Gaming Firsts!

As y’all are probably aware by now, when I start following someone’s blog, I make it a point to try to read all of their posts, past and present. The problem is, I am painfully slow at doing this and constantly playing catch up. With that being said, recently I stumbled upon a post written in 2015 by Cilla vs. Games about her gaming firsts, and I thought it would be a fun post to do! She had written this post in honor of National Video Games Day, which is cool. Anyway! Here are a few of my Gaming Firsts! 😉

The First Game I Remember Owning and Playing

This honor goes to Tetris for the Nintendo Game Boy! I’ve written about this before, but the gist of it is… I saw an advertisement for the Game Boy on tv, told my mom I wanted one, and what do you know? On Christmas, I had my very own Game Boy, which came bundled with Tetris! I LOVED to play Tetris so much, and it remains one of my favorite puzzle games to this day.

The First Game I Spent More Than 100 Hours On

Well, back in my day (haha, I’m old) there wasn’t a whole plethora of games and systems to choose from like there is now! I pretty much grew up playing my Game Boy and Super Nintendo only… unless I went to a friend’s house that had a different system! Because of that, I played some of the same games over and over, and I Loved. Every. Second! With that being said, I bet you I put over 100 hours into Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo. I’d beat the game, erase it, and start over constantly. I spent hours looking for every hidden bonus and memorizing every level. It was an obsession.

The First Game I Played Online

I’ve never been a big online gamer- neither solo nor multiplayer. So I’m really trying to think of a game I played online, and the best I can come up with is some website I used to get onto with my husband (then boyfriend/fiance) back in like 2003 or 2004. It was a neat website with lots of different games you could play against people, but I can’t remember the name of the website. All I know is that our user name was FishPatty. Who knows what we were smoking when we came up with that name!

The First Game I Obtained The Platinum Trophy For

LOL welll…. I don’t really go after achievements in games. Too much of a hassle in most cases, plus I’m just not that talented. Can I just answer this question with the first game I ever 100% completed?… Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars for the Super Nintendo! I had everyone in my party with max stats, I found every hidden treasure box, I did every little sidequest… it remains one of my great gaming achievements to this day 😉

The First Game That I Played With Someone Else

I played video games with my friends down the street a lot when we were growing up, but the first game I have explicit memories of playing was Kirby’s Dream Course for the Super Nintendo. My friend Jason and I would spend HOURS playing the two player courses and laughing our asses off at our misfortunes. Good times!

The First Game That I Purchased DLC For 

As a rule, I generally don’t purchase DLC because the whole concept of it annoys me to no end. With that being said, there are a few exceptions to that rule, such as if I think said DLC really adds a lot of value to the existing game and it is a decent price. I’m pretty sure the first (and one of the only) times I paid for DLC was when all the extra content was introduced for Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U. I think there were 8 new tracks, 6 new characters, a few new kart parts, and a bunch of new colors for Yoshi and Shy Guy (so each new color could almost be considered a new character). It seemed like a lot of new stuff for like $11, so I bit the bullet and paid for it.

P.S. Sorry the picture above is so shitty, I couldn’t really find a good one for some reason? Plus, I’m lazy, so if I can’t find it right away, forget it!

The First Game That I Streamed

I have never streamed a game in my life- I’m not cool enough nor good enough for any of that mess.

So there you have it! A few of my gaming firsts. It was fun answering these questions!

My Top 10 Games From the 2010s!

Back in December 2019, the Well-Red Mage posted his top 10 games from the 2010s. I thought this was a fun read and wanted to make a post of my own about it- so here I am, halfway through the first year of the new decade, finally making this post! Haha! Anyway, let’s jump right in and see what I can come up with! I don’t remember shit about what year games came out, so I had to look up lists of games released for each year.

2010

Donkey Kong Country Returns- Nintendo Wii

It’s no secret around here that Donkey Kong Country is one of my favorite game series ever. So when DKC Returns came out in 2010, 14 years after the last proper DKC game, I was thrilled beyond words. It’s super fun and challenging!

2011

Kirby’s Return to Dream Land- Nintendo Wii

Kirby always makes me happy. Do I really even need to explain more?

2012

Nintendo Land- Nintendo Wii U

I had a hard time picking a game from 2012. The names on the lists I was looking at all blurred together and I couldn’t pick one out from the lineup that really called to me. I settled on Nintendo Land, because when my husband bought me a Nintendo Wii U for my birthday in 2013, we played this game quite a bit and it was really fun!

2013

Animal Crossing: New Leaf- Nintendo 3DS

A new Animal Crossing game was released in 2013… how could any other game be chosen but this one? I love New Leaf so much and played the hell out of it!

2014

Disney Magical World- Nintendo 3DS

I didn’t learn about this game until several years after its release- even if I saw it, I probably just passed it right on by based on the fact that it had “Disney” in the title and I’m not a huge Disney fan. But this game is so fun! It’s got a lot going on and has a lot of things to do to keep you entertained for awhile. I loved it so much I got the sequel, though I have yet to try it.

