Author Archive

Kinect: Upgraded

Monday, December 13th, 2010

Eric Damassa is Manager of Business Development at SaatchiNY. He’s also an avid gamer. Below are some of his thoughts on the recent release of Microsoft’s Kinect for XBox and the user-driven movement to take the technology to the next level.


One of the beautiful things about technology is that the more sophisticated it gets, the cooler the hacks get.

Kinect, the (somewhat) new motion-tracking robot eye from Microsoft (a videogame peripheral for Xbox) – has given hackers a whole new environment in which to play. And they’ve really done some amazing things—ranging from recreating Predator-esque camouflage, to realizing an interactive, motion-controlled GUI (graphical user interface) right out of Minority Report.

PREDATOR CAMOUFLAGE

AUTOMATED RC CAR

MINORITY REPORT GUI

The beauty of open source technology is the ability to crowdsource innovation. Microsoft quickly realized the power behind the Kinect-hacking phenomenon and reversed their anti-kinect-hacking stance.

Next stop, your electronics will be beaming advertisements directly into your brain … just kidding … but not really.

Category: Creative, Digital & Interactive, sisomo

The Power of Experiential Storytelling

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

Halo "Reach" is one of the best selling video games of all time

Eric Damassa is Manager of Business Development at SaatchiNY. He’s also an avid gamer. Below are some of his thoughts on the world of video game design and the power of interactive storytelling.

I’m a gamer. And while not particularly hardcore anymore, there are a handful of franchises that keep me coming back. Similar to good games, good advertising is the embodiment of experiential storytelling. A focus on the story, not just the execution. Bringing the world to life in ways that make sense. Augmenting the user experience, not interrupting it—keeping things intuitive and natural. Giving people reasons to keep coming back. Polish, polish, polish—“good enough” is never good enough.

THE POWER OF EXPERIENTIAL STORYTELLING
Some of my favorites games —Halo, Starcraft, Warcraft, Diablo — lead the industry not only when it comes to sales, but with consumer loyalty (beyond reason) … and by “beyond reason” I mean rabid, over-zealous fanaticism. The latest Halo installment, “Reach,” hit $200 million in sales…in its first0 24 hours. Blizzard Entertainment sold 3 million copies of the first installment of a three-part release of Starcraft 2 . . . in the first month. World of Warcraft, a persistent, online role-playing game, boasts over 12 million subscribers…at a monthly fee of about $15, that’s a lot of cash.

The power behind all these franchises is not mind-blowing graphics, or capitalization on the latest cutting-edge technology trend. Rather, success is realized through the original, compelling, and immersive worlds that are painstakingly crafted by artists, storytellers, and developers. By creating an experience that allows people to become more than just passive observers—but also interact, engage, and become emotionally invested in very real ways—gaming companies have found a way to create loyalty beyond reason (do an image search for “Blizzcon” to see what I mean).

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: FLAWED, DYSFUNCTIONAL . . . AND HEROIC
Good character development is difficult—it requires a well-balanced distillation of human triumph, and sorrow—an exaggeration of the human condition that is still relatable. In Starcraft 2, the chief protagonist is an alcoholic, emotionally unstable ex-marine with authority issues who left his girlfriend to certain doom at the hands of a swarm of angry insectoid aliens. His best friend is a cigar-chomping ex-con with a hidden agenda and a bad case of uncontrollable rage. How can you not be intrigued?

Starcraft II's main character, Jim Raynor

WORLD DEVELOPMENT: AN ULTRA-POLISHED USER EXPERIENCE
It takes a masterful hand to create a fully immersive, fictional universe that is elegant and simple enough to lose oneself in. One of the things that make Starcraft 2 so effective is the attention to detail—creating a fictional world that is rooted in reality. You can sit in a bar, chat with the other characters, interact with the environment (e.g. select songs on the jukebox, watch the news, etc.), talk to a shady guy sitting in the corner to hire mercenaries, and use an old-school arcade game to play a game within a game. All details that subtlety add to the experience, rather than interrupt it.

