Independent games studio Big Village Games is excited to announce the grand opening of Merek’s Market – the chaotic crafting game about running a medieval shop. We’ve all thrown down our bags of gold to stock up for the next adventure but what about the poor souls rushing around behind the counter to fill our inventory? Weird customers? Yep. Over the top crafting challenges? You bet. A shop cat? Of course!
Launching on 15th September 2021, Merek & his intrepid support team can’t wait to welcome their new customers on Steam for PC, Xbox family of consoles, PlayStation 4 and Google Stadia.
Take ownership of Merek’s Market as you haggle, barter, and craft your way through a comical single player campaign or team up with friends to supply the whole town.
Features:
– Haggling – Get the best price by trying to read customers and discreetly adjusting your prices.
– Crafting – Make some beautiful inventions…and some fairly awful looking ones too. It’s hard to argue with a paying customer.
– 4 Player local co-op – Sit down with up to 3 friends in a full co-op campaign.
“The last 18 months have been really tough on everyone so what better way to mark the return to “normality” than a session of good, old fashioned co-op gaming set in a store with no masks required?” ponders Dave Warderley of Big Village Games. “Merek’s Market is fun for all the family – friends away for the summer break? Your parents will totally be useful teammates. Lockdown took its toll? Save the relationship with some quality time. Struggle with the most basic games? That’s fine, just look like you’re doing something useful while your team carries you.”
Merek’s Market brings it’s manic mix of crafting and retail to Steam for PC, Xbox family of consoles, PlayStation 4 and Google Stadia from 15th September priced at £14.99/$19.99/€17.99.
TAITO Corporation today announced their hugely successful Bubble Bobble 4 Friends will launch on PC this summer as BUBBLE BOBBLE 4 FRIENDS: THE BARON’S WORKSHOP.
The upcoming PC release of Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron’s Workshop will feature all the original and downloadable content from the PlayStation®4 and Nintendo Switch™ releases, plus a new PC-exclusive Workshop mode where players can create new stages using dozens of block types, enemies and gimmicks unlocked as they play through the game. Players can share their own stages and download endless original creations from around the world on Steam Workshop.
First launched in 1986, Bubble Bobble is an iconic arcade classic in which twins Bub and Bob clear stages of bullies by blowing and bursting bubbles. Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is the latest edition in the classic Bubble Bobble series and the first new sequel in 24 years. Join Bub and Bob as they journey with their friends Peb and Pab on a quest to defeat their old enemies Bonner and Baron Von Blubba in 200 stages of platform puzzle action.
First launched in 1986, Bubble Bobble is an iconic arcade classic in which twins Bub and Bob clear stages of bullies by blowing and bursting bubbles. Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is the latest edition in the classic Bubble Bobble series and the first new sequel in 24 years. Join Bub and Bob as they journey with their friends Peb and Pab on a quest to defeat their old enemies Bonner and Baron Von Blubba in 200 stages of platform puzzle action.
Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron’s Workshopfeatures:
1-4 player couch co-op.
4 Friends – With 100 stages to take on!
Arcade of the Future – Play 100 more super-difficult stages with no continues for pro Bubble Bobble players.
The Baron’s Workshop – create, share and download new Bubble Bobble stages with players around the world.
Original Arcade Mode – A faithful port of the classic Bubble Bobble for 1-2 players, with scanlines and screen ratio options for a truly authentic arcade experience.
Global online leaderboards – Challenge your friends’ best scores across every game mode.
Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron’s Workshop will be available this summer on Steam for $39.99 / £30.99 / €39.99.
It can be very challenging to ensure that your SaaS business is a success. B2B SaaS stands for business-to-business Software-as-a-Service and refers to various software organizations use to help them manage their operations. With these systems, accounting, customer relationship management, increasing work productivity, keeping track of inventory and progress, and many more duties are all possible. While the demand for B2B Software is quite high, there are many competitors present in the market, making it difficult for you to survive. If you’re a new entrepreneur wanting to expand your SaaS company, focusing solely on the service supplied won’t get you very far. Numerous factors must be considered and optimized for your B2B SaaS firm to expand steadily. Here’s a checklist to follow for developing your SaaS company and you can also use all types of digital marketing, including social media and email marketing, because they are both important. A B2B SaaS SEO agency can also help with your digital marketing efforts.
