That 30 Days of Gaming meme coming to Grinding Down soon

It might come as a surprise to my many silent readers here that I don’t plan a lot of the content that goes up on Grinding Down. I don’t write drafts or notes as I’m playing games for later posting…I just think and then type up what I’m thinking about. Off-the-cuff is a perfect way to describe how this blog lives, and the only thing I do try to do is remain constant in my updating at least once a day, Monday through Friday. Not too hard, but there are occasional days where I do struggle with a topic to post about. We all feel, at some point or another, that we’re just rambling at a wall and stealing someone else’s oxygen/brain cells with our pointlessness.

Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of fellow videogame bloggers doing a meme, a meme all about generating topics to talk about. Sounds good to me! So I’m gonna start this crazy meme next Monday and try my hardest to get through the 30 days as strong as possible. I will still, more than likely, take weekends off. But at least now, for the next 30 days, if there is ever a day where I’m drawing a blank, I know where to turn to: um, this blog post.

Anyways, here’s the 30 topic trains I’m going to be, just like Link in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, steering your way soon enough:

Day 1 – Your first videogame
Day 2 – Your favorite character
Day 3 – A game that is underrated
Day 4 – Your guilty pleasure game
Day 5 – Game character you feel you are most like (or wish you were)
Day 6 – Most annoying character
Day 7 – Favorite game couple
Day 8 – Best soundtrack
Day 9 – Saddest game scene
Day 10 – Best gameplay
Day 11 – Gaming system of choice
Day 12 – A game everyone should play
Day 13 – A game you’ve played more than five times
Day 14 – Current (or most recent) gaming wallpaper
Day 15 – Post a screenshot from the game you’re playing right now
Day 16 – Game with the best cut scenes
Day 17 – Favorite antagonist
Day 18 – Favorite protagonist
Day 19 – Picture of a game setting you wish you lived in
Day 20 – Favorite genre
Day 21 – Game with the best story
Day 22 – A game sequel which disappointed you
Day 23 – Game you think had the best graphics or art style
Day 24 – Favorite classic game
Day 25 – A game you plan on playing
Day 26 – Best voice acting
Day 27 – Most epic scene ever
Day 28 – Favorite game developer
Day 29 – A game you thought you wouldn’t like, but ended up loving
Day 30 – Your favorite game of all time

That’s a lot of musing. Are you stoked?

Let’s spend today drinking these crazy videogame drinks

It’s St. Patty’s Day, and I’m terribly sad. There’s one less wonderful Irish lass celebrating in full on green today. In fact, I’m so terribly sad that I think I might need a drink after work is done. In honor of that statement, here’s some of my favorite videogame drinks. Chug away, my dear bros and brozettes!

Moonshine ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND

To be honest, moonshine has never touched these innocent, hobbit lips of mine in real life. However, in Fallout 3, I pretty much do whatever I want, and sometimes I just want to get crazy drunk and go to town on some mutated natives with a shovel. Moonshine is the strongest alcohol the Lone Wanderer can guzzle in Fallout 3, and it raises charisma and strength by 2 points each while reducing intelligence by 2. Just like in true life. There’s also a good chance you’ll get addicted to it–but it’s worth it.

I’M SUCH A Caffeine

Basically, every single drink you can buy at the Delicious Cup is up my alley. Especially direct coffee. I’ve had four cups already today, with the possibility of three still to go. Sometimes, I even visit that depressingly empty bar (except on Saturday nights) in Animal Crossing just to have some java despite knowing it has absolutely zero effect on gameplay. Such is the life of an addict, I guess.

HOGWARTS IS FULL OF JUICEHEADS

This was so much fun in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4. Players had to gather a number of items and throw them into a cauldron bubbling with a disgusting green mess. Only after all items were gathered could they then transform into other people, and it wasn’t just for show and tell–sometimes it took a special someone to get past locked doors. Wish I could turn into someone else right about now. Spoiler: it’s Hagrid. I wish I was Hagrid.

STRIKING TWICE

Looks like lightning can strike twice, or at least it does in Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One (whew!). With this bottle of zip and zap, your character’s speed is enhanced by 50%. Krrwhack!

MORE LIKE A BLOODY HARRY

Blood…featured strongly in every vampire game ever created. A vamp’s gonna do what a vamp’s gotta do. Personally, I dislike the taste. Too irony.

WATER IS SIMPLY WATERFUL

Hey, it’s water. Most of us drink this in true life, and it’s equally delicious in the Capital Wasteland/Mojave Wasteland. Especially if you can find purified water because, no doubt, it tastes much better when free of radiation. Also helps wash those crunchy squirrel bits down. Otherwise, dirty water it is, and yes, I’ve drank from broken seats to stay alive. Wouldn’t you? Lots of other games feature water as a main way of healing: Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, Pokemon White/Black, Harvest Moon, and Dark Cloud, to name a few.

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Yeah, this has been a weird post, I know. Like I mentioned earlier, I need a drink. Ugh…