The 'Kaglom' Wars -- Defending the Desktop

I just got a Playstation 3. As I typed those words, a small thrill of excitement coursed through my body like a sip of Drambuie. To clarify -- I (we, really, there's a man involved in the arrangement) intended to by a Blu-ray, but was told that the Playstation 3, which also plays Blu-ray discs, was a better deal. A better deal for whom, is the question? Visions of my as-yet unborn children, lying neglected on the living room floor as I battle Nazis in Call of Duty haunt me. I'm afraid to even look at PS3 games, because I remember the long nights I spent building elaborate villas for my Sims. By long, I mean ALL NIGHT LONG. But here's the thing: Despite my great fear of my own vulnerability to the snazzy graphics and complicated levels of PS3 games, I think I'm far more vulnerable to the simplest of games. On my Blackberry, that's Kaglom, a sort of exploding Tetris (I just made it sound like a gastrointestinal disorder, I know). I can play it for hours. I think I pulled my thumb over the weekend trying to beat my high score. And on my desktop, the game that sucks away everything, including my desire for food, is Desktop Tower Defense. This thing is so simple, so free, and so addictive, that I think if it was a dollar a day to play, I would play it. They should make it part of a pledge drive. Every day when the show is finally, laboriously on the air, I take a DTD nap -- that is, I play the game in order to give my brain a much needed respite. So here's the question: Why would anyone heed the Call of Duty when there's so much to do on your own desktop? See above for examples.

Barrie Hardymon

Tags: Call of Duty | Desktop Tower Defense | Kaglom | video games