TechImpact / it happens there first

During the off-time, we work on our casual gaming system (see http://www.virtuaguild.com). We haven't had a lot of time to invest yet, but have already come up with some extremely useful tools. My favorite of our tools is the Flash XML socket system used for real-time communications. A lot of design time was put into making the system pluggable and extensible, using tools such as desktop scripting, jndi, and XML to make a product that would work for any of our games.

Building this system required a lot of resources from the internet. Research, open source libraries, and the generous help from the community. Which is why I want to give it all back. In the next two weeks, we will provide the Dingo source code open source to anyone who feels it may help them in their own ventures. Stay tuned as we get the pieces setup, and if any of you have good suggestions where to host etc etc, leave a message at contact-AT-crgmedia-DOT-com.

** Update **

We now have a SourceForge Project Approved at http://sourceforge.net/projects/dingoflashxml/

by Chris Gamble

http://adage.com/article?article_id=130895

Wendy's just released viral video has stirred a bit of attention, but failed to really get Gen Y in the mix. Sorry for the bad pun, but I think this type of misuse of the YouTube/MySpace video crowd merited it. Mind you, I see nothing wrong with using these captive-by-choice audiences to market your self or your product. In fact, in a rather striking way, this is becoming the only way to guarantee survival of a brand.

Many have said time over time that Gen Y is anti-marketing. Indeed this generation has shown a gross rejection of the overt and forceful marketing that traditional ads (and this Wendy's video) covet. I see this as the exact opposite of the problem. Gen Y is in fact an amazing force at providing the means to advertise, and brand building. It was this generation that made YouTube and MySpace a household name, and multi-billion dollar companies. The question is how? The answer is genuine and subtle. Neither of which is in this video.

by Chris Gamble

From Via Wired Online: Public Multiplayer Gaming is being brought to a street corner near you thanks to the efforts of mobile gaming company MegaPhone. Using public screens such as displays at concerts and stadiums and a specific number that users dial to participate, it is now possible to play games with others during your lengthy wait at the Target check out line.

This seems to be well suited for use in marketing events in locations such as mass transit and to enhance activities at performance venues, but since the application ties game play to a fixed location there are limits as to how deep the game play can actually be. There is also the 'cell phones on a plane' problem—It's great if you are the one playing, but you are irritating the heck out of everyone else that just came to see the show (even if you use non-vocal control schemes, I am not sure a lot of people want a video game flashing on the score board during the game). One might also question as to why you would go to a performance that was so boring to had to play games during it to keep yourself occupied, or why if we have such miracles of technology at our disposal they don't just figure out a way to make the wait in checkout lines shorter.

And I, for one, refuse to shout into my cell phone in public like some big dork.

Nonetheless, this is another example of an application that highlights the "always plugged in" nature of data services on cell phones, and in the worst case it gives you something to do next time your girlfriend drags you to a Sarah McLachlan concert.

by Jerry Gamble