Field Notes Inside an Integrated Communications Agency

A "disruptive technology" is a breakthrough that radically changes the way that people and organizations get things done.  They often destroy or alter existing markets while creating opportunities for ordinary people to do things which had previously required special skills or a lot of money.  Digital photography is a good example of a disruptive technology.

The time has come for a disruptive technology to allow non-traditional gamers to express themselves and solve problems through their own video games.  Conventional wisdom has embraced the concept of the serious video game and well-respected people and institutions are now upgrading their graphics cards.  Sandra Day O'Conner is leveraging her name recognition to produce an educational game.  Fortune-500 companies are hiring development firms to write elaborate simulation games to solve real-world problems.

But what if you want to make a serious game yet you aren't a former Supreme Court justice and you don't have a team of application developers living in your basement?  Fortunately, there are a few new (and free) products on the horizon.  We are still in the early days of this movement so the tools are still primitive, but encouraging nevertheless.

• Microsoft Popfly (currently in alpha).  This is brand new and fun to work with.  It's shows some promise to bring real-time information into the game world, mash-up style.
• Second Life.  You've already heard of this one.  Its in-game crafting system lets you make games that can be played by other Second Life players.
• Many others.  There is a plethora of options, ranging from very limited map editors to sophisticated game engines with steep learning curves.  Wikipedia keeps a list.