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Heartbreak Holiday

This post won’t be focusing on anything gaming related; instead, I wanted to take the time to talk about heartbreak and the journey that follows. I never really knew what heartbreak was until I experienced my first meaningful relationship. It was one of the most beautiful, yet painful experiences of my life and I would like to shed some light on the healing process as I continue to navigate through it. My girlfriend of three years and I split up recently, leaving a chasm in my heart that seemed irreparable. However, as with most issues in life, I believe having a conversation about it can be helpful for healing. I hope this post can inspire readers to find the confidence in themselves to begin their journey. Writing and reading have always been therapeutic for me throughout the years and I am hopeful that this post will achieve the same effect for my readers. Admittedly, I am hesitant to write about such an unusual topic given the theme of this website, but I would like to provide some hope to anyone struggling this season.

With Christmas right around the corner, I figured now would be the best time to discuss heartbreak and loneliness. Christmas has always been my favourite holiday, yet every year my heart aches for those who are unable to celebrate it with their friends, family, and loved ones. Unbeknownst to me, I would find myself fending off those same pitiable feelings of loneliness this Christmas season. Behind the breathtaking beauty of winter there’s a plague spreading over those who are consumed by grief, sadness, and loneliness. It wasn’t until I lost the woman I saw my future with that I was afflicted with this plague. It eats away at you slowly, then proliferates just when it feels like you’re making progress. With no real cure in sight, its easy to keep sinking deeper into the abyss of our addled minds. The once uplifting euphoria of Christmas spirit now feels suffocating for me. The same Christmas songs that filled me with glee now taunt me, proclaiming to the depths of my soul that I am now alone. Trying to recover from a recent heartbreak while enduring a season of ‘togetherness’ is crippling to say the least.

However, one thing I have learned during my painstaking journey is that we are our own cure. Its one of the hardest truths to accept, largely because we spend so much time trying to find something to ease our pain or erase it completely. Recovery depends entirely on our mindset and the steps we take to apply that mindset to our lives. As most breakup advice suggests, I think letting our emotions wash over us is beneficial to an extent. It can be relieving to let every emotion be felt, however, it becomes an issue if we let it consume us. One of the worst things we can do when experiencing heartbreak and loss is to get pulled into a cycle of self doubt. Constantly questioning why it had to end and what we could have done differently are the first thoughts to prod at our wounded hearts. When we aren’t given closure and are left to come up with our own explanations, the pain becomes excruciating. In addition to feeling incredibly insecure about my self worth, I found myself mindlessly stumbling down a path of resentment towards my ex.

Being angry helped. I wont deny that or suggest its not a good method of recovery because I believe it can be, but in my case it wasn’t aiding my healing process. Without a positive outlet to channel my anger, I started to direct it internally. I chose to blame myself for the outcome of my relationship rather than using my frustration to motivate self-development. Before I knew it, I was at one of the lowest points in my life believing that recovery was an impossibility. However, one of the best pieces of advice I received during this time was that we often don’t have a choice regarding the actions that take place in our lives, but we do have a choice in how we react to them. Every action has a reaction and that has been the mantra I have been relying on to guide me through this process.

It was only a few days ago when I decided to react to my feelings with confidence instead of cowardice. The realization that I was choosing to let my thoughts rule me was enough to steer me towards betterment. I started to think rationally rather than driving myself on emotions alone. The hard truth is, just because we’re mourning over the loss of our exes doesn’t mean they are doing the same for us. They could cross our minds a hundred times in a single day and we may not cross theirs even once. Initially, this made me angry, but in time I realized I was wasting my time mourning instead of growing. Even though there’s so much I want to ask her and I miss her with my whole heart, I know the result will still be the same. Her choice may not have been an easy one, but its what she decided and I have to accept it. Oftentimes, acceptance is the seemingly impassible roadblock when it comes to recovery. I struggled with acceptance because I couldn’t comprehend that the three years her and I spent together were suddenly coming to an end. While I saw an incredible future dawning in the horizon, she had already decided the sun had set in our relationship. The signs were always there but I chose to ignore them because I wanted to be confident in the feelings she professed. During our time together, I couldn’t imagine loving or being loved by anyone else. Unfortunately, that blissful ignorance is what ended up hurting me the most.

