Thursday, February 4, 2010 No Comments
The perfect product is hard to make. It can be even harder to find a catchy name. I spent countless hours trying to decide what to name my show, and Mike Thinks what just the best I could do. In retrospect, maybe theres a reason I don’t work for a promotions company. I can honestly say that I would never have names my next big thing the iPad.
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Its not that I think iPad is a bad name, its not…assuming your designing a new feminine hygiene product for the hipster crowd. But how in the heck does Apple pass on names like iSlate but lock onto a name that makes the Nintendo Wii seem downright normal? Now sure, we will get used to the name, not not before rev 2 at least. So this week I give you my detailed take on what I will go out on a limb and call the biggest miss of 2010…and its just barely February!
We also have out regular segment on weird news and this week in history on this weeks Mike Thinks News.
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Saturday, January 30, 2010 No Comments
And the winner is…Meryl Streep for the role of Julia Child in Julie and Julia (2009). So we decided to review the movie, cause we have seen almost all the other films nominated for the Golden Globes. Julie and Julie is based on the true stories of two woman, Julia Child, whom we know from her Cooking show, but this storyline follows her path to becoming the cookie legend. And the second person, Julie Powell (Amy Adams) who blogs her way through Child’s cookbook for a year. The story is interwoven between the two women’s lives. Brought to us by Nora Ephron, who directed and wrote the screenplay. She is known for her works on romantic comedies, including Sleepless in Seattle (1993) , You’ve Got Mail (1998) and When Harry Met Sally (1989). This is not the first time Streep and Ephron have collaborated on a project, they worked together in Heartburn (1986) for which Ephron wrote the book and screenplay. Join us as we review the film and don’t forget to call us with your “Movie Bits” responses.
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Monday, January 25, 2010 No Comments
Paying a premium for the ‘privilege’ of being allowed to pay $15/month to play an MMORPG, its been going on for more than a decade now, and while it made a little since in the beginning, now it feels like an antiquated idea whose time has passed. Back in 1999 when Everquest came out, there was very little competition for this type of gameplay, and there was limited proof that a subscription model could make money for a mainstream computer game. This is no longer the case in either argument in 2010, and the industry should wake up and take notice.
I understand that there is a large outlay of cash to develop a modern online only interactive universe type of game, and I can appreciate the desire to recoup that investment as quickly as possible. While that may seem like a sound strategy, it may not be the best way to maximize long term, or even the near term return on investment. The real pot of gold for any of these ventures is the monthly subscription base, with its continuous stream of revenue. It is vital that you quickly gain a large base of paying subscribers to overcome the ongoing costs of maintenance and additional content to keep players happy. If you can’t very quickly gain these numbers, your game will stagnate and wither away quickly. Yet here we are, looking at game after game being released, with the publisher expecting potential customers to pay a premium of 2-3 months subscription cost before even getting to find out if they like the game.
Proponents will argue that having someone pay upfront gives them a feeling of being invested in the game, and so they are more likely to continue to pay a monthly fee once their initial free month expires. I would say that this is a specious argument, as it flies in the face of basic logic. I am really to believe that if I pay a large amount upfront to play a game that I am somehow more likely to pay even more money to it each month if I don’t like it because I feel like I’ve wasted my initial purchase if I don’t continue to throw money away to something I don’t like??? The other side if this issue is that you are fighting an uphill battle with many potential customers already having been burned paying $50 for a game they realized all to late was crap, now you are there asking for their money and they are asking themselves if the risk is worth it. The other argument I hear is that if you don’t charge a premium up front too many people will want to play the game just to see what its all about and overload the servers…what…so you want less players? Now I know that the initial release of any online game has some challenges when it comes to server capacity, but I cannot believe that the increased revenue from the increased install base could not be used to overcome this problem. Lets not forget that if you eliminate the premium pricing structure, you can also eliminate the large black hole that is retail markup, since 20-30% of that retail box cost goes right to the retailer and packaging costs. Eliminate the need to buy a box, and eliminate that money sucking void.
Right now, any new MMORPG needs to overcome the behemoth that is World of Warcraft. You have to somehow entice players who either are playing or having played WOW to come try your game, and what better way to do this than to offer the game without a premium up front cost on top of the monthly fee! Yet hear we are, with game after game asking me to pony up $50 or more to give them a test drive, when the real profits are to be had by getting me addicted so I pay five times that much in monthly subscriptions. At this point I’m afraid that just isn’t the smart move. I know that some will argue that I would pay the same price for a regular non subscription game, even if I knew I would likely finish it within the 1st month, and that is true to a point. The difference is that a MMORPG does not have a demo for me to try, and it is a very rare thing for my wallet to open if I haven’t gotten to try a game first. But just as important, these multiplayer games have a dynamic that cannot be inferred without playing them yourself, live with other players.
