Episode 32 – The New Year

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The Michael’s kick off the new year with a few technical difficulties and some self quantification. Since many people start the new year with resolutions to lose a bit of weight, or get more healthy, etc. we decide that there are some really cool ways to game your health using new digital devices and gaming mechanics. Michael M tells us all about the cool experiences with the Jawbone Up, while Michael R gets excited about how well Downcast App works with the Apple TV he got for Christmas.
We then jump over to an interesting discussion on how Production Support can benefit from the simplicity of communication that you see in games like Super Mario Brothers. And we end the show with a bit of reminiscence of Leeroy Jenkins famous WoW raid! So sit back, fire up Your Gaming Rig, and get ready to play – Games At Work!

This Week’s Links:

Jawbone Up and Companion App
The Human Face of Big Data Book and Companion App
Apple TV and Downcast App
MacBreak Television Episode
Leeroy Jenkins

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:10 — 30.5MB) | Embed

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Episode 31 – Gaming our Audience

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Michael R and Phaedra B finally disprove the rumor that they are the same person by co-hosting a show together for the first time in a long time unfortunately Michael M. was unable to join us.

We look at sites and games that are helping students learn more and teachers engage their students more. Sites like Brain Nock and Brain Pop aim to help pull students and teachers into competitions with other schools and classes.

Thinking about the holidays makes us decide to brush up on our wine skills, with a few apps, including Blush and Bottlenotes, before we decide that no one should actually drink Rhubarb wine. We then get into discussing a bit of our latest games.. and can you believe it? It’s Mine Sweeper!

So lean forward, grab a nice glass of your favorite beverage, and write us a review while listening to this week’s episode of – Games At Work DOT Biz!

Links:
Brainnock
Techcrunch Article
Brain Pop
Quiz Bowl
National Forensic League
The Flipped Classroom
BottleNotes
Blush
Playing Skyrim as a Pacifist
Mine sweeper – FTW!
Flattr – Social Micropayments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:53 — 33.0MB) | Embed

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Episode 30 – Gaming Health

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A blue moon must have occurred, because Michael M and Michael R are together in the same room for this week’s show. We do, however, miss Phaedra due to circumstances beyond our control. We look at gaming programming education and gaming your health. Michael R. gives a read out on the new class he’s been taking via Code School (check out Episode 12th – Going Oldschool from way back on July 8th). This class allows your to learn iOS programming without investing in a Mac. Then we turn over to discussing Michael M.’s desire to game his work outs, with a review of various devices which provide insights to your daily work out, etc.

This week’s Links:
Brain Health:
Try iOS class
Mr. Higgie
Body Health:
Nike Fuel Band
Lark Life
Jawbone Up
FitBit

Big Data and self analytics

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:58 — 28.5MB) | Embed

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Episode 29 – Simon Says

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Games don’t stop just because it is a holiday week in the U.S. and neither do podcasts about games at work. After a bit of looking at things differently – can you say might-tight? Our friend Ian Bogost has a new game out, that Michael M. discovered while being all peckish, and we discuss the history and speak a little Latin. When then ask – are persuasive games really that persuasive after all?

We also discuss how we can make our mundane, boring, and overloaded todo list much more fun to work on. Or do we? Can you make it fun to deal with all the crap you have to do? How do you make all the things that pile up – doable? We discuss the impact of intrinsic verse extrinsic rewards on doing your tasks. Is “clippy” enough to make you happy?

Now that the Thanksgiving Holiday is over in the U.S. it’s time for everyone to get Back to Work and hopefully our little gaming your todo list will be helpful.

If you want to play games with us on Apple’s Game Center – you can find us at MichaelRowe01 and Michael_in_nc.

This week’s links:
Simony
Simon Says
Cow Clicker Episode
Geek Rock – Barcelona
They Might Be Giants
Are persuasive games really that persuasive?
Security Now – ROCKS
Back to work!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Michael get’s some science wrong
Melatonin – has nothing to do with skin color!
The Mythbusters get it right!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:49 — 35.7MB) | Embed

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