The competition had nothing to do with me or Skulduggery — it was all to do with an educational video game designed to teach you maths and have, you know, actual fun while you do it. Incorporating historically accurate aspects of Native American tribal life and culture, the game was called Spirit Lake, and the competition was to find someone to become a character in it, using your name and likeness. Here's what I said about it at the time:
"And if this works like they hope it will, this could be the beginning of something huge. This could revolutionise teaching, and learning— not just in America but across the world— and it could be just the thing that's needed to help struggling students make that singular, all-important leap. This could change people's lives."
The competition was a great success. I got in some hilarious responses, and also some heartfelt ones, and while it was not easy to pick a winner, a winner I did pick.
And now I'm going to do it all over again.
These same awesome people — people who include the mother and sister of my personal (Twitter) friend, UFC champion Ronda Rousey* — have another game in development, called Forgotten Trail.
SO — if you like the idea of having a video game version of yourself teaching kids maths across America, give me your reasons why. In no more than thirty words, explain why you should win, and send your entries to skulteams@hotmail.com. You can enter as many times as you like, you can be any age, from any country, and the winner will be announced at the end of July.
Good luck!
* Yes, Ronda does count as a friend**.
** By friend I don't, of course, mean someone I've ever actually met, but that's not what's important here***.
*** What's important is that we're PALS. Some might say buddies. Kindred spirits, perhaps. I might even go so far as to say I've taught her everything she knows****.
**** I haven't ACTUALLY taught her everything she knows, but she knows that I would have, if ever I knew something that she didn't already know. Such as writing*****.
***** Although seeing as how Ronda's autobiography has made it to the New York Times bestseller list — a list I have yet to ACTUALLY grace — this probably isn't the best use of my, or her, time. But even so, I am sure there are PLENTY of things I could teach her. Though probably nothing useful or, you know, not-imaginary, like unicorn-taming, or yodelling******.
***** I'll shut up now.
Posts
4,893 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1601 – 1800 of 4893 Newer› Newest»Alys: *squeals and jumps out of the way, landing as a fox*
Why hello, good sir.
????: *lands and rolls to her feet*
*blinks, looking around for Alys*
*sniffs at the air and looks at the fox*
*tilts head*
( doesn't know if he should take brackets off...i might try and kill someone outside of brackets... )
Alys: *turns back into a human* w what are you?
????: *jumps back, growling slightly, showing razor sharp teeth and crouching low to the ground, still on all fours*
* stands both eyes focusing - one voidfilled black. The other the lightest blue-
And who might this beauty be? * smiles flirtatiously *
Alys; *holds out hand*
Hello...
:hey moss!)
Hey Chloe [hugs]
My name feels too short, wbd for a moment whilst I add stuff to it.
(*huggles* how art thou?£
(Hey moss)
????: *slowly approaches her, watching her without blinking*
*bumps Alys' hand with her head, sniffing it (this is so weird to describe xD)*
*looks up at her*
Alys; y you're like a pup a aren't you?
*soft, beautiful violin music starts playing from somewhere in the woods*
( hey moss...
- the ellipses are for what you add :P-
*feels safe in brackets :P *the crazy sweats kick in*)
MOSS
FABI
MABI
FOSS
*HUGS/HUGS/HUGS*
I am okay.
Really stressed with school, but most of my big projects are done now. Still have exams though.
You?
Hey Jai [hugs]
????: *growls, glaring*
*runs back to Maria, starting to dig a big hole beside her*
(*hugs mossy the mystically magnificent multitaker back*)
Is this a little too long? I know sometimes when people have long names, it's harder for people on some devices.
TAIA
RAISIN
TAIA
RAISIN
[hugs/hugs/hugs]
HOW ARE YOU?
[acknowledges violinist]
Hullo Conductor
Alys: *laughs softly*
*realises the thing killed a person*
*gulps*
Felix: *shouts* alys!
(I'm tired )
* head flicks round faster than a bullet. Eyes searching for the source of the beautiful sound*
..i... I... * shakes head * I.. Need to go.
*hits his skull. Sith his hands* you're hearing it! Stop it!
You stop it, its real !
well hello there ^_^
????: *hears the shout and pauses, looking around quickly, ducking low to the ground*
*digs faster before dragging Maria into the hole by her leg, burying her quickly*
@Jai :D [adds to my name]
Hi Fera.
I just disappeared cuz I really didn't have anything to say, and don't get me wrong, I still don't, I just kinda wanna talk to someone... So...hi...anybody want a waffle?
*hears faint shouting*
*continues to play, slowly drawing her bow across the strings delicately*
hey moss :) How's everybody? :)
welcome violet, and sure :D
(You can join our rp, Ms. Andviolet. Warning: You may perhaps die.)
