Oh Noooooooes! News delivery in video games. - Networking

In today’s Washington Post there is a monumentally inept essay by Kathleen Parker that both bemoans the death of the print newspaper and aptly illustrates precisely why it is dying, thanks to the article’s delightful combination of factual error, failed analysis, and ugly condescending elitism. The main thread is that blowhards like Rush Limbaugh are destroying good hardworking newspapers (who knew his 20 million listeners were more damaging than the loss of add revenue to Craigslist -- a factor which was not even mentioned). The money quote for me was this one:
In the not-distant future … the news may be delivered via a video game. Forget the Internet. Forget blogs, tweets and tags. Forget Jim Cramer-style infotainment. Millions of people are already living in computerized parallel universes through games such as "The Sims" and "World of Warcraft" (WoW). We may have to toss the newspaper on those stoops -- in the virtual world of fake life.
More brandy, please.
Brandy? Anyway, someone should tell Ms. Parker that The Sims Online closed last summer, and that news delivery in a video game is here and it involves either an RSS feed or opening an window that is connected, by tubes, to the interwebs. I swear, is Ted Stevens this woman’s technology adviser? For more Parker ineptitude see below the fold.
Parker inverts the actual relationship between traditional media and those hardworking journalists that actually dig up facts. She thinks that newspapers protect the reporters that find out new stuff and that the blogs (and in world newspapers?) just amplify the noise. In point of fact, investigative reporters have been drummed out of newspapers and take up shop covering their beat by blog and freelancing stories to traditional media outlets on those rare occasions when those outlets feel inclined to cut a few paragraphs out of their Lilo coverage. But it’s apparently not enough for this Post writer to be merely inept, it seems she also needs to add a gratuitously misinformed analysis of the sociology of video game culture:
For those who have been busy with real life, "The Sims" is apparently popular with women who can create a virtual doppelganger and live happily in the suburbs. For millions of guys, WoW is a role-playing game that combines fantasy with mythology. One can't help noting that males and females acting out fantasies are drawn to roles frowned upon in real life: suburban homemaking and warrior-hero play. Hmmmm.
I would comment, but sometimes things speak for themselves.

Related

The real purpose of the Nexus One..

This was posted recently in a norwegian financial paper. It is Norwegian.. dont worry, translation by Google..
If someone bother to find other sources.. post it.
http://www.dagensit.no/article1929919.ece
THIS PHONE WAS REALLY JUST A FEINT"
"Okay, it worked. Congratulations - we stop. " Google chief reveals the real purpose of Google phone.
Google CEO Eric Schmidt surprised when the company a year and a half ago, said it would create a mobile phone with Google's own operating system. Now he says that it was with the Nexus One, and it was a success so it will be with this phone only.
Several mobile operators announced that they would sell it, but ldidn't. But the sales figure for the actual phone was not the point.
It was made to speed up the mobile manufacturers so that they will make phones that could use multiple operating systems.
- And it did. It was a success, so we do not need to create another. We will look at it as positive, but people criticized us heavily for it. I called the board and said 'ok, it worked. Congratulations - we stop, "says Schmidt of the British newspaper the Daily Telegraph.
Eric Schmidt
Same with Chrome
The newspaper says Schmidt, Google is considering creating its own small, portable computers to speed the spread of the online operating system's, Chrome OS. Well checking if others succeed first.
- We have talked about it. We have a reference for specifications of Chrome's OS and hardware partners, we have in place. It is on schedule and will take place later this year. But we'll see how the partners do it first. I'm guessing that we do not have to do it. Computer software industry is different from the mobile industry. PC industry is accustomed to working with Microsoft, while the mobile industry was not accustomed to jobbbe with software.
The customer decides
Schmidt also respond to criticism about privacy. Google collects unimaginable amount of data around the world, and has also been criticized for gathering personal data from open wireless networks as they have traveled around the streets to take photos to map their services.
- I think criticism is fine. I think the criticism informs us, it makes us better. It bothers me not at all.
