How can brands work with Gamers – Diary notes.

5 Diary notes from my conversations with “Brands/Agencies that wants to do something in Gaming”

1. If your brief begins with your understanding of GenZ – ensure it’s made/validated by the GenZ. What I saw in most of it is a projection of what a boomer believes GenZ to be! Outdated – misinformed!
2. Measures of evaluating the potential of professional gamers with their social media reach – is like evaluating a cricketer based on thier Instagram reach. The use case isn’t the players social – the use case is what your brand can do with that potential.
3. Gaming isn’t anti social as you imagine it to be. It’s incredibly social if you understand that community. GenZs bond over gaming – so much so, that a lot of them even “tip” their favourite gamers for their game plays or just conversations.
4. The myth of purchasing parity. Gamers buy things. Even & especially virtual things. They are people first so they not only buy, but are also ahead of the curve as opinion influencers recommending “what is cool and new age” be it a bag of chips, a car or an investment product.
5. Gamers are “one” cluster. That’s like saying all sport is cricket. All movie stars are Shahrukh Khan. There’s the person, the game, the genre, the persona. They vary and the ability to connect with the audience varies accordingly.

If you really want to understand this culture, and benefit from it – think of gaming as a new media tech, converging with entertainment and sports.

The inputs you have from your “research” is mostly as accurate as how mainline agencies explained the “fad” of social media back in 2008. If you really want to understand this space better – I’d really like to partner with someone to do a roadshow for them free of cost!

Odd planet.

It’s an odd planet we live in. The humans, aren’t human enough. 

The animals, tamed for its survival. 

The water, needs cleansing. 

The air, not fresh enough. 

The fire, doesn’t purify nor frees you. 

The soil, though considered dirt, binds you. 

Yet the mountains feeble, fallen for structure. 

And like wise the feeding tree. 

It’s an odd planet we live in. 

Don’t Save the Planet.

The arrogance of Man is that they believe that the planet needs to be saved. 

The ignorance of Man is that every time he says that, he means saving it in his inhabitable condition. 

Was it worth it?

So, Was it worth it? 

Well, Yes and No. 

Did you not think on these terms, ever? 

Oh I did, every time there was a need. 

That doesn’t answer how often. 

Well, quite often. 

And 

And what…?

Did you not see it coming?

I did

Then why? Mathematical error? 

You think? 

Well you’ve erred before. 

Yes I have, but this I figured to the T 
Then why? 

Because. I did. 

Displaced Cosmonaut

This was a 90minute test, the least you could have done was to have come prepared. 

You won’t last. 

You underestimate the effort. 

You won’t excel. 

That’s just first timers luck. 

From here on its going to be tough. 

Not bad, but you now need to take bigger challenges. 

Here, I know its less than what you deserve, but perform and next year it will be better. 

I know you’ve performed, and I know this top rating doesn’t add. Stick around, keep performing and we  will fix it. 

But why? If I can think of anyone in the organisation, who can get another top rating even without working anymore. It has to be you. Then why quit. 

You sure about this? You have no tech experience. Its going to be quite a challenge. 

5 days is all it is, just go there and understand thier problems. 

Well, they seem to love you. Can you extend your stay for two weeks?

You shouldn’t have recommended this. Its not a lucrative solution. 

Congratulations, the Global head acknowledges this to be a economically efficient solution.  
Congratulations! I understand education is important, but you are young, this is the time to make more money. Not many get such an opportunity. Its just a matter of 6 months. 

What do you mean you quit? Your colleagues are desperate to go. Why wouldn’t you? Resume your MBA later. How does it even matter?

I understand you are a Marketing MBA, but you don’t understand this side of tech. 

The tech is stable, you need to grow your team into diverse roles. 

This is a pain area for the organisation. We need you to be working on this. 

Take over this team, get them to perform. 

We understand they are all performing, and that they have exceeded their targets. But we need to downsize. You don’t need to do this? I will not approve. 

So you are back? Your colleagues have sunk thier teeth deep in. Lay low and help them

I know we botched up big time. Anybody have any ideas?  You, I need your help. Take this. 

