Why are Great Games Great? Is it the Fun factor? The Tech? The Interface?

Great Games are Great Why?
Tell me!
Image, Fun, Interaction & You?

Instead of talking about a must-see band today, I decided to muse and mull something different. After all, the site's name is Musings and Meanings of Non-Sensical Events...and Canada. Well, I'm going to muse, and perhaps you can help me find some meaning. It may not be non-sensical, then again, what is sensible about many things that we, as human beings, do? As for Canada, well, this musing is international, so feel free to pipe in from whereever you are--Canada won't be an addendum to the US this time! (wink & LOL, sorry Canada, know it bothers you all when people lump you together with the USA.)

I do a lot of research into image, interaction, social identity in an online world, interface design, and other things--including what makes something 'beautiful' or 'fun' or 'innovative' or you-name-it. It's one reason this site is dedicated to music, art, dance and media issues. I find beauty here as well as innovation and that ever illusive 'fun' factor.

Those that read this blog regularly know that I often spoof Microsoft, Google, Disney and other big media players (you note I said 'media' not 'internet' as we are well beyond just 'internet' these days in our daily online lives.) They get spoofed not because of any real dislike for them, but because they are so big and powerful now that the effects they can have on the media world can be shattering. Or they can be innovative and uplifting. However, being big companies, they are about profit and loss (P&L) and if we, those without power, don't constantly remind them that we, those that purchase and use their services, want fun, innovation and usefulness, then there is the likely chance that they will stop listening all together. Customer service departments you see and market research are money sinks rather than profit centers--hence, if big companies think they can get rid of the money sinks, they will.

What has this got to do with games, image or even you? Well, beyond the obvious things of you being a consumer/user, I'm talking about quality of life. This includes quality of life online as well as offline. Fun is a big part of that. Games are often a way to understand 'fun.' Plus, how you interact with games or online spaces is a big factor as well.

As for Image, many of you...in fact ALL of you...create your image and present it to others, online or offline. If you are an artist (any genre, any form) then understanding how to create your image and how to present it to others as well as what effects it has on others will help you succeed or fail in your artistic pursuit. Why do you think big companies spend so much time and money on Branding? They know it matters in ways that are hard to measure with current, past and future customers. Human beings are wonderfully complicated and yet both similar and unique. This is why companies try to appeal to particular demographics and why different art forms, music genres, games and of course sporting events exist. We are different. We are alike. We like different things. We band together to enjoy those things. Sometimes we change our minds and like something new or go back to something old. We're fickle and we change over time. It's natural.

But if you are trying to build a fanbase for your work, then you have the same headaches those big companies have with trying to retain their customers and find new ones. Image.

Except you don't have millions to spend on branding, marketing and research, or PR spinning when you mess up, do you? So you need to think even more carefully about how you present yourself to others and whether it has the intended effect.

So back to games. I've talked about marketing issues related to image. I've talked about design tools that make it easier to create your image online (without being a programmer.) So why am I blathering on about games? Or for that matter that interaction or design thing I mentioned?

Think about your presentation online. It's not just about putting up some photos of yourself and quickie bio, is it? You customize your webpage, your MySpace page or your blog, don't you? You should be thinking not just about 'what' you say and 'what images' you put up, but also about what colors you choose for your site, what songs/music you put on your site and on a deeper level, how viewers interact with the stuff you put up.

Now MySpace and Google Blogger pretty much give you standard interfaces (buttons, comment sections and so forth) so if you think carefully about how you customize there, you won't have many problems. (I've seen some sites that didn't think first, and you can't find the buttons, or other elements sit in front of them so you can't use them.)

Figuring out that interaction is also important. If you frustrate people by making it hard to contact you, or get to options on your page or you mislead them into following some trail that turns out to be bogus, then you are going to have major image problems. Don't piss off your potential and current fan base. Know what they like and want and do that, but without being false. Be true to yourself and your image, true fans will respect you for it and it will be easier to maintain a true image, even one that is evolving through the highs and lows of being an artist.

