Mixed Emotions

At long last, I have returned! Sorry for the delay – I’ve been quite busy, as we all have, but fear not! Gaming is still a top priority of mine, and due to recent events I’m more determined than ever to continue this blog, share my (womanly) thoughts on gaming, and continue to train with the PMS clan.

I’d like to cover a number of items in this post, including my thoughts on recent Frag Doll announcements, my plans for PAX PRIME, and my ideas and concerns over starting a Video Blog. Commence Operation: Mixed Emotions!

Frag Doll Announcements

As some of you know, I’ve wanted to be a Frag Doll for the longest time…and now more recently, a Frag Doll Cadette. I’ve applied once to the Frag Doll Cadette program, but I wasn’t chosen to be one of the lucky 12 for the Spring 2010. I’ll be applying again in the Fall (if they decide to continue recruiting girls for 6month internships) and I’ve already thought of a few ideas to make this application video better than the last.

Recently, the Frag Dolls announced the addition of two new Frag Dolls (and I mean FRAG DOLLS, not Cadettes). I read this announcement with mixed emotions – on one hand, I’m happy to see that the Frag Dolls are letting new women join. On the other hand, I continue to see others achieve one of my greatest goals. Luckily, I’ve turned these “mixed emotions” into fuel for both my career and creative endeavors. I now have a whole list of things to strive for, and my resolve for getting better in competitive gaming is at an all-time high.

Side note: Congratulations Siren and Glitch! Please know that we’re all very happy for you…if not just a little jealous ;-)

PAX Prime

I'm buying my tickets soon! I'm very excited, as this will be my first video game convention ever! I hope to compete in some of the tournaments there, meet some very interesting industry experts (and fans), test out some new games, and explore Seattle, Washington. Now...I just need to figure out the plane ride and hotel space... :-) If anyone else is going - please let me know! I'd love to meet up and say HI!

Video Blog

I'm playing with the idea of starting a Video Blog. My only real concerns with starting this is 1. having the time to create, film, and edit "posts" and 2. having these "posts" be interesting and entertaining enough for people to watch. I do feel, however, that having a Video Blog would 1. force me to come up with regular updates and 2. would get me to be much more relaxed on camera. I've had a little more experience being on film within the past year, but I'm nowhere near where I want to be.

So...perhaps I will try this Video Blog idea that I have. I probably won't be able to put up any Video posts until a while from now, as I still need to obtain video editing software and a camera... Oh, and words of encouragement are very welcome :-D

TTFN!

48 Hour Film Project

This past weekend I joined a group of extremely talented individuals in making a short film for the Washington D.C. 48 Hour Film Project. Still not game-related...but I'm telling you, there is nothing like making a movie. It's not the prep work, or the editing, or even the filming that makes it entertaining - it's the people you work with that make it worth it (although watching the final product for the first time as a group comes in as a close second).

The 48 Hour Film Project is a competition where teams create entire short films (4-7 min in length) in 2 days...which is *way* harder than it sounds. My group ended up making a 70's/80's stop-action monster flick called "Kill the Monsters", which is probably one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. Our film, along with many others, will be premiered throughout the week at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland. Tomorrow night at 9:30pm is my group's film premiere, and I couldn't be more excited! If the crowd doesn't laugh at our over-the-top grind-house 70's dark comedy....then something is wrong with the world.

I'll be posting pictures from the set, but only after tomorrow night's premiere.
[Update...]
Here are a few pictures taken on set:

 ("Kill the Monsters" title screen)

 (Chase scene - Stop Motion Animation to be added later)

(The film crew)

 (Resting between scenes)

 (Home-made flame-thrower...kids, don't try this at home)

And now, here is the actual film....

Next Post: Actual gaming content, including Boy Scout merit badges, Gamasutra, and college gaming degrees!

Gaming news, articles, degrees, and a concert

Finally, back to the main point of this blog....gaming! I have a whole list of things to discuss in this post, and so I will begin (in no particular order):


1. Gamasutra

By recommendation of a close friend, I signed up for an account on Gamasutra.com. I love this site and appreciate the multiple video game company and job listings...although I'm unsure of how helpful this will be for me. There is even a section for a blog, but I am currently unable to link it to this blog (and I just don't feel like posting on two different sites). If anyone knows of a remedy for this, please let me know. I'll have to dive into the site further for more information...

