Off Duty Gamers

You can’t really deploy with a PC tower, monitor, mouse, keyboard and your joystick when going underway or to the sandbox.  Yes, you can take your laptop but how many of you, especially military members have high performance laptops to play computer games on.  Okay sure you can play older games and of course the classic Minesweeper.  But the other day I realized I downloaded Battlefield: Bad Company 2 in vain.  My little pathetic nVidia graphics card can’t hold up to the challenge of running a highly saturated graphics game on my Sony Vaio.  Yes I was disheartened that it crashes the moment the single player game or server game loads.

To make insult to injury my XBOX 360 copy of BFBC2 didn’t arrive till 1500 when I deployed at 1300 on the same day.  Argh!  So what am I to do to stay occupied?  We’ll I guess I can work out with my buddies, I can sit in a lounge with other people fighting over the TV channels or in my case use the “Liberty Center” that’s available down the hall.  That’s right; the Navy has built a Liberty Center in the barracks at Naval Station Anacostia to keep the E-2 and E-3s happy.  The Liberty Center has several big screen LCD TVs that often play sports games, multiple Playstation 3 and XBOX360 stations setup with your own personal monitor to play online and computers in a separate room to have private IM discussions with loved ones.  Oh and it has wifi!  That’s how I was able to write this blog.

But let’s say you’re not at a base, station, unit that has this robust of a media center.  We find more and more soldiers are packing their own console systems with them.  Sure, they pack their laptops with them as well, but because of console systems you can now take your gaming experience with you on the road.  XBOX360 and Playstation each have their own travel bags to keep your console, controllers and cable safely stowed.  If you are going to bring your own console here’s what I suggest you bring:

1)      Obviously your console.

2)      Power cord.

3)      Not one, but two controllers (It’s nice to play games with your friends and meet new people).

4)      Bring no more than 3-5 games preferably of the multiplayer / split screen variety.

5)      Extra Batteries.

6)      All three sets of cable (HDMI, AV, Component) you never know which TV may be available.

7)      Compressed Air for cleaning in case you are around sand or dirt.

8)      Several DVDs that you and your buddies can watch.

Thanks to my wife I have a PS3 I can now deploy with if need be.  The power cord isn’t bulky like the XBOX 360 and is slimmer in size.  I make sure I bring some good action movies in Blu-Ray format, and several games that a friend can play with.  It sucks to be “that guy” who only brings one game that’s single player only and is taking up the TV.  Remember, if there is a group of people wanting or needing to use the TV, you have an obligation to turn off the console and let them have the TV.

I was once deployed to a unit with a small lounge.  A non-rate (E-2) was playing his XBOX360 and was playing Modern Warfare single player.  He decided to do this during The Superbowl.  In walks six Marines, no I correct that, six very large Marines storm in screaming about the game.  They flip on the lights to see a lone person in sandals (shower shoes) shorts and a t-shirt leaning over the controller fighting his way through the villages.  Numerous swear words were exchanged, and the non-rate was standing his ground.  He felt that he was there first and could play as long as he liked.  Not liking his response the E-5 Marine Sgt. Grabbed the controller from the hands of the non-rate.  Threw it to the ground and stomped on it with his right foot.  I swear I saw a blue X button fly across the room and land in a coffee mug.  Closing my laptop and rolling my eyes I got up and asked the E-5 to stand down (here’s a Coast Guard member talking to a Marine, like I got a snowballs chance in hell).  He looked me up and down and didn’t know what rank, rate or branch I was in.  He apologized to the E-2 handed back the smashed controller and pulled out $50 bucks from his wallet.  The E-2 grabbed his console and bolted.

Just be mindful that when you’re playing your system, don’t be a jerk.  Everyone else needs a little morale as well, and they may not be gamers like you are.  Secondly, you’re not at home and you must understand that others have to use the same things you do as well so be careful with morale items.

This brings me to another story.  My unit put forth the morale funds for an XBOX 360 system.  Our pilots have one in their lounge to play and it’s often used for HALO and now Modern Warfare 2 Tournaments.

Our enlisted lounge got one as well, but with only one controller.  After much persuasion we got another controller, but it didn’t last long.  Just because it’s not your own property or in your own home doesn’t mean you can beat the crap out of the equipment.  After a long days work I went upstairs ate dinner and decided to play a fellow Flight Mechanic to a game of Modern Warfare 2 Special Ops Missions.  When I reached over to toss a grenade using the bumper buttons to my surprise it was missing.  The entire button was popped out.  I later found it on the other side of the room.  Apparently someone got frustrated and threw the controller.  Basically, if you get frustrated easily, and can’t keep your cool, don’t be touching a gaming system.

With the expensive rate and this economy more and more people are going to consoles and not upgrading their computers on a yearly basis.  The consoles are cheaper, they are easier to travel with, and they keep our younger generation entertained.  Little Jimmy can pack his XBOX or PS3 over to his friends house for the Birthday sleepover nowadays instead of Little Jimmy needing a large cardboard box to travel with his PC for LAN parties.  The same proves true for our military.  It’s easy to bring and can be used with multiple people to keep up the morale.

Next Blog:  Can combat games like Modern Warfare 2 trigger PTSD?