Tattoo Extravaganza

Tattoos! Yay! Finally! I’m sorry for such a long wait on the request but I’ve been trying to find some really cool pictures. These pictures are all from google or buzzfeed so I don’t have credit for all of them, but none of these tattoos belong to me or anyone I know. If its your tattoo let me know who to give credit to. 

Ok, lets start by looking at some super cool tattoos. 

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This pen behind the ear tattoo is great for writers, carpenters and you know, other people who constantly have a pen behind their ear. You know what would spice it up? If it was one of those colorful pens. Also, it'd be cool if there was ink coming from the pen.

I've been impaled. Ok seriously, who wouldn't want to look like they've been stabbed repeatedly by nails? This design is made complete by the shadows and the blood. The nails themselves could use a little more dimension and more blood would look great. Come on, you've just been stabbed by  THREE nails, a little more blood couldn't hurt. This is still an all around epic idea though and since I'm no tattoo artist, I can't really judge.

This tattoo is so cool. It looks like the hulk came and smashed this dude's arm and when the skin fell off, it left a message of love, tolerance, integrity and family. The star kind of gives me the military vibe and its a great tribute. The detail around the star is impeccable.

This design is similar to the above one, but what i really love about this one is the scratch on the top. It adds a little more realism to the design. It really looks like there are pages under this dude's arm. Bravo!

You may have to look twice at this one. She isn't actually holding a baby. The newborn is tattooed to her chest. i don't know the story behind this but what if that's what her actual newborn baby looks like? Its a really cool idea, but unless you're going to walk around topless, I don't see the practicality. Wouldn't most of the design be covered up by a bikini top when she goes to the beach? Or you know, her shirt whenever she goes out?

Now, for what was really requested. Check out these sick Disney tattoos. These are from this buzzfeed article so kudos to them: More Disney tattoos 

Walt Disney's phone number? No, actually, its the coordinates of Disney World. First of all, how did they find out this information? [Probably a quick Google search] This is incredibly cool for a huge fan. They probably have some great memories at Disney World that they want to remember. It is the happiest place on earth after all. 

Just look at this design. Its so clean cut. The artist who drew this is seriously talented. Wow. 

Do you know who this is? ZERO from the Nightmare Before Christmas. He is my absolute favorite ghost dog ;) Its a really cute idea for a tattoo. 

Below are some more Disney tattoos that I found on Google. Apparently there are a lot of tattoo fanatics who also happen to be Disney fanatics. Who knew?

Maybe later on I'll make a post on the worst tattoos floating around the internet. As always, thank you for reading! :) PS, if you haven't seen, Shannon posted a cool article about Arts in NY vs Arts in LA. We all know which is the better place right ?? 

Where the Height of Creativity Lies -- LA or NYC?

Hey y'all! It's Shannon and I'm coming today with a comparison of the arts incorporated between the two cities Los Angeles and New York City.

If it hasn't been mentioned or made clear already in past blog posts, I am a freshman in college and I was originally a psychology major with a neuroscience minor, but a few weeks into the spring semester, I realized that a future in psychology is not for me, so I have a decided to become a dual major in psychology and creative writing! (I've also changed my minor to child youth studies--science is way too factual for my crazy mind).

Anyway, after I made the change, I've been reading a lot of articles, forums and stories from people who have become English majors or Creative Writing majors and the type of careers they all decide to partake for themselves. From everything I've read, (and trust me, I've read a lot), I've found that the the top two careers that people usually go for is being either: an editor or a college professor. Surprisingly enough, if I decide to go straight towards the creative writing route, my ultimate plan was to become a high school or college professor anyway. I love interacting with people with a maturing mind because I find that they are more likely to be engaging and grasp information better than people who are younger. However, even though I am most likely going to become a college professor, I cannot help but wonder if I could somehow fall into the other arts. I am by no means a singer, dancer or even a good actress, but screenwriting could be a career I wouldn't mind having. Creating a hit sitcom is a dream of mine that can, y'know, come true...right?

Okay, I'm rambling. Back to the title.

