We're going to Washington and Montreal

The team is really excited! We are going to be featured as speakers in two of the serious games industry's most important conference, MODSIM (Washington) and the MIGS (Montreal) where we will teach the finer points of character development in the simulation arena.

Read about it at www.modsimworld2008.com and http://www.sijm.ca/2008/en.

See you there!

Digital Advertising Spends Increases in 2007

More about that in AdAge's annual survey.

Press Release: Popularmedia Launches Social Media Marketing Suite

Advanced Reports, Analytics and Optimization Engine Drives Sales, Leads, and Revenue through the Power of Consumer Social Networks

San Francisco, CA - May 6, 2008 - PopularMedia, the leading provider of social media marketing solutions, today announced a suite of products designed to help companies maximize the impact of online word-of-mouth channels to deliver leads, sales and revenue growth through trusted consumer social networks.

"Marketers and publishers alike are wrestling with how to monetize social media," said Jim Calhoun, CEO of PopularMedia. "Our suite of solutions are proven to deliver more value to advertisers, more engaging experiences for consumers, and better results through the power of predictive analytics and optimization."

The social media marketing suite allows marketers and agencies to publish, measure, and optimize online word-of-mouth programs; identify and target influential consumers and social networks; and facilitate consumer-to-consumer sharing through email, blogs, and social network sites. PopularMedia's technology measures and optimizes every aspect of its online word-of-mouth programs, including consumer-to-consumer sharing activity, impact on transactions, targeted consumer actions, and consumer messaging and applies sophisticated algorithms to optimize campaign performance.

To date, PopularMedia programs have touched over 40 million consumers. IGG.com, Oddcast, Omaha Steaks, Shoebuy, and Zecco are just a sample of customers, agencies and partners that have identified influential consumers and are generating real ROI through PopularMedia's solutions.

PopularMedia's social media marketing suite consists of enterprise-level strategic products and services and easy-to-use sharing tools, all delivered on a Software as a Service platform.

• PopularMedia Conversation, the company's flagship product, is a word-of-mouth campaign management platform allowing marketers to create, publish and test a range of social media experiences. The system uses predictive analytics to identify the combination of factors that will lead to maximum distribution through social networks while achieving a marketer's targeted objectives.
• PopularMedia Insights provides real-time, actionable intelligence into consumers' online social activities, motivations, and technology usage, enabling marketers to make more informed marketing decisions.
• PopularMedia Importer is an easy to configure web service API which lets website visitors quickly import contact information from their existing web-based address books. Importing from Yahoo, Gmail, AOL, MSN/Hotmail and LinkedIn is supported. Users get easy access to their address books. PopularMedia Importer is available free at http://www.popularmedia.com/solutions/api_form.php. Real-time usage reporting is available for an additional fee.

"PopularMedia allows us to enable an important distribution service to our users. Our users create user-generated avatars and constantly share their speaking avatars with their friends and family. Through PopularMedia Importer, we can empower our users to easily and seamlessly select from their various address books rather than having to manually type in contact emails, which inspires the 'send-along process' and drives a greater level of viral distribution for our users' creations and ultimately, our products and platforms."

Consumers are flooded with information from a variety of channels, and are turning away from traditional media networks in favor of personal, socially connected networks. This shift has turned consumers into powerful influencers who directly impact a marketer's bottom line. In October 2007, a Nielsen study found that consumer recommendations are the most trusted form of advertising around the world. Over three-quarters of respondents from 47 markets across the world rated recommendations from consumers as a trusted form of advertising.

Availability

PopularMedia's social media marketing suite is available direct from the company or through its growing network of agency partners. Clients can select products based on their need or purchase the Influencer Edition which combines PopularMedia Insights, PopularMedia Conversation, and creative and strategic services to help clients quickly deploy high impact social media marketing programs.

