Rant: Cheating Sucks

Cheating sucks.

Cheating kids out of something sucks even more.

Cheating kids out of the experience in a developmental league to stoke your over-inflated ego, well, I think you know where I'm going with this.

As my brother and my bud reads over this (wifey doesn't visit too often...), they are probably thinking "Get over it finally..." Not quite that easy; you let me know when you son and his friends get robbed out of something. Sure it's a part of life, but dammit, my job as a parent is to stand up for them in times like this.

I did do that, in a most respectful way, after the game and in an attempt to keep it private (away from little eyes). I called to his attention the infraction to the rules, which is there to enable equal play for all the players. His initial response? "Hey man, I gotta go for the win." To answer your question, they are nine and ten year olds.

I cited the rules. And he gets mad. "Don't tell me about the rules. I'm the coach." We went to the same clinic man. "Don't step to me like this; it's ...." I could continue, but it gets pretty repetitive (different gym, different rules; asking the underpaid and ill-informed refs; etc.) until the last part.

Frustrated, I walk away, throw my hands in the air, and say "Whatever..." I'm a good ten fifteen feet away when I do this; he queries back, "What? Yeah, walk away; walk away."

The end of the season cannot come soon enough.

I haven't had someone actually want to go to fisticuffs with me...since high school.

Was I the bad guys about all of this? Then why the hell do I feel guilty?

Higher Standard Follow Up: No Crying in Baseball

One of my dear friends asked the question after reading my last post: What do you think about youth sports that don't declare a winner, where everyone win?

After strong consideration, I think that's not quite realistic. Part of the fun that comes with sports is competition. Compeititon is described, among other things, as "a contest between rivals". This, in essence, states that there will be one winner and one loser. Loser is so derogatory here; it simply states that you were not the victorious one.

Why is this better? Kids don't like defeat as much as adults. Losing hurts. You try your best but that weird kid playing left wasn't paying attention and the other team scored two runs as a result. Not your fault right? Team sports should teach teamwork (and all that entails, such as comeradie) that often is difficult to reproduce in other places. Sports can take you through a plethora of emotions. Happy ones that come from making a good play and helping to win the game. Sad ones that come from striking out to losing a close battle.

Is there a place for scoreless games? Sure, let's save that for the beginning leagues. The 5- and 6-year olds that are just starting out. It's more about learning the game there. As the kids grow, so should the expectations. The score won't kill a kid. And hopefully the parent is supportive in this endeavor.

Victory isn't always achieved by having the highest score. The high score only shows a few things, but often times, the most important score won't show up until years later.

Final Quote: "I used to care more about the score than I do now." - Darrell Royal

Interesting Question #3: Why do you game?

I've been playing video games since 1983 or so.  I remember my dad buying the Magnavox Odyssey² and bringing it home.  Since then, I've gone through numerous video game systems and such. 

And that leads us to this week's question:  Why do you game?

Is it the need to conquer that level?  Do you enjoy the typical mindless platformer?  Perhaps you are part of a clan and enjoy the comeraderie? 

There's no one reason why a person should play games.  A plethora of valid reasons exists, along with those not so valid reasons.

For me, it's about getting away for a brief moment.  It's not too terribly often I play for more than an hour at a time; I can't afford to during the school year.  Summer time, it's a bit of a different story, but I still have to set an example for my boys.  

In any case, I play games that offer a challenge (any FPS right now...), has music that I enjoy (Rock Band 2!!), and makes a person think (ever played echochrome or Flower?). 

So what drives you to get your digital fix?  Comments, as always, are welcome. And don't forget to vote on the poll!

Closing quote: "Video games are bad for you? That's what they said about rock and roll." - Shigeru Miyamoto

Intersting Question#2: Why do you do the Blog?

I love window shopping.  Ever since I can remember, I loved walking around store, malls and such and simply previewing the possibilities for the next time gifts might be exchanged.  

My sister and I had this simple game we used to play: Pick.  We would take a good catalogue (Christmas/Winter catalogues were the best as they had the largest assortment of toys).  We would flip the pages, taking turns on picking what we considered to be the best on each page.  Sometimes, especially if you had first pick, you'd take something the other wanted just to be antagonistic.

Why did we do it?  Well, maybe because we felt like we just didn't quite have that much.  More than anything, it was cheap and entertaining fun.  We enjoyed it.