I did everything that most people suggest when going through heartbreak. I picked up a new hobby, started communicating with friends and family, drowned myself in work, and I even made new friends. I tried to distract myself from the reality that things were over, that I no longer had my bestfriend to continue making memories with. In the moments I was alone, I found myself breaking down and, once again, shattering the heart I thought I was so close to repairing. I was stuck constantly picking up the pieces that were left after my heart was broken, creating a malformed version of it each time. It wasn’t until I acknowledged my thoughts as my own that I was able to recall the image of my heart and my identity. At this point, I had accepted the harsh reality of my position and managed to muster up the courage I needed in order to start building a resilient heart that wouldn’t break so easily. Its no exaggeration to say that heartbreak requires us to be as courageous as a lion, maybe even ten. Making the choice to pick ourselves up after experiencing loss of any kind is something to be applauded.

Its regrettable, but I only started to acknowledge my self worth after my ex-girlfriend decided to end things between us. When she was finally ready to pull the plug, I was absolutely crushed. At the time, I couldn’t understand how someone I trusted, someone who told me they loved me the night before, could turn around and tell me they didn’t want to be together anymore. It was a cruel experience that left me wondering if she had even considered my feelings. It took having my heart broken for me to realize that I didn’t deserve to feel that unimportant. However, its easy to vilify exes after a breakup, especially if you’re the dumpee. I may still hold some bitterness towards my ex, but at the end of the day she is still one of the kindest and most compassionate people I know. That kindness helped me through some of the darkest moments in my life and I will always be thankful for that. After the breakup, when the dust finally settled, it became easier to understand that the relationship wasn’t meant to be. There was and still is a lot I need to work on in order to become someone I am proud of and my relationship was the stepping stone I needed in order to pursue that goal. As painful as the experience was, I am starting to understand that it was necessary in order for me to continue developing.

Although losing my girlfriend was devastating, there was a silver lining. I can say with confidence that I walked away with the experience and knowledge I need for my next relationship. I am still reflecting on what I could have done differently, but I am not pining over it. If there’s one piece of advice I can impart to my readers, its that love isn’t about giving your heart to someone else, its about sharing it with them. If you give everything that you are to someone else, you will eventually lose site of your identity and individuality. Finding validation and meaning exclusively from your partner will break you at some point whether you acknowledge that as fact or not. Love is undoubtedly about lifting each other up, but your partner can only lift you so high. If you choose to forgo your independence, your partner will continue to soar above you until they are out of sight. Words cannot express how much I admired my girlfriend. I can’t recall a single day that passed where I wasn’t immensely proud of the person she was. However, what admiration did I have for myself? Her faith in me became synonymous to the faith I was willing to have in myself. With that being said, I can’t imagine it was easy for my ex-girlfriend to love me while I failed to love myself. By no means is my word law, but I sincerely hope that my readers accept my experience as a cautionary tale.

I have changed drastically since I experienced my first real heartbreak. That change can be destructive or it can be one of the best things for us. The choice is ours to make and I would like to think I am finally starting to move on. There are still many more moments of weakness to come, but all tears dry eventually. To anyone experiencing a breakup this holiday season, set goals for yourself. Hold yourself accountable for the way you react to your thoughts and emotions. Just by being alive, you are valuable. You have struggled to stay afloat, clawed your way through life’s entanglements, and have faced reality head on. Fighting is a choice you have had to make countless times before, so choose to fight once more. The pain will subside eventually but it takes time. It could take days, months, even years before you heal. However, a time will come where you can say you have moved on and healed. As for me, I’m going to continue working hard and meeting my goals. I am going to reclaim Christmas as my favourite holiday and enjoy it to the fullest. I’ll keep driving down the long road of self growth until I reach my destination, wherever that is. There will be plenty of potholes along the way but I am confident the journey will get smoother with time.

