Sunday, December 9, 2012
MDIA 4902 Blog Assignment #8
The final paper gave me a good opportunity to examine a form of social media that is becoming increasingly popular, Reddit. I spend a lot of time on Reddit, and to look at it as a marketing environment was really interesting. I think that it is certainly possible for the site to be used as a marketing tool, but the unique community surrounding it makes doing as a difficult task.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
MDIA 4902 Blog Assignment #7
My vote for the favorite module this semester would have to be Module 7, The Longtail.I like this topic because it has so many different applications to the media world even beyond social media. It is a very true model of media production in its depiction of a few majorly successful producers against a much more diverse niche market.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
MDIA 4902 Blog Assignment #6
In this course I've learned a lot more about the theory of applying social media to advertising and marketing. I have always had a practical hands-on perspective of social media but I had never previously looked into the studies being conducted on its usage and how people are applying to their businesses. The lesson on the long-tail was a good reminder of something I had previously learned in Business of Media but this class put it in the social media perspective and that was certainly interesting to learn about. Prior to this class I really didn't know anything about the dotcom bubble in the early 2000s so studying that was enlightening. It definitely has implications in today's market with the rise of social media companies.
I like this class how it is, it offers a variety of information about social media. Given the rapidly changing nature of the industry I think it's great to get a broad sense of what's going on and how people are using it.
Monday, October 15, 2012
MDIA 4902 Blog Assignment #5
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/trolls-or-criminals-uk-law-wrestles-with-social-media-20121016-27nrq.html
MDIA 4902 Blog Assignment #4
If I were to open a store I would definitely do an online store rather than a brick and mortar store.
Brick and mortar stores have an advantage over online stores in that they can meet a pressing need more easily. Online sales take a lot longer to arrive. Brick and mortar stores also have the benefit of direct human contact, so if a customer is uncertain about a product there is someone there to discuss it.
Online stores have the advantage of convenience. They're incredibly easy to use and it's great to be able to buy what you need without leaving the home, as long as you don't need it immediately. Online stores also have the advantage of a low overhead - from the ownership perspective. You can keep a smaller staff and a smaller inventory compared to a brick and mortar store.
Brick and mortar stores are here to stay. They often serve a different purpose than online stores can provide, especially with food products or things that people want to see and try out before they purchase.
MDIA 4902 Blog Assignment #3
In order to make my blog more marketable there are a few things that I would do. First off, my blog is really scatter brained at the moment, there is little to no continuity to the content and the average reader is not going to find that appealing. So, I would first organize my content better and set a plan to make more consistent content. As it stands right now, my blog does not have much use for readers - this is the most pressing issue.
Second, I would link my blog to my Facebook and other social media sites in order to create more exposure and draw in viewers. By connecting my social media sites, anyone who would have any interest one of my accounts could be directed to my blog and therefore it would increase the traffic to my site.
Third, my titles would include more "buzzwords" in order to be more relevant to web searches. By using key terms that people often search using search engines my posts would show up with more relevance to what whatever topic the person is researching, and then they would be more likely to visit my blog.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
MDIA 4902 Blog Entry #2
Picture from:
http://www.jeffbullas.com/2011/11/28/social-media-marketing-10-inspiring-infographics/
MDIA 4902 Blog Entry #1
The social networking sites that I use are Facebook, Instagram, Blogger, and Reddit.
I use Facebook and Reddit daily, they have become part of my routine. I use Instagram maybe once a week. I used to use Blogger fairly frequently but now I just check other blogs occasionally and don't update my own blog very often.
My favorite social networking site is probably Facebook. It just makes short communications extremely easy and it's Facebook chat function is pretty handy.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Mass Effect 3 Review (Xbox 360)
Bioware’s Mass Effect 3 brings Commander Shepard’s thrilling story its close as the Reapers attempt to harvest the civilizations of the Mass Effect universe. As the situation rapidly deteriorates Shepard and the crew of the Normandy are once again called upon to save the day. While Mass Effect 3 is not without its flaws Bioware delivers an engrossing and exciting conclusion for its fans.
Mass Effect 3 begins shortly after the events of the Mass Effect 2 DLC pack “Arrival” and thrusts the player back into the story just as the Reapers begin their all out assault on Earth. From there players must travel the galaxy while assembling a crew and tools to fight the Reapers, a formula that Mass Effect veterans are certainly accustomed to. Mass Effect 3 utilizes the rich universe that has been established through the two previous titles to create an unrelenting tension, as events consistently grow more desperate for Shepard. The sense of constant peril that permeates through Mass Effect 3’s worlds is perhaps the greatest strength of the storytelling.
Before the Reapers can be stopped, players must struggle through the political arena of the galaxy, which is riddled with conflicts between the various civilizations. Mass Effect 3 poses serious moral dilemmas for players, which far surpass any of the decision-making of the previous titles. A numerous times players are challenged by decisions that threaten old friends and sometimes entire civilizations, decisions which will way heavily on the player and the outcome of Shepard’s story.
