Normal Happenings

The Games That Define Us

Video games exist as fragments on the timeline of our lives, and each one of us have chosen the adventure we feel most defines us.

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The Games That Define Us

Stardew Valley | The Game That (Re)Defines Me

What would be the best use of my time?
It was a common refrain in the Valley, until one day something fascinating happened. I started asking myself this question in real life, and it changed everything.… Continue reading →

December 6, 2018December 6, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Guild Wars 2 | The Game That Defines gamergal.exe

Guild Wars 2 has gotten me to delve into many other games since that I never even thought I’d be interested in and for that alone I will always be grateful. It was also there for me at the time I needed an escape the most and provided well needed comfort when I was at my lowest.… Continue reading →

December 4, 2018December 6, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | The Game That Defines Sheikah Plate

I’ve learned to be brave. It’s not a big, bold bravery – one where I stand up to “the man” or “the bully” and win. It’s just an internal bravery. One that means I’m willing to accept when I’ve made a mistake, and do everything I can to make up for it.… Continue reading →

December 3, 2018December 4, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Super Metroid | The Game That Defines Power Bomb Attack

It’s a story about how the young boy known as myself, learned that attention to detail is key in games like Super Metroid. That scanning every nook and cranny or rooms and maps is needed to move forward.… Continue reading →

December 2, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

StarCraft | The Game That Defines The Zerathulu View

Eight years later I somehow found myself in a tiny dorm room with an amazing bunch of like-minded people. It’s absolutely incredible how at university you can meet people from all backgrounds and still have so much in common. All of us were studying either Physics or Chemistry. All eighteen. All vociferous nerds… And all of us were hooked on StarCraft.… Continue reading →

December 1, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

The Sims 4 | The Game That Defines Nerd Side of Life

Even after streaming and playing, The Sims 4 is letting me express my creativity. When I feel like I don’t have any creativity in me, I find myself going on The Sims and building houses and creating families. So thank you Sims 4, for being the best game I could have asked for. You are there for me when no one else is.… Continue reading →

November 30, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Day Z | The Game That Defines Will

Since DayZ, survival games have come in droves, some have stuck around but many failed and disappeared, they just couldn’t quite capture that DayZ feeling… I owe that game so much, it has shaped me as a gamer, it is the game that has inspired me to make videos, to write stories about my experiences. I’ve literally made friends for life playing it.… Continue reading →

November 29, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Borderlands | The Game That Defines FTWRuubin

From games like Borderlands, we learn about kindness, that children can be scary but often grow up being reactive to negative experiences in their childhood, and that people can hide behind a mask so we need to look more at the way they treat people instead of the makeup they wear.… Continue reading →

November 28, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Fallout 3 | The Game That Defines Upon Completion

Fallout 3 was one of a few things I experienced (since I think games like Fallout are experiences) that helped skew my brain toward a more curious nature. I always tend to be curious about things, but I think Fallout 3 encouraged me to explore those new things, try out new tactics and try something new.… Continue reading →

November 27, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Wizard 101 | The Game That Defines Krysanthe

Here’s the magical thing for me about Wizard101: I made amazing friends, many whom I’m still connected with today. I learned that you can trust people you’ve met on the internet. In fact, you can learn and grow with them. Without my Wizard101 friends, I never would have had the courage to begin my online writing adventure, and I never would have started my blog.… Continue reading →

November 26, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption | The Game That Defines Wintendo 64

Metroid Prime 3 was the first game to show me that a female protagonist can be just as valid as a male protagonist. In addition, she’s a character living with mental illness who is capable of overcoming her obstacles. Whenever you seem to be on your own it doesn’t mean you’re helpless. And even when you’ve lost everything life is still worth fighting for.… Continue reading →

