Archive for the ‘Games’ Category

Samorost 2 – by Amanita Design

Sunday, September 9th, 2007

Samorost 2 Award winning point and click adventure game. A beautiful balance of photo-realistic bitmaps, Flash vector graphics, and challenging puzzles.

Play 

flOw – by Jenova Chen

Friday, September 7th, 2007

flOw Probably the biggest Browser game success story to date. Created by a as research material for a thesis on ‘Flow in Game Design’, it was published on the internet and did so well that Sony bought the rights and made a version for the PlayStation 3.

Play

Learn how digital marketing efforts drive business success in the modern world

Thursday, September 6th, 2007

From a general standpoint, marketing is the practice of identifying and satisfying customer needs. This is a particularly important task in the business context, as successful marketing efforts can drive inbound leads and attract a large customer case. The traditional marketing cycle involves an analysis of market orientation, product mix and business environment. Even though marketing has deep roots in business history and culture, digital marketing is a relatively new practice.

With the explosion of digital technology—including widespread and pervasive use of computers and smartphones—businesses began to experiment with new marketing tactics. Thus, digital marketing was born.

Fast forward to the present and digital marketing is as important, if not more so, than traditional marketing methods. This divide seems destined to grow wider over time, as many businesses are diverting funds from traditional to digital marketing methods. Taken as a whole, it is vital for businesses to plan and execute a viable digital marketing strategy, like having good data visualization.

What Are the Basics of Digital Marketing?

In a nutshell, digital marketing refers to any marketing methods conducted through electronic devices which utilize some form of a computer. This includes online marketing efforts conducted on the internet. In the process of conducting digital marketing, a business might leverage websites, search engines, blogs, social media, video, email and similar channels to reach customers.

Unlike traditional marketing—which is static and often referred to as “one-way” communication—digital marketing is an ever-changing, dynamic process. Stated otherwise, customers cannot interact with business through a billboard or print ad, whereas digital marketing provides an avenue for two-way communication between a business and its actual or prospective customers.

These days, screen time is at an all-time high for many people. Digital marketing takes advantage of this reality, promoting business products and services across the internet. In this way, businesses ensure that their marketing efforts are more likely to reach customers, by targeting them where they spend most of their time.

From startups to enterprise businesses, a multifaceted digital marketing approach can lead to significant commercial benefits. Successful digital marketing strategy generally involves a combination of various methods, including online advertising, search engine optimization and marketing, social media marketing and management and content creation, among others.

Are There Different Ways to Conduct Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing is a broad term that encompasses many different channels for promoting business interests to prospective customers. Depending on the business needs and goals, there are countless ways to conduct digital marketing. It is not a cookie-cutter exercise.

That being said, there are several common methods for conducting digital marketing, including:

  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO) — SEO is the practice of improving ranking within major search engines to increase online traffic.
  • Search Engine Marketing (SEM) — SEM leverages paid online advertising to increase website visibility within search engines. SEM is often used in conjunction with SEO.
  • Pay-Per-Click (PPC) — PPC is an online method for advertising where a business only pays for its ads when a person clicks on them.
  • Social Media Marketing (SMM) — SMM is the practice of using social media channels to promote business products or services. The use of social media influencers, often referred to as influencer marketing, is prevalent in SMM.
  • Email Marketing — Email marketing enables businesses to send branded, promotional content directly to prospective customers via email. The use of automated newsletters is common in this context.
  • Affiliate Marketing — Affiliate marketing is a performance-based exercise that enables revenue sharing and pay-per-sale (PPS) compensation within a common network.
  • Content Marketing — Content marketing refers to the publishing and distribution of text, video or audio materials to customers online. Blogs, videos and podcasts are common ways for businesses to engage in content marketing.
  • Native Advertising — Native advertising involves blending marketing materials into a medium, making the underlying message and marketing purposes equally important. Sponsored content, in which one business posts its own content on a different website, is a common method of native advertising.

Feed the Head – Video Games Make You A Better Or Worse Driver?

