Writer, Agilist, Elder Geek
We all know the old trope about work – you get a job or series of jobs, save money, perhaps get a pension, and retire to lea a nice life in your 60's.
Of course by now we've seen this is an illusion for too many people, and many solid retirements have become mirages in the Great Recession. However, more than this illusion, I think that the idea of work-then-retire has been toxic to people's careers for another reason: it led them to take jobs they hate.
Lots and lots of video game news, Qualcom in India, and Flash gets a well-needed upgrade. It's Must-Know geek news time!
Anime and Manga:
News in Manga format? Japan has it. Interesting business model as well – might give you creative types a few ideas.
Social Media:
Twitter has 125 million users and climbing. Of course they're still working on monetizing (maybe with trending topic ad space) – and Twitter is reporting visitors (which are not the same as users) more prominently. Still good news for Twitter.
Technology:
Qualcomm gets Broadband rights in India for a sweet chunk of physical and band real estate. They'll be partnering with Indian companies of course, but this is a great deal for them, so I suggest tech-oriented progeeks see if they may be hiring . . .
Adobe issues a new version of Flash, which addresses a variety of issues (including some security issues) and improvements. Sounds like this one was pushed out because of the recent press issues. So let's see if this helps their image and solves some problems . . . or makes new ones.
Television:
A fascinating letter from Gene Roddenberry on Star Trek, and its fans and what it's about. Some insights on fans (he respects them), futurism, and Spock being intriguing to women.
Video Games:
Microsoft hopes to sell 5 million Project Natals. I'll believe it when I see it – I'm just not sure the motion capture craze is anything more than just Wii-envy. It appears when it comes to Natal and Sony's Move gamers aren't that aware of them.
Video game Talent Agency Digital Development Management starts a Social Media division. Might be worth checking these guys out if you're in gaming.
Looks like Ubisoft wants to move beyond packaged goods: it started a new digital publishing business. Now how many others will follow because of this?
There's money in . . . game peripherals? Ask Mad Katz about their success.
Question of the Day: So is there really any market for these new motion game peripherals – in fact, is it just a fad?
– Steven Savage
More geek movies, security breaches, and Playdom heads to Europe while other social game companies head to the East. it's must-know geek news!
Economics/Geekonomics:
A short column on the idea that the Housing crash and long-term unemployment are connected. This of course is quite logical, and fits everything I've heard before – home ownership actually increases unemployment duration.
Anime and Manga:
American series Supernatural to become an anime possibly. A good choice for it – and I wonder if this is the Big Big Japanese/American fusion we've talked about on this blog before, the one that will create a more powerful synergy. Side thought – imagine other Western properties that could benefit or fit an anime adaption such as Firefly, Buffy, Smallville, etc. There used to be an internet joke page for an anime Babylon 5 but . . . I'd watch it and probably purchase Cute Magical Sidekick Zathras. If this does unlease creative fusion, that could mean opportunities . . .
Movies:
The unreleased Green Lantern movie has a sequel and it's writers will also work on a movie adaption of The Flash. It appears that DC is geared up in full for films.
That Thundercats live movie may still be happening, depending on the cartoon reception. Do I sense a further move into synergy on the part of Warner Brothers, who appears to be looking at at other such things?
Technology:
AT&T Security flaw Exposes iPad user email addresses – in case you haven't seen this all over the technical news. Bad for Apple, but it's also another blow to AT&T's image. Also a good example of how in a world where technologies depend on each other, it just takes one company/provider to mess up things for everyone else.
Video Games:
Playdom seeks to branch into Europe, by language-localizing games. Sounds promising to me.
QUESTION OF THE DAY: What's DC's next likely property to develop?
– Steven Savage