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Were in the final stretch of the 2024 presidential election and both sides are pulling out all the stops to get those all-important undecided voters. The Harris/Walz campaign is exploring an unconventional option: a map in Epic Games mega online multiplayer hit Fortnite. The Freedom Town, USA map available at 7331-5536-6547 is a little different from the usual Fortnite matches. Forbes senior contributor Paul Tassi played the new map and reported that there arent any guns in Freedom Town (probably for obvious reasons). Instead, the game focuses on racing with cars and parkour style. The map also has some campaign signs and decorations for Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walzs presidential run. Video games have become a cornerstone of the Harris/Walz campaign. Harris camp has its own Twitch page thats been broadcasting games like World of Warcraft and the latest Madden title as a way to spark discussions with the voting public. The Fortnite map, however, doesnt look like its doing a great job of getting the message out to players. As of this storys publishing, the map only has less than 300 active players. Political ads and recruitment in video games isnt just limited to this campaign cycle. Then-candidate Barack Obamas 2008 campaign introduced the concept to politics when they purchased ads in 18 games including Need for Speed: Carbon and Madden NFL 13 on Microsofts Xbox Live service and the mobile version of Tetris, according to NPR.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-harriswalz-campaign-has-its-own-fortnite-map-220450255.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
A new collaboration between automated vision testing company Eyebot and online eyewear retailer Zenni will see the rollout of self-serve testing kiosks designed to provide prescriptions in just 90 seconds. Eyebot's S1 kiosk offers a streamlined alternative to traditional eye exams. First, it scans a person's eyes using infrared light. Then it guides the user through a visual acuity chart, providing additional data for a prescription. People can also place their current pair of glasses in the unit's lensometer, which scans lenses in 3 seconds. The entire process is self-serve and touch-free, and offered free of charge.If a new prescription is needed, the collected data is sent to a tele-doctor in Eyebot's network, who reviews the test session and issues a prescription, which costs USD 20. The Rx is sent to the user via email or transmitted directly to a retailer's ordering system in this case, to Zenni, which sells glasses starting at USD 12.99. Zenni waives the prescription fee for customers spending USD 49 or more on eyewear. The first two co-branded kiosks are now operational in Boston-area malls, with a further eight to roll out in New England over the coming months.Eyebot aims to tackle a pressing healthcare issue: 30 million Americans currently live with uncorrected vision problems, with access particularly limited in lower-income communities. One-quarter of US counties lack an eye doctor, making routine vision care challenging for many. By reducing barriers around cost, time and location, automated testing made viable through partnerships with retailers like Zenni is a scalable solution that could help reshape how underserved communities access basic vision care. Beyond prescriptions, Eyebot's goal is to expand into diagnosing eye disorders and diseases.
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Marketing and Advertising
The town of Springfield will host a National Football League game in December at Atoms Stadium, but neither the Springfield Atoms nor the Shelbyville Sharks will take the field. Instead, the Bengals-Cowboys game on December 9 will be transformed into the world of TVs longest running sitcom The Simpsons for a special Funday Football edition of Monday Night Football. The special Simpsons-ized broadcast will air on the ESPN+ and Disney+ streaming services and the NFL+ mobile app. The game will broadcast in its regular form on ESPN, ESPN+, ABC, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. The game will implement tracking technology to turn the players on the field and ESPN commentators Mina Kimes, Dan Orlovsky and Drew Carter into Simpsons characters. Kimes, Orlovsky and Carter will wear Meta Quest Pro headsets to see their virtual environments. The quarterbacks will be transformed into Bart for the Cincinnati Bengals and Homer for the Dallas Cowboys using Sonys Beyond Sports AI data analyzer and Hawk-Eye Innovations sports tracking and broadcast technology, according to a Disney press release. The game will also feature more characters and pre-animated scenes from the shows original cast including Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner and Yeardley Smith along with some surprise sports cameos. Characters like Lisa, Krusty the Clown, Carl, Lenny, Moe and Milhouse will be on the sidelines rooting for their respective teams. The announcement doesnt mention Harry Shearer, so dont expect Mr. Burns or Smithers to be at the game. This isnt the first time that ESPN has turned a regular season NFL game into an animated spectacle. Last year, Disney, ESPN and the NFL teamed up to turn an October game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonville Jaguars into a Toy Story themed game that transformed Londons Wembley Stadium into Andys room. The kids cable network Nickelodeon has also aired a few NFL games for its NFL Slimetime broadcasts featuring live commentary from animated characters like SpongeBob voiced by Tom Kenny and Patrick Star voiced by Bill Fagerbakke and computerized slime spewing in the end zones after touchdowns.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/the-simpsons-will-join-monday-night-football-on-espn-and-disney-202238589.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
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