Q&A Session with Myself

Black Gamer Girl, could you answer a few questions, please?

Maybe one day I'll be lucky enough that someone will care enough to ask me questions.  Since I'm not there yet, I figured I would ask and answer my own questions.  It'll be a nice change of pace from my usual posts, and it'll give you guys a little insight into what makes me tick.  Oh, and I can be a little crazy.  Let's roll.

So, Black Gamer Girl, could you tell us a little about yourself?

Sure.  Well, I was born in...

Um, let's not go that far back.  How about you tell us about how you became a gamer?

Oh, my bad.  Okay, that's easy.  I was fortunate enough to be born into a family that already had gamers in it.  I've been surrounded by games my entire life.  So the condensed answer to telling your intial question is that I'm a Black woman who was fortunate enough to be raised around other gamers.  I just feel like it's right for me.

Is that so?

Indeed.  Some of my earliest memories involve playing video games.  I mean, I remember being in the crib and reading for the first time, but I also remember playing Atari.  I remember that as clearly as just about anything else.

Now we're getting somewhere (laughs). Could you describe that time?

Sure.  I remember some of my cousins had an Atari.  I didn't yet know the exact details of the console, but I knew it was an Atari from their conversations.  I remember they had a crate full of cartridges.  I used to love sitting on the floor and watching them play.

Did they ever let you play?

Sometimes.  I mostly just sat and watched them play.  On the rare occasion, they would let me play Pac-Man.  At that time, it was good enough.  I mean, there was no better feeling than controlling something on the television.  I didn't really know what I was doing, but I knew that I loved doing it.

How old were you at that time?

Maybe about four.  Yeah, I think about four.

Okay.  So when would you say that you started to game for yourself and not just because someone let you press a button?

Umm, maybe the following year when I was five.  That sounds about right.

Five years old.  So that would have been 19...

Yup.  That year.

Alright.  What do you remember about your fifth year?

Well, I've told this story before.

I don't believe I've heard it.

Really?

Yeah, really.  I mean, you're nobody important.

Wow...I mean, that's true.  But you didn't need to say it like that.

I don't sugarcoat anything.

That's obvious.  Well, I played Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt.

Two Nintendo classics.  

Indeed.  Nintendo and Super Nintendo made up the bulk of my childhood.  To this day, I still have a dislike for the dog from Duck Hunt.  I would put the Zapper up to the TV and well, zap him (laughs).

Any favorites from that era?

Besides Super Mario Bros, I have a few.  I loved the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games, Mega Man, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat.  Oh, and I can't forget Super Mario World.  So many hours spent playing that.  I'm leaving out a lot, but I've played so many games in my lifetime.  I remember my mom would let me rent a game every Friday evening.

Did you only play consoles?

Nah, I played whatever was available.  I also played lots of coin-ops and pinball, too.  My grandma used to babysit me.  Whenever she would go to the laundromat, I would spend quarters on the coin-ops there.

Care to name a few?

I spent many quarters on Mrs. Pac-Man and Galaga.  I'd be rich if I had saved all of those quarters.  I also loved to play House of the Dead.  I think my favorite pinball machine of all time is The Addams Family.  I remember going to this arcade called Planet Xtreme every weekend in high school.  Again, if I had saved those quarters...

You might be richer financially, but you wouldn't have those great gamer memories!

(Laughing) That's true!  I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.

Alright, so you started to come into your own as a gamer during the Nintendo/Super Nintendo years.  How did you know that you had a love for games?  I mean, what was the trigger?

I don't know if there was a trigger.  I just became accustomed to renting a different game every weekend from the local video store.  I loved playing those Tiger Electronics handheld games.  I played the Game & Watch from Nintendo.  When I received a Game Boy on Christmas, it was on.  I don't know, really.  I've just always been drawn to playing video games.

Fair enough.  So let's fast forward to today.  Are there any games that you're currently playing and loving?

