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Episode 38 – New Experiences

In today’s episode Bruce and Josh talk about some of the new experiences they are having in light of COVID impacting areas differently than jump into a conversation about how different gaming platforms may be better depending on your personal desired outcomes.

Some specific things covered are:

  • Facilitating a 10×5 with a gaming group
  • Steps a gaming group can take to decrease the time to get something to the table
  • What Online Conventions have been like (BGG’s Virtual Gaming Con, Comic Con, etc.)
  • A lively conversation about the different impacts that can be fostered thanks to the scripting and user experience functions of various tabletop online platforms (TableTopia, Table Top Simulator, Board Game Arena, and more)

To learn more about Board Game Impact you can:

Transcript (Generated by AI)

00:10 – 05:01

In today’s episode of Impact Josh and I talk about experiences that were having an you can have in this digital world stays in. Welcome back for another episode of Board. Game Impact of course I am Bruce I’m joined by. This is Josh and today we’re going to be talking about experiences that were having in this weird like digital hybrid world thing that we got going on with Covid nineteen still in full fledge at the time of this recording. So we hope that no matter where you are in the world, you your family, everybody safe, and we can knock this thing out, so we can get back to more things and more gaming around the table, but that being said there’s still plenty of cool opportunities that we’re having and you can have. And, so we wanted to talk about that today and so. Josh, weren’t you? Kinda kick us off like what’s going on in your neck of the woods. What are things looking like for gaming for you? Sure so. I kind of have two things going on right now when it comes to to gaming. kind of taking it from two different approaches, so the first is. Still continuing to reconnect with. Past game groups and doing some gaming online I know that you and I have gotten a chance to get some games and together but then also more recently have started to. Isolate my gaming group a little bit so rather than I think I’ve talked in the past about I have a pretty large game group here. The game store that I normally go to About forty people on average on a weekend awesome and so. Obviously. That’s just not gonNA. Work Right now, So I’ve kind of isolated it down to a handful of people and recently started a ten by. We’re calling Tim. By Five kind of scaled down version of ten by ten so furloughs news aren’t aware. Choosing ten games. And trying to play those games five times throughout the course of a year so. Keeping it to just a handful of folks, so we’ve got four people and and really kind of enjoying kind of digging into some depths of SIM Games that we all really really enjoy. That sounds horrible. Yeah. It’s been great a really really good time you know. We each threw in the name of two games that we really wanted to. Kind of dig deep into and really get some meat out of okay. Now, we we, we do not have ten so each person then through in one more game for consideration or at twelve twelve. Out of those four extras, we played all of them once and then independent of one another. We ranked those four games one. so our favourite got a score of one are least favorite gotta score four. We revealed those scores tallied them up and golf scored it, so the lowest to scoring games got added into our ten by five, and then we counted those plays towards our five play throughs of each game. So now we just kind of once a week. We get together. We play two games at a time Go through that way. I really really enjoy going through. You know one of the things that I really love about. This hobby is learning new games and. Seeing all these different things coming out, but it’s really kind of Nice to really dive into some of these really heavy complex games that. Maybe have a lot of different modules that we don’t get to play with or. You know have new experiences that we don’t really get to have because we’re one in dunning them or you know we play them only every. Three to four months and forget half the rules, so it’s kind of Nice to replay, the same thing and really kind of have that different level of experience with it, and that’s awesome and obviously listeners. Depending on what’s going on in your local community does allow this or not allowed this to happen, but even if you’re having to do it digitally like you could still do that, let’s pick ten games or five by five games. They’re gonNA. Play five times or five by ten. For that matter. They are gonNA play online together, whatever it’s just the mentality of it.

