It seems that Australia [URL=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/hells-bells-these-boys-need-to-act-their-age/story-e6frg73f-1225828907947]has found[/URL] its out-of-touch "Frumpy Middle-Aged Mom" :
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[B][U]Hell's bells, these boys need to act their age[/U][/B]
[I]Caroline Overington, The Australian, February 11, 2010[/I]
TOPIC of the week: age limits. Not Kevin Rudd's plan to lift the drinking age to 21, which is all very Yankee of him.
No, age limits as they apply to gamers: how old is too old to spend hours on end playing video games? And, conversely, how young is too young to go see AC/DC?
To the first question: anyone over the age of 30 who spends any time deep in some sagging sofa, console in one hand, the other down the front of their pants, imagining themselves to be a combatant in some pretend city, is lame.
Anyone who has an avatar -- a dinky little cartoon version of oneself, bearing a physique that is in every way discordant with the physique of an actual gamer -- is major-league lame.
I know what you're thinking. Gamers, who cares? They don't participate in life in any meaningful way. As a rule, they don't even have jobs. With their wet hands and their weak chins, they'd never get through an interview. But some do have jobs. Some are, in fact, lawyers. Can you believe that? I can't believe it. Imagine going to the internet, doing a little research on your lawyer and finding he imagines himself to be a excitable character in a pretend world?
What would you think? I know what I'd think. I'd think: `I'm going to jail'.
Do you know what else gamers do, besides play games and visit gaming sites? They read gaming magazines. You don't believe me. What would a gaming magazine even be called? I can tell you. They are called "Single Guy". They are called "Sad Sack".
Now you want to know where you'd even buy such a magazine. Don't ask me. No serious adult would know.
As to AC/DC, I have this week been told that a child who is yet to turn 10 is old enough to attend an AC/DC concert. I do not accept this. Apparently, it's happening anyway. But that's all right, because I still choose this kid's clothes. Some of them. The school ones.
Anyway, this kid thinks he's going, and he thinks he's wearing his Back in Black T-shirt.
I have news for him. He is actually wearing earmuffs. Earmuffs and a helmet, and a neon construction vest. He will also have his name and a telephone number, in Texta, on his arm.
Oh yes, he will object.
But do you know what I'll say when he does? I'll say: `Hey! Who made who?'
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Needless to say, this column sparked outrage among game community, and even game industry. For example, this [URL=http://www.igea.net/2010/02/letter-to-the-australian-editor-re-caroline-overingtons-oped-re-gamers/]letter to the editor[/URL] by the iGEA (interactive Game and Entertainment Association). From the gamers' part, try [URL=http://www.igea.net/2010/02/letter-to-the-australian-editor-re-caroline-overingtons-oped-re-gamers/]this [/URL]or [URL=http://blogs.theage.com.au/digital-life/screenplay/2010/02/16/yourturnhowe.html?page=fullpage]that[/URL] one.