Tuesday, September 4th, 2007

In years past, video games have unjustly been given a bad rap by certain people and groups who propose that video games can be blamed for instances of mass violence or that they are even satanic in nature. It isn’t just first-person shooters or bloody action games that take the heat for societal problems that existed long before video games were even around; even bad driving is now being linked to racing games. However, unlike video games that rely on a high degree of fantasy, racing games are fairly realistic and someone could potentially try to mimic in-game behavior on the road. While aggressive driving techniques can be beneficial to a player’s time on the virtual track, techniques learned through racing games can be dangerous to both the driver and those around them.

The Positive Benefits Of Gaming

Despite the multiple attempts to cast video gaming in a negative light over the years, there is actually a lot of sound evidence that shows that video games can actually be quite beneficial to those who play them. Video games are stimulating and highly interactive which, combined with the fact that games are highly task and goal-oriented, make gaming a novel yet effective educational tool.

Video games have been shown to improve basic visual processes, vigilance, attention, executive functioning, multitasking, and mental flexibility, all of which are necessary when piloting a vehicle. Additionally, studies indicate that job training conducted through video games is particularly effective in professions that require great hand-eye coordination, quick decision-making, excellent working memory, and a high degree of attention. Again, all skills that are essential when driving a car.

With this in mind, it would seem that racing games, more specifically racing simulators, would work as a fantastic tool for bolstering a player’s understanding of the fundamentals of driving and improving reaction times that are necessary on the road to make important decisions in a split-second. Some areas of the world have already started embracing digital education and training, such as using virtual reality technology to prepare doctors for difficult surgeries, so why haven’t we decided that racing games are a valid substitute for driver’s ed?

Video Games Can Offer Low-Stakes Training

Driving simulation games give gamers the chance to effectively learn a whole host of vital driving skills depending on the nature of the game in question. Sure, playing Grand Theft Auto Online is fun, but you’re not likely to learn important defensive driving techniques when your vehicle is equipped with explosive rockets and the goal of a race is to win at any cost. However, more in-depth driving simulators like Forza might be more effective as they do not reward violent or brash driving. Instead, realistic driving and racing simulators place a huge amount of importance on attention, quick-decision making, and mastery of control. If you are looking to really improve your defensive driving skills visit IMPROV los angeles traffic school.

A huge benefit of learning to drive or improving driving skills through video games is that they have incredibly low stakes. Simulations can teach drivers to stay calm under pressure and improve their decision-making skills, putting drivers into dangerous real-world driving situations without any of the dangers that come with actually being behind the wheel of 2,000 pounds of steel going 80 miles per hour. Traditional driving courses can tell students a thousand times how to react when their vehicle begins to hydroplane on a wet road, but video games can actually show drivers what it might be like and give them a hands-on opportunity to put defensive driving skills into practice.

Video games can also be effective in educating drivers on what not to do in certain situations. For instance, the U.S. Army in collaboration with the University of Calgary has developed and implemented a game called Booze Cruise, a drunk-driving simulator, into the training regimen of new troops. The goal of Booze Cruise isn’t to train troops to be able to drive under the influence but to show them the immense dangers and difficulties that come with impaired driving in a low-stakes scenario.

Casino-Themed Games for Kids

Monday, September 3rd, 2007

Whіlе kids mау bе tоо уоung tо play аdult-оrіеntеd bеttіng gаmеѕ ѕuсh аѕ blackjack and роkеr, thеу mау еngаgе іn kіd-frіеndlу games аt a casino-themed раrtу, which sounds great at first but can turn into a nightmare if you don’t have home insurance just to prevent any kind of accident in the house.You can go to a website to compare multiple insurers where you can find all the information you need to make the correct decision for you.

Aside frоm еnjоуіng mіnіаturе rоulеttе whееlѕ and ѕlоt mасhіnеѕ, like the ones that can be found at Slot Online, kіdѕ саn engage іn саѕіnо раrtу gаmеѕ іnсоrроrаtіng сhаnсе, whеthеr via thе flір оf a саrd, a соіn оr a roll of the dісе. In Malaysia many local stores are trying to market new games for the younger audience some like poker online games or domino, in addition to that the local hotels takes advantage of it and offer the parents the tase of the malay casinos while offering their kids board and online games to pass the time, here are just few of them:

Beat The Dealer

Similar to thе gаmе show “Cаrd Shаrkѕ,” “Bеаt thе Dealer” requires kids to guеѕѕ whether cards wіll bе hіghеr оr lоwеr than thе рrесеdіng саrd. Wіth асеѕ played as thе hіghеѕt саrd, аn adult dealer flірѕ оvеr one саrd, lеаvіng kіdѕ tо make their “hіghеr оr lоwеr” guеѕѕ. The gаmе еndѕ whenever kіdѕ guеѕѕ іnсоrrесtlу. Kids mаkіng a hіgh number оf соnѕесutіvе соrrесt guеѕѕеѕ win ѕmаll рrіzеѕ, for adults and real money gambling check out lô đề online.