05:02 – 10:00

So Josh. That sounds amazing from a lens that I normally of like. Like. I love playing the Games. Don’t get me wrong, but one of the things that I don’t necessarily like is going to a game night or going to a convention and me being the Omni Gamer like I. Just WanNa. Play a thing. And I us as a collective group having analysis paralysis of what we’re actually going to play, and we waste like the first thirty minutes more to then figure out what of the many many games are gonNA play, and then have to set it all up. Has This helped y’all get rid of that AP like a Y’all setting the game up before even get there. What’s going on? Yeah and it’s and it’s great because. While most of US had played the Games that we had chosen or the majority of them, there were certainly some games that other people hadn’t played off or other people’s lists that I hadn’t played so we set it in a rotation every five weeks. We play two different games. We know what we’re GONNA play. Well before the meet up happens. Usually whoever owns the game shows up early and sets it up and has it ready and waiting will share out watch. It played videos or rules. Explanation videos the week be leading up to a game night and that way. Everyone has a chance to learn the game before we get there. The teaches only five minutes versus thirty five minutes. It’s it’s made for a lot of. It’s allowed us to take these very very heavy games ’cause. I talk about some of the Games. Yeah, yeah, I think the lightest game on this list for us is Concordia. Isn’t that awesome? I know it’s not that light of a game. You know we’ve got things like an ACURA. which is one of my favorite games? It was one of my picks. And really really. Heavy you know. Good long rules explanation in there you know we at Yokohama was one of the picks which I had not played before. We just played that last week and I am in love with. That game is phenomenal. Yeah, you know it’s been really nice to be able to to dive into some of these other pick I. Put up. Zorkin as organ was one of the four games that we played through, and chose to of Zolkin did not get picked, but Obviously a tastic game. The other game that I put up was great western trail. Which? Is has been one of my favorite games for awhile but. Again one of those games that I just haven’t gotten the full depth of experience with soon speaking of full depth of experience you mentioned about how some of these games have modules and expansions. How does that way into? Coming to the table like is that a group discussion? What’s going on there? So? It depends on what we so. What we decided was game. We’re going to play the BASS game the first time we play. And then we will add subtract do different modules and different types of setups for different play throughs. One really great example of this were playing a game called dominations again that I had never really heard about before. Yeah, not sure who? I’m going to the game. In road civilization. Yes. it’s dominated is very very interesting game that I was had not heard of before it was on the table. And by fully grail games by the way. It is fantastic I highly highly recommend anyone who enjoys a civilization building game to try this one out. It is speaking to me. The most unique civilization builder. I think I’ve ever played. It is a tile placement game. Listeners has got all these like Red Green Purple Orange triangles all sorts of stuff. I’m looking through this. It looks really cool, so all of these different colors triangles represent your different types of. Technologies, you would normally associate with your. Mom! Civilization builders, and so you’ve got your. You know your technology or your culture or your? Income all these types of things.

10:01 – 15:01

And as you’re placing these tiles out on the board, your earning. Points in those. You know resources essentially as what they come down to, but you’re earning science. You’re earning culture. You’re earning money that you can then use to upgrade your civilization. Really really interesting game, but it is a game that came with four or five expansions. Wow, and each expansion dramatically changes the rules of that game. And so each time we’re just going to choose one of those expansions and play through with a new expansion and see how that experience changes the game, or if it improves it or Is something. We dislike so. Yeah, it’s a really really great way to get to experience a lot of. Variety in these games that. You know. Gives a lot of credit to the game. Designers who make these really. Complex and interesting expansions and modules that don’t get played enough because we don’t always get the chance to experience the depth of Gameplay. Yeah, actually, I was in. You’re making me think some stuff. Recently of I saw like different expanses for some games I love. What I haven’t gotten that to game to the table, I love that game, but I haven’t gotten the game to the table. So Do I. Really Want. Add in or get the expansion like that’s something. I’ve now started questioning myself like am. I GONNA. Get the chance to play with this because there’s especially with US reviewing game sometimes. We tend to play a lot of games. Just the nature of it, and sometimes, it’s hard to go back to something, so that’s really really cool So you are? Far into this ten by five. So we have now played all ten games one time. Okay, so already more so pretty early on, but really looking forward to getting some new games into to play this one thing. I did want to jump back to Reuss. You mentioned though. With this ten by five, the reduction and setup time and choosing games in those types of things way back in February before all of Kovic happened. My Game Group decided one of the things that we were going to do to cut down on that problem. was actually and it’s worked wonderfully. We created a whiteboard and everyone put ten games. They wanted to play this year onto a whiteboard. And then we put all of those games into a randomized her and every week it would spit out to games and those two gains. We’re going to be the games that were played that week hung. You had your choice between those two games and that made. Game night. Go so much fast. That’s I’ve never heard of that tactic. That’s amazing. It worked really really well. If you decided. A new game came out and. You really wanted to play that. You just removed something off of your white hard and replaced it and. Yeah it works wonders I. Really Recommend if you have a smaller group especially. Trying some of those techniques of of ways to just decide games before you’re going to get to game night, so you can have them set up. You can have the party or the gaming group watched the rules explanation in advance I it makes for. That game experience just significantly better because you’re. Getting straight into the gaming. You’re not sitting around in debating what you want to play for the better part of the night. Yeah, because and I appreciate you sharing that ’cause like let’s face it. We love the Games, but really games are a conduit for the experiences with other people, so eliminating the time and the fluff around it to help streamline that that’s really cool, so I’m gonNA try some of that out. With our local, meet up when we can definitely not the case here in Texas, where we are having things with people. We’ve we’ve been lucky here in Colorado I will own that. Thousandfold so and I again. We totally understand this is not for everyone, but yeah, trying these ideas of Even, if it’s a like, Bruce was talking about. If it’s online with friends there, however, you’re getting your gaming in. So I’M GONNA? Try that out so thanks Josh, and on that note, Reuss In the realm of virtual gaming, you’ve been having some fun experiences. Tell I have almost hit the nail on the head there Josh So.

