I've been meaning to start a gaming blog for a while! I put this off for long enough. Having recently switched jobs, I've decided that I would like to dedicate time to writing about my experiences, thoughts, and opinions about video games.
Playing video games is one of my greatest passions, and probably the hobby that I have sunk the most time and money into. Right now is an exciting time for gaming; 2017 was a stellar year for releases, and we are currently in the midst of E3 2018 week. I might not write too much in response to this year's E3 presentations, as there are already a ton of people out there covering E3 news. Instead, after E3 is over and things have settled down, I will write a post in which I comment on specific games and reveals that I am most excited about.
For my first few entries, I wanted to write about some of my personal experiences with gaming, my favorite series, and my take on video games as an artistic medium. Everyone who plays video games enjoys them as a way to relax and alleviate boredom. There are also hardcore gamers, professional gamers, collectors, streamers, and so forth. I consider myself someone in between "medium" and "hardcore" gamer, though I am by no means pro. My favorite series include The Legend of Zelda (I have a collection of Zelda memorabilia that's valued at least over $1000), Mega Man, Metal Gear Solid, Super Smash Bros., and Final Fantasy. But I'm also a huge fan of Metroid, Pokemon, Portal, Mario, Sonic, Kingdom Hearts, Castlevania, Assassin's Creed, Uncharted, God of War, Fire Emblem, the Batman Arkham games, Kirby, Donkey Kong Country, and Ninja Gaiden. I'm probably forgetting to include some other franchises. At the same time, I have to give a special shout out to some of my favorite indie games: Cave Story, Shovel Knight, Ori and the Blind Forest, and Undertale. I feel bad because there are so many other games that I love that I haven't mentioned! However, I need to stop here or else the list may very well be endless. For each of the series I've mentioned, I have played (and own) every (or almost every) entry in the series. As a long-time fan of these franchises, I plan to write articles in the future that delve deeper into the history, impact, and artistic merit of these games. Also, since I teach literature and psychology, in some of my articles I will naturally provide some of my own analyses of the characters, plots, and other facets of games' design and story.
Video games have truly evolved and bloomed over the last few decades, and there are no signs of the industry slowing down. More than anything else, I appreciate the love and passion that go into creating the memorable stories and engaging and fun experiences that only video games can provide.
Now, I am turning thirty this year. For the last two years or so, I have made a strong conscious effort to come to terms with the inescapable fact that I will no longer be a man in his twenties. However, I have always embraced my identity as a gamer, having had the opportunity to make great friends with fellow gamers during my teenage and young adult years. I was fortunate enough to befriend fellow teachers at my workplace who are also gamers. No longer is gaming seen merely as a "child's activity," especially since the average age of gamers is 31.
Online video game communities and youtubers have helped connect people of all ages and cultures. It warms my heart to see successful and passionate gamers like MatPat from Game Theory, Arin (Egoraptor) and Dan from Game Grumps, and so many others who have been able to make a living from playing and commenting on video games. Besides video games, I'm also an avid fan of MMA and pro-wrestling, so seeing wrestlers like Austin Creed (WWE's Xavier Woods) and Kenny Omega (best wrestler in the world and new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion!) and other athletes express their love and enthusiasm for gaming further adds to my pride as a gamer. Video games truly bring people together in so many ways. My goal for this blog is twofold: to express my love and passion for video games, and to put together a portfolio of sorts since I hope to write articles about video games as a freelance writer. For anyone who might come across the articles or blog posts I might write, I hope you enjoy!
Just for fun, here is a link to an old blog post I wrote six years ago. I'm so surprised that it's still up! It's from 2012, back before I started working as a teacher, when Pokemon Black and White 2 were first announced.
No comments:
Post a Comment