Runescape is the 7th stickiest brand on the web June 30, 2006
Posted by David Kaye in : Business, Games, MMO, Product Marketing , 35 commentsBrowser-based MMO Runescape is the 7th stickiest brand on the web, according to Nielsen Netratings’ Megapanel. Stats like this always make me a little wary - they often say as much about the methodology as they do about the data - but it’s pretty interesting nonetheless.
It’s curious how, despite its size and the extent of its commercial success, Runescape remains a largely under the radar phenomenon. You can learn a lot from looking at the disparities between media hype and hard data, and the great thing about the Web in 2006 is that there are a ton of tools that make doing so easy and fun.
Toolkit: Gliffy browser based Visio replacement June 28, 2006
Posted by David Kaye in : Product Development, Toolkit , 1 comment so farGliffy is a free browser based replacement for Microsoft Visio, and I am delighted to report that it rocks. It has the collaboration features you would expect from a web application, a beautifully friendly Flash user interface, and replicates the basic flowchart functions of Visio perfectly. Ninja-grade Visio users might want more than this, but my guess is that this is going to prove good enough for the majority of users.
[Toolkit posts highlight services that make product development cheaper, quicker or more efficient.]
[via Lifehacker]
Radar: Infospace launches Moviso consumer mobile content portal
Posted by David Kaye in : Mobile, Business , 37 comments
Infospace Mobile launched their off-deck, direct to consumer portal Moviso today. This marks something of a strategic shift: up until now, the company has focussed primarily on servicing carrier customers rather than targeting consumers directly. Shawn Conahan has some initial impressions here.
[Full disclosure: Infospace are a former client, and I worked on product development for this project.]
MySpace profile spam is rocketing June 26, 2006
Posted by David Kaye in : MySpace , add a commentFake profiles on MySpace are not news, but the sheer number of them is rocketing. Whether this means that some enterprising individual has worked out a way to circumvent MySpace’s admittedly weak automatic profile creation protections, or just has a lot of time on their hands, this line of Monicas illustrates my point. This comes unedited from one of the Browse screens, and there were another four on that page alone.
Lord Saatchi heralds the rise of the ‘digital native’ June 22, 2006
Posted by David Kaye in : Business, Advertising , add a commentLord Saatchi, one of the most well-known figures in British advertising and founder of the well-known agencies Saatchi and Saatchi and M&C Saatchi, spoke recently on the death of the 30 second TV spot and the rise of the ‘digital native’.
None of this is likely to be big news to anyone surfing past this blog, but it’s interesting to hear it coming from someone like Lord Saatchi, and there are a couple of coinages in here I quite like:
Digital natives vs digital immigrants: “The brain of the digital native is different. It’s faster. It sifts more. It recalls less.”
One word equity: “[Companies] aim to define in one word, the particular characteristic they most want instantly associated with their brand around the world. I would say that this is the most priceless corporate asset of the digital age. For me, it’s the modern equivalent of the best location in the high street.”
Radar: IAC launches Zwinky beta June 18, 2006
Posted by David Kaye in : Avatars, Business , 743 comments
Another day, another avatar service launch. This one’s from IAC, the Barry Diller megacorp responsible for those ubiquitous (and spectacularly annoying) talking SmileyCentral banner ads.
Much like SmileyCentral, it’s another browser toolbar plugin designed to drive IAC search traffic, but there are one or two notable features, most notably a Gabbly-esque ability that allows users who visit the same webpage to chat with each other.
Unlike Gabbly, which is open and AJAX-based, Zwinky’s chat function requires a browser plugin to work.
Lots of people come to this post looking for help - click here for the latest version of Zwinky.
Gaia raises $9m in VC cash, invites donations! June 16, 2006
Posted by David Kaye in : Social Networking, Avatars, Business , 1 comment so far
Online avatar based social networking yada yada site has raised about $9m from Benchmark, among others, reports Paidcontent. I’m not sure yet what’s going to differentiate this from Meez, WeeWorld, Evil Twin and the rest of its venture-backed brethren, but I’ll tell you one thing that sticks in my craw - they’re asking for donations.
Guys, there’s no shame in making money selling virtual items. If you’re going to do it, call a spade a spade. You’re a business - sell stuff. Asking for ‘donations’ when you’re a multi-million dollar venture backed business is at worst sleazy, and at best misleading.
Interview with a MySpace roleplayer
Posted by David Kaye in : MySpace, Social Networking , 49 comments
I got in touch with the girl behind the roleplaying profile, and she agreed to answer a few questions about what she does and why. The answers are pretty interesting.
Super Mario Bros Theme the #1 selling ringtone?
Posted by David Kaye in : Mobile, Music , 1 comment so far
Koji Kondo’s Super Mario Brothers Theme currently occupies the No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot Ringtones Chart, reports Kotaku excitedly.
It was No. 1 last week, too. 50 Cent and The Black Eyed Peas, meanwhile, languish in sixth and eight place respectively. How do we account for this?
The massive popularity of New Super Mario Bros on DS probably isn’t hurting any, but then the tune has been in the chart for 87 weeks, so clearly all is not quite as it seems.
MySpace Roleplaying June 15, 2006
Posted by David Kaye in : MySpace, Social Networking , 28 comments When someone mentions online roleplaying, your first thought tends to be of dragons, wizards and a certain online world with a population roughly the size of Denmark.A quick surf around MySpace, however, reveals a different form of roleplaying entirely. I’m not talking about the inexplicable thousands of fake Paris Hiltons. Look more closely, and you’ll see something quite distinct from that is going on.
