The Wonderful World of Blake!

On 11/19/2014 at 02:45 PM by Blake Turner

Hello fellow pixlbiteans! It's been a long time since I wrote a blog, hasn't it? I'd say I've been busy, but that's not really the case. I just haven'te felt like writing anything, and haven't really thought of anything worth writing. More than that, I guess the IGN thing made me re-evaluate the worth of my writing, and whether or not I should even bother.

Anyway, I'm back baby! And I thought I should start out with what I've been doing.

GAMES!

I started playing World of Warcraft, but got seriously bored of it by level 60 and went back to Guild Wars 2, which is utterly fantastic and has literally eaten most of my time. It was my game of the year for 2012 and I still utterly adore it. Leveling is fun in that game, and it has far more variety than WoW. You get xp from crafting, questing, exploring, platforming, solving puzzles, and really, just about everything else. Everything is rewarding and satisfying. The combat is tactical. The races are unique - especially the Sylvari, who are utterly badass plant people. Guild Wars 2 is just fantastic even 2 years on.

So if anyone is playing that and wishes to add me hit me up, because I'd love to have you in my guild :)

Other than that I've been playing This War of Mine, which is as engrossing as it is depressing. It's a 2D Survival game, like State of Decay but without Zombies and set in a war. It's good. Very good. It also has the feels. It made me realise that I would totally rob sick old people if it came down to it. Fuck em, they've had their turn. Beating them over the head with a crowbar is practically euphenasia at this point anyway. I'm doing them a favour!

What I've Been Listening Too!

Fucking lots. Seriously, I've listened to more albums than played games. Check out stuff.

Moonsorrow - Sankarihauta

Moonsorrow, AKA my new favourite band are FUCKING AWESOME! They mix folk and metal so effectively that it's poetic. They're both catchy and progressive, and utterly amazing.

Agalloch - Limbs

I have Alex to thank for reinvigorrating my love of these guys. They are hands down the most beautiful metal act on the face of the sun. They mix acoustic folk with post rock and black metal for one utterly unique and lush sound.

Ne Obliviscaris - Painters of the Tempest (Part 2)

NE OBLIVISCARIS HAVE A NEW ALBUM! These guys are my favourite Australian band hands down. They mix crushingly heavy extreme metal with beautiful violin and acoustic sections. This album is far more focused than the last album, and actually feels like a solid release than a collection of ideas. It's fantastic. Pretentious as shit, but fantastic.

Personal Shit

Bilby is visiting at the moment! I hadn't seen her for two months, but she's finally here for two weeks! Unfortunately, I'm broke so we can't do much other than watch tv and vs each other at Hearthstone, but hey, she's here :)

Also, a friend from college and I are planning on starting a Podcast together after we had an 11 hour skype conversation and didn't repeat a topic once. Should be interesting haha. First ep will be just us two, but if you want in for a future ep, let me know. Also, if you have any questions you want us to answer, leave them below.

But yeah. That's it I think. Now, I'm off to catch up on some of your blogs, because god knows its been a while haha.

KnightDriver

11/19/2014 at 03:14 PM

Liking Ne Obliviscaris.

Blake Turner Staff Writer

11/20/2014 at 11:26 AM

Haha fair enough. It's weird that a ton of people like that the most out of all of them even though it is by far the heaviest thing I posted.

Ranger1

11/19/2014 at 04:35 PM

Liked the first two a lot, and other than the creepy metal voice parts, liked the third one. I was wondering about This War of Mine. Looks intriguing, but my laptop is ancient and cranky.

11/20/2014 at 11:27 AM

This War of Mine "should" run on anything. It's 2D and has very minimalist graphics. However, if you don't have a gaming laptop I wouldn't risk 20 bucks without knowing for sure.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

11/19/2014 at 05:14 PM

I'm quite curious about This War of Mine. I might have to play that.

Good to hear from you!

11/20/2014 at 11:28 AM

Thanks! And you should totally give it a go!

mothman

11/19/2014 at 07:43 PM

Never doubt yourself Blake. Doubt is the mind killer. OK actually that's fear but I'm saying doubt so deal with it.

So yeah you should keep writing because we at Pixlbit have decided to find it charming. OK, maybe not charming but funny and sometimes insightful. Strangers on the other hand, their mileage may vary.

Anyway. Gotta listen to the tracks. Loved the first Ne Obliviscaris you posted way back. I've become used to the "creepy metal voice parts" as Tami puts it. Don't love 'em though but the rest of the music makes them tolerable in most cases. :)

The first Guild Wars is the only MMORPG I've ever played but I did it on my own and only for a couple of hours. Kinda defeats the purpose.

11/20/2014 at 11:32 AM

Thanks man! Pixlbit is an oddly welcoming place though haha.

This ne obliviscaris track starts heavier, but there's a lot of beautiful non-metal parts as well. Oh, and watch out. I made the trasition like that too. Couldn't stand extreme vocals, then merely tolerated them because a few bands I liked did it, and now I can't get enough of them haha.

And nah it doesn't defeat the purpose. A lot of GW2's content can be done on your own, and I think a lot of the levelling is actually designed that way. It's just the dungeons and PVP stuff that is super multiplayer focused.

Super Step Contributing Writer

11/20/2014 at 12:01 AM

This War of Mine sounds intense, will have to look into that one.

And being broke and spending time together is better than wondering if someone's only with you to do things that require money. Bibly sounds like a keeper.

I'd love a spot on any podcasts, and as far as questions to ask you guys I'm not sure. What did y'all end up talking about/what do you generally like to talk about? I imagine gaming is in there, but I'm not sure what questions to ask on that topic off top my head.

11/20/2014 at 11:25 AM

The two main things we usually talk discuss together is gaming and morality. He studies Psychology and I was studying Philosophy as a minor so we got some really interesting conversations out of it. But yeah, he's a massive gamer as well, so games will vbe th main focus.

And yeah, Bilby and I have been together for a year and three months now :)

This War of Mine will run on any laptop. If you can play Limbo you can definitely run this.

Oh, and try and get onn the facebook page and just ask if you can be on the podcast. I'm sure they'd love to have you on.

11/20/2014 at 11:45 AM

Well, I minored in Psychology in undergrad and my field of Mass Communications is pretty much a bastard discipline that applies psychology, sociology etc. to media. Would love to hear that podcast.

Put a ring on that.

Sounds good, will find for my laptop then.

Are you meaning Plus10Damage's Facebook?

11/20/2014 at 12:20 PM

Nice haha.Well, if things go well I wouldn't mind having you on sometime.

I don't really actually believe in marriage. Granted, if I meet someone who wants marriage, I'll do it, but at this point I really just see it as an unnecessary cost and a strain for something that is too steeped in religion for my liking. Bilby isn't big into weddings anyway.

This War of Mine is 20 bucks on steam and gog. I got the GoG version because it was cheaper at the time.

Yes I did mean that. Maybe send me your facebook and I'll either add you or get Matt to?

11/20/2014 at 12:25 PM

I liked the Plus10Damage page and believe I messaged you my FB account name, but will again.

She doesn't like weddings?! You hit the jackpot. What I said was to put a ring on it, doesn't mean you have to have a wedding. It can be one of those Ring Pops if they still sell those for all I care.

And sounds good. Might want to hear a podcast from just y'all first to get a feel for it, but would love to be a guest.

Alex-C25

11/20/2014 at 07:33 PM

I'll be sure to check out The War of Mine.

Another great batch of songs, My standouts were Agalloch and Ne Obliviscaris, Limbs being a beautiful song as per the bands tradition and the other just for being so epic.

PixlBit