Every once in a while, Breaky and I get a date night or two. We are getting to a point where we are more comfortable leaving BabyCPK with others, AND Breaky has been home for longer than a few weeks.
Showing posts with label video games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label video games. Show all posts
Friday, March 29, 2019
Food Friday: LFG Bar Kalamazoo
Every once in a while, Breaky and I get a date night or two. We are getting to a point where we are more comfortable leaving BabyCPK with others, AND Breaky has been home for longer than a few weeks.
Friday, June 15, 2018
Fortnite and Esports: Thoughts
Breaky and I finished up eating on Tuesday the 12th and made plans to continue our Marvel CU run through with Thor: the Dark World .
Breaky quickly realized that it was actually the night that E3 was hosting the Fortnite Pro Am at E3. The Pro Am at E3 was Fortnite's big debut in to esports for the game, combining pro streamers and players with celebrities who play the game. All proceeds and winnings went to charities of the players' choosing.
Recently, Epic Games announced it would be providing a $100,000,000 prize pool for their first year of esports. The big question remains, though, is how they are going to divide that up and with how many games/tournaments. Epic Games stated it will not be in a league format, like that of Overwatch, and will be open to everyone. They, however, have given little details as to what kind of games/tournaments. Will they continue with this celebrity trend? Groups of two? Teams of 2+? Individual/solo tournaments? Personally, I'd like to see teams of more than two. But I digress.
Tuned into the stream, only to realize that it is unfortunately already a half hour late to start. We both can empathize, we have both been a part of and witnessed how things can go behind the scenes at esports evens. However, being it's first inaugural esports event, it did not bode very well.
I was most interested in how the spectating was going to happen for this game. If you are not familiar with Fortnite or any kind of battle royale style game, think Hunger Games, but with building supplies, pinatas and emotes. Oh, and weapons. Which means you have 100 people in different points of the map doing different things, and battles happening everywhere, or nothing happening. Turns out, it took quite a while for us to find out. Pre-game shenanigans occurred, like interviews, crowd shots, information about who's competing.
When the competitors came on stage, no formal introduction was done. Just commentating on specific people if the casters happen to notice. Read: if you were not Ninja, Marshmellow or Joel McHale, you got very little screen time. I think this annoyed Breaky the most, was the very disjointed announcement of competitors on stage.
When the games actually started, I have to say, for the most part I was pretty impressed. The spectating was better than what I had imagined. I think the only complaint that either of us had was the fact that the system did not yet have the capability of alerting when a big fight was underway, similar to the HoN system, which still has one of the best spectating systems in place. Not that we are biased or anything.
Overall, we were entertained. Not surprisingly, Ninja and Marshmellow took home the "gold"
Not going to lie, I did play Fortnite: Battle Royale when it was just a free-to-play add-on to the original game: Fortnite, which was debuted at E3 last year, and both Breaky and I were interested in it. It was a zombie survival game in which you can build structures and traps to destroy the impending zombie waves. It seemed that the Battle Royale option was a tag-on to get people interested and to ride the wave of success PUBG was having. Breaky and I and a few friends played probably for a few weeks, enjoying the game very much. Personally, I wasn't very good at the whole building things, which you have to be now to be any good at it whatsoever. It has definitely changed, and I don't think I would be any good anymore. How hipster is that of me to say? I liked this game before it became popular. Ha.
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
I Have Created a WoW monster
So we are in the "Final Countdown" so to speak with our pregnancy. Literally any day now. I've been eating dates, bouncing on the yoga ball, walking all over Costco, baking (yes, I have successfully been baking, and for some weird old-wives-tale reason it is supposed to help the baby come?), eating spicy foods and virtually everything else that is supposed to help labor come naturally.
Breaky has been doing a great job of taking care of me. Cold compress? Check! Back massage? Check! Walking with me around Costco? Check!
When he is not helping? He is doing this Project 80 thing for World of Warcraft. Even on the laptop in the living room while we watch the 2018 Olympics. He is super dedicated to getting this completed. If I understand correctly, it basically involved leveling up a WoW character to 80. You can get more information by watching him stream!
I responded to his tweet this morning regarding streaming his Project 80 WoW stuff:
I have created a monster. My husband is SUPER competitive, so when he says "challenge accepted" he means it.
I did have to make sure to let him know he could NOT play while we were in the hospital actually having the baby.
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Wonder Woman Baby Shower
A few weekends ago, we had our second baby shower. The first was back in my home town with some very lovely family and friends of the family. The theme was "You are my Sunshine." Since many in attendance may not know I even have a blog, I did forgo doing a blog post about it, but please know I had a wonderful time surrounded by some of the best and most supportive friends and family.
The second shower was Wonder Woman themed, put on by my sister, Mom and good friend Hollicakes, who is frequently featured in the blog, as she and her husband are amazing friends.
We had games, onesie decorating, great food at Theo and Stacy's restaurant, and as always, the best desserts.
Here are some pictures of the shower:
I got a pretty sash to wear you guys! LOOK
These red velvet cupcakes were AMAZING
My lovely sister and her onesie decorating results. Gotta love Harry Potter
Not only did we get cupcakes, we got these adorable cookies too!
It wouldn't be a geeky shower without OVERWATCH! Thanks to the amazing Vesta for the amazing hand-drawn Mercy onesie
Huge shoutout and thanks to everyone who came, enjoyed and celebrated with us. It was one of the geekiest showers I've been to, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. :)
Friday, August 25, 2017
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
TI7 Recap
Just got back from Seattle where Breaky and I attended The International Dota 2 Championships. And by "just got back" I guess I mean I've been back for like, three days, but only now have the energy to actually write anything.
While this wasn't my first video game tournament I have attended. I went to the Heroes of Newerth Grand Finals in Las Vegas, but let's be honest, I spent quite a lot of time by the pool during that time. I also attended Blizzcon, but that whole convention was a little different.
Full disclaimer, I have never actually played Dota 2 (or HoN or Heroes of the Storm or any other MOBA) but obviously the game and the scene is super important to Breaky, my husband. Therefore, it is a huge part of our family. So when it came about that we would have the opportunity to go to The International (or TI) in Seattle in August, I decided it would be good for both of us to go.
Because I work full-time, we decided I should just come to Seattle for the second half of the week, and Breaky would fly in Monday morning and I would fly in Wednesday and just take off 3 days of work.
The set up around the Key Arena where the event was actually held was really nifty. There was the Beer Garden, which was open to the public, as long as you were over 21. They had a bunch of screens showing the games, and they had beer, water and cider for sale also. Within viewing distance of the Beer Garden was an huge screen and a huge field area for people to sit and watch. Note: we were extremely lucky with the weather. No rain and hardly and clouds that I knew of.
Breaky and I split a lot of our time between going in the Key Arena to watch the matches (shout out to those who helped Breaky and I get passes, you know who you are!) to going outside to the Beer Garden and around the park in general.
We met up with a lot of people whose names I recognized from what Breaky tells me about how his stuff is going. Speaking of which, huge shout out to the BTS, Pvgna, and DotP guys and gals! Lots of fun meeting you all.
