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So once again I went down to the basement and searched my secret vault for those rare, forgotten or unknown black films or TV gems such as Tamango, Toxi, Coonskin, Roll Out or the Grace Bumbry Carmen opera film, to see what can I bring out into the light.
This time around it's the 1959 United Artists film Anna Lucasta with Sammy Davis Jr, Eartha Kitt and Rex Ingram - a film I decided to discuss since it's been mainly overlooked (especially strange as it was pretty unique at the time it came out, which I'll get into later). Also because I found out four things about the film and the play that it's based on, that I never knew before, which surprised me (I'll get to those too in a minute).
And, oh yes, because it's definitely a worthwhile film that I think needs to be appreciated again (Like you don't think I'm going to waste my time discussing a bad movie do you?).
But first, of course, as always, some background about the film and its 15 years long journey from stage to screen.
The film is based on a stage play written in the early 1940's by the prolific Hollywood screenwriter and producer Phillip Yordan, who had, in an over 50 years long career, from the early 40's to the mid 90's, worked in every genre imaginable - from westerns to dramas to sci-fi (You'll see his name as writer and producer on the credits on several of those huge roadshow 70 MM epics from the 50s and 60s, such as El Cid, The Battle of the Bulge, The Fall of the Roman Empire and 55 Days at Peking).
The play was set among an immigrant Polish family in which the daughter, who's been working as a prostitute and tired of the life, comes back home to her family, ruled by her tyrannical alcoholic father who despises her (The original play hints that Anna was sexually abused by her father which was the reason she ran away from home and became a hooker).
However, her money grubbing brothers concoct a scheme to take advantage of this situation. Turns out that a friend of the father has a son who is arriving in town soon, to start a new job with a wad of cash, and the brothers plan to marry off their sister to the guy to get the money. Anna doesn't love the guy, who knows about her past but doesn't care, but agrees to marry him, seeing this as her chance to start a new life.
But the one fly in the ointment is Anna's old regular "client" and on-and-off boyfriend, Danny, a sailor, who wants Anna for himself. However if you think you now where this film is going, you don't because there are some unexpected twists and turns, and things don't end up the way you think the will.
Most likely because of the subject matter, Yordan couldn't find anyone willing to produce his play on stage. That is, until it landed on the desk of the American Negro Theater, who looked at it as an opportunity to give their actors a shot at some challenging, unexpected roles in a serious dramatic play, and not singing gospel songs as angels on a cloud in heaven, which was more common at the time.
So the ANT premiered the play in 1944 and it was a smash hit. So big, in fact, that the production later moved to Broadway and ran for three years. Later a touring company of the play was formed (with a very young Sidney Poitier in the cast – Fact I didn't know, No. 1) and it toured for three years across the country. There was even a London production which ran for a year, and other theater companies, black and white, performed the play. At one time there was even a Yiddish production (Fact I didn't know, No. 2).
So of course with that kind of success, Hollywood had to come calling, and Columbia Pictures bought the film rights to the play for mid-six figures (a staggering amount of at the time) and made a first film version of the film in 1949 (Fact I didn't know, No 3).
Of course there was NO WAY that a Hollywood studio back then was going to make a dramatic film with an all-black cast, and made it instead with popular white actors of the time. And since were talking 1949, the Motion Picture Production Code (i.e. the censorship office) was going to make sure that no mention of prostitution, sexual activity, "johns" or sexual abuse were mentioned in the film.
And not having ever seen this version of the film, I can imagine that Anna is just a sweet, wayward and virginal, good girl who likes a drink now and then as her only fault.
However in 1958 some independent producers made a more faithful film version of the original play, with a routine studio director, Arnold Laven, directing, with an all back cast, as in the original stage production, with Kitt and Davis, who were, at the time, two of the biggest sensations in entertainment, starring. The film even included a dance routine not in the play, to show off Davis' talents (as you can see in the second clip below).
Though, by this time, films had gotten "looser" in dealing with sensational subject matter, there still was a strong production code in effect, so that, while Anna is still not called a prostitute in the film, it does makes it obvious in other ways what exactly she was (As you will see in the first clip below).
The film made its premiere in, surprisingly, Chicago, Nov. 1958 and didn't open in N.Y. or L.A. until two months alter, in January 1959. The box office wasn't great and neither were the reviews, which especially criticized Kitt and Davis for giving weak performances.
Yet the film is a genuine rarity, a Hollywood-backed, serious, dramatic black film which was almost unheard of then back then, and even so today.
Yet the film tends to be overlooked, if not forgotten completely and I can't say exactly why. Most likely, I suspect, because of the "sensational" material and that it's populated with some very troubled, unhappy people with serious issues they're struggling with, and not all of them are particularly likable either. I'm sure that turns off some people and I can already hear people saying that it's a "negative" film, asking why couldn't we have something more "positive"? Well that's because life is not all positivity, sunshine and roses. It's ugly and sad at times too.
And though it's not a great film or some undiscovered masterpiece, it is a good film with some great performances. Admittedly the theatrical roots of the film, does result in a certain "staginess" in the action, but it's a solidly made and involving film, with some excellent performances, specially from Kitt and Davis, who were unjustly criticized.
Both of them are very good and they give their performances a grasping, intense quality that very effectively conveys two searching and lonely people, desperately looking for love and a last chance at life, before it slips away for good.
In fact their performances are especially surprising considering (Fact I found out, No.4) that Kitt and Davis had actually, a few years before, been involved in a romantic relationship, and that they were engaged to get married before Kitt called it off. She claimed later that Davis was never really in love with her, but more in love with the publicity their relationship was getting for him.
But whatever friction there must have been off camera between them, it's surely not evident on the screen.
And the movie has never been unavailable to see either. It's been readily available on DVD on MGM Home Video and even on now on VOD on Amazon Video, and it's been broadcast a few times on the Turner Classic Movies channel, and will no doubt be shown again soon.
So take a shot and watch it. It's certainly no classic for the ages, but it's, for sure, well worth watching since it's, in so many ways, a significant film of its era.
Check out these two clips from the film:
Lavon Nicole Pettis | January 9, 2014 2:57 AM
I watched this film for the 1st time and it is amazing body of work!
CC | January 8, 2014 2:11 AM
It's presently playing on Netflix!
. | January 6, 2014 9:37 PM
Shanea | March 31, 2013 3:21 PM
Sergio, I must thank you for bringing this film to my attention. Just watched it and I absolutely loved it.
Emerald | March 30, 2013 4:47 PM
Love this movie! Love Eartha Kitt. Not a classic beauty but a unique beauty. So realistic. Recently I have been watching black classic movies and I have absolutely fell in love them. It was a simpler time but human emotions have never changed. Definitely a must see.
Richton Guy Thomas | March 26, 2013 8:46 AM
On the closing credits to this fantastic film the artist Charles White did the illustration.
Tamara | March 25, 2013 10:18 AM
Thanks for the history. I liked this film. I love Eartha. Recently read her biographies. She was a unique woman.
Marie | March 25, 2013 9:13 AM
Thanks so much for bringing these films to our attention! I just put this one in my Netflix queue.
Bee | March 24, 2013 8:52 PM
One of my favorite films!
CareyCarey | March 24, 2013 6:56 PM
First, I have to mention Rex Ingram. Without a shred of doubt Sergio know his story. Well, in this movie he plays Eartha Kitt's alcoholic father, Joe Lucasta (he's in this clip). Old school film buffs like Sergio will recognize him from two early black cast films, The Green Pastures and Cabin In The Sky. in the latter he played Lucifer, in the other he was De Lawd. Now that's a bad brotha, one day the Devil the next day God. And, I didn't know this either, he was the first African American to sign a contract role on a soap opera, The Brighter Day. In short, I've always admired his acting.
RE: Anna Lucasta, I loved the movie.
Sammy Davis Jr. would not be, in my opinion, a great actor. However, in this film there was so much going on (good story, good script, other good actors) that he didn't need to shine. As Sergio said, this may not be a "classic" but I would suggest it as "must viewing" for every film lover. And believe me, this clip does not do the film justice. The movie is filled with scheming and conniving, twists and turns that's sure to keep one guessing. For several reasons I'd give it an 8 1/2 out of 10 stars.
One more side note. One of the actors in this movie (the bartender) went on to play "Amos" in the 1950's TV series Amos & Andy.
Thanks Sergio, I love these trips down memory lane.
Adella Gautier | March 24, 2013 6:15 PM
This is so much better than the "Tyler Perry " and the neck rolling , schools of acting being displayed too often on screens today. Class acts both Miss Kitt and Mr, Davis.
Audra | March 24, 2013 6:07 PM
It's on Netflix! I watched it!
Ed DuRante | March 24, 2013 5:39 PM
I did not know about this flick. Love the clip.
Ed DuRante | March 24, 2013 5:36 PM
Thanks Sergio. Sweet piece.


