Just A Game?
Contrary to what you may believe, but I am an avid gamer…and proud of it. Unfortunately, nowadays being coined a gamer associates you with the hermit-inducing World of Warcraft and other life-consuming MMORPG, or massive multiplayer online role playing game for the laymen. Where gaming on this extreme level (for me) is creepy, it is at the same time a healthy reassurance of the shift in media forms and the notion of how we are in the midst of a newly acquired participatory culture. If you are out of the loop in regards to the gaming world, allow me to inform you of the advances this ever-changing industry is undergoing…
As one would assume, the powerhouses of the video game entertainment industry are still at war. Nintendo, Sony, and fairly new on the scene Microsoft, all have thrown their biggest blows at each other. Microsoft has its 2nd generation XBOX360, Sony has it’s 3rd generation Playstation 3. Nintendo wields a greater weapon. Having toughed it out through the years, they have released their 5th generation Wii, with the capability to do things unimaginable physically with a video game. Putting the specs of these advanced computer-gaming systems aside, it is imperative to take a look at the effect this has had on the industry itself. With the advancement of the aforementioned companies, they have been enabled to reach a wider range of demographics. Even though the most expensive system available now is in the upwards of $500 (PS3) and as “cheap” as $350 (XBOX360) (compliments of my video game crack supplier Gamestop), whether young or old this industry is turning heads. If it’s the obese 11 year-old working out on Wii Fit via his Nintendo Wii, or a grandfather intrigued by a bead of sweat trickling down Kobe Bryant’s head in NBA 2K8 on his grandson’s trusty XBOX360, games are having a lasting effect on society. My apologies for going from one extreme to the other in examples, but that’s exactly how deeply engrained this industry has become.
It was only a matter of time before this happened though. I can safely say that I am part of the video game generation. Everyone younger than myself, my age, and even as old as my brother (age 28), have become so advanced in terms of technology, all thanks to the countless hours spent in front of the television “wasting” valuable time on either finding all 100 stars on Mario64 or feeding the addiction by “wasting” time on NHL 96’ instead of strapping a pair of skates on getting some actual exercise…but was it really wasted? It seems as though all of those “wasted” hours have transcended into advanced skills in problem-solving and the ability to adapt to technological advances, unlike older generations (aka those who coined it “wasted” time). Funny how the tables turn, being that we are now showing the aforementioned how to use their Blackberry’s or witness them still trying to figure out how to use a standard flip-phone. Now that I have successfully defended my gaming culture and my fellow gamers, I’d like to take a look a relatively new rendition of an old classic, of which seems to be taking the world by storm on multiple levels, not just in virtual reality.
In true gamer fashion, we now delve into the world of Liberty City, a new realm of gaming, where the bar has yet again been raised and it appears as if nothing is impossible…
As you can tell, the game seems as though it plays out like a movie if you were at a theater. The thing is here, the theater is at your leisure. I own the game and people in the same room as me don’t mind watching, pending the one playing is not a rookie with the controller and actually knows how to navigate.
The above advertisement is for Grand Theft Auto IV, the latest installment by Rockstar Games, a company that is acclaimed for housing one of the most controversial game series ever. Controversial here is in part defined as a game series of which has accumulated lawsuits against the company, due to the death of teenagers not able to tell the difference between reality and virtual. This game has been taken to the ultimate level.
When people think of the GTA series, they think of a game that promotes the slaughtering of authority figures and sexual activities with a hooker in an alley. GTAIV is a new beast. Not only are there those elements which are undoubtedly fun (who doesn’t like to live in a world where it’s no holds barred), but there is so much more. In this instant hit, set in Liberty City, which is a spitting image of New York City, you are able to establish relationships with people within the game. It’s as if the Sims has been incorporated somehow, but even better than that series could even imagine. You are given a cell phone with a phonebook of the friends you accumulate as the game progresses. You can call up your cousin or other friends to throw darts, shoot pool, bowl, get a couple of drinks, see a show, and of course, venture to the strip club. The innovative aspect here is that it has come to the point where there are games within the game. When you shoot pool or bowl, it’s as if you are playing a Yahoo! Game online, but much better. You also have a girlfriend basically at your disposal, and after taking her on a date, you can press a button to “Test Your Luck.” All of this is happening within the game, in the midst of a serious storyline.
