Eng W390 Week 11: Gamer? A Bit

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I have played many different games in my lifetime. I have enjoyed gaming in one form or another for as long as I can remember. I think Candy Land was my first game and since then I've played countless other board games,card games, console games, pencil and dice role playing games and pc games.

Of the choices described in our assigned chapter of the book this week, I think I prefer the types of games that allow for a lot of control over the main character from how they dress to where they go and what they do. The example of Grand Theft Auto, which is not at all my cup of tea in terms of genre, really has many of the characteristics I enjoy as a player. It's pretty cool when a story adapts to "real-life" things such as how the PC is treated by NPCs based on his/her appearance. Also, character creation is really fun. In fact, that was the best part of my Second Life experience early this semester and it's the part of the game that I love the most when playing role playing games of any sort. I even love to make Miis on the Wii.

Personalizing what a character looks like, what they are named, how they behave and even things as complex as back story not only enrich the gaming experience itself, but can be considered part of play, not just the part of the set-up.

Reading this chapter reminded me of all the fun I've had gaming. I wish I had more time for it. Instead I have homework, like this blog post.

Considering a Move

Ooh there are so many factors to consider before I renew my passport and call my realtor. I think I'd like Hogwarts the best, somewhere right in the heart of Hogsmead. It's a modern day city with a quaint old-timey feeling and it has access to Scotland and England from the train station. I could be having tea with the queen if I took the overnight to King's Cross station.

Still, I can't resist the medieval metropolitan charm of King's Landing in Westeros. Now that Cersei isn't running around loose and the rest of the Lannister clan is far flung (or dead), it's probably not too dangerous. The key to King's Landing is location, though. Just like any metropolis, it has its share of theives, ruffians and pickpockets. As long as I can afford something in the fashionable side of town, it should be quite lovely.

Middle Earth has lost some of it's charm since the elves left. So sad, but it might be nice to pay a visit to Hobbiton. If I find something in Hogsmeade, I don't have to book passage on a ship to get there. That's something to consider. They do brew a tasty beer, those Hobbits and don't even get me started on the cheese...

W390 Week 10: The Gathering

Last weekend I traveled to a strange land deep in the bowels of Indianapolis. Much like the fabled City of Ember, it was a place where the sun and wind could not reach; where the light and the air were powered by electricity. This was the Gathering Place and the Gatherers, while they could be described as homo-sapiens, were not exactly human. Self-described Mages, a stranger might see them rather as cultists in some strange church, but be that as it may, the Gatherers see it as the temple of epic adventure and intense competition.

The temple does not exist in one place. It cannot be constrained by the limitations of space and time. It exists in many places across the globe, calling the Gatherers with promises of fame and riches. Some are called to the temple to arbitrate the battles, to assure that the Gatherers adhere to the strict rules of combat. I am called to facilitate these epic match-ups, adding Gatherers to the lists like knights in a tournament and recording their successes or, more often, failures in the tome of history of the combatants. These combats do not require swords or horses in the traditional sense. They require playing cards. That's right...collectible playing cards. The only armor the mage needs, aside of a fresh coat of deodorant and a clean pair of undies, are protective plastic sleeves for a deck of cards painstakingly built from hundreds of little "booster packs" at a costs ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. This is Magic: The Gathering Grand Prix Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium.

After the lists are populated, the warriors are matched and the game begins. The mental mettle of each competitor is tested. They must concentrate, watching their cards, praying for the right combinations, all the while waiting for their opponent to slip up. Each match is a battle of wits that also requires the blessing of luck. As the cards are laid, the breath quickens, the expletives or little cheers of triumph sometimes slip out, in a mutter, but the game is quiet and quick with the occasional cries of, "Judge!" when a dispute about the rules arises. As the winners and losers are determined, the losers nurse their wounds at the dealers table buying more cards with the hope of faring better at the next Gathering or they swallow their pride with nachos and Mt. Dew from the snack bar.

The winners make their way to the final match-up with cash and glory on the line. They are mentally tired, hungry and sometimes they really have to go to the bathroom. None of these ailments can be allowed to overcome their concentration if they hope to win. Indeed, the intensity of the final match, after a field of 1,200 has been reduced to just two, often provides enough adrenaline to drown out most physical needs. For in the end, there can be only one and that One, the champion gets a trophy and a bag of gold (actually a big cardboard check)and the glory of being the best... if only until the next tournament. Sadly, Magic is a fickle mistress and next weekend, somewhere in the world she will crown a new champion after the sacrifice of many.

At the end of the tournament, I leave the temple, relieved that it's over but glad to have been a part of the carnage. I sleep well that night, but it's not long before I'm looking for the Gathering Place again, hoping to be a part of it. It's hard to resist the call

W390 Week 9: Communication Breakdown

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My team is experiencing Communcation Breakdown and unfortunately it's not just a Led Zepplin tune.

The communication on Team 1 is problematic. One of my teammates and I have exchanged messages, including the whole team on the mailing list, and so far we're a no go for accomplishing anything. When the team was formed by the instructor, the prevailing meet up time amongst us as far as our availability is concerned was listed as Thursday afternoon. My one communicative teammate suggested meeting up before that for a preliminary chat session and I suggested Tuesday. I never heard back about that day from her and no one else responded. Like I said last week, one member doesn't appear to be in the class at all. So that leaves three of us and so far only two of us are talking. I got a message today confirming our afternoon meetup, but maybe we crossed paths because I was alone in our Team 1 chat room and the main chat room during our time. I went in the chat room and waited a bit. Then I left my desk for a while and came back to find no messages or evidence that anyone had shown up. I kept an eye out on the chat rooms for a while but never found anyone. Maybe my one partner got busy and forgot. It happens. As a matter of fact, I forgot a phone appointment with my advisor this morning. We're all human so occasional forgetfulness is a fact of life. My concern is that the messaging is not working because we're not making timely enough responses. I think the chat will work great if we can all show up at the same time. I don't expect to be able to arrange any other form of meetup if we can't schedule them through email messages. I don't see my classmates in person because this is a web class.

Well, that was a bummer of a post. I'm sorry I don't have something more positive to say. I have a massively busy weekend ahead of me starting tomorrow so I won't be able to get together with my group. On the upside, the reason I'll be so busy is because I'll be working at a Magic the Gathering Grand Prix. I work a few events each year and love every minute of it. Often I get to travel around the country and see new places while I'm working these fun events. This time, the event is here in Indy. Wherever it is located, I love seeing my friends from all over the country.

W390 Week 8: Project Groups

Our groups have been assigned for our multi-media project in English W390. It looks like my teammates are good with PowerPoint, which rocks because I don’t know enough about it to do much more than some basic slides, maybe with some animations. I embedded a video in a slide presentation for a project last semester, but my skills are lacking. The reason PowerPoint experience is important for this project is not because we are creating PP presentations, but because we are using it as a tool to create other multi-media type stuff. It’s a useful tool for that, apparently.
According to the group assignments, my group has 3 other people, but honestly, I can’t find evidence of one of the members even being in the class. She’s not on the roster and I can’t find any forum posts by her, either. I guess that means I am part of a group of three. My strengths, which include some web admin experience and the fact that I’m a quick study combined with the skills of my team mates which include some experience with digital media in addition to their PowerPoint experience, should help to make our project go pretty smoothly.

I have an idea for spicing up some of the English Department websites that list major requirements. I like my idea, but I’m totally game for something else if one of the girls in my group has a fun idea. I hope we have so many great ideas that our biggest problem will be deciding which one to do.