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It can't be, surely not, it happens in Eternal Darkness but it's just a game. As my head moves around the room looking at black spots leaping across the ceiling I think of the day that has past. It all started at around 11am this morning and my insanity meter has gradually dropped down to the stage where I am struggling to draw a line between gaming and reality. It all started at 11am...
11am: Sanity Meter Reads [>>>>>]
Pro Evolution Soccer 2 (PSONE):
Whilst waiting for my Japanese import of Winning Eleven 6 for the GameCube I thought it would be a good idea to dust of my PSONE and enjoy a predecessor to my favourite sports series. I had the time on my side so I decided that my interests would lie within the Master League and taking a side through to the top division. It all started well and I felt almost like Sir Bobby Robson as I drafted my way through the transfer market and team selection. My mind was focused and I was reasonably sane, how long this would last wasn't a question at the time. As a keen gamer I like to get involved with the games that I play and I like to be in control of the action.
I went 1 goal down in my first game just 10 minutes after kick off but I was confident that I could get back into the action. As the end of the first half approached I was still trailing by the early goal yet this was down to a series of missed opportunities and some excellent keeping skills from the opposition. At the start of the 2nd half I went through a team talk in my mind and what I would say to the players as they came off with their heads down. The team talk was directed at 11 imaginary players and 11 nerve endings within my nervous system. As my players marched out for the second half I was confident that the tide would change and I had the courage to attack them from the start. Unlike the first half I brought wing backs into play so that I could break out wide and then head for the by-line.
The match moved on quickly and it was yet another set of missed chances which lead to my frustration and the demolition of my sanity. I was talking to my players and forcing myself to play on and go for the equalising goal but it wasn't working. The match was drawing to a close and my concentration lapsed for a split second which led to the sending off of one my central midfielders. As the Ref drew the card from his pocket I through the pad to the floor and questioned his skills as an official only for my mom to question what I was doing. I was losing the plot and losing the game and I had to resist the temptation of starting another game because my anger levels were working over time.
12:30pm: Sanity Meter Reads [>>>> ]
[Lunch Break which consisted of 2 Burgers in 2 separate Buns]
1:20pm: Dead or Alive 3 (Xbox):
The temptation of another survival battle is too much to resist yet so much to enjoy. After a frustrating previous survival battle taking only 28 wins I wanted to get back to winning form and to do this I would take up the role of Bass (an all American style wrestler). The first opponent was a walk over and I used it to try out some new combination moves. As the opponents fell down I was rising to the top of the world (or at least I thought I was) and high octane combinations were becoming a second nature. I battled my way through the teens and beat the infamous fighter number 19 which is always a tough one to get through. I was progressing quickly and I felt as though I was in the heat of the action, so much so that I was now moving my arms from side to side as I slammed opponents onto the metal floor.
Kicking out with my feet and pushing the air with my hands was a normal play through of Dead or Alive for me, this time though I had attitude. Who could beat me? I was stronger than titanium and more focused than ever before. I had beaten my previous score of 28 wins and I was advancing briskly through the early 30's. At 35 I hit a period where I was countered for every move I tried to perform but my concentration levels were high enough to see me progress further. I was beginning to tire mentally as I wanted to continue on at a faster rate, the only problem was the fact that the game required patience on the latter stages. I hit a wall at 38 and I was beaten hands down by some slick counter moves and a severe beating. As I stepped back into reality I felt dizzy and mentally drained so I took a break for a MARS bar and a few chocolate digestives.
2:30pm: Sanity Meter Reads [>> ]
Now wasn't the time to load up Eternal Darkness so instead I opted to start again on Super Mario Sunshine as I continued my search for the 120 missing Shine Sprites.
3:00pm: Super Mario Sunshine (Nintendo GameCube):
I had progressed well on the previous attempt and I was well over the 80 sine mark, however a 100% completion would not be an option unless I started again to collect all the Blue coins in order. I didn't have a problem with erasing my save file because the game was a joy to play and I feel eager to collect the 120 missing shine Sprites. I was beginning to start again on a game that uses an Italian Plumber with a Talking Water Pack in order to clean up 'Goop' on an imaginary island?! At the current time I didn't think of what I was doing because if I had I wouldn't be here right now. I advanced through the first area collecting all the available Blue Coins before moving onto the next area.
