Are you ready for another holiday get together?

Family times are loads of fun, especially for the parents who set it all up. When I was a kid, I hated these things; I didn't know any of these somehow relatives, I didn't want to drive in a car for hours, and I sure didn't want to be uncomfortable for hours turning into days. But, now that I look back, I value the travel and seeing far-away places (like Colorado and Florida). Because of these trips, I have a greater sense of family and the world in general. However, these realizations didn't happen right away, and took a lot of years to actually come to my attention.

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So, for the most part, these holiday gatherings are a time to play outdoor games and eat good food. If family gets in the way, just smile and behave yourself, answer whatever goofy questions are asked and move onto something else as fast as you can. Trust me, in the far future, you'll appreciate these memories. It's even possible that a little bit of fun will weasel its way into the festivities. Who knows? Maybe you'll even have fun.

As for the food, that's my job on holidays. I love cooking outside on the grill (even though I'm now using a propane grill instead of a flaming charcoal pyre of burning doom). I'll cook steak and hot dogs and sausage and chicken and anything else we can think of putting on there. It all tastes extra great from a grill. Also, it gives me a fantastic reason to be a curmudgeon and ignore everyone ... I only joke, I'm happy to talk and laugh with anyone willing to brave the flames. Heh heh.

- M

Games are dreams given form, and are great for working your brain too!

Do you play games? I'm not only talking about electronic games, cellphone games, video games, crossword puzzles, puzzle books, or board games. Nope, I mean any game at all. Children naturally play constantly, as it's their method of exploring interactions and the world around them. But, adults normally only play formal games of sport or video. Yes, we do get together at parties and play Charades or other goofy things, yet they never really rise beyond the silly.

Yup, Chutes and Ladders, Checkers, Hide and Seek, and the inimitable Tag are games not only of mind and body, but dreams. Dreams are the soul of our childhoods. I wanted to be an astronaut. My brother wanted to be a fighter pilot. When we played games we often did exactly those things. Sure, the game might be Uno, but in our minds we were flying around and destroying galactic interlopers and shooting down bad guys. It's amazing what the imaginations of the truly inspired can come up with.

I do my best to inspire imagination with the stories I write, but games do a far better job than I ever will. No, I don't want to regress to childhood, like a modern Peter Pan, since I really like being an adult. What I do hope is for people to enjoy their lives more. You don't need to be serious all the time. Have a bit of fun. Let your dreams out of captivity once in a while and see what fun you can have. Play a game!

- M

Playing in puddles and laughing at chipmunks

Children have fun as a matter of duty and pride. They will thoroughly engage themselves in the study of rocks and tea parties, laughing all the while. Then, they grow up and strangely lose that same pride. What is it about life that makes us all so dull? Having fun seems like a chore, a bother, and even troubling. But, have you watched chipmunks eat? Have you stepped in a puddle and paused to watch the ripples? Have you petted a bumblebee?

Chipmunks stuff food into their cheeks as they eat

I think what's remarkable about how children view the world is not their continuous questions and awe, but their ability to ignore all the heavily important parts we adults focus on and instead turn to finding anything fun in their immediate vicinity. They'll get excited about blades of grass! It's incredible. Adults usually roll their eyes and tell the youngsters to get moving, but what's wrong with being amazed? Yes, adults have totally different priorities, however we also need to remember to enjoy the life we work so hard to maintain. Work is only half of the equation; play is the other.

When you do something for enjoyment, plan on having fun! If you do something, do it with all your heart and soul. Take this phrase to heart: "Work hard, and play hard." There are few better mottos. If it's sports, then rave like a lunatic, if it's a dance, then flail with abandon, and if it's love, then pour your passion into every glance. Fun, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder, so why let someone else take it away? Go out there and skip in puddles and laugh at the silly chipmunks!

- M

Honking your nose and other silliness

One game people love to play with children around here is to "honk" their nose, or even steal their nose. You gently pinch their nose between the second knuckles of your middle and ring fingers, then make a popping sound and pull away. Quickly stick your thumb in the same spot and let it poke out. There, you've taken their "nose." It's all silly, of course, and I doubt any children actually believe it, but it's fun for everyone. Sometimes, it's good to throw your brain away and let yourself laugh.

