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Sometimes enkwolf got bored at his work. Not often, you see, but sometimes. Typically this happened when he was between tasks, or writing yet another scientific article. It was at these times when he wandered off to look at the Gameful blog. The blog had not always been his primary interest in the site but things had changed since then. He browsed the blogs, seeing one interesting topic after another, and most of them rather unexpected. Some were written as stories, others used riddles and there were even some poetic blog posts. The variety of topics though, that’s what made the Gameful blog much more interesting than any other. When looking at particularly interesting posts, enkwolf often paused to think who might have commissioned the work. Some people’s dares were quite easy to recognize, but others were sneakier. 

It had been about a year since it all started, he thought. Looking back, it had been quite a simple idea. People would just dare others to write blog posts about various topics, sometimes challenging them to use a specific style of writing. He had two worries back then. Maybe no one got interested. That was not much of a problem though, because even if just a handful of people played the game, their blog posts could be enjoyed by all. What he was more worried about, was the the treat economy around this. Would people be willing to put down their treats to dare someone else to write in the blog? Could these dares be somehow abused? However, he thought back then, this was Gameful, a friendly community. Sure enough, looking at the blog now, he saw that people indeed had played in the spirit of the game. 

The blog was so lively these days. No one had the time to read everything, but there was something for everyone. The explosion of blog posts had motivated the admins to make a better system for categorizing and finding interesting posts. Of course, he could always tell the challenge ones from one simple tag, and those were the ones enkwolf liked. It was not that the other blog posts weren’t useful – they were, after all, often written by people who knew about their subject – but the dare blog posts were often really fresh. People were writing about topics they really hadn’t thought about, and new perspectives were found almost daily. Some were just hilarious to read. That was okay too, not everything had to be useful. As long as it was gameful. Here, people were writing about things that didn’t fit inside the scope of their personal blogs. 

After looking at some interesting blog topics, enkwolf opened his notifications tab and checked now messages. The “I blog dare you!” had become the de facto standard title for blogging challenges, and sure enough, there were a couple of those in his inbox. He read the propositions through and carefully pondered if he’d like to take them. Both were quite interesting. However, he had no immediate idea how to write the second one, so he decided to back down from that dare, and sent his reply, along with the conceded treats. The first one he took. He was supposed to write about his shoes, and the role of shoes in world-saving games. Then, after getting through his inbox, enkwolf looked through his friends. He had a particularly tricky challenge in mind, and was looking for a suitable recipient. He was going to write a dreaded “I double blog dare you”-challenge. The resulting blog post would most certainly be an interesting read. 

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Want to make this future happen, or alter it? You are needed at: http://gameful.org/groups/make-gameful-better/forum/topic/the-blogging-game/

My first Blog entry is going to be a post I made to the Game Development group, with a few extra materials at the end, to really give an example of what I mean. I’m going to try to post as often as I can on here, so if you like what you see, check back again in a day or two, and there should be something new for you to check out then!

Well, I must say
I have been doing the happy dance lately.  I am so fortunate to have such a good life.  It wasn’t always so and I had to scramble as many do, but I’m now reaping my rewards of the long hard road to get here.  And it’s spring to boot, my favourite time of year.

New beginnings
always take time to mature I guess.  Much the same as all the game seedlings being planted here, some wilt and some blossom, or my guess with the brilliance and enthusiasm I’ve seen here, all will bloom and do their work.  Players will have fun while learning and change will happen for the social good.

This is the eve
of the final sign-up for the Gameful Urgent Evoke Monsters (GUEM) team, as of 1 PM Pacific Time the gate will close and we’ll be off and running.  Learning how to be a Social Innovator and coming out heroes.  We are made up from people all over the world, 14 countries so far.  I am so excited for my team just imagine even one seemingly small action they take will make a difference in the world, for one or for many it doesn’t matter it all counts.  They are my heroes.  The GUEM team is going to rock the Network and I’m very pleased at the team prizes I’ve been rounding up for each member with a few extra dazzlers to keep it fun.

Last week
was the first ever in the world Hug Ur Gameful Monster (HUGM) group hug and it was a success to build on.  I’m thinking April 30th just have to pick a good time, not an easy task when inviting people from around the world so I’ll change it up for each group hug.

I had to laugh
one person had heard of both groups and wasn’t sure which one was which “do I join the GUEM or the HUGM group?”.  I of course said join both and gave them a hug across the wires in advance.

My mentor
one of them at least, Jane McGonigal herself, launched a new game this week, and this one looks to be exciting so of course I signed up.  Only 500 get to play and I want to be part of this movement for games to change the world.  Here’s the link to sign up I’m not afraid of competition, if you get in I still win, as you will be the one to make a change in life however small for the good in life for all. http://game.nypl.org/#/menu

I’ve done what I call
throwing my hat over the fence.  Now I have to go get it.  I live 3,500 miles away but if I am selected I’ll get there somehow and find a place to stay and have naps ahead of time so I can pull an all-nighter again… oh those were the days.

