Sandy's Journal. Day 45. I fear this will be my last entry.

 It is 4:00am as I write this, and I should be in bed. (Maybe I'll
 play just one more game first... NO! I can't think like that.) I
 have to type quickly, before the dementia returns. I must warn
 you, faithful readers, before it's too late.

 Stay away from Quake. I mean it. Do not download the demo,
 do not buy the registered version, do not borrow it from a friend.
 Stay away!

 I know this contradicts my column of several weeks ago, when I
 had just discovered the thrill of playing against real human
 opponents over the Internet. I guess I was completely taken in by
 the cool graphics and pulse-pounding adrenaline rush.

 I didn't know then that Quake is a Time Sinkhole.

 It's too late for me. I have already downloaded 165megs of new
 levels, weapons, maps, and uniforms for Quake. Each day, there
 are more variations of the basic game to try (Paintball, Arena,
 Star Wars, ThunderWalker), and more files to download and
 install.

 If you do not heed my advice, do you know what will happen? I'll
 tell you: You will like Quake. You will play it frequently, for long
 periods of time. You will stop changing your clothes. You will
 begin eating meals in front of the computer, or go without food
 because "it would get in the way".

 You will stay up, looking for people to challenge, and you will
 find them, in Germany, Iceland, Texas or Calgary. They will
 "frag" you, and you will fight back. You will switch Internet
 Service Providers to get a faster connection. You will join a
 "clan" of like-minded Quake players, and begin to identify
 yourself with their clever motto and philosophy ("no
 campers!").

 You will not care about the new television season. You will
 forget to pay your utility bills. You will miss your mother's
 birthday. You will mail money to an Englishman you have never
 met in exchange for a Quake uniform ("skin") that will make
 your character unique and cool.

 You will love every minute of this, until you notice that the sun
 is coming up, and you still haven't finished yesterday's breakfast
 of stale bread, Snickers and Coke. Then you will begin to wonder
 if you're completely sane.

 A glance in the mirror will confirm your suspicions: you're sick.
 You look awful. You probably shouldn't go to work today. (Hey!
 By the time you call in sick, you can probably update the servers
 and launch another game...)

 Heed my warning: Quake is not a game, no matter what anyone
 says. Quake is a social virus. It will steal your time, frighten your
 children, and alienate your friends. It's all I can do to keep from
 playing it right now.

 And now it's available for the Macintosh. If you have a Mac,
 and you'd like a copy of the Quake virus, send an e- mail
 message to (readme@passport.ca) with MAC QUAKE as the
 subject. I'll pick someone at random to receive this terrible gift
 (no time for a fancy contest, gotta play more), and announce
 the winner next week in this space.

 Don't say I didn't warn you.