It’s officially summer! May flew by for me, as I got some more wedding plans in order (including cake tasting!) and started weightlifting for the first time. I feel like the month was very focused on my overall health — especially creating good habits for a well-rounded lifestyle.
Now that June is here, it’s time for me to reengage with video games thanks to E3! I took a breather from gaming this past month — not intentionally, but I got so busy with other things that gaming took a backseat. The one game that I did play pretty consistently all month was Destiny 2, as I jumped back into the story with my fiancé. I’ve also been enjoying Iron Banner, the 6v6 weekend-long event, whenever it comes around.
This month I’d like to dive back into the single-player games I was playing earlier this year, and also try Detroit: Become Human which looks incredible. Any narrative-driven, decision-based game — I’m sold. The fact that Detroit is also about an android revolution makes it even more appealing to me. I’m a sci-fi nerd for life.
Aside from gaming, my big project this month is fixing up my apartment. I don’t know if everybody is like this, but when I’ve lived in a place long enough, I get a little complacent about it and stop caring about what it looks like. Decor gets shabby, junk piles up on end tables, and I put off taking the recycling out of the kitchen “until tomorrow” for a week — so it’s just sitting there, being an eyesore, for days on end. Despite regular cleaning and tidying up, it’s rare that I walk in and think, This place looks goooood.
But lately I’ve been daydreaming about getting a house someday, while binge-watching home renovation shows. Since I won’t be moving anytime soon, I decided the best thing I can do right now is perform a thorough spring cleaning of my apartment, reorganize everything to reduce clutter, and then polish everything off with a little new decor. Nothing too crazy or expensive — but some new throw pillows and a few statement pieces will be nice. Yesterday I bought a vase that was on sale and reminded me of something an archaeologist would have in their home, so that’s a start.
Other than that, I’ve been trying to get into the TV show The Expanse. I loved Leviathan Wakes when I read it years ago, so the show can’t be that different, right? I finished watching Outlander until its next season airs in the fall, and in the meantime I’m reading the book series. I’m watching Westworld but honestly have no idea what’s going on in that show this season — the storytelling, for me, isn’t nearly as tight and engaging as it was in the first season. (I still love Maeve, though.)
I’m also reading the novel Kushiel’s Dart, by Jacqueline Carey, which is an incredible show of world-building. It’s a fantasy world that feels like an older version of France, and in this world there is the Night Court, which consists of several houses of courtesans who are trained for years in the art of lovemaking. They are also revered as followers of their god. “Love as thou wilt” is their religious motto, and the protagonist Phedre is raised in this tradition with the purpose of becoming a spy, to learn the political schemes of her clients. The book has gone places I didn’t expect, and I can’t wait to see how it all comes together in the end.
What’s everybody else up to this month? I’d love to hear what you’re reading, watching, and playing in June. =)
— Ashley
Robo♥beat 
I watched my friend livestream Become Human in its entirety over about three days. I think you’ll like it; it’s pretty interesting. It’s a bit flawed in some ways — it’s incredibly unsubtle, and I think they maybe worked too hard at making the androids feel human, to the point where they’re not believable as androids anymore — but I really enjoyed how it juggles the very different stories of three androids. They all have a very different feel. One’s basically a buddy cop movie, one’s the epic android revolution story, and one is a very personal story of family and survival. I liked the last one the best. It’s very touching in places.
For my part I just started on Vampyr. The combat is a little finicky in places, but mostly I’m really enjoying it. They did an incredibly good job of making all the NPCs feel like real people with real relationships. I’m trying to be an ethical vampire and only feed on people who won’t be missed, but they make it so hard. Like there’s this patient in the hospital who’s in constant pain from disfiguring injuries, so I thought killing him might be a mercy, but it turns out there’s this mentally ill patient in the hospital, and he’s basically her only friend, so I can’t take that away from her…
And there’s no difficulty settings, so if you want to make it easier, you have to feed more to become stronger, but I don’t want to harm innocents…
It’s so hard to make decisions in this game, but that’s what makes it brilliant.
I’ve also been continuing with Dungeons and Dragons. Our first campaign got cancelled because the DM didn’t have enough time, but we just started a new campaign with a new DM and a slightly different group of players. This time the DM is writing his own adventures, and I’m playing as a Tiefling monk/bard inspired by the Brazilian martial art capoeira.
Finally, I’m hoping I can finally finish book three of Soulcleaver this month. I’m very close, so it should be doable, I hope. My birthday’s at the beginning of July, and my gift to myself is to not have to think about this book anymore.
Ooh now I really can’t wait to play Detroit. I also almost forgot about Vampyr! That’s a release that kind of snuck up on me, but I’m also looking forward to playing it. I love decision-based games, and the way you describe it makes the world sound very fleshed out and realistic.
Good luck with your writing! That’s very exciting. I hope you make your goal and can enjoy your birthday. :)
I really disliked Beyond: Two Souls, so I was not sure if I’d like Detroit, but I’m happy to say I am very much enjoying it. The scenarios and setting are both really cool. I know we have discussed our mutual enjoyment of near-future settings like this one. It has those sort of just-beyond-our-reach tech flourishes that I could see existing one day. Throw in your love of choice-making and robots/androids and it feels like you will really dig this one. I am a bit slow going on it. These choice-based games trigger my anxiety a bit (I’m afraid to make the wrong choices… haha), so I only usually play a little bit at a time.
I still need to start Westworld Season 2. I liked Season 1, but it always struck me as a show that was more concerned with making the whole thing a puzzle to solve than just making a great TV show. I don’t know. It was still cool. I’ll probably need to go watch a recap of Season 1 before jumping into the new one.
Yeah I know what you mean about Westworld. I enjoyed the storytelling in season one, but season two so far feels like it’s trying to be a cool production more than a moving story… I also needed a recap! I’m curious what you will think of it when you watch it.
Just started Detroit last night and could barely put it down. I understand the anxiety, although I’m a little more “okay” about just going with my choices, maybe. It’s been really interesting and intense so far! I like seeing the tree of possible choices and outcomes after each scene. It makes me feel like my path is unique which I like. Also the game is just really beautiful! That’s cool you are digging it for the near future setting too! :)