Lets talk video games

I have never known life without internet. My entire life I have had access to knowledge and entertainment from all around the world. I have also never known life without video games.

I, like countless others, embrace the gaming world with open arms, and have made lifelong friends because of my love for gaming.

The video game world has evolved so much over the past decade. Graphics have improved, and the hardware on which the games are played have advanced so much that it feels like we are all living in a sci-fi futuristic world. With the rapid advancements in technology, there has also been a rapid advancement in game development.

There truly is a game out there for everyone. My personal favorite types of games are survival base building games. I enjoy exploring and building. It gives me a creative outlet that I still have yet to find anywhere else. The first game of this type that I ever played was the ever loved, Minecraft. In Minecraft, players explore a blocky world with infinite terrain, collect raw materials and craft items to build structures. Although there isn’t much of a storyline in Minecraft, it is entertaining nonetheless. As my introduction to the survival/building type games in 2010, I have held Minecraft up on a pedestal, searching for similar games for years.

After years of hunting for another game, my husband introduced me to a new game called No Man’s Sky. No Man’s Sky is a space exploration game built around four main pillars: Exploration, survival, combat, and trading. When I started playing, I had absolutely no idea how in-depth this game was going to be. There are 255 galaxies in the No Man’s Sky universe and within those galaxies there are over 18 quintillion planets you can explore. I promise that I’m not just using an abundance of hyperbole, those are the actual statistics.

As I started my journey, I realized that this game, was going to be my absolute favorite. Fast paced, action packed, and absolutely beautiful, I fell in love the very first time I flew through space. However, like most games, there was learning curve. It took a lot of time (and more Google searches than I care to admit) to figure out how to successfully make my way through space. Once I finally had my feet firmly on the ground so to speak, I knew I had to help others who were just starting out too.

So I turned to Twitch. Twitch is a social media platform owned by Amazon that provides a way for gamers like myself to watch other gamers live stream what ever it is they are playing that day. Users can search for the games that interest them and watch someone else play something you already know you love, or watch someone play a game you have never heard of before just to see if it interests you. The streamers on twitch have a community of followers that watch their streams and interact in the chat bar.

As I searched through the many streamers who were playing No Man’s Sky to see if I could teach any tips and tricks to staying alive in game to new players, I came across a channel by the name of Johnnyboy0056. Johnny was in the very beginning stages of the game and it seemed like he was having s blast while playing.

When I clicked on Johnny’s stream, I had planned on helping out a fellow gamer, maybe sticking around for an hour or so and then moving on to the next streamer who I saw paying No Man’s Sky. But Johny’s stream wasn’t like every other gamers out there, Johnny and the community that he has created felt so welcoming and friendly that I stuck around.

His followers are from all over the world, Indonesia, Spain, France, Canada, and so many other places, but when we are all watching his streams, chatting and laughing, it feels like we are all together just hanging out. Like we are all exactly where we are meant to be. I had gone on a mission to help fellow gamers, but instead I found a group of people that I am delighted do be able to call friends.

I encourage everyone to open their hearts and minds to the world of video games, because I promise, you can find a game that suits your interests, and like me, make some friends along the way.

Remember to love your neighbors,

Love your pets,

Shop local,

And thank a health care worker.