Liebster Award Nomination

So this happened…

As my followers here on WordPress already know, I’m a little new to the fold here. I started my site here only a little while back. About four months ago in fact. In that time I’ve been doing my best to write entertaining articles and reviews in between college classes and working full time.

Well I’ve apparently not sucked completely at writing because I’ve been called out to take part in the Liebster Awards thanks to James Dixon at QuicklyTapX. I’ve been reading his stuff for quite a while now and I’ve been lucky to have him visit my own site too. He, like me, writes about games and such. I really like his Monday Morning Procrastination Packs and he’s linked me in a few of them as well. I’m not saying we’re best buds or anything, but he definitely has a big fan.

Now that I got that pun out of the way, I just want to take a moment to thank James Dixon with QTX for recognizing me and reading my borderline-insane babble. Cheers to another year of writing and correspondence.

Once you’re done here, go bombard his site with views. He deserves it!

So What Is A Liebster Award?

Well, intrepid readers; a Liebster Award is a blogging thing where a blogger recognizes a fellow blogger’s contributions. The concept of the award is designed to connect us writers together to help spread the word about the folks that often put in their own time to put themselves out there for the world to see.

That’s Cool, What Else Is There?

Here is where things get all social. James tasked me with answering the following questions about myself, so I’m obliged to humor him. Here goes…

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

Hands down, without hesitation it would be: control of time. Not necessarily time travel, but the ability to control time at my own will. The usual would probably be invincibility or invisibility, but think about it… If I could control time, I could do whatever I want without having to worry about the passage of time. These are some of the things I would definitely do:

1. I would pause time to play video games. I know that sounds ridiculously childish, but I could save so much of my actual time for doing things that are far more productive. Considering that I play mostly single player games, I wouldn’t have to worry about others needing to be able to play and I’d be freed up to play multiplayer more often.
2. I would learn everything I could. There are tons of things that I’d love to know how to do, but can’t find the time to actually learn. I’d love to learn to fly, learn to play the violin and piano (I already know how to play the trombone), learn more about computers, and learn how to work with metal and wood… Like building furniture. Jsut some examples.
3. I would write my damn book that I’ve been putting off. I have an idea that’s been deep in my mind for a science-fiction/horror story. I just usually get distracted by other things.
4. I would definitely exercise… A LOT. I want to be healthy, just like most people. However like most people, I’m too lazy to be healthy.

Most overrated video game you’ve played?

This was a tough one for sure… I’ve played so many games over the years that I’m having a hard time thinking of one but one keeps popping back up in my head every time I think about it. Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain.

Now hear me out… I know I just made a ton of internet enemies. The reason I think it is overrated is because I adored the original Metal Gear Solid (which for some reason, I don’t think I own). In contrast to the OG MGS’ masterful story telling and world building, not to mention over-arching commentary on nuclear proliferation, MGS V just doesn’t stack up.

The Phantom Pain was supposed to tell the story of Big Boss’ rise to power as a leader of a paramilitary organization that rivals most of the world’s militaries. Instead I was treated to nonsensical garbage that me almost nothing that I didn’t already know, didn’t have David Hayter’s iconic voice acting (what little there was for Big Boss to say), a female character (Quiet) that was overtly in the game as eye candy with a limp explanation to attempt to justify her clothing (or lack thereof), and piles of filler material in the form of side missions that seemed so generic that I expected them to be in a mobile game instead of a full priced console title.

Not to be too controversial, but as a finisher for this part, I not only think that Hideo Kojima is a vastly overrated developer, but I totally shot Quiet in the head.

Most underrated video game you’ve played?

Like the previous question, this one took some time to come up with an answer. Despite this though, I’ve come up with a couple: Sunset Overdrive (Xbox One), Red Faction (PS2/PC) and Red Faction: Guerilla (Xbox 360/PS3/PC), Mercenaries (Xbox/PS2), and Deus Ex Invisible War (Xbox/PC).

I could go into great detail as to why I feel these are all underrated titles, but it would take a long time and I would likely bore everyone. However, I may at some point decide to elaborate further.

If you could have any job/career in the world, what would you choose?

Astronaut. I’m fascinated with space and I’d love to go into space at least once in my life. There’s just something so awe inspiring about astronauts. Men and women that strap themselves to bombs to be hurtled into orbit. We’ve been to the friggen moon people… People stood on the moon. It’s incredible.

Who’s your favorite Villain (book, game, TV or film)?

I initially was going to come up with an answer for each category of fiction here, but I have to settle on one.

My favorite villain would definitely be Saren, and by extension: Nazara/Sovereign, from the original Mass Effect. Hear me out.

Saren genuinely believed it what he was doing, and furthermore believed that it was the only way that he’d save all of the sentient life in the Milky Way galaxy. He spends the entirety of the game thwarting Commander Shepard’s attempts to expose him to the point that he stages a remarkably effective attack on one of the most defensible locations in the galaxy. He’s only saved by blind luck and determination.

Nazara/Sovereign makes for a great villain in my eyes for the same reason that people appreciate honey badgers so much. You cannot comprehend its motivations and Nazara/Sovereign don’t give a fuck.

At least until Mass Effect 3 where Bioware pissed on the mystery of the Reapers with some bullshit about synthetics and organics killing each other, and the only solution being to kill everyone so they can’t kill each other.

