Tag: Watching Other People Play Videogames

One of my old worlds

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I did my second non-parkrun this morning…

…and since then I’ve had a very pleasant afternoon working on my new game, with Geth’s first playthrough of Fire Emblem: Three Houses in the background for entertainment. My game is based on the first idea I had for the most recent game jam – I didn’t have much time to work on my jam game last month, so chose a simpler game idea, but I knew I wanted to make the first one as well once I didn’t have any time constraints. It takes place in a fictional world that I originally invented in 2003 when I started working on my first adult full-length novel. I worked on the novel on and off for years before moving onto other projects, and so I never quite got it to a completed state, but I’m excited that I will finally get to share the story with the world via a few different releases (games and possibly some ebooks) that I will be putting out in the next couple of years.

I’ll also be doing a bit of gaming myself this evening. I’ve been really enjoying the Bravely Default II demo, and I’ve also still got a lot of games that I’m dipping in and out of on the 3DS. I find that, alongside running, it’s the best way of maintaining my mental health during these difficult times.

A similar day tomorrow, I hope 🙂

Fire Emblem: Three Houses
This is the new game Geth is playing after he finally finished Dragon Quest 11S the other day. I’m already appreciating the change in background music!

Today’s earworm playlist:

Spandau Ballet – ‘Gold’
Wiz Khalifa – ‘Black And Yellow’
Stereophonics – ‘Handbags And Gladrags’

And a bonus track that Geth was humming earlier:

Judas Priest – ‘Breaking The Law’

Another indoor week begins

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Just a recovery mile this morning…

…and since then I’ve spent the afternoon doing work for clients. Geth ventured out to Sainsbury’s this morning and managed to get most of what we needed, so hopefully this is a sign that supermarket stocks might be starting to stabilise.

Yesterday evening we managed to get some boardgaming in (we didn’t play Pandemic, though it was tempting!), and this evening will be spent on my 3DS. While the ongoing situation is still incredibly dread-inducing and depressing, my increased quantity of me-time is most definitely a silver lining. I’ve been lucky enough to get a fair bit of work lined up for this week, which prevents things from feeling too aimless.

A similar day tomorrow, then, and I expect the rest of the week will be the same!

Dragon Quest 11S
Geth has been playing Dragon Quest 11S on the Switch since he got it as a Christmas present, so it’s been a feature of our environment for three months now. While it is a pleasant game to watch, I’m quite looking forward to him moving onto something else.

Today’s earworm playlist:

Russ Abbot – ‘Atmosphere’
Eddy Grant – ‘I Don’t Wanna Dance’

Gig excitement!

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Another full day of working on my various coding projects today, but I’ll be putting them aside until Thursday afternoon now, as I’m off to London tomorrow for a gig. I’ll be seeing Andy Taylor (formerly of Duran Duran) at the 100 Club. Very excited! I’m not dragging Geth down to this one, but it sounds like there’ll be a good crowd of Duran fans attending the gig, so I won’t be on my own.

Now that we’re into the last few days of November, life looks like it will be fairly busy until January. I’m hoping I can still get a good chunk of work done on my creative projects during December though. Fingers crossed.

World Of Final Fantasy: Maxima
Not an OOTD: Geth is still providing soothing background music by way of playing World Of Final Fantasy: Maxima.

Today’s earworm playlist:

Bittersweet Machines – ‘Break Your Love Apart’
Cast of Oliver! – ‘Consider Yourself’
Tony Deans – ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’*
Duran Duran – ‘Ball Of Confusion’
Shakespear’s Sister – ‘Stay’

*This is a cracking mellow piano version. Thoroughly recommended!

Background inspiration

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Geth has started playing a new videogame, which is always the best thing to happen when I’m in the middle of a creative project because (a) it keeps him quiet and (b) it provides the most productive background music for my working brain. The current game in question is World Of Final Fantasy: Maxima, which is doing an adequate job in the music department.

As such, I’ve been able to get a good chunk done on my NaNo today, despite a slow morning. Hoping to continue that pattern over the next few days.

BeebEm startup screen
Not an OOTD: and then there’s this particular obsession, which I’m also spending a lot of time learning at the moment…

Today’s earworm playlist:

I genuinely haven’t had anything in my own head today because we’ve had the aforementioned videogame on all day. However, here’s a bonus track that Geth was humming earlier:

All Saints – ‘Never Ever’

Staying out of the rain

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I’m seeing a lot of complaints on social media today about how hot and muggy it is. This is not the case in Newcastle. It’s wet and miserable, and Geth and I had the fire on all morning.

As such, it has been a good day for staying in the house and getting work done. I spent the morning editing for clients, and am now getting on with my own writing. Geth is playing the remastered version of Final Fantasy XII at the moment, which is nicely soundtracking my work.

A slightly more hectic day tomorrow, so I’m glad I’ve been able to get so much done today!

OOTD 25th June 2019
OOTD: managed to nip out during a break in the rain! Jumpsuit St Michael by Marks & Spencer (vintage 1980s, bought at vintage fair 2016), belt unknown brand (vintage 1980s, thrifted from Mum 2019), boots Asos (2018).

