This is What We Do.

Blog Post    Stardate 9-5-2010

So in my previous post I got right into the meat of a current events issue that I wanted to respond to, but I didn't address what this blog is or what I'm going to do with it. I'm not sure what readers I will have in the future, hopefully there will be some interest in my writing and subject matter, but regardless I thought this would be a good endeavor for both my personal and my professional interests.

Who I would like to read this blog: First and foremost anyone that is interested in me and my interests. Friends and family that hear me rant endlessly and don't find themselves bored to tears can find some intelligent discussion about the things I love. Furthermore people who aren't as close to me but share my interests which will mostly be focused around gaming of all varieties, but may occasionally expand to other intellectual and media consumption pursuits. Lastly people who don't know me and don't share my interests but want to know more about gaming, both for the purpose of consumption and for the understanding of the culture and the industry.

Most gaming media available these days are pretty exclusive. Sites like Kotaku, newsletters like ECA, and even web comics like Penny Arcade assume some level of reader interest and education. The fact is that there are an increasing number of people that play games and are interested in learning more, but don't know where to start. These people have played a game of Settlers of Catan at their friends dinner party. It was really fun, wasn't as hard to learn or intimidating as they thought. They even bought a copy to play themselves with their friends. What next? This blog will hopefully answer that question.

While I do want this blog to be accessible, and for that purpose I will assume that the reader needs explanation of specific concepts and background, and comparisons and reviews of the games and media I will look at, I also believe that my core audience will be my friends, that will want some deeper analysis.

So there you have it, welcome to my interesting yet accessible game blog. My intention is to write posts as I feel I have interesting gaming experiences, particularly with games that are new to me, and then in turn impart my experience to you. Things I could also see being addressed are 1st amendment video game legislation and other social issues that both gamers and the general public could benefit from knowing more about.

I feel that this will beneficial because while listening to Will Wheaton(of Star Trek: Next Generation fame) speak at an event recently he spoke to a group of gamers about how our hobby brings us together as a community. He talked about his emotions of conflict around a decision he made in the video game Dragon Age Origins. A character he had come to love as he played through the story put him in a position where he had to compromise his morals or part company from the character. These are the sort of experiences and story telling I want from my gaming. Despite my misgivings over the blandness of the name of the game, and it's blockbuster like popularity I went out to pick up the game that same day. And I have not regretted that purchase. Looking back at all of my other purchases I realize that if I had a good reccomendation and an idea of what I was getting that it would be very hard to get a title I didn't like. Indeed most of the successes are games that were introduced to me or reccommended by a friend.

Hopefully you will find something new that you like, learn something either useful or interesting, or at the very least find a place where you can share your own experiences

Enjoy,
-K