Monday, May 16, 2011

Ol’ Mark Pincus Had a Farm

Ol’ Mark Pincus Had a Farm, long article.

The CEO of the company making FarmVille is a billionaire! (Though it may be the poker division which is the bigger cash cow.)

Gaming, huh? That's one addiction I could never get into. I've tried many times, then I lose interest after half an hour at best. I think the only exception was a couple of weeks the summer when I was 13, I played Space Invaders every day at the beach burger bar.

I think that I'm too much addicted to thinking. When watching a movie or reading, you can still think. But most games, if you slow down to think, you lose. And it's just not interesting to me whether I win or lose in some completely artificial construct. Whereas many people take it very seriously indeed, for many of them they play every game, whether football or Backgammon, like it's life or death, and it clearly feels that way to them often. My dad played chess with a neighbor many moons ago, and when the guy lost, he didn't say anything, but he took his empty beer bottle and threw it across the living room, across the kitchen and into the sink, where it exploded in a million pieces. His wife just continued her knitting, didn't bat an eyebrow. I must say, nice throwing arm though.

9 comments:

Todd Jones said...

The higher the intellect, the better the ability to focus. If your mind is always wandering it's due to a weakness of the mind. You'll no doubt try to deny this, but really - has your compulsive thinking produced anything? A novel, a work of philosophy, art criticism, or anything else? No. Maybe you should try one of those brain training programs (like BrainTwister) and get a prescription for Ritalin.

BaronessBlack said...

I worked as a croupier for a couple of years. I found that some people could come into the casino, enjoy playing some games, lose with good grace, and chalk their losings down to payment for a fun evening. For others it was an addiction that destroyed every part of their lives. And there was every shade in between!
I think it has less to do with gambling, drugs, pornography, alcohol, you name it; and more to do with people's personalities.

Jes said...

Lol, well I've been into games pretty much my entire life, and it's never stopped my mind from going faster than I can keep up with. Really, games appeal to me cause of my overactive imagination. The test of reflexes is fun too, but I like being able to become a different person and go to a different world and explore that world etc, etc.

Anonymous said...

it's never stopped my mind from going faster than I can keep up with. Really, games appeal to me cause of my overactive imagination.

Someone really like that wouldn't need video games.

Jes said...

Or...

Really someone games like need wouldn't video.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

"has your compulsive thinking produced anything? A novel, a work of philosophy, art criticism, or anything else? No."

Two novels, one of them published, and a philosophy about how art works, collected on the web.
How about you? Written any books? I'm not antagonistic, here, I'd be interested if you have.

danaigh said...

Eolake, who would be competent to measure your life? You like what you like and are the way you are.

All of which is great for those of us who enjoy your domai creation. It would be a more somber world otherwise.

Myself I hate losing so no thank you to games. Cheers from the rainy northwest USA.

Anonymous said...

Two novels, one of them published, and a philosophy about how art works, collected on the web.

Web publishing doesn't count as anyone can do it. Unpublished definitely doesn't count. How many untalented wannabe writers out there have a bad novel sitting in a drawer? Sugar Domino is according to Amazon out of print, has no reviews, a few quotes by invented people like Gavin and Louis F, and is obviously pretty trashy stuff.

How about you? Written any books? I'm not antagonistic, here, I'd be interested if you have.

No. I have no plans to either. I know I'm untalented. Unlike you I don't pretend to be otherwise. You like to make out you're some creative genius, an accomplished writer, photographer, and artist. You aren't any of those things unfortunately. You're obviously not a bum. You run a successful website. You contribute to society. But you're no great thinker.

danaigh said: You like what you like and are the way you are.

Who said otherwise? Not me. He does however claim to have a unique mind, and that isn't the case. Same for "Jes" too.

Jes said: Really someone games like need wouldn't video.

Moron.

Jes said...

Dude! Come on, I can't work with just one word, you gotta give me more to work with than that.