My girls, playing in the mud, as all kids do.

I absolutely love slapstick comedy. I grew up on Laurel & Hardy, Jerry Lewis, Red Skelton, and many other marvelous physical comedians. However, you can't think overly much about what's going on, or the fun is destroyed. How could anyone slip on a banana peel? Do legs really fly up in the air when you fall down? Nobody can take a hammer blow to the head and laugh it off. Doesn't that hurt? Yeah, leave those questions behind and just go with it. The ultra popular British comedian "Bean" is a modern example--his antics make very little actual sense, but are so overwhelmingly funny you can ignore the logic and play along anyway.

Children are the masters of this, probably because they don't have fully developed senses, see the world through innocent eyes, and don't have much logical maturity. You can learn a lot by watching children play with other children. The games they create are dazzlingly complex, ridiculously simple, and span whole universes. Even more, children can make a game out of anything. Go on, try to stump any child with seriousness, and you'll find yourself scratching your head in bewilderment. Well, there's only one thing for it ... jump in with both feet and let the fun overwhelm you.

- M

Fun with water, so break out the Super Soakers!

I love Nerf guns and water pistols. It's the kid in me, sure, but there's something instantly enjoyable about running around and pretend fighting. Nobody gets hurt (unless they twist an ankle or run into a wall), and everyone has a grand time. I think the best part is losing. Truly. You get wet and pounded with foam darts, but you're the one having the most fun in avoiding it all. It's all how you look at it. If your goal is having fun, then don't ignore the places you find it.

I know it's not a water balloon, but it's such a funny expression!
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Maybe that's why adults lose the ability to play? Well, adults do have the most expensive toys, but those aren't normally the kind you want to lose or break. There's a primal joy in having fun. Deep down, we want to laugh and enjoy life. No matter how stressful life becomes, it's great to cut loose. Comedians have used this principle for all of human existence, by shining the light of ridicule on the wealth of human foolishness. Then there are the physical slapstick sorts, who remind us how funny human beings actually are.

Modern technology has created incredibly powerful water squirters and foam throwers. One Christmas, my family had a bunch of them and we had little wars for months. It was great fun! Oddly, I felt pride that my wife and children played with such abandon. It was like being a kid again. Yes, anyone can play with foam darts and water balloons, trust me. Now, go out there and have some fun!

- M

Game Time! Get the popcorn, the board and pieces.

I grew up playing board games with my family. Not only did we develop great people skills, but also sportsmanship, analysis, bartering, theft, cheating, and competitive pouting. I admit it's mostly just fun and laughs, because we never took things too seriously. It's kind of tough getting upset when a toss of dice doesn't go your way (though, it's not unheard of). Remember to let competition be less important than fun, and you will all enjoy yourselves.

My favorite games are in the strategy genre, like: Stratego, Risk, Othello, Chess, Checkers, and sometimes Go. Sadly, those games take a lot of time, so I don't play them much. What really works well are the quick card and dice games. The more the merrier. If you can get four players, nearly anything will work, but get a gang together and you can play more complex games with teams. I love those types of setups. There's more mature games, such as spelling, dictionary, story, and trivia. These limit your players to certain ages and above, so it's tough for children to play as well.

When our whole family gets together, we do our level best not to be too competitive, but who am I kidding ... I want to stomp everyone into the dirt and dance on their ashes! Hee hee, hah hah. I will rule everyone! Ahem, that is, I enjoy myself entirely and under no circumstances will I belittle anyone at anytime ...

If you haven't had a family time where you play games, then you need to plan it right now. These times are cherished memories for me, and I can't imagine my childhood without them. I regret how in my own little family, we don't try hard enough to gather and play. Well, perhaps I can change that. It's well worth the effort, even if I don't win.

- M

Hot potato, hot potato, whoops.

Do you enjoy games? I sure do. Be they computer games, board games, puzzles, mysteries, or anything else I can find. Imaginative games are especially fun, although I do love good strategy too. Kids and adults treat games differently, sometimes wildly so, especially in regards to victory. Children mainly want to understand how to play, have fun, and perhaps win. Adults are either completely apathetic to it (playing only because their kids want to) or savagely competitive.