Casino Go Fish

A сlаѕѕіс сhіldrеn’ѕ саrd game rесеіvеѕ the саѕіnо trеаtmеnt in “Cаѕіnо Gо Fіѕh.” If you have experience playing this casino game at 666casino, you will find that the game principle is a little easier as the game is supposed to be for children. http://www.sbobet-indonesia.me/ want to offer their players as big a range of online slots games as they possibly can while also delivering the highest quality casino games from the biggest and best developers. An adult dealer dіѕtrіbutеѕ fіvе рlауіng саrdѕ еасh to fіvе kids, placing thе remaining cards іn thе mіddlе of thе table аlоngѕіdе poker сhірѕ. Plауеrѕ try collecting grоuрѕ of four of thе ѕаmе саrd; fоr іnѕtаnсе, fоur “queen” саrdѕ. Whеn рlауеrѕ nееd cards tо complete a group, thеу аѕk оthеr рlауеrѕ іf they have аnу of thаt саrd. If оthеr players саnnоt help, thе seeking рlауеrѕ “Go Fіѕh” and pick a саrd frоm the сеntеr pile, as well аѕ a роkеr сhір. The рlауеr gеttіng rіd оf all of hіѕ cards fіrѕt–аnd collecting thе least amount оf роkеr сhірѕ–wіnѕ.

Giant Dice Games

Taking thе саѕіnо fеѕtіvіtіеѕ оutdооrѕ, kids depend on the rоll of a dice tо determine thеіr fаtе іn large dісе games, visit bet365 agen bola to find more similar gambling games. An аdult either wrарѕ twо large ѕаmе-ѕhаре-аnd-ѕіzе boxes іn white рареr or раіntѕ the boxes whіtе; the аdult thеn drаwѕ dot ѕуmbоlѕ rерrеѕеntіng numbеrѕ 1 to 6 оn each box ѕіdе. Fоr “Giant Dісе Rасе,” kids divide іntо two еvеn-numbеrеd tеаmѕ, lining uр аnd ѕtаndіng 20 fееt away frоm each оthеr. With one kid frоm each team rоllіng ѕіmultаnеоuѕlу, the team rоllіng thе higher numbеr tries catching players frоm the opposite tеаm bеfоrе thеу reach a рrеdеtеrmіnеd ѕаfе point, such аѕ a trее. Tаggеd рlауеrѕ join thе team that caught them. Thе team with the mоѕt players after a predetermined numbеr оf rоllѕ wіnѕ the gаmе.

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When рlауіng “Roll the Dice,” kіdѕ form twо lіnеѕ аnd tаkе turnѕ rасіng one on one, rоllіng a lаrgе dіе tо a fіnіѕh line and back. Thе first kid rеturnіng tо the start line ѕсоrеѕ 1 роіnt. Players rасе multірlе times and should nоt rасе аgаіnѕt the ѕаmе kіd each tіmе. Thе kіd scoring thе mоѕt points аftеr a рrеdеtеrmіnеd numbеr оf races wіnѕ. As variations, kids соmреtе tо roll the hіghеr оr lower number, оr соrrесtlу guеѕѕ what number they wіll rоll.

High-Rolling Two-Up

Kіdѕ dоublе their “heads оr tails” guеѕѕеѕ in this саѕіnо раrtу gаmе. In an open аrеа, аn adult uѕеѕ a сuttіng board to flір two соіnѕ. Plасіng bets uѕіng роkеr сhірѕ оr play money, kіdѕ guess whether thе twо соіnѕ will lаnd on “hеаdѕ,” “tаіlѕ” оr оnе оf еасh. Plауеrѕ correctly guеѕѕіng a “head-head” оr “tаіl-tаіl” rеѕult double their “money,” while рlауеrѕ соrrесtlу guеѕѕіng a “hеаd-tаіl” rеѕult еаrn fоur tіmеѕ their amount оf “mоnеу.”

