PixelVulture » Digital Trends http://www.pixelvulture.com Gaming // Tech // Reviews // Anything Geeky Thu, 06 Jun 2013 09:26:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Mobile Gaming market to triple by 2017 http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/mobile-gaming-market-to-triple-by-2017/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/mobile-gaming-market-to-triple-by-2017/#comments Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:26:26 +0000 Matthew Arnold http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=10175 Mobile Gaming market to triple by 2017
We thought we would step away from all the awesome trailers and game news for a few minutes and engage your brain… Some new data from Juniper Research has revealed that by 2017 there will be 64.1 billion games downloaded onto smartphones and tablet devices – over 3 times that of 2012, which stood at ...]]> Mobile Gaming market to triple by 2017
We thought we would step away from all the awesome trailers and game news for a few minutes and engage your brain... Some new data from Juniper Research has revealed that by 2017 there will be 64.1 billion games downloaded onto smartphones and tablet devices - over 3 times that of 2012, which stood at 21 billion. This high rate of growth is being driven by the increasing number of free-to-play releases, more sophisticated devices, and the global uptake of smartphones. That's a massive number and one that does not seem overly ambitious in my opinion, but lets have a look at how they got there. mobile-gaming-industry-growth-forecast-656x403-622x382 Mobile – The Primary Screen For Gamers In the report, Mobile & Tablet Games: Discovery, In-App Purchases & Advertising, the Juniper team investigated why this growth in the number of games downloaded would be so staggering. It found that an increase in the number of sophisticated games, which allow for truly multi-platform gameplay through the use of cloud technology, meant that mobile would become the primary screen for gamers. Greater memory on devices would also mean consumers were able to download more games onto their phones and tablets. Accelerated by the Mid-Core Gamer Another key point highlighted by the report is that tablet users are downloading over twice the amount of games onto their devices than smartphone users.
Siân Rowlands, Report author added “tablet games are growing so much because they are such an accessible way for all consumer segments to access games. In particular mid-core gamers, who previously spent a lot of money and time playing games but now have jobs, families or other commitments, are driving this trend. These people are really embracing the tablet form factor, and innovative gameplay devices such as the mobile based OUYA console, really appeal to them”.
Mobile-Gaming_pan_16548 In addition, the report analysed the impact made by smartphone and tablet games on the dedicated portable gaming device market. Juniper Research believes that mobile and tablet games will not mark the end of this market, but with players such as Nintendo cutting its sales forecasts by 14% for its 3DS, and 27% for its Wii U, it is hard to deny the challenge by the smartphone and tablet sector. Other Key Findings Include:
  • Social & Casual Games will remain the most popular genre downloaded, with over half of all smartphone games downloaded fitting this genre.
  • In 2017, only 7% of games will be paid for at the point of purchase across smartphones and tablets.
The ‘Mobile & Tablet Games ~ Playing & Paying’ whitepaper is available to download from the Juniper website together with further details of the full report.  ]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/mobile-gaming-market-to-triple-by-2017/feed/ 0 How ambient advertising can help the public sector http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/how-ambient-advertising-can-help-the-public-sector/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/how-ambient-advertising-can-help-the-public-sector/#comments Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:30:49 +0000 Matthew Arnold http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=10062 How ambient advertising can help the public sector
The typical way to promote a product or service has often centred around placing a large poster in a public place or running a commercial on a collection of television channels. However, ambient advertising has turned this norm on its head and has gone for the approach of getting people to recognise a product by advertising ...]]> How ambient advertising can help the public sector
The typical way to promote a product or service has often centred around placing a large poster in a public place or running a commercial on a collection of television channels. However, ambient advertising has turned this norm on its head and has gone for the approach of getting people to recognise a product by advertising it in places where you wouldn’t often expect to see any kind of publication. It is not just high-street firms looking to sell a shedload of new merchandise which can capitalise on this form of advertising though, with those in the public sector also taking advantage of the strategy. Organisations which are hoping to promote their services in a little more of an unusual fashion can get some inspiration by looking at the two examples below.  

