Musings from the Other Side Part II

FL can get cold but my PA conditioning makes me laugh at the temperature. As long as I have my blanket.

I Am Legend (Finally!!!)

I have seen I Am Legend and I can say I have not been so depressed by a movie since Million Dollar Baby. I will not spoil the plot but I can say that a silent New York City is creepier than any of the mutated antagonists that want to take a bite out of Will Smith. Plus, Will Smith does an amazing job of convincing you he is a man who has not spoken to a single living person in 1001 days. If I don't speak to someone in 2 days I would go nuts, and I'm a loner by trade. Plus, I'm no good with dogs so I would have gone all Rambo sooner. Okay, that last part is not exactly true. I like dogs but I could never get them trained all that well. I am a master petter but I just can't get them to sit. And since my place doesn't allow dogs I don't get to practice, which makes me sad. Then I Am Legend makes me sadder. So I'm just a big pile of sadness. But I'm still really, really, really ridiculously good looking.

The Truth...............
................................. is that consuming for the sake of consuming is an empty existence. Consuming to one up your friends with the cool stuff you bought is the American way.

Musings from the Other Side Part I

Florida is warm. What a Northern State person like me finds funny is how everybody bundles up when the temperature drop to 60 degrees. Yeah, 60. I look at them like they are overreacting and they look at my short sleevc shirt like I'm crazy. Why do I have to be the crazy one? I mean, really.

Sweeny Tood = Blood

I have witnessed Tim Burton's newest movie Sweeny Todd. I thought I was prepared since I saw the play 17 years ago. But I estimate that Tim Burton spent a quarter of the budget on blood. Anymore blood and the theater itself would be drowning in it. It is a fantastic movie but beware that this is not for the squimish. No really, do not eat anything before you watch it. Okay, last warning. I wash my hands of it.

I am Legend or I am still Fracking Waiting

I actually was going to see I am Legend but since my party had a few people that saw it already we went to Sweeny Todd. That was my third attempt to see the movie. I am beginning to get the feeling that someone doesn't want me to watch the movie. Maybe I am being paranoid (okay, more than usual) but it just seems strange that everybody wants me to wait and then they go see it. What's up with that? But now I plan to see I am Legend this Tuesday. Yes, Christmas Day. I will use the power of commerce and Jesus to watch this movie, no matter what. And if this movie does not live up to expectations I am going to start Relevations. Okay, I can't get that mad and I don't know the first thing about starting the Apocalypse (yet) but I really hope I am not setting myself up for disappointment. Go Will Smith.

The Truth..................
.................................... is that 60 degrees in Florida is not cold. Stop breaking out the overcoats. It makes me feel underdressed.

The Aftermath

The End, but Not Quite

So hey, I finally finished my paper and presentation. It is always going to get to me. All that work for 8 minutes of talking. Brilliant talk, but talk nonetheless. The other groups had some pretty interesting subjects to discuss that make me really want to do some extracurricular research. But that will have to wait until after I complete my (dum, dum, dum) Christmas Shopping. Yes, the most dangerous time of year for our society. Parking is scarce, people lose their minds, credit cards become easier to use, and the sales entice. It won't be until after New Year's that we are all going to shake our heads and look around and realize what we've done. No wonder we drink so much on New Year's Eve. Whatever it takes to avoid those credit card bills, because you know they are coming, and there is no stopping them.

Withdrawal

I support the Writer's Guild strike, I do, but I don't know how I would feel when reality TV shows begin to pop up like a rabid strain of weeds. I thought TV could not go lower than Tila Tequila looking for love on both teams, but in a few months I'm going to feel like that was a high point in reality TV. I shudder. Do you hear me, I shudder.

The Truth..................
....................................love is a beautiful thing. So is play-do. Just remember why you need it, not why you want it. Like play-do.

P-Minus 1 Day

There is too much PRESSURE!!!! Tomorrow's the big day and I have nothing. Sure I have a presentation and paper, but it's garbage, crap, compost.......... I can't do this.

I AM FREAKING OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nah, just playing. Let's do this thing.

The Truth.....................
.......................................we never know what we are capable of until we are put in a situation that forces us to be who we are.

