Bradley Metrock
President, Score Holdings LLC
GM, The Score of Cool Springs (4091 Mallory Lane, Suite 124, Franklin, TN 37067)
December 2008
Today’s generation of young professionals grew up with exposure to gaming simulations from an early age. These future leaders managed precious resources in Oregon Trail, negotiated down prices with the cartel in Dope Wars, and conquered the planet in Civilization, all before they navigated the many complexities of today’s professional world.
Educational researchers have long believed in the value of gaming simulations. Studies done in the United Kingdom by TEEM (Teachers Evaluating Educational Multimedia) have concluded that “sims” – games where players actively formulate big-picture strategy along with “in the weeds” tactics contribute significantly to development of strategic thinking and planning skills.
A young person that builds a sprawling metropolis in EA’s SimCity game, only to watch it fail after a surprise series of floods left the city’s coffers empty and unable to recover, takes away a valuable lesson in the importance of working capital to the sustainability of any enterprise. Another young person that raises a massive army to attack the neighboring aggressor in Microsoft’s Age of Empires, only to be thwarted when that neighboring aggressor partners with three other factions and crushes that army, gets a tutorial in the importance of friends, politics, and deal-making.
Even games less “academic” in nature, such as first-person-shooters like Halo or Left 4 Dead, build teamwork skills and underscore the importance of constant communication to solve problems. Fighting games like SoulCalibur or Super Smash Brothers teach participants that knowledge of self is never enough – you have to know your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses well in order to win.
Anyone can read a book, or watch a film, and walk away from the experience without grasping the author’s underlying message. A book doesn’t turn its own pages back to Chapter 1 when it realizes the reader, now in Chapter 10, missed a key concept. A film doesn't rewind itself to make sure the audience understood the latest plot twist. The video game, on the other hand, punishes its participant severely for failure to comprehend, and adapt, to changing conditions. The interactivity is the key - the participant is engaged, not just entertained.
As video games continue to soar in popularity, they will do so not only because they are superior at entertaining to other media, but also because they superior at educating.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Top 10 Video Games of 2008
Bradley Metrock
President, Score Holdings LLC
General Manager, The Score of Cool Springs (4091 Mallory Lane, Suite 124, Franklin, TN 37067)
December 2008
Industry watchers will look back at 2008 as one of the biggest years in video gaming history, in terms of both the quantity and quality of new video games released to the marketplace.
Not only did the Apple iPhone emerge as a brand-new gaming platform all its own (which would’ve had two entries, Fieldrunners and Rolando, on this list if it were the Top 15 Games of the year), but Sony’s PlayStation 3 bounced back from a difficult 2007 with a strong lineup in 2008.
The Nintendo Wii continued its market dominance, thanks mainly to a software title that’s not even a game – Wii Fit – while the Nintendo DS distanced itself considerably from the Sony PSP as the must-have handheld system.
And last, but certainly not least, the Xbox 360 surged in 2008, thanks to a barrage of blockbusters and a successful upgrade of its already best-in-class online system, Xbox Live.
Without further ado, let’s get to the Top 10 video games of 2008!
10. Left 4 Dead (Xbox 360): One of several brand-new franchises to surface on the Xbox 360 this year, this survival-horror game forces four-player teams to work together to move from building to building as they attempt to flee the city from hordes of zombies.
9. MLB ’08: The Show (PS3): Simply the best baseball video game ever made.
8. Braid (Xbox Live Arcade): In a year where indie video game development exploded, Braid stood tall as the best indie game released on any system this year. Forget guns and gore - this brilliant platformer arms the gamer with time itself as the weapon of choice against the forces of evil. Bring your brain, not brawn, to advance through what some might call the smartest game of the year.
7. Dead Space (Xbox 360/PS3): Like the #10 game above, Dead Space is another new video game franchise that gamers should expect to spawn sequels for years to come. Stranded aboard the USS Ishimura, Dr. Isaac Clarke battles all kinds of nightmares out in space as he unravels an ancient mystery, giving gamers an engrossing experience they won’t soon forget.
6. Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360/PS3): The latest installment in this controversial franchise is the greatest selling product in entertainment history, selling 3.6 million copies in one day, and grossing more than $500 million in revenue in its first week on sale.
5. The World Ends With You (DS): In an incredibly strong year for the Nintendo DS handheld system in terms of quality titles released, The World Ends With You crushed the competition. This deep role-playing game, inspired by elements of Japanese youth culture, features one-of-a-kind gameplay centered around “psych pins” which have a variety of attributes in battle. A must-play for DS owners.
4. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii): No franchise has a more loyal fan following than Nintendo’s Super Smash Brothers series, guaranteeing that Brawl would be an immediate best-seller. What no one expected was the depth of the gameplay, from the plethora of unlockables buried in the game to a brand-new Adventure mode added to the mix. This is the most replayable game released in 2008.
3. Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3): Some critics have decried the final installment of the heralded Metal Gear Solid franchise as more movie than game. All that really means is that the same critics simply wish, like all the rest of us, that the game never would have ended.
2. Gears of War 2 (Xbox 360): Gears of War 2’s gritty, epic campaign, combined with its action-packed, precision-tuned multiplayer, creates an undeniably strong package that would have coasted to Game of the Year honors in most other years.
1. Fallout 3 (Xbox 360/PS3): Gamers have been waiting for this one for almost a decade since Fallout 2 was released, and developer Bethesda Softworks certainly did not disappoint. This may be the largest game ever created, dwarfing the massive Grand Theft Auto IV in scope, and every one of the game’s hundreds of locations beg to be discovered. The combat system is superbly conceived, the story is imaginative and remarkably well presented, and the game’s world truly feels alive. An artistic masterpiece as much as a video game masterpiece.
President, Score Holdings LLC
General Manager, The Score of Cool Springs (4091 Mallory Lane, Suite 124, Franklin, TN 37067)
December 2008
Industry watchers will look back at 2008 as one of the biggest years in video gaming history, in terms of both the quantity and quality of new video games released to the marketplace.
Not only did the Apple iPhone emerge as a brand-new gaming platform all its own (which would’ve had two entries, Fieldrunners and Rolando, on this list if it were the Top 15 Games of the year), but Sony’s PlayStation 3 bounced back from a difficult 2007 with a strong lineup in 2008.
The Nintendo Wii continued its market dominance, thanks mainly to a software title that’s not even a game – Wii Fit – while the Nintendo DS distanced itself considerably from the Sony PSP as the must-have handheld system.
And last, but certainly not least, the Xbox 360 surged in 2008, thanks to a barrage of blockbusters and a successful upgrade of its already best-in-class online system, Xbox Live.
Without further ado, let’s get to the Top 10 video games of 2008!
10. Left 4 Dead (Xbox 360): One of several brand-new franchises to surface on the Xbox 360 this year, this survival-horror game forces four-player teams to work together to move from building to building as they attempt to flee the city from hordes of zombies.
9. MLB ’08: The Show (PS3): Simply the best baseball video game ever made.
8. Braid (Xbox Live Arcade): In a year where indie video game development exploded, Braid stood tall as the best indie game released on any system this year. Forget guns and gore - this brilliant platformer arms the gamer with time itself as the weapon of choice against the forces of evil. Bring your brain, not brawn, to advance through what some might call the smartest game of the year.
