, so if you get that you’ll be able to gloat to all your friends about how smart you are. XD

Jokes aside, though, there are other aspects to the game that keep you going. You won’t get bored of the platforming because between each level is the story, given to us in two distinct anime styles, and a trip to the bar, where you can get drunk and interact with other characters. Depending on the dialogue you choose, you could be responsible for their dreams coming true ... or their untimely death. A remake of the game will be coming out for PS4 next year and I can’t wait to play it!

4. No More Heroes

No More Heroes is another action-adventure hack and slash video game that follows a man named Travis Touchdown ... who is a hardcore otaku. Literally all he cares about is killing and anime, which makes for a hilarious story. Travis is also a top-class assassin in a world where assassins constantly compete. Think John Wick: The Anime. This game is full of comedy and combat, as well as cool characters, crude challenges, and a cuddly kitty cat. I played this game religiously when I was in high school, and enjoyed it even up to it’s weird mind f*ck of an ending. The only downside being that it’s only available on Wii, which made for an interesting and unique experience, but a sad realisation that it will never be available for any other platform.

5. Trauma Center: Second Opinion

Just like No More Heroes, Trauma Center: Second Opinion is only available on Wii; but that in no way affected my love for it. Second Opinion is the second game in a long line of Trauma Centers, but for some reason it’s the only one I enjoy. Perhaps it’s because playing it on the Wii gave it a sense of realism. The game is a surgery simulator, and like an actual surgeon, you have to concentrate and keep your hands steady to succeed. If you move too quickly or throw yourself off balance, the patient will die. The art and music are also incredible and, believe it or not, there’s actually a pretty interesting story that goes along with each chapter. As you work your way to more advanced operations, you really take a liking to the characters and feel a strong sense of duty to your patients. To anyone who owns a Wii, this is definitely a game I’d recommend.

6. Chibi-Robo!

Chibi-Robo! This game takes me back! I spent hours upon hours playing this game, and I still would today if my copy hadn’t been stolen. This little treat is only available on the Wii and GameCube, and was created by Nintendo. It’s one of the most adorable platform-adventure games I’ve ever played to date. The Wiki explains the plot perfectly, so I’ll just post it here:

“Chibi-Robo! takes place in a 1960s-style American home and revolves around a tiny, highly advanced robot of the same name. He is given as a birthday gift to a socially withdrawn eight-year-old named Jenny Sanderson by her father. This is much to the dismay of Jenny's mother, a homemaker who is constantly stressed over how much money her husband spends on toys despite his unemployment.”

For a game that seems so basic, there are a plethora of areas to explore and they are huge. Ironically so, I’m sure, but it makes for some amazing gameplay nonetheless. As you wander, you help other creatures around the house, including the family, solve their problems and complete challenging and often comedic tasks; such as flipping burgers, cleaning up puddles, and-- you know-- helping the egg general save his fellow egg soldiers from the household dog. Yeah, stuff like that. XD

Honestly, it’s super fun and I recommend it to anyone, no matter what their age. It’s clearly geared towards children, but I can’t think of a single reason why an adult wouldn’t enjoy it just as much. It’s relaxing, freeing, and puts a genuine smile on your face. :)

7. Pokemon X and Y

Okay, I know I probably shouldn’t add Pokemon to this list, but I can’t help it! I’ve always loved the Pokemon games, but they just get better and better every time! Pokemon X and Y quickly became favourites of mine, and they consumed my life for a good two months as I captured every single Pokemon, bred the perfect IVs, and worked my ass off to get every shiny I desired. On top of that, I loved the story and, for once, how my character design turned out. What’s more, I fell absolutely in love with the Looker side quest, which is possibly the best and most emotional side quest I’ve ever played in a Pokemon game. X and Y will always be special to me, because in was with these two games that I caught ‘em all!

8. Pokemon Sun and Moon

Visually, Pokemon Sun and Moon are the best of the Pokemon games, in my opinion. They were also the first to really shake things up and give fans new and improved methods of breeding, capture, travel, communication, and more. We were also introduced to a new type of pokemon called “ultra beasts”, along with a fun and alluring story with several new characters and legendaries. Throughout the game, I found myself laughing hard at some of the experiences, and I spent countless hours capturing, trading, breeding, spoiling, and loving all of the new pokemon the games had to offer. I even transferred my pokemon from X and Y over so I could give them the same love and affection. ^_^

I have to thank @cassafra5 and @george-nordington, because they’re the ones who bought me this masterpiece! Thanks, guys! <3

9. .hack//OUTBREAK

This is a game that will always be near and dear to my heart. Back before guides were widely available, I was playing a game called .Hack//OUTBREAK. It came out in 2002, when I was only 12 years old. Back then, my dad was still alive. He never really understood my taste in anime, but he wanted to try and relate, so he bought this game for me on a whim. Little did he know I knew absolutely nothing about the .Hack series, and little did either of us know that OUTBREAK was actually the third part to two other .Hack games. Still, I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, so I played the game-- and I fell in love.

