July 2005
Monthly Archive
Wed 27 Jul 2005
I like to think that I’m a productive worker. I get a lot of stuff done each day, answer most of my email, keep my desk clutter free, parse all voice messages, etc. But, like most, it always feels like there’s a million more things that need doing…
A copy of Organize Your Work Day recently fell into my lap. I figured it was worth a read in order to garner some tips on how I could maximize my personal productivity. And, sure enough, the book was full of good advice and walked the reader through an extensive process to get organized, etc. Sadly, each time the I was asked to do something (eg, write a list of priority projects and rank them, purge old files, reorganize folders, etc, etc), I would just make a mental note or two and skip along.
In the end, I walked away from the book with a few good tips on how to better manage the daily deluge of email, how to better manage meetings and how to quickly deal with office intruders (eg, stand up to talk). But, the book provided an overall much more effective framework to be organized and productive. I just wasn’t willing/ready to ditch all my old habits and follow a “10 simple steps” type plan - despite my desire/need to be more productive.
That said, the cult of Gettings Things Done has caught my eye… But, I bet you it will be with the same curious, but non-committed approach.
I’m guessing this happens with most of us. Case in point, the whole quality of life debate. I’ve heard a hundred producers say “ya, I’ve read McConnell’s books, got a few tips, the rest didn’t help” or some such statement regarding a book or approach/process. Vicarious Visions is one of the few that I’m aware of that has actually committed to such a process (see Tobi’s case study video).
Anyway, I’m rambling (damn, the book said not to ramble as it is a procrastination trap - back to work ;)
Tue 26 Jul 2005
A few recent articles that help take the edge off…
Mon 25 Jul 2005
Took in some great Asian movies at the annual Fantasia Fest in Montreal. Got me thinking of the notion of game screenings and festivals. Likewise, my recent trip to Vancouver for Vidfest made me wonder why the digital media festival didn’t include any screenings of games - despite the fact that games were part of the overall agenda.
It is easy to dismiss the idea of a screening because games are interactive and can’t be “played” by an audience at the same time (giant games of pong notwithstanding). Even the de facto industry festival, the IGF, doesn’t really do screenings per se. Rather, each game/team gets a pod to demo their game from during the week of GDC. That approach is super valuable to the teams who enter the IGF, but I still wouldn’t quite call it a screening in the more traditional sense. Not sure what they do, if anything, at the Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival…
Perhaps the closest I’ve seen was several E3’s ago, when BioWare was first showing KOTOR. It was behind closed doors, in a small theatre setting. They showed the prerequisite intro cut-scene, but then several of the developers talk about different aspects of the game (eg, writer talked about story arc, programmer discussed latets bells whistles, etc). And, while they were discussing the features, challenges, etc, someone else would play through appropriate areas of the game, etc.
What if that could be templated into a 20-minute chunk and then piled together with another 5-6 chunks? We’d end up with approx 2-hours of game screenings/demoing. Would you sit through such a thing? Would it be worthwhile/interesting for the audience? Where/when could something like that take place?
Anyway, just thinking out loud. The questions remain: what would a game screening look like and would a game festival have to have them to be a festival?
Thu 21 Jul 2005
Bleh, what a mess :(
While blogs, forums and mailing lists are on fire with everyone’s opinion on the matter (was it intentional, who screwed up, was the reaction to severe or not severe enough, etc), I’m wondering if there’s some overall benefit to come of it. My first thought is awareness. In fact, I’ve been saying that since the early panics over GTA3. Given the extent of media coverage, “everyone” knows about how games have grown up and that they’re not just for kiddies anymore (side point, were they ever just for kiddies?). When my mother-in-law asks what all the fuss over hot coffee is about, I know that exposure has hit supernova. In fact, there was a research report earlier this week saying how news is effecting purchasing decisions.
Bottom line is that the ESRB system is good and effective when:
1 - parents/consumers are aware of it
2 - retailers voluntarily enforce it
3 - developers/publishers don’t abuse it
Hmm, this mess probably helps with all those points…
(Side complaint: Is it just me, or are parents made out to be morons? Several stories have been talking about how hard it is for parents to “deal with the complexities of media ratings”, etc. Dude, the box says Mature, 17+, sex, violence, etc. Or, it says Everyone, cartoon violence, etc. What’s so confusing? In my opinion it is a lack of motivation, interest, effort, time that is the culprit and NOT their inability to understand the ratings. Being a crappy parent doesn’t necessarily equate to stupidity. It is unfair to suggest that these schemes are too complex for parents - there are bigger challenges at hand for parents… I know. I am one!)
Sat 16 Jul 2005
Posted by jason under
Panic Attack1 Comment
I’m stunned. Just stunned. Ya, there’s lots of coverage out there on violence, censorship, sex and all that’s wrong with games - most of which I have to read, unfortunately. The latest Yee interview up at IGN has got to take the cake. The rhetoric and hyperbole are beyond belief. How many egregious errors can you spot? ESA making a profit? Role of ESRB to prevent access? Parent and child being escorted out of an R-rated movie? Only the “interactive violent games” where people get hurt, but not the other violent games???
Bottom line, censorship doesn’t work. Yee’s bill would have zero impact as the “kids” would still get to the games they want via other means: parents, older friends, internet/piracy, etc. Ironically, they’d likely still get most games from their parents, which the FTC reports as being responsible for over 80% of all game purchases. So, not even addressing all the other issues of constitutionality, freedom of expression/access, value/merits of games and actual effects, the bill would do nothing to limit access or make a parent’s job easier.
It is amazing the extent to which this kind of soapbox preaching takes place unabated. As soon as someone tries to defend games/gamers, they are roasted and/or discredited as being paid off. Sadly, no one seems interested in a fair debate on the issues.
Sigh.
PS: Ya, I’m skirting around the whole coffee debate as I’m waiting until there’s some real sense of resolution…
Fri 15 Jul 2005
Amid all the fury over the “coffee” mod and drive to censor games, the Video Games Live concert was a milestone in the evolution/development of the game industry. As noted in the Washington Post:
“The consensus on the terrace: It was weird but wonderful. And showed how the video game industry continues to evolve, not only as an entertainment sector offering players the chance to blast away with death rays but also as art.”
I really wish I was there to experience it. Thankfully, there’s a ton of images, links to vids, etc, all online. I did have the opportunity to take in a game symphony while in Germany for their Games Convention expo. It was a wonderful concert, but it was a much more “standard” affair.
It is great to see all the positive press coverage on Video Games Live and the games industry. It will be interesting to see what kind of buzz it can build as it travels across the US (and lands in the DC area next month ;)
Conversely, you just can’t help but laugh at the devolving discussion/postings of Jack on the horror of games…
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