Wednesday, March 17, 2010
St. Patrick's Day
This holiday definitely falls into the same boat as Halloween: kind of fun for kids but WAY more fun for adults.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Video Games and Why Some Rule
I often had wondered why some video games seem so inherently great, while others are dull and boring. For example, no matter where you go you'll find general agreement that some of the greatest games of all time are Super Mario Bros. 3, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Kart, Golden Eye, Halo 2, and Gears of War. But what makes them great?
I'd argue there are main criteria.
1) Natural learning progression. On all of these games, you were able to pick them up and if you had some video game skill probably beat level 1. While playing the game it kept challenging you to learn new skills and such, but in a manner where you were never overwhelmed.
2) Throw the controller against the wall hard in some places. All of these games had their spots where you could wanted to scream because they were so hard. But then once you beat them it gave you that true feeling of satisfaction.
3) Expansive. On all of these games you can either go through the game as fast as you want, or take more time to explore and find more things. They games are epic in scope, and the first time through you won't see everything.
4) No limit to mastery / re-playability. All of these games really have no limit to how how good you can be in them, and also have no limit in how many times you will want to play them again. The games essentially allow a player to be as talented as they want, and the ability to showcase that talent.
I'd argue there are main criteria.
1) Natural learning progression. On all of these games, you were able to pick them up and if you had some video game skill probably beat level 1. While playing the game it kept challenging you to learn new skills and such, but in a manner where you were never overwhelmed.
2) Throw the controller against the wall hard in some places. All of these games had their spots where you could wanted to scream because they were so hard. But then once you beat them it gave you that true feeling of satisfaction.
3) Expansive. On all of these games you can either go through the game as fast as you want, or take more time to explore and find more things. They games are epic in scope, and the first time through you won't see everything.
4) No limit to mastery / re-playability. All of these games really have no limit to how how good you can be in them, and also have no limit in how many times you will want to play them again. The games essentially allow a player to be as talented as they want, and the ability to showcase that talent.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Morning coffee and RSS feeds
I'm not sure when it started, but I'm pretty sure that I cannot start my day with a cup of coffee and spending about 30 minutes going through my RSS feeds (used to be just coffee). If people come in my office to interrupt this ritual I find myself to be surprisingly annoyed. I can trace this all back to my first initial innocent attempt to "check out" Google Reader a few years ago did me in (and the fact Digg is pretty sweet).
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Popular vs. Olympic sports
Every 4 years (well, I guess 2) many of the athletes start talking about their specific sports and how they are working to get it be more popular (such as Michael Phelps and swimming). Inevitably, none of the sports gain traction. To me, if one looks at the more popular sports out there (football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, tennis, etc) they all have 2 things in common: the ability to easily play pickup and the ability for a game to last for a decent length of time.
By the ability to play pickup I mean that the sport does not require any judging, and the sport does not require any special equipment. While one could argue that swimming or skiing is a pickup sport, it really is not the way I am thinking of it. For a sport to be a true pickup sport you need the ability to quickly be able to start playing it in most locations, and the sport itself will be competitive when played. My theory is that thisability to play pickup allows people to better relate to a sport, and be more likely to watch it.
Secondly, the ability of a sport to last some length of time means that it can be a social event you sit down to enjoy for some length of time. The problem with many Olympic type events is that they are over in a minute or 2. While that minute is exciting, it is easy to miss or forget about and there is nothing to do after the minute is over.
The reason people like the Olympics is it solves both of these problems: By allowing the event to be the USA versus others, people relate to the sport. Since there are many sports going on at once, you can sit down for a few hours and watch many different 1 or 2 minute events.
Are there any other differences I am missing?
By the ability to play pickup I mean that the sport does not require any judging, and the sport does not require any special equipment. While one could argue that swimming or skiing is a pickup sport, it really is not the way I am thinking of it. For a sport to be a true pickup sport you need the ability to quickly be able to start playing it in most locations, and the sport itself will be competitive when played. My theory is that thisability to play pickup allows people to better relate to a sport, and be more likely to watch it.