Visually, OUTBREAK was one of the best games I owned on PS2, and although parts of the story were difficult to follow, I was hooked. I dedicated entire days to this game, and because there weren’t any guides, I had to write down every code and location so I wouldn’t get lost/forget them. Today, I still have pages folded safely in the case. The amount of exploration and character interaction opened me up to a whole new genre of video games. In fact, it basically introduced me to anime-style games. I could actually buy gifts for my friends and build relationships. That seems common now, but back then it wasn’t for a typical PS2 game.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck when the save cartridge was accidentally kicked by my brother and all of my data was lost. I wasn’t too concerned, since I figured I could just replay the game and get everything back ... but the disk was also severely, irreparably scratched. It no longer plays. As such, it is now merely a keepsake from my father. I miss you, dad.

But 16 years later and my sister and I are still quoting this game! XD @alannahkiwi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I-7hwgwqa4

10. Persona 5

I only recently started playing Persona 5, but it’s quickly made its way to my top ten. I can’t say too much about it just yet, aside from the fact that the animation is crisp, the story is gripping, and I’m ready to sink hours of my life into platinuming this gorgeous feet of human achievement! So much heart and sole was poured into this game and it shows with every in-game step I take. This is the only game on this list that I haven’t yet finished, but I have a sense that I don’t really need to. Thus far, every mission has been a gem and I don’t want the party to end!

[gemmasianpowellphotography]

Environmental Portrait Pre - Production - Planning

22.10.2020

I have been researching work of other photographers in order to gain some ideas for my own environmental portraits. Ultimately, it comes down to asking the questions and finding out more about my subject. I have a couple of models in mind for this brief. It may be tricky with the current pandemic restrictions in place to get my model in person and a place at a specific date and time etc. However, I will not let this be a barrier. I will only toy with ideas and if they work out them great and if they do not then its all part of the research and experimentation. 

The models I used for my seeing the light brief are close contacts and accessible. My best friend Jemma I asked questions relating to outdoor, indoor, objects and clothing items of importance to them and why. she came back with these:-

Family home - where she feels most safe and loved

Her own home - where she is most proud sense of achievement 

Irvine Beach - where she goes to clear her head and think

Conic Hill - where she last hiked a few weeks ago and gained achievement

Teddy, beads and book her Nana gave her as a young child with inscription inside

Michael Kors bag bought for her best friends wedding in Las Vegas - good memories 

Biffy Clyro T-shirt - bought at the gig where she first seen them

My initial ideas were:-

A photograph down on Irvine Beach or Conic Hill, thinking already of clothing that would work well

The teddy, beads and book could be placed in a dark room with candle light

The Michael Kors bag could be sitting on a dressing table with Jemma with her back to me looking into the mirror on the dressing table putting lipstick on getting ready to go out. The bag would be the important element of the image

The Biffy Clyro T-shirt she could be wearing as she was putting her Biffy vinyl on the record player. The shot would not include the full body just part  - thinking of the frame getting in quite close and even just her hand reaching out to the needle of the player. 

The indoors element would be tricky given the current restrictions imposed due to the ongoing pandemic. However, a photo of her holding hands up to the window outside her parents home with her Mum looking out from inside and touching the glass would be a good vision. 

These are only some initial thoughts but some really good ideas I could work with. 

The other person I have asked the same questions to is my partner Charlene whom I also shoot for my seeing the light brief. Charlene works in the hospitality industry as a chef. We have had a lot of time together through Lockdown this year with her being furloughed and quite a bit of that time has been spent with her cooking in our kitchen as well as our walks in and around where we live. I feel I could use this to my advantage by incorporating this into the environmental portrait. 

I asked questions relating to outdoor, indoor, objects and clothing items of importance to them and why. she came back with these:-

Kitchen - loves to cook

Bedroom - chill time and read a book

Record shop - a good pastime 

Crookston Castle - old childhood memories 

Chef Knives and Ricer

PS4 Controller - can connect online, gaming, TV streaming and music making way for good escape time

Puma Shoes  - branding and comfort 

Beanie hat - fashion and comfort

Next Steps

i may look to ask my Dad the same questions before deciding who to pick and focus on shooting. After shooting females for seeing the light it would be interesting to shoot a male, a little somewhat older who would have another outlook to the answers of the questions. 