About PopularMedia

PopularMedia offers a suite of social media marketing solutions and services that help global brands and agencies turn consumers into powerful influencers. Our solutions leverage social and online media networks to create fast-growing, sustainable, and measurable word-of-mouth (WOM) programs that deliver new customers, leads, sales, and targeted traffic, and a socially connected consumer database for future marketing initiatives. PopularMedia has created programs for more than 125 customers across the publishing, entertainment, e-commerce, financial services, technology, and telecom industries. PopularMedia is based in San Francisco and backed by Sequoia Capital and Steamboat Ventures. For more information, please visit: www.popularmedia.com

Globe and Mail Article: Canadian Forces mine benefits of 3-D sims

Read it here.

May Reading List

• Herodotus - The Histories (Still at it),
• Marcus-Aurelius - The Meditations (second or third reading, still good and inspirational)
• Marketing Channels - Coughlan, Anne; Anderson, Erin; Stern, Louis W.
  
• Engaging Learning: Designing e-Learning Simulation Games - Clark N. Quinn
  

PRESS RELEASE: Adler Direct Launches Free New Direct Marketing Resource at AdlerDirect.com

Articles, Blogs, and Case Studies are being made available for Numerous Industries Including Real Estate, Auto Dealerships, Insurance Industry, Plastic Surgery, Fitness Facilities, and Retail. Content covers Direct Mail, Email Marketing, and Personal URLs, as well as the latest communication strategies.

Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) May 5, 2008 -- Adler Direct, a division of Adler Marketing Group has just launched a comprehensive and free resource to help companies learn more about direct marketing and email marketing. The site is updated frequently with some of the newest content available.

"We're very excited about this new resource," said Cisco Adler, President of Adler Direct. "Few companies are in the position to really understand how to make their direct marketing more successful. We help educate them on the importance of testing, tracking, and frequency."

With numerous clients in multiple industries, Adler Direct has years of experience in all aspects of direct marketing and email marketing and looks to share this experience with companies.

"When I talk to new clients I tell them about the 4T's of direct marketing. Usually, they say 'you mean the 4P's?' and I say, 'no, the 4T's - Test, Track, Test, Track! In sales, they say to "always be closing." In direct marketing, you must "always be testing!"

With all the new integrated marketing strategies using direct mail and email strategies and technologies such as Personal URLs, there is so much opportunity for marketers today. Just never forget the importance of the list, the message, the creative, and product/service.

About Adler Direct
Adler Direct is a Charlotte-based direct marketing company located in Lake Norman North Carolina. Founded by Cisco Adler of Adler Marketing Group, Adler Direct is a premier direct marketing strategist and provides turnkey direct mail and email marketing for companies in numerous industries. For more information contact Cisco Adler at Cisco @ AdlerDirect.com

Monster.com Founder Starts Social Networking Site for the Dead

Wired has it all here. I'd rather keep photos of my dear departed ones. Or hold on to their ashes.

'The Truth About Casual Gaming'?

Nice rosy article about the state of 'casual gaming'. Once again, we can sense that some things are better left unsaid (what? The biggest sellers are casino games? Couldn't be... Aren't they thriving in a grey legal area?). Anyway, I'm getting myself a coffee after reading this. I'm not really civilized when I hear these things...

'Grand Theft Auto" simplifies song purchasing

Could it be that mindless violence and the old American 'self-made man' ethics makes players crave certain songs? Click here to read a Billboard article on the use of video games to sell mp3.

MTV Keeps Up With Digital Teen Culture

Grassroot promotional efforts, play up the branded-entertainment content, social media... Yep. MTV is sure doing well on the Web. Read an Adage interview with MTV Networks Chairman-CEO Judy McGrawth after the jump.

Washington Post, others introduce online bracket-style games

In a bid to regain a little bit more readership, and probably add value as well, the Washington Post has added some promotional games to its usual fare. Read all about it here.

NY Gets Tough On Piracy

Strange but true... Click here to read Cinematical's post.

