Posted by Kim on March 27, 2011, 2:43am
"An outcome so overwhelmingly positive, you didn't even know it was possible until you were on the brink of achieving it."
This is how Jane McGonigal defines an "Epic Win." If you don't know Jane McGonigal, you should. She is a game designer who believes that games are essential to the future survival of the human species. According to Jane, games can do more than help us pretend to be the best version of ourselves: They make it possible for us to actually become that best version of ourselves, online and off.
She's a pretty epicly cool lady. Hear her plan for saving the world in her own words:
[html][/html]
I've got epicness on the brain lately, because this celebration is in part brought to you by the newly released Epic Memberships. If you don't already know, here's what makes an Epic Membership so epic:
An Epic Membership is like a power up for your RPR account.
Is it a pixelated super mushroom that makes you double in size? Is it a power pellet that gives you the ability to eat ghosts?
No.
It's much better than those things.
Support the RP Repository by becoming an epic member, and get all these great perks:
- Characters belonging to epic members have NO ADS on their profiles
- Epic members don't see ads anywhere else on the site, either!
- Create custom character templates to use and share
- Get an extra 10 character slots
- Upload 30 extra gallery images per character
If all you need is extra character slots without any of the other perks, you can also purchase space for extra characters that will never expire.
Your purchases help to keep the RP Repository open, growing, and free for basic members.
NEW BBCODE: Collapse and Justify
Recently, I was monitoring a new user setting up their first profile, and noticed that they were using an odd BBCode tag called collapse.
"What is this?" I asked the almighty Google, and yea, it spake: "A collapse tag is like a bag of holding. It stores unlimited text and images safely out of sight, until you retrieve it later."
Okay, so maybe it didn't actually say that, but that's what I heard.
BEHOLD:
Code:
[collapse name="This is my bag of holding!"]
Inside I am storing my prized treasures. Like gems, gold, and extra character slots.
[/collapse]
This is my bag of holding!
Inside I am storing my prized treasures. Like gems, gold, and extra character slots.
There is now also a justify tag, which will try to space words out so that the left and right margin are equal.
Code:
[justify]Here is a block of text. The left and right margins should be "justified."[/justify]
Here is a block of text. The left and right margins should be "justified." That means that it will make an attempt to space all the words out so that the left and right margins are as close to the same as possible. It's an alternative to actually centering your text, and usually looks more attractive and is easier to read than centering when dealing with large amounts of text. Varying left margins can confuse the eye.
Contest #4: Invent A New Tagline
You come up with catchy taglines for all your characters. Now come up with a catchy tagline for the RP Repository.
Enter the contest here.
Today's Templates: Submerged and Orion Nebula
The final frontiers, now conveniently packaged for you in templates. No need to bother with space suits or scuba gear!
Comments
If you guys are interested, Jane McGonigal has a major web presence:
Her twitter: http://twitter.com/avantgame
Her website: http://janemcgonigal.com
Her book, which is awesome: http://www.amazon.com/Reality-Broken-Games-Better-Change/dp/1594202850
I also saw her live this January. She did an hour long version of the 20 minute video posted above, that went into a whole lot more detail. If you think this talk was cool, it only gets better from here. If you ever have the chance to see her speak, I highly encourage you to take advantage of it.
And no, Celestina. I think nearly all of us thought of Professor McGonigal when we first heard about her.
Love you guys too!
Her twitter: http://twitter.com/avantgame
Her website: http://janemcgonigal.com
Her book, which is awesome: http://www.amazon.com/Reality-Broken-Games-Better-Change/dp/1594202850
I also saw her live this January. She did an hour long version of the 20 minute video posted above, that went into a whole lot more detail. If you think this talk was cool, it only gets better from here. If you ever have the chance to see her speak, I highly encourage you to take advantage of it.
And no, Celestina. I think nearly all of us thought of Professor McGonigal when we first heard about her.
Love you guys too!
Sherlock, while you do have a point that people playing a game are going to focus on it, that will not be the only thing they talk about. People do talk about about themselves, the things they do and so on.
For example, when playing Left 4 Dead with some online friends a few days ago, we were discussing tv shows we liked and being British, I brought Doctor Who into the conversation. None of which has anything to do with the game, nor the theme of the game.
For example, when playing Left 4 Dead with some online friends a few days ago, we were discussing tv shows we liked and being British, I brought Doctor Who into the conversation. None of which has anything to do with the game, nor the theme of the game.
After watching the video feed now, I think I may have spoken prematurely. There is mention of playing online with and against those around the world. The game you play will depict the supposed 'culture' that is being set up. An American's culture nor an European's culture come into play in a virtual environment. It is the trust as she mentioned that in a way unites us as gamers in a unique world that we mold and make for our own. We develop a new culture. One that thrives with empowering effects that we do not see at our normal jobs. She's really onto something with this and I will make sure to keep on the look out for any future feeds this woman may have. Very strong emotions are tied into games of all types and not just with online gaming, but with normal gaming consoles that make you think of the impossible to become possible. I look forward to what she has to say next in the following months and I for one am eager to hear more of what updates she's come across. Thank you for putting this feed up here Kim. It has made my day.
I couldn't agree with you any more if I tried darth. Very well done.
This is..amazing. I love this place. I love you.
Just watched Jane McGonigal's video, she does have some good ideas 
One thing she left out but is important and related. Using myself as an example, I've been online since 1995, playing games, making friends (some of whom I still know) and one thing I noticed, when you start talking to people from different parts of the world, as you get to know them, you learn more about where they live, the culture of those countries, differences in way of living, that kind of thing. I know a lot more about American, Candian, Finnish, Australian, Japanese and more cultures from my online interactions than anything I picked up at school.
And that's important because cultural understanding makes working together in the long term so much easier.
One thing she left out but is important and related. Using myself as an example, I've been online since 1995, playing games, making friends (some of whom I still know) and one thing I noticed, when you start talking to people from different parts of the world, as you get to know them, you learn more about where they live, the culture of those countries, differences in way of living, that kind of thing. I know a lot more about American, Candian, Finnish, Australian, Japanese and more cultures from my online interactions than anything I picked up at school.
And that's important because cultural understanding makes working together in the long term so much easier.
Oooooooo wow! That's so cool!
When I read 'Jane McGonigal', I thought of Professor McGonigal...
Am I too nerdy? :x
When I read 'Jane McGonigal', I thought of Professor McGonigal...
Am I too nerdy? :x
SeraphicStar
March 27, 2011
6:18am
JUSTIFY TAG
Will post a decent comment once all my character pages are properly justified
Will post a decent comment once all my character pages are properly justified
Darth_Angelus
March 27, 2011
2:15pm