Nerd Rage: The Enemy of Fun

We've all been there: Gettin your game on in a random FPS, 40 seconds left on the clock, all sighted in... ready for that last kill. That moment of greatness after a camptastic round of traps, cheep shots and of course, kill stealing.

BANG! Some noob comes along and pops the guy you we're waiting on to get that last head shot for the achievement of the moment. With a noob weapon, with noob skills, which are said to be none.

You loose it.

Before the other players can type in and press enter on their "gg" messages, the chat window is filled with so many insults and racial slurs you cant tell if your at a def jam comedy special or a KKK meeting.

Its not really anything new. Since humans have been competing, there's been the sore loser. That person who thinks they were cheated of the accomplishment they were entitled to. A team mate screwed you out of what was rightfully yours. I think we've heard them all. The trick is to go forward with the game you've spent money on (most of you) to enjoy.

That's not to say its always the sore loser who can ruin a game. Campers, Hackers, Unskilled Players (that is to say the person who boasts they are God's gift to gaming and cant ever get more than 4 feet away from their spawn point before setting up shop to dish out some sniper action), and an honest newbie.

The one I feel the most for now a days is the new player. Generally (against my own personal feelings on how parents should follow ratings on games) a kid ranging from 8 to 14 getting the feeling for a game ends up learning more about various sexual acts from some douche bag who just has to talk crap they would ever from sex ed or their parents, possibly even porn (that's a road we're going to avoid).

Remember to keep in mind that this problem isn't just exclusive to FPS. Anything that more than one person can play is subject to this problem. It can even happen with single player games. A puzzle that tests your sanity, a mission that has a glitch, a quest with a unnatural respawn time, or just that jump that seems nearly impossible with the provided equipment. The anger that builds seems unavoidable.

Thankfully this is something that can be avoided, or at the very least, redirect your anger into a physical activity like riding a bike, jogging, boxing (with a punching bag). Look at who you're gaming with. If its them starting crap maybe look for people less likely to go down that road. If you think its you, ask. We all have our moments. Some more than others. I know, its usually me. If a game is troubling you so much when you start it up feel yourself get instantly tense, maybe its time for a different game, or time to break down and get that strategy guide or some tips online. There's no shame in asking for help

So put down your troll lovin flame war starting attitude and just play. Just trying makes you a better gamer, and remember that people who have to hack and cheat are just insecure with their skills and will wont make it very far. There are no cheat codes in real life!

Dreaming of.... something

So, it may as well be a main stay in my life, a phrase, a quote to live by: There's no such thing as writers block. I disagree, kind of... writers block to me, is a delayed reaction. The fountian of ideas flows at a certian point when things just seem to be at a total lull, usually that point in time a few hours before your first break at work, so it would seem.

It always seem that a great idea for a blog post or activty seems to escape me when I stop moving. Almost as if the mind stops moving when the rest of my body does...

Music... thats what it is!

Food, a very important part of life. Video games, a not so important part of life that just happens to take over a better part of a persons time. Blogging, a way to get different opinions in small to extra large bites. What do they all have in common? They all can be fun. How do you make them even more enjoyable? Music.

Need to unwind, kick back with some mellow rock or classical tunes. Getting your FPS or Raid on in your favorite game, throw down some industrial, metal, or even just some techno! Even some video game soundtracks to blog to!

Its nothing new, music has a way to enrich our life. Memories are easier to recall with a song that just happens to wrap up a moment or even cause a moment. That hard hitting fight song spurs that all out brawl its screaming about, that rock ballad gets a whole bar singing along with it, in seemingly perfect harmony. Even that rap tune that has people grinding like mad! Fun songs have a way to make people just come together and laugh, sad songs remind us of a hard past or loss, remind us of a future where hope can actually bring us back from the brink of insanity. Then there's just songs that are just about insanity!

The stories they tell, the memories they share, the moments they help save, create. There's hardly anything that is all in closing like music. That's truely epic.

New to the site and some other plans for the future....

In my self determined state of mind, I am trying to update the blog with more stuff. So, I'm going to add a passion of mine to the site: Food Porn. That's right, not only am I geek, I'm a geek that knows how to cook (not as uncommon as you may think) and loves doing it. In an attempt to better my life on the health front, I started cooking healthier. With that, I throw the picks online (facebook for the mean time, and very soon here.) in order to inspire others to cook good healthy meals for themselves.

Getting this done will take some time, and I look forward to other peoples opinions on what I cook. I do plan on putting up recipe's for them when requested, aside from the few popular dishes I prepare.

Getting on to other, slightly more geeky news, I do have a few reviews planned for my Android phone (with an intro for new users), Tweetdeck for Android, and a few video game reviews (opinions as it were in my case) on Starcraft 2 (collectors edition), and some WoW Cataclysm beta thoughts.

The 4th of July and it's 2 weeks....

As with most of my posts lately, this started as a Facebook status and evolved into something greater, Enjoy!

You know, this week around the 4th of July should be a fairly happy week. For starters, Its the 4th of July! Our nations birthday! July 5th is my sons birthday (Zach will be 2 this year! SO wild!)

Some of my fondest memories come from this 2 week period before and after the 4th and in the back of my head, the bad stuff creeps in a little more. Remembering those who gave their lives for freedom is one thing. Remembering those who were something special to you who just seemed to have it taken away is totally different and often just makes me want to scream till I have no voice left. I stand here on the edge of a thought, knowing how the world works, and simply hope that people in my life will make it to their end on their own terms. It's all anyone in this world wants.

So remember this 4th of July and everyone after this, Good people are still good people, and have gone through hell to fit a mold of society and standards only to reject it and still live life in the way this country was originally designed to do: In pursuit of happiness. So as a guy from my favorite show once said: 

"Just look into your heart, and do whatever the hell makes you happy." - Dr. Bob Kelso Scrubs, Season 8 "My Happy Place"

Because life is yours to do with as you please, just remember that no matter the level of technology, we can never predict the end. Always remember, friends, family and the good people that do what they have for this country. This weekend, remember these words from a great Sci-Fi movie:

"We will not go quietly into the night!" We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!"

Happy Independence Day people, play safe and have fun!

Nova, The Misplaced Geek.