The next area was ‘Bianco Hills’ which would see me chase down the Shadow Mario only to fight a giant 'Plant Like' creature made out of Graffiti?! I was beginning to wonder where my day had gone and how I got from the Master League to an imaginary island within the space of just a few hours. By this time my head was spinning and I was seeing Shine Sprites... I mean stars whirl around my head; it was time to ring the bell for the end of round three! My sanity meter had dropped of the scale and I didn't know where to turn.
4:00pm: Sanity Meter Reads [ ]
Was I going insane? Had I imagined the last 5 hours? I was in a state of shock and as I am too young for whisky I grabbed for the Fanta bottle and began to drink. I regained some of the lost energy but it was going to take a while before I regained my thoughts and went over the events of March 3rd 2003. It was a strange feeling that I had never encountered before and one that I hope I will never encounter again. Gaming at the end of the day is exactly what it says on the tin. Mixing gaming with reality is healthy in small doses but when brewed for a long time the results can prove what the first 2 pages of almost every instruction booklet suggest. Just when I thought Eternal Darkness was a game I stepped over the line into the gaming spectrum and brought back more than I originally bargained for. For my own sanity I hope the proceedings of today do not happen again, next time though if I go through a stage of losing my sanity I may be under the control of you and in the hands of your controller. For March 3rd 2003 I no longer owned gaming... gaming owned me!
Thanks for Reading
11am: Sanity Meter Reads [>>>>>]
Pro Evolution Soccer 2 (PSONE):
Whilst waiting for my Japanese import of Winning Eleven 6 for the GameCube I thought it would be a good idea to dust of my PSONE and enjoy a predecessor to my favourite sports series. I had the time on my side so I decided that my interests would lie within the Master League and taking a side through to the top division. It all started well and I felt almost like Sir Bobby Robson as I drafted my way through the transfer market and team selection. My mind was focused and I was reasonably sane, how long this would last wasn't a question at the time. As a keen gamer I like to get involved with the games that I play and I like to be in control of the action.
I went 1 goal down in my first game just 10 minutes after kick off but I was confident that I could get back into the action. As the end of the first half approached I was still trailing by the early goal yet this was down to a series of missed opportunities and some excellent keeping skills from the opposition. At the start of the 2nd half I went through a team talk in my mind and what I would say to the players as they came off with their heads down. The team talk was directed at 11 imaginary players and 11 nerve endings within my nervous system. As my players marched out for the second half I was confident that the tide would change and I had the courage to attack them from the start. Unlike the first half I brought wing backs into play so that I could break out wide and then head for the by-line.
The match moved on quickly and it was yet another set of missed chances which lead to my frustration and the demolition of my sanity. I was talking to my players and forcing myself to play on and go for the equalising goal but it wasn't working. The match was drawing to a close and my concentration lapsed for a split second which led to the sending off of one my central midfielders. As the Ref drew the card from his pocket I through the pad to the floor and questioned his skills as an official only for my mom to question what I was doing. I was losing the plot and losing the game and I had to resist the temptation of starting another game because my anger levels were working over time.
12:30pm: Sanity Meter Reads [>>>> ]
[Lunch Break which consisted of 2 Burgers in 2 separate Buns]
1:20pm: Dead or Alive 3 (Xbox):
The temptation of another survival battle is too much to resist yet so much to enjoy. After a frustrating previous survival battle taking only 28 wins I wanted to get back to winning form and to do this I would take up the role of Bass (an all American style wrestler). The first opponent was a walk over and I used it to try out some new combination moves. As the opponents fell down I was rising to the top of the world (or at least I thought I was) and high octane combinations were becoming a second nature. I battled my way through the teens and beat the infamous fighter number 19 which is always a tough one to get through. I was progressing quickly and I felt as though I was in the heat of the action, so much so that I was now moving my arms from side to side as I slammed opponents onto the metal floor.
Kicking out with my feet and pushing the air with my hands was a normal play through of Dead or Alive for me, this time though I had attitude. Who could beat me? I was stronger than titanium and more focused than ever before. I had beaten my previous score of 28 wins and I was advancing briskly through the early 30's. At 35 I hit a period where I was countered for every move I tried to perform but my concentration levels were high enough to see me progress further. I was beginning to tire mentally as I wanted to continue on at a faster rate, the only problem was the fact that the game required patience on the latter stages. I hit a wall at 38 and I was beaten hands down by some slick counter moves and a severe beating. As I stepped back into reality I felt dizzy and mentally drained so I took a break for a MARS bar and a few chocolate digestives.
