hey youguuuuys!

I seem to have a few supporters from the field of ‘Wii is a marketing ploy’. Few people on C3 have come round to my way of thinking, and I’ve convinced people on a couple of forums too. Hope to God it is a marketing ploy now. On paper = brilliant. Spoken out loud = terrible.

Latest mega-post:

Since I seem to have brought the theory here, I’ll field this. It’s a bloody brilliant strategy, marketing or otherwise, to create a sense of disillusion, of disappointment, before a big reveal. The initial disappointment/anger/upset snowballs inside the person/s or consumer/s and makes them turn their back or partially turn their back on a situation or a product, and then when news is announced that rectifies the situation and adds more to it it makes it all the more impressive, switching said person/s or consumer/s back round to your side. As I say, it’s not mutually exclusive to marketing - it can be done to everyday people about everyday situations.

For example, you might tell somebody that they won’t get something for their birthday, then on the day present it and more. To expand that example with a real life story, this recently happened to me: for one reason or another, I wanted a ukulele. Vikki (ShinyRainbow) said she would get me one, and then for weeks proceeded to spin me a cock and bull story about how they had gone up in price, how they didn’t have any in stock, how the shop that sold them at a reasonable price had shut down, until I was at the point when I was convinced I wouldn’t get one. Come my birthday, out came a ukulele, and the anti-hype made it all the sweeter.

I’m choosing to argue that Nintendo have lain upon us a name that is good on paper but tripe when spoken. In doing so, they have created massive amounts of PR, some positive, mainly negative. ‘Nintendo’ and ‘Wii’ were the themes of the Internet last night, it was absolutely everywhere and even Nintendo’s own websites were totally taken out at one point, and most of the talk was that it was a stupid name. If, in 11 days, Iwata was to come out and announce it as a hoax and then dump the games, the secrets, all the information upon us in an impressive array, as well as a new, decent name, the amount of hype would explode over the anti-hype, as all the outlets would be forced to correct the ‘Wii’ name to the new one, and if the name choice was right then the previously negative comments would be replaced with positive statements. It’s currently negative news permeating the mainstream, but it could easily be swung into hugely positive PR in a week and a half. If they don’t do it, I sincerely believe they will have missed out on the best start to a marketing strategy you could ask for. They did say the viral campaign would start soon recently (Perrin Kaplin (sp?) to IGN), and I believe this is said campaign.

And in response to the BBC and many other media outlets picking up on it (this was on MozLaPunk forums):

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 2:30 pm Post subject:

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I imagine many are picking up on it because it’s such a stupid sounding name. If it is a marketing ploy, this is extremely positive, as it’s creating ‘anti-hype’ amongst people. Then, if they were to announce a new name that’s better at E3, all these media outlets would be forced to announce the changes or risk looking stupid. All information from E3 would also slot into it when changed - free publicity all over the show.

Which has some agreeance too. The next couple of weeks are going to be a total geek fest.

…being sortof in the media.

I’ve just gotten to look at an FPS engine for DS, playable on the PC using the arrow keys and space bar, and clicking, holding and moving about on the bottom screen to look around - nothing different to things already shown, but it still worked well and was quite impressive. Better not say who did it for now in case I’m not supposed to be saying anything.

Download promo clip from C3 if you’re registered.

Introducing … Wii.

As in “we.”

While the code-name “Revolution” expressed our direction, Wii represents the answer.

Wii will break down that wall that separates video game players from everybody else.

Wii will put people more in touch with their games … and each other. But you’re probably asking: What does the name mean?

Wii sounds like “we,” which emphasizes this console is for everyone.

Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii.

Wii has a distinctive “ii” spelling that symbolizes both the unique controllers and the image of people gathering to play.

And Wii, as a name and a console, brings something revolutionary to the world of video games that sets it apart from the crowd.

So that’s Wii. But now Nintendo needs you.

Because, it’s really not about you or me.

It’s about Wii.

And together, Wii will change everything.

What do you think? I think it’s a mint name, rolls off the tongue well, very Nintendo. It sounded shite at first, but then it clicked a few minutes later. If those are the adverts to expect, Nintendo will do well in the UK. My guess at a tagline: “You. Me. Wii.”

