270: The 12-Year-Old English Kid Who Carried Us to Victory

[delrio]

this is just a guess so don't take this to badly, but I'm guessing you never read great expatiations?

ot
I doubt this was true, all the servers are separated by continent I think.... at least that would explain that the few times I do go on all I get are French and German players

I've not read Great Expectations, but I am familiar with "Pip" as a character in that -- but I wasn't sure if the South Park "Pip" was a reference to that, or that it was just a reference to the English slang, "pip" (or "pip-pip").

Also, I figured Lord of the Flies was enough of a literary reference for now.

As for international servers? I dunno. I get on with a lot of Germans, French players, and so forth -- possible that the servers being sequestered is a more recent phenomenon, since this was back during the first Modern Warfare that the subject matter took place.

-- Chuck

'pip' isn't any english slang i've heard of and 'pip-pip' is old hat to the point of extinction

pip is a shortening for philip in the same way chuck is for charles (tho in the states it's often apparently a name in itself).

also culturally speaking i think brits have a tendency to be a little more 'matter of fact' which may have helped, also there's something about the english accent (well the one you're most likely referring to at least) that commands respect or fear. there's a reason brits play the badguys a lot in films

 

[IBlackKiteI]

Its a game, an artifical world where an individual or group of people can just chill out, and kill some virtual dudes.
I respect the ideas stated in this, but I cant really see just how much this applies to a real situation and I find it hard to take this seriously when the game is, in a way shown as entirely real and all important.

Although overall I found it pretty interesting.

 

[TimeLord]

I wish more of my online matches had a Pip! It makes so much difference when there is an actual leader instead of everyone doing their own thing and running headlong at a sniper standing 3 miles away, marathon or no marathon, commando or not.

 

[felixader]

For all i love Bad Company 2, it is a bit sad that there is only chat between squadmembers.

 

[latenightapplepie]

Sadly, I've never had an experience like this online. Good article.

 

[Nukey]

Good story. I've had a few kids like that on my team before and a lot of them have ended up on my friends list becuase of their ability, not that I speak to any of them that much, but if I ever need a decent team of people for a game I'm always prepared to send them an invite.

If only this article had less in the way of Lord of the Flies quotes, that book really tried my patience.

 

[robinkom]

I have had experiences like this in online games, some of them by my own doing as the "leader" that stepped up. I've been told I have fine leadership qualities, the bane of these traits being my excessive laziness.

I'm not the greatest at FPS games, least of all Modern Warfare, and I generally am only able to take up such a role when I have a team that's worse than I am. Modern Warfare is too much of a "twitch shooter" for me though, something I'm only occasionally half-decent at. I have much better luck with Bad Company 2 when there are a lot more factors involved on the battlefield such as more wide open areas, destructible surroundings, vehicles, and specific squad mates to work with.

These are truly exhilarating experiences though when they do occur. It's that moment when you realize something special is going on and you'll forever seek out that same standard afterward. They're rare, but they make the whole endeavor worthwhile.

 

[Hafeal]

Enjoyed the story. Funny how some themes are universal through literature and life.

 

[Fingerthing]

and THAT finally proves that 12 year olds aren't annoying small little twats (yahtzee, I'm looking at you) and some are actually better leaders then most adults.

 

[Trippeh]

well, i only ever played the game on the PC, where the asshole ratio is considerably lower than on XBL -- but i get what you're trying to say. i generally stick with community servers and we do have a few pre-teens that could give a lot of 'hardened vets' a run for their money. they are few and far between, but they do exist.

also as was mentioned earlier in this thread, people do tend to jump on the bandwagon if someone suddenly takes a leadership role, especially in a losing situation. i know i've found myself in those shoes quite a few times after a few drinks and "goddamnit that's it!" =P

 

[rddj623]

Chuck, this is a great retelling of one of those masterful moments that lives on in memory as legendary! It makes all the craziness worthwhile

 

[FullMetalTrenchcoat]

Nice read, makes me wish I could get back into Online Gaming the way I used to be into it.

 

[UmbrellaRedshirt]

A consistent literary reference? An excellent nick name with paralleled comedic references? A story of online redemption and absolution in one the deepest dankest pits in the puss filled gutter that is the internet? This sir, is a great article.
Oh, and P.S. I for one loved your work on Hunter: The Vigil, you cleaned the mess up that was left after Reckoning nicely. So thank you kindly because I now run a Hunter game every week.

 

[TheScottishFella]

Good Story, very inspirational, but. IS everything in it true though? It sounds pretty far out that almost everyone on a team of Modern Warfare would follow a guy nomatter how inspiring he is. Chances are a great part probably has music in their ears or some others reason not to being able to listen on top of not wanting to in the first place?

If it is true though. Good on you, this is probably a once in a lifetime thing.

Ouch I would like to disagree I am not ashamed to admit I am 14 years old I play online games on my PC and do my best to be a team player but I keep getting met with hurtful comments and people making me feel like dirt but you know it has come to a point where I feel I should never use my mic play as someone who can go off and not one person will care we are not all little assholes I know xbox live is a breed for people like that but not everyone is bad some just want to play a bloody game without feeling like there voice is what defines how a man plays. If this is how you feel fine your opinion is yours and I respect that but it is a bad way to think and makes just as bad as other people who thinks every single child is cruel 95% of us are but not all.

