The Rules

He starts with five rules for this exercise. The more detailed explanations can be found in his post.

1. The consequence for playing a sixth title? Playing anything outside of your pre-selected five titles will result in any gaming device you touch spontaneously combusting. (I mean, not truly, this is a thought-experiment!)
2. Selections aren’t limited to a certain platform.
3. All DLC for a given game is fine and included within your pick, including unreleased DLC at the time of your selection.
4. Mods and total conversions are okay.
5. Each entry in a series of games is considered an individual selection.

My Five Games

Honestly, right now I’m only playing two games regularly, and before picking up FFXIV I was only playing one game regularly. But because I can be fickle in my game choices, I will pick a few outside of my current main two as flex options for myself.

Dead by Daylight

At the current moment I’m not playing as much as I had been due to FFXIV currently being the poster child (I really want to experience stuff before Endwalker and try to catch up!), but it’s a game I’ve been playing consistently for the past year, I guess?

Back when DBD released, it was something I never thought I would actually play. But watching some streamers I enjoy play the game made me interested in trying it out.

Needless to say, I instantly became hooked. Pun intended.

But truly, it helped to re-awaken my interest in horror entertainment (novels, movies, etc.) that I lost long ago, and gave me a vast array of diverse content creators to follow on Twitch.

Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV)

The current favor child. I’m loving the heck out of it right now.

But I am not fooled into thinking that I will stick with it for forever. I never do seem to stick with MMOs consistently. I flit around them constantly.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

While not a staple, this one is on the list because I use it as a way to have date nights with one of my besties. It would obviously need to be on the list so that I could spend quality time with her.

I still have a lot to do and unlock, and I enjoy hunting the collectibles. So it’s a good all-around choice if I need something to do.

Stardew Valley

While I am not currently as into it as I was earlier this year, it’s a game I spent a lot of time in when I finally got to try it out and play it the way I wanted to.

There’s still a lot for me to finish in this one as well, so I wouldn’t mind playing more of it at all!

Code: Realize – Wintertide Memories

Otome (and dating sim) games are some of my absolute favorite. I received this one as a gift and have yet to play it.

So I could put in about twenty more hours into the franchise to complete all the storylines, see all the CGs, and unlock all the achievements!

It’d take up at least a month’s worth of gaming time, and give me the flex to play something different.

This is post 20/31 for Blaugust You can find out more and sign up over at Belghast’s post!

I found this idea originally on Chasing the Four Winds, and it seemed like a fun evergreen prompt to keep in the backlog for when I needed a post on short notice. So, without further ado, let’s answer some questions about gaming!

Have You Ever…

Rage quit a game?

I don’t think I’ve ever rage quit a game? I remember walking away from games because they were getting annoying or aggravating, but I’ve never logged out of a match or dungeon, etc. in a rage.

Earned all achievements in a game?

Yep! The first I can think of off the top of my head in Hatoful Boyfriend. In fact, I think the majority of my all-achievement games are otome/dating sims.

Pulled an all-nighter gaming?

Not in a long while. Back on some WoW Expac releases back in college I did, but not since, particularly.

Livestreamed your gaming?

Of course! I’m looking to getting back into it as well. Hopefully sooner than later. Probably not until the end of the month, however, due to… life.

Pre-ordered a game?

It’s been a long while since I’ve pre-ordered a game. I think the last time I did that was back for a WoW expansion. (I sense a possible theme appearing.)

Bought a game and never played it?

Ummm… *looks at Steam library… looks at console games*

Been jump scared by a horror game?

Ugh, yes. The biggest one I can think of is probably The Park. Followed closely by Layers of Fear.

Had a set squad for a specific game?

Indeed. I used to play The Secret World, before it became Secret World Legends, with a set squad of folks. I really would like to finish it out at some point by my lonesome. I’ve never gotten past Transylvania. Maybe it’ll be something I add to my streaming rotation!

Bought a game on multiple platforms?

