!(imgcenter)http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1166/1437122098_295d9d3096_m.jpg(Launch of Halo 3 at Suntec City)!:http://www.flickr.com/photos/11849973@N00/1437122098/
At this very moment that I am typing this, the future housemate is busily hacking away at aliens with his new hammer. Or crystal sword. Or rocket launcher. Whatever.
Sounds familiar?
Think back to three years ago, when I declared myself the Xbox widow. This time, the console has been upgraded and so have I – I am now a Xbox 360 widow. Also, there is the added tension in the form of the newly-released Halo 3.
The process of becoming a Xbox 360 widow goes like this:
1. Self-pity
“All my Barcar friends have Xbox 360 except me okay.”
2. Trickery
“Let’s go to Best Denki.”
“Why?”
“Heh heh heh. Oh look, the Xbox 360 demonstration set is unoccupied!”
3. Negotiation
“If you let me get the Xbox 360, I will subsidize half the cost of your Wii.”
4. Anticipation
“I’m taking September 25 and 26 off cos 25th is the launch of Halo 3.”
“So why do you need the 26th off?”
“To play Halo all night.”
5. Decision-making
“Should I buy the Xbox now or wait till the launch? They may have discount then. Hmm. Or should I pay in installments? Or maybe I can buy in Tangs and earn rebates.”
6. Preparation
“Are we going anywhere this Saturday? No? Good. I need to go down to Junction 8 to collect the Halo tee-shirt. If I collect all their freebies and present it on the day of the launch, I can get the limited edition helmet!” and
“Are we going anywhere this Saturday? No? Good. I need to go down to Tampines Mall to collect the Halo vest. If I collect all their freebies and present it on the day of the launch, I can get the limited edition helmet!”
Finally….
7. Purchase
“I’m in Ang Mo Kio now. Can get the set at a discount. But I didn’t get the helmet. Cos I don’t have the tee-shirt lah.”
I’m resigned to spending our weekends in his room, watching him jab away at his controller, cuss into the headset, yell instructions to his friends and then explain to me that he is hacking away at the aliens with his hammer/crystal sword/rocket launcher because Master Chief wants to regain world peace. All at the same time.
Yannisms 