Video Gaming isn't For Everyone

But there are reasons for many of us to utilize video games.

A video game is an interesting thing for a number of reasons. They can be educational, challenging, as well as entertaining. Personally I never considered myself to be a video gamer. But there's been a lot of changes in my life the past few years, and I think now I would fit into the classification of a video gamer.

The past few years I've come to find a enjoyment in the distractions offered by video games. They're often completely different from day to day life, and the ones I've had a preference for weren't considered gamer games. I really only played things like Second Life, a little bit of Bubsy on Sega Genesis (barely) and a few other games that merely flitted through my life. They didn't really hang around long.

Well, Second Life did. It's held on fairly well, and if I had a regular connection to the internet I could reliably connect by I'd likely still be a regularly player. But unlike the first person shooter games, or other challenges offered by other games, Second Life is more of an interactive social platform. I feel the best description of the game is Barbie Dolls for grownups.

But over time I have evolved. Now I spend a little bit of time almost regularly playing Final Fantasy Online. I've finished a few games, Journey and Dream Chronicles. Perhaps not the most challenging games available but they challenged me while being low on intimidation levels.

But over the years I've realized that video games aren't really for everyone. Some people have creative talents that flourished amazingly well without the hindrance of preprogrammed entertainments. You can argue that video games aren't preprogrammed, but they truly are limited to the scripts that the designers provided to them. Some people are full of stories and ideas that are amazing, they only need an opportunity to share their unique talents with the world and to feel free to do so.

Video games shouldn't be used as a replacement for life. Instead they should be used as a supplement for the things that we may feel to be lacking in our lives. There are for example desires in some of us to travel, but our circumstances may not always enable to do so. Games can offer the opportunity to explore and entertain ideas that our daily lives do not let us experience. This does not mean that they are for everyone. But they are something people should consider more.

Games are not just games anymore. Games have become social environments in which kinship and friendships blossom without the boundaries created by societies unrealistic expectations. But this should not be a replacement for reality. It should merely be a supplement, an opportunity to spread mental wings and gain insight without the confines of our personal boundaries. Personal Boundaries include : Social status, appearance, health, disabilities and many other things that may make it difficult at times to get a fair shake.

But again video games aren't for everyone.

But I've come to the understanding that I can appreciate them for the art form they are, as well as for the opportunities that they provide for different people to explore ideas and thoughts they may otherwise never have the opportunity to enjoy.

So don't judge someone just because they play video games, or any other kinds of games. There is often an underlying need or desire that is being fulfilled by the opportunities offered by the game.

Event Reflection : Lil Con 2017

Well I know it might seem a little silly to be writing a reflection about the event we went to this past weekend, but I want to share some of the things we did and some of the unique things I've added to my collection.

All in all Lil-Con 4 was as usually alright. It wasn't like the large cons, but it also is a more pleasant experience when it comes to small social excursions. Now, when I say We, there were 4 of us who went together as a group. (One arrived late, but that doesn't discredit his attendance). So as with many events, I have to say it was pleasant in part due to the company I attended with.

I do have a few frustrated observations about the convention though. There was a workshop that we went to attend, and sat waiting for almost a half hour before finally realizing the previous workshop leader had no intention of leaving. Needless to say we felt quite disappointed as the topic of discussion was one that we were eager to roundtable with other gamers about. But in the situation it seemed there was no intent of our workshop even happening. There was a table too close to a doorway, which made it difficult to get through to the stairway to go to the upper floor where the workshops were mostly being held. This would have also been a big problem if anything had happened and there had been an emergency.

But let's look at the positive things that we took away from Little-Con 4 this year.

We got to see a GREAT presentation about how to draw the human form for comics or portrait work. I learned a lot of interesting things I'd never been taught when I was in school. Art of Stace gave a great overview.

To the right you can see some examples of her work that I got to bring home with me. I purchased the Mario Throne of Games print for my boyfriend who's planning to hang it up by his autographed photo of The Angry Video Game Nerd, so that is definitely a positive score. There was a fun coloring contest that revolved around the top print in the image which was exclusive to Lil-Con. I personally have a fondness for smaller prints, so I picked up her dragon book image as a card to frame and add to my personal collection.

