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In Young Hollywood, You're Only As Big As Your Xbox Live Gamerscore
Posted by Defamer Hollywood at 8:20 AM on August 27, 2008
The LAT ran a feature today on the newest male-bonding craze to consume Hollywood power players — and no, it doesn't involve cocaine, Red Bull, or bottle service at Opera. Instead, it's an activity dubbed "Nerd Poker," and it offers almost 100 of Hollywood's behind-the-scenes talents a weekly chance to socialize while playing video games on Xbox Live. Though many use it as a fun way to score meetings and network, it can also allow its members the sort of cathartic outlet they'd typically be arrested for:
It was dark and drizzling when screenwriter Justin Marks did what many in Hollywood have fantasized during their bleakest career moments: He attacked his agent with a chain saw.
Marks hunched behind a wall, revved the chain saw motor and leaned forward. Next came the grinding, spinning sound of metal cutting through bone, the blood spattering, the agent's arm and head flying off. Marks grinned, unsheathed a shotgun and went in search of his next target: a reporter for Variety.
Marks was just doing his job — kill or be killed — in the video game Gears of War, which he plays from the comfort of a brown leather couch in his Los Angeles home. Every Thursday night, he and dozens of other up-and-comers in Hollywood turn on their Xboxes to engage in violent killing, mock each other and sometimes even talk shop.
Kudos for Marks & Co. for discovering a fun way to conduct a Hollywood mixer that doesn't have to take place at the Formosa. We hope this trend continues past its current group of up-and-comers; after all, while it's one thing for the screenwriter behind a Street Fighter movie to enjoy video games, what we're really waiting for is someone like Scott Rudin jumping online to "pwn some nOObs" at Halo 3.
[photo credit: Ringo H.W. Chiu / For the Los Angeles Times]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
CharlieChu
Posted 2:39 PM 27/8/08
I bet those guys are terrible at video games also. Except for the asian guy.
Us celestials are genetically superior at video games.
CharlieChu
enriquez the water bottle
Posted 3:45 PM 27/8/08
@CharlieChu: Yeah, but where's "Irritating Stick?"
enriquez the water bottle
Oxycontinmoron
Posted 11:51 PM 27/8/08
"Kudos for Marks & Co. for discovering a fun way to conduct a Hollywood mixer that doesn't have to take place at the Formosa."
I don't even know where to begin. Kudos for being couch potatoes? Kudos for engaging in violent killing that anaesthetizes us to it? Kudos for adults acting like children? Kudos for not have a book club, wine/beer/scotch/food tasting, board game night, culturally or spiritually uplifting activity, community service or volunteer-related activity?!
You go, assholes!
Oxycontinmoron
kahri
Posted 12:48 AM 28/8/08
@Oxycontinmoron: welcome to this century my friend. The average age of gamers is 35 in America. You criticize them for playing games then suggest they start a wine/beer/scotch night? What do you think they do Friday through Wednesday?
kahri
Oxycontinmoron
Posted 1:38 AM 28/8/08
@kahri: Friday through Wednesday for them is one long day consisting of strippers, blow, a little food if they can manage to eat something, and yes, wine, beer and scotch in copious quantities, but nothing of an appreciatory nature.
Oxycontinmoron
Little Mintz Sunshine
Posted 2:43 AM 28/8/08
@kahri: "What do you think they do Friday through Wednesday?"
Well, they talk about games, blog about games, they play games, talk about playing games and talk about blogging about games. Then, they go see a movie about a game with other gamers and talk about it, blog about it and play the game the movie is based on so they can talk about it some more.
Little Mintz Sunshine
hummingpenguin
Posted 2:57 AM 28/8/08
So this means I can look forward to another 20 years of horrible video-game movies. Swell.
hummingpenguin
Baronzemo
Posted 3:35 AM 28/8/08
Oxycontinmoron;
"You're telling me you relax with video games?"
"Don't knock video games."
"Jesus, I let you guys out of my sight for a little while and you develop a bunch of moronic interests"
"Don't knock morons."
I dunno if you looked around sections of Santa Monica or South Orange County(never mind up 300 miles up the 101) but right now the videogame industry IS the only fully functioning arm of the Industry in California. In Larry Kasdan & Barbara Benedek's Oscar-nominated words, don't knock it
Baronzemo
HandsomeBwonderful
Posted 4:19 AM 28/8/08
GlaDOS rules. The cake is a lie.
HandsomeBwonderful
kahri
Posted 4:55 AM 28/8/08
huh? maybe I'd understand you guys better if this conversation was on xbox live.
kahri
ophthalmologist
Posted 7:10 AM 28/8/08
I agree it's completely mentally healthy to hack limbs off your nemesis in a virtual environment. I look forward to 30 more years of movies based on ultra-violent graphic novels and xbox games.
Most of all, I am most excited that nerd has now been redefined as Hollywood insiders (check out all the name-dropping in the LAT article) who live for the TV screen.
ophthalmologist
Glass_Family
Posted 9:32 AM 28/8/08
I spent my strike months playing "Resistance" online non-stop, in good old sniper mode whilst wearing a bathrobe. I barely showered or shaved or left my house. This didn't make my wife too happy, but she put up with it.
Best couple of months I've had in YEARS.
Glass_Family