7. Dead Space (Xbox 360/PS3): Like the #10 game above, Dead Space is another new video game franchise that gamers should expect to spawn sequels for years to come. Stranded aboard the USS Ishimura, Dr. Isaac Clarke battles all kinds of nightmares out in space as he unravels an ancient mystery, giving gamers an engrossing experience they won’t soon forget.
6. Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360/PS3): The latest installment in this controversial franchise is the greatest selling product in entertainment history, selling 3.6 million copies in one day, and grossing more than $500 million in revenue in its first week on sale.
5. The World Ends With You (DS): In an incredibly strong year for the Nintendo DS handheld system in terms of quality titles released, The World Ends With You crushed the competition. This deep role-playing game, inspired by elements of Japanese youth culture, features one-of-a-kind gameplay centered around “psych pins” which have a variety of attributes in battle. A must-play for DS owners.
4. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii): No franchise has a more loyal fan following than Nintendo’s Super Smash Brothers series, guaranteeing that Brawl would be an immediate best-seller. What no one expected was the depth of the gameplay, from the plethora of unlockables buried in the game to a brand-new Adventure mode added to the mix. This is the most replayable game released in 2008.
3. Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3): Some critics have decried the final installment of the heralded Metal Gear Solid franchise as more movie than game. All that really means is that the same critics simply wish, like all the rest of us, that the game never would have ended.
2. Gears of War 2 (Xbox 360): Gears of War 2’s gritty, epic campaign, combined with its action-packed, precision-tuned multiplayer, creates an undeniably strong package that would have coasted to Game of the Year honors in most other years.
1. Fallout 3 (Xbox 360/PS3): Gamers have been waiting for this one for almost a decade since Fallout 2 was released, and developer Bethesda Softworks certainly did not disappoint. This may be the largest game ever created, dwarfing the massive Grand Theft Auto IV in scope, and every one of the game’s hundreds of locations beg to be discovered. The combat system is superbly conceived, the story is imaginative and remarkably well presented, and the game’s world truly feels alive. An artistic masterpiece as much as a video game masterpiece.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Konami announces three new iPhone titles, including Metal Gear
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6202410.html?tag=latestheadlines;title;1
Konami confirms three of its franchises will be making their way to the Apple handheld in 2009.
Last week, a teaser page on the English-language page of Konami's Japanese Web site led many to believe the Japanese publisher was working on bringing the Metal Gear Solid franchise to the Xbox 360, reviving the Metal Gear Acid brand, or even porting the long-running series to the Wii. However shortly after information leaked via scans of gaming magazine Famitsu, Konami has confirmed a different mission for Solid Snake.
In an official press release today, Konami of Europe revealed that Metal Gear Solid Touch would be heading to the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch early in the New Year. According to the release, "Metal Gear Solid Touch focuses on action elements of Hideo Kojima’s classic stealth series, and will see series veteran Solid Snake embark on an all-new mission." It won't be a completely new experience for MGS fans however, with players "using locations and characters introduced in Konami’s Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots [including] eight action-packed stages, with more to be added at a later date."
In addition to the feted stealth-action series, Konami also confirmed Frogger for the iPhone, reportedly "a pixel-perfect conversion of the classic arcade game," and Silent Hill: The Escape. It looks like these releases may only be the start, with Konami's Head of Mobile Business Department quoted as saying, "We welcome the iPhone and iPod Touch to our product line-up and look forward to these initial games." (Emphasis added).
The teaser page on Konami's Web site now links to what appears to be a placeholder page with the Metal Gear Solid Touch logo.
Konami confirms three of its franchises will be making their way to the Apple handheld in 2009.
Last week, a teaser page on the English-language page of Konami's Japanese Web site led many to believe the Japanese publisher was working on bringing the Metal Gear Solid franchise to the Xbox 360, reviving the Metal Gear Acid brand, or even porting the long-running series to the Wii. However shortly after information leaked via scans of gaming magazine Famitsu, Konami has confirmed a different mission for Solid Snake.
In an official press release today, Konami of Europe revealed that Metal Gear Solid Touch would be heading to the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch early in the New Year. According to the release, "Metal Gear Solid Touch focuses on action elements of Hideo Kojima’s classic stealth series, and will see series veteran Solid Snake embark on an all-new mission." It won't be a completely new experience for MGS fans however, with players "using locations and characters introduced in Konami’s Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots [including] eight action-packed stages, with more to be added at a later date."
In addition to the feted stealth-action series, Konami also confirmed Frogger for the iPhone, reportedly "a pixel-perfect conversion of the classic arcade game," and Silent Hill: The Escape. It looks like these releases may only be the start, with Konami's Head of Mobile Business Department quoted as saying, "We welcome the iPhone and iPod Touch to our product line-up and look forward to these initial games." (Emphasis added).
The teaser page on Konami's Web site now links to what appears to be a placeholder page with the Metal Gear Solid Touch logo.
Video Games and the iPhone
I'll be writing columns from time to time for publication on The Score of Cool Springs' website, within our Facebook group, as well as for this blog. Here is the first such column, on video games and the iPhone.
Video games dial up a new friend: the Apple iPhone
Bradley Metrock
President, Score Holdings LLC
General Manager, The Score of Cool Springs (4091 Mallory Lane, Suite 124, Franklin, TN 37067)
December 2008
While no one can deny the tremendous impact video games have on American culture, many people are still unaware that video games, as an industry, have far surpassed music and movies in revenue. Whether you live here in Music City USA, or in Silicon Valley, or anywhere inbetween, video games reign supreme as the de facto choice of entertainment.
Many reasons for this video game dominance exist, but the main one is economic: video games, at $50-$60 a pop, offer a much greater return (in terms of hours of entertainment from the product) than movies in the theater, DVD movies at home, music CDs at home or in the car, concerts at the Sommet Center, or virtually any other type of existing option. A family of four would spend $50 going to see Bolt at the local theater, especially if any concessions are involved. The same family of four could spend about the same amount on Rock Band, Scene It, Mario Kart, or LittleBigPlanet, and get 10 times the amount of recreation for the money. It’s a no-brainer.
Video games are so popular that they are moving from the living room, which they conquered long ago, to mobile devices such as the iPhone. The flock of capital to iPhone application development, of which a significant portion is funding game projects on the device, is nothing short of amazing and a true indicator that video games are only going to continue to rise in popularity and ubiquity. Nintendo’s DS handheld platform, and to a lesser extent, Sony’s PSP device, have enjoyed a sizable market share in the portable gaming market for years, but the iPhone is not just a serious threat to that share, but is creating an entirely new paradigm for gaming on the go.
One of the most popular games on the iPhone is Fieldrunners, a ‘lite’ strategy title (from developer Subatomic Studios) that asks the gamer to place a series of towers, cannons, and other weaponry on a field in an attempt to thwart the bad guys trying to cross from one side of the screen to the other. The game features gorgeous graphics, deep and addictive gameplay, and a price tag of just $4.99 for hours of mobile fun. So fun, in fact, that Time Magazine ranked the title alongside Grand Theft Auto IV, Gears of War 2, and Spore – games that were much, much more expensive to create – in its Top 10 Video Games of 2008 list. As most video gamers are aware, that’s quite rare air for any mobile title, and though Apple won’t disclose how many times the game has been downloaded, Fieldrunners has remained high atop Apple’s most popular list in the App Store for months.