Microsoft Gets In On ITune Action

Zune service to compete with online titan, iTunes -- Microsoft is finally going after the TV download market with its Zune device and online network. More in this Hollywood Reporter article.

Ian Bogost on In-Game Advertising

Tauted a couple of years ago as the best way to advertise to 18-34, in-game ads have yet to fulfill this promise. Here's a nice article on the subject written by Ian Bogost in the Guardian. Click here to read the whole thing.

How to Adapt a Teen Soap for a Social Network

Sony Pictures has recently begun streaming a teen soap with a difference on Bebo, a social network catering to teen users: users have a say in the development of the story. Read all bout it here.

New Study: Casual Games Puts You in A Great Mood!

Popcap has just released a new study stating that casual games puts you in a good mood.

Wow. I must be the only guy on the planet that gets depressed when playing a casual game (is it sarcasm i'm sensing here...). Other ideas for similar research:

RPGs have a tendency to stimulate imagination
FSPs makes you more agressive
Drinking makes you drunk

In case you want to read the whole thing, click here.

Apple to Open iPhone Platform to 3rd Party Developers

Apple has announced that it will open up its iPhone platform, via what is called a software development kit (SDK), to third-party mobile software developers. And, of course, marketers are expected to rush in... More about this after the jump.

Microsoft's Live Mesh: Too Good to Be True?

Developers are questioning Microsoft's commitment to make Live Mesh an open source environment... especially considering that Mac won't be part of the launch. Read all about it in this BBC story.

NASA Cuts MMO Budget from 3 Millions to... 0

Nasa has asked MMO developers to develop NASA-themed MMO for free... Its commitmen will now be restricted at providing subject matter experts. Their new approach will be more along the lines of providing an IP that developers will be able to exploit along the lines of what is going on in Hollywood. More about this in Gamasutra (click here for full story).

This decision implies - of course - the need for developers to find new business models for their serious games. Here's an interesting post about the subject on elianealhadeff.blogspot.com.

US Spies Training with Serious Games

Wired has published a very interesting story about the use of serious games to train America's Secret Services. Read all bout it here.

Press Release: Technicolor and CinemaNow Partner to Offer Retailers an Optimized Digital Movie Solution

BURBANK, Calif. and MARINA DEL REY, Calif. -- April 15, 2008 -- Technicolor, the Services Division of Thomson (Euronext 18453; NYSE: TMS), and CinemaNow, an innovator in digital entertainment technology, delivering high-quality Hollywood movies, TV shows and music videos to users across multiple platforms, announced today that the two companies have partnered to offer online retailers a better way to deliver the digital content consumers are demanding.

Under the new partnership, Technicolor and CinemaNow will provide a seamless, fully-integrated platform for the electronic delivery of movies, TV shows, music and software to consumers via a broadband Internet connection. This platform will include content encoding and encryption, digital rights management (DRM), hosting and storage, promotions and ad management, streaming or download delivery, order fulfillment, reporting, and forensics. This end-to-end delivery channel will utilize Technicolor’s purpose-built infrastructure and CinemaNow’s well-developed storefront and Media Manager application to facilitate new and exciting developments in electronic content distribution.

Online retailers wishing to enter the digital market or to replace legacy solutions will benefit from optimized user interfaces, streamlined infrastructure and an extensive reporting system provided by the end-to-end offering that CinemaNow and Technicolor’s Electronic Distribution Services (EDS) business will offer. Emerging digital delivery services such as e-Copy and second session, which are supplementary digital versions of physical DVDs purchased at retail stores, and online downloads will work across CinemaNow’s entire ecosystem of compatible consumer electronic devices including PCs, portable media players (PMP), digital television sets (DTV), set top boxes (STB), and network attached storage (NAS) devices from manufacturers such as Archos, Dish Network, HP, and Samsung.

Scott Dougall, senior vice president and general manager of Technicolor EDS, said, “This is the next stage in the evolution of the broadband digital supply chain. As the distribution of content transitions from physical to digital, a new streamlined infrastructure is required. The partnership between CinemaNow and Technicolor will bring together and unify two major pieces of a traditionally fragmented solution.”

