Teen gamer
I remember how much of a video game junkie I was in my teen years. Me and my best friend (Steven) – at the time in grade 8 – promised our parents that we’d always stay at home, and be “good kids” (er, stay out of trouble) if they purchased video games for us. This was successful for a short period. By the way, I have to thank my very cool uncle, Conrad, for giving me my very first video game console made by Atari. He’d always bring me cool presents whenever he was able to get some free time off from the US Navy cruising around the world on the USS Saipan. I presume defending “liberty.”

Kids will be kids
Well, I quickly got bored after a while since my childhood involved playing lots of basketball, floor hockey, and ping pong after school in Ottawa – mostly at the Bayshore Country Club. Or if I was in Barbados, I’d stay after school until dark playing marbles with my classmates. If that wasn’t the case, I’d be destroying the competition on my road tennis (invented on the island in the 1930s) court that I built on the “road” next to my dad’s house in Black Rock (St. Michael). Aaah, the good ole days. You sort of know it’s the end of the line when your “friends” come over to your house and beat you – badly – on your own damn video game. How embarrassing!

Show me the money!
Now, fast forward to 2006 and you’ll realise that the video game industry is worth a whopping US $10 billion. I’m told that’s even bigger than the very superficial Hollywood movie industry. Now hold your breath for a moment. According to Hollywood Reporter, “new shifts in the distribution of entertainment through wireless and online global markets will propel the worldwide video game market to $55.6 billion in 2008, speeding ahead at an impressive 20.1% compound annual growth rate.” In all honesty, I’ve been racking my brains trying to come up with a concept that has mass appeal, yet is somehow completely original – more or less.

Eureka! I think I just may have found a very good video game plot. Thanks once again to visiting Africa (okay, Kenya!), my creative juices have been over-flowing as I see tons of opportunities over here. Heck, my DynaMIND (an adaptation of the Silva Method invented by Jose Silva) instructors – Johnathan Kramer & Janet MacDonald – would be tickled pink.

The plot’s the thing
So, what the heck does the game involve? Well, I can’t say much right now but it involves animals – especially those on the endangered list. Furthermore, it involves scenery from every wildlife sanctuary or national park in Africa along with footage from the world’s most famous zoos. This will give the player the ability to, well, change scenery so that he/she doesn’t get bored. But the best part of the game is the plot, and that’s what I can’t divulge right now. However, my close confidants really, really like the concept as the plot is original and filled with sheer irony.

Okay, time for me to zipper zee lips shut!

Just do it!
One thing I’ve learnt from software development is that ideas are fine and dandy, but getting the final product out the door requires a healthy dose of discipline along with savvy programmers who can also visualize experiences from the user’s perspective. In all honesty, it makes little difference how great a programmer is at C++ or the newest computer language under the sun. A better question is “does he have people skills to go with that talent?”

Oh well, I’ll be looking more into this video game concept, but I’ll keep you posted once I can figure out a ton of things in order to get the wheels in motion. Also, I’m tied up at the moment with some other short term business pursuits (a huge eCommerce web portal for Africa), so stay tuned.

Do you have any cool ideas for a video game? If you do, post them in the comments below. I’m always curious to peek the minds others.

Update: Feb 15/2006
After reading Game Developers: Get It in Writing in BusinessWeek today, I realise just how important the plot is for a video game. It appears that gun-totting players want more out of their games. According to Gladiator screenplay writer, David Franzoni, “I am looking for the motivation rather than just shooting a bunch of human figures. I need something that will take it to the next level.”
The reason why I eagerly came back and edited this blog is simply because I truly believe that my new video game idea has that motivation that Franzoni is talking about. Now I’m getting excited!

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Related Links:

• American Road Tennis
• St. Leonard’s repeat as Road Tennis champions
• Broadband Rules in Rapidly Expanding Global Video Game Market
• Gamasutra – The Art & Business of Making Games
• China Passes 25 Million Paying Gamers…
• Ultimate Game Programming
• Create video games on 43Things.com
• GameTutorials.com
• GameProgrammer.com wiki
• GameJobs.com
• (new: Feb 13/2006) Game Developers: Get It in Writing (BusinessWeek: As storylines become more complex, the industry recognizes the importance of well-developed plots and characters)