Not really silly
found reference to this book on Kevin Kelly's "Cool Tools" website.http://www.kk.org/cooltools/
-
Finite and Infinite Games
A finite game is played for the purpose of winning, an infinite game for the purpose of continuing the play.
*
Finite players play within boundaries; infinite players play with boundaries.
*
To be prepared against surprise is to be trained. To be prepared for surprise is to be educated.
*
The death of an infinite player is dramatic. It does not mean that the game comes to an end with death; on the contrary, infinite players offer their death as a way of continuing the play. For that reason they do not play for their own life; they live for their own play.
*
I can be powerful only by not playing, by showing that the game is over.
*
Infinite players do not oppose the actions of others, but initiate actions of their own in such a way that others will play by initiating their own.
*
Evil is the termination of infinite play.
*
No one can play a game alone.
*
There is but one infinite game.
Available at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0345341848/ref=nosim/kkorg-20
Gotta get this one for myself.
Crossing Genres
You may recall that I opined how cool it would be to see a light hearted romantic comedy where, at about 45 minutes in, the erstwhile lovers are suddenly:
thrown into hell
captured by aliens
faced with a Jason-esque serial killer
faced with the realization that one of them is the prophesized Ender of Worlds.
Or anything like that.
Well, here:
http://wapsisquare.com/d/20010909.html
Keep with it--it takes about 300 strips before a strip involves something more arcane than the interactions between ordinary people.
more description
From the wapsisquare web site, if you haven't already visited:
Alternate Reality Games
http://walterjonwilliams.blogspot.com/2006/01/last-call-poker-coolest-thing.html
http://www.hanasiana.com/archives/001117.html
Why I don't like online games
A great list of the realities of online gaming, and why I don't like them in their current form.
http://www.raphkoster.com/2006/02/24/what-are-the-lessons-of-mmorpgs-today/
offered without comment
http://thanatar.com/