New Tattoo and thoughts on Gaming Ink [PIC inside]

[Cowabungaa]

A gaming tattoo falls in the middle ground, it has a little meaning: "this game was cool so I got a tat of it hurr hurr." but you really think you'll even remember Okami in 20 years? You think you will even be gaming in 20 years? Statistics show differently.

If it makes you happy that's all fine and stuff; some tattoos can look great. But I think you're going to regret a gaming tattoo.

It doesn't have to be. I'd get a gaming tattoo (or a nerdy one in general, like the Imperial emblem or something) because being a nerd is a very big part of my personality and something I'm very proud of.

For a long while I tried to cover up the fact that I was a nerd, was sort-of ashamed for it and bullied because of it. But now that's all different, I've finally come to terms with my own me, no longer am I hiding myself, I love the way I am. And as gaming has always been a very big part of that I'd use a symbol from a videogame, though it could be something else geeky as well, to express that.

So a game tattoo, to me, wouldn't be about the actual game the tattoo is based on, it's about a milestone in my own life; learning to accept who I am and being proud of that.

As for statistics showing differently, can you back that up? The average gamer in the US is way past it's teens, and videogaming hasn't been around for that long either, certainly not as the full-fledged entertainment branch it is today.

 

[ImprovizoR]

If you want a tattoo you get a tattoo. I don't understand people that condemn gaming tattoos. It doesn't matter where the tattoo idea comes from as long as you like it.

 

[Lyri]

That's way out of context. Hungry Hippos is in a whole different world to video games;

1) It's not open to interpretation or imagination - it's a physical manifestation of a linear and single-thought driven piece of plastic entertainment.
2) There's very little that I'd consider to be artistic about Hungry Hippos, as most people who grew up with it would agree.
3) It clearly hasn't changed many (if any) lives, short of being a memorable past-time from the late 80's.
4) I... I just can't believe you just compared video games to Hungry Hippos. Why are you on the escapist?
You realise that this is a video games forum? A forum where like-minded individuals come to share their love and appreciation of video games If you compare the magnitude of video games to a cheap, plastic board game from a couple of decades ago - your passions are clearly in need of some reflection.

I'm talking about tattoos.
You say to someone else "it's from a game" it may as well be hungry,hungry hippos (I could swap it for mousetrap if it will make you less mad) for what it's worth.
I wouldn't get any gaming artwork tattoo'd on my body at all, that's my opinion and what the OP asked for.

Nice try on the whole "This is a vidyuh gaymez forum, go away", with an attitude like that why are you on the Escapist?

 

[Vrach]

Guess it's just me, but that tattoo looks like it belongs on a girl, not a guy, no offense :\

 

[Ascarus]

What are the escapists views on gaming tatts?

as with most tattoos, especially larger ones, they are risky. as some of my friends have gotten older they are not necessarily regretting the tattoo, but are wondering if they should have put more thought into the size and (more importantly) the location of the tattoo.

i would say that having a gaming related tattoo is even more risky as tastes and preferences change as you get older. what you may have loved as a 20 something may be something you may not look as favorably upon when you are in your mid-30s.

 

[Sronpop]

I love tattoos, I got one last week actually, getting it finished off tomorrow, it will be my new avatar so you can all see it then, its a flaming Jesterhead btw, 'mascot' of the band In Flames, and it looks sick yes.

As for actual gaming tattoo's, I think they are a great idea, I have seen some great ones and some horrible ones, especially of games of questionable taste. But overall it can be a deeply meaningful piece of art. I know myself that if I were to get a gaming tat now in the future should my gaming thirst ever qwell I would see it as a link to my childhood.

I have been think of getting a few gaming tats, both Bioshock related actually. I was thinking of getting the links on my wrists, but that prop wont happen, what might happen is I get, 'A Man Chooses, A Slave Obeys' on the back of my forearm, not just because it sounds awesome but it means a lot to me especially some of the choices I have made in life. But I want my forearm to be perfect as its the place most on show and hence I want it to be the most meaningul

 

[Kennian]

i have a tribal wolf on my shoulder i had a artist draw for me, and a line of kanji representing people important in my life. my next tat is going to be a Operation Iraqi freedom tat, from when i was in the desert. AND a gaming tattoo ^_^ the fallout 2 pip-boy from the Kamikaze perk...it'll be awesome! i put alot of thought into my ink, and that's the only gaming tat i have thought up...

i want to add to this tribal wolf on my shoulder into a half sleeve, but the lines are really fine and it'd cost a metric ton...

 

[danosaurus]

Tattoo's are something everyone regrets soon enough anyway.

That's a rather bold and sweeping statement you've made there. I know plenty of old folks who take pride in tatts they had done when they were growing up. I sincerely doubt that I will ever have regret for my tatts either - if you're that concerned about regrets in life, I can only imagine you lead a very conservative and safely predictable lifestyle, my friend. <-- That's not meant to be a bold and derogatory statement, merely observation.

I didn't mean to touch a nerve, I can assure you I don't lead a conservative or predictable lifestyle. Having confidence in being able to assume that of me through one forum post is quite remarkable though.