Art of Stace is on instagram - as well as on face book.

 I got this awesome Journey art print from Wendigo House. I'm absolutely tickled and excited to add a piece about this game to my collection. Why? Because I actually finished this game all by myself.
I highly recommend the game to those of you who haven't played it. It's a unique experience when it comes to games in my opinion, and I loved how the characters 'chirp'.

Wendigo House is on facebook and instagram as well. She has a variety of different art pieces that aren't video game based, so check it out if you get a chance.

I love my patch and pin from The  Lady Disarray. I have a rather basic set of screen printed patches for on my next bag, but this one will add some color to the collection. It's hand dyed too, so if she does future batches there's no guarantee there will be another one like mine.

My pin is of a brain on a stick because the concept made me laugh.

You can find her on instagram and on etsy.

I also got a new card game. I'm really excited about playing this one again because it was  ton of fun. It's made by the same company that put out CATS, which is another fun card game.

Psychological Warfare plays with the various character concepts and lets you give other characters baggage and negatives to their worth. I think I might be explaining it wrong, but we had a blast playing it at the convention and I brought it home with me because there's no such thing as too many games.


But yeah... uhm. I guess that's all you're tired of hearing about Lil Con, but who knows, maybe you've got something you want to share too.

Through The Camera Lens

The world we live in is a place full of beautiful things. We often take it for granted, used to it's existence in our lives. When someone takes a moment to reflect on it though, we are amazed. Sometimes we have forgotten that the world can be beautiful. We get into this space in our minds where it is all ugly. But it is only as ugly as we want it to be. There is always something beautiful to be seen.

When I have a camera in my hands, I want to take pictures of everything I see. It doesn't matter what it is. I just want to be able to remember it. I will admit here, that my memory isn't all that good, I forget things very fast, and pictures are one of the things I have figured out that helps me to stay cohesive. But that's a whole different bushel of bananas.

When it comes to taking a picture, there is no right or wrong in my opinion. The purpose of the picture is to capture something that you see with your own eyes,enabling you to see this view in the future. Cloud formations, plants, animals, they are all different every time you see them. Although some people will say that they aren't I pose this questions. Are they permanent fixtures? Clouds move, rain falls, animals run and burrow. Plants change as the seasons move in turn. What you see one day may be gone the next, in some cases far faster than in others.

So what do we take pictures of? Should we just take them haphazardly for no reason? No, that's not what I'm trying to get  you to do. Instead you should think about what you're taking a picture of. Because when someone asks you what a picture is of or what it is for, you should have something to say.

An example. The other day Polke A. Dot and I went to Balboa Park. It was a rather busy day at the park, and there were a lot of people there. I was very surprised by this fact. We ended up slightly lost, though it meant we got to see a few areas in the park I hadn't seen yet. I was impressed by the beautiful buildings there (I always seem to be, every time I go there something new pops out at me).

We were walking around enjoying the slight breeze and people watching. When I noticed the interesting detailing along the building that houses the Sporting Museum here in San Diego. It's reminiscent of Aztec or Mayan work, and it's lovely. So here are two of the pictures that I took. They are very simple, and focus mostly on one thing.

Now why is it that out of all the pictures I took that day(around 15), These are the two that I like? For one thing they are timeless. There is no time in the picture, no people, no animals, nothing living. The top one does have some shadowing and light dabbling from the sunlight getting through the trees, but it adds to the shadowing in the sculpt detailing. The second one though, with the shift from the usual perspective is probably my favorite picture I took while we were at the park. I just like the way it feels.

You don't have to just take pictures people will immediately recognize. I wouldn't have a clue what these pictures were actually of if I hadn't taken them myself. So remember that what you see through your camera lens can be used for many things. Don't play it safe forever, especially now that many of us are using digital cameras. There's no film to develop, it's a low commitment level...

Take the picture!