2019. március 29., péntek
Spy World
There are good reasons why the Cold War (the period between the end of WWII and the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991) is such a compelling genre for stories and games. The massive distrust between America and Russia combined with a fear of all-out war, plus the rapidly advancing but still largely analog stealth and surveillance technology made it a unique time in world history, both thrilling and terrifying.
Covert, designed by Kane Klenko and published by Renegade Game Studios, does a good job of evoking the cold war with what on first glance seems to be a disparate group of game mechanics. The goal of the game is to collect sets of cards representing spy gear like listening devices, travel documents and hidden escape kits, and then turn those cards in for points, but as usual there's a bit more to it than that. The sets players are going for are determined by mission cards that will sometimes also include the need to have a pawn in a particular spot on the board.
Movement around the board is also one of the principal ways of gaining more cards, either by having a pawn in a certain part of the board when it's time to draw cards, or by following other players around and collecting clue tokens that they leave behind as the move from city to city on a board representing Europe during the Cold War.
But that's not even the most interesting part of the game. Player actions are determined by a dice placement system where at the start of each round, each player rolls 5 dice and uses them to determine what of 6 possible actions they'll be able to do that turn. The first player to choose a particular action can do so freely by placing a die showing any number on that part of the board, but the next player who wants to be able to do the same action has to place a die that comes either before or after the dice that are always there. For example, if your opponent plays a 2 on the "draw a card" action, you have to play either a 1 or a 3 in order to also do that action.
If the numbers just aren't cooperating and there's nowhere on the board you can play, you can spend a die to draw a random token that gives you a one-time special ability, such as being able to switch the number on a die or play two in a row. You can also just end your turn early, which guarantees that you'll get to go first on the next turn.
On top of all that, there's a code-breaking phase consisting of two rows of random numbers, and a deck of equipment cards with 3-digit codes on them. If you can manipulate the numbers so that any 3 of them match the code on your card, you can either use that card as part of a set of equipment (the main way of scoring points), or cash it in for bonus points at the end of the game.
Covert is be complex without being complicated, and it manages to make all of its different abstract game mechanics work together well, and also feel like they're intrinsic to the theme. When I play this game I really feel like I'm getting a sense of what it must have been like for those Cold War spymasters, managing tons of moving parts, manipulating events to work out in their favor, and taking advantage of situations they might not have control over.
Rating: 4 (out of 5) A very entertaining game that combines theme and mechanics well.
2019. március 28., csütörtök
Virtual Reality Accelerating Its Merger With Education
At the University of Warwick, a public research university on the outskirts of Coventry, England, three groups of students were assigned to three different types of learning: fully immersive VR environment, traditional textbook-style materials, or 2-D video of the VR environment. They all learnt about the same subject (biology), and had their learning, emotional response, and learning experience measured.
Researchers found that positive emotions were rated higher for the group who experienced the VR learning method, followed by textbook, then video learning. VR students also performed better than students learning with video, showing that the active interaction with the VR environment helped improve learning.
Storium Basics: Multi-Card Moves
I've already gone over the basics of making a Storium move with a single card back in Storium Basics: Challenges and Cards. For a quick refresher, you'll select a challenge, select a card, and then write a move that demonstrates how that card's trait comes into play and affects that challenge, based on the type of card that you've selected, the challenge, the possible challenge outcomes, the card's description, and the current status of the challenge and scene.
When you're making a multi-card move, all of that still applies. There's nothing that different about making a multi-card move than making a single-card move...it's just that now you have more than one trait to play to during the move.
If you've played two Strengths, say...Determination and Quick-Thinking...you write it like you'd normally write a Strength move. You just play up both traits - show how your determination and your ability to think quickly help you move the challenge in a positive direction. Now, bear in mind that you've taken up two challenge points and have moved the challenge positive by two Strengths, as well, so you probably want to make this feel like a stronger impact than for a normal move too - but what matters most is making sure both traits feel like they impact the scene.
If you've played two Weaknesses...say, Hotheaded and Easily Mislead...it's the same thing, just in reverse. Write a Weakness move, but play up both traits, and make it a stronger impact than you would for just one card. You've just pushed the challenge much closer to a conclusion and pushed it much closer to the Weak outcome. Show that.
Where things get fascinating, though, is when you mix card types. Those moves can be some of the most fun in Storium.