My favorite game out currently is Fallout 4, but sometimes I get the urge to play some older games. I still play games like GTA IV, Fallout 3, and Left 4 Dead 2.  There is no reason to give up on the older stuff just because new games keep being released.

I totally agree with that.  Besides, those older games are like a part of our DNA.  They help to make us who we are.

They really do.

Okay.  So, where do you see yourself in the next five to ten years?  Still an avid gamer?

Most definitely.  I don't think I'll ever stop buying and playing video games.  I mean, I still watch cartoons.  I watch the old and the new stuff.  I don't see why I wouldn't keep buying and playing video games.  I want to expand and meet other gamers.  Start going to Comic-Con and if I'm lucky, E3 one of these days.

Do you hope that you'll find a partner who loves cartoons and games, as well?

I can only hope.

I hope you do find him.  Now for a few random questions.

Cool, shoot.

Favorite movie?  Food?  Sports?  Music?

Um, I have too many favorite movies.  It's tough to pick just one, so I'll just name two off the top of my head.  Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Pulp Fiction.  As for food, I guess pepperoni pizza and mac and cheese.  I'm a fan of Philadelphia sports teams.  I like a little of bit of everything with music.

Well, I think that'll wrap up this interview.  Anything else that you would like to say?

Yes, actually.  Game on, my friends.

Okay...alright.  Thanks for this interview, Black Gamer Girl.  It's been rather...interesting.

I appreciate you taking the time to interview me.  I look forward to our next meeting.

I really don't, but you're welcome.  I enjoyed it in a strange way.

Yeah!  Game on, my friend!

(Rolls eyes and sighs) Yeah!  Game on, indeed.

This Gamer's Life

We keep spending most our lives living in the gamer's paradise.

(Toad has nothing to do with this post.  This pic is just so cute.  They're so happy about that star.)

I am a gamer.  If you've been reading my posts thus far, you already know that.  I'm certain that even if you didn't read them, you could deduce that from the name of my blog.  It's what I do.  Even still, I sometimes feel like a unicorn.  People either want to believe in my existence or try so hard to deny it.

For instance, my mother wonders why I love video games so much.  I've just always been drawn to them, but I can't convey that in a way that she'll ever understand.  In her mind, I should find some other way to be productive with my life.  Trust that I am and I play in my spare time, but she considers it a childish activity.  Or even worse, a BOY activity.  

Pffft.  Later for that nonsense. (I lied about Toad, and I'm going to use him to demonstrate emotion.)

A good chunk of my life revolves around acquiring and playing games, and there's nothing shameful about that.  If that's the worst habit in the world, I'll gladly accept it.  I'm tired of explaining why I play video games, so I actively befriend others who are into the culture.  I'm living in a gamer's paradise.

What do I mean by a gamer's paradise?  Simple.  In my life up to this point, playing video games is simply my greatest joy.  I don't have kids, so I dote on my games.  I love meeting with like minded individuals and sharing our mutual love for video games.  I love being a part of this culture.  It's special.

And don't think I'm only a pseudo gamer to impress anybody.  Please!  I couldn't care any less than I already don't about what people think about my habit.  Either accept that we're probably going to game when you come to visit me, or you can catch a turnip to the face.  Real talk (in my gangster voice). 

Seriously though, there is no age limit for this.  There are no racial or gender boundaries for this.  That's the beauty of it all.  We can all connect and share this common interest.  We are gamers.  For better or for worse, we're connected.  We don't grow out of it; we simply evolve with it.  I'm amazed when I think about how far we've come from the North American video game crash of 1983.  

Here's a fun graphic detailing and projecting global video game sales in 2014 and 2019.  Research!

I hope to continue to nurture and feed the need to game.  I don't want to live in a world where I can't shoot enemies, drive on the sidewalk, fast travel, battle dragons, fly, create weapons from junk, transform, or take bullets to the face and heal myself like it's nothing  And the fact that I can do it time and time again?  Paradise.