Schmidt says he understands the concern for privacy, because so many people are so much online and leave information at all times. Google uses this to direct ads to web surf visitor places and preferences, and ads is the Google main income source.
But Schmidt said the public will tell if they do not like it.
- All our surveys show that most are satisfied with our policy.
And the message is the message no one wants to hear: the reality is that we make decisions based on what the average user to tell us, and we notice us. And why you should trust us that if we break that trust, people will immediately make use of other services, "said Schmidt, and believes the public is not very loyal when they do not like something.
- So we are very keen to continue to have confidence in users, "he said
Ahh.. allready posted..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=715623
Close this..
if this were a real printed publication i wouldn't pick up dog crap with it.
i struggle to understand why you are taking this danish news source so literally.
google has a real road map for chromium and android. why would they pump and dump two major long-term initiatives that have been and will be wildly successful and above all financially rewarding?
sprinkles said:
if this were a real printed publication i wouldn't pick up dog crap with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree

Web 2.0 summit

Is anyone else watching the web 2.0 summit ? gingerbread is being discussed!
Sent from my Google Phone
Just tuned in. Link if anyone else is interested:
http://www.web2summit.com/web2010
Thanks paul
Sent from my Google Phone
OMG Gingerbread next few weeks.
Chrome os next few months... gingie next few weeks!
Sent from my Google Phone
Liveblog in case anyone missed it:
(Added bold / fixed spelling errors)
Live Blogging Google CEO Eric Schmidt At Web 2.0 Summit
http://searchengineland.com/live-blogging-google-ceo-eric-schmidt-at-web-2-0-summit-56025
Nov 15, 2010 at 5:31pm ET by Danny Sullivan
Google CEO Eric Schmidt will be speaking today at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco. I’m here and will be live blogging his remarks, when the session begins.
Schmidt is set to speak at 2:35pm Pacific, and he’ll be interviewed on stage by John Battelle and Tim O’Reilly. Live blogging to start shortly. There’s also a live stream here.
John asks about news from a new device from Google…
Eric: we don’t make devices
John: A new device powered by software.
Eric: I have an unannounced device here. Showing an Android phone, looks like the Nexus 2 / Nexus S that’s been rumored. Showing how you tap the phone on a Google Place icon, a picture of one in real life, one that has I guess MSE? encoding, and he taps and it finds where he’s out.
This will be in the new Gingerbread operating system that will come out in the next few weeks. Secure element in it.
John: you could do payment?
Eric: Yes, industry term is tap-and-pay.
====
Idea you could take these into stores and replace credit cards.
John: There are tons and tons of credit card numbers, say Amazon has, does this change the game.
Eric: we see ourselves as a technology provider, not trying to compete with those others.
Tim: But still if you’re doing payment, someone’s doing the processing. You expect to partner in that.
Eric: Yes.
Tim: But you have Google Checkout
Eric: That’s a piece of this. Might be an NFE chip, by the way, he mentioned it again. Oh, and all your hot Android phones out there now won’t likely have this chip already so….
====
Tim asks about search, Eric says “forget search” then jokes in the new regime you have to label jokes — IE he’s joking about forgetting search but goes on to say this is beyond search in that if you’re walking down down the street, offers and other info can just be presented to you without having to search.
John: What are you dissatisfied about with Android?
Eric: Like to have more emphasis on application side, but it’s tough, because you have to get volume of handsets and the platform first, then the apps follow.
====
Tim: how about search as a competitive advantage in trying to find apps.
Eric: We don’t think of it that way. People are obsessed on the competitive landscape rather than the focus on the market overall.
John: What about the divorce from the carriers, something he feels Jobs did right with iPhone, I don’t want your stuff on our phone.
Eric: Agrees with some. Talks there are open and closed system. We’re willing to let vendors do things, we think that’s the right model. So he kind of dodges it.
John: When you closed the store, you said there would never be a new model.
