It's better to burn out, than to fade away

Hey Game Designers!

I have a game mechanic(s) challenge I'm trying to solve for my thesis project. Is anyone interested in exploring real time online group game mechanics? I think it will be a challenge and would love to brainstorm with any or all of you…Should be fun and easy and you'll get free dinner ....... Please email me or post in the comments.

Hello Future Home

Reblogged from blog.itvt.com.....

Please, can I have this???

Job Ad May Provide Clues on Google's Plans for ITV

A job ad on Google's Web site that seeks a product manager for "GoogleTV" may provide some clues on the search engine giant's plans to enter the interactive TV space: "In this role," the ad reads, "you will provide leadership on product vision and execution of projects that enable using Google's search and advertising technologies to enhance users' television viewing experience. This is a leadership role that combines entrepreneurship, strategy formulation, product development, project management and communication to internal and external audiences. You will identify key market trends that are shaping user behavior when watching television. These include but are not limited to the intersection of Internet and television technologies, Video-On-Demand, Personal Video Recorders and emergence of next-generation set-top-boxes with IP connectivity. You will then identify areas where use of Google's search and advertising technology can enhance this user experience and define appropriate products to deliver these user benefits. You will work with UI designers and software engineers to conceptualize and develop these features. You will also manage a cross-functional team of engineering, marketing, sales, legal, finance and support functions to launch these products successfully in the marketplace. You will be responsible for driving this team to successfully accomplish product and business milestones. You will act as the internal and external spokesperson for these products and be responsible for its overall success. As part of this role, you may also be required to interact with strategic partners in the telecom and cable segments across the world. As part of these interactions you will be required to present product and business strategy to senior executives at these companies and work with them to deploy these products in their network."

Qualifications required of candidates for the position include "experience developing/launching products in one or more of the following areas: interactive TV, set-top boxes, personal video recorders, video-on-demand, IPTV or cable TV technologies," as well as "experience developing and/or marketing Internet products and technologies."

Real Time Chat with Television - an experiment

I am conducting an experiment for my thesis this WEDNESDAY in the ZML and would like to invite everyone to participate!

What: Everyone will join a single chat, then run a 'back channel' to a live television feed. The chat will be saved and analyzed and the entire experience will be videotaped (so everyone look pretty).

Who: Everyone! Please!

Why: To explore the dialogue that emerges and try out elements of play in this environment

When: We will begin at 9pm and watch a television show live. There are several options, please vote in the comments if you have a preference.

CSI (CBS, repeat, last season)
Lost (ABC, season premiere)
America's Next Top Model (UPN, hour 2 of season premiere)
Mythbusters (Discovery Channel)
The West Wing (Bravo, from 2000)

There will be open-ended question sheets handed out at the end of the hour, which are optional.

To sweeten the pot, I will bring cookies!

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!?!?!

Season Home Opener is this Saturday, 7:15 pm. Anyone who is planning to go, I live just off campus so we can meet at my house and we can all walk over together:

Where: 2629 Portland St
When: 4:00pm
Call 213-280-3329 to get in,

send me an email if you plan to come, and bring some alcohol!

Thesis FAQs

Day Two: A Thesis FAQ

Why do you love television so much? Television has it all. It is one of the most expressive and varied forms of entertainment out there in the world. It has a great history and past and the potential for a great future. More people watch television than go to movies, play games, surf on the internet, and listen to the radio— it has fantastic reach. It is a writer’s medium, a character medium, allowing an audience to connect with a character, and grow with them. It can inspire, entertain, promote, enable. And it’s fun. It is in your home, and your window to everything possible in the world. But it is a safe and comforting experience, because the window can easily be closed with the push of a button.

What’s the idea?
It’s flickr + myspace + IM + fandom sites designed exclusively for the television show Veronica Mars. It has a real time element that occurs while the show is on and incorporates elements of play and reward systems.

Why Veronica Mars? It’s my favorite television show is an easy enough answer, but there is more to it. The mystery premise lends its metaphors to the program. The one-off A-plot with the intertwining B-plot are perfect for a program that lets audience track along with the show, adding evidence and clips until you have a huge library of information at the end of the season. There is a rabid online community already formed, with creative, intelligent and open participants. The creator of the show is also a participant, leading me to believe he is open, willing and imaginative enough to take off in new directions. The show also has tremendous support from critics, fans and the network, and ultimately I would love to help extend the viewing audience. Lastly, it’s a smart, clever, well-written, beautifully acted, and uniquely shot television show. Why not!

You want people to use this program during commercial breaks!? Yes, on the surface that sounds bad and would be a deterrent to networks and advertisers. But if you analyze the situation it offers some benefits. One, it’s a Tivo buster, due to the real-time play and experience. Second, though they may not be directly watching the commercials, they are in the room with it. They aren’t channel surfing, they aren’t getting up and they are still absorbing the messages. Additionally, it offers another channel for advertisements.

How is this different from any other fandom site? It certainly draws features from fandom sites, but also pulls the best elements from social networking tools, blogs, instant messaging and chat into one location. It’s one-stop shopping for anything Veronica Mars, as well as a tool for meeting friends, creating user content, sharing, developing timelines and Whodunit speculations and viewing exclusive content.

Exclusive Content? Think DVD extras type of stuff, or exclusive interviews and scenes and clips, provided by the show. Part of these would incorporate into the reward schemes, and some of it would just be provided by the show for diversity. This is if the show really gets on board and provides this type of thing.

You’re crazy. I know, thank you.

My TV Fall Schedule

And now you see why I need two Tivos!

This is Day One of the 5 days for Bolas :)