Using ambient advertising to stamp out gang violence

Well-known marketing agency Kommando has recently demonstrated how it can use ambient advertising in a bid to make streets much safer. 32_1 The firm partnered with Strathclyde Police in an effort to tackle the issue of gang violence in and around Glasgow. With more than 60,000 officers on the force, who work in a city notorious for murders and attempted murders, this was no small task. An in-depth look at what Kommando and Strathclyde Police came up with can be seen here. However, the basis is that the marketing agency used projection technology to create realistic chalkings of crime scenes. As such, the streets of Glasgow featured a series of scenes which had people initially thinking that knife crime had claimed a few more unfortunate victims. Once people got closer the crime scene, they were able to read the phrases of “gang violence…”, “there’s a price to pay” and “you have a choice” to realise that this was in fact not a crime scene, but a way of warning the public of how to avoid such tragedies.
At the time of the launch of the ambient advertising strategy, Strathclyde Police’s assistant chief constable Campbell Corrigan said: “We’re delighted to be working with Kommando in this unique way to heighten awareness about the issues surrounding gang violence. “There are over 170 gangs operating across the Force area and the majority of their members are aged between 13 and 19 years of age. Too many young lives are being lost or ruined by gang violence.”
 

Using ambient advertising to aid ongoing worldwide problems

There are many endangered animals now fighting for their very existence, with South Africa home to many of these. In fact, as recently as 2011 around ten per cent of the country’s 299 mammal species were under threat. In a bid to keep endangered animals safe, game farmers in South Africa have begun to sell advertising rights to the country’s big five to try and raise much-needed money to assist conservation efforts (have a look through this link for a better idea of how these scheme has been put into action). One such strategy which falls into the ambient advertising category is how Karoo-based farmer Fanie Dwaasenmaan teamed up with 2Stroke Interactive to begin charging firms for advertising space on his animals. As a result, organisations can now see their products and services advertised on the side of an elephant, while the species themselves have better protection against being hunted and becoming even more endangered.  ]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/how-ambient-advertising-can-help-the-public-sector/feed/ 0 The Era of Video Marketing http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/03/the-era-of-video-marketing/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/03/the-era-of-video-marketing/#comments Mon, 18 Mar 2013 09:59:03 +0000 Matthew Arnold http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=9957 Era of video marketing tv
With 2012 statistics claiming video to be the 6th most popular content marketing tactic (behind social media, website articles, eNewsletters, Blogs,  and case studies respectively), its popularity is only expected to rise. Marketers around the world are capitalising from the likes of YouTube and Vimeo to promote their product, share their knowledge and educate their ...]]> Era of video marketing tv
With 2012 statistics claiming video to be the 6th most popular content marketing tactic (behind social media, website articles, eNewsletters, Blogs,  and case studies respectively), its popularity is only expected to rise. Era of video marketing tv Marketers around the world are capitalising from the likes of YouTube and Vimeo to promote their product, share their knowledge and educate their audience. Not to mention to entertain their target markets and get that video viral!

How it came to power

To bridge the gap between TV advertising and website content, video marketing was born. Integrated into many-a-homepage, video marketing allows website users to find out more information about the websites brand, products and services all collaborated in an easy-to-digest 90 second clip. And it works! According to a recent Content Marketing Institute survey, 46% of respondents claimed they would be “more likely” to seek additional information regarding a product or service if they were introduced to it via online video. Obviously what people say, or intend to do, is a lot different to how they actually behave but it certainly is an encouraging start for the future of video content marketing.

Industry examples

Video marketing has been welcomed with open arms by a multitude of industries and has been used to promote everything from slimming aids by Newcastle-based Digital agency Guerilla to blenders in the USA. Aside from online, video marketing can also be incorporated into in-store digital signage and various outdoor advertising methods too (i.e. outdoor LED screens).  