There’s so much more I would like to say but I don’t think any amount of words could express what kind of experience heartbreak entails. Furthermore, I would like to publish this article at the beginning of the holidays. Everyone’s journey through the healing process will be vastly different, however, we are unified in our pain and grief. Good luck to everyone going through a breakup this season. Anyone who has questions or is looking for support, feel free to reach out to me via the contacts listed on this site.

Genshin Impact vs. Breath of the Wild: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Genshin Impact, a game developed by MiHoYo, has recently taken the gaming community by storm. It was announced during Gamescom 2020 and was officially released on September 28th, 2020 for PC, PlayStation 4, Android, and iOS. Immediately following its reveal at Gamescom, the community was quick to draw comparisons between Genshin Impact and Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The two share striking similarities in terms of what they have to offer. Many of the systems and game mechanics found in Genshin Impact are almost identical to those found in its predecessor, Breath of the Wild. As a result, there was a notable rift forming in the gaming community between supporters of Genshin Impact and its critics.

While many were excited to have another game to play like Breath of the Wild, others were up in arms arguing that Genshin Impact was an uninspired clone. Some gamers even protested at ChinaJoy, a Chinese gaming expo, where Sony was promoting the game. An avid fan of Breath of the Wild went so far as to smash a PlayStation 4 at the event to express his discontent towards Sony for publishing Genshin Impact. Although a formal lawsuit was never filed against MiHoYo regarding plagiarism, uneasy tension still exists in the gaming community following the game’s release.

Having played Breath of the Wild and Genshin Impact, I believe I can provide an unbiased opinion for both titles. With that being said, I might as well start by saying I don’t think Genshin Impact is a clone. I would argue that the game is heavily inspired by Breath of the Wild, but has many of its own unique qualities that solidify its own identity. Lets begin by addressing both titles’ similarities. One of the most notable comparisons drawn by the community was with regards to Genshin Impact‘s design and art style. Part of what makes the Legend of Zelda series so memorable is its implementation of unique art styles for many of its titles.

Prior to Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker, introduced an art style not yet seen in the franchise through the use of cel shading. Wind Waker was able to convey itself as a more lighthearted title via its use of vibrant colors and a design closely resembling that of a cartoon. The aesthetic choice of Wind Waker reflected the lighthearted nature of the game’s plot. In Wind Waker, Link finds himself traversing the seas and exploring islands all the while fighting some comical monsters in order to rescue his sister. In contrast, The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess introduced a much more gritty, dreary, and realistic art style. The chosen aesthetic of Twilight Princess reflects the game’s tragic plot centered around themes of death, spirits, and loss. Like Wind Waker, Breath of Wild uses cel shading, however, it tries to maintain a sense of realism instead of surrealism. In doing so, the game has some of the most breathtaking visuals I have ever seen in a video game. The chosen art style does an incredible job of accentuating the game’s various landscapes and their unique qualities. For example, the green fields of the Great Plateau seem that much more expansive and lush as you take your first steps out of the Shrine of Resurrection.

Now lets talk about Genshin Impact. I will admit that the art style used in Genshin Impact is eerily similar to Breath of the Wild, dare I say its almost identical. However, the game embraces a more anime aesthetic by creating some…memorable protagonists and enemies. I would argue that the unique character aesthetics and designs are what separate Genshin Impact from Breath of the Wild. The game isn’t afraid to toss cleavage and overly badass characters in your face as you explore Teyvat. Genshin Impact is undeniably an action adventure game that relies on its anime aesthetic to compliment the satirical, witty, and hilarious nature of its characters.

Visuals aside, Genshin Impact and Breath of the Wild share very similar systems and mechanics, some of the most note worth being their stamina system, cooking, and statues. When drawing comparisons between Breath of the Wild‘s stamina system and Genshin Impact‘s, its easy to immediately accuse MiHoYo of replicating the mechanic from Breath of the Wild. Stamina usage and management are a key part of both games considering stamina is used to perform a multitude of tasks such as scaling obstacles, running, swimming and flying. Arguing that MiHoYo didn’t copy the mechanic becomes especially daunting when we consider that both games rely on a ‘statue’ system. Statues in both games are almost identical, requiring players to collect treasures to make use of them. These treasures, spirit orbs in Breath of the Wild and oculi in Genshin Impact, can be traded at statues for a boost in stamina. However, there are some differences between each game’s statues. In Breath of the Wild, Link can choose between a boost in his stamina or his health. In contrast, the protagonists in Genshin Impact receive a strict stamina boost in addition to some experience and items. Furthermore, the amount of spirit orbs Link needs to collect in order to trade is static and will never be less than or greater than four. On the other hand, players can level up statues in Genshin Impact, increasing the rewards they receive relative to the statues’ level. The amount of oculi needed to level a statue up increases each time at a fixed rate unlike Breath of the Wild.