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Please check out the Rex Hudler radio show today at Roscoe's in Fullerton from 4-6 pm either in person or on 830am. Rex Hudler is scheduled to interview our kick ass owner Arte Moreno. If you have never been to Roscoe's they have a great bar and even more amazing sandwiches. So if you live close it would definitely be worth while to grab a sandwich, an adult beverage, and listen to some interesting talk.
116 W Commonwealth Ave
Fullerton, CA 92832
(714) 879-2153

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Search for nurse Sue Bevan (From Chelmsford Weekly News)
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Search for nurse Sue Bevan
8:00am Wednesday 8th January 2014 in News
A RETIRED nurse believed to be living in Chelmsford is being looked for ahead of a 50th anniversary.
A group of nurses who used to work at the old St George's Hospital in London our organising a reunion next year to mark 50 years since they started working at the site.
Among the employees who are still be tracked down is Sue Bevan who came from Chelmsford.
She worked on the hospital's cardiac ward and it is thought she either still lives in the city or in the Epping Forest.
Anyone who thinks they know of Sue's whereabouts should email Christine Rola via firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Wimbledon's Weir sweats on his World Cup fitness, while the club rue a disappointing finale (From This Is Local London)
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Wimbledon's Weir sweats on his World Cup fitness, while the club rue a disappointing finale
8:00am Friday 28th March 2014 in Sport By Tim Ashton, Sports Editor
Wimbledon Hockey Club's Henry Weir faces a race to be fit ahead of the World Cup in May.
The 24-year-old midfielder has missed the club's MHL Premier Division run in, which ended on Sunday with a 5-4 home defeat to Sheffield Hallam for a sixth place finish, with an ankle injury.
And while player/coach Ben Marsden cited the injury as one of many factors that contributed to five straight defeats and a disappointing end to the season, he also recognised Weir's personal agony.
"As a club we have achieved what we wanted, which was ultimately consolidation in the Premier League after promotion last season," he said.
"But having pushed for the top four until the last five games and then falling away is disappointing.
"We have been trying to put our finger on what happened, and in the end it is a mixture of factors.
"We've had injuries at crucial times, which cost us. We missed Henry, which was not good for us, but is worse for him ahead of the World Cup [which starts in Holland on May 31]. It's touch and go whether he will make it.
"We lost our keeper Tom Millington for the end of the seaons, and we've had players who were not available, so we have been under-strength."
He aded: "If we're honest, we also took our foot off the pedal when we could no longer make the top four, which is disappointing.
"But we take positives from the bigger picture - we had some good wins on the road at Beeston and Reading, and to have been pushing for the top four is excellent."
Marsden is already looking ahead to the new season, and while he knows players will leave over the summer, he is hopeful the club's status as the third biggest in the country will attract big names to Church Road.
He said: "We have more than 600 juniors at the club, nine mens' teams and eight women's teams.
"In terms of numbers, we're secondly only to Surbiton as number one and Reading.
"At the moment, the men's team has a good mix of age and ability, and we will need to maintain that when looking at new players over the summer."
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Heavy-Weight Tape Dispenser by Black & Blum
Maxwell's Daily Find 05.15.13
Heavy-Weight Tape Dispenser by Black & Blum
• $31.31
• Amazon.com
Simply my favorite tape dispenser. Why? Because it is heavy enough to hold the tape roll however you pull with one hand, and it cuts easily. Other's look good, but don't do the job this well.
(Image credits: as linked above)
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Others not other's.
I like the dispenser, though.


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Two NFL sources claim the meeting is taking place, per the Post's Woody Paige and Mike Klis.
The report qualifies this development as "serious."
Peyton in a Broncos uniform presents a number of challenges for team vice president John Elway and the rest of Denver's brass, but it would be a SIGNIFICANT upgrade over Tim Tebow.


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Grading and Assessment Policy
It is imperative that the faculty gives Graduate students feedback regarding their academic performance prior to the mid-term. This evaluation may be in the form of a quiz, a question and answer test, an essay, or any other writing assignment. The established time frame appropriately accords students the opportunity to improve their academic standing; this may prove acutely significant for those who are on Academic Probation. We emphasize self-directed learning, but we do need to provide the evaluation tools so that students are aware of their academic status, and to allot sufficient time so that they may be able to take necessary actions to improve their grades.
Pursuant to the requirements of Columbia College Chicago, Evaluations of Intended Student Learning Outcomes through our Department's on-going Assessment Program will be pursued and maintained.
In accordance with the Assessment Measurements, it has been regarded that 80% and/or above is adequate and acceptable for our graduate programs, ultimately the equivalent of an A or B work. Below 80%, however, is considered inadequate. A grade of C will require the student to repeat the course. No pluses (+) or minuses (-) will be given.
Our commitment to each and every student is to provide the best educational and optimal growth environment that we can possibly achieve. It is a delicate balance between maintaining academic rigor and individually meeting the needs of each of our students. Notwithstanding new policies and procedures, this delicate balance remains always in the forefront of our mind. We collectively and individually assure our students of our commitment.


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Dagenham goalkeeper on trial at Watford (From This Is Local London)
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Dagenham and Redbridge goalkeeper Chris Lewington on trial at Watford
9:31am Wednesday 25th June 2014 in Latest Sport By Frank Smith, Deputy Group Sports Editor
Watford have confirmed Dagenham and Redbridge goalkeeper Chris Lewington is on trial with the club.
The 25-year-old is with the rest of the squad at their training camp in Udine.
The Golden Boys' third choice goalkeeper Gary Woods is out of contract next week and is likely to leave the club, although the Hornets haven't ruled out re-signing the former Manchester United man.
Lewington played for several non league clubs before joining League Two side Dagenham and Redbridge in 2009.
He played 45 times last season and made 143 appearances for the club in total.
Comments (8)
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1:10pm Wed 25 Jun 14
jasonwatford says...
6:58pm Wed 25 Jun 14
Surbiton says...
1:22am Thu 26 Jun 14
SJM...laugh at luton says...
Not a bad start to Watford career 2 seasons ago,still made costly mistakes that season...
Last season was a nightmare...man city away,Huddersfield at home,and many more...
8:31am Thu 26 Jun 14
Harry's Bar says...
jasonwatford wrote:I thought the opposite. Don't think this guy would be coming in as the number two.
John bond out on loan then
8:55am Thu 26 Jun 14
thepriceisnickywright says...
SJM...laugh at luton wrote:You've lost the plot.
Bond it's time to find another club mate...
Not a bad start to Watford career 2 seasons ago,still made costly mistakes that season...
Last season was a nightmare...man city away,Huddersfield at home,and many more...
Do you forget the lads 21? Do you forget he has had a few MoM performances in his time? Do you forget he is an established England U21 keeper?
As soon as he gets a run in the side or plays regular first team football he will be a fantastic keeper. Coming into the team at random times for a keeper cannot be easy. When he had a run in the team last season he superb.
But yeah go on Bond leave. Go play for a club where you are appreciated.
2:11pm Thu 26 Jun 14
LuthersLoveChild says...
2:33pm Thu 26 Jun 14
thepriceisnickywright says...
LuthersLoveChild wrote:Fair point but also look at Hart, Butland etc. If we ruin his confidence now he will end up being another Loach. I can't believe the stick he gets. People should be encouraging a young talent not trying to ruin it.
England U21 doesn't mean anything. Look at Loach...
10:57pm Thu 26 Jun 14
AngelHornet says...
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Command and Conquer: Generals Zero Hour
|Generals + Zero Hour - Torrent
Game DescriptionCommand & Conquer series moved along in a new direction with the release of Generals. Gone were the crazy mad scientist stories with cheesy actors and live action cutscenes. They were replaced by in-game cutscenes and a "real world" setting pitting the US and China up against a common terrorist foe called the GLA. While the weapons are still wacky in some cases, the situations almost have a present-day feel considering the war on terror that insists on happening. Generals was a breath of fresh air that the series needed with exciting gameplay, big weapons, plenty of strategy, and a lot of well designed missions. The expansion, Command & Conquer: Generals Zero Hour is a big one adding more units, more scenarios, and more fun that fans of the parent title will have a hard time not enjoying.
First off, you've been seeing this whole 30 new units campaign going on, and really, that's some marketing BS. There aren't 30 new units to play with. There are new units on each side and some modified versions of other units that can be used when playing as one of the specialized Generals such as the Emperor Tank, that's basically a more powerful version of the Overlord. Yes, technically they're a bit different, but the ad campaign has been a bit misleading on that account. It's like saying the blue zombie and the red zombie in Diablo II were really different creatures. Regardless of this, Zero Hour is a damn fun game that adds a lot of gameplay and hours even if there aren't really 30 totally unique new units in the game.
From a graphics and sound stand point, Zero Hour remains true to Generals with slick visuals in terms of texture, lighting, and effects. Superweapons continue to impress and the new heat wave effect for the US microwave tanks is a pretty good one, even if it can make things a bit confusing on the battlefield occasionally when you have a few of them in your army. Sound is equally good with nice sound effects for combat and ambient sounds (although some of the cities seem to have an awful lot of loud angry cats running around) as well as the same half rock, half symphonic score playing in the background of your battles. Voice acting still makes me laugh in a lot of cases and its still sometimes difficult to tell whether I'm laughing for the right reasons.
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Command and Conquer: Generals Zero Hour


