Gaming break

Despite my craving to get online and slay some dragons, I just couldn't turn down free tickets to an Alesha Keys concert. In fact I'd doubt I'd turn down free tickets to anything remotely interesting under normal circumstances but after an extended episode of game deprival it takes something special to get me away from my PC.

I better put in a major session of gaming in tonight to prevent myself slipping. Spending to much time away from gaming is like being idle in a team based multiplayer game - if you remain inactive to long you're going to get kicked from the server. I've seen it happen before, a gamer gets a non-gaming girl friend (big mistake). He becomes "idle" and starts thinking of ridiculous questions like "is there more important things in life than gaming?"

Sadly questioning his faith is only the 1st step. His concentration is disturbed by the non-gaming enticements his new girl friend has to offer. This greatly reduces performance and the gamer soon starts playing like someone with a ping of 300.

It is at this point a decision must be made.

Choice 1 - the gamer finds the apparent lag is ruining his gaming experience and starts spending less time with his girl friend to bring his skills back up to standard. This usually leads to the gamer to being dumped. The gamer will then drown his sorrows in extended gaming sessions. He will re-affirm his faith in gaming. His status as a hardcore gamer is restored.

Choice 2:
Sadly some succumb to the will of their girl friend and become what is known as a "casual gamer". The casual gamer deludes himself into thinking that his 30-45mins a week on a 3month old game means he is still a real gamer. He's skills reduce to that of a drunken primate and he is easily fragged into submission by a 13yr old.

The final sad stage is when the casual gamer realises that he can no longer compete and retires from online gaming. Some are satisfyied to play single player games set to easy difficulty. The rest leave gaming completely.

I shudder to think what would become of me if I was reduced that far.

Ok I am late for the concert! Check back for an update later.