Comments on: Embrace the medium http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:40:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: chris dixon http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-5813 chris dixon Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:29:27 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-5813 Very cool - IF it works... these kinds of interefaces can be really<br>frustrating if they only kind of work...<br>........................................................................................................................................................................................ Very cool – IF it works… these kinds of interefaces can be really
frustrating if they only kind of work…
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]]> By: chris dixon http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4543 chris dixon Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:29:27 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4543 Very cool - IF it works... these kinds of interefaces can be really<br>frustrating if they only kind of work...<br>.........................................................................................................................................................................................<br>Chris Dixon | <a href="http://hunch.com" rel="nofollow">hunch.com</a> | Cell: 1-917-282-0854 | 54 W 21st St #1001,<br>NY NY | <a href="http://cdixon.org" rel="nofollow">cdixon.org</a> | @cdixon Very cool – IF it works… these kinds of interefaces can be really
frustrating if they only kind of work…
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Chris Dixon | hunch.com | Cell: 1-917-282-0854 | 54 W 21st St #1001,
NY NY | cdixon.org | @cdixon

]]> By: Omer Perchik http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4539 Omer Perchik Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:31:31 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4539 Hey Chris,<br>You gotta check out the israel (AMAZING) startup called : PrimeSense (<a href="http://primesense.com" rel="nofollow">http://primesense.com</a>) their the one's behind microsoft's Natal project :<br><br><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oACt9R9z37U" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oACt9R9z37U</a><br><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HluWsMlfj68" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HluWsMlfj68</a> Hey Chris,
You gotta check out the israel (AMAZING) startup called : PrimeSense (http://primesense.com) their the one's behind microsoft's Natal project :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oACt9R9z37U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HluWsMlfj68

]]> By: charlie http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4520 charlie Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:56:11 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4520 I've written a couple of iPhone games that were for the likes of EA, I even did a madden port to mobile phone from a console, part of the problem is that its not the design or the device that's overlooked. This is an often thrown out there thing but we're well aware of the limitations and how to design around them, it isn't a design problem but a 'what worked before works again' history, the publisher generally is in ultimate control of what happens with the game, if you're doing an original title for a new platform, you design it around that, then you pitch it. So i just looked at the iphone App stores top 25 grossing games, there are 3 games from EA in there madden,nba and fifa. None of the other games you mentioned are there, or that i could see in the top 50. The publishers look at this as well and see that it didn't fail, possibly it could do better, but no one is willing to take the risk, they go with what they know. If you turn up with a wacky cool idea, you're a lot less likely to get through the doors than with something that is proven. Madden is a fairly complex game, and you're going to introduce an entirely new control method that the legions of madden users from console are not familiar with, those are the primary customers, thats a problem. I've written a couple of iPhone games that were for the likes of EA, I even did a madden port to mobile phone from a console, part of the problem is that its not the design or the device that's overlooked. This is an often thrown out there thing but we're well aware of the limitations and how to design around them, it isn't a design problem but a 'what worked before works again' history, the publisher generally is in ultimate control of what happens with the game, if you're doing an original title for a new platform, you design it around that, then you pitch it. So i just looked at the iphone App stores top 25 grossing games, there are 3 games from EA in there madden,nba and fifa. None of the other games you mentioned are there, or that i could see in the top 50. The publishers look at this as well and see that it didn't fail, possibly it could do better, but no one is willing to take the risk, they go with what they know. If you turn up with a wacky cool idea, you're a lot less likely to get through the doors than with something that is proven. Madden is a fairly complex game, and you're going to introduce an entirely new control method that the legions of madden users from console are not familiar with, those are the primary customers, thats a problem.

]]> By: Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4516 Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:51:28 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4516 hehehe. the gameplay + music = if my investors find out how much I've been<br>playing it, I'm fired. ;) hehehe. the gameplay + music = if my investors find out how much I've been
playing it, I'm fired. ;)

]]> By: ShanaC http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4514 ShanaC Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:15:12 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4514 No- you want to understand the medium versus the media<br><br>Fight it, fight its repercussions. Then embrace it.<br><br>And in total- the first step is embracing the body as the beginning and endpoint: Drives me crazy when people don't realize that. Personal Pet Peeve, sorry.<br><br><br>What you are really writing about here is how touchscreens have no give and that they are fully extensible of eyes and hands. In reality, if you are going to design around touch screen input, imagine you are deaf. You can see you hands and with your eyes. And that's it.<br>And remeber- the screens right now don't give back. So when you press, you don't know- Your eyes are extremely important.<br><br>You can choose to embrace an either/and/or experience with the Iphone and touchscreens- You can emphasize the touch side or the eye side or try to do both:<br><br>What's failing with these games, is that it is extremely difficult to do both, because when you want to do both, you want to use some sort of secondary aspect of the hand, namely actual touch- and the Phone has no give. Hence it fails.<br><br>I will write up something longer on this eventually, after I do some Bachelors work<br><br>Full Disclosure: I'm a Fine Arts student- from a figure drawing background, who is moving into what they call "new media" work. I have a heavy theory background as a result of why things work versus don't work. No- you want to understand the medium versus the media

Fight it, fight its repercussions. Then embrace it.

And in total- the first step is embracing the body as the beginning and endpoint: Drives me crazy when people don't realize that. Personal Pet Peeve, sorry.

What you are really writing about here is how touchscreens have no give and that they are fully extensible of eyes and hands. In reality, if you are going to design around touch screen input, imagine you are deaf. You can see you hands and with your eyes. And that's it.
And remeber- the screens right now don't give back. So when you press, you don't know- Your eyes are extremely important.

