Monday, January 23, 2006
Little Poison
60 Minutes ran a story last night detailing the growth of video game competitions as a big-money, spectator sport, where the biggest names can get millions in endorsements and make hundreds of thousands in tournaments. One up-and-comer in the industry is Little Poison, a master at Halo who already has two marketing assistant and agents who handle his career and if one of the most renowned professional gamers in the world.Did I mention he's seven?
All thoughts of child exploitation aside, why in the world is anyone letting this kid play Halo? Even the software designer specifies the game is for ages 17 and up (that's rated M for mature)! It's a first-person shooter, and hardly the type of game that should be in any seven-year old hands. At that age, a child's vocabulary of video games should still end at Mario.
Professional Gaming apparently takes a blind eye to age appropriateness. On his official trading card at Major League Gaming, Little Poison is described thusly:
Displays an unbelievable level of gaming maturity and intelligence for his young ageChildhood only lasts for so long, Lil Poison. I'm sorry you'll miss most of it.
Childhood only lasts for so long, gamers. I'm sorry most of you have forgotten it.
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