Clubs
They are loud.
They are loud.
When I was about 5 or 6, I recall looking out from the kitchen of my parent’s house, out towards my brother and father in the backyard practicing golf. My brother took a liking to sports right away at a young age. I didn’t understand sports as much. But at the time I could see his interest attracted my father’s attention, because my father was once to be a golf pro. I remember seeing them daily, outside, hitting balls from one end of the yard to the other. My brother even had his own clubs.
From the eyes and ears of a 6 year old with autism, it appeared to me they had their own language. They shared many terms that they kept repeating like ‘birdy,’ ‘eagle,’ ‘chip-shot,’ ‘fair-way.’ The sports didn’t interest me as much as the language they shared. I thought if I could somehow crack their code, I was in. I could possibly gain some sort of relationship with my father besides the typical “hugging” (which I didn’t like much at all being sensitive to touch). It also didn’t help that I had sensitivity to light and sound.
Being outside for me was like being in a sauna (we lived in Florida after all) and sunlight was so harsh on my eyes that color tones would turn to a pale shade of greenish blue after a while. To compensate I squinted a lot to block out the excess light my eyes failed to adjust to, making my face hurt as well and making me look angry. So I would retreat to the living room. Playing with my robots and other toys that I liked taking apart.
I never actually thought about all of this until my brother mentioned something about “distant fathers” recently. Impossible for me to understand how I would become the way I am, and my brother another way, if dad was distant to both of us in the same way. But I realized he wasn’t distant to both.
There are lots of memories of my mother, and her friends. I have lots of memories of my uncle as well (who lived with us for a while). Memories of my father are scattered and few. I find myself wondering if maybe part of me was holding something back for a reason. Reading online, I came across articles explaining how the brain has mechanisms to repress memories, and for a reason.
In defense of my father — he did try to show me attention in whatever endeavor I would find myself pursuing. Computers, robots, electronics, software. But those hobbies changed all the time, along with my tastes. And I guess he couldn’t keep up. So we had no middle ground to meet up on. Not like my brother, who was dedicated to his sport.
Even now I’m still mystified by the “Bird Language.” I hear it on the Golf Channel, from others, the Internet.
It still haunts me daily.
Gavin
Xivio is 4 today. Reflecting on everything that happened since that launch brings me to one final conclusion:
I would like to thank Habbo Hotel for ripping off elements of Xivio’s design and reaffirming this for me. Seven separate, original ideas. All taken on a whim blindly (or through suggestions by their users, who used Xivio).
That’s all in the past. Shame on me for innovating in a toy. All these years dedicated to one thing. I’d like to thank the users of Xivio that continue to use it to this day. You saw something in my effort that the major corporations, and other game developers did not. You are the reason I created it.
Thank you,
Gavin Conrad (AKA Paradox)
Asperger’s Syndrome
Asperger’s syndrome is a pervasive developmental difference whose benefactors are notable for their powers of concentration, sensory perception, individuality, and depth of knowledge. This syndrome should be recognized in those people who prefer important endeavors over petty gossip and meaningful relationships over shallow impressions.
A. Individuality
B. Perceptual acuity
C. Concentration
D. Depth of knowledge
When someone asks me, “How do I create a virtual world?” I sometimes have a hard time responding. I mean, what am I supposed to say? I always think to myself, ok, I either rattle off a list of technologies I had to teach myself with books, tell them to use some online tool to build a cookie-cutter site, or should I tell them the truth?
The truth is I have Aspergers syndrome. It’s a developmental “disorder” (some just like to call it a “difference”, those that have it that is). It basically means I’m halfway (or less) autistic, with the ability to hide it or “cover it up.” I could go through my life never even knowing I had it. It’s not full blown autism. It’s not Rain-Man.
What’s this got to do with virtual worlds? Well to build one you need to be super focused on one goal in life, which is one thing I do, and have the patience to learn a lot of things step by step. Something aspergers allows me to do, and takes away from other things (like having a real life). Virtual worlds are very complex things, both software, art, and otherwise. I don’t know how a single person could build one. I don’t know how I did. But it took me over 7 years.
Also there’s that whole “art” thing. Which is a totally different part of my brain. Graphic design and programming are not the same. From what I hear you are not supposed to be good at both. I’m told this by people in the industry that are programmers and artists. Maybe that’s why I can only turn one mindset on at a time… Some days I’m a programmer some days I’m an artist. Not really both in the same. When I tell these people that I designed Xivio’s graphics and programming, jaws drop. Programmers assume my code must be crap, and messy (maybe it is? ). Evidently programmers and designers don’t get along in this industry.
So in order to build a virtual world you need to either:
Having aspergers definitely helps.
Should I end this here? Chloe would find it funny. Yes, let’s. Maybe I’ll continue this entry in the future if others want to know more.
Remember to wear blue today! It’s World #autism Awareness day!
The members have spoken.
Who would like to see single-player Mini-Games added to Xivio.com? If so comment here!
Games2Win produced their own virtual world. Interesting. We had spoken with them in early 2007 about licensing… hmm http://ow.ly/1rNux
playzbattlefield.com on Getting Serious | |
click here on Mini-Games coming to Xivi… | |
http://elgg.weblogam… on Xivio Will Return | |
woogar.com on Xivio Will Return | |
Maricruz on Xivio Will Return |