Friendless, Video-Game Addicted Loser Sues Microsoft

In the latest shot across the bow of the beleaguered local software giant, friendless loser Ted Elias is suing Microsoft for $25 million.

A statement released by Elias’ lawyer on Friday accuses Microsoft of “totally destroying his mental, social, and physical health by providing my client with unlimited access to the addictive Xbox 360 video game console as well as an unending stream of engrossing hit games.”

“Before he was introduced to the virtual mind-control of the Xbox 360, my client was a successful, well-developed 27-year-old,” said attorney Martin Finklestein, representing Elias in the case. “However, after just two years under the influence of Redmond’s electro-brainwashing, he has lost his job, his friends, and even his basic sense of hygiene.”

“Virtually non-stop video gaming is an expensive habit to maintain,” said Finklestein, “and since my client lost his job because of this console, we feel that it is only fair that he be compensated with a sum of money large enough to feed his disgusting addiction in perpetuity.”

Elias’ relationship with the Xbox 360 began innocently enough, when he received one as a gift from his parents for Christmas in 2005. He casually played through games like Project Gotham Racing 3 and Kameo: Elements of Power, but the rush of endorphins he experienced upon completing a game only drove him to want more, more, more of that sweet virtual escape from reality.

Everything really started to go downhill for Elias when he discovered “gamerscores,” a sort of online loser reputation that is built by accomplishing arbitrary and pointless “achievements” in Xbox 360 games. After playing completely through well over one hundred games, 1337GMR847, Elias’ online Xbox 360 identity, achieved a gamerscore of over 175,000, placing him among the 50 biggest losers on Microsoft’s online service.

Unfortunately for Elias, his rise to online supremacy was inversely proportionate to his success in the real world. As his gaming addiction grew deeper and deeper, he began to lose touch with his friends and family, and his performance at work suffered. It was only little things in the beginning, like skipping showers in the morning before work to squeeze in an extra 15 minutes of Gears of War.

But before long, he found himself turning down dates with attractive coworkers because he was hoping to discover some new plasmids in BioShock that night. When asked what the hell a plasmid is, Elias mumbled something incoherent about a guy named Adam and his little sister.

When asked to explain why Elias’ plight is Microsoft’s fault, his attorney explained that were it not for Microsoft releasing a constant stream of new, exciting, and increasingly time-consuming games, Elias would be able to function as a normal, contributing member of society.

“My client is just hoping to get Microsoft to take responsibility for ruining his life,” said Finklestein. “Considering how much money they’ve thrown away on the Xbox division so far, we don’t think that $25 million is an unreasonable amount to ask.”

About the Author

John Fostr
Naked Loon Technology Reporter

7 Comments on "Friendless, Video-Game Addicted Loser Sues Microsoft"

  1. You see, this is exactly what all video gaming does. That’s why I financially support MADDD: Mothers Against Dumb Dereliction of Duties. Video games is the premier Violence Against Society that they work against.
    I support Ted’s lawsuit! And that picture…just depressing. I feel for you, Ted!

  2. I’m not sure if I agree about him being friendless. I bet that if you check 1337GMR847’s xbox friends list it would be chock-full of people. Just because you can’t see his friends doesn’t mean they’re not real.

  3. Ulysses | 2008-05-08 at 5:10 PM |

    haha.

  4. blahblahblah | 2008-05-12 at 3:48 PM |

    Something tells me that Ted was already a loser before Xbox 360 came around. Why else would he need to escape from his life unless it sucked already?!
    Take a look in the mirror Ted. Microsoft is not to blame for your pathetic existence…you are.

    Put down the controller Ted! Put it down and step away!

  5. Ulysses, your statment is so ignorant it hurts. There are millions of people who play video games who can go to school, have a job, and have a normal life (im a perfect example). Its all about choices, and obviosly ted made the wrong ones. There will always be extremists in the world such as ted, but this lawsuit against Microsoft for 25 million dollars because of how video games ruined his life is perposterous. I guess your opinion is to biased to understand common knowledge. Ted is a lowlife loser, and the fact the hes trying to scam this amount of money is… well. come on…

  6. Ulysses | 2008-09-08 at 5:00 PM |

    You’re right, shea, I really don’t know anything about video games whatsoever. Or time management. Or common knowledge.
    We’re playing the opposites game, right? We’re not? Oh…

  7. Its NOT Microsofts fault that he is a video game loser

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