Blog #10 Final!

From class, I have seen many great looking games that seemed to have captured my attention and were enjoyable to play. Although I didn't get around to play a lot of games, I did play the Directioner game, which I felt was not completely original, but it felt like it would be a great family game and I was constantly entertained by it as I was playing. I was thinking of my DTC 355 class where a major focus of the class theme is centered around how to make the message you're trying to send have a certain effect. I felt that the whole rule where members of the opposite team had to keep score was interesting and to me it subconsciously sent the message of no cheating and that you can't trust other players. I also felt that the cards were very well polished and gave off the impression of an actual board game.

Another project that I found to be one of my favorites was The-Not-So-Serious Ski Movie. Although I did not attend the showcase, I had been seeing this movie mentioned multiple times and I just had to check it out. After loading up the video and it playing the intro, I was caught off guard as it did not even feel like it was a ski movie. As the video progressed, I found it to get progressively more serious, but at the same time it had random funny moments which I felt added to the overall presentation. I can't help but think of my DTC 354 class and how shot perspective was so constant throughout the video. In that class we had to make a short film for the final project, and so we were taught how the camera angle can affect not only your shot, but the entire message of your project. I feel that in this video each shot is very emphasized and overall gives the video a very powerful message.

Comments:

#1: http://paisleypeterson.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/dtc-375-final-blog-4-30-14/#comments

#2: http://stephensallie.blog.com/2014/04/29/dtc-375-blog-9/#comment-20

These comments on their blogs show up being posted May 1 at roughly 4pm which I am confused about, as I definitely have not posted them at that time

Blog #9 Custom

While reading through chapter 10 of Bogost's book, I found he had made some interesting statements regarding the change in camera technology and how video games tend to use a mostly specified skill set. As an example on page 72 Bogost states "Conversely, videogame creation exercises few common skills. It requires programming of some kind...". When I read this line, it reminded me of how most of my day I am coding a website or using an Adobe program to complete some school work. Personally, it is hard for me to distinguish what is a common daily skill and something specific to me, because since I am entrenched in these products and ways of thinking all the time, it was difficult for me to distinguish a main difference between video games as a medium and other media. I found another interesting point Bogost made in that he basically stated how video games serve a double function, both as a "snapshot" of the creator's life or interests, and an entertaining game. "Like a snapshot, the game has value because of the way it lets its creator preserve and share a sentiment about her family. Likewise, you and I can appreciate it not as the crappy causal game that it is but as the touching personl snapshot that it is as well." (Bogost, 74). Although not thought of as often as actual console video games or computer games, Facebook also serves a double function both as a social platform where many people today use to stay in contact with their family members and friends and also to play games like, Candy Crush Saga to stay entertained. I did some thinking about this, and I feel that although the games on Facebook provide entertainment and may keep users on the website for longer, I feel it also creates a rift between people. The rift I am speaking about is that people may be playing Farmville or Tetris Friends against their "friends", but they are only interacting through the game and barely know each other. Besides the games, Facebook itself tries to make your experience more personal by labeling other users you connect with as "friends" even though you may have only met that person once or only know them through class or work.

Blog #8 Freestyle!

In keeping with the themes of art, empathy, reverence, music, and pranks, I chose to explore the concept of art. I find art is important not only because of obvious reasons, but because it is so varied and it brings out emotions or reactions in people that would normally never manifest in people. As an example, Vincent Van Gogh, the widely known artist was also well known for his ongoing battle with mental illness painted many beautiful paintings throughout his lifetime. It's interesting to note how many of his paintings had bright colors despite his mental battles, like his Sunflowers photo and his Bedroom in Arles. One of his last pantings, Wheat Field with Crows, show his continuing despair and is able to be seen by anyone viewing the painting. Art essentially brings the artist's imagination to life.

Blog #7 Stock

Prompt: Write an anthropogical examination of the communicative conventions of a blogging or other online social media subculture (for example, mommyblogs, right-wing politics blogs, Harry Potter fanfic blogs, model railroader discussion boards, et cetera: seek out a group that your classmates might not be familiar with), investigating who the members of the group are, what types of language they use, what types of arguments they make, how they use media, and what types of messages are acceptable or unacceptable in the group.