1. Automate Customer Onboarding
Even if the service you provide is self-explanatory, it’s best to provide each one with a decent description and an about-page. Furthermore, an automated sign-up or customer onboarding procedure is preferable to a manual one, which is ineffectual and time-consuming. In addition, your app or program should have an attractive and effective welcome screen and step-by-step instructions to make it easier for your clients to navigate.
2. Follow A Thorough Product Testing Process
While your business’s success isn’t entirely based on your product, it does rely on the quality of the service you give to a large extent. As a result, it’s critical that your product be the finest in its category. You’ll need to test your product properly and address any flaws or loose ends to ensure the best quality. Also, put your product through trials by collecting unbiased input from people comparable to your target market. These people are known as beta users, and their job is to test and review products. The tests will assist you in identifying numerous minor problems in your application and any necessary extra modifications.
3. Provide Initial Discounts And Offers
Discounts and initial offers like free trials are the most effective ways to sell any product. It not only allows you to test your service but also attracts a large number of customers. Furthermore, if you charge your customers when you first launch a product, you’ll need to set up a payment gateway on your website, which costs money and might delay your launch. Instead, make a beta testing version of your product that offers free services for a limited time before charging. This will allow you to get the payment procedure up to speed.
4. Make Use Of Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing has evolved into the most important aspect of any successful marketing strategy. With over 3 billion users, social networking is the most convenient and cost-effective way to sell your brand. While there are many tactics you can use to grow a b2b SaaS business, social media marketing is the most effective. Start by signing up for only two or three social media platforms and interacting with your target audience to learn about their interests, concerns, and inclinations. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are the three finest social media sites for business promotion. While Facebook’s value cannot be overstated, Twitter and LinkedIn are now viable options for easy target outreach. LinkedIn, in particular, makes finding your SaaS startup a lot easier for potential clients and enterprises.
5. Get Customer Feedback
Even if your program is flawless, it is certain to have a few bugs or system flaws. Your Customer input is the most crucial factor in determining whether or not your brand will succeed. The key to a well-managed service is to establish a clear communication channel that allows your clients to submit feedback while also assisting you in analyzing the comments to improve your performance. Use your social networking sites or provide your consumers with your email address for this purpose. If you’re responsive, you’ll get a lot of positive feedback. If you can afford it, you can also use assistance software to collect all of your remarks, feedback, and queries in one location.
To manage a successful business, you’ll need many different things. It takes experience and a handful of knowledge to take your company to the next level to allow it to grow and stand out in the market. With the passage of time, businesses are expected to become even more reliant on software, making a B2B SaaS venture a terrific concept. However, due to the numerous considerations that must be made, it can be quite tough to handle. Ensure that the services and products you provide are of the best quality for consumer loyalty and brand awareness. Use all types of digital marketing, including social media and email marketing, because they are both important.
Starting a new business requires extensive planning and taking care of the small details. However, the hard work starts when the business gets going. In today’s market, if you don’t upgrade or grow your business continually, you will fall behind and most likely lose it all. The sure way of survival in the business world is to keep growing your business all the time. However, there is no one formula that will ensure your efforts are as effective as they should be to grow your business. If you do these six things, you should be able to promote your business and see it grow.
1. Offer Exceptional Customer Service
Taking care of your customers and offering them the best service is a sure-fire way of making your business distinctive, and generating return sales which down the line means growth in your business. It can’t be emphasized enough how important this aspect of a business is, it can make or break your business. When customers receive great customer service, they will not only remember it, but they will also recommend your business to their network. If your customer is unhappy about the product or service you offer, you can compensate them, or fix what’s wrong with the business processes. Customers love to be heard.
