Friends, opponents, and total strangers… I offer you fondest welcomes to “Tied the Leader”. And there was much rejoicing.

The post you read at this moment represents my complete and utter surrender to cyber-vanity. I have, henceforth, started my own blog. Arlo is mostly to blame. Moreover, this column has been created to spare my local Halo buddies the indignities of suffering my rants through their e-Mail accounts. This forum is intended to lend some interactivity to my opinions and observations.

And what is the purpose of this blog?

Political leanings? Nope.

Musings about my sex life? Not a chance, pervert.

This is to be an exploration of gaming and all the elements of our culture that contribute to our burgeoning digital pasttime. While my current affectation focuses on participation in a Halo clan struggling for identity and prosperity, this dialogue will no doubt extend itself to encompass other mediums (such as literature or cinema) as they impact the development or adoption of games.

As for the spirit and tone of “Tied the Leader”, the name says it all. It is an announcement that is all too familiar (or not) to denizens of the Halo 2 online experience – not to mention the patient women who love them. It is that moment in which the gamer acheives a state of perfect parity with He Who Is Winning The Game. It is a moment of clarity and hope in which the gamer is neither winner nor loser… only an evenly matched competitor trying to avoid the sword-weilding, trash-talking ten-year-old long enough to eek out a lead (however temporary) worth bragging about in the post-game lobby.

So there we are. My initialls scribbled into wet cement. Well begun is half done. Say thankya.

Posted by XerxdeeJ