The Gamer Tag

                     

Hello lovely geeks!

I found this wonderful tag through the Geek Girl x Blogger network on Facebook. This tag was created by Cassie over at Zombie Goddess Beauty. Make sure to check out her fabulous blog!

As I've said before, I'm a pretty huge gamer, so when I stumbled on a tag about gaming, I was so down. Here we go!

1. What is your gamertag?

      I am raineedayze everywhere on the web, which includes my Xbox and Steam. It was my twitter handle and luckily, nobody but me uses it on anything!

2. PC or Console?

     I think it really depends on the game. Personally, I love playing my consoles more than my PC, however for games like 7 Days to Die, Minecraft, and Terreria, the console just doesn't cut it!

3. Console of Choice?

     I probably spend most of my time on my Xbox One, but I love my Wii more than anything.

4. Handheld of Choice?

     I play my 2DS most but my favorite handheld was my original GameBoy.

5. Keyboard or Gamepad?

     Usually I would say GamePad but I've been spending so much time on my PC lately that the keyboard is feeling more natural at the moment.

6. Single player or Multiplayer?

     Multiplayer typically, especially if I stream them. Recently, I've been super stressed with school and work that I've been craving single player games so I can get lost in them for a bit.

7. What was the first game you played?

     Super Mario World or Super Mario Bros 3

8. Hardest game you have ever played?

     Paper Mario on the GameCube. I got stuck on one level and then lost my game in the move, so I have not touched it for like....10 years. 

9. What was your first gaming system?

     The N64. It was the family console though. My first console (that I didn't have to share) was my GameBoy.

10. What is your favorite game of all time?

      Donkey Kong Land for the GameBoy. Played this game so much my mom took away my Gameboy, fearful my eyes would fall out.

11. What is your current favorite game?

      Overwatch and Animal Crossing: New Leaf

12. What is your favorite video game genre?

      Goofy shooters like Overwatch, Gotham City Imposters, Microvolts, and Team Fortress

13. Favorite Video Game Character

      Hmm...that's tough. Princess Daisy and Dva are probably my all-time favorites.

14. Video game character you hate the most?

      The bad person in Life is Strange. If you've played the game, you know who I'm talking about.

15. What new game are you most excited for?

     Destiny 2

16. Favorite video game company/developer?

      Blizzard. Their games are just so gorgeous and the characters are fabulous. Plus, the cinematics!!

17. What game systems do you currently have?

     Ooh boy! We have 4+ regular laptops, one desktop, one gaming laptop, 2 Xbox Ones, 2 Xbox 360s, 1 2Ds, 1 3DS, 1 GameBoy, 2 Wiis, 1 WiiU, 1 Sega Genesis, and am currently in talks to get my old N64 back.

18. How long have you been gaming?

     Hmm....about 19 years on and off. 

19. Longest gaming session?

     Hmm....we've done a few weekends where we gamed the majority of both days. I would say, in one sitting about 13 hours. I get really bad motion sickness so it was a huge achievement. 

20. What game have you clocked the most time on?

    Oh man....maybe Overwatch?

Oh my gosh. This tag brought so many good memories and now I can't wait to game. That tag was so much fun! I can't wait to see ya'll's responses. Let's chat about it in the comments, or tweet me @raineedayze!

Cassie's Blog

Always, Raineedayze

Nintendo Switch: Thoughts, Hopes, and First Impressions

Hey nerds!

In case you've been living in a cave, Nintendo released their formal presentation for the Nintendo Switch last week. It was.....entertaining to say the least.

First of all, I was already on board with the Switch since it was first announced under the NX codename. I'm a huge Nintendo fangirl. I feel a lot of their video games are made to be played socially and that to me is the whole point of gaming. Don't get me wrong, I can spend a whole 9 hours gaming solo while Jonathan is at work and enjoy the hell out of it. However, I adore the social aspect of it. I like having our gaming group take on RPGs together and having party games like Smash or Mario Kart as a part of our weekend festivities with friends. This is something that I've noticed as being very consistent with Nintendo, since my days playing on the 64. 

This still seems to be a huge selling point for the Switch, with the ability to play with 8 simultaneous Switch consoles and the two Joy-Cons (the mini side controllers). It seems very co-op oriented which I'm pretty excited about. 


Here's what you need to know about the Switch. 

All photos are from the Nintendo website.


Gameplay

We got a first detailed look at the play modes for the Switch during the presentation. There are three modes: Handheld, TV, and Tabletop. TV mode is what we are all used to. Plug it in to the TV, and using the Pro Controller or the Joy-Con Grip and Joy-Cons, play on the TV. Handheld is similar to the WiiU controller, with the Switch screen in the center and both Joy-Cons attached to the sides for on-the-go gaming. Tabletop combines these two with a kickstand on the back of the Nintendo Switch and the two Joy-Cons for you and a friend to play.

Left: Joy-Cons in the Joy-Con Grip. Right: Joy-Cons attached to the Switch.

