Teaching the Future of Gaming
For a couple of years around 2011, I was a university instructor for a course called Evolution of Video Games. It was truly one of the most enjoyable jobs of my life. One of the most interesting parts was the practical assignment, which consisted of presenting a concept for a current video game trying to utilize different available technologies. Some students presented traditional things, but others showed more outlandish and cutting-edge ideas, and I remember that more than once they presented different game concepts where players would use their cell phones in real life and would have to catch Pokemon-like creatures, or fight with other players in this real/virtual world using GPS technology and augmented reality.
The Weight of Skepticism
I always highlighted the original ideas that combined all kinds of technologies and encouraged my students to launch into producing these crazy types of projects. But my skepticism always made me doubt the success that these types of games could have. And at this very moment, on an afternoon in July 2016, Catalina and Madison have just gone out to the street with the dog to hunt Pokemon with Pokemon Go.
When Reality Exceeds Expectations
It’s good that things continue to happen that surprise you, and luckily there are people in the world who are not as skeptical as I am.