2:30pm: Sanity Meter Reads [>> ]
Now wasn't the time to load up Eternal Darkness so instead I opted to start again on Super Mario Sunshine as I continued my search for the 120 missing Shine Sprites.
3:00pm: Super Mario Sunshine (Nintendo GameCube):
I had progressed well on the previous attempt and I was well over the 80 sine mark, however a 100% completion would not be an option unless I started again to collect all the Blue coins in order. I didn't have a problem with erasing my save file because the game was a joy to play and I feel eager to collect the 120 missing shine Sprites. I was beginning to start again on a game that uses an Italian Plumber with a Talking Water Pack in order to clean up 'Goop' on an imaginary island?! At the current time I didn't think of what I was doing because if I had I wouldn't be here right now. I advanced through the first area collecting all the available Blue Coins before moving onto the next area.
The next area was ‘Bianco Hills’ which would see me chase down the Shadow Mario only to fight a giant 'Plant Like' creature made out of Graffiti?! I was beginning to wonder where my day had gone and how I got from the Master League to an imaginary island within the space of just a few hours. By this time my head was spinning and I was seeing Shine Sprites... I mean stars whirl around my head; it was time to ring the bell for the end of round three! My sanity meter had dropped of the scale and I didn't know where to turn.
4:00pm: Sanity Meter Reads [ ]
Was I going insane? Had I imagined the last 5 hours? I was in a state of shock and as I am too young for whisky I grabbed for the Fanta bottle and began to drink. I regained some of the lost energy but it was going to take a while before I regained my thoughts and went over the events of March 3rd 2003. It was a strange feeling that I had never encountered before and one that I hope I will never encounter again. Gaming at the end of the day is exactly what it says on the tin. Mixing gaming with reality is healthy in small doses but when brewed for a long time the results can prove what the first 2 pages of almost every instruction booklet suggest. Just when I thought Eternal Darkness was a game I stepped over the line into the gaming spectrum and brought back more than I originally bargained for. For my own sanity I hope the proceedings of today do not happen again, next time though if I go through a stage of losing my sanity I may be under the control of you and in the hands of your controller. For March 3rd 2003 I no longer owned gaming... gaming owned me!
Thanks for Reading
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It can't be, surely not, it happens in Eternal Darkness but it's just a game. As my head moves around the room looking at black spots leaping across the ceiling I think of the day that has past. It all started at around 11am this morning and my insanity meter has gradually dropped down to the stage where I am struggling to draw a line between gaming and reality. It all started at 11am...
11am: Sanity Meter Reads [>>>>>]
Pro Evolution Soccer 2 (PSONE):
Whilst waiting for my Japanese import of Winning Eleven 6 for the GameCube I thought it would be a good idea to dust of my PSONE and enjoy a predecessor to my favourite sports series. I had the time on my side so I decided that my interests would lie within the Master League and taking a side through to the top division. It all started well and I felt almost like Sir Bobby Robson as I drafted my way through the transfer market and team selection. My mind was focused and I was reasonably sane, how long this would last wasn't a question at the time. As a keen gamer I like to get involved with the games that I play and I like to be in control of the action.
I went 1 goal down in my first game just 10 minutes after kick off but I was confident that I could get back into the action. As the end of the first half approached I was still trailing by the early goal yet this was down to a series of missed opportunities and some excellent keeping skills from the opposition. At the start of the 2nd half I went through a team talk in my mind and what I would say to the players as they came off with their heads down. The team talk was directed at 11 imaginary players and 11 nerve endings within my nervous system. As my players marched out for the second half I was confident that the tide would change and I had the courage to attack them from the start. Unlike the first half I brought wing backs into play so that I could break out wide and then head for the by-line.
The match moved on quickly and it was yet another set of missed chances which lead to my frustration and the demolition of my sanity. I was talking to my players and forcing myself to play on and go for the equalising goal but it wasn't working. The match was drawing to a close and my concentration lapsed for a split second which led to the sending off of one my central midfielders. As the Ref drew the card from his pocket I through the pad to the floor and questioned his skills as an official only for my mom to question what I was doing. I was losing the plot and losing the game and I had to resist the temptation of starting another game because my anger levels were working over time.