15:02 – 20:01

Over the last couple months like we’ve heard a lot sad news. Let’s just call it. Like this is canceled. Let’s call it. Let’s face call what it is like BG spring like for me. That’s like going to summer camp like I love it. And I work it like as a counselor, so it’s like a love it. It’s a really great time like we got. Gen Con and all these things have moved online and I see a lot of people really sad. But at the same time we haven’t experienced these things before. So are we making sometimes a premonition about something? We haven’t even tried yet, so. BG’s Spring Kinda was the first thing that was supposed to take place at the end of May. That was canceled. And they move that to something of virtual. Gaming Kahn which took place last month, and then at the time of this recording. So that’s happened. This past weekend was comic con. which had a gaming side of things? This weekend coming up. Is Gen con. And then we’ve got more conventions coming up, so we’ve got. Which is the one in? S in Germany like they’re having that and all the different languages, so what? This look like was a couple of things so? I actually volunteered for. Virtual Gaming Kahn. which gave me a ticket to go? A lot of these things are free or like ten bucks. That was the cost which honestly for convention and playing games like that’s really like nothing. Less than would often spend like going to pub and playing games there for a weekly. Meet up right now. That’s just my case, but like that. That’s the experience I was having. So, The interesting thing was they had a couple of things going on one. They had a twitch channel that they were doing a livestream for board game. Geek now. I never really watch twitch. That wasn’t a thing for me I. Watch a lot of Youtube and stuff, but with Cova did. I have started watching a lot more twitch. which was cool, so I’ve been like. They had all sorts of streams from publishers. Here’s all the new games. Here’s how you play them. Here’s some cool things for the industry. Then and getting to hear from people I wouldn’t normally get to hear from these designers behind the scenes. Then they also created a they. There’s a website called tabletop dot events that he they used to schedule all you. You could I, could put in I was going to run a role playing game for a couple of hours right or I wanted to play a game on table, topi A- or on tabletop simulator, our board game arena, any of these places and connect with people to play with them, so they board game week actually after the virtual gaming con. They liked it so much. They bought that website. So now the board be owns tabletop DOT events to help facilitate in-person end virtual conventions, which is cool, but the honestly in my opinion, the best part was they had discord server for everybody who was participating with, and if you haven’t been on discord, I highly recommend it. Because they have techs, channels and voice channels, and so every exhibitor had their own, Techs Channel and I was messaging with like Steven boncore. And like talking like different times, I didn’t have to go to a booth in person to do that. I was able to hop in. Ask some questions about upcoming Games and hear directly from them. But also there you could change your status and it would change your color. To looking for a game and people would reach out to you and be like. Hey, what game do you WANNA play? Let’s just pick something up, so it was fifteen hundred people at the. There’s one hour on there I happened to look at least fifteen hundred people actively on. They’re doing that. AM participating, so it was cool. Josh like it was really really cool. Yeah. What are your thoughts on that I? Just a lot of you know that’s. A very very cool experience that I kind of regret not. Taking up. I think that’s a really really neat way to do that. You talked about. Having access to online gaming, some of those types of things so did you get? Is I guess. How did you get access to those gains? Were they using table topiary tabletop simulator? Sure was facilitated at all by the convention, or was it kind of on your own? Yes, no, so again they had that tabletop dot events website. They were using so they had scheduled. They had to all the main stage. And so there was like a role in right games that the main stage sometimes do or like solo or print and play things. Where you could just print it out or interact on table, simulator, or any of these different platforms live with them. They also had if you didn’t have those experiences. Publishers had booth spaces, and they would give like you’re access to come in to those platforms and see their games and learn how to play them.

