We've Got Game For Decades

We're really happy to announce that our little baby in waiting, Decades, has finally become approved for the Facebook platform. Check it out: http://apps.facebook.com/decadesgame/ !

The entry into Facebook now marks Decades' third platform entry, as it has been available through iTunes for iPhone/iPod Touch and for Android devices at Android Marketplace for the past couple of weeks.

So far the feedback we've received from the mobile gaming community has been positive and we're looking forward to what is sure to be a great response from Facebook gamers as well. Post some comments into our comment section, let us know what you think of our newest release!

The Go Game Flash Mob for Digg.com

Finnegan Kelly and our friends at The Go Game should be proud. Digg.com did well by their game in this hilarious video of ARG in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMZlP_CSwWA

Edery at the Digital Distribution Summit

Our own David Edery spoke at the Digital Distribution Summit in Melbourne, Austrailia about the opportunities and set backs for game creators on the Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and WiiWare markets.

He stated that although the market is smaller than they would like, it is growing rapidly and that "these [digital distribution] ecosystems are going to be the future" in this console generation.

Read the whole article here.

SMERC Speaks at Digiday:Apps

Brian Wane, CEO of SMERC, spoke on the What Do We Build? Panel at Digiday: Apps. His comments explained why everything is a game and spoke to the need for a distributed distribution strategy for digital products.

11:45am: A Mobile App, Social App, WAP, Widget, What Do We Build?: So what is the right type of App for you? How will an App fit into your digital media and marketing strategy? How are marketers, content owners, and advertisers leveraging the enormous power of the app in mobile, social, and digital worlds?

In this session we will have the experts chime in on how brands can connect and interact with their customers, create brand advocates and gain valuable insights using the various forms of mobile and social apps. We will examine how consumers engage with apps and how brand communications are being revolutionized by the various platforms.

Moderator: Adam J. Broitman, Partner and Ringleader, Circ.Us
Speakers:
Eric A. Litman, Chairman & CEO, Medialets
Michael Nicklas, Managing Director, SocialSmart
Melissa Hudson, Digital Director, A&E
Michael Chin, SVP, Marketing, KickApps
Brian Wane, CEO, SMERC Design, Inc.

http://www.digidayapps.com/agenda

An exhaustive graffiti taxonomy

Ever dazzled by graffiti but have no idea what it is saying? Decode the message and learn some neat stuff about modern street typography courtesy of the Cartier Foundation. ( Thanks for the link Design Observer. )

http://fondation.cartier.com/

I thought this was relevant because our soon to be released game Repot Depot has an urban theme with some stylish grafitti of its own. SMERC is so street!

Google Wave

Google Wave is a new tool for communication and collaboration on the web, coming later this year.

http://wave.google.com

The demo for Google Wave is pretty amazing. in HTML 5 it offers the ability to collaboratively communicate in real time and in a way that will supplant email and instant messaging while allowing users to broadcast the results. I'm a bit concerned about how backward compatible it is with existing email programs. The API is exciting as it allows easy extension. I think that once Orkut full integrates Google Wave Facebook should be afraid.

The new spell check is freakin amazing. It takes context into account. That imeediately makes me think about game design. Well, honestly, my first reaction is that this whole thing is already a game, but they've written some gadgets that are specifically games. Soduko, chess... these yurn in competitive experiences. But I think Wave could be the tool that jumpstarts a massive expansion in collaborative social gaming.

What is a Game?

Today I'd say a game is a constrained ruleset with meaningful feedback.