Crayon, join the conversation

Prior to March 2007 only Viacom and a Los Angeles journalist had pending law suits against YouTube for copy write violation. Since then the English Premier League has brought 3 infringement cases and now NBC Universal has jumped on the band wagon. Google owned YouTube has a potential mess on their hands. To add to that mess, they are facing the Thai government. It has threatened a suite for a video they are calling is offensive to the Thai Royal Family. YouTube’s claim is that people misunderstand the point of Copy Write and DCMA.
It may be my age or it may be my punk rock attitude about DRM and DCMA, but I feel like restricting material only limits it’s capabilities. We at crayon work in a space where this topic is extremely relevant and of the utmost importance. Our readers/followers are in the space and contribute their content as well. Thats why I want to know what you all think. Is this a serious issue for YouTube? Is Rupert Murdock using this as a platform to take down YouTube? Is DRM/DCMA important in our “New Age”? I am UBER interested in your thoughts. Please let me know what you think?

Crayon is putting out the word that a new SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER is needed. You can check out more at craigslist.org.

Knowledge/Skills

- 3-5 years experience managing new media projects
- Excellent communication and collaborative skills
- Good working knowledge of new media, including web multimedia, rich media platforms, email, blogs, podcasts, social media networks, etc. Second Life experience (or interest) a definite plus.
- In depth knowledge of project management tools, best practices and processes
- Strong understanding of process methodologies and theory
- Eye for detail, and proven organizational and facilitation skills

Listen to crayonCast #19

We are trying something new this week. Michael Denton is the MC of crayonCast 19. Here are the things that caught our attention over the last week. Enjoy and let people know that they can go to www.crayoncast.com anytime and subscribe to the show.

Microsoft to Digitally Distribute Vista

Microsoft announced today that they will allow consumers to purchase its new operating system and download it from the internet.

Enough about this silly iPhone it’s not like this is the first phone to actually do email, video, songs, internet, and Google maps. Let’s talk about something super impressive… MICROSOFT VISTA!!!

Uncontrollable excitement does not even begin to describe my feelings of anticipation for this operating system. Other than the GUI the system doesn’t look like it has changed much but if you think that you are sadly mistaken. If want to know more we can talk off line because this post is simply about the distribution method Microsoft has announced today. Online purchases and downloads of the software; 4 versions in fact.

I’m in NYC. Yesterday it finally dropped to below freezing and today it finally snowed. I was not excited to stand in a line on January 30^th in the freezing cold waiting for this OS like a PS3. Us, computer geeks are fragile creatures.

All joking aside this is a first for Microsoft and as far as I know for Mac as well. Sure you can download a Linux kernel of the internet but then you have to program it to do what you want!

If you listen to the crayoncast you’ve heard that I love Burger King’s line of $3.99 video games, and apparently I’m not alone. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt2do5oV2-8[/youtube] I read today that “The King” has sold over 2 million copies of his 3 video games via Burger King Restaurants.

In 2000 Burger kind did a promotion with the Backstreet Boys.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCXca-aB9Fc[/youtube]
I wonder if Burger King ever came close to selling 2 million copies of this single…

30 min of research couldn’t tell me, can you?

Let’s just say for argument sake that the BSB did sell 2 million copies, and again let’s make the assumption that each of the 2 million copies is being listened to for an hour at a time. Even with these two assumptions, the die hard fans dying to get their hands on the most recent Back Street single are not getting as much exposure to the BK brand as those gamers looking for some way to kill an hour of free time using their X-box or X-box 360.

The only point I’m trying to make is this: Burger King dropped the ball in attempting to create brand loyalists out of boy-band fans who would much rather eat one of subway’s 8 subs with less than 6 grams of fat, than a 780 calorie Whopper w/Cheese. Conversely BK hit a home run with this most recent campaign. The right demo, the right method, the right new marketing.

If you haven’t been living in a hole in the ground, by now you’ve seen the evolution of dance…. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg[/youtube] Judson Laipply does a hilarious 5 minute sketch dance comedy of all the different types of dance out there. The video made me laugh out loud and almost pee my pants.

The reason I write about this year-old web video is because Judson Laipply is going to be launching his own Web TV show soon and I thought it was a great way to showcase a unique way to utilize New Marketing. The “93 Colors” consist of other forms of marketing besides blogs, podcasts, and wikis. Web TV is a great way to get your message out in an entertaining and consumer friendly way. I heard in Cnet’s Nov. 22nd podcast that this is the age of video advertising. The “experts” say there is a huge increase in the amount of video advertising out there and they warn that consumers only have a 10 second attention span for online video advertisement. I think that is just because they are too similar to current TV ads. I’m saying let’s make them more interesting and more consumer friendly. Let me know what you think.