The cantina from Starcraft II

ADDICTIVE ENGAGEMENT
One of the biggest challenges for games (and brands) is how to create a cycle of continuous engagement with consumers once the initial experience is complete. The original Starcraft (circa 1998) was a step in the right direction…the multiplayer element of the game essentially became the national sport of South Korea (seriously). Starcraft 2 raised the bar by extending the experience through the use of numerous achievements, accomplishments, and unlockable content. Blizzard also integrated that experience through their re-launched platform battle.net—a beautifully crafted, web-based central command for your online gaming persona. It works remarkably well because they focused on the methods and channels that made sense for the overall experience.

Eric's gamer tag in action

Eric can be found on Xbox Live getting destroyed by 12-year-olds on a pretty frequent basis. His gamer tag is “Dr Pigg” if you’d like to participate in the beatdown.

Category: Creative, Digital & Interactive, Our People

Take a Vacation

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010

Wailea Resort on Maui

Eric Damassa is Manager of Business Development at SaatchiNY. He recently took his first vacation since starting with the company. Below are some of his thoughts on the importance of taking time off (every once in awhile).

It seems somewhat ironic, and maybe somewhat appropriate, for a new business guy to be writing about the importance of vacation. My gig is interesting, exciting, and different—but I don’t get out much.

However, I recently spent two weeks in Hawaii with my family—the first week on a cruise around the islands, and the second week lounging at a resort in Wailea (on Maui).

When I got back, I received more “you look like a new person” comments than any other time in my life. I suppose I did look like crap before I left.

American business culture is an interesting phenomenon. We’re programmed from childhood to be industrious, hard working, and completely dedicated to our careers. There is a deeply-ingrained, and oftentimes neurotic, competitive spirit within all of us that fuels this obsession. And as technology and connectivity continue to evolve and advance, it seems to only get worse.

Wired.com published an article about the search for a “stress vaccine”—sadly indicative of American lifestyle. We always look to medicate the problem rather than identify and fix the source of the issue.

While I don’t believe there is a “silver bullet” solution to the work/life balance dilemma (it’s different for everybody), it’s interesting to observe the various (sometimes ridiculous) things people do to either de-stress or strike a balance.

 For example, France adopted a 35-hour work week in 2000. Probably one of the stupidest ideas of all time—but hey—good for them for trying (the measure was abandoned in 2008). Personally, I think we should all give obscure extreme sports a shot. I’m thinking about getting involved in a professional rock, paper, scissors league. Seems like a good way to blow off some steam.

Whatever the solution might be, it’s important to recognize that in advertising (as in any service-based industry), we’re selling two things: ideas, and the people behind those ideas. Doing whatever it takes to stay fresh, optimistic, and curious is critical…nobody wants to work with the Crypt Keeper.

Category: New York, Our People

King St. Q&A with Eric Damassa

Friday, August 6th, 2010

Eric Damassa is the man beneath the mask - Star Wars is his #1 Lovemark

Eric Damassa is Manager of Business Development at SaatchiNY. If you’re interested in delving deeper into the world of Eric, you can visit his website, check out his LinkedIn or follow him on Twitter.

Photos taken by Sasithon Pooviriyakul, an Account Supervisor at SaatchiNY. You can see more of her work on her website.

1. What do you do at Saatchi & Saatchi

I manage the Business Development group.

2. What was your first job?

Lifeguard on the beach, brah.

3. If you weren’t at Saatchi & Saatchi, what profession would you most like to try?

When I grow up, I want to be either a rock guitarist or a video game designer.

4. What motivates you most?

A neurotic obsession with out-doing myself.

5. What blogs, magazines, books, papers or websites can you not live without?

CNN.com, NYTimes.com, Facebook, Gamespy.com, Wired.com, Mint.com, Google.

6. What are your Lovemarks?

Apple, Fender, Star Wars.

7. What’s your best “nothing is impossible” story?

I challenged Charles Saatchi to a walk-off…and won.

