Mostly we code...sometimes we write. Every once in a while, we podcast.

My entire life has been centered around playing video games.  I come from the generation that just played the heck out of games.  From my earliest Atari 2600 with 40 or 50 games to my Nintendo box, I have always been enchanted and captivated by video games.  Not that I was ever good enough to take on the world or even the best in my neighborhood, but I have always enjoyed the mental break that is derived from focusing on nothing else but dominating your enemies.

As I am getting older (and wiser), my focus is changing.  I appreciate more strategic games with less action but a more encompassing story.  I no longer want to destroy the world but instead save it from the bad guys (whomever they may be).  I no longer wish for the stress of having to make life and death decisions in fractions of seconds.  I want to foster growth, build and execute upon a drawn out plan, and release the benevolent leader from within. 

Actually, I just really stink at first person shooters and find them frustrating now as groups of 10 year olds pound me for sport and hobby.  I know some of these "young guns" have made their reputation off of beating me and me alone.  That's the only explanation I want to believe as to why I can't seem to survive long enough to check my weapons, aim, and fire.  That and my responsibilities as the Vice President, Sales keep me from playing hours on end.  That last line is a lie.  I actually play for hours on end at work, and I still stink which means it must be my state of the art MacBook.

The cold dark truth is that with the release of CrossOver Games I can't claim that my MacBook is the sole source of my 'suckdom'.  CrossOver Games is coming along very nicely.  Within the next week or so, we will be releasing the coolest emulation solution for Mac and Linux platforms.  Soon, you too can take on hordes of 10 year olds (hey, shouldn't these kids be at school???) in Team Fortress 2, Counter Strike, and other really, really cool games.  While this functionality has been available in CrossOver Mac and CrossOver Linux for quite some time, CrossOver Games is the optimized platform specially tweaked to run games at native speeds.  Games is continuously updated to take advantage of all the latest and greatest CrossOver developments.  So far, my very embarrassing game play has been stable, very fluid, and very fast.  While I can't attest that CrossOver Games will make you a better gamer, I can testify that CrossOver Games won't be the reason why the 10 year olds use your carcass as bait (did I mention that these kids should be in school!!!).    

I know if I keep practicing for hours and days on end that I can get somewhat better.  Of course, my wife, my daughter, my friends, my family, my co-workers, and (most importantly) my boss have other plans for my time.  Without being able to make that time commitment, I'll never be an elite gamer and be able to turn pro.  I'll never be able to play in the 'big game'. I know what you're thinking and you're right.  My wife and my boss don't buy that excuse either.

About James B. Ramey
James B. Ramey is the CEO of CodeWeavers. His life long love of video gaming started at the tender age of six with an Atari 2600 and evolved over time to include Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Apple Mac IIc, Windows PC, and MacBook Pro. When not fiddling with technology, James enjoys cooking, travel, debating politics in the office, and spending time with his wife, daughter, and their two rescue dogs. For the past 20 years, James has worked with clients around the world in best implementing technology to maximize a return on their investment. He is a graduate of Moorhead State University and earned his MBA from the University of Phoenix. You can find James on Twitter at @jbramey.