Analog to Digital Gaming Just Got Interesting

I can't tell you how many hours I have spent plodding out new characters for Dungeons & Dragons. It is a constant obsession. For the past 15 years I have been playing with the same group of friends. It has been on again off again for that time, but we have always come back to the table. Some of us enjoy it more than others. Some of my fellow gamers enjoy Xbox Live multiplayer over the table top gaming world, but to each their own. Give me long, tactical battles that can be swayed by chance. Give me a chance to play a character that will cause eyes to roll or generate a laugh. At anytime we can stop the game, look at each other and recall a story from the week prior, order pizza, have a smoke or stop to watch the latest game preview.

Those benefits aside, let's talk about the shared storytelling or the interactive fiction involved with a tabletop role-playing game. As a group we have generated an incredible amount to content through this ritual. These stories are valuable. We can remember whose character unleashed the wrath of an ancient god or role-played out of a scripted fight. We did this communally.

I was hopeful when the massively multiplayer online roleplaying game appeared. I was so excited to share this experience in the realm of video games. I remember creating my first character in Everquest, he was an old befuddled High Elf Enchanter who liked to fish. I would play the game and interact with others as this character. But it seems I was doing it wrong, not to many people caught on and I couldn't level up as a "roleplayer." Countless mmorpgs have graced my pc, none have replicated the exhiliration I get when gaming with my friends around the table with pen and paper. They have generated new addictions and obsessions (thanks for those by the way) but it is not the same.

But now these guys come along:

If you are still not clear on this you should check out their Kickstarter donation page. It is simply amazing and ambitious and just god-damned clever. Go ahead, Ill wait for you to come back...

I hope these guys can make it happen. In fact, anyone who can, chip in $5 to this Kickstarter. Consider it my Christmas present.

I will be one the first ones to start the story rolling, who wants to be the hero?

Follow these ambitious fellows on the Twitter, @WrittenWorldHQ

And here we go...

Geez. I'm kind of nervous.

     Let's start with the basics I guess. As stated below the title of the blog, I am gamer. I love games, I love them so dearly. I blame my parents for this though; they surprised us one Christmas morning with an Atari 2600 in 1981.They then proceeded to play it for 24hrs straight as their two sons hovered and hovered, drooling. It has been, like so many others of my generation, a love affair with the flashing lights on the screen.

Atari 2600, my first love

     But my love for games didn't just stop there. No. It grew like contagion. I fell in love with board games, role-playing games and card games of all types. I am a gamer. Not to say that I am actually 'good' at games. But I think they are swell. Boy golly.

Why this blog?
     I was clicking away at a game (by a game I mean Torchlight, awesome-town) some weeks ago and thought it funny that I get such a kick out of being a hero, just by clicking the mouse or controller. I thought a semi-regular blog about my thoughts and experiences would get the creative juices flowing again. Maybe I would start working on my book and short stories once the blog got me revved up. I looked up the name "hero by clicking" and saw no one had it and I saved the name. On my way home from work one night, I thought that there are many ways people can become heroes, just by clicking their mouse. For instance, they can donate money or time to folks in need. Anyone can be a hero; it just takes a little effort.

     So my intention is to promote a charity or cause and challenge the gaming community to gather support for this cause. Imagine if the millions of gamers on Xbox Live, PSN and World of Warcraft focused outside of their virtual heroes and gave just little time, effort and money to others in need?

We can make a difference.

     So while the blog will be most often focused on me, my family and my love of gaming, I will throw the gauntlet down once a month, and see if anyone else takes me up on my challenge.

Can you be a hero by clicking?

Yes.

Be a hero by clicking,

The first challenge is- 



Help those in need in New Zealand



Post up if you donated. You guys rock! You will totally gain xp by doing this...