I'm finding the Rules of Play book to be suited more for those with an academic interest in game design then for people trying to make better games. The authors should be given credit for the thoroughness of their explanations, but the works density makes casual reading impossible. That being said, picking through it with a highlighter has already yielded a few good notions, which in turn have led to ideas for the Help Desk games.
The second book I ordered on game design has arrived. It's called A Theory of Fun for Game Design by Raph Koster. In just three chapters it's managed to change the way I think about how the human brain interacts with fun and games. It's great stuff.
More on the books as I get deeper into them.
My fiancee and I found out we're headed to Fort Myers, FL this weekend! Considering the temperatures there have been in the 80's, we're thrilled. I need to find out if there are any interesting game studios in the area...