So to my fellow gamers out there, I got nothin' but love for ya.  We're a unique bunch.  In our world, we can be as serious or goofy as we want to be.  We can be competitive with one another, or we can work together.  Our common enemy is the tedium of everyday life that we escape when we power on our consoles and PCs.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

Oh, and I am proud to admit that my current obsession is Fallout 4.  I love that game!  Feel free to check out my previous blog post.  I started a short story that's inspired by Fallout.  I hope you guys are enjoying the new releases, as well.

Game on, my friends.

Out of the Vault, Into the Wastes (Fallout Inspired Short Story)

Are you a vault dweller or a wasteland wanderer?

In celebration of the release of Fallout 4, I decided to share a Fallout inspired shorty with you all.  I hope this post proves entertaining for you guys.  I know there isn't a Vault 117, but I needed a vault for the story.  For the sake of imagery, I mostly used images from Fallout 3.  Long post ahead so here we go...

There is no doubt about it, I was born special.  

My mother, Angela, always told me I was special, and I've always believed her.  She said I was destined for greatness.  I was born in Vault 117 on October 7, 2269, and I lived a relatively comfortable life.  Our leader, Overseer Milton, always seemed to have things under control.

Our cafeteria was well stocked with boxes of Cram, Sugar Bombs, BlamCo Mac & Cheese, YumYum Deviled Eggs (my favorites), Nuka-Cola, and lots of other items.  If you can think of it, we had it.

Vault 117 had a library that was stocked with different books and magazines.  I like to read, so I spent a fair amount of my free time hanging around there.  My favorites include the Big Book of Science, D.C. Journal of Internal Medicine, Dean's Electronics, and Tumblers Today.  Lying, Congressional Style and Tales of a Junktown Jerky Vendor also score points with me, too.

As for magazines, anything about repair, lock picking, or speech grabs my attention.  I love to put my knowledge to use.  I'm handy, so I love to tinker and hack.  People would call on me to make repairs, or to help them if they got locked out of something.  I liked to keep busy since living in a vault could be a little mundane sometimes.

We had a fully stocked clinic.  It was run by Doctor Williams who could heal or cure just about anything.  One thing we really prided ourselves on in Vault 117 was our health.

I had friends in the vault, too.  My two best friends were Kari and Dez.  From the time we were little, we were almost always together.  Womb to tomb, as we used to say.  We were all good kids, but we got into our share our trouble.  Never anything serious, but I was different from them.  They were content with life in the vault.  I always wanted to explore what was beyond the vault.  They thought I was crazy for wanting to leave safety and comfort, and I wished I could convince them to join me.

I miss them but once you get an idea stuck in your head, it becomes a deep itch that you're just dying to scratch.  Two weeks after my 18th birthday, I finally scratched it.

I remember I woke up that morning with a sense of determination.  I ate breakfast with my mom and asked if she had ever known life outside of the vault.

"Why are you asking me that?" my mom wondered.

"Mom, life here in the vault is secure, but there's really nothing to do.  It's all the same thing, over and over.  If you've never been outside, don't you wish you could see it at least once?"

"No.  I've never been outside the vault, and I'm not crazy about you being outside the vault.  As a parent, I want you to be safe."

"Even if it means keeping me locked up?" I challenged.

"I keep you safe, not locked up.  Besides, the vault is sealed.  There's no way out, and you know that."

"Mom, there's always a way to do what you want to do.  Besides, how do we get new supplies?  Someone has to go out at some point.  Not to mention we have a wasteland survival guide in the library.  Where did that come from?"

My mom looked at me and said, "Sweetie, please drop this idea.  You're a vault dweller.  You're safe here.  That's how it is."  I decided to drop it.  I didn't want to argue with my mom and I knew her heart was in the right place, but I couldn't take it anymore.  I finished breakfast, hugged her, and went out to find Kari and Dez.

