Why can't I search for projects on Kickstarter that haven't yet reached their target?

Over the last couple of weeks I've spent a little more browsing Kickstarter than previously and I noticed something that seems unusual, and a little frustrating. Specifically, if I'm looking to find projects that I'm interested in I can do that pretty easily using the search facility. But if I want to filter that list down to projects I can help out, or projects that haven't ended yet, I can't! This seems like such an oversight that I've been wondering if it's actually an intentional design choice on the part of the Kickstarter devs. I can't quite think of a good reason why that would be though.

If you like talking about story-telling games

And other stuff that ranges all the way to a full-on nerdfest, head over to the friendly story-games site. That's it.

Must... resist...

Saturday morning. Decided to write this instead of firing up the Xbox. That's the other thing that makes video games take up too much of my free time: they're easy to have a crack at when you haven't got much time. Somehow when I think I might have just a fifteen minute window, starting on something creative or picking up a book seems pointless.

The comparison between book and game is actually an interesting one. Picking up a book, it takes me longer to lose myself in that activity than it does firing up a video game. With a game I've lost myself in about 10 seconds. Maybe that's the real draw.

So, I'm recognising this, but at the same time I'm appalled by statements like this...

Films, TV, even hallowed books, are just rubbish because they don't involve me, It's a sea of blandness.

- Peter Molyneux, 2010

Video games and me

I hate video games. They're like a drug and I'm addicted. I love them too of course. I expect most players of video games just play and enjoy them, but since I'm me I have to analyse my behaviour on a tiringly frequent basis.

My problem with video games is two-fold really. First off, they're often the easiest thing to pick up and spend my free time on if I don't want to sit and think about what I'm doing. There are all sorts of things that would give me more satisfaction - reading, writing, designing games, Programming For Fun, going for a walk, watching a film... You see? All sorts of things. Video games are insidious though, being a lethal combination of 'easy to pick up' and 'immediately immersive'. That's pretty much their defining strength too. So, that's the first reason I don't like them: it's hard to not pick one up.

My second problem is that they stifle one's imagination. And not just while you're playing the game, afterwards too. I blogged about this here. Clearly I didn't manage to ditch my gaming habits. There you go - video games are a drug and I'm addicted.

The bigger picture of what this might be doing to us culturally flits through my mind now and then. I can't believe it's good.