Movement, Yeah it's Random.

Recently, I have had a number of break throughs, but then I hit some restrictions. I was able to have two random movement codes work properly, but not exactly how I want them. I wish I could combine the two codes. I am working on getting the codes to work to the full potential and be able to get the movement to be smooth. The movement of one of the codes is basically the way I want it, but the hit test does not respond while using it, because the code adheres to movie clips, not instance names. The other code's hit test works, but the movement of the code does not move in a good pattern.

I will be watching some more tutorials to see if I can find some more effective code. I will also be testing out different variables to see if I can get the movement correct. It is a long process of trial and error, but I am continually learning new things.

Social Games? Your mom does that.

Social games are a quickly growing fad. Everyone and their mother, literarily, have heard about or played played some type of social game. FarmVille, Bejeweled, Mafia Wars and Cafe World are just a few of the major social games that are available. Whether its spending a few minutes here or there, or constantly playing the games, many people have started playing social games on a regular basis.

I looked up some information on these online social games, and found two surveys that talked about who plays these games, and how often, and I found some interesting information that might surprise you. From survey findings, the average age of the "social gamer" is 43, and they are female. The ages of gamers have been changing lately. Games are being designed to be adhere to the interests of more broad age ranges.

According to Bizreport.com, "For many, social gaming is not only a fun pastime but a means to keep in touch with their network. It's also a way of bonding between generations with younger generations able to play with their parents and grandparents regardless of geographical location or time restrictions." People are using these games as a way to reconnect with their past, as well as connect with their current social rings.

It seems that people are playing games a lot, and they are. According to the survey, "Most gamers (95%) play social games several times a week, with 64% playing daily. The average game session lasts more than half an hour (that how long 61% play), while 10% say they may play more than 3 hours at a time. While one-fourth of players (26%) are new to social games, more than half (56%) have been playing for more than a year. One-third (35%) say they are playing more games over the last three months, compared to 10% who say they are playing less." Instead of just casual game play every few days, people are gaming almost every day, or even multiple times a day.

This just shows how innovative the online gaming industry is getting. They are constantly changing to adhere to their market, and it is working. They are getting the response they want. With all of the invites to play games on facebook from friends, it is hard not to play games all of the time.

Social games: news and survey findings

PopCap Games: Typical social game is female and forty-three

A Slow, but steady Progression

When I looked up the word "progress" on Creative Commons, this was an image that came up. Some times while working in flash I feel like a random satelite floating out in space. I feel like I get so far in something, and then I just kind of float around for a bit.

My progress as of late has been slow, but mostly steady. I figure out something new every time I sit down to work on the game. This week I worked some on the variables of the random motion patterns in the game, and figured out some ways to change the velocity. I am now working on figuring out how to set boundaries for the objects on the screen. This is necessary so that the objects won't move right off the screen, but will keep their random movements within the playable game screen.

I look forward to figuring it all out, and to be able to finally get all of the game objects moving properly. Should be a challenge, but I am up to it.

This week while doing research on my Flash Games weekly topic, I stumbled upon a new online game that intrigued me.



( Photo Credit: Tiny Speck)

The game is called "Glitch." It was started by a group called Tiny Speck. Tiny speck was founded by Stewart Butterfield and his partners, Cal Henderson, Eric Costello, and Serguei Mourachov. Butterfield is the Flickr co-founder. Glitch has been in the works since last March, and has been continually changing.

CNet News says, "Glitch is a social online game that takes place in the imaginations of 11 ancient giants and tasks players with essentially growing an optimistic future from the ground up through complex questing, resource development, and interactions with others." There are some really cool innovations that this game is taking. It just isn't a mindless game. Butterfield admitted, "There's not a better way to say [who we're targeting] than people with above average intelligence and sophisticated tastes, in their 20s or early 30s...The intersection of NPR listeners and game players."

Gamers get to choose their path, and choices effect in-game reactions. Your choices change how things are in the game, making it an ever changing gaming experience. You gain levels and do quests to be able to accomplish certain goals all within a 2D Flash world. You can interact with other players making it a "social sim." It will be an interesting mix for this "Web Based Social MMO(Massively Multiplayer Online game)." As of now it will be free-to-play.

Forms of the game will be available in many ways, web based such as Facebook, and mobile on the iPhone or Android phones. A player can buy mini-quests from their phones that will allow them to upgrade their accounts and manage things in game from their phone that will help them get an edge on the competition. Butterfield said, Tiny Speck would like to make Glitch available, in some form or another, on as many platforms as possible, up to and including Xbox Live or PlayStation Network.

This seems like a very interesting concept, and I am looking forward to seeing how this develops. Will it be the next online hit? Who knows, but I will be watching to see how it develops either way.

Here is a mini-trailer as a "teaser" that was released:


(Credit: Tiny Speck)

Sources from CNET News:

The technology and platforms of Tiny Speck's Glitch

In depth with Tiny Speck's Glitch

Kid's Credit?