Under the terms of the partnership, CinemaNow and Technicolor will also collaborate on special projects including adding HD movies to CinemaNow’s library of more than 10,000 titles available via embedded stores and consumer electronic devices. The partnership will also enable CinemaNow to expand internationally, leveraging Technicolor’s digital supply chain services including preparing and hosting movies with subtitles and foreign language audio tracks.

“As an innovator in this industry, CinemaNow always seeks to partner with those that share our vision of creating an unparalleled consumer experience.” said David Cook, president and COO of CinemaNow. “By combining Technicolor’s superior infrastructure with our proven distribution technology, our goal is to provide the most effective way to date for online retailers to deliver digital entertainment to their customers.”

Founded in 2007, Technicolor EDS (www.technicolor.com/eds) addresses the growing need for digital content distribution services in the media and entertainment industries. Its business model is unique, and unlike other outsourced content delivery networks that only distribute content, Technicolor EDS offers clients a comprehensive suite of end-to-end or a la carte services – from content preparation and digital rights management to global distribution and reporting. Technicolor EDS also provides a host of online services to help bring new and innovative Internet-based connectivity functions for digital copy DVDs and emerging interactive features for Blu-ray discs.

About Thomson — World leader in digital video technologies Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS) provides technology, services, and systems to the Media, Entertainment & Communications players – content creators, content distributors and broadcasters – and supports them in order to help them to improve their commercial offers and their performance in a rapidly changing technology environment. For more information: www.thomson.net

About CinemaNow
CinemaNow, Inc. is an innovator in digital entertainment technology, delivering high-quality Hollywood movies, TV shows and music videos to users across multiple platforms. Founded in 1999, CinemaNow has partnered with some of the biggest brands in consumer electronics and digital entertainment including ARCHOS, EchoStar Communications, Hewlett-Packard, Macrovision, Microsoft, Samsung and Sonic Solutions to deliver thousands of video titles directly to consumers. CinemaNow works with more than 250 licensors including 20th Century Fox, ABC News, Disney, HDNet, Lionsgate, MGM, Miramax, NBC Universal, New Line Cinema, Paramount Pictures, Sony, Sundance Channel and Warner Bros. For more information: www.cinemanow.com

New Movie Download Service for PS3

Read the LA Times article here.

Marvel Entertainment Lands Ira Rubenstein to Lead Digital Strategy

More about it here.

When Casual Games Go Against The Grain...

Multiplayer Casual Games.
MMO Casual Games.
Casual RPG.

Ad Nauseam.

What's wrong with this picture?

Many studios and developers are betting that the future of the casual game market is in multiplayer games. And this line of thought is in danger of contaminating the serious games market.

Most casual game users are looking for a quick gaming fix. That's why one of the most successful game ever is (tada) Solitaire. It's free, easy to learn, and deliver. You don't need a powerful PC to run it. You don't need to be a computer whiz. You don't have to wait for another player to log on. You don't have to deal with other aggressive players that want to compete with them. Unless it's Poker.

Casual gamers are a fickle bunch. They're either occasional computer users (emails and word processing software) or dormant gamers (i.e. gamers who don't have time to play because they now have kids and lack time). They want a game that's easy and fast. Immediate. And free. And with no headaches.

When engaged in a Serious Games, users are reluctant to be exposed to a very competitive multiplayer environment. Here's a post that argues that the future of serious games is tied to single-player environments, not multiplayer. Read it here.

Producer launches online 'studio'

Read all about it in this BBC article here.

Multiplatform Branded-Entertainment Hits Snag With Corporate Structure

Have you ever ran into this problem?

Even though your client thinks your brand new Web/TV/Cell integrated product is out of this world, he has to sell your idea to a thousand VPs and managers... who have no idea of the possibilities of this new multiplatform offering. And who do not want to commit the budget since the project falls outside the scope of their department...

