According to Alex Horn from Big Huge Games there’s a hunger for new gaming titles in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Russia.

During the “Growing Your Market” panel at PAX East 2011, we discussed the increasing importance of gaming markets outside of the U.S. Its interesting to note that developers tend to make games for themselves. This opens up an opportunity for locals to either (1) create games to serve their markets or (2) collaborate with gaming companies to translate and localize games.

I’ve been trilled with the business partnerships Foursquare has snagged over the past few months (Gap, ToysRus, etc). It made me think about the data retailers can tap into now.

(And for those of you wondering if this is gaming related. Foursqaure’s success is due in large part to its gaming mechanics.)

It also made me think about the last time I’ve been to the Gap. I haven’t been to a Gap in months. If I was anywhere near one of their stores during the Black Friday promotion I would’ve at least shown up to get the coupon. These promotions get people into stores.

What if retailers could combine Foursquare or Gowalla with their point of sale systems? It could change the game entirely. Retailers would be able to get users into the store and track their buying behavior. You can learn more about it here.

After a weekend in Maine with friends I return to campus with nothing but work to do. It looks like I’m not alone.

2:00 am is the time to get stuff done.

It's the same Internet...just better

A decade ago we looked to the internet to solve communication and social networking problems. With Facebook and Linkedin we have our own personal databases composed of our friends, family members and colleagues. I’d argue that the problem has been over solved. I have over 700 friends on Facebook. As the friend list grows I grow more cautious of what I’m saying in my status updates. I’d go into this a bit more but that’s a big long post for another day.

There’s a NEW shiny problem we’ll encounter as we begin to realize the limits of Google’s ability to scale. Searching for things on the web is becoming increasingly difficult. Sometimes you don’t find what you’re looking for after the 2nd or 3rd Google search. As the internet grows (just think that ever user’s tweet creates a new webpage that can live forever) data becomes harder to find. So here’s the new problem:

Problem: We’re entering an age of trillions and trillions of webpages. Google can’t scale to crawl all of those pages.

Solution: Teach computers how to understand, sort and link data.

Caveat: That’s easier said then done. Several start up companies are striving toward the ideal of building a semantic web. They have yet to succeed but a committed and loyal group of people continue to discuss and collaborate create a smarter more intelligent way of organizing data on the internet.

I’ve had ideas of a “semantic web” knocking around my head for about two years. I even had a short stint as a semantic start-up in New York. This video got me thinking about the possibilities of an intelligently linked internet today. Watch it and let me know what you think.

I am not witty or interesting; I wont pretend to have anything profound to say. I am 26, female, divorced and spent most of my life feeling empty and hopeless. This may not help anyone, but these realizations helped me find my happiness.

This wonderful piece was written by reddit user, Alukima. She’s 26 years old, an avid gamer and seems to have stumbled upon the path toward true happiness.

Here it is:

They didn’t lie to you in elementary school, being different is awesome.

In high school and my early twenties I was teased for wearing video game related t-shirts. Now the the same girls who teased me often complain to me over facebook about being suck in generic relationships and “wish they had found something to love the way I love gaming”. Also, I recently made a bet that my $15 TMNT purse would get more compliments at a bar than a $900 coach purse. I won.

TMNT purse > a sea of cookie cutter Coach bags

The lesson: It’s ok if you don’t fit in. In fact, not fitting in is a blessing.

In fact, I’ve gotten more compliments on my $10 Thundercats Sweatshirt than I’ve received for my Knightsbridge UGGs.

For more quotables check out the rest of her post here.

“I do have an addictive temperment and that is gaming. I have a stack of games. I’ve never taken the covers off them because I feel that if I do…I’m finished.”

I feel the same way about my video games. I have a stack of them although the covers are off (I wish I had Sir Patrick’s self discipline).

If Patrick Stewart were on Twitter I’d ask him about his gaming collection.

The first movie about video games is being remade!
The trailer for Tron Legacy is out.

Lili vs. Asuka

All the action will start at 11:30 AM EST (17:30 CET) on Saturday and Sunday and last until 10:00 PM EST (05:00 CET).
Live Stream Link.

Don't Mess With My Dew!

Mountain Dew released a commercial featuring two female gamers in a commercial promoting mountain dew as “game fuel”.

Why this is new and compelling:

– It’s a gaming commercial that stars two women who aren’t panting over babies, fashion or losing weight.

– Instead of focusing on the typical girl fight we see the two women take on avatars of opposing genders. One transforms into a male Orc while the other transforms into a female Night Elf.

– This ad is also fun to watch. It appeals to both men and women.

[Via - Jezebel]

Yummy Prototype!

I heart this photo. That isn’t a copy of Imagine Babyz in her adorable hands.

[Via - LiveJournal]