Editor's Note: There is much to say about the disaster in Japan, but as I'm still playing catch-up, I'll wait on that post and give an update on that thing I've been working on
I hope that next time [Team Respect] goes to a con, there are more of us to hit up the panels and hand out swag, because for as much fun as I had at PAX East, I do wish I'd gotten the chance to play some more videogames.
To that note, I did get the chance to demo the new Mortal Kombat, which was more fun than I've had playing a fighting game in a couple of years (and more fun than I've had playing a Mortal Kombat game since the franchise launched).
I also got to demo Twisted Pixel's The Gunstringer, which is truly fucking astounding. Using the Xbox Kinect, you control the story's hero, who just so happens to be a marionette! As you fight your way through the barren landscape, a narration plays that adapts to the action on screen. It is to puppet theater what Rez was to music.
None of this is to suggest that I regret the other purposes for which I attended PAX. As it stands, [TR] is garnering still more followers on Twitter, with a major spike since the con. We distributed pink wristbands with our twitter name and our URL, collected business cards from a fair number of developers. I was also approached by a teacher from my high school, who was interested in organizing an event there about ethics and hate speech and wanted to know if I'd be interested in giving a talk.
Considering that one of the long-term goals we had from the getgo was doing precisely that sort of thing, I'm pretty fucking psyched.
When we started out, we weren't quite sure what we could accomplish at PAX East with such little time to organize and so few resources. The bar we set for ourselves was thus: Make it absolutely fucking clear that at this con, in this city, the people who are interested in helping greatly outnumber the trolls.
The douchetrucks behind @teamrape managed to stage a "flashmob" consisting of between 15 and 18 people outside a nearby UNO's. They also managed to get us to give them handfulls of bracelets before we knew who they were, and get themselves kicked out of the Gender in Games panel. They've been at this for a couple of months longer than we have, and are followed by 60 people on twitter.
As of this writing, we've distributed around 2000 wristbands, are followed by 192 twitter users-- including the great and powerful @Themiscyra, who on Sunday became the first woman to take the stage for the final round of the Omegathon, and did so proudly displaying a [Team Respect] wristband-- and have made significant content with the press, the industry, and activists in the community. We also met with the brilliant minds at MIT's Gambit Lab, who in addition to their great work in gaming, created the Hate Speech Project as a reaction to the hostility surrounding the dickwolves debacle. It was put on display at the back of their booth at the expo hall.
A full report will follow over at the Team Respect blog, but in short: [TR] is WINNING. This started as a response to a specific mishap in the gaming community, but it won't end there.
As gamers, we're sick of merely saying "games aren't bad for you." Games are GOOD for you. They keep soldiers deployed in combat zones from wanting to kill themselves-- in fact the only behavior more effective in decreasing risk of suicide is 5 hours of daily exercise. They treat depression. They improve confidence and self-esteem, and channel positive energy. If you don't overindulge, they make you a more productive, more considerate, more helpful member of society. But the catch is, none of that shit works if you're an asshole, or are playing in a space that's dominated by assholes.
We can't sanitize the Internet or online gaming as a whole--nor do we want that power-- but from what we've learned at PAX, it's quite clear what our mission from here on out ought to be: To carve out a space where people can expect to be treated respectfully, and to encourage people to take that attitude out to the gaming community as a whole. To encourage others to lead by example and in so doing change the fucking world. The limits of what can be accomplished by our efforts have yet to be fully defined, but what we already know commands us to press forward.
Showing posts with label video games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label video games. Show all posts
3.17.2011
2.17.2011
[TR] Update and other thoughts
Six days without a post is the norm for much of my time on this blog, to the extent that I still, STILL have not yet posted my 500th piece on this site. But it's a bit off from my recent posting habits, so let me assure you, I've still been banging my head on the brick wall that is the Internet, but it's been at a different part, and this time I've begun to see deeper cracks appear. Team Respect has been live for six days now, and as of right now we've racked up 92 twitter followers, an entry on the debacle "Pratfall of Penny Arcade" timeline, 25 forum members (who have collectively posted 93 times) and 37 likes on facebook.