Although both games do share a stamina system dependent on statues, its important to recognize that Breath of the Wild was not the first open world adventure game to use this mechanic. There have been numerous titles before Breath of the Wild and Genshin Impact that use stamina such as Shadow of the Colossus and Final Fantasy XV. One thing that all of these titles have in common is that players are able to increase their overall stamina by fulfilling certain requirements. Stamina has become a staple for most open world adventure games; Breath of the Wild certainly was not the flagship for this system. When we consider all of this, letting MiHoYo off the hook seems a little more reasonable.

Genshin Impact undeniably borrowed many concepts from Breath of the Wild. However, in comparison to Breath of the Wild, Genshin Impact‘s use of these systems is very shallow. For example, Genshin Impact‘s cooking system lacks the depth and complexity found in Breath of the Wild. The dishes are simple and provide limited benefits compared to the seemingly infinite amount of food choices found in Breath of the Wild. With this in mind, the biggest difference between these two incredible games is the way they advertise themselves. Genshin Impact seems shallow in comparison to Breath of the Wild because it isn’t trying to be a complex game. Its clear that MiHoYo wants the game to be accessible to a large demographic of players. This claim is further supported by the fact that the game is available on a wide array of devices. Genshin Impact is, first and foremost, a mobile gacha game with the added bonus of being able to play on platforms like PlayStation 4 and PC. Being a free-to-play game, Genshin Impact relies on its gacha system to profit. One of the most enticing aspects of the game is being able to make ‘wishes’ and roll for new characters and weapons. If you’re willing to spend some cash, you could sink as much money as you’d like into the wish system for more chances to roll 5 star characters and weapons.

From a business standpoint, it makes sense that MiHoYo wants Genshin Impact to be a simple and accessible game. By streamlining the game’s experience, players can pick it up quickly and invest hours into it right away. There isn’t a huge learning curve and being a casual gamer is more than enough to fully enjoy what the game has to offer. Part of Genshin Impact‘s charm is its simplicity. In contrast, Breath of the Wild wants its players to feel invested, spending hours finding shrines or doing side missions. The story, characters, and themes leave players wishing the game would never end. Genshin Impact and Breath of the Wild are quite different in terms of what kind of experience they want their playerbase to have. While Breath of the Wild wants you to take your time and enjoy the content, Genshin Impact doesn’t care how long you stay as long as you eventually find yourself itching to make more wishes. For players to be willing to spend money or take the time to grind in-game currency, MiHoYo knows their game needs to be fun and it certainly is.

Whether you’re a fan of the game or not, its clear to see that an incredible amount of time, care, and effort went into Genshin Impact, from its world design to its unique combat system. Sure, some aspects of the game closely mirror Breath of the Wild, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say MiHoYo carbon copied them. Genshin Impact has enough personality and creativity to affirm with confidence that it is not a Breath of the Wild clone. Having played both games extensively, I would never compare the two because, in reality, the experiences they offer are wildly different. With a lengthy roadmap planned for Genshin Impact‘s future, its clear that MiHoYo really cares about their game. However, this does not mean the game is without its faults. There are certainly aspects of the game that need to be looked at before I can vouch for its future, but I will save that discussion for a future post.

Why I Enjoy Single Player Games

When comparing singleplayer games to multiplayer games, the difference between the two is often immediately apparent. Ultimately, the two are incomparable and someone’s enjoyment of either is entirely preferential. Some may prefer to feel immersed in the compelling narrative of games like Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. On the other hand, some may choose to spend their time playing engaging multiplayer games where communication is more of a priority than storytelling. Multiplayer games like Player Unknown Battlegrounds don’t offer much in terms of a story, but their simplicity attracts both casual and competitive players. However, this article will be focusing on the attractive elements of singleplayer games that have inspired the creation of loyal communities and fan bases.