Why do we change the way we play? Does maturity temper fun? Do we need to be "adult" even in the games we enjoy?

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I've watched my wife play gams, and am astounded by the way she can totally enjoy herself no matter the game or how well she's doing in it. I do my best to emulate her, but find I'm way too competitive to pretend for very long. Games should be fun, otherwise why bother to play? Actually, games teach good sportsmanship, both in winning and losing. Games are like pretend wars, without the threat of death and harm. Pretty amazing for a game, isn't it? So, why fight so hard to win?

Try playing a game just for fun. Try to win, sure, but don't let it consume you. Maybe there's a bit of child in us all, yearning to have a bit of fun without the worries of adulthood. Take it like a vacation... a vacation from your problems.

- M

Be very, very quiet ... I'm playing an awesome game.

I've enjoyed stealth games since the original "Thief." Now, there's a new one in town, "Horizon Zero Dawn." Basically, it's a girl with a bow and arrow versus robot monsters. Woohoo! Since it's an open world environment, there's plenty of danger all around and you'll find yourself doing things very carefully a lot. Patience is a key factor, since the actual chances of being discovered are fairly slim. Still, I'm glad to see a new game using good stealth mechanics.

I do have to wonder why stealth is so easy now? The old games were brutally tough (which probably wouldn't go over so well these days), but rewarded not only patience but foresight and imagination. Chances of winning on the first try were basically zero. There was a true threat of failure on a consistent basis. I miss the danger.

And that brings up the question of why games are either fairly easy or impossibly difficult (such as the Dark Souls games). What happened to pleasantly hard? With tough games, the likelihood of playing through again rises--because you want to show how good you now are, by repeating the game with fewer dying moments. This still happens, but it's somehow not the same. I loved ghosting a whole level in "Thief" without ever being spotted. That was some great fun!

- M

Pikachu, I choose you!

People sometimes question to what degree games affect us. Probably most people accept the idea of stories deeply touching our lives, so it shouldn't surprise us when games do the same. You see, games activate huge areas of our brains. What is a story? In its simplest form, it has a beginning, middle and end. Games do exactly that. The player themselves are the main character, and discover incredibly sympathetic feelings during the course of gameplay. Story blooms from the interaction between player and game.

 

The world is still reeling from the massive success of Pokémon GO. I think it's fair to say nobody saw it coming. Sure, the concept is to get people out and active, socializing, and interacting beyond the game itself. I won't dwell on the misuse of these interactions, but it does exist (the game being played in the real world could hardly prevent it). Focusing on the positives, Pokémon GO has indeed taken gamers out of their bedrooms and into the world, racing about to capture creatures and gyms with fanatical eagerness.

 

Playing games activates our brains, our bodies, and our lives. The stories players develop can last a lifetime. I still love meeting friends and talking about games we played and the stories we created while we played. As we talk, the experiences rush back into the present and we mutually relive them. To me, that's the best part of playing games with others.

 

Remember, stories don't have to only be in books and movies. Games are stories too.

 

- M

Taking out the trash, and other happy things ...

I love how we change up things we don't necessarily like doing into things that are fun. The phrase, "taking out the trash," can mean disposing of discarded items, but also removing unwanted pests (typically said in a macho kind of way). "Burning down the house," is another seemingly cruel phrase that turns into a hip and cool one when used to describe a great party. Yup, my examples tend toward the dated, but there's plenty of others.

 

Maybe it's because we enjoy playing word games, or fiddling with expectations, and basically creating a bit of chaos for the sake of fun. Yup, just like us crazy humans to ignore our own language. Puzzle books use this principle to challenge our thinking. Comedians play with words to make us laugh. And, dictionaries struggle to keep pace as we fiddle constantly.

 

There's so much joy in words. I wish more of us understood that. Until then, that's why we have creative types to jiggle our fancies with new usages and thoughts. And, maybe we'll also find ways to turn bad things into good, just by using a bit of mental fidgeting.

 

- M

Roleplaying is fun, and strange, and really very interesting.