Proud spouse time: On top of meeting up with people he knew, Breaky would be approached about, on average, 6-8 times a day by a fan. I played the ever-proud spouse with a huge grin on my face as many talked about how Breaky was the reason they got into the MOBA scene in the first place and how they have followed him since Honcast. Breaky was always so very gracious, always asking for their names, taking pictures (I helped with a few of those!) all the while being super humble as always.
Breaky is the best teacher a wife could ask for. I knew very, very little about Dota 2.
Let me put into words what I knew about Dota 2 before TI7.
Without prompt, Breaky would explain things that went on with the game, from why a pick in the beginning of the game was good or bad or even different, to what creeps actually are, to the whole net worth thing and touched briefly on some items. If I tried to list everything Breaky taught me about Dota 2 during TI I would still be typing this into next month. Let's just say, I now understand the basics, but definitely couldn't pick up the game and play.
By the end of TI, I do have to say, I really enjoyed watching the games now that I knew more than just "loud noises and bright colors=fight". I was able to cheer along with everyone else because I recognized that things were happening. Super cool to be able to appreciate the game so much more.
As a wife, I found this experience to be absolutely helpful in understanding what my husband does everyday for a living and the environment he deals with. I think this brought us together as a couple and I hope to continue to learn about the game and interact with the wonderful community (most of them at least) that I experienced this past week.
What did I do when I got back from TI? Bubble bath of course. We did a lot of walking and talking and all that, and I was sore and exhausted. This geek wife needed her R&R.
Full disclaimer, I have never actually played Dota 2 (or HoN or Heroes of the Storm or any other MOBA) but obviously the game and the scene is super important to Breaky, my husband. Therefore, it is a huge part of our family. So when it came about that we would have the opportunity to go to The International (or TI) in Seattle in August, I decided it would be good for both of us to go.
Because I work full-time, we decided I should just come to Seattle for the second half of the week, and Breaky would fly in Monday morning and I would fly in Wednesday and just take off 3 days of work.
The set up around the Key Arena where the event was actually held was really nifty. There was the Beer Garden, which was open to the public, as long as you were over 21. They had a bunch of screens showing the games, and they had beer, water and cider for sale also. Within viewing distance of the Beer Garden was an huge screen and a huge field area for people to sit and watch. Note: we were extremely lucky with the weather. No rain and hardly and clouds that I knew of.
Big screen showing the game
Breaky and I split a lot of our time between going in the Key Arena to watch the matches (shout out to those who helped Breaky and I get passes, you know who you are!) to going outside to the Beer Garden and around the park in general.
We met up with a lot of people whose names I recognized from what Breaky tells me about how his stuff is going. Speaking of which, huge shout out to the BTS, Pvgna, and DotP guys and gals! Lots of fun meeting you all.
DotP meet up
Proud spouse time: On top of meeting up with people he knew, Breaky would be approached about, on average, 6-8 times a day by a fan. I played the ever-proud spouse with a huge grin on my face as many talked about how Breaky was the reason they got into the MOBA scene in the first place and how they have followed him since Honcast. Breaky was always so very gracious, always asking for their names, taking pictures (I helped with a few of those!) all the while being super humble as always.
Let me put into words what I knew about Dota 2 before TI7.
- I knew towers had to be destroyed. I figured this was the goal of the game. Little more complicated than that I guess
- There were creeps. No context to what they were. For all I knew they were equivalent to trolls.
- When a caster like Breaky would get loud and shout fast and a bunch of colorful sh*t was happening on screen, a big fight was happening, although this rarely means the game is over.
- Because I am the household keeper of all things appointments and calendars, I knew that a game could last as long as 5 minutes (someone cancelled or postponed a game) to as long as an hour and 15 minutes, but on average was about 45 minutes.
- I knew where the kill count was, which usually gave me a good idea if someone was really winning and the game could be over soon (again, mostly so I could plan our lives around when the games started/ended)
After learning more of the basics, I do have to say, I have mad respect for anyone who plays and enjoys Dota. It is a grind, but I can see now why people enjoy it so much.
Without prompt, Breaky would explain things that went on with the game, from why a pick in the beginning of the game was good or bad or even different, to what creeps actually are, to the whole net worth thing and touched briefly on some items. If I tried to list everything Breaky taught me about Dota 2 during TI I would still be typing this into next month. Let's just say, I now understand the basics, but definitely couldn't pick up the game and play.
By the end of TI, I do have to say, I really enjoyed watching the games now that I knew more than just "loud noises and bright colors=fight". I was able to cheer along with everyone else because I recognized that things were happening. Super cool to be able to appreciate the game so much more.
As a wife, I found this experience to be absolutely helpful in understanding what my husband does everyday for a living and the environment he deals with. I think this brought us together as a couple and I hope to continue to learn about the game and interact with the wonderful community (most of them at least) that I experienced this past week.
What did I do when I got back from TI? Bubble bath of course. We did a lot of walking and talking and all that, and I was sore and exhausted. This geek wife needed her R&R.
Thanks again to everyone we hung out with, and thanks to those who helped hook us up with passes and swag and stuff! I look forward to attending more events, and tuning in and understanding more and more Dota matches!
Thursday, March 30, 2017
TBT with Wreck it Ralph
What a great day to find out about Wreck it Ralph 2 . It is Thursday, which means I can post a "Throwback Thursday" without having to fudge what day it actually is. Because it is a Thursday. Not a Monday or Wednesday. Hey, don't judge me, after some work days it is really hard to know what day it is, where I am and what the heck I am supposed to do. Adulting.
For Halloween 2014, our first Halloween in our new house, Breaky and I decided to be Ralph and Vanellope from Wreck it Ralph. As you can kinda tell, our costumes were thrown together by a bunch of stuff, including a wig that a bunch of the S2 guys used during a cast of HoN. Everything else we either got from Amazon, Etsy or Meijer. If there is interest, I can outline where I got what.
For Halloween 2014, our first Halloween in our new house, Breaky and I decided to be Ralph and Vanellope from Wreck it Ralph. As you can kinda tell, our costumes were thrown together by a bunch of stuff, including a wig that a bunch of the S2 guys used during a cast of HoN. Everything else we either got from Amazon, Etsy or Meijer. If there is interest, I can outline where I got what.
Obviously, we both really liked the movie. Old-school nostalgia of video games we both played, compounded by some great animation, a fantastic story-line and an even better message. Not to mention the wonderful voice talents of the likes of John C. Reily, Sarah Silverman, Jane Lynch, and the dearest Alan Tudyk.
A while ago we heard they were making a second movie. Normally, any time I see a sequel or a remake of a really good movie, I groan. Mostly because the remake is so bad it tarnishes the original, or it strays so far from the original, it really is a completely different movie with the same title. Or the sequel was only made for the $$$ and is sub-par, but still rakes in money because of the brand recognition. There are obvious exceptions, which I would love to hear in the comments below!
BUT, in this case, when we heard there was a Ralph 2, I was actually excited. Since it has been 5 years since the original, I figured that it wasn't simply a money grab, as if that were to have happened, it would have happened within a few years of the original movie.