Unlike multiplayer games, successful singleplayer games rely almost entirely on their ability to immerse players in the narrative they create. I believe that for a singleplayer game to be enjoyable, players must become invested in the world they interact with and the characters they control. As such, themes, setting, and plot are all paramount to the success of a singleplayer game. Other variables like visuals and aesthetic can contribute to a game’s intrigue, however, these mean very little when the game itself is not enjoyable. For example, No Man’s Sky, a game developed by Hello Games, was visually stunning but was a barren wasteland when it came to content. The player experience was limited by this lack content, replayability, and bugs. On the contrary, games like Super Mario Bros and Ocarina of Time for the N64 are considered timeless classics. Both games are filled with some of the most iconic characters of all time, many of which can still be seen in the most recent titles of their respective franchises.

A majority of popular multiplayer games are centered around a fast paced game experience. As a result, certain aspects of the game like story and narrative aren’t given as much thought compared to aspects like game mechanics and balancing. Although singleplayer games do consider these elements, they typically prioritize storytelling. Similar to a book or movie, singleplayer games have an introduction, climax and a conclusion. The game’s characters act as the driving force that push these elements forward. In order for characters to successfully fulfill this roll,  they need to be well rounded and developed which is usually accomplished by creating backgrounds for each character or gradually unveiling details about them as the game progresses. This is referred to as character development in novels and movies, however, games are unique because the player is in control of pushing the character progression forward. With this in mind, video games can be incredible storytelling mediums because they allow us to be active participants rather than passive onlookers. By making players responsible for the growth of a character, they are given a reason to want to continue playing.

One of the most exceptional singleplayer games I have played was Final Fantasy XV. What made this game arguably one of the best I’ve played was its exceptional use of character development and character relationships. Prince Noctis, the story’s protagonist, initially comes off as an arrogant prince shirking his duties as a member of royalty. At the start of the game I struggled to find him likeable or relatable which made it difficult to establish any sort of connection with him. Square Enix, the developers of the Final Fantasy franchise, intentionally created Noctis like this in order to set the stage for his incredible character development. Additionally, Noctis is surrounded by some of the most unique and enjoyable characters I have ever seen in a video game. These characters are Ignis, Prompto, and Gladio who serve as Noctis’s Knights and accompany him on his journey to avenge his father and find his wife-to-be, Princess Lunafreya. The chemistry shared between the prince and his knights is moving and familial. As Noctis interacts with his companions during their adventure, his character gradually develops and becomes more mature and respectable. He eventually learns to deal with loss and accept responsibility, becoming a truly selfless character by the end of the game.

Final Fantasy XV‘s characters were easily one of game’s strongest points. I  can’t recall a single moment where the characters seemed mechanical or lifeless. It always felt as if I was Noctis, overcoming hardships and deepening my bonds with my companions. With this in mind, I do not believe the same level of immersion and character depth can be found in multiplayer games. Although characters are playable, they do not offer the same level of complexity that can be found in singleplayer games. Multiplayer games like League of Legends do try and provide some background for their characters, however, with a roster of 151+ playable characters it would be impossible to provide as much depth as a singleplayer game like Final Fantasy XV can. For multiplayer games, how characters perform in relation to the game’s mechanics and objectives takes precedent over storytelling and character development.

I believe that singleplayer games and multiplayer games are unique in their own right. We have the privilege of being able to enjoy both and I do not think anyone should be critiqued for their preference. Personally, my enjoyment of either is situational, depending on if I am playing by myself or with my friends. However, if I am playing by myself I do find singleplayer games to be more enjoyable. As a writer, I enjoy stories and the way they are told and, as a result, I have a preference for singleplayer games.