Can the corporate silo structure kills a multiplatform project? Of course it can.

More about it this TV Week article you can read after the jump.

Canadian Company Aims To Drive 3D Model Price Down

Source: Ottawa Business Journal – Acron a Start-up to Watch in 2008

"The legacy training and simulation market is ripe for a disruptive influence; one that brings simulation learning to a much broader market and drives down the cost of simulators within traditional markets."

ACRON CAPABILITY ENGINEERING
Year founded: 2004 Employees: 22
Venture capital to date: None
Product: Software — CEO John Nicol

With the training and simulation market ripe for a disruptive change, Acron wants to lead the charge. And its technology, which produces high quality three-dimensional models for simulations, is already pushing the envelope.

Released in November 2007, its integrated 3D modeling technology for graphics and simulators targets the modeling, simulation and gaming (MSG) industry.

It is also the first 3D tool designed to work with Microsoft's recently launched visual-simulation platform ESP. The company also released a high-level architecture interface for ESP.

November was a busy month for the company, which also opened a new office in Gatineau to house its simulation lab and development staff, as well as a knowledge management centre in Fredericton.

The company hopes to build a network of offices across the country and bring desktop simulators to military bases across Canada. Police forces have also shown interest in the technology.

With its relative low cost, Acron's technology promises to ease pressure on budgets and increase the speed at which soldiers get essential training.

But until the armed forces change the way training is supplied and move to the easy-to-use platforms that connect seamlessly, there will be a market for the company's Info X product, which helps facilitate communication between the mishmash of simulators already in use.

So, far Acron has gotten its products to market without the help of any venture capital. With the response continuing to be positive, the company expects to increase its workforce by one third in the next eight to 12 months, to about 36 staff.

Acron 3D Modeler

The Acron 3D Modeler application is a powerful integrated 3D modeling tool for real time graphics, which allows users to create and optimize 3D Models for their simulation environment.

This application has been specifically engineered for the Modeling, Simulation and Gaming (MS&G) industry with support for industry standard 3D formats and modeling formats used in the entertainment industry such as Microsoft Flight Simulator ™.

Its easy to learn environment enables artists and modelers to quickly produce stunning quality models and environments in less time.

The Acron 3D Modeler is the first content development tool to support the new Microsoft® ESP simulation platform and incorporates many advanced features that allow the easy reuse of content from legacy systems.

About Acron

Acron Capability Engineering is a growing, dynamic company that specializes in Information Exchange applications for Command and Control systems and develops Modeling, Simulation and Games technology in Canada and overseas.

The Acron InfoX Information Exchange Architecture allows government and non-Government organizations to communicate and exchange information collaboratively. The company provides a full range of services in the three main areas of Live, Virtual and Constructive Simulation and Serious Games.

Acron has technical staff that constructs stand-alone or distributed modeling and simulation assets using its own tools, or other commercial tools and can also provide management staff for projects at many different levels.

The company has facilities in Ottawa (Ontario), Gatineau (Quebec) and Fredericton, (New Brunswick.) www.acroneng.com

Try Ad:Tech's People's Choice Award's Advergame

Wanna try Blockdot's Taco Fu? Apart from being an addictive little arcade game, the Fu has won Ad:Tech prestigious People's Choice Award.

Play this Taco Bell branded game right here.

New VW Advergame, Volkswagen Snake

Click here to play.

Some More Books I'm Reading

Here's what I'm reading these days in case anybody out there wonders ---

- Herodotus - The Histories --- good storyteller, not much of an historian/he really likes Pericles... Persians not so much....

- Aldrich -Simulations and the Future of Learning: An Innovative (and Perhaps Revolutionary) Approach to e-Learning ---- a classic or so i've heard

- Anderson - Outsourcing the Sales Function: The Real Cost of Field Sales --- some more arguments in favor of sales outsourcing, which is part of my business model

Quiet Day... In a Way

Been very busy managing project for my clients (top secret software stuff). It's a slow news day where nothing has caught my interest...

