Cats & Videogames: My Obsession

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Ever since my boyfriend brought home my cat, Nona, I’ve developed a rather unhealthy obsession with feline friends. Cats are fascinating, and here’s why:

• Their behavior is either relatable or completely alien. Both situations are equally fulfilling!
• They’re ridiculously athletic and ridiculously lazy.
• They look so freaking adorable and cuddly, but they are also scary hunters.
• Have you heard the cool noises they make? All of her little noises mean something different and understanding what she’s saying to me keeps our relationship happy.

Yeah, I am a crazy cat lady. I’m ok with that. I embrace it. Because I am tired and can’t think of a brilliant segue, I will just say that the way I feel about cats is also the way I feel about games.

• Mechanics are generally the same from game to game, within any given genre, which is fine. Sometimes I want to know all the rules/the way things work immediately; it’s comfortable. Then I have the brain power to focus on the story, the art, whatever. Other times, I want to sit down and play a game so different that it changes my life. Both situations are equally satisfying, and both are essential. Better yet, a game that takes something expected and innovates on it is probably my preference.
• Characters in videogames are ridiculously athletic while *I* am ridiculously lazy playing them.
• I don’t discriminate against what games I play as long as they’re good. I will gladly play a freaking adorable puzzle game or play a sci-fi shooter. I am also very happy to indulge in an adorable shooter.
• Sound! My first job in the industry was as a sound designer. Sound is crucial. It is a source of feedback, a tool for foreshadowing and setting the mood, and it draws you into the environment. The fact that we can turn off sound in a game enrages me, but that can be another post. :-p

So… what the hell am I talking about? My cat/videogame patterns. I took old school games, made all the characters cats, and then made cross stitch patterns from them. The 8-bit art style lends itself to cross stitch. I know that my pieces are not always the most relatable, but I hope that there are other weirdos out there in the world who connect with them!