With the hyped Warfare Incorporated just released to the platform, and Electronic Arts’ SimCity heading to the iPhone in mere days, the quality titles keep adding up for continued market dominance for the iPhone against its competition in the mobile device sector. In fact, it could very well be the perfect “Storm” to doom RIM’s Blackberry product line. After all, competition is just a game, and as long as Apple’s devices feed off the seemingly-infinite demand for video games within the domestic market, they’ll keep winning.
Video games dial up a new friend: the Apple iPhone
Bradley Metrock
President, Score Holdings LLC
General Manager, The Score of Cool Springs (4091 Mallory Lane, Suite 124, Franklin, TN 37067)
December 2008
While no one can deny the tremendous impact video games have on American culture, many people are still unaware that video games, as an industry, have far surpassed music and movies in revenue. Whether you live here in Music City USA, or in Silicon Valley, or anywhere inbetween, video games reign supreme as the de facto choice of entertainment.
Many reasons for this video game dominance exist, but the main one is economic: video games, at $50-$60 a pop, offer a much greater return (in terms of hours of entertainment from the product) than movies in the theater, DVD movies at home, music CDs at home or in the car, concerts at the Sommet Center, or virtually any other type of existing option. A family of four would spend $50 going to see Bolt at the local theater, especially if any concessions are involved. The same family of four could spend about the same amount on Rock Band, Scene It, Mario Kart, or LittleBigPlanet, and get 10 times the amount of recreation for the money. It’s a no-brainer.
Video games are so popular that they are moving from the living room, which they conquered long ago, to mobile devices such as the iPhone. The flock of capital to iPhone application development, of which a significant portion is funding game projects on the device, is nothing short of amazing and a true indicator that video games are only going to continue to rise in popularity and ubiquity. Nintendo’s DS handheld platform, and to a lesser extent, Sony’s PSP device, have enjoyed a sizable market share in the portable gaming market for years, but the iPhone is not just a serious threat to that share, but is creating an entirely new paradigm for gaming on the go.
One of the most popular games on the iPhone is Fieldrunners, a ‘lite’ strategy title (from developer Subatomic Studios) that asks the gamer to place a series of towers, cannons, and other weaponry on a field in an attempt to thwart the bad guys trying to cross from one side of the screen to the other. The game features gorgeous graphics, deep and addictive gameplay, and a price tag of just $4.99 for hours of mobile fun. So fun, in fact, that Time Magazine ranked the title alongside Grand Theft Auto IV, Gears of War 2, and Spore – games that were much, much more expensive to create – in its Top 10 Video Games of 2008 list. As most video gamers are aware, that’s quite rare air for any mobile title, and though Apple won’t disclose how many times the game has been downloaded, Fieldrunners has remained high atop Apple’s most popular list in the App Store for months.
With the hyped Warfare Incorporated just released to the platform, and Electronic Arts’ SimCity heading to the iPhone in mere days, the quality titles keep adding up for continued market dominance for the iPhone against its competition in the mobile device sector. In fact, it could very well be the perfect “Storm” to doom RIM’s Blackberry product line. After all, competition is just a game, and as long as Apple’s devices feed off the seemingly-infinite demand for video games within the domestic market, they’ll keep winning.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Beta Test Signups Now Open!
The Score of Cool Springs' beta test is now open!
From late December throughout the month of January, The Score will feature a full slate of both FREE as well as half-priced video game tournaments.
Games like Left 4 Dead, Madden, NCAA Football, Halo, Mario Kart, Civilization: Revolution, Age of Empires: Mythologies, GoldenEye 007, Geometry Wars 2, Super Smash Bros Brawl, and countless others will be featured in tournaments!
To sign up, head over to TheScoreOnline.com and click on "Calendar." Click on the Beta Test Signup link (listed on December 29) and get signed up within our site's reservation system.
Then, sign up for any of the other tournaments!
New tournaments will be added daily throughout December and January, so keep checking back on the website.
Beta test signups are extremely limited, so sign up today if interested before our Facebook ad hits the site in the next couple of days!
From late December throughout the month of January, The Score will feature a full slate of both FREE as well as half-priced video game tournaments.
Games like Left 4 Dead, Madden, NCAA Football, Halo, Mario Kart, Civilization: Revolution, Age of Empires: Mythologies, GoldenEye 007, Geometry Wars 2, Super Smash Bros Brawl, and countless others will be featured in tournaments!
To sign up, head over to TheScoreOnline.com and click on "Calendar." Click on the Beta Test Signup link (listed on December 29) and get signed up within our site's reservation system.
Then, sign up for any of the other tournaments!
New tournaments will be added daily throughout December and January, so keep checking back on the website.
Beta test signups are extremely limited, so sign up today if interested before our Facebook ad hits the site in the next couple of days!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
The Score's Achievement List
See The Score of Cool Springs' Facebook group for more information on our December/January ad to hit high school newspapers throughout Nashville.
Our "beta period" begins in late December/early January where we will allow a limited number of folks from the Nashville area to join us for some free tournaments, and then some half-price tournaments, as we get our systems up and running and work out the kinks.
As has been published in our Facebook group and will appear in our ad, here is our initial Score Achievement List, which will earn you ScorePoints toward "leveling up" and earning some valuable perks and benefits such as free tournaments, free video games, and our vaunted "VIP Membership"!
Achievement 1 - Participate in any Arena tournament or event (+1 ScorePoint)
Achievement 2 - Participate in any tournament on Tuesday or Wednesday (+1 ScorePoint)
Achievement 3 - Participate in a Score Station tournament (+2 ScorePoints)
Achievement 4 - Participate in an H-Bar tournament (+2 ScorePoints)
Achievement 5 - Win a tournament (+5 ScorePoints)
Achievement 6 - Participate in two tournaments in one day (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 7 - Win two tournaments in one day (+15 ScorePoints)
Achievement 8 - Participate in 20 tournaments (+20 ScorePoints)
Achievement 9 - Win 10 tournaments (+40 ScorePoints)
Achievement 10 - Beat a Score staff record (online or in-store) (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 11 - Win a round of Madden using the Titans (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 12 - Win a round of NCAA Football using Vanderbilt (+5 ScorePoints)
Achievement 13 - Win a round of any first-person-shooter (e.g. Halo, COD, Gears) without dying once (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 14 - Win a round of any fighting game, where a Score staff member selects your character (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 15 - Win a round of any sports game with 2x your opponent's score (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 16 - Successfully complete a Beat the Clock challenge (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 17 - Win a Lock-In Trivia Contest (during lock-ins only) (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 18 - Defeat a Score staff member (during lock-ins only) (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 19 - Redeem a ScoreBall for ScorePoints (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 20 - Earn all A's on a report card (or equivalent) (+4 ScorePoints)
Achievement 21 - Earn all A's and B's on a report card (or equivalent) (+2 ScorePoints)
Achievement 22 - Serve in a leadership position in a school or civic organization (+5 ScorePoints)
Achievement 23 - Work 15 volunteer hours in last 30 days (+5 ScorePoints)
Achievement 24 - Get into or graduate from any college or university (+5 ScorePoints)
Achievement 25 - Compete in an iTest academic event (www.theitest.com) (+8 ScorePoints)
Achievement 26 - Turn in any ticket stub from any TN sporting event (+1 ScorePoint)
Achievement 27 - Buy any snack and drink together (+1 ScorePoint)
Achievement 28 - Buy a Score t-shirt (+4 ScorePoints)
Achievement 29 - Wear a Score t-shirt while winning any tournament (+2 ScorePoints)
Achievement 30 - Sign up for a monthly membership (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 31 - Sign up for an annual membership (+15 ScorePoints)
Achievement 32 - Attend a lock-in (+2 ScorePoints)
Achievement 33 - Attend two lock-ins in any given month (+5 ScorePoints)
Achievement 34 - Spend $50 of more on software or hardware (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 35 - Unlock an achievement in any video game purchased at The Score of Cool Springs (up to 5 per game; +1 ScorePoint each)
Achievement 36 - Refer a friend for a monthly membership (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 37 - Refer a friend for an annual membership (+6 ScorePoints)
Achievement 38 - Have a birthday party or special event at The Score of Cool Springs (+10 ScorePoints)
Achievement 39 - Purchase a Score Remote or corporate event (+15 ScorePoints)
Achievement 40 - Join The Score of Cool Springs' Facebook group (+1 ScorePoint)
Achievement 41 - Get a friend to join The Score's Facebook group (+1 ScorePoint)
Achievement 42 - Create a 1-minute video about The Score on YouTube (+8 ScorePoints)
Achievement 43 - Propose a tournament to The Score of Cool Springs (+1 ScorePoint)
Achievement 44 - Have a proposed tournament be used (+5 ScorePoints)
Achievement 45 - Link to TheScoreOnline.com from your website or blog (+1 ScorePoint)
Achievement 46 - Participate in any Score online tournament or event (+2 ScorePoints)
Achievement 47 - Complete 25 different Score Achievement (+50 ScorePoints)
All members earn double the ScorePoints for all Score Achievements.
