Assassin’s Creed
Writer for IGN & Panel Member of Bitcast, Travis Northup
Next up, we have the “best-dressed” person in the industry, Travis Northup. Also known as Tie Guy Travis, he’s a highly respected writer in the gaming space. You can find him writing for IGN or discussing industry topics on Bitcast. Whenever I’m reading reviews, news, or perspectives outside of LOGNET, Travis is someone I genuinely respect and always enjoy hearing from. And on top of all that, he even beat Ainsley Bowden in a cooking competition. Here’s what Travis had to say about the world he’d choose to live in—or be trapped in.
My choice is Assassin’s Creed. You may be surprised to hear that I am choosing Assassin’s Creed, seeing as I generally haven’t enjoyed those games in several years, as they slowly became carbon copies of one another with almost no innovation. You might be thinking, “Oh, Travis probably loves history and just wants to relive all the great moments from the past,” and there’s certainly some truth to that. To walk the streets of ancient Rome or have a conversation with Socrates would be pretty awesome indeed.
But no, the reason I would choose Assassin’s Creed is that I want to run Abstergo Industries. Guys, it’s a chaotic world out there. There’s crime, violence, and Labubu dolls. Freedom was clearly a mistake – people simply can’t be trusted to make decisions for themselves. In the world of Assassin’s Creed, there is an entire megacorporation dedicated to the sole purpose of removing free will from the masses.
More To Think About
Think about that: a whole section of humanity has aligned itself behind a common creed and is effective enough to keep that torch burning through hundreds of generations, into the modern era, remaining almost completely undetected all the while. That’s the kind of organization and principled pursuit of one’s ideals I can get behind. Sure, the order of the assassins exists too, but c’mon, these guys are working out of dirty basements and hiding from the world like rats in the sewer.
They couldn’t even keep their protagonist alive for long enough for him to have any kind of satisfying character development. Amateur hour. Meanwhile, Abstergo Industries has propped up an entire games industry just so they can train their own internal employees on how to murder people in the streets of Renaissance-era Italy. THAT’S vision. THAT’S efficiency.
In addition to my considerable chops in the games industry, I’ve spent much of my career building businesses in the cutthroat world of tech startups. I believe that my unique set of skills and moral flexibility make me a strong candidate for the role as Chairman and CEO of Abstergo Industries, so if I could pick any world to be stuck in, it would be Assassin’s Creed.
Old School Runescape
Member of Wicked Good Gaming, Tiggy
Tiggy is someone I met a couple of years ago at PAX East. Just like us at LOGNET and ILP, he was boots on the ground putting in the work. He and Dom (Wicked Good Gaming) are always eager to shine a spotlight on everyone. Especially the incredible cosplayers, through their “Red Carpet Interviews” at events. Tiggy always brings positive energy and is genuinely great to talk to. Here’s what he shared about the world he’d choose to live in—or be trapped in
Thinking of all the games I’ve played through the years, I have to go back to my childhood and see what’s stood the test of time. For that, I always go back to this game at least once throughout the years. That game is old school RuneScape. The MMO has been out for 20+ years, and rivaled WoW at its height. Not only is the game a grueling grind, & extremely fun. But the style of the game is set during medieval times.
Slaying dragons & staking vampires is only the tip of the iceberg for things you can accomplish in the game. I prefer selling raw lobsters in the West Varrock bank, haggling for an extra 5 gold on each when they can buy cheaper around the block. And then I wind down the nights in the coal mines like a true West Virginian. It brings nostalgia for me, Game of Thrones-like vibes for the rest, and all the love for hardcore gamers you can dream of.
Popstar From the Kirby Series
Writer for Lords of Gaming, Randy Rhodes (Don Otaku)
One of the newest additions to the team this year is Don Otaku. Don taken LOGNET by storm with a wide range of article coverage. He’ll cover just about anything, but nothing compares to his love for Nintendo. Don continues to put in the work, and I’m excited to see what he has planned for future pieces. This is the world he said he’d live in—or be trapped in.
If I had to be trapped in any video game world, it would be Popstar from the Kirby series. It’s Earth-like, yet for the most part, a true paradise overflowing with an overabundance of delicious food! I’d love to laze around and enjoy life without a single care in the world, just like Kirby. It would feel far cozier than worlds like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley, where I’d actually have to work… Not on Popstar!
The only trade-off is occasionally dealing with King Dedede swiping all the food. Or maybe facing down an angry knight, eldritch horror, or omnipotent cosmic deity threatening the planet—and possibly the entire universe. But as long as Kirby’s around, I’d be perfectly safe. After all, he’s one of the most powerful video game characters ever created.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Assistant Editor for Lords of Gaming, Robert Kellet
If you know anything about Robert Kellet, you know he’s a huge Sonic fan. Since joining the site, he’s consistently shown enthusiasm and a genuine love for the franchise. You’ve probably seen him hanging out in the Iron Lords Podcast chat, always showing support. Here’s what Robert had to say about the world he’d choose to live in—or be trapped in.
