Design-side development of 'Malice Box'

Pretty interesting behind-the-scenes stories in Digit magazine about the development of the cover art and online game development for "The Malice Box."

An excerpt:

From a design and technology perspective, Poke says the project was complex and is probably the most advanced use of the Google Maps API in a gaming context to date. We decided to avoid using Flash for the project as we knew that we wanted to use the Google Maps API to enable us to do some smart global things,” explains Tait.

“Trying to get Flash and Google Maps to play together felt like one challenge too many, so we stuck with HTML and Javascript. The backend is PHP and MySQL.”

Creatively, the most challenging part of the project revolved around the relationship between the book and the online quest, says Tait. The team wanted to create something that got people hooked into the characters and the essence of the book, but without giving away the book’s plot.

Digit also has pictures of two book covers not used, (including the one pictured at right.) Was the first time Martin and I had seen them.

Labels: malice box, tech

- posted by Amy @ 2/21/2007 09:35:00 AM

 
Reunion.com gets even creepier

So I'm still geting spam from Reunion.com eventhough I tried to get off their list several years ago. This morning I'm clearing out old email and find e-mail from Reunion.com, but supposedly sent by someone I went to junior high with - in Virginia. Uh-huh.

So I clicked through to be certain it was false, and find that if you want to find out more about me, you now get sent to PeopleFinders.com where my info is for sale. For $9.95, $19.95 or $39.95 you can get my "age, possible current address, up to 20 year address history, phone numbers, bankruptcies, tax liens & judgments, property ownership, possible relatives, possible roommates, aliases / maiden names, neighbors, marriages and divorces, dea registrants, and website ownership."

For an extra $20, check to see if I have a national criminal record!

Labels: privacy, tech

- posted by Amy @ 2/18/2007 10:51:00 AM

 
A free upgrade?

Unsure if this would work, but it sounds like it's worth giving a shot. ...

A commenter at GeekAbout says you're likely to get a free upgrade on your economy rental car as long as you request the GPS option. "That combination rarely exists - I have never NOT gotten a bump to luxury - Land Rovers etc.," he wrote.

(Link originally found via World Hum.)

Labels: tech, travel

- posted by Amy @ 1/26/2007 12:29:00 PM

 
Coming soon: sending video to 911

I couple years ago while talking to my father-in-law (who worked as a paramedic in England,) he mentioned how useful it would be for them to see the accident scene while still enroute. And we noted that with camera cell phones, that could happen one day.

Apparently that day's approaching. From today's Newsday:

"If you see a crime in progress or a dangerous building condition, you'll be able to transmit images to 911 or online to nyc.gov," Bloomberg said in his State of the City address.

Bloomberg, who introduced the city to the 311 information hotline during his tenure, called the project "a revolutionary innovation. "

Actually, the state of Indiana has already begun a plan to revamp its 911 networks and allow citizens to transmit images wirelessly to emergency responders.

Still, New York City would be in the vanguard of the 911 technology wave when it implements upgrades over the next several years.

Labels: tech

- posted by Amy @ 1/18/2007 08:39:00 AM

 
Juli B stopped the spam

Juli B stopped the spam

Earlier this year I blogged about how hard it was to unsubscribe from the Juli B mailing list. The web publisher wouldn't take me off their list or reply to my repeated e-mails.

In fairness to Juli B, the e-mails eventually stopped arriving. Haven't received spam from them since May.

Looks like Juli B herself responded to my initial post yesterday, though not terribly politely. Here's what's posted in the comments on the original post, presumably from Juli B.

amy,

please be sure to email me your e-mail address and i will be sure to unsubscribe you personally.

clearly i have caused such emotional turmoil for you, and will quickly nip it in the bud so that you may focus your anger on other equally as important things.

have a great day.

best,

juli b.

Labels: tech

- posted by Amy @ 9/30/2005 05:17:00 PM