The Video Game Virtuoso

A few weeks ago, The Video Game Virtuoso reached a major milestone: Its first anniversary. While it’s not a crowning achievement, I’m proud of myself for sticking to my guns and staying somewhat consistent with my writing. With so much going on in life – between work, exercise, and spending time with friends and family – it’s difficult to make time for it.

Of course, this accomplishment wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the wonderful game blogging community of WordPress. Seriously, thank you all for being so amazing. It’s much easier to be motivated to write when you know there are people out there actually reading your work. You’ve helped make this a special year, and inspire me to keep up with my writing.

Goals for this year:

1. Post more consistently

When I first started this blog, I was posting at least once per week. As time has gone on, I’ve become lazier with my writing. Not only have I not been consistent enough, I’ve been choosing easy topics that don’t challenge me as a writer. From here on out I’m going to make writing a bigger priority so I can get back on a one-post-per-week schedule.

2. Become a more active member of the community

So many bloggers in the community do a great job showing love by liking and commenting on my writing, and I don’t feel like I do a good enough job reciprocating. Additionally, there are so many talented writers in this community that I could learn from if I spent more time reading their writing. Moving forward, I’m going to be better about engaging with the community because it will ultimately help me become a better writer.

3. Get deeper with my topics

Although I have a journalism background, I haven’t used it much with this blog, primarily because I haven’t made the time for deep research or expert interviews. The old saying is “if you don’t use it, you lose it”, so I’m going to make a point to start using these skills again. In addition to helping me keep these talents sharp, it will improve the overall quality of my content.

Shoutouts:

Everyone in this blogging community is amazing, but there are a few standout individuals who have been especially welcoming. Here are some of the names:

Iplayedthegame – He’s a gamer with limited time to game, but he makes the most out of the time he has. I can relate. Instead of reviewing games, he writes about his experience playing them, which I’ve found to be more enjoyable to read. I’ve even started doing the same myself.

AmbiGaming – One of the most interesting blogs that I’ve read. Covering everything from psychology to theology to social themes in gaming, AmbiGaming analyzes games on a whole new level and demands that gaming be seen as a respected medium. There isn’t another blog like it, and I highly suggest checking it out if you’re looking to get lost in deep, philosophical reading about gaming.

Extra Life – The subtitle of this blog is “Independent Game Reviews”, however, it explores games of all types – from modern day AAA titles to classics. My personal favorite series of articles is “Questions for the Readers” because it’s interesting to see the readers’ responses. Also, the founder has a great taste in music. I don’t meet many gamers who listen to My Bloody Valentine, so much respect there!

The Shameful Narcissist – You can find everything from game reviews to poetry to full-fledged fanfiction here. The variety of content is outstanding and really shows off The Shameful Narcissist’s talent and versatility as a writer. I also appreciate that it’s one of the only blogs in the community I’ve seen discuss books. I love “The State of the Reader” because it helps me find new books to check out.

Later Levels – This blog is visually stunning, and it also has some incredible content. Although I’m no stranger to blogging, I’m always eager to learn, so I particularly enjoy the “Blogging advice” section of Later Levels. Additionally, I love the “Question of the Month” pieces because they ask thoughtful questions and put the spotlight on readers whom have provided great answers.

Musings of a Grouch – Chris Scott is the name of the author of this blog, and he has a lot to say about games, movies, book, and pretty much anything else that is considered entertainment. In addition to his fantastic writing, he also does some podcasting as well, which is a nice alternative when you’re eyes get tired from staring at a screen. He’s also helped me find some great horror films to watch.

thegamerboys – A dad-and-son duo, thegamerboys post quality reviews on a weekly basis. Seriously, these two review a lot of games – from new to old. The dad does all of the writing, but every now and then he will write a post describing his son’s experience with a game. I like reading that perspective; it takes me back to when I was a boy.

Video Games Nebula – We Adams need to stick together! But seriously, Astro Adam is one of the most creative game writers I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. His blog is chock full of quirky poems and stories that are short and satisfying. You’ll laugh, you’ll think, and you’ll probably learn a thing or two about creative writing and humor.

Home Button Gaming – You can find a slew of well-written game reviews and opinion pieces here. What mostly draws me to this blog is the series of “Photo Mode” posts. As a frequent user of photo tools in games, I love seeing these amazing screenshots. Sometimes I get inspired to try new things with my own photo taking.

Collegiate League of Legends – This dude is on to something. He focuses on eSports at the collegiate level, which I can see exploding in the next several years. Its super interesting to read about his experiences with gaming at the collegiate level, and learning about how much time you need to dedicate in order to compete. He also gave me some tips on how I can improve my blog!

This isn’t my first rodeo with game writing. I tried my hand at blogging in college, and I also wrote voluntarily for a few digital publications after I graduated college. I started off strong with both, but eventually my enthusiasm fizzled out. I can’t let that happen again. I won’t let it happen again. So here’s to another, better year of The Video Game Virtuoso!