A Wayhaven for My Brain

A short while back, Wolfgang Baur of Open Design asked me to write up my memories of my first Gen Con. I did, and the result is here:
My First Gen Con

At the end of that article, I teased a story about how I spied on Gary Gygax during my second Gen Con. That story, a difficult one to write, is here:
I was a TSR Spy

... I wanted to point out that my company, 3lb Games, has a new app up in the iTunes store: Kiki! It's a Spanish noun memory-matching game that speaks the word in both Spanish and English, and has highly configurable settings to change the board size, change the languages spoken, and more. It is, if I may say so myself, fairly awesome, and I invite you to check it out:
Kiki!


In other news: Snowy day yesterday, resulting in the creation of both a non-anatomically correct snow-woman and a half-finished igloo - half-finished because I am neither Inuit nor an engineer, and don't want the blood (literal) of my children on my hands when my malformed roof comes crashing in upon their heads.

All the hot Colin action is over at my Facebook page. Fewer longer pieces, but more frequently updated content. User name is, of course, haetmunky.

In the meantime, the updates follow:
1. Still teaching! Apparently my students love me, or at least tolerate me; since they get to have anonymous surveys, they could slap a bit harder but instead they're saying things like:
-Colins the man
-Colin Moulder-McComb was a great instructor, he taught the material well and kept the class entertaining and engaging.
-He's a great instructor!
-Excellent instructor! Knows how to keep students focused.
-Colin is a great teacher, and I look forward to having him in the future (if he teachers any other classes). I would absolutely recommend him to others!
Lesson: Students like a professor who swears a lot. (I can't imagine what other takeaway there might be)

2. Mike Stackpole, once a game designer and now a full-time author, has been dispensing terrific advice for other authors for some time now. Check it out; it's inspiring me at least to think seriously about hiring an editor and releasing the Book That Does Not End.

3. New iPhone game coming out soon! We're shipping Kiki tonight or tomorrow - it's an English/Spanish scalable matching game using the same images as KidWords, and helps drive home a variety of nouns.

4. I'm working on a physical prototype of a board game that could result in a physical boardgame or a conversion to the iPad or both. Feels pretty awesome so far; we'll see what the testers think.

5. My kids are great.

That's probably enough for now. Much love, Livejournalland. Much love.

A quick review of my latest, Beyond the Vault of Souls (unless Cheliax is out*, in which case this is my second-to-latest). Short version: "Sweet!"

Longer version: HERE.


* It is: Cheliax: Empire of Devils, now on sale!

EDIT: As per Sean in comments below:
a) Dammit!
b) Goddammit!
c) DAAAAAAAAMMIIIIIIIIT
d) Okay, all fixed.

Could be, should be.

Gary Gygax, co-creator of the fantasy game Dungeons & Dragons and father of the role-playing phenomenon, gave millions of men and women a gift: husbands, wives and lifelong friends.

Gygax's wife, Gail, and his children want the local gaming giant to be remembered for his immeasurable contribution by erecting a memorial statue of him in his hometown.

Gygax died March 4, 2008, at his home in Lake Geneva. He was 69.

The memorial statue would serve as somewhat of a resting place for his legacy in his hometown, which he loved so much, Gail said.

"That is my mission, to get that (statue) as an appreciation for what he gave people throughout the world," she said.

Had it not been for Gary Gygax, I would likely have gone my entire life without ever hearing (or, at least, registering) the name of the town of Lake Geneva. Because of Gygax, I imagined what it would be like to visit the place. In college, I got to do exactly that. Immediately after college, I moved to the area, and shortly after *that*, moved to Lake Geneva itself. I lived and worked there for five years, made friends and memories, and hold a special fondness for it in my heart.

Without Gygax, none of this would have happened, and Lake Geneva would have remained nothing more than a footnote in my life. Honoring him in this way is frankly only a small part of the debt the city owes to Gygax.

Yes, we've got a brand-new app out, built on the same tech as Kidwords 3.0 - but this time, it's personal Spanish!

