Man vs Snake

[Pug]

I watched a documentary on television a couple days ago called "Man vs
Snake."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_vs_Snake

In 1984 Tim McVey at the age of 17 became the first person to score
over a billion points playing the video arcade game "The Nibbler"
continuously for 44 hours.

The documentary shows Tim in 2009 (now in his 40's) trying to stay on
top as the world champion "Nibbler" player. I was 18 years old in
1984, and I never heard of the video arcade game "The Nibbler," I
guess it is another Pac-Man type game.

I found the documentary interesting in that is shows a nerd from
Generation X, who grew up during the computer generation, and 35 years
later still never really "made" anything of himself. Sounds like me,
except he was married with a wife, a factory-type job, and a small
house in Iowa.

What I found strange in the documentary, was the support he got from
his wife, with regard to his "Nibbler" obsession. She supported him
playing the Nibbler and his quest to remain on top as the World
Champion billion point scorer. Maybe she was just acting for the
camera, most women would 1) not marry a nerd, and 2) not support their
husband playing video games in his 40's.

I liked the technical parts of the documentary, when they interviewed
the original programmer of "The Nibbler" and various other
computer/arcade/video programmers and technicians (all white American
males, oh the horror). What a snapshot of a different world, a world
where people kind of enjoyed life.

Enjoyed life.

What a thought.

Pug

10/7/20

https://vimeo.com/areyouguystwins