8. What is your favorite place in the world? Why?

My parents house in Westport, CT.  It’s quiet, beautiful, and there are trees (imagine that).

9. Who do you most aspire to be like?

I want to beat James Cooper at table tennis.

10. If stranded on a deserted island and you could bring only one thing, what would it be?

A pair of sea turtles on which to escape…using rope made from the hair on my back.

11. Tell us something surprising about yourself.

I created the piano key neck tie. Also, I’ve run a marathon.

12. What’s your DOT?

Spend as much time naked as possible to cut down on water wasted doing laundry.

13. What’s your favorite creative pursuit?

I like to pick up my guitar and noodle around a bit.

14. What led you on the path you’re on today?

From a career perspective, I blame my Dad.

15. Do you have a motto?

I have a “No Soliciting” sign in my office. Does that count?

16. What do you do for fun?

Rocking the 6-string and nerding it up (movies, cartoons, videos games).

17. What’s your favorite client story?

Since I don’t work with clients on a regular basis, I’ll share my favorite pitch story.

We booked an executive coach to drive the Saatchi & Saatchi leadership team to a final presentation. It was a couple hours away, so it was a smart way to travel: comfortable, relaxed, and the team would be able to further rehearse.

The driver calls that morning to let us know he had arrived at the Saatchi office…and that they had decided to “upgrade” us. That “upgrade” was a party bus – complete with two stripper poles, ridiculous lighting effects, flat screen TVs, and pieces of black feather boa blowing out of the A/C vents from the bachelorette party that had commissioned the vehicle the night before.

Not quite the professional travel solution we had envisioned.

18. What’s your favorite thing to do in NY?

The restaurants. Striphouse is the current favorite.

19. Whose your favorite artist/musician/designer?

Steve Vai.

20. When’s the last time you gave a standing ovation?

Doobie Brothers concert I went to with my Dad and Brother a couple months back. Those guys kick some serious ass for senior citizens.

Eric on the SaatchiNY Roof Garden

Category: King St. Q&A, New York, Our People

Lovemarks for the Week

Monday, May 17th, 2010

 Sarah has added a Lovemark story:  Tina Fey

Tina Fey is my hero! When I’m older, I want to be exactly like she is. She’s strong, intelligent, and not afraid to be exactly who she is. She’s a successful actress and a great example. A bonus is – she’s also hilarious!

Cindi has added a Lovemark story: Lomo

Love all the photo effects produced by Lomography cameras. They are original, analog, fun, spontaneous, and it’s about lifestyle. For professional photographers to everyone able to use this camera. You can feel the freedom to experiment with your own Lomography camera and get the sensation when you see the photo result. You can get very unexpected results! And if you buy one Lomography camera, you’ll want the whole range of Lomography cameras. Be careful, it causes addiction.

Cindi has added a Lovemark story: Place to go before I die - Raja Ampat (Indonesia)

Raja Ampat (or the Four Kings) is an archipelago consisting of the islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta, and Wiageo which are surrounded by over 1,500 small islands and cays. Raja Ampat diving could quite possibly be the best diving in the world. It is certainly the world’s most biodiverse marine region with more recorded fish, coral and mollusk species than anywhere else on the planet!

Vina has added a Lovemark story: Donkey, Shrek

My favorite part about Shrek is that the one funny animated character is Donkey! Donkey is played by Eddie Murphy. He can sing. He can kinda fly, and he can probably make anyone laugh. And get this, he can talk. A talking donkey. Totally cool. Shrek is Donkey’s best friend. Kinda. In half of the Shrek movie, Donkey is Shrek’s BFF, but for the other half, Donkey is not Shrek’s BFF. At the end things work out and as you know, there is a happy ending! Shrek tries to save Princess Fiona and than Princess Fiona is not too happy about 3 things. #1. She finds out Shek is an ogre #2. She wanted Lord Farquaad to rescue her and #3. Shrek ends up having to carry Princes Fiona. But this is the order of how I think they are funny. #1. Donkey, #2. Shrek, #3. Fiona, #4. Gingerbread Baby, #5. Lord Farquaad, #6. Dragon, #7. The little mice that come to Shrek’s swamp. Well those are my favorite charcters listed in order!