2. Make The Best Out Of Social Media
Social media is a powerful tool that every business needs to use these days to stay relevant. It also does not take a huge chunk out of your marketing budget. It can help you reach potential clients and gain valuable information about what people and your potential customers like and need. You can launch marketing campaigns on social media platforms with a relatively small budget and you control who can see your ads. Customers voice their opinions on social media freely, and if you listen to what they say, you can offer better products, services, and customer service. Social media is the best place to give your brand a unique identity.
3. Upgrade The IT Department
The IT department is responsible for the core process in any business. They ensure that every computer, laptop, application, or any IT-related gadget is working efficiently. One of the ways to empower your IT department is by hiring an IT consulting services company to do the related tasks professionally. When you outsource this part of the IT department, you actually lower your costs in the long run and get a better service as these companies usually are equipped with the latest technology solutions and training. Invest in upgrading your software and hardware to improve the productivity of your whole business which will help all your staff do their jobs more efficiently and thus promote business growth.
4. Hire and Nurture The Right People
It goes without saying that before you even open your doors, you need to hire the best people you can afford. However, it is normal to make a few bad decisions along the way, but these mistakes can be fixed by putting more effort into finding the right staff. Give attention to the recruitment process and don’t rush hiring someone until you make sure they are right for the job and the business environment and your existing team. Once your business starts growing, don’t hesitate to hire employees in the new areas you want to develop. Offering your employees comfortable working conditions, as well as decent pay, will mean that your staff will stay and become a stable workforce which is what you need in the beginning stages of a business.
5. Reinvest in Your Business
One of the biggest mistakes new business owners make is that they spend their profit rather than re-investing it in the business. To grow your business, you need to keep investing in it, especially in the early years. No matter how big or small the profit is, you need to pump it back into the business cycle to help its growth. Promote your brand continually through offers, customized products, themes, and so on to keep the customers engaged and looking forward to your next offer.
6. Research The Competition
You must know what and how competitors are doing so you can keep your business relevant and up-to-date in either products or services. The marketplace is highly competitive, so you need to know what is working and what is not, and it’s not something you can do by trial and error because you will lose time and money. By monitoring your competitors, you will know how to reach new customers, what mistakes to avoid, and what you can offer to beat the competition. No matter how big or small the competitor is, you should know how they do things.
Doing these six things will help the growth of your business by overall improvement in tasks, procedures, and the caliber of employees of your company. Growing a business is an ongoing process that never ends if you want your company to survive in today’s market. You should know what your customers want and give them the service they want as they are what will push your business forward.
Ireland is poised to introduce a strict gambling regulator that could transform the current state of play regarding all forms of gambling and related advertisements across the country. The new watchdog will prioritise public health and wellbeing and have extreme power, as stated by James Brown, the Minister of State for Justice. The regulator is expected to be in full operation by the end of 2021, employing 100 people to keep an eye on Irish companies and impose fines in instances of non-compliance.
The new watchdog may be unwelcome news to some gambling businesses – but not all of them. Operating in legal jurisdictions and prioritising player wellbeing will match the new branding of Entain, which has multiple gambling businesses in operation across the country,PartyCasino being one of their most recognised brands in the world. The changes may even work seamlessly with their new Advanced Responsibility and Care (ARC) strategy.
The story in detail
Ireland’s gambling laws and legislation have been outdated for a long time. Before an interim Act was passed early in 2021, the then-current laws were devised in 1931, with changes made in 1956. The industry was running on older rules that were not fit for purpose, especially considering the trend in online gambling and vast advertisement opportunities since their conception.
Another issue with the current system is that overseeing influences within the local gambling industry are fragmented. Multiple government departments and agencies are responsible for the different parts of regulation in the country. The creation of the new regulator will solve the outdatedness and the fragmented nature of the current state of play.
Will ads be banned in Ireland?
There is a possibility that gambling ads will be banned in Ireland as a result of pending changes. However, it may be more likely that an advert watershed is introduced, which is not currently the case. There have been growing concerns surrounding children witnessing scores of gaming ads each week due to no “lights-out” hours on these ads, especially as more children were being homeschooled over the last year.
