E3 Coverage

As the week begins the Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3) kicks off in Los Angeles. It's only day one and Microsoft and Ubisoft set the stage for a great E3. In recent years the expo has been scaled back due to budget constraints as a direct result of the down economy. This year however, is shaping up to the best E3 in years.

Today's announcements include project natal (now Kinect), Halo Reach, Gears of War 3 and an Xbox 360 S, all coming from Microsoft. While Microsoft had an all-out press conference with highly anticipated reveals Ubisoft was more interesting to me. I was amazed on the French developers focus on using mind and body to be one with the game. Now that Playstation Move and Kinect technologies have come to fruition Ubisoft is changing how we look as games.

Ubisofts focus included not only games but entire platforms for future games to be released. A game called Innergy that plugs directly into any USB drive and tracks your stress levels and has you perform routines that will help you relax and encourage syncing you heart beat to your brain. Other innovations included interactivity with Kinect. Of course the two most anticiapated games demos reveals included Assassins Creed: Brotherhood which will include for the first time multiplayer and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldiers. Both games were shown with in game footage and demoed on the Ubisoft stage.

With day one of press conferences finished, it has set the stage for Tuesday's Sony and Nintendo conference. With what was revealed today by Microsoft, it will be interesting to see what both game makers have in store for us in the future.

Be sure to check out the all E3 coverage on Gameinformer.com or g4tv.com.

Till next time, Level Up!

On a Handshake and a Smile

At a recent chamber mixer in San Antonio I spent a good deal chatting with someone who works for an investment firm. It quickly became clear that we had the same approach to our customers/clients. This gentleman was a tall, slender man who looked like Egon from the Ghostbusters movie (see picture for look-a-like).

We talked about his humble beginnings as an investor, as he literally went door to door asking people to invest their money with his firm. Our conversation digresed into how social media and the internet have changed how we get information but has not changed how we communicate. His approach for investement clients is the same as mine in public relations.

Building a relationship with a person/audience and getting them to trust you, believe what you're selling and change their behavior because of it.

What the 10 minute conversation, in a room filled with other networkers eating and drinking, boiled down to was that the relationship started with meeting that client/customer face-to-face and shaking their hand. While using the internet and social media to continue building your relationship with that person is important, nothing will ever replace the face-time that is needed to begin building the trust, the relationship. As human beings we have a need for interaction with others. According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, (1951) humans need to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance. It's because of this basic human need, the firm hand shake and the direct eye contact will always be the best way to forge that business relationship.

We exchanged information and wished each other well in our respective businesses. It always amazes me the caliber of people working in the San Antonio area. I highly recommend, no matter what industry you're in, to get out and network. Its good for the soul. 

My First Podcast

My first podcast. Show entitled the Luke Barrington Experience hosted by Luke Barrington.

• We cover video game reviews
• movie reviews
• frequent guests

Thanks for tunning in.

LBExperience Podcast 101