May 2013
1 post
XBOX REVEAL
I had the chance to play a small part in the recent reveal of the new Xbox console from Microsoft. The video is called “Xbox Anthem,” and is meant to be a celebration of the users, creators, and innovators who make Xbox what it is and help guide where its going. It’s a small taste of the more than 48 million users that comprise the Xbox community.
I have so much respect for the...
April 2013
1 post
4 tags
MY GAMING PC
I recently finished constructing a new gaming PC. Thankfully, the feeling I get from sleeping better at night knowing I can play all the latest and greatest video games outweighs the fact that Newegg.com now owns a small portion of my soul.
For PC gamers, building a computer is a rite of passage. As a Jedi constructs his lightsaber, so too a PC gamer must construct his own gaming rig...
March 2013
1 post
3 tags
GFG 2013 RESULTS
Following up on my previous blog post, across the board, Gamers for Giving 2013 was undeniably a success. Counting volunteers and spectators, we had between 550 - 600 total attendees throughout the course of the weekend. All of our headline activities sold out. The LANFest BYOC LAN party actually sold out twice - once with our initial accommodations for 150 attendees, and a second time after we...
January 2013
1 post
1 tag
GAMERS FOR GIVING 2013
Each year, the charity I manage (Gamers Outreach Foundation) hosts a competitive video game tournament / BYOC LAN* party called Gamers for Giving. It’s a weekend long marathon that gives video game enthusiasts the chance to come together and share their passion for gaming while raising money and awareness for a great cause. Sponsors from the industry help cover the costs of the event,...
October 2012
1 post
POLITICS
I’m not that into sharing personal political views over the internet, BUT I do think participating in the voting process is really important. There’s a really cool website I’d recommend checking out called http://www.isidewith.com/. It’s basically a survey that matches you with the political candidates who are the strongest proponents of issues you care about. It’s...
July 2012
4 posts
FOUNDATION
If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, I HIGHLY recommend checking out the video series produced by Kevin Rose called FOUNDATION. In each video, Rose takes the time to sit down with influential people from the tech industry to discuss how they got started in their respective businesses. The passion these people have for their work is contagious. Their stories are incredible, and surprisingly...
ASTRO PHYSICS
This is actually a slightly dated piece of content, but something I just happened to stumble across today. Astro Studios has a fantastic publication highlighting their industrial design process from 2011 available for download on their website. I love when companies produce these types of mini-portfolios with commentary. It’s one of the best ways to gain insight into the way products and...
E3 2012
A few weeks back I was out in Los Angeles for the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). For those not familiar, E3 is an annual trade show for folks working within the video game industry. Each year, people that make video games, distribute video games, and help keep the wheels turning come together to conduct business related to the gaming industry. It’s at E3 that companies will reveal new...
May 2012
0 posts
1 tag
SAYPER LAN 4.0
Every so often I open up the doors of my basement to local Michigan gamers for an entire day of gaming & eSports goodness. I call these events, ‘Sayper LANs.’ While they’ve mostly been centered around Halo, participants are welcome to bring whatever game they’d like. My next LAN is taking place on Saturday, May 19th and will be open to the first 32 individuals to sign...
April 2012
4 posts
TEDx
A few weeks back I had the opportunity to speak at a TEDx event hosted by my college, Eastern Michigan University. The central theme of the talk was the ability video games have as a connecting platform to unite us behind charitable efforts. For me personally, they were a gateway to becoming involved with philanthropy. At large, the passion video game enthusiasts share makes it incredibly easy...
REALITY CHECK
(Image Source)
Google recently posted a concept video of the augmented reality glasses they’re working on (see end of post).
In case you’re not familiar with the project or the phrase ‘augmented reality,’ here’s a quick crash course…
Augmented reality is the idea of combining a digital interface with our real world environment and interactions. In a...
February 2012
1 post
1 tag
INTRO
Ladies and gents – welcome to ZachWigal.com! A newly created personal blog to share stories of adventure, tales from the video game industry, thoughts on entrepreneurship, and recommendations for excellent hibachi grills.
Seeing as how this is the first post, I feel obligated to establish some context with a crash course biography. So without further ado…
My name is Zach Wigal. That last...
