Matei Bobu
Stories (13/0)
The Minecraft Generation
An 11-year-old in dark horn-rimmed glasses, Jordan is a devotee of Minecraft, the computer game in which you make things out of virtual blocks, from dizzying towers to entire cities. He recently read “The Maze Runner,” a sci-fi thriller in which teenagers live inside a booby-trapped labyrinth, and was inspired to concoct his own version — something he then would challenge his friends to navigate.
By Matei Bobu2 years ago in Gamers
The Psychology of Video Game Nostalgia
Remember Odysseus, the hero from the 2,800 year old Greek play The Odyssey? He may be more relevant than you think to all those reboots of old franchises like DuckTales: Remastered, Killer Instinct, or the otherwise inexplicable Typing of the Dead reboot. As the researchers Tim Wildschut and his colleagues note in a recent article about the triggers and function of the emotion,1 Odysseus’s ordeal is a good illustration of nostalgia as it was originally conceived. The word itself derives from the Greek words “nostos” (returning) and “algos” (suffering). For 10 years our Greek hero suffered a massive bout of nostalgia as he longed to return to the way things were. He wanted so badly to return to his wife Penelope and all his favorite games from the 16-bit generation that he turned down all kinds of offers from sexy sorceresses and a not very sexy cyclops to do so.
By Matei Bobu2 years ago in Gamers
The Science of Climate Change Explained: Facts, Evidence and Proof
The science of climate change is more solid and widely agreed upon than you might think. But the scope of the topic, as well as rampant disinformation, can make it hard to separate fact from fiction. Here, we’ve done our best to present you with not only the most accurate scientific information, but also an explanation of how we know it.
By Matei Bobu2 years ago in Earth
Dozens of Children Develop Hepatitis in Europe and US, Experts aren't Sure Why
Unexplained cases of hepatitis in children have health officials on both sides of the Atlantic puzzled and concerned. Hepatitis or liver inflammation has been found in a few dozen cases globally. In the U.S., nine cases are being investigated in AlabamaTrusted Source.
By Matei Bobu2 years ago in Humans
Tech Articles
The Cost of Cloud: A Trillion-Dollar Paradox By Sarah Wang and Martin Casado, a16z.com, May 2021 Sarah Wang and Martin Casado of the venture capital firm, Andreessen Horowitz, argue that while cloud delivers significant value early in a firm’s growth, the costs it puts on the business may eventually outweigh the benefits. While primarily focused on startups, this article has been a useful thought starter for enterprise technology leaders as they continue to explore the long-term business implications of the cloud.
By Matei Bobu2 years ago in Futurism
What You Need to Know About Roblox—and Why Kids Are Obsessed
MY HOUSE IS packed with video game consoles, phones, and computers hosting a world of shiny AAA games and quirky indies, yet my 8-year-old daughter spends the bulk of her time in a free-to-play game called Roblox on whatever screen is in front of her. She even spends a chunk of her allowance on a Roblox Premium subscription.
By Matei Bobu2 years ago in Gamers
The Civic Impact of Taxes for Artists
Taxes are our only mandatory civic duty: so why is tax education left out of civic education? You probably recall a school lesson in your past about our “bicameral legislature” or the “separation of powers” between our three branches of government. But did you ever get a lesson in graduated income tax rates, the personal exemption, or how freelancers pay into Social Security?
By Matei Bobu2 years ago in FYI
How to Build Your Digital Presence in 3 Steps
Building and Maintaining a Digital Presence as an Artist Networking and relationship building is the foundation on which great businesses and careers are built. And, with the ubiquitous popularity of digital platforms, it’s easier than ever to build an audience.
By Matei Bobu2 years ago in Journal