Surely most wont be surprised, but the people (involuntarily) serving the Greek army are indeed men. Men coming from all classes, of all educational levels and generally between their late teens and early thirties. Men, one would say, that are what video game demographers would describe as the gaming's hardcore audience. So, this being a gaming blog and me having understood that people not in the army don't find army jokes and funny situations particularly amusing, let me talk about what these men play. Oh, and please don't expect any sort of sociological insight and/or analysis. The army does after all rot ones brain. Severely.
Anyway, in their vast majority soldiers tend to enjoy Pro Evolution Soccer on either the PS2 or the PS3. Shockingly even sheepherders (a certain sheepherder actually) that can't read or write also play and love it, as do most officers. Football Manager on the PC sits firmly in the second place, closely followed by the collective forces of console-based fighting and driving games. World of Warcraft and Street Fighter are also among the more popular titles, unlike all things Wii. Nintnendo's ultra-popular family oriented beast is, it seems, considered an obscure kids console that can't even play porn DVDs.
As for handhelds the PSP is by far the more popular. The iPhone comes a distant second and I've yet to see a Nintendo DS.
Oh, and on an unexpected note, adventure games are actually popular among us grunts. Especially Monkey Island and Gabriel Knight it seems, though Grim Fandango has more than a few admirers itself.
Cheers for now. Gotta sleep some more. Last night's 14 hours were apparently not enough...
Anyway, in their vast majority soldiers tend to enjoy Pro Evolution Soccer on either the PS2 or the PS3. Shockingly even sheepherders (a certain sheepherder actually) that can't read or write also play and love it, as do most officers. Football Manager on the PC sits firmly in the second place, closely followed by the collective forces of console-based fighting and driving games. World of Warcraft and Street Fighter are also among the more popular titles, unlike all things Wii. Nintnendo's ultra-popular family oriented beast is, it seems, considered an obscure kids console that can't even play porn DVDs.
As for handhelds the PSP is by far the more popular. The iPhone comes a distant second and I've yet to see a Nintendo DS.
Oh, and on an unexpected note, adventure games are actually popular among us grunts. Especially Monkey Island and Gabriel Knight it seems, though Grim Fandango has more than a few admirers itself.
Cheers for now. Gotta sleep some more. Last night's 14 hours were apparently not enough...
Welcome back, Gnome.
ReplyDeleteWaiting for your happy final return from Catch 22 domain. Waiting patiently and checking back every now and then.
Also - word verification for this post "tatick" - almost like "tzatziki"... Sorry, I'll shut up now.
Good to know that Grim Fandango has some fans there. Shame about the brain rot, but I'm sure it is reversible.
ReplyDeleteAh, Gnome, you're dearly missed at Retroaction, my friend. Hopefully, your rotted brain will have recovered sufficiently for your triumphant return to "permanent normality" in retroland.
ReplyDeleteSome interesting army gaming stats there. Pro Evo Soccer, eh? urrrrgh! That thing is as awful as FIFA. And you say these people are actually men? Admittedly, I used to play the odd football management game back in the day, but I don't really have time for them nowadays. Can't say I'm much of a fan of either WoW or SF series... either. Thankfully, it's good to hear that there are guys there with some adventuring taste, though.
See it's all a ruse: the Gnome is just making a great sacrifice so he can get closer to a new audience demographic! Game on 'Grunt the Gnome'! ;)
ReplyDeleteHehe... tzatziki indeed Barts :P Oh, and thanks for checking on me.
ReplyDeleteWell, Dave, provided nobody shoots it I think it will be reversible. The rot. Of the brain. Not the brain per se that is.
Can't wait to come back to Retroaction... Oh, and at least I am with people that actually know what a video game is. There even are some pen and paper RPG gamers.
Awww, JMcL63... you uncovered my cunning plot... Bummer
Wow, I had no idea! The games part, not the fact that there are men in the army...
ReplyDeleteThe football games weren't that surprising, but there are also adventure games fans, you say? Intriguing!
Keep researching, gnome, for the good of mankind!
And here I'd heard the best PES was the one on the Wii...
ReplyDeleteGood to see you're with us, even shortly.
ReplyDeleteMy nephew was in Iraq, and he said that sports games were the most popular and that shooting games weren't played that often. But he didn't mention handhelds.
There's a new Monkey Island waiting for you to play, if you haven't already.
Despite their impressive literacy and clever wordplay, not a single person in my department of 50 academics plays video games. It is impressive that the cannon fodder of the world have more gaming in their blood than their white tower wizard counterparts.. not that I would trade places with you my friend. :)
ReplyDeleteThe only games played out here are the "classics".. loads of Mario Deskartes: Rationalism Raceway fans (after all, it is psychology), but there are a few Contra Hegel and Mega Lacan 3 veterans left. I'm still waiting for my copy of Name Drop! to come in the mail though..
Nebacha: It's humankind I'm worried about dear Nebacha... That and how to avoid duty-hours.
ReplyDeletePacian: Men...
Guttertalk: Oh I have my friend and quite enjoyed this -uhm- extended prologue to ToMI. Definitely liked it. Oh, and I'm not really ever going anywhere remotely resembling Iraq. Just the island of Chios for a few months.
Chris: Wish I could add something, but all I can say is HAHA and LOL!
This is good game, I think it's official CD will be a nice gift as well.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more :)
ReplyDelete