To be fair, we haven't really been trying on facebook, because nobody we know has any finesse with it. My twitter chops have the likes of Melissa Harris-Perry and Harry Shearer tossing me @replies. My facebook chops have people in my circle of friends telling me "cool story, bro." If anyone were to offer advice or assistance, that would be killer.
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Valentines Day came and went, but the discounted chocolate remains, as does the bottle of gin my Other of Primary Significance got me for what we refer to as "Hetero-normative Teenybopper Bullshit Day," which rates rather above the "teacher valentine" chocolates I got her and leaves me playing catch-up. It's Rogue Spirits Pink Spruce gin, and having sampled a fair number of juniper-wrought liquors, I have to say this is my favorite. The gin has been infused with spruce oil and seasoned in Oregon Pinot Noir barrels, which come in along with various citrus elements to strike the first chord. It middles with cucumber which continues to the tail end, where it's joined by the juniper and grains of paradise, a peppery spice famously employed in Sam Adams Summer Ale.
I've yet to use it in any mixed drinks, as it's delicious on its own or with ice, but I suspect that combining it with Lillet at martini proportions with a twist of lemon would yield agreeable results. I shall report back when I've tested this hypothesis. Enjoying it in any form you choose along with the lyrical stylings of Garfunkel and Oates comes with my unqualified endorsement
May we all be spared of our parties taking a turn for the douche.
Peace
2.11.2011
Team Respect: A Grand Announcement
Ever since I was three years old, I've played videogames. It started when I was three years old, and my father's Intellivision allowed for two controllers to control the same character in Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. My father maneuvered the crudely pixelated Ranger whilst I shot arrows. We played that Intellivision until it went bust.
Later, I was hospitalized for asthma. I was breathing out of a tube in the wall, and while my parents visited me, I was often alone. Luckily, they wheeled in a TV with a Nintendo Entertainment System. For sure, I'd rather have been breathing under my own power, but it made my time in the hospital less scary. It's that experience that would later lead me to support Child's Play, a charity that puts toys and games in children's hospitals, so that kids everywhere can feel a little less scared while they're healing.
The charity was the brainchild of Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, best known as the creators of Penny Arcade. Their action helped redeem the gaming community in the eyes of society at large. Gone now are the frothy-mouthed rantings of Jack Thompson. Indeed, the narrative has flipped completely. Prominent researchers are now saying that games are good for you.
Their other great accomplishment is PAX, which is for many of us summed up in a word: home. Last year, it came to the East Coast for the first time, and I was in attendance. It was, in short, awesome. While many other conventions of its sort are commercial enterprises centered on hyping games and getting gamers to part with their money. Not true with PAX. PAX is a community of gamers who are there to play games with each other. And at that, it's one of the more inclusive spaces in the gaming community.
However, recent events have led many to feel less welcome. Here is a timeline of events. It's not the comic itself that has so many of us upset. It's the boorish response from the creators and their defenders that served to make reasonable critiques invisible. And encouraged some high-grade dickery, taken to the most extreme in those who have vowed to show up to the con wearing shirts that say "Team Rape." As a result, many people-- some of my friends included-- to no longer feel welcome at PAX. Which sucks, because PAX is truly special and everyone should have the ability to enjoy it.
We're not quite sure what our long-term plans are. As of right now, we're encouraging those in the gaming community who don't like to hear it when their fellow gamers are inconsiderate of others, whether it be defiantly pledging be assholes to abuse survivors, or using "faggot" as a generic insult to stand up and declaim it. To say that we, as gamers-- as human beings-- won't stand for this.
And after that? Who knows? But right now, we're making a hard push to get the word out ahead of the convention on March 11th, and I'd ask everyone who reads this to pass it along to the gamers in their lives. It's time to take our culture back.
Convince one mind at a time to cleave to the spirit of Wheaton's Law, which is to say, "Don't be a dick."
Later, I was hospitalized for asthma. I was breathing out of a tube in the wall, and while my parents visited me, I was often alone. Luckily, they wheeled in a TV with a Nintendo Entertainment System. For sure, I'd rather have been breathing under my own power, but it made my time in the hospital less scary. It's that experience that would later lead me to support Child's Play, a charity that puts toys and games in children's hospitals, so that kids everywhere can feel a little less scared while they're healing.
