I spent a good deal of this weekend as a Gamer Widow. For those who are uninitiated into the world of gaming, it means my husband spend a lot of time playing RPGs (role playing games), CCGs (collectible card games) and all other sorts of games at the Origins Gaming Convention. Origins is an annual gaming convention held right here in Columbus, and it draws people from all parts of the country to come partake in all things game related.
You’ll find your typical Magic: The Gathering players, your Warhammer miniatures players, your Pokemon card game players (generally under 15), and your LARP’ers (live action role playing – usually in fancy goth costumes). You’ll also see more mainstream folks who play in Monopoly and Scrabble tournaments.
This is probably the #1 geek gathering in Ohio. Now, I’ll admit my provisional geek status – I like going to the convention to try out new games, meet up with friends, and shop. But I’m not a hardcore gamer – I generally don’t pay a lot of attention to complicated game mechanics, and if the game requires me to know more than 6 or 7 rules, I’m too confused to play.
Mostly, I like to people watch, because this place guarantees there is some good people watching to be had. Some of the people you might meet:
The standard gamer – the slightly overweight 20-something probably still living in his parents’ basement, with his case of Mountain Dew, his backpack of gaming books, and his dice bag hanging off his belt. Shy around women, and lacks in social skills. He will never get a date until he stops trying to tell women about his awesome Level 15 mage elf character.
The Vampire LARP’er – If male, tall, lanky, dressed all in black. Probably has his hair dyed black. He’s goth and he wants you to know it. If female, dressed in a black and red leather corset, black miniskirt or see-thru long skirt, heavy makeup and black leather boots that go to mid-thigh. Boobs must be prominently displayed – this is how she distracts her opponents. Sometimes sporting fairy wings as well.
The junior player – These are the geeks in training. Generally under 12, dressed in jean shorts, Pokemon t-shirt, and ballcap, with a backpack larger than they are filled with Pokemon cards.
The hardcore CCG player – This guy has been on the Magic: The Gathering international tour of champions and actually made money from playing his game. He can always be spotted by the rolling suitcase that is with him at all times. It contains all of his best Magic cards, and he will never take his hand off of the suitcase. If you get too close, he will nervously position himself between you and the suitcase – after all, others have been mugged for their Magic cards, and he’s prepared to fight you to the death if need be.
Historical wargame player – Dressed in camo, of course, usually sporting a military haircut. Don’t speak to these people unless you are prepared for an hour and half explanation about why their miniature army is better than the person they just played, because they went the extra step to
paint their miniatures in a researched shade of blue that is historically accurate. They will try to convince you that if they had been there, they could have won Custer’s Last Stand with their tactics.
The Cosplay gamer – Primarily female, these gamers like to show up in costume. These people have a high need for others to notice them, and they do it through outrageous costumes or, for the women at least, prominent display of boobs. The costumes may or may not have any resemblance to a real character from geekdom. You’ll see not only boys walking around in Starfleet uniforms, but also lots of fairies, superheroines, and Stormtroopers.
This is only a small sampling of the people you will see at these types of conventions. Oh, there’s cross-breeding going on as well, too, which always complicates the Field Guide to Geeks.
It was a fun weekend, but I’m glad it’s coming to an end. I will now have my husband back for a little while – after all, the GenCon gaming convention is only 38 days away in Indianapolis.
PS – Celebrity sighting of the weekend: William Hung! No geek convention would be complete without the ultimate geek, I guess. She bangs!
hehe I am a gamer, although not so much since becoming a mom! I am not sure I fit those descriptions…but I am sure I fit in there somewhere?!?!
Are we married to the same husband? Magic, Warhammer – you are speaking my (his) language! Good to know I’m not the only Gamer Widow in the blogosophere.
World of Warcraft is Kyle’s game of choice, although he did used to play Magic with an Air Force buddy of his.