Eric: I said Nexus 2 (IE, if a Nexus S comes out, don’t say he said it wouldn’t).
John: What about environment now with talent, the pay raises given out recently.
===
Eric: The origins of the raise were in the spring. Still coming off the recession, made some core investments, looking at acquisitions, then looking also at sharing of success with others in the company.
Found there are people at Google even if well paid still struggling with sky-high property prices, so this is component about that. But more than that, “we just thought it was good for the whole company.”
====
John: What about trying to maintain the start-up culture.
Eric: we hire a couple hundred of people a week. reports Google is losing talent is “poor writing” by journalists, in his opinion. Oh, and he wasn’t joking when he said that.
===
John: Google’s been in hot water with some agencies around the world, in some responses to then, you said it’s our job to push up to the “creepy” line.
Eric: again, this is an example of quotes being taken … i wish I could push everything up to YouTube so people can see it. The point I was saying is that there is clearly a line that we should not cross it.
====
We’ve gotten onto the auto-driving cars that Google has. Sorry, had to copy stuff over and swear didn’t miss that much. Anyway, Eric says that they think driving cars in this way are legal by various reads.
John’s getting back to the line, leading Eric to say the main issue is that society is going to have to confront all types of uncomfortable questions about privacy, need for policing and all types of issues because so much is coming online or being monitored, such as street camera (run by the government) in Britain.
John: But you have to (Google) make some decisions about products yourself, as with Street View
Eric: We learned that you can’t just rush a product out. The engineers’ political views, for example, might not match government views. Started with face blurring and license blurring (actually, I didn’t think that was part of the initial launch). Most countries was OK. But some wanted houses deleted, and that was added. Still in Germany, not enough, a permanent opt-out of your house. It was a reasonable accomodation to the local sensitivities. People there now love Street View. Things this is how things will go forward.
===
John: are you planning a set of products around social that may be seen as competitive to Facebook.
Eric: because of this obsession with competition, everything we do seems competitive. I’d rather answer the question by saying we agree that social information is important, in particular the name value graphs. That link structure has great value. The classic example is in search, where with your permission, if information you provide is being used. And by the way, that’s a deal Facebook and Microsoft announced.
Tim: Didn’t Mark say they didn’t use you because they saw you as competitive in your space.
Eric: I can’t speak for Mark.
John: Why not use Facebook Connect. There are clearly business reason you aren’t doing that. You don’t want to strengthen Facebook.
Eric: That’s not literally how we think. One of the fundamental principles on the internet is that this kind of information is open. So I worry, as a general response, not just about Facebook, that things are developing to keep too much information private.
====
John: Can you take a minute to educate on how came to joint statement with Verizon on net neutrality and different views on wired and wireless web.
Eric: Which is not what we said. Let’s define the terms. Net neutrality has meant if you have one video type like video, vendors won’t discriminate one video provider over others. But it has always allowed data in general to be discriminated against.
So the problem with the telcos is that they don’t want to be regulated. they say they’re OK with this, but they don’t want the govt writing regulations when they’ve just left being regulated.
So our response was lets look at wired, where you often have less choice if only one choice, so less competitive. We did that to encourage more conversation in the industry.
====
Tim: Location is a key part of mobile. You recently moved Marissa Mayer to a new position….
Eric: She was promoted…
Tim: We see more and more focus there?
Eric: Absolutely. Google Maps is phenomenal. It’s changed his own view of the world.
Tim: No question, just walking with Google Maps on the phone, you’re never lost.
John: Google TV just recently in market, how’s it going, what’s the beef with the networks hating on it?
Eric: Finally at a point where you can have computer-powered TVs that work, with browser, etc. As I understand the industry’s concerned, do you realize you taking a dumb TV and making it smart, one said. Yes, and the idea is that the TV will be harmed by all this access too to internet content. I disagree. I think people will watch more TV.
Tim: But they’ll also watch through other venues, like Netflix.