P-Minus 2 Days

Detentes Denied?

Apparently the version of the story I told last time was disputed by parties present. I just want you all to know that I am telling the truth and they were just released from the coo-coo factory.
.......................
.................
.............

Okay, that was a lie but it was wrapped in good intentions. That should count for something, right?

But enough of who was right and who was wrong (or silly liability) the focus is on the paper. After all my writing I actually have a bigger paper than what I need. I really thought I wasn't going to have enough to talk about and now, surprise, surprise, I wrote too much. Guess I should have taken more breaks, eh? So now I am in the enviable position of editing and sharpening my paper, the third and final phase after drafting and type editing. The end is so close I can taste it. In regards to my presentation, I got nothing. In fact, I am thinking of outsourcing the work to an overseas presentation making firm (it should exist) and let them do it. It will only cost me $500 but it will be worth it to sit and avoid presenting for 7 minutes because of my innate shyness.

No matter how many presentations I have made it always makes me nervous. It's as if everybody is judging me not on my presentation, but as a person. Behold:

"That guy, he's too good looking."
"He's too well spoken."
"Look at him, so haughty because he can say big words."
"I bet he has a hot, supermodel girlfriend every week, that bastard. I hate him so hard."
"I like his socks, damn that rich SOB."

You see, I can't handle it. My only hope is that I can bribe my professor with something that teachers can't resist: blackmail material on their coworkers.

Oh crap, my professor is too good to fall for that.

I'm doooooooooooooomed.

Shoot, I guess I'll get back to work

The Truth..................
....................................power point is the tool of the Devil. You want to move an object to this specific location, it moves an inch. You want this one shape and it doesn't have it. You want to control the font and its not having none of that. Damn you power point, damn you to (censored)!

P-Minus 3 Days

The Agony of Creation

As I get closer and closer to the end I feel a mix of anticipation and anxiety. It is nice that I am closer to finishing my Masters but I still have to make a presentation that has enough credibility to knock my classmates off their feet. Or at the very least, not make them laugh at me. Because I am sensitive like that.

So now that almost every show I like is in reruns I can focus on finishing my paper and getting my presentation ready. I could never do my presentation first. The paper is always the priority because if that is not complete the presentation is not worth doing. But as you three know, I hate writing papers. But after two and a half weeks of writing I find that I actually have to cut material from my paper because it was too large. I was worried that I would not find enough to write about and now I am in the position of cutting and sharpening. The irony felt like a hammer to my face. Or a slap from a girl. Sure they may not be equivalent, but I have gone through both and trust me, they feel the same.

Mist Hating

You know, I am one of those piece loving fools who just wants everyone to enjoy life. But then someone just has to go and kiCk me out of my foolish Laz-E-Boy and talk smack about the movIe The Mist. A few posts before (or the last one, I can never keep track) I mentioned that the Mist was a good movie and someone, who shall Not be named, stated they did not like the movie. The kicker was that the person, who shall not be nameD, used their psyche powers to determine the movie was not worth their time. Now me, being the fun loving SOB that I am, could not let this stand and tried to point to the many fine qualities of this movie. Unfortunately, I could not get past their wall of disregard. Since I am dealing with a being of psYche powers I had to unleash my deadliest weapon: unmitigated nagging. After recently being taken off the Geneva Convention to make room for water-boarding I have only used this WMA as a last resort. I can still hear the screams. It was an epic battle that will be sung of future generations till the end of time. They zigged, I zagged; jab, jab, right-hook, left-hook, nut cruncher, face pound, suplex, round-house kick, blam, blam, bang, bang...............the battle continued until finally, my detractor admitted defeat. Maybe in not so many words, but it was clear to me.

So the lesson here is watch the Mist, unless you want to get a visit from me, and the little friend.

The Truth......................
........................................ is nothing feels better than the weight lifting off your shoulders when you complete a long and difficult task. Nothing feels worse than leaving things undone. So get to it you lazy bum and take out the trash.

P-Minus 7 Days

Tick tock, tick tock, the clock is running down. Crap, I should really get a move on this project thingy. Besides that, everything is cold. Yes, cold, because it has started to snow. Pretty, until you have to drive through it. Can't wait until tomorrow.

