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Softballchic10

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Blog Entries posted by Softballchic10

  1. Softballchic10
    There are certain games that come along from time to time that really get your attention. It could be for the action, the graphics or game play. However, it is a rare occasion that a game grabs you for all of these, plus the amazing experience of becoming emotionally attached and involved in the actions of characters.
    It is to this that I write this open letter to Ellie and Joel. I met them in the “The Last of Us.”
    *(Please note that I've tried to write this to contain no spoilers. Personality of the characters is mentioned as well as reference to generic type actions that happen in game.)
    Dear Ellie and Joel,
    I want to thank you for letting me join you on one of the most amazing adventures of my life. I know the journey was long and brutal. There is never a reason a death should be simple or a casual thing. But a person has every right to fight for their own right to live. It is to that I acknowledge and understand why at times death followed in your footsteps.
    Know that I don't blame you, nor do I condemn you for it. Joel, you said yourself along the way “It was him or me.” Simply stated, but true to fact. We all wish that we could walk again in relative harmony the way we once did. That time may come again, but not now. Not now.
    Joel, at times you were a hard man for me to like, but you had your own personal reasons, your own demons that you fought every day. But even when I disagreed with your words, your actions always spoke louder and with greater heart. There were moments when you were an enigma to me. You could be harsh and bitter one moment, protective and wise at another. As I think on it, I believe it is because the man that knew a world before everything went to hell is still there inside you, wrestling the man you have had to become to survive.
    Ellie, you are an amazing young woman. I refuse to acknowledge you as a girl as most people do. Yes, there are times when you were goofy, silly and playful. But those are wonderful traits to carry on, even as you get older. It was refreshing to watch as you, for the first time, saw the world as it used to be, even if it was only in shattered pieces. Your wonder was childlike, not childish, and full of amazement and wonder. I smile now thinking about some of those moments.
    But that is only part of who you are. You are also fierce, tough, loyal and caring. These traits to me and your actions when times were tough are what shaped you into the young woman I have come to know. You have such strength of character. It didn't matter if it was Hunters, the army or Infected, you always were there, looking out and helping out. You never ran away from danger when you could have given up. Your determination to see every situation though, no matter for good or bad, it is inspiring. We adults could learn so much from you, if we only would accept the fact that sometimes the best of what we are lies in the hearts of people like you, not warped and changed by a world gone sideways.
    A final thought before I close this letter to both of you. Joel, I know the world as it is now has forced you to build up walls around you. It would be almost impossible to survive as long as you have without such things happening to the best of us. I hope that you find, however, that letting a little light in, be it found in people or in something else that makes you happy, there is still good in the world and the good man that you’ve buried inside you deserves to see and enjoy it.
    Ellie, I firmly believe that you will never give up. The world may be violent and brutal but its people like you who give us hope that we can be better then what we've become. Whatever happens though, don't ever lose that since of amazement that you get from seeing things for the first time. I hope you always have a joke and a ready smile. Oh, and one more thing. Don't trust people that do acupuncture, they're back stabbers. I know you'll understand.
    Once again, thank you for letting me come along on your adventure. It wasn't easy and I hate some of the things we had to do. But since we had no choice, I'm glad we went through it together.
    Godspeed to both of you.
  2. Softballchic10
    I am personally somewhat of a late bloomer when it comes to games. Sure, I had a NES system when I was younger but I was truly never what I'd call "hardcore." Yeah, I beat Mario and Zelda which I consider fairly nice accomplishments. I enjoyed both games but really my experience in gaming was fairly limited. I'd play the occasional game on other systems as I was growing up. Mainly at my friends house when they got a SNES or a Sega.
    As I grew older my taste in games or desire to play them did not change much. I was more then happy most of the time to sit at my computer and play a game of Hearts or Solitaire. I also had very simple type games such as the Sims and Sim City. Challenging in their own way, they hardly ranked in the realms of the hardcore gamer. Which was just fine for me since I never even thought of myself as a "gamer."
    The turning point came in my early 20's when I was given an Xbox. Now, not being a gamer I didn't really know what I was going to do with such a system. But, never one to turn down a freebie I accepted and brought it home and hooked it up. I told my friend about it soon thereafter and she, being a huge gamer herself, was probably more thrilled about it then I was at the time.
    One of the first truly challenging games I took on then was The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Wow, what a game. I was truly challenged and caught up in such a huge world where the possibilities seemed unlimited. The game to me came alive and I was more then just playing a game. I was living the game. And that was truly a first for me and a real eye opening experience.
    Since that time I've bought a lot of new games and a new system, the Xbox 360. I've come to take on the challenges of many high end games in which I feel proud to have beaten. But, there is more then just a new system sitting at home with me now. I came upon someone selling a SNES with about 20 odd games for very cheap. So, it found a new home in my living room right along side my 360.
    I think what captivated me was the challenge of the games. Growing up I was always playing a sport in which there was high amounts of competition. Be it softball, volleyball or anything in between I always took a challenge up and did my very best to win. I love the challenge a game can give you. You can live the world, be that character and if you try hard enough you can persevere. You can win. And winning feels good.
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