The pressure is on. It's past my bedtime, I have had too much sugar and this sleep over is about to go to complete hell if I lose! I grip the knob, (Stop it) and wait my friends serve. There it goes...
In a burst of technological awesomeness, a tiny white dot travels slowly across our 800 pound living room TV set. The only thing between the sweet victory over my buddy and horrendous defeat is this 1 inch white dash that I control with a plastic controller. This was Pong, from Atari, and it changed me forever.
Today, gaming has become far more advanced, realistic, and complicated, but it all reverts back to our inner childlike qualities that ignites that competitive part of us that we just can't get rid of.
Now we are up against the end of 2018 and gaming is abut to leap ahead 10 more levels with the innovations of Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality and Geo Location. Look at the phenomenon of Pokemon Go from just two summers ago. That fad took the nostalgic qualities of Pokemon cards from the 90's and thrusted them back into mainstream culture with a REAL TIME gaming concept in which the user would travel the world, or their neighborhood, looking for hidden treasures and gems that would complete or round out their collections. Businesses of today can take that same technology and work it in to how they do their marketing. Gaming incentives are not just cool to get kids to do things for you, but they are consumer habits that were developed when we were 10 and remain a part of us when we are 30. No one thinks that collecting rewards at CVS or the Grocery Store is like "Gaming" but thats just because they didn't spin it like that.
Here Boston is a media platform that is looking to do the same thing it has always done; provide great content, with great images and a great story to go along with it. Except, the idea is for us to package this old time tested and approved concept, and toss it out there with a lot more creativity and innovation so that it appeals to the next generation of buyers and consumers. Not to mention, it is FUN! What if you earned GOLD coins for over location you visited that was featured in a tv show or on a video you watched? Imagine getting 100 points because you pulled into a store, that was pointed out to you by an intelligent notification saying this is only .5 miles away currently, and upon arrival you can use those points to purchase something right on the spot!
HERE Boston will be that place where you can earn your way into experiences, opportunities and commerce, just by doing the things you want to do anyway! Then the business, who participates in this concept, can get more significant return on far less of an investment.
The numbers on gaming, live streams of games, gaming culture and the games themselves are off the wall insane! Even the staunchest anti couch potato cross fit nut job can't help but look at the opportunity that exists in this Chinese Bamboo Tree industry.
Lots of companies are spending a great deal of time trying to study all of the ways you can reach the new 18-34 year old millennials to sell them their insurance policies or cars. However, they don't have to look any further than their kids car pool line at school for the next big marketing idea!
My advice is that we all try and remember what we liked when we were kids and why we did everything for free! If you want to be an influencer in the new digital world, then you need to avoid weighing yourself down with the technology so that you can see that little white dot in PONG coming right at your face!
You think this is all fun and games??? You're right!
The convergence of video games, virtual reality and video content, can only mean one thing; BADASS FUN!
Chuck Nilosek
Founder Here Boston
www.hereboston.net
www.chucknilosek.com
Founder Here Boston
www.hereboston.net
www.chucknilosek.com
chuck@hereboston.net
Gamers
Video Games
Pokemon
Artificial Intelligence
Augmented Reality
Virtual Reality