Eric: But Netflix pays a pretty penny for that content to the owners. But what do you think will fundamentally happen with TV, they’ll go to the web and watch stolen content or go to watch more TV. I think more TV. Stresses also that the TV now becomes a major new platform.
====
Q&A: What’s the next billion dollar rev opp for Google?
Eric: The next large one is clearly in the display business.
Question: You probably talked with networks before you launched Google TV and they were on-board [actually, they weren't].
Eric: Says reading more drama than there is. A whole bunch of people are happy. There are some concerned, and you’d expect that. But, “we want to make the revenue larger” for everyone and is “quite confident” that “we’ll get through this one.”
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Paul.
Does anyone have a video of the interview? The blog post seems mixed opinion with quotes.
avio07 said:
Does anyone have a video of the interview? The blog post seems mixed opinion with quotes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The full 45 minute interview is now on YouTube:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/16/nexus-s-teaser-by-eric-schmidt-now-available-on-video/

[RANT] Surprise, 21st Century manufacturing and still no transparent aluminum

.... for those who are unfamiliar, that is a reference to the fourth installment of the Star Trek Movies (with Shatner as James T. Kirk):
But is also an electronic euphemism for me throwing my hands in the air in disgust.
Every time a new device surfaces, and the subsequent forum is created.... it is almost immediately populated with "Screen Bleed!", "Creaky Back Panel", "Dead Pixel", "Dust under Display", "I got Howler Monkey and NOT Gorilla Glass" threads (ok, I made up the last one, but you get the point...). These threads almost immediately degrade into a bashing of Asus, Samsung, HTC etc and their inherent failures of maintaining reasonable quality control and piss poor manufacturing tolerances. Rarely, though sometimes, does anything constructive come out of these threads. It just serves as vehicle for some users to vent their concerns... and other users to troll and incite anger. I know I can choose not to read these threads... however, on that rare occasion when there is a nugget of wisdom buried in the sea of bull#%@!, I am interested in learning.
I think we have to come and realize, that due to the scale on which these devices are produced... that there will be flaws coming off the line. Period.
I also think, as educated consumers, that everyone has the right to get the device that they paid for (within reasonable perception). Thus I never fault anyone for RMAing four, five or six times... it is there money and they can exercise whatever diligence is necessary to achieve whatever they feel their purchasing dollar deserves.
However, the endless bashing of manufacturers... "I will never by Asus or Samsung or <insert offending OEM>" are both tiresome and unrealistic. For instance, Samsung supplies many OEMs with both display and memory technology... even trying to avoid giving them your dollars is relatively difficult.
I guess what I am saying is that I empathize and recognize that users will find fault in new devices... and after forking over hard earned cashed will be indignant if it fails to meet their expectations. I just think there has to be a more constructive manner of voicing, organizing, researching and in some instances effecting change or exacting compensation for these "failures".
This is where I make a suggestion to the MODs:
The Q&A forums and Troubleshooting forums should be split. All new devices should have a dedicated Section (eg. Troubleshooting) for discussion of device flaws, production intolerances, technical failures and possible solutions. It would serve to clean-up the general section... and also allow for easier aggregating of "issues". This will allow for users to 1: see if something is a trend, or a few isolated instances; 2: serve to educate prospective buyers and 3: Allow information to be collected in a manner that is organized, coherent and possibly (I use this word loosely) useful in presenting OEMs with a list of informed users experiencing a defect on a wide scale.
I know, I suck...
[/rant]
Poser said:
.... for those who are unfamiliar, that is a reference to the fourth installment of the Star Trek Movies (with Shatner as James T. Kirk):
But is also an electronic euphemism for me throwing my hands in the air in disgust.