This is kind of....meh for me because I would like to have local multiplayer on our TV instead of just during tabletop play. I'm sure it will still be possible, but it would be nice to not have to buy a second controller for these purposes.

Console and Specs

The Nintendo Switch will be released March 3rd, at a price of $299.99. Comparitively speaking, the WiiU was released for $249.99. Their will also be a subscription service for online play. At launch, players will be able to use the online software for free, which will change in the fall of this year to a fee. Nintendo did not announce pricing at this time.

Red-Blue variant version

For $299.99, you get the console, the docking station (for TV gameplay and docking), both L-R Joy-Cons, two Joy-Con wrist straps, the Joy-Con Grip, an HDMi cable, and the Switch AC adapter. These packages come in two colors, gray and a red-blue combo.

Extra accessories will cost you a lot more with the Pro Controller running at $69.99, extra sets of Joy-Cons at $89.99, a charging grip for simultaneous charging while playing at $29.99, and an extra dock for any other TVs at $89.99.

The Switch has a 6.2-inch screen and 32 GB of storage, which fortunately allows for expandable storage through microSD cards. There is also an amiibo scanner available on the Joy-Con.

My Thoughts

Let's talk about what I liked. I loved the screenshot button on the controller. I am a huge screenshotter during games so that is very convenient for me. I also love the portability of the console. Jonathan and I go camping with our gaming group every year so this will definitely be something to look forward to. 

I didn't like the small controllers. I understand, it helps make the Switch easier to move and play on-the-go, however these things are so small! It's going to be hard to get into a game with a small controller. Also, Joy-Con is a weird name for it. Not feeling that at all.

I also wasn't a huge fan of the lack of games to be released at launch. Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is going to be available, however the game I am most excited for, Super Mario Odyssey will be coming later this Christmas. It seems most of the other games will also be coming after the launch, so it may be sitting on my shelf for a while until the rest of the games come out. 
 

Overall, it could use a few tweaks and I know there will more than likely be some extra features, more controllers, more colors, and different accessories released later, but I plan on pre-ordering mine as soon as they become available. I'm even shrinking my birthday festivities to save up for it. 

You can check out the entirety of the presentation on Nintendo's website.

Do you plan on ordering? Let's chat in the comments!

Always, Raineedayze
 

Captain's Log #8: Get into the Groove

Hey there guys! I'm hoping you're having a great day!

This weekend I finally finished Life is Strange and, oh my gosh, was it intense! 



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I had to take my headphones out and play the game next to Jonathan at the end because it got very creepy! However, it was a fabulous game and now I am suffering from a game hangover.
  
Because of my obsession with Doctor Who, I thought I would be good at time-travel but this game made me question everything. And now I'm just..





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I highly recommend it if you haven't played it, but it will drive you mad.

Other than that, I spent most of this week just sleeping or watching anime and Regular Show. I needed a relaxation break because this past week kicked me in the gut at every opportunity. It was just a huge stress and I refuse to let this upcoming week do the same. 

Right now to get ready for the week, I'm working on my to-do list and making some pumpkin bread for Jonathan to take to work and to have here at home.  I love fall so much and I love having the opportunity to go pumpkin crazy this season!! I already got my PSL game on and am just awaiting more pumpkin themed treats in the grocery stores so I can go insane! And it's almost Halloween!!




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So before I turn this into a fall appreciation post, let's talk about the Log!

  

The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore. I picked up this book at Half-Price Books the other day and I'm eager to finally start it. I'm a huge Wonder Woman fan and I love reading about her backstory and creation because the complexity is rarely discussed. I can't wait to find out more things about the creation of my hero.

Kasumi (Vol. 2) by Surt Lim and Hirofumi Sugimoto. I'm extremely excited by this purchase because I've been looking for this manga for YEARS! I picked the first volume up a few years ago and was never able to find part two. The storyline is so good and I'm a sucker for a magical romantic manga. Plus, the artwork is fantastic. I can't wait to start reading this later this week.

Marvel TsumTsum (Android). This is my first venture into the TsumTsum craze and I'm absolutely loving it. I had seen a lot of my fellow nerdy ladies get into TsumTsums and after I saw Desiree tweet that a Marvel version was available, I decided to download it and see what all the talk was about. I got insanely addicted and then downloaded the regular Disney version as well. Jonathan jokes that I've become obsessed, but I can't put it down! It's so cute and fun! Check it out in case you haven't yet.

Regular Show (Hulu). When I heard this show was getting cancelled, I knew I had to catch back up with it. Regular Show has been one of my favorite shows since it came out and I adore the humor and artwork. I love stoner comedies and that kind of grunge humor (Daria, Beavis and Butthead, Ren and Stimpy, etc) and Regular Show has been able to fill my 90's loving heart. I'm going to miss it but am enjoying rewatching it with Jonathan.


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That's all I have for this week! Let me know what you're up to this week in the comments! Let's chat!



Always, Raineedayze

Captain's Log #2 - Preparation and Disaster

 

Happy Monday, everyone!