Secondly, the ability of a sport to last some length of time means that it can be a social event you sit down to enjoy for some length of time. The problem with many Olympic type events is that they are over in a minute or 2. While that minute is exciting, it is easy to miss or forget about and there is nothing to do after the minute is over.
The reason people like the Olympics is it solves both of these problems: By allowing the event to be the USA versus others, people relate to the sport. Since there are many sports going on at once, you can sit down for a few hours and watch many different 1 or 2 minute events.
Are there any other differences I am missing?
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Why women love the Gilmore Girls
My wife loves the Gilmore Girls, and I have often wondered why. Sure they talk fast, deal with girly things, and such but there are dozens of shows out there that do the same. Why is liking the Gilmore Girls essentially a requirement for all females?
After seeing parts of 50 episodes, I know why. It has nothing to do with the women. It is the men. Most men on the show are quirky, not that smart, and are easily manipulated. The women on the other hand are smart, intelligent, and can often get the guys to do whatever they want. The women run the whole town and the men are there to provide amusement! This is the situation every women dreams about.
Makes perfect sense now why your wife or girlfriend watches reruns of the show, doesn’t it?
After seeing parts of 50 episodes, I know why. It has nothing to do with the women. It is the men. Most men on the show are quirky, not that smart, and are easily manipulated. The women on the other hand are smart, intelligent, and can often get the guys to do whatever they want. The women run the whole town and the men are there to provide amusement! This is the situation every women dreams about.
Makes perfect sense now why your wife or girlfriend watches reruns of the show, doesn’t it?
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
I love articles like this
Many times you read an article and can get the gist of what it is going to say from either the title or the first paragraph. Spending a few more minutes to read the rest of it is truly a waste of time as you already know what they are going to say.
However, articles like this can come along talking about how people, throughout history, constantly feel threatened by any new piece of media that comes along (dating back to the 1500's). Each paragraph contains actual fascinating information. It is truly an interesting read, and you will feel compelled to read the whole article.
However, articles like this can come along talking about how people, throughout history, constantly feel threatened by any new piece of media that comes along (dating back to the 1500's). Each paragraph contains actual fascinating information. It is truly an interesting read, and you will feel compelled to read the whole article.
Monday, February 15, 2010
One thing that makes movies great
It is hard to put into words, but the best I can define it as is many truly great movies are vast enough in scope and imagination that you could make many movies or books that take place before, after, or even during the movie about other events that are happening in the world the movie created.
Lord of the Rings - you could easily make another movie about what was happening in Middle Earth while the events of the movies were taking place. Or a sequel.
Avatar - prequels or sequels are easily imagined.
Batman Returns - What is happening in the rest of Gotham while Batman is fighting the Joker?
I'm pretty sure that following this rule will make a movie great, but it is not 100% necessary to make a great movie.
Lord of the Rings - you could easily make another movie about what was happening in Middle Earth while the events of the movies were taking place. Or a sequel.
Avatar - prequels or sequels are easily imagined.
Batman Returns - What is happening in the rest of Gotham while Batman is fighting the Joker?
I'm pretty sure that following this rule will make a movie great, but it is not 100% necessary to make a great movie.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Google Buzz
Integrating it with Gmail was a good idea. Making it really no different than Gmail was a bad idea. Making it easy to link to Picasa and Blogger was a good idea. Making everyone you email automatically connect to you is a bad idea.
My favorite thing about using Google Buzz so far is posting stuff on Google Buzz making fun of Google Buzz.
My favorite thing about using Google Buzz so far is posting stuff on Google Buzz making fun of Google Buzz.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Democrats vs. Repulicans
Are Republicans intuitively better at microeconomics and Democrats intuitively better at macroeconomics? I think so.
Lost
Does anyone think that the new flashbacks on Lost to the alternate reality where they do not crash into the island are actually the past and they still end up on the island?
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