Like something out of the famous Kubrick flick he sits wide eyed in shock just like the hopeless Wendy Torrance trying to escape the uncontrollable Jack Torrance. (A.k.a Jack Nicholson in the Shinning) The harrowing images on screen mixed with a mass endorphin rush from progression level to level captivate this contestant. These themes would make a Hitchcock horror scene look as menacing as a bowl of cereal at 07:30am on a Monday morning. The contestant would become a primal creature condemned to a frenzy of grunting and screaming almost like he’s reacting a scene from last years Wimbledon Final. This game was more addictive than sugar, there was so much on stake not just a cash prize no it was better than that! The promise of internet fame, to the contestant it felt like watching the moon landing or getting a bonus on your pay check just before that summer getaway. The game would give you symptoms bipolar with a table spoon of schizophrenia especially if you watch yourself play the game back, you could almost see yourself outside Broadmoor Hospital. The pressure to the contestant was greater than watching Rose trying to save Jack in Titanic, although this was only video game! The lingering fantasy of progressing through the levels was more appealing than licking the cake bowl after you’ve poured the cake mix into the baking trays. Even after the contestant steps away from the game to take a shower, the thought of this game penetrates the mind like watching that famous scene from Hitchcock’s Pyscho the game torments the contestant cutting deep into there psyche. Whilst it pears into the bathroom staring at you like Jack Nicholson saying “here’s Johnny”! Watching the contestant go into a state of hysteria just looks like a deleted scene from every teen horror movie ever.
This was the night the contestant would try to finish it the physiological maze this game had created a jigsaw and all the pieces where in place just like Steve McQueen the great escape was on the cards. The contestant now prepared and seasoned like a chicken at Christmas, this was backed up buy the amount of Mountain Dew and Harribos left out in a custom made food platter. This high energy event coupled with an enough sugar to kill a diabetic, this was his equivalent to watching Lincoln Burrows from Prison Break sit on the electric chair. The loading screen appeared and the the contestant returned to his primal self preforming pre-game rituals just like New Zeeland’s All Blacks! Okay so now into the game the first few levels are a breeze, the focus and concentration is their it’s like watching Mr Miyagi coach Larusso. The contestant is really in the zone they seem so tranquil and just like that the moment he had been building towards approaches and it’s a magical moment it was like watching ET fly in front of the moon! The contestant dies (on the game) but they keep their cool, the contestant dies again (a nervous twitch appears, but they keep their cool) then they pause and dial a friend, you could cut the tension with a knife. Almost like option from Who Wants to Be a Millionaire the pulsating lights from the pause menu feature to options 1. Quit 2. Try Again! The contestant has lots track of time it’s like 2:00am so the call just goes to VM (voice mail) in this voicemail the contestant cuts to a damsel in distress just awaiting someone to pick up the pieces.
The voicemail could easily be mistaking for a zoo as the contestant battles with the dragon just like King Arthur. The last few words in the voicemail lead the friend into thinking the worst has happened. The last segment of the voice mail read…” I’m just going to kill myself I can’t do this anymore….” In an instant the friend panics and rushes down the hall towards the room of his flatmate, upon entry he creaks the door and tentatively peers into the room, two ghastly things, come to mind immediately No.1 the stench No.2 a pair of dangling legs! The gut-wrenching fear that something terrible has happened, chokes the friend of the contestant. They gingerly look over the contestant to check the wellbeing of their flatmate. At first they can’t see the stomach raise a little every other second. Now if we cut back to that voicemail it ended abruptly as the contestant drop his phone and what was actually said was…” I’m just going to kill myself I can’t do this anymore…..with this character I just stand no chance”! Unbeknownst to the friend of the contestant that matter in hand was not that serious, they shake the contestant in an attempt to wake them but no answer. The second method involved pouring a glass of cold water over there face, this worked the contestant woke up screaming and cursing at the friend! It was later revealed that choosing a new character had done it the quest was done…later that day it was announced another game within that franchise had be released, the fear in the eyes of contestant was unreal….TBC.
Exodus 