So, this week's @bloghomework is about what makes us super geeky. I've got a lot of things really. I'm a geek and a nerd. I could read and multiply before kindergarten, and read up on quantum physics for fun in high school. I'm geeky about horror, philosophy, gaming, science, sex, kink, politics... any interest I have I get really into! The more of my interests that intersect, the more I'll love something! Though, honestly, video games are my biggest geeky passion.
Video games are stories that we can engage with. Movies, tv shows, and even books are passively consumed. You take in what the author put down. In gaming, I get to co-create the story with the authors. I can forge my own path and make my own choices. I love games with branching paths, dialogue trees, and role playing elements. Add in one of my other geeky loves, like science, philosophy, politics, or social justice, and you'll have me hooked for hours upon hours.
I don't want this blog to turn into promotion, but I'm a big Portal fan as it combines the geek-love for gaming with my nerd-love for science, with a bit of dark humour thrown in. I recently shot a Portal themed set just to share my love with all of you. Suicide Girls is a place filled with body positive people I can really geek out with, which is super awesome! My favourite thing about Portal is how accessible it is. It builds the puzzles slowly, so you never feel like you don't know what to do at all. The fun is figuring out how to put the pieces together. It also introduces physics concepts in intuitive ways with little references for those of us already familiar. You don't need to love quantum physics to enjoy graffiti of a companion cube as a kitten, but if you do, you're rewarded with a Schrodinger's Cat reference. More of a fan of English class? Well, there's a Cat Jumped Over The Moon reference there for you! And of course, there's cake at the end. Who doesn't love cake?
I've also recently discovered a game called The Talos Principle. It's another puzzle game with turrets and a voice in the sky telling you what to do, but this one leans more philosophical than scientific. There's also an underlying tone of God vs. tempting serpent that I'm just loving. I myself am a Luciferian, which means I revere the figure that questions authority, never stops following his curiosity, and asks us to grow along with him. It's great though, because that was a choice I got to make in the game. It's ambiguous, and let's you come to your own conclusion about whether to trust the voice in the sky or not rather than pushing one way or the other, at least so far! There's references to ancient mythologies, coding, and plenty of other tidbits that let's me really dig deep and engage.
And now for something completely different! Well, sort of. I also like RPGs! My username is actually derived from The Elder Scrolls series. I fell in love with Oblivion, and have sunk hundreds of hours of playtime into it. One of my favourite things to do is go through the Daedric quests, which brought me to the Shrine of Azura. She's a daedric lord, which is kind of similar to a demon lord, except she is considered "good" and moral. She's in charge of dusk, dawn, and the spaces between. I felt she was a reflection of my ideal self, and so took on her name. Plus, I love blue! She's also known as Mother of the Rose in some of the in-game books (which I of course poured through!), and as blue roses are non-existent in nature and represent mystery, I figured it suited. But back to the game! I love Oblivion for the vast world to explore, the different paths I can take, and the sheer comedy! Sanguine and Sheogorath are particularly interesting for that, and Shivering Isles is the best DLC I've ever bought. There's literally a creature in the madgod's realm called a gnarl that drops gnarl bark. Gnarles Barkley. Crazy. I laughed so hard!
And the first game I ever really played was The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time. It's such a classic game that I don't think I have to go into much detail about why I love it so much. It opened my eyes to a world where someone as uncoordinated as me could be skilled at something, and highly so. Where my love for stories, music, and gender non-conforming boys could all come together into one epic journey. Majora's Mask just solidified that, with the themes of death, loss, moving on, grief, and helping people.
- Me at FanExpo 2010 as Chell with the Poe Salesman
Some day, when I have the money for it, I plan on getting some tattoos to commemorate these co-created stories that have enriched my life. And is there really anything geekier than spending loads of money on symbols of things you love way more than is considered healthy?