Again, games? Why games? OK, games are innovative almost by their very nature AND they have to think about interactions with the player and the interface design AND all the creative elements (visual, audio, narrative, everything.) A great game creates an emotional connection between the game and the player. It doesn't take million dollar special effects or 1000s of man hours of programming. Production quality always helps, but like some great cult TV shows, it doesn't always matter.

Games also innovate in how we see the world. The one thing that disappoints me across the web and software industry is the lack of cool, visual design innovations. They are out there, but you rarely see them. Big companies don't like risk and consumers too often are risk aversive, too. Consumers say they want intuitive design (which is great) but then companies decide that that means don't try anything new. What do we get? We get same-old, same-old web designs based on very standardized design principles and almost always using the same 2D desktop metaphor that Windows and Mac both use.

The idea of design standards was to give designers a better understanding of GOOD design..i.e. don't make it hard to use, don't make it so that people can't understand what it's for, make it easy to make a purchase, or find a bit of information...that sort of thing. It didn't mean look exactly like your neighbor, except for the branding graphics and the link titles. It didn't mean throw out other metaphors for visual design and only, ONLY use the flat, 2D desktop model. (No, adding buttons that have a more 3D kind of look, isn't 3D...having simulated depth use via a 2D screen is 3D.)

Games go for 2D and 3D. They go for new interfaces for the players, with heads up displays, new controls, feedback systems, you name it. They are trying out new ideas everyday and it's not bleeding over into the more general online space, which disappoints me. It should also disappoint you, since you and I are the ones that are missing out on perhaps something even better than what we have now.

Games know that the competition is tough. (It's not just a question of Windows or Mac, Yahoo! or Google.) Competition for artists is tough, too! Even more than the games market, you have to find ways to stand out and get noticed. You need, like a game or website, GREAT content (i.e. your art, your music, your dance, your writing...) How you present yourself (IMAGE) goes a long way to getting people to notice you, trust you and want to learn more about you.

As for creating a fun, compelling experience for your fanbase, that's a whole other subject. I still wonder what 'fun' truly is...and what it means to different people. For example, the games I like the most, enjoy the most don't tend to be FPS (first person shooter) games like Halo or Half Life. I actually love games like Mercury, Marble Madness, F-Zero GX, Frequency, Dragon's Lair, Space Ace and Asteroids. Some of them are old games, some newer.

I was impressed with Myst; it's visually stunning, but I tend to get frustrated on complicated, obtuse games like that, so the fun factor dropped. The game that totally immersed me and scared the daylights out of me was called Iron Helix. No blood. No gore. But it did manage to actually convince me that what was happening was real, even though I was remotely controlling a robot and couldn't get hurt. My adrenalin raced as 'something' closed in on me and I fled the space station (to save my robot.) I had to remind myself that it wasn't real. Good games just like good TV shows or films do that to you.

But what I find fun or exciting or real is likely quite different from someone else, hence, fun is hard to break down into a fixed formula and why being true to yourself in building your image is so important. Everyone is different and not everyone will like you or your stuff. It's not an insult to you. It's normal. You want to find the fans that will like your stuff and appreciate it.

How you present your image helps. So look at games you like, TV and film you like, music you like, colors you like, design you like, interactive processes you typically do (how you navigate around the web, or what you expect to find someone's website...) all this will help you figure out how to design your image.

As for games and fun, I'm going to ask you the question because I definitely want to hear from you on this one.

What games do you find fun? What music is fun? What sports? What dances? What books? Or magazines? Or comics/graphic novels? Do you play games on your phone? How do you deal with the tiny screen? How can it still be fun with a screen that small? That small screen drives me nuts! What sites do you like? And WHY? What makes them fun for your? Do you even care that all the web site designs out there tend to look alike? That all the computers tend to look alike as well?

Let me know, because I really do want to know your opinions, and this is purely informal--I just want your opinions since I'm still trying to figure this out. Afterall...We human beings are hard to understand and every little bit helps.