That leads us up to this week's Interesting Question:  Why do you do the Blog?  And, to be honest, it doesn't necessarly pertain to just this one.  Why do you write?  Why do you visit the blogs that you do?

Answers will vary based upon the person, but I'll go ahead and give you mine.  I write because deep down inside lurks a wannabe writer, a poseur of prose if you will.  I've written, in my humble opinion, very little of great literary value, but....I digress.  I also enjoy reading other blogs namely because they share similar interests.  Guitarz is a great one for interesting guitars and PostSecret is one that deals with real life.  They offer me a fill of things I am simply into.

So what's your reason?  Be it simple or more complex than than a typical Home Owner's Association's by-laws, share your reason.

Final Quote: "We read to know that we are not alone." - C.S. Lewis

Poke Your Eyes: Forbes Magazine

Ahhhh...That's a sigh of satisfaction, as I decided to come up with a new monthly entry called "Poke Your Eyes".

For those unfamiliar, it's an expression, an idiom if you will, that basically means that someone is trying to trick, deceive, or con you into believing something. Politicians are notorious for trying to poke your eyes. I'd never heard it before moving to South Texas, but hey, it's a really big world.

In any case, this entry is about someone who recently, at least to me, attempts to "poke our eyes". It may be a big issue; it may not be. In any case, it's disappointing to be presented with something like this.

Without further ado...

Peter C. Beller, writer for Forbes, decided to pen up an interesting story about Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision, the software company knowed recently for console hits such asTony Hawk,  Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Guitar Hero.  While all three are hits in their own right, it's some of the choice words that Beller decided to use that is offensive.

Beller wrote:

EA also teamed with MTV to sell Rock Band, a shameless knockoff of Guitar Hero that added drums, bass and a microphone to the world of make-believe rock stars. EA says it is returning to an "auteur model" of designing games, taking bigger chances on fewer ideas. (Source: Forbes Magazine Website, January 2009)

These are some inflammatory words, especially for those that are informed about these matters.  I'd like to initially conclude that Forbes probably doesn't target the typical gamer, and as such probably didn't consider to really delve into the actual facts of the matter (I won't even go into the possible "buying out/buying ad space etc. argument").  The two primary parties of Guitar 

Hero I & II are Red Octane (hardware developer; read: plastic guitars) and Harmonix (software developer).  In short, the two parted companies (a whole 'nother story, too long for here) and were bought up by Activision (bought Red Octane) and MTV Games (bought Harmonix).  Both continued to develop games, with Activision publishing Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, while MTV Games publishing Rock Band, a new series that introduces the concept of an entire band (two guitars, drums, and a mic).  This was a hit at E3 2007, garnering the best Music Game of 

the show.  The innovation of the game invovling a band, a group of people, to successfully maneuver instruments and a voice to create music (through the convoluted pressing and tapping of plastic) is just that: innovation.

And that my readers is where our eyes got poked:  Harmonix, EA, and MTV all were the innovators in this genre.  Not to say that Guitar Hero didn't start off that way (assuming you overlook the precursors to GH).  Rock Band elevated the standard.  Period.  No rip offs.  No shameful actions.  Just simply producing a good game.

Personally, I prefer the Rock Band series (as does my son).  But, we do own copies of  both series and they both play well.  In short, do your research Beller.  Readers of your magazine expect 

(at least I would think that) you to write informative and factually based articles.  For me, I will forever be wary of your words.  

Unless you write that retraction really quick...

Rock On! It is announced...

"Rock Band Confirmed for Wii".

That's the caption for the brief article written by Shawn White over at a personal fav site of mine, The Wiire. I read this and just had to gather more evidence. I visit about every other day to update myself on our recent acquisition of a Wii. Love it. Read my review from earlier.

At this point, details are little, but it's appears as March get's closer, we'll have more news about it. I can only imagine the possibilities with the fully wireless Wiimote, guitars, drums, and mic. Whoo!

Now for those of you that don't know, Rock Band THE music game. If you are a Guitar Hero star, then this game will make you legendary. It's that good and more. A brief and quick intro.

The game (as I type this, I refer to the current 360 and PS3 versions) comes in a fairly large package, think double VCR box. In this comes the game, the current standard five-buttoned guitar, microphone, and a simplistic looking drum kit consisting of four head and a bass pedal.
I had the opportunity to play Rock Band over the holidays and it was quite an experience.