ScorePoints have no monetary value and are awarded at the sole discretion of Score Holdings LLC.
Score Levels are as follows:
Level 1 = 0 ScorePoints (Rookie!)
Level 2 = 5 ScorePoints (Initiate). Perk for reaching this level = free snack or drink.
Level 3 = 15 ScorePoints (Minor Threat). Perk = ScoreBall, good for a free tournament or redeemable for ScorePoints.
Level 4 = 40 ScorePoints (Gamer). Perk = $25 ScoreCard + invite to Gamer's Day.
Level 5 = 90 ScorePoints (Hot Shot). Perk = $75 ScoreCard.
Level 6 = 200 ScorePoints (Veteran). Perk = Two free video games (up to retail value of $59.99 each).
Level 7 = 500 ScorePoints (VIP). Perk = Perks of Hot Shot and Veteran levels (again), custom tournament held in your honor, VIP Jersey, invitation to VIP-only events, and pass to one free lock-in a month for an entire year.
For questions on ScorePoints, join The Score of Cool Springs' Facebook group and ask away. You'll earn ScorePoints just by joining our group, which will get you started on your way to VIP!
Our "beta period" begins in late December/early January where we will allow a limited number of folks from the Nashville area to join us for some free tournaments, and then some half-price tournaments, as we get our systems up and running and work out the kinks.
As has been published in our Facebook group and will appear in our ad, here is our initial Score Achievement List, which will earn you ScorePoints toward "leveling up" and earning some valuable perks and benefits such as free tournaments, free video games, and our vaunted "VIP Membership"!
Achievement 1 - Participate in any Arena tournament or event (+1 ScorePoint)
Achievement 2 - Participate in any tournament on Tuesday or Wednesday (+1 ScorePoint)
Achievement 3 - Participate in a Score Station tournament (+2 ScorePoints)
Achievement 4 - Participate in an H-Bar tournament (+2 ScorePoints)
Achievement 5 - Win a tournament (+5 ScorePoints)
Achievement 6 - Participate in two tournaments in one day (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 7 - Win two tournaments in one day (+15 ScorePoints)
Achievement 8 - Participate in 20 tournaments (+20 ScorePoints)
Achievement 9 - Win 10 tournaments (+40 ScorePoints)
Achievement 10 - Beat a Score staff record (online or in-store) (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 11 - Win a round of Madden using the Titans (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 12 - Win a round of NCAA Football using Vanderbilt (+5 ScorePoints)
Achievement 13 - Win a round of any first-person-shooter (e.g. Halo, COD, Gears) without dying once (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 14 - Win a round of any fighting game, where a Score staff member selects your character (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 15 - Win a round of any sports game with 2x your opponent's score (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 16 - Successfully complete a Beat the Clock challenge (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 17 - Win a Lock-In Trivia Contest (during lock-ins only) (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 18 - Defeat a Score staff member (during lock-ins only) (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 19 - Redeem a ScoreBall for ScorePoints (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 20 - Earn all A's on a report card (or equivalent) (+4 ScorePoints)
Achievement 21 - Earn all A's and B's on a report card (or equivalent) (+2 ScorePoints)
Achievement 22 - Serve in a leadership position in a school or civic organization (+5 ScorePoints)
Achievement 23 - Work 15 volunteer hours in last 30 days (+5 ScorePoints)
Achievement 24 - Get into or graduate from any college or university (+5 ScorePoints)
Achievement 25 - Compete in an iTest academic event (www.theitest.com) (+8 ScorePoints)
Achievement 26 - Turn in any ticket stub from any TN sporting event (+1 ScorePoint)
Achievement 27 - Buy any snack and drink together (+1 ScorePoint)
Achievement 28 - Buy a Score t-shirt (+4 ScorePoints)
Achievement 29 - Wear a Score t-shirt while winning any tournament (+2 ScorePoints)
Achievement 30 - Sign up for a monthly membership (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 31 - Sign up for an annual membership (+15 ScorePoints)
Achievement 32 - Attend a lock-in (+2 ScorePoints)
Achievement 33 - Attend two lock-ins in any given month (+5 ScorePoints)
Achievement 34 - Spend $50 of more on software or hardware (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 35 - Unlock an achievement in any video game purchased at The Score of Cool Springs (up to 5 per game; +1 ScorePoint each)
Achievement 36 - Refer a friend for a monthly membership (+3 ScorePoints)
Achievement 37 - Refer a friend for an annual membership (+6 ScorePoints)
Achievement 38 - Have a birthday party or special event at The Score of Cool Springs (+10 ScorePoints)
Achievement 39 - Purchase a Score Remote or corporate event (+15 ScorePoints)
Achievement 40 - Join The Score of Cool Springs' Facebook group (+1 ScorePoint)
Achievement 41 - Get a friend to join The Score's Facebook group (+1 ScorePoint)
Achievement 42 - Create a 1-minute video about The Score on YouTube (+8 ScorePoints)
Achievement 43 - Propose a tournament to The Score of Cool Springs (+1 ScorePoint)
Achievement 44 - Have a proposed tournament be used (+5 ScorePoints)
Achievement 45 - Link to TheScoreOnline.com from your website or blog (+1 ScorePoint)
Achievement 46 - Participate in any Score online tournament or event (+2 ScorePoints)
Achievement 47 - Complete 25 different Score Achievement (+50 ScorePoints)
All members earn double the ScorePoints for all Score Achievements.