(*acknowledges Moss*)
Hi Andviolet, nice to meet you. :-)
(*grins* Yey! I added to her name!)
;hey Fera ^.^ how art thou?)
Felix: *runs over* what's that thing? She smells like trouble!
Alys; a she's like a p pup...
*bows ceremoniously as a samurai would present their sword to a master, presenting waffle* Hi Moss(would you like me to call you anything besides that? Feel free to tell me) nice to meet you to! And I would join, but I really don't know how.
????: *growls at being called a thing and a pup*
*stalks towards Felix*
hi clo :) I am really well, thank you very much, how are you ? :) *hugs*
( lol 😁. Ok violinist :D I will try to not kill as many people as possible ...
Sorry if I made you awkward I'm actually really hyper right now and I'm bot sure why but I. Love ❤ it and all y'all )
hey con ^_^
(*hugglez* tired but good ^.^)
Felix: *growls and bares fangs$
Alys; f felix!
Felix: she's bad news
(Oh don't worry Conductor. I'll be killing plenty of people today. Hopefully.
You'd most likely be in the clearing and hear violin music. Move on from there and have your character react. Unless your character is not at all interested in a mysterious woman playing violin in a dark forest.)
@Fabi: It's perfect :) ^^
i'M GOOD
And tired! :)
I hope you can get a good break from school stress soon-
((ow
sorry, hold on
momentary delay because I suddenly have arm cramp :P))
[...] *hugs* How are you doing, other than that?^^
????: *growls more, baring her teeth, eyes seemingly glowing slightly*
*she's not bad news she's misunderstood!!!*
(One sec, thirsty.)
clo: good ^_^ what do u think about my prof pic? :)
(My mum says I'm misunderstood XD)
Felix: *tails and hell fire appear* stay away
Alys: f felix! *shouts slightly louder than she's used to*
jai: *tempted to make a joke* :D
(O_O It's lively, tonight.)
Hi Fera!
Hi again, Andviolet! :)
@Violinist: :) :) :)
(((OW
Now my other arm has cramp?
???)))
( hi fera :D whatup dude?)
*looks towards Vi grabbing her hand* come, listen * snakes head again letting go of hand*
No ! You'll hurt her!
Exactly my boy
*starts running into the woods to find the sound looking at vi to see if she follows*
(I noticed when I was reading back ^.^ Tis cool!)
(Is Conductor talking to himself or is that another character?)
taia: hey! :)
clo: :)
con: well, i am splendid, so it's good :D :)
(I poofed... Jai you can go ahead and do the thingy if she's up for it.)
????: *flinches back at the fire*
*growls louder*
(I got her, Blake.)
(@J oh no, you called dibs remember. *gestures at the newbie* Go ahead, oh big man who thinks dropping girls who are younger and smaller than him off cliffs is acceptable.)
Alys: *steps between felix and the thing*
Felix: she's dangerous!
Alys; b but...
Felix: she killed someone!
@Chloe: xD
@FEra's Picture: :) :) :) :) :)
(bbs
I can;'t type like this :P)
taia: like how? :D and :) :) :) :) :)
????: *keeps growling at Felix, moving to back Alys up, standing just behind and slightly to the side of her, crouching low*
( and me ! And good with the killing :P that's what I like to hear :P my kind of person
*wishes really hard that she pulls a sword from the bow* I'd love you for that.
If she wants to... That is )
Alys: I ill train her! I I promise,,,,
Felix: *arches an eyebrow*
@AndViolet Moss or Fabi is fine, people call me both. Is it alright if I call you Six?
(Andviolet
Violet
Vi
VI = Six in Roman numerals)
(If you're not ok with that, that's cool)
@Taia
[nods] I'll be done with school in a little over a week. :-)
[Waves hands and recites magic arm cramp repelling spell]
I'm doing mostly ok. This girl I strongly dislike went out of town for two weeks and will probably not know any of the choreography for any of the pieces she's in, and I'm in a lot of them as well, and she's going to make us look bad. :-( She's a good dancer, but her work ethic leaves a lot to be desired.
Okay, is someone going to do this mysterious initiation thingy that you all keep talking about, or are you just going to leave me wondering?
(I still need to go back to irish dancing)
(Conductor, is your character talking to yourself?)
????: *frowns at the word 'train'*
*just keeps glaring at 'the threat' hoping it'll run away*
andviolet: we need to get cupcakes and an artificial dildo for that first O.O
And I don't really care what you call me, so long as I know you are referring to me and it is not a joke at my expense/anything offensive
(We are. Although it's technically not going to be initiation, because while Silente pretends to kill you, my character is actually intent on killing people.)
