The computer games book is full steam ahead and it's madness. However, we're starting to get the feel of the industry more and we're really excited by the response. We're having to do an incredible amount of research - especially as we're starting from scratch, unlike the 'main' book - but this has shown us that there's not this kind of resource where there will be all this information in one place. I think people will be surprised at how much is in it, even if they think they know gaming really well.
We're also making our first computer game record adjudication tomorrow. There's a new version of GWR favourite 'Guitar Hero' out and we'll be at the Games Media awards, in Soho, London where journalists will attempt to set the highest score record on 'expert' level, so should be fun. Can they walk the walk as well as talk the talk?
We're also planning to go to the Joystick Awards next week to keep getting ideas and feedback.
As for GWR 2009 (already, I hear you cry?), we're hearing pitches from designers for next year's book. There's a lot of thought (and research) into the look of the book, as well as the content, so it's a very important decision.
We've also had our second pitch for the cover through, which is very very exciting. We're working with a company to try to develop new foil technology for next year's book. They're trying to get holographic foil as opposed to lens based foil, so you'll see full images. As I say, this would be brand new and never done before. Hopefully this idea will come off, but I'd like to hear what YOU think should be on the cover. We're looking for a balance between all our record categories, so put your comments below and we'll take them into consideration when we make our decision.
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
Thursday, 4 October 2007
Books update
Just to give you a litle update on the things we're currently working on...
Next year's book: The first cover foils have come back (remember the LA trip a couple of weeks back?) and they're looking pretty good. As ever, we roll them out for market research to ensure that I have the equivalent mind to a ten year old boy and that our potential readership think they look cool too.
As far as the content of the book, we've been looking into the possibility of a gardening feature, the potential return of the fashion pages and how we deal with animals - their records, not the ceatures themselves. It's that point already - with the book hitting shelves a round the world for the 2008 edition - to think of 2009 and form a mental order in my head (where else...) of how the new book is going to look like and what it's going to feature.
I'm currently spending my weekends working on the upcoming computer game book. It's progressing quite nicely (thank you very much) and are around a fifth completed already. Computer games, like the rest of our records, change pretty fast, so we're having to investigate iconic games in particular. I must admit I didn't think my Sundays would be spent with the Prince of Perisa and Pac Man...
Next year's book: The first cover foils have come back (remember the LA trip a couple of weeks back?) and they're looking pretty good. As ever, we roll them out for market research to ensure that I have the equivalent mind to a ten year old boy and that our potential readership think they look cool too.
As far as the content of the book, we've been looking into the possibility of a gardening feature, the potential return of the fashion pages and how we deal with animals - their records, not the ceatures themselves. It's that point already - with the book hitting shelves a round the world for the 2008 edition - to think of 2009 and form a mental order in my head (where else...) of how the new book is going to look like and what it's going to feature.
I'm currently spending my weekends working on the upcoming computer game book. It's progressing quite nicely (thank you very much) and are around a fifth completed already. Computer games, like the rest of our records, change pretty fast, so we're having to investigate iconic games in particular. I must admit I didn't think my Sundays would be spent with the Prince of Perisa and Pac Man...
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
Thrilling news about Michael Jackson
My dealing with media and the world of celebrity continues...
On Monday, I was on BBC Radio's 1EXTRA channel talking about possibly our most famous record holder, Michael Jackson. It's the 25th anniversary of the launch of his 'Thriller' album, which happens to be the best selling album of all time. There were all sorts of world famous contributors, such as comedian Eddie Murphy, John Landis (who directed the famous video) and me.
They particularly wanted me to talk about the sales of the album. As there is no way to get accurate international sales - normally you can tell from US and UK sales alone - there are many different figures, some suggesting that over 100 million copies were sold. We estimate it's around 60 million, but it's a bit of a moot point as it far outsells the next biggest, which is the Eagles 'Best Of' album...followed by Queen's 'Best of', pop pickers...
In my mind, this makes it even more impressive as 'Best of ' albums usually far outsell original releases. As a pure album, the next biggest seller is Sergeant Pepper's by the Beatles and it lags WAY behind.
