New Town, Same Look and Feel - Sim City

Sim City has returned with a new mix of addictive gameplay. Like its predecessors this edition is a sandbox style game focused on the dynamics of city building. The game thrusts you into a simulation where you can craft a city in your own image. While easy to get started the game gets more challenging as you progress.

Pros
Mega Projects Are Outside of Your Domain
As mayor you no longer have complete control of mega projects such as freeways and railroads. These elements are built into maps. Not all mega projects are out of your reach however. Big ticket items such as international airports, large power plants, and mega buildings can be completed in the Great Works portion of the region’s map. These colossal projects can be undertaken by a single mayor but the amount of resources required makes it much more beneficial to collaborate with others in the region.

Your Buildings Level Up
Many of the core civic and economic buildings in the game are no longer stagnant and can be upgraded. A majority of them feature snap on modules such as an additional bus stall for schools or a new wing for your hospital. Other upgrades become available after completing a specific goal. City Hall for example levels up based on your population.

Discover Your Specialty
Specialization is one of the most intriguing new features of the game. Mayors now have the choice to make use of natural resources inside city limits. Resources include coal, oil, and ore; availability highly dependent on your location however. This dynamic forces mayors to carefully evaluate maps before laying down streets. After all you may not want to pave over a valuable oil well. Would you?

Cons
Always On
To create a dynamic Sim world Maxis now requires players to remain online to play the game. While this feature creates interesting dynamics such as a global market for goods and the ability to play with your friends, it also presents some challenges. One major issue with this approach is the game is unusable offline. It’s also heavily reliant on the Maxis’ servers which were not fully operational during launch and continue to show reliability issues.

Hop on the Bus
Maxis decided to remove the subway from the game. While always an expensive option for city’s in the past, it was one of the most effective ways to move your Sims around. Options have been severely cut back. Buses now serve as your city’s primary means of public transportation. The most advanced option available is the streetcar which is not as fast as the subway and more difficult to place in  the city.

You Can’t Grow Without City Hall
Government takes a more active role this time around with a handful of the game’s advanced buildings being tied to the level of city hall. From schools to stadiums, you won’t be able to build some of the larger items right off the bat. Luckily Maxis has built a workaround for this dilemma. For example, if another mayor in your region already added a specific wing such as utilities to their city hall your city will gain access to advance utility features as well.

Verdict
Overall the game is a solid addition to the series. It’s new challenges and tools create  a fresh experience for seasoned mayors and newbies alike. Find me on the U.S. West Coast Server. Mayor name: SeaTrain.

Happy building fellow mayors!

Living the West Seattle Dream

It seems like only yesterday but this month marks a year since I moved to West Seattle. While it’s not long enough to claim full-fledged West Seattleite status, it has afforded me an in-depth look at why so many Seattleites choose to call this portion of the city home.

Below is a list of a few of my favorite spots in West Seattle.

C&P Coffee
C&P is a great place to get a taste of what West Seattle has to offer. The shop is home to dog lovers, entrepreneurs, and corporate types. This eclectic mix creates an interesting environment for people watching.  C&P is super laptop friendly and is open to four legged friends.

Website: http://www.candpcoffee.com/

Metropolitan Market – Admiral
Slightly more expensive than most grocery stores in the area, Metropolitan Market is a temple for those who love good food.  Produce and products change with the seasons, offering up new options throughout the year. Metropolitan Market also has a killer deli. Check out its Pork Loin sandwich. You won’t be disappointed!

Website: http://metropolitan-market.com/locations/

Alki Beach
Similar in feel to a beach town, Alki is a perfect escape from the hustle of Seattle’s urban core.  With stunning views of the Olympic Mountains and Elliott Bay it’s easy to quickly forget your location and shift into vacation mode. Alki is fairly easy to access from fall to early spring but becomes packed during the summer time. While walking the street be sure to check out the monument dedicated to the Denny Party and the founding of Seattle.

Website: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=445

Admiral Theater
Admiral Theater is a historic two screen movie palace with a navy theme. It shows a mixture of contemporary, artsy, and cult films. In addition to its normal showings the theater also shows Rocky Horror on the first Saturday of each month and hosts films from SIFF and the Lesbian and Gay Film Festivals.

Website: http://www.farawayentertainment.com/admiral.html

The Junction
While there is no official center to West Seattle, the Junction serves as a vibrant anchor to this portion of the city. With shops running up and down California Avenue for a number of blocks, it’s easy to fulfill most of your everyday needs here. The area also features a number of grocery stores nearby including QFC, Trader Joe’s, and Safeway.

Website: http://wsjunction.org/

Schmitz Park
This 53 acre park has remained virtually untouched for years and features some of the city’s only remaining old growth forest. A collection of dirt trails run through the park offering up great options for hiking and biking. Schmitz Park’s lush tree canopy also creates a natural escape from the heat during the summer and is significantly cooler than other parts of the city.