I had the chance to play with my two brothers and my second to youngest sister. I started off on the drums. A humbling experience to anyone without coordination, I fancy myself able to handle the challenge. Without intending to sound redundant, very humbling. My face hurt smiling so much. A raucous laughter broke through the house as my siblings would jam out with lighting accurate notes mixed with attrocious miskeys and warbled vocals.

Trying again, I took up the mic and this ended up being my forte. For whatever reason, I could really get into belting out song after song. My siblings and mother alike derived joy simply by watching me play out my Jon Bon Jovi fantasies of 1988 (Can you remember walking down the street singing "Shot through the heart, and your to blame; you give love a bad name!", eh Kris?). While the songs I knew presented little challenge, the songs I sort of knew but always mis-sang were more difficult, even amidst the karaoke-scrolling lyrics. There's even a meter to gauge your tone/key. It's rare that I've found a game to be so interactive, challenging, and simply fun for all that are simply present. Each player can even choose his/her own level to participate without messing up too often.

Playing with a group was my only opportunity, so I can only comment on group play. A friend chided me, "It can't be that fun alone." Perhaps not, but any game is more fun with a friend. Why would this be different? In fact, it's been argued that the drum portion, when set to Expert, would mimic that of an actual rock band's drummer. Not identical, but quite similar. The transition would be easily made.

I can't wait. You'll get a somewhat biased, but completely honest review here when it comes out. Rare do I say I'll buy it when it comes out, but this is one where I'll preorder and have it on Day

1.

Need more, check out G4's really informative article at The Feed.

Opposed & Juxtaposed: Video Gaming or Reading

This is a tough one. Coming from an English teacher who loves ebonics in an informal atmosphere, I do find myself somewhat conflicted.

I can't remember not liking reading. Ever since I could waste time away without supervision, I remember climbing upon that porcelean throne to take care of my daily business with a copy of Frog and Toad. That was some good reading at that time. Since then, I've read so many good books, I could probably go back through them the rest of my life. Books have been integral in the life I've lived thus.

I remember also another time. We stopped in a mall in Houston, my dad ran inside an electronics store and came out with a big box. That box would garner my attention for the hour-long ride home. Seeing all those vivid colors, the excitement in the eyes of the players, the big and bold letters spelling out "Odyssey". It was tantalizing. Since then, games have been part of my life, whether playing simple word based strategy games (think Zork) up to the the current Wii's Super Mario Galaxy. As I've grown and developed, so have the games available to play.

So the question that Kris and I have posed for this week: Which is more wasteful, video gaming or reading?

With my history, I automatically want to say video gaming. Why? Shouldn't that be obvious? It should shouldn't it. Okay, so right now, think of five reasons why video gaming is wasteful. Did you come up with five? Were they seriously good? Because everyone automatically assumes that because it's video games, it's a waste of time. C'mon people; don't be so trite.

There are a lot of things that can be wastes of time: NASCAR (wow, that's a big one there), gardening (don't those plants die anyways?), making your bed EVERY day (won't it get messed up anyway?), cruising or driving around (have you bought gas lately?), and even eating out (doesn't your kitchen work? can't you bring your lunch? do I need to go on?). The point: Anything without an absolute reason is wasteful. Ah, but what is that absolute reason? Well, it's kind of like having to wear khakis to work. I have to, so buying them isn't a waste. Arguably, buying jeans would be under this logic. But, hobbies of any kind are, under this logic, a waste of time. There is no return. And, unless your doctor says that you have to do it or you will die, then there isn't a reason that isn't wasteful for it.

Now that I've offended you and you are still reading, consider this: What is important to you? Go ahead, I'll wait for those of you in the back to consider it. Ready? Okay.

You value system, priorties, and beliefs drive you to make the choices and decision every day. Coffee, water, tea or soda? As you decide, you consider cost, benefit (caffeine, health, calories, etc.) and even convenience (is it going to spill, etc.). Those that celebrate Ramadan fast during daylight hours. No choice for those Muslim observers. You may remember those kitschy little bracelets and bumper stickers that proclaimed "W.W.J.D."? Well, what would He do? Does that help you equate your decisions? The point here is your values are just that: Valued. They give that sense of worth to any and all that you hold in higher esteem. Society has so-called norms that people should follow (and there's many that I agree with and others that I disagree with) and vice-versa. Do you or don't you?

