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So your sitting in your living room - watching your favorite sitcom when your daughter runs in and asks you to help her figure out what she needs to take with her in order to survive an epic wilderness adventure. The response that comes to mind might be - "I'll be there in a little bit - as soon as I'm done watching my show."
Another voice inside your head says "I don't have much experience with those online games" or "I had a hard day today - I really need to flat-line." Finally, a third voice reminds you that you have not spent much time doing something that your child would like to do, and then you wonder if games are good for them or not - or 'why can't they just go outside and play with the other kids like the good ole' days.' But wait a minute - the good ole days are here and now and today kids play with one another online. Sure you might forbid their access, but not for long.
Online games and social communities are here to stay. At least as long as the economy permits the creation of new worlds on the internet. So you go and sit down with her, to discover that she is trying to problem solve. She has 'X' number of dollars to work with, and would like to head out into the Frontier wilderness with her friends. She tells you that you've got to hurry up - or she will miss the next wagon train!
So now you recall 'Oregon Trail' and recall how much fun it was the first few times you played it. You also remember the loss you suffered for making some poor choices - perhaps not preparing for the journey ahead like you should have. Sound a little like real life? You bet, and it is - virtually.
Several years ago, as I was playing DAOC, and SWG - it dawned on me that one day - changing the world around you would be the next big thing. Now UGC (User Generated Content) is here, and it is propelling the way social communities, MMOs, and 'creative thinking' is happening both in today's generation, and the adults working with 'Demand Curve.' Perhaps I was a few years ahead of the time, nevertheless, now is the right time.
Player authored content is big. Let's see - Myspace, Facebook, Flicker, Second Life, and the list is growing. When we get past the "we have to be the next WoW' mindset, we realize we don't have to be the next 'Star Wars' but we can create something that is right sized, and target diverse content to meet diverse interests.
Today I visit a growing community that I launched over five years ago, it is still growing, has become International, and all despite the fact that only development funding stands in the way. I discover that a fourteen year old girl has made her own 'YouTube' promotional Video to get people excited about the project - a dream that is shared by many. Another young man from the Netherlends writes 'PC Gamer' magazine and gets an article published. Members of the Cherokee Nation show up, and translate some of their native language. Suddenly there is a new link - with a 3D modeler building replica buildings of 1859 Virginia City Nevada.
So tell me, is UGC here, and does anyone care? If you don't - you should. It is not only here - but here to stay. It is not merely disrupting - but changing the way we define Broadcast Media.
-Daniel B. McMillan
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