Guest Blog #2: The Curse of Gender: being a female gamer with RedsGameSpot

ARCHIVED: Post from November 4th, 2015

Here is the second guest blog on my site, this time featuring RedsGameSpot who will be shedding light on sexism and its prevalence in online video games, specifically DOTA2. RedsGameSpot is run by Kate, another friend and classmate of mine, who writes excellent game reviews and insightful blogs. By reading about her personal experience as a female gamer, I hope this blog provides you with a new perspective on female gamers and the hardships they unfortunately have to endure. Please check out her site which can be found here, for more amazing content!

In all honesty, I haven’t experienced a vast amount of hate for my online gaming participation from the largely male community. Most often, when someone hears me speak over mic in game (especially with Dota 2), immediately there is an overwhelming “IS THAT REALLY A GIRL?”. And then we lead into the three responses, which can sometimes overlap; sexual advances, hate and support.

To begin, the most common reaction I’ve had, especially when playing Dota 2, is for the other male players (typically under the age of 20), to start by being quite kind, and then quickly become sexual in their comments. I have had an Invoker ask me for nudes. I’ve had a Dragon Knight protect me and sacrifice himself for me while speaking like a medieval suitor over the mic. I’ve had complete randoms, even from the other team, make dirty jokes or say something that when I respond is a “that’s what she said” moment. Half of the time, it can actually be quite hilarious. In one game that I actually posted on my blog, some kid said he had to lock his brother out of the room because my voice was turning him on. It is kind of funny! But there is an underlying issue with this. Apparently video games are teaching young men that it’s okay to talk to other females like this. It has become okay to overly sexualize and make a woman into an object just from her voice. And of course, I cannot really ask them to stop this banter because if I do, I will be labeled in a negative sense.

This leads to the hate aspect. In some moments when I have told people to buzz off with the weird comments, I then begin to get called all sorts of ridiculous names. But this is kind of a rare occurrence. What happens more often than not is that I take all of the blame. “She is a girl, she is playing support, she’s the inferior sex, she is not welcome in our community, I will take all of my frustration out on her”. Or at least, that feels like the train of thought for me. For example, the other night I had a terribly awful day, I decided to play a game of Dota after work. I also have been trying to get into Twitch streaming more, I stupidly announced to the team that I was doing this. We lost the game, who gets all the blame? “Yeah you think you’re so good at this game twitch whore? We lost”. Exact quote. So as much as some of the playful sexual banter can be fun, sometimes people get too heated (as they often do in Dota), and it becomes too much.

UPDATED: What it Means to be a Gamer

There are numerous misconceptions surrounding the gaming community and the concept of what it means to be a gamer. I believe the stereotypical image of a gamer needs to be reconstructed from a much broader perspective. One stereotype claims that game enthusiasts invest an unhealthy portion of their time playing games. Although this statement is not necessarily wrong, it is not entirely true either. In most cases, gamers choose to spend a majority of their time playing video games as a form of escapism. Whether its to destress from work or to serve as a distraction from issues in life, video games have always served as an outlet.

Studies in depression found that individuals suffering from depression often turn to drugs and alcoholism as a way of numbing their pain. According to the Addiction Center, an estimated 1/3 of individuals suffering from depression also have an alcohol problem. Although not as debilitating as a substance abuse problem, there are gamers who seek comfort in video games, becoming complacent in the belief that video games are their only source of happiness. However, according to Andy Przybylski, the director of research at the Oxford Internet Institute, only 0.3% of gamers may experience difficulties controlling the amount of time they spend gaming. With this in mind, gamers rarely develop a video game addiction but escapism is certainly one prevalent explanation as to why some gamers invest so much time into video games. In comparison to a substance abuse issue, video games aren’t nearly as debilitating as some people think.

With this in mind, most gamers have a variety of hobbies and video games typically occupy their free time. Personally, I know numerous gamers who involve themselves in other activities. When compared to the stereotype of a gamer, most wouldn’t be able to tell they were one. This can apply to some of your favorite celebrities such as Snoop Dog, Henry Cavil, and Vin Diesel to name a few. Furthermore, one does not have to play video games 24/7 in order to be considered a gamer. This does not make them exempt from the title of “gamer”, it simply means they enjoy other hobbies as well. Most gamers simply appreciate the content games have to offer and can choose to play a game casually or consistently.

