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Eric sent me this: “After conquering athletes, magicians, nymphs and beasts, Asterix and Obelix face the deadliest challenge of all: accountancy, bureaucracy and bad customer service.” Any parallels with government agencies, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Related posts: Unravelling the Mystery of Good Customer Service In a word, innovation Stop defection: using FUD and … Continue reading “The Place That Sends You Mad”
Eric sent me this:
“After conquering athletes, magicians, nymphs and beasts, Asterix and Obelix face the deadliest challenge of all: accountancy, bureaucracy and bad customer service.”
Any parallels with government agencies, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Morpheus: Do you believe in fate, Neo? Neo: No. Morpheus: Why not? Neo: Because I don’t like the idea that I’m not in control of my life. Morpheus: I know *exactly* what you mean. Let me tell you why you’re here. You’re here because you know something. What you know you can’t explain, but you … Continue reading “Stop critiquing the darkness. Light a candle”
Morpheus: Do you believe in fate, Neo?
Neo: No.
Morpheus: Why not?
Neo: Because I don’t like the idea that I’m not in control of my life.
Morpheus: I know *exactly* what you mean. Let me tell you why you’re here. You’re here because you know something. What you know you can’t explain, but you feel it. You’ve felt it your entire life, that there’s something wrong with the world. You don’t know what it is, but it’s there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad. It is this feeling that has brought you to me. Do you know what I’m talking about? – The Matrix
There are people out there who want to change the world.
I’m glad I’ve met some of them (thanks to Denis Stewart FRSA and in the last couple of months I’ve attended some of the meetings. It’s good to know you’re not alone. Denis has been tireless in his attempts to bring together a group for a “Civic Conversation” and recently it’s taken shape better than I could have imagined.
Some of the things I’ve learned about include the following visualisation diagram.
You have to visualise what you want, where you want to be and, most usefully, a transitional step towards getting you there. In reality you may need multiple steps – and there’s room in the model to allow for that.
I’ve always considered it a moral and human duty to work towards a post-scarcity society. Scarcity (or as John Barry would put it: inequality) is the fuel for poverty, war, hatred and crime. We have to work towards resolving scarcity issues but we have to be pragmatic about it. Our resources are finite (if not scarce). We have to decide which things we should change in order to bring about benefit to all members of our society.
One of the working groups at the meeting came up with a declaration.
We are here because:
1) all is not well
2) we can make a difference
3) we have exhausted all the traditional avenues and we are going to open a new one
4) we desire a vision for Northern Ireland
5) we will point out the folly in the existing system
6) and we are committed to taking small actions consistent with realising our vision
The last point is significant to me. Actions, even small ones, distinguish this group from a think tank or talking shop. It can be about inspiration, aspiration, hope, civic values, wonder, awe and providing a measure of leadership through positive change. It can be about taking control of something which is currently not moving in the right direction.
Stuart Mackenzie: Well, it’s a well known fact, Sonny Jim, that there’s a secret society of the five wealthiest people in the world, known as The Pentavirate, who run everything in the world, including the newspapers, and meet tri-annually at a secret country mansion in Colorado, known as The Meadows. – So I Married An Axe Murderer
How and what is to be done is something for the group to decide. As “Progress is disagreement among friends”, I welcome the opportunity to start planning the things to be done.
If you’re interested in being part of the solution, being a civic actor in a pragmatic vision, then get in touch.
Colin Williams, SixteenSouth at TEDxBelfast last night: Our city needs New fathers, Trusted rulers, People of integrity, Not people of fear. I hope this video gets published soon. Related posts: All Is Lost The Third Generation of Personal Computers The Mirage of Economic Prosperity and the Bitter Generation
Colin Williams, SixteenSouth at TEDxBelfast last night:
Our city needs
New fathers,
Trusted rulers,
People of integrity,
Not people of fear.
I hope this video gets published soon.
This is about two things. Kickstarter and Day Z. But it’s not really about them, it’s about the emergent culture that has appeared and these two are the most obvious indications that the culture exists. Kickstarter is a natural progression. Just like we saw with Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails, folk who have become immensely … Continue reading “if you won’t make the games we want to play, we’ll make them ourselves”
This is about two things. Kickstarter and Day Z. But it’s not really about them, it’s about the emergent culture that has appeared and these two are the most obvious indications that the culture exists.