2015

Yoshi’s Woolly World- Nintendo Wii U

OMG this game… I just think about this game and smile! It was so cute and charming and so much fun to play! I loved everything about it!

2016

Kirby: Planet Robobot

This is one of my favorite Kirby games! I loved all the different levels, loved the Robobot armor, loved the music- I remember I pre-ordered the game from GameStop because I wanted some sweet trading cards that came with it. I started playing the game “just to try it out” and ended up playing it until I beat it, haha!

2017

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild- Nintendo Switch

It was honestly really hard for me to choose between this game and Super Mario Odyssey, because I love them both. I’ve also beaten Mario, but have barely scratched the surface of Zelda. I ended up picking Zelda because I’m in awe of how huge the game is and how many different ways you can do whatever it is you want to do. It’s amazing, plus the visuals are beautiful. I suck at it and am dying/getting lost constantly, but I don’t even care!

2018

Kirby Star Allies- Nintendo Switch

Another one of my favorite Kirby games! So much love went into this game, and I appreciated the free updates that were released for awhile that added a ton more content to the game!

2019

Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn- Nintendo 3DS

This game is cozy, sweet, and a wonderful remake of the Wii game Kirby’s Epic Yarn, with some extra goodies thrown in. What’s not to love!

So there you have it… some of my favorite games of the last decade! I realize that I chose all Nintendo games, and several of them are Kirby games… I’m a tad predictable, but I’m pretty easy to please, and I picked games I’ve had tons of fun with- regardless of where they landed on the charts! 🙂

Five Games For A Year!

Back in October 2019, The Gaming Diaries did an interesting post answering the question “For one whole year, you are only allowed to play 5 different games… what are those 5 games?” This got me thinking of what five games I would choose for myself… let’s see if I can narrow it down! In no particular order, the games I choose are:

1. Animal Crossing (Nintendo GameCube)

Of course an Animal Crossing game would be on this list! I realize that the GCN version of Animal Crossing is a bit stripped down compared to later entries, but for me, the original is still the best! I spent countless hours lost in this game, and I love it!

2. Donkey Kong Country (Super Nintendo)

Like with Animal Crossing, the first DKC doesn’t have quite as much content as later entries in the series, but this is the game that holds the most nostalgia for me. I’ve beaten it so many times I’ve lost count, and I still love to replay it. In fact, I’ve got it downloaded on my Nintendo 2DS and play a level before bed to unwind sometimes!

3. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch)

This game probably made many people’s top 5 lists, and I can see why. There is so much to do, so many different directions to go, so many quests to complete… this game will probably take me forever to finally finish up, and I’m totally okay with that!

4. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Super Nintendo)

I’m ashamed that somehow my favorite game of all time didn’t pop into my head first while thinking of games for this list- oops! This game won’t ever be boring to me, no matter how many times I’ve played through the story. I love it!

5. The Sims (PC)

There’s a theme with my list here, isn’t there? Even though other Sims entries have way more content, the first one is still my favorite. I actually love it for its simplicity and directness. There’s so many different things you can do with The Sims, so it would be a great choice for this challenge!

There you have it! Aside from Breath of the Wild, all my other games are around 20+ years old… so I guess that means I’m a total creature of habit. It’s not that I don’t like newer games, but most of my favorites are rooted in the past. Am I getting old? Maybe. Now get the fuck off my lawn and let me play my old games in peace! 😉

I Took A Gamer Motivation Profile Quiz!

Back in August, Angie of Backlog Crusader wrote a post about a Gamer Motivation Profile by Quantic Foundry. Apparently you take a survey and it gives you results based on how you play games, and what motivates you to play them! I thought it seemed interesting, so I wanted to take the survey to see if it was accurate or full of shit. Here’s my results:

So what does this fancy little graph mean? I’ll post what the website said, then add my own thoughts in bold. So let’s start with my highest percentiles and work my way down…

The Action Components (83%)

Gamers with high Action scores are aggressive and like to jump in the fray and be surrounded by dramatic visuals and effects. Gamers with low Action scores prefer slower-paced games with calmer settings.

I don’t know… I wouldn’t really consider myself an “aggressive” gamer!

Destruction (97%): Gamers who score high on this component are agents of chaos and destruction. They love having many tools at their disposal to blow things up and cause relentless mayhem. They enjoy games with lots of guns and explosives. They gravitate towards titles like Call of Duty and Battlefield. And if they accidentally find themselves in games like The Sims, they are the ones who figure out innovative ways to get their Sims killed.