We all know that NYC and LA are two of the many exciting, wondrous cities in the country and even the world. LA is chic, chill and movie stars can be spotted left and right entering a local health food store, (which I hear L.A is notorious for) and NYC is exciting with its tall buildings, crowds of people with a plethora of nationalities with many languages, accents and tongues. Both sound to be interesting places one would go to start a career based in creativity.

I came across an interesting article that gave its pros and cons of each city and where one could get the most success. A lot of articles I've read, (mainly opinions of the person writing it), point to Los Angeles as the city you can achieve the most success.

Now I'm not here to bash L.A and curse out these writers and scream that New York City is the best city in the entire country and L.A can't come even close and blahblahblah...I just thought it'd be really interesting to post my own thoughts and views on these two cities. I'll include many aspects of the cities, not just creative opportunities that each city offers.

Please, if you are a Californian or New Yorker, do not take any offense to what is written. This is all in good fun and because I am bored.

FASHION

NYC

LA 

LA - relaxed, laid-back, beachy, highlighted hair, chic, light colors, very "California"hipster

NYC - urban, wide assortment of colors, fashions range from Bohemian to Williamsburg/Manhattan hipster

PEOPLE

LA - chill, friendly, healthy, beachy, hipster

NYC - urban, attitudish, upbeat, hipster

SIGHTS

LA - Hollywood Wax Museum: Museum filled with wax figures of famous movie stars

NYC - MoMa (The Museum of Modern Art): America's largest modern art institution

ENTERTAINMENT

LA - Hollywood: The capital of entertainment industry. The place actors and actresses everywhere hope and wish to be the one who make in big in television shows or get on the big screen, and singers and songwriters hope to be one day.

NYC - Broadway: Famous place for theatrical performances. Actors and actresses strive to gain success and eventually come to perform in plays and musicals. 

Where do the other creative people go? The artists and writers? Where are we most likely to gain success? Does it really have to do with where we live? Does it make a difference? Can one make it big while tucked away in the dark crevices of a cornfield in Kansas with a broken typewriter with little to no ink? Comment your views on the matter.

Let me know your thoughts! Tell me your preference between the two cities. Naturally, being born in Manhattan and raised in Queens, I prefer NYC. Which would you choose?

Don't forget to subscribe and follow our blog!

Anna's Art Class: Fun with Bleach.

Today I am going to teach you how to decorate a T shirt with bleach.

What you’ll need:

1)      A shirt

2)      Bleach

3)      A spray bottle

4)      Water

5)      Tape

6)      Newspaper

7)      Cardboard

8)      Stencil [see step two]

Step One: If your shirt is brand new, wash it. You don’t necessarily have to. I don’t usually do it, but the design will take better to fabric that hasn't been pre-shrunk. I have read that 100% cotton is the most ideal, but 50% will work as well.

Step Two: Prepare your stencil. You can free draw or use a stencil. If using a stencil you can print one out from the computer and cut one out or just buy a pre-made one. I recommend you do not use plain paper as a stencil template. On my first try I did that and the bleach bled through. The design will not be as precise and you have to be quick about pulling back the stencil. Opt for cardstock, folder or a more durable material.

Tip: A crafting knife is much easier than using a pair of scissors and I use it for all of my projects.

Step Three: Slip the cardboard in the bottom opening of the shirt. This is to prevent the bleach from bleeding through the front of the shirt.

Step Four: Tape the stencil onto the shirt. Cover the rest of the exposed shirt with newspapers or cardboard. Newspapers will bleed through as well so if you’re looking for a more precise design, opt for cardboard instead.

Step Five: Fill your spray bottle with a cup of water and a cup of bleach and mix it. You could probably use less especially if your design is small. Just remember to add the same amount of water as you do bleach. Another option is using a bleach pen which is better for free drawing a design.

Step Six: Spray your design. If you’re using paper, pull it off as soon as you have sprayed it because it WILL bleed through and make your design look splotchy.

Step Seven: Remove any cardboard and newspaper you have on your shirt and rinse it in the sink or the washing machine (with no soap). This is to stop the bleaching process. Then, toss it in the dryer to set the design.