November 25, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

BioShock | The Game That Defines Git Gud at Life

BioShock proved to me that games could be something I never even dreamed of. They could be dark, scary gruesome but at the same time beautiful, sophisticated and yes… fun. So BioShock changed me — games were once little more than a way to waste some time. Now they are something more. Games are a form of art.… Continue reading →

November 24, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Guitar Hero | The Game That Defines Shoot the Rookie

Guitar Hero taught me that I can do it, that I don’t have to fear failure. It wasn’t a magic potion but it was a crutch through hard times, and both inspiration and distraction when I believed I was worthless.… Continue reading →

November 23, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door | The Game That Defines Adventure Rules

Fandoms are amazing communities where people with like interests can connect and explore the things that make them happy, and for me that’s exactly what Paper Mario became. Online, I found commonality with other gamers that I couldn’t find with the kids in my local community.… Continue reading →

November 22, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Kingdom Hearts | The Game That Defines Overthinker Y

Even though I can admit Kingdom Hearts has its faults, I can’t help but love it, and it strikes me that perhaps loving something in a way that encompasses all its flaws is the purest form of love.… Continue reading →

November 21, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Animal Crossing | The Game That Defines Nikki

Throughout my life, I have always made time for my friends. I am a big believer in keeping your friends close, even when life changes happen. This is why I liked doing things for the characters in Animal Crossing.… Continue reading →

November 20, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

World of Warcraft | The Game That Defines Just Geeking By

World of Warcraft has seen me from a nervous early 20-something student through to my mid-30’s, and I would definitely attribute it to some of my personal growth. There were tears shed, arguments had, and there were also skills learned and confidence gained along the way.… Continue reading →

November 19, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

World of Warcraft | The Game That Defines Life of Jan

It was a crazy, expensive, 10-year long rollercoaster of a time that I had with this game, and while I may have ventured away from Azeroth, a piece of my heart will always remain there.… Continue reading →

November 18, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Warcraft III | The Game That Defines The Purple Prose Mage

I wrote this entry with the theme of nostalgia, to be forever reaching out to that idealised time long ago of things which seem better because they’re gone; Like Gatsby, wanting to repeat his heroic past but without the complicated problems that made it very unheroic.… Continue reading →

November 17, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Digimon World | The Game That Defines The Modern Gafa

It’s one of the most beautiful worlds in any video game I have ever played. I’ve always wanted to see a manga or even an anime take place in this world. It’s one of my favorite fictional places of all time.… Continue reading →

November 16, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Spyro the Dragon | The Game That Defines A Geeky Gal

Spyro shielded me from a lot of sadness and pain during that time. I didn’t even realize this in those moments, I just knew I wanted to get to the next world; one more dragon left to release, one more egg to catch, one more hot air balloon ride, and get one more step closer to the happy ending Spyro was seeking.… Continue reading →

November 15, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Banjo-Kazooie | The Game That Defines LividLightning

Gah-huk! Ahem. I’ll try to keep the spelling of silly noises to a minimum for this article, but that’s a large part of the what make Banjo-Kazooie so darn special.… Continue reading →

November 14, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Resident Evil 2 | The Game That Defines Hundstrasse

By today’s standards the emotional content of Resident Evil 2 is clunky and melodramatic, but at the time I had never experienced anything like it in a game; even the word ‘game’ didn’t seem sufficient to describe such an immersive experience.… Continue reading →

November 13, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Final Fantasy VII | The Game That Defines Games With Coffee

Had Final Fantasy VII not been released in 1997 and had I not rented it in November of that year, I probably wouldn’t be the person I am today. However, I’m glad that it came into my life when it did, I’m glad that it’s affected me in a such a positive and uplifting way and I’m especially glad to say that it’s a game that has defined who I am as a person… Continue reading →

November 12, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Crash Bandicoot | The Game That Defines The Gaming Diaries

Childhood and Crash Bandicoot go hand in hand for me. When I think of happy childhood memories some of the best I can think of are my gaming time and Crash.… Continue reading →