LMAO… there was a couple questions that asked if I liked to blow stuff up and destroy stuff, and I said yes… I mean, part of the fun of games is seeing how you can interact with your environment! That doesn’t mean I’m always playing shooters and games like that… as a matter of fact, I don’t even really like Call of Duty much (it’s just okay to me) and I’ve never even played Battlefield! I do like to see how I can kill off Sims characters from time to time though, haha!

Excitement (34%): Gamers who score high on this component enjoy games that are fast-paced, intense, and provide a constant adrenaline rush. They want to be surprised. They want gameplay that is full of action and thrills, and rewards them for rapid reaction times. While this style of gameplay can be found in first-person shooters like Halo, it can also be found in games like Street Fighter and Injustice, as well as energetic platformers like BIT.TRIP RUNNER.

Eh… I like fast-paced games, but not as much as I used to. I have arthritis and sometimes my brain works faster than my hands, plus my hands get fatigued quicker. These games are better in short bursts!

The Creativity Components (57%)

Gamers with high Creativity scores are constantly experimenting with their game worlds and tailoring them with their own designs and customizations. Gamers with low Creativity scores are more practical in their gaming style and accept their game worlds as they are.

Scoring in the mid-range is about right for me. I like to create and customize, but I don’t spend an inordinate amount of time doing so. Unless it’s in Animal Crossing… 

Discovery (55%): Gamers who score high on Discovery are constantly asking “What if?” For them, game worlds are fascinating contraptions to open up and tinker with. In an MMO, they might swim out to the edge of the ocean to see what happens. In MineCraft, they might experiment with whether crafting outcomes differ by the time of day or proximity to zombies. They “play” games in the broadest sense of the word, often in ways not intended or imagined by the game’s developers.

I mean… I guess this describes me to a point. I do like to push boundaries and see what I can do! 

Design (56%): Gamers who score high on this component want to actively express their individuality in the game worlds they find themselves in. In games like Mass Effect, they put a lot of time and effort in the character creation process. In city-building games or space strategy games, they take the time to design and customize exactly how their city or spaceships look. To this end, they prefer games that provide the tools and assets necessary to make this possible and easy to do.

I do like to customize my characters as much as I can! 

The Achievement Components (29%)

Gamers with high Achievement scores are driven to accrue power, rare items, and collectibles, even if this means grinding for a while. Gamers with low Achievement scores have a relaxed attitude towards in-game achievements and don’t worry too much about their scores or progress in the game.

 I feel like I’m pretty much in the middle with this one… I like finding collectibles, but only to a certain extent. Like in Super Mario Odyssey… I enjoy finding Power Moons everywhere, but if one of them is an extreme pain in the ass to get, I’ll skip it and move on. It does kind of aggravate me to just leave something alone like that, but whatever.

Completion (34%): Gamers with high Completion scores want to finish everything the game has to offer. They try to complete every mission, find every collectible, and discover every hidden location. For some players, this may mean completing every listed achievement or unlocking every possible character/move in a game. For gamers who score high on Design, this may mean collecting costumes and mounts in games like World of Warcraft.

I thought my score would be closer to the 50th percentile, but whatever. I like to uncover what I can up to a certain point, but if it becomes to annoying or grindy, I don’t feel like putting forth the effort.

Power (30%): Gamers who score high on this component strive for power in the context of the game world. They want to become as powerful as possible, seeking out the tools and equipment needed to make this happen. In RPGs and action games, this may mean maxing stats or acquiring the most powerful weapons or artifacts. Power and Completion often go hand in hand, but some players enjoy collecting cosmetic items without caring about power, and some players prefer attaining power through strategic optimization rather than grinding.

This is definitely true of me with RPGs… I like to have my characters as prepared as possible for what’s coming, even if it means taking longer to complete the game. 

The Immersion Components (14%)

Gamers with high Immersion scores want games with interesting narratives, characters, and settings so they can be deeply immersed in the alternate worlds created by games. Gamers with low Immersion scores are more grounded in the gameplay mechanics and care less about the narrative experiences that games offer.

This result is actually pretty weird… So as far as immersion is concerned, I scored pretty high on the fantasy component but pretty low on the story component. It’s pretty accurate though- I like to be swept away by my games and feel like I’m “in” that world, but I don’t dig story-heavy games with a lot of dialogue. 

Fantasy (76%): Gamers who score high on Fantasy want their gaming experiences to allow them to become someone else, somewhere else. They enjoy the sense of being immersed in an alter ego in a believable alternate world, and enjoy exploring a game world just for the sake of exploring it. These gamers enjoy games like Skyrim, Fallout, and Mass Effect for their fully imagined alternate settings.

I play video games to take me away from the real world, but immersion for me is very broad. I can be immersed in a complete alternate world such as Zelda, or I can be immersed in Tetris. Really depends on my mood!

