videogamesplus.ca

My fiance and I love video games. I especially love role playing games that let me choose what kind of personality my characters have. Games like InFamous, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (my favorite), Mass Effect, and Dragon Age let the player choose from different responses when asked questions, to kill innocent people or let them live, and who to fall in love with.

Growing up, I loved the “choose your own adventure” books for the same reason I love these video games. I got so into the story and instead of reading about some character, I was reading about myself. My favorite was The Magic of the Unicorn. (I’m such a nerd)

Some people say video games are stupid and for kids. But now with consoles like the Wii and upcoming motion controls for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, those who used to shun video games are jumping around their living room swinging tennis rackets and pretending to bowl.

But it doesn’t stop there! The games I mentioned above really test your emotions and morals. Would you choose to be good or evil?

Heavy Rain is coming out in two weeks and we are very excited about it. This game is about a father who loses his son. The tagline is, “How far are you prepared to go to save someone you love?” This game is difficult to classify because it is so original, but I think most would say it’s an “interactive drama.” At least that’s what wikipedia says. It’s a true “choose your own adventure” in gaming, but so much more in depth.

wikipedia.org

 You should really click here to read about it more. You may want to get a PS3 just to play it!!

What are your favorite “choose your own adventure” books or video games?

How would you describe your personal style?

Here’s my poem–

Applebeard

Crumpled, mottled, much besottled,

his one good leg is weak and wobbled.

On vehicles of air and swings and plastic metal rods and things.

Treasure finding x-ing punning shoving falling crying running .

Elements of ice cream candy and perhaps a sneak of brandy

Applebeard has found the golden popcorn Lego chest of olden!

He ran inside to tell the ‘rents to hurry! Set up the quarter tents!

And for his amazing ‘gents a feast of grating elegance.

Though his mother clasped and begged, captain and crew ordered tartlet dregs

And turkey legs to fly.

But this is moshing through the mire, and after which, they shall retire.

Applebeard, before he fell flat, sneered at all who dared to leer at,

Replaced the honored, tricorne hat and tossed his leg into the fire.

UPDATE:

I forgot to mention that this poem is published in the 2008/2009 edition of “The Reflector,” they Shippensburg University literary journal. The same journal in which Dean Koontz was published  back in the 60s!

Why are bridges so romantic? And not just the picturesque bridges found in a garden or a park, but even big bridges made of steel. What’s so romantic about a bridge?

Is it that it connects two areas of land that were otherwise separate and lonely? Is it that a strong, solid bridge, hiding a torrent below, perfectly represents a relationship: strong and solid like the bridge, but with passion, anger, jealousy (and other crazy emotions) bubbling below?

China’s Rainbow Bridge

photo: wikipedia.org

Paris’ Pont Royal–apparently this is a good bridge for proposals!

photo: wikipedia.org

The storyline brought Pocahontas to mind. I’ve seen the Disney version and The New World-that’s the extent of my Pocahontas knowledge. But I did learn in school that John Smith exagerrated on his story.

John Smith goes to the indigenous folk, Pocahontas teaches him their language,all about her people, how important the land and animals are, and they fall in love. She even protects him when her people want to kill him! Anyways, the story was good, but that’s not what really made the movie in my opinion, it was the quality of the cgi, the explosions, robots, and flying ships, the acting, and the imagination of James Cameron.

Am I the only one who thought of Pocahontas?

Artie:  Homestarrunner! Spell it out for me.

I tell him each letter and specify,”one bump, up down up for n’s and two bumps, up down up down for m’s.” Finally, he types in the full address and exclaims, I did it!

He spells out the names of the cartoons and games he wants me to click on, and after some frustrating communication problems and laughter, we enjoy them together.

You wanna talk to mom? Alright, hold on. Hi, Sam! he says to me, in a high voice. It’s mom!

“Hi, mom,” I say to him, knowing that it would take him a while to admit it if I accused him of joking around. “I want to talk to you mom, about Artie. Can I tell you a secret?”

Yes, Sam, you can tell me, he answers in a screechy voice, the same voice he uses to imitate my other brother, who has a deep voice.

“Alright, Mom, but don’t tell him. Artie smells really bad–”

No, he doesn’t.

“He stinks, Mom. You should really make him take a bath once in a while.”

He doesn’t stink! Artie says, his disguised voice cracking as he tries not to laugh.

After his trick fails, he gives the phone to my mother.

A few minutes later, he gets back on the phone with me.

If you wanna go to Target, you can get hot dogs, smoothies–I don’t know what are smoothies but I call them smoothies, soda, cherry soda–I love cherry soda– (he adds in a voice that makes him sound like he’s shivering. He must really love cherry soda)– Are you sleepy?

“No. Are you?”

Not really. When I grow up, I wanna be a manager! No, not a manager! I wanna be a security–when someone’s being really bad, I wanna be a security!! I’ll get a house. And BB’s won’t  be here (the diner where my parents work) I’ll turn it into a CAR STORE! I’ll sell lots of cars! And I’ll have a hot rod with a boost! It’ll only go off when I’m in trouble. Sam?

Where are you?

“Home.”

Sam?

“Yes?”

“I love you, Sam!”

My characters went to a bed and breakfast last night, had a little chat, went to sleep and left the next morning. I had a little explanation of what the room looked like, but that’s it! The owners were up late and checked them in, but they had no faces in my imagination.

While I laid in bed, trying to sleep, I began to think: there’s not enough of anything–not enough excitement, not enough humor, not enough characters. I will stop for a little while and build up my characters’ history, create new ones, and do some research. I can’t finish the story without all of this!!

I love to research. When I look things up I always get new ideas. And I think creating some new characters will be exciting. I am still just starting out! I will do some character building in my next post.

I’m not going to a party or a bar tonight, just a quiet family gathering. I hadn’t realized until now, just how much I did this past year. I guess that’s why we make these milestones as humans, or else we’d lose track of what’s important.

I have a lot to look forward to for tomorrow.

I know it’s not easy to find a good job after school. I’m moving to a whole different state and hoping for new opportunities.  Where are the real people in movies nowadays?

It goes from priveleged college students that party like crazy to the rich, young businesspeople. Or I can watch an inspirational film about a rags to riches college student, or a druggie that kicks the habit and is now ceo of their own business.

I want a happy medium! I demand it!!!!

First line is in bold- taken from: Dodie Smith, I Capture the Castle (1948)

 I write this sitting in the kitchen sink. In a memory of bubbles and sunlight. To the music of a faucet beat drip drip dripping.

I write this on my way to to school. In a memory of hopscotch and jump ropes. To the music of my maryjanes skip skip skipping.

I write this in my cubicle. In a memory of youth and dreams. To the music of my aspirations slip slip slipping.

Boy, that’s pretty sad and depressing! But I like it anyway!

I got the idea from this post by smcallister.wordpress.com.

Here’s mine!

Strawberry

Pattern scattered on a dress

or flowing fair in open fields.

Pretty woman paired champagne

and threw away your green leaves.

Chocolate drizzle red and sweet,

right to the seeds stuck in your teeth.

I wrote it fast, but it was fun! Please try it and post it to your blog. Just leave a comment (if you want) with the permalink to your post so I (and everyone else) can read and comment!