Ever wonder what college guys do in their free time? Ever take a minute to consider what we do while in our dorms when classes are out? Well there are fewer answers than you think. Guys are simple…simple as that.
There is the occasional time when we study or do homework, but that takes minimal time, not to mention effort. We get it done in the quickest and most personally pleasing manner possible.
Sleeping is a probable activity that when exhaustion hits, we most likely will hit the sheets, at least for a few hours during the day. We need to rest up for all those other extracurriculars we participate in.
But if you really want to know what guys do in their free time, it comes down to one word. One man’s name, one phenomenon: Madden. Madden NFL 2006 is the video game for your Playstation 2 system or XBOX. That’s what guys do. You can ask any male resident in the dorms. It is guaranteed at least 95 percent of them play or are addicted to Madden.
“Madden is some good stuff. Some of us have been hooked on it since back in 1993. Yeah, those were the days. Nowadays we play at least four to five games a day, which is almost three hours. We also take it very seriously and is the topic of conversation for the majority of the day,” sophomore marketing major Brian Coary said.
This couldn’t be more accurate. Not only is it a topic of conversation, but it’s something that the social system of the group is based upon. With the most successful “Maddeners” at the pinnacle of the group, and the weaker players at the bottom of the order, it is a lot more serious than people think.
With so much Madden played in one day, it’s a wonder we ever get anything done. In some instances, Madden comes before schoolwork…but that’s only in the extreme cases. Ever since the game came out back in the early 90’s, gamers have been hooked on this realistic interpretation of the hugely popular sport.
“I’ve been playing Madden for years. It’s part of my life now. I plan my day around getting in those extra minutes in and sharpening up my game. I gotta be able to show up the other guys. Can’t be catching any L’s (losses),” Atif Stevenson, a sophomore marketing major, said.
Numerous tournaments are set up in the dorms, for money and otherwise, plainly because the game is such a huge hit and is so competitive. Every year that it has been released, its popularity grows and now in its sixteenth edition, it’s stronger than ever. Gracing the cover this year is Philadelphia Eagles star quarterback Donovan McNabb who was honored at the opportunity to be a part of such an elite group.
On it’s release day, it’s like hysteria for the fans who have been waiting the whole summer for it to finally hit the shelves. They line up outside of game stores and malls for hours just to get their hands on the video game gold that is Madden.
With all this hoopla around something so seemingly unimportant, it’s amazing to see how it’s taken over the minds and thought processes of so many men on campus. But when it comes down to it, each year they come out with a new edition of the game, it’s going to be high on the priority list of all guys between the ages of 15 and…40.
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Posted to the web by Matt Schill