Story (1%): Gamers who score high on Story want games with elaborate campaign storylines and a cast of multidimensional characters with interesting back-stories and personalities. They take the time to delve into the back-stories of characters in games like Dragon Age and Mass Effect, and enjoy the elaborate and thoughtful narratives in games like The Last of Us and BioShock. Gamers who score low on Story tend to find dialogue and quest descriptions to be distracting and skip through them if possible.

Not surprised about being in the 1st percentile here! I like the stories in games, but at the same time, I’m not a huge fan of long narratives. In fact, I’m probably in the minority here when I saw that I really don’t prefer voice acting… I just want to play the game, not hear you talk for an hour!

The Social Components (3%)

Gamers with high Social scores enjoy interacting with other players, often regardless of whether they are collaborating or competing with them. Gamers with low Social scores prefer solo gaming experiences where they can be independent.

This is spot on for me… as you can see, my score is pretty low. I prefer gaming by myself! I’ve always been that way. I enjoy playing with others from time to time, but mostly I just do my own thing.

Competition (7%): Gamers who score high on this component enjoy competing with other players, often in duels, matches, or team-vs-team scenarios. Competitive gameplay can be found in titles like Starcraft, League of Legends, or the PvP Battlegrounds in World of Warcraft. But competition isn’t always overtly combative; competitive players may care about being acknowledged as the best healer in a guild, or having a high ranking/level on a Facebook farming game relative to their friends.

Nope. I’m not particularly competitive.

Community (4%): Gamers who score high on Community enjoy socializing and collaborating with other people while gaming. They like chatting and grouping up with other players. This might be playing Portal 2 with a friend, playing Mario Kart at a party, or being part of a large guild/clan in an online game. They enjoy being part of a team working towards a common goal. For them, games are an integral part of maintaining their social network.

Absolutely not… I don’t enjoy being part of a clan, and chatting or socializing while playing doesn’t interest me much. Does that make me sound like a loner? Oh well, haha! I’d rather just do things myself instead of relying on a team.

The Mastery Components (2%)

Gamers with high Mastery scores like challenging gaming experiences with strategic depth and complexity. Gamers with low Mastery scores enjoy being spontaneous in games and prefer games that are accessible and forgiving when mistakes are made.

This is pretty spot on as well… I am not a fan of strategy games at all! I’ve tried but I just… my brain can’t concentrate enough to think 12 steps ahead, haha! 

Challenge (12%): Gamers who score high on Challenge enjoy playing games that rely heavily on skill and ability. They are persistent and take the time to practice and hone their gameplay so they can take on the most difficult missions and bosses that the game can offer. These gamers play at the highest difficulty settings and don’t mind failing missions repeatedly in games like Dark Souls because they know it’s the only way they’ll master the game. They want gameplay that constantly challenges them.

I like to practice and hone my gameplay skills, but with most games, I don’t exactly enjoy dying over and over. There are exceptions, like with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. I keep dying in that game, but it’s okay because I’m learning different ways to approach situations! But when a game is brutally difficult just for the fuck of it, I don’t really enjoy it. 

Strategy (1%): Gamers who score high on this component enjoy games that require careful decision-making and planning. They like to think through their options and likely outcomes. These may be decisions related to balancing resources and competing goals, managing foreign diplomacy, or finding optimal long-term strategies. They tend to enjoy both the tactical combat in games like XCOM or Fire Emblem, as well as seeing their carefully-devised plans come to fruition in games like Civilization, Cities: Skylines, or Europa Universalis.

Yep, I knew I’d be very low in this one… 

So, how do I feel about my results? In some cases, I agree… I don’t like strategy games much, I don’t enjoy multiplayer, and long, drawn out dialogue annoys me. However, I don’t really get why I scored so high in the action/ destruction section simply because I answered “yes” to “Do you like to blow stuff up?”

I like many different types of games and genres, and when it all comes down to it… I just play whatever the hell I want to play. I may have certain preferences (platforming, simulation, etc.) but all that motivates me to play is… well, me. I don’t need a test to tell me what I like, regardless of “market research.”

 

Lovin’ My Backlog!

Back in February, the always awesome Lightning Ellen did a little post showing some love to her backlog, and encouraged others to do the same. Now, I’m no stranger to the backlog… I have an account on Backloggery keeping track of all my games and the progress (or lack thereof) that I’ve made with them! The number of games I have backlogged might be artificially inflated to some of you, because I also have listed all games in mini consoles I own as well as a bunch of mobile games. But hey, I figured it was important to list everything I have, not just games for the main console! In addition, I have all of my husband’s games listed… so yeah, there’s quite a few games I haven’t managed to play yet!

Anyway! For the sake of this post, I’m going to write about games that I have in my backlog that I have never played- not games I’ve played but haven’t beaten.

The State of My Backlog

Haha… Backloggery tells me I have 703 games I’ve never played! Oops! Remember, that number is greatly inflated due to games I haven’t played on mini consoles. I have a little tiny arcade console that has like 200 games on it, the Sega Genesis Flashback has 85 games on it, the Atari Flashback has 101 games on it, etc.! It’s easy to see why I haven’t tried all those games out yet. If you don’t count all those games, my number is probably somewhere closer to 300. Still a lot!