I decided to head to the library in the hopes that I would run into them there, and I wasn't disappointed.  They were sitting together reading magazines.  Dez was deep into a Programmer's Digest, and Kari was skimming through an issue of Locksmith's Reader.  I pulled up a chair, and sat down to join them.

They didn't bother to look up because they already knew who I was.  "Guys, I've had enough.  I have to get out of here."  Dez looked up and asked, "Are you still on this wastelands stuff?"  Kari closed her magazine and studied me.  I pressed on.  "Yeah, I'm still on that wastelands stuff.  I've been thinking."

Kari smiled and said, "Oh, here we go."  I returned her smile and said, "I need your help.  Since I can't seem to convince you two to come with me, at least you can help me try to get out of here."

"What about your mom?" Dez asked.  Mom.  I really didn't want to leave her, but I knew there was no way she would entertain the idea of joining me outside of the vault.  She wasn't cut out for it.  She would be safer inside.  "I don't want to leave her behind, but I can't convince her to let me go if there's a way out or to even join me if I do get out.  I don't know what I'll do about that yet."  They looked at each other, and I saw the look of resignation pass between them.  Kari spoke up.  "Ok, what do you need?"

I thought it over carefully.  "Well, I need a copy of that wasteland survival guide, for one thing.  I need a weapon and some ammo, and I need to get into Overseer Milton's office.  I know the key for unlocking the vault has to be there."  Dez threw his hands up and said, "Whoa.  Bust into the overseer's office?  We could get into major trouble and even if you get out, we'd still have to face the music."  Kari agreed with him.

"You guys said you would help.  Now will you or won't you?  Either way, I'm leaving."

Dez sighed.  "Fine.  We'll help you.  Whatever you need."  Kari spoke up.  "The easiest thing is to get that wasteland survival guide for you.  Meet us in a couple of hours.  Rest.  We'll all need it."  My friends.  I loved them, still do, because they were true to the end.  I smiled.  "Great.  Meet me back here then."

We parted ways, and I went to my room.  Mom had gone to work, so I had the space to myself.  I couldn't rest; I was too wound up for that.  I thought about how I would break the news to Mom.  It wouldn't be without pain, but maybe I could make it swift and decisive.  I decided to leave her a holotape detailing my plan and assuring her of my love.  I hoped she would understand and forgive me.

A few hours passed, and I glanced at my Pip-Boy.  It was time to meet my friends.  I grabbed up the few caps I had and headed to the library.

Sure enough, they were both waiting for me.  Dez motioned for me to follow them, and we headed to a secluded corner.  Kari shoved the guide into my hand, and I quickly stuffed it into my vault suit.  Dez handed me a 10mm pistol, ammo, and a knife.  I secured the items and asked where he got them. He looked at me and shrugged.  I didn't ask anymore questions.  I was just grateful for the help.  Kari handed me five stimpaks, a purified water, and a box of Cram.  I thanked my buddies and felt set.

"Now for the hard part, getting me out of here," I said.  Dez gave me a look and said, "I think I know how to create a distraction.  Let's go."

That's it for now.

I plan to keep adding to the story.  I appreciate anyone who takes the time to read what I write.  Thank you.

Game on, my friends.

Retro Video Game Ads

How awesome were they?

I was thumbing through some of my old comics, and I was overcome with nostalgia.  I took two trips down memory lane for the cost of one.

I find retro video game ads fascinating.  Maybe I need to get a life, maybe, but they simply remind me of the awesome part of my life that was childhood.

So, I decided to snap a few pics of the ads in my comics.  I'm no photographer, but I just wanted to share these.  This is a picture heavy blog post.  I'm sorry they're not lined up all pretty.  I couldn't get them to act right.  It bugs me because I have OCD, but I hope it doesn't deter you from enjoying them.  

I realize the X-Men pic is of a video tape offer.  I included it anyway.  Pizza Hut used to have some awesome promotions.  It was an X-clusive (see what they did there).