So imagine how much more amped up my excitement got that, as a primarily PC gamer, the title of Wreck it Ralph came out: "Ralph Breaks the Internet"
Whaaaaaaaat? Obviously a jab at that one "celebrity" who's "viral" campaign was set to "break the internet" (now, reread that sentence, and imagine me doing air-quotes and the words dripping with sarcastic disdain).
Besides that, it obviously means that more PC/Console will probably make appearances. Which, honestly is pretty cool. As long as they put the same amount of detail and little "easter eggs" like they did the previous movie. Heck, if you have like, an hour to kill, go to IMDB's page for Wreck it Ralph and check out the trivia section. I found out I missed a bunch of hidden shout-outs. Kinda makes you want to watch the movie again, doesn't it?
Is anyone else excited for this movie? Especially now that you have the title? Anyone apprehensive? Say so in the comments. Also, let me know what remakes and sequels don't suck. Maybe it will change my outlook on sequels and remakes that have run rampant nowadays.
Friday, February 10, 2017
CBS Bull Esports Episode
If you know me personally, you will know that I used to LOVE LOVE LOVE NCIS. Reruns ran almost daily on certain channels, and between that and Law and Order, it would keep me busy on my days off of school (yes, college) and weekends when my social life wasn't buzzing off-the-hook (ha). Lately though, I have struggled to keep up. I do want to watch the new episodes, but will have to go back at least 2 seasons to get caught up.
So when I heard Michael Weatherly was leaving NCIS, I was shocked. My sister filled me in on the spoilery details of what happened on NCIS. What got my attention though was the new show he would be starring in "Bull" about a trial consulting firm, run by a Dr. Jason Bull (Weatherly) which uses psychology, technology, human behavior and other tricks to figure out what jurors "tick".
I started to DVR it, and watch it while Breaky is either streaming or shoutcasting downstairs, or out to trivia on nights I don't join him, or when he is out at an event, or..... (I get left alone a bit. I'm ok with it).
I am a sucker, obviously. for a good cop/detective drama. After the first episode I wasn't completely sold, but I continued to watch and now I cannot get enough. As I said before, I DVR it, so I am honestly not even sure when it runs, but I know that when I see it in our DVR, I watch it.
So imagine my surprise when I start to watch the latest episode (episode 13) and Dr. Bull and a colleague were attending an esports grand finals.
Yes. Esports.
The episode is called The Fall and deals with an esports capitan who is accused of throwing the grand finals and gets fired from the team and blacklisted. The player sues the owner of the team for deffamation and his lawyer's firm hires Bull's team.
So, what else does a technofile who is married to an esports caster do? I take to twitter of course. I "live" tweeted my DVRed episode of Bull.
Breaky did watch most of it with me, eventually. He even recognized an esports caster Purge, as one of the "shoutcasters" for the finals.
As I said before, as far as popular media goes, it was a great representation of the esports world. So much bad press from a bunch of grumpy gusses who don't understand esports has spoiled my excitement for seeing esports being talked about in the media. Super refreshing to have a positive outlook on the sport for once, even if everything wasn't 100% accurate. I guess this must be how real doctors and nurses feel about shows like Grey's Anatomy and House.
So when I heard Michael Weatherly was leaving NCIS, I was shocked. My sister filled me in on the spoilery details of what happened on NCIS. What got my attention though was the new show he would be starring in "Bull" about a trial consulting firm, run by a Dr. Jason Bull (Weatherly) which uses psychology, technology, human behavior and other tricks to figure out what jurors "tick".
I started to DVR it, and watch it while Breaky is either streaming or shoutcasting downstairs, or out to trivia on nights I don't join him, or when he is out at an event, or..... (I get left alone a bit. I'm ok with it).
I am a sucker, obviously. for a good cop/detective drama. After the first episode I wasn't completely sold, but I continued to watch and now I cannot get enough. As I said before, I DVR it, so I am honestly not even sure when it runs, but I know that when I see it in our DVR, I watch it.
So imagine my surprise when I start to watch the latest episode (episode 13) and Dr. Bull and a colleague were attending an esports grand finals.
Yes. Esports.
The episode is called The Fall and deals with an esports capitan who is accused of throwing the grand finals and gets fired from the team and blacklisted. The player sues the owner of the team for deffamation and his lawyer's firm hires Bull's team.
So, what else does a technofile who is married to an esports caster do? I take to twitter of course. I "live" tweeted my DVRed episode of Bull.
Watching the @BullCBS episode on esports finally. As the wife of an #esports broadcaster @breakycpk this is entertaining.— DuchessCPK (@DuchessCPK) February 9, 2017
@BullCBS @breakycpk for example, the amount of viewers of a "grand finals" is waaay exaggerated.— DuchessCPK (@DuchessCPK) February 9, 2017
@BullCBS also, since when is any kind of finals a best of 1?— DuchessCPK (@DuchessCPK) February 9, 2017
@BullCBS @breakycpk also, egamers? Did I miss something? When did that become a thing.— DuchessCPK (@DuchessCPK) February 9, 2017
@BullCBS am pretty impressed by the representation of esports in general. Especially the problem of recourse for players who have been effed— DuchessCPK (@DuchessCPK) February 9, 2017
@BullCBS also, super cool that #girlgamers were repped on an esports game. Hoping they don't turn her into a romance plot piece.— DuchessCPK (@DuchessCPK) February 9, 2017
@BullCBS "he's old, like 25" lol! In esports, this is true. @breakycpk is considered "old" by industry standards.— DuchessCPK (@DuchessCPK) February 9, 2017
Now @breakycpk is watching with me. "There's one screen and three controlers.....yeeeeaaahhh" #dissapointed— DuchessCPK (@DuchessCPK) February 9, 2017
@BullCBS @breakycpk pretty accurate about the players rights and contracts— DuchessCPK (@DuchessCPK) February 9, 2017
@BullCBS @breakycpk why does everyone think gamers start by playing in their parents basements?— DuchessCPK (@DuchessCPK) February 9, 2017
— DuchessCPK (@DuchessCPK) February 9, 2017
@BullCBS overall, I'd give the esports episode an overall B+, the video accuracy about a B- and the representation of esports an A-— DuchessCPK (@DuchessCPK) February 9, 2017
Breaky did watch most of it with me, eventually. He even recognized an esports caster Purge, as one of the "shoutcasters" for the finals.
As I said before, as far as popular media goes, it was a great representation of the esports world. So much bad press from a bunch of grumpy gusses who don't understand esports has spoiled my excitement for seeing esports being talked about in the media. Super refreshing to have a positive outlook on the sport for once, even if everything wasn't 100% accurate. I guess this must be how real doctors and nurses feel about shows like Grey's Anatomy and House.
Monday, January 16, 2017
Things heard from the CPKave with and without context
One part of being a wife of a streamer is hearing the stream or cast, be it just one side of it, usually from a distance, as his studio is downstairs (also known as the CPKave) and I stay upstairs if I am home when he's streaming. Sometimes, out of context, what I hear is well....interesting. Honestly, now his streaming or casting is just background noise.