What if you have a Strength and a Weakness? Maybe you appear to make things better for a moment, then lose your own gains. Or maybe you slip up and start to make things worse, but manage to turn things around and start clawing the situation back out of the very hole you were digging. Or maybe you make things worse in one way, but set things up to turn around in another. You can write some very, very complex and cool moves by playing multiple cards.
Neutral cards are loads of fun to throw in this way too. Your Subplot in particular can be quite a powerful storytelling device when used with a Strength or Weakness - you can show how your subplot influenced the actions that express the Strength or Weakness, for instance, or show how your Strength or Weakness had effects and ended up impacting not just the situation, but your views of yourself or what your subplot is all about. This can work similarly with Goals.
And Assets? Well, you have a magic sword, sure, and sometimes you might want to highlight that on its own...but it can be very cool to play it with a Strength card and show how your ability to use the sword well or intelligently matters, or a Weakness card and show that despite the magic of the sword, you still get yourself in trouble...or maybe even because of the magic! Are you Overconfident? Maybe you rush ahead because you have a magic sword, and things turn out badly. Are you Inexperienced? Maybe you try to use the sword's powers and make a mistake, hurting your own side's chances.
And it doesn't stop at just two cards. You can play up to three cards per move with the default settings for Storium - and with custom card settings, it might go even further! Just remember to think of the number of cards you're playing, and how far you are pushing the challenge forward, when you play these sorts of moves.
Now...I want to also put in one word of caution. Multi-card moves are an option in Storium, but different games, players, and narrators will have different feelings about them. If your narrator specifies any kind of restrictions on these, or preferences for you to play single-card moves in general, or what-have-you, follow those. The rules of your individual game are as important or more important than the rules of Storium. And even if these moves are allowed (they generally are), it's best to be careful with them - if you're pulling these out all the time, you can shut other players out of playing on challenges at times, and that can be bad for game morale and a collaborative spirit.
I myself like to play these sorts of moves on longer challenges, generally - those I won't just wrap up in one move by playing multiple cards. I will sometimes pull them out in shorter ones specifically to take the challenge, but in those cases I'll generally check first (or be working in a scene where the narrator has made it clear that's exactly what he expects).
If you'd like to know more about multi-card moves, and Storium move philosophy in general, you can take a look at these articles:
- Multi-Card Moves
- House Rules: Single-Card Plays
- Make an Impact!
- Play to Your Cards
- Take Charge!
- Leaving Things Open
- Address the Challenge
- No Card Play is "Wasted"
- Finishing a Challenge: Strong Results
- Finishing a Challenge: Weak Results
- Finishing a Challenge: Uncertain Results (Player Role)
- Writing a Move: Strength and Weakness Cards
- Writing a Move: Neutral Cards
- Reading Ahead: Outcomes as Inspiration
Will Android Revenues Beat iOS?
I was once a self-proclaimed Android evangelist, and Apple hater. I thought Apple products were for the elderly and technically challenged. I was younger and didn't have much Apple experience when I had these thoughts. My viewpoint was unchanged until the day I started my new job as a Game & Monetization Consultant here at NativeX where I help improve behavioral and monetization metrics in mobile games. I needed a computer, iOS and Android device. At the time I had a Samsung Epic 4G as a phone so my Android device was covered but then they handed me a MacBook Pro and iPad. Most would be thrilled, and I was excited about the new tech but I was also a little apprehensive. Fast forward 2 years and I've switched to an iPhone and use my MacBook way more than any PC. I could tell you all the reasons why but the PC vs. Mac is best saved for another article.
I haven't become an Apple fan boy (I always claim no allegiance to any platform) but there are 3 main reasons why I've made the switch to an iPhone.
- Ease of use - after having a couple of kids I need more things to be easier in my life, and features work better with iOS or at least did at the time.
- Career - since I'm in the mobile industry, I need to be on what's considered "the main platform" since most lead development on iOS and port to Android (emphasis on most).
- I'm a gamer - and there's no arguing that games are generally better on iOS (most important reason to switch).
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| source: http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS24257413 |
When you see charts like this is hard to deny the thought that Android will someday be the top revenue generator in the mobile space. Then you see charts like this that show you how drastic the revenue difference is!
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| source: http://blog.appannie.com/app-annie-index-market-q2-2013/ |
How can a platform dominate the market share but at the same time be so behind on the revenue? Let's see if we can figure that out and maybe understand what OS will be on top.