Thomas has added a Lovemark story: Rolex

Some people buy a Rolex just to show off, which is silly considering absolutely ridicious price. They can simply buy a replica from China on eBay or Ta0bao which looks exactly the same and costs only 0.2% of the real one. I bought my Daytona 116523G because the 4130 caliber is best of the best, and it is just so beautiful to look at. I just hope that it is invisible to others so I will not be mistaken for showing it of.

Gary has added a Lovemark story: RideRemedy

A new, long overdue, iPhone app. RideRemedy enables people to connect for the purpose of sharing rides. It’s flexible enough to encompass commuting, car pooling, cab sharing and road trips. With RideRemedy I can save money by sharing rides. I also save time when I’m traveling. By splitting a fare my cost to get from the airport to my hotel falls into the same range as the ubiquitous hotel shuttle van. And, by not having to use the van services I miss stopping at several hotels that aren’t mine and I never have to sit around in the van waiting for it to fill up with other passengers. Money and time savings aside, the best part of RideRemedy is that through sharing, my individual carbon emissions are reduced. I didn’t realize that for every gallon of gasoline burned in my car that 20 pounds of CO2 are released into the atmosphere. It’s user interface is easy to use and very intuitive. All in all it’s a product that can’t be beat and is the first of its kind on the market.

Gabriel has added a Lovemark story: Apple

There has been a simmering rivalry for years between my wife and I. I’m a Mac and she’s a PC. She goes as far as calling my Macbook Pro a toy. That’s okay, I guarantee I have more fun using my computer than she does on her PC. I’ve been an Apple user since I first touched a computer in 1985. This is my Lovemark.

Jack has added a Lovemark story: CW-X

After battling niggling injuries in my attempts to keep fit, my local sports store recommended I try cw-x support wear. After my initial reservation of looking like a “jock” I bought a pair of their tights and shorts. This product is amazing. I have been wearing cw-x for 4 months now, I feel less fatigued when I am cycling or running, my muscles and joints feel totally supported and I don’t have the next day soreness I used to suffer. I love this gear.

Veronika has added a Lovemark story: Christopher Walken

With different type of roles  from films like Annie Hall, The Deer Hunter, A view to a Kill, True Romance, Wayne´s World, Things to Do in Denver When You´re Dead, Catch Me If You Can amongst so many more, Christopher Walken shows a great variety as an actor who has become a cult figure with his great persona and talent. His repertoire spans from motion pictures, music videos, games, television and theatre and I truly think he is a great Lovemark to many film and acting enthusiasts all over the world. You might not remember his name at once, but you never forget his face or peculiar voice!

Julianto has added a Lovemark story: Queen

Queen is one of the best group bands in this world. Specially Freddie Mercury, he was born with extraordinary art talent. No single group can match their music. Every lyric that Freddie sings, he always put his soul in his songs. Even though he is dead and is tragic, all of us still remember him as one of the best singers and part of the greatest band of all time. My favorite song from this band is Love of my Life. Every time i hear his songs it makes me cry, because i still remember about my ex fiancée who died in a car accident. I sing this song for her, every night on her birthday. Tiffany, i still love u. and i always do.

Browse @20,000 Lovemark stories at www.lovemarks.com

Image source:
Tina Fey – Fanpop; Lomography – Natalie Krebs; Raja Ampat – Tpixs; Donkey, Shrek: Wallpapers; Rolex – Rakuten; Ride Remedy – Ride Remedy; Apple – Farm3; CW-X – Kulletrunner; Christopher Walken – Dangerous Dreamer; Queen – 2bp.