The only one I can think of for this is Skryim. I played a lot of it on XBox 360, mainly while mining in EVE back in the day. But I honestly haven’t played much of it on my PC. I can’t figure out why that is, though.

Got a console for the games specifically?

The only reason I got a PS Vita was to play a bunch of otome games. And that’s partially why I got a Switch. Don’t at me.

This is post 10/31 for Blaugust You can find out more and sign up over at Belghast’s post!

While July has officially started, I’ve been afk from much of social media and blogging just due to, well… *gestures at the world* and it’s effect on my mental (and physical) health. So I just wanted to do a quick recap of things I nerded out over the past two months to not only just talk about some fun things, but also get my blogging fingers working again after some time off to take care of myself.

Monster Prom

I spent quite a bit of time during May talking about my time playing in Monster Prom. I even dabbled in it some during June. But I kind of left it by the wayside for some unknown reason. I think because I got into a, “nothing is bringing me joy because STRESS” mode for so long. I’m thinking of picking it up again this weekend (since I shouldn’t have to work, and I’m feeling less ill) just to get in some laughs and try to work my way through the achievements. I adore this game, and I’m very much looking forward to nerding out over it even more!

Clone Wars

I finished out season 6 of Clone Wars these past two months, but I have yet to pick up season seven. Partly due to the “ohgodstress” mindset, partly due to the fact that I know season 7 is the last season and I don’t want it to end, and partly because I got caught up in a binge of something else…

Stargate

(Fan trailer may contain spoilers) Oh man, I’ve about finished the Stargate chronology and I am both sad and excited. I made it through all of Stargate SG-1 (including the two movies), and am on the final season of Stargate Atlantis, which just leaves me with Stargate Universe afterwards. I’m not sure what series to pick up next for binging after I finish Stargate. I’m open to suggestions of similar shows, though! Maybe Babylon 5. Or Farscape! I never finished Farscape, and it’d be cool to keep with two of the SG-1 season 10 characters.

Animal Crossing

After finally managing to get a Switch, I dove head first into Animal Crossing. I’m still figuring out how things work, and slowly working my way through upgrading my house and getting neighbors, but I’m having so much fun, and have appreciated hanging out with one of my best friends, and getting some help and hangout time with Jae, which I appreciated so very much. I hope to be able to play some more with others as I continue to get into Animal Crossing. I very much love the fishing, bug hunting, and just picking up sea shells (and giving everything I can to the museum!).

Planner Stickers

It may come as no surprise (after mentioning this was becoming a thing back in May) that I have become utterly obsessed with planner stickers. I think it brings me back to a time when I was allowed to like stickers as a kid. Liking them as an adult is kind of a thing people look at you weirdly for, so finding this world of stickers that also help to keep me functioning has been a blessing, to be honest. It’s a creative outlet that I’ve much needed. I still get to collect and play with stickers, but it also gives me a visual of what I need/want to do so that I stay focused on tasks and feel much less stressed out about it.

I use my planner quite functionally, and pair it with my bullet journal so that the two together are a schedule and plan of what I need/want to accomplish each day. The month or so I’ve been doing this, has been quite helpful in helping to calm my mind. Especially after changing up my bullet journal style (for the second time this year) to allow myself more freedom to write and be creative and journal and put down stickers that I’m also using for the week in my planner.

FFXIV

I called it when I wrote about bouncing off of ESO. While I am still paying for a subscription, I haven’t really logged in (though I might want to do so for daily rewards this month…). I very much want to play it, but I don’t feel like I have the time or patience to do so right now. Instead, I have found myself diving into FFXIV once again. This time, I think it’s sticking more than it has before because I’ve been gaming some with the polycule.

Manthing and I either level some classes together (ARC/NIN), or we sit in Discord and play our own things. It also helps just being around the polycule as a whole even if I don’t get to play much with them. I’m still trying to figure my way around the FC, as I’m very much feeling an outsider right now, but I’m still enjoying my time playing mostly solo. I’ve been leveling my White Mage, and have been enjoying my time quite a bit.

