hi my name is Bashar and I’m a gamer every year my friends and I like to get
every year my friends and I like to get
every year my friends and I like to get together either online or in person
together either online or in person
together either online or in person along with millions of others to
along with millions of others to
along with millions of others to celebrate our passion for the thing we
celebrate our passion for the thing we
celebrate our passion for the thing we love most and see what the future of the
love most and see what the future of the
love most and see what the future of the industry holds for us which begs the
industry holds for us which begs the
industry holds for us which begs the question why is it that gamers are so
question why is it that gamers are so
question why is it that gamers are so passionate about games before I continue
passionate about games before I continue
passionate about games before I continue I just like to point out that some games
I just like to point out that some games
I just like to point out that some games are going to be mentioned later on and I
are going to be mentioned later on and I
are going to be mentioned later on and I had nothing to do with the development
had nothing to do with the development
had nothing to do with the development of those games I don’t intend to
of those games I don’t intend to
of those games I don’t intend to advertise I’m simply a fan I’d first
advertise I’m simply a fan I’d first
advertise I’m simply a fan I’d first like to clarify what a gamer actually
like to clarify what a gamer actually
like to clarify what a gamer actually looks like in 2018 in order to really
looks like in 2018 in order to really
looks like in 2018 in order to really tackle this problem if I asked you right
tackle this problem if I asked you right
tackle this problem if I asked you right now to think of a typical gamer it would
now to think of a typical gamer it would
now to think of a typical gamer it would probably go somewhere along the lines of
probably go somewhere along the lines of
probably go somewhere along the lines of 16 year old boy who hasn’t left his room
16 year old boy who hasn’t left his room
16 year old boy who hasn’t left his room since the dawn of time but if we take a
since the dawn of time but if we take a
since the dawn of time but if we take a look at some numbers we see that the
look at some numbers we see that the
look at some numbers we see that the average age of a gamer today is actually
average age of a gamer today is actually
average age of a gamer today is actually 34 years old over 40% of which are women
34 years old over 40% of which are women
34 years old over 40% of which are women and as we’re going to see later on games
and as we’re going to see later on games
and as we’re going to see later on games have an unmatched ability of bringing
have an unmatched ability of bringing
have an unmatched ability of bringing people together I also find it
people together I also find it
people together I also find it noteworthy that games are often
noteworthy that games are often
noteworthy that games are often considered a waste of time but upon
considered a waste of time but upon
considered a waste of time but upon closer inspection would see we see that
closer inspection would see we see that
closer inspection would see we see that for a lot of people games offer a frame
for a lot of people games offer a frame
for a lot of people games offer a frame in which they can socialize they
in which they can socialize they
in which they can socialize they encourage in-home gamers cognitive
encourage in-home gamers cognitive
encourage in-home gamers cognitive skills such as memory and proprioception
skills such as memory and proprioception
skills such as memory and proprioception as well as other skills such as
as well as other skills such as
as well as other skills such as self-expression creativity and
self-expression creativity and
self-expression creativity and leadership this is most prominent for
leadership this is most prominent for
leadership this is most prominent for example in games such as massively
example in games such as massively
example in games such as massively multiplayer online games or mmm-mmm O’s
multiplayer online games or mmm-mmm O’s
multiplayer online games or mmm-mmm O’s in which working together and being able
in which working together and being able
in which working together and being able to solve problems in a group and lead is
to solve problems in a group and lead is
to solve problems in a group and lead is a prominent feature in the game not
a prominent feature in the game not
a prominent feature in the game not being able to do so would halt or slow
being able to do so would halt or slow
being able to do so would halt or slow down your progress in the game games
down your progress in the game games
down your progress in the game games also have immense value in scientific
also have immense value in scientific
also have immense value in scientific research medicine and education
research medicine and education
research medicine and education and then I thought to myself I mean that
and then I thought to myself I mean that
and then I thought to myself I mean that can’t be it
can’t be it
can’t be it I mean everything I just said is all
I mean everything I just said is all
I mean everything I just said is all well and good but if you ask a gamer why
well and good but if you ask a gamer why
well and good but if you ask a gamer why they play games it’s never because it
they play games it’s never because it
they play games it’s never because it improves their memory or makes it easier
improves their memory or makes it easier
improves their memory or makes it easier for them to touch their noses with their
for them to touch their noses with their
for them to touch their noses with their eyes closed
eyes closed
eyes closed proprioception joke so this had to be
proprioception joke so this had to be
proprioception joke so this had to be looked at from a different perspective
looked at from a different perspective
looked at from a different perspective in my work with two close friends of
in my work with two close friends of