I am
doing the happy dance but I never forget how lucky I am to even be here to connect with so many lovely people, like-minded people who want to make a difference in the world as I do.  Love it.

Hugs
across the wires to you all whoever and wherever you are, you’re my heroes too.

~*

Something I have been wondering about lately is, how can like-minded nonprofits connect and begin to work together, to collaborate, and share resources.  

In these days of cut-backs and financial woe we, the nonprofits, have to work smarter and I think that means we must start working together in groups of like-minded organizations regardless of physical location.  

It is my vision that one day we become one voice of many causes, with collecting in like-minded groups as the first step.

How can this be done? 

It is a day
to remember, February 11, 2011, a day of joy for the Egyptian people, and one that already had it’s own significance with the 21th anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela, another great victory for peace and equality.

What is most amazing to me
I’ve bolded in this excerpt from the CBC site:
“It was the biggest day of protests yet in the upheaval that began Jan. 25, growing from youth activists working on the internet into a mass movement that tapped into widespread discontent with Mubarak’s authoritarian lock on power, corruption, economic woes and widespread disparities between rich and poor.”
(http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2011/02/11/egypt-mubarak-future.html)

Don’t ever think
that the games we make here will not bring change for the good in the world so that others may have a better life.

Don’t ever forget
just how lucky we are that we have that opportunity to connect and join the growing voice of many causes for the goodness in life for all.

Happyful
is how I’m feeling today, and I wish the same for you.

~*

I was reflecting today
on how lucky I am after turning on the hot water tap to do my dishes, and then especially a few hours later.  My friend, Javie Ssoze from Uganda sent me a link to his new video. 

It also ties in
to an early thought I had for a game, “Fetching Water” so good timing for Javie to send me his new work.

I met Javie
while playing http://www.urgentevoke.com and our friendship is a testimony that a lot of the connections I made in Urgent Evoke, I will keep for life.  Nice!  I am convinced that is going to happen here in Gameful.  I think I have to stop saying I’m not a gamer

Never forget how lucky we are.  Oh, and I borrowed this style of a crisp opener for a paragraph from @vinnietheterrible, ty vtt I like it

Here’s Javie’s video:  Water, Women and the Economy, Uganda Africa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk3KBjiZPCI

~*

Lots of talk about Jane’s book since it was released, a few reviews I’ve found bring up some interesting points.  I say, at least it got people talking about it, there has been a surge in online games these past few years, for instance here’s a great chart, fairly recent, from KZero showing the number of virtual worlds/MMOs either active, underdevelopment or not active.  Boggles my mind.  http://www.kzero.co.uk/radar.php  Games are here to stay that is for certain.

So, will keep this short now that there’s more people posting, wouldn’t want to bore you  Game On as one of my friends said.

~*

I was thinking about how lucky we are to be part of this ‘game’ which, IMHO is so new we haven’t even invented it yet, just a seed has been planted for us.  

A thought came to mind… just the very idea that you are reading this means you have an internet connection and a computer, more than millions could even dream to have.  Some would argue that’s not such a bad thing, and yes, I have to agree.  A computer and this kind of connection aren’t for everyone… some are too busy just trying to survive or scavage for food or find a place to sleep for the night.

So, just imagine the trickle effect we little monsters are going to have.  A game is created, a person plays it and is inspired to take action, and somewhere in the world a person’s life is made just a little better down the line.  

Was it a coincidence that just as I had that thought, an eagle soared by over my head, so close I could hear the wind in it’s wings?

~*

Get Satisfaction ~ love the name for the help reporting system Gameful are using.

The first blog I posted in Gameful, my browser crashed, the next one a blank profile page covered it for a while so there is a glitch somewhere.  If you have experienced this, please pretty please report it as @Henry Joules did because it helps improve the game.  

Not only did I feel better someone else had this issue but as a seasoned troubleshooter I know it makes life easier for the Gameful folks.  Not that I felt better there was an issue, you know what I mean

Here’s the link, you’ll have to create a userid it’s a separate system from Gameful, then just hit the “I’m having this problem too” button how easy is that yay!    http://getsatisfaction.com/gameful/topics/white_square_covers_blog_section

Don’t forget to fill out your profile there.

And while you’re at it, why not leave an idea or even better yet a compliment!  We all know something like this takes a lot of work and effort to pull off and I’m sure they would love to read your appreciation.

~*

I’m looking forward to receiving Jane’s book, got my note from Amazon it’s on it’s way.  I bet she’s excited must be a good feeling to hold a vision in one’s hands.  I’m excited for her and for the enlightment it will bring to make a change for the better.  Reality is Broken sure, but it’s leaders such as Jane who will help us to help fix it.  I hope this sparks a global movement so that Jane’s next book title is Reality is Rocking! 

~*

Have a delightful day where ever you are and always live with passion.

Hugs and waving madly across the wires.