Check it out, and if you want to review it, give me a shout.
Kidwords Spanish!
(opens iTunes)

Not for the faint of heart or arachnophobic, so: behind the cut!
( Aieeeee! )

Please enjoy your nightmare.

*(with apologies to stannex)

I was just doing a wee bit of ego-surfing on the Paizo site when I saw this: The Guide to the River Kingdoms.

If you don't feel like clicking the link, here's who else is involved in the project:

Eric Bailey, Kevin Carter, Elaine Cunningham, Adam Daigle, Mike Ferguson, Joshua J. Frost, James Jacobs, Steve Kenson, Rob Manning, Colin McComb, Alison McKenzie, China Miéville, Brock Mitchel-Slentz, Jason Nelson, Richard Pett, Chris Pramas, Jeff Quick, Sean K Reynolds, F. Wesley Schneider, Neil Spicer, Lisa Stevens, Matthew Stinson, and John Wick.

Seriously? I mean, these are some already pretty damn big names in the industry, and then when you add NYT Bestsellers Cunningham and Mieville, well: HOLY CATS.

Here's the review!

Being a big fan of Geekdad, this makes me... uh... geeked, so I'm delighted to pass this review on.

Also, if you or anyone you know are bloggers who want promo codes to review our apps (ie, get a free copy), drop me a line and we'll hook you up.*


*this offer valid until we decide otherwise.

This is something I found and modified slightly a few years back. Backstory: Bally's Health Club insisted that I owed them money based on a membership I'd canceled years ago. They sold the alleged debt to a debt collection agency, who then sent a letter to me. Being that a) I had canceled my membership under the terms of the contract and Bally's had failed to keep a proper record of that cancellation, and b) the alleged debt was incurred over a decade ago, I figured that the debt had already been written off and this was an attempt for someone to try to sneak themselves a profit.

Turns out I was right. Debt collection agencies buy old, written-off debts for pennies on the dollar, and then try to scare consumers into paying debts that have already disappeared. If you're in a situation where collectors are coming after you, don't make a payment (that's admitting that the debt is valid, and you'll be on the hook for the remainder). Instead, use this handy letter:
( This letter right here! )

The old-debt collection agencies only make their money if people shut up and pay these vanished amounts. Any time they spend trying to prove that you owe is money down the drain for them, and chances are good they have no real proof for something that happened years ago anyway. If they do have proof, then you're on the hook and should pay - but make them prove it.

Happy Fourth!

My pal seankreynolds is selling more stuff on Ebay!

Check it out!

Apparently the Iranian people are pretty pissed off about the likely-stolen elections. Wait, scratch "pretty" and make that "incredibly".

Here's a report from the BBC that was shot largely using cell phones, after the police confiscated the journalists' cameras and tapes.



What's the best move for the US right now? Oddly, it appears that our best move is to not get too involved. Given our history with Iran, the clerics and the current government will seize on any sign of US alliance or influence with the pro-democracy people, and use that to justify (more) brutal crackdowns. The state is already arresting opposition leaders and sending in riot police; who knows how much further this will go?

Here's an excellent post from Laura Rozen, with links to take to you to other informative pieces about the election.

In the meantime, keep your thoughts with the people of Iran. Despite what the neocons would have you believe, they are not our enemies.

I would like to return the favor for seankreynolds, and point out that he has Birthright stuff on Ebay. Oh, and I've agreed to sign it for those who want me to.

For an additional fee, I won't.

I had forgotten. Shame on me.

1. KidWords 2.0 (caution: opens iTunes) is available in the iTunes store. Now features my soothing baritone as a voice-over in the app help with the images, music and effects volume sliders, and more. KidWords 2.1 coming soon (but this version's still worth getting).

2. First term is almost over, and so far only about six of my 33 students are failing - four because they don't do the work, two because they can't do the work. I consider that as a win, all things considered.

