Fan To Pro - The Blog of Professional Geekery

News of the Day 9/30/2009

Career:
Search that hidden job market - Good advice.

Economics/Freakonomics/Geekonomics:
Looks like Japanese industrial production is up - It is still way down. A minor bit of GOOD news coming out of the country - home to so much geeky industry.

An interactive overview of layoffs in the United States

Anime and Manga:
Crunchyroll is at it again, getting a popular flash anime and another simulcast They're a fan-to-pro crush object for a reason - with no sign of slowing down. So come on Crunchyroll, when will you be hiring . . .

Law:
Big ouch here. Advertisers may be using online photos in their ads - raising all sorts of issues I'm sure we'll be hearing about. If you work in advertising, take note. If you post a lot of pics online . . . also take note.

Publishing:
Print-on demand gets a publicity boost as E.L. Doctorow christens an Expresso Book Printer at the independent Harvard Book Store. Doctorow carries some public attention, and this is a slick bit of promotion for Expresso's manufacturer. I want to see how much attention this gets the process - and if one can have one's own book printed right there (if nothing else bookstores doing this can double as small-press shops).

Social Media:
Mashable posts it's Social Media Jobs roundup

Technology:
Zipcar, the car sharing company, has an iPhone App - Zipcar is basically a membership only, take-it-and go car rental club designed to save money and the environment. This is an excellent synergy, and also an example of a good synergy in general. Does your business have anything similar? Do they need an iPhone app?

Video Games:
OnLive, the cloud-based gaming company, has secured a lot of funding from some big names - including AT&T Holdings and Warner Brothers. I'm still iffy on if OnLive can really make this work, but they're certainly getting some strong backing.

- Steven Savage

Geekonomics and the Spontaneity Economy

I've been looking at the world of geekonomics and fannish economics - of video games, anime, movies, sports, and of course, online transactions.

As I write this I've been watching some things I found casually on Netflix, using our X-box (cheesy movie trailers, if you must know).  I was watching them spontaneously.  Come to think of it, I'd maintain my Netflix and X-box subscription just for these opportunities.

Or perhaps we can turn our attention to my gaming habits.  A few demos on the X-box are always amusing, and purchases are cheap.  I've enjoyed many Wii games for only a few dollars.  Best of all, things are not only easy to get but cheap.  A bad purchase is only a few dollars lost.

Very, very easy to be spontaneous.  In fact it's never been easier for so many to get so much so quickly and so easily (if I may wax poetic).

We've got an increased spontaneity economy.  I expect it to increase as well - e-books, web comics, downloadable comics, etc.  Everything is easier and easier to get to - or even try it out.

What does this mean?

• Demographics are going to get harder.  Spontaneity can distort studies and information on purchasing populations (and it may make long tail calculations harder).
• Questions of initial sales.  Are initial sales of a product going to be all that reflective?
• Questions of reason for interest.  Was someone interested in a purchase or was it just easy.
• Questions of reimbursement.  When spontaneity plays a large (or potentially large) role in the purchasing decisions of people, what is the best way to reimburse producers or share profits?
• Questions of marketing.  How much did your marketing pay off?  How will you know.
• Questions of durability.  How easy is retention of an audience when the new shiny things are so easily accessible?

Welcome to the spontaneity economy.

- Steven Savage

A look at Queen City Kamikaze

Part of my continuing series on ways to add more fan-to-pro content at conventions.  The roundup is here.

I made the acquaintance of the head of Queen City Kamikaze, a new anime-and-more convention in New Hampshire, while doing my usual convention research.  Set at a local high school (easy space, easy promotion), it's a new convention that promises to have a lot of fan-to-pro content, so I want to spotlight it.

What's up for QCK?

First, bringing in local talent to speak on career and related subjects.  The focus at QCK is to make sure that local people are there to produce more community involvement, sense of connection - and of course to give local talent it's due. One of the sponsors is even a local company with a national reach - they do GAMER Soda, and are a small-business success story.

Second, the convention is looking at an actual job fair.  This is a formative idea, but the hope is that local business and representatives may be interested in recruiting and/or speaking on jobs.

Third, art schools and similar local educational institutions are being invited to speak specifically on careers and classes involved.  This is designed to both promote them, and to give people a chance to learn more about career options.