When imagining iconic worlds of video games, it’s hard to lock down my ideal world to live in. Do I go to a place I grew up admiring? Or maybe a place that’s more relaxing than the reality I live in? Even if the world is full of chaos and mayhem, I would pick the world of Sonic the Hedgehog.
The Blue Blur’s world is filled with iconic landmarks I would love to visit. In addition to a stylized take on places that exist in our current world. The idea of going on vacation in Green Hill Zone and seeing the Blue Blur and friends speeding around sounds awesome to me. Even if the world of Sonic is impractical. (running through those loop-de-loops to work would be painful) It would be fun to live in.
The World of Halo
Host of Xbox Frontline News and Iron Lords Podcast, King David
Next up, we have a man who needs no introduction—but I’m going to give him one anyway. King David, one of the “Four Horsemen of Gaming” and a proud member of the Iron Lords Podcast. You’ve probably seen him holding the line during the Activision/Blizzard/King deal. Maybe advancing the line on his YouTube channel, Xbox Frontline. Or even these days, embracing his role as the “Ascended One.”
He’s the King of the Statues and someone I’ve had the pleasure of sharing many meaningful conversations with. I’ve learned a lot from him, and continue to learn more every time we talk. Beyond all of that, he’s simply a great community member. King has always had my back, and here’s what he had to say about the world he’d choose to live in—or be trapped in.
Rapture
Editor-in-Chief for Seasoned Gaming and Host of Bitcast, Ainsley Bowden
Another amazing person in the gaming community is none other than Bitcast host Ainsley Bowden. Many know him as Porshapwr. Also, for his unwavering belief that Mass Effect 1 is the best in the series (because it is!). Ains is an avid Halo fan and lifelong gamer who brings his passion everywhere he goes. While continuing to make Season Gaming a fantastic place for news, reviews, and thoughtful discussion, he’s always ready to jump into conversations throughout the community.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Ains and sharing many great talks over the years. He also did an excellent job helping Ben Kenobi this past June. They set everything up for the Xbox Showcase back in June and helped run the event. This was his unique take on the world he would choose to live in—or find himself trapped in.
Ainz Went the Unique Route…
The year is 1953. You’re new to Rapture but beginning to find your footing. Having made yourself a name in early Hollywood, you’d grown accustomed to offers of all types: glamorous trips, lavish excursions, and more sin than you could have imagined. But when that letter first arrived, you still sensed it was…different. It was enticing in a way you hadn’t felt before. So while you pondered its legitimacy, eventually curiosity won out. And while it initially seemed implausible, here you are. Standing in your new residence, a city under the sea.
Despite your prior lifestyle, you’d taken it slowly in Rapture. Learning the streets, the people, the vibe. But tonight? Tonight, you were going to find out exactly what life in Rapture could be like. Entering Fort Frolic, you’d made it to the so-called epicenter of Rapture entertainment: Ains’s Illusoiree.
Rapture collapsed for many of the same reasons societies have collapsed through the ages. But in its prime? What an experience that would have been. Running the most popular club/entertainment venue in Rapture, mixing with the creme de la creme, and pushing boundaries day after day? If you’re going to go down with society, that’s the way to go. And if you’re feeling down about it, help yourself to a dose of Ains’s Alacrity, exclusively at Ains’s Illusoiree.
World of Valheim
Executive Editor at Windows Central and Co-Host of Xb2 & Unshackled Fury Podcasts, Jez Corden
Now, someone I’ve been looking forward to having in this piece is none other than Jez Corden. Jez is a man of many hats. He’s the Executive Editor at Windows Central and co-hosts the XB2 Podcast alongside Rand al Thor, focusing on all things Xbox. That’s not his only podcast, though. He’s also a co-host of the Unshackled Fury Podcast, which dives deep into World of Warcraft. Jez has appeared on ILP multiple times. He is someone I have a great deal of respect for within the industry. Here’s what he had to say about the world he’d choose to live in—or be trapped in.
When Chris first approached me to write a segment for this, I wasn’t sure what world I’d want to live in off the top of my head. But after my most recent video gaming addiction, it became a lot easier. I’ve been thoroughly enthralled by Valheim recently. And I know I’m very late to this party, but I often take a “wait and see” approach to games in early access, and I’m seriously glad I did here. In 2025, Valheim feels utterly vast.
Wait and See…
I’ve already put a few dozen hours into the game and feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface of all the biomes, bosses, and adventures that await me. Why would I want to live in a hostile world filled with trolls and skeletons and elephant-sized bears?
Well, okay, Valheim living would be pretty dangerous, but let’s put that to the side for one moment. A bit like Minecraft, Valheim has these incredible “zen” moments where a walk in the forest, painted with modern lighting and weather effects, makes the game really sing. The gorgeous meadows and enchanting forests can be soothing in a way I’ve not experienced in a game for a long time, coupled with those crucial high stakes of being brutally murdered by a draugr or giant mosquito.
There’s an indescribable, perhaps primal coziness to setting up a base, sitting by your campfire, cooking meat, while horrors lurk beyond the village gates. Valheim is just a stunning world, and perhaps I should take it as a sign to get out of the city more and experience some real, rather than pixel-style, nature.