Shepard must challenge old feuds that extend even beyond humanities introduction to the rest of the galaxy in order to prevent total annihilation by an overwhelming opponent. The Quarian-Geth conflict escalates to new levels, the human-centric organization Cerberus conducts a shadowy operation across the galaxy, and the Krogan genophage controversy rears its head once more – all while the Reapers aim to bring each civilization to their end. The stakes and the difficulties of Shepard’s mission have never been higher. These conflicts often pull in old friends and provide some of the most powerful drama of the Mass Effect trilogy and help wrap up Shepard’s story in meaningful ways.
The galaxy presented in Mass Effect 3 is certainly an interesting one. At times it feels expansive and grand, and yet it manages to feel so small. The number of available squad members has been cut in order to provide deeper relationships with the existing squad members. Players may be disappointed by the roles played by characters from the previous installments and the lack of variety in squad members. Additionally the side missions are a weird mix of very important pieces of lore and can feature emotional reunions with old friends while others offer little more than 10 to 20 minutes of killing enemies for small gains in War Assets.
The strengths of the game go beyond its exceptional storytelling. Mass Effect 3 brings a broad array of new enemies for Shepard to face, much to the benefit of its game play.
The new enemies boast a wider variety of abilities than we’ve previously seen, and require more careful strategy and squad utilization than before – especially on higher difficulties. Enemies work together and utilize their strengths much more effectively in Mass Effect 3. It’s not uncommon to be pushed from cover by a shielded or melee opponent only to get hit by a long-range enemy if a player, or to be forced into the open by a well-placed grenade. Players must prioritize enemies and utilize squad powers in order to survive many engagements.
Mass Effect 3 is host to a variety of new material. One of the first things players will notice is the introduction of different play modes: Story, Action, and RPG. Story mode makes the combat in the game much easier while giving more focus to cut scenes and decision-making. Action mode places emphasis on the combat while story elements are given in a more bare-bones format. RPG mode provides the traditional Mass Effect 3 experience and leaves the cut scenes, decision-making, and action as they were intended.
In order to determine the galaxies progress through out the story, Mass Effect 3 introduces the Galactic Readiness rating, which measures the galaxies ability to fight the Reapers and is increased with War Assets that are collected throughout Shepard’s journey. Players can collect War Assets by scanning planets and completing missions and the Galactic Readiness rating plays into the possible outcomes of a player’s game. The scanning system of Mass Effect 2 has been revamped, and the resource grind is gone. A single scan will net the resources in the form of credits, fuel, or various War Assets.
Galactic Readiness can also be affected by another new feature of Mass Effect 3 – its multiplayer mode: Galaxy at War. Those who dislike the multiplayer mode should be happy to know that it is entirely optional as all endings are available without playing multiplayer.
Galaxy at War is class based and pits teams of four players against waves of enemies, sometimes with other minor objectives. For completing waves players are rewarded with credits and experience points, which allow them to level their characters and unlock new upgrades, character classes, and weapons. Players are also able to play as many of the other species of the Mass Effect universe for the first time as well. The flaw in Galaxy at War is its lack of overall objective; it can quickly become tedious with little variety in enemies, only six maps, and no long-term incentive to play.
Two additional problems exist with Mass Effect 3 - its DLC content and its ending. The DLC “From Ashes” was available on launch day for $9.99 or free with a collector’s edition. This DLC is a problem as it includes material that is important to the story and that was ready for launch with the rest of the game, but requires additional money. It is a move that is disrespectful to fans, but part of a problem that extends beyond Mass Effect 3. “From Ashes” itself is extremely short, and easily completed in less than an hour, for $9.99 it is questionable as to whether it is worth the cost. DLC will continue to be a problem for Mass Effect 3 as Shepard’s story will be concluded before release, and therefore likely to feel rather empty and meaningless.
As for the ending, without getting into spoilers, Mass Effect 3 provides closure to the trilogy but leaves much to be desired. Players are faced with a series of confusing plot holes and decisions that do not make much sense. It almost feels as though the ending was quickly thrown together to meet a deadline. It’s certainly difficult to end a story as vibrant and engaging as the Mass Effect trilogy but the direction taken by Bioware is not the way to do it as players are ultimately left with many unanswered questions and an ending that does not satisfy.
In spite of its flaws, Mass Effect 3 is still an excellent game and worthy of its hype. It provides a solid 20-30 hours of game play and storytelling for fans to enjoy, and delivers far more often than it fails. In the end Mass Effect 3 is a testament to talent and ability of the folks at Bioware and its few flaws should not deter anyone from enjoying the wealth of content that it boasts.
Mass Effect 3 begins shortly after the events of the Mass Effect 2 DLC pack “Arrival” and thrusts the player back into the story just as the Reapers begin their all out assault on Earth. From there players must travel the galaxy while assembling a crew and tools to fight the Reapers, a formula that Mass Effect veterans are certainly accustomed to. Mass Effect 3 utilizes the rich universe that has been established through the two previous titles to create an unrelenting tension, as events consistently grow more desperate for Shepard. The sense of constant peril that permeates through Mass Effect 3’s worlds is perhaps the greatest strength of the storytelling.
