beyond badges

Really, how many more badges do we really want?  It seems that most brands entering the location game think that badges are enough to get players interested?  Yes, they are definitely a way-in right now, however, players are going to want more from the interaction.  Starbucks is slowly testing out the waters with Foursquare right now by simply offering up badges.  Eventually, one would hope that they will roll-out other more tangible rewards for their customers.  Free Wi-Fi anyone?  Or how about a free breakfast sandwich?    I really like this latest example on the Gowalla platform with the New Jersey Nets basketball team.  In the "game" spirit of these location-based platforms, Gowalla will create a scavenger hunt encouraging players to find hidden digital tickets at various sporting locations around the NJ area.  The digital tickets can be redeemed for an actual ticket to attend the last game of the season.  Once there, Gowalla players will also be able to unlock badges that can also be redeemed towards Nets merchandise.  I don't follow the basketball, but I would suspect that there's a universe of people on Gowalla in the NJ area would find this compelling and perhaps get them to participate, no?  Brilliant.  You are giving me something of real, tangible value for my participation and making it fun for me.  Thank you.  As companies start to explore and experiment with these new location apps, the challenge will be to understand the playful-like behavior of people in this space and then providing them something of tangible value, beyond just a digital token.  Beyond the badge.

lost:firewire

heard news today that lost surfboards will enter an exclusive partnership with firewire. for those of you who don't follow surfing, this would be something close to scion partnering with the tesla motors to develop a scion-inspired tesla roadster. take the young, progressive cache of lost and inject that attitude into an innovative new surfboard technology and we may have ourselves something really exciting to drive down the line, across a ripable blue face.


via shop eat surf

more mash-ups please

i'm a fan of brand collaborations. i can't recall the last time i saw one that i didn't like. when i came across news about the, timbuk2 and threadless mashup, i wondered what took 'em so long? the content was always there either online or at their retail store. but, how about new canvases that the content could live on? ipod skins? grip tape for skateboard decks? recyclable grocery bags? or how about seeing the threadless designs on a twist 'n go cup at your favorite QSR? okay, maybe that one would be the one that i wouldn't really like.



via john winsor cultural radar

Rasta Board anyone?

i've never really had any desire to buy a sector 9 board. my freebie santa cruz mountain dew board does the trick bombing down the trail to trestles sure it's ugly as hell, but i never have to worry about anyone taking off with it. yes, these sector 9 boards are pretty cool to look at, and i really appreciate their "coffee table book" appeal to their designs, however, i just can justify dropping the $200 for one.

when i heard about billabong buying out sector 9 today, and seeing a mixed bag of haters and supporters, i leaned on the side of optimism for this deal. with two very core brands, both having their own distinctive design influence, i would expect to see some collaboration between the two companies. maybe we'll see a David Rastovich influenced board? this guy is one of the truly innovative soul surfers out there today. he's always pushing the line to try different types of board designs. i'm sure billabong will bring him into the fold with the sector 9 guys to come up with something we've never seen before. and that could be a really good thing.