Having been a proponent of games and gaming for most of my life, I tend to focus on the more virtuous elements of the sport. Games have helped push processing technology forward via the popularity of video games on both consoles and PC. They have brought people together in comradery for years with simple rules and competition, à la billiards or poker. They have been used as teaching aids and regularly include cultural references which introduce players to myths and legends of various peoples and countries around the world. Some of the most popular subjects are the pantheons of Norse, Greek and Roman gods. Other favorites include Irish and Scottish folklore, mostly in the form of fairies or druids. Of course, Japanese history and martial arts often appear, represented by Samurai or Ninja. Games have a lot of potential redeeming value, provided that the player is mature enough to learn in addition to being entertained. However, it’s up to the player to be responsible, because gaming can be highly entertaining, highly educational, and highly addicting. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Kurt Klein
Guest Blog | With Great Gaming Comes Great Responsibility
Filed under Gaming, Guest Blog, Kurt Klein
Guest Blog | The Thrill of the Hunt
I’ve been on the hunt for a new game recently. Dark Souls 2 was a bit of a disappointment, though the DLC has alleviated that a little. Still, choosing a game to play has been a bit of a task since life doesn’t offer as much time as it used to for research like reading and talking to other gamers. After about a week of trying out several games I own of differing genres, I settled on the idea that I need to get back to my roots. A good JRPG style game is what fit the bill. This called for a pilgrimage to the game store—a sacred time for any gamer on the hunt. These trips are usually very ordinary: a clean store, friendly staff perhaps preoccupied with a conversation about the latest releases, and a few people perusing the wares. I headed out to my local game store (let’s call them Potsemag just for anonymity’s sake.) When I arrived, I was greeted in the usual way, an enthusiastic, “Welcome to Potsemag!” Continue reading
Filed under Gaming, Guest Blog, Kurt Klein
Guest Blog | In Defense of Games in the Modern Age
I have had the fortune of growing up alongside the gaming industry. I have seen games advance from board games, to Pong, to Warhammer 40k and The Last of Us. What I never overlooked was that the games I played were compelling and full of possibility. During this relatively short history, games have been relegated to the domain of children, which is understandable. However, I champion the idea that games can be a valid tool for expanding a person’s worldview by exposing him to foreign ideas and culture. Books have long been lauded as the escape and education medium of choice, and rightly so. The nuance of word choice and the tone and meter of the author combine with the reader’s imagination to create compelling worlds to which he can escape and characters to which he can escape. However, video games can offer a similar experience, while allowing the player to feel in control of the story, at least to a degree. More than that, video games can expand players’ understanding of the world, cultures, and even themselves. Human history is told in stories. What more is a video game than an interactive story? Continue reading
Filed under Gaming, Geek Life, Guest Blog, Kurt Klein
Guest Blog|Dark Souls 2 review *Spoilers*
***** SPOILER ALERT *****
This review will be discussing plot points which may be considered spoilers. Consider yourselves warned.
I stood in line for about an hour waiting patiently for my copy, like a pilgrim in line to see a relic. I had pre-ordered Dark Souls 2 Black Armor Edition way back in September, and it was finally release day. The first guy to get his big box o’ goodness had no troubles, but I flinched when ALL the clerks had to head to the back to find my copy. After a minute that seemed like an eternity, they all irreverently resumed their positions after finding my copy of the game. I left the store like all the other gamers that night, with a huge box in a bag that somewhere inside held a world contained on a 180mm by 1.2mm disc. It was a world I was anxious to explore. I got home and opened my prize. There she was, right on top after opening the flap. I ripped off the cellophane and popped the disc into my PS3. The title screen, the same as the first game, allayed my fears of drastic change. In the end, this was false hope.
Heide’s Tower of Flame
Filed under Game Reviews, Gaming, Guest Blog, Kurt Klein, Reviews
Therefore I Geek 