Thought for the day - it might be a bit of an obvious point, but YouTube seems to have drastically atrophied all of our already-short attention spans.

You know it. When you're watching something online, and you automatically look at how long the video takes, before you decide if its worth waiting to load.

This has interesting relevancies for the kind of content we are willing to consume, where and when. Would something like The Gamekillers, which was a bit of a pioneering piece of longer format content, best suited to release as mobile episodes? Online? Giveaway DVD with spray? How long works best in what space?

Case in point, the story of the man with no limbs, see below. Nick has no arms, no legs, yet can swim, operate a DVD, and even make an omelette (although he is a bit sloppy with the shell. Sheesh, lift your game Nick).

Now, this is an incredible story, an incredible person, and an incredible video. Yet, I found myself skipping through it because of its length (7 mins).

No doubt you looked at the length of this post to see if you could be bothered reading it. : -)

Also, in a bit of a nod to their new Google ownership perhaps, YouTube modded their logo for Halloween:

Posted by pete at 07:42 PM | Link to this Article | 1 Comments
Archived in: Viral

In a move that only benefits advertisers Youtube have launched in Australian version. And to mark thsi special occasion they produced this video with almost every stereotype known. Sadly no "shrimp on the barbie" and "crikeys" to be found.

What this means for Australian advertiers is access to the featured video and the ability to do competitions, or as Youtube calls them "Community" channels, which was previously USA only.

Posted by Ashley Ringrose at 10:50 PM | Link to this Article | 1 Comments
Archived in:

Despite/because of the controversy around it, this show, which finishes up next week, has been a big success in Australia.

Its interesting because its the first time I've consumed a show entirely through its digital format. Well, first time *ahem off the record* anyway. The show is made available for download for a week after airing.

This is a smart move for the ABC, with nothing to lose from advertising revenue with the move. Channel Ten has promoted its "immediate download" offerings as well recently in their LIVE STREAMED FROM THE US tagline. However, apparently 'immediately' to them means around 4 days after.

The microsite for Summer Heights High works well, with standard but solid fare like character wallpapers, and a 'tag wall' for Islander character Jonah.

Check the form field below:

I'd be willing to bet that almost all messages sent via Jonah's tag wall were probably racist, contemptuous and defamatory.

Posted by pete at 05:28 PM | Link to this Article | 6 Comments
Archived in: Campaigns

I mentioned the Mini Strike event that was held last weekend. I'm happy to say that it seemed to go down without a hitch. Basically you registered for a ride. You were then given a racing card which showed the order of the pins you needed to drive around. You then rode shotgun as a professional stunt driver went around the course of 7ft. inflatable bowling pins at breakneck speed. When it ended you got your photo taken and your race time.

I attended on Saturday and there was a constant stream of people. Reports from the previous day was that it was packed. My ride was #284 and they did a total of 500+ around the giant bowling course. Participant's can log onto the site now and download a photo of yourself.

The event was organized by Play Communications a "brand experience agency" out of Surry Hills. Who have created many of these "experience based" brand events in the past.

I made a quick video which shows one trip around the course. I'm sad that I didn't actually film on my 27 second trip inside the car but alas.

It certainly was a lot more fun that looking at a Mini on a rotating pedestal at the Sydney Motor Show which is on right now and I spent the next few days lusting after a Copper S of my own but realized I need to get my license renewed before even thinking about a car.

Posted by Ashley Ringrose at 09:46 PM | Link to this Article | Comments
Archived in: Interesting Promotions

Forget Halo 3 the next wave of gaming is coming from Independent gaming companies. No mutli-million dollar budgets just original ideas.

Check out this years finalists in the 2008 Independent Games Festival. Considering the success of BK Games it seems casual gaming is (or always was) a force to be reckoned with.

There is nothing stopping a brand sponsoring these "Independent games" and becoming the next Desktop Tower Defence.

Many of these developers are experimenting with XBLA games and WiiWare games, which means you won't need large budgets to produce games for these consoles. And with around 10 million of each console out there that's a huge market.

Independent games are like Indie movies. Except there is more potential for it to explode and become a gaming institution. Like "Desktop Tower Defense" has become or "Bejeweled" before it.

