TheBigGameACharacterSketch

byErichWeiss

Afteralongdayofconstructionworkandagreatdinner,JamesWeissheadeddownintothemancavetowatchthegame.Itwasabiggametoo,againstMichiganandMichiganStatefortheBig10championship.Itwasthemostimportantthingintheworldrightnow,asfarasJameswasconcerned.NothingelsematteredexceptMichigancreamingState.

Hewalkeddownthestairsandthroughthehallwaymadeofbricksandlinedwithwashers,dryers,variousschoolsupplies,oldprojectsandothersuchthings.Heeventuallyreachedthemainroomofthebasement,whichwasabitspacious.InonecornerwashissonsPS3,PS2,andtherecentlyrevivedVCRthatJamesbegrudgedlysetupagain.InothercornerwastheWii,variousboardgamesandVHStapesthathaventbeenusedinthishouseinyears(ErichsbeentakingthemtoZacharys),despitethefactthathissonsaidhedgetaroundtoit.

AlsointheroomononesidebetweenthePS3andWii,wasthefamily(a.k.a.

Karens)computer,alongwithvariouspapersandCDs.OntheothersidewasthereasonJamescamedownhereinthefirstplace,themainTV.TheoneusedtowatchsatellitewhenevertheupstairsTVisoccupiedorwhenKarenwantspeaceandquiet.AshewalkedtothechairfacingtheTV,henoticedthathisson,Erichwassittingontheoppositecouchworkingonwhatappearedtobemathhomework.Hewasconstantlymovingbackandforthbetweenhistextbookfilledwithpapersandhislaptop,seeminglyworkingveryintenselyhowever,hehadafeelinghewasalsodoingsomethingelseonthatlaptop.

Justcomingdowntowatchthegame,son,saidJames.Erichimmediatelyputonhis

headphonesandcontinuetoworkasJamessatdown,grabbedtheremoteandturnedontheTV.Conveniently,itwasalreadyonESPN.Hecaughtitjustintimeasthegamewasabouttostart.Thisisit!MichiganwasgoingtowhoopState,Jamesknewit.

Halfwayintothegame,thingsweren'tlookinggood.Atall.MichiganStatewas

beatingMichigan27to3.Itwasinsane.Impossible.Theonlywayhecouldbelieveitwasbecausehiseyesweregluedtothescreen.Hisbushyeyebrowswereinapermanentscowl.Hisshort,greyhairwasabouttogetevengreyerandErichwouldntstoplaughinginfrontofhislaptop.MustbeoneofhisYoutubethingsagain.Whatever,doesntmatter.Thingscantgetanyworse.

Itstheendofthefinalperiod.Thingshavesomehowwentfrombadtoworse.James

couldnotstopcussingattheTVinaseeminglyendlessfitofrage.Erichwouldnotstoplaughing.Jameswasathiswitsendasthebuzzerstartedcountingdown.HisteethstartedgnawingasaMichiganplayerstartingdribblingtheopposinghoop.Unfortunately,amanfromStatestoletheballandshota3pointerfromallthewayacrossthecourtjustbeforethebuzzerblared.Jamessjawfellopeninuttershockandhorror.Thefinalscore:Michigan3,State100.

Completelydevastated,Jamesslouchedbackuptothestairsintothelivingroom,

wherehislovelywifeKarenwassittingonthecouch,watchingCastlelikeusual.Ashesat

down,Karen,whilestillstaringattheTV,askedGoodgame?AllJamescoulddowasgrumble.HesatandwatchingtherestofCastle,makingvariouscommentsandaskingquestionsthroughout.Onceitwasover,heproceededtogotohisroomandgotobed,weepingontheinside.

ThePerfectPlaceAStoryaboutaPlaceandaTime

byErichWeiss

Itshishomewithinahome.HisheavenonEarth.Hisutopia.Aplacetogoafteralongdayofschool.Aplacetowinddownandrelax.Aplacewheretheresalwayssomethingtodo.Thismagnificentplaceisonlyknownasthebasement.ItisbyfarErichsfavoriteroominthewholehouse.

WhatmadetodaystripbetterthanusualwasthatitwasFriday,meaningthathecouldstaydownacouplehourslongerthanbefore!Andhedidnthaveanyhomeworktodo!Erichwasgiddywithexcitement!Hecouldhardlywaitashegrabbedhislaptopandwentdownstairs.

Ashedescendeddownstairs,hedidnttakenoteofallthethingsthatlinedthesidesofthesteps.Therewerecoatsandjackets,bagsforcarryingthings(usuallylibrarystuff,butsometimesthingstotakeforsleepoversorotherstuffErichdidntknoworcareabout),hats,dogtreats,flashlightsandothervarioustoolsandstuff.Iftherewasasmelltobesmelled,Erichcouldntidentifyit.Notthatitmatteredanywaysallthatmatteredwashismetime.