3. Interfaces 2009 is almost upon us. This year I've managed to convince some pals (Chris Avellone, Stone Perales, Zeb Cook, Steven Schend) to show up and talk to my students, and I'm hoping to get some local people interested in video games, design, and art to show up too so that we can actually get a cohesive game development community working in Michigan.

4. Team Cybergeist is gearing up for live shows. Why should you care? Because my wife's on the album, that's why.



5. Running season is back! Or rather, SERIOUS running season is back. Hills yesterday, some interval work today, 4-miler tomorrow morning, 6 on Saturday... and then more karate. Active summer YAY.

I know demi-famous people!

In particular, this link is about my pal (and rumored gay lover) seankreynolds, who has been a reliably awesome but behind-the-scenes guy for 15 years... which is weird, considering that he was the webmaster for TSR during the rollout of the non-douchey part of the TSR web policy.

He should really get more recognition - not only is he an awesome person, he's got a great mind and keen insights. So here, now, I present for your recognition: SEAN!

... was apparently seankreynolds, who relates this entertaining story. Here's a teaser:

In fact, given the weird gossip around the office, there were actually rumors that Colin and I were secretly gay (we weren't and aren't) and were in a relationship (ditto) or were having a polyamorous relationship with a female friend of ours (ditto). Colin and I laughed about it a lot because we didn't care, it was just funny that people would assume that.

This is a roundabout way of saying HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Monte and Sue, who had the good sense to get married on one of the best days of the year.

As montecook has noted, Green Ronin is releasing a followup to the acclaimed Hobby Games: The 100 Best, entitled Family Games: The 100 Best.

Essayists include such legendary creators as Alan R. Moon (designer of Ticket to Ride), Matthew Kirby (Apples to Apples), Richard Garfield (Magic: The Gathering), Susan McKinley Ross (Qwirkle), Michael Schacht (Zooloretto), Peter Olotka (Cosmic Encounter), Leo Colovini (Clans), Mike Selinker (Risk: Godstorm), Tom Wham (Great Khan Game), James Ernest (Kill Dr. Lucky), Phil Orbanes (Cartel), Eric Goldberg (Junta), David Parlett (Hare & Tortoise), Kevin Wilson (Descent), Emiliano Sciarra (Bang!), Warren Spector (Toon), Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson (co-founders of Games Workshop), and dozens of other noteworthy and award-winning designers. Family Games: The 100 Best also features a foreword by board game legend and Senior Director of Product Acquisition for Hasbro Games Mike Gray (Fortress America) and an afterword by author and actor Wil Wheaton (Stand By Me, Star Trek: The Next Generation).

Looking over the list of designers involved, and knowing that Monte's in too, it gives me great pleasure to say that I'm one of the "dozens of others". I am delighted to be in this company, and I hope that my contribution will bring something to the conversation.

Look for it... uh... soon!

I mentioned before that I was teaching. Here's the deal:

Last year, I attended the Interfaces conference sponsored by the International Academy for Design & Technology. While there, I ran into a guy from the IGDA. He in turn convinced me to speak about 3lb Test (our testing services company) for an IGDA meeting, and at THAT, I met Kim Callery, the game production department chair at IADT. She asked me to come in and give a talk about documentation for her department (faculty and students alike), I agreed, and it went over swimmingly.

Next thing you know, I've been asked to teach a class.

So now I'm an adjunct professor, teaching Game Theory and Mechanics. I have two sections: T-Th, from 8:15 to 10:45, and Saturday from 8:15 to 1:15. I lecture for 45 minutes or so, have them do some game design exercises in teams, present their work, and then I either lecture more or give them an essay or quiz.

Class is going well so far; I've had a couple of students tell me emphatically that they love my class, and I keep telling them to give it time. I've also had them tell me that I'm definitely the most interesting teacher they've got - possibly because I figure it's important to keep them having fun while they learn, under the philosophy that if designing games is fun, learning about designing games should be fun too. There's no reason to make education deadly serious.

Except, unfortunately...