I was flipping through .NET magazine in ASDA this morning, waiting for some photos to be developed. In the magazine, there was an article about a web technology called Ruby On Rails (ROR).

Anyway i’ve taken a keen interest on ROR so decided to read it. It was how to get started with it and how to use it for developing..etc..Towards the end of the article there was a little section saying which sites already use ROR. They had 10. The first one was A List Apart, which in my opinion is the best looking site on the Internet. Then next to that was another site that uses ROR called Spread Reading. “Cool”I thought, i must check it oot. So, what is Spread Reading? (get ready for a wank, mason)

Do you like reading, and talking about books? Do you like surprises?

We like both. Spread is our version of a book club. Each month, we will choose a few members at random and buy them a book. They can come back here, and discuss the book. The only thing we ask is that when they are finished with the book they pass it on to another person. It’s like a book club without the deadlines or cookies or weekly meetings.

I’ve just signed up it’s still a very small community

Seen it? This series finalé is going to end up really class. I reckon Michael’s going to do something sick, like try and betray Jack/Kate/maybe other people in return for Walt.

Just read a rumour that the season finalé, the two hour one, is one big Desmond flashback. Fucking class.

pretty mint day today, so i’ll tell you aaaall aboot it. Mehdi and I decided to go to Manchester Airport for a coffee. (yeah…) So I took the train to Heald Green. I saw that girl I like at uni while i was buying my ticket, she was sat on her own with a huge luggage (it was almost bigger than her, bless), so she’s either going back home or going somewhere else. Should have said something. “I’m in your Database lectures…hehehehe” but didn’t, anyway got to Heald Green and met Mehdi, and we then took the train to the Airport.

Got to the Airport and decided to go to Terminal 1 to see all the planes, but Terminal 2 had all the travellators so we spent about 15 minutes walking on travellators. They have this hotel at the airport called the SAS Hotel, so we obviously had to pull jokes about the people staying there being SAS soldiers and doing everything over the top. “i’m going down to the lobby” *throws a rope down and shimmy their way down to the lobby*. Receptionist: “do you have a booking?, GOD DAMN YOU, DO YOU HAVING A BOOKING?!?” Also plenty of jookes about Arab terrorists.

Anyway we then went to Terminal 1 and played a bit on the arcade machines. (Mehdi beat me twice at Virtua Tennis ) We then grabbed out drinks, I had a lovely Chocolate with a muffin served by a lovely Finn.

After that we went into Manchester and pissed around in the shops. Went to P Rec, Vinyl Exchange then Forbidden Planet, then we suddenly had a Jack Bauer Wanking moment and we kept on going “awww..that guy is a legeeeend” and quoting him, my current favourite being:

“Jack, please, she doesn’t have anything to do with this”
“NOR DO THE PEOPLE DIEING IN THAT HOTEL, TELL ME WHERE THE OTHER VILES ARE OR I WILL MAKE YOU WATCH YOUR DAUGHTER DIE!”

Mehdi bought Season 5 simpsons, so we kept on quoting shit from that. “THEY’RE DOGS. AND THEY’RE PLAYING POKER…MUWHAHAHA!” and the last episode in season 5 being the classic that is . “…when you reach over and put your hand into a pile of goo, that used to be your best friend’s face!” AND the first episode is mint too: Barbershop Quartet. “Apu, there are rumours flying around that you are an Indian, is this true?” So need to get seasons 5,6 and 7 on dvd.

aaanyway we then to look for somewhere to eat, we went to Selfridges and wanted Sushi, but the place was packed since it was lunchtime so we said we’ll do that next time. So went round Selfridges a bit more and found a computer store with tons of Macs. The first one i went to was the one with the 30″ Cinema HD display. Wet myself. Then we checked out the laptops, made a pact with Mehdi that if we stay around Manchester for our placement year and dont’ have to pay for accomodation we will buy the most recent MacBook.

We ended up having lunch at Rice (suprise, suprise…) But it was pretty decent actually, cos it was their first year anniversary so we bought one meal and got another one free. We got 2 starters and 2 meals for £10. I paid. Mehdi owes me. During our meal i showed Animal Crossing to Mehdi, since he’s not seen it being played yet.

