What Growing Up With Video Games Taught Me

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GTY_video_game_playing_jef_131211_16x9_992 I've played video games my entire life. My brother and I have always been fans of them, dating back to our original Nintendo and Super Nintendo all the way to the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. While I haven't been playing video games nearly as much these days, they still encompass a big part of my life. I was thinking recently what a life playing video games has given me, and I must say they have shaped me for the better.

Some of my favorite games over the years have been the Mass Effect trilogy, several of the Final Fantasy games, Heavy Rain, LA Noire, Bioshock, The Last of Us, Grand Theft Auto 4, Call of Duty, Halo, and a plethora of fighting games which I enjoyed (and still do enjoy) playing with my brother. There are many other games I've enjoyed but for the sake of brevity, I'll cut myself off.

Video games have taught me many things, some may seem unexpected or odd but nevertheless I value the contributions this medium of entertainment has given to my life.

Vocabulary

Especially back when I had to read all the dialogue from older Final Fantasy games, video games helped me learn new words and have an appreciation for understanding what they mean through context clues. Reading is important for everyone at all points in our lives and I happened to do a lot of it through video games. It doesn't matter what you're reading, as long as you are reading and are comprehending what is being said.

Problem Solving Skills

A lot of games have different puzzles and mysteries to solve, encouraging you to not just solve them, but rewarding you for solving them well and quickly. Critical thinking is a highly important skill for all people, and nurturing this through video games is a fun and effective way to build this skill. Especially a game like LA Noire, where there is groundbreaking motion capture for the characters in the game which allow for nonverbal ticks when interrogating people as well as in depth crime cases to solve with a myriad of possible outcomes. I enjoyed this game greatly and appreciated how it encouraged critical thought throughout the game.

Teamwork

I tend to prefer playing games on my own, but me and my brother always liked to play our fair share of them together. We'd have to communicate and take different roles to succeed. I tend to play a support role or (in World of Warcraft for example) I'd be the tank or defensive player that helped take the heat for my team so they could all do the real damage. If we had a team of tanks or people who didn't communicate, we'd never win. We each need to know our role and do it well. It's a super satisfying thing when you can work with others to achieve greater success than any of you could do alone.

Social Skills

While most think playing too many video games will make you into an anti-social loner (it can, but not always), I venture to say that it can help build bonds with others about something they are passionate about. Nowadays especially (far more so than when I was playing them) with the advent of online gaming, we are playing video games mostly with and connected to each other. If we're not teaming up or playing against each other, we're sharing resources, tips, tricks, guides, and generally coming together around what we love.

Video games will always be a big part of my life and I'm thankful for it. They've given me a lot and I hope others can realize what they've been given and what they could get from exploring this uniquely interactive entertainment medium.

Thanks for stopping by!

Book Review: i, Geek - Confessions of a Geeky Mind

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"So, to come to my core point: don’t limit yourself. Explore, try new things. Open yourself up to things that are outside your comfort zone. Learn. Live. And love more than just one genre or show."

I read through this book pretty quickly after it was recommended while doing a recent episode of my podcast. It was a book I hadn't heard of before and seemed interesting enough to me (especially since it is available for cheap on Amazon Kindle). The author, Joseph Dickerson, collects blog posts of his from around the Internets and curates them in this book under a few general categories like technology, design, Star Trek, and some others.

The book is a under 200 pages and I'll admit, even with it being very short, I skipped over some of his posts about user interface design, as it wasn't relevant to me at all. It is his day job and I know I like to talk about higher education so I can understand why he put it in there, it just feels out of place. I really enjoyed what he wrote about Star Trek (which is a lot of this book), since it feels a lot like what I have written and feel about the show and what makes it great. Frankly, the whole book feels like something I've been thinking of writing for a while now; simply a collection of my best blog posts curated around common topics.

Much like I have, Dickerson writes about the life lessons learned from a geeky life, and how we can all gleam some morsels of wisdom from video games, books, movies, and television. The above quotes is one of my favorites from the book. We could all use some time out of the ordinary, even if it is taking a chance on a new story (in whatever medium you prefer). I know I've found some awesome things by just taking a leap on something that just feels right.

Especially for the low price on Kindle, I recommend this book for a leisurely read on a weekend with a nice cup of coffee/tea. It has some worthwhile portions and I'm sure others will find certain sections more enticing than I did.

Thanks for stopping by!

Pocket These Podcasts: What I'm Listening To Lately

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SCOI0065-summary-icon-100x100 Podcasting has been experiencing a renaissance recently. With the continued success of some foundational shows and the current breakaway success of some few shows, podcasting has become more mainstream in a big way. The quality is increasing, the topics or more nuanced and deep, and the audience is growing exponentially. I've been a fan of the medium for years now, and I'd like to share a few of the awesome new shows I've been listening to lately.

Startup Podcast

I was recommended this show by the incomparable Tom Krieglstein and have enjoyed following along with the story. It is basically the journey of a guy (Alex Blumberg) following his heart, starting a business (podcast network in this case) and his trials and tribulations. He is authentic and reflective throughout the whole process. He makes some mistakes, fumbles a bit, but eventually reaches his goal. It is a great look into how a startup might come to be today, and has some great tips for those interested in doing the same. Even if you're not thinking about starting a business, the story is still entertaining to listen to, so I definitely encourage you to check it out.

