A Gamer's Life in Baghdad

[leunas]

You wouldn't have picked it from their vapid, televised roots, but MTV have really got their $h1t together when it comes to video game reporting. Their latest feature is about Wisam, a 23 year-old Baghdad gamer whose story should make any of you bitching about stuff like "how noisy your 360 is" put things in perspective.

The American-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime changed Wisam's taste in games. He and his gamer friends used to enjoy first-person shooters like "Medal of Honor" and "Call of Duty." Then a real war started around him. "We hate the attacking, the gunfire in games," Wisam said. "We started to hate it." In fact, there's only one game with guns he can still tolerate. " 'Grand Theft Auto' is the exception. Because 'Grand Theft Auto' is like us."

The guy can only play games from 4pm until midnight (and even then only because he owns his own generator), doesn't get many new games because to venture outside risks bombings and, seriously, learned a lot of English from Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid, which would be hilarious if it wasn't so tragic.
You should check it out, it's a fascinating read.


www.kotaku.com/gaming/iraq/a-gamers-life-in-baghdad-227169.php

[leunas]

Alive and Gaming in Baghdad



"We can't go outside, so I prefer to keep inside and keep myself alive."

The words are from Wisam, a gamer living in Baghdad. Wisam is a rarity, and listening to his story on Iraq blog / vlog Alive In Baghdad explains why. Wisam, a recent graduate of the Baghdad University English Department, explains that he spends upwards of $200 on electricity each month -- partly from a local generator that runs 4 p.m. until midnight and partly from the fuel he buys for his personal generator. That's a hefty sum

Wisam said he learned his English from games such as Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy. MTV News' Stephen Totilo has a thorough piece on Wisam and the crew of Alive in Baghdad. Among the game-related topics discussed, Wisam talked about the decline in interest for war shooters like Medal of Honor and Call of Duty. "We hate the attacking, the gunfire in games," Wisam told MTV News. "We started to hate it."

In a sad note, Wisam described how Grand Theft Auto is much like Baghdad right now. Omar Abdullah, who interviewed Wisam for Alive in Baghdad, concurred, telling MTV News that "it was very, very similar to Baghdad. We were like, 'Oh my God. These are the same actions that happen in Baghdad.' There are some places that are divided. For each place, there is a gang ruling that place. You can go down the street and drive any car. If you want to jump on a motorcycle, you can do it."

With all the news that circulates about Baghdad, include tonight's U.S. Presidential address, it's thought-provoking to see a often missed perspective on the region.


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