Gaming is Wonderful: Fiction Allows Me to Escape

Today we have another Gaming is Wonderful post by a private Instagram account. Very much in the shadows this user keeps in the background and is happier there, something that I imagine most of us can relate to at one time or another. As usual it is a humbling read that made me appreciate what I have in life, hopefully it will do the same to you. 

It isn't often that I wish to share things about myself. But the Gaming is Wonderful section of this blog really inspired me. I felt like I could relate to every post. I am pretty insignificant both in life and online. I try to stick to the shadows and lack a lot of self confidence. Part of me wishes I could be more but I know that it wouldn't work out. 

Far Cry 5 by VPVibrancy

When I am not working I spend my days writing fan fiction and living out my life in video games. I'm not a child anymore but I still live at home as a part-time carer to my mother. Life is hard and with no other support we make do. In my country disability allowance is pretty much non-existent and we really have to work hard to survive. Due to this I don't have a decent PC or a PS4 Pro or Xbox X, I make do with a lesser new gen console. 

Control by VPVibrancy

Gaming is what allows me to disconnect, I write online fan fics about the games and TV shows that I am into and am pretty active on Tumblr and a few other sites with that content. Without these escapes I would crumble. I love my mother but at times the attachment and dependency makes me want to drown myself. I often feel like I am drowning in life. I have no goals or end game beyond the present, we have to take each day as it comes. 

Skyrim by VPVibrancy

The glowing and positive nature of the virtual photography community really inspires me. I am hoping eventually I can afford something that takes better shots and enjoy some newer games. Money is tight so I rely on thrift-store purchases and hand me downs from friends. But until then I shall continue to post my videos and pictures and continue to appreciate the pictures of others. 

Elite Dangerous by by VPVibrancy

I chose VPVibrancy's work as I feel that what she is doing here is a gift to us. I wasn't even following her until recently. I feel Asha deserves some credit for her efforts. 

Assassin's Creed Origins by VPVibrancy

Gaming is Wonderful: Pikachu Saved my Life

The third Gaming is Wonderful post tells the story of how someone managed to use gaming to cope with the harsh turns life takes, isolation and self hate. Sometimes all someone needs is someone to talk, someone to listen. Think of those close to you, especially now most of us are in self isolation. Is there anyone you could be giving a phone call to? Your voice could benefit more than you know. Reach out, who knows what your simple conversation could do for someone.

Throughout this article the anonymous writer chose Stellaosityvp's work to be featured. I hope their words inspire you. Despite how dark life may seem, there is always light eventually at the end of the road. Stay safe x

Pokemon Yellow did indeed save my life. That’s a statement that I seldom think about but it’s true. At the time I was going through big life changes. I didn’t even really know what gaming was. Of course I knew what it was but I’d never done it. 

Control and Horizon Zero Dawn by Stellaosityvp

Through this time I was having severe identity issues. Having no family and no one to turn to I took to drink and temporary companionship as an escape. It was a brutal time. Time just wasn’t a thing anymore, the days blended together through insomnia and sleep. I’d get violent often with my roommate, as well as many others and eventually ended up in hospital having attacked someone and made an attempt on my life.

Horizon Zero Dawn by Stellaosityvp

It was at this time I was introduced to Pokémon. Under a form of house arrest I was trapped in my room for two weeks with little to do. My roommate gave me his (Nintendo) DS and Pokemon Yellow to play. I must have played that game at least 12 times from start to finish. People offered me more games, but I wasn’t interested. For me the chubby Pikachu was the only thing keeping me alive and sane.

 Horizon Zero Dawn and Assassin's Creed Odyssey by Stellaosityvp

As the weeks bled into months I eventually was social again. I quit the excessive drinking, stopped being so self destructive and managed to get a job. During this development I inherited more consoles and got into gaming more and more, to the point where I had a whole host of games and something of every genre.

Horizon Zero Dawn by Stellaosityvp

It kept me out of trouble and distracted me from many harsh realities until I was ready to deal with them. Now being a part of the virtual photography community fills me with an even greater joy. I feel I am no longer an island on my own, but a thriving individual that has a lot in common with others. It’s inspiring to be around so many like minded people and I hope that such inspiration never stops coming. So a big thank you to all of you out there!

Throughout the article I requested to have Stellaosityvp's work, as it always fills me with joy.

Gaming is Wonderful: Animals Bring Me Peace

It is important to remember that all pain is relative, what could seem trivial to one could seem like the end of the world to another. Life can be beautiful but there is no illusion that it is brutal and hard for everyone on and off throughout our lives. 

You are in charge of your own journey. Try not to sit back and blame others for the hand you have been dealt, just make the most of the nice things you have and strive to rise above the unpleasantness. 

Inspired by the overwhelming reaction to my Hellblade post I decided to share peoples stories of how gaming has helped them. Gaming is indeed a wonderful thing, I know from having talked to many on Instagram it has got us through difficult times and also saved some of our lives (mine included). 

Today I present the first, in what I hope to be many stories of how someone has persevered through hardships by gaming.

All posts are anonymous to protect the well-being of those involved and I get each person to choose some virtual photographers work to be featured. Meaning that the photography on the page is never going to be by the person that wrote the article.

I grew up in a fairly unpleasant environment. As a child there wasn’t much going for me. Home was rough, school was better but still not great and most of the time I just wandered through life like an empty shell. 

