More Proof Video Games Are Not All Bad

This is a Brilliant Article by Will Wright, the creator of Sim City. Go ahead and read it, you will feel smarter. If you refuse to then here is my personal highlight:

Just watch a kid with a new videogame. The last thing they do is read the manual. Instead, they pick up the controller and start mashing buttons to see what happens. This isn't a random process; it's the essence of the scientific method. Through trial and error, players build a model of the underlying game based on empirical evidence collected through play. As the players refine this model, they begin to master the game world. It's a rapid cycle of hypothesis, experiment, and analysis. And it's a fundamentally different take on problem-solving than the linear, read-the-manual-first approach of their parents.

In an era of structured education and standardized testing, this generational difference might not yet be evident. But the gamers' mindset - the fact that they are learning in a totally new way - means they'll treat the world as a place for creation, not consumption. This is the true impact videogames will have on our culture.

Fulfilled a Life Goal!

Something I have wanted to do for a long time (2nd or 3rd grade) is be professionally published somehow, and now I am! A website bought and published my video game review for the Bible Game. The website is actually a home for a web-based PDF periodical, so if you download the latest issue (Volume 2 issue #6) you will find me in there.

Now I need your help!

The same publication is already planning on publishing at least two more articles from me for next month. It is free and is based on advertising money, so please subscribe so they get more readers, and more advertising! Plus, here is the cool part. If you subscribe by clicking on
This link , and entering your email address (they will then send you an email with instruction on subscribing), it helps me win an X-box 360! If you do this and I win, then you can come play the Xbox at my house whenever you want, and if you are already have a 360 we can play together on live, so everyone wins this way! Please check Played to Death out, and please subscribe by using the link so I can win. Thanks!

So Close!

A video game website posted a job opening. Look at these qualifications:

• Must be 18 years of age or older

Yep! I got that one under control.

• Outstanding writing skills
  

I am not to bad of writer, and least Abigail says I am outstanding

• At least one year writing experience at a Website or journalistic publication

Oh yeah, I knew writing for the Crescent would come in handy!

• Extensive knowledge of the videogame industry, both classic and current games, and all gaming platforms

Video games and Star Wars are the two places where I will claim extensive knowledge for sure!

• Excellent verbal and social skills

I have excellent verbal skills and servicavle social skills, so that is close enough.

• Experience with HTML

My experience in this area, might be a little weak, but I can do alright.

• Love and acceptance of all videogame systems

I'm not a fanboy, so that isn't a problem.

• Quality-oriented
  

I am when I have to be!

• Winning attitude

Sure, why not? Go team!

• Can work in the San Francisco Bay area

NNOOOOOOO!!!!!! I really could have been a decent contender if it were not for this last thing, oh well. I didn't want to write about video games for a living anyway.

Hoth in 2014!

This is where the olympics need to be in 2014!

No Escape From Reality

So most people would probably be apt to say that I have never been grounded in any form of reality to begin with. However, I have always liked creating ways to escape it. Growing up my brother, sister and I played a lot of imaginary stuff, and I was usually the one crafting and creating the story we were playing out. In high school, I started playing paper and pencil Role playing games, and this was perfect for me. I got to continue to craft stories, and in the Star Wars universe, it was absolutly wonderful! In college, I got to role play my Freshman and Sophmore year, and that was fun too. However, in college I was able to take my silly storytelling to a new level with the Masked Banditz, and that was really the last time, three years ago. It would seem the easy outlet to this would be for me to just write stories, and that should seem true but it doesn't quite work for me. In writing, the story, the characters, the everything is all me. I know when we were making the Masked Banditz movies, I would set the scene and then tell people to say something witty, or say something mean. By not controling every aspect, I got to live the story. As a writer, I find myself existing outside the story, a god-like entity in control of all. In role-playing though, I am a story teller living inside my own story. I loved doing that so much and I miss it dearly.

One would think there would be enough people interested in the same type of geekery in Indianapolis to find some way to get involved with that, but thus far I have had no luck (either false starts or people meet on Sunday). However, it sounds like that my change. Melissa and fiance, Ben came down this past week end (thanks again for speaking at church Mel!), and they play a Vampire LARP, which I might be able to get involved in (and I already have a character idea all ready!). Ben also knew some people in the area he does paper and pencil RPGs with. The vast majority of my RPG experience (and preference) is in paper and pencil as the Gamemaster/Story teller, but in these I will be playing a character. Still it is better than nothing, and might offer me my reality escape.