milhorizon.com

Instead, I am coming to believe that game designers and developers, on the whole (some of the august exceptions being right here on TN), are simply not able to see beyond their own way of thinking about MMOGsI am not chalking it up simply to arrogance (although there is some of that too, especially from some bright lights who clearly have enough going on upstairs to know better)I'm actually suggesting that they are (largely) incapable of thinking outside the box (to use a well-overworn phrase)This should not be seen, however, as some devastating slam on them  -- all people, in all places (though I would suggest particularly those enculturated into heavily technical professions) have trouble looking at things from another point of view, and this group is really not so different. 

But it was still a bit surprising, especially given, in Eric's and Raph's cases, their stated interest in academic research.

Here is what I wrote on the backchannel a month ago when the topic was the related issue of developers and their attitude toward the content contributions of their player-base:

But the designer arrogance goes deeper than that, I'd sayThis kind of elitist characterization [of users as lacking in skill] itself rests on a rather narrow conception of what "content" isWhat do you want to know? Buy SWG Credits from usA flying mount costs nearly 1k Warhammer GoldYou could feel surprised that our Star Wars Galaxies Credits price is the cheapest on all the servers, especially on US server! Here is just one quick example of this kind of disposition in action: Billmonk, which Constance posted about hereThe site promises to help you keep track of your obligations throughout your social network precisely (using any of a number of imaginable currencies)It is double-entry bookeeping for your friendships, and thereby prompts you to conceive of these obligations in exact termsThis is a perfect example of a code-based solution to a code-defined problem: People's moral obligations are essentially precise and monetary, and they therefore need a precise tool to manage them(And this approach is not just applied externally; within software companies one frequently sees similar efforts to address organizational issues with precise and enumerated systems that can be, above all, measured.)

Feature

• Made with the Best Quality Material with your child in mind.



• Top Quality Children's Item.

Description

Entertaining and amazing animal categories like Fins and Flippers, Beautiful Bugs, Wonderful Wings and more! A toe-tapping visit to Old MacDonald's farm DVD includes special features such as: Baby Bloopers, Behind The Scenes, Video Sing-Along and an Interactive Activity 45 minutes

Amazon.com

Created by specialists in early childhood education, this Brainy Baby presentation encourages cognitive development by capitalizing on babies' and toddlers' fascination with farm animals and the sounds they make Baby Animals features quick-paced, real-life photography of young children interacting with animals intermixed with brief animation and more lengthy informational segments about animals in six categories: Horns, Hooves, and Hides; Fins and Flippers; Furry Faces; Beautiful Bugs; Wonderful Wings; and Unusual AnimalsClose-up photography of individual animals abounds, and brief descriptions of each animal's most striking feature and its function answer questions like "why are a flamingo's feathers pink?" Friendly voices and upbeat music accompany the onscreen actionSupplemental DVD features include a textual parent's guide, a storybook with onscreen words and pictures, a quiz about animal habitats, a music video sing-along of "Old MacDonald," baby bloopers, previews of other Brainy Baby productions, DVD-ROM access to the Brainy Baby Web site, and a printable coloring book(Ages 1-4) --Tami Horiuchi