We’re dumbing everything down. When I was a kid Imade my own tower defense game inside warcraft3 world editor, with custom models and everything. Everything was moddable, customisable. Now everything exists in walled gardens where you can’t even switch anything
I remember entering program listings from computer magazines into the Vic 20 as a kid, then modding them to make new things. But still, it was a minority of kids who had a computer back then, and even most of them (and myself most of the time) would just play games rather than write games.
The difference now is that everyone has a cell phone, but it’s still only a small minority that care.
Must point out that this essay was published in 2006. World of Warcraft was big 2002-2006 yes? So @jnod4 is mistaken about having grown up on the good old days.
Also mistaken, as you point out, that any such experience can be generalized to the rest of a generation.
I’m not much of a gamer at any stage of life but I feel like there is a ton of modding going on and there are certain games that are very well known for it. I’m sure there are opportunities to get into stuff for younger people.
Tho I do agree with the general sentiment that slick interfaces and anti-hacking legislation really does us all a disservice.
We’re dumbing everything down. When I was a kid Imade my own tower defense game inside warcraft3 world editor, with custom models and everything. Everything was moddable, customisable. Now everything exists in walled gardens where you can’t even switch anything
It’s like the classic essay, “Why Jonny Can’t Code”.
I remember entering program listings from computer magazines into the Vic 20 as a kid, then modding them to make new things. But still, it was a minority of kids who had a computer back then, and even most of them (and myself most of the time) would just play games rather than write games.
The difference now is that everyone has a cell phone, but it’s still only a small minority that care.
Must point out that this essay was published in 2006. World of Warcraft was big 2002-2006 yes? So @jnod4 is mistaken about having grown up on the good old days.
Also mistaken, as you point out, that any such experience can be generalized to the rest of a generation.
I’m not much of a gamer at any stage of life but I feel like there is a ton of modding going on and there are certain games that are very well known for it. I’m sure there are opportunities to get into stuff for younger people.
Tho I do agree with the general sentiment that slick interfaces and anti-hacking legislation really does us all a disservice.