Invisibilia from NPR

This is a relatively newer show compared to the others on this list. As the name might suggest, the show examines the invisible forces that influence our lives. While there have been only two formal episodes, you can find a guest episode on This American Life and the two episodes that have been released are fascinating. The premiere episodes was on thoughts, their power, and the history of our understanding of them. The most recent episode is about fear. I'm really intrigued to see where the show goes from here!

Nerdette Podcast

I'm not sure how I originally stumbled across this show, but I'm glad I did. It's a NPR podcast out of Chicago that is a short snippet of interviews, nerdy Q&As, and their signature segment, nerd confessions from their audience. The confessions range from the humorous to the deeply emotional and are amazing since their listeners feel comfortable enough to share them out with the world on their show. If your into smart, nerdy things and good conversations, check this show out. It's light, engaging, and perfect for a listen on your commute or during your lunch break.

Honorable Mentions: Serial (obviously), Nerdist, How Did This Get Made?, School of Greatness, Smart People, This American Life, Freakonomics, Invisible Office Hours, Reply All

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 12/05/14

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Hey now!

Welcome to another superb week in geek!

  • More Marvel News!

So there was a lot of big announcements coming out of Marvel this week. Ryan Reynolds is back as Deadpool (very cool), Krysten Ritter is Jessica Jones (pretty neat), and Benedict Cumberbatch is Doctor Strange (!!!). Whether or not I'm invested in these specific people depicting these specific characters, I'm just excited that these projects are legitimately happening and are moving forward. We're long overdue for a proper Deadpool movie, the slate of Marvel series on Netflix should be a lot of fun, and Doctor Strange is a big deal for the next phase of Marvel movies so I'm glad we have our lead set now. Now for the rampant speculation as teaser images come out!

  • Holiday Parties!

My first semester as a student affairs professional is coming to a close, which is a whole post on its own but my "reward" for this is a bunch of super cool holiday parties to go to! They'll be the first I'm going to as a working professional, and apparently the one here at my institution is pretty awesome so I'm looking forward to enjoying some good food and good times with my friends and colleagues as this semester (and calendar year) come to a close. It's been a wild ride and I'm ready for some rest and relaxation.

  • Winter Break!

Speaking of rest and relaxation, I'm very grateful for the opportunity to take the vacation time I've earned to head back down to NJ with my partner to see her family and our friends. I'm taking about two weeks off between Christmas and New Years so just expect a slow down of posting until after the new year. We all deserve a break and the ability to be present where we're at. I do love my blog but it is just another thing to jumble my brain with sometimes. I encourage everyone to take time off whichever way they can. There is hardly ever a down time in higher education but in these slower times over the winter, get away and do something fun or see people you've been missing. It's always worth it!

Thanks for stopping by!

whatdoyougeek

Streaming Media & The Democratization of Content

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streaming-media-concept-video-35638709 I consume my fair share of streaming content. Between Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, Pandora, Songza, Spotify, and YouTube, I get a lot of my entertainment this way and rely on it every day. It's the way of the future with new original content coming out on some of these services as well as them being an important tool for discovering different content that would otherwise go unnoticed. This is why I'm a big supporter of these platforms. They democratize the consumption of content, allowing for more people to enjoy more awesome things whenever they want and however they want. I see that as a pretty positive thing. Unfortunately there are some critics out there and especially with death knells like net neutrality lingering out there which threaten the thriving ecosystem of the Internet, I feel now is as good a time as ever to reinforce the positives of streaming media services.

Access

As I mentioned before, people are now able to enjoy whatever they want, whenever they want. This could mean that I can watch news on the train, silly videos in bed, or listen to podcasts when I work out. This empowers people to be more informed, relaxed, and makes things like commutes or long drives more enjoyable and bearable. I don't see anything wrong with that! Obviously we all can't binge Netflix all the time, but we now can consume quick bits wherever we are so that we stay connected to what is important to us.

Variety

With the wide open access of content available currently, it is amazing the incredible diversity of content that is out there. Small, independent music, television, and podcasts can reach a wide audience or even just simply connect with their niche of fans. Whatever the topic or genre of content, there is sure to be an audience for it and there isn't an establishment saying that it doesn't track well with the mainstream. We can all be our weird, fun, uniquely authentic selves and it's okay!

Community

A big part of this that I enjoy is the community I see online around YouTube channels, Spotify playlists, or even niche television shows (like Community, House of Cards, Sleepy Hollow, Orange is the New Black, Arrow/The Flash, or even Scandal) where every piece of new content is an event and is talked about, shared, and remixed, mashed up, or fan art is created inspired by it. It's great to see passionate people come together to connect over their mutual love of something. It can be huge for a lot of us lonely geeks and nerds out there who may feel like we are alone in enjoying whatever we're into. It's important to find others to geek out with!

Streaming media services are here to say, regardless of what people like Taylor Swift say or hopefully whatever comes of the net neutrality decision. Support your favorite independent content, share awesome stuff you find with friends, and keep streaming my friends!