But sometimes, things come through:
Warning-Not so nice language below:
"OOOOHHH my balls"
via GIPHY
"I killed myself! YES! I did it!"
"NO!... FUCK"
via GIPHY
"FUCK" "holy...... ooooo" *THUNK* <silence> almost a whisper "No....nope, I think I'm done with this game tonight" I heard this one at around 11:00 pm while in bed. I almost had to get up and make sure Breaky was still breathing.
"DON'T AGGRO TURTLE!"
via GIPHY
Breaky-"I'm decapitated....wait, that's not the word." Me trying to play Bioshock "You mean incapacitated?" Breaky-"Yes, that's the word"
via GIPHY
"Oh darn, we won" in a very disappointed tone
via GIPHY
I will continue to keep track of things that, on my side, seem pretty hilarious out of context.
But sometimes, things come through:
Warning-Not so nice language below:
"OOOOHHH my balls"
via GIPHY
"I killed myself! YES! I did it!"
"NO!... FUCK"
via GIPHY
"FUCK" "holy...... ooooo" *THUNK* <silence> almost a whisper "No....nope, I think I'm done with this game tonight" I heard this one at around 11:00 pm while in bed. I almost had to get up and make sure Breaky was still breathing.
"DON'T AGGRO TURTLE!"
via GIPHY
Breaky-"I'm decapitated....wait, that's not the word." Me trying to play Bioshock "You mean incapacitated?" Breaky-"Yes, that's the word"
via GIPHY
"Oh darn, we won" in a very disappointed tone
via GIPHY
I will continue to keep track of things that, on my side, seem pretty hilarious out of context.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
2016 a Recap
Everyone is giving 2016 a failing grade.
Why?
Probably has a lot to do with the election from Hell, or the numerous amounts of celebrity deaths. Or maybe for personal reasons it was a difficult one. I know, I've had years like that (I'm looking at you, 2012).
But for our little family, it was a jam-packed year full of change, growth, scary unknowns and additions.
In March, we added to our little family by welcoming "DogCPK." She was a rescue from our local Animal Rescue Project. As you may tell from the picture, she is blind in her left eye, and therefore was "discounted" (ugh, can we just talk about how ridiculous that is. She's a dog, not a discounted tee shirt for sale, Jesus). We cannot imagine our life without this little ball of energy. She goes from 0-100 with 0 being snoring and snuggling on the couch and 100 being going bat crap crazy and running and jumping on everything and everyone because she loves them so much.
In April I started my blog with my first blog post. Who knew I would actually stick with it! And a few people read it, which is pretty cool :)
In June I turned....*whispers* thirty. That's right. I am an adult. Like, a super duper adult.
In September I got to see one of my favorite bands of all time in concert, in my city! Also got to see my roommate from my Freshman year of college.
Also in September, Breaky announced he was going freelance. This was the scary part for us. But exciting. I can deal with budgeting a little more stringently if it means he can pursue his dream. I am very proud of him, and things are just getting better.
We had a kick-ass Halloween party, again. Always a highlight of our year.
There is obviously a ton more, of which you can read back through my blog for an update of sorts. While 2016 for us was overall pretty good, we are looking forward to 2017. More blog posts, more adventures and more beginnings.
Happy New Year everyone!
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Blizzcon Announcement Reactions-Mostly Hearthstone and Overwatch
Last year, Breaky and I joined a bunch of our friends at Blizzcon 2015. We were able to go, as those tickets were purchased for us as a wedding present.
Blizzcon 2015-Linkin Park
We had a blast, and how I truly wish I had started blogging back then, as I would have had so much to work with. Pictures, thoughts, frustrations, videos, Overwatch insights, Hearthstone hype, freebies, and much more. It was such an amazing experience.
Now, this year we got to watch the E-Sports events from our Smart TV, which has a Twitch App (fancy), find out about updates to our favorite games from Twitter and Facebook, and longingly reminisce about the good times we had last year. Mind you, I don't miss the long lines, the congestion, waiting an hour to play one round of Overwatch, or having to take all of that time off of work. I have mixed feelings about missing it this year, obviously.
Breaky and I at Blizzcon 2015
To recap the big announcements that Blizzard made in regards to there games, and my thoughts, which you can skip if you want, you can see below:
Hearthstone:
Gadgetzan Expansion!
"Enter the Mean Streets of Gadgetzan"
Along with the expansion, we are also getting new "Tri-Class" cards, that could be used by three different classes instead of one class, or like basic cards, all classes.
Also included is the "build your own spell" cards, such as "Kazakus", where it gives you options and choices which result in a unique spell.
More information can be found here: http://us.battle.net/hearthstone/en/blog/20335232
Thoughts:
Now, there are a ton of new cards that have a lot of potential to be game-changers depending on what kind of decks you like to run, or don't like to come across (I'm lookin at you Murloc-Paladin), but at the same time, it has the potential to breathe new live in to the game for some. As far as the Tri-Class cards, I find this very interesting, having played a little bit of a Priest deck that has a tendency to "borrow" cards from the deck or hand of the individual I'm playing. Makes for very interesting game-play.
It was my intention to post some of the cards that I found the most interesting, but in the words of Ulla from the Producers "But there's just so many of zem!" (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, what the movie or go see the show. Solid gold right here), actually 132 to be exact, and it is my understanding we are still getting news about new cards, and that will probably continue.
I have some mixed feelings about the custom spell idea. It definitely combats the whole "leave it up to the RNG Gods" motto that is pervasive in the Hearthstone culture. Not exactly sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing yet. Sometimes having chaos makes for the best Hearthstone stories and matches. But on the flip side, each custom spell will be different (someone did the math somewhere and the chances of getting/making the same spell is low. I'm lazy and don't "math" so, take my/their word for it)
So instead, tell me in the comments what cards you are most excited about. What decks you are running currently that you may not continue, or which you may now try! Personally, I find my Dragon Priest deck to get some changes in a positive direction, and honestly excited to maybe try some different Paladin decks outside of, but still including, Murloc Paladin.
Overwatch
Overwatch introduced a new hero: Sombra
Sombra is a new offense hero that uses "hacks" to disrupt enemies and turrets , and uses invisibility and a translocator to allow quick movement.
There is a new section that allows for a wide variety of play that we have not seen before. This, from what I can tell, replaces the weekly brawl concept.
1v1 mystery duel where the hero you play is randomized and you play against one person.
3v3 where you get to choose your hero and play with two other people in a simple "last man standing" elimination concept
6v6 Mystery Heroes: Similar to the 1v1 mystery duel, only, obviously, with 6 players.
6v6 no limits, which allows for multiple of the same hero, which is no longer allowed in quick play (YES!)
New Maps
We get two new maps, "Ecopoint: Antartica" which is an arena map. This map is the map used in many of the new Arcade modes. Another new map is Oasis, a control-point map set in the Arabian desert, and has a jump pad to allow access to a higher location (whhaaaat?)
League
An announcement was made at Blizzcon about the idea of an E-Sports league for competitive Overwatch.
