| Does your life imitate a game? Tell us about
it
by Michael Lafferty Do people accuse you of being too involved in
the realm of computer games? Are the distinctions between reality and the
cyber world becoming blurred? Are you, increasingly, thinking in terms of your
favorite games? Well, if that’s the case, then I want to talk
to you, in a manner of speaking. Here’s an idea that involves you, the
reader. If you are thoroughly addicted to a game, and you begin to see
similarities between your real life and the role you play in your games, jot
them down and e-mail them to me. I’ll feature the best of what I receive in
the category of “You know you are playing **** too much when …” each
week at the end of this column. Nope, no prizes, but a lot of fun. If you find
yourself muttering phrases (particularly when someone asks you to do
something) that you “must wait a few moments before performing another
action,” then you are in the running for what we are trying to do here. E-mail your thoughts to
mikel@gamezonemail.com. Just to get the whole thing started, here’s a
list of things that I compiled about The Sims House Party, or derived from the
realm of The Sims, and the latest incarnation (aka expansion pack). These are some signs that you are thoroughly
addicted to playing The Sims or just play it too much: • After brushing your teeth, you look at
yourself in the mirror and say “mokey hokey!” • When someone turns on the stereo, you stand
in front of it, give a Xena war cry and do the twist. • As you talk to people, you see green plus
signs or red minus signs flash before your eyes. • When you get a little fatigued, instead of
finding some place to sit or lay down, you grab the back of your head and bend
forward in despair. • When you visit people, you ring their door
bell, then walk back out into the yard and stand, arms folded, with your back
to the door. • The stove in your real home has a tendency
to burst into flames when you cook. • You manage to work the phrases “ess
frenshay,” “tori,” or “bo-bo-die” into a conversation. • After dinner, you put the dishes on the
floor – and you don’t have a dog or cat to lick the plate clean. • You walk into someone’s home, without
asking, to use the bathroom – even though someone is already in it. • If the furniture you bought – because you
couldn’t afford something better – is too ugly, you won’t use it. (Sleep
in that bed???!! I’d rather pass out and fall on the floor!) On to gaming news … Activision has once again been quite busy,
acquiring the rights to market a game based on the BBC’s hit show, “The
Weakest Link.” If you have watched the show on NBC, you probably have
noticed that the show is like an hour-long discourse in demeaning talk, and
general humiliation. Hmm, sounds like You Don’t Know Jack without the witty
sarcasm and general comedic tone. Anyway, the game will be developed for PC,
PlayStation and PlayStation 2 consoles and should be available later this
year. Activision also has options to develop the game for other platforms. And Activision is teaming up with Raven
Software for Soldier of Fortune 2, another first-person action affair. The PC
title uses Quake III Arena powered graphics, a quick-paced storyline and
covert-operative themed gameplay. “The original Soldier of Fortune broke new
ground with its unrelenting action and gritty portrayal of combat,” said
Larry Goldberg, executive vice president, Activision Worldwide Studios. “In
the sequel we want to extend the experience with more accurate damage
modeling, detailed environments and a strong emphasis on realism. |