Lewis, the 14-year old at home, finished playing Shadow of the colossus the other day and I watched him slay the final colossus and sat through the end sequence and once again I was struck by the graphics, the beauty, the effect the scenery and the characters have on me. That world, that is so similar to that in Ico, filles me with sadness, solitutde, longing.

And - It. Is. So. Cool. Every person who has ever enjoyed a book or a movie should (have the right to) try out at least one game (based on their preference of genre etc) and have that experience… being completely immersed, drawn into a world, a fight, an adventure, a feeling that you - YOU - can actually participate in. You can affect the outcome of that story. The destiny of that person depends on you.

A good story does that to you, it brings you far away from where you really are and puts you in the middle of another world, another life. And it all just might depend on you…the weight of the entire world temporary on your shoulders. Heavy. And you forget that you could actually just turn it off, that would be such a betrayal…such a failure…

It is the very essence of games and old news, I know…but it still strikes me sometimes and then I get really excited and have to write something about it

/ L

That videogames are now in the firing line (in fact, I’d argue that parents’ irresponsible treatment of videogames as a surrogate babysitter is what’s in the firing line) is simply a sign of the times. For decades, we have pointed to television and fast food as the culprits of childhood ill-health. As the childhood obesity issue continues to grow, absorbing more and more of the NHS’ funding with each passing year, videogames have joined television as one of the nation’s favourite sedentary pastimes. No campaign has claimed that videogames are inherently unhealthy or bad, but equally, it takes remarkable ignorance to deny that many children play too many games and don’t get enough exercise.

The quote is fron an article by Rob Fahey and you find The Big, Fat Question on gamesindustry.biz.

What’s interesting, and slightly refreshing about the article is that Fahey unlike most people who love games actually admits that there might be a problem with kids spending too much time playing them. And - he points out the real problem: parents letting the kids get away with it. Parents to lazy or ignorant to draw the line, relying on the xbox to act babysitter. Games, like books and movies, does not create problems on their own. They need to be used without sense and consideration to actually cause damage. Anything - papaya fruits, water, milk, jogging, oat meal or indeed computer games - used in escess, may be harmful.

Didn’t we already know that? Isn’t that just common sense?

Anyway - the article is nice reading as Fahey avoids getting all defensive and sticks to the point.

Lewis just phoned me, to complain about having to go on the bus for half an hour to get home from school… about how much it sucks having to walk a kilometer from the bus to our house…and about the fact that he missed the last bus today and has to go home with me. In the car. After I’ve finished working. Poor poor industrialized country children of today. The horrors. The dreadful circumstances they have to put up with! (major irony taking place here)

While on the phone he asked if he could borrow my laptop once he gets here. “No, cause I’m working”. Oh, but the other one? (spoiled! - there’s always another computer lurking around the corner) “Yes fine, you can use that” Have you released that racing game yet? “No, it’s not out yet” But you could play it on the internet? “Yes, but it’s not OUT yet. It’s just for us, it’s not for everyone. It’s still being developed” Right, you need like a code or something. “Sort of, yeah”. It was fun, I want to play it…

And that’s when I get a sort of warm fuzzy feeling inside… My gaming child likes our game. He wants to play it. He’s not into sports of any kind - he doesn’t play PS at all - he just really likes games. And he really liked PR… That’s a good sign. And right now, looking out, I definetely need a good warm fuzzy feeling.

Imagine “Great Britain Grey” as if there was such a colour. Then add drizzling rain. Then through in a bit of snow, nicely blending with the rain. And ta-taaa! That’s Linköping today. (update: now it’s actually snowing, like Santa is coming to town…what happened to spring and birds singing and those daffodils finding their way through the frozen ground?)

Looking forward to that lit fire that will be burning in our living room later this evening…

…one of the guys on the racing team said “…this might be a game for you” and I have to agree… I think I have to get it when it comes out. (although I always say that and I never do…) And here is a video if you wanna have a look.

You know me, a sucker for anything remotely related to martial arts, swords and ninjas in general.

