Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Before you run out and buy that new digital antenne

It has begun to dawn on us all how much of our attention is shifting towards video content. The climb of online social media video as a way to share and communicate ideas is proof that we just don't want to spend our time reading. Especially on computer screens.

I had lunch with an multi-Emmy winning producer today who poses the questions to me about what this all means. Will terrestrial video broadcast go the way of radio and record label? (it's dying, FYI)

One thing has become clear to me. Digital communication of any kind can all eventually pass through the same conduit, correct? The fact that we use radio waves, satellites, phone lines, cable lines, WI-FI, cell towers, and Bluetooth is simply a matter of awkward evolution, and corporate attempts to control communication channels.

In the end it seems to make sense to me that the highest bandwidth, most scalable and flexible channel will win out. Eventually it will be too much of a burden to force delivery through multiple channels. On computers cross platform sharing, and information syndication has shown us that already. People aren't willing to buy a format if the content they want isn't on it.

Will traditional broadcast channels start catering to an older audience? Will new generations shun anything that doesn't have an on-demand delivery system? What about format and compatibility?

Maybe there is a potential positive upswing to all this. When our networks, and media conglomerates stop bickering about formats and delivery channels they might actually get back to content. Maybe someday the media channels and content creators will be two separate entities who both have quality accountability.

Wouldn't that be nice?

Monday, June 16, 2008

iPhone Game Development

We just got our SDK, and we're diving in. We've got two awesome projects loaded for our crack iPhone team, one for a client, and one for our kick ass selves. For those who know little about iPhone games let's just put it this way. With the iPhone you have a hand held device that rivals units like the Nintendo DS and even Sony PSP. The catch is that it's also a Phone, GPS, iPod, Movies, etc..

Adding games to the iPhone presents more than just mobile gaming opportunity, with iPhone the primary interface is the touch screen. By some foreseen as a limitation, for others (like myself) seen as breeding ground for a fleet of games that take full advantage. The resulting library of games is sure to be more unique than ports of existing titles. I can't wait!

I'll be posting more soon, perhaps after our first beta is available!