#if only i could mod the game just to be able to roam freely with the camera because this world is so vast and beautiful

[gummi-ships]

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep - Radiant Garden

[campfireescapist]

Escapism in video games I play

Animal Crossing: When people think about video games and Escapism, Animal Crossing is probably the first thing to cross your mind. The same obviously goes for me, which is why it’s at the very top of the list, even when these aren’t really in a specific order. The first time I played Animal Crossing I was in first grade playing on the gamecube. My avatar I named after a friend and had accidently made it a boy, but I loved it regardless. When I was little there wasn’t a time I wasn’t playing the game or talking to the villagers. It was something that seemed natural, at times I still remember laying on my cousins large bed (she lived with us at the time) and playing while the sun illuminated the screen through the blinds. I can only look back on those times fondly, and honestly miss the carefreeness of my childhood where as I grew and my insomnia grew worse I could play until well past three in the morning. Tom Nook kept me busy, Rolf even with his gruffness never failed to make me smile, and K.K’s songs where something I watched with a floaty an oddly melancholy feeling, likely because I knew eventually the song would end and I’d have to wait another week to see that white dog again. In the real world I still scoff at the thought of community because it always seemed like everyone at school or just people in general promised their affection and support but were incredibly quick to contradict that promise, it always felt like the saying, guilty before proven innocent, and when playing Animal Crossing I didn’t feel that. Sure at times the villagers were grumpy but I never took it to heart. My gameplay always seemed to be few and far inbetween, but there was never a moment I didn’t feel absolutely despair when the villagers cried about how long I’ve been gone. It only made sense because it's hard for me to recall pure moments of happiness in my life but can recall many many times I’ve smiled widely hearing the nonsense gibberish of the villagers and asking them how their day went. Lately I’ve engrossed myself in trying to complete the fossils in the museum, a slightly tedious task but it was a task nonetheless that I know I needed with my real life constantly pummeling with a lack of purpose. The collecting, fishing, catching, and payments were all little accomplishments in themselves and they continue to be, and I hear often it’s those things that bring those with depression to the game because taking care of their village is something they actually want to do. It’s an effort in its own right and a commitment that doesn’t feel like a chore. Commitment is often a struggle on my behalf, and at times as I grew older when my life was hectic and I tried to play, that feeling of tediousness did nag me but I’ve heard before with Animal Crossing, the experience is highly affected by your mood. With the new Animal Crossing coming out, I know I’ll be playing on days when the world is too much or when my mind needs to fixate on something. The game has always been exceptionally good at being something you can play not just with your full attention, but also when you simply need something to zone out to. It’s made easy with the soft tones and minute details that make your town not just a place but a home. A home that you recount in your dreams, a home that makes you feel homesick when you’re not playing. Animal Crossing gives you an experience, an experience they were actually first to give in all of gaming. They let you build a life, a better life then you have, or just a life you wished you could live without overwhelming responsibility and harmful people. It gives you a second chance when no one else does making it the perfect and ideal game to escape to.

Minecraft: To be able to escape I believe, at least from my own experience, one must have a strong or vivid imagination. A game about building is and was something of a creative release. I play minecraft more than any other game I think I’ve ever played, not only because I could be mindless but I could begin a narrative in my head, acting it out with my character. Something I need to do often as my head always seems to need a constant stream of something, and building a life and home where I’d need not only to gather materials but fight monsters. It becomes an expected but still surprising world, where there's really no end. You can walk a thousand miles and still be finding new shapes and structures that leave you with a sense of wonderment. It’s a game that offers two different ways of playing making it ideal for whatever mood you’re in, peaceful or hardcore. There’s never a bad time to play, and there’s never a way you’re doing it wrong. The main reason minecraft calls to me though, is it’s multiplayer option and the mods. I started playing Minecraft because I first saw many people on youtube playing and I wanted those experiences for myself. I’d ended up downloading that multiplayer for minecraft app and played with so many people, one person who I’m still in contact (even when we shouldn’t but that’s a different story) but the memories where always fond. Nowadays I still play survival mode with my friend back home. I’ve just moved away and my best friend is now states away and we’ve been using Minecraft as a way to bond, and I’m grateful we did because even if I’m just looking at her avatar it still feels like we’re together. When it comes to mods, we both value the new experience and immerse ourselves further into the world we get to make together. The same feeling is also accomplished on single player. But regardless of mods or how many people are playing, Minecraft is an immersive fulfilling experience that only gets dry when you run out of creativity, or used just a little too much for the time being. It’s a game for everyone that is hard not to come back too.