Have a great weekend!
CG Anderson

First Impressions--Microsoft expresses a winner, Adobe flexes but doesn't inspire--Cool Tools for Designers not Developers

Microsoft’s Expression Suite and other Media Design Perspectives and First Impressions

Expression Blend is Sweet, Adobe Flex Doesn’t Inspire and Web 3.0 is Just on the Horizon, So Get Ready Now!

Aha! Blogolicious! Innovation Media Winner Karen Nielsen’s (Perceptions, the movie) profile/interview will be next week. I’m still waiting for some important info from her.

I’ve typically discussed music, dance or art on this blog with hints at marketing research and customer insights and how to use that in the artist’s search for fame and fortune. I’ve also spoofed technology/media companies more than once on this blog, since they are so much a part of the Internet/Web and Media world and ripe for a little friendly criticism. In their wars of domination for the minds and dollars of New Media citizens, they often forget who made them (i.e. their user base) and who can break them (again, their user base…us!) So I spoof them and we get the next Evil Empire—Google—with their Death Ray (courtesy originally of Dilbert) gone horribly wrong and destroying the Universe (i.e. the Galaxy Gal spoof serial.) We also get Microsoft wanting their Evil Empire dominant s/w power role back, which they had taken over from IBM. We get the 8000 (not 800) pound gorilla of content-power Disney being largely ignored by Internet based (software) media companies as they fight for marketshare with better gadgets and ever higher search term bidding wars.

We get this sort of fighting from them, rather than them remembering that in the world of media, regardless of mechanism of delivery, it’s the CONTENT that counts.

Good content brings in people. And I do mean PEOPLE, not ‘eyeballs,’ not ‘users,’ not ‘consumers,’ not NUMBERS…but actual living, breathing, thinking, feeling, striving and surviving people who have their own hopes and dreams—which do not include being part of some company’s “marketshare” or “revenue stream.” Relevance means be useful to people…don’t use them.

But what is content? Or rather, what is good content, since that is the gold standard for making New Media create a better online & offline experience—and therefore, a better world?

Generally, it’s information that is relevant to the searcher, it’s current, it’s useful, it’s clear but it’s also pleasing to read or view. It doesn’t have to be Shakespeare, nor does it have to be comedy, nor does it have to be the complete technical specifications to product X or service Y. But it does have to be clear, so that the reader/viewer will understand it and know what to do with the information, not to mention trust the information and trust that you will take good care of them if they build a customer-supplier relationship with you. This is usually accomplished through good design.

You could have the most innovative, best, most useful, groundbreaking, moneymaking product in the world—but if you can’t convey that message to those that need to hear and know that they understood the message—then you might as well try to sell snow to polar bears, because you’re gonna be eaten alive anyway.

This applies to musicians, visual artists, dancers, writers, you name it. You are the innovative, best product in that case. Therefore, it’s up to you to get your message out and create that trusted bond with your customers (your fans, your supporters, your agency, you get the idea.) You provide the relevant, interesting, understandable, useful and compelling content—in your art form and in your presentation. Your presentation is often the Web.

But I’ve harped on your need to present yourself (your image) and market yourself before…this time, I’m looking at tools that actually HELP you with that process. Cool tools that you can use yourself and don’t require you to become a techie/programmer in order to use them. (If you already are or have a friend that is, great!, go for it. However, for the rest of you, if the idea of learning yet MORE programming and more computer software stuff fills you with dread, then read on…help is on the way!) Naturally, there will be a learning curve, but you won’t have to learn Ajax, XML, CSS or worse, things like C# or Java or .Net to use these tools.

But this blog is about MEDIA, and tools and tech are definitely part of creating great content and doing great media things.

Now, I’m not going to go into a detailed heavy technical review…good god, no! You can get that on Technorati, Wired and all the maker’s websites. In fact, you’ll probably get overloaded or underloaded if you go to those sources—lots of tech info but also lots of spin on that info. I’m not going to go that route.

I’m going to take a slightly different perspective—the non-techie one, namely, the “I’m tired of tools that make me spend more time learning how to use to tools to be creative rather than ACTUALLY help me to BE more creative.”

