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Kid's Age of Empires obsession causes him to take up archery photo

These are the stories you don't hear the Jack Thompsons of the world talking about. A child was so keen on PC strategy game Age of Empires that, when his mother demanded he do something more active, he decided to honor his favorite game by becoming an archer.

17-year-old Ryan Tyack is now competing in the Australian Youth Olympic Festival, where he is also the flagbearer. The only reason he is there though is because of gaming. Apparently, his mother was "despairing" at the amount of time Ryan was spending with his mouse, and wanted a change.

"I just sat around playing Age of Empires all the time and my mum wanted me to do a sport and meet some kids," he confirms. "So I chose either fencing or archery as Age of Empires had swordsmen and archers."

This story is obviously false though, as we all know that playing games could never have a positive impact on someone's life, right? FOX News never lies!


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18 comments | showing # 1 to 18

munkee's Avatar
munkee at 01/16/2009 08:45
I have taken up plenty of activities thanks to video games.

I now steal cars, stars & treasure, kill prostitutes, take drugs, know every type of gun and how to kill somebody with it using 1 shot, I fight with vicious aggression and can train a puppy into a Frisbee catching legend.
Gamechamp's Avatar
Gamechamp at 01/16/2009 08:46
This is horrible. Obviously, this poor child's stupid mind is being brainwashed by the murder simulators, and is bringing his aggression into real life! It's only a matter of time before he practices on living targets.
Clance's Avatar
Clance at 01/16/2009 08:47
I love FIFA. Now I'm playing for England!

- Theo Walcott
The Young Scot's Avatar
The Young Scot at 01/16/2009 08:47
VIDEOGAMES MADE THIS KID LEARN HOW TO USE A DEADLY WEAPON!
welkstar's Avatar
welkstar at 01/16/2009 09:20
Only a matter of time till he starts shooting PEOPLE!
TopKatt's Avatar
TopKatt at 01/16/2009 09:21
Letting a games fan use a deadly weapon? Madness I tells ya!
Qraze's Avatar
Qraze at 01/16/2009 09:21
i love your last paragraph. lmao.
Artimecion's Avatar
Artimecion at 01/16/2009 09:34
see I was the opposite, and took up fencing.

Dirty archers.
mistic's Avatar
mistic at 01/16/2009 09:41
Cool story, for me it was comics that got me into archery...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Rode_Ridder

but I never competed or anything, my dad built a home-shooting-range for archery and I just used that one :-)

I once accidentally killed a cat with it though... just wanted to scare the cat but accidently shot right through its neck :-(
Logo's Avatar
Logo at 01/16/2009 09:45
Fox News headline of this story:

"Child Blames Video Games for Arrow Shooting Spree"
John B's Avatar
John B at 01/16/2009 10:11
Wait until Jack Thompson gets a hold of this! Now the kid is into competitive violence!
Cough's Avatar
Cough at 01/16/2009 10:17
Well, his life sunk because of videogames to begin with. Now does he love archery? Maybe. But is it what he really wants? Age of empire has catapults too. Why not become an... old... weapon... collector... nevermind.

There's only praise for the son that chooses fencing or archery as a sport activity.
pascuz46's Avatar
pascuz46 at 01/16/2009 10:29
Thats good, archary would be awesome to learn.
Noah's Avatar
Noah at 01/16/2009 11:40
Am I the only one reading this story a little different? He no longer "sat around playing Age of Empires all the time" and started doing something more productive. I'm not reading this as an argument to play more video games, but that gamers can and should be doing other healthy activities.

I'm alot more proud of the guy that learns the guitar after playing Guitar Hero....even if he's only amateur... than the dude that can get 5 stars on a Dragonforce song
nicojay's Avatar
nicojay at 01/16/2009 15:04
Only a matter of time till he founds his own empire.
Jace101's Avatar
Jace101 at 01/16/2009 16:26
The next Cesar perhaps nicojay?
Phalanxxx's Avatar
Phalanxxx at 01/17/2009 04:00
@Noah, I think the point Jim is expressing is that it's nice to hear about games in the general press without a gamer being a psychopath. Also, this is an example of how games are inspiring, even if we could be doing something else. Also, Cocks
Major Mustard's Avatar
Major Mustard at 01/17/2009 16:21
I loved that game...
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