Whenhereachedthebottomofthestairs,hisbodywasfacingtheenormousfreezer.Inacartoon,itwouldbeggingtobetippedoverandfallontoponsomepoorinnocent,thuscausingahilarioussplat.Therewasanother,slightlyshorter,fridgerightnexttoitandbeingslightlyshortermadeitslightlymorerelatableandfriendly,alsohelpedbythevariousmagnetstickersstickingonit.Rightnexttoboththefridgeandthefreezer,wasasmallshelfcontainingapencilsharpenerwithsomepencilsalongwithitandotherstuffErichdidntcareabout.

Ashemadeauturnintothehallwayandontothebuildamattheyusedtousewhencamping,healsodidntnoticethewasheranddryeronhisnowlefthandside,withvariousdetergentsandcleanersonthetop.Nexttothemwerethesink,theshoeshelves,alongwiththeclothesracks.Totherightofhimwerebucketsfullofshoppingbagsthefamilysaved,oldprojectsheandhissisterHannahdidwhentheywereyounger,andotherstuffthat,likebefore,Erichdidntcareabout.Ashewaswalking,hewasbobbingandweavingthroughlaundrybasketsandthevacuumcleaner.Also,alongtheceilingandtheblockwallswerepipesthatErichhadlittleideawhattheywereusedfor.

Hecontinuewalkingthroughthehallway,passingbyMomsdeskofvariousthingsandstuff,aswellasmorehangers,schoolsuppliesandoldboxesandtoys.Takingaturntotheright,hecontinuedtonotnoticethedressers(theircontentsErichdoesntknow)andbottlesofpop,alongwithmoreboxesandtoys.IfErichwasnoticinganyofthis,hewouldcometotheconclusionthattherewasalotofstuffinthebasement.Healsowouldntbesurprisedifsomeonewantedtolivedownhere,assaidsomeonewouldmostlikelysurviveforacoupleweeks.

Noneofthismatteredtohimasheturnedleftthroughthedoorandintotheroom.He

wasfinallyhere!ThesocalledFamilyRoom,althoughhewastheonewhocomesdownthemostoften.Theroomwasabitsmall,butjustspaciousenoughforhisneeds.Inthecenter,therewasatrampolinethathascoveredwithboxesofclothestobetakentocharity,andbehindthatwasMomsexerciseglider.Erichwouldknowwhattheboxeswereforifhehadbeenpayingattention,buthewasmorefocusedontherestofthearea.

Totheleftofthetrampolinewasacoffeetable,andbehindthatwasthecouch.Thiswashisprimaryfocus,buthewasawareoftherestofhissurroundings.Likehowtotheleft(fromtheperspectiveofhiseyes)ofthecouchwasashelfcontainingoldVHStapes(someDisneymovies,acoupleofChristmasspecials,andotheroddities)andLegostotherightwasanoldplasticytoybox.OrhowinfrontofthetableandtotheleftwastheTVusedfordownstairstelevisionandtotherightwasthechairyouwouldsitontowatchsaidtelevision.

NoneofthatmatteredrightnowasErichmadehiswaytothecouch,laptopinhand.

Whilehewassettingupsaidlaptop,hequicklyglancedattheothersideoftheroom.StraightaheadatthecenterofthewallwasMomsdesktopcomputer,sittingonabigdeskthatwascoveredinimportantlookingpapersthatErichprobablyshouldntmesswith(thenagain,hewasntreallythatcuriousinthefirstplace).Totheleftofthedeskwasashelffilledwitholdchildrensbooks,alongwithdictionaryandothersuchthings.Totherightwasanothershelffilledwitholdboardgames(andanunopenedtelescope),withadraweratthebottomcontainingmoreVHStapes(again,mostlyDisneybutsomeothers)andaDVDplayerthathasntbeenusedsinceErichfoundoutthathecouldwatchDVDsonhislaptop.

However,minusthecomputerand,onoccasion,theVHStapes,allthisstuffwas

hardly,ifatall,used.Itwasthethingsinfrontoftheseshelvesthatmattered.InfrontofthebookshelfwasErichsPS2andPS3,alongwiththeVHSplayerhehadDadsetupwhenhegotthoseJamesBondmoviesfromoneofhisfriends,whichhewasplanningtousebutnevergotaroundtoit.InfrontofthegameshelfwastheWii,alongwithtwointerestinggamechairsthatsupposedlycamewithabunchofneatfeaturesthathehasntbeenbothered,andevenifhedid,hewasntsurehowtoworkthemsoitendingupbeingthatallthechairsweregoodforwererockingbackandforthonthegroundforalleternity,orforhoweverlongyouchosetoplayontheWii.

Ifinanimateobjectshadavoice,alltheknickknacksanddodadstheroomcollected,

minusMomscomputer,ofcourse,wouldmostlikelybeshoutingUseus!Useus!However,whileErichwasplanningtomakeuseofhisvideogameseversincehebecameeighteenandassuch,inhismindanyways,actuallygoodatvideogames,rightnow,allthatmatteredwashimandhislaptop.Today,itwastheonlytoyhewaswillingtousehereinthisperfectplace.