Most of the time I get games because I know for a fact it is something I like and will enjoy… but I also buy shit just because it’s cheap sometimes. GameStop had a period of time where they had a ton of Nintendo DS games for sale, and I probably bought like 20 of them for 99 cents- $2 each. Yep. I love games, what can I say?

Game most likely never to be played

Browsing through my list, I’m going to go with a game called Chaotic: Shadow Warriors for the Wii. I don’t even know what the hell this is or why I bought it. It must have been super cheap! I won’t say that I’ll NEVER play it, because I really do want to play all my games at some point, but it’ll be a long while before I get to it.

Shortest game

I’m going to choose Wheel of Fortune for the NES. I bought this a few years ago and still haven’t tested it. Too late to return it if it doesn’t work, I guess! Anyway, it probably won’t take too terribly long to get through a round of Wheel of Fortune, so there you go!

Longest game

I have a few lengthy RPGs in my backlog, but I think I’m going to go with Persona 4 Golden for the PS Vita. People easily sink 100 hours or more into Persona games, and I’ve been itching to play this one for awhile!

Game which has spent the most time on the backlog

Ha… probably Ranch Rush, I game I bought for the PC many years ago. So many years ago, it probably won’t even work at this point.

The person responsible for adding the most entries to your backlog

Though I have received many great suggestions, in the end, I have no one to blame but myself! 😉

There you have it- a little peak inside my robust backlog! Far from ashamed of it, I’m actually pretty proud of the game collection my husband and I have!! Now if only we could become millionaires and have a bunch of free time to just sit around and play games…

10 Things That Make Me Happy!

This is a big of a different style blogging tag, as it is not exclusively gaming related. I saw this tag back in April on the always- awesome blog of The Shameful Narcissist, and she left the tag open to anyone… so here I am, late to the party as usual! Hey, better 5 months late than never, right? 😉

Anyway, the whole point of this entry is simple: List 10 things that make you happy. Despite the fact that I think I am a bit of a realist and am often cynical (which some people see as me being pessimistic *rolls eyes*), I actually am pretty easy to please. I do look for the things that will make me happy, and I hold onto those things with an iron grip; in the end, those are the things that are most important. Besides, I don’t know when I’m going to croak, so I might as well focus on things that are enjoyable, right? Right! So here ya go: 10 thing that make me happy!

1. Family and Friends

Despite the fact that this is a numbered list, all the items are pretty much equal… except for this one! My family means the world to me, every single one of them. I was lucky enough to grow up in a fantastic (if not a bit unconventional) environment, and as a result am close to pretty much all of my family members. Of course, my husband is my family too, and I am grateful for him! With my husband came a whole new set of family members to get to know and enjoy, so when I say “family” here, I am referring to everyone on my side as well as everyone on his side 🙂

I also include friends here, because I do not have many friends. This is my choice… I choose to only have a handful of close friends over many acquaintances, because it just seems pointless to me to have so many people in my inner circle. I’m not really a social butterfly at all either, so my idea of friendship is often just texting, or chatting here on our blogs! 🙂

2. Video Games

Well, obviously! 😉 This blog wouldn’t exist if they didn’t make me happy! Video games are my #1 hobby, and they pretty much always have been. I play when I’m happy, when I’m sad, when I’m sick, when I need distraction… etc. I just LOOK at my video game collection, and I am happy.

3. Reading

Reading is also something that makes me very happy. I’ve always been a reader, too, and I enjoy picking up a book and being transported to a different world. For that reason, I prefer to read fiction, because I’d rather read some shit that is made up just for my entertainment!

4. Animals

I am a huge animal lover. I love most critters- from the fuzzy to the scaly to the furry and everything in between! (Just… not some insects, okay? I’m talking about roaches in particular- those disgusting fucks!) Just being around animals makes me more zen. I have several pets of my own, but I’ve often been told that I tend to spoil every animal that I know.

5. The beach/ pool

I’ve lived in Florida my entire life, so there’s always a beach or pool close by. When I lived at my grandparents’ house growing up, I could swim whenever I wanted since they had a pool! Anyway, I find that being out in the sunshine and near the water is very cathartic for me. If I could spend the entire day lounging on a raft, I would.