ScorePoints have no monetary value and are awarded at the sole discretion of Score Holdings LLC.
Score Levels are as follows:
Level 1 = 0 ScorePoints (Rookie!)
Level 2 = 5 ScorePoints (Initiate). Perk for reaching this level = free snack or drink.
Level 3 = 15 ScorePoints (Minor Threat). Perk = ScoreBall, good for a free tournament or redeemable for ScorePoints.
Level 4 = 40 ScorePoints (Gamer). Perk = $25 ScoreCard + invite to Gamer's Day.
Level 5 = 90 ScorePoints (Hot Shot). Perk = $75 ScoreCard.
Level 6 = 200 ScorePoints (Veteran). Perk = Two free video games (up to retail value of $59.99 each).
Level 7 = 500 ScorePoints (VIP). Perk = Perks of Hot Shot and Veteran levels (again), custom tournament held in your honor, VIP Jersey, invitation to VIP-only events, and pass to one free lock-in a month for an entire year.
For questions on ScorePoints, join The Score of Cool Springs' Facebook group and ask away. You'll earn ScorePoints just by joining our group, which will get you started on your way to VIP!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Mechanical, electrical drawings in to Franklin permitting authorities
The drawings went in yesterday to the city of Franklin for permitting. Once approved, we can construct the inside of the facility and get underway. Exciting stuff!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
The Score of Cool Springs is now on Facebook
The Score of Cool Springs now has a Facebook page!
Search for us on the site and "become a fan" of The Score of Cool Springs in order to receive the occasional email regarding tournament scheduling, special events, and other local news.
Once The Score of Cool Springs opens in November, joining our Facebook page will earn ScorePoints(tm) toward unlocking various discounts, prizes, and even VIP Membership. The more folks we can get on our page, the easier it will be to communicate en masse and make sure no one misses out on some of our bigger tournaments.
So if you're reading this, go join our Facebook page. We need all the fans we can get!
Search for us on the site and "become a fan" of The Score of Cool Springs in order to receive the occasional email regarding tournament scheduling, special events, and other local news.
Once The Score of Cool Springs opens in November, joining our Facebook page will earn ScorePoints(tm) toward unlocking various discounts, prizes, and even VIP Membership. The more folks we can get on our page, the easier it will be to communicate en masse and make sure no one misses out on some of our bigger tournaments.
So if you're reading this, go join our Facebook page. We need all the fans we can get!
Friday, October 10, 2008
TheScoreOnline.com
The Score of Cool Springs' website is now operational:
http://www.thescoreonline.com
Check it out...opening mid to late November.
http://www.thescoreonline.com
Check it out...opening mid to late November.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Moving toward launch.
Design plans are in, continued licensing talks underway, and all those little details like payroll, insurance, finding good help, and getting the website ready to launch on Friday are all moving forward.
The condition of the economy forces a pause and a fresh evaluation of the business model, but the fundamentals remain the same: video games are one of the strongest sectors of the economy, video gamers would rather spend their money competing against other gamers than watching the latest mediocre Hollywood fare, and the Cool Springs area continues to defy the downturn.
So...full speed ahead.
The condition of the economy forces a pause and a fresh evaluation of the business model, but the fundamentals remain the same: video games are one of the strongest sectors of the economy, video gamers would rather spend their money competing against other gamers than watching the latest mediocre Hollywood fare, and the Cool Springs area continues to defy the downturn.
So...full speed ahead.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Newsweek Video Games Article
You Don’t Have to Be a Nerd
Video games now planted firmly in the mainstream
N’Gai Croal
NEWSWEEK
Aug 9, 2008
I still get questions every now and then from people looking for advice on how to get their hands on a Nintendo Wii. But more and more, I'm hearing stories from people who've already scored one and are still rhapsodizing about it months after taking possession of the slim white console. The gushing comes from some of the most unexpected people. The grill man at my favorite New York burger joint told me last week that in his household, he mows down zombies in Resident Evil 4, his wife works out using Wii Fit, and he's introducing his son to the classic games of his youth via the Wii's download service. Similarly, a cardiologist friend of mine and his medical-resident girlfriend use Wii Golf to unwind; when they have friends over on the weekends, the same relaxing game turns into a fierce competition.
As someone who covers videogames for NEWSWEEK, I've marveled at how quickly the tastes of nontraditional players have moved from the margins of the industry toward the center. This is happening at the same time that geek tastes have taken center stage in other areas of pop culture: witness the summer movie schedule, which looks like new-release Wednesdays at your local comic-book shop. Hollywood observers may disagree on when the Triumph of the Nerds began (was it with the release of "Blade" in 1998 or "Spider-Man" in 2002?), but 2008 will certainly be remembered as the apex, with a quintet of comic-book-themed movies—"Iron Man," "The Incredible Hulk," "Wanted," "Hancock" and "The Dark Knight"—at the summit. Yet while the tastes of the geekerati now dominate the box office (for better or worse), they're beginning to lose sway at home, even as the popular consciousness clings to the stereotype that videogames are the sole province of the same basement-dwellers whose predilections have taken over the cineplex.
Yes, the Halo 3s and Call of Duty 4s continue to sell exceedingly well. But it's titles like Wii Play and Guitar Hero III whose appeal to nontraditional gamers have made them the envy of rival videogame publishers. The fact is that when you walk into a Circuit City or a Wal-Mart, the games you're most likely to see these days are ones that will actually hold the interest of a nongeek. That's not by accident: games are increasingly being crafted with you, dear "average" reader, in mind. Several publishers have created separate divisions for these "casual games," as products aimed at the vast middle are known in the business. "Casual games are accessible, quick-to-the-fun games, with minimal time commitment necessary to achieve success," says Kathy Vrabeck, who heads up Electronic Arts' casual-games label.
A similar principle has guided the development of the wildly popular Guitar Hero franchise. Even though it first became a hit with hard-core gamers, its accessibility enabled core players to turn their more casual gamer friends on to Guitar Hero at parties and in office break rooms, says Kai Huang, cofounder of the game's maker, Red Octane. The subsequent success of Rock Band was a more accelerated version of the same phenomenon: "Since each original purchase needed three more bandmates to realize the full experience, a lot of family members, girlfriends and roommates got pulled in," says Greg LoPiccolo, vice president of Rock Band developer Harmonix.
As you might expect, there's a lot of grumbling right now from diehard players who feel marginalized by this trend. But the word from someone who straddles both worlds—"X-Men" screenwriter David Hayter, who's also the voice of game icon Solid Snake—is "relax." "These games will open up new audiences and new sources of revenue, which, ironically enough, will provide the funding for more-expensive, better-realized games for the geek crowd," he says. Your humble geek columnist approves.
Video games now planted firmly in the mainstream
N’Gai Croal
NEWSWEEK
Aug 9, 2008
I still get questions every now and then from people looking for advice on how to get their hands on a Nintendo Wii. But more and more, I'm hearing stories from people who've already scored one and are still rhapsodizing about it months after taking possession of the slim white console. The gushing comes from some of the most unexpected people. The grill man at my favorite New York burger joint told me last week that in his household, he mows down zombies in Resident Evil 4, his wife works out using Wii Fit, and he's introducing his son to the classic games of his youth via the Wii's download service. Similarly, a cardiologist friend of mine and his medical-resident girlfriend use Wii Golf to unwind; when they have friends over on the weekends, the same relaxing game turns into a fierce competition.
