What Baseball Means to Me

Baseball has always been a glorious and more recently underrated American pastime.  The sight of a baseball diamond stirs up nostalgic feelings of days spent playing the game as a child, or perhaps enjoying a summer's afternoon at the ballpark.  Nearly every person has had some type of experience with the glorious game even if they don't label themselves as a fan.  For me, however, the game of baseball holds a very paternal and familial connection that has only increased over time.

My First Game
I have always been and will always be a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers.  My Dad introduced me to the team from the moment I was born, but one thing I will always remember is the first time I went to a game.  It was during one of those beautiful summer mornings that I found myself playing ball with some friends next door.  My Dad came out and told me that he wanted to take me to a bigger park where we could play.  I grabbed my glove and hopped in my Dad's car- I'm pretty sure it was that aqua-marine Honda Civic he used to drive.  We drove for what seemed like hours to a child, but in reality was probably no more than an hour and a half.  I had no idea where we were and my Dad was very tight-lipped about any details relating to our trip.  We arrived out front of the Los Angeles Police Academy, and I was more than a little confused.  For those of you who don't know the Police Academy sits just out front of Chavez Ravine where Dodger Stadium is located. The stadium itself is blocked from view due to the dense foliage that surrounds the stadium parking lot.  We got out of the car and started walking, I was still clueless, but once we rounded the corner to the entrance I knew exactly where I was.  We turned the corner and I saw Dodger Stadium for the first time.

I was so excited I could hardly contain myself!  My Dad had taken me to a Dodger game!  Every memory I have from that game has stayed with me all these years; from the smell of the hot dogs to almost getting nailed by a foul ball.  To this day that game is the only extra-inning game I have attended.  Raul Mondesi won the game with a walk-off home run in the 10th inning.  The sport of baseball won't hold that particular game in high regard.  No records were broken, no streak snapped, no incredible feat performed, but to me, that game will be the greatest game of baseball that has ever been played.

Teenage Years
Its no big secret and I doubt my adolescent experience was too different from most other teenagers, but at times I just didn't get along with my father.  I always loved my Dad, but at times I just couldn't stand him.  We would argue and disagree, he would punish me and I would get mad, or perhaps we just weren't clicking.  But no matter what was going on between us we could always fall asleep watching the Dodger game on Sunday afternoons.  He would sit in his recliner and I would take the couch.  We could be fuming mad at each other, but almost every Sunday without fail you could find us in those spots.  We would be glued to the TV for the first few innings talking about the team and their associated highs and lows, and then we would pass out.  Every Sunday afternoon I looked forward to those moments with my Dad, even if I wasn't willing to admit it at the time.  Looking back on it now I can see that those moments spent passed out on the couch weren't particularly productive, but they were extraordinary to me nonetheless.

And Now
Now, the Dodgers are somewhat of an addiction.  Thanks to my Dad, I have an MLB.TV subscription and I've yet to miss a game- although I wish I could have missed some of them.  Now, I have my son Max and my wonderful wife Natalie who I can share the team with.  I converted Natalie to the Dodgers while we were dating.  She used to claim the team who shall not be named (angels) as her favorite team, but I changed that quickly.  She was a Dodger fan at heart to begin with, she just didn't know it yet.  In the future I look forward to watching games with my son, and taking my family to the ballpark so hopefully I can instill in them the same passion and love of the Dodgers that my father instilled in me.  The Dodgers are nothing but a baseball team to most and at times not a very good one, but that's ok.  To me, the Dodgers are an emotional connection that will forever tether me to my family and that's why they are so special.

Bioshock Infinite

Bioshock Infinite is probably one of the greatest video games ever created.  Now, with that out of the way we can talk about specifics.  This game came in with a heavy amount of fanfare and was expected to propel the first-person shooter (FPS) genre forward.  I am happy to report that although the gameplay itself is not enough to be revolutionary, the story, well-developed characters, and art direction are more than enough to establish this game as the gold standard that all other FPS's should strive for.

Story- NO SPOILERS
For so long FPS 's have been nothing more then an often silent protagonist running and gunning his or her way through level after level.  Titles like Call of Duty, Battlefield, and Halo are blockbuster games in their own right, but unfortunately do nothing more than give you an avatar with a gun.  In most FPS's you care nothing about your character or his motivations, you simply point and shoot.  Bioshock Infinite changes all of that.

Bioshock Infinite places you in the sky-city of Columbia.  Yes, the city is in the sky!  It's 1912 and you're put in the shoes of Booker Dewitt.  You are given a simple task, "Bring us the girl, and wipe away the debt."  Seems simple enough right?  The only problem is the city of Columbia is run by the prophet known as Comstock, who has established Columbia to promote racial purity (more on this later) and his own religious beliefs.  The girl you're supposed to bring back is named Elizabeth.  She's locked away in a tower and you gotta bust her out.  To avoid spoilers I won't mention anything else relating to the story, but suffice it to say there are complications.  I will say this though, the final thirty minutes of the game will have your jaw hitting the floor in disbelief. 