20:02 – 25:04

So that was cool, but for BG’s Virtual Gaming Convention. They table TOPI AH was A. Top Tier sponsor. And they gave everyone premium access to the site for the entire weekend, so you could play anything. Even they’re restricted for premium members only games. So yeah, it was anything Josh like it was sets. It was cool. That’s a really nice I mean. We’ve talked a little bit about those get different platforms past episodes and so listeners. If you haven’t heard those I, encourage you to go, check those out, but that’s a pretty extensive library for table topiary for that weekend to have access to so that’s a really really neat idea. It will be interesting to see if if any of this survives past all of co bid. With the online conventions the streaming your. You know the fact that you have people like Gen, con or it the fact that you have con- streaming these discussions and conversations people demoing their games I. think that’s probably. The coolest thing from all of this because anyone who’s gone to a convention knows the pain of waiting for a game demo. and. Standing in line for thirty minutes deciding that it’s not worth it leaving. Trying to come back and walking by and never finding table open to learn so just being able to livestream that and. Show. A much larger group. Those how those games work I think that’s a really really cool way of kind of addressing this. World we’re living in right now. Yeah, and so I think there’s a couple of things that are gonna live past it so first of all I think of like Gen con, and how that has all these major releases like one of the things I’ve always wanted to go to. I haven’t been able to go to gencon yet. Is like the fantasy flight? Inflate report right like I’ve never been able to go to that. Where they’re talking about all this cool stuff I get to see like the post on Reddit of what’s coming out like wrong I’m so excited about those things, but it’d be cool to hear. Live like I’m able to attend that later this week when we’re recording this. And sit in on that session. I would normally get to, but the other thing about conventions. Like it’s really hard to schedule things sometimes right because it’s so free form, but what was cool is if I miss something I was able to go into the website. They had the tabletop dot events and see all the other times. Publisher is going to be demoing that game, so it’s not like I had to wait to catch it at the right time, and like am I gonNA. Catch it at the right time I was able to just come in and have the experience because I knew it was going to be happening. So school. So yeah, I’d highly recommend checking out these virtual connections. Board game. Geek has already said that. This is what it’s. GonNa look like for BG CON in the fall, so that’s going to be completely virtual as well, but they also said this went over so well like. Why get rid of it if they already have the infrastructure to put it out there? So, we might be seeing this even wall. We go back to or get to have some. Things that were still have some of the digital engagement, because not everyone could go to these things in the past anyway. And there’s been this counterculture degen Canada I. Don’t know if you know this. There’s been a thing called Gen can’t. For about like five to ten years of. Of. Of these like people like oh I can’t go to Gen con, I’m going to do. Gen can’t in my local community like it has its own mascot and stuff so last year gen con tried to do pop up Gen con and Store splashes were like local game stores could get a kit to of game play during that time period. They’re trying to leverage the whole. Jen Camping I don’t think that went over the greatest. But like this is going well. So it’s kind of cool. Yeah I. You know I think we talked in the past about the challenges I think that can come with with online gaming, and obviously you know. There’s a lot to be said for for person to person interaction, and all those types of things, but it is really. Comforting and heartwarming to know that that this is still an industry that people are invested in and will continue to thrive You Know I. We. Don’t have on here to talk about, but. I don’t know if you saw kind of some of the statistics that have come out over the past couple quarters with kickstarter oh. Yeah, and the fact that twenty twenty is on track for. Higher. Return on kickstarter for board games than any year in the past, and we’re in the middle of a pandemic so.

