GRIDDLYBEAR is a Player.GG Curator
Who is that, though, and what does that mean?
Hey, hi, how are ya?
... is often how you'd hear/see me greet the community when I go live on Twitch on Mondays and Thursdays at 10pm ET. I then usually muse about my day-to-day of the last bit of the week, get derailed by tangential conversations or diverging thoughts, and hang out and play video games.
How is that any different than anybody else?
It isn't. That said, what I try to bring to the table, if you will, is:
- Honesty/humility;
- No bullshit;
- Dad-skewed worldview; and
- Fun.
Bottle all of the above up and pour it over a life that is on the other side of 40 years of age and you have a gamer that has seen/experienced:
- Waiting in line with 'next-up' quarters for a Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat match
- The XB360 RRoD ... as an adult
- Super Mario World being the awakening of a passion
- Their son telling them about the "new Zelda game" coming out later this year (2026) from friends at school
- Midnight launch/releases at local game stores
- Playing more hours on a Sega Master System than a Sega Genesis
- Powering through chickenpox as a kid and playing A Link to the Past for the first time
Ultimately, you get a range of opinions, experiences, etc. You also get someone that equally hasn't seen/played everything. It turns out - there are a ton of great games. Let's explore some together, shall we?
Oh, while we're on that topic - here's a quick unsorted list of some of my favorite games of all time to get to know my vibe:
Square Enix
The RPG classic FINAL FANTASY VII returns to PC, now with brand new online features!
Electronic Arts
As Commander Shepard, you lead an elite squad on a heroic, action-packed adventure throughout the galaxy.
Sony Computer Entertainment
The Last of Us is a third-person action-adventure game featuring a mix of exploration, stealth and combat. Players face both infected creatures and hostile human enemies while progressing through varied environments. The game includes a narrative-driven single-player campaign and a competitive online multiplayer mode called Factions. Trophy support is included, and additional downloadable content was made available separately.
Sony Computer Entertainment
In the sequel to Drake's Fortune, Nathan Drake comes across a map that showcases the location of Marco Polo's missing ships. It takes him on a journey to find the infamous Cintamani Stone, and uncover the truth behind it.
SEGA
Lead the Phantom Thieves of Hearts in this award winning, stylish turn-based RPG filled with dungeon crawling, party customization, strategic combat, and Persona fusion. Explore Tokyo, build relationships, battle Shadows, and infiltrate the minds of the corrupt to make them change their ways!
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Buckle up for some epic PlayStation camaraderie, join forces with your favourite PlayStation icons and show the universe that small is mighty in this fresh new Astro adventure, exclusive to PS5 consoles!
St. GIGA, Nintendo, Playtronic, Gradiente, Hyundai
Venture back to Hyrule and an age of magic and heroes. The predecessors of Link and Zelda face monsters on the march when a menacing magician takes over the kingdom. Only you can prevent his evil plot from shattering the land of Hyrule. In your quest, you'll venture into twisting mazes, dungeons, palaces and shadowy forests. Test your mettle with mighty swords and magical weapons. Or heft a boulder and hurl it at your enemies. If the going gets tough, dive into a river - you can swim to escape! Learn powerful spells, locate magical artifacts and solve the mysteries of the evil magician and the hidden realm of Hyrule.
Nintendo, Playtronic, Gradiente, Hyundai
A 2D platformer and first entry on the SNES in the Super Mario franchise, Super Mario World follows Mario as he attempts to defeat Bowser's underlings and rescue Princess Peach from his clutches. The game features a save system, a less linear world map, an expanded movement arsenal and numerous new items for Mario, alongside new approaches to level design and art direction.
Xbox Game Studios
“Ori and the Blind Forest” tells the tale of a young orphan destined for heroics, through a visually stunning action-platformer crafted by Moon Studios for PC.
Let's Build Something Together
If you're still here reading - thank you. Feel free to hang out, comment/yell at/cheer along/etc. - whatever floats your boat. Let's build some great dialog, cool shared experiences, and great vibes.
~GRIDDLY
GRIDDLYBEAR is an Indigenous and neurodivergent Canadian, father, husband, brother, and goof. He streams on Twitch twice a week, and can be seen hanging around numerous internet dwellings including Kinda Funny and Hang Time. Don't ask him what the latest meme is though - he likely won't know. For a Canadian he's also weirdly obsessed with Philadelphia sports teams - GO BIRDS.