Sorry, there was little to no ambiguity in your original post. You simply implied that everybody eventually regrets their tattoos. I do not believe this to be true - I should've kept it at that ^_^

Doesn't the ribs REALLY hurt?
I don't think I could deal with that kind of pain, I'm a coward and proud.

That being said, I've got about ten to twenty designs that I'd like to put on me from anime and video games...
But I've never had the cash for it, or I'd ended up spending the saved money on gaming, anime, and/or electronics instead.

Ribs is the most painful (realistically speaking) place you can get tatts, but it also happens to be one of the easiest to conceal parts of your body. To be honest though, the true pain of tatts doesn't start shining through until 2+ hours of work on the same area. Small tatts are borderline enjoyable for me. (Think like half an hour to an hours work).

That's way out of context. Hungry Hippos is in a whole different world to video games;

1) It's not open to interpretation or imagination - it's a physical manifestation of a linear and single-thought driven piece of plastic entertainment.
2) There's very little that I'd consider to be artistic about Hungry Hippos, as most people who grew up with it would agree.
3) It clearly hasn't changed many (if any) lives, short of being a memorable past-time from the late 80's.
4) I... I just can't believe you just compared video games to Hungry Hippos. Why are you on the escapist?
You realise that this is a video games forum? A forum where like-minded individuals come to share their love and appreciation of video games If you compare the magnitude of video games to a cheap, plastic board game from a couple of decades ago - your passions are clearly in need of some reflection.

I'm talking about tattoos.
You say to someone else "it's from a game" it may as well be hungry,hungry hippos (I could swap it for mousetrap if it will make you less mad) for what it's worth.
I wouldn't get any gaming artwork tattoo'd on my body at all, that's my opinion and what the OP asked for.

Nice try on the whole "This is a vidyuh gaymez forum, go away", with an attitude like that why are you on the Escapist?

Soz, didn't mean to come across as mad Was in a bit of a rush to reply to you and should've waited I guess.

I still personally don't think it just to compare video games to the likes of a board game but I guess it's all subjective in the end. I just happen to believe that video games hold greater weight over any other kind of media in my life (i.e I don't watch TV//Listen to the Radio at all). while I do watch and love movies, I am an incredibly grinch-like movie//music Nazi... It's a bad habit which I'm working on fixing. Acceptance of mediocrity is tough though

 

[danosaurus]

Guess it's just me, but that tattoo looks like it belongs on a girl, not a guy, no offense :\

Haha thanks for your honesty, I'm not too fussed about what others think about my ink - I personally reckon it's awesome and both the characters hold meaning to me and that's all that matters.
This kind of comment also further strengthens my resolve to only have easily//readily concealable tatts (i.e no sleeves or calf-tatts), I'd prefer not to have the general public call out, berate or even enquire about my ink. I get tatts for me and it's as simple as that

 

[Christopher Roberts]

If you want a tattoo you get a tattoo. I don't understand people that condemn gaming tattoos. It doesn't matter where the tattoo idea comes from as long as you like it.

Probably the best piece of advice I seen on here.

 

[AcacianLeaves]

Friend of mine has the symbol of Torment from Planescape: Torment tattooed on his upper arm. Fucking coolest thing ever, and not obviously 'gamer', but anyone in the know is going to squeal like a school girl when they see it.

 

[Christopher Roberts]

I'm thinking of incorporating the gas mask wearing dude from the cover of Fallout into my sleeve. I figure that's ambiguous enough where people won't be looking at me funny for having a gaming tat. Not that I would really care, but there are few games that I like enough to get permanently inked on my body. But really, anyone who wants to should. Hell, you're only young once (assuming you're young now, of course).

 

[Zombie Izzard]

As you can see by my avatar picture I am for gaming tattoos. Though I agree that with any tattoo whether its gaming, meaningful, or something you thought looked cool you should think about it for a while. With my Umbrella tattoo I thoght well over a year before getting it for my 20th birthday. I've had it for almost 3 years and don't regret it. Heck I've had my first tattoo for 10 and don't regret it. (Yes if your doing your math right I was 12 when I got my first tattoo. Family friend was a tattoo artist.)

 

[Christopher Roberts]

As you can see by my avatar picture I am for gaming tattoos. Though I agree that with any tattoo whether its gaming, meaningful, or something you thought looked cool you should think about it for a while. With my Umbrella tattoo I thoght well over a year before getting it for my 20th birthday. I've had it for almost 3 years and don't regret it. Heck I've had my first tattoo for 10 and don't regret it. (Yes if your doing your math right I was 12 when I got my first tattoo. Family friend was a tattoo artist.)

Umbrella Corp., not bad.

I always thought about getting the bar code tattoo from Hitman. Now I see a lot of those tattoos so it has kinda lost it's unique-ness. Yeah, unique-ness. It's not a word, but I'm sticking with it.

 

[superbatranger]

I actually have 4 ideas for tattoos, but none of them are related to gaming. I just can't think of anything that I'd want to get. Granted, maybe I'd be able to incorporate something I want and like from a game into the tattoo I'm planning for my back, or the half sleeve on my left arm. Although, I am not entirely sure if I will get them. I still haven't had the chance to get them drawn out on paper.