Duty

Childish computer games.

I am now 44 years of age. I should know better. I have been playing computer games on a recreational basis since I was very young. I still am. (Playing games not young)

Recently I have played, re-played and absolutely loved such genuine classics like: Bioshock, Zelda, Ocarina of time, Final Fantasy 7, Shenmue and Deus Ex. Too many really to list.

I'm not going to get into a lather about artistic statements, dystopian visions, their place in modern culture or such like.  To me they can be a lot of fun. It sometimes is good just to distract yourself with monstrously cartoon capers and strange other worlds. 

I have been playing on-line Call Of Duty for the last 4 years. There, I said it. 

There are several over 40s who play and we have a rare old time. Most of the players are in their late 20s and 30s. I have had many lock-jaw inducing moments of laughter at the super fast humour and quick wit of some of the ladies and gents I play alongside.

I really don't like the competitive nature of it all but this is the closest I get to playing an actual sport.

Our clan has stayed roughly the same for several years now. We have seen people come and go, marriages, separations, babies being born and all sorts of other gossip which shall remain unmentioned. What happens on the (virtual) battlefield stays on the battlefield. Some of us have met but the majority are just voices in each other heads (via headsets!)

One of the chaps was actually injured by an I.E.D whilst serving in the military overseas. Several of the clan went to visit him when he was in hospital over here (He made a full recovery thank goodness).

The banter between teams can get pretty harsh and obnoxious. Again I suppose it is just another microcosm of the real world. I too need to step back at times when I feel my blood pressure rising to volcanic levels. This is usually as a result of a "Camper'. Now the camper is a particularly challenging irritant. To camp is to stay in one place for long periods of the game, not moving, waiting for another player to run past who is then shot by said camper. Now there are no rules that say that this is unfair but it seriously annoys people (to say the least). The next level is now the Plaquer" by which the camper is deemed to have stayed in one place on the map for so long that a blue plaque can be erected in that spot.

Great isn't it; The worst thing that you can be called in these capers is a camper.

The more I write on this subject the more ridiculous it sounds but hey.

Anyway this is a tribute to all who have played and those who are still hanging on in there. Here's to another even more amusing 4 years on-line.

Take a bow:

Mr Jolly

Buckweeds

King Cantona

IM32BME

Lawnmower Dan

Scampi78

Prawn

Snares

Furry Lip Squid

Al snake eyes

Darkshroe

Darken Angel

Jaguflii

A Ninja Teapot

Real Slim Eddie

Eddie K9

Gozo

Hutton

Obileigh

Spydymanx

Linkman1972

iloveannie2

HR1 Maniac

HR1 Acefox

Nesti

CrumplyPorkPie

Conspiracy565

Burn The Horse

Mang809

Rich1105

THCv420

NAME:

Al 'Lebowski' Pryce

10190

LOCATION:

'Trickier than Chinese algebra'

BIO:

HEREFORD (UK) Playing for laughs & fun. Damn glad to meet you. Bringing back good, old fashioned gentlemanly conduct whilst enjoying a fine video game. If you play well & have a decent/positive attitude I will no doubt say so & feel free to invite me or send friend request. If you are an immature, racist, whiney, small minded, xenophobic, misogynistic simpleton then it has been a pleasure to beat you & an even bigger pleasure to never encounter you again. Stay frosty, be well & adios amigos.

GOLD MEMBER