We don't have a lot of information as far as how this will particularly look, but some information can be found here. Basically, there will be a Preseason, where rosters will be built and my understanding is that it will be by city, similar to many professional sports leagues. Players will have contracts, get paid appropriately, and compete in the inaugural season with live streams every week, all accumulating in to the World Championship.
Thoughts:
I was able to play Sombra a little last night, and actually found her quite a lot of fun to play. The new Arcade mode (see below) allowed me to play her in a setting that was more fitting to learn a character than when I tried Ana (which I find myself playing more and more to be honest). The hacking abilities and ultimate made me assume she would be more of a defensive or support character, but after playing, I can see how this would be considered an offense character. While I prefer more of a support or defense style character, I can see myself playing her, when the novelty of a new character wears off.
Am liking the one new map: Ecopoint: Antartica, which I tried as a result of playing a bunch of games in the Arcade Mode. No complaints. Have not tried the other map yet.
As far a the league, we will see. I have seen first hand how attempts to organize and contractualize E-Sports has done in the past. Questions remain, such as Casting talent and how that will look, if the teams will have to sign an exclusivity clause in their contract, and how already existing E-Sports organizations and teams will fit in, if at all. Obviously, I have no shot or interest in becoming a competitive player in any E-Sports league, let alone Overwatch, but as an avid watcher of E-Sports events, it will be very interesting to see how this pans out
Overall, interesting announcements. Can't wait to see what happens.
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Tis the Season....to be spooky
I cannot tell you how excited I am about this Halloween.
Mind you, if you knew how excited I get EVERY Halloween, you would know without me telling you.
Pretty much ever since my sophomore year of college, I have hosted, not just attended, but hosted a Halloween party. Mind you, one year I think two people showed up, so we drank and watched Nightmare Before Christmas, but you know what, it counts.
So, needless to say, outside of Christmas (which is special for very different reasons), Halloween is very important to me. Luckily, Breaky matches my enthusiasm, so every year, we host a bangin' Halloween party. I will have a whole other blog post about it once the decorations and preparations are up and ready. That will be more of the pinterest-y side of my blog. Now, it is strictly gaming related.
For the past few years, streamers such as Breaky have streamed horror games in the month of October, to get ready for Halloween. One of my favorite memories was the one time I was in bed, and he was streaming a horror game and all I hear is this loud "FUCK....holy......ooOOooooo" *BANG*THUNK* then silence....... and I am holding my breath, making sure I didn't actually have to get out of bed to check to see if he was alive or not.... and I hear a whisper "No....nope..... I think I am done with this game tonight guys.
Watch live video from on www.twitch.tv Here is video evidence.
Now, on his channel: twitch.tv/breakycpk, he is doing "Menacing Mondays" so if you want to see more freakouts like this, follow AND subscribe to his channel!
Also, on the Halloween gaming front, Overwatch JUST announced their Halloween loot boxes and a co-op brawl. Check out the video here:
Super excited to see all the Halloween "spirit"! Here is a preview of what we will be doing costume-wise for this Halloween. More to come!
Mind you, if you knew how excited I get EVERY Halloween, you would know without me telling you.
Pretty much ever since my sophomore year of college, I have hosted, not just attended, but hosted a Halloween party. Mind you, one year I think two people showed up, so we drank and watched Nightmare Before Christmas, but you know what, it counts.
So, needless to say, outside of Christmas (which is special for very different reasons), Halloween is very important to me. Luckily, Breaky matches my enthusiasm, so every year, we host a bangin' Halloween party. I will have a whole other blog post about it once the decorations and preparations are up and ready. That will be more of the pinterest-y side of my blog. Now, it is strictly gaming related.
For the past few years, streamers such as Breaky have streamed horror games in the month of October, to get ready for Halloween. One of my favorite memories was the one time I was in bed, and he was streaming a horror game and all I hear is this loud "FUCK....holy......ooOOooooo" *BANG*THUNK* then silence....... and I am holding my breath, making sure I didn't actually have to get out of bed to check to see if he was alive or not.... and I hear a whisper "No....nope..... I think I am done with this game tonight guys.
Watch live video from on www.twitch.tv Here is video evidence.
Now, on his channel: twitch.tv/breakycpk, he is doing "Menacing Mondays" so if you want to see more freakouts like this, follow AND subscribe to his channel!
Also, on the Halloween gaming front, Overwatch JUST announced their Halloween loot boxes and a co-op brawl. Check out the video here:
Super excited to see all the Halloween "spirit"! Here is a preview of what we will be doing costume-wise for this Halloween. More to come!
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Another Day in the Life of an E-Sports Wife
Once again, Breaky is taking off to broadcast another fabulous event. This time in California!
He is broadcasting the "MarsTV Dota 2 League which you can watch here: https://www.twitch.tv/evilgeniuses and Breaky will start later tonight (hopefully) but still check it out!
Watch live video from EvilGeniuses on www.twitch.tv
My last blog post about Breaky leaving and traveling was a bit negative and a little sad. I think that had partly to do with that I missed him and it was our anniversary. I highlighted some of the things I forget from last time like realizing how much louder little noises are in the middle of the night, or how much I rely on him for day-to-day chores.
So, this time, I am going to highlight some of the more positive things about having Breaky traveling and out of the house.
- I can get away with rearranging the basement (Breaky is a kind of "if it isn't broke, don't fix it kinda guy)
- A lot of cleaning gets done. I am the kind of person that if I am cleaning, everyone cleans. Makes it hard on a marriage if your significant other isn't cleaning too. So I wait until I am alone to really clean
- I don't worry about having to explain how I finished that container of ice cream I bought on a whim. Hey, I did yoga today, and I earned a treat!
- Same as above with a sleeve of Oreos. You could bribe me to do unspeakable things for Oreos.
- I get all the puppy snuggles to myself
- The dishwasher gets loaded the correct way :)
- I can actually eat pickles, fish and olives!
- No one will know I poured myself that second glass of wine. Except the dog, but she doesn't judge.
- I know my husband is having a great time doing what he loves and there are people around him who support him
- I also know my husband will soon be on his way back to me and our puppy and that puts a smile on my face more than anything else
So, I will miss him this time, and all times coming, but overall it is not that bad. He gets to do what he loves! Safe travels love.
Friday, September 9, 2016
A New Chapter, a Guest Blog Post: BreakyCPK
A little over 7 years ago I was given a beta key for a “dota like game” from a guild mate of mine while playing World of Warcraft. I decided to give it a shot, seeing that I was an avid dota player and this was supposed to be an upgraded version of the game with better graphics, a better UI, etc. Pretty much right away I was sold, but little did I know it would become a game that would change my life in so many positive ways over time.
I am not going to go over every detail, you can find the story of how I got into casting here. However I am creating this post to officially announce that I will no longer be a full time employee with Frostburn Studios and Heroes of Newerth. I will still be working on a contract basis with them for video projects and future events, however I am advancing on to the next chapter of my career.
What is that? Well, as of September 15th I will officially consider myself to be a full time streamer / esports caster, something I am very passionate about and want to continue to pursue. I do not have a specific game I plan to pursue, but instead I want to keep my options open to any opportunities that may be out there, whether it be casting a weekend tournament, or hosting a LAN event. So if you or you know of any opportunities such as these, feel free to reach out to me at breakycpk00@gmail.com.