12:30pm: Sanity Meter Reads [>>>> ]
[Lunch Break which consisted of 2 Burgers in 2 separate Buns]
1:20pm: Dead or Alive 3 (Xbox):
The temptation of another survival battle is too much to resist yet so much to enjoy. After a frustrating previous survival battle taking only 28 wins I wanted to get back to winning form and to do this I would take up the role of Bass (an all American style wrestler). The first opponent was a walk over and I used it to try out some new combination moves. As the opponents fell down I was rising to the top of the world (or at least I thought I was) and high octane combinations were becoming a second nature. I battled my way through the teens and beat the infamous fighter number 19 which is always a tough one to get through. I was progressing quickly and I felt as though I was in the heat of the action, so much so that I was now moving my arms from side to side as I slammed opponents onto the metal floor.
Kicking out with my feet and pushing the air with my hands was a normal play through of Dead or Alive for me, this time though I had attitude. Who could beat me? I was stronger than titanium and more focused than ever before. I had beaten my previous score of 28 wins and I was advancing briskly through the early 30's. At 35 I hit a period where I was countered for every move I tried to perform but my concentration levels were high enough to see me progress further. I was beginning to tire mentally as I wanted to continue on at a faster rate, the only problem was the fact that the game required patience on the latter stages. I hit a wall at 38 and I was beaten hands down by some slick counter moves and a severe beating. As I stepped back into reality I felt dizzy and mentally drained so I took a break for a MARS bar and a few chocolate digestives.
2:30pm: Sanity Meter Reads [>> ]
Now wasn't the time to load up Eternal Darkness so instead I opted to start again on Super Mario Sunshine as I continued my search for the 120 missing Shine Sprites.
3:00pm: Super Mario Sunshine (Nintendo GameCube):
I had progressed well on the previous attempt and I was well over the 80 sine mark, however a 100% completion would not be an option unless I started again to collect all the Blue coins in order. I didn't have a problem with erasing my save file because the game was a joy to play and I feel eager to collect the 120 missing shine Sprites. I was beginning to start again on a game that uses an Italian Plumber with a Talking Water Pack in order to clean up 'Goop' on an imaginary island?! At the current time I didn't think of what I was doing because if I had I wouldn't be here right now. I advanced through the first area collecting all the available Blue Coins before moving onto the next area.
The next area was ‘Bianco Hills’ which would see me chase down the Shadow Mario only to fight a giant 'Plant Like' creature made out of Graffiti?! I was beginning to wonder where my day had gone and how I got from the Master League to an imaginary island within the space of just a few hours. By this time my head was spinning and I was seeing Shine Sprites... I mean stars whirl around my head; it was time to ring the bell for the end of round three! My sanity meter had dropped of the scale and I didn't know where to turn.
4:00pm: Sanity Meter Reads [ ]
Was I going insane? Had I imagined the last 5 hours? I was in a state of shock and as I am too young for whisky I grabbed for the Fanta bottle and began to drink. I regained some of the lost energy but it was going to take a while before I regained my thoughts and went over the events of March 3rd 2003. It was a strange feeling that I had never encountered before and one that I hope I will never encounter again. Gaming at the end of the day is exactly what it says on the tin. Mixing gaming with reality is healthy in small doses but when brewed for a long time the results can prove what the first 2 pages of almost every instruction booklet suggest. Just when I thought Eternal Darkness was a game I stepped over the line into the gaming spectrum and brought back more than I originally bargained for. For my own sanity I hope the proceedings of today do not happen again, next time though if I go through a stage of losing my sanity I may be under the control of you and in the hands of your controller. For March 3rd 2003 I no longer owned gaming... gaming owned me!
Thanks for Reading
11am: Sanity Meter Reads [>>>>>]
Pro Evolution Soccer 2 (PSONE):
Whilst waiting for my Japanese import of Winning Eleven 6 for the GameCube I thought it would be a good idea to dust of my PSONE and enjoy a predecessor to my favourite sports series. I had the time on my side so I decided that my interests would lie within the Master League and taking a side through to the top division. It all started well and I felt almost like Sir Bobby Robson as I drafted my way through the transfer market and team selection. My mind was focused and I was reasonably sane, how long this would last wasn't a question at the time. As a keen gamer I like to get involved with the games that I play and I like to be in control of the action.
I went 1 goal down in my first game just 10 minutes after kick off but I was confident that I could get back into the action. As the end of the first half approached I was still trailing by the early goal yet this was down to a series of missed opportunities and some excellent keeping skills from the opposition. At the start of the 2nd half I went through a team talk in my mind and what I would say to the players as they came off with their heads down. The team talk was directed at 11 imaginary players and 11 nerve endings within my nervous system. As my players marched out for the second half I was confident that the tide would change and I had the courage to attack them from the start. Unlike the first half I brought wing backs into play so that I could break out wide and then head for the by-line.