 

[Dascylus]

I salute them all out there, they get another little nickname from me... "Little John Connors"

I and my friends are a bit older but I have witnessed the leader behaviour from the other side of the mic.

A friend of mine plays ALOT of WoW and he loves PvP. His brain is turned to math and pure cold weighing up the odds.
On his lazier days when he doesn't wanna be too involved he will just sit back and be part of a team but at the first sign of a losing streak I've watched him say "Fuck it" to the screen and pick up his headset... Losing streak over 99% of the time.
He sucks at FPSs and is even worse with a controller in his hand but his guidance on loadouts and map routes has helped me become a better team player.

I wish we could pin stars and medals on these heroes, these Generals of digital warfare that lead so many "grunts like me" to victory.

I salute you!!!

 

[13lackfriday]

This read like the missing chapter of "Ender's Game."

 

[Nikolaz72]

Good Story, very inspirational, but. IS everything in it true though? It sounds pretty far out that almost everyone on a team of Modern Warfare would follow a guy nomatter how inspiring he is. Chances are a great part probably has music in their ears or some others reason not to being able to listen on top of not wanting to in the first place?

If it is true though. Good on you, this is probably a once in a lifetime thing.

Ouch I would like to disagree I am not ashamed to admit I am 14 years old I play online games on my PC and do my best to be a team player but I keep getting met with hurtful comments and people making me feel like dirt but you know it has come to a point where I feel I should never use my mic play as someone who can go off and not one person will care we are not all little assholes I know xbox live is a breed for people like that but not everyone is bad some just want to play a bloody game without feeling like there voice is what defines how a man plays. If this is how you feel fine your opinion is yours and I respect that but it is a bad way to think and makes just as bad as other people who thinks every single child is cruel 95% of us are but not all.

Way to put words in peoples mounth dude.

 

[TheScottishFella]

Good Story, very inspirational, but. IS everything in it true though? It sounds pretty far out that almost everyone on a team of Modern Warfare would follow a guy nomatter how inspiring he is. Chances are a great part probably has music in their ears or some others reason not to being able to listen on top of not wanting to in the first place?

If it is true though. Good on you, this is probably a once in a lifetime thing.

Ouch I would like to disagree I am not ashamed to admit I am 14 years old I play online games on my PC and do my best to be a team player but I keep getting met with hurtful comments and people making me feel like dirt but you know it has come to a point where I feel I should never use my mic play as someone who can go off and not one person will care we are not all little assholes I know xbox live is a breed for people like that but not everyone is bad some just want to play a bloody game without feeling like there voice is what defines how a man plays. If this is how you feel fine your opinion is yours and I respect that but it is a bad way to think and makes just as bad as other people who thinks every single child is cruel 95% of us are but not all.

Way to put words in peoples mounth dude.

well you said it yourself

"probably a once in a lifetime thing"

 

[Nikolaz72]

Good Story, very inspirational, but. IS everything in it true though? It sounds pretty far out that almost everyone on a team of Modern Warfare would follow a guy nomatter how inspiring he is. Chances are a great part probably has music in their ears or some others reason not to being able to listen on top of not wanting to in the first place?

If it is true though. Good on you, this is probably a once in a lifetime thing.

Ouch I would like to disagree I am not ashamed to admit I am 14 years old I play online games on my PC and do my best to be a team player but I keep getting met with hurtful comments and people making me feel like dirt but you know it has come to a point where I feel I should never use my mic play as someone who can go off and not one person will care we are not all little assholes I know xbox live is a breed for people like that but not everyone is bad some just want to play a bloody game without feeling like there voice is what defines how a man plays. If this is how you feel fine your opinion is yours and I respect that but it is a bad way to think and makes just as bad as other people who thinks every single child is cruel 95% of us are but not all.

Way to put words in peoples mounth dude.

well you said it yourself

"probably a once in a lifetime thing"

Once in a lifetime suggesting people would listen to a smart 12yearold. Not once in a lifetime "There would be" a smart 12yearold. It would require that people didnt listen to music that people would care that people would be teamworkers and that everyone on the match would be all those things. Which is ONCE in a LIFETIME.

 

[TheScottishFella]

Good Story, very inspirational, but. IS everything in it true though? It sounds pretty far out that almost everyone on a team of Modern Warfare would follow a guy nomatter how inspiring he is. Chances are a great part probably has music in their ears or some others reason not to being able to listen on top of not wanting to in the first place?

If it is true though. Good on you, this is probably a once in a lifetime thing.

Ouch I would like to disagree I am not ashamed to admit I am 14 years old I play online games on my PC and do my best to be a team player but I keep getting met with hurtful comments and people making me feel like dirt but you know it has come to a point where I feel I should never use my mic play as someone who can go off and not one person will care we are not all little assholes I know xbox live is a breed for people like that but not everyone is bad some just want to play a bloody game without feeling like there voice is what defines how a man plays. If this is how you feel fine your opinion is yours and I respect that but it is a bad way to think and makes just as bad as other people who thinks every single child is cruel 95% of us are but not all.

Way to put words in peoples mounth dude.

well you said it yourself

"probably a once in a lifetime thing"

Once in a lifetime suggesting people would listen to a smart 12yearold. Not once in a lifetime "There would be" a smart 12yearold. It would require that people didnt listen to music that people would care that people would be teamworkers and that everyone on the match would be all those things. Which is ONCE in a LIFETIME.

Oh ok fair enough.