#if I ever get a canvas this big and time to remake it I absolutely want to

[fallow-foot]

Wait have I ever showed yall my battle for endlantis painting?

I made this like two years back and still love how it came out.

Anyways I think every needs to see just how intense the whole battle was because it’s such an impressive fight/race

[occultcuriosity]

* getting  to  know  the  mun :

name :  Sam nickname :  Herb or Jerky usually but that’s typically because people only know my account name. I don’t have any ‘pet names’. faceclaim :  If I ever try to draw myself in a dumb silly style, that’ll probably be it. pronouns : He/Him height :  6′3 birthday : August 10 aesthetic :  Don’t know about a ‘personal aesthetic’, but I sure do love motifs and music aesthetic. Dark Sci-Fi is one of my favourite styles. last  song  you  listened  to : Project Zomboid - "34″ favorite  muse (s)  you’ve  written : To enjoy writing, it’s probably Klauvis when he’s gone full Science. As for muse I’m more attached to, it would be Sirus. My special arson boy.

* getting  to  know  the  account :

what  inspired  you  to  take  on  this  muse :  I started RPing when I was 11, playing Garry’s Mod HL2RP. I wasn’t very good at it, but we’re all a bit shit in our own special ways. I’ve been doing creative writing ever since, and I’m planning on taking up a specialization in script writing when I go to University next year for a Games Design course.

I have a few muses, so I’ll list what inspired me for each.

David @collectivecasualty: David was literally spawned from a random visual concept I had in my head a long time ago when starting a thread with someone. I was too nervous to devote myself to making a full RP blog and was still an awkward little shit, so I had this weird way of RPing with people via submissions and I’m glad they put up with me, or I probably wouldn’t be RPing properly nowadays. David was basically just a vague concept for a ghost, and I literally thought up the hivemind part midway through writing a reply. He’s basically evolved from there via muse interactions once I actually made a blog. He is the definition of winging it, because I had absolutely no plans for him.

Danny @goldheartedrobotics (yes he’s still there): Danny is basically my childhood muse. I came up with him well before David when I was about 14, and WAY too into FNAF. I’m aware he’s not incredibly original - he was much less so back when I first made him. But me meant too much to me for me to scrap him once I grew out of FNAF, so I decided to try and remake him. He’s still not a perfect character and has a lot of that FNAF fan OC left in him (especially his design), but he’s still my little boy and he’s made me happy in times when very little else did.

Klauvis: Klauvis comes from an old idea for a webcomic me and a friend had. It’s about an Underworld that’s basically one giant city which is a corporatocracy, and four corporations own everything. We still develop and talk about it to this day, but Klauvis is the epicentre of the whole thing. He was originally a fusion of David and one of my friend’s characters (hence the design similarities), but we got so attached to him as a separate character that we created Klauvis, and the universe developed from there. He’s technically co-owned, as is that whole universe, but my friend doesn’t use Tumblr anymore so I just RP him on here.

Sirus @antagonistic-arsonist: Sirus basically took over my brain about a year ago. I used to DM these very hodge-podge D&D games on Roll20, and I had no idea what I was doing but I loved creating all these characters and lore and stories. Sirus is a pretty central character in the main D&D universe I have, and I basically made him one day and got extremely attached. Now, he’s almost all I draw and the only character I really have consistent motivation for. I’m not complaining though, I love him.

what  are  your  favorite  aspects  of  your  current  muse :I For ‘current muse’, I’ll answer for two because there’s both Klauvis who I reblogged this to, and Sirus who I would more consider my ‘current muse’.

Klauvis: I love how silly he is. I love writing his unique blend of ‘illogically logical’ and all the dumb stuff he does, but also how there is that underlying actually emotional aspect to him that I’m so glad I got to actually express (thank you @littlexbluexflame). Even though I may not have all the motivation for it, I can’t lie that Klauvis is my favourite muse to write.