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Article By: Ken Sternberg
Where status formerly was the overall driving force behind product selection, some industry observers say the "Me" factor has gained considerable clout. That is, more consumers appear to be wondering, "How well-made is this, how enjoyable will it be, and how will it make me feel?" instead of how good it makes them look to others. Buyers, especially those from legal age into their thirties, are experimenting a lot more with higher-end products, delving into expensive single malts, higher marques of Cognac and similar items across all product lines.
"It is a pretty amazing segment of the market. It never seems to subside. People are spending a little bit extra to get what they perceive as a more sophisticated beverage, something that has a little more style to it" remarks John Stepanski, Manager at Bauer Wine & Spirits in Boston. "Definitely, the better spirits are selling at a higher rate than in the past. We see a lot of people heading in that direction, especially when giving gifts," he adds, noting, "There's more beneath the surface, how one feels when consuming it. People will come in with a friend and they share: 'Look what I've discovered. I want you to experience this.'" Stepanski goes on to say, "Small batch bourbon and single malt Scotch are two especially fast moving segments these days. It's almost a function of age. When they're in their 2Os it's not in their reality. By their late 2Os they're exploring bourbon and Scotch. It's a way to connect to something that has some tradition. Bourbon and Scotch make you feel part of something. These customers are generally quite serious about it, they ask us a lot of questions about the flavor and taste profiles and are willing to spend a little extra money."
"Customers are very willing to part with their money. They're becoming comfortable spending money for something good," says Andrew Deitz, Manager of BRIX Wine Shop in Boston's South End. There's no problem at all selling tequila or other spirits in the $5O to $1OO a bottle range, he says. Good single malt scotches start at $7O or $8O, he adds, noting that some he sells cost $5OO a bottle. "Everything we carry is a little off the beaten path," he explains, such as 199O Signatory Rosebank Scotch or El Tesoro's Paradiso tequila, a blend of anejo and reposado aged in Pierre Ferrand Cognac barrels. The shop's five bottle allocation of Pappy van Winkle 23-year-old bourbon sold in one month, despite its $225 price.
Still, esoteric is one thing, paying the rent is another, so Deitz carries some popular brands too, such as Macallan and Patron. "It's a good thing to give someone a familiar face, otherwise it's too overwhelming," he remarks, adding: "We're blessed with a curious clientele." As for trends, "I'm seeing a resurgence in the bourbon category," he points out. "I think the quality has gone up over the years. You can get a great bottle of bourbon for $3O. Gin and bourbon are two places you can get a really well made product for a good price."
When it comes to outstanding liquids from luxurious names represented by good brands, "Consumers are tracking them down and paying the price," says Jim Hickey, Vice-President of the Century Division at United Liquors, whose products include the Moet Hennessy USA and Diageo portfolios. These include Hennessy Cognac, Jose Cuervo and Don Julio tequilas and Johnnie Walker Scotch. For the past year, he says, Moet's premise has specifically focused on the premier luxury priced segment, while Diageo has concentrated on super and ultra premium. "Consumer luxury spending across the board is very, very strong - not just in the spirits industry, but for luxury cars, watches, etc.," he observes. "You can't afford to live like a millionaire every day, but for those special occasions you can drink Dom Perignon or Johnnie Walker Blue or Gold. The statement is there that you've made it and are going to have a great time with your friends." As for the people buying these beverages and making such statements, "It's your average Joe or Mary and it's definitely skewing younger," Hickey says. "Clearly the younger (consumer) is the significant growth area. These spirits are not reserved for someone 5O-years-old celebrating that his kids are through with college," he says. The higher marques, in particular, are selling briskly, he comments.
"It's no longer just the Ritz-Carlton selling Hennessy Paradis. A lot of clubs and bars also carry it," points out Hickey, noting that in the past six months United added 8OO new on-premise accounts carrying Johnnie Walker Blue, which retails for $2OO a bottle. In another example of consumers readily paying higher prices, Hickey recalls getting a nine bottle allocation of the Glenmorangie Margaux bottling, which costs $385 per bottle wholesale. All were sold within two days. Other rare single malts reveal a similar pattern, he says: "You get it in at $3OO a bottle and sell all you get." Of particular brands, he points to sales of Don Julio tequila, priced retail from between $5O to $75 a bottle, which grew more than 65 percent in the last 12 months. "The Tequila category as a whole is showing solid growth," he adds, singling out modestly-priced Cuervo Gold's annual growth rate of five to eight percent. "Tequila is not growing unless Cuervo is."
As for demographics, long-standing models seem to have evaporated, he suggests. "There has been an expanding base of consumers, regardless of demographics. They're all doing it. You've got the 35-year-old professional who loves Glenmorangie. A lot of Hispanic drinkers are definitely skewed toward higher Scotch and a lot of Patron goes to the African American market. Scotch is an 'in thing', great for gift giving and personal consumption. Giving a gift of a high quality spirit is back in style," he says. Even a somewhat staid segment like Canadian whiskey is experiencing luxury growth, he remarks, giving Crown Royal XR ($2OO a bottle retail) as an example. "There's softness in Black Velvet and Canadian Club," Hickey remarks. Crown Royal is a 2O,OOO case per year brand now, up from 11,OOO cases six years ago, he describes, adding that it grew 14 percent on-premise in 2OO6, and about eight percent off-premise.
So much back in style, apparently, that during the 2OO6 holiday season Diageo launched its Spirit of the Month program. The program is a one-stop shopping experience for those looking to send someone high-end spirits, explains Jeff Parrott, who oversees the program as Senior Brand Director with Diageo. The program grew out of "the trend that's been going on for 1O years across all classes," he says. "People are still buying and consuming luxury goods. You may not be able to buy a Mercedes, but you can still buy a bottle of Ciroc (Diageo's high-end French vodka)." Diageo's focus market for the program is on attorneys, CEOs and other professionals, especially those in the finance sector, says Parrott, noting that corporate gift-giving generates $4 billion annually in the US. Depending on the month, recipients get various bottlings of Johnnie Walker Scotch, Talisker single malt, Tanqueray No. Ten gin, Bulleit bourbon and other products.
A one-year subscription costs what to some may seem a hefty $1139, but the price includes all taxes and fees, high quality wrapping, a brown box complete with satin ribbon, and hand delivery, he says. "There's a lot of 'Wow!' to it. It's how you deliver that makes the difference in luxury brands," he remarks. Diageo's research found that corporate individuals base their gift choices on whether something is of obviously high quality, how it's presented and how convenient it is to give and get, he adds. "The key drivers to luxury brands are distribution and visibility at retail, creating relationships to consumers, being at fashionable high-profile events, and creating alliances with other luxury companies, such as Dunhill and Conde Naste," Parrot says.
"The country as a whole is going to ultra luxury products, and Hennessy reaffirming its luxury products is essential," says Dexter King, Senior Brand Manager for Hennessy Cognac at Moet Hennessy USA. "We're upgrading where we advertise," he notes as one example, citing the robb report, esquire and gq magazines as part of the company's new focus. In addition, "We're reaching out to more major markets, trying to go to cities that have high level, high income consumers, such as Dallas, Boston, Las Vegas, and others," he says. "With luxury products in general, nothing can be too expensive - someone will buy them. They may not have the money all the time but they want to reach out for a taste of the good life," he says. For example, he continues, "You can get a glass of Paradis (which retails for about $325 a bottle) in a good account for $5O. It's expensive, but you don't have to mortgage the house." Overall, the Cognac market is doing quite well, with Hennessy holding a 5O percent share of the total and up seven percent over the past year, he says. Hennessy VSOP leads the growth at 2O percent. Even Hennessy's highest marques generate a good level of interest, he says. These include Richard ($15OO to $18OO a bottle) and Ellipse ($4OOO a bottle). The eau de vies blended into these products can be up to 2OO-years-old. Even those in the relatively well-priced Paradis can be 13O-years-old, King says, stressing how this kind of heritage and history-in-a-bottle concept is a key selling point. Giving consumers just enough information helps them justify drinking such high end marques, he says.
"The trend towards luxury products as 'affordable indulgences' continues to accelerate. Within cognac, most of the major players - including Martell - are focusing their marketing efforts more directly against this opportunity," remarks Abegail Domond Brand Director for Martell with Pernod Ricard. "Interest in Luxury, super-premium levels of spirits is still very high. The category is even more attractive versus a year or two ago. The attraction is based on status, meaning what's cool and hip, what defines the consumer as a person. Of course, another key factor is authenticity and quality, which benefits the upper marques on Martell," she says. Those who buy Martell Extra ($3OO a bottle retail) or Martell L'Or ($1OOO) are older than 35 and have a significant amount of disposable income, she says.