in my work with two close friends of mine who helped me with the creation of
mine who helped me with the creation of
mine who helped me with the creation of this talk
this talk
this talk dr. Taha befool PhD in cognitive science
dr. Taha befool PhD in cognitive science
dr. Taha befool PhD in cognitive science and don’t know what that electrical
and don’t know what that electrical
and don’t know what that electrical engineer at Intel we’ve learned that
engineer at Intel we’ve learned that
engineer at Intel we’ve learned that what separates a game from a movie or a
what separates a game from a movie or a
what separates a game from a movie or a great book is responsibility the player
great book is responsibility the player
great book is responsibility the player is responsible for what’s happening on
is responsible for what’s happening on
is responsible for what’s happening on screen at all times
screen at all times
screen at all times and that responsibility ties us to the
and that responsibility ties us to the
and that responsibility ties us to the experience it makes it personal and
experience it makes it personal and
experience it makes it personal and unique to us if we look at that way that
unique to us if we look at that way that
unique to us if we look at that way that we experience something in real life and
we experience something in real life and
we experience something in real life and thought of our brain activity as a horse
thought of our brain activity as a horse
thought of our brain activity as a horse race then an experience or a horse is
race then an experience or a horse is
race then an experience or a horse is belittled in a way by the other horses
belittled in a way by the other horses
belittled in a way by the other horses in the race by other horses I mean the
in the race by other horses I mean the
in the race by other horses I mean the many variables of real life in a game
many variables of real life in a game
many variables of real life in a game however let’s think about let’s think
however let’s think about let’s think
however let’s think about let’s think about right now you’re listening to me
about right now you’re listening to me
about right now you’re listening to me talk and yet at the same time you’re
talk and yet at the same time you’re
talk and yet at the same time you’re also thinking about that argument that
also thinking about that argument that
also thinking about that argument that you had with your friend last night and
you had with your friend last night and
you had with your friend last night and where you’re going to have a drink as
where you’re going to have a drink as
where you’re going to have a drink as soon as I’m done blabbering in a game
soon as I’m done blabbering in a game
soon as I’m done blabbering in a game however that world is in a way pure it
however that world is in a way pure it
however that world is in a way pure it is made for us to experience it one
is made for us to experience it one
is made for us to experience it one frame at a time this is why games are so
frame at a time this is why games are so
frame at a time this is why games are so effective at making us feel and with
effective at making us feel and with
effective at making us feel and with that I’d like to talk about the most
that I’d like to talk about the most
that I’d like to talk about the most dangerous look how quiet a god the most
dangerous look how quiet a god the most
dangerous look how quiet a god the most dangerous most common cause of death
dangerous most common cause of death
dangerous most common cause of death amongst men around the world
emotions that’s not true by the way
emotions that’s not true by the way don’t look that up because it’s the
don’t look that up because it’s the
don’t look that up because it’s the emotions that we tie to a game that make
emotions that we tie to a game that make
emotions that we tie to a game that make it special for us and that’s why I’d
it special for us and that’s why I’d
it special for us and that’s why I’d like to talk about the emotions that I
like to talk about the emotions that I
like to talk about the emotions that I felt playing the games that were most
felt playing the games that were most
felt playing the games that were most influent influential for me and the
influent influential for me and the
influent influential for me and the first is belonging destiny is a game
first is belonging destiny is a game
first is belonging destiny is a game where it’s another one of those games
where it’s another one of those games
where it’s another one of those games where playing with other people is an
where playing with other people is an
where playing with other people is an inevitable part of the experience it
inevitable part of the experience it
inevitable part of the experience it includes large open spaces that are
includes large open spaces that are
includes large open spaces that are packed with other players for you to
packed with other players for you to
packed with other players for you to explore and play the game with as well
explore and play the game with as well
explore and play the game with as well as more tightly structured missions of
as more tightly structured missions of
as more tightly structured missions of varying scales where teamwork and
varying scales where teamwork and
varying scales where teamwork and coordination are key
coordination are key
coordination are key I remember going through one of those
I remember going through one of those
I remember going through one of those missions one of the larger scale ones
missions one of the larger scale ones
missions one of the larger scale ones with five complete strangers which
with five complete strangers which
with five complete strangers which proved no easy feat because it took us
proved no easy feat because it took us
proved no easy feat because it took us over six hours to complete yet by the
over six hours to complete yet by the
over six hours to complete yet by the end we’d established such an effective
end we’d established such an effective
end we’d established such an effective way of communicating with each other we
way of communicating with each other we
