Magic: the Gathering – Game Designer Training Ground

 (dis)continutity  No Responses »
Jul 202009
 

As if my blog hadn’t managed to establish as a given fact, I’m a nerd. “Geeeeeeeeaaaaeeeek,” is a phrase that describes me and I have no reservations in that. Though I do remain steadfast in my un-dorkiness. But the splitting on hairs aside, I had a revelation while playing Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers on Xbox Live the other day. Magic: the Gathering (M:tG) (note: distinction is made between the XBLA title and the actual card game) is game designer training ground. Alright, let me rephrase that a bit more carefully. M:tG at its best is game designer training ground. At its worst it is what most online massively multiplayer games are, a race towards the nearest game crushing spoiler deck. However, those skills too are crucial for the game designer to stress and test their own designs. So, even at its worst it is a productive space for aspring game designers.

Shall we step back a few steps? Indeed. Continue reading »

(De/In)spite of everything: I Play with my Avatar

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Jun 252009
 
CKODonnell on XBLA

CKODonnell on XBLA

With all of the items on my to do list, what on earth am I doing? I’m futzing around with making images of my Xbox Live Arcade Avatar so that I can post them online. Because that is time well spent, right? I can say something about gamer/street cred and social networks, but the truth of the situation is that I’m goofing off when I have much better things to be doing.

To which, I will respond with the quote that springs from the lips of my avatar: “What bus?” The proper response to such a query of course is, “That bus that is about to crush you, simpleton.” However, if you feel so compelled to create/use your own XBLA avatar images, may I recommend:

It likely has something to do with an internal impression that this is “summer” and I’m supposed to extract some element of relaxation from this time of the year. Instead things have been perhaps more frantic and significantly warmer. But this will only become more interesting as new additions to the family come this winter will further obliterate my growing task list.

The upside is that at the moment I am only about half-way through the summer “break” and have plenty of time in which to complete many of the projects before they take on much more life of their own. I guess that having too many things on the list is better than having nothing to say or think about. But, I’ve never been one to be at a loss for words.

CKODonnell Gamercard

CKODonnell Gamercard

Recent conversations with friends and colleagues has sent me down several possible rabbit holes that I have not yet investigated enough to be definitive, but work on Osy Osmosis continues as well as several other projects. As you can see from the link, I have recently purchased a domain name for that project in the hopes that Osy can soon find a more public home.

Enough blogging and playing with avatars, I must go earn my keep.