The Truth...............................
.................................................is that I miss Heroes, a lot.

P-Minus 10 Days

Now the walls are closing in. The deadlines are approaching. The end is nigh and it is Christmas. I am less afraid of the class paper and presentation than what the frack I am going to get for my family for this most emotional draining of all the major holidays. Living next to one of the largest malls in the nation have shown me the unstoppable might of holiday shopping. Going to the mall on the weekend is almost suicidal. And yet, the deals get me. Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in. Please, I need help.

Ten Days Until P-Day, Or How I use Alcohol to Deal

So in 10 days the paper is due and a presentation will have to be made. My greatest weakness is my innate shyness. I just clam up so much. I am really going to have to rely on my team mates to carry the conversation. Or I'll hit the bar before I go to class. That actually makes sense. I am so smart.

The Truth..........................................
............................................................is that the Mist is a good movie. For the love of god, avoid Hitman and go watch the Mist. Please, please, please watch the Mist.

End of an Odyssey and the Beginning of the End

Well, Thanksgiving went okay. Cooking, turkey, and family recrimination. Really, what more could a person want?

The Final Stretch

As I am committing words to paper (which I do before typing) I find that after nearly 15 years of writing papers I still don't like doing papers, which is odd because I like writing. I used to write a lot when I was in high school. My imagination knew no bounds. Let me give a few examples:

-A love story between a mutant boy and a hot robot girl after the last human dies of boredom centuries earlier. They end up killing each other over the last VHS copy of "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back".

-Fighter pilots stationed on a warship in the far-future fighting in a war that threatens to destroy their entire race discuss the implications of Coke Classic after New Coke 2347 fails miserably and is blamed for recent set backs in the war effort. The twist is that Coke Classic makes humans smarter at the cost of their health.

-A man from the future is accidentally transported back to New York City in the 90s. To avoid disruptions to history he goes to Central Park and waits for rescue while recalling the history that would create his future New York City. He later gets a free hot dog from a friendly vendor trying to make a living and strikes up a conversation. Caught up in the moment, future guy lets slip seven words that should not have been heard. Before he can fix his mistake he is returned to the future to find out he was deliberately sent back to stop a plague from occurring.

Nothing mind blowing but I regret never developing these stories. Now all I do is write for work and class and it just feels more like a chore then anything fun. Luckily I've had some interesting topics to write about.

Which brings me to the paper. My research continues (despite Penn State recalling my books) and I have written a few pages. I always draft before I really create. So far it has been a slow process. Must be the two weeks remaining. I usually do a paper a few days before it's due. For some reason the extra stress makes me write differently. Unfortunately, with work and a diminished amount of free time I cannot take a chance waiting. Plus, I refuse to do an all-nighter. I am not young(er) anymore. And I love my sleep. This puts me in a crappy position because I have all these ideas that I want to write down, but Grey's Anatomy is available online. Or that book I have been waiting to read just became enticing. Or Halo 3 needs some quality time. Or my apartment needs to be reorganized (seriously, the whole place). Procrastination is my mortal enemy. Hit me hard in college and it has not let up since. But I have a team that is counting on me to deliver my part and I just could not look them in the eye if I goofed around. And I want this presentation to be interesting because I think our topic really has some merit. So I continue as I count down the days until Presentation Day.

And now, back to writing.......................................

The Truth........................
..........................................is sometimes you have to get hurt to understand something. Like not putting a knife in a toaster that is plugged in. Or not to bleed in the middle of the ocean. Or shopping at Circuit City. Life Lessons are always the hardest to deal with, but they stay with you forever and remind you not to do stupid crap like that.

Foiled!!!!!

After getting through traffic, journeying through the back streets of PA, and finding some great parking, class gets canceled.

Humph.

Well, at least coming back wasn't so bad.

The Truth.........
........................... is just because you have a driver's license doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful. Just a hunch.

Sway. To and Fro, Sway.

If you got the reference, your my kind of person.