What I like about WOW is that it has such broad appeal. Kyle’s in a guild with one of my former co-workers from NY – this tattooed Italian guy from SI whom you’d NEVER expect to be a gamer. Not only does he play, but his wife and three of his sons do too.
That was a GREAT description of gamers. I’m not a gamer myself but I’ve known a couple before. Too funny. Oh, and is that totally looks like Johnny Depp from Pirates of the Carribean.
Mommy off the record – Yeah, he does look a lot like Johnny Depp, although a little skinnier. The guy’s wife and kids were dressed like pirates as well.
Chelle – Yes, there are far more levels of gamers in there, but those are the easy ones to spot. Many of us can be gamers and still look like normal people, too. 🙂
Bub and Pie – Hooray for another gamer widow! I guess while they play, we blog, eh?
Mothergoosemouse – My husband prefers City of Heroes to World of Warcraft, and like your husband, it gives him the chance to play with friends he normally can’t. I like Guild Wars for online gaming.
LOL – my word verification is “bsexi”!
My husband is a gamer as well – right now he’s all into World of Warcraft and plays every Friday night with his two best friends who live in Texas and Colorado. I’m of the opinion that I’d rather he stay up late on Fridays on the computer and drinking his favorite grape soda than going to girly bars and boozing it up. (Our lives are so exciting) He, like your husband, is a gaming god – gainfully employed AND married.
I am by no means a gamer or wife of gamer… but I am teacher.. which means I have to **kind of** know what is going on so that I know the lingo and what is appropriate…. etc.
Lemme tell you… your descriptions were fabulous!! Makes me want to pack up the Radio Flyer and make a day of it next year.
Love the descriptions. My hubs is a gamer/geek but he doesn’t fit the above descriptions. He is into mostly the sports games so maybe that makes a difference. Anyway, while you were saying those descriptions it reminded me of that movie Grandma’s Boy b/c your descriptions were so accurate. Have you seen it?
I’m a gamer wife LOL My husband and I both LOVE MMORPG games. We’ve been playing Dark Age of Camelot since 2001 and I’ve found that it’s a great way for us to stay connected and spend time together.
I agree with Zany Mama, even if there are days I’m not playing with him, I would rather have him staying up on fridays and saturday nights playing his game and drinking his soda or an occasional beer, than going to strip clubs or bars with the guys. 🙂
LOVED your descriptions of the gamers LOL
I had no idea this gaming thing was so huge!
William Hung? That must be quite a sight. I wondered where he’d gone off to…
I’ve never stopped by before, but I had to today to congratulate you on being MOTW at Crazy Hip Blog Mamas! Congrats!
I can’t say I bond over the TYPE of games, but Tim does really love his PS2 and playing Madden (football) and some fighting games I think. LOL. I have my karaoke game.
Okay, you deserve the wife of the century award for going with him to this thing. And it sounds like this isn’t the first time you’ve gone. You brave, brave woman. I will never and have never understood those RPGs on any level. But a Scrabble tournament? Dude, where do I sign up???
LOL, what a fun read.
Slipshod did nearly all of his convention-going before we met, though as you already know we met at Ren Faire, which is a geek group unto itself, AND he still games. Almost his entire group of friends is made up of people he met at conventions, or people he met through people he met at conventions. Short version – he has gamed with most of them over the years.
Shadow Run and D&D are currently on hold due to two of the guys becoming new daddies (well, Slipshod a second time – another guy for the first time), but when things are on they game every Friday night in our garage with tons of crappy junk food and lots of sodas. Only now they’re in their 30s and 40s and they have to wait until after work rather than after school. Ha ha! My dad was shocked to learn that all of the guys in the group except for one are married. And half of them have kids. In the right crowds and areas it pays to be a geek (literally as well)! LOL!
NICE! Yeah, I’m a little bit addicted to gaming and yet there are times where I wouldn’t want to play anything. It’s odd if you ask me. Overall, I’m an RPG nut and love Magic the Gathering. I would love to go to a convention or event like this one. Sure would have been fun.
Take care