Second Life a game of wonder, magic, and from the first time I dropped onto Vassar Island I thought unreal. Even before signing up I was hesitant because I have never liked these kinds of games before. I watched a roommate play countless hours of ‘Quest for Camelot,’and always wondered why?                                                                                                                                                         

From the beginning I was picked up from one world and dropped into another. And by that I mean from my life into a completely different universe. At first I was hesitant because everything felt so weird. From picking and customizing your avatar to learning the software and gameplay. After a few go’s of learning the mechanics and running away from people because they were trying to talk to me.  I finally settled down and did the first immediate thing I think half the people do when they first sign up. Fly. I know that’s quite the newbie thing to say, but heck, I am. While flying and teleporting to different lands I realized why my roommate played for endless hours never getting bored. There is so much to do and so many places to go that a person could become lost in one land alone.

After finishing what most call the “newbie” I traveled to some favorite places like London, Brazil, and Germantown. And as I walked these different lands I came to notice that though Second Life is a computer game it really does incorporate a lot of realistic objects, laws, and thinking from the world that I live in and accustomed to. Each destination has its own set of rules and regulations, people to communicate with that I would never speak to in real life.

Onwards and upwards (literally because I was flying,) I realized whole worlds could be built with just the mind. Second Life is not just a game to roam around aimlessly, but a game to think creatively in or outside the box. To meet new and interesting people and sometimes creepy. But through my limited journeys so far Second Life has opened a whole new world that I thought only my roommate knew existed. Whether I want to dance the night away with an alien robot I’ve never met before or just walk through beautiful architecture and be greeted by people I never knew existed. Second Life provides that opportunity to explore and create without being bias.

All in all I can understand how Second Life can capture the imagination of people. And I probably will return without hesitation to explore and discover new lands and interesting people.

 Snood. A very simple puzzle game. Or should I say a very addictive puzzle game. At a first glance Snood could be construed as a child’s game. However, Snood overtime has become a staple in many colleges. Since it’s inception in 1996 Snood gameplay has not changed all that much.

Similarly, to Angry Birds. Snood first starts off with the launching of an individual Snood at  randomly connecting Snoods hanging above in a ceiling fashion. The main objective is to connect three identical Snoods (Seven different types of Snoods). When three or more identical Snoods are connected that row of Snoods disappears as well as any other Snoods connected below. When Snoods are eliminated from game play the players score increases. However, with each Snood launched a Danger Meter on the right side of the screen increases. And when that Meter reaches the top all Snoods in the playing field drop down a level much like Space Invaders. In effect, when Snoods drop a level it makes it much more difficult for angle shots to be completed. With that said Snoods can be bounced off the wall to strategically place them among the remaining Snoods in the playing field. (The danger meter can be reduced by releasing Snoods).

The objective of Snood is simply: eliminate all Snoods before the Snood ceiling drops to its lowest level and turns all the Snoods to Skulls.

For such a simply concept Snood is highly addictive. Quite possibly because it is a mindless game that does not take up to much of your time. However, even though Snood lacks a thought process that say Chess demands, Snood still requires strategy and foresight to make your next move a Snood eliminating one. I recommend playing Snood if you want to kill some time and just relax.

Look up in the air. It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s it’s a panther? Yes, the Carolina Panthers are for real now. Well, maybe not Superman status (a 6-11 record is nothing to cheer about). Even though it was better to be a Carolina fan this year than a Colts. But can it be said that the Carolina Panthers have ushered in a new format for the quarterback position?

With the NFL season almost over and another boring match up of Patriots-Giants (YA RIGHT). The question is now who will be the number one overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft? If your a betting man I’d put the house on a chance of Luck. Here’s an SAT question for you: Luck is to old NFL style QB as Newton is to? New-ton Style QB.

In less than a year, or since the 2011 NFL draft more than a fair share of analyst and fans doubted that Cam Newton could ever be a dominating starting quarterback in the NFL. But after 4,051 passing yards and 35 TD’s scored (21 passing, 14 rushing). I think it’s safe to say Cam Newton is here to stay, and possibly the way teams draft quarterbacks.

As an Auburn Tiger we wondered if a running QB out of a college spread offense could make the seamless jump to a pro-style NFL scheme. Boom. Quick science lesson: What goes up must come down. Well after coming down with 422 yards passing and breaking Peyton Manning’s opening day passing yard record I can say that Cam Newton has brushed aside old style NFL rules that rookies are not suppose to transits so easily, that their suppose to stay in the pocket, that their not suppose to turtle linebackers and corner-backs as they score TD’s.

In one year the 6’5, 248lb. Cam Newton has raised eyebrows. He has changed the way we look at the QB position. Even with the Aaron Rodgers and Michael Vick’s, QB’s with measurements of 6’5, 248 lbs. are not suppose to me that agile, and mobile. As Cam has shown he is an accurate passer with deadly speed. And even though the NFL may always want to stick with its golden pocket passers like Brady, Bree’s, and Rivers there is a wind of change coming. And that new era wind is blowing names around like Tebow, Newton, or maybe you’ve heard of RG3 from Baylor?

Let the construction begin! This is my blog for graduate class. Take a look around. Disagree, Agree, just leave a comment.