School is underway and I’m already resorting to living on caffeine. It’s going to be an interesting semester.

I’ve been keeping pretty busy with classes, work at the DS and the Writing Center and community theatre, so it’s nice to be able to take a break once in a while. My roommate recently got me into video games and I think I’ve finally found a great way to unwind. Before them, I could never find a great way to relax. Believe me, I have tried it all.

The thing I’ve come to really like about video games –or at least the ones I’ve played– is how well they combine mindless fun with mental stimulation. I’ve really come to enjoy RPGs like Mass Effect, Fable, and Skyrim. The beauty of them lies in the time it takes to complete. During an hour or two-long gaming session, the activity is largely mindless: it involves a lot of pointing and shooting while completing quests. But while doing so, picking up the little pieces of the larger story becomes incredibly mentally stimulating. Trying to decide where to go next, unraveling the story after completing it, analyzing the characters’ traits. All of the less prominent features end up bringing me back to the fictional worlds. Games, in my opinion, are the perfect meld of mindless fun with mental stimulation.

I’m trying to decide where to go next. I’ve started Dragon Age, and I am really enjoying it, but I like having a couple of games going at once. Some days, I want to shoot blobs of alien goo. Other days, I want to practice my potion making. For having played games for such a short while, I’ve already become pretty picky in what I look for. I’ve really liked playing computer games like World of Warcraft, but when playing console ,I’d rather have it be just me. Don’t get me wrong, Halo nights with my roommate and her friends are a blast, but I need me-time as well. I don’t want to have to rely on other gamers to complete a mission. Is it selfish? You betcha. But hey, my me-time is where I allow myself to be a little selfish.