Today’s earworm playlist:

Heaven 17 – Crushed By The Wheels Of Industry
Haircut 100 – Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)
Duran Duran – Perfect Day
Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus – Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
Avicii and Aloe Blacc – SOS
Mark Ronson and Lykke Li – Late Night Feelings

Ticking boxes

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Mostly an admin and writing day today, ticking things off my to-do list to the sound of the Final Fantasy XII soundtrack (Geth is videogaming again).

Glad the weather’s brightened up at last! Hoping it continues over the weekend.

OOTD 10th May 2019
OOTD: it’s starting to look like summer again! Dress unknown brand (vintage 1980s, bought at vintage fair 2017), shoes Initiale Paris (2018).

Today’s earworm playlist:

The Midnight – Kick Drums And Red Wine
The Midnight – Days Of Thunder
Gunship – When You Grow Up Your Heart Dies

(Geth and I have had the synthwave playlists on again!)

April power

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I’ve got April off to a good start with a really productive Monday. Job done for a client, 1,000 words written for my Camp NaNoWriMo project, all my usual daily writing tasks done, plus I FINALLY got my book pitch sent off to an agent. Just the one, but I’ll be contacting another tomorrow, and the next day, and so on until I get through my agent shortlist. They all have different rules about submission so it’s a bit fiddly.

The weather’s taken a turn for the miserable (as expected – we had quite a nice March, so it goes without saying that April will be cold and wet!), so Geth’s decided to stay in instead of going boardgaming tonight. As such, I’ve got some pleasant-ish videogame sounds in the background while I’m getting on with my evening tasks (he’s playing The Banner Saga, so it’s all Viking grunts rather than nice JRPG music, but it’s still fairly relaxing).

More running and driving tomorrow, with a bit of writing squeezed around the edges.

OOTD 1st April 2019
OOTD: Geth wanted an ‘industrial’ background today. Scarf Marks & Spencer (2017), hoodie Sonar (2006), t-shirt Stella Stanley for Beauty Of Gemina (2014), jeans Vivid (2018), trainers Reebok (2013).

Today’s earworm playlist:

Duran Duran – White Lines
The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown – Fire
David Bowie – The Man Who Sold The World
Duran Duran – The Chauffeur
Arcadia – Say The Word
Charlie Puth – One Call Away
Ed Sheeran – Happier
Pink – Walk Me Home

And a bonus track that Geth was humming earlier:

Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder – Together In Electric Dreams

Twelfth Night

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Last day of Christmas, last evening with the Christmas decorations up! I’ll be taking them all down tomorrow morning.

It’s been a nice quiet day – we’ve got most of our bags unpacked and put away now. Geth has been playing videogames with nice soundtracks, and I’ve been getting on with my writing.

I’ve been trying and failing to get up early for the last couple of days. I’m going to try and get an early night so that I can make a better stab at it tomorrow morning! I really need to get back into routine.

OOTD 5th January 2019
OOTD: with bonus Christmas lights before they have to go away for another year! Glasses Emporio Armani (2017), hoodie unknown brand (2009).

Today’s earworm playlist:

Post Malone and Swae Lee – Sunflower
Loud Luxury and Brando – Body
George Ezra – Shotgun
Duran Duran – Save A Prayer
Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas?

Back to work

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I always take at least ten days off for Christmas, so there was a bit of a backlog of work to do for clients today. I got it all done though, so I’ve got a clean slate again for next week.

Now enjoying a relaxed evening with Geth playing Civilisation VI (it has a very soothing soundtrack).

OOTD 4th January 2019
OOTD: glad I work from home so I can still be this comfy. Jumper unknown brand (vintage 1980s, bought at vintage fair 2017), jeans Vivid (2018).

Today’s earworm playlist:

Ed Sheeran – Shape Of You
Spandau Ballet – True

New rules

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I was up early this morning for a nice brisk walk to Slimming World, where I found out I’d put on an obscene amount of weight that I don’t want to talk about. Mum reckons it might partly be the scales at the group I go to during Christmas, though, ’cause the same thing happened last year.

Anyway, it spurred me on to cook an actual healthy SW-friendly meal tonight, so Geth and I had a delicious pasta dish. There are some new rules for the Slimming World plan that have come into force this week (everyone is being given an updated book), and the main change is that you can now have two Healthy Extra A choices. I’m slightly dubious about this (I don’t drink coffee every day or have cereal that often, so on non-coffee days I’m likely just to end up doubling my cheese portion, and that can’t be right…can it?), but I’m going to give it a go over the next few weeks and see how it works out.

The rest of the day has been nice and relaxed with lots of background music from Geth’s videogames!

OOTD 27th December 2018
OOTD: slightly inept weigh-in outfit (I’d run out of clean leggings, and I’m sure the jeans didn’t help my scales result – this is what happens at Christmas when I can’t remember what day of the week it is). Jacket unknown brand (estimated vintage 1990s, bought at vintage shop 2003), jeans Vivid (2018).

Today’s earworm playlist:

Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas?
Duran Duran – Hungry Like The Wolf
Captain Sensible – Happy Talk