Website: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?id=465

Marination Ma Kai
Relatively new to West Seattle, Marination Ma Kai is a welcome addition. Similar to its Capitol Hill outpost, Ma Kai brings the delicious taste of Marination’s food truck to a traditional restaurant setting.  Many of the menu options are the same but it also features beach side themed dishes including fish tacos and fish and chips. Its location offers patrons a striking view of the Downtown Seattle skyline.

Website: http://marinationmobile.com/ma-kai

West Seattle Water Taxi
The Water Taxi is a cheap scenic trip which quickly transports you from Downtown Seattle’s busy waterfront to the calm shores of West Seattle. Once you arrive you'll be able to take a free shuttle bus to many of West Seattle’s main attractions including the Junction and Alki beach.

Website: http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/WaterTaxi.aspx

Prost!
Leave your passport at home beer lovers. This pub features a number of German beers and dishes. Serious beer drinkers can participate in the establishment’s loyalty program and have their name engraved on a custom mug they can use during visits. Prost has sister pubs throughout Seattle including Feierabend in the Cascade neighborhood.

Website: http://www.prostwestseattle.com/

Luna Park Cafe
This classic diner gets its name from Seattle’s original Luna Park – a West Seattle theme park. Luna Park Cafe features burgers, shakes, and other Americana favorites. The restaurant has many pieces of the old Luna Park on display. Stickers from Luna Park Cafe can also be found throughout West Seattle on cars and buildings. 

Website: http://www.lunaparkcafe.com/

Status Update - 3.24.13

Last week flew by thanks to a mix of time spent helping Citizen University with digital media support, attempting to build a "perfect" city on Sim City, and working on Jumpstart. I always fail at staying idle for extended periods of time. My gears are turning again. Short post this week about what I’m up to. Completed...

Social media support for Citizen University
HTML and CSS Level 2 class at SVC
My first independent new business pitch Started...
Creating to-do lists with Evernote focused on big tasks for the day
Using Foursquare to search for new experiences in the real world
Managing my calendar with Sunrise
Storing documents in the cloud using Dropbox
Exploring the world of digital payment with LevelUp and Square Wallet
Attempting to build the “perfect” city on Sim City
Learning more about content strategy
Discovering recipes via Pinterest
Reengaging with Google+

[Photo courtesy of Flickr user Schnitzel]

Searching For Better Content

 

In a quest to expand my knowledge about content creation I attended Better Content Marketing - a Meetup hosted by Distilled Seattle. While I have a basic understanding of best practices for content creation, the event explored some of the deeper issues surrounding the process. This month focused on the growing importance of data-driven content. Using my notes I compiled an outline highlighting the night’s key takeaways below.

Understanding Content
Crap content is everywhere on the web. Whether it’s "10 ways to…” or best lists, information such as this holds little value and is rampant across the web. Brands serious about enhancing their online presence and reputation should focus on creating content that speaks to expertise. While there are a variety of avenues to reach this point, one effective way is to focus on data-driven content.

Facts Are Worth More Than Opinions
Data-driven content is fueled by information, making it harder to challenge and copy. That being said, it's labor intensive to collect information and piece together a compelling story using data. Examples of data-driven content include:

Infographs –  Seattle to San Francisco via Private Jet
Data Heavy Blog Posts – Mapping the San Franciscome
Interactive Graphics – How Search Works  
Data Heavy Sites – Charity: Water
Mini Graphs – Kindle Fire (see comparison chart near the bottom)

Building a System to Collect and Create Data-driven Content
The initial challenge of setting up framework to gather data may seem daunting but it has benefits. Once setup and executed it’s easy to share results across various platforms. Competitors also won't be able to replicate your content easily due to the steep entry cost and particular data you have access to.

For content creators with more of a technical background or friends well versed in computer languages, APIs also serve as a fantastic way to further your expertise through data. The overall goal of this endeavor is to take unused information and make it accessible. Foursquare offers a good example. Originally focused primarily on gathering location information from its users, the popular location service now exports its data to third-party applications including Path and Instagram. The location app has done a great job of making location data accessible to developers.

Paint a Story with Data
With this approach in mind brands can examine what type of data they have access to and piece together a compelling story. If unsure about a concept it’s best to crowd source potential topics via social media or take data from an established audience  - i.e. sports or politics, and repurpose it in a new way. Approaching content creation from this perspective allows brands to showcase expertise and create a strong point of view supported by data.

Kudos to the Organizers and Presenters
Thanks to Distilled Seattle for organizing and Adria Saracion  and KaneJamison for sharing their expertise during the event.

Kane's Presentation

Data Makes Your Content Harder, Better, Faster, and Stronger from Kane Jamison

[Photo courtesy of kidsturncentral]