The benefits

  • Whether you have been in business 2 days or 200 years, video gets you noticed. Research compiled by entrepreneurs lifeline Kickstarter found that new companies seeking to take their first steps in the business world were more successful (50% vs. 30%) if they featured a video on their website.
  • Industry predictions foresee that by 2014 video could account for 50% of all internet traffic.
  • As more people join the millions of smartphone users, your videos will be viewed more often and for longer! Industry stats show that people who watch videos on mobiles are more likely to watch more (or all) of the video compared to PC, laptop and tablet users.
  • Integration is reaching an all-time peak as advertising agencies are seeking new ways to get the message across in multiple formats. For example, 500 years of YouTube videos are watched on Facebook every day; that’s not even on the main YouTube website… crazy stuff!
  • An exciting video evokes trust, familiarity and can lead to loyalty. If you can use anything to separate your brand and your products from rival offerings, video is the consumers’ favourite choice.
So what does this mean for the future of content and marketing in general? Will words be replaced by pictures and video as consumers seek newer, more exciting ways to absorb information? When it comes to share-ability and integration with social media it certainly looks that way. But as new technologies are evolving all the time, it makes us wonder what’s around the next marketing corner.]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/03/the-era-of-video-marketing/feed/ 0 Sponsored Video – Samsung’s Dream the Blues campaign http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/02/samsungs-dream-the-blues-campaign/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/02/samsungs-dream-the-blues-campaign/#comments Mon, 04 Feb 2013 10:40:29 +0000 Matthew Arnold http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=9462 Sponsored Video - Samsung's Dream the Blues campaign
Samsung has launched a new campaign called Dream the Blues. The campaign is part of the Samsung-Chelsea FC Youth Football Camp program, giving the opportunity to train children for the next generation of football players. It’s a great iniative that the Samsung guys have put together, check out the video below to see a bit ...]]> Sponsored Video - Samsung's Dream the Blues campaign
Samsung has launched a new campaign called Dream the Blues. deco-frank-lampard_1243315c The campaign is part of the Samsung-Chelsea FC Youth Football Camp program, giving the opportunity to train children for the next generation of football players. It's a great iniative that the Samsung guys have put together, check out the video below to see a bit more about Dream the Blues: Sponsored by Samsung]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/02/samsungs-dream-the-blues-campaign/feed/ 0 Polaroid to launch Smartphone Fotobar stores http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/01/polaroid-to-launch-smartphone-fotobar-stores/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/01/polaroid-to-launch-smartphone-fotobar-stores/#comments Fri, 04 Jan 2013 08:07:59 +0000 Matthew Arnold http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=8982 Polaroid Fotobar store 2
Polaroid plans to open new retail stores this year focused on getting people to print and edit the photos saved on their smartphone, or from social networks such as Facebook, Instagram and Picasa. The first ‘Polaroid Fotobar’ store, which is set to open in Florida USA next month, will allow in-store customers to wirelessly transmit ...]]> Polaroid Fotobar store 2
Polaroid plans to open new retail stores this year focused on getting people to print and edit the photos saved on their smartphone, or from social networks such as Facebook, Instagram and Picasa. The first ‘Polaroid Fotobar’ store, which is set to open in Florida USA next month, will allow in-store customers to wirelessly transmit the images stored on their smartphone or tablet to a bar-top workstation. From here, the photos can be edited to fix red-eye or alter the contrast and brightness. A number of filters will also be available if they haven’t done so already using an app such as Snapseed or Instagram. Polaroid Fotobar Store Photos can also be uploaded from social platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Picasa and “several others”. Although the latter haven’t been revealed by Polaroid yet, it would be great if they included Flickr and 500px. Once the images have been chosen, users can then have the image printed in a number of different materials and substrates including metal, wood and bamboo, as well as choose from various framing options. The idea is to make the digital and often forgettable images stored on your smartphone feel like works of art again; something which you would want to share with friends or hang in your house or office. The key to this concept is the ability to easily print from your smartphone, following in the historical "instantaneous" printing which made Polaroid so successful. Polaroid Fotobar store 2 Polaroid CEO and president Scott W. Hardy said:
“Polaroid is about sharing life’s most precious and memorable moments. We have been, and continue to be, about self-expression, creativity and fun. Polaroid Fotobar retail stores represent a perfect modern expression of the values for which we have stood for 75 years.”
Polaroid promises that any ordered prints will be handcrafted and shipped from their manufacturing facility within 72 hours. The store itself will also have a photo gallery of “creative, museum-quality pieces” designed to inspire customers and make them feel like they’re in a real photography studio. In my opinion this is an excellent concept and one that will be very successful. With the continued resurgence in vintage styling and the massive growth of smartphones this is a sure bet. I would love to see a concept like this launch in South Africa...]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/01/polaroid-to-launch-smartphone-fotobar-stores/feed/ 0 A Short History of GIF http://www.pixelvulture.com/2012/12/a-short-history-of-gif/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2012/12/a-short-history-of-gif/#comments Wed, 12 Dec 2012 13:01:03 +0000 Dylan Robberts http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=8753 Uno De Waal for showing us this awesome little clip! A Short History of the Gif | Moving the Still from LEGS MEDIA on Vimeo.]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2012/12/a-short-history-of-gif/feed/ 0 Online Gaming vs Online Dating http://www.pixelvulture.com/2012/11/online-gaming-vs-online-dating/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2012/11/online-gaming-vs-online-dating/#comments Mon, 12 Nov 2012 07:33:43 +0000 Matthew Arnold http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=8444 Online Gaming vs Online Dating