I'm still working on my Fallout post.  I want it to be good, but it's coming.  Enjoy!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles handheld game

TurboGrafx-16

Nintendo Double Player

NBA All-Star Challenge 2

BurgerTime

Q*Bert

NFL Quarterback Club

Alien Vs. Predator

X-Men video offer with Pizza Hut

Spyro the Dragon

Atari Lynx

The Incredible Crash Dummies

Total Recall

Street Fighter II Turbo

Mortal Kombat

Doom Troopers: Mutant Chronicles

Spawn the Video Game

Krusty's Fun House, Krusty's Super Fun House

Mega Man 5

Alien 3

Dick Vitale's "Awesome Baby!" College Hoops

Wolverine Admantium Rage

NFL Quarterback Club

NBA Jam

Wizardry V

Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers

Level Up Your Life

I am level 31.

As you may have guessed, I look at life differently from most people.  I don't age up; I level up.  I'm a gamer, so I look at life as an MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing game) or a life simulation game.  Every day is a chance for me to earn experience points towards my next level.

Okay now, hang in here with me.  I tend to have strange perspectives on things.

As I sit here, I think back on all the little ways I earned XP this past year.  Let's see:

• I haggled with various merchants throughout the land and my barter skill increased
• I acquired better armor (developed thicker skin)
• I devoted many hours to learning and became a certified surgical technologist
• I trained hard and lost 40 pounds
• I read lots of articles on Google, practiced, and became a better cook
• I decided to take a chance on myself and my writing  
• I made more attempts to be social and my charisma and speech skills increased

Cue the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 level up sound, please (it's so epic to me)

BAM!  I leveled up, and my story mode is progressing along quite nicely.

Now if I could find a nice gamer guy, I would be all set.  I guess I still need to acquire more charisma points before that happens.  Some speech points wouldn't hurt, either.  Let's add some perception points in there so I can see the bull bull a mile away.  I digress.

I'm a more experienced version of myself compared to last year, but I'm not done.  There is no level cap.  I strive to continuously earn XP and level up again.  As long as the game is being played (life), I'll keep earning it.

Even when bad things happen, they offer chances for me to grow and adapt.  Live, learn, and you'll level up in time.

So what about you?

Treat your life like an adventure game.  Go out and explore the world.  Accept various quests along the way, but don't let the side quests distract you from completing your main quest.  Don't be afraid to tackle new challenges head on even if you don't feel that you've leveled up enough for it.  You'll earn XP no matter how it goes.

Form alliances with other players and join guilds/clans that assist you on your path.

Strive to become good at a little bit of everything or become highly specialized in one area.  The choice is yours.  Life is meant to be customized.

Now that I think about it, is it just me or does it feel like we're in The Sims?  You know, some player controlling us while we think we have free will.  Just me?  Oh, okay.  Sorry, random gamer thought.  Anyway, back to my point.

Play the game of life, and play it well.

Live and level up your life.  A short and sweet message for you all.

Oh, and I can't wait to get my copy of Fallout 4.  Yeah!  I'm ready to level up like crazy on that.  Marathon gaming sessions for the win.  I'm working on a special blog post to celebrate that.  It'll probably be up in the next few days.

How have you leveled up your life?  Feel free to drop a comment below.

Game on, my friends.

Black Gamer Girl's Top 100 Games

My Top 100 Games of All Time

I want to stress that this is my own list.  We can discuss this all day, though.  I'll never put down someone else's list.  I've been playing games for decades, and I've come across some that I absolutely adore no matter how well they were received.

These are not ranked according to how much I loved them, either.  I'm simply listing them all.

Again, these are not ranked in any sort of order.  I want to stress that.

I either enjoyed the gameplay, the stories, or they are just a part of my childhood.  Simple, right?

So without further ado, here they go.

1. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
2. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
3. Grand Theft Auto IV
4. Manhunt
5. Bioshock
6. Galaga
7. Pac-Man
8. God of War
9. NBA Street
10. Crash Bandicoot
11. NBA Jam
12. Mortal Kombat
13. Mortal Kombat II
14. Mortal Kombat 3
15. Street Fighter II
16. Street Fighter IV
17. Virtua Fighter V
18. Streets of Rage 2
19. Super Mario Bros.
20. Super Mario Bros. 3
21. Super Mario World
22. Donkey Kong Country
23. Super Mario Kart
24. Left 4 Dead
25. Left 4 Dead 2
    
26. Dead Rising
27. Resident Evil
28. Resident Evil 2
29. Resident Evil 3
30. Call of Duty: World at War
31. Call of Duty: Black Ops
32. Sonic the Hedgehog
33. Sonic the Hedgehog 2
34. Silent Hill
35. The Walking Dead
36. Tomb Raider
37. Battlefield 3
38. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game
39. Assassin's Creed
40. Fallout 3
41. Fallout: New Vegas
42. Rayman
43. Borderlands
44. Resident Evil 4
45. Batman: Arkham City
46. Contra
47. Bully
48. Super Smash Bros.
49. GoldenEye 007
50. Splinter Cell
    
51. Max Payne
52. Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style
53. Bust A Groove
54. Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
55. Outlast
56. Sly Cooper and the Thievius Racoonus
57. Red Dead Redemption
58. Comix Zone
59. Alan Wake
60. Burnout Revenge
61. Devil May Cry
62. Metal Gear Solid
63. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
64. Final Fantasy
65. Dead Island
66. Nightmare Creatures
67. Tekken 6
68. Dino Crisis
69. Rad Racer
70. The Legend of Zelda
71. Mega Man
72. Mario Party
73. Crash Bash
74. Metroid
75. Mike Tyson's Punch Out!!
    
76. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
77. Paperboy 2
78. Ninja Gaiden
79. Rampage
80. Tetris
81. Dead Rising 3
82. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
83. F-Zero
84. Grand Theft Auto V
85. Killer Instinct
86. Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3
87. L.A. Noire
88. DJ Hero
89. The Sims 2
90. The Sims 3
91. Mortal Kombat X
92. Super Mario 64
93. Conker's Bad Fur Day
94. Cruis'n USA
95. Prototype
96. The Walking Dead: Season Two
97. Ape Escape
98. Dead Space
99. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time
100. Saints Row

The list is completed!

Whoa, and there it is.  I stressed over this list and constantly added and removed games.  I'm not ranking or critiquing games; I'll leave that to the experts.

Games are about having fun, right?  I play for fun.

If I left off one of your favorites, it's not cause I think it sucked.  This is just a list of what I like.  I can't list everything in a top 100.  Want to discuss it?  Drop some comments below and we can have a civil discussion or share it.  I do enjoy talking about games, after all.

My list is flexible if someone mentions one I love but forgot to list.  It's not set in stone.

Game on, my friends.

The Evolution of a Gamer

Do you remember your first time?

Do you remember the first time you wrapped your hand around that stick and pressed that button?  What about when you got your moves just right and hit that target?  Remember how your temperature would rise while you concentrated on satisfying your urges?  Do you remember that excitement you felt and the late nights you spent?  Do you remember?

I know that sounded a bit out there, but get your minds out of the gutter.  I'm talking about playing video games.  I remember sitting cross legged on the floor watching my older cousins play Pac-Man on the Atari.  I remember when they asked if I wanted to try and the excitement my little four year old self felt while controlling Pac-Man.  And when he ate the power pellets?  Oh man, it was like heaven.

But at that time, it wasn't serious for me.  I was curious and I had fun, but it didn't define me.  I wasn't yet a gamer.

A few years rolled by, and I received a Nintendo for a gift.  Ah, now here we go.  I began my 8-bit adventures and things got a little more serious.  Like many budding gamers at the time, I cut my teeth on Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt.