Now with that in mind, of course there are some obvious games in which I plan to start diving into, most noticeably Dota 2. And I do plan to not only play a bit if anything to help learn the game more, but also cast any events I can to start gaining more experience with it. But I do also plan to both play and cast other games out there, even other genre of games from the MOBA scene. Simply put, I want to be a caster of esports as a whole!
I also know that this is something I will need to commit to as much as I can. I am not expecting anything just because of my history with HoN and I wouldn’t want it that way anyways. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to get as much of a reach as I would have liked in the esports community, mainly because I was restricted with HoN when it came to casting/streaming stuff, which of course was understandable. But now I am finally ready and after discussing it with my wife for some time now, we feel comfortable enough to at least give this avenue a shot.
I will admit, part of me is a little scared. I am leaving a full time job with a good salary that has allowed me to live a comfortable lifestyle for the last 3 years or so. From buying a house, to buying a new truck, to of course marrying my awesome wife (you know her as the good geek wife!), it has provided me so much and I am so thankful for that. But with the constant messages from fans and the community concerning “when are you going to cast x game” and just frankly my own desire of wanting to expand, now is the time.
I plan to do an “official launch” stream with a live AMA on September 16th at 12pm EST / 1800 CET, at my twitch channel of http://www.twitch.tv/breakycpk where I will answer the most questions I can concerning my history with HoN, and what I plan to do for my future, etc.
Usually at the end of posts like this, you may expect the thank yous to come out, listing names and what not. Honestly, as much as I would love to do that, there really is just way too many people to thank for this journey that I have had with HoN. So instead I will just say Thank you to everyone that I have ever worked with, thanks to the community, and I am SO excited to experience this next chapter of my life as a full time streamer. THE CPKAPPAS WILL REUNITE!
I am not going to go over every detail, you can find the story of how I got into casting here. However I am creating this post to officially announce that I will no longer be a full time employee with Frostburn Studios and Heroes of Newerth. I will still be working on a contract basis with them for video projects and future events, however I am advancing on to the next chapter of my career.
What is that? Well, as of September 15th I will officially consider myself to be a full time streamer / esports caster, something I am very passionate about and want to continue to pursue. I do not have a specific game I plan to pursue, but instead I want to keep my options open to any opportunities that may be out there, whether it be casting a weekend tournament, or hosting a LAN event. So if you or you know of any opportunities such as these, feel free to reach out to me at breakycpk00@gmail.com.
Now with that in mind, of course there are some obvious games in which I plan to start diving into, most noticeably Dota 2. And I do plan to not only play a bit if anything to help learn the game more, but also cast any events I can to start gaining more experience with it. But I do also plan to both play and cast other games out there, even other genre of games from the MOBA scene. Simply put, I want to be a caster of esports as a whole!
I also know that this is something I will need to commit to as much as I can. I am not expecting anything just because of my history with HoN and I wouldn’t want it that way anyways. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to get as much of a reach as I would have liked in the esports community, mainly because I was restricted with HoN when it came to casting/streaming stuff, which of course was understandable. But now I am finally ready and after discussing it with my wife for some time now, we feel comfortable enough to at least give this avenue a shot.
I will admit, part of me is a little scared. I am leaving a full time job with a good salary that has allowed me to live a comfortable lifestyle for the last 3 years or so. From buying a house, to buying a new truck, to of course marrying my awesome wife (you know her as the good geek wife!), it has provided me so much and I am so thankful for that. But with the constant messages from fans and the community concerning “when are you going to cast x game” and just frankly my own desire of wanting to expand, now is the time.
I plan to do an “official launch” stream with a live AMA on September 16th at 12pm EST / 1800 CET, at my twitch channel of http://www.twitch.tv/breakycpk where I will answer the most questions I can concerning my history with HoN, and what I plan to do for my future, etc.
Usually at the end of posts like this, you may expect the thank yous to come out, listing names and what not. Honestly, as much as I would love to do that, there really is just way too many people to thank for this journey that I have had with HoN. So instead I will just say Thank you to everyone that I have ever worked with, thanks to the community, and I am SO excited to experience this next chapter of my life as a full time streamer. THE CPKAPPAS WILL REUNITE!
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
WoW Widows Unite!
A WoW widow, to me at least, is someone who has essentially temporarily lost their significant others to WoW or World of Warcraft. Sometimes this epidemic can be permanent if communication of unhappiness and discontentment continues. Right now, I am a bit of a WoW Widow. I am surviving.
So, unless you have been living under a rock, or have nothing to do with gaming what-so-ever, you may have missed the big release of World of Warcraft expansion: Legion.
Side note: I did pop on to Facebook to make sure 1. I was giving correct name information on the expansion and game and 2. spelling everything correctly, because heaven forbid I'm human and make a typo. When I typed in World of Warcraft in search, underneath "World of Warcraft" it said Games/Toys. I had to chuckle, because I am positive if I called this game a "toy" to anyone who is at all playing the game I would be turned in to a sheep or something.
Ok, back to the originally scheduled blog post.
As you may remember, I did the whole World of Warcraft for a short spell. Basically to get some pretty cool stuff for Hearthstone (a "spin-off" game if you will) and it made for a pretty interesting blog post. Needless to say, I can't keep up with my husband and our good friends when it comes to grinding and really leveling up. In a game like that, I want to learn what I'm doing, read about the lore, take my time, and as with most games, play by myself (with the exception of a few co-op games with Breaky and Overwatch of course).
So, Breaky and his friends got the expansion and pretty much has been spending any free time playing. With the exception of forgetting to take the dog out and leaving her to roam upstairs by herself, which we don't do anymore (because of the loss of 2 cords, one pair of prescription glasses, one pair of sun glasses, one tan pump, three crate beds, part of our carpet, a few books and a few coasters,) he's been pretty good about keeping "real-life" things in perspective and latching on to my not-so-subtle clues to my need for attention. That doesn't mean that while he's downstairs in Azeroth, I may not be a little salty while figuring out where those pans go BECAUSE THEY DO NOT GO ABOVE THE TOASTER OVEN SWEETHEART and evidently they "don't fit" in the drawer below the oven.
It was a struggle to figure out what I wanted to write about this week and when I brought up the whole "WoW Widow" idea to Breaky, he staunchly defended his interest in playing WoW and this expansion. I wasn't looking for a 10 minute introspective as to the importance of the story-line and how this particular expansion was something he had been waiting for for, like 6 years. It was like he thought I was complaining at him, which I *never* do, and had to defend himself and his interest in playing the game. Well, didn't that just solidify this week's blog post. :)
Now, if you are reading this and you are like, "oh my God I can relate, my significant other is super in to WoW and I don't know what to do!" Great, welcome to the club. Take a seat. Let's form a support group. We should have a logo, like "I am a WoW widow, but I am okay with it." The only piece of advice I can give is be as supportive as you can be without being walked on. Communicate when you feel like it is getting out of hand without insulting the game or your significant other. Compromise, because this game is important to them, and sometimes schedules can get tricky, as you often have more than 3 people trying to raid together.
