It seems that Facebook wants to make a bigger profit off of its highly successful social networking site. Ari Levy, Brian Womack, and Joseph Galante have written an article at Bloomberg.com revealing this interesting story. Facebook already recieves huge profits from advertising on the site itself. However, the owners of Facebook are now looking to reach into new areas to make a profit. Namely, they desire to cut into the profit of the many popular games presented on their site. These games can be put on Facebook for free, and some games have options for players to purchase items in-game to help them. Facebook is now looking into taking up to 30% of the profits of such items through the new Facebook Credits system. This move is made presumably after the success of Iphone apps, where Apple also takes a 30% profit off apps.
Players would be able to buy Facebook Credits directly or through systems such as PayPal. The article also comments that in-game purchases will rise due to Facebook's "trust factor." Basically, more people are likely to purchase items through Facebook, because it seems more trustworthy that third party companies that produce the games. Facebook has also mentioned that the Facebook Credits may extend to other appliations besides just games. Many third-party game producers seem to accept this idea as long as Facebook Credits is not the only payment option for in-game items. Many producers actually welcome Facebook Credits, because they believe that this system will convince more people to buy in-game items.
This is an interesting and eventful choice for Facebook. To date, Facebook makes it's profits primarily through Ad revenues. However, Facebook Credits will drasticly change this. However, some Facebook users might feel threatened by Facebook Credits, predicting that the site might start asking people to pay for use of the entire sites. Such fears are unfounded, and the majority of Facebook users will be affected.
With a Sunshine of Rainbow Fire,
Blogdor the Dragon
Friday, February 19, 2010
My Thoughts are Up in the Air
Who's in the film? When does it come out? Why would I want to see this movie? Does it relate to me?
All of these questions run through a viewer's mind when he or she is faced with the choice of spending ten dollars out of pocket on simple entertainment. The movies are a place we go to not necessarily to see the ideal movie, but the cinema has a knack for bringing together common interests and sharing a laugh, tear or thought.
Is star status really the main focus of movies?
In most cases, yes. Advertisements before a movie come out with a headliner of a certain actor or actress and the immediate reaction is,"YES! I do want to see this movie because George Clooney is in it!" Is that the current case for Up In the Air? I believe so. The initial thought when a well known actor such as Clooney enters the scene is, "Will this movie be another success or a bust?"
The New York Times addresses a movie review in which most of these questions are answered.
The premise of the movie, Up In the Air is based upon elements of the media. George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick portray a fast paced world including a main focus on the gadgets of today set on an airplane.
"There are different ways into “Up in the Air,” which can be viewed as a well-timed snapshot of an economically flailing America, appreciated as a study in terminal narcissism or dismissed as a sentimental testament to traditional coupling." This quote sums up the significance of the plot and premise of the movie. It critiques our ever-changing America and criticizes marriages and long term relationships. This depiction of present-day America also criticizes the aspect of heroism in movies, specifically Up in the Air.
Can films accurately predetermine the economic outcome of the ticket sales and DVD sales? No. No one will ever know exactly whether a film will entirely appeal to a given audience. Directors can target a film for a certain audience, but the result will always be, "Up In the Air."
All of these questions run through a viewer's mind when he or she is faced with the choice of spending ten dollars out of pocket on simple entertainment. The movies are a place we go to not necessarily to see the ideal movie, but the cinema has a knack for bringing together common interests and sharing a laugh, tear or thought.
Is star status really the main focus of movies?
In most cases, yes. Advertisements before a movie come out with a headliner of a certain actor or actress and the immediate reaction is,"YES! I do want to see this movie because George Clooney is in it!" Is that the current case for Up In the Air? I believe so. The initial thought when a well known actor such as Clooney enters the scene is, "Will this movie be another success or a bust?"
The New York Times addresses a movie review in which most of these questions are answered.
The premise of the movie, Up In the Air is based upon elements of the media. George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick portray a fast paced world including a main focus on the gadgets of today set on an airplane.
"There are different ways into “Up in the Air,” which can be viewed as a well-timed snapshot of an economically flailing America, appreciated as a study in terminal narcissism or dismissed as a sentimental testament to traditional coupling." This quote sums up the significance of the plot and premise of the movie. It critiques our ever-changing America and criticizes marriages and long term relationships. This depiction of present-day America also criticizes the aspect of heroism in movies, specifically Up in the Air.
Can films accurately predetermine the economic outcome of the ticket sales and DVD sales? No. No one will ever know exactly whether a film will entirely appeal to a given audience. Directors can target a film for a certain audience, but the result will always be, "Up In the Air."
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Really Howard?
Today, I stumbled across a terrible story in the media. The very perverted and much "hated" Howard Stern was said to be a possible host of the very popular American TV show known as American Idol. Howard Stern is mostly known for his very explicit and viewed as offensive radio show. After he was kicked off public radio, he made his own radio station where many listeners tuned in. The Parents Television Council was calling on FOX, hoping they would dismiss the rumor that Howard Stern would replace the very entertaining Simon Cowell as a judge. American Idol is watched by many families and is seen as a family friendly television show. Knowing, for sure, that if Howard Stern partook in the show, American Idol would lose many audiences.
The Parents Television Council was very upset about the possible hiring of Stern. The Parents Television Council said that unless Stern went through a "moth-to-butterfly" type of transformation that his hosting possibilities should be withdrawn. They said that Stern would ensure the death of the number one television show. Obviously Stern has not gone through many changes as he has many derogatory comments to say about former American Idol winner Fantasia. When referring to the three laws of making money in the media business, there needs to be ads. If people are not tuned into American Idol, then the production of their ads decreases. They do not cost as much to have their ads during the show, and if people are not viewing, the odds are good they will not make more profit. The franchise of American Idol will immediately suffer from the hiring or guest host of Stern.
American Idol has a great reputation for being family friendly and a very popular television show. Howard Stern's participation on the show would completely change this image for a long time. The shows sponsors would not want to get their reputations tarnished from his mouth talk on the show. Many people tune in week after week for constant entertainment, myself included. I was shocked to read about the possibilities of Stern on the show and even more shocked that FOX did not immediately respond to the rumors. American Idol is one of the first shows we think about in our decade. It has changed the way we view television and should not be demoralized with the hosting of Howard Stern. It would do nothing positive for FOX, its advertisers, and people on the actual show.
The Parents Television Council was very upset about the possible hiring of Stern. The Parents Television Council said that unless Stern went through a "moth-to-butterfly" type of transformation that his hosting possibilities should be withdrawn. They said that Stern would ensure the death of the number one television show. Obviously Stern has not gone through many changes as he has many derogatory comments to say about former American Idol winner Fantasia. When referring to the three laws of making money in the media business, there needs to be ads. If people are not tuned into American Idol, then the production of their ads decreases. They do not cost as much to have their ads during the show, and if people are not viewing, the odds are good they will not make more profit. The franchise of American Idol will immediately suffer from the hiring or guest host of Stern.
American Idol has a great reputation for being family friendly and a very popular television show. Howard Stern's participation on the show would completely change this image for a long time. The shows sponsors would not want to get their reputations tarnished from his mouth talk on the show. Many people tune in week after week for constant entertainment, myself included. I was shocked to read about the possibilities of Stern on the show and even more shocked that FOX did not immediately respond to the rumors. American Idol is one of the first shows we think about in our decade. It has changed the way we view television and should not be demoralized with the hosting of Howard Stern. It would do nothing positive for FOX, its advertisers, and people on the actual show.
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