Homemade Bingo

Bingo ѕеrvеѕ аѕ a kіd-frіеndlу casino раrtу gаmе. Aftеr dіѕtrіbutіng hоmеmаdе bіngо cards to kіdѕ, the adult ѕhаkеѕ a bag оf numbеrеd рареr slips аnd pulls оut numbеrѕ one аt a tіmе. If thе called numbеr арреаrѕ оn thеіr card, kіdѕ mаrk оff thе spot with a роkеr chip. Thе fіrѕt kіd to ѕсоrе fіvе dіаgоnаl, hоrіzоntаl оr vеrtісаl numbers оn her card ѕhоutѕ “Bingo” аnd wins a small рrіzе from Infantcore.

Paul Kramm

Monday, September 3rd, 2007

 Tips for Effective Social Media Marketing

 

With an estimated 2.65 billion users worldwide, social media is constantly growing. It’s an incredibly agile tool that must also adapt to the ever-changing environment that is the world we live in. Whether it be through relatable, valuable content, customer service or paid promotions, there are many ways the expansive world of social can help companies become more visible, attractive and accessible. Get the most professional assistance from advertise purple.

1. Have a social media strategy

Would you throw a party without a plan?

Well, you could, but it might not be as fun as if you were to take the time to hire a caterer, DJ and bouncy castle. And the same principle goes for your social media strategy. The more you think about what you post, the better the outcome.

Creating a well thought out plan is the key to a social media presence that is consistent and effective across all platforms.

A helpful way to structure your plan is by using PR Smith’s SOSTAC® framework:

Broken into six steps, it provides a helpful guide to ensuring your social media has a clear direction – based on where you’re at and where you want to be.

These are:

Situation Analysis: where are we?

Objectives: where do we want to be? (e.g. gain followers, improve engagement, customer service, post frequency/quality) – make sure these are SMART objectives

Strategy: how can we get there? (Consider insights on your current audiences and content formats)

Tactics: which tactics do we need to use? (e.g. which social networks to use, post frequency, content themes)

Actions: how will tactics be carried out and who will be involved? (Consider things like staff abilities/time, outsourcing, internal systems and processes, etc).

Control: how will we know we’ve got there? (KPIs, analytics, customer feedback/surveys, reports, who monitors results?)

2. Know your audience

You can’t post relevant content if you don’t know who you’re posting it for. Make sure you learn about your audiences – whether it be through market research, social insights, creating personas, or social media listening/monitoring.

Social media monitoring is basically stalking in the shadows waiting for those all-important whispers and gossip about your company. Listening to what’s being said about your business, industry or competitors across social media and the web helps you get to know your customers better and gives valuable insights into how your brand is perceived.

These authentic, unbiased insights can finetune your targeting strategy.

3. Ensure your brand image is consistent

Your brand should always be reflected in the right way across every social media platform, and it’s important that these themes link with your overall branding strategy – including your website. In addition to visual aspects, it also includes things like tone, messaging and values.

There are some great online tools to quickly and easily brand your social posts, such as Canva and Adobe Spark.

4. Post helpful and valuable content that fits with your business objectives

There is nothing worse than content for the sake of content.

When you’re creating social media posts or thinking up campaigns, ask yourself – ‘how will it help the business?’ and ‘how will it help the viewer?’ If you can’t answer either of these questions, maybe you need to rethink your social media strategy!

Examples of objectives that could be achieved with social media are:

  • Increase in engagement – shares/likes/clicks/replies
  • Increased customer satisfaction/service
  • More purchases of your product or service
  • More visits to your website
  • Increased followers
  • Brand awareness – how far is your message spreading?

5. Monitor your results

When you monitor your campaigns, it’s important to focus on more than ‘vanity metrics’, such as likes (unless that is one of your business objectives).

There are many other useful things to gain from social networks, such as community engagement, customer service and sharing valuable tips and information about your service or product.

When you know what types of metrics you need to measure to track your objectives, it’s time to find a tool that will track those metrics. Many scheduling tools and social media channels provide their own form of tracking, or it’s possible to explore using third party avenues or building your own APIs.