I think it's safe to say we've all heard about roleplaying at some point. Some people associate it with fantasy games, but it's a part of wonderful corporate team building exercises (note sarcasm to this statement) and psychology sessions all over. What I really like is "getting into character" when I'm playing a game, like pulling on a new coat and creating something unique. In a sense, it's what actors do, and they sure aren't the only ones who can. I've had some of my best fun doing that in games, and my friends and I still talk about the times we created.

 

Beware the Battle Beagle!

For some strange reason roleplaying is not well accepted like acting is. Could it just be the word? I'm not sure. Somehow it's silly, or strange, or downright weird. I don't care. I try not to judge (even people who LARP are just doing it for fun). Either way, I think it's an adult's way of having the same fun as a kid playing cops and robbers. Why not just go with it?

 

To me, I'll stick with creating stories for the characters I play in games. But, I'm a storyteller, so it's natural to play a game and write a story at the same time. And, I get to involve others in the story as it's created--that's the best part of all. I wonder if I'll use these experiences in a book? (There are plenty of examples already, such as Drizzt.) You never know, maybe you'll see Mohi Sedo or Xiphos running around (yeah, those are my characters, so no, you can't have them, *grin*).

 

- M

Moving is like Tetris, it's all about stacking

30 years of Tetris

Ever play Tetris? It's a very simple game, where you stack basic figures (an "L", square, line, "S") and try to make a compact sequence. Fill a horizontal line and it vanishes. It's basically a test of spatial awareness, mental agility (the game speeds up), and decision making. For such an simple concept it's incredibly entertaining, frustrating, and mindless fun. I loved it as a kid, and still enjoy it as an adult.
Packing and moving is just like it. When you pack a car's trunk there's an art to it. This one there, that over there, and then we can put this here, and with those there, this other just barely fits. It's pure planning, action, and diligence. With a bit of forethought you can make it all fit in. I love doing that. I just with reality matched the non-weight of the game. Yikes it's a backache doing a lot of packing. Yeesh.

The idea of moving is sweet and bitter. Sweet because it's like getting a wonderful present to play with, but bitter because it's all new and changes are inevitable. I think helping someone else move is the best of everything, because you get the joy of helping a friend, the pleasure of real-life Tetris, and the throbbing backside of solid hard work. Just try not to stack too high, or bend too low--it's not a good outcome.

- M

Games of thought and logic. Especially turn-based or real-time strategy games.

Strategy games are the playground of the mind. My best buddy introduced me to them years ago (a little game called Command and Conquer). I'll admit I was never very good, but I was awesome at creating maps for it. Somehow I can make maps that improve computer AI and incredibly change the game--remember the 1 tree, Bert? Yup, I altered a game to insane difficulty by removing a single tree on my custom map. From then on the computer went absolutely crazy with difficulty. I love making maps.

When I was a kid, we played the board games Stratego and Risk. My dad stopped playing Stratego with me when I started laying traps and never giving openings, and we actually only played Risk a few times (maybe me staying up all night and planning out the first dozen or so moves was a negative? Dunno, but I accurately predicted everyone's moves, and I'm very proud of that). There's also Checkers and Chess, which are hugely more complex and great fun!

I still get a rush with strategy games, which is why I like puzzle games so much (or maybe it's the opposite?). Games like these teach forethought, consideration, and mostly patience. We do need reminders to stop and consider. Not everything should be point and click and rush. Give it some time and think about it. Let the possibilities race around in your mind's eye. Watch the outcomes and weight the options. With practice you'll find these new skills apply throughout your life.

So, yes, kiddies, playing games makes you better at life! Woohoo!

- M

Angry Birds - Star Wars edition ... get it ... get it now! ... get it now, you must!

I can't believe I missed a post because I spent last night playing Angry Birds - Star Wars edition. I'm embarrassed. On the plus side, what a fantastic game that is! If you've ever played a knock-down-the-blocks game as a kid, then this is the grown up version on steroids. It has fun puzzles, an engaging play style, and wonderful characters. The Star Wars characters we all love are folded into the world of Angry Birds with love and joy.


Rovio Entertainment

Computer games have been a part of my life since their inception. I particularly love rpg games, but I do enjoy a good action game. Mostly, though, I like puzzle games. There's something especially enjoyable to me when I solve a puzzle in a creative way, or break through a devious plan and come out on top. Maybe it's my way of saying, "Aha! I'm smarter than you!" But, of course, that's the point of a game, in that you beat it. Games aren't much fun if you can't win, and I doubt anyone would play for very long if it is hopeless. You can only beat your screen in frustration for so long before you chunk it and go on to something else.

