Bang! You're dead!

It's probably different for the current generation, seeing as they were barely more than toddlers when they first got introduced to computers -- and computer games, of course. But I have vague recollections that seem to go as far back as the Stone Age when the kids in the neighborhood excessively played "Cowboys & Indians". Or, in the case of the neighborhood where I grew up, "War". Very simple rules: First, you needed a toy gun of some sort. Then split into two teams and take up positions at a distance from each other. Then start stalking each other, hoping to sneak up on an opponent, aim your toy weapon, and then yell, "Bang! You're dead!" Of course, thereafter ensued the inevitable argument of, "Am not! You missed!", "Did not!", "Did so!" Because of the inevitable arguments, "Cowboys & Indians" is generally a short-lived phase and we all moved onto other toys and games.

Or did we?

At a much later age in life, I took up American Civil War reenacting. Dress up in uniforms, carrying around black powder muskets, and restaging massively scaled-down battles from the Civil War. The "battles" are only very thinly scripted, and the reenactors get to demonstrate their theatrical ability by portraying what it looks like when a soldier, armored only in a woolen uniform, is struck by a .58-caliber Minie ball. Or not, as is often the case. The "You missed!"/"Did not!" arguments from "Cowboys & Indians" seems to have evolved into, "They don't take hits!"/"Neither do they!"

Perhaps it is the clear cut nature of Lazer Tag and Paintball competitions that makes them appealing. That is, it's rather difficult to deny having been hit when the lazer detector rig is beeping, or you have a paint smear on your vest. But in a way, both Lazer Tag and Paintball can get real expensive, first in the gear, and then in the usage fees. Like going to an arcade: your fun is limited to how many tokens you can afford.

Enter video games. Once you've paid the up front investment cost by purchasing the platform and programs, you can play "Bang! You're dead!" to your heart's content. If you're simply playing a single player game -- i.e., you versus the computer -- there are no restrictions as to when you want to play, nor are you hindered by the availability of opponents. When you want to, the computer is waiting there eagerly for you to enter the battlefield. And there's no "cheating" involved. There's no denying you've been hit. No false claims of "You missed!" You accurately hit your target and the computer graciously acknowledges your expertise by having your target crumple into a dead heap. And even more gratifying, it seems the games excel at throwing stupid opponents at you, none of which seem to have the slightest trace of self-preservation instinct. So you get to revel in some impressive kill counts -- until some sneaky NPC gets the drop on you. At which time you simply Load a Saved game and deal with the bastard before he can successfully sneak up on you. ["You missed!" "Did not!" Reboot. "As I was saying, you missed." (evil snicker)] Or if you're willing to face the prospect of an ignominious death at the hands of others, go online in a MMO or multiplayer game.

Now, unfortunately for me I guess, my taste in games does NOT run towards shooters/slashers/bashers. That is, I have next to no interest in playing "Bang! You're dead!" on the computer, in the wide variety of "clothes" the game has donned. Really, just how different is a Call of Duty from a Doom from an Oblivion? They all seem to boil down to, "If it moves, kill it!" You may use a gun, or a sword, or a light saber, or simple martial arts moves to reduce computer opponents to a bloody heap that quickly melts into the ground, never to be thought of until the next run through. Not my cup of tea. I literally grew up at almost the exact same time that video games appeared and started to evolve. The first video games had NO graphic combat worth mentioning. Like in Zork or Wizardy, you had to use your imagination. Accordingly, those games had to stimulate your mind. Conversely, with the development of improved graphics and controllers, shooters/slashers/bashers concentrate in stimulating your _senses_. That is, prod the adrenal gland and make the player twitch in just the right way and concentrate on making him an action junkie.

Lately, I've been viewing the parade of games that have been appearing and been utterly dismayed to note that about 90+% of them are nothing but shooters/slashers/bashers. The "Most anticipated game" currently being touted is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which, when you stand back and look at it objectively, is just another rendition of, "Bang! You're dead!" Of course, there are the killer graphics, and the ability to be immersed into a truly "target rich environment". But when you get right down to the nitty gritty, all you're really doing is playing, "Bang! You're dead!" Over and over and over again.

Maybe it's because so many gamers started playing video games at an age when they otherwise would have been outside playing the real thing. (As real as makebelieve can be, anyway.) Maybe that accounts for why so many players have seemed to not "moved on" to other, more varied genres.

["Is not!" "Is so!" "Is not!" "Is so!" ....]