You can choose to embrace an either/and/or experience with the Iphone and touchscreens- You can emphasize the touch side or the eye side or try to do both:

What's failing with these games, is that it is extremely difficult to do both, because when you want to do both, you want to use some sort of secondary aspect of the hand, namely actual touch- and the Phone has no give. Hence it fails.

I will write up something longer on this eventually, after I do some Bachelors work

Full Disclosure: I'm a Fine Arts student- from a figure drawing background, who is moving into what they call “new media” work. I have a heavy theory background as a result of why things work versus don't work.

]]> By: Embrace the medium | Igniting Startups - nPost http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4501 Embrace the medium | Igniting Startups - nPost Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:20:15 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4501 [...] From cdixon.org [...] [...] From cdixon.org [...]

]]> By: Bill Geiser http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4487 Bill Geiser Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:44:28 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4487 Great advice....this also applies to devices...not just software. Stated another way - its about respecting the inherent limitations (form factor, I/O, etc) of your device.<br><br>Many of us in the watch industry have ignored this advice. We're constantly building watch-like devices that mimic cameras, phones, TVs, etc...none of which succeed with consumers or commercially. We succeed when we stick to what watches do well - providing actionable info at a glance. Great advice….this also applies to devices…not just software. Stated another way – its about respecting the inherent limitations (form factor, I/O, etc) of your device.

Many of us in the watch industry have ignored this advice. We're constantly building watch-like devices that mimic cameras, phones, TVs, etc…none of which succeed with consumers or commercially. We succeed when we stick to what watches do well – providing actionable info at a glance.

]]> By: Video Game Dispatch: Wii » Blog Archive » Wii Speak, Animal Crossing, Animal Crossing: City Folk, and more. http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4476 Video Game Dispatch: Wii » Blog Archive » Wii Speak, Animal Crossing, Animal Crossing: City Folk, and more. Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:31:14 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4476 [...] Embrace the medium on cdixon.org – chris dixon’s blog [...] [...] Embrace the medium on cdixon.org – chris dixon’s blog [...]

]]> By: Video Game Dispatch: PS3 » Blog Archive » PlayStation Network, Diablo, and more. http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4475 Video Game Dispatch: PS3 » Blog Archive » PlayStation Network, Diablo, and more. Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:07:11 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4475 [...] Embrace the medium on cdixon.org – chris dixon’s blog [...] [...] Embrace the medium on cdixon.org – chris dixon’s blog [...]

]]> By: Andrew Walkingshaw http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4473 Andrew Walkingshaw Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:34:20 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4473 Another one is Eliss. The gameplay doesn't have much in common with either, but if you're into Rez or Fantavision on PS2 you'll probably love it. Another one is Eliss. The gameplay doesn't have much in common with either, but if you're into Rez or Fantavision on PS2 you'll probably love it.

]]> By: ryangraves http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4472 ryangraves Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:24:17 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4472 Combining this thought with your previous post about career path, I got to thinking about using this principle in ones life. Why try to be an accountant if I'm not a numbers guy. <br><br>Embrace the platform I was given in my DNA, don't fight it. Combining this thought with your previous post about career path, I got to thinking about using this principle in ones life. Why try to be an accountant if I'm not a numbers guy.

Embrace the platform I was given in my DNA, don't fight it.

]]> By: chris dixon http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4471 chris dixon Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:15:39 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4471 Yeah, i saw and liked that. Yeah, i saw and liked that.

]]> By: Jack http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4470 Jack Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:07:36 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4470 It's worth noting that there is a very iPhone-embracing part of Madden 2010 which is awesome - while passing you just touch the receiver you'd like to throw to. It's easy and works really well. It's worth noting that there is a very iPhone-embracing part of Madden 2010 which is awesome – while passing you just touch the receiver you'd like to throw to. It's easy and works really well.

]]> By: Nik http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4468 Nik Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:26:15 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4468 Another e.g. that someone else blogged about Yahoo Mail tries to mimic a desktop experience and makes it seem cumbersome while Gmail plays with the strengths of the web medium and feels more light weight... Another e.g. that someone else blogged about Yahoo Mail tries to mimic a desktop experience and makes it seem cumbersome while Gmail plays with the strengths of the web medium and feels more light weight…

]]> By: chris dixon http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4467 chris dixon Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:38:00 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4467 yes, canabalt is already awesome. yes, canabalt is already awesome.

]]> By: JShrago http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4466 JShrago Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:35:12 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4466 Another great example of Embracing the Medium would be the mobile games of Mr. Goodliving's "Playman" series for java phones.<br><br>Not even with touch screen, just a dozen or so tightly packed buttons and the way they extract complexity and playability from so little input is masterful.<br><br>If you have an old Sony Ericsson (K800-style) or similar javavm phone, Playman Beachball, Soccer and Summer Games are some of the best examples of converting gaming concepts to a limited-input platform. Another great example of Embracing the Medium would be the mobile games of Mr. Goodliving's “Playman” series for java phones.

Not even with touch screen, just a dozen or so tightly packed buttons and the way they extract complexity and playability from so little input is masterful.

If you have an old Sony Ericsson (K800-style) or similar javavm phone, Playman Beachball, Soccer and Summer Games are some of the best examples of converting gaming concepts to a limited-input platform.

]]> By: chris dixon http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4465 chris dixon Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:33:06 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4465 Cool, gonna download it now! Thx! Cool, gonna download it now! Thx!

]]> By: Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry http://cdixon.org/2009/10/27/embrace-the-medium/comment-page-1/#comment-4464 Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:19:38 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=1724#comment-4464 Yep. Another Flight Control addict! Another perfect iPhone-embracing and incredibly addictive game is Canabalt. Yep. Another Flight Control addict! Another perfect iPhone-embracing and incredibly addictive game is Canabalt.

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