It's been a pleasure to watch the game industry flex and bend with new technologies. I remember when the first mobile phone games came out, and I did roll my eyes at them. Now, it's a multi-billion dollar industry, with no signs of slowing down. People want something simple they can goof around on for a few minutes (or hours as my case was) and then go about their day. It's great, and I hope it continues for a long time to come.

- M

One Finger Death Punch! A great little game.

I've played games as long as personal computers have been out (yup, I'm ancient). And I also dearly love martial arts--so much so that I've earned a black belt in Taekwondo, and studied many others. All that to say that there is a new indie game out called "One Finger Death Punch." It's very basic (you only use the left and right mouse buttons) but it's like controlling a Saturday afternoon Kung Fu action movie. It is so deeply satisfying that many people start doing Bruce Lee noises as they play (seriously, watch some YouTube videos of people playing).

 

Stick figure animation at it's most entertaining!

What I like about it is that you can sit down for 10-20 minutes, have a blast, and walk away. There's really no plot, very little distraction, and it's unbelievably intense. The game also has a sliding scale of difficulty, depending on how poorly or greatly you play. For me, I'm pretty lousy and so I'm usually at the bottom end of that scale, but some are able to really jack up the difficulty to really crazy levels. Essentially, the better you are, the harder it is, so the game is always difficult enough.

 

If you take the game in small chunks then it never becomes monotonous. There are lots of achievements you can earn, so there's a palpable sense of accomplishment as you grow in skill. I especially like how the game discourages the typical "button mashing" of most action games. In fact, if you smash buttons you will lose, and lose badly. You must time your attacks, but there's lots of leeway so don't get over-stressed about it.

 

If you like quick action games, don't want the investment of lots of money (it's only $5.00), and don't have time for a huge storyline, then check out this game. It's well worth your time.

 

- M

Roleplaying games

I've played computer roleplaying games since the days of Akalabeth (look it up for a laugh!) and Zork, right on up to the newest and greatest online and single player extravaganzas. I've played pen and paper roleplaying, and thoroughly enjoyed bringing up a character and watching them gain power and skills. The greatest joy to me is defining a new character and disappearing into the role. Maybe that's how actors feel when they step into their movie roles? Probably.

 

The joy of roleplaying extends far beyond fantasy or science fiction. Therapists use role playing to foster understanding, while scientists use role playing to seek new theories. It's a useful exercise. Mostly it's used for games though, since taking on a fantasy role is loads of fun. Just imagine being a dragonrider, or shooting balls of flame from your hands, or maybe taking a trip to Pluto in your own personal spaceship.

 

My thoughts run to virtual reality. There are plenty of science fiction stories that explore the addictive effects of using virtual reality long-term. But, there are also lots of stories where virtual reality is a useful tool. I hope we get to try it out in the next few years, especially with the new Oculus Rift device showing real promise. Right now the entry point into virtual reality is just too expensive, but it will continue coming down. I can hardly wait to grip my imaginary staff in hand and ride the eagles with Gandolf!

 

- M

Chess, the playground of the mind

Keeping to the topic of logic for the moment... I'd like to discuss the game of chess. I think most people view the game as something highly intelligent people do for fun. While that is true, it is a battlefield simulation and a fantastic teacher of logical thinking. The trick is to remain moves ahead of the other player. There are very few lucky winners in chess.

Disciplined thinking is mature thinking. Ability to organize thoughts, plan strategies, and execute those ideas takes mental acuity. Some people seemingly are born with the ability, but I believe it's trained and learned. Like any muscle, the brain gets better the more it's exercised. Chess is a fine way to exercise that gray matter.

I don't pretend to be a grandmaster at chess--far from it--but I have learned a few things over the years. The most important thing I've learned is how to forecast the future, see farther ahead, and guess at moves. That talent is so useful in life it's hard to express how valuable it is. Try it out, and you'll see what I mean. It's the closest we can get to predicting the future. And, all from a game!

- M