Yes, I am impressed. How do you know all this? 

Am sorry, But this was required. For you to grow, I have to grow further. 

Policies have changed. I know you have leaves, but I can’t approve them. 

You are going to quit for a Motorcycle ride? I cannot excuse your notice period. And yes, your settlement will be done at the end of your notice period. 

You need a job? There is this Telecom risk role, its only part tech. Will you be able to crack the interview. 

Congratulations. Congratulations. 

We are over preparing for scenarios that don’t exist even in the current systems. 

Congratulations. The foresight was commendable. 

I understand where you are coming from. Frankly, we all think about perusing our passion when we turn 50. Some of us do, and others dont. Some can, and some of us can’t, and you have this choice, right here at 30. Make a choice. 

Why would you join at 60% pay cut? 

Can you look after this too? 

You manage to scrape through, however you should rather complain about the lack of support. If you still achieve it, how would I know the price at which it comes. 

Alright, I understand. 

Welcome. 

I don’t understand why would you pursue this so relentlessly. 

I am sorry ṭo hear, I never knew this and, I don’t get how you cope with these things so calmly. 

Is this because of the way things are in your personal life? 

Can you sell? Is One even possible this year? 

I don’t know how you do this.

You need to communicate better. 

Congratulations. 

Makes sense, this should’ve been done a long ago.

Makes sense, these too should’ve been done long ago. 

Congratulations. You underestimate the effort. 

From here on its going to be tough. 

Not bad, but you now need to take bigger challenges. 

Here, I know its less than what you deserve, but perform and next year it will be better….

25000 days.

25000. The number doesn’t quite seem much.

.

.

Doesn’t seem much at all, till the time you realise that it’s the average lifespan in days for you and me.

The journey from being a thoughtless infant, to be possibly reduced to just mere thoughts.

The journey to influence, be influenced, and then abstain from existence in this form as we know it. All in these 25000 days.

Everyone seems to have great ideas on how to spend 25000Rs, and even toil knowing how insufficient it is, but not as such for 25000 days.

Start up Stories: Team Work

Working solo, is like a gear in motion,
You will run fast on days, slow on some
No matter what speed you run, you will wear
Working as a team is like working with many interlinked gears.
One’s commotion, sets other in motion. And vice versa.
Collective speed, turning mass. Rotation after rotation.
Each fuelling, the other.
And then, working as a team is also like working with gears.
One cog in the wrong direction, and there will be grind,
Tooth shall fall, fuel, friction of the wrong kind.
Set. Reset. Set. Refuel.

Gym, and not fitness

I have a tough time understanding Gym… But I am convinced.

There was this bloke, draped in more muscles, than what I have as fat, hair and that multiplied by three.
His Tee Shirt proudly reading, “Exercise is my Drug”
Motivational enough.
Then on the 18th bench press, I read another
“Don’t do drugs”

I have a tough time understanding Gym… But I am convinced.

I still want it…

I still want it.
Life is a little evil, especially with un attentive students, it will find you, and teach you lessons in absurd evil ways.
I was asleep, dreaming, and in my dreams I was in an Ice Cream store.
I stare down the fridge, and I see lots of choices.
The thing with Ice creams is that you either know what you want, or are confused to the core. Such was my state today.
I kinda knew I wanted the ice candy, but the choices confused me.
As I stare down the fridge. The owner reminds me to make a choice quick because there’s a power cut.
Power cut also means mushy candies, but that’s ok, I can take that yummy leap of faith. And just as I am about to do that.
I get a call. From reality. In reality too.
I still want it. Life is a little evil. Especially with un attentive students

I – powerful beyond thoughts

I is such a powerful word, 
One letter, An alphabet, ‎One character,
Powerful, Good, Evil, and rest‎
A story within, and more outwards
Ownership, Identity, Perceived and implied. 
The creator, and his creation and it’s credit. 
The acceptance, the acknowledgement, the prophecy too. 
I am. Therefore I.