Red Dead Redemption 2 by by Immortalissol

In my early teens I was pushed into various toxic and abusive situations, ended up on drugs and at the time my only solace came from the cat that happened to share the house with me. Times were dark then. As soon as I could earn enough I became independent. I lived in a one room set up for a few years saving money. Eventually I managed to earn enough to escape my situation and moved as far away as I could from my past. 

Two shots from Far Cry 5 by She.loves.the.seeds

Getting a PC, I delved into the world of online gaming (World of Warcraft mainly as one of my co-workers played it). The months went by and even though the escaped helped, it was just an escape. The cartoony characters were pretty but I needed something more concrete to invest in. That is when I delved into solo gaming. Dragon Age and the Elder Scrolls series really pulled me out of my darkness. Gone were my days of doing pointless raids for coin and gear, instead I was living an adventure of my own away from all the hardcore players, drama and time wasting. 

Inevitably I ventured into consoles as my PC gave up the ghost and died on me. My main escape was gone and I needed a quick fix. I bought a console and from there it became a more expansive journey. I’ve tried my hand at a variety of games but of late have less and less time to play due to promotions at work. I joined the VP community some time back. I’m far from social and due to the events that led to this point, I can’t be near or get on with most people. Instead I find myself doing my own thing.

Horizon Zero Dawn by Immortalissol

Animals have always brought me comfort and peace. I don’t post enough on my page, but Immortalissol and She loves the Seeds I find often give me more than the fix I need. They inspired me to invest more into gaming and that is why I chose their art to be featured here. It means so much to me that they agreed to it.  I don’t post as often as I should but I embrace the escapism when I need to. In truth for most people my Instagram profile is so small and insignificant most people wouldn’t even know who I am. Yet that doesn’t matter to me. 

My message for everyone out there is don’t feel that you need to be “popular” or play the trends. It shouldn’t be what virtual photography is about. Take shots of what make you happy and learn to love you for who you are. If I can get through what I have in life and endure, I am pretty sure those of you in hardship can too. Just strive ahead and embrace what you enjoy.

The Revolutionary Portrayal of Mental Health in Video Games: Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

Shot by Skydragengames

It isn't often a game gets under my skin, or a game relates to my situation in life. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice does both of these things.
Released in 2017, the game tells the tale of a Pict warrior on a journey, but also acts as a totally new and ground braking portrayal of mental illness. In Hellblade we take the role of Senua who embarks on a journey set in the 8th century. Vikings have ransacked her village and left little but ashen remains. She has lost everything and hopes to redeem the soul of her beloved Dillon by journeying to the Norse hell (Hellheim), to confront Hela. Throughout this journey we hear and see manifestations of Senua's self doubt, inner darkness and have to physically battle with her these inner demons.

For some this article may be old news, as the game has been out for a fair while. But for those of you that have yet to play the game, or never looked into the story of the games development, then perhaps I may enlighten and inspire you.

Shot by Rubi_wan

Here in the UK mental health and mental well being are all the rage currently. Workplaces are being forced to put in supportive measures to help their employees and promote better working environments. For most this is sadly nothing more than buzz words. Sadly for many companies a shift in hours and more of a work life balance is not feasible. With the economy being hit by Brexit and now Corona scares, there is certainly no time to implement anything.  But regardless of excuses, it really is time to bring mental health issues into the foreground, not only in all areas of the media but life in general. 

I myself am mentally disabled, I am bi-polar, have anxiety, paranoia and PTSD issues that developed from trauma. This is not being divulged in a plea for attention or kind comments, I am just stating the truth. In life I do not let these things define me. The NHS states that 1 in 4 of us have mental health issues at any one time. An issue that is severe and needs care to be dealt with. However if we look into mild mental health issues, I truly believe everyone is unwell to a degree. (This is a blog about virtual photography not a medical information guide but if you need help or advice then see the links beneath the article)

Shot by Skydragengames

Due to this I feel it is important that we see more real world portrayals of what people go through in life on a daily basis. We often see representations of physical disabilities in TV, film and gaming but seldom do we see a mentally unwell person that isn't a psychopath or a gibbering wreck. 

In making Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Ninja Theroy had a completely different protagonist in mind. As the game was being developed they not only had Paul Fletcher, a professor of health neuroscience from Cambridge University as a consultant, they also interviewed psychosis patients, on their experiences with audial and visual hallucinations. 

Shot by me

“So many people sent messages to the Ninja Theory team and to me commenting how they now had a physical, tangible slice of altered reality that they could share with people that they were desperate to communicate with." said Fletcher in a conversation with TIGS organiser Mark Chandler.

The company also received a grant from Welcome Trust, a healthcare company here in the United Kingdom. They were interested in depicting psychosis so that gamers could experience what it is like to live with such a condition (I would like to point out not all conditions where people suffer with hallucinations are a result of psychosis or of a psychotic disorder though). 

Shot by Rubi_wan

The journey that takes place is a wonderful experience. Being mentally ill myself I was concerned about playing the game. I tend to avoid films and games that feature negative portrayals of mental illness. On playing it I was relieved as it really is an accurate portrayal of some of what I have experienced in life. You are never sure if what our protagonist faces is real or just in her head and she shows a strength and perseverance despite her challenges, which I could relate to.
As a whole, the game is unique and delivers a tale that is a must play experience for any gamer. I hope more companies follow suit and try to put more love and care into their depictions of mental illness.

As always thank you to the virtual photographers who supplied the images to the article: Skydragengames and Rubi_wan 


If you are unwell Don't suffer in silence 
Below are some UK helplines but the advice is good for all.

NHS Mental Health Tips guide

Getting Help