A Waste of Time?

A RL friend recently asked me "Don't you feel you are wasting your time playing video games in lieu of doing something creative instead?"

In addition to SL, I play Aion and also love console games (I have a 360 and a PS3) that I enjoy playing with my sister. I'll admit that we even wear matching headbands and have an absolute blast together! Call it family bonding with controllers in hand. That's not a waste of time to me.

My answer to my friend was that I enjoy it, it makes me happy and I'm good at it. I also told him that I suppose the time he spends watching lots of TV shows and movies and dissecting them to death online is time he could spend doing something creative as well, such as his own artwork. How is gaming different than any other hobby? Some folks like to read or scrapbook or make duck decoys. I like to wield a sword or run amok as a tiny bunny sometimes. Big deal. To each their own. I'm sure as hell not going to knock what brings someone joy.

If I wasn't doing anything creative at all in RL I could see the problem, but the funny thing is that I find inspiration from my gaming instead. It fires up my imagination and can help with a story or something I wish to draw. And my SL friends, for instance, have been just as supportive and encouraging of my RL creative endeavors and get on me if I slack.

Besides, as the artist Auguste Rodin once said: "Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely."

Elle in Aion: Just Another Place to Travel with Friends

These are my best friends in RL that I literally travel the world with. When they asked me to hang out with them in Aion, I saw no reason not to travel that world with them too! It's just another place for us all to explore and have fun in together. My friend in the middle is a much higher level than the two of us and head of our legion. We just all happened to be in the capital city at the same time. They also help to keep me from getting myself killed in there. Who's the one below with her weapon already drawn? Yup...In there, I'm a templar...a "tank", which means that I'm usually the first to go at the enemy and keep them mad at me because I can take a hit. My job is to essentially distract aggressive enemies from the folks who heal us. As I've never played something like this, I've been finding the dynamics of how the different "classes" work and work together to be really interesting.

Elle in Aion: And So It Begins...

What have I been up to? Lots of fun and holiday excitement with my husband and friends. Our friends had recently started playing Aion and knowing I'm a gamer, had encouraged me to join them. I've always called my husband a "backseat gamer" as he has always been the type to enjoy watching and coaching, but not playing himself. To my surprise he decided to play too as he didn't want to feel "left out"...
Now that my new computer came in, it can handle Aion's stunning graphics. Like Blue Mars, it uses a modified version of the CryEngine. I've never played a fantasy, quest-based, levelling-style MMO before and I'll admit that I am really really enjoying it...Aion is the story of two races of people--the Asmodians and the Elyos--who are now enemies after a cataclysmic event that split their world apart. At level 10, you ascend to Daeva status and get your wings and can fly. In the above pics, I am as my Asmodian templar self. Below, my alt Rafetna, who is an Elyos sorcerer... And there really is something to be said about coming into a game like this and your best friends are already there. Even when I cross paths with one of them or my husband, it's always like "HEY!" Forget the fighting, sometimes I find myself just exploring its world because this game is gorgeous...If you ever decide to come in, I am Asmo on the Israphel server and Elyos on Fregion (as you can't play both races on the same server). For those who like RPing, I've heard that Lumiel is the server to choose.

World of Goo

I got 2DBoy's "World of Goo" game through their recent promotion, thinking it looked fun and cute and boy, was I right. One of the most quirky and original games I've ever played. For those of you who have played it, you will totally get this video...

Elle in Farmville: Chickens and Peppers and Squash...Oh My!

Screw it. I'll admit it...I play Farmville. You've already read about why I think people really get into games like YoVille (which I've found that I'm disinterested in), and I like this one even more. Essentially, you are a farmer (obviously) and plant crops with a certain harvest time, like 2-day squash or 4-hour blueberries. When planting or harvesting you get currency coins and XP. You can also harvest trees and collect from your livestock. Like other Facebook-based Flash games, your friends can send you gifts for your farm and vice versa. You can help out on their farms for XP. It's simple as hell and really easy to use and fun...I've found that I don't care very much about levelling up quickly. I just like having the plants grow? I had created this little heart out of hay bales even before I knew there was a whole forum devoted to FarmVille art out there!Recently, its parent company Zynga has been called out on lead-gen scams. What's that? In FarmVille, you can buy coins or FV bucks outright. For those of us used to MMOs like SL, no big deal. It's like buying Lindens. Seems FB cracked down on it and Zynga removed the option, but there used to be things like "Get 15 coins if you sign up for a subscription with so-and-so", which I thought was a ripoff since you could just go ahead and buy the currency.

Despite those issues, I still think Flash-based games like this are worth a watch...especially if they become more interactive. And you have better believe I'm keeping my eye on City of Eternals, which is still in its testing phase.