Fragmentation
We all knew this was going to be one of the issues, but I feel like this is possibly the largest problem with Android. Which fragmentation; hardware or software? Both! I'm a visual person and this visualization of the fragmentation of Android really makes it clear how big of a problem this is.
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| source: http://opensignal.com/reports/fragmentation-2013/ |
Device fragmentation is a big problem for developers, but OS fragmentation is even worse for Google. It's hard to dictate how and what consumers are doing when you don't control the OS that they're on. Google Play (Google's App Store) doesn't even come standard on all devices. Let's take a look at some of the areas where Google needs to improve in order to come out on top.
Regions
There are indications that Android has peaked in the United States. This is arguably one of the important territories for revenues right now. Certainly this could change, but I don't see the US dropping out of the top 5 territories for revenue. If Android wants to beat iOS then they need to make sure they're getting their high-end phones into the higher revenue territories. I know there's the argument that in low end markets Android is definitely winning. However, if you're selling phones to people with limited entertainment budgets they likely won't be making IAPs or purchasing games.
On the flip side, if iOS wants to remain on top they need to have cheaper hardware and I don't think the 5C is the answer. They sell really expensive products and this is only going to be half as expensive. What's half of really expensive? Still too much. I know there are some real monetary values and examples out there, but I'm being vague in the pricing to prove the point that this device will still be too expensive. At the end of the day Apple is a hardware manufacture and I'm sure stakeholders would like to see Apple at least make an attempt to gain more worldwide market share.
Unified Billing System
How do you buy apps in Google Play? Is there another app for that? Does it vary depending on the version of OS? Per region? Do players need to setup an account? What does the process look like? In the United States Google is trying a new billing system called Google Wallet. Maybe it's not the magical solution, but from my experience it's much better than nothing (I owned a Samsung Galaxy without Google Wallet and have a Nexus 7 with Google Wallet). Once I setup my Google Wallet account on my Nexus 7 purchasing apps was very similar to iOS. Ask all those same questions again about iOS and you'll find that it's the same for everyone.
Make CC Gathering a Step in Activating a Device
When you setup your iOS device they ask you for your Apple ID much like how Google asks for your Google account/email. The next thing iOS does is they ask you to verify your billing information. Users can skip this process, but the point is it's part of the setup process. This is crucial for 2 main reasons.
- Mental State - users are in a totally different mental state when they're setting up their phone versus when they're playing a game or browsing a virtual store. When they're setting up their phone they are in administrative mode. This isn't a fun task and users know it. When they're in an app or browsing a store users are looking to be or are being entertained and entering credit card information seems like a much larger task.
- Allows Impulse Buys - a good portion of app purchases are on impulse. If there's an inconvenience to the purchase process it will be likely be abandoned. This would be like locking up the gum or candy at the checkout register at your local retailer. Who in their right mind is going to track down a manager to unlock a display case for some 99 cent gum? Forget that!
Trust Issues
Internet fraud has made a good portion of consumers leery on who they can trust with their money. I've talked to many iOS and Android users and I've gotten pretty consistent answers. People have more trust in Apple or iOS than Google or Android. I believe there are a few things affecting people's trust...
- Android is Open Source - this makes tinkering/hacking the OS or how apps interact with the OS pretty simple or even encourages it. There's already spammy or malicious apps out there and the problem will only get worse. It'll be like the virus debate with Macs and PCs all over again.
- Google Doesn't Control Updates - so what if there's an insecurity? How do you get updates? Will you need them? I know iOS has had security breaches, but historically they've been fairly quick to release updates to fix them.
Once you breakdown the flaws of Android it's easy to understand why the majority of revenues are still on iOS. However, Apple can be defeated. No one company can stay on top without innovation and perhaps this is what Microsoft is aiming to do with the purchase of Nokia. It appears they've seen the consequences of an open OS/platform and their acquisition of Nokia tells me that they too believe a closed environment is a better environment/investment for the future. Perhaps my next phone may be Windows phone if they keep making commercials like this. Android has a chance with just the sheer amount of devices that are using their OS. Gathering credit card information during setup could maybe do it alone, but if they can fix some of the payment issues and device support through updates then Apple is going to have a hard time fighting off the numbers.
If you need help designing or fixing your F2P game you can find me here at my blog or on Twitter.
2019. március 27., szerda
11009, Crypts Of Chaos!
I am playing for Extra Life again this year, but I am going to split it between November 3rd and 10th. I am old and I can't stay up that long anymore, it's really the thought that counts. I will be playing once again for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Please donate at the link below, thank you for your support! And I thank you as always for listening.