Step Eight (Optional): You can decorate the finished product any way you like. You can layer fabric paint over the bleach, or on any other part of the shirt. You can iron on letters or designs. You can even sew on a patch or add some rhinestones.

Always use a scrap piece of fabric to try it out before you jump head first into the project! Also, I forgot to mention that you may want to tie a handkerchief around your mouth or use a medical or gas mask if you can’t stand the smell of bleach, are using a large amount or are going to spend more than a half hour on the project. My attempt took me only about ten minutes (for bleaching) because I had a fairly small design. Also as an extra precaution, use gloves if you know that you’re going to get messy and an apron is always recommended! You do not want to get bleach on your nice shirt because it will not come out! You can do the project anywhere depending on the amount of bleach you’re going to use. A bigger project should be done somewhere where you don’t mind the bleach smell lingering for a bit (it shouldn’t be much of a problem because we diluted it though.) Bleach is also used to make a stellar galaxy design, so keep your eyes peeled for that tutorial!

If you get more bleach on your shirt then you wanted, no need to worry. Work with it. I cut out the same stencil I had originally and placed it over the "blob" I was left with. I filled it in with white fabric paint and used the bleach as a background. 

This is the final product. I didn't intend for the random bleach spots but it makes the design stick out. I used bright fabric paint colors to draw attention away from the spotty background. What do you think?

Thank you for reading! Let me know in the comments below what you think. Also, follow us on tumblr! 

Writing 101: Keep on Writing. [Tips for Writers]

             Writing isn't easy. Some people are naturals, sure, but there isn't a single great writer out there who has just sat down, kicked their feet up and spit out a masterpiece. There is no such thing as an expert writer. We are all beginners. Why? Writing isn't fact based and you can’t be tested on it. It’s a hit or miss subject. One day you may have an idea as big as Harry Potter, but the next day you’re completely stuck. We never stop learning how to write. We are strongly influenced by the writing and speech of others and unless we are completely isolated from words, we will never stop learning. You can never reach the top simply because there is none. That is the most rewarding thing about writing.  That being said, I am here to share my non-expert opinion with you guys on how to step up your writing.

1)      Read. Read everything. Newspapers, advertisements, text messages. Everything. Words are everywhere and the way someone phrases something can greatly help your writing.

2)      Read writing from lesser known authors. Why? I’m not saying Harry Potter or the Hunger Games are bad books. To amass the following they have, it’s obvious they are fantastic pieces of writing. You already have a sense of how J.K Rowling writes. Keep reading her work if you enjoy it. Read a fresh piece of writing because you’d be surprised what is out there (some are even free, check out the many writing sites out there!)

3)      Support fellow writers. This applies specifically to your colleagues. Don’t steal their work. I know it seems obvious, but it has to be said. Align yourself with other writers. After staring at the same draft for months, you’ll want a fresh pair of eyes. This is not only useful for spotting mistakes, but also for networking opportunities and plausibility. Shannon and I share our writing with each other and she won’t hesitate to let me know if something isn't clear or just doesn't work. If your story takes place in a rural area, why does your character take the train? Wouldn't it be better is she had a car? Things like this aren't obvious right away. Also, one of your writer friends may be able to help you get your writing out there. We’re not usually competitive, so don’t be afraid that we’ll steal your ideas, or stomp on your dreams. At least not all of us. 

4)      Research! Yes research. But this isn't some college paper. True, but how can you write about a character who fought in World War II if you know nothing about it? You can try to fake it, but your readers will spot the inconsistencies right away.

5)      Do not get rid of any of your writing, even if it sucks. I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that everything you write is going to be turned into the next feature film. Most of your work will suck. I’m sorry. It doesn't mean you should stop trying. Don’t throw out that paragraph you took days to write. Don’t confuse it with omitting. If a paragraph doesn't fit with your idea, feel free to take it out of the document. Don’t delete the paragraph though. Cut and paste it into a separate document. Title it “Unused ideas” or something and when you’re stuck refer to it. It could possibly work for another story entirely. Or maybe it still sucks and has no place in your writing. Use that as motivation to improve. Tell yourself, “I can do way better than that” and just keep on writing.