This is my second rodeo, so to speak. My boyfriend in college got in to the game when it first launched (World of Warcraft, not just Warcraft. I'm not that old thankyouverymuch), and I have to admit, neither of us were super good at communicating our feelings, which resulted in a pretty complicated breakup come that January. I am not saying I'm super good at communicating my feelings in a mature, calm and collected manner, especially if you ask Breaky (don't, by the way), but at least I recognize that there is a better way to address your concerns about you being temporarily widowed by a game. I say temporary, because like many things in this life, the hype will fade and interests will be diverted. However, if you do feel like communication and compromise (yes, compromise!) do not work, maybe some professional intervention may be necessary (as a kind of last resort).
If you are reading this and are like "I play a lot of WoW and maybe my significant other doesn't get as much attention as they should get" maybe you should have them read this blog. Honestly, they should be reading this blog anyway, but I feel that way about everyone. Make sure you are communicating your schedule and commitment to this game with your significant other. Try to carve out some "real-life" time with them so they do not feel neglected. Talk with them about your character, or the lore. Share with them the stuff that makes you so obsessed with the game. This is important to you, and for them to understand, seeing you enthusiastic about your hobby is one sure-fire way to do so. There is nothing that makes me feel better than hearing Breaky talk on and on about his passions, even if I don't understand half of what he is saying. He is sharing something that means something to him with me. That makes me feel important.
So kids, what did we learn today?
Communicate and balance.
So, unless you have been living under a rock, or have nothing to do with gaming what-so-ever, you may have missed the big release of World of Warcraft expansion: Legion.
Ok, back to the originally scheduled blog post.
As you may remember, I did the whole World of Warcraft for a short spell. Basically to get some pretty cool stuff for Hearthstone (a "spin-off" game if you will) and it made for a pretty interesting blog post. Needless to say, I can't keep up with my husband and our good friends when it comes to grinding and really leveling up. In a game like that, I want to learn what I'm doing, read about the lore, take my time, and as with most games, play by myself (with the exception of a few co-op games with Breaky and Overwatch of course).
So, Breaky and his friends got the expansion and pretty much has been spending any free time playing. With the exception of forgetting to take the dog out and leaving her to roam upstairs by herself, which we don't do anymore (because of the loss of 2 cords, one pair of prescription glasses, one pair of sun glasses, one tan pump, three crate beds, part of our carpet, a few books and a few coasters,) he's been pretty good about keeping "real-life" things in perspective and latching on to my not-so-subtle clues to my need for attention. That doesn't mean that while he's downstairs in Azeroth, I may not be a little salty while figuring out where those pans go BECAUSE THEY DO NOT GO ABOVE THE TOASTER OVEN SWEETHEART and evidently they "don't fit" in the drawer below the oven.
It was a struggle to figure out what I wanted to write about this week and when I brought up the whole "WoW Widow" idea to Breaky, he staunchly defended his interest in playing WoW and this expansion. I wasn't looking for a 10 minute introspective as to the importance of the story-line and how this particular expansion was something he had been waiting for for, like 6 years. It was like he thought I was complaining at him, which I *never* do, and had to defend himself and his interest in playing the game. Well, didn't that just solidify this week's blog post. :)
Now, if you are reading this and you are like, "oh my God I can relate, my significant other is super in to WoW and I don't know what to do!" Great, welcome to the club. Take a seat. Let's form a support group. We should have a logo, like "I am a WoW widow, but I am okay with it." The only piece of advice I can give is be as supportive as you can be without being walked on. Communicate when you feel like it is getting out of hand without insulting the game or your significant other. Compromise, because this game is important to them, and sometimes schedules can get tricky, as you often have more than 3 people trying to raid together.
This is my second rodeo, so to speak. My boyfriend in college got in to the game when it first launched (World of Warcraft, not just Warcraft. I'm not that old thankyouverymuch), and I have to admit, neither of us were super good at communicating our feelings, which resulted in a pretty complicated breakup come that January. I am not saying I'm super good at communicating my feelings in a mature, calm and collected manner, especially if you ask Breaky (don't, by the way), but at least I recognize that there is a better way to address your concerns about you being temporarily widowed by a game. I say temporary, because like many things in this life, the hype will fade and interests will be diverted. However, if you do feel like communication and compromise (yes, compromise!) do not work, maybe some professional intervention may be necessary (as a kind of last resort).
If you are reading this and are like "I play a lot of WoW and maybe my significant other doesn't get as much attention as they should get" maybe you should have them read this blog. Honestly, they should be reading this blog anyway, but I feel that way about everyone. Make sure you are communicating your schedule and commitment to this game with your significant other. Try to carve out some "real-life" time with them so they do not feel neglected. Talk with them about your character, or the lore. Share with them the stuff that makes you so obsessed with the game. This is important to you, and for them to understand, seeing you enthusiastic about your hobby is one sure-fire way to do so. There is nothing that makes me feel better than hearing Breaky talk on and on about his passions, even if I don't understand half of what he is saying. He is sharing something that means something to him with me. That makes me feel important.
So kids, what did we learn today?
Communicate and balance.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
That Pokemon Glow is Gone
Pokemon Go was fun while it lasted.
Both Breaky and I have told each other lately that the game has lost its....vigor? Chutzpah? Appeal? Whatever made it so that ever time I would be walking more than a few feet, it had to be running, or encouraged Breaky to go on that extra walk with DogCPK and me after dinner.
The walk to and from work for me used to generate some unique Pokemon. In an upgrade, they removed both a gym and a checkpoint, and I am lucky, in a 1 mile walk, I get 2 Pokemon. Usually a Pidgey or a Weedle. I may get a Zumbat or even an Eevee, but that may be once every other week. The eggs I hatch are becoming repetitive and it is pretty rare if I get a new Pokemon from an egg anymore.
The last straw was how difficult it has become to catch even low-level Pokemon. I run out of balls (*snicker*) or berries (*snort*) and cannot catch a damn thing. I essentially stopped playing when I tried 8 times to catch a Squirtle. The little dude didn't run away.... but I ran out of berries, and heaven help me if I was going to run out of balls too.
That was it. I was no longer having fun with it. My phone hated trying to run it. It would get too "overheated" and go in to a "timeout" and the game would be running, but no Pokemon would show up, checkpoints wouldn't work, and I am pretty sure the egg thing wasn't working either.
That being said, I am still glad I downloaded it. I am glad it was something Breaky and I could bond over. I also had some great quotes that I saved up for a blog post:
Me: I hatched one of those Geodudes or what-ever-you-call-'em
Breaky: That's literally their name.
Me: Oh. I was being funny. But go me.
Me: I evolved my "Radish"
Breaky: Your what?
Me: Radish
Breaky: You mean like your Rattata?
Me: No, the little blue dude that looks like a radish
Breaky: You mean Oddish?
Me: Yes. That's what I said
Now, if I find myself in an area known for a lot of checkpoints and multiple Pokemon, sure, I'll play. If a restaurant throws down a lure for an event like trivia or something, yeah, I'll play a little. I just won't make it a point to play every time I walk. I am going back to listening to audio books while I walk.