Anime/Manga/Comic conventions/message boards

In so far as a social media subculture, I believe a major one is the anime or comic book conventions and threads. These conventions are held throughout many cities and the message boards are in a mass abundance online. These boards have a variety of sections and topics for members to discuss. In general, it is difficult to tell who the members of the forums are, however, it is easy to discern that there is definitely a type of language for the community. Each community's "language" has many references to the specific anime/manga the board is based on. (I know that sentence is horribly phrased). Anime/Manga/Comic message boards also often reference other Anime/Manga/Comics in general even if the forum isn't based around said work. In anime and manga, sometimes a character's name is slightly different in the Japanese and English versions, generally in the community it is usually preferred when one refers to the character's Japanese/original name.



Comments:

1: http://paisleypeterson.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/blog-7-dtc-375/comment-page-1/#comment-46

2: http://themadblackscientist.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/blog-entry-7/comment-page-1/#comment-35

Blog #6 Stock

Dear Future College Student,

I know you are only 10 years old, but by the time you get into college, technology has probably changed a whole bunch. Originally when I started going to school, many instructors used overhead cameras to display documents to the whole class. Overhead cameras were basically machines that you would place a piece of plastic on and write on it. While widely not used in today's day and age, it was widely used and many people from my generation can remember using it during class. Hehe, it's funny how much technology has changed over the years. I remember back in the day when I had to actually take 30 minutes to connect to the Internet and load just 1 webpage. I know you probably don't find this very important, but it's always good to know what it was like before and how much it changed to today. By the time you're reading this, you might have a lot of e-books in your collection or required for your class, but you might not be asked to use hard print books as much. Although it might not necessarily be hard for you to understand physical books by the time you read this, it's just that physical books might not be in much use anymore. Growing up with physical books was very important because you actually had to keep track of the book and keep it from getting damaged. Personally, I prefer having a physical book rather than an e-book because it reminded me to read rather than trying to remember it having it in e-book form.

Sincerely,

Greg

Blog #5: A Better Pencil

Stock

After reading A Better Pencil, I have found that the book just reconfirms my bias against everything turning digital because personally there are some things, such as books, that I will always prefer to be in print format. I am usually ok with most things turning digital, such as writing and music and such, but I would prefer certain things to always be in physical format. Concerning the issue of technology use in classrooms, I have found these new technologies, like smart boards and the integrated projector/smart board things they use around WSU is very successful and are much better to use than the physical form. The integrated projector/smart board helps show online documents to the entire class and eliminates the effort needed like when overhead projectors were major in schools and everything had to be written on the plastic slide with those thin sharpie pens. The smartboards allow for a clean erase and don't need to be washed like the plastic slides used to be. In addition, the use of technology makes it easier for students to keep up with their school work and complete it faster because it is far more efficient than hand-writing everything. On the other hand, mostly every assignment being online makes it so the student could possibly procrastinate more and put off assignments until literally the last minute because assignments are uploaded to the Internet which is accessible almost anywhere. I always try to attend classes, even if attendance isn't necessary as I feel not getting that face to face interaction throws off my rhythm for the class. I use writing more for transmission as a majority of my assignments are online or supposed to be typed up.

Blogs I Commented On

Comments:

First

Second

Blog #4: Freestyle

After reading the articles I noticed many similarities between them. The first article, Game Theory 101, went into detail about how a good story arc makes a good game. While the article doesn't introduce anything new, it interests me at how the author's perception seems to be that games need to have somehow have a good story to keep the player interested. I find this to not be true many times such as the Mario series or the Zelda series where the premise of the game has been the same ever since its inception. Although successful, games like The Elder Scrolls don't even come close to the sales of the Mario franchise even though the Elder Scrolls has the "open-ended" type style of gameplay. I'm a little confused as to what theme actually is, but I feel as though theme is not as important as just getting players as involved as possible. I notice the board game design source had emphasis on the outcomes as well as the other sources. Even though the "free will" in the game might give players more of a reason to replay the game, I feel that it is not necessary for a good game. The Elder Scrolls games, relates back to Hardin discussing Federation & Empire where he states how despite the game in actuality just being a set of data on a map, it's theme is so powerful that it gives the player the sense they are actually living in a different universe complete with its own currency, racial groups, religion and social issues that emulate the real world.