6) You have nothing to fear. Who cares if someone rejects your writing? If its something you can fix, then go back and fix it. We all make mistakes. If someone hates your story because its fantasy and they only read romance, then ignore them. Their opinion isn't relevant to you or your genre. If someone tells you that your third chapter has absolutely no place in your prospective novel, but you're 100% sure that its the defining scene of the whole work, then leave it. Its your work not theirs. That is one opinion. Others may think otherwise. The most important thing at the end of the day is that you're happy with what you wrote, not your neighbor Jim, your cousin Sally or your best friend who happens to have an MFA in Creative Writing.

7) Take Creative Writing Classes and Workshops. Its the best place to meet other writers. They'll give you honest opinions on your work without sugar coating anything. Also, some of the best creative writing classes are taught by famous authors. They have a lot of knowledge of the writing world that they won't mind sharing with you. 

My best advice is to take in the words and speech patterns of others and learn from them. Keep raising the bar with your writing. Keep improving and you’ll be satisfied with the results. I hope my five tips could help you! Follow us on here or tumblr: thelovelywriters.tumblr.com! 

Join the Fight to Bring Back Better Television!

Hello! It's Shannon! It's been a while, and I apologize for the long break.

Today, I wanted to write about something a bit depressing...well, depressing for me and maybe depressing for a lot of people my age. I want to talk about past and current television shows. This is going to gear towards children television channels, though, because, well...I'm a kid at heart.

Why would this topic be depressing, you ask yourself? Well, I'll tell you why, but first, if you're reading this and you are below the age of twelve, do not take offense to anything that I write. I don't mean to bash the things you watch. I'm simply stating my opinions on the matter.

Let's start with the history of television! Don't worry, I'm not giving a history lesson here. I'll just be brief.

To put it simply, I don't watch television.

Why? These television shows, nowadays, suck. Why?

Alright, guys, let's all fasten our seat belts and step onto the bus going down the road to past memories and cable television.

Let's start with Nickelodeon. Raise your hands, (or better yet, follow and subscribe to this blog), if you remember these shows:

- Spongebob Squarepants
- The Fairly Oddparents
- The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron
- Chalkzone
- Rugrats
- All That
- The Amanda Show
- Kenan and Kel
- Drake and Josh
- Catdog
- Doug
- Hey Arnold
- Rocko's Modern World

And etc.

Sound familiar? Ahhh, those were the good old days. When kiddie television was actually funny. Notice how I put Spongebob and the Fairly Oddparents on the list. Yeah, these shows are still running, but the episodes aren't as hilarious as they used to be. I know, because I spent basically the whole summer watching Spongebob day in and day out. I've seen the new episodes and I never chuckle once. And don't say it's because I've grown because I'm still really immature for my age.

Sigh.

Okay, next.

I used to be solo addicted to Cartoon Network. I remember Fridays used to be my favorite day of the week as a kid because not only was it the start of the weekend, I knew that at 7:00 that night I'd be tuning in to Fridays, a two-hour show that shows new episodes from a variety of shows like:

- Ed, Edd and Eddy (I always thought Double Dee was a girl)
- Courage the Cowardly Dog (I wanted to adopt him)
- Codename Kids Next Door (I had a crush on Numbah 4)
- The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy (Hilarious show!)
- The Powerpuff Girls (I was obsesssssed with Blossom. I was her for Halloween!)
- Dexter's Laboratory (How could he fit his huge lab in a small house?)
- Samurai Jack (Oh my god, I loved this show!!!)

There have been some good sitcoms since those days, but none can come close to Robot Jones or Foster's Home of Imaginary Friends. Like...never.

And finally:

This channel is probably what pisses me off most about current television. If you're around my age, you'll probably agree with me when I say that comedy and life morals are seriously lacking on this channel. We used to have shows that gave a lesson at the end of the episode. Okay, yeah, the current ones give lessons too, I guess, but for some reason, the lessons seem to go in one ear and then out the other and they make you want to change the channel.

