Well good readers, figure it is about time to address what I mean by this blog title 'Sons of the Game'. Problem is I promised myself starting today I would try really hard to go to bed by 10 p.m., and it is now after 10:30. Just 5 more minutes...
It took me a LONG time to settle on a domain name for my personal web site. Owning a presence on the web is something I have never taken lightly. I still don't take it lightly. In fact, I have never, nor do I now, actually own a domain name...which is a little strange since I am as they say 'in the business'. Believe me, I spend plenty of time doing web work, since this is how I make my living. I also spend more time than I should surfing, e-mailing, IM'ing, and blogging, after the kids are asleep and my wife is in bed. Don't get me wrong; I am far less involved in the web and/or gaming culture than perhaps your average 15 year old. But for a 30-something (a very LATE 30-something, but still a Gen-Xer), I am more interested in things online than most folks my age I know.
I am also a gamer.
Sons of the Game is a definition of myself, a close friend of mine, and I believe most gamers of my generation. By gamer, I mean someone who enjoys the past time of playing PC and or console (platforms like Playstation and Xbox) games. Sons of the Game is not limited to electronic games, but paper games (role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons), collectible card games (Magic, Lord of the Rings) and perhaps even fantasy sports games such as the wildly popular fantasy football are included in the term 'gamer'. Sons of the Game refers to those of us who grew up gaming, who have known gaming since at least middle school. We cut our teeth in arcades playing Asteroids, PacMan, Galaga and Centipede. We spent summer afternoons engrossed in Risk, Axis and Allies, Richtoffens War and Squad Leader. And we eventually spent our evenings (and a good portion of our early paychecks) buying, pouring over and working out books and books of rules for role playing games (RPGs), or as they are now referred to as 'paper games'.
The Sons of the Game (and Daughters!) have been forever marked by this social phenomenon which began in the late 1970's, and has evolved into the multi billion dollar industry we see today. I think many of us are somewhat disillusioned by the current trends in computer and console gaming. I think many of us miss the old days when coming together as a group of friends, sharing a common interest, exercising our intellect and expressing our creativity with people we knew and cared about was gave one a sense of belonging. Gave us something to look forward too. Gave us a sense of achievement and worth. We have played, and continue to play a role in the gaming industry, and it is my belief we should have a roll in how gamers are perceived by those alarmist who see gaming as a thing to regulate, and even fear.
ok, that was more than 5 minutes...
more later.