Sirus @antagonistic-arsonist: Plain and simple, I like writing asshole characters. I love writing snark. I love roasting people. Sirus is a canvas for me to project my edge, but there is (similarly to Klauvis) a whole underlying element to Sirus in his being possessed and having his personality effectively muffled and directed by the entity inside him. I know he’s VERY edgy, and I do try to play it off as fake edge where he’s just taking himself way too seriously, but I flat out think Sirus is just cool.

what’s  your  biggest  inspiration  when  it  comes  to  writing : Hard to say right now seeing as my inspiration has kinda fallen into a big hole, but one of my biggest inspirations and joys of RPing is seeing how other characters might react to certain things, and the stories that certain scenarios or reactions might create. Obviously it’s not all about getting reactions, I am genuinely here to create fun interactions with characters, but I gotta admit I’m a DM/Games Designer at heart, I thrive on seeing what people think of my stuff, and I get a lot more joy out of reading a reply than writing one.

favorite  types  of  threads : While I don’t typically go for the big emotional, dramatic threads, I certainly still enjoy them. Personally though, I feel I’m a lot simpler in that I love writing cool sitations or scenarios. Obviously the character depths compliment that and I have no problem with two characters simply talking it out, but if I was forced to choose, I would pick an action-y, exciting thread over a slow, emotional one.

biggest  struggle  in  regards  to  your  current  muse : Same as before, gonna split it in two for the definition of ‘current muse’.

Klauvis: While I love writing all his aggressive curiosity and silly science stuff, that’s in part why I sometimes struggle with him, or thinking of plot ideas for him. He’s very singularly minded a lot of the time, and while I can certainly think of a thousand different things he could be doing, sometimes it’s hard to work those in with other characters, and in the event a character is notably ‘unique’, it’s hard to honestly justify Klauvis not just attempting to kidnap and aggressively Do Science on them out of his overwhelming curiosity. He’s obsessed with his scientific pursuits to the point it’s hard to get him to do other stuff realistically.

Sirus @antagonistic-arsonist: Sirus is an asshole. It’s literally in his blog name. He is molded to be hostile to almost anyone and everyone, and while that might open up a lot of room for snarky remarks, witty comebacks and general dickery, it also makes getting him to interact with anyone a pain because he is designed to be unlikeable in many aspects. If someone was able to actually befriend Sirus, that would probably be my FAVOURITE thread ever because it would allow me to do all the cool stuff I love doing with Sirus without the weight of him having to be so hostile to everyone. I want someone to break the mold of hostility with him and actually become the closest thing to friends someone can with him, because I think it could make for a really interesting relationship.

tagged by: @littlexbluexflame​​

tagging: Y’all (jus do it)

[aion-rsa]

Demon’s Souls Review

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

You don’t walk away from a game like Demon’s Souls without a few good stories to share. When I think back on my time with the PS5 remake, two moments that occurred fairly early on in the game spring to mind. 

The first happened when I unlocked the door to one of the game’s first bosses. Excited by my progress, I ran down a stairwell to a nearby shortcut, took a wrong turn, and fell to my death. I could have easily walked into the boss room from the respawn point, but I was determined to retrieve my lost souls. Because I had died before actually unlocking the next shortcut, that meant having to risk going through the entire level again. It was ultimately a point of pride, and in a Soulslike game, pride and headlong actions are what get you killed. Ultimately, I decided to take the risk. 

I made my way back to the spot where I had died. Just before I opened the nearby shortcut, I viewed a note that another player had left by the door. It read: “I’m proud of you.” It was a stock message likely meant for those who had just unlocked the first boss, but at that moment, it felt like a personal bit of support in a game that is otherwise notorious for its cruelty. 

Stories such as that are fairly common in Soulslike games. However, the next moment I remember is fairly unique to this next-gen title. It happened when I was walking down a tight corridor packed with enemies wielding crossbows. As I slowly made my way towards them using my shield to block the incoming bolts, I felt my controller rumble. Specifically, I felt the very bottom of my PS5 DualSense rumble. As the threat neared, the console’s haptic feedback sent the vibrations further up the controller. I realized what was happening just quickly enough to turn around and watch a cluster of boulders bowl me over. 

That’s what you get with the PS5 remake of Demon’s Souls: a next-gen version of one of the most important games ever made that impresses with its technical advancements, even as it leaves you wondering whether its developers relied a bit too much on the fundamental appeal of this genre and not enough on their own creative input. 

