If you’re anything like me, then one thing we have in common is the seemingly endless search for batteries! there in all! Our TV, our remote control, the stereo, the DVD player! Our vehicle needs one! (BIG batteries). Our camera, our MP3 players, watches, children’s toys (small batteries) Adult toys (umm, I’m not going to guess the size of this one. grind) The fact is that there everywhere! In my daily search, I find myself looking for common batteries with common names, such as double A, lithium-ion, and 9-volt; and on rare occasions I find myself trying to conjure up some of the more obscure ones like sr626sw or 2032 button cell batteries. That is why I consider it necessary to mention both the positivity and the pitfalls of that one thing that we all have to buy again at that moment of saying need… discount batteries! Wal-Mart brands, K-mart specials! They serve purpose when we need them, and can be a pain to dispose of ‘responsibly’ (recycling is important folks!) when they don’t. However, like it or not, they are here to stay… At least for the foreseeable future.

I recently found myself in a somewhat stressful situation (for me at least) which caused my wireless keyboard to malfunction as my batteries neared the end of their life, periodically cutting out and working against me, attempting to cause my untimely death in a heated Skyrim battle more than once. So I decided it was time for the inevitable change. Grabbing a pair of old AA’s that I previously tried and had put aside in the ‘he’s not dead yet stack, I went about my remove and replace task while my character was helpless (couldn’t pause the game) only to find out that a tragedy had occurred again! Wrong type of batteries! The keyboard accepts Triple A, not Double A! “NOOOO!” So the hunt began again, frankly this time; Rummaging through drawers and cabinets, opening remote controls and children’s toy cars. Leaving a computer generated bad life in play for almost half an hour before I finally had a ‘eureka!’ And I remembered that she had put a couple away in a different drawer the other day! ‘YEAH!’

Holding the drums like a sword in hand, I triumphantly marched back to the keyboard ready to bring out my character (a Wood Elf named Nar’Aviir for those who are interested) some much-needed security in the form of my supernatural control, and to my great regret, there lay my Avatar among the grass and vegetation, ax held high. Dead.

The Great Dragonborn of Nirn, defeated by a lowly rat Skeever (who happened to be still nipping at the now-deceased hero’s heels). really tragic.

If my keyboard batteries had been of better quality instead of the low-budget crap I’d bought in the first place, or if I’d just bought more (they were only $5 for 15, after all), maybe Big Hero would have survived…

Luckily, in the gaming world I can reload. What would you have done if the battle had been a real one, and my lightsaber, laser pistol, or cloaking device had run out?! Know where your batteries are and have them handy at all times, whether they’re cheap batteries or a couple of quality brands, lives may be at stake. (at least computer generated one is)