As someone who covers videogames for NEWSWEEK, I've marveled at how quickly the tastes of nontraditional players have moved from the margins of the industry toward the center. This is happening at the same time that geek tastes have taken center stage in other areas of pop culture: witness the summer movie schedule, which looks like new-release Wednesdays at your local comic-book shop. Hollywood observers may disagree on when the Triumph of the Nerds began (was it with the release of "Blade" in 1998 or "Spider-Man" in 2002?), but 2008 will certainly be remembered as the apex, with a quintet of comic-book-themed movies—"Iron Man," "The Incredible Hulk," "Wanted," "Hancock" and "The Dark Knight"—at the summit. Yet while the tastes of the geekerati now dominate the box office (for better or worse), they're beginning to lose sway at home, even as the popular consciousness clings to the stereotype that videogames are the sole province of the same basement-dwellers whose predilections have taken over the cineplex.
Yes, the Halo 3s and Call of Duty 4s continue to sell exceedingly well. But it's titles like Wii Play and Guitar Hero III whose appeal to nontraditional gamers have made them the envy of rival videogame publishers. The fact is that when you walk into a Circuit City or a Wal-Mart, the games you're most likely to see these days are ones that will actually hold the interest of a nongeek. That's not by accident: games are increasingly being crafted with you, dear "average" reader, in mind. Several publishers have created separate divisions for these "casual games," as products aimed at the vast middle are known in the business. "Casual games are accessible, quick-to-the-fun games, with minimal time commitment necessary to achieve success," says Kathy Vrabeck, who heads up Electronic Arts' casual-games label.
A similar principle has guided the development of the wildly popular Guitar Hero franchise. Even though it first became a hit with hard-core gamers, its accessibility enabled core players to turn their more casual gamer friends on to Guitar Hero at parties and in office break rooms, says Kai Huang, cofounder of the game's maker, Red Octane. The subsequent success of Rock Band was a more accelerated version of the same phenomenon: "Since each original purchase needed three more bandmates to realize the full experience, a lot of family members, girlfriends and roommates got pulled in," says Greg LoPiccolo, vice president of Rock Band developer Harmonix.
As you might expect, there's a lot of grumbling right now from diehard players who feel marginalized by this trend. But the word from someone who straddles both worlds—"X-Men" screenwriter David Hayter, who's also the voice of game icon Solid Snake—is "relax." "These games will open up new audiences and new sources of revenue, which, ironically enough, will provide the funding for more-expensive, better-realized games for the geek crowd," he says. Your humble geek columnist approves.
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Score of Cool Springs - Focus Group Thursday 6:00 PM at Mallory Station Chick-Fil-A
The Score of Cool Springs will be hosting a video-game focus group this Thursday, August 14, at the Chick-Fil-A on Mallory Station Road.
We invite both "casual" and "hardcore" video game fans to come, fill out a survey, and get a free dinner as well as a coupon for a free ticket to a tournament at The Score, good for the rest of the 2008 calendar year. You will also be able to find out about The Score, a new video-gaming establishment in Cool Springs that's opening up this fall.
The survey will ask questions pertaining to the types of tournaments The Score may feature, the types of pricing and promotions we may use, and the types of events The Score will look to have. Filling out the survey shouldn't take any longer than one hour, and can probably be finished in half that time.
If interested in attending, please email bradleymetrock@theitest.com with your name to let us know you're coming. We will accept the first 25 attendees who register.
We invite both "casual" and "hardcore" video game fans to come, fill out a survey, and get a free dinner as well as a coupon for a free ticket to a tournament at The Score, good for the rest of the 2008 calendar year. You will also be able to find out about The Score, a new video-gaming establishment in Cool Springs that's opening up this fall.
The survey will ask questions pertaining to the types of tournaments The Score may feature, the types of pricing and promotions we may use, and the types of events The Score will look to have. Filling out the survey shouldn't take any longer than one hour, and can probably be finished in half that time.
If interested in attending, please email bradleymetrock@theitest.com with your name to let us know you're coming. We will accept the first 25 attendees who register.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Geometry Wars 2 and the state of downloadable games
Geomtery Wars 2, released this week on Xbox 360's "Xbox Live" online network, is the best downloadable game of the year, and perhaps EVER on any current-generation console. Definitely going to get added to The Score's tournament event schedule.
It's amazing the quality of the downloadable titles on all three consoles (PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii). The Wii's downloadable games (called WiiWare) are, in particular, of a very high quality as a group. Xbox 360's downloadable stuff is hit and miss, but when it hits, they really hit with some great software. PS3 is really getting up and running, although some would probably arguing they're just dying a slow death...
Quality downloadable titles (as opposed to games purchased at retail) is really good for The Score because it allows us to achieve a large degree of diversity in our event selection. We should be able to easily fill up our smaller tournaments (4-8 people each), given the proper marketing channels, using some of these downloadable games as the source content for our events.
It's amazing the quality of the downloadable titles on all three consoles (PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii). The Wii's downloadable games (called WiiWare) are, in particular, of a very high quality as a group. Xbox 360's downloadable stuff is hit and miss, but when it hits, they really hit with some great software. PS3 is really getting up and running, although some would probably arguing they're just dying a slow death...
Quality downloadable titles (as opposed to games purchased at retail) is really good for The Score because it allows us to achieve a large degree of diversity in our event selection. We should be able to easily fill up our smaller tournaments (4-8 people each), given the proper marketing channels, using some of these downloadable games as the source content for our events.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Wii being used in places that already have no shortage of entertainment.
A Wii bit of fun (and fitness) for travelers
Hotels and cruise ships plug in and get video active
By Rob Lovitt (MSNBC)
Tues., July. 29, 2008
At first glance, the fitness center at The Westin Bellevue, outside Seattle, looks much like any other exercise facility at an upscale urban hotel. There are the neat stacks of free weights, the windows overlooking the adjacent pool and the row of exercise machines offering airy views of the surrounding city skyline.
But then you notice the person doing the strange pantomime in the corner. He’s all by himself, but he’s bobbing and weaving and throwing punches like he’s going 12 rounds with Oscar de la Hoya. It isn’t until you look closer and see that he’s holding a pair of remotes and duking it out with an animated opponent on a high-def screen.
Welcome to the new world of exercise (and entertainment) for travelers. Already a fixture in countless family rooms and college dorms, it seems the Wii is hitting the road.
Wii would like to travel
The Wii (pronounced “we”), of course, is the interactive gaming system from Nintendo that lets users compete in video sports and activities by manipulating a wireless, motion-sensing remote. Designed primarily for personal use, it’s been turning up in hotels and other away-from-home venues since early last year.
This spring, though, Nintendo launched a new console better suited for commercial settings. Like the original, it comes a with a handheld remote and a Nunchuk, the secondary remote that’s used in activities that require two hands, such as boxing. But instead of using individual disks, the console is preloaded with a variety of games that can be accessed via an onscreen menu.
The standard unit comes with Wii Sports (baseball, bowling, boxing, golf and tennis), Wii Play (table tennis, billiards and others) and Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree (mental games and puzzles). Individual properties can manage what games are offered and add new ones as they become available.