way of communicating with each other we worked so well together that we decided
worked so well together that we decided
worked so well together that we decided to form a group this group would then
to form a group this group would then
to form a group this group would then become the basis for many future
become the basis for many future
become the basis for many future endeavors the members of the of this
endeavors the members of the of this
endeavors the members of the of this group we we pushed each other to become
group we we pushed each other to become
group we we pushed each other to become better at the game and learn more about
better at the game and learn more about
better at the game and learn more about it
working together we also more simply put
working together we also more simply put we became close friends as well with
we became close friends as well with
we became close friends as well with these people I felt like I belong not
these people I felt like I belong not
these people I felt like I belong not only just in the group but also in the
only just in the group but also in the
only just in the group but also in the game world itself right
game world itself right
game world itself right I’d like to you to think about a game
I’d like to you to think about a game
I’d like to you to think about a game from your childhood not necessarily a
from your childhood not necessarily a
from your childhood not necessarily a videogame think about who you played it
videogame think about who you played it
videogame think about who you played it with think about how you’d feel playing
with think about how you’d feel playing
with think about how you’d feel playing that game today if you asked me to think
that game today if you asked me to think
that game today if you asked me to think of a game it would probably be halo
of a game it would probably be halo
of a game it would probably be halo playing Halo in my childhood this was at
playing Halo in my childhood this was at
playing Halo in my childhood this was at a time where in order to play a
a time where in order to play a
a time where in order to play a multiplayer game you had to physically
multiplayer game you had to physically
multiplayer game you had to physically carry your home console all the way to
carry your home console all the way to
carry your home console all the way to your friend’s place because he happened
your friend’s place because he happened
your friend’s place because he happened to have a second monitor monitor in the
to have a second monitor monitor in the
to have a second monitor monitor in the same room so we can play together I mean
same room so we can play together I mean
same room so we can play together I mean today this seems tedious but at the time
today this seems tedious but at the time
today this seems tedious but at the time it was fine because it allowed us to do
it was fine because it allowed us to do
it was fine because it allowed us to do something we considered miraculous which
something we considered miraculous which
something we considered miraculous which is to see your friend move on-screen
is to see your friend move on-screen
is to see your friend move on-screen alongside you flash-forward
alongside you flash-forward
alongside you flash-forward more than 10 years later to my tiny
more than 10 years later to my tiny
more than 10 years later to my tiny students apartment in Munich and I’m
students apartment in Munich and I’m
students apartment in Munich and I’m playing a remade version of that
playing a remade version of that
playing a remade version of that original Halo dubbed the Master Chief
original Halo dubbed the Master Chief
original Halo dubbed the Master Chief collection at this point there was
collection at this point there was
collection at this point there was something called split-screen
something called split-screen
something called split-screen multiplayer which allowed us which
multiplayer which allowed us which
multiplayer which allowed us which allowed up to four people to play on the
allowed up to four people to play on the
allowed up to four people to play on the same screen on the same console but
same screen on the same console but
same screen on the same console but because of the technological advances at
because of the technological advances at
because of the technological advances at this point this was considered
this point this was considered
this point this was considered old-school an old-school feature would
old-school an old-school feature would
old-school an old-school feature would it was considered a dying trend yet Here
it was considered a dying trend yet Here
it was considered a dying trend yet Here I am
I am
I am playing it with three of my closest
playing it with three of my closest
playing it with three of my closest friends finding myself overwhelmed by
friends finding myself overwhelmed by
friends finding myself overwhelmed by this feeling which reminded me of that
this feeling which reminded me of that
this feeling which reminded me of that first time seeing my friend move
first time seeing my friend move
first time seeing my friend move on-screen alongside me and I’m not alone
on-screen alongside me and I’m not alone
on-screen alongside me and I’m not alone gamers often fight to keep their
gamers often fight to keep their
gamers often fight to keep their favorite old games alive we’ve seen this
favorite old games alive we’ve seen this
favorite old games alive we’ve seen this with the revival of the Halo 2
with the revival of the Halo 2
with the revival of the Halo 2 multiplayer servers on PC after games
multiplayer servers on PC after games
multiplayer servers on PC after games got together and asked the developers
got together and asked the developers
got together and asked the developers not to shut them down more than five
not to shut them down more than five
not to shut them down more than five years after the original release of the
years after the original release of the
years after the original release of the game finally I’d like to talk about
game finally I’d like to talk about
game finally I’d like to talk about empathy now I’ll be quite honest I’m not
empathy now I’ll be quite honest I’m not