The match moved on quickly and it was yet another set of missed chances which lead to my frustration and the demolition of my sanity. I was talking to my players and forcing myself to play on and go for the equalising goal but it wasn't working. The match was drawing to a close and my concentration lapsed for a split second which led to the sending off of one my central midfielders. As the Ref drew the card from his pocket I through the pad to the floor and questioned his skills as an official only for my mom to question what I was doing. I was losing the plot and losing the game and I had to resist the temptation of starting another game because my anger levels were working over time.
12:30pm: Sanity Meter Reads [>>>> ]
[Lunch Break which consisted of 2 Burgers in 2 separate Buns]
1:20pm: Dead or Alive 3 (Xbox):
The temptation of another survival battle is too much to resist yet so much to enjoy. After a frustrating previous survival battle taking only 28 wins I wanted to get back to winning form and to do this I would take up the role of Bass (an all American style wrestler). The first opponent was a walk over and I used it to try out some new combination moves. As the opponents fell down I was rising to the top of the world (or at least I thought I was) and high octane combinations were becoming a second nature. I battled my way through the teens and beat the infamous fighter number 19 which is always a tough one to get through. I was progressing quickly and I felt as though I was in the heat of the action, so much so that I was now moving my arms from side to side as I slammed opponents onto the metal floor.
Kicking out with my feet and pushing the air with my hands was a normal play through of Dead or Alive for me, this time though I had attitude. Who could beat me? I was stronger than titanium and more focused than ever before. I had beaten my previous score of 28 wins and I was advancing briskly through the early 30's. At 35 I hit a period where I was countered for every move I tried to perform but my concentration levels were high enough to see me progress further. I was beginning to tire mentally as I wanted to continue on at a faster rate, the only problem was the fact that the game required patience on the latter stages. I hit a wall at 38 and I was beaten hands down by some slick counter moves and a severe beating. As I stepped back into reality I felt dizzy and mentally drained so I took a break for a MARS bar and a few chocolate digestives.
2:30pm: Sanity Meter Reads [>> ]
Now wasn't the time to load up Eternal Darkness so instead I opted to start again on Super Mario Sunshine as I continued my search for the 120 missing Shine Sprites.
3:00pm: Super Mario Sunshine (Nintendo GameCube):
I had progressed well on the previous attempt and I was well over the 80 sine mark, however a 100% completion would not be an option unless I started again to collect all the Blue coins in order. I didn't have a problem with erasing my save file because the game was a joy to play and I feel eager to collect the 120 missing shine Sprites. I was beginning to start again on a game that uses an Italian Plumber with a Talking Water Pack in order to clean up 'Goop' on an imaginary island?! At the current time I didn't think of what I was doing because if I had I wouldn't be here right now. I advanced through the first area collecting all the available Blue Coins before moving onto the next area.
The next area was ‘Bianco Hills’ which would see me chase down the Shadow Mario only to fight a giant 'Plant Like' creature made out of Graffiti?! I was beginning to wonder where my day had gone and how I got from the Master League to an imaginary island within the space of just a few hours. By this time my head was spinning and I was seeing Shine Sprites... I mean stars whirl around my head; it was time to ring the bell for the end of round three! My sanity meter had dropped of the scale and I didn't know where to turn.
4:00pm: Sanity Meter Reads [ ]
Was I going insane? Had I imagined the last 5 hours? I was in a state of shock and as I am too young for whisky I grabbed for the Fanta bottle and began to drink. I regained some of the lost energy but it was going to take a while before I regained my thoughts and went over the events of March 3rd 2003. It was a strange feeling that I had never encountered before and one that I hope I will never encounter again. Gaming at the end of the day is exactly what it says on the tin. Mixing gaming with reality is healthy in small doses but when brewed for a long time the results can prove what the first 2 pages of almost every instruction booklet suggest. Just when I thought Eternal Darkness was a game I stepped over the line into the gaming spectrum and brought back more than I originally bargained for. For my own sanity I hope the proceedings of today do not happen again, next time though if I go through a stage of losing my sanity I may be under the control of you and in the hands of your controller. For March 3rd 2003 I no longer owned gaming... gaming owned me!
Thanks for Reading