My Gaming Experience

I definitely wouldn't consider calling myself a true gamer, but I've learned a lot since starting to play games back in February.  After meeting in our first class I was pretty excited to learn that I would have to play video games for a graduate course.  At first I thought this would be an easy task (and it was, compared to writing a research paper), but it was more complicated and involved than I initially thought.  I learned that playing a video game requires strategy, technique, research, determination, and time, lots of time.  It would be a scary thought if I truly calculated how many hours I devoted to playing Fitness Dash, and the other games I started playing too.  

Playing Fitness Dash has taught me three thing: to use all possible resources, to find a strategy that works and go with it, and patience.  I was having difficulty moving along to other levels because I wasn't acquiring enough points.  After a certain level of frustration and feeling hopeless, I ventured onto gaming sites that gave tips and pointers to use for my game.  The advice is from other gamers who were once in my same situation.  They suggested to color-coordinate characters and the item they were using.  Once I followed the tips, I found I was quickly moving up in levels and feeling more confident with myself as a game-player.  Even though I found a technique that worked, I still had to work for my goal.  I've spent anywhere from 5 minutes to 60 minutes just on one portion of a level.  Some days I had the patience to keep trying, other day I would quickly close my laptop and walk away.  

Currently, I have completed all four levels of the game and I am on the last tug-of-war championship game.  But surprisingly I have lost the drive to complete this last part.  When I first got to this tug-of-war game, I played it twice for about 30 minutes each and still couldn't beat it.  That was about a month ago, and I haven't tried it since.  I think in my mind I feel I have already beaten the game, like I've gotten this far to the end I don't need to technically finish it.  But I will, one day when I'm bored.  I know there is a little part inside me who has to finish the game to prove to myself I can.

Other possible reason I have lost interest in finishing Fitness Dash is because I have started playing a handful of other video games.  Since Fitness Dash was a Time Management game, I wanted to try other genres of games.  I found a Hidden Object game that I already beat called Dream Day Wedding New York City.  Now I have moved on to the sister game Dream Day Honeymoon.  I also am in the middle of playing a Strategy game called Wandering Willow.  In addition, I purchased the Wii.  

All-in-all, learning to play a video game was an enjoyable task.  It taught me how to find answers that I need, how to strategize, and how to be patient.  I see playing video games as another way to unwind from the day and to entertain myself.  If I don't feel like reading a book or a magazine, playing a vide game is another fun way to pass the time.

Waking Life

When I first started viewing the Waking Life clips on YouTube, I wasn't sure what I was watching or what the purpose of it was.  I had to fully watch the clip on existentialism once to even try to grasp what I was viewing, and then two additional times to try to understand it better.  Once I started to piece the puzzle together I realized this was a cool new type of media/literacy.  It's a mix between a video podcast and animation.  I wondered who was speaking.  I assumed it was a professor, but was it a real teacher giving a lecture that was taped for the purpose of this video or was it created for the video?  

Regardless, he had a message.  I like the line, "You life is yours to create."  It reminded me of a book I just finished reading, I Am The Messenger.  The main character is instructed by an anonymous person to carry out various tasks and deeds to help out strangers, neighbors, and friends.  In the end, the character rediscovers his purpose in his life and finds new meaning.  

Though, I don't necessarily think we were assigned to watch this for the message but more for the way in which it was delivered.  

I'm not sure if this video/animation has a name, but I found it very mesmerizing.  I couldn't take my eyes off of the computer screen.  Not only were my eyes following the characters movements, but the surrounding too.  I even noticed the sounds in the video.  For example, when the main character and the teacher were walking outside, I heard all the sounds I would expect to hear if I were walking outside.  That's not always true with cartoons.  I also enjoyed watching the characters facial expressions and wondered what they looked like in real life, assuming they are based on a real person.  And I think they were.  I'm assuming this scene or interview was taped in real life and then animation was added to it.  I wonder how long it takes to create this and who is involved in it.

This new form a media is extremely creative and I think it will grab viewers' attention.  After watching the clip, I noticed a Charles Schwab commercial that used the same technique.  It was a clever and innovative way for the company to advertise their business.  I hope this new form of media catches on and others will also use it to sell a product, convey a message, or just entertain.