The Guild DVD Seasons 1 & 2

Just a reminder to go get your The Guild: Seasons 1 & 2 DVD now! It’s released today for only $14.99 in retail stores!

What is the Guild? It’s a show is about a group of online gamers who meet in real life, and all the funny adventures they have together. The new DVD set is beautifully packaged and comes with a ton of great extras that I’m sure you’ll enjoy.

I got mine, now go get yours too! I had the pleasure of interviewing Felicia Day about The Guild. Be sure to look for it in the next iProng Magazine issue (Tuesday, Oct. 6th).

Also, be sure to watch Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight for Felicia Day’s guest appearance! And yes Jimmy, Felicia Day is quite awesome. :)

Related Links

• The Guild: Seasons 1 & 2 DVD
• Watch The Guild.com
• Felicia Day.com
• Felicia Day on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
• Purchase The Guild in retail stores & content
• Felicia Day Interview in iProng Magazine (Preview)
• Do You Want to Date My Avatar Music Video

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Did You Know 4.0

This is another official update to the original “Shift Happens” video. I really enjoyed it because it’s filled with all sorts of statistics from the new media generation and technology shift.

This is another official update to the original “Shift Happens” video. This completely new Fall 2009 version includes facts and stats focusing on the changing media landscape, including convergence and technology, and was developed in partnership with The Economist. For more information, or to join the conversation, please visit http://mediaconvergence.economist.com and http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com.

Content by XPLANE, The Economist, Karl Fisch, Scott McLeod and Laura Bestler. Design and development by XPLANE, http://www.xplane.com. You can follow us on Twitter at @xplane

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MMS on the iPhone!

AT&T in the US finally made MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) on the iPhone today. Yes, finally. Now you don’t have to use my MMS on iPhone workaround anymore. However, if you don’t have an unlimited sms and mms data plan, you may still want to use the workaround to save you money. Otherwise, just use the more simpler way.

So how do you get it on your phone? Here are the steps:

1. Plug you iPhone 3G/3GS into iTunes
2. Select you iPhone and click on “Check for Update”
3. It will ask you to download a new carrier file. Select Download and install.
4. Now restart your phone.

To test it out..

1. Click on the “Photos” app.
2. Select a photo
3. In the lower left corner, click on the arrow
4. You should now have a new choice — MMS
5. Click on MMS and the photo will be inserted into a new MMS
6. Click on the + button and select a contact to send it to.
7. Click on “Send”

And that’s it! Congrats, you just sent your first MMS on your iPhone. Welcome to 2002. :)

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Chad Vader at Blogworld!

I was already planning to attend Blog World Expo in Las Vegas this year. But seeing Chad Vader there is just another reason to go. ;)

I love this video, starring social media stars Guy Kawasaki, Chris Brogan, and Cali Lewis. Here are some speakers at Blog World Expo.

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iPhone App Review: Ramp Champ

Name: Ramp Champ (iTunes Link)
Written By: Icon Factory and DS MediaLabs
Category: Games
Price: $1.99 (Plus 2 Optional Add-Ons – $0.99 each)

Size: 16.7 MB
Requirements: iPhone / iPod Touch
Version: 1.0.1
Rate: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Remember the classic boardwalk games like skee-ball and knock ‘em over? Now you can have them right in the palm of your hands! Ramp Champ is a new iPhone / iPod Touch game that adds an interesting twist to these classics.

You can journey deep into the ocean, battle space aliens, play with dolphins and unicorns, fight ninjas, and so much more in this exciting new game. Ramp Champ comes with four built-in skee-ball-like ramps. For each ramp, you are given 9 balls to roll. The object of the game is to knock down various objects (clowns, aliens, ninjas, etc.). Each object is worth a certain number of points. Aim for a high score and rack up points for tickets. Test your finger-rolling skills and redeem your tickets for virtual trinkets.

To keep the game interesting, each ramp also has 3 different set of goals that you can accomplish. For each goal you complete, you will get a trophy. When you reach the first goal, you’ll get a bronze trophy for that ramp. When you reach the second goal, you’ll get upgraded to a silver trophy for that ramp, and then a gold tropy for reaching the third goal. You’ll find yourself coming back for more to complete all the goals (which may seem very impossible at times!)

As mentioned, Ramp Champ comes with four themed ramps — Clown Town, Breakwater Bay, Space Swarm, The Icon Garden. Clown Town is like the classic “Knock ‘em Down” carnival game where you throw balls at clowns, cans, and ducks. Breakwater Bay brings you close to the ocean floor where you can see seahorses, clams, and sharks. Space Swarm has the feel of Space Invaders, and The Icon Garden has the feel of your favorite old school Mac icons.

Ramp Champ also has the option of purchasing add-ons within the game for 99 cents. Currently, there are two add-ons available. The Adventure Pack comes with the Ninja Attack & Tiki Island ramps and the Challenge Pack comes with Happy Place (dolphins and unicorns) & Molar Madness ramps. Each of these ramps also add their own virtual trinkets as well as trophies. Purchasing them is also quite easy. Simply click on “Add-ons” at the bottom of the screen, select your add-on pack, and confirm your purchase by clicking on “Buy.”

