- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
If you're talkin' stereotypes, things aren't always quite so black and white.
I'm what you'd call hardcore. Most of my favorite games are pretty obscure ones that slip under almost everyone's radar. Rez, Wild 9, Giants, ChainDive, Ikaruga.... Many gamers have never heard of them (look them up though, they rock). But where do you draw the "geek" line? If you wanted to attach a label, I suppose yeah, I am kind of a geek. On the other hand, I go backpacking at least 3-4 times a year and I climb on weekends. I play most of my games outside on a little TV I have sitting on my deck. My girlfriend only plays the Sims, and we get along fine, thanks. Of course, since I can't really prove that to ya, I guess you'll have to take my word for it.
I won't say this is the norm - it probably isn't - but most of the girls I've met don't even consider video games a worthwhile hobby because they think it's just a child's plaything. Of course, guys could say the same thing about all those extra pairs of shoes in the closet, but some of us like to keep our limbs attached. A girl who's never played a video game in her life could walk in on her boyfriend during a heated LAN game and at first be utterly horrified. The first thing that came out of my girlfriend's mouth was "You still play those?" followed immediately by "What are you, like, twelve?"
I heaved a big sigh and told my buddies to finish the game without me. Then I turned on my 'Cube and showed her Mario Kart. She changed her tune almost instantly. In place of Halo's gritty blow-you-up-ness was a game featuring squeaking baby dinosaurs and enough color to give Elton John a seizure. "AAWWWW!!" she said. "They're so cute!"
"Wanna play?" I said.
At first, she looked disgusted. I might as well have asked her to play with G.I. Joes. But that endearing little Italian plumber with the big eyes had a stranglehold on her Cute Cortex. That's the part of the female brain that causes some of them to emit an ear-piercing squeal of delight whenever they see something like a puppy or a baby seal. So she sits down and picks up a controller. I'm driving, she's throwing turtle shells at gorillas wearing ties. Soon enough she starts driving. After an hour or so, there's a huge grin on her face as she blows past me, leaving a trail of banana peels behind her. The game made her laugh, and we had a great time. She hasn't made fun of my hobby since then (as long as I'm willing to put down the games and hang out with her), and every once in a while she just feels like playing. She tried Halo, but gave up on the dual-thumbstick controls. Too many things to focus on, she says.
Naturally, a lot of people just don't like games. Plenty of guys and girls would rather do something else, like play baseball or go clubbing. I do think, however, that there are just as many girls as guys who would actually enjoy the occasional frag, but don't give it a chance for one of various reasons. But as long as there are at least some people out there willing to try something new, world domination is within our grasp.
/rant