It seems a lot happened when I was sick. Someone released copies of the Resident Evil Game Boy prototypes on the web, MegaUpload got shut down, more people are getting killed in Syria, Greece is in turmoil, changes to Gamespot's forum rules (how did I miss that?). It seems the forums are more lenient now. Trolling and flaming are allowed. Not sure how I feel about that...

However, I am now current on the exchange rate of the Pound and Yen to the dollar. I was feeling too much like sh*t to play games so I ended up watching World Business Today at 4 in the morning on mulitple occassions.

A couple days ago, someone posted this article on Kotaku asking why parents don't play games with their kids. I've asked myself that many times and I'm sure many of you have asked the same question and have tried to get your parents to play games.

Someone made an interesting comment about how many gaming conventions we take for granted. We're used to it because we've played so many games, but newcomers don't understand at all.

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Fernando Jorge
Fri 10 Feb 2012 3:01 PM

We who play games all the time probably take for granted a lot of conventions that newcomers wouldn't understand at all.

We know that a woman in a white dress with a staff is likely going to be a healer, and we know a healer is going to prevent your HP from reaching zero, and we know that HP is this abstract number to represent your health and we know that health goes up with level and we know that we level up by killing monsters.

We know that a door will swing both ways, that red barrels will cause explosions, that this random cast iron
plate is going to open some door later, that this boss is certainly going to switch forms, that some battles are scripted, etc and so on.

There's this load of info that tutorials never teach because even the developers take them for granted and
that make games mysterious for newcomers. It is a whole language everyone's speaking and they don't get it.

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I never realized.

My brother is introducing my dad to games with Call of Duty. At first it makes sense since my dad was in the military. Why not start out with a game that was related to his career? But I tell my brother over and over that it's not a game for someone who hasn't played video games since before the Crash of '83.

Me: "The controls are too complex for him. He can't handle duel analog yet. Let me try to get him to play the Megaman Anniversary Collection. Two buttons and a D-pad. Graphics from the 80s. He'll feel more comfortable with that. The original Zelda could work too. Maybe a more casual game like Bejewled 2."

My brother: "Controls in Call of Duty are easy. They're not complex at all. He'll be fine."

Yeah, easy for you and me cause we've played games since we were little. But older people, it takes longer for them to learn. They're reflexes aren't as good. My brother just can't understand that. I mean, it took some time even for me to get used to dual analog control schemes.

Also, it's time for me to come clean or come out of the closet or what ever people call it. No, not THAT "coming out of the closet". Pretty sure I'm straight.

Anyway, I've hinted at it a little before. I was going to reveal this before, but I chickened out.

Please, don't think I'm weird or anything. I've only told one other person about this.

Alright...

I...

...have a uniform fetish.

I don't know why. I think it started in high school. At first, it was just like, hey, uniforms are kinda cool. Then it was like, hey, uniforms are kinda hot. Now it's like, OMG men in uniform! MOAR! I demand more! *drool* It's getting hot in here.

What kind of uniforms? Military and police uniforms. Tactical gear is pretty awesome too. If a cop is wearing tactical gloves, he gets bonus points.

No, my uniform fetish and me joining the military are unrelated. I can assure you. I've been interested in the military since I was a kid.

I denied it for a while, but finally decided to accept it last year. A few months ago, I went to Carl's Jr with my dad. Sitting a couple tables down to my right were two cops one of which was really hot. I had to try so hard not to look at them cause if I did, I wouldn't be able to stop staring. Yet I was continuing to look out of the corner of my eye. Only snapped out of it when my dad asked me if I was going to finish my fries.

What is it about them I like so much? Well, the uniforms are cool looking for one thing. But it's also the badassary associated with it. Maybe I have a thing for authority figures, I'm not sure.

Which uniforms are my favorite? Marine dress blues. No one can resist those.

But, one uniform rises above the rest in absolute hotness. Which is it?

Let's start with this quote from Terminal Lance: "As much as we all hate Nazis, you have to admit they had some pretty badass uniforms..." Also, the latest comic strip.

How about this discussion on Kotaku?

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Azndude
No matter what people say, I will always think that Nazi Germany's officers uniforms to be one of the best, if not the best.
It has a very clear cut $tyle to it.

Now Nazi/fascist ideals can be burn in a pile of dog crap for all I care.

Leanid
Seriously. Everyone has a knee-jerk reaction whenever they see anything related to Nazis.

These dress uniforms are snazzy and intimidating. Also produced by Hugo Boss, though not designed.

kneegrow
Let's face it. The Nazis were murdering bastards -- but they sure knew how to dress for an occasion.

Sugoi
Fascists always have the best uniforms.

13CandyRainbowSuicideMachine
This is a truth I've had long discussions about with my friends.

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Yes, the infamous black SS uniforms. Do I feel terrible about it? Yes, I do. But come on. Even the most hardheaded Nazi hater has to admit those uniforms are hot.

Even TV Tropes agrees:

"The Nazis. Let's face it, despite the notoriety of their deeds, those dudes were fashionable. Dress uniforms, especially that famous black SS uniforms with lots of leather and silver braid — yes."

Seriously, go to a certain imageboard and request pics of uniforms. Sooner or later (more likely sooner) that thread will consist of nothing but pics of SS uniforms. I've seen it happen so many times.

So yeah, I think those uniforms are hot and I'm not alone, deal with it.

Back to the Marine uniforms for a bit. Remember the Halo ODST Live Action short? The uniforms in that short were designed by the costume designer of Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers. I want the Marine Corps to make those the official uniforms because damn, they're hot.

So...it's not too weird right? I mean, most women like men in uniform. I just like uniforms a lot more than the average person.