News and Analysis

Does Google’s Advertising Model Work?

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Quartz asks the question, and the rough answer seems to be “for some people but definitely not everyone” according to a recent analysis.

We all known online advertising is an imperfect business model.  So what’s next for people that use it?

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.

 

 

 

A Bit Of Geekonomics: Oil Prices Aren’t Going Down

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Quartz is there on why they won’t be going down.

A lot – but not all – is unrest and political (with China’s hoarding).  What I find intriguing is the idea this is the end of the Petro-state (which Canada occasionally flirts with being, warning to my Canadian friends).  If one things of it, a petrostate is basically reliant on one resource, and the inherent vulnerabilities within and created by that reliance and its limits.  You can’t eat oil after all.

I’ve seen some talk of an oil shock in 2015.  Seems more and more likely.  There could be some nasty economic issues.

However this probably has more repercussions for solar and green tech, if only because people like to bandwagon-jump.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.

End Time For The Games Console

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The Consumerist makes the case that it’s going to be over.

Their basic arguments are that it’s:

  • Cost Effective
  • Disc-less
  • Pirate-averse.

I’d also add that:

  • People are interested in multifunction devices.
  • Gaming has spread into multiple venues, “diluting” the idea of a dedicated game console.
  • Game consoles are rushing to be semi-PCs anyway except for the Wii U.

Now let’s talk careers here – what does this mean for game developers?

How many people are ready for this shift, if real?

How many will suddenly have useless skillsets?

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.