Project Progression

Project PPG is moving forward. Eric is tackling the financial aspect of pro gaming (the motivation), Biju is working on the technology (the presentation), and I am looking at the social implications (the connection). There is still some things to iron out regarding cohesion but I am confident we can pull this off. The more information I gather the more I come to believe that we might be on the cusp of a sub-cultural revolution. Consider the following:

1) Video game consumer average age is between 24-35.
2) The PS2 achieved an installed base of 120 million worldwide in the last 7 years and it is still growing.
3) Branding has fostered a competitive atmosphere between the platforms on the market.
4) Halo 3 can make over $100 million in its first day.
5) Gen X is the last generation to grow up remembering what life was before commercial video game systems existed.

Looked at separately a person might not see what the big deal is or why this is important. Most people look at the big number ($10 billion in hardware and software sales) and leave it at that.

But there is a connection.

Video games are 30 years old if you define the first popular game, Pong, in 1977 (roughly) as the starting point. Kids of those days are entering their late twenties and early thirties. The PlayStation became a brand and sold more consoles in a short amount of time (7 years) than any other console in history (although Gameboy has sold more in 20 years). Halo 3 sold over 1 million copies on the day of its release, without schools being closed or a national holiday to take off work, plus the base copy costs $60 and unless allowances increased since I was young(er) that is not cash a kid carries.

The general conclusion is that the first video game generation is driving the growth of the industry to the point where it is on the cusp of insinuating itself into the very fabric of society. In twenty years a person will be hard pressed to find anybody who hasn't played a video game of some sort.

That is why Project PPG is only scratching the surface. In my humble opinion (**cough**brilliant**cough**).

The Truth....................
...................................... is if you don't want to be publicly humiliated stop posting to Youtube. Dude, she's just not that into you. Deal with it. Preferably with liquor.

Razorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back from the Battlestar Galactica: Razor advance screening event. First off, no spoilers. Just because I saw it for free because of a video game doesn't mean I should ruin it for the rest of you. Suffice it to say that I enjoyed it. The set pieces were nice and the story moved along. However, it is not the best BSG ever so please adjust your expectations accordingly. But it was fantastic.

Also, I must buy Mass Effect. After watching three ads for it on a movie screen, I find myself compelled to buy it. Now. This is what addiction must feel like. I hope I lose 40 pounds.

The Truth.................
................................... is that marriage is not being taken seriously anymore. What happened to the romance? The committment? The prenup? If they love you they will sign the damn prenup. There is no way in hell I am splitting my GI Joe collection. Do you hear me, NEVER!!!!

Excitement of the Unimportant

Tomorrow I will see Battlestar Galactica: Razor on the big screen. The best part is that the price is the low, low amount of free. Yes, free. Not only do I see this 12 days ahead of the TV premiere but it is free. Did I mention it is free? So how is this voodoo done you may ask. One word: synergy. Apparently Microsoft is promoting their new RPG coming out on 11/20 called Mass Effect. This is supposed to be the next great role-playing game for the Xbox 360 after Oblivion and made by Bioware, best known for Balder's Gate (never played it), Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (loved it), and Jade Empire (still haven't finished it). I find it ironic that I get to see an advance viewing of one of my favorite shows (BSG forever) because of a video game I am interested in playing. This, my people, is proof positive that there is indeed a god (don't ask the specifics, I don't tell).

Unless Razor sucks, which will be proof that the devil exists.

Or not since I did see it for free. Dang, religion is confusing.

The Truth............
............................... is that on Veteran's Day if you have a family member that has served in the United States military, give them a hug for me. Even if they are Republicans.

Persuasive Redux

Not Again.....

Looks like my group will have to make another presentation on blogs, even though we got our butts thoroughly kicked by the Second Life group, although you'll never hear me say it (typing does not count). But I think I have a trick up my sleeve.

Project Progression

The project, henceforth known by its code name Project PPG, is progessing. Comparing pro gaming to sports has allowed me to find a lot of similarities between the two in regards of the creation of fans and initial creations. My new attack angle aims at who would make up the fanbase based on age, gender, and possibly race, although that may not be needed. I am also reading an interesting book titled "Branded" that exposes the marketing methods aimed at teenagers. I have got to say that this read is eye opening, to say the least. I am so not having children.

