The Ohio Third Frontier represents an unprecedented and bipartisan commitment to expand Ohio’s technological strengths and promote commercialization that leads to economic prosperity throughout Ohio. Designed to build world-class research programs, nurture early-stage companies, and foster technology development that makes existing industries more productive, Ohio Third Frontier creates opportunity through innovation.
Issue 1 is a statewide ballot measure that would authorize renewal and continuation of the highly successful Ohio Third Frontier economic development and jobs program. VOTE on May 4.
Location-aware social networks allow you to tell your friends where you are so you can meet up, have a drink, and hang out simply by “checking in” on your smart phone and many apps are increasingly incorporating competitive elements to keep users interested.
One of the newer apps for the iPhone, MyTown, is clever mashup of Monopoly and mobile that pushes Foursquare’s mayorship idea into full-on ownership. The result is an addictive GPS game, reminiscent of Mafia Wars or Farmville on Facebook, that has quickly amassed more users than Foursquare or Gowalla.
How Does It Work?
Like other location-based apps, MyTown draws from the yellow pages listings of known businesses in cities all over the world. So, after you’ve installed the MyTown app to your iPhone (iTunes link), you can check-in wherever you are, shout out to your friends, and start earning in-game cash and “power-ups” at each location. After you’ve earned enough cash, you can then buy your favorite locations, collect rent, and upgrade your properties to increase their value (and rent).
What are power-ups? They range from things like food items like apples, sushi, or shrimp cocktails, which increase your cash or point-bonus on the next check-in, to scratch off lottery tickets which can really boost your bonus. After you achieve a certain number of points, you level-up and unlock more locations to buy.
How Do They Monetize It?
Like Foursquare or Yelp, MyTown lets you unlock real-world discounts and offers at the places you check-in. For example, checking-in at your favorite sandwich shop might result in a 10% discount when you show your MyTown app to the register.
But MyTown’s strategy for achieving profits goes much further than just mobile couponing.
Remember those power-ups I mentioned earlier? MyTown sells them as advertising space to companies like clothing retailer, H&M, or the frozen yogurt chain Red Mango. So you might earn a power-up in the form of a sweater or a scratch-off lottery ticket that is branded with H&M.
And finally, there’s also an in-game store where you can buy special abilities, content packs, and unique items using real money via in-app purchase (you can also buy power-ups using in-game currency).
What Else?
Like many other location-based mobile apps, MyTown has a real issue with GPS accuracy. As a result, gaming the system is way too easy. Checking in at places across town and rapid-fire check-ins (where you check-in at multiple places in a row) are a snap so you can breeze through the game in no time.
After a week of testing the app, I quickly maxed out at Level 40 and was no longer earning points (my app said “MAX POINTS”). I could only buy and upgrade properties at this point, and since property upgrades max out at 11, I quickly lost interest in the game.
The Bottom Line
MyTown is a clever take on a location-based social networking app, but because it is not wholly dependent on your location nor your network of friends, at the end of the day, it’s just a game.
“SOS ART 2010”, a group art show and event of sociopolitical expressions for peace and justice, in its 8th consecutive year, will take place at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, May 28 – June 6, 2010.
Greater Cincinnati Artists of all expressions (visual, verbal, musical, cinematographic, etc.) are invited to participate.
All submissions will be considered and all works will be included provided they adhere to the theme of the show, are inclusive, and space permits.
Please spread the word, participate, and make your voice heard.
SOS ART 2010
WHERE: The Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1212 Jackson St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
To bid adieu to February, we here at the Creative Department said “go big or go home!” For final Friday, we spritzed it, frizzed it, bumped it, curled it, sprayed it*, wigged it, you name it.
*No matches were lit in the making of this holiday.
Here are some of the hairspray-tastic highlights:
Laura was made for this sport.
Jacqui had dimension.
John celebrated Big “Hare” Friday. (Oh, copywriter, you and your puns.)
Adam rocked a hybrid Bob Dylan – Jonas Brother inspired coif.
Check out the full gallery of updos, fros and curls by clicking the thumbs below.
drewcloseAuthor: drewName: Drew McKenzie Email: drew@creativedepartment.com Site:http://www.creativedepartment.com About: Drew joined The Creative Department in 2006 - where he serves as a Brand Leader for clients such as Proctor & Gamble and LexisNexis. Prior to his work at Creative Department, Drew learned the interactive ropes as an Account Manager at a software development company in Cincinnati serving global non-profits and Fortune 500 clients. In his spare time Drew enjoys politics, travel and golf.See Authors Posts (7) | March 5th, 2010 | | PrintThis
People outside of Cincinnati (recent Vanity Fair article and response) might see us as behind the times or maybe we are too humble for our own good. Either way there are a lot of great, innovative people and companies in our region.
You might have recently heard about Secret Cincinnati – which started as a Facebook Group a few weeks ago that gained close to 20,000 members in 72 hours.
This weekend a team of 20 selected from over 100 applicants will converge here at The Creative Department and launch a new company that will bring Secret Cincinnati to life as a sustainable model for localized user generated content.
The sprint starts today at 6pm, with a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck, Monday should bring a functional beta version of the site. Cincinnati is full of secrets. Shhhh.
Click one of the links below to become a faithful minion of the Cult of Smileyface.
About
The Creative Department is a rebel band of brand strategists, designers, copywriters, and web whiz kids who team up to breathe life into brands. Squeak of the Week is where the good, clean, fun begins.
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Location-aware social networks allow you to tell your friends where you are so you can meet up, have a drink, and hang out simply by “checking in” on your smart phone and many apps are increasingly incorporating competitive elements to keep users interested.