Blog #3: 2/12 Blog Post

A video game that works in favor with McLuhan's argument is The Elder Scrolls Skyrim. This game is very open ended and has a lot of lore, or history behind the series. The player starts off the game able to decide on race, gender, and other body features. They are then set off into the world with a main overall quest to be completed, there are also other side-quests that the player can complete. The game does not force the player to complete the main quest first, or at all and it is up to the player what they feel like doing. In addition to these things, throughout the player's journey, they can run into many different people and they can do favors for them or just talk to them and there rarely is the same conversation twice. All the lore in the Elder Scrolls history also ties into every new game released including this one. I find it interesting how developers even come up with the idea to build games as in depth and with as much freedom as the Elder Scrolls.

Blogs I commented On:

First Blog

Second Blog

Blog #2: 2/3 Money Spending

When it comes to the difference in how a professor spends money versus a student, a professor is able to spend a lot more money whereas the student is usually on a budget. When the student goes to a store they would most likely only go out to Wal-Mart or somewhere cheap and buy essential groceries. A professor might go to the same store and buy essential groceries along with some extra luxuries because they can afford it. When it comes to saving money, a professor might save up money for like a vacation or something fancy like that whereas a student would most likely save up for groceries or a concert on campus. A professor might dine in at a nice restaurant whereas a student would go to something cheap like McDonald's or something not as nice because they can't afford as much as the professor.

Commented on:

1

2

Blogs I Commented On

http://jonarthur1992.wordpress.com/2014/01/24/blog-1-dtc-375/comment-page-1/#comment-2

Greg Posey

Your comment is awaiting moderation.

JANUARY 26, 2014 AT 10:10 PM

You talked about in your post how the main profit forming empire would be the illegal drug market due to that being one of the only things being discussed when talking about purchasing things with BitCoins. Do you believe that the drug market will be the only profit forming empire and that other legitimate markets (eg. clothing, eating out, (paying with bitcoins when eating out)) will not be able to take a stand and entice a bigger shopping base? Overall your post was interesting and it made me think back to my own post where I was talking about BitCoins and their overtaking of the currency system. I know a few friends who use to shop on Silk Road and actually bought some clothes with it. I was confused as to why they went to the trouble of buying it through Silk Road rather than go to an actual store, but nevertheless I found it interesting to mention.

http://kthompsonsschoolblog.blogspot.com/2014/01/no-more-cash-dtc-375-blog-1.html?showComment=1390777099713#c6030425661667858041

Greg PoseyJanuary 26, 2014 at 2:58 PM

I really like your post. When you mentioned how you were always surprised by people handing you their card instead of cash I guess I never thought about it until I started using my own debit card, and when I think about it, it is pretty surprising how often I choose to use my card rather than cash. I might get like a candy bar in the store and I would most likely use my card and completely forget I have cash just because the card has become so automatic to me. When I went home for Winter Break, The person that was taking me home would sometimes use one of those "Square" card readers to take payment from the riders, but I still opted to use cash to pay her.

Blog Post #1

I believe everything will eventually switch over to digital currency, in the form of bitcoins or using QR codes to pay for things by having your bank accounts tethered to your phones. As of right now, most of the world sees BitCoins as being used for illegal purposes such as drugs and assassinations. Most people think of credit cards or debit cards when they are asked about digital currency, they don't think of other forms of currency like BitCoin. Recently I was reading online about BitCoins and I had found an image of a sign outside of a restaurant in the Netherlands stating how they are now accepting BitCoins as payment. There was a sticker on the window with a QR code on it with a BitCoin logo next to it. Once this form of currency becomes dominant, I believe the government will try to put a handle on BitCoins and try to make it so that they can be traced back which will cause a struggle between the people and the government causing the BitCoin system to collapse. I believe that this collapse would happen over time and immediately in the sense that there will be tension that will build up that will eventually lead to the system crashing one day, hence the immediate part. I believe that eventually the general public will be able to fully adapt to the currency and the government will eventually realize that they will not be able to control and regulate the whole BitCoin industry.