I honestly don't know what I want to write about tonight. In the wake of the Aurora, Colorado attacks last night, anything I write about relating to gaming simply feels petty and of such insignificance that I feel disgust in just trying to type it. 70 people were injured and 12 killed last night, when a man walked into a theater that was packed to capacity, threw what is to be tear gas grenades into the crowd, and then opened fire with at least one assault rifle.Police responded quickly to the the situation, and apprehended the suspect outside of the emergency exit that he reportedly entered the theater through. As of the last press conference I had seen, the man's apartment had been rigged with a series of trip wires and explosives that police are planning to attempt to defuse over the next 24 hours.

There are no words to define how I am feeling tonight as I reflect upon this most somber of news stories. I don't know the capacity of the theater where the movie was being shown, but by all indications, it was filled to the capacity. Filled with people that wanted nothing more than to see a movie that they were excited for on its opening night, and a movie based on a comic book at that. There are so many connections that the fans of this movie that went to see the midnight showing in this theater share with the gaming community, that it really hits a bit harder what happened. Almost all of us at some point in time or another have either gone to see a midnight showing of a movie, or gone to the midnight sale for one of the games we have anticipated. The thought that this sort of attack could just as easily be carried out at a midnight launch is unnerving, especially when coupled with the pure randomness of the attack. This gunman, by all accounts did not have a specific target that he sought. His only goal was to hurt or kill as many people as he could as quickly as possible. This could happen anywhere at anytime, and there is relatively nothing that can be done to stop it, if the individual has planned the attack out thoroughly.

So, tonight debates wage over gun control, the treatment of mental health, the benefits of concealed carry permits. People across the nation are holding the friends, families and victims of this heinous act in their hearts and in their prayers, even as some fight to cling to life. So, you'll have to pardon me, tonight. Video games are as far from my thoughts as they could possibly be. My heart and my thoughts are with Aurora, Colorado tonight. By comparison, gaming seems insignificant at the moment.