Boy’s Club Backlash

by Racheal Caswell

In the face of an increasing number of social-oriented games, I find myself preferring an insular experience and – unfortunately – increasingly shying away from playing certain games altogether. Something that used to be enjoyable now looms as a potentially stressful and threatening part of the culture because, despite the fact that women over the age of 25 are now the largest group of gamers in the U.S., we’re still subjected to an alarming amount of harassment and sexism by our male counterparts.

Sexism in the videogame industry is by no means a new topic. It’s been the subject of numerous articles, blog posts and even websites devoted to posting the lewd, mean and even downright disturbing messages female gamers are subject to get when playing online. This week, the conversation has flared up again, fueled by an incident on “Cross Assault,” a Capcom-sponsored reality show in which teams of Street Fighter X Tekken players compete for prizes.

Online Entertainment Insider - Feb. 24, 2012

by Wonacott Communications

CD Projekt Red, publisher of the Witcher series, is an anomaly in the games industry when it comes to its stance on digital rights management, or DRM. After announcing that they sold 1.5 million copies last year, they put out the statistic that there are approximately 4.5 million pirated copies. And they don’t care. They take the opinion that counter-piracy measures wind up only hurting loyal gamers; so instead, they work on improving the quality. A pretty novel suggestion, don’t you think? 

Think You Don’t Have Time for Content Curation? Hint: It’s Simpler Than You Think

by Chan Lim

I first heard about content curation at the 21st Annual Kenneth Owler Smith Symposium in April 2011. The keynote speaker, Steve Rubel, said that in today's world of excessive information, content curation is very important for brands as people do not have time to read through every bit of information available.

New Year + New Look + New Address = Awesome

by Jason Wonacott

When Wonacott Communications opened its doors back in 2007, I had one goal: To provide our interactive entertainment and digital media clients with the benchmark results of a major public relations agency while being affordable, adaptable and approachable – and while offering an up-to-the-minute perspective on the constantly evolving communications mediums. Now, as we head further into 2012, we are on the cusp of our five-year anniversary.

Online Entertainment Insider - Feb. 17, 2012

by Wonacott Communications

Red Sox fans, and I know you’re out there, we have a lot to be upset about as famous knuckleballer Tim Wakefield is on the verge of retiring. But there could be life after baseball for him – he could join up with retired Red Sox pitcher Curt Shilling’s game company, 38 Studios and help promote its new release – Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. Maybe Tim can be a marketing coordinator or something.

To Tweet or Not to Tweet? Social Media and the New Reality of Breaking News

by Sarah Arvizo

Image: www.WhitneyHouston.com

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Deadly Nurse Valentine from Autumn Games’ Skullgirls

by Kia Gilstrap

Online Entertainment Insider - Feb. 10, 2012

by Wonacott Communications

Everyone remembers the classic Milton-Bradley board game, Battleship, right? Did you know Hollywood decided to turn it into your movie? Yes? Well, Activision just announced this week it was turning the movie about the board game into a first person shooter. Really? I’ll repeat that. REALLY?!

Super Bowl Advertising; the Times They Are a Changing

by Alex Van Lepp

Last Sunday, more than 111 million people tuned in to watch the Super Bowl. But just a few days later, neither I nor most of the people I’ve spoken to remember much about it -- or the ads that companies spent millions of dollars to air during the broadcast. (Though I’m sure if my Chargers were playing, it would be a different story.) So I have to wonder: Is it worth it for companies like Bud Light to spend $1.2 billion to be official sponsors of the NFL or air a commercial during the Super Bowl?

How Games Publishers Can Capitalize on iPhone Versions

by Alex Van Lepp

Or 
“How Capcom Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Mobile Games”

The title of this entry is taken from Capcom’s DS and iOS game, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective. It is a creative puzzle game that leads players on an “interactive mystery” to catch their murderer, allowing them to manipulate inanimate objects to find clues and change the fate of other people involved in the killing. GTPD, with its unique gameplay and storytelling techniques, was released for the DS in January 2011 to critical accolades and uninspired sales.

Wait, uninspired sales? 

What Aspiring PR Pros Can Learn from “Downton Abbey”

by Alex Van Lepp

As has been documented on this very blog, I am obsessed with quite fond of the British TV phenomenon, “Downton Abbey.” This beloved series provides me an escape, a glimpse back at the Edwardian Era and major costume envy, but it also provides some good lessons for fellow lovers of period drama looking to carve out a career in PR. Here’s the scoop (WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD): 

Online Entertainment Insider - Feb. 3, 2012

by Wonacott Communications

Happy post-Groundhog day, everyone! I hope that if you were stuck in a 10,000 year loop yesterday, that everything turned out for the best and you haven’t been permanently scarred by a Sonny and Cher tune.
 

Crisis PR Do’s and Don’ts, Brought to You by Komen and Planned Parenthood

by Racheal Caswell

Politics aside, as a PR professional I’m floored by the way Susan G. Komen for the Cure decided to handle communications regarding its decision to pull funding from Planned Parenthood.  Instead of coming out of the gate with strong messaging about how its main priority is supporting women, the organization stayed silent. Instead of participating in thoughtful, well-crafted conversations with the outpouring of women posting on its social media pages, they again stayed silent. And in the meantime, they completely lost control of the messaging.