I’ve been thinking–dangerous as that may be–about regular features I can do on this blog: what I can offer that three hundred other people can’t.
Okay:
1) I’m a romance novelist.
2) I’ve studied a fair amount of wacky occult historical stuff. Enough to know about a number of interesting theories and people.
3) I, um, play a lot of video games.
So the regular feature here–I’ll try for every week, though I may not always succeed–is romance plots (and possibly more general interpersonal relationships) in video games. I’m going to start with The Secret of Monkey Island, because yay nostalgia, probably go on to Dragon Age, which I’m currently playing, and then move into Shadow Hearts, which also gets the occult wackiness. (As do the other games, a little, so that might come up too.) If it stays hot, I may postpone the last one: my PS2 is in a windowless room.
Eventually, I will probably tackle the Final Fantasy games, at which point the phrases “oh my God SHUT UP” and “Cecil, you goddamn moron” may appear as tags. I will also take suggestions for games. Fair warning: I have very little patience for spinelessness, jealousy, or uber-dependent heroines; I also do not bear gracefully with either the Love Makes You Dumb or
Love Makes You Crazy tropes, especially when displayed by people I’m supposed to be rooting for.
The occult wackiness posts will probably be a little less regular, just because they hinge on something poking at my brain cells. Hopefully frequently, though.
Another Universe, Please 
I am looking forward to this! Particularly where it involves Dragon Age and Shadow Hearts, because the romances in those can get kind of… special.
Yay!
And yeeees. Especially Shadow Hearts: Covenant, in which…DUDE.
Also, I have a total nerd crush on both Dragon Age romanceable dudes. (Also that one guy at Redcliffe.) My psyche gets around.
You and me both. Although I think my favorite part of the Dragon Age romances may actually be all the “helpful” commentary from the other party members.
Ooh, yes.
Also, I am now playing an elven warrior mage with a silver (or “silverite”) sword. Y HALLO THAR every RPG character I made when I was twelve.
I have tried out all the origins, but my favorite ends up being a dual-wield human noble, the origin of which is a little like playing through the first chapter of By The Sword.
Also I cannot seem to thread comments together correctly. Sorry about that.
I should try that one out next.
And no worries: it does that to me too. WordPress seems to think you should only be able to reply so many times, or something.
I will also take suggestions for games. Fair warning: I have very little patience for spinelessness, jealousy, or uber-dependent heroines; I also do not bear gracefully with either the Love Makes You Dumb or
Love Makes You Crazy tropes, especially when displayed by people I’m supposed to be rooting for.
Oh, man. I really want to ask you to have a look at (World of) Warcraft lore, now, but I suspect that may result in a post in which every other word is “fuck”. (It … tends to have that effect on me. Out of three female leaders of playable races, two are/have been at the apex of a love triangle, and yes, Love Makes You Evil. Also Crazy. Gah.)
Gaaah. I’d be glad to take a look, but, as you say, I suspect there will be vast and all-consuming rage.
That’s supposed to be a deterrent? ;D (I;ll try and dig up some links when I’m at my mums and have decent internet access for a few days.)
I’m just a random stranger on the internet, and this post is old, but if you’re still taking suggestions, I’m going to put forward Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2. I have so much insanely large amounts of love for the series. It’s SF, and somewhat hard SF, but an awful lot of the explanations for how things work is saved for the codexes so they don’t get in the way of the story. (This tends to make it look like Mass Effect Fields are magic, like wizards. How does XYZ work? MASS EFFECT FIELD, no further explanation necessary!)
Also I have enjoyed the two romances I have gotten myself involved in immensely, and I’ve heard good things about the other options I haven’t yet taken.
Not to mention, playing as FemShep is AWESOME. I infinitely prefer her voice actor to the VA of MShep.
“Cecil, you goddamn moron”
I snorted my drink at this line, because I know exactly how you feel.