I could go on for days in regards to the intricacies of the game that make it so unique and mind-blowing, however one of the greatest aspects is that of the capability for you to take your individual character (customized to your liking) online to play with others, as I have on XBOX Live, Microsoft’s $60 annual fee to play others in the XBOX world online. On this platform, you can walk down the streets with an entourage either pillaging or just enjoying what the world has to offer. This is where the creepiness factor comes into play, just like World of Warcraft, however it just feels much better when playing this game. It’s unbelievable to think about a game that a person goes from interacting with artificial intelligence to each other online…but who would have thought that a game would branch into the real world?
Seems like a random statement, however this game is having so much of an impact that I read an article recently in the New York Times on how GTAIV is creating a stir even in the production world. It seems as though Michael Hollick, a working actor, was paid just $100,000 in the past two years for the work he put in for providing the voice for the face of the game, with no intentions of receiving any residuals on a title that has raked in over $600 million just in three weeks. Apparently there has been an on-going battle, as the actors providing their “talents” feel entitled to some portion of what the monstrous company are seeing pouring in. Within the article it was said that:
“What we’re seeing is a basic shift in the way that people seek their entertainment…People want their entertainment to be convenient. They want it in their home or in their iPod for the train ride, which is a lot different than the old mode, where I had to spend hundreds of dollars to see a Broadway play or pay $12 to sit in a crowded movie theater where I can’t even pause or go to the bathroom. And games are the first entertainment product that has taken full advantage of that shift.”
This quote was provided by the voice of a supporting character in GTAIV, and it embodies the notion of convergence culture. Who would have thought we would be talking about a video game that is creating such a stir? This was bound to happen too, as the gaming world continues to provide consumers with an experience at your leisure, in this case, one that is an-going movie. Where the argument at hand about receiving residuals as a Tom Cruise would on a movie, the opposing side states that it is because a couple of stars can make a movie, whereas the “talent” doesn’t necessarily flock to the gaming realm. The opposing argument is null and void, as times are changing. Actors are increasingly providing voices for video games, as Ray Liotta even provided his voice for a game in the GTA series.
Zooming out and taking a look at the bigger picture, one can see that it truly is amazing in regards to the leaps and bounds this industry has made, and continues to make. The shift in media consumption is taking place, much like the journey we made from discussing a video game and how it affected the real world, however minute of an affect it may be. It seems like as the year’s progress, technology continues to change and we see something better every year. It’s getting to the point that how much better can it get without physically/mentally placing a gamer in a virtual world?
It will be more than interesting to see where this industry is and the affects it will have in years to come. Stay tuned…
Nike Air Max I
The Nike Air Max was first released in 1987 in a nylon/synthetic suede combo with a transparent window for the Max Air-sole unit. Despite incredulity that led customers to poke and squeeze the Air-sole, the Air Max quickly proved to be a hit. A leather edition soon followed in 1988 and from 1988-1992, Nike used a variety of colors and fabric combinations to keep a contemporary look. In 1992, however, the Air Max was reissued with two major design changes. These reissued models were manufactured in leather and used the midsole and outsole design from the Air Max 90 (then known as the Air Max 3. Nike did reissue the nylon Air Max 1995, but continued to experiment with the design, eventually reducing the size of the Nike Swoosh. To date, the Air Max continues to evolve as Nike tries to keep this classic running shoe contemporary.
For more image shots and prices, click here.
Online Review (E)
The new media group under analysis is a relatively new company busting onto the portable music spectrum, Slacker Inc. Under the operation of a couple notably historic CEO failures (of formerly known MusicMatch and Rio), Dennis Mudd and Jim Cady were looking to broaden their horizons with a new product. In the past couple of years they have made much headway.
In 2007, they started out by introducing a flash music player on MySpace, which sparked interest in that it could potentially be embedded anywhere, consisting of a simple media player, featuring volume, play, pause, skip and album art functionalities. In that same year, Slacker made serious attempts at starting a credible company in the industry. They partnered with 4 major music labels (Sony BMG Music Entertainment, EMI, Universal, and Warner and began taking pre-orders for their breadwinner: The Slacker Portable Radio Player.