TheSoCalledProblem

AWovenEssaybyErichWeiss

Yourewatching:HounddogNews!Upnext:Arevideogamesbadforyouandyour

kids?Thedebaterages!

Threejournalistssitacrossonatable:twomenandonewomanoneofthemenbeingyoungerthanthemoreelderlyman.Fromeldesttoyoungest,theirnamesareBill,JaneandRyan.

Bill:IfImaystartusoff...

Jane:Pleasedo.

Bill:NowImaybeanoldfashionedman,butIfeelthatthesegameshavethepotentialofcorruptingsociety.

Ryan:Well,Iwouldntgothatfar...

Bill:Butreallythinkaboutitforasecond!Innearlyalloftheschoolshootingsinrecentyears,theteenswerebigfansoftheseviolentvideogames.

Fact:Accordingtoa2004SecretServicereviewofschoolbasedattacks,oneeighthofsaidattackersexhibitedanyinterestinviolentvideogames,lessthantherateofinterestshowninviolentmovies,books,ortheirownwritings.

Bill:Itjustfeelslikethisworldisgettingmoreandmoreviolent.

Fact:Thereisagraphmadesometimein2004depictingthenumberofcrimevictimsper1,000people.In1993,theyeartheoriginalDoomwasreleased,around51,000peoplewerethevictimsofcrime.Thenextyear,whenDoomIIcameout,thenumberwasaround45,000.In1997,whenPostalcameout,around38,000.Laterthatsameyear,MortalKombat4,around33,000.In2001,GrandTheftAutoIII,thefirst3Dinstallment,around26,000.Andfinally,Postal2from2003,around21,000.Thereisalsoabargraphfrom

UNODCHomicideStatisticsin2012thatshowsthenumberofhomicidesper100,000indevelopedcountries.Thenumberis3.2intheU.S.,whileinJapan,wheregamingisamajorpartoftheirculture,thenumberis0.

Ryan:NowBill,whileIdontthinkgamesareTHATdangerous,therearemanystudiesshowingthatplayingviolentvideogamescauseaggression,whichcaneasilylinktowardsactualviolence.Imean,whatotherreasonisthereforaggression?

KingdomHearts2FinalMix(partofHD2.5Remix)Okay,attemptnumber57.Thenagaininallseriousness,itwasprobablymorearound

attemptnumber7orsomething.ItsjustthatErichfeelsstuckinarut.ThisisprobablyhisfirstREALattemptattryingtocompleteagame100%.(Contrarytopopularbelief,inmostgames,beatingthestory/campaign/whateverisnotenough.)Oneoftheaftergame'stasksistodefeat13tougherversionsofOrganizationmembersyoualreadyfoughtbefore.Soundssimpleenough,right?Well,forthemostpartitwasuntilhemadeittoLuxord.

Thefightitselfwasntthatbad,tobehonest.Itwasthefinalattack,theDesperation

Move,thatalwaysgothim.See,Luxordsgimmickisthathelikescardsandgames.Andthatsexactlywhatthelastattackis,agame.YouhavetomatchOwiththecards4times.Whilethefirstthreeareeasyish,thelastoneisprettydifficultandunliketheoriginalfight,inordertowin,youHAVEtogetitrightorelse.Thatpartscrewedhimoversomanytimeslikeyouwouldntbelieve.

Sofarinthisfight,hesfailedtwiceandsomehowstillalive.Andnow,heandhis

character,Sora,arebeingpulledinonemoretime.Hewasntsurewhatthepointwasanymore.Luxordgainedsomuchofhishealth,ortime,backwhileSorajusthadalittlebitleft.Evenifhedidwinthegame,fromwhatheunderstands,Luxordwouldstillhaveplentyofhealthleft,thusstillleavingSoratorunoutoftime.No,no,thatsdefeatisttalk.Theleasthecoulddowastry.Mmph,verywell.Okay,firstone,gotit.Secondone,gotit.Thirdone,gotit.Fourth?Okay,itsshufflingbetweenXsandOssuperfast.MaybehepressesitthesecondheseestheO.

Yes,hedidit!SorasgotallofLuxordscardsandisflingingallofthembackathim.

Andtheyreactuallytakingallofhishealthdown!Thisisamiracle!Hedidit!HebeatLuxordagain!Justthen,hisdadwaspassingbythefamilyroomandnoticedhimplayinghisgame.

Didyougetit?heasked.Yep!Ibeathim!Erichreplied.Hisdadgavehimahighfiveandafewwordsofreassurance,andlefttheroomtodo

otherthings.Erichwassohappy,especiallyontheinside!Fourdown,ninemoretogo!As

hewaswonderingwhowasthenextguytobeatupfortheirlunchmoney,hecametoasuddenrealization.ThenextbosswasDemyx,whocontrolstheelementofwaterandisconsideredbymanyfanstobethemostannoyingbossinallofKingdomHeartshistory.

....Crap.