Riptide Team Meeting May 1: Adam Jones
Every two weeks we have a company meeting to update the team on all things Riptide Games. At the end of each meeting we select one person to present something they’ve found interesting or worthwhile to share with the group.
This week’s presentation was from Adam Jones, our Jr Art Director. This is what he shared with the team, along with a short explanation:
Old Family Portraits Expose Superheroes’ Roots
A mystery art studio located in Milan has created vintage portraits of the ancestors of our favourite super heros.
http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/05/foto-marvellini-superheroes
Tetris Can Prevent Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
A research team from Oxford University claims that Tetris can prevent PTSD flashbacks.
Found results when letting soldiers play soon after their exposure to trauma.
It works by interfering with the brain’s ability to form and retain the traumatic memories.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/05/ptsd-tetris/
Go Right
Tribute video to old school platformers:
This brought back traumatic memories of when I used to play Super Adventure Island for hours and never making it past the third level… I should have played more Tetris.
Riptide Team Meeting April 17: Bryan Dunlay
Every two weeks we have a company meeting to update the team on all things Riptide Games. At the end of each meeting we select one person to present something they’ve found interesting or worthwhile to share with the group.
This week’s presentation was from Bryan Dunlay, a contract Graphic Designer who works with us. This is what he shared with the team, along with a short explanation:
Nest Learning Thermostat
Nest is a learning thermostat with one dial and a touchscreen that was designed by former Apple iPod and iPhone hardware developer Tony Fadell. He saw the thermostat as a piece of technology that is ugly, difficult to program and often overlooked but it does control about 50% of your energy bill.
Nest learns your habits in a week and adjusts to suit you. The screen turns red when it’s heating and blue when it’s cooling. It can even be controlled by your mobile device or online. Coming home a day early? Taking an extra day of vacation? No problem.
At a cost of $249USD, Nest claims that their thermostat will typically pay for itself well within two years since it should save you 20% of your energy bill. Pretty awesome!
The VIP (Very Important Pizza) Fridge Magnet
It’s a fridge magnet that connects to a pizzeria (in Dubai) through the Bluetooth connection in your phone. When you open the pizza box shaped device and push it, your favourite pizza magically appears at your door! (And I thought ordering online was high tech.)
It’s a pretty cool little device. So cool that the people at Red Tomato are having a very hard time keeping them in stock. What a great way to generate customer loyalty and to ultimately, sell more pizzas. What I find most compelling though, is the implications. What else could be done with this thing? Taxis? Groceries? Medicine?
Riptide Team Meeting April 3: Jayson Flick
Every two weeks we have a company meeting to update the team on all things Riptide Games. At the end of each meeting we select one person to present something they’ve found interesting or worthwhile to share with the group.
This week’s presentation was from Jayson Flick, our Sr Project Manager. This is what he shared with the team, along with a short explanation:
First Virtual Grocery Store: Home Plus (Tesco) – South Korea:
Big Idea – “Let the store come to the People”.
Smartphone – download app – scan barcode Code – purchase and – determine home delivery schedule.
Overview & Images
http://www.bitrebels.com/technology/the-worlds-first-virtual-supermarket-opens/
Video Link for Case study
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oPM4Ui6Sjfk#!
2) The Art of Video Games Exhibition at the The Smithsonian American Art Museum – Washington
March 16, 2012 – September 30, 2012
Overview – The exhibit aims to demonstrate the influence of art and popular culture on video games, and the subsequent reflection of video games on culture with titles spanning over four decades of gaming.
The Art of Video Games is one of the first exhibitions to explore the forty-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium, with a focus on striking visual effects and the creative use of new technologies. It features some of the most influential artists and designers during five eras of game technology, from early pioneers to contemporary designers.
- Focus is on interplay of graphics, technology and storytelling through some of the best games for twenty gaming systems ranging from the Atari VCS to the PlayStation 3
Voting occurred in 2011:
- 80 games selected thru voting/ 240 games on the ballot
- Selection criteria: visual effects, creative use of new technologies, and how the game fit into the narrative of the exhibition.
- February 14 and April 17, 2011. More than 3.7 million votes were cast by people in 175 countries!
Main exhibition link
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9F47DB6D0F399893&feature=view_all
3) The 12 Lessons I Learned from Steve Jobs – November 2011- TEDx Conference- Guy Kawasaki -
Presentation Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=edEs4sjlmJY
Highlights:
- Design counts
- Changing your mind is a sign of intelligence
- Value is not the same as price
Guy Kawasaki is a Silicon Valley venture capitalist, author and Apple Fellow. He was one of the Apple employees originally responsible for marketing the Macintosh in 1984.
Riptide Team Meeting March 19: Brian Robbins
Every two weeks we have a company meeting to update the team on all things Riptide Games. At the end of each meeting we select one person to present something they’ve found interesting or worthwhile to share with the group.
This week’s presentation was from Brian Robbins, our President. This is what he shared with the team, along with a short explanation:
Image Optim:
As with most iOS developers, we find ourselves pushing against the Over the air download limit imposed by Apple pretty often. This free software will optimize PNGs much better than Xcode’s default setting, which should make a big difference in making sure everyone can download our games anywhere.
Draw Something:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/draw-something-free/id488628250?mt=8
It’s only been around for 6 weeks, and the creators of it (OMGPop) were bought by Zynga for $210 Million today. Highly recommended for some pictionary like fun.
Solar Events:
This year there will be two big solar events. The first is a Solar Eclipse on May 20. This annular eclipse will be visible from large parts of the US, including Denver. While it will only be a partial eclipse here in Denver it will still be a sight to see. http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2012.html#SE2012May20A
Just a couple weeks later Venus will transit the Sun (pass between the Earth and the Sun): http://www.transitofvenus.org/ This is the second time in 8 years that this will happen, and the next time won’t be until 2117!
A week ago I bought some solar viewing glasses, so we’ll all get the chance to watch these rare sights.
Introducing El Grande Burrito, the latest ultimate zombie fighter
El Grande Burrito.
He’s big, he’s mean and hungry for spleen. Mr. Burrito, as his family calls him, hails from a small town in Mexico that can’t be found on any map. He’s been fighting in illegal wrestling circuits since the age of 7. His claim to fame is that no one has ever seen his face, and legend has it that he was even born with his mask on!
Play Ultimate Battle Zombies today and add him to your roster of fighters. He’s the perfect counter-point to Taco De La Noche!
