Chapter 3

Baby I can See Your Halo

In college, I spent days upon days playing video games. At the time, the video games were a mere form of social entertainment, that preoccupied my time from the inevitable task at hand…homework. But as I look back, the countless number of hours spent shooting battle rifles, throwing plasma grenades, and being the wheelman behind a Warthog, have not gone to waste. There are applicable lessons that can be taken from playing video games. I suppose I should be clearer. When I say that I played video games, I mean that I played Halo. Halo 2 and Halo 3. Not to toot my own horn, but most players would say that I was the best and most feared opponent at Northwestern College. I say that, to say this. I know my stuff when it comes to Halo. So, when I use Halo as yet another metaphor of love, just believe me.

While playing Halo, there are a few things you need to know. Besides the actual button configuration on your controller, there are different items on the screen that are crucial to your survival. Number one. Your regenerating shield. This is located at the top of the screen and notifies you of how much life you have left. Number two. Your ammunition. This is located in the upper right corner of your screen, and notifies you of how many bullets you have left in your weapon. And finally, number three. Your radar. This is located in the bottom left corner of your screen, and notifies you of your teammates, and enemies. Each of these three things is very important to keep an eye on if you want to be a successful Halo player. I believe that these things can translate, or symbolize things in our romantic lives.

REGENERATING SHIELD
Battle/Battlefield = battlefield of love
Shield = heart/emotions
Grenade = breakup
There are times where you’re going to go into battle and come out wounded. You will be out there fighting with everything you have, but will get hit by a grenade from out of nowhere and be left hurting, broken. This is where the regenerating shield is so helpful. You can hunker down, regroup and get ready to do battle again. However, it’s not safe or healthy to run back out into battle when you’re still hurt. You’ll die. Next time you’re hurt, make sure your shield is fully recovered before you rejoin the fight.

AMMUNITION
Battle/Battlefield = battlefield of love
Ammo = game (like, dang man, you got mad game)
You can’t expect to win a battle if you don’t have ammunition…translation…you can’t win someone over if you don’t spit mad game. Be sure you have fresh ammunition before you trying winning a battle. If you’re unprepared, you will get shot and you will die.

RADAR

There are two types of people that the radar will pick up, teammates and non-teammates. Teammates appear as yellow dots, and non-teammates appear as red dots. When traveling through the battlefield, the radar lets you know who is on your team, and who is on the other team. Sometimes, on the battlefield of love, it is difficult to differentiate between people who like you, and people who just want to be friends. It’s hard to tell if they are a yellow dot (a friend) or a red dot (someone who is in hot pursuit of you). Unfortunately, that is just part of the game. There will be times when someone who you thought was in hot pursuit, ends up being nothing more than “just a friend.” Or, someone who you thought of was “just a friend” could be hunting you down on the battlefield of love, looking to trap you in a corner and…well I will let your imagination take it from there.
Basically what I’m trying to say is…your radar can only get you so far. It can detect friends, and potential interests, but the end result is in your hands. You need to explore the battlefield and make sure that the yellow dot around the corner isn’t just a red dot in disguise.

Had I spent more time doing homework, and less time playing Halo, sure, I would have gotten better grades, but would I be as wise as I am now? Heck no! I wouldn’t know to let my heart heal before I put it on the line again. I wouldn’t know that I need mad game in order to impress the ladies. I wouldn’t know how to read my radar. I wouldn’t have earned the honor of being named the best Halo player on campus either.
Thank you Halo, for my college education!

Nerds and Romantics around the world UNITE! Video games have just become one with love.