Video games are plain fun. Hedonistic even. An outlet for almost any type of adventure out there. Want to race? Pillage and plunder? Steal cars and motorcycles? Explore the galaxy for your princess? Play with a digital animal? Relive battles of yore? This can all be done in the video gaming realm. Wasteful, absolutely. And absolutely not.

Video games came about initially not as a time waster, but as a challenge for the programmers to develop an interactive program. Games were just interesting. As the demand and interest grew, the challenge continue to grow. Not only for programmers (and the blooming computer industry, but that's another whole entry there), but for gamers: the challenge of conquering the game. Could you flip the game? As games develop in complexity, so did the rewards for gaming. Consider this: when was the last time you played a simple platform game? Did you have any difficulty solving the various tasks? Did you complete the game at all? Now, consider the more complex games that involve serious timing, coordination, problem solving, and atypical thinking. Games offer that: higher level thinking skills. In fact, in a study funded by Microsoft, found numerous benefits.

After two and a half years, Global Kids is delighted to release the results of the independent evaluation by the Center for Children and Technology of both Playing 4 Keeps, our after school gaming program, and Ayiti, the game produced with Gamelab during the first year of the program. For the evaluation CCT observed the program and interviewed the students. To evaluate the game they looked at the results of nearly 16,000 game plays.

Download the full report here:

In short, when we made Ayiti we wanted to learn if players would learn if the factors affecting access to education within an impoverished condition are both interdependent and exist within a dynamic system. CCT’s research found that “the central idea embedded in the game play, that no single factor accounts for success, appears to have been successfully communicated to the majority of players.”

Bingo!

In addition, they describe how youth report that through their participation in the after school program their experiences involved:

* Engaging in activities that require useful life skills related to communication and collaboration; Learning about social issues; Realizing what goes into designing and creating a good game; and Gaining general computers skills.

A gaming program that improves the lives of its participants and creates a game that has a measurable affect on the critical thinking of its players AND is an award-winning, engaging experience - nice!

Source: The Evil Number 27's Occaisional Bivouac, Link

So, is video gaming better than reading? Haven't you been reading? No it's not. Both are beneficial in their own intrinsic way. Reading promotes literacy (which is absolutely irreplaceable). Reading expands knowledge. Reading encourages the development of creativity and imagination (Say it ala Spongebob, "Imagination!"). Reading is a valuable tool in any war, global or figurative. We cannot continue as a successful species with literacy.

Video gaming is a modern day evolutionary device. Consider that the first printed book is about 600 years old, and hand-written books in codex form (taking sheafs of paper then folding in half, fastening at the fold) date to the fourth century AD. Books have a history that video games cannot compete equally with. Video games offer a variety of benefits that parallel books in certain, and surpass in a few others. The appeal of video games in modern times barely supercedes that of books, but the cost of them can be prohibitively expensive.

So the answer to the question is simply this: Neither are a waste. I've seen kids waste away into solidarity and recluse by constant and absolute reading. I've seen the same from active gamers who only have friends via Massive Multiplayer Online (MMOs) games. I've seen productive kids come from both. Typically, moderation is demonstrated to get the best results. I like both and will continue both.

Collaborative Efforts: Opposed & Juxtaposed

In an effort to perhaps expand our writing horizons and encourage the exchange of free thoughts and opinions, my longtime friend and fellow blogger K.A. Denby and I have joined cahoots to bring you a new section to each of our blogs: Opposed & Juxtaposed.

It's an opportunity for us to take a look at what's going on in the world (be it globally or even just our little sliver of it) and comment and argue about all that's good, well, silly, wasteful, and just plain there. Sometimes, we agree, but sometimes we don't. Sometimes, there's only the partial agreement and others there's more. Hopefully, you enjoy it. If not, then your tastes will improve the more you come back.

This week's and our first topic: Which is more wasteful: Video Gaming or Pleasure Reading? The grounds on this topic are that while video gaming is easily considered "a gigantic time drain". The counter point is that couldn't reading "fiction for simple pleaseure be the same?". Kris will be taking the high road on this, opining his take on the value of reading for pleasure; while I will take the modern time vacuum that is gaming.

Wii Rocked My House

Christmas was pretty good this year.

• The boy and I received a Wii this year. Yes, it was more for him, but he and I get joy out of it together. So here's the review/synopsis/ whatever you want to call it. If you don't want to read anymore, then scroll down.