As you probably know, Demon’s Souls is a remake of the 2009 PS3 game that (spiritual predecessors aside) gave birth to the Soulslike Action RPG genre. The remake is developed by Bluepoint Games, who you may know as the team behind the stunningly beautiful Shadow of the Colossus remake.

And that’s where any breakdown of Demon’s Souls must start: the graphics. Even if you typically don’t care about graphics, you’re going to be blown away by Demon’s Souls. The game certainly impresses from a raw technical standpoint (you can really see where all those teraflops went), but what really matters are the ways that the PS5’s power lets you appreciate the timeless beauty of FromSoftware’s artistic direction. Fans have long praised Demon’s Souls for its Gothic architecture and macabre aesthetic, but this remake makes it easier than ever to appreciate how even the game’s darkest corners were carefully designed to display a twisted sense of beauty. 

In terms of visuals, I’d go so far as to call Demon’s Souls the only real next-gen game on the market. It could be months before we see a PS5 or Xbox Series X title that comes close to challenging its visual presentation. 

That’s hardly the only way that the power of next-gen gaming improves Demon’s Souls. The PS5’s SSD eliminates Demon’s Souls‘ often crippling load times, which isn’t just a great quality of life improvement but makes soul and resource farming far more efficient. The DualSense controller adds an extra layer of immersion to the experience, while the PS5’s Command Center offers unique challenges for certain battles which allow series veterans to flex their abilities and creative muscles.

Release Date: Nov. 12, 2020 Platform: PS5 Developer: Bluepoint Games Publisher: PlayStation Studios Genre: Action RPG 

The PS5 remake of Demon’s Souls is, in the ways that matter most, the best version of the game, but that still leaves us with the question of why you should care about Demon’s Souls in the first place. 

Well, aside from its historical significance, there are many fans who consider Demon’s Souls to be FromSoftware’s best game. While much of that praise is rightfully reserved for the title’s art direction (which, again, shines brighter than ever in this visual masterpiece), others say that Demon’s Souls features some of the best Soulslike gameplay. 

That last point is going to depend on your preferences. If you jumped into the Soulslike genre with Bloodborne, Sekiro, or Nioh, you’re going to find the action in Demon’s Souls much slower than you’re used to. More of an emphasis is placed on deliberately studying your opponents and playing defensively until the perfect time for attack presents itself. While magic users and some melee builds will be able to play a bit more aggressively, Demon’s Souls just isn’t designed to support that more active style of combat that has defined modern Soulslike games. 

Personally, I prefer this slower style. At the heart of most Souslike games is a trial and error component which rewards persistence and forces you to learn the language of every encounter in order to survive. Faster-paced Soulslike games are absolutely capable of capturing that element, but there’s something to be said for how Demon’s Souls‘ more methodical combat really lets you savor the carefully constructed dance of every battle. It’s a better representation of the ways that the genre’s challenges so often come down to your ability to recognize and execute on an opportunity. 

Yes, Demon’s Souls is often as difficult as this series’ reputation would lead you to believe it is, but I’m struck by how balanced much of this game feels. A big part of the credit there has to go to the game’s character building and equipment systems. There are some builds that are “better” (or more optimized) than others, but generally speaking, it’s easy to build your character based on your preferences rather than what you assume the game wants you to do. Some paths are more difficult than others, but even the act of getting there against overwhelming odds can be fun in and of itself. 

The fact of the matter is that Demon’s Souls has, in most respects, aged remarkably well in the 11 years since its release. Yet, it’s that very quality that raises questions about whether or not Bluepoint really maximized its opportunities with this remake. 

There is new content in the Demon’s Souls remake, despite what popular perception would lead you to believe. There’s a new character builder, new items, fresh mechanics, New Game+ options, and even new music that is remarkably just as beautiful as the game’s legendary original score. This is not just a strict remake of the original game with better graphics. But it’s easy to see how someone would walk away from this game believing that to be the. From enemy locations to attack patterns, many of Demon’s Souls‘ core mechanics are identical to the ones found in the original game. If you played the original, you’re going to know exactly what to do during your first playthrough of the game.

