It's all about the 'Flow,' Baby!

It's nice to come across articles that are relevant to a question I am currently trying to answer or come up with a solution for.

Lately, I've been inundated with an exorbitant amount of features requiring a social focus, when there is a severe lack of understanding on what social really means. The lines become blurred pretty quickly depending on whom you speak to about what it means, but I like to think I have a solid grasp on what it is. For me, social starts at the connected roots of people. We inherently want to feel connected. When it comes to games, it's key to make sure that as developers, we keep in mind that the connectedness of users and the user experience will directly affect the social experience before it even starts. If we fail to make the user feel connected, or if we miss the opportunity to foster community with the user base of whatever product we are making, we have lost our social audience before we leave the starting line.

It all comes down to 'Flow'. This is the sweet spot in between boredom and anxiety in which the user becomes completely connected with both the product and the other users that are utilizing it. It's where they become indefinitely absorbed because they feel engaged.

The 'Typical Flow' Diagram

This is the third time I have come across this diagram in as many months, and I have learned invaluable lessons from the information it provides, the two books and this article it is mentioned in: http://gamasutra.com/view/feature/168230/gamification_dynamics_flow_and_art.php

As mentioned in the article, Jenova Chen's thesis is a fantastic read on the subject of flow, and making the user feel connected to the product and other users. Check it out here: http://www.jenovachen.com/flowingames/introduction.htm

I have much more I want to discuss about this subject, but alas, it is time for Game 1 of the Playoffs.
Until next time,
~Corlag the Bard~

Striving for Greatness

I heard two extremely truthful and powerful sayings today, and could not resist sharing them.
"As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters." ~Seneca
"What we achieve inwardly, will change outer reality." ~Plutarch

 I was listening to the 2008 Graduation Address by J.K. Rowling given at Harvard which is hosted on TED Talk, and was struck with how down to earth and raw the address was. I have a tremendous respect for Mrs. Rowling, as a writer and as a human being of extreme compassion. It is wisdom like this that the world could do with more of, and it is a part of the foundation with which I build my life and strive to achieve greater things than even I dream possible.

If we do not strive to achieve greatness, and if we simply forget to continue dreaming, what do we have left but a mundane life? I challenge you to embrace creativity daily, in some capacity, and in so doing, achieve greater happiness. I surely have.

 ~Corlag the Bard

Operation Game Frame: Part 2

Nothing like dreaming up a whole race for a book world and how this race is interwoven with the world they inhabit while trying to sleep, waking up and jotting it all down. The best part about dreams like this, is how empowering they can be, especially when it solves a problem with the world that was causing a bit of writers block.

I'm not sure what I ate the other night, but damn if I don't wish I knew.

Phase 2 of Operation Game Frame has begun. Within a few weeks it will be completed. We are up to a small team of four, but have yet to lock in a programmer. They sure are elusive beasts at times, or rather more to the point, finding one that is not already working on something is the real elusive beast.

If you're feeling like opportunities are passing you by, make your own!

~Corlag

With the zeal of a thousand thunder clouds, tomorrow rumbles inevitably forward without a care in the world. What will you do when it comes along the tracks?

I'll be grabbing the bull by the horns and digging in my heels.

~Corlag~

Project Game Frame - Step 1: Foundations

I've been working in the games industry for two years now, and have seen more change that I care to admit. With the current instability of large companies, I have been placing a lot of thought on where I want to be in the next five years, and it scares the living shit out of me when I think about working on yet another sports game.

They are amazing in their own right, and I can appreciate all of the hard work that goes into them, but I simply need more. My mind is ablaze with ideas, new ones and old ones alike. I long to see these ideas prototyped and even come to life.

My book has been coming at a much slower pace with all of the things going on over the past two years, but is well on it's way now, and it too pulls at me. It haunts my dreams, gives me palpitations when I see the notes on the desk, and eats at me when I sit by and do nothing in the way of work on it.

It's become increasingly brutal to crack through the barrier of entry for industry jobs at studios in the states with the economy the way it is. At first this was an overcasting cloud, and then things started to rapidly change in the local industry for the better.

A multitude of new titles and studios have appeared and continue to appear in the Vancouver scene, and I've made a great deal of contacts at almost every studio in this city now. I am biding my time, not necessarily as patiently as I should, but until I can make the leap without the worry of looming loan payments, I will simply have to cope with it.

In the meantime, I have taken to video/sound editing, working on the first novel, tinkering with photo shop, and brainstorming and documenting my game ideas. The first step to grasping the future will be a more focused approach to these things, and less wasted time while at the computer. Writing down the goals, dreams, and game plan will be my foundation.

Next up, finding a programmer that is like minded and wants to work on side projects.

Dream big, then wake up the next day and dream even bigger. Don't stop.

~Corlag

P.S. Don't be a dick.

Busy and loving it!

What to say, what to say...

Well, I guess I can start with what's new and why I've missed blogging for so long. I started up a game studio that is focusing on board games a little while back, and have been crunching hours on it, bringing the first game to fruition with a few friends that I got to know back in Game Design school. We're a small team right now, but we have high aspirations.

There's not a lot I can talk about just yet, but I will say that there's going to be something for everybody with this game, and that it will cater to both casual and hardcore gamers.

Between work as a development support tester at EA currently, the board game studio, and another side project, I have been left with a rather small amount of actual free time which I tend to use for such things as catching up on a book related to game design/writing, watching a movie or a tv show, or splashing around in a game for twenty minutes to keep up on what's new and how playing a game feels still.

Is it all worth it? Personally, hell yes it is. I've never been happier, and I always have something to look forward to. Life is short, we only get one shot, and I plan to do as much with it as I can during my stay. The time that I am spending on things right now, will (the hope is) set me up for the future, and afford me the opportunity to take what I am doing in my spare time and make it my only job, and to move forward with my career. This too will afford me much more free time later on, as I laying the ground work now to make that possible.

It's so critical, in this day and age, to rethink how we do things, and to evaluate the value in what it is we do on a daily basis. Time is our most precious resource, why sell it for cheap to people that don't give a rats ass about you or I? Do something each day that gets you closer to doing what you love to do. Period!

Life is full of opportunity, and change is good. If you are feeling stuck, or feel that what you are doing is a dead end, change it now. Don't wait.

~Corlag the Bard