Covert Geek Weekend

I spent the weekend in Seattle, attending the Penny Arcade Expo at the behest of my significant other, and driven by my desire to visit this part of the country. Seattle lived up to its reputation as gloomy and wet, and PAX came through with a wild assortment of one of the nation's (and some of the world's) most poorly understood and highly exploited demographics: the Gamer.
Those of you familiar with the 'scene' may already know what I'm talking about, as I mixed with the pale, portly and petulant segment of our society that only seems to get a face when comic-book-store-type stereotypes are used on TV or when some psychopath kid shoots up a school and someone shoves his copy of GTA under the media's nose.
I've never been an avid gamer myself, I'm more what you might call a casual gamer. It is more of a social event for me, unless I get some goal in mind, like trying to beat Halo II alone--on legendary. Still working on that, and if you have ever tried, you know why. I can pretend to play with the veterans, but my skills are always lacking, particularly in anything head-to-head.
There are as many types of gamers as there are games, with various levels of commitment to the way of life. That IS what it is, a way of life. The hardcore gamer can give you a rundown of his gaming experience starting with the first time he/she picked up a controller or grabbed a joystick. They usually immerse themselves into gaming, it is their life's work. Clothes, friends, conversation, they all revolve around gaming. They understand why it's still okay to play Pokemon when you are in your thirties. And don't get them started on console vs. PC gaming.
During this convention, I constantly made snide comments and wisecracks about the other attendees, much to the annoyance of the gf. Being the smartass that I am, it's hard not to say something when you see a 250 lb Princess Peach. Or the six-four, 150 lb guy ogling the booth models. And can I really be blamed when I wonder out loud who is manning the West's comic-book stores, drive-thru's and IT help lines?
I did manage to somehow fit in despite my relative physical fitness, relationship status and inability to finish most games. My scruffy beard and Threadless t-shirts definitely helped. Since Due to my ability to infiltrate, I was able to observe the various geeks and gamers in as close to their natural habitat as you can get without spooking them. Black clothes, white skin, immaturity and acne abounded, with a pervasive awe and general lack of concern for personal hygiene. Seriously, one guy smelled like cat food. However, all these people had managed to leave their basements across the nation and congregate in one place, all drawn by their passion for gaming. The lines to test some of the most anticipated games of the year never abated, and the wait was up to one and a half hours just for a few minutes of gameplay.
I must had it to these people, they really do enjoy what they do, which is hard to say for most people. They may lack in areas such as refined social skills and ability to play actual sports, but they could sure kick your ass in the digital version, and make jokes at the expense of your sexuality and your mother while doing it. I even managed to enjoy myself, although I really didn't get to play anything but Plants vs. Zombies, a relatively simple game.
The market that gamers represent is huge, and gets bigger every year. People will eventually quit making fun of or worrying about people that play way too many video games, as they realize the power that they wield as a consumer and social group. No longer is a gamer a kid who wastes quarters on Pac-Man, but someone who invests hundreds of dollars yearly into something they are passionate about, even to the extent of dressing up as characters in games, something called costume-play or cosplay, and it has nothing to do with Halloween. It's a type of commitment that goes beyond Star Wars/Trek geeks. Way beyond.
Gamers are becoming more omnipresent, powerful and mainstream, and for a weekend, I was one.

Never Interrupt a Nerd Battle

I read this and I just had to do a post on it, since there are so many levels of bizarre to it. Living in Provo, there was always a chance to witness sword-fighting on a weekly basis when it is warm, at a particular park on Thursdays. Geeks of all color and flag would assemble, in arms and often in full battle-regalia, for their weekly Battleguard extravaganza. I assumed this lifestyle (for lack of a better word) was shared around the country, and it appears I may be correct. Normally, the weapons are fake and designed to minimize any possible injury, but experience and common sense leads me to believe that many of the kind of people who participate in things such as this more often than not own particularly realistic weapons, some even make them. This is why I first jumped to the conclusion of 'nerd-fight' when I read this story. Even if that wasn't the case, I beg the question: why did these two men have swords at the ready before an altercation? It's 2009, not 1309. Last time I checked, whenever someone gets hurt with a sword these days, it is usually from an accident, improper handling, or a psychopath. Since there is little information in this story, I assume it is open to wild speculation.

Having been called a dotard-ly coward, Adolf drew his magnificent broadsword. Undaunted, the young Rondeau pulled his saber in a quick flash of steel, glinting in the midday sun. "Prepare for battle, old man," he exclaimed, as the worrisome Franziska stood nearby, looking on. The two men advanced with grim determination written upon their countenances, knowing fully that one or none of them would escape this battle victoriously.

As reality has little to do with what goes on in my head, I must point out that I do not intend to make light of an incident that ended with the death of two individuals, but seriously, who has sword fights? The world is a strange, strange place, and the truth is still often stranger than fiction.