Probably! I mean, it seems likely, I don’t even know if the guy’s ever played Street Fighter. He is a gigantic geek. Guy can speak Elvish! Admitted it in public and everything. While you might recall my mentioning a number of novelists crossing over into videogames, this is, unfortunately, not one of those stories. No, this is just one of those times that somebody famous said something mildly related to videogames. That, according to the laws of the internet, is news. With a capital EWS. Rushdie, in a chat with Mr. Stephen Colbert, was asked for his thoughts on the coming cultural sea-change in the Islamic world. His response:
Rushdie: I think the only good sign is that a lot of the younger generation in Muslim countries really wants that change. So maybe they will bring it.
Colbert: What can we do to help? Can we send them video games?
Rushdie: I think video games, YouTube, you know, these are the things that will change the world. Because when people see what garbage everybody else is consuming, they want it too.
Oh yeah, buddy? Well, Fury sucked! I’ll show you garbage! Go get yourself another hot wife and then divorce her whydontcha!
I apologize for this story, dear reader. The truth is, I just wanted to say I could kick Salman Rushdie's ass in Street Fighter in a public forum. This was merely an excuse to do so. That said, it has been a deeply satisfying experience.
Anyhoo, thank you, Kotaku. If only for making us into celebrity gossip mongers.