The city of Columbia is alive and beautifully created.  It's reminiscent of small town America, decorated with red, white and blue streamers, statues of the founding fathers, colorful propaganda, and full of interesting and very opinionated citizens.  Columbia is so beautifully done that it calls out to be explored.  If you try and rush through this game then you are flat-out playing it wrong!

By the end of my playthrough Bioshock Infinite made me think about justice, mercy, repentance, race, and religion.  I didn't expect any of that going into it.  The worst part of this game is the fact that it ends and I'll tell you why.

Elizabeth, your new BFF

Elizabeth

This damsel in distress will be one of the most memorable video game characters of all-time.  When you finally meet her she will be the epitome of innocence and compassion.  Within moments you will care about Elizabeth and stop at nothing to ensure her safety.  Unlike most games with escort missions, Elizabeth doesn't need to be taken care of, the girl can fend for her self.  During combat she will even give you ammo, health and  much needed salts.  In addition, Elizabeth has the ability to open tears in time to transport things like cover, guns, and environmental hazards into the world making her a more than valuable companion.

Your relationship with Elizabeth develops and evolves in a believable way and as the secrets of Columbia began to unravel you will feel sympathetic towards her and her plight.  I know that we're talking about a video game character here, but Elizabeth is so well done that she might as well be real.  (You should read some of the Twitter feeds about her: Elizabeth Obsession)  If Elizabeth is a sign of things to come in the video game world then we should all thank Irrational Games for introducing us.

Yep, that's a mechanical George Washington with a gun!

Heavy Themes

Before I close this post I have to give Irrational Games credit for daring to shine a light on the racial and religious themes that run throughout Bioshock Infinite.  Columbia is all about promoting racial purity through the guise of religion.  In one of the early levels there is even a five-story statue of John Wilkes Booth!  Another level has your character deciding whether or not to cast the first stone at an interracial couple being ridiculed in front of the whole city.  These are just a couple of examples that highlight the darkest corners of our human history and Bioshock Infinite tackles them head on.  We all know racism is wrong and Bioshock Infinite gives you more than enough reason to hate Comstock and his seriously flawed views of racial superiority.  Needless to say, this is not a game that should be played by any young children.

The Final Verdict

This is the first video game that scratches the surface of what video games can be.  Video games have typically been seen as time-wasters that rot the brains of the younger generation.  But what if video games could make you think about heavy themes such as race, religion, or war?  What if a video game could change the way you think, or the way you feel about a particular subject?  Video games have the potential to be more enveloping than television or movies because you are in actually in control, you have the ability to manipulate the environment instead of simply sitting idly by.  Bioshock Infinite is the first game that has come close to approaching that benchmark and I certainly hope that it ignites the fires of other reputable developers to do the same.  I went into Bioshock Infinite hoping to shoot up the baddies and rescue the girl, but when I left Columbia I wanted much more.

Epic Intro!

To be honest I'm not even sure why I am starting this blog.  Perhaps I feel the need to document my ever-changing life or perhaps I just love writing more than I am willing to admit.  As you may be able to tell by the title of my blog, this will mainly be a blog devoted to gaming.  I've played video games almost my entire life and have recently been fascinated with the way these games have made me feel.  For the first time, I have become aware that video games have started to transcend the barrier between entertainment and art.  Games today share powerful messages about the world we live in, while at the same time placing us in situations that could never possibly exist, except in our imaginations.  From the beautiful skies of the city of Columbia to the bright green and blue of the Mushroom Kingdom video games can transport you away from your troubles and worries.  They provide a sanctuary in a tumultuous and often intimidating world, even if just for an hour or two.  Obviously, these are just my feelings about games and while they may be shared by others, I understand that most people will find this kind of ideology strange or perhaps even laughable.  I'm ok with that.  I find it difficult to hate someone just because their opinions differ from mine.  If this blog isn't your cup of tea, that's fine, my feelings won't be hurt, just know that I think you're awesome regardless.

This blog won't be 100% devoted to gaming because I have more interests than just that.  You can expect posts about my law school endeavors, the Dodgers, movies, my son Max, and the zany antics of my wife (she's not that zany I just think she's funny).  Most of the time I will be posting about individual games and the thoughts and feelings I experienced while going through it, or perhaps even just a plain review of the game.  For the gamers who may read this, I hope you can relate to this blog and possibly contribute to its content.  For the non-gamers and anyone who may have stumbled upon this blog by accident, I hope it can hold your interest for at least a few moments and perhaps maybe even shed some new light on a culture that is completely strange and odd to you.  I don't think video games are going anywhere anytime soon so I am sure I will have plenty of things to write about. My first game post will be about Bioshock Infinite, so expect it shortly.