I believe the stereotypes surrounding video games intentionally shine a negative light on gamers. This alienate them from a culture that focuses on following the newest trends or doing what’s popular. Gamers are generally viewed as recluses or introverts who rarely spend their time engaging in social activities. However, statistically this is anything but the truth. According to The Myers-Briggs Company, a company widely known for their personality test, a majority of the world population prefers introversion opposed to extraversion. Myers-Briggs claims that 56.8% of people around the world share this preference. Additionally, in the UK, 9 out of 10 people reported that they had felt the pressure to behave in an extraverted way. For most, this is a shocking realization due to the fact that we are constantly exposed to extraverts both directly and indirectly on a daily basis. Those who speak for the majority, such as world leaders and politicians, essentially have to be extraverted in order to confidently represent their followers. We see these people everyday through social media and news outlets. As a result, our image of the ideal member of society is extraverted, confident, and social.

One final misconception I would like to shatter is the belief that girls can’t/shouldn’t play video games. It can be argued that the male demographic of gamers in tandem with societal expectations are responsible for creating this belief. Through the use of media, society has labeled girls as materialistic and feminine. Gaming has been mislabeled as being a predominantly male hobby. As such, a girl playing video games is viewed as being both bizarre and unheard of because it strays away from the conventional ideal of what a girl is. In addition to society’s description of what a girl should be like, the male community of gamers has made it very difficult for girls to enter the gaming scene. This is because most male gamers hold the mindset that girl gamers are inferior and incapable of playing video games. Despite this prejudice, female gamers comprise roughly 41% of the gaming community according to Statista.

Ultimately, I believe girls are equally capable of playing video games and have just as much of a right to play as we, the male community, do. I hope that over time society will begin to look at gamers in a new light. Every gamer has their own story and there is no justification for painting us all with the same brush. Don’t judge a book by its cover; a fitness junkie or even a sports fanatic can be a gamer. Most importantly, we should respect and welcome the female presence within the gaming community.

Gamers are diverse.

UPDATED: Transformation of League of Legends: Good or Bad?

DISCLAIMER: This post is highly satirical and overdramatized. The referenced statistics are accurate and reliable, however, please do not let my personal opinion offend you. 

One of the most popular games currently is League of Legends which recently updated to Season 11. League of Legends is a free-to-play MOBA where two teams of five players compete to destroy each other’s Nexus. In my experience, having played since the game’s infancy, the most enjoyable part of League of Legends is queuing up with friends and playing a casual game. League of Legends was one of my favourite pastime, however, I rarely find myself returning to the game as of late. This is due to the hostile atmosphere surrounding the game which has gradually increased over time. League of Legends has one of the largest competitive scenes in gaming history alongside similar titles like DOTA2, a much more complex and strategy dependent game. With that being said, I think a lot of people take the competitive scene too seriously. I don’t disagree with fans supporting professional players, but I do have an issue with how seriously non-professional players take their ranked status.

Artistic Design in Video Games

Terraria

AND Design

OR Art

NOT Movies

[I believe that this post is geared towards someone who has an interest in the visual design and artistic form of Terraria. My reader is someone who is looking to find content about the various styles and designs that are used in Terraria. However, they will not find content about films considering the keyword “movies” is completely excluded.]

What can be accomplished through the use of modern video game design programs is almost limitless. Prior to the 1990s, video games were rendered in 2D and were often very linear. Despite the countless 3D modelling programs available to us today there are still some popular video game franchises that rely on two dimensional game design. An excellent example of this would be Terraria, an action-adventure sandbox game, which uses a two dimensional 16-bit style.

What separates Terraria from other 2D games is its use of vivid colours and particle effects which contrast a relatively simple landscape. Also, The sprites included in Terraria are very detailed and are hardly ever reused more than once. Although most 2D games are very static, Terraria manages to make the game feel relatively dynamic by making the background move in relation to the player. The background also changes based on the characters environmental/biome location. For example, if a player were to enter a cave biome the background would switch to an underground theme. This adds to the game’s artistic diversity considering there is a new visual theme for each individual biome.