QCK looks like they're mastering the art of recruiting and promoting locally, and getting both businesses, schools, and individuals involved.  The convention happens February 13th, 2010.  They're new.  They've got good ideas.  Go and attend - in fact, as I post this, there's still enough time to sign up and help . .  .

- Steven Savage

News of the Day 9/29/2009

Career:
Tips on how a recruitment agency can help you - Good advice. I'd also note that recruiting agencies are good for long-term networking, and you meet some pretty interesting people.

Economics/Freakonomics/Geekonomics:
Japan in a deflationary spiral - Beyond the usual bad news, this may at least keep people aware of what can happen to other countries.

There are how many Starbucks near your office? A nice example of what is probably going to get hammered in the consumer cuts - some places have serious luxury coffee density.

Media:
Rights for Terminator may be in the air. Again - A good cautionary tale about the ownership - and handoff - of media properties. The kind of thing you want to be aware of because if you work in fannish areas like media, such legal acrobatics are things you'll see.

Publishing:
Sony's eBook Store adds self-publishing tools - With a better cut for the author than Amazon, some possible deals with Scribd, and these new tools? Sony's certainly making highly aggressive moves in the e-book arena. This is good news for tech people and authors/publishers - though it's also something else to keep track of your your career.

According to a survey, 72% of publishers are looking for new business models - With additional information for you, the writer/publisher/editor/etc. to chew over.

Social Media:
A bit of sports geekery: What sports team social media can teach you about policy - A few lessons and a neat example of learning from your hobby. Also the New England Patriots have made Facebook their social media home base.

Technology:
More on the iPad - Which does seem to be a big iPhone. The source seems reliable. I'm not sure this is going to get much interest at the supposed 1 grand price tag, but it sounds like Apple is giving themselves time to market it.

Video Games:
There are 254 institutions with video game courses, in 37 states - So start doing that research for your career. While you're at it, perhaps you might get some time in teaching at one of these . . .

Funcom cut's 20% of it's staff - Sad. I guess Age of Conan didn't help them, but still.

The new Star Trek Blu-Ray has unlockable costumes for the Star Trek MMO - There's some interesting synergy there. Not sure if it's going to have any major benefit, but an interesting idea to observe.

What's up with SquareEnix? (SquareEdiosnix?) They're apparently aiming for layoffs (A 200-300 person job cut) and also claim they'll double profits in the next five years. No idea here, though I doubt Square Enix is going to do as well as they expect without major efforts and reorging (which may be part of the layoffs), and expanding/ensuring market reach. At least you know now not to go sending resumes for a bit.

- Steven Savage

Convention Idea - Have Business Owners speak

The roundup of ideas for adding more professional events to conventions is here.

Want someone to speak about careers and opportunities at your convention?  Sure you can hope to get some of the big names to speak, get that oddball guest, arrange seminars . . . but you may be missing a great source of professional panelists.

People who already have fannish businesses.  Take a look at your Dealer's Room or Artists' Alley and youll find there's a huge amount of potential speakers on careers, options, and that often-talked of but hard-to-speak on subject of starting your own business.

Career ambition doesn't have to mean working for someone else.  And, yes, at times I see people with fannish businesses invited to speak on such things at conventions - but I think it could go way farther.

The guy whose been running a comic shop for fifteen years has a lot of insights.  The Artists Alley freelancer who manages to survive on her art is going to have knowledge to share few others will.  The couple who runs an anime memorabilia shop out of a warehouse with a tiny storefront is going to have a lot to speak on.

It doesn't even have to be someone whose living on it full time (though I would certainly make sure to try and get such people).  You may have a lot of budding talent, or people who have managed to mix their fannish and non-fannish work, who can speak and lecture on skills, career issues, experience, etc.  They don't have to have "arrived" at doing full-time fannish work to be people with things to share.

Finally, keep inviting such people back.  As their side businesses and personal businesses evolve, they can share more and more insights.

Your next big career panel may mean raiding your Dealer's room.  Go for it.

- Steven Savage

Go Go PSP Go

When Sony first started talking about the PSP Go, the general reaction was skepticism. A handheld that costs as much as some consoles? With no disc drive and all downloadable content? It was written off as a bomb by some before it even arrived.

Then, more word started leaking out about it, and the reviews started coming in . . . and it looks like Sony may have a winner on its hands. In fact, it may even be a game-changer.

