Just a note.

The first post real post will be coming in a few weeks. I have been in the middle of those last few hell weeks of school, with no time to post. Also, if anyone likes the idea of this blog, and would like to contribute, feel free to leave a comment and let me know.

About Latent Potential

Latent Potential will be a blog with a heavy focus on the present and future potential of video games with a touch new media thrown in.

I believe that games are art. Games are unique in that in their ability to interact with their audience in a way no other medium has before. When you play a game, you are sharing an intimate connection with the creators, and you are living in the world they create. In some cases, like EvE online or WoW, you are living in a world that is the creation of the developers and your fellow participants. This situation blurs the line between artist and viewer, and gives the artist a range of control over the viewer never seen before. The original Super Mario Bros. for the NES is a good example of a game that is very controlling of the player. You are only allowed to progress to the right of the screen towards the end of the level, and once you finish the game, you are done. Crayon Physics or Magic Pen are good examples of games that give the player a lot of freedom. There is a basic set goal, and then it is left to player to figure how to achieve that goal. I want to explore this, and many other topics. I want to challenge the stale concepts and preconceptions of certain genres. I want to look for ways to tell stories and get ideas across in new ways. There is such latent potential in the games medium that has yet to be explored, I want to see that I can uncover.

James