This blog is from my (that’s right my) original posting on DeadElvis.com over a decade ago. It was tempting to re-edit the content to fix typos, spelling, etc. But alas, I was concerned that the etc. would include updating the content to incorporate my new perspectives. I thought it best to leave these as they are.

Friday, June 5, 1998:

It should come as no surprise to folks that E.J. Gold is using video games as tools in spiritual teaching.

The first time I noticed in a way that was clear and unmistakable the power of video games to effect behavior was with the game Zelda. Continue reading →

One of the inherent drawbacks to using the phrase “spiritual gaming” is the presumption that when we use the phrase we are talking about the same thing that others would be talking about if they used the phrase “spiritual gaming.”

When we hit the road about a decade ago to visit activists in the gaming industry on the topic of “spiritual gaming” we scheduled ourselves into every major (and many minor) gaming conferences within a thousand mile radius. Our plan was to attend the gaming conferences as press rather than guests, fans, vendors, or speakers. We felt this would give us the best opportunity to speak with folks and observe reactions to the basic notion with minimal Heisenbergian interference. Continue reading →

It is simple to play.

It is not occult. No hidden features to unlock or special moves to learn.

Every game is unique. Pong has endless possibilities.

Pong rewards dedicated play: it has a gradient of mastery.

It is an elegant representation. Pong is a depiction of Ping Pong. The similar nature to a physical
representation provides linkages to stored associations to the represented game.

It is social. Pong is a game of interaction and spectatorship.

It has a cool sound. The pong sound made when the square (ball) is hit by the line (paddle) is satisfying. The sound is not unpleasant. It is positive feedback that one has succeeded in positioning the paddle. It signals a brief reprieve while the ball is in their court.

It is fun.

Humans love to find patterns – we are pattern finding machines.

In Half-Real Jesper Juul defines a game as thus:

“A game is a rule-based system with a variable and quantifiable outcome, where different outcomes are assigned different values, the player exerts effort in order to influence the outcome, the player feels emotionally attached to the outcome, and the consequences of the activity are optional and negotiable.”

I would modify this definition slightly:

“A game is a rule delineated system with a variable and knowable outcome, where different outcomes are assigned different significance, the players’ efforts influence the outcome, the player is identified with the outcome, and the consequences of the activity are optional and negotiable.” Continue reading →

Blueline Academy on Justin.tv continues now into its third month. In the past 90 days, this format has demonstrated itself to be an excellent means of interesting folks in classes and further work with the material. Continue reading →