(anyone else watching big box little box?)
(Fera. Language. Censorship. There are young readers here.)
dildo is not a swear word XD
Felix: *sighs and goes back to normal* if youre sure... but ill stick around just incase
Alys: t thank you
(It is inappropriate. Fera, stop.)
sure thing buddy :D
So no initiation/whatever it is then?
????: *grunts and nods, shaking off the tension in her muscles*
*stomach growls*
*growls loudly back at it*
*is very, very skinny and bony under her rag-like clothing*
(Fera, always keep in mind that Skulduggery Pleasant is a book that is in the Young Adults section, as in 10-13 year olds. I understand that you and your friends make a wide variety of jokes. My friends have very dirty minds, I am not judging you for that. But you would not talk about dildos in a playground surrounded by little kids.)
violet: well, some people *glares at violinist* find it inappropriate :D
Alys: *hears* y you hungry, girl?
violinist: except that all of these people are 15 or above i am pretty sure XD
*gracefully switches to another song*
*Andviolet will feel drawn to it*
(@Fera I agree that.. the name for an object shaped like an excited man's parts is rather vulgar for the blog.)
( I am indeed yes :P sorry con is kinda inside ghetremus right now ...)
* rubs into the clearing seeing the beautiful woman playing a violin, sits and stares listening quietly
(They are not. And there are many ghosters that are younger, as proven by Andviolet. Now stop, because it is inappropriate.)
jai: *glares at both of you* :D
????: *looks at Alys*
*stomach growls loudly again*
*growls back, hissing at her stomach*
(I second what jai said
anything inappropriate, trigger warn, like I do with innuendos
)
violinist: stop what exactly? :D
ALys: *gets an apple from her bag and holds it out for the unnamed thing*
(I am not in a clearing. I am in rather a deep part of the forest, sitting on the roots of a tree.)
@Andviolet The initiation is when Silente tries to kill you (in character)
@Fera Uh, yeah, it's inappropriate. There are sometimes younger people who read these pages.
(Stop making inappropriate jokes.)
(Not necessarily Silente.)
Or, usually Silente. Sometimes other people do it, but it's a trend she kind of started, so...
*unnamed thing*
*feeling the love there chloe*
????: *sniffs the Apple*
*bites a chunk off*
*has sharp teeth, not molars*
*isn't really designed for fruit*
*struggles with chewing it*
violinist: and, have i not stopped? :D
(@Moss did I start it?
Trip said I didn't.
I was quite offended.)
(You have, but you asked what you should stop every time and I explained. You also didn't seem to understand why you should stop.)
Okay, I agree that that is inappropriate, but who ever said I was young? I never said my age
@Violinist It's a tradition I usually associate with her, at any rate.
@Fera I can think of several Bloglandians who are younger than that.
(I was pointing out that you had ghosted for a long time.)
(*grins*)
Alys: ahh... I see... you need meat...
follow me....um, fluffy!
Felix: *mutters* how humiliating
violinist: ..........
...................
*facepalm*
*fluffy??*
*she just saw it eat a woman's heart and she's calling it fluffy??*
????: *growls at that ridiculous name*
Well, I'm sure people attacked other people before, but I don't remember anyone else calling it a newbie initiation, or doing something similar before you.
However, there have been times where I've left the blog, or distanced myself for personal reasons, so I may have missed something.
(Yes, Fera?)
.............
( vi. I'm trying , so is violinist ..., sorry coz you said clearing to Vi I assumed)
* runs into clearing looking around the forest for the echoing sounds source*
* twitches * if its real then it's over there❕
Its not real.
You're not real!
*rubs into the forest sprinting for the foot of the tree*
*pants quietly, listening to the beauty swishing his fingers to the rythem*
*puts the bow on her back in a scabbard and disappears*
(I must leave. I'll be back in 2 hours.)
(she named it after the three headed dog from harry potter)
ALys: *jumps* f fang?
.....................
(*face palm*)
????: *growls slightly, more like grumbling*
*I have literally no idea what to call her*
ALys: I im sorry!
Okay everybody, I have to go help my mom pick up branches from the storm last night and then do homework... I will be back at some point later (and quite frankly I don't know who was replying to what there, I just want my point to be made clear: I never said my age. I said I am in high school once, but that's it. Don't claim that I am young or old, please. I am average high school age(not saying which grade) and I refuse to elaborate beyond that)
I think I'm going to go now. Can't keep up with comments and do homework.
????: *grunts*
*stomach growls again*
*hisses at it*
(Bye mossy!)