Consumers hopping on the Slacker bandwagon have the capability to listen to Slacker Radio stations on a digital audio device. The Slacker Portable automatically connects to Slacker’s music library over Wi-Fi when in wireless range, or over USB when attached to an Internet connected PC. Instead of live streaming of songs, the Slacker Portable fills itself up with a user’s personalized music choices each time the Player is refreshed.
Sounds like a pretty interesting device, huh? To me it sounds like a cheap knock-off of the popular XM Radio, where consumers have the ability to take hundreds of radio stations on the move. The most interesting aspect I see of the Slacker Portable Radio is not only does the user have complete control over what is on his/her particular station, but there is also the option to listen to professionally created stations. In essence, consumers now have the capability to play General Manager of a radio station, tweaking what is played according to his/her taste. Where users do have the option to upload music onto the device, much like the traditional iPods, the innovative feature of music-on-the-go makes uploading an afterthought.
Slacker.com currently has over 2 million songs, organized into over 100 professionally programmed stations, 10,000 artist stations, and an unlimited number of personally created stations. At a reasonable cost, as opposed to it’s competition, and a relatively cheap monthly service, Slacker seems to be a legitimate product…until the iPod Touch seriously comes down in price.
Nike Air Flightposite
The futuristic-looking Flightposite was one of the first to feature Nike’s Foamposite technology. Often considered one of Nike’s most comfortable basketball shoes, their design is seamless and created from a molded liquid. The Flightposite was intended to look like an “organic extension” of the foot, which features curves throughout. And, during its original release was worn by many NBA players, including Kevin Garnett.
For more image shots and prices, click here.
Online Review (D)
The media company under analysis is 2929 Entertainment LP. The reason I chose to take a further look at this specific media company is because, as I have explained before, I am a huge basketball fan. There is no other person in the NBA with his hands in so many different places as Mark Cuban. 2929 Entertainment is partially owned by Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA team, and worth a mere $2.9 billion…tough life, huh?
Cuban went into business with fellow Indiana University alum, Todd Wagner, an individual who shares the same interests as Cuban. As history shows, Cuban and Wagner know they can make money together. With interests in college basketball and webcasting, equipped with just a single server and ISDN line, Audionet became Broadcast.com in 1998. By 1999, Broadcast.com had grown to 330 employees and annual revenues near $100 million. During the Dot-com Boom, Broadcast.com was acquired by Yahoo! for $5.9 billion in Yahoo! stock.
Together, they have established a vertically-integrated media and entertainment company with holdings that cover all aspects of the entertainment pipeline: from development and production to distribution and exhibition, spanning film, TV and home entertainment with a specialized niche in digital content.
2929 Entertainment produces films in the $10 – $40 million budget range for wide release. Notable releases include George Clooney’s GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, a co-production with Participant Productions and Section Eight that received six Academy Award nominations including Best Picture; AKEELAH AND THE BEE, a co-production with Lions Gate, starring Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett, TURISTAS and BLACK CHRISTMAS. Other films include WHAT JUST HAPPENED, directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robert De Niro, and James Gray’s WE OWN THE NIGHT, starring Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix. The company is also responsible for the updated version of the television show Star Search.
Productions aside, the most intriguing part of this company is that Wagner and Cuban are utilizing several of these vertically integrated companies to experiment with a “day-and-date” model in which films will be released simultaneously across theatrical, television and home video platforms, thus collapsing the traditional release windows and giving consumers a choice of how, when and where they wish to see a movie.
This media group will be under constant analysis, just as Mark Cuban is relentlessly scrutinized in and out of the office. His critics can watch him on the radar, but will only find a smart business man with the Midas Touch, as he now is a chairman of HDNet, the first high-definition satellite television network.
Stumble Upon-ed “Innovations in Tattoos”
Digital Tattoo Interface turns flesh into an LCD.