By now everyone has seen the horror stories of people getting mugged, trampled, or even shot during the mayhem that ensued over the launch of the PS3. If the lines and stories haven’t convinced you that Gamers are more aggressive with their media than most, I would like to give you something to think about.

1. This is a video put out by Kojima that has been viewed an inordinate amount of time. Gamers are searching out video stories as entertainment and are willing to sit through the “30 sec spots” in order to have the experience.

http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/714/714044/vids_1.html

1. According to a November 26^th article on pressconnect.com teens are being more proactive with the internet to search out the products they want, such as … “electronic products, with computers and video game consoles being the heavy hitters.”

http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061126/NEWS01/611260327/1006

1. Zeitgeist shows that 2 of the top 10 search results from last week were gaming consoles.

http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist.html

I strongly believe that this supports the idea that the old style of marketing to consumers has gone out the window. The pull of information is the preferred way of learning about new products and gamers are only slightly ahead of the curve. The world has changed and it’s time to utilize new marketing to reach new consumers. I have learned of some interesting theories, and will be presenting them in part three of the gaming Trifecta.

I’ve been in NYC for over a quarter of a year now (not long) but it wasn’t until this past week did I realize how intense this city is about technology. The PS3 comes out tomorrow and I have walked past a long line of patient dedicated gamers the last 4 days on the way to work, even when it rained. Where the weather is warmer, according to the CAG blog, people have been waiting for weeks. So in honor of the launch I am going to post a review of some games to make some people who don’t get one after waiting in line a little jealous.

Check out my video:

Crayon Vlog 2

Michael Denton/KaneTFM Abel

Coming from a Midwest business school I always heard about NYU, and how great their program is. Tonight I had the opportunity to walk the halls (thank you Stan) as well as see Joseph Jaffe in action again.  The man is unbelievable. I want to start off by letting everyone know he is not bullshitting when he says that everyone in this company has an equal voice.  I know you won’t believe me but… I went to listen to him speak tonight and he was okay with me accepting when Stan Phelps invited me, the loose cannon who’s wet behind the ears, (to join him) on a panel to discuss some topics including crayon, LLC, new marketing, Second Life, blogging, and podcasting. The last two I want to talk about first, then I’ll talk little about Second Life.

I noticed today when Joseph asked if anyone read blogs or listened to Podcasts, very few people said yes. Intuitively it leads me to believe one of two things (please correct me if I am drawing an incorrect conclusion).

Are blogs and podcasts not as broadly read and listened to as one might imagine?

The younger generation (especially college students) doesn’t have the resources (time, devices, money) to download and listen to or read Blogs and Podcasts and that the older generations, who make decisions, are not interested or not engaging.

Both scenarios scare the bijesus out of me, but the idea that the medium isn’t getting consumed scares me to death. This content, which is readily accessible, and analyses products, services, what ever, is exactly what my “free economy” is all about.  I want to know what peers and other user’s reviews are saying about my next big purchase or my last big idea.  I trust them more than “the Man”.  All the research I read says that it is not just me.  So where is the audience? And Why aren’t college kids and those in the creativity business not walking the walk?

We did have an amazing conversation about Second Life – What do you do there? Where is it going? Who is there? Why spend money on a game?  I’ve been having this conversation in and out of SL ever since my avatar was born and I am amazed at how much people can learn (I have learned) from being there.  The concept is vague and that’s how it’s meant to be. Let the community decide what stays and what doesn’t. I stand behind the idea of SL 100% I spend a lot of time there.  I would LOVE to continue this conversation. Come find me in SL.

-KaneTFM Abel

Okay so we all know of its existence in sport games. I’m not bringing anything new to the light. But the amount of advertising EA Sports has brought to NBA Live 07 is amazing. Check out the vlog I put together today to demonstrate.

As a gamer I’m not upset about this one bit. It doesn’t take away from the experience at all. In fact it adds to the reality. All it’s missing is a beer vendor to walk into my living room and charge me 9 bucks a drink. The way I see it, the more advertising dollars that can go into R&D the better the game will turn out and hopefully the lower the price for me (we’ll see about that). I invite any and all corporate investment.