ScreenBurn Arcade at SXSWi
OK, I know SXSWi ended like… a month ago. But we still have videos rolling out! Like this one:
I really think Angry Veronicas could be a huge hit. Also, congrats to the winner of our ScreenBurn Poll, NeverDie and Rocktopia! For more videos, head over to Cruzearati.com, and follow the Twitter account here.
Women in the world of gaming
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.
The Spore Creature Creator!
Many gamers out there are waiting (somewhat) patiently for Spore to launch this September 7th for North Americans. In the meantime, Electronics Arts has passed out a copy of Spore’s Creature Creator (arguably the most anticipated aspect of the game) to fifty people for a little thing they’re calling the “Sporelebrity Contest.”
How does it work? Each person creates a creature of their very own, and then the adorable (or hideous, depending on your tastes) creatures will be voted on by the Internet. The most-beloved monstrosity wins $15,000 for a charity of the creator’s choice!
I’m really excited to be a part of the competition, and I look forward to destroying Kevin Rose and Scott Beale when the voting opens! There will be some other exciting competitors too (actual famous people!!) so I’ll update you all when EA has everything set up. My charity is going to be the James Kim Technology Foundation.
The Creature Creator itself is extremely intuitive. Within five minutes I had a creature up and running (see Bugnose below, who didn’t make the cut as my final entrant into the contest).
Here’s Coodoodle, who you’ll be hopefully voting for! She shoots poison from her rear end, so be careful.
I’ll be uploading photos here as I play with it more!