So many games, so little time...

At this point, I'm rushing through Dragon Age - I have so little time to get personal things done after work, and my list of games grows a little longer each day... and so I must hurry. I dislike this, since I really enjoy playing the game. I love to explore everything, visit every place, see what every item does, and talk to every person available. But I suppose this is mostly in RPG's, as I act like a speed-demon in FPS's. Perhaps I'm also feeling confined because I've never had such a rigid work schedule before. Sure, college classes were set in stone and I kept myself busy while there, and my past occupation at GP was (and still is...kinda) a 24/7 job, but nothing has been quite as taxing as this. I love it, but oh, what I wouldn't give for a "winter" or "summer" break.

Fidget, one of the Frag Dolls, posted on the Frag Doll site today about her views on the trash-talking she's encountered during her online gaming sessions. This meshes almost perfectly with my honors theory, and has had me thinking about re-starting my research all day. I'm hesitant to go into more detail about it yet, since I really want to have the survey complete and online before I try to explain it. On the surface, however, my theory deals with a potential reason as to why there aren't more women playing games online* - this reason being the negative behaviors that women experience from men during online game play...one of which being trash-talking. It's nice (and sad) to know that other women have experienced these things as well.

What types of behaviors do you all experience in multiplayer games?

* Yes, I know there are lots of women that play video games now. But there is still a number gap, and this is just a theory.

Training Day 5

My "training" for the Fragdolls officially began on Monday, October 19, when I purchased used copies of Unreal Tournament 3 (UT3) and Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (R6V2) for the PS3. I hear that R6V2 is currently in popular demand, which will make it much easier to find players online (or at least find an assortment of skill levels). I had to get Unreal Tournament, if only because I was such a fan of it growing up. That, and Quake 2...but that's for a later post.

Initially I gravatated toward UT3 first, since I'm more familiar with that style of first person shooter. It felt good to get back into the "jump around and shoot people as fast as you can" scenarios. You can imagine the shock I had when I switched over to play R6V2. My player style (at this point in time) is what I like to call "run-n-gun." As my best friend can attest, I'm always the player to run into a fight guns blazing, die, respawn, rinse and repeat (I blame all the Doom/Duke Nukem/Quake playing in elementary/middle school). R6V2 is very difficult for me, as I imagine any tactical shooter would be. I have to hide behind cover? I have team mates? I have to help them when they get shot? Yet my initial response to this game has worn off, and now I find myself playing R6V2 far more than UT3.

Slowly but surely, I'm getting more comfortable with R6V2. I'm playing through the story mode (currently at the convention center - Act 4 Scene 1 I believe), and the little girl in me gets excited every time I "unlock" something. I wonder if girls like this aspect more than boys in video games? In any event, I feel that this game is a short play...perhaps the true catch is the multiplayer function. After I complete the story mode, I may work up the courage to try an online game....maybe.

Games: Unreal Tournament 3, Rainbow 6 Vegas 2
System: PlayStation 3
Tag: Kimmington