Prepare for the Plague

I can't wait to get my flu shot. Normal people would look at me strangely, but they are probably already infected. I am getting surrounded by an increasing number of sick people and it is making me (more) paranoid. Now I have the makings of a germaphobe. I don't grab any door handle unless my hand is covered. I keep my distance from people. The only thing I haven't done yet is wear a medical mask, and that's because I don't want to relive the SARS epidemic (scary). Six days, and counting. Pray for me, because I'm too lazy to do it myself.

The Truth......................
........................................ is a democracy needs an active citizenry voting like clockwork. Give up the vote, give up the ghost and don't bitch about it.

Moods and Popeyes Chicken

The Possible Lining

Okay, some days are good, some days are bad. That's just life. But the silver lining is that tomorrow is a brand new day. The unsilver lining is that that day can be just as crappy as the previous day if you let it. The struggle is always tough but remember that you can always do better, no matter what anybody says or thinks or mimes. Mimes

Forget What You Know About Delicious

Also, Popeyes chicken is delicious. It is the archenemy of my diet (hah) but sometimes you want to sit back, pop open a bottle of water, and eat a box of Popeyes. Sooooo......gooooood.

The Project Track

So far there is a lot of information I am sifting through. Comparing professional gaming to professional sports has provided me with interesting parallels regarding popularity in society and why some people are so invested in a certain sports and others couldn't care less. Apparently sports wasn't as big as it was now. In some cases sports players had to get second job to support themselves. In modern times A-Rod could afford to buy an island, so this notion is kind of shocking if you have always thought of sports as this big event that happens like clockwork every year with all the hype and excitement that comes with it. The trick will be to see if the ingredients that made sports such a fixture in society can be applied to professional gaming. Prepare yourself.

The Truth.............
...............................is that you can eat as much fruit as you want at breakfast and it's healthy. Never occurred to me. I guess I have to give up my pancakes with a gallon of syrup and my deep fried donut. Again, never occurred to me.

The Unkindness of Strangers

There are days when I wonder what does it all mean? Where should we go? What should me do? Why are the good always the first to be sacrificed? It doesn't make sense. Nothing makes sense anymore.

The Overestimation of Brownies

Let Them Eat Cake?!?!

Sometimes I wonder if the conflicts of the world could be resolved through desserts. Instead of war, there would be a seven layer chocolate cake. For a territorial dispute there could be cupcakes. Settle religious differences with cookies.

Sara Lee could save the world!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, people are not as amicable to solve their differences with cake as I am. Well, that is not entirely true. I'll still dislike their guts, but for a delicious confection I will bury the hate. Under a mountain of sugar. And frosting. Mmmmm, frosting.

The Truth...................
...................................... is that a small act of kindness can lift everybody. It's a shame we're lazy.

Building on that Groove, or How Google Found Me

Revolution, No Matter What?

So, interesting thing about Google. Can you truly walk away from your mistakes? Is there really such a thing as "starting over" now that Google exists? That makes me uneasy. All of us have made mistakes (including a perfect being like me) but in this country there is always an opportunity to make a fresh start, barring running for office. If you don't seek the public spotlight and you didn't commit a henious crime, there shouldn't be anything holding you down. But now Google throws that all out of whack. We always fear the powers of Big Brother, but what if we should be worried about the curious Average Joe (or Joanne) so travels the tubes of the Internet? Although it may seem insignificant I have seen other people get ruined by revenge, envy, and jealousy, and that took some work. With Google, and some patience, the door is opened for casual reputation destruction. I say casual because it used to be a person had to be really driven to take someone down, whether for good or evil (mostly evil). Now all it takes is working the keyboard and clicking some sites. What happens when all the things we have ever done becomes digital? What happens when our information is used for other people's purposes? Some people say this has already happened. I think we haven't begun to understand the transformation our society might go through that frankly I don't know we can survive.

More Project Details

Since beginning the project the main crux of the arguement is if professional video games can capture the same relavance that sports like football (Amercian), baseball, and other activities in society. Korea is a potential model to what it might be like in North America. What I will be focusing on is the creation of a fan base that would rival sports fans, if not in number then in passion.

