It is probably too late to be a “gamer nerd”
Posted By RichC on December 4, 2011
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
I enjoyed an article that spoke to one of my weak spots in this weekend’s WSJ. Joe Queenan, in writing about ads promoting movies on the TV, reflected on how a realistic commercial for video game sucked him in. I’m in that same camp and find myself wanted to play as well … but remembered previous attempts with them (let’s just say they weren’t as successful as Joe’s 55-0 “Madden NFL” loss). That’s the conundrum, besides not having the game or hardware, I’m not a “gamer.” Many middle aged dad types have never developed the skills required to play modern video games well enough to make them enjoyable.
But the ad was promoting not a movie but a stupendously popular videogame called “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.” The spot was called “The Vet and the nOOb,” a title I did not fully understand. But the game sure looked like fun.
Videogames came along too late to figure into my life. The one time my son, now 25, tried to teach me how to play “Madden NFL,” he beat me, like, 55-0. He was probably 9 at the time.
I never thought I was missing out on anything here. It did pique my interest that teenage boys could play “World of Warcraft” eight years straight without getting bored or hungry, but until I saw that ad for “Modern Warfare,” I never seriously considered taking up videogames as a pastime. But now I have.
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