Terraria seems to encourage players to alter the game’s standard landscape into something more abstract and colourful using the various tools the game has to offer. Being a sandbox game, the landscape essentially becomes the player’s canvas allowing the construction of intricate structures such as this. Player’s can collect and colour various blocks to use in the construction of whatever they choose whether it be a monument or a house.

Having invested several hours into Terraria, I never once found the game’s visual design bland. This is because the environment was always being changed either by me or by the game itself. Overall, Terraria makes use of arcade style graphics while adding a modern kick through the use of unique visual effects. This ultimately results in a continuously refreshing video game in an artistic sense. Personally, I have never been a fan of retro style graphics because of how bland they are aesthetically, however, Terraria is anything but bland.

Welcome to the Gamer’s Cavern!

in the Gamer’s Cavern readers can expect to find content geared towards people interested in the gaming community. However, this site also welcomes people who are curious to know more about video games and the impact they have on society. My blog posts will be more focused on educating non-gamers about video games and the various intricacies they possess that are often overlooked. Readers can find out more about me by visiting my pages and clicking the “About Me” tab. Other pages on this site include content regarding game reviews and gaming news. My pages will offer content that will hopefully prove informative to gamers who are interested in the latest games and news.

I believe video games to be like interactive stories with more to offer than a beginning and end. With this WordPress site I hope to share this philosophy with all my readers through the content I produce. My hope is that this site will appeal to avid gamers and non-gamers alike in an attempt to shatter the misconceptions about gaming!

JOUR 1000 Blog #1: Introduction to Liam Casey

ARCHIVED: Post from February 26th, 2015

Liam Casey is currently a reporter/editor for The Canadian Press, an independent agency that supplies countless news outlets across Canada with news. Liam obtained his Masters in Journalism at Ryerson University after completing the rigorous two-year program in 2011. He also contributed as an editor for Ryerson’s Review of Journalism for 8 months where he submitted an emotionally moving story regarding suicide. Prior to studying at Ryerson, Liam attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology in 2001.

After achieving all of his academic goals, Liam eventually began working in the field as a journalist landing a job with The Toronto Star, one of Canada’s biggest news outlets. He worked 4 years as a staff reporter for The Toronto Star and was praised for his stories related to suicide. One of these stories was titled “sorting myth from reality in suicide discussion” which he wrote in 2011. Additionally, Liam also provided pieces during a series about teen suicide that The Toronto Star ran.

Liam dedicates and applies his skills in journalism towards areas such as news writing and online journalism. Several Canadian Press articles of his can be found online and have been used by many popular news organizations such as Global News and The Chronicle Herald.

Most of Liam’s stories are public interest stories and contain information pertaining to the lives of Canadians. The weight of these stories varies from news about the groundhog Wiarton Willy not seeing his shadow, to news about suicide rates in Canada. One of his most notable accomplishments was his story on Christopher Peloso’s suicide. This piece was incredibly informative and contained information Liam was only able to obtain because he was invited over by a close friend of George Smitherman, Christopher Peloso’s husband. Liam explains that this was only possible because he took a chance and revealed his own personal struggle with suicide.

I chose to write about Liam Casey because I found his stories intriguing, educational, and relatable. Most news outlets today cover stories about how corrupt society has become while Liam’s stories work to restore and establish a sense of humanity and companionship. What makes him so much more relatable is how invested he is in stories about suicide. Personally, I believe people need to become more educated about depression as well as suicide and Liam does an excellent job of professionally writing about both. In particular, I found Liam’s piece on Christopher Peloso to be extremely refreshing and informational.

Putting aside his journalistic duties and reaching out to someone because he wanted to help is something we don’t see often. Because of his actions, Liam holds a permanent spot as an idol for me. What makes Liam such an exceptional writer is his ability to effectively use the information he has. There is a certain flow and structure in Liam’s writing that helps efficiently tell a story. Most current news articles feel like a regurgitation of facts, which ultimately leads to a very mechanical article. In contrast, Liam encourages his readers to feel emotionally invested in his news stories by providing detailed backgrounds on everyone he writes about. As a result, Liam’s pieces are unique, focusing on the human experience rather than strictly facts and statistics. He reminds us that news should be relatable, educational, and inspiring.