If you're over 35, do you have a clue?

How well do you know your younger audience? If you're under 35, perhaps pretty well. You share a common trait--having grown up in a world where video games are pervasive. If you're over 35, though, it gets tricky. (And of course those aren't hard boundaries, but they're a good starting point.) If you're over 35, and you do ANYTHING that could possibly be related to those *under* 35, you might want to make reading Got Game a new year's resolution.

The main thrust of the book is the ways in which those *not* of the gamer generation tend to GREATLY underestimate the size and impact of the gamers. You might not agree with all of their conclusions, but it's a fascinating book, and one that some of our over-35 editors have read and finally said, "Oh! I get it now!" about our books.

Here's our own little quiz to see if you still have a clue : ) (just answer a simple yes or no to each)

1) Do you know that "scratching" (the art known by many as "turntabilism") is to today's high schoolers what taking up the guitar was 20 years ago? That to a teenager, it's just another musical instrument (albeit a really cool one)? You're almost as likely today to find a group of college kids getting together to jam with their turnables and mixers as with their guitars and drums. Do you know the difference between rap and hip-hop?

2) Are you aware that knitting is considered hip?

3) Have you visited an Urban Outfitters store, or read the magazine "Ready Made" in the last six to nine months?

4) Have you visited the pop culture section of a Virgin Megastore in the last six to nine months?

5) Do you know that today's high school graduate is unlikely to fully understand the phrase, "into computers"? (Because for most, that's not very different from saying, "into telephones". In other words, the computer is simply a tool/appliance that everyone just HAS as a part of their life. You use it to do the other things you ARE into... chatting, blogging, creating digital music and videos, etc.)

6) Do you know that many high schools in the US teach video editing? Some even using the same tools (Final Cut) used to edit Oscar-winning films like Cold Mountain? Do you know that most high schoolers can name more film directors than their parents can?

7) Do you know that even kids who do NOT play video games are still affected by the culture of the gamer generation?

8) Do you know that the typical high schooler has a much greater visual sensitivity/sensibility than high schoolers of even 15 years ago? (For example, do you know that some of the best graphic art today is found on the back of skateboards and snowboards?)

9) Related to #8, did you know Spike Jonze started his filmmaking career making skateboard movies? And that Spike Jonze co-founded "Girl Skateboards"? Do you know who Spike Jonze IS?

10) Did you know that the coolest Christmas tree you can have right now is... retro aluminum? (And that having a *real* tree is definitely Not Cool, unless you keep it alive by planting it).

If you cannot answer "yes" to most of these, you can start by taking action on #3 and #4. And if your local high school has a video editing class, see if they'll let you sit in one afternoon. These are not your father's "home movies".

And if you're interested in renting out some extremely hip teens (although if you're caught *referring* to them as hip then you OBVIOUSLY don't get it, they'll be quick to tell you), I have a couple I'll be happy to send your way. No charge. They'll reveal their Big Secrets like, "Why I took a photo of a drunk sock monkey."