With the year I’ve had, it’s been real difficult to get back into a groove for everything I had planned in 2020. Part of that involved gaming for ColoradoPlays. I’m trying to get back into the swing of things, but it’s been a difficult ride.
Mostly, it has to do with me and being able to maintain focus, though. Well, the pandeminc really didn’t help as it curbed a lot of things I wanted to do this year…such as go out to do “adulting” stuff.
What is ColoradoPlays?
ColoradoPlays is a brand we created a few years ago. We love gaming in every form and found that it was a great way to help a lot of different charities.
About one-third of everything ColoradoPlays pulls in is immediately donated. Even though it hasn’t been a stellar amount over the years, it’s still helped us give hundreds of dollars to Geeks of Grandeur and Extra Life.
It’s kind of a passion project that is fun, if and when I actually sit down and commit some time.
More than Just Video Games
ColoradoPlays does more than just video games, too. We also like exploring and doing different things in Colorado that is related to fun and playing. For instance, we recently went to the Philip S Miller Park and enjoyed the morning in Castle Rock, CO.
That was one of the many disappointing things of 2020…not being able to get out, socialize, and “play” in Colorado.
And I get why everything was closed for so long. I just found it a bit ironic that the year I decided to stop living as a hermit and meet new people, we get hit by a global pandemic.
Who is the “We” in ColoradoPlays?
At first, it was just me and my best friend, Sam. Then, I included the kids if and when they want to play. The problem is, I am very “R” rated while playing and definitely not age-appropriate when playing with my 13-year-old daughter.
So, I have to tone it down. But then there are nights on Twitch when I’m playing with my sons, who are over the age of 20. And we’ve had some…interesting conversations.
There’s a reason I have an adult rating on Twitch, and probably will on YouTube once we start streaming live on that platform.
Why I Like Gaming for ColoradoPlays
I was inspired to build ColoradoPlays by many people I watch on YouTube. And since I find gaming to be a great stress reliever and a way to relax when things get tough, I figured I might as well bring people along for the ride.
No, I don’t have the money to buy the latest and greatest games. And no, I will NEVER stream Fortnite or many of the other popularized games. Because I like games the keep me engaged, not because everyone else is playing them.
I’ve Met Some Really Fun People
Since creating ColoradoPlays, we’ve met some really awesome people. From the occasional visitors to the Twitch feed to attending charity Halloween parties, gaming doesn’t have a completely toxic base.
And it’s nice to come across adults in my age group who love playing as much, if not more, than I. Mostly because I am still getting over the idea of being too old to do certain things.
Yeah, the mid-life crisis was real.
In fact, I’m really hoping that Hallow-Baloo isn’t canceled this year. It’s the Halloween charity party we attend every year for Geeks of Grandeur.
Helping Charities When We Can
Speaking of charities, I mentioned earlier about how ColoradoPlays is dedicated to handing out money. Currently, most of that is made through the blog thanks to Adsense.
This money is either directly given to certain charities or we’ll use it to participate in things like silent auctions for those groups. Like, last year, I chipped in my own money so that we could win a nice wine set at Hallow-Baloo.
We spent a bit much, that night. But thanks to some of the money from ColoradoPlays, we were able to help out a worthy charity that builds gaming equipment for children in hospitals.
And…I like Gaming
Obviously, one of the biggest reasons why I built ColoradoPlays to begin with was because I love gaming. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to do an incredible amount of that recently.
I dumped quite a bit of time in Minecraft to relax and played some Diablo III before this last season ended. But, we really haven’t had a chance to get together and stream for quite a few months now.
Hopefully, though, that will all change in the next day or two.
Why Has it Been Hard to Get Back Into Gaming?
I know my problems are minuscule compared to what’s going on in the world. But it’s been difficult to get back into streaming and making videos. Especially after having a “down day” and feeling a bit on the worthless side.
But that’s a tale for another time.
I’m Not Very Engaging on My Own
To be honest, I don’t think I’m very engaging on my own. I’m not hyper, I don’t dance around, and I don’t act like an idiot on camera. Unfortunately, that seems to be what works best on sites like Twitch.
And since I don’t have the body to be a Twitch Thot, I need to rely more on my personality. Which is often that of a tired, middle-aged man who runs out of pep by the time he hits the “Start Streaming” button.
Right now, my brick of a bed probably isn’t helping much, either.
Memory foam my ass. It’s like the bed “remembered” to become a sheet of wood.
Getting Stuck in My Own Head
I am prone to feelings of worthlessness. It comes with the impostor syndrome that I push through on a daily basis. Some days I can fend it off, but others seem to pummel me into the floor.
I’m not as bad as I used to be, but the struggle is real. And once you get into your own head like that, it can get overwhelming and amplify every single minor negative element in your life.
The last thing anyone wants to see on camera is some aging, greying, wannabe gamer suffering from depression.
I know, that’s a bit down on myself. But that’s how I feel sometimes when trying to build up the motivation to stream or record a video. It’s not all the time, but enough to stop me from really having a great time.
Finding the Perfect Groove for Everything
Another issue I am having at the moment is finding a good groove for everything I am trying to commit to. GreenGeeks, WriterSanctuary, ColoradoPlays, Crossing Colorado, YouTube channels…there’s an incredible amount of stuff on my plate.
Right now, I’m trying to separate everything into their own portions and trying to get it all down. It’s been getting a bit easier, but it’s still a lot of work.
However, I think I found a good flow for at least WriterSanctuary and ColoradoPlays. So, I suppose there might be a silver lining for the last half of 2020.
Screwed Up Schedules
As I said, I don’t think I’m very engaging on my own. But the person I play with the most, Sam, has a really screwed up work schedule compared to my own. Plus, the kids are doing their own things now.
This brings me up to why I wanted to get out more in 2020. I need more local friends who like gaming.
Still, we are working on a way to at least get some collaborative videos up on YouTube. Plus, we’re getting a bit more content on the blog. So, things are kind of starting to piece together.
Is there a Triumphant Return to Gaming Soon?
I don’t know if I’d call it a triumphant return. How about we start with a dedicated schedule for a change? For instance, regular blog posts and live Twitch streaming every Tuesday and Thursday.
I’ve got a few ideas rolling around in my head that might get ColoradoPlays back into production mode. I just need to commit myself and find that passion for playing again.
The bottom line is that I feel like I’m letting down the charities we support.
So, I guess the short answer is, “yes,” we will be returning to gaming starting in the very near future. In fact, I plan on doing some hardcore Minecraft in Sky Factory 4 tomorrow night on Twitch.
If I’m going to play, I might as well hit the “Start Stream” button.
What Kind of Gaming Do You Like to Do?
With the way things are right now, it’s difficult to get out and enjoy yourself. If you’re not having to maneuver around protests, it’s having to wear a mask at every venue.
Being comfortable as a human has never been so difficult. But, you still need to find ways to vent, relieve stress, and have fun.
If video gaming isn’t your thing, find something that gets your mind in the right place. For me, it’s spending time surrounded by nature.