Is that a problem? That depends on who you ask, but there were times when I was begging for Bluepoint to take the wheel and make this game its own. Namely, there was a part of me that wondered what would happen if Bluepoint had remade Demon’s Souls as more of a Metroidvania-esque experience without the game’s hub world, or if the team had just added a couple of new enemies where you weren’t expecting them. These additions would undoubtedly be called blasphemous by longtime fans and purists, but the point is that Demon’s Souls and Shadow of the Colossus confirm that Bluepoint is one of gaming’s greatest restorative artists but we’ve yet to see what the studio’s team can do with a blank canvas. 

Whenever I felt that Demon’s Souls could have done more, though, I remembered the Old Monk boss fight. See, the Old Monk is a unique boss in Demon’s Souls which can actually be controlled by another player if they invade your world at the right time. It’s a brilliant use of the series’ PvP mechanics that has been incredibly difficult to properly experience in the years since Demon’s Souls‘ official servers went offline. Well, the remake lets you experience the proper version of the Old Monk boss fight, which also benefits from better visuals, enhanced controls, and a crystal clear soundtrack. It’s a nice touch.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Demon’s Souls resurrects a game that could have easily become a historical footnote overshadowed by its more popular successors. In the process, it also manages to get everyone excited about the potential of next-gen console gaming. It’s the best next-gen launch game and a damn good entry into the Soulslike genre.

The post Demon’s Souls Review appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[troybaking]

overture isn't where the anime ended, there's the lost canvas too you know, overture was a mistake that itself shouldn't even be considered to have ever happened, just imagine like it was never made because the creator said he hated the movie, and wants people to forget about it

I know about the Lost Canvas and another part called "Omega"?, I know that both are from Masami Kurumada's mangas, and since I've been a fan of saint seiya ever since I have memory I tried to watch some episodes of the lost canvas, I like the animation, and the new voices of that some characters have are ok, I heard something about Kurumada not liking how Overture came out and how there wasn't really a lot of excitement over this movie because I read that the anime wasn't doing good after the Hades saga and the ratings of the movie itself weren't too big that he decided to cancel it and instead carried on with the lost canvas, I know he wasn't very fond of the anime as well seeing how the anime ignored some important stuff from the manga, and I know that he also hated how some features of many characters were changed, like athena's hair being purple for example, or orpheo's hair being blue, but overture still hits me. I don't have a problem with the lost canvas, it looks good and the changes aren't really any problem for me, but it doesn't fully feel like saint seiya, I watched about 2 or 3 episodes because I couldn't really get attached, I know Overture is a piece that Kurumada doesn't want it to be a part of the franchise, but it is part of the Original Anime's timeline weather Kurumada likes it or not and i can't look at it as if it's something that didn't happen, that's why for me that's where Saint Seiya ended and I still see the Anime as something Unfinished. I understand why he cancelled it after not doing too well in Japan, but I highly wished that he kept it going, at least for those who still felt passionate about the main franchise, In my case, I liked it no matter how irritating it was, I liked Apollo, I liked Artemis, and I saw potential in the Saga as well as the 2 characters, high potential that was lost and les to nowhere because the saga was cancelled, and that's why i just horribly break down and only watched the movie about 2 times, you know?, I think it could've been a good chapter, mostly knowing as well now how everything was supposed to unfold. Kurumada is a mess, because i think the Lost Canvas was supossed to have a third part but he's working on another project (?). It's like he doesn't care about giving the anime a proper finale because if he does a project and people don't like it, he moves on with ANOTHER project about Saint Seiya twisting the storyline more than before like "oh you don't like how this came out? Well, then forget this was ever made, how about i make a prequel to fix the issue and mess up the anime even more?" It's ridiculous, and he doesn't even realise that he in a way is turning more people off his own work because he doesn't end it and instead makes more prequels and sequels where some characters names and storylines are changed (Like Aicos and Minos from the Inferno Saga) and leaves the anime hanging without a proper ending, you know? It's really frustrating and a shame he didn't continue the Tenkai Hen Saga because he only focused on those who gave up on the franchise over those who still liked the ORIGINAL Anime (back then) than to the mess of what it has become now. And another things is too: if The Lost Canvas is supposed to take time before the Inferno chapter or the Hades (Sanctuary) one, the anime STILL HAS NO PROPER ENDING, why?, because when the Inferno or the Elyseos chapter ends the fate of some characters are left in blank, does seiya remains in a coma?, where does Athena and the other saints line up?, what happens with the Golden saints?, the ending would be open to interpretation when it shouldn't be because it deserves an ending that explains everything, and Kurumada screwed it up by disowning the Tenkai-Hen Saga and instead give Netflix the rights to make an absolutely GARBAGE of a remake that only shits on the original anime and makes it look unworthy of watching when it's really a good anime.

