Right on the heels of Sony’s Playstation 4 release is now Microsoft’s turn to enter the fray as they prepare to release their new Xbox One console on November 22, 2013. Despite gaining a vast amount of marketshare over this past generation with the Xbox 360, this year has been quite tumultuous for the green machine. With a backlash against Microsoft's DRM policies and less than stellar PR, the Xbox One’s perception has taken a huge hit but all is not lost. Xbox One has a slew of games in its ranks that look to turn the tide with titles such as Forza Motorsport 5, Ryse: Son of Rome and Killer Instinct leading the launch. They’ve also entered a strategic relationship with the NFL to aid in pushing units and 180’d on their previous policies. Add an engrained following due to their Xbox Live service and promise of strong multimedia capabilities, there may still be a big enough audience to push Xbox One to good numbers. While Xbox One may not have the goodwill backing like the Playstation 4, the product is still a force to be reckoned with for the consumer dollar and as with anything time will ultimately tell the fate of Microsoft's newest game console. This Friday, November 15, 2013, Sony will release its long awaited Playstation 4 gaming console in North America, thus bringing an end to the long and tumultuous run that was the Playstation 3 (figuratively speaking since of course Sony supports their previous consoles long after its predecessor has been released). Sony has been on a large momentum wave virtually all year and has taken advantage of mistakes made by their major competitors in Microsoft and Nintendo. Games like Knack, Resogun and most notably Killzone: Shadow Fall are leading the software charge heading into launch and many are lining up to nab their consoles while others are waiting at home for the box for to be delivered. Our European counterparts will be soon to follow in two weeks. Of course this is not to downplay equally appealing Playstation Vita TV that will be geared up exclusively for Japan this Thursday. This low cost barrier gaming/streaming device will allow gamers to play their Playstation 4 content in any room and play select Vita games in addition to offering the usual media services. So, while my brothers in the orient will not be playing the Playstation 4 until February of next year, they’ll have a tech toy more fitted for their lifestyles. Some big weeks are ahead for Sony and as a business they’ve learned a lot over the past 7 years and as such is taking a much different approach this time around (in both their marketing strategy and business plan). They say Greatness Awaits but we will see if “Greatness” is rewarded. Big Trouble for Little Millennials: Why They will have to get reative to compete for Jobs.11/6/2013
If you're a Millennial (roughly aged 18-29), odds are you are either unemployed or underemployed which, if the job market is any indication, its going to stay that way for the foreseeable future. Now I'm" sure that young people have probably been beaten over the head with this but in case you've been missing out on the party, refer to these links to get you caught up: 10 Reasons Millennials Are the Screwed Generation http://www.alternet.org/corporate-accountability-and-workplace/10-reasons-millennials-are-screwed-generation?paging=off¤t_page=1#bookmark Millennials Have Nothing To Celebrate When It Comes To Employment http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2013/09/06/millennials-have-nothing-to-celebrate-when-it-comes-to-employment/ Do Millennials Stand a Chance in the Real World? http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/31/magazine/do-millennials-stand-a-chance-in-the-real-world.html?_r=0 Now with that said, no one wants to hear about problems so what are the answers? Well, perseverance is one, dedication is another, a whole lot of patience can do you good and a good idea always helps. In case you didn't "get it" I'm" talking about the Internet. It may sound cliche and this option damn sure isn't for everyone, but there is indeed a lot of opportunities available to you on the Internet if you willing to put in work and hustle. This includes telecommuting opportunities, freelancing, blogging, supplementary income generators, etc. Back in the good ol' days, you were reliant on taking jobs to build your personal brand but now it is in some ways, expected for you to do it all yourself but with the freedom, passion to do what you like and unlimited income cap you may not even pursue traditional employment if it all takes off. For the more traditional route, in order the fight the more experienced in the job market you have to get knowledge savvy and pump in a lot of research. Using resume editing tricks, stressing knowledge and know-how, taking on volunteering work and building a network of connections. When I say get creative, you got to think outside of the realm of traditional job hunting tactics and build yourself up out of the box to help you get back in and land employment, or at the least a sustained relevant network. The important thing for our future generation to remember is that your lack of a meaningful job isn't inherently your fault, it is a result of situations out of your control. However, don't let that or statistics hold you back from your potential, your future is still yours. If anyone has anything extra to add, feel free to comment. |
Frank Sheppard
NOTE: all opinions/views represented here are my own and do not reflect on any third party that I am affiliated with. Archives
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