I have a thing for Hedgehogs

Posted by dkidwell on November 11th, 2005 — Posted in daughters

Pennywinkle was my most recent 3rd ed. D&D char – a gnome illusionist with a hedgehog familiar. Can’t help it, I think they are cute.

Advertisers: Game On

Posted by dkidwell on November 8th, 2005 — Posted in console games, parenting, pc games

Advertisers: Game On

Games have been, for the most part, ad free – fantasy environments where you could play and escape without addressing the media and a marketing blitz. And by the sounds of it, that’s all going to change.

Currently, my kids are exposed to marketing largely through TV and advergaming – Postopia and Nick.com with and endless march of simple games based around their latest products. At least that marketing is blatant. As a mom, I can remind them of the short lifespan of most toys that are heavily advertised.

IN GAME advertising is different tho. It’s likely to be awkward at the beginning, with in game billboards and such. But give them a few years, and it will be ubiquitous.

For our part, I’m going to use this as an invitation to a dialogue. We’ll start playing ‘spot the ad’ games (points for the carefully hidden logo spots!) We’ll definitely talk about what ‘brands’ are, and how companies wrap themselves in mantras and passions “Just do it!” Poor kids are likely to hear the story of the Converse High Top, and will have to articulate what ‘cool’ means before Santa buys that latest and greatest ‘cool’ thing.

Why all the torture? To be ‘in the game’ and not just on the sidelines….

Dubious Quality: WOW Photographers

Posted by dkidwell on November 7th, 2005 — Posted in mmo, World of Warcraft

One of the most ingenius and wonderful things about MMOs are the creative arts that they inspire – in this case, an artist will take your character and create a fantasy portrait, for a mere in game commission. How clever…

Now, Bill over at Dubious Quality (whom both my husband and I fondly read) found this…

He quotes another blog, who will ultimately link to the actual artist…not sure what the rules for deep linking…but credit where credit is due and it’s worth the click adventure I’ve just sent ya thru…

Dubious Quality: WOW Photographers

No really, it’s worth it. Go, Bill’s link, then one more…..go!