This summer, travelers are also getting the chance to work out with the new Wii Fit, which lets users engage in yoga, aerobics and a variety of balancing activities by standing on a wireless Balance Board. “People don’t always have the time or gear to work out or go for a jog,” says Amber McCollom, senior director of entertainment and trend marketing at Nintendo. “With the Wii Fit, they don’t need anything except bare feet.”
Wii would like to play where we stay
At Westin, the Wii and Wii Fit are the latest additions to the WestinWORKOUT, the company’s branded fitness and wellness program. Starting with two hotels — The Westin Bellevue and The Westin Times Square — the system is now offered at 10 properties, including hotels in Hilton Head (S.C.), Hollywood (Fla.), Houston, Kansas City (Mo.), Savannah (Ga.), San Francisco, St. Louis and Toronto.
While the typical Westin guest probably doesn’t play a lot of Myst or Dungeons & Dragons, many are finding the Wii’s sports offerings fit their busy, health-conscious lifestyles, says Matt Van Der Peet, general manager of The Westin Bellevue: “We have a lot of repeat customers who are always on the road. [The Wii] is a lot more fun than getting on the treadmill.”
Furthermore, says Ryan Anderson, Westin’s New York-based senior marketing manager, the Wii is expanding the demographics of gaming from its traditional base among the under-30 crowd. “It’s becoming a multi-generational activity, like golf,” he says. “We’re seeing guests as old as 74 using the Wii.”
Wii would like to cruise
Cruisers are also swinging for the fences and getting in touch with their inner yogi. Norwegian and Princess have had the Wii on board since last year and both are rolling out the Wii Fit across their fleets this summer.
On Norwegian, the units are located in each ship’s atrium and serve as a venue for passenger tournaments and other activities. According to Public Relations Manager Courtney Recht, older passengers enjoy the bowling game — “They can play for hours on end before actually feeling tired,” she says — while the kids are busy boxing and playing Guitar Hero.
On Princess ships, guests are also encouraged to participate in a variety of competitions, including ski jumping, heading soccer balls and Hula Hoop-ing with the Wii Fit. On ships that offer the Movies Under the Stars program, games are often played on the larger-than-life (300-square-foot) movie screens on the pool deck.
Whether they’re used for fun or fitness, the consoles will no doubt turn up in more places, giving travelers even more opportunities to say they, too, would like to play. At Le Parker Meridien in New York, for example, guests can rent a unit for $50 per hour or sign up for private sessions with a Wii and a personal trainer for $120 per hour.
Westin, meanwhile, will continue to offer the Wii free of charge, which, it seems, is not without its own risks. “We had a guest last weekend who wouldn’t give the remote back,” says Matt Van Der Peet. “She said, ‘We’re not using it right now, but we’re going to again later.”
Hotels and cruise ships plug in and get video active
By Rob Lovitt (MSNBC)
Tues., July. 29, 2008
At first glance, the fitness center at The Westin Bellevue, outside Seattle, looks much like any other exercise facility at an upscale urban hotel. There are the neat stacks of free weights, the windows overlooking the adjacent pool and the row of exercise machines offering airy views of the surrounding city skyline.
But then you notice the person doing the strange pantomime in the corner. He’s all by himself, but he’s bobbing and weaving and throwing punches like he’s going 12 rounds with Oscar de la Hoya. It isn’t until you look closer and see that he’s holding a pair of remotes and duking it out with an animated opponent on a high-def screen.
Welcome to the new world of exercise (and entertainment) for travelers. Already a fixture in countless family rooms and college dorms, it seems the Wii is hitting the road.
Wii would like to travel
The Wii (pronounced “we”), of course, is the interactive gaming system from Nintendo that lets users compete in video sports and activities by manipulating a wireless, motion-sensing remote. Designed primarily for personal use, it’s been turning up in hotels and other away-from-home venues since early last year.
This spring, though, Nintendo launched a new console better suited for commercial settings. Like the original, it comes a with a handheld remote and a Nunchuk, the secondary remote that’s used in activities that require two hands, such as boxing. But instead of using individual disks, the console is preloaded with a variety of games that can be accessed via an onscreen menu.
The standard unit comes with Wii Sports (baseball, bowling, boxing, golf and tennis), Wii Play (table tennis, billiards and others) and Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree (mental games and puzzles). Individual properties can manage what games are offered and add new ones as they become available.
This summer, travelers are also getting the chance to work out with the new Wii Fit, which lets users engage in yoga, aerobics and a variety of balancing activities by standing on a wireless Balance Board. “People don’t always have the time or gear to work out or go for a jog,” says Amber McCollom, senior director of entertainment and trend marketing at Nintendo. “With the Wii Fit, they don’t need anything except bare feet.”
Wii would like to play where we stay
At Westin, the Wii and Wii Fit are the latest additions to the WestinWORKOUT, the company’s branded fitness and wellness program. Starting with two hotels — The Westin Bellevue and The Westin Times Square — the system is now offered at 10 properties, including hotels in Hilton Head (S.C.), Hollywood (Fla.), Houston, Kansas City (Mo.), Savannah (Ga.), San Francisco, St. Louis and Toronto.
While the typical Westin guest probably doesn’t play a lot of Myst or Dungeons & Dragons, many are finding the Wii’s sports offerings fit their busy, health-conscious lifestyles, says Matt Van Der Peet, general manager of The Westin Bellevue: “We have a lot of repeat customers who are always on the road. [The Wii] is a lot more fun than getting on the treadmill.”
Furthermore, says Ryan Anderson, Westin’s New York-based senior marketing manager, the Wii is expanding the demographics of gaming from its traditional base among the under-30 crowd. “It’s becoming a multi-generational activity, like golf,” he says. “We’re seeing guests as old as 74 using the Wii.”
Wii would like to cruise
Cruisers are also swinging for the fences and getting in touch with their inner yogi. Norwegian and Princess have had the Wii on board since last year and both are rolling out the Wii Fit across their fleets this summer.
On Norwegian, the units are located in each ship’s atrium and serve as a venue for passenger tournaments and other activities. According to Public Relations Manager Courtney Recht, older passengers enjoy the bowling game — “They can play for hours on end before actually feeling tired,” she says — while the kids are busy boxing and playing Guitar Hero.
On Princess ships, guests are also encouraged to participate in a variety of competitions, including ski jumping, heading soccer balls and Hula Hoop-ing with the Wii Fit. On ships that offer the Movies Under the Stars program, games are often played on the larger-than-life (300-square-foot) movie screens on the pool deck.
Whether they’re used for fun or fitness, the consoles will no doubt turn up in more places, giving travelers even more opportunities to say they, too, would like to play. At Le Parker Meridien in New York, for example, guests can rent a unit for $50 per hour or sign up for private sessions with a Wii and a personal trainer for $120 per hour.
Westin, meanwhile, will continue to offer the Wii free of charge, which, it seems, is not without its own risks. “We had a guest last weekend who wouldn’t give the remote back,” says Matt Van Der Peet. “She said, ‘We’re not using it right now, but we’re going to again later.”
Monday, July 28, 2008
Corporate Events - the other side of the business
With over 1,000 corporate headquarters based in Cool Springs, including the mammoth Nissan, Healthways, and Verizon corporate offices opening up here, there is tremendous potential for unique, engaging corporate events to be held at The Score.
