Knowledge Heaped Upon Knowledge

The book fair at Ian's school took place this week.  We have a one-book guarantee per child for these thinly-veiled fundraisers, and Ian put some thought into his selection.  He seemed to be asking for help making up his mind when he told me Thursday night that he could get a book about a dog, some other book (I forget what), or the Guinness Book for Gamers.  My sentimental impulse would have been to encourage the book about a dog - we're a family of animal-lovers, and that instinct should be encouraged - but I ultimately came out in favor of Guinness.  I didn't know what the "Gamers" piece of it meant - the text was probably some kind of consulting guide for trivia games or something - but I figured that Guinness was promising.  It involved fact, rather than fantasy, and it might uncover some useful information, beyond mere trivia, that helps Ian to piece together a larger understanding of the world.  Plus, Ian's godfather/uncle/prototype was like a walking index to The Guinness Book of World Records in his childhood, and he went on to become a lecturer at Princeton, among other things.  So although Guinness was the most expensive of Ian's candidate for purchase, I encouraged it, and that's what Ian got - no doubt what he really wanted all along in the first place.

Foolish Me.

It turned out that The Guinness Book for Gamers was entirely dedicated to the scholarly subject of games - video, fantasy, etc.  This is actually a good thing, because Ian doesn't know nearly enough trivia about Pokemon without a fat authoritative text.  I soon learned that Pokemon is the Xth most popular game in the world (Ian can give you the x value if you ask him, although he was disappointed that Pokemon's placing wasn't higher).  I learned that Angry Birds have a theme park in Finland, appropriate enough in its wacky randomness.  I learned that the world's largest video-game theme park is in Japan.  I really learned a lot in encouraging Ian to select this excellent book.

But now we have more to talk about.

At supper tonight, with Daniel and Ian wallowing in Mine Craft consciousness after our cabin-feverish day of non-educational-activity in the house, I pondered out loud about what the country of origin of Mine Craft might be. To my bewilderment, Ian didn't know. But his speculation was great:  he thought Mine Craft might be from India.  After all, Mine Craft is the most popular video game in India.

Then he explained:

Mine Craft, it turns out, is the world's most popular Indie game.

I'm imagining they must really love it in Indianapolis, too.

(March 29, 2014)