6. Music

I love listening to music! I do it quite often- when I’m driving, when I’m cleaning, when I’m reading… you get the picture. I’m sort of becoming an old fuddy duddy in the fact that I don’t like a lot of newer music that has come out recently- I like to stick to my old favorites! My favorite genres are heavy metal and hard rock along with some reggae, but there are songs that I like in pretty much every genre. A special shout out to punk rock for getting me through my teenage years! 😉

7. Horror/ Skulls/ Other Goth Stuff

I’ve always been drawn to the darkness, what can I say? 😉 I love horror movies and horror novels. The scarier, the better! I also love scary artwork. I’m endlessly fascinated by anything that goes bump in the night. And skulls? Skulls are my favorite. I have a lot of shirts and socks that have skulls on them, I have tons of skull jewelry… I even have a skull tattoo. I don’t know quite why the darkness fascinates me so much, but I just roll with it.

8. Writing

If writing didn’t make me happy, I wouldn’t be doing this blog, but anyway… I love sitting down with a good old fashioned pen and paper and seeing what kind of crazy ideas I can come up with. Problem is, I am the absolute worst at finishing anything I start, so I have like 30 stories that aren’t done. Maybe one day I’ll actually finish one.

9. Holidays

What holidays make me happy? All of them! Holidays both big and small are a great excuse for me to get together with my family and have a blast. It doesn’t really matter what the occasion is! Plus, any holiday that gets me off work is a bonus! Just don’t make me choose between Halloween and Christmas. I can’t pick!

10. Chips/ French Fries

This may be a stupid response to wrap up my list, but here’s the cold hard truth: I am human. I try to eat healthy, but I don’t always succeed. And sometimes all I want is a big bag of potato chips. Or a large fry. And dammit, I don’t care if it’s bad for me. There are worse vices in the world.

Well, there you have it! 10 things that make me happy. Honorable mentions go to nail polish, pens in many different colors, candles that smell like baked goods, and many other little things that bring a smile to my face.

 

Gaming Since 1986!

Another question The Well-Red Mage posed was quite the big one: What’s Your Favorite Game From Every Year You’ve Been Alive? Considering I’ve been alive for almost 32 years, that’s a lot of games to think about! I know a lot of others have done this post, and it was so fun to read what everyone’s picks were! I decided the easiest way to go about this task would first be to think of some of my all- time favorite games (i.e. Super Mario RPG, Animal Crossing, Donkey Kong Country) and immediately place those with the corresponding year. After that, I’d just look up a list of games that were released in a particular year and chose one! Sometimes, that was easier said than done… anyway, here is my list!

Oh, and since I live in the U.S., I’m going by North American release dates, just for consistency!

1986- Balloon Fight (NES)

This has always been one of my favorite NES games. There is something both relaxing and challenging about avoiding all the little things that could pop your balloons and kill you! Plus, the music really gets stuck in my head!

1987- Arkanoid (NES)

For some reason, I had a hard time choosing a game for this year, so I settled on Arkanoid, which was originally an arcade game. I like brick-breaker type games, so why not?

1988- Anticipation (NES)

I actually didn’t play this game until many years after its release- my husband was the one that introduced it to me. It reminds me of a more simplistic version of Trivial Pursuit, though it gets pretty hard at the end!

P.S. The people’s faces on the cover of this box art are hilariously cheesy!

1989- Super Mario Land (Game Boy)

I played this game SO MUCH on my Game Boy! I loved the idea of having a Mario game with me wherever I went. I thought I was hot shit when I brought my Game Boy and Super Mario Land to “show and tell” in 4th grade, ha!

1990- Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)

This is one of those games that’s fun no matter how many times you play it. I still remember playing it with my husband and the NES froze right when we got to the final battle against Bowser and erased our game… good times!

1991- Super Tennis (SNES)

I don’t even know if anyone has ever played this game except me, but I love it! I can’t even explain why it appeals so much to me, because I don’t even like sports or sports games very much. But I played the hell out of this game when I was a kid, and I was convinced I was a tennis pro until I actually tried to play tennis for real. I discovered there was too much movement involved and I disliked the idea of a tennis ball flying toward my face at high speeds, so I stuck with Super Tennis.

1992- Kirby’s Dream Land (Game Boy)

My second- ever video game that I owned introduced me to my favorite video game character: Kirby! I’ve played this game more times than I can count, and it still remains one of my favorites.

1993- Doom (PC)

I have a special place in my heart for the first iteration of Doom. It was so fun and different and though we didn’t have a computer at my house when I was younger, I played this game in computer class at school. Take that, ESRB ratings! I blew up demons when I was still in elementary school, and I think I turned out all right…

1994- Donkey Kong Country (SNES)

I was completely obsessed with this game. I played it and replayed it constantly, and spent many hours unlocking all the secrets I could find. I can almost play some of the levels with my eyes closed (not that I would try).

1995- Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest (SNES)

I didn’t think any game could be better than the original DKC… and then this game came out! It was darker, creepier, and way harder than the first game, but I loved it anyway. The soundtrack to this game is still one of my favorites!

1996- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES)

No contest for 1996, since that was the year that my favorite game of all time was released! I’ve talked about it several times on this blog, but I’ll say it again: I LOVE THIS GAME!

