Ziv KiTARO last call

why value based games matter

I wrote seven drafts before I came to this one. I tried to write about games in general, and to build up a story that will explain why I made The Guardians the way it is. You know what? It was stupid of me to do so.
The Guardians (iTunes link) is about discovering you values by playing a choose your own advanture game. One of the value I hold up high is being direct. So why did I try to go round and round instead of just talking to the point? Because it’s hard to live up to your values when the masses are looking. The urge to please is just too big.

the Guardians is the story of the reader. After discovering she or he are part of a special group of world protectors named, well, The Guardians. The reader travels to Thonrasa, a world of talking animals who try to survive the arrival of a Darkness that is slowly destroying their world.

Each choice the reader makes changes the path of the story, there are no wrong choices just choices with different values. The point was to make a fun advanture that can also teach something.
The question you are asking yourself is “why?”
It is a good question.

I have a 5 years old daughter, since she was born I wanted to write a book for her. I wrote two books in the past, but I really wanted to write a children book. I also wanted to write a book in a new format, and also one that can be read again and again in different ways.

About a year ago I was approached by Shosh Maoz Arie. Shosh has a tool: cards that help people learn what values are important to them. It took me about a month of deep thinking before I decides to combine my wishful thinking of this strange book with the cards Shosh created. You see, as the saying goes “action speak louder than words” so what better way to discover what values you hold dear, than by making choices that can reflect on those values.

Building the story world and concept took about two months of work, and then started the hard task of shaping the application, and more importantly: write the story in a way that real values will be reflected in it.

The result? A beautiful book with Art by the talented Ron Nadel (an Israeli artist and a friend) with a fun story that after each read can tell you which values drove you.

I’m fascinated by the power games can have on us. This little book has been played by my daughter and some of her friends and after each time we had such great talks about the choices they made. It opened up a line of communication that I didn’t think exists in their young age. No, scratch that, I knew they probably feel and think in some way about these things, I was amazed that they can articulate their thoughts.

If you are a parent, I hope you download the app and read it with your kids, and I would love to hear about the talks you had after playing and discovering those hidden values.

Thanks,
Ziv

Recommendation for Children books

Trying to understand how to use Pinterest better, I came up with a new board - Fantastical children books

Follow it and find old and new books that you and you kids will love to read.
I will also love to hear from you guys about books I should add. Just post an answer to this post.

The Guardians - a new book for kids on the iPad

After too many months of preparation, coding, writing, rewriting, designing, illustrating and crying - our app is out. The Guardians is an adventure book in which the reader’s choices lead him on different paths, and affect the outcome of the story. After finishing the story, the reader will discover the values that guide him through life and matter to him most. Each time the reader begins a story he can choose a new path, meet different animals, and experience a new adventure. The values unlock with every new read, helping the reader to learn more about the choices we make and what drives them.

Turns out Siri is helpful

I have to admit that I was wrong. Siri is helpful.
While I still think users of iPhone 4 can feel good with the piece of tech they have and wait for the iPhone 5, if you did upgrade to the iPhone 4s you should try out Siri.

Yes, at first it is strange to talk to your phone, but once you get the hang of it it becomes useful. The area in my life where I feel Siri’s power is the car.

There are times where I don’t want to talk to anyone but I need to send a quick message. Texting while driving is not something you want to try, especially with touch screen. you have to look at the screen to make sure you stroke the right letters, you need to see that you are sending the message to the right person - it’s distracting.

Wel, now i just ask Siri to send a message for me and she does that.
I speak the name of the person and Siri reads that person’s name back to me. I then dictate my message and Siri will read it back so I know she did’t do a mistake. I can then send it without looking at the screen.
It’s a life saver.

As I live in Israel, I can’t test yet all of Siri’s abilities, but after working with her for the past few days I can see where things are headed and I have to admit - I was wrong.

the application is almost done

After months of working on the book, writing and rewriting, hammering the development side and getting absolutely stunning and fresh art, the app is almost here.
I believe that within a week or two we will be out and then… then the harder work begins. Making sure the application reaches the hands of the users.
As we do it, I will share the process with you, hoping this will help others.