[canvaswolfdoll]

Canvas and Video Games

Have I talked about my Video Game history? Feels like I have, but I also can’t remember doing so. I’m also running low on possible essay topics, and haven’t finished off any media that I can review[1] recently enough to do that instead…

So, hey, you nerds, let’s talk about Video Games!

Because that’s obviously been a massive influence on my life, what with… my entire brand, really. Egads, am I a nerd, sitting here with a New 3DS in a charging cradle in front of me, trying to work out how to do better quality streams and deciding to write an essay about Video Games.

It all started with my brother, old Foxface himself. As the family lore goes, my parents once didn’t want video games in the house, what with… the social stigma, I guess? It was different times, alright?

Point is, my brother’s speech teacher was all ‘Hey, you know what may help with speech? Video Games! Get him video games.’

And so my parents did, despite any reasonable connection or evidence in the above argument.[2]

So they bought him the Sega Genesis, the only non-Nintendo console we’ve ever owned. He played Sonic the Hedgehog! Also… no. It was mostly just Sonic.

Obviously young Canvas was also interested in the wonder of interactive media, and the running rodent, so I’d watch him play, and occasionally step in as Tails or try to play it myself. And I was terrible at it.

Eventually, the Nintendo 64 was released and added to our fleet of hardware, and we never looked back! Ha ha!

That’s the console that we really cut our teeth on, with it’s many beloved games, from Mario 64, Star Fox 64, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (first Zelda game I was ever aware of), and so on and so forth. We ended up with most of the major releases.[3] Also Mischief Makers for some reason.

It was also the height of Video Rental stores, though I never got to choose games to rent. Vulpin stuck with Space Station Silicon Valley which… might deserve an HD Remake, to be honest. Such a bizarre premise people would eat up, nowadays.

The Game Boy Color arrived, carrying Pokemon and various shovelware, plus a few Zelda Games. Tried my best with them, but for the longest time I never actually completed a video game, or got that far, though I did finish Johto in Gold, which is something.

Gamecube came out, the Dreamcast died, and I began to become aware of the surrounding culture as my capabilities to use the internet matured. We also continued a trend of our person game libraries for the generation growing larger than the last. Lots of GameCube games.

Animal Crossing was a Christmas gift early in the cycle, and it was the first video game all of the kids in the family played, to various extents. Elder Sister was her usual perfectionist self, paid off her house, then pretty much stopped playing video games forever afterwards. Little Sister still plays the occasional game (mostly Paper Mario), but largely it’s just Foxface and I who are deep into the gaming scene.

But, like so many things, tracking each and every experience would be a rather sisyphean task, so I should try and refocus here.

Video Games have always been a presence in my life, and thus had its effects on my creative self, from imaginary friends to the little stories I’d crafted pacing the backyard. They were my chief insight into narratives and various genres, design (whether costume or set or mechanical). Nintendo Power helped educate me on the concept of news and industry, as well as the community that could grow from a hobby.

In fact, Pokemon was the main driving force behind the event I joke is the time I’ve ever made friends myself,[4] being approached while reading a book related to the franchise during second grade. It was nice.

Learning about the internet and GameFAQs hinted towards the wider world and culture, and eventually I came upon 8-Bit Theater, which fired up my love of comics in a big way. Comics and stories made from and about elements of video games? That’s so cool!

Then Nintendo Acres happened.

The diminishing use of quality sprite work in video games makes me sad, by the way. There’s just something about the GBA/DS era graphics that invokes joy in my heart, by now even Pokemon has left sprite work behind for models, and even kitschy independent games tend for the super minimalistic version of 8-bit and… whatever one would refer to Atari graphics. Had I artistic talent, I would slather my media in 16-bit evocative of Friends of Mineral Town or The World Ends with You.