Earlier this year, the Irish Labour Party tabled a Bill to ban all gambling ads on television as a way to prevent minors from witnessing these adverts. The Bill has been supported by Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). However, it is still unclear whether a blanket ban will be used or a watershed introduced. Mark Wall from the Labour Party has stressed that Ireland should not wait until the end of the year when a new regulator is created to ban these ads, suggesting that Ireland “cannot wait that long”.
These debated changes mirror what is happening across the Irish Sea, as the UK Gambling Commission wrestles with the same issues and the high prevalence of gambling companies partnering with professional sporting teams, notably as Premier League shirt sponsors.
The Tronsmart Onyx Apex are one of the latest on offer from the company that brings good tech at an affordable price, this is the third pair we have tried out in recent times and again bringing some bang for your book which is great for the consumer in a saturated market, these do come with some caveats albeit small considering the price and they are no wireless charging no auto play/pause and no app they do have a similar sound signature to the Apollo Air and are loud with a nice level of bass thrown in for good measure.
The lack of app support here is what lets them down and akin to the apollo air but it is something you can live without if you just want earbuds that give a good punch for the money and all the controls you need at your fingertips. They have a great seal and easy to use controls which you tap or tap and hold to execute a command which we go through in the video below.
Tronsmart Onyx Apex
Tronsmart Onyx Apex
Tronsmart Onyx Apex
No lag latency was noticed during my usual test loop and they performed well with You Tube Netflix and Music and are loud and I like loud, anyone who is looking for a new pair of earbuds or indeed if it is their first they will be impressed with these at the price you pay and overall you cant complain here..
Features
Active noise cancelling technology.
Advanced Qualcomm QCC3040 chip.
High quality Qualcomm® aptX™ audio decoding.
Bluetooth 5.2 technology for better stability and compatibility.
2 microphones each with cVc 8.0 technology for ultra-clear calls.
Today, Dropbox is announcing that all of its data centre storage server power is covered by 100% renewable electricity.
Last year, Dropbox published its commitment to fighting global warming and reducing its carbon footprint through sustainability goals, that the company plans to accomplish by 2030.
As a company that runs on data centres, Dropbox recognises the impact that it has on global energy consumption – and today’s news means that means when you’re storing your data with Dropbox, you’re not leaving a carbon footprint.
The Dropbox Infrastructure team has worked hard to achieve this milestone through three focus areas: maintaining best-in-class power usage effectiveness, optimising overall power consumption, and sourcing more renewable energy.
Dropbox says
As a company that runs on data centers, we recognize the impact we have on global energy consumption, and we’re proud to announce that all of our data center storage server power is covered by 100% renewable electricity. This means when you’re storing your data with us, you’re not leaving a carbon footprint.
Our Infrastructure team has worked hard to achieve this milestone through three focus areas: maintaining best-in-class power usage effectiveness, optimizing
Microsoft today announced the launch of Soundscape in Ireland, an app that has been designed to enable people to explore the world around them through a 3D experience.
The Microsoft Soundscape app uses innovative audio-based technology to enable people to build a richer awareness of their surroundings, thus becoming more confident and independent when moving around their town, city or local area.
Unlike step-by-step navigation apps, Soundscape uses 3D audio cues that help build a mental map of their surrounding and provides a new way for people to relate to their environment. People use Soundscape in a number of different and creative ways. Recently, we came across an example of a group of 11-year-old students using Soundscape to create a heritage trail of historical sites in their town. With Soundscape, they created a 3D spatial audio experience from one landmark to another and as the trail unfolded more and more of the town’s history was revealed to the user.
In another example of how Soundscape can assist users in navigating their environment, Microsoft has been collaborating with NCBI (National Council for the Blind in Ireland) to test the Soundscape app locally. Over the past year, mobility specialists at NCBI have been working directly with service users to help them use the app and provide feedback on its impact on their daily lives.
One such user is Michael Leahy, a 38-year-old native of Dublin, who has used the Microsoft Soundscape app to build up his confidence in travelling independently and getting back into work after losing his sight just 18 months ago.
Speaking about the impact of Soundscape, Michael Leahy said: “When I lost my vision, my world was turned upside down. I didn’t know what to do or how to move forward. I was losing my sense of self and my confidence in the process.