Kickstarter is a natural progression. Just like we saw with Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails, folk who have become immensely successful using the traditional markets are able to pivot this success into the new non traditional marketplace. With the musicians I mention, they were able to sell their music directly. With Kickstarter projects, it’s all about pre-orders. Essentially the same. People tired of formula productions and so we see non-formula productions. Albums a traditional record label may not have published. Games a large publisher would have modified. Because of the faith of a few, many will get to see what the artist wanted to create.
Day Z still fascinates me because it’s a situation rather than a story. Ordinarily this should have writers of game backgrounds shaking in their boots – but this game is describing something new. A game which is borne of games. It’s not a toy or a puzzle. It’s not a grinding engine or a jury-rigged television or movie plot. It’s a sandbox: it has limits but within those limits you can do anything you want. It bears more homage to childhood games of Cops’n’Robbers than to the hyper-violent activities in Modern Warfare. I’ve not logged in for days and when I do I know I’ll be starving. And death just that one step closer. And death, as we know, is permanent.
It’s fair to say that my own thoughts for Conquest Dynamics are changing. And why not. I doubt I’ll ever go the Kickstarter route (I just don’t have the résumé – despite publishing The 23rd Letter, SpaceNinjaCyberCrisis XDO and Zombi a decade ago.). But I feel like any game designer can learn from what is happening now. Change is happening right now and it’s both exciting and unsettling.
I got this question yesterday. If I want to do this, why not use Kickstarter as it’s been such a success for heaps of stuff. The world famous Double Fine Adventure sets a precedent. A small team of dedicated people can achieve great things. But, ultimately we’re not ready for that. We’ve got the start … Continue reading “So why not Kickstarter”
I got this question yesterday. If I want to do this, why not use Kickstarter as it’s been such a success for heaps of stuff.
The world famous Double Fine Adventure sets a precedent. A small team of dedicated people can achieve great things.
But, ultimately we’re not ready for that. We’ve got the start of a team with Aidan and Willem. We’re trying to raise some cash for assets – images, music, animations, movies. We have our Lo-Fi movie, a wiki that’s growing with game design features and background and we’re talking to Northern Ireland Screen about what they can do to help.
We’re not ready for something like Kickstarter because we don’t have the twelve year background of Double Fine Productions, the reputation of Tim Schafer, the back catalogue of 2 Player Productions. Kickstarter is a big step and we’re not ready because we don’t have anything to show.
We’d like help to get there.
Though, to date, we’ve had one inquiry. So rather than hide it all behind a wall, here’s what we’ve written. As my theory is that telling no-one was getting us nowhere, I’m now telling everyone. About Matt 1990-1994 BSc Hons Genetics 1994-1996 PgCert Computers and IT 1996 Joined Nortel 1996 Published first game: The 23rd … Continue reading “We’re on Seedups.com”
Though, to date, we’ve had one inquiry. So rather than hide it all behind a wall, here’s what we’ve written. As my theory is that telling no-one was getting us nowhere, I’m now telling everyone.
About Matt
1990-1994 BSc Hons Genetics
1994-1996 PgCert Computers and IT
1996 Joined Nortel
1996 Published first game: The 23rd Letter
1998 Published second game: SpaceNinjaCyberCrisis XDO
2001 Published third game: Zombi: the earth won’t hold the head
2003 Started own IT company, MacSys Ltd
2006 Started Infurious software
2008 Started developing Digital Circle in Northern Ireland
2011 Put together the team for Conquest Dynamics
Business Opportunity
We will need an initial £200,000 of funding to produce the first game and the development of the initial IP for the second and third. We are not aiming for the 69p market, but rather delivering some new ideas in social and multiplayer games which will drive payer recruitment and engagement.
Our initial game has a basic game design document but this also needs enhancement and we are keen to find additional advice as well as funding to assist in the delivery of this.
The opportunity in a global, networked marketplace is immense thoughwill only be realised through appropriate marketing, use of social media and development of a die-hard player community.
We aim to sell more than a million copies of each game each year and establish four important new properties over the next five years.
Product/Service
We will make games and sell them. A lot.
We have one developed idea and three further games on the slate and a dozen more in the distance.
Market Information
We are aiming for a market segment that is at the intersection of 11M subscribers to World of Warcraft and 65 million iPads.
We will be targeting a sector we know well. Gamers who have limited time, some money to spend and a desire to play games which have more depth than casual games. We’re targeting gamer dads.
Financial Information
To be decided. Come and talk to us.