Waiting for our meal to digest, we had a talk about the SAS again, so i decided to buy an Andy McNab novel i saw in Oxfam with Mason a while ago (Firewall, it was called. £2.). So Mehdi bought it me. Then we split up and I got on the bus and he went upto the train station. With him shouting “THEY’RE DOGS…AND THEY’RE PLAYING POKER! MUWHAHA”

5/5.

So, real-world organisation is almost complete. Just need to file the uni work away now, then i can do my database shiiiiit.

I’m giving myself a week to get everything done (including two essays), then I can just focus on revision (5 weeks of it) and nothing else.

Click here and read, this is funny stuff.

Somebody ‘customised’ a Pomeranian dog so it looks like the Firefox fox. Damn cute, if a bit snide.

Thanks to Turon for giving this utterly shit game some publicity amongst the you guys.

Turon - 21st October 2005 - “panda bounce!!!!!!!!!!!” - Original

a mad new korean game has hit the net, click here are enjoy the pandastic fun!

I particularly love the bad grammar/spelling in the joy that this game invoked within Turon.

The comments were also fun, if basic:

it’s shit, mate

Comment by sy — October 22, 2005 @ 10:33 am

it isn’t shit mate

Comment by turonm — October 22, 2005 @ 1:11 pm

Might have to extend Retro Week, I need a decent one from Sy posted by me as well.

So thought my stuff was getting a bit disorganised, resulting in me being confused about things, like questions such as ‘what am I doing?’ started to become difficult to answer. Hence, must re-organise everything

Of course stuff you can’t see such as spreadsheets, notes, databases of my life need to be updated as well. Also, a shitload of uni work to get through, my CDs and few VHS tapes, old software - think I’ll throw them away and just back up my songs on disc. Can’t be arsed keeping crap for the sake of keeping it.

I’ll let you know when I’m done.

First Revolution game revealed:

http://www.cubed3.com/news/4889

We’re updating as much as possible. Read the comments for more info, I’m digging it up from all over the show and have put in a few long comments.

OK, so it’s my turn to dig up a post from the past

I chose one from Sy, it’s the one where he gets his new glasses. I just love how he goes on about what various people think about them, and then the pic at the end with sy looking so ICE COLD!

Syed - December 16, 2005 – “glassesss (now with a pic)”

well i got them, and everything seems so fucking clear. its scary. lol.

going to see how much it’ll cost me to whack in my new lenses into my old frames as a backup.

anyway when people see my new frames they so “bloody hell!” or “whoa!” the optician said “bloody hell!” at first. said they are a huge difference from my old pair, but reckons i can pull off the style he said to give it a few days for people to get used to them and all will be ok.

i was a bit unsure at first, they are bigger than my old ones, but now i really like them, i like reading the newspaper with theeem and makes me look like a journaliiist. lol. (i shit you not i’m writing an article at the moment about Wireless USB got some shit printed out to annotate and i’ll lob it up after the weekend for y’all to reeead.) my mum said they were really nice from the word go and afiza said they’re cool. dont’ expect youguuys to like it straight away, don’t expect anyone to, cos it’s such a big difference. it’s like getting a hair cut really short, but then you get used to it and it looks a’right. so hopefully i’ll look okee after a biiit.

anyway we must meet up next weeek.

update:

So was messing around with my laptop, and decided to jazz it up a bit.

[click picture for bigger view]

Icons and desktop by David Lanham

I know we were going to set out days for each othe…but whoo caaaaares

Anyway my contribution is:

Mason - August 23, 2005 “Surprised this isn’t dead yet…”

It’s not a funny post or anything, but I like the way Mase described his weekend in such detail, I enjoyed reading it very much

I was all shy and not talking about probably looking boring and ignorant, but I explained to Nai while Claire and Vikki went to the toilet that I wasn’t usually “this uninteresting” (probably am though) and that I “wasn’t being ignorant, I’m just shy”. It was alright. All just went after an hour and a bit.

I thought it was a giant duck for a second. Vikki: “…..It’s a baby swan.”

Showed Vikki a HD-TV in Dixons. Brilliant words from her: “…That’s the first thing we’re buying for our house.”