The morning after

Ok so I'm writing this from my phone so i'm gonna keep it short and sweet. It's embarasing how clumsy I am on this touch screen, I think when I'm still like this in a few months I'll pretend I've only just bought it :-p

Well last night was dear old Charlie's birthday, the night was a success I have to say, although I peeked pretty early and felt a bit worse for wear come one. I still feel a bit rough now tbh, although that's probably my fault up at 10! (I reiterate I am a student.) I think the old pint of water, two paracetemals, nap then day of crappy tv and mushy films will do the trick and sort me out. As for boyfriend (who is asleep next to me, breathing rather heavy I must add!) I think it's time I bullied him into watching 27 dresses woohoo.

Lots of love alf xx

Online games, Geeky or sociable?

Okay so first of I'll admit I am am a WoW player. For those of you unaware of what I'm taking about here's a brief explanation:

"WoW is a massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) now with over 10 million players worldwide. WoW allows a player to create and control a player character represented by a fully rendered avatar (also lovingly called a toon) in a high-fantasy game world where they can explore cities and landscapes, participate in quests and battleground events, and fight and interact with computer-controlled characters as well as other players."

To many talk of WoW will lead to raised eyebrows, a snort of laughter, maybe a judgemental look that says 'you have no life' and ultimately the word 'geek' will be floating around whether voiced or thought. But as an active member of such an online community, and yes community, I feel the need to fight our corner. Now I've only been a WoW player since late may, and yes prior to this I had an uninformed and negative view of the game. Such controversy has surrounded games like WoW, with issues such as addiction and 'life stealer' being rife.

Do you have to sacrifice your life in order to enjoy playing online? Are you a certain type of person if you play these games? Well I can't speak for everyone but I certainly have a life outside of WoW.

Many people incorrectly assume that online gaming is something that appeals only to teenage boys but according to recent surveys they only make up 25% of the WoW demographic. Not too surprisingly 84% are male players and 16% female, the average age also being 28.

Now for a start I'm 20, and I'm pretty sure I am female :P so that immediately puts me in the minority. As for lifestyle I study communication and media, I enjoy clubbing, drinking, socialising, reading, movies and fashion and beauty. Attributes which, while maybe not fitting of a stereotypical WoW player, certainly prove that the WoW community is diverse. For all of you who assume a WoW player is a greasy, teenage boy who lacks the ability to communicate with the opposite gender you are very wrong.

In game you are provided with the opportunity to join a 'guild' an online society of players who can play together, help one-another and chat about your character, experiences or about anything at all. Yes, WoW can be a social outlet as well as an engaging and complex online game. My boyfriend introduced me to WoW and now we play together, we can slob in our uni house living room after a big night out, fighting off our hangovers by fighting monsters together :P The epitome of geek perhaps? Well who cares! We enjoy how we spend our time and we certainly play with moderation. As for our 'guild' We have been in a few in the past where nobody spoke and people seemed far too serious for our liking, but now we have found a sociable bunch in our latest, which coincidentally happens to be a south African guild.

"The richness and complexity of WoW's game world as well as the concomitant social, cultural, and economic possibilities both in- and out-of-game make MMORPGs significant for play, study, and analysis." (C.L, Selfe, 1999)

The WoW player can range from the very dedicated, who enjoys training to push their character to be the best they can, to the casual player (like me) who enjoys the social and interactive side. I've always enjoyed gaming and luckily as a girl you avoid getting much stick for this. My true love will always remain with Link and the various legend of Zelda games, and I have many fond memories of riding Epona into the sunset. Well, for now I am happy levelling my sexy blood elf hunter so that she kicks some ass in the BG's ;-) Twilight's hammer (for you wowbies) character name Sydney.

I'll keep you updated on my WoW experiences folks,

Lots of Love

Alfie xx

P.s definition of 'geek' from my mac's dictionary - "an unfashionable or socially inept person."

Well I'm certainly sociable and as for fashion I'm a shopping fanatic, so there :-p

Morning contemplation...

Okay so my attempts at successfully blogging (successfully meaning regularly) have failed with a capital F. But I'm gonna indulge you in my life as of now ;-)

It's nearly mid day, but like many 20 year olds around the country, I'm sure, I am still tucked up in bed. This weekend my boyfriend was away visiting home, so I had the double bed to myself. Now I don't know whether I like this yet, obviously I always miss him when he is away that goes without saying, but in terms of a good nights sleep I'm not sure the extra space helped. It took me longer to fall asleep, missing the familiarity of a warm body beside me perhaps? and I ended up having a restless and broken nights sleep.

Any way so I'm lying here now, feeling less than awake! I've had my 'bix and now am only missing my cup of tea but a trip downstairs will have to wait as my laziness takes priority. Today's plans are sleep, play some wow, a spot (or two, or five) of food then preparation for tonight's festivities! As it is one of my housemates birthdays today, 20 to be exact, we have planned a 'child's themed birthday party.' Think vodka jelly, pass the parcel with instructions to drink as opposed to penny sweets, musical statues with forfeits and skittle vodka . Although I'm pretty sure our plans will slide by around 10 when our drink infused concentration falters and we become a noisy babble heading into town. Birthdays are always a great night, going out seems to have more purpose and a of course gives us a feasible excuse as to why we are spending the night drinking, dancing and stumbling home instead of working ;-)

Till Later, Alfie :-) xx