We’re looking for a committed partner who will provide more than just funding. We’re in for a roller coaster; we have big plans so come and talk to us.
Intellectual Property Information
We will be developing new content-based intellectual peoperty based on original ideas and tell engaging stories.
Does Digital Circle need to do more? Simple enough question. Between August 2008 and September 2011, Digital Circle was funded to create presence, to motivate and accelerate, to help provide a communications stream between government and the digital media industry. The funding was to hire one person, provide some admin support and a little travel … Continue reading “We want to do more.”
Does Digital Circle need to do more?
Simple enough question.
Between August 2008 and September 2011, Digital Circle was funded to create presence, to motivate and accelerate, to help provide a communications stream between government and the digital media industry.
The funding was to hire one person, provide some admin support and a little travel and a marketing and events budget. We managed the budget to deliver on time (though we moved a chunk of cash from salary to the travel budget).
We didn’t do everything perfectly, not by a long shot. The App Economy resulted in half a million jobs in the US and by that scale we should have managed a thousand. We managed probably less than 20% of that. We simply didn’t campaign hard enough for the additional training that would be required to deliver that scale. The local software industry is currently facing two challenges:
Companies cannot grow without new staff and the rate we are training software engineers is significantly lower than the rate they are leaving the industry (through career change, emigration, retirement and death). We currently have over 650 vacancies in ICT-related jobs and this number will be a lot higher next year.
Software engineers are the skeleton of the industry and this discipline is becoming more and more important as our media services move ever more digitally focused and delivered. Upon this skeleton, we estimate four times as many jobs can be created in other disciplines. Artists and designers to add form to function, managers to ensure delivery, marketing and sales to generate cash and then the ripple effects of the spread of wealth.
From October 2011 until March 2012, Digital Circle was funded by the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure and though the future is uncertain, the future is always uncertain and it needs to be uncertain in recessionary times. The challenge is to constantly provide value for money.
I wasn’t concerned when a local tech magazine started even though someone suggested we should do that. Or when a series of big ticket event started and people said we should do that. Or when a venture fund appeared and, yes, people said we should do that. Or a dozen other things – all of which would be fun and worthwhile but it would require a much larger team. Because while we might have been able to do one of those things, we couldn’t do them all and nor should we try.
Digital Circle was not meant to do everything. It’s really just one person, restricted by delivery requirements and job roles and a network of volunteers each of which have their own careers and businesses to manage.
Towards the end of March we will be asking everyone in our industry to comment on what we plan to do in the future. Not so much on Strategy but on Implementation, Roadmap and Milestones.
We have no idea what happens after March with Digital Circle. We have no promises from government, no idea what the size of the ask should be (and in recession we don’t know what’s available). We know what we can expect and what we would hope for (and yes, they are vastly different).
We want to do more.
A school in Maine deployed iPads: “classes using iPads … outperformed the ones without them in every literacy metric used.” “The objective has to be learning, not just getting the technology out there” “We are paying attention to app selection and focused on continuous improvement — we aren’t just handing equipment to teachers.” “many educational … Continue reading “The objective has to be learning, not just getting the technology out there”
A school in Maine deployed iPads:
“classes using iPads … outperformed the ones without them in every literacy metric used.”
“The objective has to be learning, not just getting the technology out there”
“We are paying attention to app selection and focused on continuous improvement — we aren’t just handing equipment to teachers.”
“many educational institutions have not put in enough effort.”
It has never been about the “new and shiny” though detractors of 1:1 computing programmes have always used this as a defence against the investment in learning. This isn’t about putting Angry Birds into the hands of students or distracting them from their studies with FaceBook but rather adopting a permissive approach to technology. When you permit students to use technology in learning, they use technology in learning. Obviously. There’s no need to compete with FaceBook or BBM for attention if the materials and delivery are engaging.
Note that none of the quotes put the responsibility on teachers. But in the end it is the teachers who have to be engaged with the process before the students can be engaged. We’ve been thinking how the Department of Education in Northern Ireland (DENI) and the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) can help in this without just funding cheap iPads (which is not the desired end result). And it obviously has to be in the development of the curriculum and assessment of students.
In the interests of being pro-active, Momentum and Digital Circle are supporting the next TeachMEET in Belfast (because ICT pervades every teaching subject), have published a position paper on 1:1 computing (and the need to accelerate development of resources) and support the removal of ICT in its current for at GCSE and A-level (as it has become the 21st Century equivalent of Typing Class). We are also in the process of creating a new collaborative network for educational content and technology where we hope to bring together local industry, sectoral bodies, academic research and primary/post-primary education to attempt to resolve the big issues we see before us. From what we can see, we’ve inherited decades of legacy and centuries of process, something has to change.
