I'm getting the Demon of Razgriz from Ace Combat 5 tattooed on my right arm in August. I've been a gigantic nerd for fighter jets since I got to see Top Gun at way too young an age, and a gamer since we visited cousins who had the original NES back in 1987. So a tattoo based on a convergence of 2 of my greatest lifelong loves is a no brainer.
I spent a ton of time researching artists in my area, and I'm incredibly excited to get started. I'm having absolutely no second thoughts about what I'm getting, or where I'm getting it but it brings up an interesting question.
Obviously, this is going to be a pretty obscure reference that I'm willing to bet 99% of people I ever meet will not recognize. I'm completely OK with that, because I think it's something that people will think looks great even if they don't know what it is exactly. And if I do ever come across someone that recognizes it, that's a pretty good instant connection.
But for those of you who have gaming tattoos of obscure subjects, what do you tell people who ask about it? Do you tell them exactly what it is, or do you just kind of generalize it? Does anyone ever "tune out" so to speak when you tell them what it's from?
I know I'm going to be proud of the art I get, but I'm wondering just how much I tell people that ask about it. My eventual plan is to get another piece of artwork from the same game on my other arm to complete the AC5 motif.
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<<Thunderhead, this is Razgriz 3, Rodger that>>
I drew Teostra and Lunastra as Chinese lion-dragons and got that inked. When people ask I tell them it’s my favorite dragons from a game called monster hunter. Usually people are pretty chill about it and compliment them
I’ve got a pretty large leg tattoo of a Flesh Golem from guild wars (the first one). I’ve only ever had one person ask me about it because they knew it but couldn’t quite place it. Then we had a pretty cool conversation about it. I’ve never had anyone tune out. It’s your body, your art. No need to be ashamed of it. Own it!
I have an Outer Wilds tattoo (same as my profile pic), if the person asking seems like they may know nothing about games, then I just tell them it’s “from a game”. They usually don’t have any follow up questions.
If they know something about gaming or ask what game it’s from I just say the games name and a super brief description (space exploration game). Occasionally someone will actually want to talk about the game itself so I can then go into more detail on it and the tattoo.
I usually give a short default answer: “Oh it’s [blank] from [Game/Show].” And only expand if they ask me to—which happens more than you’d think lol
I have symbols from Mass Effect, Skyrim, Dragon’s Dogma, and Gemfire tattooed on my arm.
If someone asks about it, what I say depends on the audience. If I don’t think they’re into games, I just say “oh it’s some videogames stuff because I’m a big ol’ nerd” and that might get a laugh, but keeps it easy to move on. If they’re into games, I show it and it usually starts a conversation.
In short, it’s easy to make into a nice conversation, or an easily skippable conversation.
I have 5 gaming related tattoos, currently working on a Bloodborne sleeve on my right arm. If people ask I tell them what my tattoos are from and if they want to hear more I will happily elaborate!
I got an Akuma tattoo on my neck a while ago, and it’s supposed to be like “oh yeah it’s Japanese for heaven” but I like being a nerd so I tell them what it actually is anyway lol
I didn’t read any of this i just came here to say
<<That’s what V2 is for.>>
I have Master Chief’s helmet on my bicep. If people don’t know what Halo is, I just say the tattoo is of a character’s helmet from a game I’ve been playing since I was 11.
I have it in my right arm, actually, my whole right arm has a lot of the drawings from the book.
When they ask I just tell them that it is an “angel” from a video game book.
I have Jenova on my left arm, Cloud’s buster sword on the back (tricep) of the same arm, and Meteor as the background with it’s tail stretching across my upper left back (all from FF7). All pieced together with some other art that I have on my inner left arm so it looks like an upper arm sleeve.
I get asked about it rather often, and it’s great when someone recognizes it and jumps at conversing about it with me. Just recently had it lead into a long discussion that led into Expedition 33 with a guy at an ice cream shop while I was on vacation.
Some people don’t know anything about it and the conversation just moves on to whatever. They still typically say that it’s a nice tattoo, but it does has a nice color scheme as well, so it “pops” whilst not being flamboyant.
I have Halo, Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, Pokemon, Persona, and Zelda tattoos. If anyone asks I just tell them what they’re from. Who cares what they think about it.
I’ve had a few people over the years comment on them if they recognized any of the games. Always nice to have happen.
Dark sign on the back of my shoulder, usually only visible in a tank top. Monster hunter hammer symbol on arm. Those are probably the most recognizable.
Then I have a line of the school symbols from Phantom Dust. That one is the most obscure but I look forward to the day when someone recognizes it.
