Fashionable Side--Top Three Go-To Pieces

I realize that even though this blog is called The Fashionable Gamer, I haven't done much to prove that I am indeed "fashionable" in real life. Let's put it all on the table: I don't think that I am particularly gifted in all things sartorial...I just try to walk out of the house looking like I own a mirror. Creating a fashion blog with "Outfit of the Day" posts or runway commentaries was never my intention, but I feel as if a closer look into the other half of my chosen gimmick is definitely overdue.

So let's put down the controllers and take a peek at my top three go-to pieces (as proven by the multiple pictures of me wearing them). These are the choices that are most likely already in the dirty clothes hamper when I think about them.

The Sweater Dress

I have a few similar dresses in my closet. One is a bit too long and baggy and the other is pretty short so this one is definitely the best of the lot. It's thick enough to be warm, thin enough to be breathable...and any excuse to wear tights and boots is good enough for me.

Because of the simple design I never felt too overdressed when wearing it to class, but when surrounded by sweatpants and pyjamas, people always seemed to ask "What's the occasion?".

The Studded Tee

In my mind, I refer to this as my "Lady Gaga shirt". The comparison is weak and pretty much only based on the shirt's unexpected shoulder pads...It makes much more sense in my head...

Now I must admit that I almost passed on this one because of the extra padding. Thankfully, I came to accept that shoulder pads don't always make you look like an out-of-date wannabe linebacker. I gravitate toward this shirt because I feel as if it works well dressed up or dressed down. For me, it's the ideal choice when I don't know what to wear and don't feel like tearing up my room to figure it out.

The Blue Ruffle Tank

Finally, some color. Didn't I mention that I mostly wear black, white and beige? Well, sometimes I deviate from the norm and this hand-me-down is one of my standbys. No, I didn't even buy this shirt. I like to think that if I spotted this cute top with its comfy fabric and ruffle detail I would have been tempted...to see if it came in black, white or beige.

I've been trying to wear more colors but those three shades just feel like home.

Of course, these aren't the only clothes in my closet (I really wouldn't consider these my all time favorites) but the photographic evidence does not lie. Hopefully all this doesn't make you want to try and force me to change my blog's name.

So do you have any pieces or outfits you can't stop wearing?

Oh and did you know you can Follow my blog with Bloglovin? I would love you for it.

Virtual to Reality--Pokemon X and Y and Its Brand New Style

Even though I've already established that I am not a fan of the Pokemon video game series, I have to admit that I've been swept up into the X and Y fever. From the (long overdue) avatar customization options to the addition of Mega Evolutions (Mega Charizard FOR THE WIN), I felt like I was being pulled further and further into the Poke-frenzy with each new announcement.

It was like middle school all over again, only this time, there was no teacher was around to tell me that I couldn't play with my Pokemon cards in school...

I don't have my hands on a copy just yet (X is calling my name), but why not appreciate this generation's fashion sense during the wait? The newest lead "Serena" is the most stylish young trainer hands down and I think this more fashion forward proves that the standard Pokemon formula can evolve to keep up with the times.

Pun completely and totally intended. Sorry. (Not sorry.)

What do you think about Pokemon X and Y? Are you into the hype or do you think that the long-running series is past its prime?

Adventures in Video Game Retail Land--Reserve Remorse

It feels like the question of the day is "What are you going to pre-order: Xbox One or PS4?". Now while I'm not looking forward to either console to tell the truth, I really can't answer that inquiry since I don’t usually reserve a copy of anything. In fact, I’m pretty sure that the only thing that I pre-ordered in recent memory was Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010)...and that was only because I just happened to have enough money on hand to pay in full and the employee at GameStop just happened to ask me if I wanted to (as they always do). 

Maybe it’s because I’m not into any of the big name call-in-sick-for-work-to-make-it-to-the-midnight-launch titles that would justify being afraid of a sell-out situation...or the fact that I never really have to have any game right when it comes out, but I don’t ever feel like I need to put up a few dollars to get a copy with my name on it. 

Case in point: Even though I was extremely excited for the newest Animal Crossing, I only bought it on launch day because I just happened to have the money to pay for it, just happened to be in the mall, and just happened to remember what day it was a few minutes before closing time. Beating the clock, I strolled into GameStop, grabbed an empty New Leaf case off the shelf and took it to the register. Instead of just ringing me up as usual, the employee asked me a deceivingly simple question:

“Uhh...Did you pre-order this?”

Now that's something I don’t hear very often...or at all. I'm used to finding what I want waiting patiently for me on the shelf, no questions asked. Imagine my disappointment when the worker informed me that since I didn’t pre-order the game, I was pretty much out of luck...not because they ran out of stock, but because they only had their reserve copies to begin with. And every GameStop in the area (because it’s one of those places that has dozens right next to each other for no apparent reason) was going through the same problem: customers coming in to buy New Leaf the day of and walking out with absolutely nothing since they didn't have any available. 

Is not having stock on the floor some kind of weird way to push pre-order sales? 

The employee was really polite about the situation (he had been dealing with it all day) and offered the option of waiting for the next shipment later in the week, but I took my money to Target instead. No pre-orders, no excuses, just grab the game and go. Though I can’t stand getting anything from locked-down electronics departments, I actually saved a few dollars by buying it there. I consider that a win. 

