Re: Kids Games and Linux

[Jeffery Douglas Waddell <jeff@smluc.org>]

Hello Bob,

crossposting to the kidsgames list.

On Tue, 28 Sep 1999, Robert Hopcroft wrote:

> Jeffery Douglas Waddell wrote:
> 
> > Hello all,
> >
> > Doug Loss recently introduced me to the SEUL-EDU list.  I was not aware of
> > your efforts in the educational field and look forward to working with as
> > many of you as possible on my own endeavor, see the attached rant/project
> > announcement ;)
> 
> Jeff, I looked at your announcement. Following are some thoughts and
> comments:

Thank you for your time and effort :)

> I see that you have set a very ambitious goal for yourself.

I'm trying NOT to think about that, so that I don't shutdown mentally ;)
Yes this is a HUGE project.  One that I can't possibly do by myself, and
that is why I'm so grateful and glad of all the WONDERFUL helpful feedback
I've been getting not to mention real work being done.  Together we CAN
make a huge difference the our childrens lives.

> Just a question,
> I seem to read two different things.

Wouldn't surprise me, as I'm a multi tasking individual ;)

> At one point, it sounds like your goal
> is to develop games for kids

Absolutely, that is One goal of many.

> but later on it sounds like your goal is to
> develop more traditional educational software.

This may happen, although I'm not sure I make as much a distinction
between the two as most people seem to do.  I see them as part of the same
educational spectrum.

> I realize there is some
> overlap but I would suggest that you write a mission statement (one sentence)
> defining precisely what you intend to do.

That will go on the web page at www.smluc.org/SIA/kidsgames/ as soon as I
take enough of a break from writing emails to build it.

> Given your situation, you want to
> be very focused in your endeavor.

:)

> Next, I believe that a well done
> informative web page is essential to providing the world with an up-to-date
> picture of your project.

Absolutely, working on it.

> I don't know what your thinking is but I would take
> a look at the direction of the gaming market, Sega's Dreamcast, Sony's
> PlayStation II, the set top box, etc.

Ok I'm looking, what should I see.

> The first two are powerful gaming
> machines and my understanding is that Linux is the development OS for the
> PlayStation.

I believe that is true.

> Also what is the difference between a PlayStation and a
> LearningStation.

Software mostly.

> In two weeks 500,000 Dreamcast's have been sold.

Go Sega....Go Sega.... ;) Too bad I don't have their stock....

> It is well
> known that games are a fast way into a hardware market.

ok.

> Next the general idea
> of an appliance, set top box, whatever it's going to be called where the
> application runs on a high powered multiprocessor server. Anyway give it some
> careful thought.

I'm not sure exactly which direction you wish we to take in this thought
process.  Do you have a direction in mind?

> Now a thought for a project. I believe that it's going to
> come down to one or the other, either information is freely available to
> everyone or it is controlled by the few and access sold to the rest.

I'm sorry that you believe that.  I will be in the camp that has freely
available information, although I can stomach some controlled access
information there is to me a baseline of information that must be free in
order for our human cultures to survive.  WE MUST communicate to evolve.

> Hardware
> will be so inexpensive, it will be given away.

Already is being done in certain situations.

> In the local school system,
> the students are required to understand the meaning of 'copyright'. However,
> GPL and copyleft are never mentioned.

Hmmm, perhaps LUGS should be doing presentations at local school
systems....

> In thinking about this situation, the
> following thought crossed my mind as a way to fix the problem. A strategy
> game called copyright/copyleft or perhaps GPL where the forces of copyright
> and copyleft are pitted against each other.

Sounds like a complicated game.

> This might get the interest of
> the Linux community and bring in help. It will also create controversy, get
> publicity, get the message across, bring in more help.

True enough.

> Anyway, Good Luck

Thank you,

Again thank you for your input.

> 
> Bob
> 
> 

Sincerely,

Jeff Waddell
jeff@smluc.org