Where are gamers more likely to hook up online, while gaming or by visiting an online dating site?]]> Online Gaming vs Online Dating
Where are gamers more likely to hook up online, while gaming or by visiting an online dating site? gamers-get-girls]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2012/11/online-gaming-vs-online-dating/feed/ 0 Which Country Uses The Internet Best [Infographic] http://www.pixelvulture.com/2012/10/best-internet-country/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2012/10/best-internet-country/#comments Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:25:30 +0000 Dylan Robberts http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=8149 Which Country Uses The Internet Best [Infographic]
Google recently spent around a million dollars researching 61 countries to find out which country uses the internet the best. The study measured which countries use the internet in the most optimised so that it effects peoples lives in a productive and useful way. To answer this question a team spent a whole year researching ...]]> Which Country Uses The Internet Best [Infographic]
Google recently spent around a million dollars researching 61 countries to find out which country uses the internet the best. The study measured which countries use the internet in the most optimised so that it effects peoples lives in a productive and useful way. To answer this question a team spent a whole year researching things like the Internets effect on politics, social issues, economics and communications in these countries. Who came out on top? Sweden. Where did Zimbabwe rank? 60/61. Go Bob! The study called "Web Index" was actually overseen by the guy credited for the invention of the web, Tim Brenners-Lee. A very interesting little factoid is that worldwide, 1 in 3 people use the internet, BUT, that doesn’t mean it’s even across countries because only 1 one in 6 people in Africa use the Internet. Click here to see where South Africa ranked internet, who uses internet the best, country uses internet best, best country internet, country best internet]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2012/10/best-internet-country/feed/ 0 Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskin http://www.pixelvulture.com/2012/08/evernote-smart-notebook-by-moleskin/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2012/08/evernote-smart-notebook-by-moleskin/#comments Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:36:54 +0000 Matthew Arnold http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=7966 evernote moleskin digital south africa buy
Introducing a brilliant partnership between Moleskin and Evernote bridging the real and digital world. If you are like me you have hundreds of notepad / sketch apps on your iPad/iPhone. They all have different features, pros and cons. None of them quite live up to the all important ability to fully simulate the experience of ...]]> evernote moleskin digital south africa buy
Introducing a brilliant partnership between Moleskin and Evernote bridging the real and digital world. evernote moleskin digital south africa buy If you are like me you have hundreds of notepad / sketch apps on your iPad/iPhone. They all have different features, pros and cons. None of them quite live up to the all important ability to fully simulate the experience of good old paper. This insight drove a really awesome collaboration between Evernote (one of the most popular note taking apps) and Moleskin one of the best known physical notebook manufacturers. This collaboration allows each party to benefit from each other and provide an excellent note taking solution to the consumer. Moleskin faces several issues the biggest being the rise of tablets and smartphones and the ability for these devices to replace the traditional notebook with apps that provide more flexibility, allowing access to media rich notes from a range of devices. Partnering with Evernote mitigates this with their excellent cross device / cloud based notes. Even better is the 3 month pro account that you get with your Moleskin notebook which helps drive repeat purchases and loyalty. While the stickers (used as digital tags) and the specially designed photo friendly paper sound cool, its hardly a deal breaker - you could use any notebook to do this. However the concept is just such a great one, blending the physical world with the digital one in a seamless solution that provides tangible value to the consumer - that I will happily pay for! It doesn't look like it is available in SA yet, however it is on pre-order in Australia and you could get it shipped here. I want one. Now.]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2012/08/evernote-smart-notebook-by-moleskin/feed/ 1 How to Search like a pro http://www.pixelvulture.com/2012/07/search-pro/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2012/07/search-pro/#comments Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:59:59 +0000 Matthew Arnold http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=7553 How to Search like a pro
Ever struggled to find what you are looking for on Google Search? This is a handy guide to using some advanced search techniques.   These tips and tricks will have you finding those research gems on the intewebs in no time at all.]]> How to Search like a pro
Ever struggled to find what you are looking for on Google Search? This is a handy guide to using some advanced search techniques.   These tips and tricks will have you finding those research gems on the intewebs in no time at all. how to search like a pro infographic tips]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2012/07/search-pro/feed/ 0