Before the Reapers can be stopped, players must struggle through the political arena of the galaxy, which is riddled with conflicts between the various civilizations. Mass Effect 3 poses serious moral dilemmas for players, which far surpass any of the decision-making of the previous titles. A numerous times players are challenged by decisions that threaten old friends and sometimes entire civilizations, decisions which will way heavily on the player and the outcome of Shepard’s story.
Shepard must challenge old feuds that extend even beyond humanities introduction to the rest of the galaxy in order to prevent total annihilation by an overwhelming opponent. The Quarian-Geth conflict escalates to new levels, the human-centric organization Cerberus conducts a shadowy operation across the galaxy, and the Krogan genophage controversy rears its head once more – all while the Reapers aim to bring each civilization to their end. The stakes and the difficulties of Shepard’s mission have never been higher. These conflicts often pull in old friends and provide some of the most powerful drama of the Mass Effect trilogy and help wrap up Shepard’s story in meaningful ways.
The galaxy presented in Mass Effect 3 is certainly an interesting one. At times it feels expansive and grand, and yet it manages to feel so small. The number of available squad members has been cut in order to provide deeper relationships with the existing squad members. Players may be disappointed by the roles played by characters from the previous installments and the lack of variety in squad members. Additionally the side missions are a weird mix of very important pieces of lore and can feature emotional reunions with old friends while others offer little more than 10 to 20 minutes of killing enemies for small gains in War Assets.
The strengths of the game go beyond its exceptional storytelling. Mass Effect 3 brings a broad array of new enemies for Shepard to face, much to the benefit of its game play.
The new enemies boast a wider variety of abilities than we’ve previously seen, and require more careful strategy and squad utilization than before – especially on higher difficulties. Enemies work together and utilize their strengths much more effectively in Mass Effect 3. It’s not uncommon to be pushed from cover by a shielded or melee opponent only to get hit by a long-range enemy if a player, or to be forced into the open by a well-placed grenade. Players must prioritize enemies and utilize squad powers in order to survive many engagements.
Mass Effect 3 is host to a variety of new material. One of the first things players will notice is the introduction of different play modes: Story, Action, and RPG. Story mode makes the combat in the game much easier while giving more focus to cut scenes and decision-making. Action mode places emphasis on the combat while story elements are given in a more bare-bones format. RPG mode provides the traditional Mass Effect 3 experience and leaves the cut scenes, decision-making, and action as they were intended.
In order to determine the galaxies progress through out the story, Mass Effect 3 introduces the Galactic Readiness rating, which measures the galaxies ability to fight the Reapers and is increased with War Assets that are collected throughout Shepard’s journey. Players can collect War Assets by scanning planets and completing missions and the Galactic Readiness rating plays into the possible outcomes of a player’s game. The scanning system of Mass Effect 2 has been revamped, and the resource grind is gone. A single scan will net the resources in the form of credits, fuel, or various War Assets.
Galactic Readiness can also be affected by another new feature of Mass Effect 3 – its multiplayer mode: Galaxy at War. Those who dislike the multiplayer mode should be happy to know that it is entirely optional as all endings are available without playing multiplayer.
Galaxy at War is class based and pits teams of four players against waves of enemies, sometimes with other minor objectives. For completing waves players are rewarded with credits and experience points, which allow them to level their characters and unlock new upgrades, character classes, and weapons. Players are also able to play as many of the other species of the Mass Effect universe for the first time as well. The flaw in Galaxy at War is its lack of overall objective; it can quickly become tedious with little variety in enemies, only six maps, and no long-term incentive to play.
Two additional problems exist with Mass Effect 3 - its DLC content and its ending. The DLC “From Ashes” was available on launch day for $9.99 or free with a collector’s edition. This DLC is a problem as it includes material that is important to the story and that was ready for launch with the rest of the game, but requires additional money. It is a move that is disrespectful to fans, but part of a problem that extends beyond Mass Effect 3. “From Ashes” itself is extremely short, and easily completed in less than an hour, for $9.99 it is questionable as to whether it is worth the cost. DLC will continue to be a problem for Mass Effect 3 as Shepard’s story will be concluded before release, and therefore likely to feel rather empty and meaningless.
As for the ending, without getting into spoilers, Mass Effect 3 provides closure to the trilogy but leaves much to be desired. Players are faced with a series of confusing plot holes and decisions that do not make much sense. It almost feels as though the ending was quickly thrown together to meet a deadline. It’s certainly difficult to end a story as vibrant and engaging as the Mass Effect trilogy but the direction taken by Bioware is not the way to do it as players are ultimately left with many unanswered questions and an ending that does not satisfy.
In spite of its flaws, Mass Effect 3 is still an excellent game and worthy of its hype. It provides a solid 20-30 hours of game play and storytelling for fans to enjoy, and delivers far more often than it fails. In the end Mass Effect 3 is a testament to talent and ability of the folks at Bioware and its few flaws should not deter anyone from enjoying the wealth of content that it boasts.
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