Then yesterday, who should call but michael Jackson - or his at least, his people called. They wanted to discuss our making a corporate edition, as we have done for various companies before. A coprorate edition is essentially the main section of the record book, but with bespoke pages on, for example, MJ's records and a tailored cover (such as the image from the cover of the album).
As it's early in discussions, we've not decided anything yet. I'd be interested to hear what you think about these publishing options, so please post your comments belowQ
On Monday, I was on BBC Radio's 1EXTRA channel talking about possibly our most famous record holder, Michael Jackson. It's the 25th anniversary of the launch of his 'Thriller' album, which happens to be the best selling album of all time. There were all sorts of world famous contributors, such as comedian Eddie Murphy, John Landis (who directed the famous video) and me.
They particularly wanted me to talk about the sales of the album. As there is no way to get accurate international sales - normally you can tell from US and UK sales alone - there are many different figures, some suggesting that over 100 million copies were sold. We estimate it's around 60 million, but it's a bit of a moot point as it far outsells the next biggest, which is the Eagles 'Best Of' album...followed by Queen's 'Best of', pop pickers...
In my mind, this makes it even more impressive as 'Best of ' albums usually far outsell original releases. As a pure album, the next biggest seller is Sergeant Pepper's by the Beatles and it lags WAY behind.
Then yesterday, who should call but michael Jackson - or his at least, his people called. They wanted to discuss our making a corporate edition, as we have done for various companies before. A coprorate edition is essentially the main section of the record book, but with bespoke pages on, for example, MJ's records and a tailored cover (such as the image from the cover of the album).
As it's early in discussions, we've not decided anything yet. I'd be interested to hear what you think about these publishing options, so please post your comments belowQ
Tuesday, 2 October 2007
Recovering...
...from a whirlwind week of record breaking. The UK launch went very well, but it really took it out of me.
Most of our record breakers arrived on Monday. Cathie and Walt Jung from North Carolina flew in early morning - normally we try and meet our visitors as they arrive, but it was REALLY early so we couldn't get there.
Next in was Kenneth Lee, who was very cool. He looked like a smaller version of Wesley Snipes in Blade, but wasn't a vampire. He was a fun guy, though very calm as you would expect from a samurai. Finally, we had Narve Laeret and his wife Marianne from Norway. He is an extremely well built man, looking every inch ex-special forces, but in person he's a big teddy bear
At one point when Narve and Ken were walking down the street, we can up with an idea of them in a sketch show as a pair of superheroes. As they were both dressed for their martial arts, Ken became Slasher (as he has his samurai sword) and Narve's alter ego was Smasher.
Tuesday night, we met for dinner with holders in Bertorelli's on Charlotte Street in London. We enjoyed a quiet Italian meal. Thankfully we were not as noticeable as these dinners tend to be as from the just looking at them, they aren't as noticeable as our other record breakers. We all chatted and these very different personalities all seem to have got on quite well.
Wednesday was our busiest day so far. We teamed up with TNR to shoot a promotional PR video to go out to the media, featuring our new friends. We filmed them turning up in Victoria railway station from the Gatwick Express, carrying a suitcase. In the middle of rush hour, we surprised everyone with Leslie, opening the suitcase from inside. In our 'story', I take them all sightseeing, going down to Tower Bridge, where Ken did some samurai apple chopping. He was going to split on that was standing on my head, but I was told that we didn't have the insurance (rats!). We took Leslie and Cathie over Westminster Bridge and to Parliament and then we were all on to Buckingham Palace. There the police were called because of Ken's weapon - not for the first time as we had talked to some other officers at Victoria as well.
Thursday was mainly spent checking the news wires for our pictures and other PR stories, as well as the day-to-day tasks such as working on the video games book. It was a real success with big coverage in all forms of media and with more interviews on Friday. It was especially good to be in the morning Metro paper - a record holder in itself!
Later that evening we had a final dinner with all the holders that were helping us with the launch. Kenneth was tired so had an early night, but were joined by Elaine Davidson, the most pierced woman in the world, who was doing a couple of spots with us the following morning. Our venue was Zilli Fish, owned by famous chef Aldo Zilli, who himself used to hold the record for the Highest pancake toss. Again, it was a very enjoyable evening, and Elaine's body art drew some interesting glances.