So here's a funny clip from one of the top (IMHO) copywriter in the States,Herschell Gordon Lewis.

BTW, all you psychotronic movie fans will know that Hershell's first career is as a director of very interesting grade-z movies... Check it out here.

Nova Spivack Talks About the Future of the Web

Interesting predictions from Nova Spivack, a semantic Web pioneer...



Learning from the Future with Nova Spivack from Maarten on Vimeo.

New Web Conferencing Service Adds Serious Games to the Mix

More about WebConf3D here.

UK Video Game Industry Accuses Canada of Unfair Trade Practices

Everybody knows that Canada's video game industry tax credits are very generous... And the British government is not happy about the practice, saying that it is causing a brain drain of its own talent.

More about this 'trade war' in a recent Canwest Global article you can read here.

I just hope that Canada is not setting up another Hollywood North crisis that will favor foreign studios instead of the homegrown industry... Only time will tell...

Codemasters and Ebay Motors Launch Advergame

Codemasters and Ebay Motors have launched a new driving advergame, 'Grid'.

An interesting footnote to the Advergaming fad is, according to Forrester analyst Shar VonBoskirk, is that this new medium is not living up to expectations even though the market will grow around 40% to a 504 million total between 2008 and 2010.

Read all about it after the jump.

59 % of Web Users Dislike Targeted Ads

A new Harris Interactive study indicates that 59% of online users dislike targeted ads and what they feel is 'corporate snooping'. The research also states that the older you are, the more you resent Website 'tailoring'.

Check out the full set of stats here.

Marketing Insights: Halo 3

Gamasutra features a nice analysis on Microsoft's Halo 3 campaign. Read it all here.

Casual Game To Dominate Market in 2020

Is it gonna happen? MI6: Gaming 2020 panel participants share their predictions in a Gamasutra article that you can read here.

The Daily Walk to The Video Store... Soon to Be No More

BlockBuster Video is now considering a new distribution model involving a set-top box that will allow direct streaming of movies to your television.

Read all about it here.

Internet TV Finally Taking Off

A gold mine for some, a nightmare for others... It finally seems like the Big Six are getting on the action. All they need now is a viable and effective ad model...

More after the jump.

Looking for a Game Industry Jobs in Quebec, Canada?

A brand new video game recruiting agency, Louiscleroux.com, has opened its doors in the Montreal area.

Check it out here

While we're on the subject check out this new Quebec-based video game school, Desgraff Institute.

Quebec City has also its own chapter of the International Game Developers Association, check it out at the IGDA Quebec Website (here). Access their blog here (in French).

Create your own 3D world... Free

Create your own unique world and share it with your friends. Play games, share media, chat, make money, all in breathtaking 3D graphics.

Check it out at Mycosm®

Serious Games Market Size Discrepancies

What's the real market size? 1.5 billion? 150 million?

Good blog post about the size of the serious games market.

Read it on Eliane Alhadeff's own blog.

BBC announces Nintendo Wii deal

Read all about it here

Online Sales to Grow 17 Percent in '08

Wired has all the details, click here to read the whole thing.

French Academia Tackles Serious Games

Nothing is safe anymore... After selling the very strange idea of the film director as the sole auteur of movies (aren't they a group thing?), that books should be analyzed without any regard for the life of their writers (or by taking apart their childhood and neuroses), the French are now looking to take on serious game criticism. More info here.

For those of you who are not reading French, the crux of the biscuit is the following:

Serious Games are analyzed as cultural, pragmatic and formal systems

• The cultural system means a transversal approach, taking into account the human, economic, technical, artistic, pedagogical, playing and organizational aspects.
• The pragmatic system study the game and educational aspects. The aim is to identify a form of pedagogy that takes into account the use of a Serious Game.
• The formal system focus on the Gameplay which is a link between the learning and the Video Game.