My suggestion is for game makers to offer the game for free when you start your monthly $15 subscription, or at most require a 2 month subscription to start. You will get more subscribers and in the end, make more money…provided your game isn’t total crap.
Saturday, January 23, 2010 No Comments
Has it really been that long, have we really learned that little in the past 5 years or so that the movie industry once again has to show just how out of touch they are? I stand before you today, once again in utter disbelief at what is happening yet again. Now the world isn’t going to end, and in 100 years no one is going to care about this momentary blip of stupidity in the history of humanity. But its because this kind of short sighted attitude seems so pervasive even after time and time again it has shown to be a bad idea, both in financial terms but also in long term goodwill that it infuriates me.
Warner Bros has made a deal with Netflix to delay the release of new movies to the rental company by 28 days (I’m sure it has no bearing on the zombie Apocalypse) in an effort to increase DVD sales. In return they are going to provide a broader list of movies for Netflix to make available on its streaming service. For its part, Netflix had little choice, as the future of movie rental is streaming, and I can only imagine that getting as large a catalog available as possible is critical to their current business strategy. Warner Bros however is making the exact same kind of boneheaded decision that left the music industry scrambling for relevance a few short year ago. How can they believe that limiting the ways in which I can give them money for a product is a good idea?
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It appears they hope that huge droves of mindless zombies (oh wait, maybe there is a reason for the 28 days) will not be able to contain their desire for Die Hardest with prejudice, or Transformers III Megatron goes to Band Camp. So they will run huge expensive add campaigns but they try and get someone who pays $9-$18 per month to watch 4-5 movies to pay at least $16 to watch one??? Maybe my math is off, but if I consider it a value to pay $3 to rent a movie, just how do you intend on enticing me to pay FIVE TIMES that much? Now I know that the American public is an instant gratification type of crowd, and I’m very well aware that a few people will fall for these shenanigans. However, I can’t imagine this will help the bottom line for several reasons. Most people will just wait the 28 days, but a good number will have lost enthusiasm by the time it is available for rent and just never bother. More importantly though, is that many people who really want to watch the movie will balk at the idea of having to buy the DVD, see it as corporate greed, and rightly or wrongly, they will get the movie online, and any revenue that may have been gotten from the rental are gone…more importantly, you will indoctrinate people into just how easy it is to steal movies online.
Creating a demand, then artificially limiting the supply of reasonably priced product is a recipe for disaster when it comes to infinitely copyable products. Millions of people want to give the movie industry money to rent movies…how stupid do you have to be to say…no?
That and much more on this weeks Mike Thinks News
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Monday, January 18, 2010 No Comments
This week we review “The Hangover” which has a definite spin on the classic “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”… but in this scenario our unlucky bachelor party group CAN’T remember what happened to them and they really really WANT to know. The four men play off each other very well, the groom, played by Justin Bartha, the ringleader schoolteacher played by Bradley Cooper, the my girlfriend thinks I’m in Napa Valley played by Ed Helms and the last of the bunch, the creepy brother-in law to be Zach Galifianakis. Did I mention the movie follows the groomsmen on their search for the missing groom? This movie takes us on twists and turns and has the three groomsmen retracing their seriously wild adventure. Laugh out loud funny and how could that have happened moments are throughout this look back on what could happen to you if….
Don’t forget to call the voice mail hotline, 347-BUG-MIKE or send us
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Tuesday, January 12, 2010 No Comments
There’s a time when you have to say enough is enough, and we are well past that point with the complete and total lack of effective leadership in the TSA, and/or the department of Homeland Security. The United States of America deserves, and as a citizen I DEMAND that the government get a clue, and actually take some action to ensure the safety of the American people. When a person is reported not once, but twice as an imminent threat, when they are put on not one but two terror watch lists, how the #@!$!* does this same person with known ties to terrorist groups get on board and international flight with more than enough explosives to destroy the plane mid-flight? Incompetence, and a complete lack of effective leadership, that’s how.
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How do we justify letting the CIA ignore repeated warnings, how do we justify an airport screening system that is so broken it spends tens of millions of dollars on useless policies, confiscating untold millions of “banned items” that even Macgyver would find useless, how can we justify pulling people aside for random screenings, when each and every terrorism expert you talk to says that its a waste of resources, you can’t. The most effective way to stop terrorism is to stop terrorists, sounds stupefyingly simple doesn’t it, but what I mean is you look for terrorist, not fingernail clippers. You don’t concentrate on looking for banned items, you concentrate on looking for people who pose a threat. Until this administration can get this through their heads, they are wasting out time and our money. After what has to be the most egregious laps in security since 9/11, it is unforgivable that President Obama would stand in front of the American people and not hold those responsible, accountable. The US homeland security secretary, Janet Napolitano should be fired, the CIA cheif Leon E. Panetta should be fired, and more I’m sure. Mr. President, you promised that you would hold people accountable if they failed to preform their duties at the highest level, take immediate action to hold those who failed to lead responsible, or allow the American people to see you as a Liar who does not hold our safety as an important part of your JOB.