Let's reminisce on the best shows Disney Channel has ever had:

- Even Stevens (Shia Lebeouf before puberty...unf)
- The Proud Family (This was my show)
- Lizzie McGuire (Hilary Duff is basically the queen of Disney Channel)
- That's So Raven (Raven is the Diva of Disney Channel)
- Phil of the Future (Where the hell is Ricky Ullman now?)
- Kim Possible (Oh my god, Rufus was adorable!)
- Life with Derek (I LOVED THIS SHOW)
- Hannah Montana (...bangers)

The list can go on for ages.

Now we have shows that gear towards dancing like Shake it Up or Austin and Ally and all of that. I see preteens dress a way they shouldn't be dressing until they're of college age.

There was a controversial episode on Shake it Up where a dancer boasted about not eating that led to a lot of letters of complaints about this episode. When I heard about this I was so upset. There is an episode on That's So Raven where Raven stands up to a model and states that every body is beautiful the way it is, and Raven, being overweight, catwalks on the runway.

That was old Disney.

Again, I do not mean to bash the shows currently on these channels. I am simply stating my disapproval to where television has come to. It just makes me sad seeing my younger brother and cousins grow up watching abysmal shows that literally mean nothing and how they've missed a whole decade filled with shows that actually meant something, something they could have possibly related to.

Could this be something I could help change in the future? Perhaps. My career plan folder is still empty,  but I have many, many ideas that I hope can become reality one day. We need to bring back old television.

Please follow and subscribe! See you next week!

Dream Game Releases

All gamers have an informal list of games they wish they could play newer, updated versions of. In some cases, that may just be an HD remake, as Square Enix has done twice this year. For others it’s a sequel to a much loved game; a continuation to a story. Where are our favorite characters now? Below I have compiled a list of 5 games that I’d love to get my hands on if they were ever released. (Most of these are unlikely, and probably impossible but you never know!)

1.       Left for Dead 3! Left for Dead was an amazing game for both PC and Xbox 360. In 2009 Left for Dead two was released with a whole new cast of characters, new special infected and even the addition of melee weapons. This zombie hack and slash/shooter is highly re-playable. The story is set up into various campaigns. There are various different game modes and DLC maps that have people still playing the game with their friends five years later. Also, there are a ton of maps that users have created to switch things up a bit. Maybe this is why Valve hasn't pushed forward with a Left for Dead 3? This sequel to a sequel would have many devoted fans practically throwing money at Valve.

2.       Final Fantasy 7 Remake. A simple port has already been released by Square Enix on the PC and Playstation network. Many would like to see Cloud, Aerith, Tifa and the others outgrow their pixels. It has already been said by the company that a remake is VERY unlikely but not impossible. Sadly, we won’t be seeing it anytime soon.

3.       Final Fantasy 7 Crisis Core Remake for the PS3/PS4/Vita. Crisis Core has to be one of my favorite games of the franchise. The story, characters and battle system are all incredible. While I’d prefer taking the game to my HD TV, I’d still settle for a Vita release with cleaner graphics, faster loading times and the ability to skip cut scenes (which would be extremely useful after you've lost to a boss and have to watch the same scene over and over until you've practically memorized it, or is that just me?). Heck, I’d be happy if they just ported it to the PS3/PS4 so I could play on a larger screen.

4.       Pokemon Remake. I’m positive that the Pokemon hype is not going to die down anytime soon, especially after the huge success of Pokemon X and Y. I’d like to see the same mechanics as X and Y but with an old Pokemon game. A lot of fans want to see a Hoenn remake, but I’m fine with any of the former regions being upgraded to the glory of 3D graphics and easier IV breeding.

5.       An Online Multiplayer Sims Game. A while back this was a thing. It was called Sims Online. I never had the opportunity to play it, but I did get to see screenshots. You are basically playing Sims but your neighbors are other players online. I don’t know exactly how this would work, or why the Sims Online was cancelled in the first place but I do know a lot of Sims fans would love to relive something like this. There are a ton of social Sims players who have blogs, and actively contribute to the Simming community. The Sims developers have made small steps to include online social interactions between the players, so this could be a possibility. I don’t think we’d be seeing something like this too soon though, especially because The Sims 4 is being released soon and a lot of resources are being put into that.  

What games do you wish will have a release date soon? Let us know in the comments below!  

