Final Fantasy XV E3 Trailer

The E3 Trailer for Final Fantasy XV definitely looks promising and quite impressive. I'm actually excited about this Final Fantasy game. After my disappointment with 13 and 14, I wasn't sure I would feel that excitement for a Final Fantasy game again. Final Fantasy XV got me excited and impressed me just from what is shown in the trailer and that's a great thing. I watched the trailer twice because it was just that fantastic. You can check out the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1sP6LMgo88

Xbox One: This Makes It A Definite No For Me

 Sorry, but I've seen all the Terminator movies. I've seen Space Odyssey. I've read Nineteen Eighty Four and Fahrenheit 451. If you have seen and read these, you know as well as I do how those panned out. So after reading this article about how the Kinect for the Xbox One will be in a default always on mode a la Big Brother, this is a definite no for me. I truly want to know who in the hell thought this was a good idea.
 On the one hand, it's like a dream come true for the developers because it lets them rest easy in the assumption that everyone will have a Kinect. On the other hand, being spied upon and judged ALL the time by the glassy stare of that camera like a crazed Hal does not seem like a lot of fun. Your only option would be to just unplug the darn thing at this point.
 I don't even like it when people talk to me while I'm in the bathroom, so there's no way I would be okay with being watched all the time by the Xbox One Kinect. I'm sure there are many others who feel the same way. Look, I get it. Microsoft feels they have to get a big, solid jump on the competition. However, there are  are far too many privacy and ethics issues about this that I for one, am just not comfortable with. So until they address those issues, they're not getting a dime from me for this console.
 You can check out the article on it here: http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/156515-kinect-for-xbox-one-an-always-on-works-in-the-dark-camera-and-microphone-what-could-possibly-go-wrong

Xbox One Revealed, A Bit Disappointing For Me

I admit as I've gotten older I've gotten a bit more selective about what games I play on our various consoles and computers. This is also true about movies I watch. I really think about whether or not something is worth spending money on. After reading about the Xbox One, I have come to the conclusion that Microsoft is not getting money from me this year. Honestly, I'm thinking that I will skip this years generation of consoles.
I don't like being forced to buy something, but that's what's happening with the Xbox One. The Kinect is now no longer an optional feature, instead if you want an Xbox One you also have to sign up for the Kinect. I didn't even like being forced to have Windows on my computer with no choice of any other program okay?  Windows knows I tolerate it on my computer and behaves accordingly.
 I don't use a gaming console to Skype, watch TV, or use Hulu. I have a computer. I watch TV on my computer or on our TV. While it does look pretty flashy over all with all its bells and whistles, I confess I am disappointed. They talk about all the spiffy things it does for voice integration, TV watching, and internet stuff, but there isn't a single mention about the one thing that matters to gamers like myself, the video games. Extras are great and everything, but where is the focus on the gamers?  It's as if they didn't consider the gamers at all in this. Sure, it looks like a very nice flashy DVR that does everything but make me toast, but there didn't seem to be any mention of what kind of games it would play or what they would have lined up for it. They mention cloud gaming, but that's it. What about regular games? What about used games? Where do they fit in or do they fit in at all?  I'm really not sure about the voice integration either. I have better conversations with our dog and all he does is sit there while looking at me adoringly, wagging his tail the whole time.
 If you want a gamer like me to drop money on your console or your games you know, you really have to focus on the gaming aspect. I don't care about bells and whistles. I care about games that appeal to my interests, that are great with storytelling, good game controls, and fun game play on a console that runs great without any technical issues. I do not need what is essentially the Swiss army knife of gaming consoles.
 So yes, the Xbox One (seriously, this is the name? It's a bit underwhelming) reveal is a bit disappointing for me. However, it's still early so we'll see what else they do with it and see if they do mention any games for it, but I do believe that for now I'll be skipping this gaming console. What about you dear readers? Do you like the Xbox One, dislike it, or are you on the fence about it?
 You can check out the article I read from BBC News about it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22620039

Aisha Tyler Is Awesome Or I Can Relate To This As A Gamer And A Nerd (Yes, No Girl In There Anywhere)

 I think Aisha Tyler is funny, smart, and awesome. She got even more awesome in my book when she responded to the haters about how she knew nothing about gaming with this poetic gem which you can read here: http://www.policymic.com/articles/37557/aisha-tyler-to-haters-i-don-t-need-to-do-it-for-the-money