The charity was the brainchild of Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, best known as the creators of Penny Arcade. Their action helped redeem the gaming community in the eyes of society at large. Gone now are the frothy-mouthed rantings of Jack Thompson. Indeed, the narrative has flipped completely. Prominent researchers are now saying that games are good for you.
Their other great accomplishment is PAX, which is for many of us summed up in a word: home. Last year, it came to the East Coast for the first time, and I was in attendance. It was, in short, awesome. While many other conventions of its sort are commercial enterprises centered on hyping games and getting gamers to part with their money. Not true with PAX. PAX is a community of gamers who are there to play games with each other. And at that, it's one of the more inclusive spaces in the gaming community.
However, recent events have led many to feel less welcome. Here is a timeline of events. It's not the comic itself that has so many of us upset. It's the boorish response from the creators and their defenders that served to make reasonable critiques invisible. And encouraged some high-grade dickery, taken to the most extreme in those who have vowed to show up to the con wearing shirts that say "Team Rape." As a result, many people-- some of my friends included-- to no longer feel welcome at PAX. Which sucks, because PAX is truly special and everyone should have the ability to enjoy it.
We're better than this. I know because I've been there. I've seen people at PAX receive prizes worth hundreds of dollars only to immediately return them and request that they be put up for auction to benefit Child's Play. There is a culture in PAX-- and in gaming at large-- that is conducive to being changed for the better by the existence of good examples.
It is with this in mind that some friends of mine and I have founded Team Respect.
And after that? Who knows? But right now, we're making a hard push to get the word out ahead of the convention on March 11th, and I'd ask everyone who reads this to pass it along to the gamers in their lives. It's time to take our culture back.
Convince one mind at a time to cleave to the spirit of Wheaton's Law, which is to say, "Don't be a dick."
12.19.2006
I've been sick, I swear
and that's why it's been six days since my last post. Not that it's out of keeping with my patterns of non-bloggingness, but that's the reason this time. Of course when you're home with your sick younger brother for three days that tends to happen. I thought I'd kicked it on Saturday. Went to see The Passion of the Scrooge in Boston. A ridiculous one-man opera-ish version of A Christmas Carol. Completely over the top and I'm not sure if the hilarity was intentional or not but damn do opera dudes overact.
It was followed by the "Not So Traditional Christmas Medley" by a string quintet. Easily the best performance of "Christmas music" I've ever been privy to. A maurading, creepy version of "Frosty the Snowman." A "Let it Snow" tango. A Soviet-esque "Jingle Bells." A cowboy "Away in a Manger."
I was with my friend Kat, who insists on eschewing any hint of femininity. Naturally I torment her about this at every turn, and when I happened upon a coupon for a free pair of panties from Victoria's Secret a week ago, a store that happened to be across the street from the church where the show went up. I managed to get her in the store and she was, well, horrified. She selected a pair, holding it as if holding a dead rat by the tail as she approached the counter. Exiting the store, she insisted that I hold the bag.
"You know, if anyone sees it they'll just assume I bought it for you"
"No, they'll think you get off on wearing women's underwear"
"Even if they do they'll just think that I'm wearing it because you think it's hot"
"grr"
Sensing that she intended to get me to keep the panties even after we parted ways for the evening, I got to scheming. As we passed a trash barrel, I pocketed the panties and ditched the bag behind my back. Then, while at the Papyrus in the Prudential Center mall, I slipped them in her pocket. This went undiscovered until half an hour later, walking down Newbury Street. Since then, two more had joined our group. She made repeated attempts to stick them to the others, which I deftly thwarted. At some point she threw them at me and ran. I caught them, slipped them back into my pockets, and didn't raise the issue again until we were at J.P. Licks and she was leaning up against the rail, her coat hanging off her in a way that provided slack. Once again, the panties were slipped into her pocket without notice. Halfway to the train station she gave up and wore them on her face the rest of the way.