I hope your Monday is better than mine. I broke my phone walking into work today, and it looks like it's gonna be a lot of money to fix it, so I'm not very excited to foot that bill. The LED is currently bleeding into the screen and though it looks amazingly trippy, it's pretty crushing.

We are also preparing for a family vacation this weekend! We will be traveling a couple hours to camp with some of my family and I'm very excited to see everyone, since it's been a year since I've seen both my aunts. Jonathan and I are huge campers, so this week looks promising. We are going comfortable camping and our cabin has WiFi and central A/C so it's not the "great outdoors" but I'm really excited to get together and be surrounded by nature! Expect plenty of pictures and a full recap when I'm back home!

In true Captain's Log fashion, let's get down to the week!

 Jawbreaker (Movie). This is one of my favorite movies and if you have yet to see it, please finish this post and WATCH IT! The movie follows queen bees Courtney, Julie, and Marcy "Foxy", who accidentally kill the fourth member of their group with a jawbreaker. Yes, the candy. It's hilarious, the lines are so quotable, and it features cameos from Marilyn Manson and The Donnas. Plus the main cast is stellar! Rose McGowan, Judy Greer, Carole Kane, Pam Grier, Jeff Conaway, and Rebecca Gayheart all contribute to this movie and it's absolutely peachy effing keen.





 Board With Life (webseries). So I just found this series on Youtube while looking for a gameplay video and I absolutely adored it! The series follows a gaming group though their weekly game nights. At first, I was a little hesitant because it seemed to pit the wives in the group as killjoys for a "boy's club" and as a female gamer, I was a little turned off by this. However, as the show continues, it really does provide character depth, growth, and it makes you feel for all the characters. Plus, the actors (who also direct and write the show) are super sweet and have a bunch of cool stuff going on. Without spoiling it, it's something that should be watched the whole way through. The two seasons can be found here.

Gameinformer (Magazine). Okay, I know this sounds like a strange pick, but when we renewed our GameStop rewards, we were offered a subscription to GameInformer, a gaming magazine. I picked it up and must say, I look forward to getting the other issues. It sparked really great discussions between me and Jonathan ("Would you rather have a year of DLC or a sequel to a game?" "Are we buying the NX?") and I just love having an actual magazine in my hands instead of opening up 20 different gaming websites to get varying information. If you're on the fence about subscribing, go for it!

  

Overwatch (PC). I wrote my last post about Overwatch, but guys.....the game is SO GOOD! I'm obsessed with Dva and this game is my type of FPS. I like FPS in general, but I really enjoy goofy storylines (think Team Fortress 2, Gotham City Imposters). This game has incredible artwork and the character backstories are amazing! A friend of mine really enjoys Widowmaker and Jonathan switches between all the characters. All in all, this game is AWESOME.

 

Machi Koro (Tabletop). I have an extensive review of this game coming up soon but to sum it up, I adored this game. It's a very simple tabletop game and though some may find it too simple, I really enjoyed not having to spend half the game confused about what to do. It's a great starter game for tabletop novices. Plus, the trash talk opportunities are wonderful. And, I got to make a lot of puns, so that was great. 



What are you guys reading/watching/playing? Do any of these sound interesting? Let's chat about it!!



Always, Raineedayze

Sleep is for the Well-Adjusted

                                                    

Waking up to Charmander

Guys, Pokemon Go is here!

I'm absolutely obsessed with the game and have spent all day looking at my phone to catch 'em all! Luckily, I found out my work has around 10 different PokeStops, Centers, and Gyms, including one located directly outside my window. I'm not sure how my boss expects me to get anything done for the next few weeks. 

Jonathan also texted me that our local GameStop manager was able to put us on the list for the Pokemon Go Plus gear, so I'm counting the days until it's released. Since we are there almost every week, we've become very good friends with the staff there and they are always looking out for us. 

Along with Pokemon, I was happily surprised to see Jonathan picked up two copies of Overwatch last night. I've been lusting over this game for ages and we were up gaming until 5 a.m. I had to be up for work at 7:30, and I'd rather just stick it out than sleep for an hour and wake up groggy and miserable, so I stayed up writing and working on the blog until I had to get ready. I regret nothing because Overwatch is amazing! I love D.Va and played her character the entire time, while the rest of our group swapped out for each character. Her spunky attitude and girly flair is perfect for my preferred method of looking cute and kicking butt. 

"Love, Dva"

The past few nights, my sleeping schedule has been flipped and between gaming, working on the blog, daily household management, pen pal correspondence, and "me" time, it's been pretty hectic. I love my life and the things I am able to do, but I know I have to take care of my sanity as well. It's been quite a journey but I'm trying to focus on not comparing my blog to others, especially since it's in its baby steps. I also am trying to remember to not put in half the effort in my activities because I'm stressed. 

                 
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I'm very grateful to have more flexibility than most so I just gotta stay determined and catch 'em all (Z's I mean)

Are ya'll playing Pokemon Go? What do you think? Let's chat!


Always, Raineedayze