( ok :( .... Hate commenting from my phone... Too slow. At typing correctly. )
(Byii Moss and Violet!)
Alys: t this way! *leads her and felix to her house in a tree*
*remembers making it with Vik*
*sighs and chest tightens*
????: *follows, not particularly trusting Felix*
*lol you think you can tame her xD*
(*blinks!*
*gasp shock horror! xD*
*hey Ellie!*)
..........
( we meant no offence Vi * waves* just that you could find it wrong and leave.... Frankly I think age has nothing to do with it, I'm 19 and act 13 sometimes lol)
(How are you ellster?)
(El! *huggles*)
Alys: *opens the dorrs* c come on in
(Not too bad. Had my French mocks today. Going graphics homework now (sorta) and rping. *shrugs* how long till schools out for you?)
( I knew El :P ... Hehe)
el: .......
????: *trots towards the door*
*yelps as she crosses the threshold, jerking and spasming, crying out in pain as electricity rockets through her body*
Alys: w whats wrong...uh, g girl??
con: .............
????: *keeps spasming, starting to smell like cooking meat, which of course makes her stomach growl*
*struggles to get back outside, hissing, growing weak, mewling slightly*
(is that why the departure from rping ? Which I'm fine with, its hard to comment fast with a phone your not used to... Autocorrect thinks it knows me... )
(@Ellie I meant how long till schools out for summer :)
con: hmm.............
Felix: *drags her out of the house*
Alys: *runs into the kitchen to get a slab of raw meat*
*runs outside with it and chucks it at the thing*
( yeh fera? Did I miss something? Sorry if so? What is it? May I ask. )
( yeh fera? Did I miss something? Sorry if so? What is it? May I ask. )
con: I don't speak cuz it's better if i don't :)
but i still wanna comment :D
(*collapses into Blogland*
hi ppl...)
(*huggles Gem* hey ^.^ how art thou?)
( if you wish... I got to the tree... Just as you put your bow away.)
(*thing, again xD*
Hey gemmy!)
????: *stops jerking, panting*
*grimaces at the wet sound of the meat landing beside her*
*struggles, forcing herself onto all fours*
*carefully grabs the meat, tearing a chunk off, eating it*
(Hello.)
Liliana: Indeed. However, I do not think that it is a good idea to invite my mother, whether she can fight or not. *she starts to head in the direction of the orange glow*
Bethany: Thanks for the blanket... Sorry for being... kind of inconvenient?
Lily: ... A cheque? What's one of them?
ALys: b better?
Felix: gezz...shes explosive...literally
.............
( ... Speak just, remember not everyone is not as *thinks * desensitized as us... )
yeah it's better if i don't ^_^
(well your speaking now
just don't say anything rude)
(*cuddles Sophi!*)
Onwa: She is your mother. Isn't it important to have family there?
*follows her*
You aren't inconvenient.
*smiles*
Manuel: Its used to represent money.
????: *grunt, continuing to eat the meat*
(Really tired...went to bed at 12. Woke up at 8. Had a shower, packed and started tidying my room, put a washing on then put it out then got ready for my interview at Claire's which went well i think. The manager lisa was really nice. I wouldn't mind working there but a girl my age said she gets incredibly bored during the week days and i couldn't deal with that...i'll hear by Monday if i get the job. Then i got home, finished tidying my room, hovered, cleaned the kitchen sink, cooker and work tops washed all the dishes and put them away then hoovered the living room and did all the dishes after dinner and brought in the washing. Overall i'm knackered. I apologised to my dad but he's still not talking to my mum...my mum didn't even buy him anything for dinner. He just had the supernoodles mum bought me for lunch one day.)
...
@Elleni: Thank you.
@Andviolet: General acknowledgement that it's OK and perfectly reasonable to not state your age, etc. Not sure if you read back in the comments, but- yeah. Since I don't think anybody else said it? ^^
@Fabi: (Sorry I missed you! :( In case you're ghosting or read back at some point: ) Good to hear you'll be done with school soon! :)
*laughs* *eyes widen in wonder as arm cramp is magically repelled* Thanks! :P
And-- Aw. :/ That's inconvenient. I'm guessing there isn't much time to learn the choreography after she gets back, then? I hope it goes OK, anyway. ^^
bakana ^_^
(*huggles Gem* early night?)
(*hugs gemmy* You should sleep..)
*tries hugging gem but backs away*
hear ^_^
(Hear hear!)
(@Chloe *has replied btw*)
(*cuddles Jaimie back* Hello, Jaimie.)
Liliana: I do not want Minerve at the wedding, Onwa. No good can come from having her there. The most she has ever done for me is creating me, and she only did that as her replacement as she was fearing for her life at the time.
