When Tech Comes to Life, Back Burner Stories

I have a lot posts to catch up on, from the rendition program to a close examination of baby-boomers. But I also don't have time to pay these topics their deserved due. Besides, this is supposed to be a fun blog about being a freelance writer, not a morbid outlet for me to wince and whine.

Thus I bring you what I call "life games." It's the growing trend of video games being transposed into the real world. It started a few years back with texts to your phone, detailed missions all part of an adventure game. Today they have evolved into full fledged gun-games and classic arcade remakes. I mention them not only because they are cool (and easier to write about on a Sunday then the moral qualms of the U.S. rendition program), but because it's a good lesson in finding a market for your writing -- I've been wanting to write about these  for some time and I finally found a buyer. -- Keep Reading.

First, here are two examples of "life games." My favorite is called StreetWars. It's a three week long tournament in which participants become active water-gun assassins. You are given a folder with your target. The safe zones are work or on public transportation. Other than that, anything goes. When you get the kill your enemy hands over their folder with the information of your next target. Winner takes all. It's a perfect 1st person shooter game without the controllers.

For more traditional gamers there is Pac-Lan, a 3D analog version of pac-man. Four "ghosts" and one
"pac-man" are unleashed in a city and equipped with cell phones and a GPS device. From there it becomes a city-wide game of tag. In some versions there are two "gamers" who are directing the players that have no idea where each other are.

Point is, I've been following these games for a bit. In my opinion StreetWars is the best example. A lot of these games are artistic in execution, but StreetWars is a for-profit project for thrill seekers. I showed it to a friend who is now making a documentary about it for Current TV (someday I'll post my thoughts about Current).

But I had no outlet for it. So I sat on it, kept it on the backburner. Then I came across an upstart magazine called Guerrilla Fight Fest.  I could tell from browsing around their site that StreetWars is right up their ally. Sure enough a few emails later and I have an outlet for a story. It won't be out until March and the details (word length and payment) still need to be discussed, but it goes to show that a good idea is a good idea. Sometimes story pitches don't take at first. If you know how to write a good pitch then the problem isn't there, it's probably because you sent it to the wrong publication. Wait on it and usually by dumb luck alone you'll find a place for it eventually.