RANT #1

Stop me if you've heard this one before.

"DUDE... I didn't think you could do anything other than play video games!!!"

-_-  = My Face! Followed by: *consciously make face pleasant and remove choice words from the "reply" section of my mind. Reply with the tried and true...* 

"Yeah... I get that a lot!!!" *forced smile*

I mean REALLY... just because I'm an avid gamer doesn't mean I'm ONLY a gamer. (Momma didn't raise no one trick pony)
Why is it so hard for you to fathom that I can do things outside of: pushing buttons (with reflexive intuition and dexterity) or retain knowledge (that I read 16 years ago) or formulate strategies (against my opponent/s) or ponder conundrums (and deal with the repercussions) all from a relaxed sitting position. 

Seriously... what rock have you been living under??? People (and contrary to popular belief, GAMERS ARE PEOPLE) are multi-talented, multifaceted beings. You ("You" being general in this case) may excel in one field but that doesn't mean that that's ALL you're good at.

Take me for example. People see me with my phone (playing Clash of Clans or Summoners War) or they hear me have a lengthy, in depth discussion (on hit box collision issues) or, on rare occasion, happen to see me do my super secret special victory dance (when I absolutely positively have made sure that no one is around... then I still get caught anyway *sigh*) and think - "He's such a geek/nerd/weirdo/*insert typical derogatory terms for game-prone individual here*!" They have no prior knowledge of me or any inkling as to who I am and without a second thought they label me (and rightly so because I am a geek/nerd/weirdo... and proud of it *proud smile* but that's besides the point)! 

I LOVE VIDEOGAMES but that doesn't mean that my life revolves around them. Have you seen me oblivious to the world when I'm lost in a novel? Have you listened to my most recent playlist? Have you solved a rubix cube? (neither have I... only weirdos can do that shit lolol) Don't assume that all I do is game, OK? I play basketball, I go to the club, I watched Bryce's 10 second quarter mile run, I read, I blog, I go out to eat, I do all the stuff that you do. I just prefer to play my PS3/XB1. That's what I'm into!!! 

So the next time I amaze you with my ocular prowess or stun you with my ability to recall detail or flabbergast you with my animated mimicry of some cartoon character or astound you with my linguistics or dumbfound you with my technical expertise, REMEMBER. I do more than just play videogames!!!
(but if I had a choice and didn't have to work and had a 60 inch Sony Visio LED Smart TV with a high fidelity 6 pieces dolby 7.0 surround sound home theatre system with subwoofer and a Cranberry coloured Renew fabric covered La-Z-Boy Impulse Swivel Recliner... I WOULDN'T... just saying *shrugs*) 

Today was a good day!!!

 I PLAYED BLOODBORNE!!! *written with childlike joy*

This weekend is one of the very few weekends that I don't have to go to work. What made it even better for me was the fact that my good friend who happens to have a PS4 (one of the main reasons I keep him around) decided to let go of his controller for about an hour or so and let me play Bloodborne! I can't express how happy I was.
I've been following Bloodborne from inception (way back when it was just PROJECT BEAST) and I was anticipating it for months until I heard that it was a PS4 exclusive (I HATE EXCLUSIVES... but that's a totally different post which I may or may not elaborate on later). I was a bit disheartened at the news but I knew I could some how, some way convince, bribe, coerce or simply PAY to make sure that I got a taste of it. I'm a BIG "Souls" (the collective term given to Demon Souls, Dark Souls and Dark Souls II games) and FromSoftware (their Developer) fan. I have spent many an hour lost in their worlds and lore and would gladly do so again.
Anyway, I  got to play it and I must say I was ecstatic!!! I enjoyed every moment of it and can't wait until tomorrow so I can play some more. I reveled in the nostalgia as memories, feelings and physical reactions (racing heart or a few choice words of regret) came rushing back. It was like reliving some childhood action that brought on a myriad of emotions that felt RIGHT.
Did I say I enjoyed it? I lied... I LOVED IT!!!
Expect my review in a couple of days. I'm not giving an exact date because I'm not sure how much more playtime I will have in the near future but rest assured the review will come.

On a different note (in an attempt to be a bit more social), if any readers feel the need to do so, you can add me on PSN (Playstation Network) and XBL (Xbox Live). I'm not ALWAYS online but I do play online occasionally and would love to interact with you guys. Be sure to say that you read the blog in the friend request but even if you don't I'll still add you anyway... I need the friends. (LOL)
My online ID's are: PSN = pablow268         XBL = Ryuji268
"Dude, why isn't your online ID T.A.G or theantiguangamer or something?"
Well, I made them long before I came up with my T.A.G persona and I'm not too keen on changing them (translation: I AM TO LAZY TO!).

O_O WOW... and I don't mean World Of Warcraft!!!

