Last Friday, I found out my mother had a stroke. When I initially got the news, my father said that she was fully aware but the doctors weren’t even sure if she could regain her ability to move her right arm, the right side of her body or even be able to speak.  She is still in the ICU right now, but the doctors have found positive signs for some neurological recovery but it will take a lot of work and therapy.  We are still awaiting a full prognosis and would appreciate you keeping my mother in your thoughts and prayers.

It’s times like this that you really evaluate what truly matters in your life and how small are the things we hold dear to ourselves.  All the things we waste time upon instead of truly treasuring the people who make life worth living.  And one of the serious offenders for taking time away from loved ones is games.

The key to games is understanding that games can be powerful servants but awful masters.  Few people realize that games are more than just a past-time – gaming is one of the most powerful tools for accessing and repairing damaged parts of the brain and can be a great boon for humanity rather than a massive time waster that widows wives and orphans children.

Games can repair the brain

Games are a powerful tool not just for education, but for real neurological benefit.  My initial foray into gaming was making games whose task is to stimulate neurological functioning.  Many of these games would seem very inane and resemble variations of the game “Memory”, but given enough time and practice these games can actually improve brain function, delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, and rehabilitate stroke symptoms.

What got me thinking was that my mother will need these kinds of games for her rehabilitation as well as entertainment to enjoy.  But a great number of games that she loves and enjoys are simply not accessible for persons without fine motor skills.  One may not think that using a mouse is a “fine motor skill” but for persons with severe neurological damage, a mouse is so much harder to use than a keyboard.  How many games out there do you know are designed for use with a single hand that is not a mouse?

Not meant for accessibility

I’ve taken a lot of thought and decided that after I release my fall game that I will dedicate myself to making not only games that my wife and kids will enjoy, but that my mother can access and use with limited motor function.  I used to be one of the first web technology experts at Booz | Allen | Hamilton for the U.S. Government standards for accessibility (Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act), and so I am familiar on how all technologies can be utilized to overcome all sorts of neurological and physiological disabilities.

Games don’t have to be just mere entertainment and escape.  Games can be an instrument of true freedom and a great boon to humanity and the human drama.

A friend of mine posted on my Facebook wondering how in the world I can keep pace with my game development and freelancing while working 50-60 hours a week, on call, and busy as an active husband and father of two.  I said simply, “I got tired of waiting.”  But that is not the whole story.

People say I am a hard worker.  But I know that this is not a product of my own making.  It was the inspiration of my wife, and her diligence, patience and love for me and our children that makes me who I am.  Had it not been for her encouraging me to build my dreams, to not to be afraid and expect many failures, but to keep the faith and keep pursuing them, I wouldn’t be here writing to encourage others to do the same.

The truth of the matter is that my wife is my inspiration and I cannot help but work harder for her and for our sons.

Because she’s given me my wings and the only thing I can do is to do the same.  On top of being a stay-at-home mother, she is now a proud business owner of her very own limited-liability corporation (LLC).  In the coming months, I will be helping her build an online presence.  I really look forward to showing all of you what she’s been up to in the coming months.

My current project list is as follows:

• Completed programming the portfolio of Jonathan Stuart – the artist for Space ROX
• Building a streaming video system for a freelance client
• Building an accounting system for an overseas freelance client
• Building my wife’s online store and web blog
• Finishing Game #2

Now a question for my readers…

It seems that the threads that get the biggest responses are the articles I write that encourage indie game developers to pursue their dreams and to keep looking for those incredible opportunities that only the “small guys” can see and pursue.  But in general, I am getting the sense that everyone has been hard hit by the economy and fallen into a state of depression and “gloom and doom.”  Also, I am sensing a lot of frustration in really getting a solid base of connectivity not only with a solid fan base, but also with other indies who are also struggling.

To this end, I have been thinking of pursuing a new project, but I will need your input and support.

I have been thinking of creating a site to replace the now defunct “Manifesto Games” not with the intention of being yet another publisher, but with the sole focus of introducing the people behind the indie game movement.  The one thing that I think is missing in a lot of game blogs is the focus on the genuine people who work hard and break themselves over their love for games and their art.  So I was hoping of creating a blog/database and start featuring indie game developers from around the world, hoping to inspire other indies as build a sense of community and camraderie.  And hopefully, it can create a fan-base as well and put new and prospective fans in touch with the “little guys” who make up the indie movement.

Now, I know my limitations and I know I cannot do this alone.  I am wondering if there are other people out there who are willing to help me in this endeavor?  Also, I would love to hear any comments and or suggestions, especially if any of you know of any place that does this kind of thing especially for indie game developers.