Bethany: I am sometimes... Could you help me with the door? Plastic...
Lily: ... So what is it?
(hear hear
oops, sorry)
Felix: she really doesn't like me...
(*smiles* hey beautiful wise owl.)
Onwa: Of course..*stops talking*
*pulls the door open for her*
Manuel: Its a slip of paper which transfers money from one bank account to another.
* looks around confused at the sudden stop in music 🎶, almost angry*
Ghetremus: I told you it wasn't real.
Conductor: You don't understand it was here.
* head butts the tree* you hear that? That's music to my ears... Now go home before I decide to kill your friends.
(Oh. *...still should ded previous page at some point*)
*hugs Gemma*
@Elleni: Hear, hear!
(Yeah...early night.
i wish my parents would stop fighting...i don't want it to be tge sqme as when everyo e except me fell out with my uncle o holidqy. I was ok cause i just do my o2n thing but my dad stayed in the hotel watcg8ng bargin huny or sometging and people were fighting qnd stuff so i hopw tgey start talkinv again b3fore our flight at 6am on Monday morning...it's going to kill me xD
Btw ignore my horrible tyoing. This js the best i can do inthis state..)
????: *finishes the food*
*collapses cause she was just majorly electrocuted and that will definitely make you tired*
( fera skype... If you cant talk here.... *hugs*
Hear hear btw :P)
con: it's ok, thank you ^_^ I am just not gonna try to be funny anymore ^_^
(*hugs Chloe, Jai, Con, Taia, Elleni and Fera*
*waves at Soph*)
(I am not beautiful, wise nor an owl.)
Liliana: And if you want flowers, that will not be an option around Minerve. Plants die in her presence. *she pauses for a moment* Do you have parents, Onwa?
Bethany: *she smiles, climbing into the car* I should get some cotton gloves or something...
Lily: Do you buy them?
(*she waves back at Gemma*)
Alys: awwww, felix, c carryp her in, p please?
Felix: *mutters* alright, alright
*goes to pick her up*
(You are beautiful, wise and a metaphorical owl.)
Onwa: No. I don't. You could say that Silente's parents are mine, biologically they would have been however this body isn't biologically related to anyone thus I technically have no relations. *voice is pretty monotone at this*
Maybe. I'll buy you some.
*gets in the drivers side*
Manuel: I believe so.
elleni: I can't ^_^
????: *flinches slightly when Felix comes close and growls*
*has a thing against guys*
(I'm likw, dwad right now. I an hqrdly kwep my 36es open or type...i did all tha5 work to help my parents oyt and so mu dwd wouod 't be angry wjth me but i've exgasted myself...
*would cry b7t doesn't hage energy to*)
(*hugs gemmy tightly*)
ell: I've tried, i failed to be funny. And ok i will ^_^
(*weaklu hugs Sid back*
You're warm...
*snuggles into her*)
Felix: *steps back* she wont let me
Alys: um, o okay... *drags the thing by its legs*
(*laughs and holds her close*
Warm? I'm boiling.)
????: *grimaces, growling at that too*
(*or should i say you're hot.
*smirks abd looks up at ber*)
( you're evil :P its more Ghetremus, fing with him trying to take over hos mind so he doesn't need him, I think.... Lol they have kinda become there own people.)
Con :*flicks finger to the sky crying * composing will never be the same without my baby, it was more than my weapon you ass.
*weak music can be heard by him*
Do you see ?
Ghe: I told you, you don't need that puny thing use my power properly you kreton.
C:*Forces the shadows into his palm* dance.
(Pffft B***h please, Anna's frozen heart is hotter than me.)
ALys: *drops her legs* s sorry!
*faint violin music can be heard again somewhere else far away*
( * hugs gem *
I hate my imagination.... )
????: *just lays there*
*starts burrowing into the cool soil, relaxing slightly*
*lake, take her to the lake*
(okay, thanks for the tip()
Alys: s she seems too hot..... the lake?
Felix: can we drag her there though?
Alys: I I'll try... *starts dragging ???? towards the lake*
????: *allows herself to be dragged because honestly she can't do much else xD*
(*lquggs*
Silly Sid.
,eyes feel beavy Nd startcto close*
It's like i'm xru nk or something. I am so annoyed at sll my mistakes inthis but i can't be botheredfixing th3m...sorry grammar and dpelling nstzis. Too sleepy..)
el: i'ts been 10 weeks ^_^ and well, yeah i can keep trying and failing ^_^
(*hugs back*
I'm not silly! I'm honest.
*nods sternly*
And don't worry about the spelling and grammar people.)
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