Losing Can Be Fun

Hi Friends,

First, I would like to say thank you to those of you that gave me ideas regarding "random" topics for future posts. You should eventually see your ideas come to life in future posts of "My Blog 2.0."

Today's post will probably speak more to the gamers out there than anyone else; particularly to those of you that enjoy the game MarioKart. If you are not a gamer, or have never played MarioKart, its ok, you may still find this post entertaining. Also, you should try playing MarioKart sometime, its quite fun!

Alright, now I would like to demonstrate two situations in which losing at something can actually be fun! The first situation involves MarioKart on Nintendo's N64 unit and requires that a player take precisely 4th place in order to "have fun while losing." Ryan and I have discovered that it is actually much easier to get 1st, 2nd or 3rd place than it is to get 4th place! But, if you are lucky enough to take 4th place overall, after you've raced the four tracks of any given cup, you will witness what I find to be incredibly hilarious - a great pick-me-up if I'm ever feeling down! So, the "Awards Screen" begins with its triumphant awards music and the 1st through 3rd place winners drive their little go karts towards the podium, which of course is placed in front of Peach's castle. Then they show you, the 4th place contestant, in your little go kart, watching the others driving by to win their awards. Then your little go kart drives off, taking you the opposite direction from the podium and the awards music turns sour!!! You drive over a hill and out of site just in time for a car in the shape of a stereotypical cartoon bomb to follow you. While you are still beyond the hill and out of site, the bomb car catches up to you and you blow up, getting tossed into the air, appearing above the hill for just a moment. It is all very sad, yet totally hilarious to me for some reason!!! Click here if you would like to see what the awards ceremony is like if you actually get 1st, 2nd or 3rd place: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzxWK9v7QEg (Keep in mind that it is Japanese Animation... I don't know why the trophy bursts out of fish that keeps getting bigger and bigger!?) Click here if you would like to see what it looks like if you get 4th place: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLvgcEiYhU0

Ok, now on to the second situation in which losing can be fun. This situation involves MarioKart DoubleDash on Nintendo's Gamecube and requires you to pick Baby Bowser as one of the characters you drive with. Baby Bowser is, well, a baby, so if you place 4th or worse on any race, he'll begin crying and sobbing in this little baby monsterish lizard voice. And just when you think he's done crying, he keeps going and the sobbing gets more pathetic. Every time I race with him and get 4th or worse, his sobbing makes me laugh, and then I forget all about doing badly on that race.

Alright, so there you have it, two situations in which it is actually comical and even fun to lose at something! If you can think of any other situations where this is true, please share! : )