Yeah, that’s so much better than the original lore that got scrapped. You know, the one where Reapers were regulating the use of dark energy through the building up and quelling of sentient species in the pursuit of avoiding the Big Crunch or having the universe expanding too much. You know, that idea…

I’m still mad about that, Bioware.

Tea or coffee?

Coffee… I’ve been drinking coffee since I was about 10 years old. I began by sneaking leftover coffee that my dad didn’t drink after I got home from school. I don’t know why I like it so much, but I’ve always enjoyed it. I do drink normal Folgers coffee on a day-to-day basis, but nothing puts a bigger smile on my face than a bag of nice, whole bean coffee. Just saying, if you want to get me a gift and aren’t sure what to get me… get coffee.

Also, my favorite premium coffee that I have yet to find anywhere is a rum flavored coffee from Jamaica. When I first opened the bag, it smelled like a bottle of Bacardi. Ohhh but when I brewed it, it had the finest, smoothest vanilla and molasses taste with just a hint of rum on the back end.

I need to find it…

Favorite joke?

I love puns of all shapes and sizes. My favorites though are ones that drag out the geek in me. Just take a look at these gems.

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Favorite album of all time?

This is where the band geek comes out in me. You’ll remember I mentioned that I know how to play the trombone. Well, I played in band from the 6th grade until my senior year in high school. My favorite pieces we would play were always the classical pieces, and I absolutely love video games. What do you get when you combine those two things?

Video game soundtracks. My favorite so far is definitely The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim soundtrack by Jeremy Soule. A close second is The Witcher III: Wild Hunt soundtrack, which is currently in my car’s stereo. CDProjekt, you awesome bastards… I love you for giving out the soundtrack for free. The DLC was cool too I guess.

If you could only eat one food/meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Let me clarify this a bit. If I could eat one meal for the rest of my life without dying from it, it would have to be In-N-Out Burger. I have dreams where I go to In-N-Out… I love it so much.

What’s the best advice you’d give to anybody who’s thinking of starting a blog and/or is just starting out, and/or might be struggling with it all (asking for a friend!)?

Now I’m no expert, but I do know what’s been working for me so far.

First, if you’re starting out, figure out who your audience is going to be and what you’re passionate about. For instance, I’m passionate about video games and helping people. I spent years working in retail, helping customers find things like games and offering my opinions on them to help them make a decision. Naturally I drifted into the idea of writing articles and reviews on games as a result. I knew that my audience would definitely be pretty small, but I really love writing this stuff. I don’t care if I only had one reader, I would still write.

Second, I’d say you should be comfortable with the idea that you’d mostly be writing for yourself. It’s awesome to see your posts take off and get tons of views, like my bit on The Long Dark, but I’ve more-or-less poured my heart and soul into everything that I’ve written on here. I will continue to do the same.

Third, take a break every now and then. Writing is tough. Especially if you’re like me and you desperately seek the approval of others. It can be disheartening to write something that you feel is a big deal, only to see it fall by the wayside. The key is, in my humble opinion, to just go back at it when you have the energy to do it again.

Fourth, know why you’re writing. Going back to what I said above, you should be okay with the idea that you’re writing for yourself first and foremost. Don’t start a blog because you think you’re going to be some blogging celebrity that’s starting the next IGN or whatever. It may seem nihilistic, but you’re probably not going to be a huge star anytime soon. It’s best that you have dreams for that, but be a little realistic at least. It’ll make you humble.

Now, My Nominations

My wife Jennifer Steiner, who runs the Nerd Thoughts Blog and Wood Elf Adventures

Mrs. GeneralGeekeryGirl

Gamer’s Wifey

Physics with Galaxy

p2d2 from The Modern Gamer: Father, Husband, and Family

SevenFlorins who does Casual Reviews (on hiatus I believe)

Oscar Relentos, one of the first people to like something I wrote.

sty3ler06’s Gaming blog

Archer on Ballad of the Redshirts

AHintOfEverything on GamingGirlAndLife

And lastly, my own mother… Yes, my mother who has her own blog on WordPress called LovePineapples

The Rules – From The Global Aussie

1. Thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog. Try to include a little promotion for the person who nominated you.

2. Display the award on your blog

3. Write a post about your favorite blog that is not your own. Explain why you like the blog, provide links.

4. Provide 10 random facts about yourself.

6. Nominate 5 – 11 blogs that you feel deserve the award.

7. List these rules in your post. Once you have written and published it, you then have to:

8. Inform the people/blogs that you nominated that they have been nominated for the Liebster award and provide a link for them to your post or mine if you don’t have all the information so that they can learn about it.

Now You Have Some Work To Do

Below are some questions that I have for you to answer in your own posts. Just follow the rules above and give a shout out to some other folks you want to recognize. I can’t wait to see what you all come up with.

1. Why did you start writing?
2. If you had a month off to do whatever you wanted and a budget for it, what would you do?
3. Do you have a hobby? What do you do? (No, gaming folks… I know you game already. Pick something else)
4. If you could live in any fictional world, where would you live?
5. What inspires you?
6. What is your favorite show/movie/video game/play/mime?
7. What type of sense of humor do you have? Dark? Dry? Saucy?
8. Do you prefer iPhones, Android phones, or the vastly superior Windows Phone?
9. What is something you collect?
10. If you could change something in your past at the cost of your current life, would you?

Thank you all in advance!

And again, thank you James Dixon. This little project has helped make my week that much better.

 

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