Every time a new device surfaces, and the subsequent forum is created.... it is almost immediately populated with "Screen Bleed!", "Creaky Back Panel", "Dead Pixel", "Dust under Display", "I got Howler Monkey and NOT Gorilla Glass" threads (ok, I made up the last one, but you get the point...). These threads almost immediately degrade into a bashing of Asus, Samsung, HTC etc and their inherent failures of maintaining reasonable quality control and piss poor manufacturing tolerances. Rarely, though sometimes, does anything constructive come out of these threads. It just serves as vehicle for some users to vent their concerns... and other users to troll and incite anger. I know I can choose not to read these threads... however, on that rare occasion when there is a nugget of wisdom buried in the sea of bull#%@!, I am interested in learning.
I think we have to come and realize, that due to the scale on which these devices are produced... that there will be flaws coming off the line. Period.
I also think, as educated consumers, that everyone has the right to get the device that they paid for (within reasonable perception). Thus I never fault anyone for RMAing four, five or six times... it is there money and they can exercise whatever diligence is necessary to achieve whatever they feel their purchasing dollar deserves.
However, the endless bashing of manufacturers... "I will never by Asus or Samsung or <insert offending OEM>" are both tiresome and unrealistic. For instance, Samsung supplies many OEMs with both display and memory technology... even trying to avoid giving them your dollars is relatively difficult.
I guess what I am saying is that I empathize and recognize that users will find fault in new devices... and after forking over hard earned cashed will be indignant if it fails to meet their expectations. I just think there has to be a more constructive manner of voicing, organizing, researching and in some instances effecting change or exacting compensation for these "failures".
This is where I make a suggestion to the MODs:
The Q&A forums and Troubleshooting forums should be split. All new devices should have a dedicated Section (eg. Troubleshooting) for discussion of device flaws, production intolerances, technical failures and possible solutions. It would serve to clean-up the general section... and also allow for easier aggregating of "issues". This will allow for users to 1: see if something is a trend, or a few isolated instances; 2: serve to educate prospective buyers and 3: Allow information to be collected in a manner that is organized, coherent and possibly (I use this word loosely) useful in presenting OEMs with a list of informed users experiencing a defect on a wide scale.
I know, I suck...
[/rant]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you.
I agree with this. I mean I'm impressed because they've managed to build so much devices compared to last year's fiasco (2-4 weeks waiting because of backorder). + you're paying 230$ for a tablet like this, don't except state-of-art QC from the manufacturer. That doesn't excuse their issues but at least I'm still impressed that it's not more than half the devices that have problems.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents.
My take is simply this (which the OP stated so well):
It's a new device that's been mass-produced; There will be issues.
That doesn't, however, mean it's a bad device that requires thread after thread after thread of angry ranting
Having a thread or two detailing common issues and, if needed, common procedures for repair / replacement is all that's needed.
Transparent Aluminum = aluminum oxynitride
it does exist, its what the military uses for transparent armor
Poser said:
.... for those who are unfamiliar, that is a reference to the fourth installment of the Star Trek Movies (with Shatner as James T. Kirk):
But is also an electronic euphemism for me throwing my hands in the air in disgust.
Every time a new device surfaces, and the subsequent forum is created.... it is almost immediately populated with "Screen Bleed!", "Creaky Back Panel", "Dead Pixel", "Dust under Display", "I got Howler Monkey and NOT Gorilla Glass" threads (ok, I made up the last one, but you get the point...). These threads almost immediately degrade into a bashing of Asus, Samsung, HTC etc and their inherent failures of maintaining reasonable quality control and piss poor manufacturing tolerances. Rarely, though sometimes, does anything constructive come out of these threads. It just serves as vehicle for some users to vent their concerns... and other users to troll and incite anger. I know I can choose not to read these threads... however, on that rare occasion when there is a nugget of wisdom buried in the sea of bull#%@!, I am interested in learning.
I think we have to come and realize, that due to the scale on which these devices are produced... that there will be flaws coming off the line. Period.
I also think, as educated consumers, that everyone has the right to get the device that they paid for (within reasonable perception). Thus I never fault anyone for RMAing four, five or six times... it is there money and they can exercise whatever diligence is necessary to achieve whatever they feel their purchasing dollar deserves.