1997- Diddy Kong Racing (N64)

Sometimes fun, sometimes irritating, this is a game that my cousin Eric introduced to me, and we played it quite often. I loved how this game had a central hub and so many varied racing courses!

1998- Pokémon Blue (Game Boy)

This is another game I didn’t play until many years after it came out! I loved Pokémon but held off getting a Pokémon game until Pokémon Crystal… anyway, years later I remedied my mistake by getting Pokémon Blue. I love this game so much but still haven’t played through to the end… I need to fix that soon!

1999- Mario Party (N64)

Haha, I know. Mario Party cheats like a son of a bitch and causes rashes on your hands from rotating the stupid control stick too much… but I can’t help it, I love it. This was the first game I ever got for my Nintendo 64, and I remember playing first with my Uncle Steve, then with all of my friends… we couldn’t get enough of this game!

2000- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (PS1)

This is another game I spent so many hours on, trying to complete every goal in every level and trying to beat my high score with the flying cheat (can’t remember exactly what it’s called). I loved skateboarding when I was younger, and this game allowed me to live out my reckless fantasies with all my bones still intact!

2001- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN)

This game sucked me in and I found myself playing over and over again to unlock every character and every trophy. This game also holds a special place in my heart because this is the first video game I ever played with my husband!

2002- Animal Crossing (GCN)

Everyone knows how much I love all things Animal Crossing. I couldn’t wait to check in on this game every day and see what was happening in my little town of Branvil! I loved the animals, all the cute furniture, and all the monthly events. This game started an obsession for me, and I don’t regret it for a second! 😉

2003- WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames! (GBA)

This game is… something else! Some of the mini games had me and my husband both saying “What the hell did we just do?” That’s the beauty of WarioWare- you never know what you are going to see next! I remember my husband and I being glued to my Game Boy Advance trying to unlock every last little game!

2004- Silent Hill 4: The Room (XBox)

This game left it’s mark on me! I love anything horror, and there was something so weird and unsettling about this game that had me thinking about it long after the credits rolled.

Side note: When this game came out, I worked at GameStop, and employees were able to “rent” games by writing our names down in a notebook and bringing the game back after a few days. I rented this game out, brought it back and realized that the notebook had actually been tossed in favor of a new computer system… and my rental had fallen through the cracks, meaning I could’ve kept the game for free and they never would’ve known! Shit. Ah well, my conscience got the best of me, and I purchased the game like a decent human being.

2005- Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

I was so excited for this game when it came out, I pre-ordered it! The idea of being able to play Animal Crossing on the go was so intriguing to me! I got many hours out of this game and still love it to this day.

2006- LocoRoco (PSP)

LocoRoco is so wonderfully bizarre, I love it! Even the controls are weird, as you use the shoulder buttons of the PSP to control the world around the LocoRocos, which allows them to maneuver the levels. You can make the LocoRocos grow by picking up other ones, and you can also split them up into smaller pieces too! It’s a platforming game with puzzle elements that never feel too hard or confusing. If you haven’t played this game, I highly recommend it!

2007- Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

I was in awe of this game when I first started playing it. The planets were so beautifully crafted, the music was fantastic, and it was just plain FUN to explore. I got to the final Bowser fight and never finished him… oops!

2008- Kirby Super Star Ultra (DS)

Kirby Super Star was a fantastic game on the SNES, so I couldn’t wait for this DS remake to come out. There are so many different types of games on this little cartridge, and the replay value is pretty high!

2009- Angry Birds (iOS)

Back in the day when Angry Birds first came out, I loved it! There was something so satisfying about flinging the little birds around to destroy stuff! It really pissed me off when a pig would just roll around and not die, haha! There have been countless spin- offs (some good, some not) but the original Angry Birds is the best to me!

2010- Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)

I dreamed of the day when the original Donkey Kong Country series had a sequel, so I was thrilled when this game came out! Upon playing the first level, I knew I was in for a treat. This game is thrilling, difficult, and fun! I just miss the Kremlings from the original series, though.

2011- Mario Kart 7 (3DS)

I don’t know why, but I had a hard time picking a game for 2011. There were several games I liked that year, but none really stood out to me as something I completely loved while making this list! In the end, I went with Mario Kart 7, because Mario Kart is always an excellent choice!

2012- Kirby’s Dream Collection: Special Edition (Wii)

This game just makes me smile. It has several of Kirby’s best games included on the disc, plus tons of extras! I really liked the soundtrack that came with the game as well as the little history booklet. This game is a must-have if you are obsessed with Kirby like me, haha!

2013- Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)

Besides the GameCube version of Animal Crossing, New Leaf is my favorite version of Animal Crossing to date! It’s like they took all the great features from previous games (plus many new added features) and put them into this game, and the results are amazing!

