Maria died.
And I was hooked. Instantly, I became #MarcusFennix, a tough, hard, take no shit or prisoners badass. It’s been awhile, my man. But now with the release of Gears5 might heart swells with pleasure & joy anew. Like the return of a long lost love, the gnasher fits my hand as if a glove & I sigh with contentment & purr like a kitten. This is the home I remember, Sera. These are the enemies that must be defeated. With pride & determination, I once again answer the call of the COG. #TheJourneyContinues #Gears5 #FragOut #FirstLove #BrothersANDSistersTilTheEnd #BeersAndGears #GameNight
Category Archives: Video Games
A Man & His Beard….
Doctor’s visits are always depressing. Today’s was especially so. Seems my current treatment is not doing the job. Stronger chemo is in my very near future unless specialists from both Duke and Baptist along with my local doctors can come up with a better solution. Personally, I have given up caring about my hair or looks or or skin or shape. I mourn the woman I used to be that adored hosting parties and socilizing with friends, who laughed & smiled at the drop of a hat & who had a way of finding the good in all and everyone and everything. I liked that girl. I struggle to find her daily. All that matters to me at this point is feeling like living and participating in life and of course, making sure that I am around for awhile more. If stronger treatements are required to make that happen, I will gladly walk that road. For now I’m hanging in there & praying for good days that last all the time and not just drop by occasionally. #WARRIOR
As for Xbox One, some of my staunchest cheerleaders and greatest support systems live inside that beautiful little box. Daily they text me to see how I feel and to encourage me to play with them. When I feel o.k., I do. The laughter and the distraction from the stress of my condition is magical. All of my “regs” know exactly how to pick a girl up and make a her forget her troubles. I truly do not know what I would do without them. Horde Zero is what our group calls itself. If you happen to run across a memeber on Xbox Live, be nice. Those are very special and compassionate people with huge hearts of gold. My peeps. ❤
On the gaming front, I have been spending alot of time on Elder Scrolls Online. Never considered myself to be the role player type (at least not virtually. if you want to dress up and go to a rennisance festival or a comicon event tho…I am definately down) but I do love this game! And I am looking forward so much to Morrowind which drops in the near future. Here is a come on:
https://www.gamespot.com/videos/embed/6438497/
I do dabble a bit with Gears4 althought it does not give me the same thrill as Gears2. Nothing probably ever will. One can always hope anyway. I am happy to see flashback maps appearing, Security, Hotel, Gridlock and others bring back memories. The new and improved looks are almost works of art. Gears in some form will always have a place in my tray. After all, it is and will always be, my first love.
With all of this time on my hands, I am constantly looking for games that I can play both alone and with others. On good days, I want a shooter. On not so good days I want something that doesn’t take much effort or that has a superb storyline. On bad days, you won’t see or hear from me at all. I used to love Texas Hold’em for Xbox 360. Multiplayer and your avatar was your in-game character. Met alot of nice folks playing that game. And had lots of laughs too. Low stress, low key. I like Destiny (my gosh! the never-ending expansions) but there is no humor in that game and to stay on top of it you must farm alot, which I find boring and a whole lot like work. The Witcher games I am very fond of. In fact, I recently found figurines of Triss & Yennefer & Geralt at my local Gamestop. $40 bucks…a collectors delight. And an awesome gift 😉 Here they are:
http://www.gamestop.com/collectibles/toys/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-yennefer-figure/136351
http://www.gamestop.com/collectibles/toys/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-triss-figure/136354
Which are you, a Yennefer or a Triss fan??? #Unicorn
I also adore anything Bio-Shock, Assasins Creed multiplayer, Borderlands and Red Dead. Halleluah, when more editions of these games arrive! If anyone reading this can reccomend any games that you think I might dig in the meantime, feel free to let me know. I’m in hot pursuit!
Well, friends & lovers, that’s it for now. Just wanted to drop in and say “Hello.” It’s a pretty good day, so while the spirit moves me, I think I will make the most of my afternoon.
Til Next Time ~ Peace
*Thoughts & Prayers go out to all in Manchester*
Pardon Me Sir, Do You Have Any Grey Poupon?
