Thursday, August 18, 2011

Geek Week continues with tonight’s post and concludes, in a game-themed gala the likes of which this town has never seen, at a birthday party on Saturday. Were this invitation extended to me a year or two ago, I would’ve promptly declined for the simple fact that people would be present there, never mind the theme. But this is here, now, the beginning of a new era, and I agreed without a second thought.

That’s not entirely true. Oh, I marveled over the décor–koozies modeled after the pipes in Super Mario Bros, for instance–and the homemade, fully functioning giant NES pad was a feat of engineering. What gave me pause, though, was the fact that some people would be attending in costume. Was this perhaps a local chapter of Comic-Con disguising itself as a birthday shindig? I had to investigate.

My research proceeded in the bluntest, most efficient manner possible, with a point-blank question to the host himself. What percentage of guests, precisely, would enrobe themselves in bespoke digital attire? Less than half will try, he wryly answered, and less than half of those will get it right. He then spoke fondly of one guest who would come as Hitler from Wolfenstein, complete with a pixelated mustache.

Well, I’m not going to be in any of those populations. I’m opting out. I’ve selected a muted, tasteful t-shirt subtly related to a video game franchise, plus a nice pair of jeans. That will have to do. My nerd stat will undoubtedly level up after this weekend, but hopefully not by much. I’ll report back. There are times when a man must sanction limits, you see, and guard them without compromise.