I took mushrooms, picked flaming flowers, bumped coins out of bricks, stomped on creatures, pulled down flags, and saved the princess.  And I happily did it time after time.  Super Mario Bros. was my first obsession.  When I wanted a change, I could be seen shooting ducks or being taunted by a large dog I came to hate.  Oh yeah, I shot at him with the NES Zapper more than a few times.

Ugh

I remember one of my cousins even had a Power Pad.  We used it to play World Class Track Meet.  We were gaming and burning calories before the Wii or the Kinect.  Yeah, yeah.

As time went on, I began to amass a nice collection of NES games.  I fondly remember anxiously awaiting Fridays because my mom would let me rent a game every weekend.  My weekends were spent trying to save April with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, punch out Mike Tyson, and help Darkwing Duck keep St. Canard safe.  A little gamer was beginning to grow.

A couple of years passed, and I received a Super Nintendo from a cousin.  I stepped into the realm of 16-bit gaming, and my love for gaming grew deeper.  It was on the SNES that I teamed up with Mario and Yoshi to defeat Bowser again, and I threw the first of many Hadoukens with Ryu on Street Fighter II.

The gamer in me continued to grow.  It was during this era that I truly began to enjoy gaming as a social activity, and my competitive edge began to show.  I wanted to prove my dominance over my cousins and friends in everything from Mortal Kombat to NBA Jam.

I started to read various gaming magazines like Nintendo Power and longed for a Game Genie.  I accumulated various codes and strategies.  I had to feed the need.

Oh, the hours we spent huddled around my little TV punching the YXBA buttons and bumpers in any number of combinations.  There were times when my mom had to make us stop in order to eat.  Gamer life, man.  It is what it is.

Fast forward a few years, and I was introduced to the Nintendo 64.  Imagine the excitement on my face the first time I loaded up Super Mario 64 and discovered I could tug and pull Mario's face on the title screen.  The time I spent on Super Mario 64, GoldenEye 007, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Donkey Kong 64, and Cruis'n USA will forever be priceless to me.

I was beginning to view gaming as a less of a hobby and more of a lifestyle.  It wasn't simply something to do anymore; it was becoming my life.

I remember opening presents one faithful Christmas morning, and I became the proud owner of a brand new Playstation.  Yeah!!!  Am I the only one who remembers spending hours playing demo discs on Playstation?  Classic times.

I think it was with the Playstation that I began to evolve into a marathon gamer. I couldn't rest until I beat whatever I was playing.  I was hooked on Metal Gear Solid, Tomb Raider, and Resident Evil.  I was quite fond of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, as well.

My appetite only grew with the release of the Playstation 2.  I would go to Blockbuster every weekend to rent something different.  I was a full fledged gamer by then.  If it was out, I had probably played it.  I don't even know the number of hours I spent playing Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.  It was no longer a hobby.  Gaming had become a major component of my life.

I eventually moved on to the Xbox 360 and the Xbox One.  Gamers constantly evolve, but I sometimes go back to the old consoles.  That nostalgia will get you every time.

So, here I am today.  If I'm not playing something, I'm watching gaming videos through the YouTube app on my Xbox One.  So even when I'm not actively gaming, I'm still gaming.  I read my Game Informer magazine from GameStop.  I research upcoming game releases and anxiously mark my calendar for my favorites.

I evolved from blowing into cartridges to wiping discs.  I grew from having to write down pass keys, to using memory cards and sticks, to finally saving to the hard drive.  I witnessed games changing from simple side scrollers to near movie experiences with actual actors in them.

I am a full fledged gamer.  I'll never change.  I am what I am.

What about you guys?  Do you have fond memories of your first time?  Drop some comments and let's connect.

Game on, my friends.

A Gamer's Dilemma

What's the best thing about this time of year?  Is it all the upcoming holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas?  Is it all the upcoming opportunities to be around your family and spend that quality time?  Or is the chance to throw your diet out of the window, eat what you want, and indulge in self loathing later?  Sure, it can be all of those things.  For gamers such as myself, it's all about those upcoming game releases for the holiday season.