When I saw this, it kind of blew my mind. I can just see the developer's mind working. "Hmm, so we got these kids, eh. And they have money, But no credit card.... What will we ever do? I got it! Kid's credit...Kwedit! Genius! Then we can get their money!"

Kwedit is essentially a credit company for kids. They can easily use this service to buy online games, virtual goods, or other digital content. Kids don't even have to buy pre-paid cards anymore. Now all they need to do is agree to the fee, print out a slip, and take it to their local 7-Eleven store to pay for the fee. This is called, "Kwedit Direct." There is also a feature where you can ask someone else to pay the price for you such as a friend or parent, this is called Pass the Duck.

"Teens can buy prepaid cards for games at the stores now. But in the middle of the night, that doesn’t really help them if they want to make a purchase in an online game so they can join with their friends, said Danny Shader, chief executive of Kwedit and a longtime veteran of the payment industry." I guess it wasn't easy enough buy the pre-paid cards, no they can build up a bill at anytime, without their parents even knowing it.

The idea behind this goes back to an previous post I made. Virtual goods are expected to generate a staggering $1.6 Billion in the U.S. alone this year. What Kwedit is seeing is that teens are being left out of this number, because "95 percent of them pay for goods with cash."

One of the features that is scary to me is the "Kwedit Promise" which allows kids to "play now, pay later." In my opinion this is just asking for problems. The kids will gain debt before they are even in highschool. "Kwedit gives you a Kwedit Score that is a measure of your reliability in making payments. The higher your score, the more you can bill under Kwedit Promise." At least they give some kind of learning experience to the mix, helping kids learn about credit scores.

Kwedit is up and running on 100 popular online sites, and will soon be working on 1,000 online games. This could get big really quick. I am not saying that this is the worst thing in the world, I am just saying that this could be too much convenience for younger consumers. Kids don't have credit cards for a reason, they aren't reliable. It seems as if the market is going for "ease of purchase," while to me they are just trying to get more money.

I'll leave you with this final statement:
"But the good thing is that with virtual goods, the actual loss if someone defaults is zero, as it costs nothing to produce another virtual good."

Quotes and Article from http://games.venturebeat.com/:

Kwedit lets kids use cash to pay for online games, buy virtual goods

Lear, Learn, Learn!

I put this photo on here because I kinda think it is how I am in this class right now. The little girl is flying in the air, but has an almost apprehensive look on her face. I am learning how to fly, but kinda apprehensive at the same time. I get something really cool accomplished, then totally mess something else up. The cool thing is, the more I work with flash the less apprehensive I become. I am learning by trial and error.

Flash games has been a process. I have learning new things that expound upon the knowledge that I gained from Game Design last semester. Most recently, I am working on a random movement generator. Now I think that Monica has shown me a flash file that should really help in what I am trying to accomplish in the game.

I am ready to get back to work on the game, and hopefully get the movement and gameplay of the game working properly so that someone can actually play it!

Innovation

The gaming industry has been making more and more innovations every day. The online gaming industry is beginning to infiltrate many aspects of our daily lives and using it for progress. This week I want to look at some a market innovation that is catching on fast

Most industries would not first think about playing games to gain business, but the gaming industry is moving on the opportunity to advance sales in other departments. Recently the restaurant industry moved onto the online gaming industry to help sales.

Nrn.com says, "Del Taco and Qdoba Mexican Grill are two of the latest chains using proprietary or licensed games to hook consumers and their dollars. The respective online games and the menu promotions they support have associated Facebook.com and Twitter.com social networking pages and activities, as well." They are using gaming online games as incentives for buying their food. This gives the gamer incentive to eat their products by giving them extra objects and playing time in the game itself.

Nrn.com states, "At 500-plus-unit Del Taco, the chain has partnered with game producer Atari to offer patrons free playing time on the beta test site for the new Star Trek Online game. The personal computer version of that so-called massively multiplayer online, or MMO, game developed by Cryptic Studios is set to formally launch on Feb. 2."

"Del Taco has linked the game with its extra large, 44-ounce Macho soft drink, which typically sells for $1.89, and its combo-meals. Customers who make a qualifying purchase from through Feb. 16 receive a plastic collectible Star Trek cup with a peel-off activation code that can be entered at the chain’s www.startrekonline.com/deltaco microsite to receive 48 hours of free online game play."

The players by buying the food from the restaurant will gain playing time, and unlockables in the game. This is a great way to advertise the game, while getting business for the restaurant. Both Atari and Del Taco gain from the agreement, and so do gamers if they are interested in the game it will allow them to have a more interesting gaming experience. Many other restaurants have recently tested out online games for promotion as well.

These innovations change how we even eat fast food. I will be watching to see if other restaurants move on the gaming industry and begin to incorporate game into their promotional advertising.

Online games part of menu promos
http://www.nrn.com/breakingNews.aspx?id=378742&menuid=1368