Writing 101: Writer's Block

The reason this is being posted so late is simple, writer’s block. I had absolutely no idea what to write about, so I figured I’d tackle it head on. So, you sit down at your computer desk. Microsoft Word is open, you probably have some snacks by you, and you’re munching away while trying to figure out what you want to say. The words aren’t coming out so you log onto some form of social media in hopes of finding an idea but you only end up distracting yourself more. Eventually you give up and go play Candy Crush or Farm Frenzy.

            

    Woah, let’s rewind. Giving up is the easiest choice, but it’s never the best. You have A LOT to say, you just aren’t spitting the words out as easily.

    Well, Anna, since you seem to know my struggle, what do I do?

I have a few tips and tricks that may help you, actually.

1)      Look at what is in front of you. What do you see? Write it down in as much detail as possible. For example, talking about the smooth texture of the desk may spark something. Maybe the smooth texture somehow relates to the characters or setting of your new novel.

2)      Grab a piece of loose leaf. Sometimes all it takes is having a pen in your hand to motivate you to write.

3)      Once you have the paper or your laptop ready, write anything. I mean ANYTHING. Any single word can lead to the next best-selling novel, you never know.

4)      Take a break and come back later. Everyone needs a break sometimes. You may be putting too much pressure on yourself. Clearing your head will definitely benefit you.

5)      Take a nap. Did you know that Stephenie Meyer got the idea of Twilight from a dream she had?

6)      Eat some food, you’ll work better.

7)      Look up some writing prompts online. There are so many websites dedicated to this. Free writing can lead to something much bigger.

8)      Watch a movie. Sometimes the distractions really are necessary. The plot of a movie may inspire you to write something similar, or maybe even strikingly different [because you hated it so much].

Here are eight tips that may help you with your writer’s block. While I’m not guaranteeing that any of these work, you will come out a stronger writer by free writing and your body and brain will thank you for the break. Thanks for reading and happy writing!

It's Showtime! WWE Live Event.

        This is a new segment that I am going to use to review sporting events, concerts and others of the sort. Over the weekend I attended a WWE live event. It was a Road to WrestleMania show, meaning that basically it was a house show. House shows differ from RAW, Smackdown and pay per views because they aren't televised. Un-televised events are much less crowded, lack special effects like fireworks, and also don’t have any announcers at the announcer table. Despite the lack of glamour though, house shows are amazing. They strip down the usual theatrics and really focus on the in ring action. I’m all for the drama of WWE, but it is refreshing to see wrestlers in the ring for ten plus minutes (including those who weren't scheduled for the main event!) really showcasing their talent. Another great aspect of house shows are how the wrestlers interact with the fans. Besides WrestleMania Axxess and autograph signings, house shows are a great way for fans to get some one on one attention with the superstars and divas (well, that is if you can get seats in the front). Even if you aren’t sitting in floor seats though, superstars and divas take the extra effort to include their fans by starting chants, talking directly to the entire stadium, or even asking them to cast a vote.     

      

       This house show was no different. I had a blast trying to guess which superstar would come out next, who would win and of course chanting “Let’s go Cena!” along a chorus of “Cena sucks!” One highlight of the show that particularly stood out to me was a match starring Titus O’Neil. He claimed he could beat any superstar who came out. Do you know who came out? No days off Darren Young! He ran down, pinned Titus in a matter of minutes and slid out of the ring. The match wasn't over though, Titus shouted that the referee messed up and he would no doubt beat the next person to come out. The world’s strongest man, Mark Henry, came out to the blaring of his theme song. Instantly, Titus tensed up and exclaimed something along the lines of, “I wanted to fight Darren again!” The match commenced and of course, Mark Henry dominated. Suddenly there was another theme song, this time belonging to “Bad News” Barret. He claimed that he was the original opponent of Titus, rushed into the ring and attacked Mark Henry! Titus joined in on the assault on poor Mark Henry! Hundreds of gasps and cheers came from the audience as Darren Young slid back into the ring to help the world’s strongest man. But wait, it doesn't end there. Yet another person came out and addressed Titus directly. It was none other than the general manager of RAW, Brad Maddox. He pointed out that Titus didn't lose once, but twice making him the biggest loser of the night. He then asked the audience whether or not we’d want to see Titus have the opportunity to lose again, this time paired up with Barret. Maddox didn't leave without encouraging the audience to call Titus a loser any time they saw fit throughout the match.  With Titus’ luck, the winner was obvious, Mark Henry and Darren Young. The match was both comical and exhilarating. It included the fans in all of the action as well.

