If a manager instructed me to complete a project by "crafting items," I'd back away slowly and call Human Resources.
News Blips:
A university professor believes that translating elements of video game culture into the contemporary workforce serves as an essential form of motivation. By establishing a clear victory condition and an incremental reward system similar to those found in video games — such as utilizing a World of Warcraft-esque progression style for academic studies — those workers of the "gamer generation" would be able to easily apply techniques learned from video games. "It will be up to management, often of pre-gamer generations, to figure out how to educate themselves to the gamer culture, and how to speak to it most effectively," said the professor. I wonder what business trips would be called. "Raids"? [ITNews]
Joystiq reports that Microsoft is planning to add USB storage support to the Xbox 360. According to documents received by the website, a Spring 2010 system update will bestow consumers with the capability of storing Xbox Live Arcade and Indie games, Games on Demand, DLC, title updates, and even disc-based games. However, you'll only be able to use 16GB of the free space on your storage device. Way to go, Microsoft: You've caught up to modern times — sort of!
Google, Intel, and Sony have combined resources to create an ambitious multimedia platform called GoogleTV. Google hopes to establish a niche within the television market by giving consumers easy access to the Internet and applications through the Android-powered GoogleTV. The project includes an entirely new generation of televisions and set-top boxes provided by Sony. How long will it be until we see useless Twitter updates like this: "Hi, everyone! I'm typing this from my TV right now." [NY Times]
An enigmatic website given to players who earn the platinum trophy in God of War 3 hints to yet another addition to the series. Loading up the website doesn't reveal much, apart from a raging thunderstorm and a peculiar symbol reminiscent of a Spartan shield. Speculation so far has suggested a handheld release or the possibility of co-op support. Whatever it is, I want it have a loud-mouthed Spartan yelling about madness and dining in hell. [GamersMint]
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