Look - cute lethal Samurai enemy:

x —————————————- end of useful information ——————————————– x

…and here is a way too long P.S./endless rambling on my everlasting obsession with karate kids and ninjas…

I’m so incredibly fascinated by people (or animals, like police dogs) who are ridiculously skilled beyond my wildest imagination. Those who have devoted most of their time - and life - to becoming the best they can be (ok so the dogs don’t really make those decisions for themselves…but still). It’s amazing to see how far one can get by dedication, will power and serious training. And, I guess, a sensible diet, running, mental exercise, no drinking or smoking, probably no coffe, no lazy-Sundays-on-the-sofa, no popcorn…

Am I jealous? Yes and no. I want to be a next-to-superhero, but I also want the popcorn-and-coffe-diet. And the long hours on the sofa, stretched out while reading about people doing stuff in places I’m never gonna go or I might be watching a movie, most likely some big time romance or superheroic worldsaving.

For some reason I don’t want to surrender the idea of one (wo)man’s potential impact on the world, how we all can make a difference, the constant struggle between good and evil and how we can choose sides, that it actually pays off to do the right thing… Maybe it’s just part of the human nature, dreaming of better worlds and being extraordinary in a life where you actually learn to appreciate life being stuck on repeat from time to time…

*snap*

Jumping right out of the heavy thinking mode and jumping into multitasking spotify/game production mode.

Later!

/ L

Ruben, at the delicate age of seven, hasn’t completely lost the ability to do nothing. Absolutely nothing. He can pretty much lie down on the floor for a couple of hours, doing…something? Nothing? I’m not sure. He likes weapons and super heros and knights, so maybe there’s some kind of role playing game taking place, quietly. Maybe the rug he’s lying on is a magic one, maybe Dimitar the cat is a dragon.

Sometimes I let him play games, PS2 or on the computer for hours. Sometimes I realise that he needs to keep his very own imagination going, the one that’s activated when you’re busy doing nothing. He can stay out for hours - hours! - on his own, even in the dark, and apparantly be part om some mighty adventure, on the hill some 50 meters from the house. It has a couple of nicely situated tree, perfect for climbing. And because of this, and his ability to lie down anywhere and do nothing for a long time, it doesn’t worry me the slightest that he likes to play Battlefront II for hours sometimes.

Anyway, my point is, it’s good for kids - or anyone - to be bored sometimes. To not have anything in particular to do. Being unscheduled. Use. Your. Imagination.

Why this subject came up today is that we’ve been home for three days cause he’s got some kind of nasty cold and coughs around the clock. Still, he’s not so sick he’s in bed. He’s up and about - and bored. So we’re exercising those imaginative skills, mixing action figures with wooden train tracks, the knights and their castle and some classic board games. And, of course, the latest favourite: Lord of the rings spoofs on youtube. (that one’s in Swedish though…) He laughs himself silly, then begins to cough again.

Anyway, just some thoughts on this whole being allowed to be bored or not issue. Parents today seem to compete with eachother who’s kid have the most social activites. Soccer practice, ice hockey, gymnastics, singing, basket ball, swimming…you name it. Practice, matches, competitions. Hurry from school, rushing from one place to the next. Talking to the other parents, comparing, being the busiest, winning the prize…

How about valuing taking it easy, hanging out, finding out what happens when noone tells you what to do..?

Of course it’s great getting exercise, fine tuning those social skills and being part of something bigger than yourself. But I strongly doubt those scheduled activities are gonna decide who and what you become, what kind of person you are. Are parents doing it for the kids - or themselves?

Common sense, a walk in the woods and some peace of mind goes a long way I think.

And yes, Sipwell, my conscience and better self will soon remind me that my standpoints prove I’m nothing but an old hippie, but that’s fine. I choose flower power over SUV’s in the suburb any day…

Anders S sent me a youtube link to this cool and amusing little thing about the immersive nature of games. Or at least that’s how I interpreted it. (it can also be found at New York Times Magazine)

So I was in a games shop the other day, just killing time, hoping to be impressed and lured into buying a way too expensive game for the 360 at the office. Or maybe even a really cheap one for my PS2 at home. But no. No no no. Nothing that even resembled a blasting hilarious innovative driving game.