Titus O'Neil being called out by RAW General Manager, Brad Maddox

       That was just one of the match-ups that night. I strongly recommend that if you’re a wrestling fan, you venture out and see a house show. I hope you enjoyed reading this. Leave a comment and share this post! Next post will be up on Wednesday! 

Outlast Game Review [PS4]

Today I present you with another game review. Today, I will be reviewing Outlast for the PS4. It is also available for the PC, but I have only played the console version. I actually completed a full play through, earning all but two trophies on the PSN.

Outlast is a straight up horror game. If mutated creatures jumping out at you is not your thing, then I suggest you drop the controller. I have to say, it may be the scariest game I've ever played.

Picture from the Outlast trailer.

You play as a journalist who is going into an insane asylum to document the horrible experiments done on the patients. The game is first person, so you can only essentially see what the character sees. You never actually see what the main character looks like, other than his arm. It gives the illusion that you are in fact the one exploring this abandoned hospital. The first scene is an excruciatingly slow drive up to the building. You are given a video camera with night vision capability, a folder to hold case notes and some batteries. Depending on the level of difficulty you choose, the amount of batteries your camera can hold changes. The camera itself will never turn off if you run out of batteries, but you will not be able to use night vision, which in a dark building will prove difficult to venture through. When you finally reach the actual building, the front gate is locked. If that’s not any indication to leave, I don’t know what is. Instead, you are prompted to find an alternate entrance. The first mistake of the protagonist.

Tip: Once inside the building, you should never put your camera away. Leave the night vision off when there is enough light to see. The camera captures events that will in turn give you notes that will not only give you an achievement for completion but also gives you more insight of the story.

            The mutant people in the asylum are hideous. Seeing a person walk around the building is enough to make you run in the other direction. You can’t actually fight the creatures who come after you, making the game all that scarier. When you actually get up close and personal with the patients, the details seem to be lacking, but not enough to take away any fear from the game. While Outlast is considered an escape game, you are not trying to solve any puzzles to leave the building. The gameplay in this sense is pretty straightforward in which all you have to do is find your way through the building and everything else will fall into play.

            Play Outlast with the volume turned all the way up and the lights off. If you want the full experience, make sure you play at when you won’t mind finishing the game in a full sitting (there is no saving in insane mode for those of you horror fanatics). I played it in portions and still found the gameplay frightening and satisfying but playing in one sitting gives you the feeling that you’re trapped in an asylum and can’t get out. Also, playing with friends around is really fun. I played the game with my brother, and we passed the controller around after every part. The excitement of Outlast is that you’ll have fun watching the game as much as you’d have fun playing the game yourself. In fact, if you don’t have a PS4 and don’t want to buy the game on PC, I recommend watching gameplay videos because some of the player’s reactions are golden.

        

            You don’t have to be an experienced gamer to play Outlast. The gameplay is simple, you have to find your way out of the building with the occasional running away from a crazy mutant patient. Like I mentioned before, why not have a party and invite even some of your non-gamer friends? Outlast has a great story and enough fright to keep everyone entertained. Lastly, for you horror buffs, the attention to detail in certain parts of the game is amazing. Keep an eye out for bloody puddles. Step in those and you’ll be leaving red footprints.

            In short, Outlast is a horror game. There is no fighting your attackers, so you better find the best hiding places. The detail gives you the feeling that you’re actually trapped in an asylum and not just playing a video game. The story and scares are enough to warrant a play through, but if you rather not spend the twenty dollars on a game that is only good for one initial play through (once you know when all the scares happen, it isn't quite fun anymore, unless you’re going to try insane mode) then I strongly recommend watching the walk-through online. There isn't much more that I can say other than, give Outlast a try because I guarantee that it is unlike any other game you've played before.