In fact, I think that’s one of my main hurdles getting invested in Stardew Valley[5] and Undertale. They just look ugly, even by the standards of kitschy 8-bit style. Frisk is malformed, and all the Stardew characters are in the wrong perspective for the rest of the world. Sprite work can be so beautiful, and yet no one puts in the effort anymore.

Look, sprites aren’t the only aesthetic I love, just so we’re clear. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, I just prefer bright, cheery worlds. Tale of Symphonia is one of my favorite games, if not my absolute number one.[6] There’s just something very nice about a fantasy world that looks lush and vibrant, where you’d be happy to live just for the scenery. The Tales series and Rune Factory also made me very positive about oddly intricate characters in fantasy. I’ve never liked the dirt covered fantasy of… let’s say Skyrim. Fantasy should be about escapism, grand adventure in grand landscapes, not the crushing reality of medieval times.

More Ghibli, less brown is what I want in general.

I may be an oddball for the elements I look for in video games. I like RPGs (obviously) but there’s very few members of the genre I actually enjoy. I flat-out can’t stand western Video Game RPGs.

What I usually look for in games is both a compelling narrative and interesting mechanics, with allowance for the ‘Classics’ and trendsetters.[7] This is something I find lacking in Western-Style RPGs, with their focus on customizing and granular stat advancement. Sure, I understand someone’s desire to try and put a popular character in an Elder Scrolls, or place some curious limitation on themselves while crawling around Fallout’s wastelands.

But because the game needs to allow the player to make whoever they want, it severely cripples the writer’s ability to write the “main” character into the plot, lest they step on the agency of the player. So, from my perspective, we end up in one of two situations: the PC is a non-entity in the plot, with the narrative happening around and to them instead of with them. Or, we get a Mass Effect situation, where they treat it like Choose Your Own Adventure, and you end up shooting a dude when you thought you were just going to arrest him.[8] That’s why I much prefer being handed a protagonist with a history and personality.

Now, those familiar with my tabletop philosophies, and namely my disdain for randomized Character Gen because it takes away player agency might be tilting their head at this inconsistency.

Well, it’s a scale thing. I realize Video Games have a limitation, and thus it’s unreasonable to expect it to cater to you completely. Tabletop, however, allows endless narrative possibilities, because it’s being created in the moment. So, with Video Games, I’m more willing to just let the story take me along as an observer, like a TV Show.

Which is to say, I don’t really project on the Player Character, and am I happy with that. It’s a division between game and story that may seem odd, but it’s what I look for: every piece having a narrative purpose, especially the loser who’s carrying us on our back.

So, narratively, I prefer the style of JRPGs (also, I like Anime and it’s tropes, so…). Yet, I have never really gotten engrossed in any Final Fantasy Game, because list combat is very dull. I mean, grindy, set the auto-attack against opponent style of Western RPGs[10] aren’t much better, but at least it’s got a hint of visual interest.

What am I left with? For a while, Tales of Symphonia, but now I’ve got Rune Factory, with it’s rather simple combat, but still mostly fun (helped along by other elements), and especially Fire Emblem, which what I wish battlemat D&D combat could be: quick, clever, strategic.

Though I’ve only played the 3DS installments thus far, due to lack of accessibility to the early games, which I couldn’t be bothered to try when they were released. Did try the first GBA game to be ported over, but that ended up having the worst, most micromanaging tutorial I’ve ever seen, and thus I am incapable of completing the first level.

I know how to play video games, Fire Emblem. I am aware of the base concept of pressing A. Yeesh. You’re worse than modern Harvest Moon games!

I’ve also never gotten invested in military FPSs, as a mixture of finding the gameplay boring, difficulty mastering it, and mockery whenever I was roped into playing one with friends.[11] In general, I don’t like being in first person view, as I find it limiting to controls, and responding to things that get behind me is annoying, because I flail trying to find the source of damage, then die.

Though, with time, my avoidance has decreased. Portal has a first person camera, but in a mixture of a more puzzle focused game and excellent integration of tutorial into gameplay,[12] it takes an agitating limited camera and makes it very workable, while also teaching the player how to interact with a game in first person.

