The Vide-ya Games

Every time I look at the left side of my page and see the word "Archives" I think of that wonderful Goldeneye 007 level for the N-64.

I must have played that level 900 times, both in single and multiplayer. (For multiplayer, it was always license to kill mode, pistols only, and no auto-aim to ensure the most realistic experience possibly. After all, everyone knows you play James Bond games for their realism. Then I got smart and just played games like these for a good three years.)

Now, of course, it's all about Halo 2, with the biggest launch date ever for a video game just 26 hours away.

I'm not as hardcore as some, and therefore, due to the Vikings playing on Monday Night Football, I will only go to the videogame store an hour before midnight to wait for the release. (Going at midnight is still a must--Bemidji and the surrounding area will no doubt be completely sold out of the game once daylight hits November 9. The store I'm going to has already sold all of its copies due to pre-order.)

This is madness, I understand. It's just a videogame. It's a videogame where you shoot aliens and save Earth. Hundreds of games have been made just like it--such as Space Invaders (although Halo 2 might have a slight graphical edge).

So why all the fuss? Sure, Halo 2 has better graphics, better sound, better story, and better game play than any video game ever made, but why all the fuss over a video game in general?

All it really means is more forays into the wee hours of the morning and more bloodshot eyes before going to bed.

I could experience those same things by staring at my alarm clock until four in the morning.

Plus it would save me 50 bucks.