I had a very SCARY incident the other day (think the hands busting through the boarded window in Resident Evil 2) and it has given me a heads up. Display not included! *ba dum tss*
So, my family and I were driving home from work the other day and my mind was plagued with thoughts of Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls (see what I did there with PLAGUED...).  I am very close to getting all the achievements. Obviously...now you can tell that I have an Xbox, more specifically an Xbox One and before all you playstation lovers *cough* fanboys *cough* (just kidding) and the majority of my friends leave the blog NEVER to return. It should be said that I AM A PLAYSTATION GUY. I've owned a PS1, PS2, PS3 and even borrowed a VITA for an extended period *proud smile*.  Unfortunately I am also A POOR GUY and last Christmas this poor playstation guy could only afford the $350.00 Xbox One bundle.
"DUDE... the PS4 bundle was just $50.00 dollars more"
 This I know but I needed to get a next gen system and time was running out and I didn't have the extra money and a select few convinced me to get it (more on them in future posts) sssooo Xbox One it is and until I: 1. save up $400.00 2. Win the lotto or 3. Someone (I'm looking at you SONY) has pity on me I will be playing most of my games on Xbox one. (ANYONE willing to donate to the cause will be memorialized on the blog and will also have my undying gratitude and appreciation for the rest of our lives) But I digress.
Currently I'm missing 3 achievements: the "Combine Gems" achievement, the "Kill Mhagda" achievement (after running through the story mode at least 4 times... I'm still not sure why I don't have these yet) and the "Complete 500 Bounties" achievement (which is taking WAY longer than I anticipated).
So there I was driving my compulsory 45km/hour while planning the most efficient and least time consuming way to get those bounties done. There was a parked car in-front of me so I turned on my indicator to let the world know that I was gonna avoid said parked car. Next thing I know, there's this uber loud VROOM coming from behind me. I quickly glance into my rear view mirror to see this dude rapidly approaching. Now his car wasn't all that new and you could tell it was pushing itself very hard to try and get up to the speed that the driver (who I think is probably very good at Grand Theft Auto) wanted it to get up to. THIS DUDE decided that he could overtake me while I was avoiding the parked car. There wasn't any traffic in the oncoming lane so dude was like "I GOT THIS!!!" and started the following chain of events.
I put on indicator and turn out into oncoming lane, dude hits the accelerator and tries to overtake me as I do so, dude hits a POT HOLE the size of a kitchen sink (probably the same depth as well), dude gently nudges my car with his, dude loses control of his car for a split second and jumps the curb, dude's car scrapes against a wall, dude regains control of car and gets back onto the road, dude's tire blows out and causes him to lose control again, dude swerves wildly in the middle of the street going back and forth from lane to lane, dude veers off to the side and hits the other curb, then grazes a second wall, gets back onto the street and comes to a screeching halt. Meanwhile everyone in my car was deathly silent and had eyes the size of JRPG characters.
All of this happens in about 4 seconds and as I'm watching it play out, the only thing running through my mind over and over and over was "Grand Theft Auto 3 turns into Burnout Paradise." Time seemed to slow down and I could catch details of things that seemed surreal. Sparks from the bottom of the car as it hits the curb, the smell of burning rubber and hot brakes, the baritone blub blub blub of the blown tire hitting the road, the ache in my fingers from gripping the steering wheel. The dude was OK... shaking up but OK and I was calm, cool, collected and choking on adrenaline.
Now, I have said all of that to say this. SHIT HAPPENS and this gamer has had one of those "EUREKA" moments (think dodge roll INTO not AWAY FROM The Rotten in Dark Souls 2). Be thankful that you're alive (to play more games today) and tell the ones you love that you love them (while you competitively kick their ass)!!! THAT WAS NOT CLICHED FILLER TEXT. I MEANT IT!!! --> NOW GO DO IT!!! Life has no respawns or resets or round twos. Its ONE TRY then GAME OVER!!! Make the best of it while you can!!!

Introduction!!!

HELLO... I go by the handle T.A.G. (The Antiguan Gamer)

My first post will be short, sweet and to the point. This blog is made BY A GAMER, FOR GAMERS !!!

Now, I am in no way a professional in the gaming field. I'm neither a "Tournament Level" player nor an "Avid Review" writer. What I am is a regular guy that loves to play video games who decided to take that love and grow it into something more. Something that ALL gamers (from NOOBS to BEASTS) can relate to, something that's helpful, informative and displays all the nuances that being a gamer entails. That being said...  you should know that I plan to blog about my experiences as a gamer (be they good or bad), try my hand at writing up reviews for games I've played (expect Bloodborne and Final Fantasy Type-0 HD some time soon) and give out as much info and intel as I possibly can on any and all things game related.       

Lastly, let me say thanks to all the people who decided to take time out of their busy schedule to spend some time reading my blog. This is a first for me, in many ways, and I'm uber excited to get things started. So here we go!!!