25:06 – 30:02

I know that can be difficult to hear from a lot of folks who may be struggling, and maybe among those who can’t afford those types of things right now, but it is heartwarming to know that this is not a an industry that seems to be going anywhere. People are innovating around. How these Games are coming out. I know early on in this pandemic. There were quite a few kick starters that actually released. Tabletop simulator and tabletop versions of their games before the kickstarter launched so that people could play them and get to experience them, so it’s kind of neat to see how all of this is changing, and how people are adapting, it is really cool and dos believe the number is very close to about forty percent increase. For the Games arena of Kickstarter, and that’s I believe in the months of April and May alone. And that’s when you remove. The higher numbers or even when you remove frost even. From the list, so you’ve removed the giant outlier because he might have been like Oh. Yeah, well frost haven happened I’m like yes, and I know I’m a backer of that personally, but I contributed to that I fed that beast. But at this when you remove that, it’s ridiculous number that is cool, though that also means that more games are going to be out there so even if you can’t. Doesn’t mean those around. You have always been in that same situation, so you might have access. And so that’s also hopefully uplifting. Like let’s get. To more of the community. So yeah I think it’s cool. Josh one thing I didn’t have on here to talk about. But I had a conversation the other night while playing games last week. Actually and we were talking about the different platforms. and. We’ve been playing a lot of games on board game arena. Actually. Especially Euro Games where it takes care of all the all the little things for you. And I was curious. This is something. We brought in conversation when I was playing that new. Aren’t there so I’m GonNa ask you the same question. What are your thoughts if you are a? Game designer or trying to get a game out there would. would. You want all of the rules kind of handled for you as a for the new players or Redo, or do you think more the free form environment for let them discover. That’s a really interesting question. Yeah! I think ’cause like table, Topa and tabletop simulator for the most part summit. Some tabletop simulator has scripts. But a lot of it. You’re managing yourself. I think. That I think that answer changes for me pandemic If. It is a game that. has been out for a while. People have had access to for a while. Most people have probably played or had a chance to play. I kind of like. Not having scripted Nigga I. Don’t know why. But I like to know as a player. I to know that. I’m doing all I’m walking myself through my turn right. Safe is a really good example of this. And I have been someone who has praised the. Online adaptation of size. Four scripting because I am one of those people who often forget to gain money. Inside. Which one for one victory points, which is the whole point of the game? But I take my bottom action and I feel really good about the fact that just upgraded this thing one step closer to ending the game, but I forgot to take my three money, which was the whole point of doing the upgrade. It’s wonderful that lets me do that. And does that for me so? I think in a lot of respect. It’s really really helpful. But I, also kind of like the. There’s this little cutthroat part of me that like if you forgot it well. That’s on you, Buddy. I also really like. I think it depends on the UI or a how you design it. because. If the UI is very fiddly and I have to like. Click and drag and do all these types of things to gain my money.

30:03 – 35:00

I could see that becoming a problem because then you get frustrated at the UI, but if It’s very simple interaction with the game the. It’s kind of Nice to know like that. I’m walking myself. Step by step through my turn. Okay, so the first thing I do is I gained my income, so I gained five money, and then I go here and I spend three money and doing all of that myself. Feels closer to the real experience. For. Has Some, nostalgia and enjoyment. But, it’s also nice to just be like this is what I WanNa do and the game does it for me I agree. And I think you said a lot of really cool things and. The some perspectives that even consider I didn’t even consider the fact of like. Helping. Learn the game by having to go through the steps, and like you know what I mean and with that though I. Feel in this, you’re explaining. A phenomenon had been feeling, and that is when I’ve played those games, and like really learned them some thinking of when you and I played on Mars. right. That was a lot to manage, but at the end of it I’m like. I didn’t win, but I truly know this game and I feel I feel accomplished from what I did. Where when I’ve learned new games on some other platforms were haven’t had to focus on that. I’ve gotten to learn more strategy. But I don’t. I won’t say that. I have a fundamental understanding of how to operate the game of like. Of managing the things, the administration of it but Mabel to focus in on the strategy, so it also kind of depends on what you’re looking to do. I think this is an excellent. You brought up on. Mars and I think that’s an excellent descript. Her of how I’m feeling about this because. Now on Mars is incredibly complex game and we played that over a month ago. Yeah, yeah, so probably not anymore, but shortly after playing that. If I, were able to sit down at a table with A. Hard copy of on Mars. I would know how to play that game. Yeah, I feel pretty confident. I would feel good and I’m really upset with myself that I. Haven’t done that because man that games wonderful. Yeah, yeah I enjoyed it a lot more play throughs than just the one yeah. But. Once I finished the online version I felt that I could go and play that game again. We’ve played. steam. A number of times together online. I don’t know. That if I went and sat down at the table. That, I would immediately know how to play steam thus far. Because, there are just some pieces that the game manages for you that. I’m sure I would completely forget to. Do and would not be a you know. I’d be forgetting to take my income or forgetting to spend money, even right So, yeah, I I think. Maybe I said it wrong or backwards before if it’s a game that I’ve played a lot and I know all of the rules. I kind of want it to be scripted. Eliminate that fiddling. But if is a game that I’ve not played before, I kind of want to learn. All of the mechanics behind the game, and why I can or cannot make the decision that I’m trying to make that’s that’s a I, respect that and I’m GonNa pull us together full circle on this and then I think just due to Time Josh. We’re going to wrap this up. But going back to Utah, ten by five me, talking about like the virtual gaming experiences were getting to have right. Now. This was really just off the cuff. Honestly listeners. I think that it all comes down to. Thinking about your outcomes. And trying to figure out what outcomes are truly to get it. So if it’s if it’s about I want to make sure to get these games played in like in focus on maximising my time with people then doing attend by five having a rotation doing that whiteboard things like that great. And do those practices if you are wanting to. Connect with people and publishers, it’s more about the social components than jump in on some of these streams right. Whether it be on twitter.