Michael Brody, Vice President of Sales for M.S. Walker, affirms this view: "The nice thing about the luxury category in the spirits business is that it's an affordable treat. To have an artisan Cognac or Tequila, that's a very affordable luxury. It's not like buying a Porsche or a Lexus. You can actually drink and serve the top luxury spirits for $5O, $1OO or $2OO. People are willing to spend the money because it gives them a piece of that rock," he says. Brody points to single malt Scotch as being especially hot in Massachusetts at the moment. "You have the 12-year Glenfiddichs of the world selling for $35 to $4O. Then you can get into a 4O-year Glenfiddich that costs $15OO a bottle wholesale. There is a tremendous amount of interest, especially in the aged single malts," he comments, noting other hot sellers such as The Balvenie 1971 Single Cask ($4OO a bottle wholesale) and Dalmore's Stillman's Dram 28-year ($2OO a bottle retail). "A lot of top restaurants use these aged malts. Guest may spend $3O to $4O to try them," he says. Still, in Massachusetts the simpler, younger Scotches sell much more than the aged and more esoteric Scotches, Brody says. Brown spirits such as Cognac, Scotch and some aged rums are generally reaping the benefits of consumer attraction to higher end luxury goods, except for bourbon, he comments. "The small batch bourbons don't equate to that level yet, but may reach it once they're aged. It wouldn't surprise me to see an ultra premium bourbon."
Tequila is another fast growing segment of luxury spirits, he remarks, noting, "The category has grown dramatically" for M.S. Walker. "We've seen in the high end artisan Tequila category that there are aficionados interested in trying the latest, newest products. The younger generation is willing to try these, as well," he says, citing Chinaco, El Tesoro and Milagro as among the top-end Tequilas. Mexican restaurants are the top selling venues for these products, he says, because many of them feature flights or single-shot tastings. As with high end Cognac, if a customer likes what they taste, they may well go out and buy a bottle. Except for Tequila, other white spirits don't rise to the panache or prices of other luxury drinks, he says, pointing out how gin and vodka are basically just distilled alcohol without the flavors or character imparted by aging. Even most super premium vodkas cost no more than $3O, he says, and it's difficult to convey a product's tradition and heritage to customers when the liquid is manufactured in an industrial column still.
"The true aficionados want a product with a history and a story to tell," says Anamaria Cesena, Senior Brand Development Manager for Jose Cuervo International. "Tequila has a unique region of origin and is involved with the earth. People appreciate the characteristics of what they drink," she observes. Cuervo's De la Familia bottling ($8O to $1OO retail) contains agave of 1O- to 12-years-old, in addition to reserve Tequilas that could be 2O-years-old or more, she says. Spirits education to the trade is vital, she says, because bartenders are still the ones consumers will most often look to for a brand recommendation. In 2OO6 Bacardi launched Corzo tequila in the Massachusetts market, hoping to ride the wave of affordable luxury, remarks Amanda Hawk, Assistant Marketing Manager with Bacardi USA. "Everybody knew the category was on fire and had been for some time. The trend driving (Tequila) is a general trend toward affordable luxury, and growth and awareness of Mexican culture," she says. "Our consumers are trend-setters interested in style, luxury and quality. They've traded up from 7/11 coffee and started paying $4 for a Starbucks latte. They believe 'We're working harder than ever before and deserve something good'. It's about rewarding yourself. I don't think market penetration has reached such that we can say Tequila is number two behind vodka, but it terms of growth Tequila is outpacing everyone," she says, adding that 2OO6 marks the first year that total Tequila consumption in the US surpassed Mexico. "We're in the midst of a very exciting market just booming and growing."
One exception to Brody's observation of white spirits not joining the luxury trend may be Stolichnaya's Elit vodka, which retails for between $6O and $63 a bottle. Elit was test marketed in California at the end of 2OO3 and made available nationally in 2OO5. According to Adam Rosen, Brand Manager for Elit with Pernod Ricard, "Sales have grown steadily each year and are continuing to grow." Given the ultra luxury nature of Elit, "It primarily appeals to martini bars, clubs with bottle service and other high-end accounts at this stage of its life cycle. Elit is very well-received with these audiences and overall awareness of the brand will continue to strengthen as distribution grows and advertising continues," he continues, adding Elit's price is appropriate to its quality. "Elit is the only vodka in the world that retains its flavor when frozen, due to its patented freeze filtration process. It is distilled, mixed with pure spring water and then filtered using this process. This echoes the age-old Russian tradition of pouring vodka into wooden barrels, stored outdoors in the icy Russian cold. The filtration process causes the contents inside of the barrel to freeze, leaving only the best and most delectable vodka unfrozen in the center. This remainder, known as 'alpha', is what defines Elit," Rosen says.
It could certainly be argued that gin can easily enter the realm of luxury spirits, expounds Monica Daniel, Brand Manager for Martin Miller's Gin with Skyy Spirits. "The growth of the gin market is in the higher end luxury brands. It's pretty much the same across all spirits," she says. "People are getting more into calling their brands. They think it says something about them if they order the top of the line." Although she says the gin market is about 25 percent of the total vodka market, Daniel says a lot more gin drinks are showing up at high end clubs, restaurants and bars. Launched in 2OO3, Martin Miller's costs about $35 a bottle retail. "A little pricey, but not too high. We wanted to keep it within reach. The price is right for the brand," says Daniel. "We're targeting the more discerning gin drinkers who may be drinking another brand or spirits now, but they like gin. Once they taste it they say 'This is not how I remember gin'." She continues, "An important market factor is that people are a little more experimental, a little more educated, more disciplined. A lot of people like to be first to discover something. We're kind of the little secret brand garnering a lot of interest," she says, although she declines to say if sales have met Skyy's expectations. "Growth is mainly in the higher end spirits. Domestic brands are declining. We think this will continue to happen and we have high hopes for this brand," she says.
"The big change in luxury is people want to know about the products they choose. They want to be able to tell their friends about the product. It's more than just superficial badge value, it's also having a story behind it," says Steve Hissam, Category Director for Cognac at Remy Cointreau USA. "The higher marques are growing faster than the VS and VSOP cognacs. We're seeing consumers trading up in many different categories, certainly in spirits," he notes, adding that changes in family structure, better education and related factors play into this. "Cognac, in my view, was always the original trade-up beverage. If you go to a bar or club, Remy Martin Louis XIII is going to be $25O a shot. Extravagant, sure. But certainly affordable. Eau de vie aged 4O- to 1OO-years-old is a compelling factor." Interestingly, Hissam points out that Louis XIII and Remy Extra have grown by double digits over the past year. "We've been that pinnacle for the longest time. Now there is a lot more competition out there," he says, noting tequilas, scotch and other products. "Younger people want to step out to a much bigger degree. Increasingly sophisticated about spirits overall. In the past, they drank beer. Now, people in their 2Os are ordering dirty martinis. People are pretty confident in economy right now. I haven't seen a downturn in Cognac. Super premium brands do well no matter what," Hissam concludes.
"I think there will be tremendous growth in the luxury spirits category - beyond that, in the American luxury spirits category," predicts Matt Lambo, Brand Manager for Triple Eight Distillers, a Nantucket company that makes vodka, gin and rum, and may import high end mescal in the future. "People are seeing the quality of what we're doing. It takes the public a while to break through their stereotypes and realize New England is making some very fine spirits. We're creating a group of brands with staying power. People like brands of high quality. In the future it's going to prove more and more fruitful," he says. This appears to be the case, if popularity and critical acclaim of Germain Robin alambic brandy, Charbay vodka and other top-flight American products are any indication.
Luxury level spirits seem to be enjoying renewed strength in today's market as many consumers feel they deserve something better than the usual, and are willing to pay for it. This may be the strongest showing such spirits have made in the market in a long time and smart retailers, restaurateurs and beverage managers would be wise to gauge their customers' interest and buy accordingly.
Selling Points for Luxury Spirits
Vodka Emphasize the clarity of the water used in the product, along with the high quality raw materials and the distillation process, especially if it uses small, traditional pot stills. The better the components, the better the flavor and quality.
Gin Same as above, except you should also know how a gin is flavored, which and how many botanicals are used and their quality. Are they fresh, dried, extracts? Each high quality gin is unique in its overall flavor.
Cognac Consumers love stories about their products, and Cognac could be the most storied spirit around. In higher marques, Cognac is blended from up to 1OO or more brandies from separate vineyard sites. Some eau de vies may be 15O-years-old or more. Know the characteristics of Cognac's important production areas and which areas a product comes from.
Bourbon and Rye Whiskey American-made ultra premium spirits are back in a big way and are on consumers' radar. These are genuinely American top-notch spirits made by artisinal craftsmen, using techniques handed down from generation to generation, and aged in oak barrels to achieve a perfect balance.
Tequila The best Tequilas are made from 1OO percent blue agave plants in the Jalisco region of Mexico and say so on the label. They are intended to be sipped and savored for their peppery, herbal and sometimes woody flavors. As large a part of Mexico's heritage as Cognac is to France.
Single Malt Scotch We may be living in the Golden Age of single malts, as more producers uncover barrels of old, perfectly aged Scotch in their warehouses. Styles run a wide gamut from smooth, dried fruit and leather to in-your-face peat-driven smoke and earth. Definitely take some time to learn various house and geographic style differences, and get a sense of what your customer prefers.