However, the endless bashing of manufacturers... "I will never by Asus or Samsung or <insert offending OEM>" are both tiresome and unrealistic. For instance, Samsung supplies many OEMs with both display and memory technology... even trying to avoid giving them your dollars is relatively difficult.
I guess what I am saying is that I empathize and recognize that users will find fault in new devices... and after forking over hard earned cashed will be indignant if it fails to meet their expectations. I just think there has to be a more constructive manner of voicing, organizing, researching and in some instances effecting change or exacting compensation for these "failures".
This is where I make a suggestion to the MODs:
The Q&A forums and Troubleshooting forums should be split. All new devices should have a dedicated Section (eg. Troubleshooting) for discussion of device flaws, production intolerances, technical failures and possible solutions. It would serve to clean-up the general section... and also allow for easier aggregating of "issues". This will allow for users to 1: see if something is a trend, or a few isolated instances; 2: serve to educate prospective buyers and 3: Allow information to be collected in a manner that is organized, coherent and possibly (I use this word loosely) useful in presenting OEMs with a list of informed users experiencing a defect on a wide scale.
I know, I suck...
[/rant]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For once I totally agree with somebody 100%, I mean literally. Every time you go into google and pick a product and write "fail" "error" "failure" you will get complains, rants and what not, people need to learn that there is NO PERFECTION in mass-production products.
Want a perfect car? Pay it. Want a perfect phone? Buy an iPhone kidding

Mistakes Developers Make When Promoting Their Apps/Games

This is open discussion, please post your thoughts. Also I will be calling games "apps" too, for simplicity. I have released a game and I am now doing a couple of reviews now and then. This is all my experience. You can agree or dissagree and add your own experience.
This is the list so far
Make an app first and then seek to promote it
Promoting an app with bugs
Asking everyone for Google Play store rate&review without helping others first
Sending review requests without having proper materials for the reviewers and/or not replying to the reviewer
And my notes
This was my biggest mistake. I learned it the hard way and I can see many people do the same. You make an awesome game and nobody ever heard about it before. You need to have people already following your progress. Remember, everything you do is newsworthy to someone! If not, then your game is doomed anyway.
I got few games to review that I couldn't run on 2/3 of my devices. After some time I see the game in google play store with 20 ratings and 2 stars...
In indie "Pay It Forward" works. And it would work much better if everybody did it. The most popular truly indie game I reviewed on my site was from a guy who created an awesome series of tutorials and helped everyone else first. He gots tons of downloads immediately...
My personal favourite. It makes my queue of games to review much shorter. Seriously, people - promoting something is a hard work. Deal with it. And if someone can get you more downloads, it's a good reason to at least try.
Guilty x4
We have a flow chart stuck on the wall showing the app business development cycle.
* Application Planning: concept design, feature design, APIs available, prototyping, audience targeting, platform selection, form factor selection
* Develop and Debug: Platform IDE, SDKs, APIs,
* Market Readiness: developer reg, certification, beta testing, localisation, packaging
* Distribution and Monitization: App publishing, billing, virtual goods, in app advertising
* Retailing and Discovery; Curation, in-app pricing, advertising, promos, PR, Merchandising
* In-Life: Analytics, ratings, user support and updates
Lots of developers spent 90% of there time doing just the development. I think the reality of your success (or your business) needs to spend ALOT more time doing the other processes. Remember when we used to work for large companies that had an actual marketing department? :highfive:

[Q] Interviews with educational app developers

Greetings. My name is Glenn and I work with children and adults with disabilities. For the past few months I have been reviewing educational apps for children with autism. Sometimes a math app has great graphics and good engagement--think completing the equivalent of half a dozen math worksheets in five minutes. But the same app doesn't take into account the extreme math anxiety, and general anxiety, that children with autism can have: I have come across apps that said "Not good. The answer is ____" or "NO," in a disappointed voice that you would expect to hear from your mother if you failed a test that you hadn't bother to study for. So in addition to the review I am often providing suggested adaptations to make the app a successful experience for the child.