35:01 – 39:34

The beyond one of the free virtual can game gaming aspects or you want to learn something. Jump in and try it out on table to table off simulator, but maybe in a demo with a publisher at the experiences. Or if you know it really well, and you want to get more competitive than. Strip away the stuff other stuff, so you can focus in on strategy. Board game, arena, or Josh one of the things that you’ve been playing a lot of magic the gathering arena something tells me that really house. Focus in on strategy, doesn’t it? Yeah you. Matt I. We were talking before the show about how much I love the way magic. The gathering arena has kind of manage. Magic for me. I when new cards come out and new things, come out it. It really has stripped away a lot of the. Confusion around kind of how different cards interact in the Meta and some of those types of things. I don’t know it makes for. My ability to just focus on building the deck. Debt is going to win versus at building a deck that I can manage It’s really interesting. Yeah I. I would definitely agree with that that sentiment. and. I think this has just been a cool topic to talk about like different experiences we can have. Josu have any kind of closing comments on like focusing in on outcomes and experiences in all these different times or free, even when hopefully covid is over. You Know I. Think you hit the nail on the head and a lot of respects, and I’m going to defer to a lot of what you said I especially. It’s about the experience that you WanNa have at the end of the day right and for me and my gaming group. The experience that we want to have is we want to get. Our hands on the game on the game playing it having that experience and then talking about that experience afterwards. There are groups that I definitely see just really enjoying spending time with one another and debating over a game. For three hours is okay because they’re just getting to spend some time together and if that’s you, that’s great. That’s the experience you to have. I think there’s A. Kind of like you said finding what it is. You’re looking for in your gaming experience and finding ways to facilitate that no matter what the circumstances you’re living through our. And I think that in itself Josh is just great, and I think this has been. Really Salient topic for as we’re. Pretty deep into this but I think it goes back to some of the hallmarks we’ve talked about in the past of. Have, you had A. Defined the relationship with your game group. Of like are we all looking for the same thing on this like I just WanNa make sure or if you felt like this is going great. And then you felt a change where you put your. Thumb on what change right. or how are you able to influence towards what you’re looking for and? I know there’s a lot of people out there in the world struggling. And so if that is you, we hope things get better fast. But. Part of what we can do is help. Provide guidance on. Understanding self to the level of these are the things that I know. We’re GONNA fill my bucket. So I think it’s more important than ever for people to look into for all of us look into. How do we continue to know our bucket? and find ways to fill it as much as we possibly can so that way we can be inspired. We can do all sorts of great things. So, yeah, I think gaming does a lot for us as a people and I’m very thankful for to be in my life. And because it’s connected you josh even more even though we were working at the same place, but we never really hung out. Besides that and it was like Hey Josh. Evolved into so much more, so you never know so I just. Try! So that’s going to be a rap on this week’s episode If you like this, please tell a friend about it so they way they can find it on all the pod casting platforms We look forward to talking to you again in two weeks and hope everything’s going great, but until then. Out and make a positive impact on the world, thanks.