I used to work at Microsoft years and years ago, but that’s not a bias—trust me, it’s definitely NOT a bias. However, it does mean that I know something that a lot of people don’t know about Microsoft. Yes, they have a ton of very smart, hardworking developers (and marketing people and designers and support people.) But I happen to know that they also kick ass on design tools, they just haven’t really been focused on them that much. ( I was part of that push before the project got canceled…the market was changing and so this design tool, which was being made FOR designers, was dropped because what it did wasn’t going to be the wave of the future anymore. The Internet was going to be the wave now, not multimedia titles. And they were right…the Web is the Wave. Or at least part of the whole that is Media.)

So I was happy to discover that Microsoft had been working recently (i.e. years, not weeks) on some kick ass design tools—and ones focused on helping designers, not programmers, do cool design work without having to become mini-programmers in order to do that work.

The Microsoft Expressions line is very cool and it begins with the interface itself. Blend and Design (two of the suite) are dark and edgy in appearance, and definitely not klunky and Window-ie and shall I say it? NOT Programmer/Techie tool looking. Hurrah!

Now it may not seem like that much…but if you want to stay in a creative-mode, then nothing kills that buzz like being faced with an ugly, confusing, tech-IDE-oriented application that assumes you want to look at data and code, rather than think ‘design.’ So a visual interface that helps keep you in a creative spirit is a welcome first step to using the software itself. Photoshop, the king of 2D graphics packages, even has problems with this—nice initial visual but very complicated learning curve in order to learn to use it. Flash with its filmatic theme has problems as well, with complexity, with ‘techie’ terms, and with its general visual theme.

You would think with Flex (the new Flash so to speak, since it’s about using Flash and javascript/XML to create websites), they’d do better than they do. But the interface seems to be a step backward rather than forward in design and intuitive use. When Adobe and Macromedia merged, I had great hopes—two design/media juggernauts becoming one. The competitors were likely shaking in their Berks. But beyond the impressive array of Adobe products that were there already (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Premier, InDesign…) …nada on the merge and conquer front that much. I have no doubts about the power involved, but I’m not inspired to jump in—I’m nervous about learning yet another tool.

I’ll take the old Flash IDE interface any day.

So I was really, really surprised to see the Expressions line—big chunks of it still in beta. They really thought about DESIGN when they actually put it together, not just about tools that designers need to be creative, but the actual FEEL of the software—its emotional appeal. THAT IS GREAT DESIGN AND CONTENT! Expression Blend makes you WANT to learn how to use it. I can’t say that about Photoshop (and I spend a lot of time with Photoshop but still don’t consider myself anything more than intermediate on my best days.)

Expression’s Design I have a harder time with—still a beautiful, enticing interface but the fact that it keeps freezing on my machine every time I run it (it’s still beta) makes it difficult to really get into it. It doesn’t appear to be as powerful or as robust as Photoshop (at first glance, that is… before it goes into the bambi-in-headlights pose and I have to shut it down again.) Photoshop is definitely its competitor here. However, it also is a version 1.0 and a really good ver 1 at that. It could just be that I haven’t had time (between freezes) to play with it enough. Besides, the point being, Photoshop is uber powerful, but hard to learn. If Design does less, but makes it easier to learn and implement, then it already fills a much needed niche!

And the examples/samples they include with these products are way cool as well—not the usual ‘hello world’ or stupid little pet tricks that you get with most other applications. The samples aren’t that powerful but they are mini-apps. I like the Animation sample application. Its interface is cool and the sample actually works. I found myself treating it like a full app (not a sample) and getting irritated that I couldn’t do standard drawing functions or some other flash IDE like animation stuff. Then, I would remember that it was just a sample app—now that is impressive to me. The Grand Piano sample was fun, too. The keys worked. Piano tunes came out—it was great. Yet, more importantly, beyond it being fun to play with the samples, it did more—it made me think about stuff I wanted to DO. In other words, even the samples were igniting my imagination and getting me excited about creating something new.