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[The video game industry is going through a massive sea change, and Divide By Zero's James Portnow sits down to examine just what's going on, from tool simplification to distribution network changes, and what it means for games as a creative medium.]
Something's happening in our industry. We can all feel it. We're on a pivot point. We are at a sea change.
But it's not just "a change in the industry", it's not a shift in how we do business or with whom -- that's part of it of course -- it's something much bigger. A tide is turning...
Now I don't mean to be dramatic about these things and I don't intend to be their champion (though my bias may come through; I'm excited for what the future may bring.) However, I think we're at a very important juncture for our industry, our medium and, perhaps, for humanity in general.
In this article I'm going to try and define what this change is, how we got here, and what it means for us in the future.
When I first wrote this article I originally defined what I felt the coming change might be right here at the beginning of the piece, but without understanding the causes and the logical steps which drew me to my conclusion, even I balked at it: it seemed ludicrous.
So bear with me as we walk through the causes of this yet-undefined change, and see where the inferences lead you:
Game Schools
For the first time in history "game creation" is being taught as a focus of higher education. From the bachelor's degree given out by DigiPen to the masters degrees offered by more traditional universities such as USC or CMU, today people are getting rigorous formal training in game crafting before entering the industry.
But, perhaps more importantly, these institutions are providing the next generation of game developers with a safe space to innovate and create, outside of a corporate environment.
Game schools will do for us what film schools did for film. They are a place for wild experimentation and valuable, if not immediately profitable, research. These schools focus a community of dedicated, energetic young people and give that community the critical mass it needs to allow these young people to learn from each other and formulate new ideas as a group. Our Lucas, Coppola, and Scorsese will come from these schools.
But as much as many people will come out of these schools with fresh ideas and the tools to enact them, others will find in them an opportunity not granted by the industry itself: the opportunity to conduct multi-year research, the opportunity to study games without having to find a guaranteed return on their research.
Of course the schools and the industry don't see eye-to-eye yet, and communication between the industry and the academic facilities which study this field leaves a lot to be desired, but this too is changing. Both academia and the corporate side of gaming are beginning to see the undeniable value in what the other does.
First Generation to Grow Up with Games
Today, the first generation to grow up with video games in their home is coming into its own. They are becoming responsible, even influential, adults. Not only do they have a great deal of capital to expend on the leisure of their youth, they also have a great desire to see it legitimized, to see it become as respectable as playing golf or going to the theater.
But, much as the films you watched as a child are not the films you watch as an adult, this generation is beginning to demand more. They are beginning to demand new types of games, games with maturity and thought, games that can fit into their hectic and ever more demanding lives, games that can be played respectably with a spouse or family.
This demand is pushing the boundaries of what we consider a video game. It is opening up new markets and forcing us to rethink the subjects a game can cover. It is even forcing us to consider new delivery methods and platforms for these experiences, ones which better fit into the lives of adults.
Broadening Demographic
The term "gamer" now means nothing. At best it's a pejorative stereotype for what once may have been the most highly visible form of video game enthusiast. Today the gamer is your mom and your grandmother, the five year old on the swings and the cop directing traffic. Today the gamer is the lawyer and the doctor and the movie star.
This broadening demographic is calling on us to create games which suit their unique needs and, slowly, the invisible hand guiding us, we have begun to do so. Soon we will realize that grail of designer myth, the Universal Game, because the raw economics of our diverse audience demand it.
|Daniel Cook
Spot on analysis. The chart at the end is great. The questions I would ask existing developers are simple:
- Where do your current skills and interests lie on the chart above?
- Are you actively training yourself to be a valuable participant of the emerging game development ecosystem? (The stuff to the right of the diagram)
- Or are you specializing in a dead end?
The sheer range of new game mechanics bursting forth can be overwhelming. It will be another 20 years before we've wrapped our heads around just the current opportunities in physical and social gaming. If you paint games with broad strokes the vast majority of current mechanics can be summed up as a bit of spatial manipulation mixed with a touch of combinatorics. Such systems make for some great games, but whole new areas of game design have opened up. The audience is ready, the cost is right, the tools are right and there is a surprising number of talented people (many from outside the traditional game industry) who are willing to give it a go. Exciting times ahead.
take care
|Jonathan Blow
I feel that this article is a bit overeager and bends a lot of facts to fit its thesis.
As one example, I grew up with video games in my home, and so did all my friends. I'm 37 years old, so I'm not sure how it can be claimed that only now are people who grew up with video games becoming adults.
This level of inaccuracy seems to be present in just about every definite statement made in this article.
I agree that it's good to have more independent developers in the mix, and for the industry to be more thoughtful about what games are made (and why they are made).
However, I think that the way to support, and write about, this kind of endeavor is through a reasonable and well-balanced perspective that sees the reality of game development and suggests helpful ways forward (in such a way that those suggestions are accurate). A sense of proportion is required.
This article doesn't have that. It reads like a lot of rah-rah drinking of the Indie Kool Aid. Enthusiasm is good, and it's useful, but this article isn't going to convince anyone who has a level-headed view of game development. I don't even believe it, and I am an independent developer who is ostensibly on your side here.
|Andrew Spearin
I'm 23 and I grew up with games that are closer to what they are today (defining point: in a 3D world, and connected online) than they would be for growing up on games as a 37 year old. But of course, it's all very subjective. Think of what today's teenager playing a first-person-shooter or RPG for the first time, what their expectations for the future of games are.
Not meaning to offend the more mature crowd, but it will be more likely for the Net Generation (also labeled as Gen Y, but the Internet defines our generation better than merely following Gen X - see: http://www.grownupdigital.com/ ) to be the ones championing and leading the innovation, dare I say renaissance, of games. Not only because we are entering, and exiting, the academic world, but because we are more aligned with today and tomorrow's gamer than any other generation before us.
This article outlines that fact, from our perspective, extremely well. This could be our doctrine. That chart is now my desktop background.
|Thomas OConnor
"Artistically this means we'll be seeing new genres, new subject matters and new methods of play. People will interact with games in ways we can't imagine and through devices we cannot now conceive of."
I think this sums it up very well. I like to think of our gaming industry as being like Lost - no matter what you think might happen, what the industry will actually develop into will be much crazier and cooler than that.
|Johannes Smidelov
I'm 20, so games has been with me since the dawn of memory and I pretty much can't imagine life without the internet, so I'd like to say the article nails it. Unfortunately, there's plenty of uncertainty-factors in this, and the "gaming generation coming of age" can just as well solidify the current genres as it can create new ones, as some have played too much games to not be inspired by current genres. The university works great as testing-beds for new ideas, but part of the reason is that there's no economic risks involved as well as no potential money to gain. Many ex-students tends to fall in line as soon as they get out and work with the same conditions as the rest of the industry.
That being said, I'm sure new interaction methods combined with "cheaper" ways to get a game out may help, or rather prolong the return of "there's too much content here->we need marketing" and "this have worked before, let's go for it" that turns up after a time.
The point of "gamers" growing up and demanding new things as they do is hopefully true. At least I do, and I hope I'm not alone.
|James Hofmann
Jonathan: A generation is 30 years. Include a 10-15 year margin of error on both sides, and 37 years is well within the "first generation."
I don't see much to quibble with in this article, myself. There are new platforms, and simpler development processes. We're crossing the threshold towards an explosion of new monetization schemes that bring games into different markets. Academia is gradually piecing together a useful study curriculum, and I got to see some of its origins from a student's perspective. And I agree that all of these things have to add up to something.
There is one thing missing from this article, and that is the growing number of deeper gaming discussions. Whether or not you agree with the opinions, gaming journalism is increasingly going beyond purely review and preview and into sophisticated analysis. Gamasutra itself definitely became way more interesting once the blog system was set up. Similarly, I notice that the history of games is increasingly a serious endeavor. I thought I knew a lot about that - I even recall doing some major changes/additions to the "History of Video Games" article on Wikipedia some years ago, when it was still immature - but the stuff people have dragged up from the past has astonished me more and more in recent years. Everything from "Let's Play," to interviews, to unreleased prototypes. We're uncovering a wealth of information about the past now.
|Yannick Boucher
There's another thing bothering me with both this article right now, and the general discourse these days, which roughly implies that only indie developers are innovating, which is incredibly fallacious. Just because some majors are churning out sequels by the dozen, doesn't mean they don't have innovation as well, and I could state tons of examples: Mirror's Edge, Nintendo as a whole, lots of Sony's PSN offerings, etc, etc.
The constant pursuit of "AAA production values" is in itself constant innovation as well, if you ask me: innovation in telling better stories, great music systems that blend in and react to what the player is doing, advanced animation systems that create realistic lipsyncing.
In other words, I'm quite tired of this "indie = innovation, major = inertia" discourse, because, frankly, a lot of facts are voluntarily left out in this discourse. It feels more like frustration out of a David vs. Goliath situation, than a real position, sometimes.
Yes, lots of innovation coming from indies, and yes, lots of changes happening in the industry. But if you want innovation you can find it everywhere in the industry, and I could tell you that Modern Warfare 2 is a much more innovative game than anything Zynga is doing, and certainly have the arguments to back it up.
The question is, are we really talking about innovation and change, or are we indirectly talking about David winning against Goliath?
|Sherban Gaciu
I mostly agree with Johnathon Blow.
This article seems a bit overreaching. "Today the gamer is your mom and your grandmother, the five year old on the swings and the cop directing traffic. Today the gamer is the lawyer and the doctor and the movie star". While I agree that all those people /could/ be gamers, I'd argue that most are not (think about the percentage of female game players you know). And while you might contest that Solitaire is a game, I'd like to point out that you are thinking of innovative, universal games. I don't think we're quite there yet.
Also, the article makes no suggestion of /how/ to do this. I understand that this is not the purpose of the article, but it seems like, as Mr. Blow put it, "rah-rah drinking of the Indie Kool Aid". While I wholeheartedly agree that games can and should evolve past the subject matter and gameplay that limits them today, this paradigm shift isn't as easy as choosing to do so. I've been harder on this point since hearing David Jaffe's argument that games-as-art are cool, but if you try come up with one that breaks every stigma, it stops being entertaining. I disagree with his point (as I think eventually that will come) but I cannot come up with a counter-example.
Though, very well written piece, with conclusions that (while not true now) I hope will eventually come true.
|Michel McBride-Charpentier
I really didn't get an "indie games are cool" vibe from the article at all. It just seemed to be retreading Clint Hocking's talk about the upcoming generational shift, as well as adding some bits about advances in technology and distribution.
And no offense to any GenXer who grew up playing games, but it's not the same at all as GenY growing up with Mario and Doom and the Playstation. You grew up playing with daguerrotypes, while GenY had the point and shoot 35mm. I think that was his point, though perhaps poorly stated. When the current generation of kids in elementary and high school become adults they will have also grown up playing games, but it will similarly have a different meaning from how I grew up with games. They won't remember a time when games were only available on computers and TVs.
|Glenn Storm
While I respect the main article and understand Jonathan's point in comment, I think James just stole my take on it. The real flowering going on is here. These discussions on Gamasutra (and the like) about the taxonomy of game design, innovative experiments game marketing, attempts to formalize efficient game development practices; these discussions have not taken place to this degree, to this extent and at this level of discourse ever before. The real flowering is the maturation of our industry, of our domain, of our ken. Games no longer lack respect by the general public; we've won that war by any measure. What's changed is that our work now lies in developing the potential of our craft and its relationships to other more established domains (story-telling, psychology, education, ethics, philosophy, etc.), and to my eye that work has only just begun.
|Ava Avane Dawn
Graphical fidelity may no longer be the main driver for development budget for many projects in the future, but combined with the fact the games become more nisched, what's going to happen to the blockbuster?
Exciting article, got me all jiggly. ^^
|[User Banned]
This user violated Gamasutras Comment Guidelines and has been banned.
|Paul Bland
|James Portnow
I've been avoiding jumping in this discussion for a while to see how it would evolve. There are a lot of great points in these posts. I figured I'd just clarify some authorial intent, mostly that I in no way believe that the AAA games industry is going anywhere, nor would we want it to, but, as who can make games and as who buys games grows, I believe so too will the scope of "what a game is".
|Christopher Wragg
@John Smith
Actually that's more of an incredibly broad concept of what art is intended for, more than a strict definition of what art *is*.
@Jonathan Blow
he does say "home console", and considering how the first of those really only started coming out in the mid 70s, the only generation that completely covers that time period is Gen Y and a titch of Gen X, maybe Gen X if you were lucky, I suppose around when you were 10ish you might have had an Atari2600 in the home, but you'd be part of a minority. 21 year olds of today are the group of people who would have grown up around a sega mega drive or a SNES, then around teenage years (like around 14-15ish) many will have upgraded to Nintendo64 or a Playstation, to be honest it's really Gen Y, that are growing into adulthood with games prominently in their life, many Gen Xers were adults before the NES was even out, the tail end would indeed have just caught it. So what he's saying here isn't exactly an inaccurate statement.
@James hofman
Actually a generation is closer to 20 years, X is 60s to late 70s, Y is 80s to late 90s and Z is then onwards
Overall good article is my thoughts
|Jeppe Bisbjerg
There is definitely a lot of valid points in this article, however I agree that we are only just seeing the babysteps of this grand revolution of the game-medium, it is not here yet. Referring to the arrival of Scorcese, Spielberg and Lucas at the start of the 70's, and comparing it to the creation of gameschools now is asking history to repeat itself, something that I'm not quite sure will be the case in this example.
I agree wholeheartedly that gamedesign and the industry is an ever evolving organism, but with the diversified feel of interactive art, I'm quite sure that our path will be quite different compared to movies and television.
My only problem with the chart is the "Burnout of Classic Genres", in my opinion genre is a horrific tool, only usable when you're standing in the shop not knowing whether to get little Timmy a racing game or an action game. Classic genres will never burn out, but they will often launch countermovements as expressed in the chart. Keep genre out of the way and just make games, it'll make everything a whole lot easier.
|Tony Hirst
Following on from an original exploration of the culture and technology of gaming that I blogged as a journey of discovery last year ( http://digitalworlds.wordpress.com ), I put together an online distance education course that introduced some elementary ideas related to game design and game culture within the context of the wider technological, social and commercial environment ("Digital worlds: designing games, creating alternative realities" [ http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?C01t151 ])
Rather than focussing simply on commercial computer games that might be reviewed in games comics, the course tried to identify links between the world of computer games and other cultures/sectors. So for example, augmented reality games were explored in the context of both games and web technology, and motion capture was considered in game and movie production (mo-cap). Alternate reality games were considered as a blurring of the digital and physical, real and game world divides, Google Earth was contrasted with 3D Virtual Worlds and sandbox games, and so on.
It seems to me that game technology and culture provides a great, and accessible, way in to a wider consideration of emerging digital cultures and pervasive digital technology, even for non-gamers. And as the game industry cries out for an appropriately skilled workforce, I think that the skills that were traditionally required by the computer games industry will start to be called for in related technology areas, even if the context is not one of producing games, per se.
There have been claims that providing graduates educated with the particular (and peculiar?!) blend of skills required by the games industry might do a disservice to graduates who don't make it into the industry (i.e. their skill set can be too narrow compared to a 'generic' computer science graduate, for example). However, I think that a slight recasting of what we think the games industry is (e.g. as a digital worlds or digital immersion industry) will help educators identify those skills that will allow graduates to flourish in the games industry, or those industries where game-like technologies, interfaces and metaphors are starting to be more widely used. I'm not necessarily talking about a broadening, more a recasting, where being able to code the physics for a 3D world is not a game developer skill, per se, it's more a 'digital technologist' skill that can find particular application in the game industry, or in a 3D mapping company, for example.
|Dave Beaudoin
Humanity has been playing games "forever." I think one of the important features of this article is that it highlights how the play changes. What used to be action figures and tag is now CTF and Madden. Human games have evolved over time and as every generation (of game, not people) comes into it's own it fills the same basic roles that the old games did.
The lessons that the industry can learn from film and television are important, but the same basic lessons could be learned from realist art and punk music. What excites me is that as game developers, outsmarting the failings of other media and extending the longevity of the games life is itself a game. A game that we not only understand the rules of, but understand the mechanics of. This gives us as a gaming culture more leverage to determine the position of the market and the desires of the body politic and meet those needs. Because of the lowered barriers to entry in the business those needs can be met quickly. The brilliant chart at the end of the article demonstrates this deep understanding perfectly.
This is an exciting time indeed.