[levin8]

It was a cold fall day, the air was crisp, I was passing the football with my Dad in the driveway and as the sun was setting I could see my Mom’s car approaching in the distance. As she pulled into the driveway, I never could have predicted what would happen next and the lasting impact it would have on my life. She proceeded to get out of the car and told me to come help her carry some bags inside our house. Being the rebellious four year old I was, I ran inside and sat on the couch instead. She was not amused. “You either come help with the bags or you will go to your time out chair!” she yelled sternly. Immediately I got up and helped because my timeout chair was in the corner of our sketchy dining room and I hated it there so much. Anyway, we carried everything in except for this really big box in the passenger’s seat. Naturally, I was much more interested in playing with the box than actually finding out what was inside of it. However, it turned out to be one of the biggest moments of my life, it was the first time I ever saw a desktop computer. At first, I was very hesitant because on Jimmy Neutron the robots took over and my imagination led me to believe the humongous computer in our study was plotting its attack all day, everyday. Eventually I warmed up to it once my mom introduced me to the wonderful world of computer games. The first computer game I ever played was Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004.This game meant to the world to me because it allowed me to keep my mind on the golf course without even having to be there. Plus, sometimes my Dad would join me and we would play  multiplayer. He and I would get pretty competitive with the game, but ultimately I just really liked being able to spend time with my dad. It’s amazing to look back on this time in my life because as I have grown up, golf became one of the most important parts of my life. It provided me with so many memories that may have never happened without a simple computer game.  

As I grew up, my dependency on technology continued to develop as well. Shortly after my mom’s purchase of a desktop computer, my dad bought our family’s first laptop. The idea of making my computer games portable absolutely blew my mind away at the time. However, my dad rarely let me play on his laptop because he didn’t want my “greasy hands ruining his keyboard.” So, for my seventh birthday my parents probably got me the coolest device I have ever owned, the first edition Gameboy Advance. No joke, that gameboy was the love of my life for a good three months until my dog chewed the buttons up. It was a truly a devastating event in my young life. However, shortly after that destruction, we started having classes that used those Apple desktops with the colored back pieces in school, so I got over my loss relatively quick. This excitement was muddled when they started to give us keyboard quizzes and basic homework assignments requiring the use of the internet. This was the time in my life where I started to differentiate the two ways I could use technology, one side was academic and the other was gaming. These options taught me a vital lesson that it still very relevant today, which is that there is time for fun and there is time for work. The computer gave me a chance to either always get my work done or always goof around, so I had to consciously make the choice to go one way or another. As I have grown up, the distractions in my life now are much different from back in the days of being a seven year old, but the same general message still applies.

Once I got to Middle School, that’s right about the time my friends and I all started to get phones. Which let me tell you, was not the move. Giving kids in sixth grade the ability to text and send pictures is just the worst idea going. However, about three weeks into sixth grade, I got my first girlfriend. If you are wondering, yes I did ask her out over text. In any event, this lead to me making my first Facebook because she wanted to be Facebook official and that can’t happen if her bae doesn’t have a Facebook. This lead to many embarrassing posts and pictures that I had to delete shortly after our two week relationship ended. For those of you passing judgment at me right now, just stop because we all know you did it too. Anyway, once I started using that social media site, it opened my eyes to the “real world”, which was not such a nice place. I vividly remember liking a page that was a fan club for my favorite football player of all time, Brandon Jacobs, and some of the comments on there were just awful. My vocabulary grew thanks to the users who felt it was necessary to use every swear word known to man on that page. This exposure to that kind of language for the first time left me scarred solely because I grew up in a household that did not tolerate that kind of vulgar language. As I have grown up that has changed pretty substantially, but at the time I just was not used to how mean some people can be over social media.

Finally, after years of anticipation, it was time to make the transition to the High School. I remember the first day of my Freshman year I was extremely nervous because my parents were very involved with my life and put a lot of emphasis on getting good grades while I was there. That could not have happened without the use of technology like my laptop, IPhone, and PS4 because those were the only things that made getting through High School possible. My laptop was only used for schoolwork, which at the time was different to me because I had never had an online textbook prior to my Junior year English class. This experience helped me cope with the way we do things now because all we use in college is online books. Then there was my IPhone, which was predominantly used for social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Then there was my PS4, this gaming device gave me an escape from my high stress levels and transformed me into the world of virtual reality. This release from the real world gave me a sanctuary that helped me calm down and clear my mind of the clutter High School threw at me during my four years there. Truly, I don’t know what I would have done without the ability to use technology during this time in my life. There is no doubt in my mind that I would not have been able to get the grades I did without any of these devices.

Now that I’m in College, I am constantly using some kind of electronic damn near every minute of everyday. During class it’s either typing my notes on my computer or I am on my phone scrolling through Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook trying to kill time until class is over. Plus, almost all my homework is online at this point. When I am not doing school stuff, I am playing PS4, listening to music, or watching Netflix, all of which require some kind of technology. It is shocking how much my life depends on technology now days, but at the same time, my life simply would not be complete without it.