Also, there is some more information sources that I have been looking at.

Command and Conquer 3: http://www.commandandconquer.com/
-A game that has a spectator mode called BattleCast (login required)

An interview with MLG Chairman at Gametrailers: http://www.gametrailers.com/game/2085.html


Gamehead coverage of the World Cyber Games Championship:
http://www.gametrailers.com/gamehead.php

10 Things You didn't know about Pro Gaming: http://www.tomsgames.com/us/2006/12/19/things-you-didnt-know-about-professional-gaming/

A New Take on Rewards for Skill base Competition: http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7283&Itemid=51

An article on a rising gaming league:
http://www.mcvuk.com/press-releases/31075/Championship-Gaming-Series-Announces-Seoul-as-New-Franchise-City

An article on who funds what: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9329248/

There is an abundance of evidence that pro gaming can have an impact although that is restricted with avid video game players. Our main focus is to prove that pro gaming can be main stream. Now, to research.

The Truth.................
................................... is that The Orange Box is beyond awesome for what it offers. If you have the platform go buy this now.

How He Got His Groove Back....Kinda

What amazes me is that I go to sleep at an early time (11:06 pm) and my whole schedule is screwed up. No posts for two weeks?!?!?! This is outrageous. My audience demands content and I am here to deliver.

So......................

Halloween is coming up? Yeah, that's the best I could do.

Speaking of the best I can do, my aspect of the Project will be delving into the social impact of professional video gaming, specifically the possible creation of a fan base to perpetuate a franchise. I will propose a template of what a pro gaming fan might be and at what point will their numbers reach critical mass to push professional game tournaments into the main stream. I will be using sports as an outline and cross-reference current statistics regarding people who play video games to research this topic. I feel that we are on the cusp of an evolution where video games will be a norm instead of a hobby niche and that will draw more and more people into seeing pro gaming as a sports event.

So.........................I got more, but I'm saving that for another time. Always leave them wanting more. Wait, who said that? Great, I am using quotes from unknown sources. At this rate, I might as well use Wikipedia.

The Truth..........................

...................is if we the American people actually elect Stephen Colbert as President, we could do worse. Seriously.

A Word for our Sponsors

Today will be the midweek review of TV. Why, you may or may not ask? Because I can..... and I need to start a rhythm.

Monday
Heroes: Fantastic show. If you are not watching this show, you were probably nursing the hangover from the Phillies victory on Sunday over the Nationals. You are forgiven, this time.

How I Met Your Mother: Entering season three and one thing is missing, THE FRACKING MOTHER!!!! Where is she? Two previous seasons and not one clue where the mother is. Only Lost stretches a story like this. But Neil Patrick Harris is the saving grace of this show. He is legen.........wait for it.........dary.

Tuesday
I'm busy working hard on my school work to impress my fellow classmates. Maybe.

Wednesday
Pushing Daisies: You have to try this out. Please, please try this out. It is like a modern day fairy tale with a dose of dark humor.

Bionic Women: Watch Katee "Starbuck" Sackoff kick the crap out of the other girl. So good.

Life: Mystery wrapped in drama wrapped in zen. Its totally like a snickers, but on TV.

Thursday
I go to class and enjoy the exhilarating debates on technology and stuff.
Grey's Anatomy: Then I break down and watch this show. It is the cocaine of TV in a very, very bad way.

Friday
Flash Gordon: No, please, no, my god, why, why did this have to happen? WHHHHHYYYYYY?

The Truth.............
................................is that Halo 3 is not perfect. It is just fun.

The (Possible) Motherload

There is something to be said of video sites. You guys have to check out this site: http://www.gametrailers.com/wcg2k7.php. This is Gametrailers coverage of the World Cyber Games. This really give us dimension and scope for our project.

Also, take a look at MLG game analysis at http://www.mlgpro.com/?q=node/159984.
And they have an archive of interviews with players at http://www.mlgpro.com/archive?a=MLG%20Orlando%202007. This give us a look at the top players and we can find any commonalities or differences that make them stand out.

The Truth...................

.....................is that Wikipedia is NOT a real encyclopedia. It is a volunteer effort to share information but it is based on the subject matter expert of a person named sk8hard. Seriously.