We’re like brothers, you and I.
I have Ghost of Kiev on my lower back.
I played the ever loving shit out of Ace Combat 5 growing up. I miss it..
I have Mordin Solus on my right arm. Got it about 7 or 8 years ago and only one or two people have recognized it without me showing it to someone in a conversation. There have been a few people that ask if it’s Earthworm Jim, which is fair if you’re not familiar with ME.
I usually do the same as you and just say it’s from a video game. If they ask for more, I’m happy to nerd out and give details.
I also have Vivi from FFIX on my arm. It’s my newest piece but several people have recognized it.
I have “and the universe said I love you” and whenever ppl ask about it I straight up tell them it’s the end poem from Minecraft lol I’ve yet to have someone not know what Minecraft is
I say it is gaming stuff, if the person keeps on asking I say exactly what they are, one are thaplayable characters from MegaMan 10, then link from LoZ, Rathalos from monster hunter and the sigma crest from MMX
When history witnesses a great change, Razgriz reveals itself…
I have a tattoo of my cat, Soup, in a bowl of soup in the style of The Legend of Zelda: Windwaker. That’s how I explain it and it seems to work
While not obscure, i have the mario mushroom tattooed on my right bicep. I have it done for my mom who i lost in 2021, and she was the first person i knew to ever beat mario and mario 3 on my nes.. she was a night owl, and her and my older girl cousins who would stay the night on the weekends would play all night. i remember one time waking up while it was still dark out, my one cousin asleep on the couch and my mom playing.
I don’t remember which game it was but I can totally understand why your getting ace combat the games that I’ve played from that series always had way better of a story than they had any business having.
I want to say the one I’m most familiar with was 6. But I remember the story was of a kid who watched two fighters battling overhead and when one inevitably came down it destroyed his home. He later identified the winner of the dogfight by the logo on his plane.
I have Tyrael from Diablo on my forearm. I have had one person recognize it, in 20+ years of having the tattoo. My whole upper body is covered, so that may be why, it just blends in with the rest of the ink. Aside from the one random cashier at a store, nobody else seems to care lol
When history witnesses a great change, Razgriz reveals itself; first as a dark demon. As a demon, it uses its power to rain death upon the land, and then it dies. However, after a period of slumber, Razgriz returns, this time as a great hero.
I have Nishikiyama’s Koi fish back piece from the Yakuza/LAD franchise on my left arm. People compliment it often, but I’ve only ever had to explain why I got it to one person. It’s stylized enough that it just looks like a pretty art piece, but I also get people who know what it’s from give me props.
Honestly, it’s a very cool feeling knowing you’re carrying a franchise close to your heart wherever you go!
My wife has a red Wayfarer from Journey. Usually says “it’s a character from my favorite game” and unless the people dig deeper it ends with a “oh cool” basically.
“Oh it’s a character from a game I enjoy”
If they wanna know more they’ll ask
I have tons of gaming related tattoos and I’ve been asked about them exactly zero times.
I’ve got the hieroglyphic breath of the wild band around my arm along with the song of storms from OoT. Also have a green Chocobo from FF7 and plan to get more. I’m a musician and the tattoos I’m getting are from games that inspired little me to get into music. I always love talking about them and it usually ends up with an awesome conversation about games or music. Also, it’s always a good way to promote my friend who does all the work!
Having something really awesome, like what you’re going for, will bring a few questions about what it is for sure. But the people who spot what it is will appreciate it and want to share their mutual joy about it as well.
I have Kefka in his final form ff6 on my inner forearm. Generally, all people see are his wings. They will ask if I have a dragon or something like that. I say, oh no, it’s a evil clown god. They will usually end the conversation there. I’m entirely ok with that outcome.
I have an eve syringe from bioshock and I get asked about it a ton. I usually just tell them it’s from a video game and most times that’s enough for people but occasionally they’ll follow up with “what game?” And I just tell them. Had a former boss make a heroin joke to me about it once which I thought was wild lol.
Dam, I recognized that right away. What an incredible game that was.
I have a super easy to see ebony dagger from Skyrim on the outside of my forearm, and i work at a bar in a US state capital city so i see tons of random people. Its also fairly large. People that recognize it ask specifically, “is that the ebony dagger from skyrim?!” Sweet easy conversation starter. If someone just asks “what’s the knife?” I just tell them its from a video game and most people dont actually care and just say “oh cool” but people that do will keep the convo going.
I will give them a brief idea of what it is, if there is interest shown, I’ll dive deeper into it