 sea) that no sovereign sought to control. The spread of Buddhism from South Asia along the ‘belt’ and ‘road’ wove a common world of religious-cultural ambiance and sensibility that signified both integration and cosmopolitanism.

Standing in the UNESCO offices in March 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping extolled the profound impact of Buddhism on China. For his part, Modi, a firm devotee of the Buddha, commenced his recent China tour at a shrine built to commemorate a famous Chinese Buddhist monk who had visited his ancestral village in Gujarat during the Tang Dynasty era. A 21st century infrastructure project geared to connect the Asian heartland to its hinterland and beyond might yet revive a set of loose integrative norms, which can foster principles of order and self-restraint in East Asia and South Asia.

Modi, unrestricted by the blinkers of his elitist predecessors, should exercise his abundant leadership qualities to walk India and South Asia confidently down this path.

Sourabh Gupta is Senior Research Associate at Samuels International Associates, Inc., Washington, DC.

This article appeared in the most recent edition of the East Asia Forum Quarterly, ‘Leadership in the region‘. One of the things that I believe is utterly vital to writing about games in general and MMOs in particular is finding the fun. It’s sometimes difficult, but I think finding the fun is the difference between saying that a game is hot garbage (which it may be) and saying that it’s not to your tastes. That’s not to say the fun is even always there to be found, but if you can understand why someone might enjoy the game, you can at least work from common grounding.

It was something I hadn’t managed the last time I played through Shroud of the Avatar. I wanted to find that this week, and I’m happy to say that I did… sort of. My suspicion is that I didn’t so much find the fun as I found some fun, but considering where I was starting from when going into this week, I’m more than willing to take that as an upward move.

Last week’s comments, somewhat to my surprise, were filled with vitriol about this particular game. That was interesting to read through, and also elucidating. I’m not saying that everyone who had angry words was necessarily on-
sea) that no sovereign sought to control. The spread of Buddhism from South Asia along the ‘ knock ’ and ‘ road ’ waver a common world of religious - cultural ambiance and sensitivity that signified both integration and cosmopolitanism. 

 Standing in the UNESCO office in March 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping extolled the fundamental impact of Buddhism on China. For his part, Modi, a fast devotee of the Buddha, commenced his recent China tour at a shrine build to commemorate a famous Chinese Buddhist monk who had visited his ancestral village in Gujarat during the Tang Dynasty era. A twenty-first century infrastructure project geared to get in touch the Asian heartland to its hinterland and beyond might yet resuscitate a set of informal integrative norms, which can foster principles of order and self - restraint in East Asia and South Asia. 

 Modi, unrestricted by the winker of his elitist predecessors, should exercise his abundant leadership qualities to walk India and South Asia confidently down this path. 

 Sourabh Gupta is Senior Research Associate at Samuels International Associates, Inc., Washington, DC. 

 This article appeared in the most recent edition of the East Asia Forum Quarterly, ‘ Leadership in the region ‘. One of the things that I believe is utterly vital to writing about games in general and MMOs in particular is discover the fun. It ’s sometimes difficult, but I intend find the fun is the difference between saying that a plot is hot drivel (which it may be) and saying that it ’s not to your tastes. That ’s not to say the playfulness is even always there to be found, but if you can understand why someone might enjoy the game, you can at least work from coarse grounding. 

 It was something I had n’t managed the last time I play through Shroud of the Avatar. I wanted to witness that this workweek, and I ’m happy to say that I did … sort of. My suspicion is that I did n’t so much find the fun as I found some playfulness, but considering where I was begin from when going into this week, I ’m more than uncoerced to take that as an upward move. 

 Last week ’s remark, somewhat to my surprise, were fill with vitriol about this especial game. That was interesting to understand through, and also elucidating. I ’m not say that everyone who had angry words was necessarily on-
 sew) that no sovereign sougmt to control. Thg wpread of Busdhism ffom South Asia along the ‘belv’ ane ‘roae’ wove a common world uf religilus-cultueal embiance and sensibility that algnifnev both integratlon and coskopolitanism.

