Creepy Portal-esque video

via Geekologie

Game On!

What: Gaming (& Gadgets!) Night
Where: CIL 2008, Jefferson Room
When: Sunday, April 6th, 5:30-8:00 pm
How much: FREE
Who: You and other people interested in gaming

Jenny Levine and Aaron Schmidt have given a few gaming workshops at past Computers in Libraries and Internet Librarian conferences. After the sessions we’ve opened up the room to anyone interested in playing some games and/or learning about gaming. It’s proven to be a popular and really fun time, so this year Information Today has turned the post-workshop gameplay into a featured event. With refreshments even!

They’ve assembled an impressive array of games!

Systems: Nintendo Wii, Playstation 2, and Xbox 360. We’ll also have two Nintendo DS handhelds.

Games: Wii Sports, DDR, Hotel Dusk, Guitar Hero III, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, Wario Smooth Moves, whatever you bring, and Rock Band.

Since they’ll have three systems going at once, we’re opening up the option of an honest to goodness tournament with prizes. You probably want to know which game, huh? Well, it’s up to you. Sign up on the CIL08 wiki titled CIL08 Gaming Night to play Rock Band, Guitar Hero, or DDR. We’ll play whichever game gets the most signups!

In addition, Chris Harris is bringing some modern board games. Bring your own games, bring your latest shiny, new gadgets, and we’ll see you Sunday night!

"Sit down, grab a controller and stare at the screen 'till it hurts"

It's time for some video games!

Thanks Christa

Guitar Hero God

Someday, maybe, but I'm not holding my breath.

Wii bowling championship

A few months ago I was discussing with my folks the idea of WiFi in retirement homes/communities as being an amenity that was going to need to start showing up soon if it hasn't already. We took a look in the local paper and didn't find any listings but my mother thought she'd seen that listed on a retirement community's "come live here" sign in town.

Then today office peep Christa passed around the URL for the video below from "ericksonnewmedia", the YouTube account for Erickson Retirement Communities. This video is highlights from game one of their Wii bowling tournament with teams from four of their locations. Not only are the residents socializing, cheering, competing, getting some great exercise, and using the latest gaming technology.

At the end it does turn into a "come live here" commercial but that's o.k. The need for marketing hasn't disappeared just the methods need a good overhaul and this fits the bill as far as I'm concerned.

Now we need a library to create such a video. I'm willing to help (Lincoln City Libraries? Omaha Public Library?) with filming but my editing skills are up to these standards yet.

When gamers become parents

Keep in mind that the average age of a gamer is 32.

The other night my wife and I were going at it. Things got a little louder than they should have and I thought I heard little footsteps headed our way. There was a brief moment of panic, but it was a false alarm. Thankfully our kids did not walk in to see Mommy and Daddy kicking ass on Guitar Hero -- a game they have no idea exists in our house.

Read the rest of the story at The Sneeze.

Amazing Tetris Player

I used to be pretty good at Tetris (I stopped playing when I dreamed about falling Tetris blocks one night) but this guy's totally insane. The speed really picks up at the three minute mark, then the blocks go invisible for about the last 45 seconds!

ALA Gaming in Libraries Symposium

Tom's vid totally makes me wish I'd gone. Well, there's always next year.