When did shopping at GameStop turn into an exclusive club for those who think ahead? It was like I suddenly wasn't cool enough for a cute game with cuddly looking animals...

While it felt terrible to find myself missing from the store's Animal Crossing guest list, I'm not going to be changing my shopping habits any time soon. I'll get my games on when I want them, reserved or not. So much for GameStop’s devious plan...

Have you ever tried to get a game and found yourself shut out because you didn’t reserve a copy? And where do you usually buy your games? Specialty stores like GameStop or one-stop retailers like Target?

Welcome to Addiction--Animal Crossing: New Leaf Impressions

Look, if you’re reading this to decide whether or not to get the newest installment of Animal Crossing, stop wasting time. Seriously, don’t read this...just get the game. It’s fantastic.

(Random Note: These pictures were taken with my 3DS camera at different times during the week and my avatar is darker in some shots because she got a tan.)

I won't call this a "review" since I've only been playing for a little over a week...not nearly long enough to give this game justice. You can't rush through the Animal Crossing experience. This game takes time. 

The old mayor passes wisdom to the new generation.

As soon as I saw the trailers for Animal Crossing: New Leaf, I knew I had to have it. I can't call myself a huge fan of the series...At the time, my experience was limited to AC: City Folk on the Wii and even though I enjoyed it, I must admit that it didn’t hold my attention for very long. 

And the city was boring. The main attraction of the title felt absolutely pointless.

But when it was revealed that your character could be mayor of your town and not just a really out of place human villager, I really couldn’t throw my money at Nintendo fast enough. When launch day rolled around, my wallet was ready.

I feel like everyone's attention has been focused on the new mayor mechanic. So, what’s it like being in charge of it all? Unlike the somewhat empty city featured in the previous game, your position in the local government doesn’t come off as hollow and unimportant. With the help of your adorable secretary Isabelle, you can transform your new home to fit your vision. Sit in your fancy office chair in the Town Hall and you can pass laws or “ordinances” that can affect the appearance of your town and the business hours that it maintains. Citizens will occasionally request “public works projects” that allow you build new landmarks. If you're tired of running all the way to the other side of town to get across the river, you can build a new bridge. If you want to get rid of weeds, just outlaw them and make your neighbors keep the place clean. While you don’t really “run” the city, you can make decisions that can really help support whatever delusions of grandeur you might want to hold onto. 

By "help" she means "do all the heavy lifting and paperwork".
You just point her in the right direction. 

Let me stress that these feelings of power you may have are “delusions”. You can only have one ordinance active at a time. If you want to have less weeds AND earn more money from selling goods (like me), you’re out of luck. Love public works projects? Isabelle quickly tells you the town only has the resources to work on one project at a time and you’ll find out that the bigger options are locked until your neighbors request them (which is a necessary evil for players like me who would run through all the options in days if given the chance). And if we're going to be completely honest here, the faithful Isabelle should really be the one in power...You just sit in the big chair while she’s the one doing all the work. 

I can't be mad she's sleeping on the job because she still works harder than me.
I came into work after 12. 

Of course, the other pieces of this game are even more charming than before. The villagers are slightly smarter in this game and you actually get the sense that they have lives (or something like that). Yes, they still wander around aimlessly most of the time...but they will actually use the tools they wander around with. Occasionally, they will plant and water flowers, go fishing, shake trees...I watched my neighbor Lobo stalk a grasshopper, bug catching net ready to go. He eventually moved on without a single swing, but the intent was there. A- for effort. 

Jay doesn't understand the connection
between fishing and the presence of fish.

Chatting with Lionel, I learned that Bob and Peggy got into a terrible argument and while I never learned what it was about, I found Katt trying to convince Peggy to apologize a few minutes later. Details like that make the animals in your village almost feel like real individuals...when they aren’t stuck walking into each other in an almost endless loop (once on their wandering path, they won’t change course for anything).

No wonder Bob got mad. 

The customization aspect of this game is deeper as well. You can decorate the inside of your house with furniture on the floor and the walls, but why stop there? Tom Nook’s new store allows you change the exterior of your home with mailboxes, pavement and siding. And if you play for a while, you unlock the ability to refinish and reupholster furniture to match your taste. (But keep in mind the original pattern on the piece. It will probably stay the same, even with the change.) After these last few days, I feel like I have only nicked the surface with what you can do in terms of interior design...

...But I feel as if that also has to do with the fact that you only get so many furniture options a day than actual depth. Anyone familiar to the series will understand the luck based interior design system; it's not a new concept. I can't help but think that I've been getting the short end of the stick in terms of the available selection of my stores. My house is just a storage closet at the moment, but I know that it won't last long.

The couch I customized looks better in Lobo's house than it did in mine.

I considered going into great detail with this post in terms of all the new and returning gameplay elements but I won’t because I think the charm is in discovering them for yourself (and after a week, I haven’t unlocked all of them myself). Besides, everyone is talking about this game. Avoiding spoilers is harder than finding them. But if you haven’t looked up information on this game, don’t. Just buy it. I couldn’t recommend this game hard enough even if I wrote this whole thing with caps lock on. I am completely addicted. There should be a support group for people with this problem (so we can all play together, of course).

Are you a fan of the Animal Crossing series? What do you think about New Leaf?