To be fair, I love all kinds of games, and I would be remiss not to mention tabletop role-playing games—you'll probably know of them through Dungeons and Dragons, though D&D represents only the most popular example of thousands of TRPGs. No other hobby offers the same combination of social good times, unfettered imagination, and the freedom to do whatever you want in the confines of the game world (though I would hardly call an entire game world confining). If you can find a good group, TRPGs are pure gold. You should try one.
Anyway; videogames. What sets videogames and TRPGs apart from other storytelling media is that they are interactive—the audience actively changes outcomes and affects the world of the story. Novels and film can't do this. Because of this interaction, amazing leaps in technology, and a growing industry that is now larger than feature films, I am not alone in believing that videogames provide the greatest storytelling medium currently available. Besides loving to play them and being passionate about game theory and design, I chose the videogame industry for my new career path because I want to tell great stories.
So here I am, about to start the Game Design program at the Vancouver Film School. After a year of intense study that packs in over three years of "average" college or university instruction, I will work in the industry as a writer and producer for several years, with the intention of opening my own development studio by 2020 (though with the indie scene stronger than ever, there may be no reason to wait that long).
My final goal is to create great games that have emotional resonance with their audience, though I am intrigued with the inherent possibilities in games for teaching people almost anything. I expect to take some detours and almost certainly end up building related products for a variety of industries as I work towards my goals, but whatever happens, it should be an interesting ride. I'll keep you posted.
Thanks for reading.
Ike