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Britney showing her Britney again.
Britney, did your brain fall out with those extensions? Late this week Britney Spears donned a tunic top as a dress, showing off a body part that, quite frankly, nobody cares to see anymore. Somebody please stop this woman? Please?
Britney Spears, we don't care if you're finally back in "I'm a Slave 4 U," pre-baby shape. Not only is this dress hideous, it's not a dress -- it's a top. It might be cute without those ridiculous sleeves and if you had chosen to wear pants underneath -- or, you know, just underwear.
READ: Tara Reid Parties, Sans Panties
And the worst part is that Britney Spears did not just wear this try-to-be-glam getup for any special event. She wore it to buy a milkshake. At Johnny Rockets.
READ: Eminem, Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie": Powerful or Disturbing? (VIDEO)
Does Britney's milkshake bring all the boys to the yard? She could teach us, but she'd have to charge...actually it looks like she already does. Britney Spears, put on some pants!.
Flip through our Britney's Britney slideshow...then hit the blue links for more celeb shockers!
READ: Queen Latifah and Girlfriend Jeanette Jenkins Get Close on Vacation


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Increasing southerly winds brought higher temperatures to central Louisiana Tuesday.
Morning lows were in the 50s and 60s with the highest temperatures in the eastern and southeastern sections of the area. Simmesport, Opelousas, Marksville, Ville Platte, and Natchez, Miss. all reported lows between 62 and 65 degrees. In contrast, the temperature fell to 52 at Atlanta in Winn Parish and Anacoco in Vernon Parish.
Morning clouds eroded and partly sunny skies prevailed for the afternoon. The sunshine brought max temps into the low to middle 80s.
A cold front will move through late tonight and Wednesday morning. Rain and thunderstorms will accompany the front.
Tom Konvicka


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- Prompt, Professionally Dressed, Well Spoken Chauffeur
- Fleet Composed Of Late Model Vehicles
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There's something magical about the night of the prom. Picture kids transitioning into adulthood, parents helping pick out flowers and ties with mixed joy and apprehension, and the iconic imagery of everyone looking their best while climbing into and out of a big prom limousine. Certainly a rite of passage for American youth of every background and creed, the prom is a big night for everyone involved, where a lot can go wrong -- and the stakes are high.
There are a lot of prom limo services in Southern California, but, when it comes to getting your kids and their friends from home to the dance and back again, you need to know that you can trust the person behind the wheel and the integrity of the company backing them. Our prom limousine services are catered specifically to each individual group, and designed so that the kids feel grown up and have as much fun as possible getting to and from the dance.


