SXSW – Day 2
Today, I wanted to take a different approach to SXSW. Yesterday I was fortunate to see some really great panels with cutting-edge information. However, today I wanted to go do something that we did at Comic-Con, walk around. When you walk around these events and conferences you get to participate in some of the coolest corporate promotions out there. All kinds of free swag and unique opportunities to meet big-name personalities, some of them are movie stars and others are CEOs. Most of the time a TV network or corporation takes over a building or restaurant and pulls out all the stops to get you in there and talking, I’m sorry tweeting about their brand. Today I wanted to walk around and hop in some random lines to experience this, SXSW style.
ScreenBurn at SXSWi is a large arcade and expo hall with up-and-coming games. Some are major releases that you can demo right there and others are independent titles that are self-published. I spoke and interviewed two developers today. The first one was Pete Fenlon of Mayfair Games, the only board game manufacture out here and I also met the whole team behind “Worlds of Discardia” of Stygian Games, they are launching an upcoming role-playing computer game. It is a mix of a computer and card game, get the title now? “Discardia” discard, oh how Magic. I plan on incorporating these interviews into my radio show, so you’ll have to listen to get the full details. I am going back at the ScreenBurn tomorrow as Rocklive is bringing in Mike Tyson to be in the ScreenBurn hall.
The When Facebook Falls: Future-Proofing Your Social Media Efforts #facebookfalls panel was packed, I was very lucky to walk in and get in the front row. Once again the folks sitting on stage discussing the business of social media were all under 40 and probably all millionaires. These are the people that grabbed Ted Williams before he fizzled out and designed social media campaigns for brands such as Skittles and Burger King, most likely we have all seen or even interacted with some of their marketing programs. It was great to hear the stories behind some of the most innovative marketing promotions in recent times.
Check out GoPayment if you want to use credit cards on the go, they offer free rides downtown, all you have to do it tweet something and you get a code for a free bike taxi service. When this whole thing is over the company will still be around. They are an arm of Intuit, you know the people that make Quickbooks. This little device plugs into any smartphone, not just the apple one and it runs your credit card and emails your customer a receipt. Pretty cool.
I love just walking into something not know what I am getting ready to see. That is what happened when I saw “The Innkeepers” tonight. Just randomly walking down the street and walk into a screening. Normally I don’t care for scary movies, but I try to keep an open mind at these events. Well, it scared me, and not just me, it scared the audience as well. It was also very funny. I like the dry humor. The sound design was very good, that is what helped make it so creepy and the makeup in a horror film must be quality and this one was on par. I got chills several times during this film, so that means they did a good job.
Daylight savings has went into effect now, so I need to get some sleep, good night.