Games for Life
A good start — Civilization V as Spain on diety, turn 78, with Fountain of Youth in capital city.
Games have always been a part of my life. Whether it was levelling-up my puzzle-solving skills (Myst, Zork, Discworld), making learning fun through the gamification of my goals, or even just dreaming in Tetris — games were always there, shaping my thought.
Before walkthrus and cheat guides were readily available on the internet, late-80s me would call a hint line, pay a small fee, gain some secret wisdom, and be on my way again. I remember begging and bargaining for the funds to achieve such dreams. “But dad, it’s a revolving room and I’m really stuuuuuuuuuuck!!!”
These days, games are much less an active part of my life or budget. That said, I still might spend a few hours a week in my go-to escape world: the turn-based strategy game Civilization V.
It’s where I do some of my best thinking. More times than I can count, while I’m scouting in the fog of war, some problem slow-cooking in the back kitchen of my mind finally signals its readiness. Ding! A new idea is served.
Just enough challenge and support
I think about those hint lines, cheat codes, and walkthru guides a lot. The best ones don’t give you the answer directly, at least not in a boring way. Usually they provide just enough of a nudge to dislodge your stuckness, while still leaving you with the smug satisfaction of getting out the rest of the way yourself.
Reading spoilers for horror films is a lot like that for me, too. I find I enjoy things more if I know the general shape of the monsters ahead. There’s still much (if not more) to enjoy short of being abjectly terrified.
If you find yourself stuck…
When I think of the long game that is my career, there was always a slow-cooker simmering away in the back, too. And when it’s ready, I serve a new offering.
A few months back, I launched the Sense Check. It’s a single serving of insight, to help any adventurer get unstuck, fight the monsters, and complete their quest.
They say you become the person you needed all those years ago, when you were stuck. That kid needed a hint. She kept playing and became the entrepreneur-adventurer, still trying to make sense of things. And eventually, found a way out.
Who do you need to be?
