You wouldn't have picked it from their vapid, televised roots, but MTV have really got their shit together when it comes to video game reporting. Their latest feature is about Wisam, a 23 year-old Baghdad gamer whose story should make any of you bitching about stuff like "how noisy your 360 is" put things in perspective.

The American-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime changed Wisam's taste in games. He and his gamer friends used to enjoy first-person shooters like "Medal of Honor" and "Call of Duty." Then a real war started around him. "We hate the attacking, the gunfire in games," Wisam said. "We started to hate it." In fact, there's only one game with guns he can still tolerate. " 'Grand Theft Auto' is the exception. Because 'Grand Theft Auto' is like us."

The guy can only play games from 4pm until midnight (and even then only because he owns his own generator), doesn't get many new games because to venture outside risks bombings and, seriously, learned a lot of English from Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid, which would be hilarious if it wasn't so tragic.

You should check it out, it's a fascinating read. Luke Plunkett

Mortal Combat: An Iraqi Gamer Shares His Harrowing Story [MTV, via Level Up]