They were encouraging creativity.

Did I mention that the first thing that Adobe sent me, to encourage me to use my Flex 2 trial and get ‘more’ out of it, was a code snippet for “Hello World.” Uh, yeah…like that is going to inspire me.

I may know some javascript, actionscript, Lingo, HTML, CSS and so on, but throwing stuff like Ajax, Atlas, PHP, ASP.NET and stuff at me only makes me cringe. Some awareness of them is fine and I do have awareness of them and what they do, but….I want to create and design…not become a webmaster. There isn’t enough time to learn everything. I want to focus on the stuff that is important to me and makes me want to get up and go to work in the morning!

Microsoft Expression Web (one of the suite and already released) wasn’t as exciting. It stands up well to Dreamweaver and I suspect it’s just an updated, slightly sleeker FrontPage with new gadgets. The interface looks like a Windows app—so not cool, but functional, just like Dreamweaver. In other words, it’s for techies, not designers. Or for those that just want to put up a normal Windows looking website quickly and add in design elements later.

I still just want a website builder that doesn’t believe in right angles. I want to create a template that creates a circle of buttons, and buttons and dropdowns and so forth without hard angles or edges—and I don’t want to have to design custom transparent fake circular controls to put there. Just give me a button that is naturally circular, or a triangle or a freeform polygon. And a circle instead of list or a table that doesn’t look like a table, but a wheel of fortune. Sigh…and of course, CSS or other settings that make my browser window turn into a freeform image rather than a rectangle—with video oozing everywhere, of course. Then again, I haven’t delved too deep into Blend yet—maybe it does allow for that and make it easy. Luckily, the idea of getting deeper into that tool doesn’t appall me—it’s fun instead, especially the animation stuff.

The last element of the suite, but not really since it installs separate from the others and is called iView MediaPro3, is also another Windows app with a black background. It’s a cataloging system. Content Management is a huge drag on doing good production work. I definitely remember the days of juggling all kinds of files, image and writing files, and doing it by keeping them in file folders with an Excel sheet to try to keep track of what was where and who was doing what (or had done what already) so you could track it. Yes, CMS systems are needed and so at least Microsoft is including one, so to speak, but it’s not tightly integrated and it doesn’t even have offline help available. You have to be logged in to the Net in order to access help files. Bummer, since I spent a lot of time working offline, especially when I’m traveling.

At least, Microsoft offers trial versions of all four of the apps. Six months for Blend and Design, 2 months for Web and 1 month for MediaPro3. Fully functional trial versions of software are critical these days. No one in their right mind is going to spend that kind of money for something they can’t test drive first—or should. Adobe thinks you should in most cases, but does let you have a trial period for Flex 2. Maybe they’ll start being more trial friendly now that Expression is here.

So yes, tools do matter. But they are TOOLS. Creativity comes from you and always will. Therefore, any toolset that helps you stay creative, focused on creating rather than a steep, scary learning curve and a toolset that doesn’t try to turn you into a programmer is a blessing…and there aren’t that many of them out there.

Imagine what you could do with something that actually encourages you to “imagine.” I’m not just talking improving your website, but that of course is naturally the first place to start. I’m talking about your website, your mobile site, your music, your vids, your production skills, your multi-media merging/creating skills, everything!

That’s what Web 3.0 is going to be about—getting creative, innovative content out there regardless of medium. Imagine people finding your MySpace or your Blog or your YouTube site—and finding it from their phone or their PC or their TV.

And imagine them finding it on any of those media without any loss of quality—you don’t need to cut down and create an ugly, gimpy cut down version for the Mobile user.

Your music or your video or your images are there—in full—without compromising on anything. You and your friends and your fans (or your customers for the marketing minded) are connected, connected socially and emotionally, regardless of the gadget used.

That’s Web 3.0 and that’s why it’s important to have tools that encourage you to be creative without bogging you down with having to become someone else in order to use the new tech. The tech becomes transparent and seamless—a tool to be used, not a technology to be worshiped.

Transparent tech…leaving only the content…YOU.

