Iron from Ice (and Other Distractions)

So everyone did their Spirit Animal posts, and this month’s theme is “oh btw I’m still alive” posts, right?

Here’s mine anyway…

Like many simmers I know, I’ve always been hesitant about claiming “gamer” status among non-simming folk. Somehow, the fact that I mainly play Sims and Pokémon earns me the title “girl gamer” or “casual gamer,” both of which I object to (there’s nothing casual about logging 36 hours of virtual house building in a week, let me tell you). Truth be told, the reason I don’t often let myself delve into other games isn’t that they don’t interest me. I just know too well that I don’t do things by halves, and that the moment I get invested in a new universe, I get so completely and irreversibly lost in it that I can’t resurface until I’ve explored every corner. And when it’s all over, I’m left wandering all hollowed out and incapable of existing in the real world for a minimum of two weeks. (The six months after Deathly Hallows were another story.)

I’m a binger. It’s just how I live.

My recent downfall started when one of my quidditch friends posted about a Humble Bundle featuring 13 of Telltale’s graphic adventure games for JUST TWELVE DOLLARS (insert flabbergasted commercial actor). A few people had been bothering me to play the Game of Thrones RPG for a while, because I’m that person who broadcasts their ASOIAF love far and wide and who will start an in-depth theory discussion in the middle of a raging party. Yeah, that cool person.

Long story short, I caved and bought all the games. A month later I installed one… and 24 hours after that, I was a blubbering mess.

If you watch GoT, I’m sure you can imagine why. If you don’t, I’m sure you know its basic rationale—to physically hurt you by destroying everything you love in the most heart-wrenching ways possible. Now imagine that, but now you’re personally responsible for everyone’s fate because you made all the choices that got them there. And you don’t even know which choices were the wrong ones, because everything got so fucked up and now everyone just hates you and everyone is dead and you thought you were a decent person once, but not anymore.

I tore through the first half of this game with such naive enthusiasm. By the last few episodes, I was pausing at every major decision to just sob in despair.

That said, this was actually an amazing game. Gorgeous animation, solid writing, and it perfectly mimicked the laws of the GoT universe despite following a side plot about a minor family (House Forester, bannermen of the Starks). Without spoiling too much, here’s the gist: you get to play as several key members of the family—lords, ladies, squires, exiled second sons—to save the Foresters from ruin after their liege lord is murdered at the Red Wedding. It’s mainly negotiation- rather than fighting-based (lucky for me who had to respawn like six times in every battle scene) and you have a lot of freedom in how you handle situations. There are six episodes, so in theory you could play it very leisurely and carefully… not that I would know.

I’m probably preaching to the wrong crowd, but I thought I’d post my final summary here for kicks on the off chance that anyone is around to compare. Warning: possible spoilers if you actually intend to play.

I’m currently doing a second play-through making only the most idiotic decisions, just to finally get some unfettered joy out of this evil, evil game.

So that’s where my brain has been for a while—there, and in actual Game of Thrones land, where we’re all steeling ourselves for the fated Ninth Episode (crosses self) airing tomorrow night. Naturally, the domino effect has begun and I’ve started reading another fantasy series (the Kingkiller Chronicles) and am tentatively scouting out my next venture on Steam. This could end very badly. Winter is coming indeed.

In other news, this lardbutt turned one:

And no, contrary to the furry fat rolls spilling over my arms, I did not feed him cake. Nor do I overfeed him in general, and yet carrying him across the room still qualifies as Arm Day.

I did throw him a party and make him a hat because, like I said, I’m THAT cool person.

Two of my cousins also got married (not to each other). One of the weddings was all the way in California, which was obviously horrible and a complete waste of my time.

Just look at this hideousness though.

Following which I took off again for a quidditch tryst in Montreal, and now I’m home and living in half-unpacked squalor with a moody cat who is still very much a kitten *nurses claw marks*.

BUT HEY, I finally finished the Langurds’ new house! Want a teaser? Too bad, you’re getting one:

And that means I’m officially ready to start Generation Six. Haha just kidding, I’ve already started it and Calamity has a kid. Or two. XD My computer needs a break from the long hours (might have something to do with the half inch of dust on my heatsink, lolwhoops) so I’ll probably start churning out posts soon. Oh, and I haven’t forgotten about the Maitlands! They’re up next.

I hope the rest of you non-posting… non-posters… are not posting because you’re enjoying the summer as much as I am. Southern Hemisphere dwellers—well, you have no excuse.

Happy Simming!

-Sam