2. Boy Scouts Video Game Merit Badge

I was a Girl Scout for 13 years and it was already bad enough that we had merit badges for 'cooking' and 'sewing' (which, to be honest, are important skills to learn)...but this is just downright cruel. Perhaps cruel is not the word I'm looking for. It's more unfair...as to my knowledge, there is no equivalent of this merit badge in the Girl Scout world.

In looking at the details of the merit badge, the earning requirements seem to fall directly in line with every other merit badge: Learn the pros and cons of video games, create a schedule for school, chores, and video games, teach someone else how to play a video game, etc...so earning the badge will be a piece of cake. I only wish that the Girl Scouts would create their own similar, if not exact, merit badge. This just shows how the public still views video games as an all-male activity/hobby :-/

I found one article discussing the Boy Scout merit badge, which lead me to another site which seems to be the closest thing to a Girl Scout merit badge/interactive site (found here). I don't know, I know girls like ponies and sprinkles and stuff....but I think it would go a long way to offer a video game merit badge for Girl Scouts. Anyone else agree or disagree?

3. Gaming Degree at George Mason University, Fairfax VA

Figures that a year after I graduate my university decides to offer a bachelor's degree in video game design. In all honesty, I think this is a great. A close family friend is currently working on his second bachelor's at GMU, this time in the Computer Science department for a B.S. in Video Game Design. So far, my friend is really enjoying the classes and what he's learning :-) I believe GMU is offering a bachelors in Art (music, graphic art, writing) and Science (programming) for the degree, but I wonder how students who would like to get into the business-side of gaming would work with this?

In the end...this just makes me want to go back to school :-/


4. Distant Worlds Concert and Distant Worlds II
I'm finally getting things set up for the Distant Worlds concert at Wolf Trap on July 30th (Friday) at 8:30pm. I have a few interested takers, and I think it'll be a fun night relaxing on the lawn, eating food and listening to some fantastic music :-) Also, the Distant Worlds II soundtrack is available for download here. Honestly, I think I prefer DW 1 over DW 2, but certain songs (like the Prelude, Main Theme of FFVII, Zanarkand, and Terra's Theme) really get to me. I highly recommend both soundtracks, and if you get the chance to see the concert live..all the better :-)

That's all for now!

I have returned!

I'm finally back from my vacation to Hawaii (and then some) and I have a whole list of things to discuss. I think I'll make it easier for my readers and break each section into different posts...starting with the one about HAWAII!

I know, it's not game-related...but I can't help but share how amazing Hawaii was. My boyfriend and I traveled to Kauai, one of the more remote islands of Hawaii, and we had a blast. I would love to post all my pictures here, but I don't think the Blogger site would be happy with 1,000+ uploaded pictures. So, here are just a few :D

(Japanese Garden at the Honolulu Airport)

(First waterfall of the trip - after an hour horseback ride)

(Horseback Ride!)

(Na Pali Coast from our Sunset Cruise)

("Secret Falls" after a 2.5 mile kayak trip and a 1 mile hike)

(Sunset view from dinner)

(View from our Villa at the Nihi Kai - in my new PMS shirt!)

Overall - had a great time, got to take some great pictures, and one girl even commented on my PMS Clan shirt. I think it was a definite win!

Next post: The Washington D.C. 48 Hour Film Project!

No updates for the next week.

Fair warning - I will be gone for the next 7 days to the beautiful island of Kauai in Hawaii! The only downside to this (if there were actual downsides to this) is that I will not be able to game for that week. But honestly, I can take a week-break from gaming for this ;-)

More gaming updates to come next week!

It's Official!!!

I'm one of the newest members of the PMS clan - North American division of Modern Warfare 2 for the Xbox 360!!!

