Live & Direct from G4C

Reporting live from 12th street, I’m slowly coming to the conclusion that serious games and I can date for a while, but I don’t see a long term relationship.

The conference/festival is great. Well organized and loaded with speakers. But I’m starting to notice some serious points of disconnect between myself and the guiding principles of this newly emerged field. Of course, I’ll do a more extensive write-up later, but for now I have two questions for these ‘games for change’-people.

1. What’s with the extensive, almost exclusive, focus on “youth”? If we’re all rooting for the same — social change — then please explain to me why I have yet to hear a proposal that addresses, I don’t know, sexual bigotry among seniors? It’s upsetting to think that change can and must necessarily come from a younger generation.

2. What are we changing here exactly? Of course, there are some wonderfully engaging examples (“Hush” is beautiful), but after going through some of these emotional roller coasters, I’m still where I was before. Maybe it could be called ‘Games for Awareness’ or ‘Public Game Announcement.’

Anyway, don’t let the stern tone fool you. I think this is great. I’m just not yet entirely convinced….