Tag: games

Favorite Games from PAX West 2019

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on September 16, 2019September 18, 2019

Now that I’ve had some time to decompress after the most insane, busiest several weeks in a row I’ve had in many years, I wanted to share my favorite titles from Expo West earlier this month. I would include Creature in the Well, but it launched shortly after PAX West, so I’d suggest checking out my review of Creature in the Well instead. Here are my top top non-triple A games in alphabetical order since I couldn’t decide on a best to least best arrangement of the list. They’re all great for different reasons!

Posted in: backbone, best friends forever, biped, games, gaming, geek, indivisible, nerd, Nintendo Switch, pax west, praey for the gods, Roundguard, Sayonara Wild Hearts, spiritfarer, World of Horror

Gamer Culture Stories

Tales From Video Game Retail – The Creepy Grandpa

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on July 28, 2019July 28, 2019

Okay, this one is a doozy and was the first and worst thing I ever experienced in video game retail.

It was my second week on the sales floor. I was innocent and hopeful, not yet jaded by years of entitled customers demanding discounts for no reason and being generally clueless or rude about everything. I had not yet been snapped at like a dog or had anyone yell in my face, so that was nice. Such a sweet summer child…

Posted in: entertainment, gamer girl, games, gaming, geek, nerd, retail, video games, videogames

Gamer Culture Stories

Tales From Video Game Retail – Sandwiches and Shenanigans

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on July 4, 2019October 3, 2019

The Lunch Break Tag-along

We had a regular at my second video game store who would come in multiple days a week to hang out for hours on end without buying anything. No one felt comfortable asking him not to loiter because he was a young veteran discharged with an injury, and he was nice, if oblivious. The main problem was that he would follow either me or my female supervisor around the store constantly, talking at us and preventing us from getting work done.

Now, I say “talking at” and not “talking to” because he didn’t particularly care if we returned conversation or not. I think he was lonely, but we had work to do, man.

Posted in: gamer girl, games, gaming, girl gamer, retail, Stories, video games

Gamer Culture Stories

Tales From Video Game Retail – Peeves and Mistakes

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on June 28, 2019July 17, 2019

During College I used to work at a Best Buy and then later a GameStop. If you have ever worked retail you will understand the pain. Customers are almost never right. I took a little time to write down some of my most memorable stories and interactions. I hope you enjoy some of these more than I did when I experienced them!

Posted in: gamer girl, games, gaming, girl gamer, retail, Stories, video games

Nintendo Switch Review

Cattails Review (Switch) – cute, charming, and full of heart

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on June 20, 2019July 17, 2019

Cattails is a charming exploration game full of cute pixel cats and winsome personality! Many describe it as “Stardew Valley but with cats” and I would agree to a certain extent– mainly in the environmental design, the sacred temple (similar to the community center), and the wake-sleep, daily gameplay loop. Though a bit rough around the edges with room to grow, I found the game entirely enjoyable and addictive.

Posted in: cats, cattails, games, gaming, Nintendo Switch, Review, videogames, warrior cats

Nintendo Switch Review

The Banner Saga Trilogy Review (Switch) – a dark fantasy Oregon Trail

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on June 17, 2019July 17, 2019

The Banner Saga Trilogy held my attention from the moment I picked it up! I would describe this series as a hybrid of Oregon Trail and Fire Emblem, nestled comfortably in a Norse mythology-inspired dark fantasy setting. The Banner Saga presents the player with a high stakes story full of make or break decision making, with the player positioned as the reluctant, elected leader of a caravan full of survivors fleeing the end of the world.

Posted in: game, gamer girl, games, gaming, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch, Review, rpg, the banner saga, video games

Gamer Culture Serious

Bystander’s Guide – Combating Harassment in Online Multiplayer Games

By Angie | Backlog Crusader

I used to play a lot of competitive Overwatch. Like, a lot. I’ve lost track amount of times I’ve been harassed in a game of Overwatch (not to mention in other games) while the other four people on my team quietly listen to a fifth person say absolutely vile things to me, completely unprovoked. It feels awful that bystanders often don’t seem to bat an eye as they observe what is essentially verbal assault. It always makes me wonder, How can they listen to this and say or do nothing?

Correcting the toxicity in competitive gaming communities will be an ongoing, group effort. This guide will teach you how and why you can and should help when you encounter harassment in one of your games.

Posted in: culture, entertainment, gamer, gamergirl, games, gaming, girl gamer, harassment, overwatch, pc gaming, sociology, technology, video games

Nintendo Switch Review

Koral Review (Switch) – taking a deep dive

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on May 28, 2019July 3, 2019

Playing Koral left me feeling ambivalent. It is safe to say that Koral is best approached as a “zen game” in that it is a visually appealing yet simple game good for relaxation. Its dazzling graphics and mundane puzzle gameplay co-exist in discord. This game will only be a good fit for some and that’s okay.

Posted in: entertainment, gamer, gamergirl, games, gaming, girl gamer, koral, Nintendo Switch, technology, video games

Uncategorized

Backlog and Blog Update! What should I work on over the long weekend?

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on May 23, 2019June 27, 2019

I’ve updated my Nintendo Switch backlog! With the long holiday weekend coming up, I thought I’d ask if anyone would like to see a review or impressions post on one of the specific titles from my backlog?

I’m happy to take requests!

The top left is closest to complete and the bottom right is the farthest. If there are no requests, I’ll just keep plugging away at Final Fantasy XII HD, which I somehow missed during my PS2 days. Loving it so far!

Next week I’ll be doing a prompt review of Little Friends Cats and Dogs for the Switch after receiving it on Tuesday. It’s a spiritual successor to Nintendogs by the dev studio who made My Time at Portia, so I hope it’s good. 🙂

I’ve also got two more gamer culture pieces in the works, as well as another installment of Tales From Video Game Retail. Lastly, I set up a Ko-fi for those who would like to support me and my content.

Have a lovely weekend!

Angie

Posted in: entertainment, gamer girl, gamers, games, gaming, girl gamer, Nintendo Switch, videogames

Gamer Culture Serious

Video Game Culture – Crash Course!

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on May 22, 2019August 28, 2019

Get ready for some culture studies and anthropology jargon with this one. I’ve tried to soften it up, but a lot of support for this piece came from my past academic writing, so please bear with me!

The identity of video game culture is shifting thanks to a relatively recent, positive change in mainstream perspectives about the value of the gaming as a pastime, profession, and about video gamer stereotypes. As a gamer you’re immersed in the culture, you’re used to it, but have you ever taken a step back and and looked at the big picture? What exactly is video game culture these days and how is it changing? Here’s your crash course!

Posted in: anthropology, culture, entertainment, esports, gamer girl, gamers, games, gaming, girl gamer, multiplayer, nerd, social sciences, stereotype, video games, videogames