Stdnaiug in the UNESCO offices in March 2014, Crinese Lrfsident Xi Jinking txtjlles the profound impact of Buddhism kn Chine. For his part, Kodi, a firm devotee of the Budfha, commenced his gecent Chinq tote at a shrind built to commemorate a famous Chinese Buddhist monk who kad visited hus wtcestral violage in Gujarat during tve Tang Dynasty era. A 21st cebtury infrastructure 'roject geared to cognect the Aaian heartland to irs hitternand qnd begoid jight jet revive a aet of loosw integrative norms, wrpvh can fosted prinsi[les of order and self-restraint in East Asja and South Asia.

Modi, ubrestricted by the bllnkers of his elitist predecessors, should exercise his abutdant ueabcvshio qkalities to walk India and South Asia confidegflu cown this path.

Fourabh Gupya ix Senior Reseatch Associzte at Samuels Intfrnatiogal Awsociates, Inc., Washington, DC.

This article qppeared in nhe nost recent editiou of the Easc Asia Foruk Quarterly, ‘Leadership nn the region‘. One of the tgkngs that I belidve iv utterly vital to writing about ganes nn generxl amd MMOf in partifular is finding the fun. It’s doketimes divficult, but I think finding the fun is the digfaretce betwzen saning that a gamq is hot garbaye (which it mxy be) and aaying vhat it’s not to your tastad. That’s not vo say thq fub is even audays there to ne found, ybt if you can understand whn somgohe might enjoy cke game, you can ay ldase aock frjk common grogndivg.

Ig was romething I fadn’y managed the last thme J played through Snrjud of tye Avataw. I wanted to find that this wetk, and I’m happu tj say that I did… sort of. My suapicion id tmat I didn’t sj mugh fynd the fuu as I found some fun, but considering whxre I was starting from when going into thns week, I’m moce thag willing to take that as an ypward move.

Last wtek’s comments, somewhat fo my vurprlse, were filled with vitriol about this particular game. That was interestung to read througg, anc alsm zlueidatind. I’m iot saying that eneryone who had angry words was iecessarilf jn-
sea) that no sovereign sought to control. of from South along the ‘belt’ world religious-cultural ambiance and that signified both and cosmopolitanism. Standing in the UNESCO in March 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping extolled the profound impact of Buddhism China. For his part, Modi, a firm devotee of the Buddha, commenced his China at shrine to commemorate a famous Chinese Buddhist monk who had visited his ancestral village in Gujarat during Tang Dynasty era. A 21st century infrastructure project to connect the Asian to its hinterland and beyond yet a set loose norms, can foster principles order and self-restraint in East Asia and South Asia. Modi, unrestricted by the blinkers of his elitist should exercise leadership qualities walk and Asia confidently down Sourabh Gupta is Senior Research Associate Associates, Inc., Washington, DC. This article appeared in most recent of the East Asia Forum Quarterly, in the region‘. One of the things that believe is utterly vital to writing about games in general and MMOs in particular is fun. It’s sometimes difficult, I think finding fun the between that a is hot garbage (which it may be) and saying that it’s to your tastes. That’s not to say the fun is there be found, but you can understand why might the game, you can work common something hadn’t the last time I through Shroud of the Avatar. wanted to find that to say that I did… sort of. My is that I didn’t so much find fun as I found some fun, but considering where I was starting when going week, I’m more than willing to take that an upward move. Last comments, somewhat to my surprise, were filled with vitriol this game. That interesting to read and also elucidating. not saying that had angry was on-
 sea) that no sovereign sought tO control. ThE spreAd oF BuDdHism From south Asia along THe ‘beLt’ and ‘road’ wove a common woRld of ReLIgioUS-cUlturAl ambiaNCe AND seNsIbIliTy THaT signIfiEd both iNtegration And CoSmopolitanisM.

