LIFT’09

BackLight on the Futures

An interesting documentary by the Dutch TV channel, VPRO, about current crisis and possible future developments (‘economic models’, as they call them). It’s striking how they are still obsessed with finding the right one, The One which will be a way out, thus, in fact, continuing to act out a typical Western, solo-heroic archetype. What if few ‘models’ will be interplaying with each other, what if even inside these ‘models’ we will see multiple ’sub-models’, similar to ’sub-personalities’, or ‘roles’ of one personality? What about playing a ‘psychodrama of the futures’, with unpredictable, open, emerging path?

Jane McGonigal about the future of (serious) games

I truly support the message, although I am equally truly puzzled; to say that ‘games’ will be wider used in an every widening areas is, like, saying ten years ago that the web will be used more and more. Yes, true, and many companies started to use it – as a mere replica of their existing corporate propaganda or top-down advertising (many still use it in exactly that way, if at all). Understanding that web requires radically different approach, and actually a total transformation of your business is still a pill to tough to swallow. I fell that the same will happen with ‘games’ – many companies will jump to the band-wagon merely out if fashion, not fully realizing how deep should their inner change.

Trend Blend 2009

An interesting attempt to visualize the ‘trends‘ (whatever that means) of 2009, from What’s Next. I personally find it poorly designed (resembles a virus of some kind, and not a computer one), and also dubious content-wise (it’s more a collection of buzz-words arbitrary grouped, than an analysis
of the possible futures). I nevertheless hail it as the attempt in the ‘right direction’, towards a more more powerful tools to visualize the transitory states between the now and the futures. I tag it ‘mandalizer’.

PS: Any scheme of the possible futures that does not mention one &#$@ing time ‘playfulness’ is basically a rubbish.

PPS: Worth even, this one mentions ‘fantasy’ once, but immediately adds “& escape”. A shame.