Please donate to my Extra Life campaign!
Sean's Extra Life page
Andrew's Extra Life page
Crypts of Chaos on Random Terrain
Michael Rideout's CoC maps on Atari Age
John WS Marvin's Dread Unicorn Games site
Cyberroach interview with John WS Marvin
John WS Marvin on Iconic Podcast
John WS Marvin on Game Master's Journey Podcast
John WS Marvin on GM Intrusions Podcast
James Dowlen's web site
James Dowlen on The Computer Chronicles
Florian's Atari Age thread about Sun Science
Weird Levi's commercial
No Swear Gamer 198 - Crypts of Chaos
2019. március 26., kedd
Ninja Training Courses For Elementary Students
(3rd-5th) and Parachute games. Check out some videos below of the Ninja Training. Some of these activities will be incorporated into Field Day as well!
Pre-Kindergarten Class - I was so impressed with their good form on the tire flip!
10 Accounts Of 100 Million Coins Accounts By Behzad Official & Prince Kashif 8Bp Yt
Refine your skills in the field of practice, go to the world in 1-vs-1 matches, or enter the tournament to win trophies and exclusive signs!

Escapade Games Launches Riftwalker On Kickstarter! Plus A Giveaway!
Hello, everyone!
Great news! Escapade Games, the game design studio consisting of Angela Hickman Newnham and Julian Leiberan-Titus of Growing Up Gamers, have a new game on Kickstarter! Riftwalker: A Storm Hollow Card Game is a small strategy card game where players take on the role of one of the hero types of Storm Hollow, a riftwalker.
Riftwalkers explore the world, discovering rifts, pieces of other worlds that have been transported to and make up the world of Storm Hollow. These heroes are in tune with the world and can draw upon the magic of the world to do amazing and heroic things. Here's a video showing how the game works. And here's a review by Jonathan Liu of GeekDad!
Speaking of Storm Hollow, the game will be shipping to backers later this year. Storm Hollow: A Storyboard Game is a storytelling game with simple mechanics that the whole family can enjoy together. While the retail strategy has yet to be determined, the Storm Hollow Limited Edition Treasury is available for preorder. It's an amazing amount of content, and the only way to guarantee getting a copy is through this limited-time preorder. The world guide is available as a free PDF download, if you want to get a preview of what's in store!
So... the Giveaway!
We need to spread the word about Riftwalker, and we need your help. And we'd love to give some games away! The publisher, Game Salute, is offering several games from their catalog. Here they are:
Princess Bride: As You Wish
Princess Bride: Miracle Pill
BoardGameGeek: The Card Game
Top Promoter
Impact City Roller Derby
Monsters & Maidens
Tattletale
Seven games and seven winners! To enter, do one or more of the things below. And you can get extra entries daily! Please spread the word!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
2019. március 23., szombat
ouo.io - Make short links and earn the biggest money
Shrink and Share
Save you time and effort
2019. március 16., szombat
Central Intelligence Agency - Case #67513482
| Case #67513482 Distribution and storage of pornographic electronic materials involving underage children.
My name is Yon Ledesma and I am a technical collection officer working for Central Intelligence Agency.
It has come to my attention that your personal details including your email address (1007a.kutya001@blogger.com) are listed in case #67513482.
The following details are listed in the document's attachment:
Case #67513482 is part of a large international operation set to arrest more than 2000 individuals suspected of paedophilia in 27 countries.
The data which could be used to acquire your personal information:
The first arrests are scheduled for April 8, 2019.
Why am I contacting you ?
I read the documentation and I know you are a wealthy person who may be concerned about reputation.
I am one of several people who have access to those documents and I have enough security clearance to amend and remove your details from this case. Here is my proposition.
Transfer exactly $10,000 USD (ten thousand dollars - about 2.5 BTC) through Bitcoin network to this special bitcoin address:
3F4szKxFpAfpt5NbDmiX156joFGNr4yk4t
You can transfer funds with online bitcoin exchanges such as Coinbase, Bitstamp or Coinmama. The deadline is March 27, 2019 (I need few days to access and edit the files).
Upon confirming your transfer I will take care of all the files linked to you and you can rest assured no one will bother you.
Please do not contact me. I will contact you and confirm only when I see the valid transfer.