Your Fandom Edges

We all have things we're good at.  Maybe you're a leader.  Maybe you're an artist.  Maybe you're the Funny Guy, the Support Person, etc.  We all have our edges.

Your fandom is often vital to maintaining these edges - it's one of the many reasons you shouldn't discount it.

What we do in fandom, as I have gone on endlessly here and elsewhere, is usually an expression of ourselves, of who we really are.  It often comes from very deep places in our psyches that we may not otherwise be aware of.

Fandom also is an expression of what we do and what we like to do, what we're good at.  We may love art, or role-play games.  We may love sports history or writing stories.

Fandom is often about expressing your personal edges and your special skills.

That's why it's vital, for your peace of mind, for your career, to not take it for granted.

Our hobbies express who we are, what we do - and reinforce and improve these things, especially if we're aware of the benefits our hobbies have.  They make us better, stronger - and more "us."

So don't look down on your fandom.  It tells you a lot about yourself.  It expresses what you like.  Take it seriously - in the right way.

It's about your own, personal edges.

- Steven Savage

News of the Day, September 28, 2009

Job Market

Networking Gravity: A daily plan for using LinkedIn to create "extreme networking." Liz Lynch, who has written a book on the subject, defines networking gravity as "a force that draws people automatically into your world with whom you have the greatest potential to build mutually beneficial relationships."   

Four Top Job Interview Questions And Your Best Answers:  Because going in prepared in your best strategy.

Economics/Geekonomics

What We Can Learn as Japan's Economy Sinks: Lessons for the U.S. on how NOT to handle things after the bursting of a bubble. Our current recession has been compared to the collapse of Japan's bubble economy, so hopefully, those in charge will take heed.

Media

Verizon, which has been heavily promoting its Fios alternative-to-cable TV service, is said to be thinking of buying DirectTV, the satellite TV company. This will strengthen its position in the television arena and intensify the TV service sector of the Everything Wars - if this purchase helps Fios put a real dent in cable, watch for other communications companies to join the fray. (AT&TV, anyone?)  

Technology

ESPN is thinking locally with regional sports sites, including a new one in Dallas. This continues the trend of the localized Web site slowly taking over the territory of the local paper - we can definitely see a future where a local news site simply includes a link to the ESPN site in their area to be its "sports section" for professional athletics (while still manaining a local presence for school sports).

GoogleVoiceGate goes on and on and on . . . Information has now surfaced that indicates it was AT&T, not Apple, that was unhappy with Google Voice and wanted the app banned from the Apple store. A Washington Post report says that the telecommunications giant has accused Google Voice of “blocking some calls to rural areas to cut down on network access expenses.” Translated: They consider Google a threat to their income. (Hmm, and competitor T-Mobile is VERY LOUDLY proclaiming they're offering an Android phone all over TV ads . . .) This one definitely isn't going away anytime soon.

Speaking of smarphones, Nokia appears to be trying to give themselves a leg up in that arena by acquiring Dopplr, a sort of travel social network that allows users to read writeups about a place they're visiting written by other people who've been there, thus pointing out best sites for food, shopping, etc.

Latest Apple rumor: A new line of plastic MacBooks and iMacs may be available as early as mid-October. The biggest factor here - They may be lower-cost than more recent models, a necessity if Apple is to stay competititve in a market where some full-powered, full-size Windows PC laptops cost barely more than netbooks. No word on the tablet yet - looks like they may be trying to build some goodwill with these cheaper machines before dropping the bomb (in more ways than one).

Video Games

Microsoft has upped the maximum size of Xbox Live titles to 2 gigabytes. Originally the games had been capped at 50 megs, but many came in at a gig or more, so the company just shrugged and made it official. Good news for developers who now have more freedom to work without fear of repercussions.

Shanda Games, a spinoff of Shanghai Games Publisher Shanda Entertainment, had the biggest U.S. IPO in well over a year - but its shares fell 14 percent the next day. Apparently, "The company originally intended to sell 63 million shares for around $10.50 to $12.50 before changing its mind and increasing the IPO's size by 32.5 percent earlier this week," according to Worlds in Motion. Overconfidence can bite you hard in a climate like this, even for a company like Shanda, which carries titles like Dungeons and Dragons Online and Ragnarok Online. 