Now, if/when someone creates a Harry Potter Go, or a Sailor Moon Go, you would bet your sweet patootie I'll be all over that.
Thursday, August 4, 2016
The Alliance Tee-Shirt Saga
As many of you know, Breaky and I have been together for over 4 years. Before I knew Breaky, I did play games, just not with the enthusiasm and frequency as I do now. I tried World of Warcraft during a promotional free month period. I chose to only do the one month for free, because I worked at a call center, had student loans, and lived in an apartment by myself and had no money. In addition to taking advantage of free-month games that usually cost way too much, I also took advantage of ThinkGeek's promotional $5 tee shirts, back when ThinkGeek's customer service was decent and was not owned by GameStop. The promotion was you send them $5 and they send you a random tee-shirt. Usually one that was the wrong color, discontinued, or couldn't be regularly sold.
Why this information? It all ties in, I promise.
The tee-shirt I received from ThinkGeek was a navy blue shirt with the Alliance logo from World of Warcraft. This was around the time I was thinking about trying the game out anyway, so I did. Was Alliance. Got really confused and frustrated (I didn't have anyone else that played, and was shy about playing online games with others for fear of making a fool of myself), so I cancelled the free month before I got charged. I didn't dislike the game, but definitely couldn't justify the purchase of a game I couldn't see myself playing all the time.
But I kept the tee-shirt. Went about my merry way. Met Breaky (our "how we met" will be a different blog post), and when I would wear that shirt, he would get all pissy, in a joking manner. Told me he was Horde all the way, and that dating someone with an Alliance shirt was blasphemy for him, as he was ride-or-die Horde. Told me when I wasn't looking he was going to burn it, or take scissors to it. When I cut around the neck of it to make it a workout shirt, he was disappointed I wasn't destroying it just for him.
YEARS later (just kidding, probably just less than a year), the shirt, like most articles of clothing, had seen better days, so it was reduced to rags, with Breaky doing the honors.
So imagine my surprise when years later, he started playing WoW again. And with what faction? Oh, Alliance.
* Activate Bitch Face *
All of the grief I got for wearing an Alliance tee-shirt? And you end up Alliance?
"Well," Breaky explained, "it is less about Alliance vs Horde now babe! It is all about 'For Azeroth' and the people I am playing with are Alliance."
Ok, I thought, not that bad. I'll tease him about it, sure, but I won't be super mean about it.
Sure enough, at Blizzcon that year it was evident that Blizzard and the game were really pushing for a "united Azeroth" kind of thing. Despite being Alliance, Breaky got us Horde shirts at the gift store, as well as got me a Hearthstone journal and a Hearthstone necklace.
Less than a year later, went to see the movie. Even wore our Horde tee-shirts.
Couple months later, the Legion expansion came out. Breaky, ever the socialite, organized a few chat groups to decide what faction, what server, when to play etc.... I had a few weekends here that I have been busy with family and our cabin up-north, so I decided not to join in this time.
Needless to say, emotions were high, and arguments happened. First they were going to be Alliance. Then they were Horde. Finally Breaky came back and said they were officially Alliance. I laughed to myself, and then decided to have my revenge for my poor, fallen tee-shirt. Went online when he left the room and ordered him an Alliance tee-shirt similar to the one I had. It was going to arrive in two days.
Perfect, I thought. It will be a cute surprise, we'll get a laugh out of it, blah blah blah.
That next night, driving home from our Trivia Tuesday at the bar, Breaky announced that they decided, officially, to be Horde.
My head hit the dashboard in a frustrated thunk. I think Breaky thought I was broken. He described all the drama and in-fighting and how someone made this rallying speech and someone followed someone else and that was the end of it. Horde it was.
So I explained with an exasperated sigh about the gift that was coming and how he was going to wear it anyway, because I was his wife and he owed me a little for all the grief about my old tee-shirt. He chuckled and agreed.
We received it the next day. Even wore it, right away. Of course, did so to be troll at work and in his WoW chat. But that's the man I married.
The tee-shirt I received from ThinkGeek was a navy blue shirt with the Alliance logo from World of Warcraft. This was around the time I was thinking about trying the game out anyway, so I did. Was Alliance. Got really confused and frustrated (I didn't have anyone else that played, and was shy about playing online games with others for fear of making a fool of myself), so I cancelled the free month before I got charged. I didn't dislike the game, but definitely couldn't justify the purchase of a game I couldn't see myself playing all the time.
But I kept the tee-shirt. Went about my merry way. Met Breaky (our "how we met" will be a different blog post), and when I would wear that shirt, he would get all pissy, in a joking manner. Told me he was Horde all the way, and that dating someone with an Alliance shirt was blasphemy for him, as he was ride-or-die Horde. Told me when I wasn't looking he was going to burn it, or take scissors to it. When I cut around the neck of it to make it a workout shirt, he was disappointed I wasn't destroying it just for him.
YEARS later (just kidding, probably just less than a year), the shirt, like most articles of clothing, had seen better days, so it was reduced to rags, with Breaky doing the honors.
So imagine my surprise when years later, he started playing WoW again. And with what faction? Oh, Alliance.
* Activate Bitch Face *
All of the grief I got for wearing an Alliance tee-shirt? And you end up Alliance?
"Well," Breaky explained, "it is less about Alliance vs Horde now babe! It is all about 'For Azeroth' and the people I am playing with are Alliance."
Ok, I thought, not that bad. I'll tease him about it, sure, but I won't be super mean about it.
Sure enough, at Blizzcon that year it was evident that Blizzard and the game were really pushing for a "united Azeroth" kind of thing. Despite being Alliance, Breaky got us Horde shirts at the gift store, as well as got me a Hearthstone journal and a Hearthstone necklace.
Less than a year later, went to see the movie. Even wore our Horde tee-shirts.
Couple months later, the Legion expansion came out. Breaky, ever the socialite, organized a few chat groups to decide what faction, what server, when to play etc.... I had a few weekends here that I have been busy with family and our cabin up-north, so I decided not to join in this time.
Needless to say, emotions were high, and arguments happened. First they were going to be Alliance. Then they were Horde. Finally Breaky came back and said they were officially Alliance. I laughed to myself, and then decided to have my revenge for my poor, fallen tee-shirt. Went online when he left the room and ordered him an Alliance tee-shirt similar to the one I had. It was going to arrive in two days.
Perfect, I thought. It will be a cute surprise, we'll get a laugh out of it, blah blah blah.
That next night, driving home from our Trivia Tuesday at the bar, Breaky announced that they decided, officially, to be Horde.
My head hit the dashboard in a frustrated thunk. I think Breaky thought I was broken. He described all the drama and in-fighting and how someone made this rallying speech and someone followed someone else and that was the end of it. Horde it was.
So I explained with an exasperated sigh about the gift that was coming and how he was going to wear it anyway, because I was his wife and he owed me a little for all the grief about my old tee-shirt. He chuckled and agreed.
We received it the next day. Even wore it, right away. Of course, did so to be troll at work and in his WoW chat. But that's the man I married.
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