Victorious, I hopped the Orange line and met my buddy Matt to accompany him on his all-night campout in front of the Best Buy to secure one of the 24 Nintendo Wiis that were to be delivered. Long story short, we got there in time, and I would have been able to get one too had I the cash. Though I also could have gotten the ticket and sold it afterwards, but Matt insisted on cockblocking there. "You'd be scamming some kid out of his Christmas Present." he said. "I'm your ride home, you're not doing it." And then later, "I'm proud of you; you did the right thing." After I found out that I could have made a cool 500 bucks.
grrr.
And to top it off, my cold made a reemergence, and as of this writing I have about half a voice and what was once a headache that somehow migrated to my neck. The Wii is a seriously cool piece of electronics though. And I know that not many people here play games. But there's something extremely satisfying about this one. My favorite part is when your opponent shouts "bullshit" when you put a 94 mph fastball past him and he can't even bring it up past 70. And then you patiently explain that you're just so much better. And then you dance
Anyways, I'ma go suck down on some lozenges and watch some House on dvd. Oh shit that reminds me I need to download Boston Legal. Fucking Barbra Walters last week made me forget it tonight.
Fuck. no one's uploaded the torrent yet. Ok, sticking to the original plan
Wombat out
It was followed by the "Not So Traditional Christmas Medley" by a string quintet. Easily the best performance of "Christmas music" I've ever been privy to. A maurading, creepy version of "Frosty the Snowman." A "Let it Snow" tango. A Soviet-esque "Jingle Bells." A cowboy "Away in a Manger."
I was with my friend Kat, who insists on eschewing any hint of femininity. Naturally I torment her about this at every turn, and when I happened upon a coupon for a free pair of panties from Victoria's Secret a week ago, a store that happened to be across the street from the church where the show went up. I managed to get her in the store and she was, well, horrified. She selected a pair, holding it as if holding a dead rat by the tail as she approached the counter. Exiting the store, she insisted that I hold the bag.
"You know, if anyone sees it they'll just assume I bought it for you"
"No, they'll think you get off on wearing women's underwear"
"Even if they do they'll just think that I'm wearing it because you think it's hot"
"grr"
Sensing that she intended to get me to keep the panties even after we parted ways for the evening, I got to scheming. As we passed a trash barrel, I pocketed the panties and ditched the bag behind my back. Then, while at the Papyrus in the Prudential Center mall, I slipped them in her pocket. This went undiscovered until half an hour later, walking down Newbury Street. Since then, two more had joined our group. She made repeated attempts to stick them to the others, which I deftly thwarted. At some point she threw them at me and ran. I caught them, slipped them back into my pockets, and didn't raise the issue again until we were at J.P. Licks and she was leaning up against the rail, her coat hanging off her in a way that provided slack. Once again, the panties were slipped into her pocket without notice. Halfway to the train station she gave up and wore them on her face the rest of the way.
Victorious, I hopped the Orange line and met my buddy Matt to accompany him on his all-night campout in front of the Best Buy to secure one of the 24 Nintendo Wiis that were to be delivered. Long story short, we got there in time, and I would have been able to get one too had I the cash. Though I also could have gotten the ticket and sold it afterwards, but Matt insisted on cockblocking there. "You'd be scamming some kid out of his Christmas Present." he said. "I'm your ride home, you're not doing it." And then later, "I'm proud of you; you did the right thing." After I found out that I could have made a cool 500 bucks.
grrr.
And to top it off, my cold made a reemergence, and as of this writing I have about half a voice and what was once a headache that somehow migrated to my neck. The Wii is a seriously cool piece of electronics though. And I know that not many people here play games. But there's something extremely satisfying about this one. My favorite part is when your opponent shouts "bullshit" when you put a 94 mph fastball past him and he can't even bring it up past 70. And then you patiently explain that you're just so much better. And then you dance
Anyways, I'ma go suck down on some lozenges and watch some House on dvd. Oh shit that reminds me I need to download Boston Legal. Fucking Barbra Walters last week made me forget it tonight.
Fuck. no one's uploaded the torrent yet. Ok, sticking to the original plan
Wombat out
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