Today I'm grading essays and I've just had two in a row that I've written SEE MEs on. I could swear that I'd spent an hour in class clearly explaining the formal elements of games, and how game PLAY is distinct and separate from formal elements (Players, Boundaries, Objectives, Rules, Procedures, Resources, Conflict, and Outcome). In fact, my lecture notes explicitly outline my discussion to that effect.

So now instead of being fun, I have to be the asshole who tells these guys that they need to apply themselves. I happen to know that at least one of them is already on academic probation, so I might be the guy who gets them failed out of school.

Gonna be awesome.

EDIT: Turns out that 12 of my 25 students have SEE MEs. Clearly, this warrants a piece of the lecture and a new rule. Now I need to figure out how to keep them convinced that I want them to succeed (without being the A-grade-machine).

freeport_pirate has posted this excellent rant on accountability, and I encourage people to over and take a look at it. Is the Obama administration going to close the books on the Bush era without bringing its worst excesses under the light of justice? Are we ever going to see an answer to the torturers and liars besides a book deal? Will we become a nation where all our elected officials are simply citizens, rather than aristocrats who are above the law?

Anyway, take a look at the link. It should generate some good discussion.

... that I can be its MASTER.

I will perfect my own race of people... a race of atomic supermen...

WHICH WILL CONQUER THE WORLD.


muah ha ha ha ha ha

In case I haven't gotten around to thanking all of you for your lovely comments the last time around, let me do so here, publicly, in a place where the whole world can see it*: YOU ROCK.

As a reward, or perhaps some sort of strange punishment, for your kind words, you can now sample my dulcet tones and hear the KidWords theme music in our promo video!


Comments, hate mail, and other constructive criticism on my voiceover debut are entirely welcome.

Later, we'll talk about my teaching gig.

* assuming they care to see

It all started when Robin got her iPhone. The kids started stealing it right away. We figured that we wanted to put something on there that would keep them entertained and educated, rather than randomly surfing around on YouTube ("Daddy, what's this goatse. image, and what's wrong with his butt?"). We came up with KidWords.

It's a spelling game geared toward kids between 4-10 years old. We provide a colorful image up top and picker wheels below, and the kid tries to spell a word that's between 3-6 letters long (they can choose the length they're most comfortable with). We've got a variety of settings to keep the game challenging, a groovy little tune to keep them dancing, and a bunch of updates planned - all for the low-low-low price of a buck ninety nine (that's 1.99).

We've also got a Lite version up for people who only want to spend .99.

Check it out!
Our app. (note: opens iTunes App Store)

For me, at least.

mysticalforest started me off on this by linking to the new Microsoft ad that targets Macs as being too pricey, too cool, and gosh, just too unattainable.

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-US&amp;playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:0bb6a07c-c829-4562-8375-49e6693810c7&amp;showPlaylist=true&amp;from=shared" target="_new" title="Laptop Hunters $1000 – Lauren Gets an HP Pavilion" rel="nofollow">Video: Laptop Hunters $1000 – Lauren Gets an HP Pavilion</a>

(One quick note: The ad shows this woman walking into the Mac store, and walking out and announcing that they didn't have what she wanted. If you pay attention, you'll see the same pedestrian outside the store, having moved about, oh, ten feet down the sidewalk. I'm guessing that the price vapors wafted off everything and convinced the actress that she couldn't find anything there, but as cinema verite goes, this one doesn't quite cut it.)

The main thrust of my argument is this: PRICE versus VALUE. I've had one Mac or another for about six years now. The PC is cheaper, yes, but the time I spent working on it, tinkering with it, trying to get it to talk effectively across networks, and in general trying to get it configured to the point where I was truly comfortable with it, boosted the hidden costs to far beyond the advertised price.

My Mac, on the other hand, has been an absolute joy from Day One: easy, intuitive, and fully functional from the start. The holdups and drawbacks have largely been because I'd been so accustomed to the Windows kludge and workarounds. The time I've spent in getting to know my Mac has not been wasted in trying to get it to execute commands that should have been easy. Its sticker price was higher, but the time I've spent with it has been vastly more rewarding and fulfilling.