Animal Jam: This is an online game I discovered on a lonely summer, with Club Penguin there was a hole of online games for people to talk with and do missions gone. Animal Jam made up for that with features and experiences that Club Penguin itself lacked. You can be a number of animals with customizable patterns, it also has a lot to offer even without a membership. You can make art and hang it in your home, add friends and talk freely. (It’s still a kids website, but currently they have a new game called Feral coming out for older audiences so you can have more adult conversations on there.) Seasonal tasks appear and role playing with other members is a common occurrence. If you want a free roam game where you can be yourself in a friendly world, that’s sponsored by Animal Planet. A special thing about this website/game though, what also makes it an easy escape is the learning features. There’s videos and facts about animals everywhere, even a live camera in the ocean you can watch! Maybe it’s just me but watching cute little geckos and fish swim are a pretty good distraction while filling your brain!

Pokemon: Pokemon is a game about bonding and trusting the bonds you make along your journey. Unlike the games I’ve listed before, Pokemon is not only a free roaming game but also Story oriented. It’s a clear path to follow that’s enthralling, everytime I play I normally beat the game in exactly twenty four hours. The characters are so finely written that you grow attached easily, as if they were real, they become your friends the same way your pokemon do. On the top of my head I can say my teams from each game I’ve played. You grow and bond, you get concerned when your pokemon takes a hit. It’s a world you wish was real with it’s magical creatures making life easier. In the real world we have pets, but in Pokemon you have a creature who will fight for you, play with you, they look to you and promise you they will hold on, will hold back tears to make you happy. I think getting to love something that grows to love you back pulls at your heart strings and makes the experience more personal than you expect. Even when the stories are over, there’s something extra, always something to do, and it’s hard to put down. It’s a journey that never ends in a world so well thought out, you know it’s home by the end of the game.

Poptropica: Another story oriented game that strays from others by being purely straight forward. You have to follow along, you have to figure out what comes next to further the story along or no progress will be made. I’ve heard and experienced, some people take longer, or have a little trouble getting into a mindset that they can flow too. Poptropica very quickly sets the tone by starting the story and urging you along, urging you to explore to find the next step, and if not the game lets you stew by basically pausing all action. The islands vary in difficulties, meaning you can choose something easy or hard depending on how long you want to be at what you’re doing, and there's multiple islands, meaning multiple stories you can find yourself living. You’ve probably played this game before and hold it in fond memories. Coming back to it may also be a welcome blast to the past, that can lead you down to hopefully good memories you can lose yourself too.

ABZU: One of the most colorful and beautiful games to ever exist. This game is story oriented and still a free roaming game, with a unique twist. Besides the stunning music, the games otherwise silent, wordless. There’s a concoction of colors and animals to swim with that paint an underwater world that puts the outerworld to shame. It’s serene and peaceful, constantly leaving you with a sense of curiosity and suspense for what’s to come next. Describing how much of an outlet this game is, is actually quite baffling, you can just as easily watch the game and feel positively blessed, but there’s no better feeling than maneuvering your character through the water and perching on a rock to meditate while flipping through the types of fish surrounding you. The visuals absolutely bewitch you, stealing your attention making it hard to look away.

Games are an amazing escape, and I’m sorry if this list is a little redundant but that’s a given. I’ll add more to the list another time, but feel free to let me know what games you escape to and why!

Also, this is just my own personal experience so it may differ from others, but if it helps or if you agree I’d be happy to talk about it.

[fuyuhikoismybabygansta]

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Writing Prompt: Prompt- The DR1 Girls being left alone with their child.

Here’s what I wrote! I hope it’s okay!

Sayaka Maizono:

-Most of the time, it was you alone with your child, either backstage at Sayaka’s concerts or at home while she’s on tour. -But this time, she had insisted that you get a break from keeping track of the kid, so you had gone out for a night on the town with some old friends of yours.  -The first five minutes of being alone was mere silence, with Sayaka not knowing how to deal with them staring up at her curiously.  -She ends up pulling up some karaoke songs (Child-Friendly, of course!) and singing for them.  -Soon enough, the kid is joining in. -So of course, duets are a must- the two even sing some of her own songs, with Sayaka singing backup for once so the kid can take center stage. -When you get home, Sayaka is singing softly, your child fast asleep and strewn across her lap, completely wiped out.

Mukuro Ikusaba:

-Honestly has no idea what to do when you say you’re going to leave to go shopping. -”Wait. S/O, you’re going without C/N?” -”Yeah, Mukuro. I’m assuming you can watch them for a bit?” -”Uh, y-yeah, I guess…” -Like Sayaka, the two sit in absolute silence. Except it’s for around a half an hour. Your child spent half an hour watching Mukuro watch the clock, hoping you’d be back soon. -After the thirty-minute mark, Mukuro decides to at least try to entertain the child for your sake. -She ends up turning on the tv, flipping through until she finds a war documentary. Mukuro completely forgot the kid was five and might be freaked out by loud gunshot noises. -You came home to a very panicked Mukuro, holding the kid as they cried. The second you walked in the door, C/N was shoved into your arms. You and Mukuro agreed not to leave her alone with C/N again- at least not before going over what she should and shouldn’t do.