Posted by Ashley Ringrose at 12:52 AM | Link to this Article | 1 Comments
Archived in: Interesting Articles

I'm not sure which one is creepier. In the top we have what the "near blind" man would have seen. In the bottom it's as if he's looking at me. The article can be found here.

Can advertisers ask to not be served on pages containing articles of questionable content. Who wants to have their ad next to this article or others like it?

Posted by Ashley Ringrose at 11:34 PM | Link to this Article | 1 Comments
Archived in: Media Gaffes

hahaha! You can't handle a bigger logo!

Posted by Ashley Ringrose at 11:31 PM | Link to this Article | 1 Comments
Archived in: Viral

I'm excited about this weekend's events with two branded events taking place in Sydney and both in my neighborhood. No more will Bondi have all the fun.

Mini Strike combines two of my loves, Ten Pin and Mini Coopers. It's self proclaimed as "The World's First Car Bowling Experience".

Luckily I'll be driven around by experienced drivers in their MINI's and have a video and photo of my experience captured for me. The event is on this Saturday 13th and 14th October. More info here.

Mambo's Finders Keepers is a easter hunt around Sydney for original Mambo artworks and PSP's.

Mambo even put together a video to promote the event.

With just 188 views I'm hoping the turn out will be low on the weekend so grabbing the artwork won't involve arm wrestling some emo kids.

More info on Mambo's ugly Myspace page.

And if you're a little younger and in the Paramatta on the 12th you can help Kzone break a world record (these seems to just be fodder for brands now) for the most people playing a DS in the one spot. The record is just 250 which seems pretty low so the record could go down.

More info here.

Posted by Ashley Ringrose at 09:51 PM | Link to this Article | Comments
Archived in: Interesting Promotions

This is some viral genius from Toyota. Anyone familar with the various WoW gamer videos that occassionally do the rounds (i.e Leeroy Jenkins) knows how spot on this is for the target audience.

Posted by Ashadi at 09:43 AM | Link to this Article | Comments
Archived in: Viral

Philips Bodygroom, that microsite/product that was probably only a close shave away from bagging the cyber grand prix a year or two ago, was actually worked on by Pete, the guy who puts together the always cynical Douchebag series of comics:

Perusing the douchebag site also led me to come across a nice behind the scenes prequel to the Bodygroom stuff - The Story of Sack:

Posted by pete at 11:47 AM | Link to this Article | 1 Comments
Archived in: Viral

If you haven't seen this yet, check it out. Perfect for that strike of inspiration or jarring you out of a visual rut at least.

FFFound - Image bookmarking.

Some examples I ffffound are bbbelow:

Posted by pete at 02:02 PM | Link to this Article | 1 Comments
Archived in: Technology

Summer is almost here and the battle for what deodorant guys will use is heating up. Here's what I've seen the leading brands doing lately. If I've missed anything please let me know in the comments.

World's Dirtiest Film

Axe has partnered with College Humor to put the call out for dirty directors to create The Word's Dirtiest Film.. They've enlisted David Spade to be the face of the competition which seems a good fit as does College Humor.

Bom Chicka Wah Wah Island

Lynx in Australia held a stunt on Bondi where 30 women landed om the beach and were met by the Nerds FC.
The girls are now all tagged with GPS wrist bands which you can track on the site and you can see coverage of the event on the site. It's a little fiddling navigating though, so be aware.

Lynx Showers

Lynx have also started Lynx Showers which doesn't have the same humor as Man Wash but anything with women in bikini's playing twister is good with me.

TAG Testees

I'm not sure guys want to be referred to as testicles but Tags new Tag Testees site doesn't hold back on the innuendo. Interesting choice of female talent. They seemed to have gone with a more realistic representation of females.

World's Biggest Bikini Shoot

Sadly they all get trumped by Cosmo who recently held the world's biggest bikini shoot at Bondi Beach. Now not exactly competing with the deodorant brands this was sent me to me by more friends than any of the other promotions combined. With 1010 women in bikini's they beat the previous world record of 300 by a long shot. It also got them coverage the world over.

See photos here on SI or video here on Reuters.

Posted by Ashley Ringrose at 12:46 PM | Link to this Article | 1 Comments
Archived in: Interesting Promotions