So I met with another professor yesterday to go over the class I'm teaching starting 10 days from now and he offered me a chapter in a book about video games. He emailed me the call for chapters and looks like I can pick my topic ranging from DLC to F2P to PC vs. Console vs. Mobile. I need to look at the call for chapters again, but I think I'd owe a 400-800 word proposal for my chapter and it'd go into this book regarding video game economics. I know the title had something to do with coins.
Needless to say, I'm excited for this opportunity both because the subject interests me and it'll look good on any applications for doctorates. I still want to get my doctorate, but I don't want any more loans. Being published as well as this teaching experience I'll be getting this semester would go a long way towards such scholarships.
I'm excited to be teaching the more practical side of my field as well, having dealt with the theory and social science element while completing my Master's last year. Can't wait to start fooling around with some creative Adobe/Apple programs again, as well as researching and writing for that chapter. I try to be a Master of All Trades. 
I just got back from The Big Short. Excellent movie, my favorite from 2015 so far.
In case you missed it on Blake's post, here's The Lower Level's Best of 2015 podcast. I edit it, but be aware Blake'll be in your left ear and the rest of us in the right if you go stereo as that is how Skype recorder ... records. I'm sure there's a way to correct that, but with it being almost 3 hours, I settled at editing out most of the distracting noises (and bringing attention to others for "comedic" effect) and throwing some songs in.
Podcast Info:
00:00-4:00 - Intro
4:00-9:00 - Jamie #5
9:00-11:00-Jamie#4
11:00-13:00-Pinball Wizard - Master of the Metaverse
13:00-18:00-Jamie#3
18:00-20:00-Christmas Time For the Jews and Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Met at a Party
20:00-23:00-Jamie#2
23:00-28:00-Jamie#1
28:00-38:00-Joey#5
38:00-40:00-Joey#4
40:00-43:00-Joysticks to the World, the Cube hath come
43:00-45:00-Joey#3
45:00-50:00-Joey#2
50:00-01:00:00-Joey#1
01:06:00-01:06:00-Joey Runner Ups
01:06:00-01:13:00-Casey Runner Ups
01:13:00-01:17:00-Casey#5
01:17:00-01:19:00-Casey#4
01:19:00-01:30:00-Casey#3
01:30:00-01:32:00-Casey#2
01:32:00-01:46:00-Casey#1
01:46:00-01:47:00-Blake Runner Ups
01:47:00-01:51:00-Blake#5
01:51:00-01:54:00-Blake#4
01:54:00-02:01:00-Blake#3
02:01:00-02:05:00-Blake#2
02:05:00-02:13:00-Blake#1
02:13:00-02:40:00-Definitive List 2015
02:40:00-End - The Worst of Halo15
Music:
Intro - Super Sonic Acrobatic Rocket Powered Battle Cars
Break - Batman TV Show 1960s Transition Jingle
Outro - “Good Night” - Undertale OST
Editing Software Used: Audacity
Download Tool Used: YouTubeByClick
Upload Site: MediaFire, SoundCloud
Wait, you loudened them too? You bastard!
That's fucking awesome though about your oppurtunity. Hopefully it works out!
There was a part Casey was talking about bad remakes and your negative grunts sounded like you were having an orgasm while he was talking ... so I "enhanced" them. I think that's within first 15 minutes.
Yes kids, I am a professor at an accredited state university.
Maybe I just get off on bad remakes?
I wanna say the "uuuuuugh" was after something or other about Rocket Knight?
Good for you man! Sounds like a great opportunity. It'll help your scholarship chances, and who knows? maybe you'll get your own video game book someday!
I could always just write one regardless of this textbook chapter. Hmmm .....
there's an ocean of subject matter. I imagine you could come up with something that really holds your attention.
It looks like you have a lot on your plate and it's all good...Best of luck to you.
Thanks!
Did you see that phone game ad with Arnold Schwartzenegger? I still can't believe phone games make so much as to afford prime time commercials with big celebrities. And it was a free-to-play game too.
According to the prof I met with who's editing this book, F2P makes billions more than pay-to-play games after microtransactions and DLC.
Yea, it really works, doesn't it.
Long as they keep those DLC prices low. I think he said vast majority of purchases are .99 or less, but it adds up.
Yea, it's that access to millions of people. Small purchases do add up. 50% of the total, I've read. Then there's the other 50% of profits that come from the "whales". It leads the design of the game to account for both types of players. It's easy, then it's hard. My Mom was telling me how she loved Candy Crush but got to this one place where she couldn't progress anymore. It got too hard. The casual player gives up, the "whales" pay the price to continue. Interesting, isn't it. All this planning to pull money from people. It's kind of the sinister side to the creativity at work in the game mechanics.
That's great news! Keep us posted on how it's going and when we can read it.
Will do and thanks!
I'm late but how cool! Writing a chapter on games, and getting ready to be a teacher. Congrats man! I told Blake that I'm currently an hour into podcast and I dig it (I also booed his boo at Batman 
) Its currently sitting on my phone and I'll get back to it later when I either go walking or fire up the PS4.