Celestia Ludenberg:

-After weeks of her being gone every night to go to a gambling game of some sort, she agreed to watch your child that night. -Of course, she had completely forgotten that it was her turn to host a monthly tournament with some of the best gamblers in all of Japan.  -She only remembered when the child began tugging on her skirt and pointing to the door, where two or three of her gambling friends stood. -”Oh my, I am terribly sorry, I forgot about this tournament. Please, come in, same place as always. This is my child, C/N, they’ll be with me.” -Despite grumbles from Celestia’s companions about not being able to curse or drink alcohol while the child was around, the games began. -Celestia was winning every round, the child watching everything she was doing. When ten o’clock rolled around, they were about done watching just their mother’s cards, so instead of falling asleep, they began to walk around. -They would continuously tug at the other competitor’s pant leg or sleeve until the person pulled them into their lap. -After they were done observing the person’s cards, the child would slide off their lap before moving around to the next person. -Celestia was so absorbed in the game she didn’t notice you coming in. -Needless to say, you were not impressed that she let the kid stay up three hours past their bedtime.

Sakura Oogami:

-Sakura had some experience with children- her family’s dojo sometimes held sessions for children to learn self-defense and such. -So, she tried to do the same thing with C/N when you went out for one of your extra college classes. -The kid was a natural- almost. -A few things about their form needed improvement, but that was really it. -You came home to a mini-performance of everything the kid has learned from Sakura. -Overall, one of the better experiences.

Aoi Asahina:

-Is also one of the better experiences. -You knew you were going to be gone for around six to seven hours that day for a mandatory meeting with your company, so you warned her in advance. -She planned the whole thing out, and it was perfect. -Swimming was a must- according to her, they swam for a good two hours before the kid wanted to go inside. -After lunch came donuts, of course, though they didn’t turn out quite the way she had expected them to. -She somehow managed to get the temperature on the oven wrong? So around ten minutes later, the smoke detector was going off and it was clear that the donuts weren’t going to make it.  -Since the child was so upset, they ended up going to a donut shop. -You actually got home before the two of them did. They also brought home around two dozen donuts, “Just in case we run out.”

Toko Fukawa:

-You both agreed that it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to leave Toko alone with the child, especially not when she could turn into Syo at any moment. -But when she managed to get Syo under control, you were willing to give it a shot. -Despite her desperate pleas to not be left alone with C/N while you were out for a run with your friends, she found herself alone with the kid anyways. -Tries to avoid the kid by playing hide and seek, which actually works. -You come home to find Toko cowering in the shower while the child was allowed to freely roam the house trying to find her.

Kyouko Kirigiri:

-Kyouko, like Hina, would have everything planned out ahead of time. -Set up little a little scavenger hunt for the child, helping them out along the way. -When they got tired of walking around, she gave the child one of those ‘Color all of the 1′s [Insert color here]’ things. -After the kid finishes that and it is successfully placed on the fridge without falling, they try a bunch of puzzles. -Despite being tempted to help the child out immensely, she sits back and only helps when they ask.  -The kid rarely asks for help, and manages to solve quite a few of them. -You come home to find the two of them pouring over one of those 1000+ piece puzzles, and for once, even Kyouko looks confused about it.

Junko Enoshima:

-Go out with your friends, she said. -It’ll be fun, she said. -She was right about that- it was quite fun. You actually didn’t leave the club until midnight. -On the way home, though, something seemed… off.  -Your first hint was the fact that cars were lined up and down the street. -Then the flashing lights coming from the windows of the home, despite the curtains not being drawn back. -Walking in, it was confirmed. -She had turned the first floor of your home into a fashion show. -Strobe lights were hung all over, explaining the flashing light coming from the windows. -Chairs were lined up all along the wall and around a catwalk. -And… who was that on the catwalk? It was far too short to be Junko herself.  -Surely there was no way… She didn’t… -Oh, but she did. -Your child was strutting down the walkway with poise, smirking, wearing a fabulous outfit. -You ducked out the front door and went around the back, to where the racks of clothing were set up behind a curtain. -”Oh, hey! You’re finally back! Tell me, how cute is C/N?” -”How did this happen?” -”Well, it was ten, and C/N wasn’t tired, and I showed them all these fabulous outfits I had from when I was younger… They had the idea of a fashion show. I only invited a few of my classmates- Celestia, Byakuya, Kyouko, the likes- but the whole thing snowballed. I don’t remember who tweeted out the info, but soon everyone was showing up and… yeah.” -You eventually work it out- In exchange for ending the fashion show, the two of you will look into getting your child a modeling contract.