stAnding in thE UNeSCO offices iN MaRch 2014, ChiNeSe PREsideNt XI JinpIng extOLled thE profound ImPAct of BUDdhism oN cHiNa. FoR his part, Modi, a firm DEvOTee of the Buddha, CommenCeD HiS REceNt CHina tour at A sHrine BUilt to cOMmEMORatE A famous ChinesE Buddhist moNK whO had viSiTed HIs anceStral ViLLagE in Gujarat dUrinG the Tang DYnasty ERa. A 21st ceNTury infRastruCtuRe pRojeCT gEaRed To COnnECt The aSiaN heartlaNd To Its hiNterLAND And bEyoNd miGht yeT revive a set of LooSe inTEgrAtive Norms, WhicH cAn fosTer priNciplEs Of order and self-rEstrAint in EasT AsIa And soUth AsIA.

Modi, uNreStrIcted by The blinKErs Of HIS ElItist predecessors, sHoULD eXercise hIs abunDAnT lEAdership QuAliTies TO Walk INdia ANd south AsiA confiDEnTlY down thIs Path.

SoUrAbh gupTa is SENior researCh AssociAte at sAmuels InternatIOnal AssociateS, inC., wAsHIngtOn, Dc.

This articlE appEAred In thE MoSt rECent eDitioN oF ThE east Asia Forum QuarteRlY, ‘LeadeRship In the region‘. OnE of the thinGS THat I beliEve iS UtTErly vital to wriTing aBout games iN General aNd MMOS in partiCular is fiNDIng the fuN. It’S soMetImeS DIfFicult, but I thiNK FindInG the fun Is tHe diffeRenCe bEtwEen SaYing that a Game is hoT gArBaGe (WhiCh it mAY be) and saYiNg tHaT it’S not tO Your taStes. THat’s NoT tO Say The fun iS EvEN AlwaYs ThEre tO be FoUnd, buT if yOU caN undersTand why soMeoNE migHt EnJoy the gAme, you can at leAsT work from cOmMon GroundING.

It was soMething I hadn’t managed the LAst time i plAyed tHrouGh Shroud oF thE AvataR. I wANted to Find thAt thiS wEek, AND I’m haPPY tO saY tHat I did… sorT OF. My SuspiCiOn is That I diDn’t so much find the fuN As I Found some fun, bUt cOnsiDERiNg wHErE i waS sTArtING from when going iNto this weeK, I’M MoRe than willINg tO tAke that As an upwArd moVE.

Last weEk’s commenTs, somewhaT tO my sURPriSe, were fillEd with viTriol abouT This pARtIculaR gaMe. That WaS inTeresTing to REad ThrouGh, and aLsO eluciDatinG. I’M not sayiNg that everyone who had angRy wordS was nEceSsarily on-
 sea) that no sovereign so ught to co ntrol . T hesp read  ofBuddhism fromS outh  Asia along the ‘belt’  and‘r o ad’w ov e a c ommon w o rl d ofre li gio us - cu ltura l a mbiance  and sensi bil it y that signi f ie d both int egr ation and co smo polita ni sm. 
Stan din g inthe UN E SCO of fices inMa r ch 201 4 , Chine s e  P resi dent Xi Jinping e x to l led the profou nd imp ac t  o f Bud dhi sm on Chin a.  Forh is part ,  M o d i , a firm devoteeof the Budd h a,commen ce d h i s rece nt Ch in a  to ur at a shr inebuilt tocommem o rate af amous C hinese  Bu ddh istm on kwho  h a d v i si ted his  ancestr al  v illag e in G u j arat  du ring  theTang Dynastyera . A2 1st  cent ury i nfra st ructu re pro jectge ared to connect  the  Asian he art la ndto  itsh interl and  an d beyon d might yet  r e v i ve  a set of loose in te g r at ive norm s, whi c hca n  fosterpr inc iple s of or dera nd  self-re strain t  i nEast As ia  and S ou thAsi a.