Of course I’m interested, I’m a parent.
From Slugger O’Toole It seems we in Northern Ireland aren’t doing so well when it comes to innovation, at least according to InterTrade Ireland. Simon Hamilton tweeted this announcement from one of his fellow ministers yesterday: “Arlene Foster reveals only 1 of 18 nominations in InterTradeIreland awards from NI & this is a trend. Does … Continue reading “Innovation Island?”
From Slugger O’Toole
It seems we in Northern Ireland aren’t doing so well when it comes to innovation, at least according to InterTrade Ireland. Simon Hamilton tweeted this announcement from one of his fellow ministers yesterday:
“Arlene Foster reveals only 1 of 18 nominations in InterTradeIreland awards from NI & this is a trend. Does ROI have monopoly on innovation?”
I do wonder what “innovation” has to do being represented in an awards show. Does a panel from IntertradeIreland actively search for innovation and inspiration or is this yet another nomination exercise? Someone, maybe even the MD of the business, fills in a form, tells a story and enters a dog’n’pony show?
And shame on our ministers for making a big deal of it. Obviously we’d all love to win an award, parade around with a few suits, have my picture taken (obviously proffering an iPad or laptop towards the camera) and get our pictures into a local advertising aggregator web site. That would be a real measure of innovation in our region.
According to the Technology Strategy Board, Northern Ireland companies do not respond to their competitions as much as they should (based on population). NESTA say that Northern Ireland has a poor rate of response to their programmes. Channel 4 “4IP” told me that they got very few applications from Northern Ireland, much lower than expected. Is it just that we don’t play well with others?
Looking south of the border, they have their own sovereign nation which is an advantage as they have their own controls over corporation tax and other economic drivers. While they were holding out their hands to Europe for a national bailout, they were spending like mad to encourage enterprise. They realised that you have to invest your way out of a recession. We initiate a game development pilot, they copy it but boost the numbers by 10. We have been arguing for a publicly supported incubator, they have about ten of them. We’re playing catchup, yes, but it’s not the private sector who needs to wake up and smell the coffee.
All my life has been in a divided nation. As a vaguely union-supporting post-graduate professional from a middle class catholic background, I have very little national identity of any form and quite literally I am not involved in the politics of the region; I have not voted in years. I feel no loyalty to our political parties because I don’t feel like any of them have any loyalty to me.
Northern Ireland is the most isolated region in the British Isles. We’re the only region of the UK which shares a land border with another sovereign nation; a nation which uses a different currency, offers extremely competitive corporation tax rates and didn’t really suffer thirty years of civil war. We’re separated from the rest of the UK by one of the most expensive stretches of water in the world and due to decades of mismanagement, our pointless little country can only survive in handouts from the UK government. When the block grant goes (and it will), we will have to deal with some very hard questions. Either that or revitalise our previously successful crime and terrorism industry.
It aggravates me when Invest Northern Ireland hands back £50m of their budget to the DFP and blames the private sector for not investing. It makes me ask questions about their ability to forecast when a third of their budget goes unspent. It makes me wonder if they are even aware of recession economics – most businesses I talk to are unable to spend days filling out forms for grants because they are paying the bills and when they’re not working their butts off to pay the bills, they’re trying to build the next big thing on their own time; time, according to Invest Northern Ireland, is worthless.
I have started three businesses in Northern Ireland and I am currently working on starting my fourth. I have never taken a single penny of grant aid from Invest Northern Ireland. The job I’m currently doing means I am supping from the public teat and it can be argued whether or not I would be better off doing my own thing or continuing in this line. I feel that I signed up to a duty of care for the digital sector in Northern Ireland when I took this job and right now I wonder whether I’ve taken on too much responsibility and whether I care too much about the outcomes. Being part of the process of helping our startups has somewhat overtaken my life.
So, in short, no, obviously, the ROI does not have a monopoly on innovation. And yes, our programmes in place are not adequately supporting our startups. And no, it’s not the startups fault.
A report on the boom in the media industry despite the worst recession in 70 years. Related posts: cultureTECH: What I did… Holidays in England All I needed to know about games… Humans FTW! Sky-Bully FTL!
A report on the boom in the media industry despite the worst recession in 70 years.