Multiplayer is definitely my genre of choice but being on extended leave from work, I was looking for a single player that had a submersive storyline, was visually stunning & had lots to do to help me pass the time. Luckily, a friend & fellow gamer turned me on to Elder Scrolls Online Tameriel Unlimited. So far it is perfect! Exactly the type game i was seeking. I found it on Amazon for $14. PLUS it supports multiplayer as well as single. The activities, quests & possibilities are seemingly endless. Alchemy, enchanting, provisioning, woodworking, blacksmithing, etc. are among the many skills you can perfect along your journey. Your characters are customizable as well as dyeable. You can purchase mounts which range from many different types of horses to lions or camels and others. I ride a wolf whom i named Cake the Righteous (after the band of course). You can also purchase non-combst pets such as all kinds of cats, dogs, pigs, etc. My pet is a bear cub. His name is Chubby. There is also lots & lots of dlc, the ability to form guilds & i hear the ability to purchase Guild Homes is coming later this month. You can also trade items with friends or purchase things from other players with in-game gold. Servers seem to be well maintained in this open-world RPG. I havent experienced any downtime or lag except during times of maintenance. So I’m happy, very happy. If swords & magic & role playing is your thing, this is a must have. Especially for the price. Hope to cya on the box, my loves. Huzzah!
Pictured is my badass Khajit Death’s Wind armour custom made for me by our HZ Guild blacksmith, Branoc the Bear, & my bear cub, Chubby.
May I Get Some White Sauce With That, Please?
Hello. It’s been awhile since I last posted. Lots happening on the home front that has kept me away. My apologies.
Unique, different, one of a kind and even down right weird have always been qualities that I have taken pride in and sought to foster in myself and others. No one wants to be classified or lumped into one certain group. All of us wish to be able to contribute to the world something that only we can achieve, making our presence necessary, our essence valuable. Those thoughts are full of possibility and bring us all to a positivity that is undeniable. Sometimes, though, rare is not always the best. Medically speaking, of course. Takayasu’s is a very rare autoimmune disease. It is now what my condition is being labelled as. Even though the name of it sounds like a mouth-watering delicacy from a Japanese restaurant, it is not that simple. Presently, I am on medical leave which feels extremely weird. I am thankful for the time to focus solely on recovery and remission. I am told that is very important. I begin another round of chemo treatments in the near future. This time more harsh than the last. Doctors have prepared me for all the nasty side effects & unpleasantries that are to be expected. Remission is the goal. We will get there.
And this too shall pass…..
Now on to gaming speak…..Gears of War has brought back two classic boards. Clock Tower & Blood Drive. I love this!! Blood Drive is a board I learned to play the game on way back when Marcus was still and young guy and Dom still lived. I spent hours on that board learning the art of 2piecing & how to run. Yes, grasshopper, one must learn to run with the smoothness of glass and the grace of the gazelle one wishes to succeed in the skill of the wall bounce. 🙂 I spent ions on this board wing-manning, hording, frag-tagging, annexing and generally having a great time. It is also the board in which, quite by accident, I ran into a kindred spirit Scotchy and let my trigger finger get itchy. It probably wasn’t the smartest move. But it happened…..At any rate, I have a relationship with Blood Drive in particular. I am over the top excited that like a long lost love, it is back! Better and more beautiful than ever! If you haven’t purchased a season pass for Gears4 you should seriously get in on it.
With more free time on my hands, I was in need of a good single player. One with a storyline that I could get submerged in, preferably with some ass-kicking involved. A friend loaned me a copy of Elder Scrolls Online and it definitely fit the bill. It’s been awhile but once again I am an adventurer! I rolled a high elf, riding around solving all the world’s problems atop my stallion, Darkness accompanied by my kitten, Merlin. This game is a very detailed RPG and has depth. Whether you prefer to be a magic thrower or a fighter, this game will hook you and show you worlds you have only dreamed of. You can also group up with your friends and quest, form guilds or join randoms in this open world experience. Bethesda never ever disappoints. Plus you can find deals on this game on Amazon.com. I expect to spinning it for a long while to come.
Time to juice so I am off for now. I expect to dust off the game library and sink my teeth into the games that have been idly sitting by patiently awaiting their turn. Who knows what jewels I will find….
Until next time…Happy Gaming & Peaceful Travels
Cya on the Box!
Ready For More (You Think??)
“If you want to go fast, go ALONE. If you want to go far, go TOGETHER” ~ Unknown
Very wise words whether you are debating life choices or finding your zone during TDM on Gears of War 4: Strength in numbers, be an ocean not a puddle & lead, follow or get the hell outta the way are the only philosophies that truly matter. Especially if you want to come out on top.