What to buy?  For me, there are three games that force me to make some hard decisions.  I want all three, but I have to decide which one to buy and which ones to put on my Christmas list.  Let's take a look at my top three list according to release date.

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops III  November 6, 2015 (PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One)
2. Fallout 4 November 10, 2015 (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
3. Rise of the Tomb Raider November 10, 2015 (Xbox 360, Xbox One)

Boom, there it is.  Three games, three franchises, one tough decision.

I guess you could say it just comes down to personal preference.  Do I want to go with the FPS that is Black Ops III? Would I rather level up with the RPG Fallout 4?  Should I just go spelunking with Lara Croft instead?  Ugh, I can't make up my mind.  

I wish I had enough money to buy whatever I wanted with no worries about it.  My gamer life would be simple.  New release?  Boom, money dropped and game enjoyed.  Since I don't have it like that, I have to convince myself to buy one over the others.  Ah, well.  Such is life.

I'll just drop trailers for all three below.  Even if I remain stumped, maybe they'll help someone else decide.  Game on, my friends.

A Black woman that plays video games? Yes!

Yes, we do exist.  I love video games.  I've always loved playing video games ever since I was a child.  I've owned and played everything from the Atari 2600 to the Xbox One (my current obsession).  

The funny thing is I'm always defending my love of video games.  I'm not the type that pretends to play to impress guys.  No, I want to kick their butts.  I'm super competitive.  I had a boyfriend in high school that didn't believe I played until I whipped his tail in NBA Street.  He later admitted that he was so salty that he practiced for a week just to beat me.  So cute but he never did.  

To this day, he still says he's never met another girl that was as into gaming and he gave up looking.  He awarded me the crown. To be fair, I do look for a guy who loves to game, too.  Nothing more relaxing than chilling at home and gaming the night away.  Gaming over clubs any day.

My mother asked why I like stuff that boys like.  I responded that it's no more absurd than a man that cooks and cleans.  

By the way, a man in the kitchen is very sexy but, I digress.  

I feel that Black women are under represented in gaming culture.  It's almost as if we're not interested in it.  That's just not true.  Some of the most hardcore gamers I know are Black women.  Some people think that if we're into it at all, we're only interested in games like The Sims.  A game that some people call a "girl" game.  I love The Sims and know guys that play it, but I play so many different games.  Although I must admit, The Sims can get deep if someone is a skilled Simmer.  My Sims usually end up doing better at life than I am.  Crazy.

I'm more of a Grand Theft Auto/Call of Duty type of girl, though.  Nothing more satisfying than mindlessly mowing down pedestrians while listening to R&B on the radio or blasting campers on my favorite maps.  Great stress relief, believe it or not  Oh, and don't put a good RPG in front of me.  I'll get lost for days.  

I guess my love of sitting in front of a television or monitor and playing games doesn't help my social life.  Yeah, that's true.  I'm not big on going out and being seen.  However, I tend to build my friendships around my love of games.  My buddies are all gamers, too.  So, it works out in the end.  Instead of calling or texting one another all day, we just hop into an Xbox Live party and chat.  Gaming IS social.

So, what's the point of my blog?  Well, I want to prove that Black women love games just like everyone else.  I want to prove that we do keep up with game releases and watch E3.  I know I'm currently waiting on Fallout 4 to release.  11-10-15 is marked on my calendar.  I want to prove that we play all consoles and games.  Yes, some of us are into anime and cosplay, too.   We come in different packages, but we all share that love of gaming and fantasy. 

In case you're wondering how I'm spending my Friday night, I'm watching gaming videos on YouTube.  I'm watching DashieGames, to be exact.  Yeah, I'm really doing that.  Heads up, Dashie curses a lot.  Just an FYI in case anyone wants to check him out.  

I'm hoping that some people out there can relate to me.  I just want to game in peace without feeling like a science project.  Can I live?  Here's hoping to change, anyway.  Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start.  Game on, my friends, game on.