November 11, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Pokemon Red and Blue | The Game That Defines Murr

Pokemon Red & Blue changed the world for everyone, but it certainly reminds me of one of the greatest times of my life when growing up. It was one of the most magical journeys of discovery I’d ever taken.… Continue reading →

November 10, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

NiGHTS into Dreams | The Game That Defines HideNGoShauna

The unique creatures, lovely soundtrack, and overall magic of the game really made an impression on me. I remember drawing my own renditions of the worlds in my sketchbook. To this day it’s still one of the most uniquely creative games I’ve played.… Continue reading →

November 9, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Breath of Fire II | The Game That Defines The Well-Red Mage

Breath of Fire II involved lots of dragons, a catgirl, a dog-man, a human armadillo, a monkey, a tree sprite, a French frog, an exile with black wings, a huge fantasy world, many monsters galore, and… church?… Continue reading →

November 8, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Donkey Kong Country | The Game That Defines TWOTALL4UFOOL

This had to be the best Christmas gift I ever received as a kid. If I could go back in time, I would just want to watch younger me having a blast with Donkey Kong Country.… Continue reading →

November 7, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Myst | The Game That Defines Imaginating Life

The memories formed when we were playing Myst I still hold dear today. Though my mom is no longer in this realm to reminisce about the good old days of PC gaming with me, or to help me create my own game in the future with her programming expertise, Myst continues to inspire my love of gaming.… Continue reading →

November 6, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Zombies Ate My Neighbors | The Game That Defines 3PStart

Zombies Ate My Neighbors is satisfying candy. It’s a game that I can pop in to start the distraction that will lead to me feeling better. While it’s a fantastic game, there is no story to speak of that will snap me back to reality.… Continue reading →

November 5, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | The Game That Defines Me

Anything is possible with enough planning and determination, but to accomplish my goals I must strive to improve constantly.… Continue reading →

November 4, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

The Secret of Monkey Island | The Game That Defines Later Levels

I’d never heard of “The Secret of Monkey Island,” but after booting it up on the Amiga, I was amazed. It was then that I realized fantastic worlds I thought only existed inside of books could be brought to life through a video game.… Continue reading →

November 3, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Faxanadu | The Game That Defines Hungrygoriya

I don’t really have a mantra per se, but the idea of being mindful and staying in the moment rather than fretting about things I can’t control has really helped me in all areas of my life.… Continue reading →

November 2, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

The Bard’s Tale | The Game That Defines Mr. Backlog

In 1985, Dad went on a work-trip to the U.S., and when he returned he had something special — a copy of “The Bard’s Tale.”… Continue reading →

November 1, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Adventure Map | The Games That Define Us

Video games exist as fragments on the timeline of our lives, and each one of us have chosen the adventure we feel most defines us.… Continue reading →

October 31, 2018December 6, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Favorites

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | The Game That Defines Me

Anything is possible with enough planning and determination, but to accomplish my goals I must strive to improve constantly.… Continue reading →

November 4, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Be Happy for the Success of Others

Please try to be happy when good things happen to others. It will lead you to a better life.… Continue reading →

October 8, 2018October 9, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Happiness Isn’t a Limited Resource (But It Sure Is Rare)

Bad Advice #337: “Don’t get your hopes up.”… Continue reading →

October 1, 2018October 1, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

A Leaf Storm of Autumnal Updates

We’re doing some fun and interesting things at Normal Happenings, and I’m excited to give you the guided tour!… Continue reading →

September 27, 2018September 29, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Collaborations

Adventure Map | The Games That Define Us

Video games exist as fragments on the timeline of our lives, and each one of us have chosen the adventure we feel most defines us.… Continue reading →

October 31, 2018December 6, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

Hyrule: See the Sights! Hear the Sounds!

A collaboration from the Great Land of Hyrule and beyond.… Continue reading →

July 11, 2018December 3, 2018

Matthew // Normal Happenings

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