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 10/31/14

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Welcome to this spooktacular week in geek!

Bad Halloween puns aside, this week I wanted to highlight some of my favorite geeky horror films. Most of them have some sort of comedy element to them but are still fun Halloween watches with friends or family. Hopefully you've seen them all but if not, I highly recommend them all!

This is one of my favorite movies of all time in general and was what I thought of first when I thought up the idea for this post. It's a classic British comedy with zombies (or zomedy, see what I did there?!) from 2004 starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in their first of the "Cornetto Trilogy" of films that recently concluded with The World's End. The movie has a lot of great gags, is full of heart, and is all in with the action. I love it and you need to watch it if you haven't before (or even if you haven't watched it in a while).

This classic comedy from the 80s is a supernatural romp with some comedy legends like Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Harold Ramis. I still find it a fun ride these many years later and it is a cultural touchstone for sure. The theme song alone is awesome and worthy of any Halloween playlist!

This one is a little different since it holds a unique place as a sci-fi horror film from back in the day. It inspired several sequels and prequels and is an awesome movie. Starring Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, we were first treated to the Alien back in 1979 and the movie still holds up very well. The basic premise is that Ripley is a lone survivor on a ship lampooned out in space as a vicious creature kills all of her fellow crew members. Weaver rocks in this movie and she definitely gets to play a great, strong, female character here. Check it out if you haven't gotten around to it, it is well worth your time.

Thanks for stopping by!

whatdoyougeek

A Geek's Guide to Leadership

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 "This is a stream of consciousness on some leadership tenants that even this endearingly awkward geek can abide by."

My journey to considering my self a leader has been a long one. I was always a pretty shy and humble kid (and still am to some extent) who never wanted to be the center of attention or take charge. It was only once I went to college, found my niche, and was able to have the pleasure and privilege of attending leadership workshops as well as take some awesome courses on leadership, did I build my confidence as someone who had something to offer as a leader. We all are unique and our leadership will take equally unique forms. That being said, there are some general attributes that I feel make for good leaders, which can be adapted and interpreted in their own ways, creating your own mix of how to get things done and lead a team towards a common goal.

I also use the word leader pretty loosely. While I supervise students, I also see myself as a leader in my campus community, working to forge ahead with projects and efforts that will help all students, prospective, current, commuter, and residential.

A lot of this connects to another post of mine about how to maximize the best of geek culture for building community. Check out that post too to learn more of my geeky revelations!

Authentic

A big thing for me is being authentic, genuine, and real. I never want to seem like a phony to my students or some one I'm not to my friends and colleagues. I share my geeky passions regularly and have my office decorated with all my toys and posters. I also let my colleagues know what I think about what we're doing, especially if I don't agree with it. I have gotten great feedback on this, with people appreciating me speaking my mind in a thoughtful and respectful way. Being a leader means being someone people can connect with and speak to about whatever it is they need. You shouldn't ever seem inaccessible or uncaring. I am human, I have thoughts, feelings, opinions, interests, and needs. I don't try to hide this from anyone. I have found it has been very beneficial to let my geek flag fly and to be a genuine caring person to those I work with. People know what I'm into when they want to collaborate (more on that later) and my work comes to be connected to my passions. It all coalesces to make work a more fluid part of my life, where I don't have to hide who I am when I clock in. I do the things I want to do and can do well, which ends up being better for everyone.

Collaborative

I enjoy working on a college campus since it encourages (most of the time) collaboration. We're all working towards the same goal, and we all have limited resources. Work constantly flows in and out of different offices for different efforts like orientation, homecoming, and other large scale events. I also appreciate the opportunity for me to connect with particular offices I want experiences with and that I can just jump in and help out. When people know what I'm genuinely passionate about, I can take the lead on projects that connect with my interests. On this topic, being open to helping folks with anything they might need is another great aspect I've learned over the years. I have become a resource for folks to collaborate on starting podcasts, helping with blogging, and getting rolling with social media efforts. Being open to helping builds good rapport and capital in your organization. A lot of the time, your reputation proceeds you so it is good to be helpful to folks when you can manage it. At the very least, connect folks with each other if you can't help them or don't have time. Each person will be appreciative and you'll have done your good deed for the day!

Grateful

Something I've continually read in leadership books and articles is the importance of gratitude. It helps us be happier, it helps other feel good, and it is a generally positive thing for anyone to do, especially leaders. Appreciation of the work we do everyday is something that is tragically missing from a lot folks' lives. As a humble leader, I'm very gracious for anything people to do to help me out. I feel like I don't deserve it but in the end, it's just positive thing to do to value the contributions people put in, no matter how big or small. It goes a long way to building a solid foundation for relationships to give honest, genuine thanks (especially in handwritten thank you notes). Rarely do we ever actually tell the people in our lives how much we appreciate them and what they do. Start doing it today!

This is a stream of consciousness on some leadership tenants that even this endearingly awkward geek can abide by. They've transformed how I view leadership and my confidence in being able to put my unique spin on it. Hopefully it is helpful to some folks out there, even with how you might inspire your students to be leaders in their own ways.

Thanks for stopping by!