I forgot how much I’ve loved healing. I haven’t healed in a very long time due to the fact that ex was always the healer, and I was always the tank. It feels comfortable, and has a more rhythmic flow to me than DPS does. Though, to be honest, I am very much looking forward to leveling Dancer, eventually!

First, I want to give a shout out to Ace Asunder and Later Levels for the really cool idea they’ve come up with! I’ve already downloaded my trivia sheet and have been filling it out. The idea is that pubs typically have trivia nights, so since we can’t go to pubs, let’s do something similar through blogs! I’m looking forward to the final event for it, and seeing how everyone did with the trivia! Think about joining up if you’re looking for some new blogs to check out, or looking for possible bling for your blog. No actual blogging necessary, but it may give you some post ideas!

Happy Things

Late last week the three Switch games I purchased came in! I decided to pick them up even if I can’t play them yet, so that whenever I can get a Switch I can start immediately. Of course, now they’re taunting me hardcore, and I absolutely wish I could play them now. One day the console will be in stock. I contemplated getting a Lite, but Manthing pointed out I’d probably regret it and be morose after more of the consoles come out. Which is fair, I would. So I’m still holding out. Even though ACNH is calling my name.

I also got my monthly Stickii pack over the weekend. I got the cute pack for May, and I do not regret this one bit. The theme was Under the Sea and I am in love! I usually am not big on things like pinks and yellows and greens, but the way they have worked them in is pretty awesome. So far for the month of June I’m digging the Retro pack, but we’ll see what the last teaser looks like tomorrow.

Manthing and I played some more Monster Prom this past weekend together. We decided to try out the second semester one, and it was a lot of fun. I decided to try dating Zoe, and um. It was very much like pursuing myself. Which, let’s be honest, I would totally do. I’m like Laszlo from What We Do in the Shadows in some ways, haha. Anyway, I ended up getting one of her secret routes, and it was a lot of fun! I’m hoping Manthing and I can keep playing Monster Prom some on the weekends.

Not weekend related, but I got my Switch today, so I’m super excited to shut down the computer for the night and get my Switch set up and play a teensy bit of Animal Crossing before bed!

Bandai Bundle

Friday means payday. And payday means a refresh to my fun budget! As such I spent a chunk of it on the new Bandai Humble Bundle. At first, I really only picked it up because Katamari Damacy is one of my favorite games in the history of games. The number of hours I sunk into that sucker on the PS2 is insane. It was the one game my parents couldn’t tear me away from, and was honestly one of the reasons they let me get a small television for my room as I finished high school so that I’d stop taking up the main house television.

I figured since the game itself was $30, picking up the bundle with it would be a good investment, even if Katamari was all I played. Then, of course, I noticed Tales of Berseria, which has been on my Steam wishlist for a while. It’s a $50 game, so picking up the $15 tier? Absolutely a good deal! I had missed the $25 tier at first, and figure since Man of Medan is by the same folks as Until Dawn that it’d be worth trying out, even if only for Spoopy Month. Here’s my breakdown of what I’ll play from the entire bundle.

• PAC-MAN 256 – Won’t touch it.
• ENSLAVED: Odyssey to the West – I wasn’t interested in this at first (ugh why do I have to always play as the male characters…), but after seeing that Andy Serkis voiced Monkey and directed the cutscenes, I’m willing to give it a try.
• Get Even – I also wasn’t interested in this one at first, but it looks up my alley on further inspection. Based on the trailer it’s reminiscent of Layers of Fear, and I enjoyed that one.
• .hack//G.U. Last Recode – I won’t play it, so I gifted it to Manthing.
• Katamari Damacy REROLL – ABSOLUTELY YES. THE POINT OF THIS WHOLE BUNDLE OBVIOUSLY.
• RAD – Ehhh, I’m not quite sure. Rogue-likes typically aren’t my thing, but I might give it a try.
• TEKKEN 7 – Not my type of game. Pass.
• Tales of Berseria – YES.
• Man of Medan – YES.