I was doing my first radio interview at 4.30 on Friday and spent most of the day at 'Heavy' in Wardour Street, talking to all those radio programmes that had helped Scott Christie and I do the most radio interviews in 24 hours. We let them know that they'd made it in the book and had one every ten minutes! Thankfully Stuart Claxton was there to help me, as there were TV interviews and other broadcast slots throughout the day, including Channel 4 Lunchtime News, Channel 5 news and a live interview on Sky News. It's always quite weird doing these things, as it's just you, a camera and a disembodied voice in the room.
I emerged, blinking, from my last interview around 4.30pm, just in time to help set up for a celebration of a good job done. I was half asleep, but it's amazing what a couple of libations and a spell on Guitar Hero can do for the spirits!!
Most of our record breakers arrived on Monday. Cathie and Walt Jung from North Carolina flew in early morning - normally we try and meet our visitors as they arrive, but it was REALLY early so we couldn't get there.
Next in was Kenneth Lee, who was very cool. He looked like a smaller version of Wesley Snipes in Blade, but wasn't a vampire. He was a fun guy, though very calm as you would expect from a samurai. Finally, we had Narve Laeret and his wife Marianne from Norway. He is an extremely well built man, looking every inch ex-special forces, but in person he's a big teddy bear
At one point when Narve and Ken were walking down the street, we can up with an idea of them in a sketch show as a pair of superheroes. As they were both dressed for their martial arts, Ken became Slasher (as he has his samurai sword) and Narve's alter ego was Smasher.
Tuesday night, we met for dinner with holders in Bertorelli's on Charlotte Street in London. We enjoyed a quiet Italian meal. Thankfully we were not as noticeable as these dinners tend to be as from the just looking at them, they aren't as noticeable as our other record breakers. We all chatted and these very different personalities all seem to have got on quite well.
Wednesday was our busiest day so far. We teamed up with TNR to shoot a promotional PR video to go out to the media, featuring our new friends. We filmed them turning up in Victoria railway station from the Gatwick Express, carrying a suitcase. In the middle of rush hour, we surprised everyone with Leslie, opening the suitcase from inside. In our 'story', I take them all sightseeing, going down to Tower Bridge, where Ken did some samurai apple chopping. He was going to split on that was standing on my head, but I was told that we didn't have the insurance (rats!). We took Leslie and Cathie over Westminster Bridge and to Parliament and then we were all on to Buckingham Palace. There the police were called because of Ken's weapon - not for the first time as we had talked to some other officers at Victoria as well.
Thursday was mainly spent checking the news wires for our pictures and other PR stories, as well as the day-to-day tasks such as working on the video games book. It was a real success with big coverage in all forms of media and with more interviews on Friday. It was especially good to be in the morning Metro paper - a record holder in itself!
Later that evening we had a final dinner with all the holders that were helping us with the launch. Kenneth was tired so had an early night, but were joined by Elaine Davidson, the most pierced woman in the world, who was doing a couple of spots with us the following morning. Our venue was Zilli Fish, owned by famous chef Aldo Zilli, who himself used to hold the record for the Highest pancake toss. Again, it was a very enjoyable evening, and Elaine's body art drew some interesting glances.
I was doing my first radio interview at 4.30 on Friday and spent most of the day at 'Heavy' in Wardour Street, talking to all those radio programmes that had helped Scott Christie and I do the most radio interviews in 24 hours. We let them know that they'd made it in the book and had one every ten minutes! Thankfully Stuart Claxton was there to help me, as there were TV interviews and other broadcast slots throughout the day, including Channel 4 Lunchtime News, Channel 5 news and a live interview on Sky News. It's always quite weird doing these things, as it's just you, a camera and a disembodied voice in the room.
I emerged, blinking, from my last interview around 4.30pm, just in time to help set up for a celebration of a good job done. I was half asleep, but it's amazing what a couple of libations and a spell on Guitar Hero can do for the spirits!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)