Stay Tuned

Howdy.

I know I've been pretty silent for the last few months, but hang in there. James and I have been hard at work and you'll be hearing all about it soon. It'll be worth it, I promise!

Video Games, Violence and Art (Extra Reading)

I stumbled across a pair of fantastic articles this week, and I think a few of you guys will definitely want to check them out (if you haven't already).

First, an article on the portrayal of Death and Violence in games. Sure we're used to seeing plenty of both in our games, but it hasn't all been an exercise in desensitizing ourselves. It's worth noting that certain games have portrayed death very seriously and emotionally.

Second, a somewhat longer article discussing the whole "Video Games / Art" thing in the wake of Ebert's follow-up argument. The debate itself might feel a little old to some of us, but Lincoln University's Grant Tavinor makes a strong argument for the artistic merit of video games. This article won't end the debate but, if you've been thinking about this issue a lot lately, you're definitely going to want to read this.

Games Worth Remembering

I was recently made aware of a youtube series by one of my viewers, titled: Games Worth Remembering. It's still new, only a few episodes in so far, but thoroughly enjoyable. Each episodes discusses a game which might not be wildly popular, but stands as a high point in gaming's history. So far he has covered Rez and Flower, and is currently in the middle of a two-part episode featuring Ico and Shadow of the Colossus.

If you haven't played one of these games yet, watch the video. If you have, you might still want to just to remember what made these games so wonderful. I really want to go back and play all four of these now.

Video Games and Moral Choices

Finished!

Lecture Update: Almost Done!

At long last, I have found a window of time to work on a new episode. I've spent most of the last three days working on the thing, and it's well over half finished. I think I can have it done within a week.

Thanks a lot for your patience, guys! You're all very, very good sports.

Gaming Can Make a Better World

Someone linked me to this TED video, and I thought I'd share it here. It's a talk about how the skills gamers are developing while they conquer virtual worlds could be turned on the problems in the real world. Definitely an interesting watch. At the very least, it may help to encourage you that we aren't completely wasting our time with this hobby.

GDC is Coming!

No, no that thing. The actual conference. And I'm going to be there!

No, not doing anything interesting. Mostly I'll just be begging for a job. Even now, I am feverishly trying to add some polishing touches to my animation shots before editing them into a reel, burning a hundred DVDs and stuffing them into labeled cases. Yeah, that's right. What are you doing this weekend?

Anyway, if some of you happen to to be going as well, say hi!

"Streamlining" Does Not Mean "Dumbing Down"

Nathan Grayson posted a great article over at Maximum PC yesterday, and I thought you guys might enjoy it.

He explains why gamers should stop raising hell every time we hear that a game has been "streamlined." By clinging to our old standards of what a genre is "supposed to be," we stand in the way of experimentation and progress, holding back the industry at large.

On the one hand, I know why many of us do it. We like the way many of these genres play now. We get attached to these games, and we want to play more like them. Then we hear they're changing the formula, and we freak out. There's no guarantee that the new gameplay will be as good, and - even if it is - it's not the same gameplay we already liked and wanted more of. I don't think there's anything wrong with liking a successful formula and wanting to enjoy more of the same.

But when we cling too tightly, and close our minds to potential improvements, we really do cripple forward progress for the industry. Sometimes, these daring changes lead to games that we treasure and wonder how we ever did without.

We would all do well to try and keep an open mind. You miss out on a lot of great gaming experiences otherwise.