Anime/Manga

Funimation said it will be doing new dubs for two properties it acquired from now-defunct anime distributors, Initial D and X. Redubs are quite rare, and we don't expect to see too many of them, but it's good to see Funi giving voice actors more work as that market shrinks. (Given that the original Geneon X dub wasn't that popular among Clamp fans, we can see why Funimation decided to do it).

Streaming simulcasts of shows as they air in Japan are getting popular: Crunchyroll's fall linup of Japan simulcasts includes the return of Naruto Shippuden, as well as Reborn, Gintama and Beast Player Erin. Meanwhile, Viz will simulcast the final season of Inuyasha. Granted, most of these shows air in Japan at inconvenient times for Americans - although they can be worked around some college schedules - but we see this as a trend that will continue to catch fire.  What will get very interesting is if these American companies are able to obtain scripts ahead of time and instasub their simulcasts as they're in-progress, creating even more translation opportunities.

Film

The upcoming Hobbit film could be in jeopardy if its producer, MGM, is forced into bankruptcy, according to film bloggers. We are sure if MGM goes under, though, someone else will scoop the property up in a heartbeat - the Lord of the Rings films were huge moneyspinners. Relevant here because the LOTR franchise, in its many incarnations, has always put out a lot of spinoffs (console games, MMORPGs, etc.) and this prequel is bound to put out even more. Plus, the LOTR films, in addition to Harry Potter and the anime revolution, were pretty much responsible for launching "geek chic" in North America.

- Bonnie

Go Farther: MMOs

There's a lot of great properties out there that could make kick-butt MMOs.  As I've speculated I can see a lot of companies looking into making MMOs to maximize return, keep people involved, and extend their brands.

So I asked myself what properties would make good MMOs?  I'm sure I'll come back to this again, but here's what springs to mind off the top of my head:

NARUTO:

• PROS: Naruto is popular.  Everyone likes crazy ninja-action.  It is well-known.
• CONS: In some cases Naruto has vastly overstayed it's welcome.  The obscenely powerful characters would be hard to implement.
• BEST WAY TO DO IT: Naruto should be set in the future (or past) of the world to avoid the current plotlines and be envisioned as more a Naruto-branded Power Ninja Game.  Base it more on Superhero games for gameplay.  Create it as a side brand, perhaps with the launch of a sequel series in the same setting.
• CHANCE OF SUCCESS: Medium - likely not to fail but may have trouble going really big.  It would require a careful bit of timing, development, and branding to make it work.

AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER:
I know there is a more simple MMO available for this property, but I see potential for a much more epic-scale production.

• PROS: A well-defined world in a well-received series that also has a series of live movies  coming out.  Kicky-fun mystic martial arts action.
• CONS: Brand may have had its time come and gone.  Implementation of an MMO would require careful balance for distance audiences.  Would require the right publicity campaign.  Character abilities are environment-dependent so gameplay would have to be carefully planned (your Earthbender can't do much on a blimp).
• BEST WAY TO DO IT: Move the setting into the future so people can experience what happens after the series ends (as I am still watching it, perhaps that is not possible - I haven't seen the end).  Leverage some of the steampunk elements to explain faster transportation.  Work in the various powers and carefully design environmental effects.
• CHANCE OF SUCCESS: Mixed - either decent to excellent success or serious failure.  The series may have had its time, it would be dependent on the films to review interest.  Best done as part of other efforts in the same setting.

GREEN LANTERN CORPS:

• PROS: Space policemen with willpower-powered superweapons is an instant sell.  Good reputation.  Could make for creative gaming.  Make customizable alien races.
• CONS: Would have to be a its own thing separate from the DC MMO.  Could have marketing issues.  Power sets would require some careful development.  Endlessly reworked continuity to deal with.
• BEST WAY TO DO IT: Its complete own thing separate from the DCU.  Power sets would have to be very creative and probably require some custom designing.  Semi-random mission generators.  Play up the heavy social aspect with social areas.
• CHANCE OF SUCCESS: Medium with a chance for long-term.  It could dilute the DCU MMO brand, but a tight focus increases chance of success, and the GL Corps are well known.

So a few ideas for the future.  Maybe you'll be one of the people to push these (or if you think I'm full of it, stop them).  Any others?

- Steven Savage

Upcoming Podcast!

We're podcasting on Sundays now.  A reminder - our next show is the 27th, and we'll be discussing relocation as our special subject!

- Steven Savage