The approach I am taking is that corporate events need to stand alone as its own business, separate and apart from the regular business of The Score (tournaments, leagues, and other programming). If corporate events stand on their own, and financially supports itself, The Score will be in great shape.
The Wii will be front-and-center in both corporate teambuilding and business vs. business events that will be held on site. Senior executives, as well as younger, newly-minted employees, need to feel equally comfortable participating in our corporate events, which creates a perfect situation for the easy-to-use Wii.
Titles incorporated into our events will certainly include Wii Sports, Mario Kart Wii, a Mii design contest, and even the upcoming Wii Music title.
At the end of a corporate teambuilding event at The Score, young and old employees alike should feel more comfortable working together toward a common goal, and more comfortable using technology to accomplish that goal. And at the end of our business vs. business competitions, employees will share common experiences that will help strengthen team chemistry and help build morale, as well as help companies in the area network with other companies doing business in Cool Springs.
The approach I am taking is that corporate events need to stand alone as its own business, separate and apart from the regular business of The Score (tournaments, leagues, and other programming). If corporate events stand on their own, and financially supports itself, The Score will be in great shape.
The Wii will be front-and-center in both corporate teambuilding and business vs. business events that will be held on site. Senior executives, as well as younger, newly-minted employees, need to feel equally comfortable participating in our corporate events, which creates a perfect situation for the easy-to-use Wii.
Titles incorporated into our events will certainly include Wii Sports, Mario Kart Wii, a Mii design contest, and even the upcoming Wii Music title.
At the end of a corporate teambuilding event at The Score, young and old employees alike should feel more comfortable working together toward a common goal, and more comfortable using technology to accomplish that goal. And at the end of our business vs. business competitions, employees will share common experiences that will help strengthen team chemistry and help build morale, as well as help companies in the area network with other companies doing business in Cool Springs.
Logos and other graphic design work
Graphic design work was front and center today, as I worked with a good friend to get the first round of logos evaluated and to see if we've got a keeper. I think we are actually very close to having a final logo even just after today. Some great ideas thrown around and some very good choices.
We also worked on a first draft of a layout mock-up as well. Next week I will hand over several pieces of marketing material that need to be completed, which will be huge once I get those back and get ready to head to the printer with them.
Tomorrow will be another major step toward negotiation of a lease here in Cool Springs, as I meet with the commercial real estate agent to keep things moving on that front. Wish me luck!
We also worked on a first draft of a layout mock-up as well. Next week I will hand over several pieces of marketing material that need to be completed, which will be huge once I get those back and get ready to head to the printer with them.
Tomorrow will be another major step toward negotiation of a lease here in Cool Springs, as I meet with the commercial real estate agent to keep things moving on that front. Wish me luck!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
The Score - Cool Springs now has a blog!
The Score - Cool Springs, the first retail location created under The Score Holdings LLC, now has a blog...and you've found it!
This blog will chronicle the events leading up to the opening of The Score - Cool Springs.
What is The Score?
An entertainment-based retail concept focused on video game tournaments, leagues, and other programming built around current-generation video game consoles.
Um, OK, so this is just an arcade?
Sort of. But not really. Think a movie theater for games. Tournaments held at set times, with a fixed number of available slots. Food and drink available, as well as merchandise and purchasing the actual video games (new) also.
What is The Arena?
The Arena is the physical center of each location of The Score, where video game competition is taken to the next level. Game Stations surround the outside of The Arena, but The Arena is the focal point of each location, suited best for 4 on 4 competition in a variety of current games.
I'm not a big gamer. Will I like this place?
We sure hope so, for the sake of the business. The Score isn't just a place for hardcore gamers to come and pwn some n00bs. The Score will have a number of tournaments and other programming centered around the Nintendo Wii - a Wii Sports bowling tournament, for example, will be held on several occasions - that will invite video games fans of all different levels of experience to join in. The Score also makes a point to give away prizes randomly among all participants in our tournaments, so it isn't just the "winners" that walk away with something cool.
Video games are, like, something you play at home. Who's going to come to this place?
From a parental perspective, online gaming has a variety of negatives to it, including the abundance of racism, sexism, and generally inappropriate conduct. Not to mention the inability to protect children from online predators.
From a gamer's perspective, while online gaming can be fun, there's nothing like winning a tournament in person. Getting to meet other gamers, face to face, who like the same games as you, is gratifying. The social aspects of video gaming have largely been underdeveloped, and as a result, most people think multiplayer video games can only be enjoyed online. We hope to prove that idea wrong.
Cool Springs is absolutely booming, with massive corporate HQ relocations seemingly occurring every day, and with residential home prices on the rise while the rest of the nation suffers dramatically.
Thanks for reminding us. If this business fails in Cool Springs, it is obviously not viable anywhere. The demographics in this community are profoundly ideal.
In addition, we look forward to implementing the complementary business piece of "business vs. business" video game competition and leagues. Get ready for some really unique, out-of-the-box (as much as I have come to hate that phrase) stuff.
You don't know how to run a business. What in the world are you thinking?
As they say, professionals built the Titanic, and amateurs built the Ark.
This blog will chronicle the events leading up to the opening of The Score - Cool Springs.
What is The Score?
An entertainment-based retail concept focused on video game tournaments, leagues, and other programming built around current-generation video game consoles.
Um, OK, so this is just an arcade?
Sort of. But not really. Think a movie theater for games. Tournaments held at set times, with a fixed number of available slots. Food and drink available, as well as merchandise and purchasing the actual video games (new) also.
What is The Arena?
The Arena is the physical center of each location of The Score, where video game competition is taken to the next level. Game Stations surround the outside of The Arena, but The Arena is the focal point of each location, suited best for 4 on 4 competition in a variety of current games.
I'm not a big gamer. Will I like this place?
We sure hope so, for the sake of the business. The Score isn't just a place for hardcore gamers to come and pwn some n00bs. The Score will have a number of tournaments and other programming centered around the Nintendo Wii - a Wii Sports bowling tournament, for example, will be held on several occasions - that will invite video games fans of all different levels of experience to join in. The Score also makes a point to give away prizes randomly among all participants in our tournaments, so it isn't just the "winners" that walk away with something cool.
Video games are, like, something you play at home. Who's going to come to this place?
From a parental perspective, online gaming has a variety of negatives to it, including the abundance of racism, sexism, and generally inappropriate conduct. Not to mention the inability to protect children from online predators.
From a gamer's perspective, while online gaming can be fun, there's nothing like winning a tournament in person. Getting to meet other gamers, face to face, who like the same games as you, is gratifying. The social aspects of video gaming have largely been underdeveloped, and as a result, most people think multiplayer video games can only be enjoyed online. We hope to prove that idea wrong.
Cool Springs is absolutely booming, with massive corporate HQ relocations seemingly occurring every day, and with residential home prices on the rise while the rest of the nation suffers dramatically.
Thanks for reminding us. If this business fails in Cool Springs, it is obviously not viable anywhere. The demographics in this community are profoundly ideal.
In addition, we look forward to implementing the complementary business piece of "business vs. business" video game competition and leagues. Get ready for some really unique, out-of-the-box (as much as I have come to hate that phrase) stuff.
You don't know how to run a business. What in the world are you thinking?
As they say, professionals built the Titanic, and amateurs built the Ark.
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