Avalanche!

Luckily it's an avalanche of interesting things (my favourite kind of avalanche).

I WANT ONE!!! This is the first Kinect game that I want. It makes great use of the movement-tracking capabilities of the Kinect AND presents me/us with an opportunity to be creative in a video game. Normally it's about following the script, competing with friends and enemies (mostly enemies), and completing defined tasks, so the chance to break free of those boundaries is more delicious than a chocolate sundae.

In this ambient stunt Nike transforms Dagenham swimming pool into a BMX park. It's slightly predictable and isn't really exciting in the sports industry. However, I will always be a fan of making something positive out of the negative - the crisis/opportunity philosophy - and creating an event as a spectacular send-off a local swimming pool is a great gesture.




This video deserves a shout for the outstanding animation work (some of the best I've ever seen). It's C Beebies meets Kill Bill and one hell of a video that's sure to go viral.

Junkyard jumbotron allows you to merge together an image and make one big display. I like this idea because it has so much potential. It can be used to create a fragmented message or puzzles and can really engage people if it's used right. I think it would also make a great medium for some adventurous digital artwork.



This is the Mountain Dew Pinball Skatepark in New Zealand. It turns the skateboarder (you) into the pinball. It records your score and lights when youride over elements of it. It's soooooo awesome! If I become a millionaire (and I'd like to think that's possible) I'd want one of these in my back garden, next to my recording studio.

Where good ideas from you.

Beautifully illustrated video on the origin of ideas. Well worth a watch!

Real Writing

This may seem controversial but I don't like this advert. Everyone in the ad world seems to love it's beautiful writing, but I find myself lacking a connection to it. It's so generic that it lacks any real heart. I hear those words and it sounds like something pulled from text books and articles.

For all it's talk about storytelling, and emotion, it doesn't make me feel anything at all.

I'm not impressed by Dustin Hoffman either. He could be reading a shopping list.

This is much closer.



For me this is much more real

This feels genuine. I find myself attached to the people in and their words. I can feel their sadness and fear. This is something with emotion.

But for me, a truly great story is in the details - the tragedies, the imperfections. These are what make us interesting and human, and what makes our stories worth listening to. That's why I'm in love with this piece for Luta clothing. It speaks to me. It's a living, breathing piece of writing and it makes me feel inspired. It isn't the voice of a guy in an office, it's true and honest.

It's brilliant.

Star Players

Some things just go together -

Bread and Butter,

Ying and yang,

Batman and Robin,

but none more so than alcohol and gambling. The vice brothers often party together hand-in-hand on a Saturday night as people (mostly men) give in to their dark sides.

Heinekin have decided to blend the two together, quite literally, by creating a branded mobile game.

Star Player allows it users to compete against each other in predicting what's going to happen next in any match that's occurring on television. The idea is genius, and a great way of combing social media with brands and entertainment. What's more. It actually looks like fun, as opposed a lot of branded games which focus on the branding before enjoyment, with complete disregard for the purpose of the application.

With the realisation that men watch most football matches in the pub, and all almost all with friends and some variety of beer, this app acts very similarly to a point of sale advertisement and strongly reinforces the brand values.

I can't wait to try it. Too bad I'll have to wait until next season.