Rambling Redshirt mentioned in one of his recent posts that he’s been experiencing some difficulty differentiating between weekends and weekdays. I’ve been feeling much the same, to be honest. The routines are much the same, and the content differs, but only slightly. My weekdays are busy with meetings and day job tasks, adult entertainment tasks, and blogging. But my weekends are much the same, minus the meetings.

Therefore, as of this past weekend, I’ve decided to start a new thing. Mainly because I’ve just been burnt out on life. I took Saturday completely for myself, as much as I struggled with doing so. And honestly, having a day entirely to myself, unplanned, where I give myself permission to do whatever I want, and give myself time off from even doing chores actually helped quite a bit. I even did dishes out of a desire to do them instead of “Ugh, they’re piling up, I should do them”.

While it has yet to completely solve my burnout, I’m looking forward to doing much the same this coming Saturday. I’m also looking forward to the week I took off work at the start of June because I’m just struggling with functioning and need time to relax, and finish cleaning/setting up my apartment (almost two years after moving in at this point).

Planner Addict

I may be turning into that person who’s obsessed with planning. I mean, I’ve kind of always been, this is no surprise, to be honest, but it’s the fact that I’m loving all the stickers and designing in my Happy Planner that’s surprising to me. This past weekend I ordered weekly sticker packs for the month of June, and I’m dying to get them in and use them. Some of them are printables, so Ainyan kindly offered her printer and Silhouette to cut them. I’ll need to go over and help Manthing choose which files to print and cut for June, but I may have him print an extra set of weekly pages so I can do some designing prior to June.

YouTube Thoughts

I’ve been having the YouTube itch, again. Specifically this weekend. It was strong at the start of the year because I can’t get back into streaming just yet due to lack of time. But then life happened and my desire flamed out a bit. The flame is back, and I’ve been trying to decide what to do with my channel. At first, I thought about splitting it up into multiple channels like a lot of guides and how-to videos have said to do… but that’s not what I want to do. It doesn’t feel like the correct choice, or the right path to take. I’ve been trying to get better about listening to my gut on even the simple/less important decisions in my life, so I’m going to go against all advice out there and do my own thing.

I’m passionate about a lot, and breaking up those passions into separate channels feels more like a chore than doing YouTube for what it should be—something to enjoy. Therefore, hopefully in the near future, I’ll be starting to put more Let’s Play videos up, as well as some vlogs and plan with me videos where I share my stickers and such.

Clone Wars

I watched some Clone Wars this weekend, as well. I’m so close to finishing season five! I’m in a weird place with watching anything recently, opting for YouTube binges (typically of planners and soap) instead. So it felt good to get back to watching a few episodes. It’s been exciting to watch, but almost bittersweet because I know I’m essentially two seasons (or about 20-something episodes) from finishing it once I’m done with this season.

Monster Prom

This weekend, however, was dedicated mostly to Monster Prom! I played so much Monster Prom. So much. So very much. Hours upon hours. It was so much damn fun. Even when I was getting rejected for dates, it was fun. I played a bunch of it online with Manthing as well. I know I was playing it with the intention of just the hearts and didn’t think about what areas on campus gave which stats (and how they might apply to securing a date). Once we figured that out, it made things go much smoother (as did finding a few guides to use when we felt stuck after our first few runs).

I honestly don’t know what to say about the game at the moment, other than I absolutely love it and that I have never laughed so hard at a game before. While playing with Manthing, I was romancing Damien, and ended up sitting at the lunch table with the Coach and Scott. I set off some fireworks to make them go away, and the reaction from coach, was, well… a picture is worth a thousand words. I think Manthing secretly got annoyed that I couldn’t stop laughing for about five minutes straight. I was laughing so hard that no sound was coming out at one point.

I am looking forward to playing more of this with Manthing on date night tomorrow, and maybe hopefully some more this weekend. I also plan to play some myself once I’m done with a big project milestone for day job this week. That’s my motivation: dating Monsters.