Editorial: Love and Video Games

Here's an unforgettable story about how love and video games blissfully (check back at a later date for disastrously) entwine. First, I'll tell you how lucky of a guy I am. Second, I'll tell you how awesome of a girlfriend she is!

About three weeks before the launch of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Konami and Kojima Productions announced that Hideo Kojima would attend the launch event of the game and sign copies (along with a virtual actress from the game) at the Virgin Mega Store in Manhattan. During this same time, my girlfriend had just moved to New York to pursue her master's degree, having left Atlanta and me behind.

Well, one day–about a week before the launch–we were talking on the phone while she was in the Virgin store, then I told her about the event and how people were going to camp out for it. Now, she knows how dedicated and serious of a gamer I am (playing, industry, culture) and she isn't a gamer herself, but she definitely respects the medium and is increasingly interested in it. Out of nowhere she says: "I'll do it for you!" WTF? My jaw dropped.

"Are you serious?" I said. "Yeah, why not!", she replied. It was definitely an awe-filled and exciting shock. And honestly, before she said it, I was so unconscious to the idea. The only thing I've ever camped out for is a Nintendo Wii.

So when July 11^th arrived she bought a folding chair, some snacks, and brought some books. Headed to the Virgin store between the hours of 5-6 PM, and camped out in line. During the wait she befriended HipHopGamer (shout out to him), of the HipHopGamer show –a popular internet video blog about gaming and hiphop–and his girlfriend. During the 6+ hour wait she was interviewed for the show. Here's her segment (@ 3:43):

Eventually, by midnight they bought their copies of the game and she also got me a strategy guide (they sold out of posters)! When it was her turn for the signatures, she took pics of the Man himself: Kojima-san! She even over-nighted the entire package to me! And what's great about it all, she said that it was an experience of a lifetime and fun and exciting. (I think she'll even want to camp out with me in the future :) ).

Now, you may be thinking, as I have contemplated. How the hell am I going to repay her or display my love in an extreme (positively) fashion? Well, that's for me to know, and her to find out soon (I'm still stumped)! And if you read this Sega (nickname). Thank you :). I couldn't imagine my life without you.