Posts Tagged ‘video games’

We have finally reached the 21st century, and have just 9 more posts before the big one…the day I turn 25. For those who have missed a few, I recommend brushing up on my creativity through the years.

In 1996, I started taking junior councilor classes at the local parks and recreations department. It was my first exposure to sharing my creativity, creating fun events and planning activities. By the year 2000, I had taken enough classes, and was old enough, to start working as an actual after school teacher with the local elementary school. I had worked the summer before in a “paint your own pottery” store, so this wasn’t my first job. But it was certainly the first job that meant something to me. It was also when I realized that while I didn’t want to be a teacher, I wanted to do something that helped people improve on something. Then, it was school work, sports and arts and crafts. Now it’s blog management and web design. Still need patience, just a different tool box.

At the same time I was teaching kids how to play games from my childhood, John Vechey, along with Brien Fiete and Jason Kapalka founded Popcap games (the company who created Bejeweled!). I am always amazed where companies start and why – for them? They simply wanted to create simple and fun games they could play online when bored. What they did was created a company which has won over 25 major awards and employs over 180 people! Pretty impressive solution to cure boredom…

Or better named – “How Civilization (the video game) can make you more creative in business”

I am a nerd. I admit it whole-heartedly. I love everything techie and goofy and just downright fun! One of my favorite things to do when I am not writing or working is to play computer games – the ones where you get to take over the world as the ruler of a civilization are my favorite (see: Sid Meir’s best games ever – Civilization I-IV). Now, Combine one of the most amazing technologies (XBox 360) plus the ability to be creative and take over the world (Civilization) and I am in nerd heaven!!

So, why am I telling you this? And what does it have to do with business and creativity? Well…actually a whole heck of a lot. Stick with me for a moment, and I’ll explain. If you have never played a game like civilization, this is going to be a little more difficult, but I will try. Basically the point of the game is to create a civilization that rules the world through money, technology, culture or domination. But, it isn’t just a click a button and everything works type game, nor is it a ’shoot em up, blow them out of the water’ game. You are the ruler of one of the 16 most powerful nations in history (for example: Catherine the Great of Russia, Caesar of Rome, Ghandi of the Indians or Lincoln of the Americas) and you have to make every decision, from what technology to research to what type of thing (person, building, wonder, etc) to build in each of your cities and how much to dedicate to building culture and money.

Now this is a very basic explanation but here are the 3 reasons that this game is one of the best ways to help me be more creative (and why you can use the lessons in business).

1. Without researching the right technology, you can’t advance as a nation and will get destroyed. Well, this should be pretty obvious – if your business can’t keep up with the changing world, it wont survive.

2. If you don’t have culture, other civilizations can steal your cities just by using their culture to overpower you. Replace the word ‘culture’ with ‘good customer service’, ‘civilization’ with ‘businesses’ and ‘cities’ with ‘customers’. Now you have “If you don’t have good customer service, other businesses can steal your customers just by using their good customer service to overpower you”. Basic business right?

3. Money is the key to rushing units, buildings and technology, the wealthier civilizations always last longer. In life and business it is the same way, successful (read wealthy) businesses can spend more money and grow more quickly. Again, a corner stone of business.

See…and your mother told you video games would rot your mind!

Are there any other games out there that you can see a business connection with that others wouldn’t normally see?