The Video Game Pandemic

The past couple weeks have been harrowing for gamers and their families around the globe. Sleep deprivation, self starvation, and lack of conversation topics that aren’t video-game related are just some of the symptoms of Gamer Fatigue. This is brought on by a major video game release, and often dissipates after a week or so. However, due to the number of major video game titles that have been released consecutively, the effects are felt more than ever.

This year for First Person Shooter fans it began with Battlefield 3, and then it hit even harder with the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 just a few weeks later. The pandemic then spread to Playstation users with the much awaited release of Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, sending gamers reeling from all-nighters as they were entranced by the fantastic blockbuster gameplay. Just a few days ago video game retailers everywhere were blowing up in sales with the release of The Elder Scolls V: Skyrim. Some parent probably haven’t seen their children leave their rooms or consoles for days now. Unfortunately, this dreadful enslaught of entertainment will continue.

Now it is Nintendo’s turn to pry children away from their families and put them in rooms lit only by the light of a 3DS. However, Super Mario 3D Land is only an appetizer to sate Nintendo fans until the mother of all titles releases on the 18th. A game which not only got perfect scores from all the best video game critics out there, but it also boasts a whopping 40 hours of story gameplay. That’s an entire work week of not seeing your gaming children, boyfriend, or siblings. And this beast’s name is one that has echoed throughout the gaming world since the very first console hit the streets, peddling out games like heroin and getting millions hooked…

There is only one way to deal with those who suffer from gamer fatigue, and that is to make plans to get out of the house, take a walk, or stay with non-gaming friends until this pandemic begins to fade. I estimate that by the 23rd, non-stop talk of video games and all-night gaming sessions should come to a gradual end.