• First, let's talk about aesthitics. Now, I know that many would argue about it being white, but they will get over it. It's quite elegent, in a sublte and simplified way. You can set it up vertically (as in the pic) or horizontally (as I usually do when on the go). Clean and simple, that's something that appeals to me. When you have a message, a blue light will glow indicating that (very nice, I have to get more messages in teh future); otherwise, no blue light. The controlls are again simple and clean. Everything pretty much fits intuitively in your hand. My son's hands are a bit smaller, but this isn't too bad really. Perhaps the only thing that I don't like (a small niggle...) is on the stand, there are two half-circles that reach out on the sides (you can't see them in the pic, but they are there). I think that this would limit some of the places you may want to put the Wii, but at the same time, if it were without them two things would happen: 1) the stand would be less stable (a bad thing); and, 2) you would probably put the Wii in areas that wouldn't allow it to breathe well enough to avoid overheating.

• Now, let's talk about graphics and gameplay. Actually, let's clear the air now about graphics. As many may well be aware of, the Wii lacks on the graphics side of the gaming console war. It will not display in HD, does not support 1080p. Done, that's it, do not pass go, do not collect $200. It's been established...And, yet people continue to bring this up. Obviously, it's not a priority for my son or me, so it doesn't bother us. If you are bothered by what many call "last-gen graphics), then purchase an XBox 360 or a Playstation 3. Both are great systems and support the higher definition graphics. But this isn't about those two. The Wii shines in regards to innovative gameplay. Yadda yadda yadda (Thank you, Elaine Benes!); I'm sure taht we've all heard this speil, but you haven't played Madden until you actually throw a football to the endzone via a frozen rope or literally thrown a stiff arm and broken two tackles for that pivotal first down. There are a great many games that require you to perform through specific movements to acomplish a task. For example, the included game Wii Sports is perhaps one of best to illustrate this. Bowling is perhaps my favorite on their (and this coming from a golf freak!) and your timing, force, and spin all must correlate in order to throw that deliberate strike. Simply put: the Wii actually enables you to experience that game in a manner that paralells virtual reality. When you move, so does your charcter; when you swing, so does your character. Is it perfect? Not yet. But in my twenty-five years of gaming (started with the Magavox Odyssey) this console really innovated and brought back the attention to game play. You can't help but pain your cheeks from all the smiling that occurs when you play. Don't even bring up group or party game play. It's truly a lollapalooza of the gaming consoles right now.

• Costs and value are next, because that's all I've got left to say about it (at least for now). Is it worth it? Well, I've listed below costs from amazon.com (prices current 01-14-07) for comparison purposes.

• Nintendo Wii + Second Controller + Second Nunchuck + Madden 08 = $360.00 (nearest USD)
• XBox 360 (20GB w/HDMI) + Controller + Madden 08 = $441.97 USD
• Sony Playstation 3 (40GB) + Six-Axis Controller + Madden 08 = $493.97 USD

• I guess it comes down to your particular lifestyle and priorities. When I came into my own (emancipated, not "mommy and daddy" buying me stuff), I had a PSOne and loved it...until it was stolen from my house. Bastards...oh, okay. Anyway, cost has ALWAYS been an issue. I believe that anyone who says otherwise isn't living in the real world (teenagers, this could very well be you) or have too much money to blow (again, this may very well be overprivileged teens). Cost is real world and for me, if it costs too much, it ain't worth it. Period. Now, sometimes cost is up there and you have to save. Value is perceived in the beholder. I'm a married father of two. I'm a public servant. With a mortgage. And a golf habit (I'm jonesing now...). I don't have the luxury, nay the privilege of dropping five bills on video games (plus another bill on taxes alone). If you're lifestyle permits you this oppportunity, then by all means. But do you get your money's worth? I can't comment on that, as I believe the other systems have their merits. 360 has arguable one of the best libraries (especially if you like shooters; Forza Motorsport would take care of my fix in so many ways). PS3 is so righteous in so many ways: expanding library and Blu-Ray (This benefit alone is the one reason I contemplate purchasing one within the next eighteen months).

• But in the end, I didn't settle for the Wii; I chose it. I liked the library, the interface, the extra benefits (online slowly coming along, internet browsing, messaging, actual activity beyond button pushing). My wife, who is without a doubt, the most non-gamer out there, can play most of these games without reading or having the attuned skills of typical gamers. And, she can have fun doing it.

• Isn't that the whole purpose of this?