And that's what it really comes down to. How much time do you want to spend dicking around with the guts of a machine because you have no choice but to do so, and how much time do you want to spend just working on it?

Your mileage may vary, of course. You might be the sort of person who enjoys experimenting with video cards and RAM configurations, or who wants to have the most bleeding edge technology available from a wide variety of vendors (though in that case, you might as well go with one of the Linux variants). But if you want a machine that is reliable, functional, and intuitive - that is, if you'd like a machine that works without YOU having to work for it - the value of a Mac far outweighs the price of a PC.

The other night I decided to clean out my keyboard. Why?

Here: XKCD explains.

Anyway, it had been years. Years and years. I figured I'd do it right, so I sat down with the family and disassembled the keyboard (much as I plan on disassembling and cleaning my imaginary gun collection when my daughter starts dating). Robin said, "Hey, you ought to line up your keys so you don't put them in the wrong spot."
I laughed at her. After all, I'm a professional writer; the keyboard is an extension of my hand. I put it back together with few problems, though it was a long and delicate process. It sounded good, it felt good, and I'd stripped the keyboard and put it back together all under my own power.

So you can imagine my surprise when I discovered I'd switched the U and the I.

And now I've discovered that when I remove my hand from the keyboard to grab the mouse, I give a quick look to the keyboard to ensure that I'm in proper position... and that friggin' U/I switch is really, really messing me up.

When I've got a free moment I'll switch it back. Or learn Dvorak.

In particular, a sense of martial history, and even more particularly, swords.

This essay helps to destroy the myth that medieval swords were heavy, cumbersome things that were better suited to smashing than to slashing - or "clubs with edges." Apparently, this latter belief caught hold because many of the surviving weapons from the era (or, at least, many of the surviving weapons that are in museums) were "parade weapons", used primarily for show. As such, their balance was off, they were of inferior craftsmanship, and they would have been wildly uncontrollable in actual combat.

However, as the author notes, most weapons were between 2 to 4.5 pounds, well balanced between the blade and the pommel, and were capable of fine precision. Granted, they were not as light and nimble as an epee or a foil, but they were still capable of weaving a net.

If you're interested in medieval battle gear, you'll want to give it a read. It'll be worth your time.

* EDITED TO ADD: In comments, babygoat points out that swinging around a sword for any length of time - even one that's only a few pounds - quickly grows tiresome, and that battles would likely be determined by endurance rather than strength. This may account for at least part of the image of medieval blades being crude and cumbersome: at the end of a day of battle, even the toughest guy on the field is going to find his muscles burning, and his strokes are going to be lot wilder than they would have been in the morning.

This ranks as a top sad-making story: a five-page piece about overworked and frazzled parents who accidentally leave their kids to die of hyperthermia. First reaction is, "Oh, those dumb people didn't deserve kids."

Then you get the brain experts, telling us how times of stress can overwhelm even the most prepared and conscientious minds. You get the molecular physiologist saying:

"Memory is a machine," he says, "and it is not flawless. Our conscious mind prioritizes things by importance, but on a cellular level, our memory does not. If you're capable of forgetting your cellphone, you are potentially capable of forgetting your child."

And you get a quote like this:

Then there is the Chattanooga, Tenn., business executive who must live with this: His motion-detector car alarm went off, three separate times, out there in the broiling sun. But when he looked out, he couldn't see anyone tampering with the car. So he remotely deactivated the alarm and went calmly back to work.

Jesus.

Don't read this at work.

This is hilarious.

Hello, gamer/mini types! I would like to direct everyone's attention toward one Mr. Sean K. Reynolds, who is putting up some minis for sale. Sean is awesome; therefore, his minis are awesome. Send him some love!

This may be the only time in your life you will find yourself agreeing with Hitler.

Oh, and spoiler alert.