note: this is long winded
As a child I discovered a computer language called BASIC. The knowledge that I could command the computer to recreate the thoughts in my mind changed my perception of the world. Since then, I wanted to create virtual stuff, games mainly. I piddled around with Apple ][s (my favorite), Commodore 64s, Atari 8-bits, IBMs, Atari 2600 (I had the basic programming cartridge, thank you Mr. Warren Robinett), NES (Excitebike included customer track design), and even calculators whenever I could while growing up. Sometimes while standing in department stores where they were being demoed. I couldn't afford my own computer after all. My parents (both sets) were not likely to buy me one. Most of the time the schools I attended had some Apple ][s available for me to use (with or without permission). I confess that I used burglar tactics (entering but not breaking) on more than one occasion just to use a computer and leave without a trace. I finally did manage to buy my own Apple IIc only to have life circumstances take it away. Through it all I held onto a dream of being a successful videogame maker someday. But life happens, and so does gray hair. I delayed my dream because of circumstance and choice in favor of other priorities. I don't regret these for a moment. But, I realized at some point in my life that I was going nowhere and life was meaningless. It was not about my priorities, my dream, or the consequences of my choices. It was about who I was. Much to my surprise, I was saved by Jesus. At the time, Videogames were becoming, or already were, violent, sexual, crass, vile, and that is no place for a Christian, right? And so my dream died. But, life happens. I was encouraged by _some_ church leaders, _some_ fellow Christians, and by some lesser known facts about the gaming industry. My dream is alive again, as long as God wills it, because it is no longer mine. I may never personally be successful but its not really about me anymore. Truth, many Christians are horrified when I tell them I want to make videogames. I get the distinct impression that some of them want to slap their palm on my head and yell, "Be gone demon!" (even from Baptists, Lutherans, and Methodists). But others point me to the Bible and show where Jesus went amongst the sinners to perform His Job. He did not seal himself away in a building surrounded by only His most well-behaved followers. And it turns out that some of us (Christians) have been there all along. And there's even games by Christians promoting Jesus. http://www.uvlist.net/search?ftag=christian&sort=year&listed=50. I hope I'm not misunderstood. I have no intention of making games for the Christian market or about supposedly 'Christian subjects'. If any game I design ever becomes popular among Christian players, I will consider my dream a failure. I intend to make great games because I'm working for a great boss (Jesus). But, life happens. And I think I've avoided the main issue long enough. I don't yet have the skills or equipment to do a great job. I don't have the GPA for college. What I do have, is the opportunity to attend a trade school. It's reputation in the gaming industry is questionable. It won't be easy. It may not get me a job. But it will get me the skills. But, life happens. Since getting new final boss, I have come to look at everything from a different perspective. I've realized that Libre Software is the only Biblical model for all useful software. Not much call for that in the industry yet. I recognize there is art and opinion in the content of games that can be packaged separately from the code. Ironically, neither the Libre Software community nor the industry seem to be catching on to this. I wonder what shall I do with the skills I obtain? Get an industry job? What should I do when I'm asked to create games that are morally reprehensible to me?


Yes, many 'Christian games' suck. Probably for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that they are often made by well meaning but technically unequipped people who's primary concern is preaching the message instead of _presenting_ the message. Even a person's favorite meal does not look appetizing if served on garbage can lid.

WORLD ENOUGH AND TIME

It doesn't matter if you're a fan, or even if you hate it, if you only see one Star Trek production in your life, make it WORLD ENOUGH AND TIME

(Don't watch the trailer, the trailer sucks.)

Mathematics is Doomed

It has just come to my attention that mathematics are by and large, not protected by copyright! This invention has apparently been are virally infected by communist Open Source pirates! This is an emergency! How will math users earn a living!? Tax consultants will go hungry! Math teachers are doomed! People will stop bothering to learn math because there is no money in it. Think of the quality of machines when engineers stop learning math! No more cryptologists! Passwords will become useless and all data will be unprotected. A communist plot to steal our state secrets! Science will grind to a halt! Banks will cease to exist! Every economy in the world will crash permanently! Won't somebody please think of the flashin' children!

Fear of Open Source, "I don't want my compeatitors to have my code"

I once emailed a game developing company to thank them for promising not using Damaging Restrictions & Malice (DRM) in their products. I also took the opportunity to list a few benefits of going a step further and releasing their game engines under open source licenses, while retaining the copyrights and trademarks of the content. I will sum up some of them here:
* free (gratis) testing, bug tracking, and even bug fixing by volunteers. Thus increasing the quality of the engine your content runs on
* free (gratis) translations by volunteers. Thus increasing the number of potential customers who want your content. Note that this one requires a little bit of permissiveness in the content's copyright.
* free (gratis) ports of the engine to different platforms by volunteers. Thus increasing the number of potential customers who want your content.
* Additional content created by volunteers. If its good, you can license it to sell so you and the creator profit. If its good and free (libre), you can package it for inexpensive sell, and charge to support it (bundle support for it when they purchase your content). If its good and proprietary and the creator will not license it, it is still likely to make your engine more popular; thus increasing potential customers who want your content. If its bad, then your content looks better.
I skipped little things like free (gratis) or cheep distribution, free (gratis) publicity, etc... I actually figured, because of the manor in which they arrived at the no DRM decision, I wasn't saying anything new to them. This assessment was correct, in their response they confirmed that they'd considered the open source option. They gave the usual reason of Linux is a small market, which I admit is seen as legitimate business decision not risk changing the whole way a successful business is run (I did not initially mention World of Goo to them). And the concern that their code is not pretty enough to be bragged about. I understand embarrassment. They had no other arguments with my reasoning. But they gave a reason not to use open source that I'd never considered before, "The only problem I have with open source for a game that still sells well, is the fact that you effectively hand proprietary code to your competitors."
They got me to thinking, and thinking. I thought about it a long while. I decided, competitors having your code is wonderful. Once you open source your code its no longer proprietary and your competitors cannot make it proprietary. If they improve it, you get the improvements too. If they market it well, your market expands. Its entirely possible that your competitor could take over your marketing, distributions, sales, everything for your engine. Oh, the horror! Should you panic? Nah, just scratch those expenses off your budget. In fact, give your competitors a call and offer them a license to sell your content so you can make a profit from it while simultaneously concentrating on creating more for new games. In fact, the concern of protecting the intellectually property of the content is now theirs also, a little less to worry about. Now you have another company offering support for your engine and content. Are you having a persistent uncorrectable code 18 error? Well you can let them know that "we want customers to be satisfied no matter what the sacrifice. Please give our competitor a call, they may be able to resolve this issue for you." And let your competitor know that you are glad to reciprocate. Most people offering death threats against you will be thrilled at the idea of doing business with you competitor, and visa-versa.

Click here to eliminate pre-installed junk on your computer

Click here to eliminate pre-installed junk on you computer
http://www.ideastorm.com/ideaView?id=0877000000006iiAAA
For a variety of factors like sales, popularity, quality of tech support concerning the offense, and the offense itself, I nominate Dell as the leader of shoving pre-installed junk applications and trial software that nobody wants down their customers necks. But Dell's gone a done something right. They created ideastorm.com . The inevitable suggestion that pre-installed junk needs to be optional instead of mandatory was posted there. Then users added 102,220 points to promote this idea (as of 2009-02-05). If enough people tell Dell where to shove it, they will have to give up the back-room briberies that plague us with pre-installed junk. Other companies are bound to take notice. Dell might actually become a worthy leader in the elimination of pre-installed junk. Hey, it could happen. After all, technically, they even offer Linux now, sort of.
Click the title of this post tell the computer industry where to stick pre-installed junk.