Unless you’ve been living in a sound-proof bell jar for the past couple of years, you’ll know today saw the release of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2. It’s been touted as one of the most highly anticipated games of all time. You’d never tell.

For some reason or another, the workshop wasn’t on today, so I had some free time I don’t usually get today. So, in the ultra-exciting way my life works, I went to get some beans. Not magic beans, just ones from Sainsbury’s.

I thought while I was there, I’ll see if the new Call of Duty game was in stock and if it was I’d get it. I’ll play my joker (that’s what I call this coupon I got for double Nectar points, not only because I’m a loser, but because I loved It’s A Knockout) and get myself lots of points to spend for Christmas shopping. Win win, right?

Well. For those who don’t know, Sainsbury’s is about a 2-minute walk from where I’m writing this right now – my room. In that time my ears descended into a conversation this 20-something couple were having.

"Hurry up! It might be gone!"
"You’re scaring me now. You really care about this, don’t you?"
"No! I just… come on!"
"I’ll walk at my own pace."
"Look, that guy might get the last one. Do you want a wasted trip?"

It was at that point I realised they were referencing me. Obviously, being an 18-year old wearing a hoodie, but not standing on a street corner stabbing innocent passers-by in the back with a chisel, I must be a computer nerd. Well… true, but I was going for beans this time. I’m not a 24-hour nerd.

So I go in to Sainsbury’s. I kind of know it’s none of my business, but I wanted to see how this turned out. I went to the beans via the games aisle, with a casual glance to see if they had any of the game in stock. It looked like they didn’t, but I wasn’t stopping to see. This guy was hot on my heels.

I went to the beans, but turned around to see this guy with the worst look on his face, like he’d just been hit in the nuts by a giant piece of foul-smelling cheese. He was in disbelief. He was looking all around the shelves – nothing. He couldn’t believe it. He was either staring at the empty shelf to make one appear, or he was that shocked.

I had a browse round the shop (£1 for 5 bars of Dairy Milk, by the way. Bargain.) and ended up at the games section again. At this point, there was one disgruntled girlfriend at the end of the aisle, and a group of about five guys – all in their late teens or 20′s – scouring the place looking for this game. They had formed a coalition.

Banded together, they mustered their way to the customer service desk. I can only assume the question they asked and the reply they got, going by the brief pause, then a sigh of disbelief. You could tell that, had this been B&Q and the game had actually been a power drill, they’d kick up a fuss. But seeing as it’s a video game and there were (*gasp*) women present, they decided to give up and carry on shopping. The girlfriend had a significant smug look on her face.

When I was walking back to the flat through the car park, I caught the original guy again, giving me a callus look as if I’d really taken the last game. I hadn’t, honestly. I went for beans.

It’s kind of worrying what video games do to some people. Fresh out of a lecture series about violence in video games, I’d rather not go into it again. But needless to say, we have a new breed of addicts. That, or a new breed of people to own me at Modern Warfare 2 when I eventually get it.

As a little side-note, I never actually got the beans. I came out with two cans of Relentless, a milkshake and a Meatball Marinara from Subway, but alas, no beans.

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