Roamer's Zone

Professionally I would have to say I am riding on a very happy wave at this point and time. As I mentioned before I interviewed and wrote an article for Delmarva Youth Magazine which was a review of the movie, Five Children & It. Since submitting this article I have been in contact with the magazine’s editor and have negotiated a position writing a “Rentals Revisited” column in each issue of the magazine.

I am more than excited about this great opportunity, especially because of the exposure I am getting. I will be able to submit my reviews via e-mail and because of the magazines bi-monthly printing schedule, I will have more than enough time to knock them out while doing all the things I do at Seton Hill. It’s just another thing to add to my list which already includes soccer, lacrosse, my editorial position on the Setonian and school work.

I feel like I am on top of the world right now mostly because of the letter I received in the mail today that included a check for my July/August submission to the magazine. I was more than surprised because when I initially met with the editor she said it would be strictly freelance and she doubted she would be able to pay me. Much to my surprise there was a letter and a check in the mail for me today. I feel fantastic! It wasn’t about the money, it was about the feeling of accomplishment that I felt when I opened up that magazine and saw my name and article. I feel like I can do this and that all I have to do is market my writing. Life is good.
*A Note from the Editor

The definition of fun is something that will be discussed through out this book. From the first time I read the book until now it has been something I have contemplated in depth. I still am not sure of my own personal definition of the word, but I am much closer to knowing than before. Previously I looked at the word and it's meaning from the perspective of a gamer, but now I must examine it as a potential designer. Fun is a feeling, but also and action/experience.

Koster's quote: "fun is a series of meaningful choices" makes more sense when you look at it as a designer. Games are all about lessons, and choices, and above all they are teaching tools. The idea that games are only used for entertainment is one of the past. Although they can provide entertainment that is not their centralized goal. The goal in my opinion is fun which coincides with learning. To learn in the context of a game is much easier and you don't even know you are doing it. I kept in mind "playing and learning through playing" as a concept that deals closely with games being fun.

The question I am now dealing with is what kind of game can I create that has a deep purpose of sorts? I want to play (and even make) these great first person "shoot em up" games that at times can be violent, but thats all just part of the genre. Its acceptable in that realm, but then again its like a green light going off and saying art imitates life. We have a strong sense of reality in these games and that shouldn't be something we fear. Idk, thats a whole different topic....