The Occasional Solipsist

I read an article online the other day (for which I can't find the link again) that referenced a recent study on gamers, and their demographics. It turns out that the average video game player is a caucasian male, aged 31.

They couldn't have had it more right if they'd used my name.

There are some people I know that would laugh if they found out (or know) that I spend a lot of my free time (of which there is so little nowadays anyway: see any post about my daughter) playing videogames. I couldn't give a flying fuck what those people think anyways, but it’s nice to know that I am not even close to alone in what I choose to do with my spare time.

I have owned most of the major consoles at one time or another and I now own a PS2 and PSP, and a decent gaming pc.

I have so many vivid memories of playing games either with good friends or experiencing a particular game on my own. It's probably hard for someone who doesn't understand the inherent fun in losing yourself in a great game to get the whole thing, but they're the ones missing out.

I am literally a child of the videogame generation. (Generation V, mebbe?)

My first memory of videogames is my old man drinking with a buddy of his and playing pong in my parent's living room. I couldn't have been more than 2 or 3. It made a profound impression on me. The whole concept totally fascinated me.

I could go on and on about my passion for gaming; I could talk again about one of my tattoos and its videogame inspiration, but I don't want to scare you off too fast.

I guess I've had gaming on the brain so much because E3 just ended, and I've been following it religiously. A buddy of mine and I were supposed to go this year, but it fell through. I was just devastated when I found out I wasn't going to go. I was really looking forward to it.

And I just finished watching Grandma's Boy, a movie about two things: videogames and pot. In only one viewing it has just become one of my favourite movies. If you haven't seen it yet, and you like videogames at all, go get it. It's much funnier than the critics would have you believe.

And the game shown as they run the credits? Galaga. And here's a great online version of the game. Great for those coffee breaks.

And while I'm doling out game related links, here's Joystiq's salute to those most precious of endangered species, The Booth Babe. As I mentioned in a forum post about having to hang out with women that look like this AND get to be immersed in the forefront of the gaming industry, Battle on brave soldiers. Battle on for the rest of us.

Labels: gaming