David Lynch is Going to Be So Mad...

Sony Picture has announced the launch of the first ever movie network on mobile phone.

More info here.

Stephen King Takes a Stand on Games and Violence

Read the article here.

Use of Games Growing in Corporate Market

The eLearning Guild's recent research on Immersive Learning Simulations (ILS) reports that in the next 12 months there will be a:

- 72% growth in simulation and scenario-based learning, and
- 37% growth in e-learning games

Some barriers to entry:

- perceived difficulty in building this type of product
- development cost
- misconceptions about the use of "games" for e-learning

Read the Abstract here

Penny Arcade and Hothead Games New Casual Game Distribution Channel

Check out the Website here.

The Secrets of Advergaming

Good piece from Business Week: The Secrets of Advergaming

Link to Game Developers Conference Proceeding Archive

Access here.

Virtual Heroes Publishes White Paper Promoting the Use of Serious Games

A very interesting White Paper brought to you by Virtual Heroes exploring the use of serious games to foster a culture of exploration.

Download here.

64% of US Teens Engaged In Online Content Creation

If you add Facebook to the equation, more than 64% of US teens are creating online content acording to Pew/Internet.

More info here

In-Game Ad Market to Grow to 650 Millions by 2012

The great in-game ad gurus are at it again. Apparently, the market is supposed to grow by 120 percent to $650 million in 2012. I hope advertisers will not notice that most players experience an effect similar to 'banner blindness' with in-game ads...


More info here

New Coke Online Game for 2008 Euro Football Championshi

More info here.

Bollywood Embraces Web Marketing

More info here.

DoubleClick Powers 8 out of 9 Top Movie Marketing Web Campaigns

More info here

Havas Import Its Corporate Brand in US

More info here

The Anime Market Turns to Coproduction

The anime market may be in slump due to rising talent cost.

More info here

A New Engagement Metric?

The battle continues...


Click here for more info

Early TV Sponshorship Model to Make a Comeback?

And now a word from our sponsor....

The Ad industry is dying... Or so think many advertisers badly shaken by the introduction of new (and not so new) advertising channels/techniques such as the Web, games, dvds, product placement, etc.

So it comes as no surprise that NBC has announced yesterday that it is now advocating a new ad business model directly borrowed from pre-WWII radio and early tv, the program sponsorship model. According to the NY Times, sponsors will get to approve scripts and content in this move to "extend partnerships beyond the 30-seconds model"... The model will also extend to some of the broadcaster's online initiatives.

More info here

300 Employees Laid Off at DoubleClick

More info here

Music Industry To Legitimize P2P Downloads?

Warner Music is maybe paving the way for legal MP3 P2P downloads. According to Wired, the new business model would have Internet service providers pay a few dollars-per-person each month which would then be split among labels and artists. Users could get unlimited music downloads, as this could become part of their broadband package or alternatively be an optional extra.

More info here

Register for Games for Health 2008

More info here

Paramount Expands Interactive Dpt

Paramount has expanded its interactive department team and is putting together a slate of games which it will develop.

More info here

Stan Lee Sets Up Shop at Disney

Marvel's own creative superhero has set up shop at Disney. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the 85 year old comic book industry veteran is setting up three potential franchises.


More info here here

Superman vs Spiderman movie in the works?

Some of you may have seen that Superman's IP rights have recently been lost by Time Warner to Siegel's heirs. And it seems that these guys think that a Superman vs Spiderman feature film is a good idea. I suppose that this spells the end of the current superhero movie craze!

More info here:
http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/03/31/supermans-future

YOUR ART PORTFOLIO DO’S AND DON’TS: TOP FIVE MUST-HAVES (5 of 5)

5) Portfolio Format

CD and DVD formats are recommended for your portfolio. Use a DVD case and include a small hard copy of your resume. All graphic files must be high rez JPEG. For video files, use well known codec such as WMV and DiVX. You can also include links to your website to showcase additional work that support your application. Make sure that your website is not entirely in Flash to facilitate the bookmarking of your site’s pages by recruiters and company executives.