Gears of War 4, the latest installment in the series is fast, brutal and highly entertaining. As someone who has been a fan of the series & Epic Games from the get-go, I was hesitant to delve into this morphed, newly developed version of my first and greatest love in the video game arena. Cliff Bleszinski, Rod Ferguson along with Epic Games created and developed the original masterpiece that stole my heart back in 2006 with the release of Gears of War. When Gears of War 2 hit the streets in 2008, I was completely and totally forever smitten. Gears of War 3 released in 2011 after much anticipation and while it was truly bigger, better, faster and a total success for all concerned, as a fan I felt there was something lacking. By the time Gears of War: Judgement released in 2013 my fears were confirmed. The heart & the hook were both lack-lustered and a little forced. Even though I put in many hours in on Judgement, the pull of a great story and stir of emotions that greatly written characters can magically make you feel was just not quite there and left me feeling empty. Missing ingredients: Ferguson & Cliffy B. So, of course, I was a little hesitant to pop GoW4 into my tray knowing that the not only were the “Master & the Mage” not involved in the project but also that Epic Games was no longer the owner or the developer. Microsoft & Coalition, a Canadian studio, has taken over both of those rolls. With that in mind, hat in hand & hope in my open heart, I began the journey of the newest generation of Sera’s inhabitants. I pushed the button.
Speaking strictly in generalities so as not to spoil the storyline for anyone who may not have finished this part of the game, here are my first impressions:
I have just completed my first run through of the campaign, a solo or co-op endeavor. First…this game is fast. I mean really fast. Unreal Engine is spot on when it come to movement and flow. The mechanics and motion of this game is breathtaking. I have always thought that frag tagging was the most awesome thing ever but with the addition of the ability to grab and stab (or snatch and stick ) an opponent out of cover is both exhilarating & mega cool. Great job on that one, guys and gals!!
The storyline is as it should be I suppose. The journey is one of battle, humor, bonding and tragedy. The monsters are different yet familiar with new yet similar names to the Locust & Lambent true GearsHeads are used to & are intensely dangerous. The characters, JD Fenix, his Outlander girlfriend, Kait Diaz, fellow Gear, Del Walker & JD’s father, Marcus round out the squad. You also meet a couple of new badass characters along the way that are definitely a breath of fresh air as well as run into some of your old favs.
At first I found JD’s character to be a bit whiny, especially considering he is the offspring of the infamous Marcus Fenix, the biggest badass COG of them all, ever. He eventually began to grow on me though. Perhaps his character grew as the story progressed. At any rate I became a fan. (Although Marcus still rules my world!) The other personalities in this game are endearing, each in their on way. I enjoyed spending the time with them. As someone who values co-op, I was a bit disappointed that the campaign is 2 player and not four. Maybe that is something that will change in the future. That and the fact that the campaign seemed a little short and created more questions than answers are the only two nehhh’s I can give this portion of gameplay. I realize that the trend in video games these days is to leave the consumer wanting more. Obviously. But it has been taken so far in the industry that it has gotten to the point where I feel as though I didn’t get the full game or that the game was marketed before completion. Even though I have paid full price. GoW4 had that quality to me. Maybe the DLC to come in the near future will help repair my feelings in that department.
The Versus Modes are ridiculous! And I mean that in a good way! A fantastic way! Whether it’s KOTH, TDM, Escalation, Arms Race, Dodgeball or Horde, you are in for a great time. Gather your friends and grab your game fuel! Your going to be playing for awhile….Honestly, I have always thought Gears provided the best online versus experience and trust me you won’t be disappointed. Gears4 allows you to play with randoms from around the globe or call your pals and battle each other. There is something extremely fun and fantastically entertaining about shooting you bff in the face or having them frag tag you for kicks and giggles. (Virtually, of course) Good times!
There it is. My first impressions of the next gen GoW. I’m sure I will be talking about it a lot in the future and will definitely be playing often. So push tha button, people! Spin the disc! And if you haven’t picked the game up yet, do so immediately! I promise you won’t be disappointed. In fact, you may find yourself falling in love with all things Gears. Just as I have.
Until next time….Peace
Gears Therapy
What is one to do when she finally finds the controller in her hand especially if it happens to have been a very long, needley Friday & has been a while since you have let your proverbial hair down with your friends AND the next installment of your most favorite video game series is hot off the presses?? Why you call a Drunk Gears night!! Which is precisely what I did. I put the call out to Horde Zero (a group of folks who happens to be some of my favorite humans not to mention some for the most big-hearted bad-asses I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and calling friends) and they answered in a big way!