Also on the show, this week in history, CES stuff, and news thats just weird.
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Wednesday, December 30, 2009 No Comments
When I want to rent a movie, its a little annoying if its out of stock, but it really toasts my crunchies if the place I fo to get it from doesn’t stock it at all. Redbox, the automated DVD rental kiosk has entered the very competitive industry with an aggressive roll out of locations, but has been hampered by anti-competitive (some would say illegal) business practices, and now a new policy to only attempt to st0ck top tier new releases. Universal, Warner and Fox have all put pressure on DVD suppliers not to sell new releases to RedBox in a misguided effort to protect a failing business model. Redbox responded quickly by using alternate means to obtain new releases so they could meet customer demand…so far so good. But as of late there have been several new movies that just didn’t appear at your local Redbox, and a new analyst report has stated that this in an intentional omission.
Apparently, Redbox doesn’t think its profitable to stock new release titles that were not big box office hits. While its certainly true that you can’t expect any physical location to stock every single title, to ignore significant releases is one sure way to lose customers in a hurry. People (thats you and me) are not to tolerant of being disappointed. If you stop by a Redbox, and they stock the movie you want…and it happens again, pretty soon your not going to even bother looking. This type of negative reinforcement will quickly erode the customer base, and at a time when physical DVD rental is nearing decline in favor of streaming media, I just don’t think this bodes well for Redbox.
Attention Redbox, if you decide to not even attempt to stock mainstream new releases, I will stop even looking. I don’t like disappointment, and when I heard 3 major movie studios were trying to prevent you from getting new releases, I felt like supporting you to show they my middle finger…but if you can’t be bothered to try and provide me with a good selection, sorry but that’s something entirely different.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009 1 Comment
This week we review the much anticipated James Cameron film… Aliens…I mean Terminator…no no that’s not right..it was Titanic. Actually, hard to believe, but Titanic was the last Big movie directed by Cameron. Do I have your attention now? I meant Avatar of course!!! Written and directed by James Cameron, with a MONSTER budget of sources say anywhere from 280 million, plus marketing (Los Angles Times) to almost 500 million (The New York Times), but we will not know the real figures for months. Regardless to say this is one of the highest costing films of our time. With the director putting in some major capital to develop the technology that would make his dream of Avatar into a reality. And 161 minute timestamp, they really wanted to get their monies worth.
The movie follows our paraplegic Marine into the world of Pandora. Where the locals are 10 feet tall and BLUE called the Na’vi. This environment is hostile to humans but rich in unobtanium (Mike prefers to call it Plot-tonium since it moves the plot along), yeah I know, hard to believe they named it that. The goal is to get to this rock which is worth Billions and the way there is BY FORCE or Peaceful relocation. This is where our Marine, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) comes in, with the help of Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) and Norm Spellmen (Joel Moore) they intergrate their minds with the human/Na’vi hybrid avatars. This is a story on so many levels, listen as we tell our thoughts and take you to into the vivid imagination of James Cameron.
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Tags: adventure, Cameron, critic, DVD, flick, flix, james Cameron, podcast, review, theater, theatrical
Category: 3D, Animated, Featured, In Theaters, Lets Watch Movies, PG-13, Sci-fi, action, drama
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 No Comments
Wow, its been a long and rough year hasn’t it? First I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone for listening, and all your emails, voicemails, twitters etc. The podcasting community has grown, but is still one of the most gracious and giving groups that exists. When looking back over the year, I can’t believe how much has changed, and just how hard its been for so many of you. This weeks show isn’t about the news, its out once a year break from current events, to take a look at ourselves. A special thanks to Kevin Reeves, for the music for this show.
Hope you enjoy, and have a very Merry Christmas, and an awesome New Year.
–Mike
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Friday, December 18, 2009 No Comments
This week we review “Angels and Demons” the second installment in The Da Vinci Code from author Dan Howard. Director Ron Howard (who also directed the first movie) takes us on a journey through Rome and Vatican City. The movie takes us to actual locations such as Piazza del Popolo, The Pantheon and the Royal Palace in Campania. These ancient locations played a key role in the movement of the film.
We join Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) sometime after the end of the first book/movie. As you may have deduced from the title this movie has more significant religious overtones. We follow Langdon as he tracks down the “Illuminati” threat to Vatican City.
Please join us as we give you our thoughts on the movie. And don’t forget to call in to 347-BUG-MIKE with your responses to Jeanne and Mike’s Movie Bits and your favorite holiday movies.
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Tags: blue ray, catholic, church, cinema, davinci code, DVD, pope, review, suspense, theater, thriller, tom hanks
Category: Lets Watch Movies
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