GI – behind the scenes

This blog was started as a bit of a journal, a place to think out loud and keep notes about what I am trying to do – which of course is evolving all the time.

While it is true that I am trying to create a viable company in the long run, I think it is important to note what gaming really means to me.

Being with Friends and Family – I have learned a lot about people I care about as we gathered a round the ol’ game table for any number of games. Some have been generational; I remember feeling that I had crossed some imaginary line of being an adult when I began playing cribbage with my father, after watching him play with his father for so many years. Just this past week I got to make some new friends at a Birmingham Board gamers MeetUp (learned Trans-Euro too!)

Exploration – I grew up in several different countries and saw how different – yet similar – people around the world are. Everyone has some form of games that they play and for the same reasons; community, competition, finding common ground and learning. I love finding out about new games and their histories.

Aesthetics (or “oh, pretty!”) – some games out there are just beautiful to look at – who cares how it is played. It is a pleasure to enjoy a game that is not only challenging and fun but helps transport you to another place or time. There is an aspect of design in gaming that is cool and unlimited.

Teaching – I have really enjoyed playing with my sons and other children; watching them grasp new concepts and skills that I know will serve them in so many areas outside of gaming (isn’t life just a compendium of “games” anyway?!). I am excited about further explorations in this area and working with the educational community (though with some measure of a rebellious outsider)