Yeah Pat Benetar!!! Yeah Celsius!!! Yeah Games!!! Yeah !!!!!!!

I just had my intense high caffeine drink and Pat Benetar's We Belong Together is playing in the background, needless to say, I am ready to solve some problems!!!!  Woot woot (arg I hated myself  mid woot, but I'm not deleting, nope must move forward!!!) If you are getting annoyed with the !!!, please write to Celsius (the makers of my intense Caffeine drink) or better yet leave a comment, it's been oh so long since gameguy's reassuring message.

So many ideas are qwirling around in my head, hope I can make these connect!!!

Ted Talk Gaming Can Save The World
Games: What happens when people play them
1. unabashed optimism
2. serious engaging mission
3. team/support

Big Bang Theory

Lord of the Rings has all of the awesome aspects

Michael Douglas in the Game

Amazing Michigania Adventure (wonderfully designed game with less than wonderful results to be discussed next week, spoiler alert there were riddles, gnomes and balloons!)

When I was in the Peace Corps and I went to the main island, I would always stop in the room I called the Fun Room.  It was like a library, ah the feeling was the best.  The shelves were lined with worn wonderful books.  On top of shelves were games and puzzles.  There was a table where people would leave stuff they didn't need anymore.  I would fill up a box and be so excited with the so much possibility.

I have the same feelings when I think about the games that can be created.  The problem is it is all a lot of potential energy, I have fuzzy images and feelings of what can be designed.   I need to start transforming it into Kinectic.   Visualizing and clarifying these ideas into tangible plans and products. 

I've been making attempts at producing and I will continue these efforts.  John Wooten believed each day if you work on getting just a little better eventually you'll be a great deal better.  All about the residuals. 

Eeks I apologize for the rambling nature of this blog! I apologize even more for the fact that there will be no leg logger (kind of thinking leg logger is played, so played).  I'm a bit worried that this is reminding me of the fried egg commercial showing brain on drugs.  I did see a picture of a spider web made by a spider on caffeine, not good.  Hope caffeine's detrimental effects are just on web-making and not blog writing, but have a feeling that might not be the case)

Woot Woot Indeed! Also We Could All Use a Gandalf + Game Center Jibber Jabber

Okay so I get somewhat annoyed when people say woot woot.  But that has changed.  Today when I checked my google adsense account and saw I not only had $.01 in earnings yesterday, but an all time total of $5.54.   I too said woot woot.  Now I know why others say it, you feel it, you just feel it.

Thanks audience! and keep clicking, yeah you need a Golds Metal Detector or maybe you should check into furthering your education through the University of Pheonix (side note look into getting awesome ads on blog site)

So game progress.... We are planning on using Game Center (it seems like almost all gaming apps are using Game Center now).


Determining What Types of Leader Boards we will have
Determining Achievements and corresponding awesome names
(spoiler alert, just playing in a multiplayer game with Zorro might earn you a Platinum Star)

Today's plan
Read
http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/NetworkingInternet/Conceptual/GameKit_Guide/GameCenterOverview/GameCenterOverview.html
Quantifying/clarifying what exactly we need to keep track of.


Arrrrrggg of course so much more to think about.  I am seeing a reoccuring pattern.  I'm a surface scratcher, but not a digger...

Latest leg logger, Lame Superbowl Dorito Commercial, Why Geo Popper wont be Playcadia's never published manuscript...

Miss me?  Was the break similar to Jon Stewart's ridiculously long stints, where one excitedly  checks Hulu each day, eagerly anticipating his return or has this blog been forgotten about entirely like a mediocre super bowl commercial (I'm looking at you Doritos).  Hope its the former, ie I hope you were excited for the return of the blog (for those who like myself have a heck of a time with the former/latter)

So my life's story has been rearing its middle of the road mentality in yet again.  I'm  in for the exciting 80 percent but that last finishing/polishing touches are killer.  Uggghhhhhh.

Luckily, we have one team member who doesn't go chasing each bright butterfly fluttering by.    When I began telling him about the next biggest game (it is going to be aaaawwwessoommme), he put his foot down and said we have to finish this one.  Once again uggghhhhh/

His advice along with the serendipitous reading of Mindset (awesome book about continuous ability of mind to grow if you have a growth/learning mindset and dedicate time to whatever it is you want to learn), is what is going to get Geo Popper in stores very soon.


Leg Logger (spoiler alert these are not my legs!)

Game Architects, Get Going! We can help people produce amazing results!

I used to feel uncomfortable when I heard the quote, "those who don't stand for something will fall for anything," because I always felt like the one who would fall for anything. 

The cool thing about getting older and having more and more experiences, you gain a conviction sometimes lacking in youth. Sometimes experiences can create warped, negative beliefs that will not produce great outcomes.  I think I have been quite lucky with my experiences, because I love my forming convictions and think that the more clarity I have with these beliefs, the more amazing the results could be. 

1.  Games can bring fun and laughter, but they can also produce more outcomes if designed carefully and results are studied and analyzed.

2. Adults are like kids, most need support and scaffolding. 

3.  So many people are underemployed and mismatched in jobs

3.  People can be super effective when they are in a flow and are interested in what they're doing

4.  We have so much unused human capitol

Inspiration for using these ideas in future game design: The Game starring Michael Douglas.

Zorro's corner,
Ahhhhh I'm kicking myself because I wasn't prepared.   My dad was going on one of his usual rants and I didn't have paper and pencil or a voice recorder, so I can't remember all that was said and know I'm not going to do it justice.  Let's just say there were lofty claims of his ipad design plans thirty years ago and references to books such as "How to Make Phone Accecories," (Not to be confused with "How to Make More Phone Accessories.") I vow to be more on top of it and get actual quotes (although I think he's on to me, when I asked him to rehash his thoughts, he laughed and said he wasn't going to be bated.  Soooo I'll have to step off and be patient.