I hope you enjoyed my review! Let me know in the comments below. Next post is on Friday, stay tuned!  

Meeting Two 'Total Divas'

              Thursday afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting two Total Divas, Natalya and Summer Rae. For those of you who are unfamiliar with these two ladies, they are wrestlers on WWE. They are now a part of a reality series called Total Divas that airs Sundays (The season premier is tomorrow night actually).  I had to make a special post today off of our normal schedule to let you know how it went.

               

                I picked up my phone to check twitter that morning which I don’t usually do. Finding out that these divas were going to be signing free autographs later on that day, I ran up to my room to change my outfit. I just had to find my Fandango shirt to impress Summer Rae! The signing was right near where I was going to be and I happened to have finished class early that day, which was awesome.  I rushed over to NBC with my friend and after getting some food and parting ways, I lined up and waited for the divas to get there. I was there at around 12:30 pm and the signing didn’t start until 2:30. I got there pretty early so I would be guaranteed a wrist band and let into the signing. Being there early had its perks because I was right in front of the make shift barricade, meaning I was in a few feet from Natalya and Summer Rae.

              

                 As for any signing, we were told that we should have our camera ready and be prepared to be rushed through if the crowd got too big. Luckily for me, it was a Thursday afternoon when everyone was either at work or school, so the crowd wasn’t relatively large. Natalya and Summer Rae took some glamour shots for Total Divas and conversed with some fans in the front before starting the signing. Somebody called out to Natalya about her almost win on Main Event for the Divas title the prior Tuesday in which she replied with a smile, “Hey, I’m keeping her on her toes!” (Referring to the current Divas Champion AJ Lee).

                

                 I nervously stood on line and waited for my turn to come. Since there was not a lot of people, the line went relatively slow and I didn’t mind at all. I was enjoying watching Summer Rae and Natalya converse with their fans one on one. It was nice not being pushed through a line before even getting to say hi to the person you waited two hours to see. Natalya was especially grateful to her fans, knowing most of them from prior events which I thought was really cool.

               

                Finally my turn came and I was on the point of hyperventilating (But keeping up my poker face of course). I got to shake Summer Rae’s hand and Natalya smiled and asked how I was doing.  I told her I was doing great and then I was reminded of the conversation I had with one of my friends while on the line, telling me to let Natalya and Summer Rae know how big of a fan of theirs she was, which I did. She couldn’t make it to the event, and being my go to wrestling friend, I couldn’t let the opportunity escape. Natalya and Summer Rae were gracious and Natalya asked what my friend’s name was. When I told her, she personalized an autograph just for her and told me to tell my friend it was a gift from her and Summer Rae (which my friend was extremely surprised and excited about).

                

               After that, I had a chance to have a conversation with the two (I had apparently bought myself two extra minutes with the divas while they signed my friend’s autograph). Summer Rae did notice my shirt and told me she loved it, which I was ecstatic about, having spent the extra ten minutes in the morning looking for it. After they were done with my friend’s autograph, they signed one personally to me as well. I couldn’t think of anything to say to the two because I was so shocked to be standing in front of the them in the first place so I started to discuss my friend’s obsession with Emma and how torn she was between the two dancers, which Natalya thought was absolutely adorable and Summer Rae called, “a good problem to have”. After that, I got to take a picture with the two and I said my goodbyes.

I forgot to mention that the person running the event had my camera the entire time and literally was snapping away throughout my entire conversation with the two which I’m actually very pleased with. She even captured me mid handshake with Summer Rae and having a conversation with the two where they look genuinely interested in what I had to say, how cool is that? The staff at NBC were actually great. There was really no need for the guards to do anything but watch the crowd because we were really tame (as compared to other wrestling events I’ve been to). The person taking my photo was phenomenal and not once did I feel like someone was pushing me along and telling me to hurry up. With the relatively small crowd, the organized staff at the NBC store and the two incredibly kind and amazing divas, I had a fantastic time and I can't wait for the next wrestling related event I get to be a part of! 

Hope you enjoyed reading this! The next post is on Wednesday! Stay tuned!