I have gotten a few emails from educational app developers, thanking me for reviewing their app and also telling me how difficult it has been to get a decent amount of downloads for their app after all their hard work. When I was interested in the film industry, I used to publish interviews with up and coming screenwriters, "Interview Spotlight with Peter Considine and Morgan's Way." I would like to do something similar for educational app developers and have created a "self-interview" for educational app developers. Once I receive the responses, I will publish them. I don't have 4,000,000+ readers on my site, so I can't give you that kind of exposure, but the readers on my site are looking specifically for educational apps like yours that can improve the learning experience of their children.
If you're still reading, and your answer is yes to my question, "Would you be interested in sharing with my readers a bit about who you are (an educator, parent/sibling of a child with a disability), why you decided to build the app, and what makes it special?," then you can find the submission guidelines on my site, autism plus math dot blog spot dot com. Click on the tab at the top marked, Guest Post guidelines for app developers.
Thank you.
I don't fall into the category of being interviewed by you. I do have an idea for you that I would be interested in reading. A blog post or any readable describing what mistakes developers make in regards to making apps for people with disabilities and or other issues. You can include things like what not to do (a disappointment sounding/looking "No you are wrong") and what can be done instead. I guess for the app to say "please try again" but I don't know if that's good enough for people with anxiety. I would definitely read such an article, and perhaps it would come in useful sometime in the future.
Up until your post here I didn't realize that saying "no you are wrong" may not be so good with people having anxiety. In the blog post it would be also very interesting and good to include how such statements effect/affect people of such conditions.
Just thought I would bring this idea up to you
reply to q on do's and don'ts
over_optimistic said:
I don't fall into the category of being interviewed by you. I do have an idea for you that I would be interested in reading. A blog post or any readable describing what mistakes developers make in regards to making apps for people with disabilities and or other issues. You can include things like what not to do (a disappointment sounding/looking "No you are wrong") and what can be done instead. I guess for the app to say "please try again" but I don't know if that's good enough for people with anxiety. I would definitely read such an article, and perhaps it would come in useful sometime in the future.
Up until your post here I didn't realize that saying "no you are wrong" may not be so good with people having anxiety. In the blog post it would be also very interesting and good to include how such statements effect/affect people of such conditions.
Just thought I would bring this idea up to you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for asking.
I think the key thing to remember is that every child with a disability is different, so what may frustrate one child may turn out to be an enjoyable challenge for another. Having said that, it can help to imagine your potential learner as someone who's spent most of their education repeatedly giving the wrong answer when called on, and as a result, they need LOTS and LOTS of positive encouragement and praise.
My comment above about "no you are wrong" is from an article I wrote a couple months ago (see below). I also provide examples of games that DO provide a positive learning environment and how they did it.
You did say that you weren't an educational apps developer, however. I think most video games are by design kid friendly, regardless of whether a child has a disability. Video games are about not having to read and memorize a bunch of rules, but instead are about playing around and trying different approaches. If you die in the game, you can hit replay and try again in five seconds or less. So the potential frustration from losing is short lived.
Where I could see a frustration is in games where if you die after completing several levels, you have to start over from the beginning. Make sure you have sufficient checkpoints so that players only have to restart from their last checkpoint. But again, this is a feature that will benefit children without disabilities as well.
Ugh! Looks like I can't give you a link to the article mentioned above, so I have moved it to my landing page: autism plus math dot blogspot dot com.
I also have a virtual filing cabinet of "How to" articles for app developers on my home page: click on the tab at the top marked "How to resources for app developers." Of particular interest, you may find useful the article on the game Re:mission, which increased the number of children with cancer who voluntarily took their meds.
Thanks Edapps!
XDA still lets you post links like this by the way:
autismplusmath.blogspot.ca/2014/01/not-good-and-no-said-in-disappointed.html
I just read that article and will go through some of the games reviews you got later when I'm at home.
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