Category: Lovemarks

7×7 Tonight 6.30pm at Hudson / Houston

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Tonight for a 6.30pm start, ground floor of Saatchi & Saatchi, 375 Hudson St (at Houston). Featuring

St Josephs Elementary School Band

Chris Anderson, Curator, TED

Howard Chua-Eoan, News Director, TIME Magazine

Jeff Reichert, Writer/Director, Gerrymandering

Marc Schiller, co-founder Wooster Collective

Liz Arana, Head Chef, Alexandra

Maurice Ashley, International Grandmaster of Chess

See www.showclix.com for remaining tickets [Keyword: 7X7].

Saatchi & Saatchi people see Erin Lyons.

For guests coming by Subway:

1-2-3-9, Varick & Houston

A-C-E, 6th & Spring

Path, Christopher St

Media / Event Contact: Jon Bier, 646541 5256

 

Category: Creative, Events, New York, Our People

Lovemarks for the Week

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

Paulo Coelho

An iconic visionary with soulful depth. A humble humanitarian writer with exquisite prose. Paulo Coelho is my hero, every page turned in one of his books tells the story of something entirely profound and yet is so often explained in clear, simple evocative lines that cause us all to question and understand lives. Every word he writes has meaning and as such dignity.
Dominique, United Kingdom

Fair Trees

A Danish company has looked closely at a ‘standard’ product with an enormous emotional/traditional value – and discovered how the source producers (the workers collecting seed in Georgia) are exploited. In a nutshell, the company has gained Fair Trade recognition for their magnificent trees which were for the first time available in the UK last season (Tradewind). I am deeply touched by the respect for nature and for how the people in this scandalously neglected part of Georgia are at last being supported – by just this one company that dares to stick its neck out (while other companies continue to exploit, underpay and so on) – in an otherwise highly competitive market.
Kaiyum

iPhone

What can I say about my beloved? She is with me always, never says no, always obliging, ready to get me out of any difficult situation, pretty as a picture. How do I love the my Pinkie iPhone? Life is truly Star Trek like with an iPhone, you feel as if anything is possible any time! Yes I have now an iphone widow in my partner, but then again, I was the widow when she got her Touch a few years ago, snap! Waxing lyrical.
Lisa, Australia

Jump

A groundbreaking publication showcasing the urban, edgy style the international worlds of freerunning and parkour. Slick photography and bang up to the minute engaging copy. A highly creative publication.
Dominique, United Kingdom

Category: Lovemarks, Retail & Shopping

Lovemarks for the Week

Friday, March 19th, 2010


Tokidoki This Japanese fashion brand is fast becoming a social phenomenon amongst youth…driving preference for it in fashion stores despite it being on the pricey side. The designs are edgy, relate to the world of youth, and new designs quickly hop onto the bloggosphere of fans. Junktuner, Canada Read more.

Tarina Tarantino Tarina Tarantino is delight. This brand helps you in expressing your joyful and perky side. The first time I ran into this kind of jewels for women, which was about 2 years ago, I felt amazed. I was studying a marketing case for an examination and I got so interested that I surfed the whole website in order to know more about it. It was like taking a leap back into my childhood: bright colours, rounded shapes, playful themes, shining rhinestones. It took me a second to understand that I was totally falling in love with this brand. And, believe me, it has never let me down so far. IlariaS Read more.

Swisscom This is, for me, the only one, the best, and nearest to my feelings, human want, my heart. It’s the only one that can let me feel real good on the phone, watching TV, and at the laptop on the Internet. Whatever I need, Swisscom is present…day and night! Sybille Read more.

IKEA IKEA gives us exactly what we ask for in the 21st century. I don’t want life long furniture because I’ll change my house, country and taste probably every 2 years in my life. I love IKEA cause it gives me the possibility to grow up without feeling bad for my wallet! Ludovica, Italy Read more.

Liverpool F.C. This team is my life. When they won, I would be very happy. When they lost, I would feel sick. When they play, I would feel very excited. It is true, this team is a very solid team, has a very strong spirit and has the best supporters in the world. Always supported whatever happens. One sentence that we often say “you’ll never walk alone”. Aditya Read more.

Category: Lovemarks