JohnnyBGamer

Connections

In the hustle and bustle that has become everyday life, I am beginning to wonder how I ever found time to play such games as World of Warcraft or Lord of the Rings Online. I think that when I was playing them, I was using them as a social means to hang out with friends from back in California. With the time difference proving to be too big of a drawback–I’m usually in bed by the time my friends get around to being able to game–, my friends and I all slowly walked away from MMO’s.

While part of me misses the thrills of leveling and exploring the various game worlds, I more so miss being able to hang out with friends in another state. Slaughtering the digital denizens, while shooting the breeze, created good memories for me. As a guy, doing something with other guys is just priceless, even if it is just playing a game online.

I don’t know if it is this way with every gamer, but I have a core group of friends that I have gamed with since high school. Since moving to Texas, I have kept in touch with them by phone, email, and occasional visits. I ultimately don’t want our connection to be lost due to distance. Though we may have walked away from MMO’s for the moment–Bioware’s Star Wars MMO is on the horizon–, we are all still good friends. I am thankful for friendships that evolve and change with time… and distance.

Wind Waker

Outside My Window

The wind is slowly rocking the pine trees outside my office. Back and forth they move with the breeze. The skies are clear of any passing clouds or haze. Currently, the temperature is 80 degrees. This is one of those days where I wonder why I am inside. Oh well, less than 15 minutes until I get to leave and enjoy the allergen filled air. 🙂

3DS Pricing Insanity

The recent release of Nintendo’s newest handheld, the 3DS, has me questioning its expensive price tag. Priced out at $249.99, the 3DS runs roughly $110 more than the original DS did when it was first launched. In a time when home consoles start at $249.99, I find it hard to justify spending so much on a portable gaming system. What makes the 3DS so special besides the 3D? What sets the 3DS apart from Nintendo’s failed Virtual Boy?

The games are what will ultimately set the 3DS apart. Besides Wario Land, the Virtual Boy didn’t have much going for it. So far, I haven’t seen any games that have me clamoring for the new system. Have you?

Being Purposeful

Everyday, I mentally compile a grand list of things I want to accomplish over the lunch hour:

Work on web design
Read a few chapters of a book
Play a video game
Write a blog post
Etc.

Lately, almost without fail, I have been finding myself on the couch lost in various televised distractions. For example, yesterday I found myself laughing with Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show. Good times indeed! Now, I know that there is nothing wrong with occasionally vegging out; nothing wrong with de-stressing for an hour. Sometimes I really need to escape whatever reality has served me for the day. What bugs me though are the feelings of guilt that end up hitting me as I settle back in at work. “I could have accomplished so much if I had only…”

I think what I am getting at is that I am not being purposeful with my time. Granted, an hour lunch period isn’t very long to do much. Still, I know that I could be more purposeful by dedicating myself to something specific each day. Just a thought.