Project Breakdown and Stuff

Project Breakdown

The project will be initially broken into three parts:

1) Financial aspect of pro gaming. Money will be the primary motivation for gamers to quit their day jobs and spend hours training to play. That money will have to come from somewhere, either sponsorship or part of a league association. The Major League Gaming (MLG) has a few teams on contract to play exclusively for them, and some of those players are getting six figures. The World Cyber Games is open to everyone who gets through the preliminaries and is funded through sponsorship by both game and tech companies and in some cases the city that is hosting the event. So the questions is can a living be made being a professional gamer?

2) The technology of pro gaming. Besides PC, consoles, and broadband we should take a look at how to present gaming matches to fans. Usually enthusiasts show up in person to observe a match. However, there have been successful attempts to broadcast games on TV. The best example is a series of TV shows on the USA Network from MLG. It only lasted six weeks but there is talk of another series of shows. The World Series of Games did get a deal with CBS to show games but the World Series fell apart due to funding issues. The fact that one of the big four networks was interested should speak volumes, but we still don't know how they would have done it. Also, some game developers have started incorporating technology in there games to allow spectators to watch a game. Bizarre Creations make the popular Project Gotham Racing series for the Xbox. Their third game included a mode the let Xbox Live users log onto an ongoing match of other users in a race. Electronic Arts built something called Battlecast (could be wrong) into Command and Conquer 3 for use in tournaments. Can games be presented like sports games to reach a larger audience?

3) The social aspect of pro gaming. I've asked this question before, what makes a person a fan of something? By now everyone has seen pictures and video of the Halo Nation waiting to pick up the new game at midnight. And now the passion of Phillies fans are at an all-time high. So what drives these people to such devotion? Can this be replicated with pro gamers? Are game player personalities needed, like a Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods equivalent? There are a lot of game fans but sometimes it is for a specific game. I don't really know if there is an overlap between Madden football fans and Halo fans, or even Command and Conquer 3 fans. Without fans can pro gaming actually happen? With the current generation is it possible to achieve a viable fan base to elevate pro gaming into a popular and profitable market in the next five years? Ten years? If not, what will it take?

We should choose what we will work on the next time we meet. That way we can start work on our draft proposal.

The Truth.............

..................is that I am awesome at a certain game that shall not be named. Yes, so fracking awesome. I'm just glad I am so humble to admit this.

Project Draft Proposal, Halo 3, and The Truth

Project Draft Proposal

So it looks like Option #3 is the consensus choice for the group. The current draft proposal will look at the rise of professional gaming in the United States and ask the following question: can pro gaming become popular and successful in the US? The precedent has been set in South Korea with Starcraft and Warcraft tournaments with endorsement deals and popular media coverage. Here are some of the things we should look at:

1) What is the criteria for a game to be consider tournament material?
2) What companies are sponsoring these events? Are they tech related or not? (Goes to spending motivation)
3) Does console penetration (number of consoles in US households) relate to the success or failure of professional gaming?
4) What are the parallels between US, South Korea, and European countries in terms of video game usage, cultural tastes, and recognition? What is different, and can that affect US development?
5) Would people respond to professional gaming, as in would there be fan crossover? (Sports fans possible gamer fans?)
6) Does it help or hinder having personalities promote professional gaming?
7) Can it be profitable to sustain a market similar (not in size) to football and baseball with clothing and accessory lines?

I also want to look at a possible psychological aspect. Consider that people will get really rowdy and passionate during one sports event like football but they may not care about something like soccer (which is crazy). Sports enthusiasm is not universal. The reason I want to focus on sports is because professional gaming would more likely follow the sports model as evidenced in South Korea but with some differences.

The World According to Halo 3

Halo 3 is not the second coming. It is not the cure for cancer. It is not the solution to world peace. After the hype train steamrolled through society I thought I should take a minute to point this out.

And I love this game.

Everything that was right with the previous two games in polished just right with this version. Problems that existed have almost been completely fixed. It is not perfect, but boy is it fun. Multiplayer will be my new obsession for years to come.

The Truth...........