That’s why I’m so jazzed about Expressions. I knew Microsoft could do kick ass design tools, really truly innovative, intuitive design tools for designers—and now they are back in the game! It’s makes me excited about the future and want to be a part of it.

So Hurrah for Microsoft! (Maybe it was a good thing that they lost their Evil Empire title to Google?)

Link to Microsoft Expression page
Link to Adobe Flex page

CG Anderson
Little Dogs Media
Aha! Blogolicious!

This article may be copied in whole or in part, as long as fair use rules are observed, no parts are modified from the original and credit is given when quoted or reposted.

CG Anderson is a 10 plus year new media provocateur involved in media, art, technology and the online world. Also a writer, blogger and novelist. CG's comments are personal and opinionated and solely the responsibility of the author, so there. Don't like the opinions, disagree, agree, don't know? Great, make a comment—clean ones will be allowed, netiquette-challenged ones will be ignored!

MySpace site: http://www.myspace.com/ahablogolicious Help me reach 1 million friends. Add yourself as my friend today and get your friends to do the same! Thank you so much! Together we can bring great artists to a wider audience!
Blog site: http://ahablogolicious.blogspot.com/
URL: http://home.myuw.net/cganders/

New MySpace site using Bill Gates (MSFT) to push flashy graphics stuff!

Quick and humorous note about a new site on MySpace going after Bill Gates.

ok, I don't know how long this site will survive--Bill isn't known for his sense of humor.

OK, I really don't know how long this myspace site, obviously a spoof, will survive so you might want to check it out before Bill finds out and takes possible action.

It's a myspace profile site for Bill Gates, Microsoft Corporation (so they/he/she really is/are going after THE Bill Gates, and not trying to just play on the name.)

It's got true info on Bill from his biography and sounds semi on the level (except about the babes bits) but it is obviously a gimic promo for another website that does those annoying flashing graphics that show up all too often in comment sections.

I'm not sure if it is spoof enough to be protected by satire or fair use laws, so it will be interesting to see what happens next.

Bill is not known for his sense of humor. ;)

I hope this person has insurance (legal and medical!)

Cheers,
CG

it didn't have a proper site name up yet for a link, so here is the full ugly myspace link for your browsing pleasure..

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=159616929

Google DeathRay destroys Washington, D.C., JibJab escapes unscathed!

World Leaders Thrilled, Microsoft disappointed, Google embarrassed!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
By Offun D. Cuff

New York City, N.Y.-- Less than two hours ago, Washington, D.C. and the enclosing area of approximately fifty square miles around it was destroyed. Sources have learned that it was the Google DeathRay that was responsible for the devastation and tremendous loss of life. Apparently, Google, heard unconfirmed reports that JibJab was planning on doing a satirical animation short on the company, most particularly because of Google's recent ascension to the new title of Evil Empire (taking that coveted title away from longtime rival and holder of the title, Microsoft.)

Apparently, the goliath decided to take matters into their own hands to prevent such an embarrassing contesting of their absolute power and unleashed their infamous and always legally deniable Space Satellite DeathRay (bought for a song at a government Star Wars surplus auction last year.)

Unfortunately, to the company's embarrassment, their intelligence was in error on the location of the famous JibJab brothers, Gregg and Evan Spiridellis. Google bigwigs assumed that JibJab would be located in Washington, D.C., where the powerful and power-mad reside in comfort and isolation, staying easily out of touch with the concerns and needs of the rest of the country. JibJab is actually located in Santa Monica, CA. The Chamber of Commerce of Santa Monica, when asked, indicated that they would be activating their anti-pun forceshield and leaving it active for the next few weeks, just in case Google decides to have another go.

We were unable to reach JibJab for comment.

According to O.N. Wannabenot, a foreign correspondent with the always reputable news agency, The Onion, when other countries heard about the tragic loss of the D.C. area and all of its inhabitants, they were thrilled. When it was revealed later that President Bush and most of his cabinet were not in residence at the time, but were in fact in Texas at a conservative Republican BBQ and therefore completely unharmed by the attack, world leaders expressed their regret.