It’s important to keep up to date with the changing trends, features and algorithms that social networks are always throwing at us. This will be key to an effective and (hopefully) rewarding experience with social media marketing.

Magic Touch – by Nitrome

Sunday, September 2nd, 2007

Magic TouchThe latest game from the masters at Nitrome. Defend the castle from the knights by drawing magic to pop balloons!

Play

High Speed Chase – by JohnnyTwoShoes

Saturday, September 1st, 2007

High Speed ChaseSmash your way through heavy traffic as you track down the elusive target drivers.

Play

Ramps

Thursday, August 30th, 2007

How to Make a Concrete Ramp

Learn how to build a concrete ramp to make your home more attractive and accessible.

article image

by AdobeStock/mrcmos
Guide to Concrete (Creative Publishing International, 2008) takes readers through some of the most popular home concrete and masonry projects. Endorsed by Quikrete, this book includes tips and expert advice that can help readers save hundreds or thousands of dollars in their DIY home projects. The following excerpt is from “Walkways, Patios and Steps” is a great resource on how to build a concrete ramp.


a concrete ramp
Image courtesy of Creative Publishing International

Concrete is a great material for small ramps. It’s strong enough to support heavy equipment and can be made with non-slip surface for sure footing in wet weather. Get the best deals from this small load concrete delivery.

Tools
• Form-building tools
• Concrete mixing tools
• Shovel
• Concrete float
• Concrete edger
• Fine-bristled broom or wood concrete float

Materials
• Compactible gravel
• 3/4 inch exterior-grade plywood
• 2 x 4 lumber
• Wood screws
• Stakes
• Isolation board (if required)
• Vegetable oil or form release agent
• Concrete mix

A simple concrete ramp can be the perfect solution for moving heavy equipment in and out of a backyard shed or for easing the transition between a walkway and a raised patio, driveway, or stoop. Constructing a ramp is much like building a poured concrete walkway or a small slab: you build a wood form over a compacted gravel base, then place the concrete, and finish the surface so it’s level with the top of the form. To create the slope of the ramp, build the sides of the form with pieces of plywood cut at an angle along the top.

The key to shaping the concrete into a slope is to use a stiff mixture; if the concrete is too wet, it will slump down to the bottom of the ramp, seeking its own level. As you fill the form, flatten and smooth the concrete with a float, working from the bottom up. Determining the length of the ramp — and thus the slope — is up to you (the longer the ramp, the gentler the slope). However, if you’re building the ramp for wheelchair access, make sure its dimensions, slope, and nonslip finish meet the requirements of the local building code.

 

 illustration showing measurements for a concrete ramp

Instructions for Building a Concrete Ramp

1. Prepare a subbase for the ramp with 4 inches of compacted gravel. Build the ramp form using 3/4 inch plywood and 2 x 4 lumber. Make sure the side pieces are identical and will sit level with each other across the top.

man using an electric drill to screw together a frame for a concrete ramp
Image courtesy of Creative Publishing International

2. Stake and brace the form securely, checking it for level. If either end of the ramp will meet a walkway, slab, or other permanent structure, attach a piece of isolation board at the juncture.

man using an electric drill to attach braces to a concrete ramp frame

3. Mix the concrete so it’s just wet enough to be workable. Fill the form, and use a float to pat and smooth the concrete as you go, working from the bottom up. Use a shovel to settle the concrete as you place it, and rap the form sides to help create a smooth finish on the sides of the ramp.

man smoothing out the top of concrete in a ramp frame
Image courtesy of Creative Publishing International

4. Round over the edges of the ramp using an edger. Texture the ramp surface for slip resistance by brooming it or using a wood float for the final finishing. Moist cure the concrete for five to seven days. The form can be removed after three days.

man using a broom to texture the top of concrete in a ramp frame

Sling Fire – First Screenshots Released

Thursday, August 30th, 2007

Sling Fire Title ScreenHere’s a sneak peek at our red hot sequel to Sling — Sling Fire! It will have all the fun of the original plus 50 brand new levels of slinging action and new grabs like fiery, lava bugs, fire cannons, rockets, balloons, and more. And you’ll also be able to play as either Sling, or his sister Slingette.