My friend Rob sent me this video, which I had somehow missed when it came out this summer. I agree with the points that Daniel Floyd and Leigh Alexander make, especially how browser-based and casual titles can lead to regular console gaming (I’ve long called The Sims a “gateway drug game”). What I really liked was how some game companies, like Ubisoft, are creating games that “appeal to a younger generation of girls,” in effect planting the seeds for them to grow up with a love for games.

Working for Qore, I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of great women working in the gaming industry, such as Amy Hennig (who couldn’t be more brilliant), Tracy Espeleta, and Kellee Santiago. Coincidentially, I read today on Chris Pirillo’s Twitter feed that Sony Online Entertainment is actually offering a scholarship and internship to a girl looking to work in game design and production:

Applications are now being accepted for the 2010 G.I.R.L. Scholarship to help educate and recruit more women into the field of video game production and design. Sponsored by Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) a global leader in online gaming, and administered by Scholarship America®, a leading non-profit educational support program, applications are available at https://www.scholarshipamerica.org/gamersinreallife and more details, including official rules for entry are also available online at http://www.station.sony.com/girl/.

If you know a girl who may be interested, please pass thing along! It seems like a really great opportunity to encourage more women to become involved in this industry.

Rebecca over at Yelppuppy makes these wonderful Sackboys, who you may recognize as the star of the game LittleBigPlanet. They’re completely hand-stitched, and the level of detail is really impressive. She did a wonderful photoshoot with him in the park before he came to live with me, but I thought I’d snap some pictures of him with Devo and Mr. Littlejeans to see how they’d all get along.

Like most things, they didn’t really care. But I’m going to place him on top of the bookshelf just to be on the safe side!

And here he is at the park, doing what he does best: being adorable.

I do need a name for him, though, so if you’ve got any good suggestions let me know in the comments!

My friend Obsidian from Extralife Radio and Commissioned Comic created this amazing portrait of my main WoW toon, Winema. He’s doing his semi-regular COMMISSIONATHLON, which he explains on his site:

Simply put, the ‘Thlon is an event I created where I try to produce at least 1 piece of fantasy art a day for several weeks. The whole production process is recorded by use of a webcam and each resulting video is posted on the internet, along with the resulting art piece. All the images made are art commissions.

He also shows how he sketches and paints everything live on Ustream, so you can see how the whole thing is created!

Anyhow, I think she looks wonderful. For the Horde!

According to their press coverage, the WoW Pod has been on almost every single tech news site that exists. Yet somehow, I haven’t heard of it. Either the Internet has failed me, or I’ve been playing too much WoW to read the news.

According to their webpage:

Inside, the gamer finds him/herself comfortable seated in front of the computer screen with easy-to-reach water, pre-packaged food, and a toilet conveniently placed underneath his/her custom-built throne.

When hungry, the gamer selects a food item (‘Crunchy Spider Surprise’, ‘Beer Basted Ribs’, etc.) and a seasoning pack. By scanning in the food items, the video game physically adjusts a hot plate to cook the item for the correct amount of time. The virtual character then jubilantly announces the status of the meal to both the gamer and the other individuals playing online: “Vorcon’s meal is about to be done!” “Better eat the ribs while they’re hot!” etc.

But…. would you use it? Would I use it? I think it could be an interesting experiment to try for a few days, but I’m pretty sure Ryan wouldn’t let me have one at home (I’m at the computer enough as it is).

The WoW Pod, created at MIT, will be on display until September 2009. Hopefully I’ll get out to the Boston area to see it!