Regards, Yon Ledesma
Technical Collection Officer Directorate of Science and Technology Central Intelligence Agency |
2019. január 20., vasárnap
This is my last warn=?UTF-8?Q?ing=20100?=7a.kutya001@blogger.c=?UTF-8?Q?om!?=
You have the last chance to save your social life - I am not kidding!!
I give you the last 72 hours to make the payment before I send
the video with your masturbation to all your friends and associates.
The last time you visited a erotic website with young Teens,
you downloaded and installed the software I developed.
My program has turned on your camera and recorded your act of
Masturbation and the video you were masturbating to.
My software also downloaded all your email contact lists
and a list of your Facebook friends.
I have both the 'A Kutya.mp4' with your masturbation
and a file with all your contacts on my hard drive.
You are very perverted!
If you want me to delete both files and keep your secret,
you must send me Bitcoin payment. I give you the last 72 hours.
If you don't know how to send Bitcoins, visit Google.
Send 2000 USD to this Bitcoin address immediately:
37gPSFScKEBZA97re4dq8qyMecQ5eCv9pM
(copy and paste)
1 BTC = 3470 USD right now, so send exactly 0.589813 BTC
to the address above.
Do not try to cheat me!
As soon as you open this Email I will know you opened it.
This Bitcoin address is linked to you only,
so I will know if you sent the correct amount.
When you pay in full, I will remove both files and deactivate my software.
If you don't send the payment, I will send your masturbation video
to ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES from your contact list I hacked.
Here are the payment details again:
Send 0.589813 BTC to this Bitcoin address:
----------------------------------------
37gPSFScKEBZA97re4dq8qyMecQ5eCv9pM
----------------------------------------
You саn visit the police but nobody will help you.
I know what I am doing.
I don't live in your country and I know how to stay anonymous.
Don't try to deceive me - I will know it immediately - my spy ware is
recording all the websites you visit and all keys you press.
If you do - I will send this ugly recording to everyone you know,
including your family.
Don't cheat me! Don't forget the shame and if you ignore this message
your life will be ruined.
I am waiting for your Bitcoin payment.
Hyo
Anonymous Hacker
P.S. If you need more time to buy and send 0.589813 BTC,
open your notepad and write '48h plz'.
I will consider giving you another 48 hours before I release the vid,
but only when I really see you are struggling to buy bitcoin.
2019. január 17., csütörtök
Hi perv. I recorded =?UTF-8?Q?you=20mas?=turbating! I have cap=?UTF-8?Q?tured=20'A?= Kutya.mp4'!
THIS IS NOT A JOKE - I AM DEAD SERIOUS!
Hi perv,
The last time you visited a p0rnographic website with teens,
you downloaded and installed software I developed.
My program has turned on your camera and recorded
the process of your masturbation.
My software has also downloaded all your email contact lists
and a list of your friends on Facebook.
I have both the 'A Kutya.mp4' with your masturbation
as well as a file with all your contacts on my hard drive.
You are very perverted!
If you want me to delete both the files and keep the secret,
you must send me Bitcoin payment. I give you 72 hours for payment.
If you don't know how to send Bitcoins, visit Google.
Send 2.000 USD to this Bitcoin address immediately:
3B2PKtuHHM3goGqzKuzMVhCBPs3X1FZhjt
(copy and paste)
1 BTC = 3,580 USD right now, so send exactly 0.563264 BTC
to the address provided above.
Do not try to cheat me!
As soon as you open this Email I will know you opened it.
This Bitcoin address is linked to you only,
so I will know if you sent the correct amount.
When you pay in full, I will remove the files and deactivate my program.
If you don't send the payment, I will send your masturbation video
to ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES from your contact list I hacked.
Here are the payment details again:
Send 0.563264 BTC to this Bitcoin address:
----------------------------------------
3B2PKtuHHM3goGqzKuzMVhCBPs3X1FZhjt
----------------------------------------
You саn visit police but nobody will help you. I know what I am doing.
I don't live in your country and I know how to stay anonymous.
Don't try to deceive me - I will know it immediately - my spy ware is
recording all the websites you visit and all keys you press.
If you do - I will send this ugly recording to everyone you know,
including your family.
Don't cheat me! Don't forget the shame and if you ignore this message your
life will be ruined.
I am waiting for your Bitcoin payment.
If you need more time to buy and send 0.563264 BTC,
open your notepad and write '48h plz'.
I will consider giving you another 48 hours before I release the vid.
Anonymous Hacker





































