There’s a really interesting dialog going on right now about integrating gaming dynamics and principles into into traditionally non-gaming experiences.
What if we could inject a little joy and surprise into everyday or otherwise mundane tasks?
The above TED Talk does a good job of outlining a few of these principles and giving examples.
Right before seeing this video I coincidentally bought an iPhone to-do list app that uses the RPG metaphor of leveling-up your character as you complete tasks. I’m not a to-do list app type of guy, but I was so impressed with the execution that I decided to check it out.
Weeks later I’ve found myself consistently interacting with the app every day - though I’m still only a Level 2 Stooping Dwarven Nerd-Do-Well.
Not only am I having fun with this app, but I’m actually accomplishing more things as well.
Very interested to see where this new thread takes things.
And the company to be the first to jump into the ring with the iPad is BlackBerry!?
In viewing the above video I have to say that I was a bit surprised and impressed with the snippets of the UX. Yes, it is very Apple - but there are worse criticisms out there for a 1.0 product release.
It will be interesting to see if they get any real momentum on this product. My feeling is no. But not because it doesn’t look like a great product. I think BlackBerry’s biggest challenge is their brand. In the public’s eye they are largely perceived as an enterprise (or business) brand. They’ve spent millions of dollars trying to change that perception with their Apple-esque “Love what you do” platform. Was I the only one that felt the disconnect there?
And then there’s the advantage that Apple has on everyone with a robust app ecosystem.
The exciting thing for me is to see another player putting a solid product out there. Hopefully heating up the competition will accelerate innovation in the tablet space.
Rory Sutherland uses some comical examples to point out that small, inexpensive solutions can often be more memorable and effective at solving big problems than more forceful and expensive solutions.
He suggests the creation of a new role, the Chief Detail Officer — someone who can focus their attention (and budget) at creating multitudes of “cheap” tactical solutions
“A hypnotic mechanized puppet show with video projects”, was how a co-worker described a piece of the William Kentridge exhibit currently on show at the MoMA. Anyone who knows me knows that this is the kind of sound byte that gets my attention.
I was utterly blown away by the exhibit. It was some of the most moving work I have seen in recent memory. I particularly connected with his video work which combines his expressionist charcoal stop-motion animation with graphical collages reminiscent of the Brothers Quay.
William Kentridge: Five Themes is at MoMA through May 17th. Don’t miss it.
I’m not a comic book collector, but I am a reader — the distinction being that I do not go out and buy single issues. I don’t have the desire to collect single issues or the space to store them. Instead, I wait for story arcs to be collected in TPB’s (trade paperbacks).
I’m far from a fanboy. I consider myself a casual reader. I go to the comic shop every once in a while mostly for fun, but do most of my buying on Amazon. As such, I’m behind enough on the titles I’m reading so I don’t have to wait for the next TPB to come out.
Thing is, some of these series got me hooked. Really hooked. Several times I’ve found myself all caught up and very tempted to start picking up the singles issues. I’ve never given in though.
Enter: digital comics.
A few comics publishers and third parties have created digital platforms for the PC and mobile to buy comics digitally. Now, this has me excited. The problem, however, is that not all titles are available, and almost all trail far behind what you can buy in the stores.
The great news is that there is a way to get your comics digitally and it’s free! The latest issues of just about every title get uploaded to torrents immediately following their release. Now, we’re talking! The problem here is that I really don’t have the time to troll torrent sites. And then there’s the fact that it’s illegal and you’re screwing the creators.
Now if only the music industry, movie industry comic book industry would just get their act together and provide timely, affordable, digital copies of their publications they’d have me - and a whole helluva lot of others I think.
This week I bought the entire eight issue run of Kick-Ass on my iPad — the image quality was amazing, and the form factor of reading them on the iPad was perfect. I also purchased each issue from the comfort of my bed.
Pricing still needs to be worked out too. Today’s paper issue prices range from $2.99 to $3.99, while digital are relatively high at $1.99. The eight issues of Kiss-Ass cost me $16 plus tax — a few bucks more than the discounted hardcover price on Amazon, but likely much higher than the paperback version that will eventually come out. Marvel has a great deal at $60 a year for unlimited access to their library, but you don’t own the copies, and again they’re not current.
One other thing worth mentioning is the potential long tail of digital comics. There are tons of titles that never get collected into trade paperbacks due to perceived demand — meaning that guys like me don’t even know they exist. Make these titles digital, and intelligently suggest them based on others readers are purchasing, and publishers would be looking at a gold mine.
Hello, comic book publishers. My wallet is out. Does anyone want my money?!