Ok, ok... maybe "work" isn't quite the right word. Let's compromise and just call it productive play.
About 6 weeks ago I got myself a PS4. I've always enjoyed video games but never been what you'd consider an avid gamer... quite frankly there's just not enough free time or free money to make it so! I even skipped a whole "generation" of video game consoles with my last serious foray being the Playstation 2. My advances into the current crop of games have been uncertain. In truth, the photo above isn't the PS4 I just received, rather it's the photo I took when I sold mine over a year ago! This is actually the 3rd or maybe even 4th PS4 I've owned... I've sadly lost count.
Each time I forayed into this new generation of gaming I certainly enjoyed it! But on the prior occasions a mixture of financial concerns, lack of free time, or just pure guilt that I was spending any time gaming instead of drawing led me to divest myself of that new console after a period of time. This time around ol' PS4 is here to stay... I think.
How's that for a confusing phrase? Basically, the first game I tackled playing was the highly regarded, "The Last of Us." I absolutely loved it.
The post apocalyptic setting and incredible environments and visuals were just what I was looking for. The wonderful, intense story and riveting characters were bonuses on top of that!
I've been trying to consume and study more media and story that may help me in my own endeavor of making a comic entitled, "I Thought It Would Be Zombies..." and The Last of Us hit all the marks.
It left enough of an impression and inspiration that within a couple hours of finishing the game, I was online ordering The Art of The Last of Us and am eagerly awaiting its arrival. It's a struggle for me to visually develop and flesh out the world of my story and playing the game and soon studying a beautiful hardcover volume of concept artwork from it have added one more piece to the puzzle.
For a number of years now I don't feel I've done enough to consume and absorb stories and visuals to help motivate, inspire, and instruct me in my own... so that's why I'll stick with the productive play label here! Or maybe I'm just justifying some down time for myself. Either way, it was some time well spent.
And while I was looking for that trailer video I embedded above... I came across the trailer for The Last of Us 2 which I didn't even know was forthcoming soon... The gameplay footage blew my freakin' mind! I don't think I've ever been this excited about gaming. It's good to feel that passion.
So what are your favorite games? What should I play next? How do you balance gaming with other obligations and hobbies? I always love to hear from folks in the comments. And I'll do my best to give a review of The Art of the Last of Us when it arrives!