empathy now I’ll be quite honest I’m not sure that this is the right word that
sure that this is the right word that
sure that this is the right word that I’m looking for but maybe you guys can
I’m looking for but maybe you guys can
I’m looking for but maybe you guys can help me out
help me out
help me out journey is a game which starts in a
journey is a game which starts in a
journey is a game which starts in a seemingly endless desert it’s undeniably
seemingly endless desert it’s undeniably
seemingly endless desert it’s undeniably beautiful the sound design is so
beautiful the sound design is so
beautiful the sound design is so incredible it did this thing where the
incredible it did this thing where the
incredible it did this thing where the music always blended with the way that
music always blended with the way that
music always blended with the way that you moved your character on screen the
you moved your character on screen the
you moved your character on screen the game was a technical marvel yet that
game was a technical marvel yet that
game was a technical marvel yet that wasn’t what grabbed me about it but
wasn’t what grabbed me about it but
wasn’t what grabbed me about it but rather after 20 minutes in my hour and a
rather after 20 minutes in my hour and a
rather after 20 minutes in my hour and a half with journey I encountered
half with journey I encountered
half with journey I encountered something which I didn’t know was part
something which I didn’t know was part
something which I didn’t know was part of the game
of the game
of the game another shrouded figure that looked just
another shrouded figure that looked just
another shrouded figure that looked just like mine the way this figure moved and
like mine the way this figure moved and
like mine the way this figure moved and behaved indicated that this was a real
behaved indicated that this was a real
behaved indicated that this was a real person and yet unlike destiny or halo
person and yet unlike destiny or halo
person and yet unlike destiny or halo I couldn’t just there was no name tag
I couldn’t just there was no name tag
I couldn’t just there was no name tag above their head
above their head
above their head I couldn’t just hook up a mic and start
I couldn’t just hook up a mic and start
I couldn’t just hook up a mic and start talking to them but we both had a very
talking to them but we both had a very
talking to them but we both had a very clear objective get to the top of that
clear objective get to the top of that
clear objective get to the top of that mountain which we did by the end this
mountain which we did by the end this
mountain which we did by the end this person I felt a certain connection to
person I felt a certain connection to
person I felt a certain connection to them which was strange because I didn’t
them which was strange because I didn’t
them which was strange because I didn’t know who this person was or where
know who this person was or where
know who this person was or where they’re from I didn’t know anything
they’re from I didn’t know anything
they’re from I didn’t know anything about them I realized that my time with
about them I realized that my time with
about them I realized that my time with this person was about to end but I
this person was about to end but I
this person was about to end but I didn’t want it to so I stopped a few
didn’t want it to so I stopped a few
didn’t want it to so I stopped a few seconds later this person noticed this
seconds later this person noticed this
seconds later this person noticed this and stopped as well and we just sat
and stopped as well and we just sat
and stopped as well and we just sat there I hadn’t said a single word to
there I hadn’t said a single word to
there I hadn’t said a single word to this person the entire time and yet at
this person the entire time and yet at
this person the entire time and yet at that moment I knew that we felt exactly
that moment I knew that we felt exactly
that moment I knew that we felt exactly the same way to me that very moment
the same way to me that very moment
the same way to me that very moment meant so much it meant equality it meant
meant so much it meant equality it meant
meant so much it meant equality it meant humanity it meant that any two people no
humanity it meant that any two people no
humanity it meant that any two people no matter who they are or whether from
matter who they are or whether from
matter who they are or whether from could connect he had
could connect he had
could connect he had changed the way that I thought of others
now I’ve done what I can to explain to
now I’ve done what I can to explain to you or give you a taste of what it’s
you or give you a taste of what it’s
you or give you a taste of what it’s like to be a gamer but if you look at
like to be a gamer but if you look at
like to be a gamer but if you look at all those stories that I just told you
all those stories that I just told you
all those stories that I just told you they’re all quintessentially me because
they’re all quintessentially me because
they’re all quintessentially me because no game is ever experienced the same way
no game is ever experienced the same way
no game is ever experienced the same way twice play is something we’re all born
twice play is something we’re all born
twice play is something we’re all born with it’s the first thing we know how to
with it’s the first thing we know how to
with it’s the first thing we know how to do and nobody ever taught us that I find
do and nobody ever taught us that I find
do and nobody ever taught us that I find it tragic that with time we seem to lose
it tragic that with time we seem to lose
it tragic that with time we seem to lose that connection to our roots it’s one
that connection to our roots it’s one
that connection to our roots it’s one thing to understand what it means to be
thing to understand what it means to be
thing to understand what it means to be a gamer and another thing completely to
a gamer and another thing completely to
a gamer and another thing completely to be a gamer yourself thank you
be a gamer yourself thank you
be a gamer yourself thank you [Applause]
”
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