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A new FOX 5 I-Team investigation raises questions about favors and favoritism inside a local district attorney's office.The FOX 5 I-Team found a pattern of payments and perks to one family by the local district attorney's office in Douglas County, and it's a pattern that has critics crying favoritism. Senior I-Team reporter Dale Russell has the story! CLICK ON THE VIDEO ABOVE TO WATCH THE FULL REPORT!
Click here to read David McDade's response to the story!
Thanks for contacting FOX 5. To reach our newsroom by phone, please call (404) 898-0100.
WJBK-TV | Fox 2 16550 West Nine Mile Rd.Southfield, MI 48075Main Station: (248) 557-2000Newsroom: (248) 552-5103


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The Broncos' loss in the Super Bowl may have been a hit to Denver, but there was another massive hit for a furniture store owner in Texas.
Jim "Mac" Macinvale, owner of Gallery Furniture, is known for his sportsmanship so he made a deal with his customers.
He said if a customer bought $6,000 worth of furniture within two weeks of the Super Bowl and had it delivered by game day, they would get their money back but only if the Seahawks won.
The bet cost him over $ 7 Million and he kept his end of the deal.
"Absolutely, best outcome could happen was Seattle to win the big game and our drivers were delivering furniture last night all the way up to the third and fourth quarter," Macinvale said. "They were buying all sorts of stuff, sofas, love seats, mattresses, solid wood furniture. They bought it all."
Mac may be down but he's not out. He thinks the bet will pull in customers who will always turn to him for all their furniture needs.
"As far as financially we didn't do well but we did a great job building the brand and delighting customers. If we do that the business would continue to grow, "he said.


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October 21, 2005
Albany-- A Grady County building contractor is charged in a South Georgia motel arson.
W. Dexter Harrison is charged with conspiracy to commit arson and mail fraud. Prosecutors say he hired a man to burn the Ramada Inn Limited in Donalsonville in 2002 so he could collect the insurance money. Harrison appeared before a federal judge Friday.
He's accused of hiring Grady County farmer Marty Harrell to burn the Ramada in Donalsonville. Harrison's commercial contracting business had an agreement to operate the motel and prosecutors say he collected more than a quarter of a million dollars in insurance money when it burned.
Marty Harrell is accused of using diesel and gasoline to start the fire. Harrison's detention hearing is set for Monday afternoon.
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General Chemistry Laboratory Course Guide
Please download a pdf of the guide here: GenChemGuideV4r
This guide provides essential information about the general chemistry laboratory courses. There have been substantially changes since spring 2013 (V 2.0). CHY 123 and CHY 124 students are expected to read the new course guide carefully and be familiar with it.
Here is what you'll find in the guide:
- How to get started in the course and prepare lab meetings
- How you earn grades in the course
- A guide to writing general chemistry laboratory reports that includes an updated rubric and new examples


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In 1930 Will Rogers comments that we might starve to death in a land of plenty. How can that happen? Today, I want to share Bushrod Johnston's (The name has been changed to protect the innocent.) story with you, sort of a parable if you will. Here is "Bushy's" story.
I've been farmin' all my life, just like my Daddy, Granddad, Great-Granddad, and so on. I've done well – married a good woman, raised 12 chillins, worked hard and lived an honest life. We was livin' just fine, right here in Muddy Boggy Creek, until the last decade or so.
It all started when this government feller drove up in one of those new-fangled electric cars. He was from the Hog Waller Inspection Group of the Dirt Division of the Dept. of Agriculture. After counting and weighing each hog, sow and piglet, He computed the location, size, depth, and mud density of the waller along with the air quality.
After keying in all the data into his computer, we waited for the results. After about an hour and four cups of coffee, the computer determined that the stink to air ratio along with the waller to hog factor were out of balance. The only way to fix the problem was to purchase a new electric tractor with special attachments, including a stink reducer and hog scanner. If we didn't fix the problem immediately, the hogs would be confiscated under the hog relocation program.
Since he drove his electric car more than 20 miles, and we didn't have a special outlet for charging, I towed him back to town with my tractor. A month later they took my hogs.
Next came the chicken beak inspectors, the Bovine Flatulent Methane Emissions Quality Group, the Federal Agency to Reduce Tractor Smoke (FARTS), and a host of others. We had to quit milking the cows because the Teats Inspector said that recent studies indicated that milking caused low self-esteem in 56.2% of cows and suicidal thoughts in 15.87% of depressed cows. Our harvest is gone to rot because the Vegetable Inspector said the tractor noise was disturbing the natural habitat of the Snail Darter.
We've been living off of Twinkies from the local store, because we can't eat anything on the farm any more. Unfortunately, I hear that the First Lady has just appointed a Department of Calorie Abuse which will restrict the purchases of sugary treats.
We cooked up a batch of Snail Darters the other day, but don't tell anybody.
Will Rogers is a man worth remembering, and quoting. His wit, humor and insight into life will amaze and astonish you. His life will inspire you. Watch for new blog posts from my Will Rogers quotes collection.
I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers Daily Quotes iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.


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LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) – Many people think of dyslexia as a condition where letters appear backwards or mixed up. But it's really a learning disorder that can include a variety of reasons that kids struggle with reading and handwriting. This past Sunday was special because 109 students graduated from the Scottish Rite Learning Center. This was the largest graduating class they have had.
This year is special too, because the center is celebrating the 25th anniversary of a law that protects the rights of students with dyslexia.
Scottish Rite Learning Center provides free therapy to students with dyslexia, and trains therapists to take the program out to other schools, all thanks to the charitable work of the Masons.
If you'd like to know more about Scottish Rite, please call (806) 765-9150.
©2010 KCBD NewsChannel 11. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Rodgers and Hammerstein
Topics : Fourth Grade, Music
Spark your little musician's interest with a fun worksheet about a couple of famous composers, Rodgers and Hammerstein. Your child can hone her reading comprehension skills as she learns more about America's most famous show tunes.
Updated on Feb 7, 2013
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Sunday, December 29th, 2013
Overclass Chutzpah
Presenting the middle class — even the upper middle class — as the engine of Wall Street is one thing. Attributing ethics to these navel-gazing SUV polishers is another. But suggesting that "accountability" could ever apply to the whole financial tail-chase? That, as they say, is priceless:
[Current Charles Schwab commercial titled "Around Here" that won't load to TCT.]
Of course, the true message, as Leslie Savan classically suggested would so often be the case, is mere and simple flattery of the target audience.
One Response to "Overclass Chutzpah"
December 30th, 2013 at 7:10 pm
Hm, it seems this book has been written hundreds of times (just replace 'suburbia' with 'the bourgeois'). Self-glorification is a time honored tradition, but it is true that it seems to intensify lately. I have the misfortune of observing SUV polishers in real life, 'soldiering on' as if they were indeed the keepers of civilization, rather one of its primary sicknesses.
But hey, at least we can monetize it: while they lock themselves in car-dependent suburbia, the rest of us, unafflicted with irrational fear of poor people can find much cheaper housing elsewhere.


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Sunday, November 25, 2012, marks the celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King. The Feast Day serves as a proclamation of Christ's dominion over all, including individuals, societies, governments and nations.
In the United States, the Constitution guarantees all citizens freedom of religion. It is the first and most cherished of freedoms. In recent years, Americans have experienced challenges to that freedom from all levels of government. The most recent and serious challenge has come from the federal government through its Health and Human Services mandate, requiring almost all employers to provide contraception, sterilization and abortifacients to its employees, even if it is in violation of their religious beliefs.
The U.S. bishops have stated that the attack on conscience rights places in jeopardy each individual's personal relationship with Our Lord and how we may freely exercise His mission of serving others.
The Solemnity of Christ the King was proclaimed by Pope Pius XI in 1925. In his proclamation, he said:
"When once men recognize, both in private and in public life, that Christ is King, society will at last receive the great blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, peace and harmony. Our Lord's regal office invests the human authority of princes and rulers with a religious significance; it ennobles the citizen's duty of obedience.
"If princes and magistrates duly elected are filled with the persuasion that they rule, not by their own right, but by the mandate and in the place of the Divine King, they will exercise their authority piously and wisely, and they will make laws and administer them, having in view the common good and also the human dignity of their subjects. The result will be a stable peace and tranquility, for there will be no longer any cause of discontent."
The subject of religious liberty was discussed at the fall general assembly of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, now underway. Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chair of the U.S. bishops' Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty said the work of defending religious liberty will continue more robustly and without end in the face of growing challenges. Archbishop Lori said, "whatever setbacks or challenges in the efforts to defend religious liberty we may be experiencing, we're going to stay the course.
"Our work is to provide education and formation as part of the new evangelization," Archbishop Lori said. "I think that our initial efforts have demonstrated the need for greater formation, especially to reach young people, to open their hearts to their heritage as Americans and to what faith teaches about religious liberty."
Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty
O God our Creator, from your provident hand we have received
our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as your people and given us
the right and the duty to worship you, the only true
God, and your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.
We ask you to bless us in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.
Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be "one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.