..............is sodas make you fat, CONFIRMED!!!!!! Now with 100% scientific proof. http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/diet.fitness/09/18/kd.liquid.calories/index.html?iref=newssearch
The War on Obesity continues.

Facebook vs MySpace

Although I am part of the tech savvy generation I am still taken aback by the popularity of social networks. It seems everybody I meet has an account on either MySpace or Facebook or both. What I don't get is the appeal. Why would somebody want to share there personal information and thoughts with millions of people they have never met? I don't like sharing with people I have known for years (that's mostly paranoia). So due to my immense curiosity I decided to open an account in Facebook (MySpace will be at a later date). It was a painless process. I thought the initial setup would require a lot of information but all they required was a name, an email, and a location. That worked for me. Thankfully I still had my college email still active so I sidestepped the potential problem of using my personal email and not getting into a certain college network. This is just the beginning of my adventure in Facebook but certain things occurred to me.

1) MySpace scares the crap out of me. I don't think I have the creativity or rock hard pecks (yet) to really take advantage of it.
2) Facebook is less intimidating because not everyone can see me.
3) I have a reluctance of using my home computer. I am a software engineer and after 8/9/10 hours a day I do not want to touch another computer, which kills my email correspondence. I just tell them I don't like them because I am too lazy to tell them the truth.
4) I don't have that many friends. See previous statement.

But I'm on Facebook now. Time to make some new friends. Tomorrow........maybe.

Second Life: The Matrix Reloaded?

Nope, not by a long shot. But the ideas presented are interesting. A user creates something in Second Life and owns it. You can be anyone or anything you want to be. You could be like the gods themselves.

I just wish it would stop crashing on me.

Project Ideas and What ?!?!

There are a few ideas I was thinking for the project.

1) The cultural impact of Starcraft in Korea.
Starcraft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarCraft) is a real-time strategy (RTS) game that was created by Blizzard (the developer of World of Warcraft, located at
http://www.blizzard.com/). The game is really fun if RTS is your thing. What is interesting is
that Korea has created a phenomenon around it. There are games played on television
(http://kotaku.com/gaming/korea/starcraft-on-korean-tv-174264.php) and professional
players who get contracts similar to NFL players. I want to focus on the factors that lead to this situation and why this game, which is still very popular here in the US, did not do the
same here.

2) The difference of MMO games in Asia and North America as a cultural reflection.
When it comes to massive multiplayer online games Asia and North America have some
different tastes. Besides crossover hit World of Warcraft MMO games could be divided
between Asian MMOs and North American MMOs. In the US the names Star Wars Galaxies,
Everquest I & II, and Eve Online are usually what comes up in any discussion. If you were
to go to an Asian country the names heard are Lineage I & II, Maple Story, and Kart Racer.
Both fit the description of MMO games but they take different approaches to play style and
business model. I would like to analyze why they are different and if games could be localized for both markets instead of just one.

3) The rise of professional gamers and gaming leagues.
The spread of broadband has brought an increase in online gaming competition. It started
with PCs, continued with the Dreamcast, and really came about with next-generation
consoles and PCs. There was always a nascent interest in organized tournaments and now
there is a serious push to create professional gamer leagues such as Major League Gaming
(http://www.mlgpro.com/) and high stakes gaming tournaments like the World Cyber Games
(http://www.worldcybergames.com/6th/main.asp) that cover a wide range of games. Korea
has provided a model of how this could become a big deal in the US. I am thinking we could
look at the factors regarding the rise of competitive gaming and ask whether or not this could
happen in North America.

If you have any ideas leave comments.

Also, is it me, or did OJ Simpson try to pull off some Ocean Eleven type stuff in Vegas? That is just the last thing I would have seen coming. Follow up a tasteless book with a Vegas robbery. I have to say, OJ has imagination if not a knack for getting in trouble with the law or society in general.

Peace out people.

The Face of Fear and Funny

The Beginning.................................

I heard that when a new blog is posted, a newspaper editor cringes. Kidding.

It is my mission to provide an entertaining and possibly educational experience. At the very least, your blog will look better than mine. I am just trying to make the world a better place without community service or a substantial donation to a charity.

That could have come out better.