After collecting your tickets, click on “Redeem” at the bottom and pick an item that you like. Note, you will have one page with 9 trinkets for each ramp you have. Select an item by tapping on it and then tap “Redeem.” This will add your new item to your loot! To view all of your goodies, click on “Loot” and you will see shelves with all of your virtual trinkets. Tap on “Trophies” on the top right and you’ll see the shelves with all of your trophies.

IconFactory (the makers of Twitterific) and DSMediaLabs did an amazing job with Ramp Champ. The selection of music puts you in the mood to get some cotton candy and head down to the county fair. And as you change ramps, the music just takes you into the specific scene. The attention to details is quite remarkable as well. The scuffs on some of the ramps were just brilliant, as well as the animation of the tickets rolling out.

Ramp Champ is a highly enjoyable game that’s fun, challenging, yet easy to learn. The user interface is simply beautiful. It will surely put a smile on your face every time you play it. iPhone OS 3.0 is required to play Ramp Champ, and you may purchase it in the iTunes App store for $1.99.

This article was originally posted in iProng Magazine. Many thanks to Hollywood Mac Guru for introducing me to this game!

Game Screenshots

Game Preview from Touch Arcade

Below are Ramp Champ Video game previews by Touch Arcade. You can see how addictive the game can be!

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Twestival Local LA

What is Twestival?
A Twestival or Twitter-Festival is a global series of events organized by volunteers around the world under short timescales, which bring people offline for a great cause. Twestival is run 100% by volunteers and independently from any not-for-profit; although the organizing teams do work closely to outline an achievable and measurable fundraising target. Twestival also sets out to identify key skills of volunteers and match these with the needs of the cause; particularly communications strategy, tech integration and social media training. Twestival Local takes place in cities around the world during September 10-15, 2009.

Twestival LA
Last February, Twestival LA raised close to $20,000 for charity:water in just one night and two weeks of planning! It was a night of music, comedy, fun, and meeting new friends, while raising money to help bring clean water to those who need it.

Twestival Local LA – Sunday, 9/13 at 6pm at Level 3 at Hollywood & Highland

Now we’re back, raising money and supporting two of our local organizations — CHRYSALIS and the LA Food Bank. And I’d like to invite you to our charity event!

What: Twestival Local LA

Where: Level 3 at Hollywood & Highland – 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA (Map)

When: Sunday, Sept. 13th, 2009, 6:00pm – 12am

Cost: $20, $50, $100 donations

Website: LA Twestival.com

Of course, our event will have to be LA-style! Fox LA’s Good Day LA reporter, Suzanne Marques, will be hosting Twestival LA event! There will also be live musical performances by Dr. Hollywood, The Truth, and Terrakroma as well as comedy show by Ben Gleib, Ben Morrison, Tom Womack, and Josh Wade! And if you enjoy video games, check out the GirlGamer Lounge. And don’t miss out on the amazing raffle prizes and silent auction! Some of the amazing things that will be raffled/auctioned off are Poken, original artwork by Natasha Wescoat, Fatburger, Wildcard T-Shirts, Singelringen, Gift Bags from MegsMakeup, Vonster Books, Yoga Gals, Piknic, and many more surprises! Be sure to check back at LATwestival.com for up-to-date details!

Our Causes:

• CHRYSALIS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping economically disadvantaged and homeless individuals become self-sufficient through employment opportunities. It currently helps more than 2,000 individuals a year change their lives through jobs.

• LA Regional Foodbank’s mission is to mobilize resources to fight hunger in our LA Community. Each dollar received by the food bank can actually provide four complete meals to those in need.

What is Twestival Local?

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iPhone App Review: Ancient Frog

Name: Ancient Frog (iTunes Link)
Written By: Ancient Workshop
Category: Games
Price: $4.99 / Lite Version available for Free

Size: 5.8 MB
Requirements: iPhone / iPod Touch
Version: 1.0
Rate: 4 out of 5 Stars

Ancient Frog is one of the few hidden gems the iTunes App store has to offer. It’s unique, elegantly designed, and leaves you with this amazing Zen-feeling while playing.

What is it exactly? It’s an original puzzle game that makes you feel like you’re sitting in the middle of a rainforest. The object of the game is to help guide your frog from one part of the screen to the other to eat a delicious little fly. You control the frog by moving its legs, one at a time. The frog must stand in a natural way, so having it cross-legged wouldn’t work. To complete the level, all four legs must be in the target position in front of the fly. The first level is a basic tutorial that will teach you everything you need to know about the game.

On the top right corner of each level is a daisy. Tapping on this will display the game’s options. Options include hints on the next move, skipping the level if you get stuck, or restart the level. The number in the daisy is the par number, which represents the least amount of moves it takes for the frog to reach its goal.

The soothing sounds and peaceful landscapes make this the ideal game to help you relax. There’s no ticking clock to rush you through the level and you don’t have to worry about any lives being lost. The realistic graphics takes you out of your own environment and makes you one with nature.

The game features 100 unique levels, 6 species of frogs, hours of replay value, a ton of beautiful environments and lighting, and soothing sounds of nature. This is a must-have game for a puzzle-lover. Ancient frog is compatible with the iPhone and iPod Touch and is currently in the iTunes App store for $4.99. A lite version is also available which features a few levels from each type of complexity, is also available for free.

This article was originally published and featured in iProng Magazine.

Related Links

• Ancient Frog Lite Version (FREE) / iTunes Link

Ancient Frog Game Trailer

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