2014- Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Wii U)

Oh, Captain Toad, I love you! Toad had always been one of those characters that just kind of got on my nerves, but Captain Toad is so charming and cute you can’t help but love him! This game is really fun and even though it has some irritating moments, it’s a great game to play when you just want to chill out!

2015- Yoshi’s Woolly World (Wii U)

This game is so adorable and fun! The graphics are so cute, the levels are fun and unique, and I really enjoy collecting all of the yarn to make new Yoshis to use!

2016- Kirby Planet Robobot (3DS)

When I bought this game, I put it in my 3DS with the thought that I would play it just to try it out. But I got totally hooked and played the game until I beat it! It is so fun and even though the final boss is annoying as hell, I loved the game! There’s still so much I have to unlock and uncover.

2017- Super Mario Odyssey (Switch)

Super Mario Odyssey is fantastic! I love the different worlds you get to explore, each one more different than the last. Collecting power moons is fun and addicting, and the added use of Cappy just makes this game even more fun!

2018- Kirby Star Allies (Switch)

Okay, so I haven’t played too many games that were released in 2018. In fact, I’ve only played the demo of this game (though I do have the full version) but what I did play was really fun! I love the idea of turning enemies into your friends and creating all sorts of different power ups. Hopefully I’ll play through the game soon!

So there you have it! 32 different games that I love for one reason or another. There are so many fantastic games I didn’t even list here, and in the SNES years, it was REALLY hard to pick favorites! I guess I’m a bit stuck in the past that way, as I often prefer games from that era versus newer games. Also, I know this list is Nintendo- heavy, but I am who I am, and I love Nintendo games. 🙂 Thanks for reading!

Which IP Would I Bring Back From The Dead?

Image respectfully swiped from The Well-Red Mage 🙂

The Well-Red Mage is always asking great questions, and one he asked a few months ago was “Which IP Would You Bring Back From the Dead?” I always love answering these questions, even though I’m sure I don’t have the most interesting responses! 😉 This made me think about all my favorite video game franchises… and I realized that I am blessed, because many of my favorites are long- running series that keep coming out with new entries. Nevertheless, there is one game I played for hours and hours in my youth and keep wishing for a true sequel (or, at the very least, a remaster!)…

Zombies Ate My Neighbors is an excellent, challenging game that was released in 1993 for the SNES (which is what I played it on) and well as on the Genesis. I received it as a Christmas present from my uncle Kevin in 1995, and I was hooked! Even as a kid, I loved anything that was horror-themed, so for me, the zombies, demon dolls, werewolves, etc. were all right up my alley! I thought it was really bizarre (but fun) how pretty much everything could be used as a weapon- forks, plates, blow up clowns that stopped chainsaw- wielding maniacs… this game really was something unique! The music was pretty good, as well.

Zombies Ate My Neighbors supposedly had a spiritual successor, but nothing tops the original game for me. I highly doubt we’ll ever see a true sequel, but I can dream!

How I Overcome Writer’s Block!

The Well-Red Mage loves to ask great questions every now and then, and I’ve answered a couple of them in previous blog entries! His 3rd question (he’s up to 6 now… one day I’ll answer them all!) was this: How do you overcome writer’s block?

Image borrowed from the Mage 😉

I’m by no means an expert on writing, but obviously I enjoy it. Writing is something I’ve done since I was a kid… I wrote my first story when I was 5 about a frog named Jimmy 🙂 I’ve got a whole collection of stories I’ve written since then, including many unfinished works. Plus I write blog entries of course 😉 But like everyone else, I occasionally have the dreaded “writer’s block.” So what do I do? My answer is actually pretty simple: I don’t write.

That may sound weird, but I am a firm believer in “you can’t go forcin’ something if it’s just not right.” (Thanks, Green Day!) I often solve my problems by not thinking about them. Sounds counterintuitive, but I feel like focusing on something else for a little while somehow provides me with my solution. So when I want to write but I’m having trouble, I put the pen/ keyboard away for a little while and do something else. Eventually inspiration will strike again! 🙂

Are Video Games Art?

Back in September, The Well-Red Mage asked another thought provoking question that I thought would be fun to answer! Took me long enough to answer, right? *rolls eyes* Anyway, his question this time around was quite simple: Are Video Games Art?

Obviously not my photo… credit belongs to the Mage 😉

There were many people that gave excellent, thoughtful responses to this question. If you haven’t yet checked it out, click on the link in the first paragraph and go read them! Anyway, I’m not going to give some long, philosophical response on what is considered “art” and why something should or should not be considered art. For me, the answer is simple: yes.

To me, video games are considered art because they are created for us to enjoy. That creation (whether it ends up well-received or not) is the result of someone’s hard work and dedication. And yes, every part of the game is art to me- from the graphics to the musical score to the story- it’s all art. Of course, whether we like the game or not is totally subjective, just like every other artistic medium. Not every type of game will appeal to everyone, and that’s okay! 🙂