Depending on how long you’ve been reading the blog here, you might already be familiar with the idea that, by and large, I’m happy to wear the mantle of the adult male techno-geek.  I like all the approved types of geek fiction, see all the exciting geek movies, and generally live my life hopelessly filled with affection for geeky things.

However…

I am a poor, poor excuse for a video gamer.

Clearly, this has not always been the case. Mario and I used to be bosom buddies.  I’ve fragged plenty of Covenant beasties in Master Chief’s armor. I’ve completed not one, but multiple Final Fantasy titles and  I’ve spent hour after hour, deep into the dark, inky night when no sane, normal people are awake, huddled over a keyboard grinding out experience and leveling up an elf that exists no where but in my own imagination and as a collection of ones and zeros on Blizzard’s servers.

But lately?  Well, over the past three years, I’ve fired up my Xbox about the same number of times I’ve saddle up Heart-Magic, the rainbow-dancing unicorn, for a gallop around Miracle Lake.

Really, though, it’s okay.  Don’t cry for me, Internet-ia.  Because part of being a writer means making sacrifices.  There just aren’t enough hours in the day for work, family, a relationship with your spouse, writing, television, video games, torturing the neighbors with your hand-crafted front yard topiaries of the great pet actors of Hollywood’s past, and drunken 2 AM violin solos on the corner.  So how to spend your time becomes a question of priority.  Sure, irritating the neighbors might be fun, but is it more important to you than writing stories?

Ultimately, I realized that my love of television and video games was secondary to my desire to be a real, live, paid author. I’ll still find time for  a wee stitch of TV every night—after my writer’s work is done—to help transition from busy-creative-mind to sleepy-bedtime-mind before stumbling to bed to inflict my ear-rending snores upon an unsuspecting, otherwise innocent Puddinette.

But video games?  Yeah, well, I like to think of myself as a gamer on hiatus.  Someday, when I have fewer things to direct my focus to on a daily basis, I hope that video games are still a thing that people do. You know, as opposed to social Alpaca ranching.

And even though I realize that by the day my free time comes, the norm will likely include feeding game signals directly into your brain via implants, I’m still looking forward to it.

That said, today I have a question for you, my wonderful puddintopians.  As it turns out, I need to do some game playing in the week or so. Even better if it’s an MMORPG. It’s important because [redacted]. So what are you playing these days?  I’ve considered dipping my toes back into World of Warcraft briefly, but I don’t know, it seems like everyone is doing that. Maybe I should take a look a Rift?  Or maybe something not traditional fantasy?  Perhaps Star Wars: The Old Republic?

I don’t know, you tell me.  What should I be casting my eye at here?

I’m game for just about anything.

Get it?  Game for just about—?  Video game? Oh, nevermind.

Anyway, let’s hear about what you’ve you playing lately, MMORPG or otherwise. What rules and what drools? What’s hot, and what’s, well, not?

Speak up, so I can game vicariously through you!

Pud’n