My brother and I are gamers. Sure, we’re quickly becoming old skewl gamers. But I prefer to call us “original gamers”. We grew up on Mario Bros and Saturdays spent at the arcades with a pocket of quarters playing Gauntlet and Xenophobe. This past week, I’ve played (and completed) a phenomenal game called Bioshock. If you haven’t heard here, here, here, here, here, or here, it’s going to be the ‘Game of the Year’. And I completely agree. It’s the best game I’ve played since Knights of the Old Republic.

Bioshock contains lots of tobacco references. There are billboards advertising cigarettes, there are boxes of Habana Especial cigars throughout, and I even found two walk-in humidors (see pics below). And like many games before it, you can smoke cigarettes…for a price. You’ll take a hit in the health bar. I calculated that if you smoked about 20 cigarettes you would keel over and die. I just don’t get this. At first, I think it’s cool that you can even commit in-game smoking. It’s almost cute that you lose a little health when doing it. But I must ask, what message is the gaming industry trying to send us? I can take 21,214 bullets to the face, but a few smokes will kill me? I can fall 9 stories and walk away without a scratch. But a cigar will kill me? If I smoke, as long as a first aid kit is handy, I can cure cancer?

I’ve never seen any other group in the entertainment industry treat smoking this way. When Bruce Willis lights a cigarette at Nakatomi Plaza in Die Hard, he doesn’t start coughing uncontrollably and die. The terrorist don’t win because he finds a pack of Marlboros. When shot, he bleeds.

I’m not a crazy nut who wants to change the gaming industry. I’ve just always found it ironic that a few cigarettes can kill you, but you can survive grenades, flamethrowers, and hundreds of enemies in games. The way things are headed, I imagine smoking will be banned from video games soon anyway. Which will be another rant…

For now, enjoy these shots I took of the tobacco goodness from the fantastic Bioshock:

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This is a super premium sampler at nice price.  Everyone of these sticks is a 9+:

Sampler Includes 10 Cigars:
1 - Tatuaje Cojonu 2003
1 - Troya Clasico XVIII Robusto
1 - Don Pepin Garcia Black Robusto
1 - Tatuaje Havana VI Artistas Torpedo
1 - 601 Blue Toro Maduro
1 - La Aurora 100 Años Robusto
1 - La Aurora Robusto
1 - Leon Jimenes Robusto
1 - Padilla Miami 8/11 Robusto
1 - Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ Selectos

Direct Deal Link

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While I support fighting for your rights to have a fine cigar, this guy [allegedly] took it way too far!

AP 8/20/07 - SAN ANTONIO, TX) - A San Antonio police officer has been suspended indefinitely after an internal affairs investigation into allegations he used a racial slur and beat a woman who asked him to put out his cigar at a community pool.

Detective Keith Alfaro has until Friday to set up a meeting with Police Chief William McManus to appeal the “contemplated indefinite suspension,” said police Sgt. Gabe Trevino. Trevino said the action is tantamount to a firing.

Tamara Vaughan, 18, said Alfaro, who was off-duty, hit her 25 times, choking her with his forearm, injuring her jaw and bruising her arm during the July 22 incident.

Alfaro was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and evading and resisting arrest.

An attorney for Alfaro had no comment. A call to another of Alfaro’s attorneys was not immediately returned Monday.

The incident is being investigated by Bexar County because it happened outside city limits.

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While my brother opted for the 2005 Robusto made by Carlitos, I went with the more senior Don Carlos edition. We purchased these at Casa Fuente in Vegas about 2 months ago for a staggering $35 a piece ($45 if the new tax passes…). They’ve been resting in the humidor for about two months waiting to be smoked. We decided to just go for it and smoke them this weekend without waiting for a monumental occasion.

Apperence was nearly flawless; only a slight hole was visible on the dark sumatra wrapper. Presentation is top notch. They come in little coffins and if you’re lucky enough to purchase a box, it’s a humidor box.

Aroma is distinctly Fuente. Cedar, oak, and almond were the predominant tones. It was very similar to an Opus X, but with a little more spice to the complexity.

This was a fantastic cigar. If it was $12, I give it a perfect 10 score. Unfortunately, it was priced far higher and thus I have to knock it down to a mortal level. Still, if you see one of these for purchase, don’t hesitate. If you can find or afford a box of these, you are truly a God of something.

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This is an impeccably-made cigar, with perfect draw and burn. The flavor is second to its construction, however: it’s a bit to sweet for my palate to make it perfect. Damn good, though. I can’t say it was worth the $35 I paid for it, but I would definitely smoke it again. Not until I’ve tried the Don Carlos version, however.

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Back in March 2005, I ordered my first box of cigars: the Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Barcelonas. Sure, the box smelled of paint thinner, but this was an entire box of cigars: think of the money I’d save. At the time, I thought they were great. I remember smoking these in Brother Dicksbain’s garage at the Spruce Place. Good times. While my palate has since moved on, they still hold a special place in my heart. Grassy in tone, with average burn, and decent draw, they are perfect “filler” gars (aka drinking gars).

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Back in June, Brother Dicksbain and I lawfully purchased God of Fire Robustos at Casa Fuente during the Uncle Moneybags Mo-Money Bachelor Party/Gar Festival.  Good times.  We didn’t get a chance to smoke them during the wedding festivities, so we’ve hung onto them for a special occasion. While there’s nothing particularly “special” about this weekend, we’ve decided to smoke them on Saturday morning anyway–if only to “celebrate” that you don’t need a reason to have a super-premium smoke. We’ll be doing a review, for sure. Brother Dicksbain went with Don Carlos’ God of Fire creation, whereas I went with the Carlito (which has a toothy Cameroon wrapper instead of a Sumatran wrapper).  This will be the first of either kind for the brothers.

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