The two next-to-potential ones were Project Gotham Racing 4 and Midnight Club Los Angeles. Didn’t get them though.

Yesterday someone in the team said “we should get some new games, like PGR 4 and Midnight Club…” So today I’m strolling up the street on my lunch break getting those games. And I think I’ll spend some of the afternoon in the game room…I swear I’m gonna break down in tears if there is even one half naked girl in that da** game. One! It’s still one too many…

What are you doing today?

New research shows an increase by 43 % in the use of computer games for women aged 55-64 (that’s like… your grandparents - think about it…) For women/girls aged 12-17 the numbers are 55 % . The number of young women playing games have more than doubled compared with last year. That’s a l-o-t.

They seem to have found their way into gaming in a non typical manner. Sometimes through online magazines or other sites with editorial material, while looking for something else. A long lost target group, who wouldn’t consider themselves being “gamers” come across intuitive, easy access games that can be played and understood in a matter of minutes. And they like it. And they play.

It’s so obvious that the structures of power and economics in society play an important role here. Let me generalize.

• Most women don’t own the computer/technical stuff at home, it usually belongs to the father, brother or boyfriend. Technology is, historically, a domain that belongs to men. Not many daughters see their mums installing the software, changing the tyres or putting up those shelves. Boys on the other hand constantly see their dads doing all of that. They have a role model when it comes to stuff that includes tools or technical know-how. They’re brought up thinking “I’m a guy and this is what guys do”. Don’t under-estimate the power of habits.

• Men, generally, make more money than women. More money = more means for the fun stuff. (if you’re close to being broke, you don’t bother investing in a game that needs tedious installation and a complicated, expensive system to run)

• In most families the woman is the one taking care of the kids and the household chores. The amount of time spent on hobbies or personal interest (activities not related to the family or house) is a lot less then for men.  Key element here is “spending time”. Imagine coming home from work knowing you’re gonna be interupted like 4872 times in the next four hours. Would you really bother trying to get into a game? If you’re already sort of stressed out about everything that’s needed to get done, it’s not even your own computer, someone might make fun of you while trying…how fun could it be?

• Most games are made by men - for men. The covers, no matter what the game is actually about, seem to focus on boobs and bazookas (not really, but Barbie-like women in general and weapons). Don’t get me wrong - I love fighting and I don’t mind women. But it has to be interesting. I just don’t enjoy those stereotype bodies or that super-high-speed shooting that a lot of games are about. Bikini babes, post war surroundings and first person perspective. It doesn’t do it for me.

Enter - casual games. Casual games are (mostly)free of charge, require no installation, no extra hardware and they can be understood and played in a matter of minutes. This doesn’t mean that women are not as competent as men. They don’t need “games for dummies” instructions to be able to play computer games. This has nothing to do with IQ. (there have been female engineers and programmers in Sweden since the 50’s - they’re just as good as men on this). But it takes a lot more for a woman to get there. There are more obsticles in her way.

// L.

Tell me - aren’t we missing something? Isn’t there some kind of game we haven’t made yet, a genre we didn’t think of? What great games are twirling around in your head, ideas just waiting to be realized?

Maybe it’s just me, but I never get blown away by new titles and it seems games don’t have the same diversity within its genre as, for example, books. Is it too much to expect all those bright minds within the game industry to actually come up with something new?

I want to get addicted. I want to get hooked, beoynd all salvation.

What games need to be made? What’s your opinion and ideas? What are we missing?

// L.

Here’s a question for you: what kind of music, what genre, would you prefer in a racing game?

If someone says “Need for speed” or “GT 4″ or “Burnout” - do you get an imaginary soundtrack in your head? Mozart or Iron Maiden, ABBA or Refused? Something else? In sports we sort of draw parallells between basketball and hiphop, skate(board) with (skate)punk etc etc. But how does that work in games? Is there such a thing as a perfect fit: music genre -> game genre?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!

// Linda