Already Christmas is coming (earlier than ever), and the housewives are running rampant as we speak to find the hot toys and gifts this year.
This is the first year where I am not really sure what I want for Christmas. Sure, there are always things that I kind of want (like the 28 DVD complete Twilight Zone collection), but it's not like I need something like that. For some reason, I do not have anything I really, really want this year. Maybe the separation of needs and wants finally happened, I am not sure. If anything, the only thing I really need is a few new pairs of socks and a haircut, but people aren't too ready to give that as a gift. I just feel guilty asking for something that is not very practical. But then again, most Christmas presents end up not being very practical at all.
So maybe the question is, what do you want for Christmas? Maybe you can spark my imagination.
Then there is the whole element of surprise thing. When someone gets you the gift that even you couldn't have come up with, I think that is an amazing feeling. I feel that way too, because that translates to my position as a game developer. What can you throw at your audience that totally pleases them, but at the same time is completely surprising? I think that is a big challenge for me personally... since I am making a game that many very different people will play. Making the universal surprise is quite a challenge. Maybe this is why Christmas shopping for your entire family is so hard sometimes... you are trying to make many different people wow'd with a very limited chance.
Then again, being a Flash developer is so amazing, because you have a tool that can craft pretty much anything. Most people expect for Christmas some sort of premade chunk of plastic and metal like an Ipod or camera. With Flash, you pretty much can make whatever you want and present it to thousands of people. It's a bit more difficult when you are trying to surprise one individual with one pre-manufactured gift.
So as you move closer to Christmas, and you are getting gifts for people, think about the gifts you plan to exchange. Can you surprise and wow them without spending thousands of dollars on some consumer electronic? What will it take to make someone's Christmas, and make them realize that they are getting something they truly need or want? It's definitely a challenge, but so rewarding if it is achieved. Surprising someone can make Christmas truly awesome... especially if they can surprise you back :).
-John
And completely off-topic, but Glaiel-Gamer started this jmtb02 Day thing, and I am hoping it doesn't suck.
fishhook
for christmas....
im getting iPod speakers.....
some wii games....
som other stuff....