With too many to go live as a team or to horde, we choose one of the best ways to play: against one another. Nothing is more loving than two-piecing your friends, chainsawing your pals or high-fiving your besties in the head with the butt of your Boltok pistol. Mix that up with a drink of choice and surround yourself with good people & it’s damn near paradise. Seriously, the laughter and joy of friends, the easy (and sometimes crazy) conversations infused with sweet cherry wine (or vodka) and the madness & mayhem & gore that is my beloved Gears of War would be a wonderful way to spend all of my days. Throw in a few carnal pleasures every now and then & perhaps a slice of pepperoni and bacon pizza every third day or so & I would die a very, very happy girl. Heaven!
Things were discovered last night…
- Blood, the chainsaw princess & I make one hell of a team. Especially when the wine is flowing & the shotties are warm. Boys beware: We may be small & cute & sweet but we will kill you!
- Frags are not necessarily your friend. (Dammit, Bobbo!)
- Never use the boom shot close range.
- Rainbow warriors do exist & they are deadly.
- Whores are necessary and make the world go ’round. Check your history.
- Buzz Kills will ricochet and Embars might as well be popsicle sticks.
- Sometimes the backdoor is the only door.
- Yanking & Shanking under any other circumstances would probably be a good thing.
- Wrac can bounce & Rez can sing.
- Peanut M&M’s have a reviving quality. Especially the green ones
And most of all…we remembered how much we love & miss each other & how much fun it is to be together <3.
Thank you, Gears. Thank you, Rod Ferguson. Thank you, Xbox Live. Thank you, HZ.
You helped me to remember that I am truly a lucky girl.
*Just to be clear, underage drinking is not endorsed or recommended by any member of HZ, a group of mature gamers. All associated are 21 or over.*
#GearsLove
I cannot say how excited I am to have Gears4 finally drop! So far I have only been able to scratch the surface of the latest installment & am breathless with anticipation of all that is to come. As anyone who knows me or has read previous posts on this site realizes, Gears of War from the beginning to the present has always been and will always be my first & deepest love. In tribute to the new release, I share this video….Enjoy ❤
And to whom it may concern: Ethel thinks of you often & appreciates your concern. Peace.
Handsome Jack is Calling!
Finally, the Destiny spell has been broken & who could do it better than 2K & Gearbox?
Borderlands The Pre=Sequel has it all: Four player co=op, epic weapons, interesting characters with actual personalities and names, a terrific sense of humor AND a storyline. Seriously, there is nothing I have found to complain about with this game.
First of all, I feel I must give kudos to 2K & Gearbox for giving gamers not one but TWO female characters to choose from straight out of the box. We have come a LONG way, baby, in getting lady gamers not only recognized but respected as relevant in the genre & the developers of Borderlands should be highly commended for “getting” that. Well done, well done!
In this edition of the Borderlands saga, you play alongside Handsome Jack and find out how he went from just another good guy to the notorious villain we all love to hate. He helps you to escape Pandora by sending you to the moon, which of course if being ripped apart by Lost Legion soldiers and random degenerates. The excitement begins with the first spin of the disc. There are four classes of “heroes” to choose from: Athena, The Gladiator, Willhem, The Enforcer, Nisha, The Lawbringer, and Claptarp, The Fragtrap. Each character class has its own special skill class and three different skill trees to climb, depending on which abilities you wish to perfect.
As a huge fan of the Borderlands & Borderlands 2, I was a little taken back at first by the non-gravity, non-oxygen environments one encounters. It took a little getting used to but once I did, I found that it only adds to enjoyment of the game, especially being able to pull off astounding jumps and shoot from the air, not to mention the ability to ass slam opponents. But please, let me set the stage…..
~ I began my adventure by playing as Nisha, The Lawbringer. She is cool, cute, funny and she will melee bandits with a badass bullwhip. Her “special” is called Showdown, which auto aims enemies and temporarily raises gun damage, fire rate, reload & bullet speed and reduces recoil. It is extremely effective. We first met Nisha in Borderlands 2, as an enemy to dispose of. Being able to play as her gives interesting insight into her psyche and exactly what makes her tick. She is as bloodthirsty as ever and her insights on life will leave you ROTFL. She is loads of fun!