Online Review (C)
The new media form under analysis is something that may be somewhat new to the average media consumer. In my spare time I am an avid videogamer, mainly 2K Sports’ NBA2K8, a simulation of what an actual professional basketball game would play out like. Silky 3 point shots, vicious dunks, and killer crossovers can be found here. Not only is there the availability to play offline with fellow gamers next to you, but now gamers across the world can battle their skills on a different playing field: XBox Live.
Now gamers have the opportunity to show their skills off on the grand stage, ultimately obtaining bragging rights and letting their opponents know via screaming through a plastic headset to a fellow gamer across the nation. Here you can play ranked games with fellow ballers, in the ultimate competition to become number 1 online. As you accumulate a better ranking, you begin to look down upon other opponents with a worse ranking than yours, depriving them of the privilege to play you.
The functionality of NBA2K8 on Xbox Live is very user friendly. From the main screen gamers are able to scroll down to “XBox Live” and sign on, that is if you have an account previously set up, which will run you about $60 a year. Once online, there are various options gamers will have at their disposal. You can easily select “quick match,” where the computer matches you up with someone looking for a game just like you are. You also have the option to select “lobbies,” where you can go into different rooms (much like chat rooms, typing text to speak with other gamers) and personally challenge other gamers.
Aside from playing the game, staying connected to XBox Live gives you an advantage above other gamers that lack the feature. There is a sports news ticker that is continuously updated on the bottom of the screen, updating gamers with real-time scores in the NBA and other sports related content. 2K Sports updates the rosters of the teams frequently, so gamers can play with actual rosters of their respective teams that are active in real life.
XBox Live is an innovative feature in videogaming, as it takes gaming to a whole different level. We used to only be able to play in the confines of our home, right next to one another, however now the sky is the limit. I could feasibly play someone across the world and the thought of that is mind-boggling. The best part for me at least, is that if I can’t play a game with my roommates in my apartment, I can always get a game in online. No matter what time of the day, there will always be someone online (even if it is due to different time zones) to play with. The nerds of this world will never be alone…all thanks to Bill Gates and Microsoft.
Online Review (B)
The new media device under analysis is the Samsung SCH-u740, a relatively new cell phone that I recently purchased from Verizon Wireless. The phone itself has a lot of interesting features to take a look at…When viewing the phone closed, it looks just like any other Motorola “RAZR” knockoff, with a thin (.58 inches thick, 3.84 inches long) size…don’t be fooled. This handset has an alias – a dual–hinged form factor that transforms it from a standard handset to a mini messaging center, complete with a full QWERTY keyboard. The phone is confusing to some at first glance, but I was able to adjust quickly. Flipping the phone open the traditional way can be confusing to some, because the dialing numbers are competing with the letters on the full QWERTY keyboard, however about 3 days of use will clear this problem up effectively. It’s safe to say that I rarely open the phone the aforementioned way, as it is conducive for me to open the device horizontally. The u740 is thin enough to slip into your pants pocket with ease. It also has a nice heft when held in the hand, thanks to its 3.6-ounce weight, and it cradles nicely next to the ear when opened.
The functions of the phone itself are just like any other Verizon Wireless (PDA’s aside), with options for Verizon’s “VCast” function, enabling consumers to watch videos on the internet, download games/ringtones to the phone, etc. The few problems I have with the device are the functionality of the camera, as it lacks a dedicated camera key on the phone’s exterior, and the video quality is mediocre. It is classified as a media phone, with capabilities to play mp3’s on the device via Verizon’s Music Essentials Kit. Taking a look at the phone closed, you will see the touch screen media functions of rewind, play, and fast forward (in competition with the touch functions Apple has introduced). On some devices, when you receive a text message, you can play a text via touching the play/pause option, however on the u740, you are limited to just playing music through those buttons.
These minor problems aside, which have no bearing on the basic functions of the phone, I am a satisfied customer with my Samsung SCH-u740, and would go as far to say that this is the best bang for your buck you can get through Verizon Wireless, without venturing into the PDA world of Blackberry’s, Treo’s, etc. For a more thorough review of this device and other phones, click here.
Stumble Upon-ed this Short Film
Solar is a short animated film by graduate creatives Ian Wharton and Edward Shires. A tale of the sun, moon, and two characters who inhabit a planet that relies on day and night perhaps more than it would seem…
