Steven Savage

EA pulls back on the 3rd party titles, Disney pulls back on the high-end consoles. Greece pulls back from the brink.  Everyone else is pulling back, so let's jump into the Must Know Geek Job News!

Career:
Why hope is a better job strategy than fear – makes some great points.

Economics:
It appears some plan is indeed coming to help the Greek economy – This will hopefully help bring some stability to the EU, which would be good for global stability.  However keep in mind California's economy dwarf's Greece's, so there are other problems in the world . . .

Anime and Manga:
A live Akira from the people that directed 'Book of Eli' – An interesting choice, and it seems like this is moving ahead pretty well (faster, say, than Cowboy Bebop and Battle Angel Alita). Book of Eli didn't interest me, but I hear the direction was good and these two can probably handle post-apocalyptic. Akira's cyberpunk/horror/monster/military mix may go over well these days.

Where is Viz Going? Find out here. Sounds like expanding mature focus and more.

Publishing:
MUST READ: An in-depth look at the future of ebooks and emags. Lots of insights, take your time with this one.

MUST READ: A look at the divisions and changes in the information economy. It's hard to sum this one up beyond, 'read it' but it looks at the changes that happened – and need to happen in the world of media and publishing.

Technology:
Motorola may be breaking up – Something is in the works. Of course that's a big break up and could produce troubles – and opportunities.

Video Games:
EA is moving away from distributing 3rd party titles – Looks like their focus is going, obviously, in-house. They could, based on this statement, even move away from some killer titles.

Disney is refocusing too: and it's more Wii and DS than high-end console games. That looks like a case of knowing your audience more than anything (though I could argue that Disney COULD make a go at consoles with concerted effort). Also notice that this jibes well with the iPad news of yesterday. So Disney seems to be picking it's battles – and its support could be good for Apple and Nintendo.

GameFly files for an IPO. This has me curious snce I figure they'd be thinking out different things to do with DLC breathing down their neck. I suspect though that if this IPO raises money they may use it for a broader strategy. Not sure what the implications for gaming are – it depends on how much money they raise and what they use it for.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Just what do you think GameFly's plans for the money they'd raise from an IPO?

– Steven Savage

Greece is suddenly in the news and it DOESN'T have to do with God of War or Xena. SquareEnix's big change may be . . . management style? Disney's Iger loves the iPad. Many different things going on – so here's the Geek News You Need for today!

Economics/Geekonomics:
You heard about how Greece was facing a financial meltdown? Looks like Goldman Sachs helped the government cover up the debt with some deals that circumnavigated EU regulation. End results? Greece is unpopular, Goldman-Sach is even further unpopular, the rest of the EU has an "out" for not helping Greece much or with as much dignity, and I see way increased chances of EU and global financial regulation. We're also going to feel it if Greece goes under, because several other Eurozone countries are having issues too – though I imagine some of this may be mitigated by people turning their fury on, well Goldman Sachs. If you work for Goldman Sach? My advice is to get out now.

More info on the Greece Mess here – As of this posting some bailout plan may be in the works.

Comics:
Superman to get a reboot? And apparently we'll hear more soon after DC's reorg. My guess is they want to hold off on Dark Knight for a bit, and the next target, of course, is Superman – which may also fit the recent trend of comics trying to go a bit more fun-retro, and the recent retro-hip of "Batman: The Brave and the Bold." Trends to watch?

Media:
MTV Takes the word Music Television out of their logo. Which fits as they've been taking the music out of their channel for ages. Included to show the changing times, and so I can wax sarcastic as I was there when it launched.

Is Disney big on the iPad? Iger apparently is. A heavy amount of Disney content on an iPad would be a big deal for Apple and Disney – and Tablets. However I can't imagine Disney going too exclusive. Still, Disney+Apple is a huge Apple boost and a technology boost.  It also may mean Apple knowledge is good if you want to work for Disney.

Movies:
The Last Airbender Film is going to have what appears to be a nice Toy Line with it. This film interests me for several reasons – it could revive the TV series, it could lead to a further media franchise, and the Avatar setting is one that cries out for games and even an MMO (unlike the current one). Of course a crash-and-burn could be something of a deterrent to other adaptions.

Publishing:
UK Indie Bookshops in decline – A bit of depressing news for you. Makes me wonder what indie book store closures are like in various countries.

Technology:
Google adds social components to Gmail with Buzz. Analysis in article, which also suggests social media may vary in people's use by their various interests in intimacy.

Video Games:
Not going to be another game like Final Fantasy XIII? We seem to have a bit more clarification on that statement from SquareEnix: It won't be done with the same large teams. FFXIII team at times reached 300 people – which is about 100 people or so larger than the other large in-house teams I've heard of. It sound like they're moving to be more nimble and efficient with smaller teams – which also tells me a few things:

A) They're going to try some new management methods, which may or may not work.
B) They will outsource more work.
C) I bet they're going to go with delivery models encouraging the above – probably more DLC to ensure expandability, sustainability, and ease of additional profit.

EA may be selling packaged goods like crazy, but it's still loosing money – They try to put a good spin on it here. I think they have awhile before their new strategies and IP pay off – if any. Part of their strategy emerges, however, as they say Every 2011 title will have online play and DLC which sounds cool, until you realize this is basically a trend we're seeing anyway – though it's good they're embracing it. One analyst thinks they have got it right.

German game developer Bigpoint opens an office in Silicon Valley and has backing from NBC. Sounds like they have some ambitious plans – though I hadn't heard of them before this. Also an indicator that despite its problems, California hasn't changed in its importance to tech.

You can sign up for the Lego Universe Beta. So, what are you waiting for? Finish reading the news and go on over! Sure it's not necessarily career-oriented, but . . . it's lego!

QUESTION OF THE DAY: If SquareEnix changes their team/management style, will they leverage that for better products – or faster delivery? After all they did blow that money on Eidos . . .

– Steven Savage