“After I completed my foundational mobility trainingNCBI introduced me to the Microsoft Soundscape app. I knew very quickly I had found a tool that could really improve the quality of my daily life. The app helped me to navigate my daily routes and to start going out independently. Being mobile has given me back my independence and the confidence to find employment. The Soundscape app has been truly life-changing.”
Chantelle Smith, National Access and Mobility Manager, at NCBI explained that: “Technology is a huge enabler for people living with a vision impairment or blindness. Over the past year, I’ve seen first-hand how the Microsoft Soundscape app has supported Michael to regain his independence following his diagnosis.
“Soundscape has the potential to positively impact the lives of almost 55,000 people in Ireland who are blind or vision impaired to more freely navigate the world around them. We’re thrilled that it is now available for free here in Ireland and I’d encourage those within the community to download it and use it to its full potential.”
Microsoft soundscape app techbuzzireland
Speaking about the launch, James O’Connor, Vice President of Microsoft International Operations, said: “At Microsoft, we believe that technology can play a vital role in creating a more inclusive Ireland and empowering positive change in our society. By collaborating with NCBI and its service users, we’ve observed the profound impact that Soundscape has on people’s lives, enabling them to live, work and play with a renewed sense of independence and confidence.
“Michael’s story is a powerful example of what can be achieved when we harness the power of accessible technology to help everyone in our community to reach their true potential. By making the Soundscape app available for free, in collaboration with NCBI, we hope to help people who are blind or vision impaired to navigate and connect with the world around them.”
Soundscape is designed to be used by everyone and allows the user to switch effortlessly between using the app in the real world or in the virtual world, helping to build a richer awareness of their surroundings and enabling them to explore and learn about their environment. Soundscape can be downloaded for free via the App Store for iOS devices. Visit Microsoft Soundscape to find out more.
New World, Amazon’s debut into the MMO genre, was slated to launch in August 2020. However, the game has been totally rebuilt after a year of additional improvements ahead of its revised release date of August 2021.
Among the many changes, the introduction of new game modes is one of the most significant. New World strives to provide users with unique MMO experiences outside of the conventional MMO gameplay. Here’s a list of all the game modes that are available in the beta. To ensure your start in this game is smooth, its best to get familiar with Eldorado.gg, a gaming marketplace that provides huge discounts on New World gold, items and even New World accounts to try new builds and character designs.
Outpost Rush
Outpost Rush, one of the more recent additions, is an endgame mode that combines PvP and PvE elements. Two teams of 20 players compete for control of three outposts scattered around the landscape. In addition to conquering outposts and defending against other players, acquired resources can be used to fortify and strengthen captured outpost defenses. Other goals across the map that players might strive toward obtaining will award their team benefits. To get better at this mode, we’ll advise that you spice up your inventory with some New World items from Eldorado.gg.
Expeditions
Expeditions are available in the world of Aternum for groups of five players. These are comparable to dungeons in other MMOs, but with additional features like as puzzles to break up the battle. At the end of these one-of-a-kind encounters, you’ll face some of New World’s most difficult bosses. A balanced party of competent players with enough damage, tanking, and healing to live is generally required to complete an expedition. Eldorado.gg marketplace offers the best opportunities to ensure that your party is fully equipped for the troubles that lie ahead. So make sure to get New World Gold for fair prices before embarking!
War
Along with Invasion, which is a major PvE experience, War is the biggest PvP experience in New World at the moment. In the 50-vs-50 game style, defenders will try to keep their fort for 30 minutes while attackers try to break down the gates and take it. Both attackers and defenders have a variety of siege weaponry at their disposal to aid them in battle. The territory will be controlled by the winner.
Invasion
Invasion is New World’s largest PvE experience. 50 players will defend their fort against an onslaught of corrupted opponents in this wave-based game style. Players will have access to a variety of weaponry to aid them in combat, with the Void Destroyer serving as the ultimate challenge. Players must fend off the attack for 30 minutes in order to win. However, if they fail, their region would be demoted.