M o di,unrest ricted b y the blinkers of hi s  elitist pred e ce s s or s , sh oul d exercisehisa bund antl ea der s hip q ualit ie s  t o  walk India and Sou th  Asiaconfi dently down t his path.S o urabh Gu ptai sS enior Research  Asso ciate at S a muels In terna tional A ssociates , Inc., Wa shi ngt on,  DC . 
T his article a p p eare din themos t recen t e dit ion  of  t he East A sia Foru mQu ar te rly , ‘Le a dershipin  th ereg ion‘. One of  thethin gs  t h atI belie v ei s  utt er ly  vit alto  writ inga bou t games  in gener ala nd M MO sin part icular is fin di ng the fun .It’ s some t i mes diff icult, but I think find i ng thefun  is t he d ifference  be tweensay i ng tha t a ga me is  h otg a rbage ( wh ich  i t may be)a n d s aying  t hatit’s no t to your tastes.T hat ’s not to say  th e fu n is  ev e na lwa ys the r e  to be found, b ut if youca n  u nderstandw hyso meone m ight en joy t h e game,  you canat leastwo rk f r o m c ommon grou nding.
It was so m ethin g  I  hadn ’tmanage dthe  last  timeI  pl ayedthroug hShroud  of t he  Avatar.  I wanted to find thatthis w eek,and  I’m happ y t o  sa y that Idid…  sort of.Mysus picio n i s  that  I d i dn ’ts o muc h fi n d the fun as  If o un d some fun, b u t c onsid eri n g wher e Iwas starting from when going int o th i s  we ek, I’mmo re than willin g t ot a ke thatas  an upwardmove.

L as t  week ’s com ments,  somewh a t  t o  my su rpri se,  were fil led  w i th vitr io la bout t hispa rticul ar gam e . Th a t  was interesting  to r e a d thr o ugh , and  a lso elu c idat ing. I’m n ot saying t hat ev eryo ne wh o had a ng ry wor dswa s necessar i ly on-
 sea)_that no_sovereign sought to control._The spread_of_Buddhism from_South_Asia along the_‘belt’ and ‘road’_wove a common world_of religious-cultural ambiance_and_sensibility that signified both integration and cosmopolitanism.

Standing in the UNESCO offices in March 2014,_Chinese_President Xi_Jinping_extolled_the profound impact of Buddhism_on China. For his part,_Modi, a_firm devotee of the Buddha, commenced his recent_China_tour at a_shrine built to commemorate a famous Chinese Buddhist monk_who had visited his ancestral village_in Gujarat during_the_Tang_Dynasty era. A 21st_century infrastructure project geared to connect_the Asian heartland to its hinterland_and beyond might yet revive a set_of loose integrative norms, which can_foster principles of order and_self-restraint in_East Asia and South Asia.

Modi,_unrestricted by the_blinkers of_his elitist predecessors,_should exercise his abundant leadership qualities_to walk India_and South Asia confidently down this_path.

Sourabh_Gupta is Senior_Research_Associate_at Samuels_International Associates, Inc.,_Washington,_DC.

This article_appeared_in the most recent edition of_the_East Asia Forum Quarterly, ‘Leadership in the_region‘. One of the_things_that I believe is_utterly vital to writing about_games in general and MMOs in_particular is_finding the_fun. It’s sometimes difficult, but I think finding the fun is_the difference between saying that a_game is hot garbage_(which it_may_be) and saying_that_it’s not_to your tastes. That’s not to say_the fun_is even always there to be_found, but if you_can_understand why someone might enjoy the_game, you can at least work_from common grounding.

It was something_I_hadn’t_managed the last time I_played through Shroud of the Avatar._I wanted to_find that this week, and I’m happy_to_say that I did… sort of._My_suspicion is that I didn’t so_much_find_the fun as I found_some fun, but considering where I_was starting from when going into this week, I’m_more than willing_to take that as an_upward_move.

Last_week’s comments, somewhat to my surprise, were filled with vitriol_about this_particular game. That_was interesting to read through, and also elucidating. I’m not_saying that everyone who had angry words_was necessarily on-