Good luck!

More info at louiscleroux.com

YOUR ART PORTFOLIO DO’S AND DON’TS: TOP FIVE MUST-HAVES (4 of 5)

4) Use different styles

Each artist has his/her own style. Video game studios have many different products to appeal to many game styles. Artists must accordingly be able to draw in as many different styles and themes: realistic, cartoon, manga, fantasy, horror, scifi, historically accurate, etc. You have to demonstrate that you can adopt an infinity of styles and can even draw an exact model of well-known characters in their exact style.

More info at louiscleroux.com

YOUR ART PORTFOLIO DO’S AND DON’TS: TOP FIVE MUST-HAVES (3 of 5)

3) Stay Down to Earth

Avoid clichés. Avoid big monsters with bug swords, funky robots and – please oh please – the infamous spaceship in a tunnel thing. Demonstrate the quality of your work by including apparently simple things done with perfect technique and inspiration. If you are a concept artist, include a collection of drawing, from early B&W sketches to the final product. Wow’em with your knowledge of perspective and human anatomy. For animators, include scenes featuring your ease with physics and human movement, down to the smallest details (animation fluidity is crucial here). A walk cycle with a natural movement, two character interactions, a character falling and then getting up, facial animations, are all winning elements. 3D professionals will feature some rigging and/or texturing work of everyday objects, faces, environments, and clothing seen form many angles and in different lightings.

More info at louiscleroux.com

YOUR ART PORTFOLIO DO’S AND DON’TS: TOP FIVE MUST-HAVES (2 of 5)

2) Be Professional

Do not include school-related work in your portfolio. Chances are your recruiter will probably have seen the same exercise a thousand times by then while looking at your classmates’ portfolio. He/She will not be impressed.

Try not to put too much work on the design of your portfolio and focus on the content side of the equation. A high quality HTML/Java GUI will never hide a content weakness. It could even lead to recruiter’s distraction/frustration.

More info at louiscleroux.com

YOUR ART PORTFOLIO DO’S AND DON’TS: TOP FIVE MUST-HAVES (PART 1 of 5)

Considering the time I spend giving advice to would-be video game artists, I decided to post an article about what to include/not to include in your portfolio. It's long but I think it can help some people. Here it goes:

YOUR ART PORTFOLIO DO’S AND DON’TS: TOP FIVE MUST-HAVES

As an artist, your portfolio is the main weapon that will help you land that job interview you are wishing so much for. However, this first line tool is rarely treated the way it should be by professional artists. Here are some advices that will help you present your talents in the best light possible.

1) Know your Public

You must tailor your portfolio for each and every company you would like to work for, as you would do with any resume or introduction letter. Do not include your Flash masterpiece in it if the studio you want to work for does offer any product in that category. Furthermore, a D&D-themed portfolio will not be a hit with company known for Party-type or casual games. Each of your portfolio elements must be a hard-hitting argument in favor of your candidacy for your dream job within a given company. Aim for quality and not quantity in that regard. It is also recommended that you put elements linked to the particular job you are applying for. You are a texture artist? Concentrate on the best work you have done in the texture arena.

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April Reading List

Here's what can be found on my homeoffice's desk at any given hour of the day/night. Hope to finish everything soon:

- Fundamentals of Project Management (James P. Lewis): a great little book to help you refresh those pesky project management concepts and all. If you're right-brained like me, it's of invaluable use.

- Penseurs grecs avant Socrate (Voilquin): a primer on presocratic philosophers, thoughts, warts, and all. A little bit on the dry side but very interesting if you are fascinated by metaphysics.

-The Business of Software : What Every Manager, Programmer, and Entrepreneur Must Know to Thrive and Survive in Good Times and Bad (Michael A. Cusumano): especially interesting for its chapter on the product/services mix.