I also played a little Team Fortress 2, and now Overwatch. The difference with those two over, say, Modern Duty or whatever, is the tone. The two games are competitive, yes, but also light hearted and goofy. Death is cheap and non punishing, the addition of powers make character choice widely different and fun, and, when I do get a little frustrated, it’s very easy for me to take a breath say ‘It’s only a game’ and let it go. Which is important when playing video games, sometimes.

Because that’s what games should always be: entertainment. It’s why I don’t try and force myself through games I’m not enjoying or lose interest in (though obviously I do try and come back and finish the plot) and why I very rarely strive for 100% completion. Because I want to enjoy myself, not engage in tedious work.

It’s also why I don’t care about ESports. Because I don’t care about sports. People doing something very well doesn’t really appeal to me. High-level chess players aren’t interesting to watch or study, seeing two teams of muscled people charge one another isn’t fun, and fight scenes with the usual punching and kicking is dull.

Because, what I look for in most cases is novelty.

Seeing a master craftsman make a thing once can be interesting, just to see the process. See a master craftsman make the same thing a 100 times is uninteresting, because nothing new is happening. When it comes to sports and games, it’s more interesting to see novices play, because they mess up in interesting ways, spot and solve problems, and you get to sit back and go ‘Now, I would’ve done this.’

So, yeah, not a big fan of Counterstrike and League of Legends news, even besides the toxic communities.

Public perception of video games turned rather quick in my lifetime. It used to be such a niche hobby, enjoyed by nerds and children and so such. Yet… well times change, don’t they? Obviously children grew up and brought games along with them, but the hobby has expanded to become mainstream, a console being as necessary as a television, where those without are viewed as bizarre, despite it not being a physical need.[13] We all remember the children who noted their family doesn’t have a TV (or keep it in the closet), and I wonder if XBoxes have gained the same traction.[14]

If only tabletop games could get the same treatment.

Though I still wouldn’t be able to find a group, but still…

Now that I’m an employed adult, I have even more control over the games I play. Which means a Wii U and a custom built PC.

That I built myself, because I also enjoyed Lego as a child.

Between the two, I tend to have a wide enough net to catch the games that interest me. Sure, there’s still some PlayStation exclusives I’d love to try (Journey, Team ICO’s works, plenty of Tales games…)[15] but some of those games are slowly drifting over to Steam, and I already have a backlog, so I can wait it out.

That’s my stumbled musings about video games… Oh! I stream them! Over here! Watch me! I love to entertain and amuse!

Also maybe consider supporting me through patreon? Then I can put more resources into being amusing!

And share any thoughts you have. I’ll listen. Until then…

Kataal kataal.

[1] Did finish rereading Yotsuba&! but there’s nothing to say about besides “Read it!” [2] Certainly didn’t help me. [3] Though not Harvest Moon 64. One day, I will slay that whale. One day… [4] The rest are inherited after old friends leave. [5] Someone on Reddit commented its port to the Switch may help scratch the itch left by Rune Factory. They are, of course, dreadfully wrong. [6] I still dislike do rankings. [7] IE, I’m not a big fan of hallway-bound FPS games, but have played through the Half-Life series. Mostly for the connection to Portal. [8] I know it was in the ‘Renegade’ position, but I thought it’d be played as ‘I’ll risk losing the Shadow Broker to book this small fish’ sort of thing. I’m not very clever, okay?[9] [9] I actually never progressed much further than that. Perhaps it’ll be on CanvasPlays someday. [10] I don’t care if you have a list of subversions of this style, by the way. I really don’t. [11] I once annoyed a former friend for not knowing there’s an aim button. I didn’t know this, because I don’t play FPSs. [12] There’s a very nice Extra Credits about this somewhere. [13] Though as a cultural need… [14] Nintendo Consoles, of course and unfortunately, being considered the off-brand. [15] the PS3 port of Tides of Destiny. Yes, it’s a disgrace of a Rune Factory game, and it was also on the wii but… well, sometimes I’m an insane collector![16] [16] I don’t even need a PS3. I can get it used for, like, five bucks from GameStop…