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"Richard was Chairman & CEO of Enomaly, a global leader in cloud computing and cloud security, culminating in Enomaly's acquisition by Virtustream in December 2011. Previously, Richard was the founder, CEO, and CTO of Assurent Secure Technologies, a SaaS company in the IT Security space that was acquired in 2006 by TELUS, a Global 1000 corporation.
Richard is also an active angel investor and has served on the Boards and Advisory Boards of many highly regarded early-stage companies in the IT infrastructure, security, and SaaS sectors, such as Veracode, Netclarity, Virima, Stonewall Software, and Fonolo.
Richard is often quoted by the press, and has appeared on the cover of CIO Magazine, as well as frequent appearances in media such as the New York Times, CBS, NBC, USA Today, etc. and hundreds of technology publications. Richard holds a Ph.D. and multiple patents in the fields of software security and cloud computing security."


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Czech Bank Joke of the Year
I just saw this dumb advertisement that this Czech bank is still running which is infact rediculous.
None of what is being advertised is in fact offered to the client in reality. Is it not a crime to advertise lies so as to attract new customers.
What a suprise coming from the Czech Savings Bank. After one and a half year I am still waiting for a English speak business account representative. Expat tailored Banking Service, rubbish is what I call it.


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Anecdotal evidence has been shown to have a greater influence on opinion than it logically deserves, most visibly when the anecdote conflicts with the reader's opinion and when the reader is not highly analytical, even if the anecdotes are accompanying statistical evidence. Though the anecdotes may not totally sway you, they can easily leave you with the sense that the research findings aren't as conclusive as they claim to be.
For example, if a close friend goes on and on about how the Ford he bought was a piece of crap, detailing how the transmission failed at 30k miles and the rear-view mirror fell off, you'll be wary about buying a Ford in the future, even if Consumer Reports rates them highly. Your friend's anecdote is a true story, certainly, but it's bad evidence for several reasons: it's subject to confirmation bias, the availability heuristic, and the data ultimately has a sample size of 1.
Contrarian anecdotes like these are particularly common in medical discussions, even in fairly rational communities like HN. I find this particularly insidious (though the commenters mean no harm), because it can ultimately sway readers from taking advantage of statistically backed evidence for or against medical cures. Most topics aren't as serious as medicine, but the type of harm done is the same, only on a lesser scale.
In the absence of strong evidence, especially in new or uncommon areas, anecdotes may be the best thing you can get. But in the presence of statistical evidence, don't tolerate contrarian anecdotes, and don't make them yourself, knowing the exaggerated impact they can have. If you want to advance sound knowledge within the community, it might feel mean, but do your duty, and downvote those anecdotes.
EDIT: There's also a good discussion on Hacker News]]>


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People here, as well as many sports pundits, have tried to make a case that our "young and inexperienced" secondary got taken to school by Manning last week.
Why don't we look at the actual numbers.
Last year Manning made 571 attempts OR 35.68 attempts per game.
He completed 393 which is roughly 69% of those passes.
He averaged 7.9 yards per attempt or 281.25 Yards PER game.
Last Sunday he attempted 57 passes.
He completed 40 OR……wait for it…..70% of those passes.
He averaged 7.6 yards per attempt
If you reduce the pass attempts to his normal 35-36 attempts per game and give him 25 completions OR 71% completion rate, he would have passed for 270-280 yards per game OR his exact average from last year. In fact,, his yards per attemot were slightly LESS than his average.
That means that if Peyton Manning throws 57 times against ANY NFL secondary, his numbers should be exactly the same. He threw that many times because they were being curbstomped on the scoreboard and playing from more than 1 score behind.
Additionally, we played a nickel practically the whole game and GAVE him the short pass in order to keep it in front of us.
Given those numbers and factors, the secondary actually did a GREAT job against the BEST quarterback in the NFL. In fact, ON AVERAGE, they played as well as any secondary Peyton faced last year.
Can they improve? You bet. But I would argue aginst them having been a weakness on Sunday. Far from it.
The only difference in the game statistically is the NUMBER of times he threw the ball. He did NOT get better results per attempt nor did he complete more than his average.


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vantatas' tentative eccc cosplay schedule!!
(this is more of a gratuitous post to help me get my shit together because this con is in two weeks and I have no idea what the fuck I'm doing anymore, but I guess you can pay attention if you care)
friday - street rose closet cosplay (meaning normal clothes and no wig, because I have school in the morning and can't look too weird)
saturday - either aranea serket or wendy corduroy, depending on whether or not I can get my shit together with aranea. (expect wendy)
sunday - wendy corduroy, or possibly no cosplay. we'll see how much of a shit I give by that point.


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The 5 most common part(s) or condition(s) which cause the symptom Dryer won't start are listed below starting with the most likely. Check or test each item and watch any available videos.
RepairClinic Item # 1472475
The door switch is located near the dryer door and is activated when the door is closed. If the door switch fails, the dryer won't start at all. Most door switches will make an audible click when they are activated. If the door switch makes a clicking sound when activated it is probably not defective. If it doesn't make a click, it can be checked with an ohm meter or continuity checker. The door switch is relatively easy to replace and is usually not very expensive.
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RepairClinic Item # 1256970
On most dryers the drive motor turns the drum and the blower wheel to exhaust the air. If the dryer won't start the motor might be defective. Before replacing the motor, check the thermal fuse, start switch and door switch because all three are more likely the cause. If the dryer won't start and the dryer motor makes a humming noise there might be something caught in the blower wheel, or the drum might be binding. Try removing the belt from the motor and checking the blower wheel for obstructions. The dryer motor can't be tested easily. If the more common components have been checked and it seems the motor itself is defective, it will need to be replaced. It is not serviceable.
Order by 8:00 PM ET, this part ships TODAY!
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RepairClinic Item # 1381519
On most dryers, if the drive belt breaks the motor can still be heard and it will still be blowing air out the exhaust tube, but the drum will not spin. However, in some dryers when the drive belt breaks the tension pulley arm trips a switch which shuts off power to the entire dryer. If the dryer won't start, check to see if the belt is broken. If it is, replace the belt and the dryer should be fine. If the belt is not broken, check the other components that can fail when the dryer won't start.
If the dryer won't start, check to make certain there is electricity to the dryer. For a gas dryer, unplug the dryer from the wall and plug something else into the outlet to see if it's working. For an electric dryer, check the home circuit breaker or fuses. If they are working, check the outlet where the dryer plugs in with a volt meter. There should be between 208 and 240 volts. If there is power to the dryer, check the more common items in this troubleshooting guide.
RepairClinic Item # 877552
The timer is normally not at fault when the dryer won't start. In many situations where timers are replaced they end up being returned. First, check all of the more common components in this troubleshooting guide before replacing the timer. If the dryer won't start, the cause is much more likely to be a thermal fuse or switch. The timer can not be tested, it must be replaced if it is defective.
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18Forget About Chris Brown For A Minute…
Can we issue a warrant for the arrest of Gwyneth Paltrow's stylist? Her Grammy ensemble left me dumb and blind for several minutes.
Also behind the scenes at the Grammy Awards, Nicole Kidman's facial muscles have left the building, Queen Latifah is still working on her healthy weight, Leann Rimes' husband struck the "Yes, she's pregnant!" pose, and Katy Perry's performance dress completely cancels out all the positive that had been accomplished by her red carpet look.
February 9, 2009 at 8:40 am by Wendie
18 Responses to "Forget About Chris Brown For A Minute…"
It really annoys me because her hair looks nice but really doesn't suit her long face shape. She should really get a fringe. And better clothes.
I actually liked her look! It is a ridic amount of silver… kinda disco ball-esque, but I liked it! She looked fun!
Maybe she did her styling herself again? Or it was like a project for her kids…
Lol to project for the kids. That is a BAD outfit.
If she wanted to pull off the "firecracker" look i owuld have liked it if she set her hair on fire to add to the effect.
Fucking amature!
hahahaa. i still love bale jokes
i love the outfit!! but she looks ridiculous in it. i think she's the type who takes herself waay too seriously to be wearing this sort of thing.
why is she standing in the hallway outside my old high school gym?
I think that all of that Botox is slowly turning Nicole Kidman into a forever smiling, stone statue of herself. When the process is complete, she can be placed upon a pedestal and eternally worshipped by us lesser mortals. That should make her happy.
im hoping this is one of those outfits that just doesn't photograph well.
Considering how much this obnoxious hag hates America I'm suprised she bothered to drag her stuffy ass over here for the Grammys. I wonder how many perks they had to bribe her with to get her to lower herself to our level? Perhaps they offered her a gold plated jet stocked with caviar?
well, I'm assuming Coldplay had noms, no? And I really don't think she hates America. Regardless, if you don't prefer the country you are born in, it doesn't make you a bad person. That's crazy American propaganda talking.
you are such a voice of reason! :)
Pain the ass pretentious drop-out from UC Santa B. Hey, Gwenthyh.. you did not go to an Ivy league college like you attempt to came off as! it is lame and you're embarrassing yourself. Just stop it and get a grip.
lame/lame. trying to do a play on words but can't figure out to put an accent over the e. dang.
I love that dress and the shoes. I have a ridiculous love of sequins and metallics so this brings them both together.
She should have lost the tights. She has great legs and they make her legs look big.
love me some Gwyneth. She has the sweetest face.
Audio started playing when I opened this webpage, so irritating!