At the moment, I am playing an add-on character, Lady Hammerlock, Aurelia, the Diva. She happens to be Sir Hammerlock’s much hated sister. For those of you who have played Borderlands 2, you will remember Hammerlock as the scientist/researcher type who sends you on several missions, usually involving something like skag poo or robotic eyes. Aurelia makes her first appearance in the Pre Sequel as his jet-setting, aristocratic sister who is heir to the family fortune & whose heart is as frozen as the enemy bouncing shurikens she doles out. I am thoroughly enjoying this character & cannot wait to delve deeper into her narcissistic persona.
Guns, guns, guns! Borderlands has them all. From regular, everyday bullets to those that cause explosive, fire or ice damage. Throw lasers into the mix and this game becomes an online shooter’s sweetest dream. Tired of walking through Borderlands? Climb on a Moon Zoomy with your co-op buddies or ride solo on a Stingray. Want to trade items with a friend or give them that awesomely cool class mod you’ve found but can’t use? No problem with the in-game trading system. Want to give your character a new look? Belly up to the New You Station for alternative skins and heads. Want to try a different avatar? You have the ability to have up to eight different character saves without losing any game progression on any of them.
In my opinion, everything about this game is spot on & I, for one, am loving it! The developer’s formula of a strong storyline, 4 player co-op, interesting characters, badass weaponry, a wicked sense of adult humor & sarcasm and plenty of DLC coming down the pike makes this game a must have for anyone who enjoys an online shooter.
Let’s get to shootin’ & lootin’, Vault Hunter! Cya on the box!
I AM Gamer
I approach video games much the same as I do life: I want to get something out of it. Whether that something is time with my friends, progression of an interesting storyline, slaying a badass boss or raising my gamerscore, I need some type of payoff to make it all seem worthwhile.
Hanging with my friends is probably the number one reason I game. There is a bonding effect to co-op gaming. Sometimes my guy and I will split-screen when we don’t have to or “pass the paddle” between us even though we both have consoles. We do this because we enjoy the closeness and the comradery created by putting two minds together. And we love discovering & experiencing new adventures side by side. Together.
The same goes for online co-op. There is a feeling of satisfaction when you have found the right wingman or group to game with. I fully believe that once you know a person’s fighting style, you pretty much know them as a person. It is a beautiful thing when a group moves as one across a virtual battlefield, watching each other’s backs, anticipating one another’s next move, achieving victory as a whole. My regs and I could complete the hardest of challenges together, without a word to one another because we know each other’s style well enough to practically read thoughts telepathically. When you spend hundreds of gaming hours with someone, you definitely get to know them in a way that others may not. Some of my closest friends I met on Xbox.
Gamerscore is another thing that motivates me to pick up the controller. I can be a bit of a “cheevos ho” & when the mood strikes, I can farm for hours just to get that 20g. The best is when we all go achievement hunting together as a group. Helping each other and doing whatever it takes to get the bling. Believe me, when you wingman with someone for weeks straight trying to get that almost in reach but nearly impossible achievement without a word of complaint or a hint of hesitation, you have found a friend indeed.
Yes, gaming is a social experience for the most part, but I also enjoy it because it relieves stress and aggression. I have heard tales of people committing horrendous crimes in reality and blaming violent video games or movies for their actions. I find that to be an unbelievable cop-out. Surely, such individuals had major problems before playing that game or watching that flick. For me, there is nothing I like better after a long, hard day at work than to come home and “shoot some shit in the face.” (virtually, of course) I find it rather relaxing, And it is certainly better than taking out any pent-up aggression that I may be experiencing on the real world around me.
Video games once thought to turn our brains to mush and make us anti-social trolls have now been proven to be good for us. They help to develop hand-eye coordination as well as exercise the brain, teach cooperation and foster good sportsmanship. With the development of Kinect and Wi, you can now literally exercise your body while you game. It’s a total win-win.
To identify as a gamer no longer has the stigma it once carried. Gamers come in all shapes and sizes and from all walks of life. Once accused of having no life, gamers have changed the world by hosting charity events, giving back to their communities and raising awareness of all types of issues. Once stereotyped as basement living, socially inept, teenagers, the persona of gamers has grown to include doctors, lawyers, plumbers, waitresses, business owners and even the hot mom next door, etc. Gamers have proven that they fit into no particular box and even though they enjoy the hobby of gaming, they are capable of and are accomplishing so much more. Truly, who doesn’t game anymore? Before any non-console or non-pc gamers answer that question, think about your reply the next time you grow a virtual garden on your Facebook page or play Angry Birds or Candy Crush on your phone or tablet. Gamers are everywhere! And I am happy & proud to be part of the community.
I am gamer. And more than likely, so are you.
The Neurotic Gamer 