My official name in the clan registry and on the forums is now PMS Selisona, and I'll be changing my gamertag on Xbox Live shortly to match :D I've also been given a big sister (Yay PMS Enigma!) who has even invited me to join her small team (Omega Squad)! I'm probably going to take her up on the offer, since it would be a great introduction to small teams...but I do eventually want to join an official all-girl PMS small team. Omega Squad is a co-ed team, which both PMS and H2O division leaders agreed to, but it is not recognized as an official PMS/H2O team...the upside? It doesn't require 4 additional practice hours per week! Perfect for right now, when my schedule is going crazy <.<

That's all I have for right now - I'll be writing another post about the ex-Infinity Ward heads and their new company....oh drama, drama everywhere.

[Update...]
I'm such a nerd. I just received my PMS clan t-shirt and keychain in the mail today. Here are pictures!

(A little wrinkled, but there it is! "PMS Clan - Play like a girl" with the keychain laying on top)

(Back of shirt - "Selisona" my gamertag on the back! Official name is PMS Selisona)

::sigh:: I love it! It's nice to work hard at something and have it pay off :-) Now, I just need to find a video game convention/tournament to go to so I can represent my clan....

Also - I read an article today on the newly created enterprise called "Respawn Entertainment" - formed by the two ex-Infinity Ward employees Jason West and Vincent Zampella. Not only that, but they've partnered with EA, which I think is a great decision on both parts. EA seems to be having trouble competing with the various game franchises and developers nowadays, and so I believe that this may help to revitalize the company - and with a semi-powerhouse company like EA, Respawn may become a huge contender in the future as well. Activision's original claims that West and Zampella also seem to be true - that both the creative leads where secretly discussing a partnership is EA for a while now. Although I wholly disapprove of Activision's method of letting the two employees go, I find it interesting that these two men have bounced back so well - and so fast - and I only wonder if this situation will escalate into something more.

Off to do some shopping...in my new PMS Clan shirt!

WCG Ultimate Gamer

I watched the first episode of WCG Ultimate Gamer - Season 1 on Hulu.com last night...and boy, where do I begin....

First off - I had no idea how awesome Amy Brady is - not only is she one of the founders of the PMS clan (her gamertag "Athena" gave that away) but she's also a FRAG DOLL?! I knew her as Valkyrie (Frag Doll) instantly, but I had never seen a picture of "Athena" - co-founder of PMS - so I was pretty shocked and excited to see her on there. Obviously, she'd be a great contestant on the show :-)

Now, I'm all for a good competition - that's kind of an essential part of video gaming - but like any reality TV show, the developers/producers of WCG Ultimate Gamer couldn't help but add a little "drama" to the mix. For example, instead of giving the gamers their space, they decide to place all 12 in one loft for the duration of the show. I understand this concept (every other reality TV show does this), and I understand that good drama equals good TV, that ratings are all that matter in most cases, and that it's probably best to keep all the contestants under a proverbial 'lock & key'. But I think I would have been just as happy with a good old TV show about these gamers and their challenges, minus the "living together" part. Granted that's not a big part (yet), but I'm only 1 episode in.

Also, a friend of mine mentioned how it seemed unfair that some very good gamers lost the competition because of games like "Rock Band" or "DDR" - but I have to say that if you're going to be the "ULTIMATE" gamer, then you have to be good at all the different types of games...yet another reason why I won't apply for this; racing games will be the end of me (snowmobiles not an exception). Those, as well as sports games and "music" games like Rock Band and DDR....all of which I'm horrible at :-/


In light of all this, I still find the show somewhat interesting. I'm planning to watch the other 7 episodes (eventually, as things are busy again), and I'm eager to see more of how the show (and contestants) characterize gamers and the gaming community. 


 Also, I find it hilarious that one of the male contestants noted that all the girl gamers on the show were "relatively attractive" and that he couldn't think of them as "serious" gamers. - I'll need to think about that statement a little more, as I'm sure there is a good theory I could pull out of this...

And finally - this is my fourth and final week of PMS Recruitment. I've already submitted my PMS name to my recruitment manager, and even that has been approved (yay!). Now, if only I could find a Big Sister....