Jon Sykes

I have long argued that experiences are much like Pokemon – you have to catch them all. However, I realise that I have been very lazy. Nowadays I try very few new experiences, and even those that I do try are too conservative – in that I know already whether I am likely to enjoy them. I try motorbiking, or canyoneering, or paddling down white water – but they are all very similar adrenaline filled events.

In a bid to broaden my horizons I am looking to try new and different experiences. Things that I would not think of, or experiences I would not normally choose. Maybe knitting classes, herding goats, or glass blowing. I am looking for suggestions. Things that I would not have thought of in a million years. They have to be legal, and not hurt anyone else. Otherwise, I am up for trying anything.

Do you have suggestions?

Over the next week we hope to share our exciting news on the ScottishGameJam 2011. New partners, new game options, new committee… Everything very new, and very shiny. Watch out next week for all the info.

I recently motorcycled around the western USA – itinerary including sights such as Yosemite, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Yellowstone Park. Video Journal and Photos linked here.

Here are a few of my favourite photos from the trip.

Monument Valley full-moon trek

Death Valley

Storm Clouds

Moo and Me

Early on the trip

Throughout July I am motorcycling around the Western states of the US. The image below is of our group passing through Death Valley.

Today I hve been invited to Game Horizon Conference in Newcastle. I am here to contribute to the big debate – how might academia and the games industry work together.
As you can see, it is a beautiful day to visit Newcastle Quay area, and I love the Sage as a venue. Pic of quay and Sage below.

We reveal OTAGO on OpenBox at the Games for Health Conference 2009, in Boston MA.

Josh takes my bike for a spin. Not bad for a 6 year old.

eMotionLab plans to make a big impact at the 5th Annual Games for Health Conference this year, taking place in Boston from June 11th  – 12th. Work involving most lab members is being presented across 2-3 presentations.

The organizers of the event asked me to send a note to people I thought might find this event worth attending. You can find out more about the event at the following links:

Games for Health Schedule  (June 11-12)
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p9ekyWGoKP7oLryMizeugTw

Games Accessibility Day (June 10 Pre-Conference)
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p9ekyWGoKP7oJbqar0v4zAg

Video from Last Year’s Event
http://www.gamesforhealth.org/video-2009.html

You can register for the event directly at:

http://www.regonline.com/gfh2009

You can use the discount code of bos09 to recieve 15% off the current registration price.

I am just back from a weekend of walking. Ben Alder was our original goal, but time was against us. We left Friday night, so that we would benefit from an early start. DeBusk and I drove up to Dalwhinnie, staying at the Dalwhinnie Inn. A very odd establishment. The food they offer is excellent, but the decor is very strange. Think 1960s lodge, add a glitterball, do no refurbishment for 40 years and that would be our hotel. Everything was old and tatty. Even the towel in our bedroom was stained with black marks. But at 32.00 per head, including superb breakfast, all was fine. Just a shame they wasted the potential for a really superb hotel / lodge.
The next morning we met with Todman, who had been out in Inverness the night before celebrating his birthday. I think he was a little worse for wear, but hid it well. After moving gear between bags and parking at the railway station, we were eventually off walking by 11am. It is a long 10 mile walk-in to Ben Alder, much of it along a  pretty loch lined trails, and crossing a suspension bridge. It took us a little under 4 hours to reach the bothy, and by this time most of the beds were taken. DeBusk and Todman stayed inside with the fire, while I decided now might be a good idea to try out my new one-man tent.
Once my tent was pitched we were  ready for walking, and headed for the hills. It was 4pm already, so that left us 4 hours of guaranteed sunlight, which we soon realised was not enough time to climb Ben Alder. Instead we ventured a closer summit. This one was not so popular, and thus lacking a trail.The heather under foot was much like walking on marshmellow. We eventually reached the top of our hill at 6pm as the clouds suddenly appeared. The view was a little hazy, but you could seee Ben Alder covered in snw to one side, and lochs all around. Having timed it perfectly, we made our descent being continually chased by the advent of rain.
We shared our bothy with a walking club. Lovely generous people, who shared their experience – and the coal they had carried in for the fire.
My night in the Nemo tent was a wash-out. I woke to find my sleeping bag saturated. Condensation had clearly been building, and my down bag was pratically useless when wet. Finally gave up idea of sleep at 7am, and instead soothed my war wounds from day before. My left foot had become one giant blister, which was to make my return walk back more painful than perhaps I would have preferred.

Photos of weekend below:

Jon, Todman, DeBusk

It might be because I grew up in Sherwood, the legendary home of Robin Hood, that I have a strong need to marry my technical cyber life with natural landscapes. I currently live in the city centre, which is all good for high bandwith connectivity and high culture, but I miss rural living. Open fields. Dark woodland. Quiet contemplation, and a general slower, more relaxed life style.
In a bid to find this alternative living, Sarah and I signed up for a weekend in a Kata – Scandinavian tipi. Our new home is hosted by Comrie Croft, half way along the Crieff and Comrie road. It is huge, accomodating a huge super kingsize bed, and a wood stove in the centre. Outside we have our own fire pit for late night story telling, a pic-nick table where we can serve dinner, and a hammock to unwind while swaying in the wind with a good book.
On arrival the newly born lambs skipped as they chased the car along the long driveway, a dirt-track leading to the reception. Here you sign in for your tipi, hostel, or you can even bring your own tents and camp by your own fire ring.
Photos of our adventure are included here.