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free guy

created by Truffle

(idea) by Truffle (1.5 wk) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Mon Oct 30 2000 at 3:53:38

In video games where characters have multiple lives, and where it is possible to gain extra lives, it is often spoken of as "getting a free guy".

Some synonyms of "free guy" are extra life, one up, extra man, bonus life, a life, the life, the green mushroom, the head.

I often wonder about the sociological impact of the use of the "free guy" in our gaming world. It may be responsible for an überentrepreneurial approach to living. If I try a tremendously great undertaking (often the only way to win in games where lives are multiple) then, I may meet great reward (domination of the planet, saving a princess and many mushroom retainers, etc.)

Are we as nihilistic as we are because we see the chance to redo any error by picking up from our karmic "save"s?

A film (which by all account is terrific, and I drip heavily with shame for not having seen it) that discusses the theme of the extra life or "free gal" is Run Lola Run.


printable version
chaos

Run Lola Run domination Level 0
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