 I love it.  Sure, she could have ignored it, but she chose to school them on what happens when you make snap judgments and assumptions about people. Yes, the story is from last year, but it has gone viral and it hits home with me. I'll tell you why.
  I can't count how many times I've been challenged on my knowledge of video games and comic books. Sometimes I've even been challenged on my science-fiction and fantasy knowledge. Those are things that I love, that I've loved since I was kid yet I've been accused of knowing nothing about said passions. Then I've had demands, yes demands to PROVE my knowledge. The sad part is it's usually some elitist male who thinks he's going to stump the "cute girl" by rapid firing trivia questions at her smug in the assumption that he'll be victorious and humiliate her in front of all his friends. Boy, are they disappointed when they meet me. One of them actually cried on me, claiming I cheated. Right, as if that's the answer.
 It couldn't be because my favorite uncle introduced me to the world of comics and let me read many of the comics in his collection, including the MAGE comics which hooked me for the rest of my life on comics. It couldn't be because my grandparents finally decided that yes my brother and I would get a NES for Christmas and we played the heck out of that thing. It couldn't be because I discovered Legend Of Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Dragon Quest on that system and loved them. It couldn't be because my grandmother let me read every single science-fiction and fantasy novel lining all the shelves in her house growing up or her watching those film genres with me. No, it couldn't be that at all. It must be because I cheated, because I'm just a dumb girl.
 Every time this happens, I sigh inwardly because it shouldn't happen at all. It shouldn't matter that I'm a woman. It shouldn't matter that any female is female when it comes to all the awesome geek things out there. I don't need to feel like I'm on a damn quiz show because a male person needs convincing that I'm actually a gamer, comic book nerd, or Sci-fi/Fantasy lover. It's not cool and frankly, it's rude.
 I also get mildly irritated when there's an assumption made that I don't play things like Metal Gear, God Of War,  Assassin's Creed, Thief, etc. or that I only read super girly comics. I'm sure other women get tired of this too, because it sucks and a great deal of the time it simply isn't true. I LOVE Metal Gear, God Of War, Halo, and the like. I don't like girly comics. They're not my thing. I'm more of a super hero, zombies, macabre, and giant freaking robots comics kind of person.
 I just wish people wouldn't label it in terms of "Girl Gamer", "Male Gamer", "Girl Geek", and what not. I'm simply a gamer and a nerd. I love playing video games on ALL the systems out there and I have myself a good time playing. I love comic books and I deserve to be in that comic book shop without being stared at like I'm a unicorn. I love Sci-fi and I love Fantasy and I should be able to enjoy it without any hassle.
 Please note, I didn't say all males do this. My husband shares many of my passions which is not only awesome, it's fun getting to play Tekken or Soul Calibur with him, and many other games. It's also fantastic to have someone to discuss things like Walking Dead or Doctor Who with. However, too many males have done this to us women and far too often. It should not be an issue that someone is a man or a woman. Just enjoy that you have a passion for some of the same awesome nerd things and leave it at that. Just gamers, comic book lovers, and the like. That's it. 

Thief Interview

 I love the Thief series and I'm definitely counting down to the new game's arrival. If you haven't already, you should like the Thief Facebook page because it has a lot of great information on the game and exclusive interviews that are fantastic like this one from Hannah of Yogcast. You can check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Le4lJe5tEpc#!

And the Thief Facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/Thief?fref=ts

Thief Out Of The Shadows Trailer

I love the Thief games and after watching the trailer for the new Thief game twice I am excited. It looks fantastic and I can not wait for it to get here so I can play. You can check out the trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpUUfRIhPIw&feature=youtu.be

A Bit Of A Hiatus

Recently my grandmother had been ill. She had a stroke, followed by a seizure and was in the ICU. This is a woman who had raised me and my younger brother Rob, so this was quite distressing to me and my family. She was not doing well and the decision was made to move her to Hospice Care and make sure she was as comfortable as possible. My grandmother Patricia Lawrence Kabrich passed away three days before Christmas.
 This has been a very sad and hard time on all of us who knew her and loved her. My grandmother was a force of nature, She Who Must Be Obeyed, (a bit of humor from my best friend who knew her and loved her too) and a person with a big heart who loved us as much as we loved her.
 My husband has been wonderfully supportive and comforting, along with my family and friends. Thank you, your kind words and comfort means a lot.
 I'm not sure when my next Mother Gamer review will be as my heart is just not in writing anything at the moment. I hope you all understand, and I will be back when the time is right for me. Thank you all for reading and Happy Holidays to you all.