In retaliation for the attack, the U.S. government was reported to have secretly released a Google Virus. This NSA created virus is reputed to be extremely virulent. It rewrites the operating system, when the user tries to reboot, so that the words "The NSA and Bush are your friends…you have nothing to fear from your current government. Trust your government and George Bush! We know what's best for you." It also crashes any device with Google software, Google links or the word Google on its hard drive.

When asked, Microsoft reported that it was thrilled, but later changed from that euphoria when they realized that it simply meant more free press for Google—and when they realized that even more than 50% (the previous penetration number quoted for Google) of internet connected devices out there were being infected by the Google Virus.

Not even a Microsoft targeted virus ever made that kind of dent in the market, experts say! Microsoft exec's promised that they would continue their campaign to regain their Evil Empire status, so that they could regain their "most favored software company" status with virus writers everywhere.

Note: No Republicans were actually barbequed at the President's BBQ. (A few democrats were though—and they were considered a leaner cut than their fat cat opponents and a therefore, much healthier choice among the calorie conscious.)

This is a satirical spoof, meaning, don't take it seriously.

CG Anderson is a 10 year market researcher and web strategist involved in technology, science and the online world. Also a writer, blogger and novelist. CG's comments are personal and opinionated and solely the responsibility of the author, so there. Don't like the opinions, disagree, agree, don't know? Great, make a comment—clean ones will be allowed, netiquette-challenged ones will be ignored!
Blog site: http://ahablogolicious.blogspot.com/
URL: http://home.myuw.net/cganders/

New Halo release announced today from Bungie/Microsoft—free cloning to first 500!

Halo 26 release announced today—free cloning to first 500!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
By Bi G. Gotchya
Redmondo Land, WA. AHA! BLOGOLICIOUS! has learned that Microsoft, the world's largest software maker, has announced a new version of its massively popular video game HALO. HALO 26 will be released, according to Microsoft and Bungie, its internal game division that used to be a separate company, early in the year 2026.

As to why the video game and software giant, which recently lost its favored title of Evil Empire to rival search giant, Google, is choosing to announce such a long-lead time for its product, it is simple, says Program Manager E.Z. Gameman.

"We know our customers and we know that they are tired of us announcing products then pushing back the release date at the last minute," says Mr. Gameman. "We also know that gamers are always anxious to see previews of the next rev of a popular game, like Halo. So even though Halo 2 has just been released and Halo 3 is still just a few demo shots, we thought we'd go ahead and let our loyal customers know about what's in store for them in Halo 26 and start building the buzz now."

Gameman promises that the action will be greater in Halo 26, the graphics more realistic, including full body-suit VR immersion and completely neural networked game play across the Internet. (Psychological or physical damages are the responsibility of the user.) As for the story, it will be essentially unchanged. The soldiers never do manage to get off the damn planet or find the final evil alien conqueror, as per gaming requirements in all FPS adventures. (First Person Shooter.)

However, for those first lucky few that decide to pre-purchase the game now in order to be the first to receive it, Microsoft has signed a co-marketing deal with Genetics-R-Us, a leading gene therapy company in the Seattle area. The first five hundred pre-purchasers of Halo 26 will also get a complementary cloned body part of their choice. (Shipping, legal fees and leakage insurance not included.)

However, Microsoft expects pre-sales to be brisk, so hopeful gamers should purchase now. In order to qualify for the free cloned body part, all purchases must be made before June 2007. Sorry, no upgrades allowed.

This is a satirical spoof, meaning, don't take it seriously.

CG Anderson is a 10 year market researcher and web strategist involved in technology, science and the online world. Also a writer, blogger and novelist. CG's comments are personal and opinionated and solely the responsibility of the author, so there. Don't like the opinions, disagree, agree, don't know? Great, make a comment—clean ones will be allowed, netiquette-challenged ones will be ignored!
Blog sites: http://ahablogolicious.blogspot.com/
URL: http://home.myuw.net/cganders/