Good advice from Skipper, one wise penguin "Just smile and wave boys, smile and wave."

Geo Popper Even Fun in Crazy Cold Weather/Introducing Leg Logger

Woooooooooohoooooo!!!! More convinced than ever before that Geo Popper is going to be huge. Just played Geo Popper on a 1 degree day (yes 1 degree, I don't even get to add an s to degree:() and I had fun.  I wasn't even wearing snowpants or my big gloves!

Although it was just delightful running around and having it work so well, I was also considering how it can progress.  Definitely has potential as a learning tool:  spatial reasoning, map reading,  exercise...

Karen's Corner
Walking to my car the other day and there on the under the windshield wiper was a $50 bill.  I exclaimed "What the what!?!" and then just stared at it for a moment, thinking someone was paying it forward.  And then something happened, I thought about a man I had just overheard who was unemployed and having a really difficult time getting a job.  He was older and was without reliable transportation.  I was thinking he could use the money more than I could and decided I should give him the money.

I went to pick up the bill and noticed it was a bit yellowish.  Upon further inspection, it was an advertisement for tax prep cleverly disguised as a fifty dollar bill.  Lessons twofold:
1.  I'm a bit of an idiot
2.  I'm not a completely selfish idiot

Leg logger
Now the moment you've all been waiting for!  I had discussed the boob blogger in previous posts and considered how I could match this brilliant  display of wit. Drumroll please...

In the words of Kramer in the reverse peep hole,  "We're comfortable with our bodies, you know if someone wants to help themselves to an eyeful, we say, 'enjoy the show.'"

Check out foldit!!! Playing Tetris for science and health!

Squandering humans
When did it become okay to be such wasters?  Humans throw out an insane amount of garbage, buy an insane amount of things they will never use, and forget to be grateful for their time on earth and instead of going all in everyday, let days, weeks, years pass without making the enormous contributions possible.  Again, not trying to sound preachy, I am really pointing the finger at myself, but I am really interested in how so much human capitol is left untapped. Why are so many people underemployed, why is there such a focus on problems rather than putting all the effort into solutions?  Lack of vision, unyielding circumstances, chaotic world, not enough games designed to allow people to produce amazing results?

Support and design
I am convinced we need scaffolding.   A structure for people to to reach their potential, a design, a plan. Maybe this blog will sound like a broken record, but the more I put it out there, I hope to spark questions in other people's minds

• How can work become like play? (I'm convinced we can do more in play/flow/engagement...)
• How can we design games to solve problems?
• What problems could be solved by games?
• ...

So many times, it is having the right questions floating around in opposed to questions that aren't going to produce excitement and results.

I mentioned Foldit in an earlier blog post.  It is kind of like Tetris, but unlike Tetris, the data is collected and used to see and imagine possible ways proteins can be folded.  Because so many diseases are partially proteins, and so many cures are proteins, players can give protein designs that have the potential to treat or cure diseases. Check it out and be a part of finding a cure for HIV/Aids. http://fold.it/portal/info/science#whatpf.  It's super fun too!

Zorro's corner (not for those with delicate constitutions)
Zorro has picked up quite a disturbing habit.  I believe my mother is to blame.  She picked up leggings from Eddie Bauer to wear under her jeans/pants during the winter.  She picked up a pair for Zorro as well.  The problem is he is not using them as a 2nd layer.  They have become his only layer. 

For all your gaming needs, check out:
http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000613802463809&pubid=21000000000614520
Think about how we can modify games and toys to make them produce more?

Ingress not available on IPhone IOS operating system?!

Ingress for Droids
I was going to attempt to get Ingress today, but didn't realize it was only available for Droids! This is just days after I turned in my trusty Evo (it took many a fall and hung in there, the worst being while I was walking Maizy (she might one day get her own corner on here, but until she does, just picture the dog in Up, because that is pretty much her) and she saw a squirrel and forgot she had me on the leash) for an Iphone. 

Geo Popper for Iphones
Although I am disappointed I can't join the battle for world energy domination, I'm excited that our upcoming Geo Popper will be available to Iphone users.  Even though it is very different than Ingress, it has some similar characteristics and is going to be soooo fun!

More than just a game?
Heard talk that the game was more than just a game for game's sake, that they would likely have higher purposes.  If this is the case, that could be super exciting.  See: Extra Extra: World of Warcraft to End Hunger Games
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.gblogID=2673006893000763586#editor/target=post;postID=6727228881277704571Is Is the Ted talk I mentioned already coming to fruition???   There are some people in this world that are just ridiculously smart and ahead of the pack, looking way beyond the immediate.  I wonder what types of information they might be gathering and for what purpose.  I so hope that there are some higher level humans that are planning on using whatever they gather to solve problems and make the world a better place.

Better Blogs?
I've been reading ProBlogger and have been way off  in many of my blogging aspects, so in the future look for:

• pictures
• headings (note todays article, don't worry I'll improve)
• clearer titles (maybe, I still really like Billy L and the Kleenex (sounds like a children's story) and Mr. Rogers, Coco, and more! (just because Mr. Rogers and Coco are amazing)
• lists
• more blogs: "Those who can't teach blog: my educational philosophy: a catalysyt for the next golden age" and "How not to Blog" and perhaps Karen's how to do the important stuff

And only because I spent way to much time on this to quite dismal results, I will share a box and me thinking outside of it.  I am really enjoying playing around with inkscape, but my status remains at super beginner (I watched a "simple" tutorial on how to make a box and let's just say, mine did not turn out like the video, arrrrggg!)