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gunterfan1992 · 4 years ago

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Episode Review: ‘Obsidian’ (Distant Lands, Ep. 2)

Airdate: November 19, 2020

Story by: Jack Pendarvis, and Kate Tsang, Adam Muto, & Hanna K. Nyström

Storyboarded by: Hanna K Nyström, Anna Syvertsson, Iggy Craig, Mickey Quinn, Maya Petersen, James Campbell, & Ashlyn Anstee

Directed by: Miki Brewster (supervising), Sandra Lee (art)

Of all the many colorful characters in Adventure Time perhaps none has a more elaborate backstory than Marceline the Vampire Queen. In many ways, Marceline really was the writers’ gold goose, engendering complex story after complex story. By the time the series ended, the vampire’s life had in more ways than one been woven into the very fabric of the show’s mythology.

But because I am a Marceline fanboy—whose zeal for her majesty is rivaled perhaps only by Glassboy himself—I always felt like the show could have done even more with her backstory; I mean, when the series finale aired, there were still plenty of questions that had yet to be answered (What happened to her mom? What is Simon going to do now that he’s “cured”? How did Marcy and Bubblegum meet? Were they romantically involved before the events of the main series? How did it all go south?). Nevertheless, when "Island Song” played for the last time at the end of “Come Along with Me,” I forced myself to push aside this minor, fannish grievance and applaud the show for writing such an excellent character. I didn’t need for every last detail of her life to be explicitly shown on screen. I was happy.

But then, about a year ago, news dropped that one of the Distant Lands specials would really delve into the history of Marceline and Bubblegum’s relationship. In an instant, I tossed my stoic “I-am-satisified-with-what-I-received” mentality right out the window. We were going to get another Marceline episode, and it was going to dive back into her elaborate backstory!?! I could barely contain my excitement as I waited for the episode to drop.

Well, was my excitement worth it? Or was “Obsidian” a big ol’ let down—a tragic victim to grandiose expectations that were never meant to be fulfilled?

I’m quite happy to say that not only was “Obsidian” a remarkable special in its own right, but it is arguably one of the strongest episodes of Adventure Time, period.

The plot of this episode is fairly standard, as far as Adventure Time episodes go: Glassboy (a new character voiced by Michaela Dietz, the voice of Amethyst from Steven Universe) accidentally sets a giant fire monster named Molto Larvo loose on the Glass Kingdom, and Marceline and Bubblegum—who we learn have been living their best cottagecore life together in Marcy’s cavehouse—are forced to save the day. But the series’ writers take this otherwise quotidian adventure idea—a story which, at least on paper, could have easily fit in during any of the show’s many seasons—and employ it as something of a Trojan Horse, using it as a pretense to delve into both Marcy’s traumatic childhood and her and Bubblegum’s romantic history. And, boy, is it a ride!

With regard to the former story thread, the audience learns that sometime after the Mushroom Bomb detonated, Marceline and her mother, Elise (voiced this time not by Rebecca Sugar, but by actress Erica Luttrell, who played Sapphire in Steven Universe), roamed the wastelands in search of shelter; after Marceline’s mother came down with some sort of sickness, she sent Marceline to be on her own. Elise was hoping that this would spare Marcy the trauma of seeing her mother die before her very eyes, but due to some communication issues, Marceline never learned what became of her mother. As such, Marceline began blaming herself for “leaving” her mom to die in the wreckage of the world. This plot thread is perhaps one of the bleakest that Adventure Time has ever explored, and the show does it masterfully, balancing the darkness (e.g., Marceline’s mother coughing up blood) with bright spots of comedy (e.g., the "wazzup” dog) that never feel distasteful.

Likewise, when it comes to the story thread about Marcy and Bubblegum’s romantic history, the special does not hold back. We get to see “Bubbline” at its best and its worst. I have a feeling that the word “fan service” is going to be used by a lot of folks when talking about this episode. As the AV Club writer William Hughes notes, this word is usually hurled around like a pejorative, but it aptly describes the appeal of “Obsidian”. After all, this episode really is “fan service at its finest”—not only does it give the ravenous shippers the story tidbits that they have so long to see (e.g., the moment Marcy gave Bubblegum her rock shirt, Bubbline’s epic break-up), but—and this is very important—it does so in a way that is fundamentally meaningful. “Obsidian” does not feel self-indulgent, unnecessary, or pandering. On the contrary, it is overflowing with deep emotion that allows us to better understand how Bubblegum and Marceline really feel about one another. Sure, over the centuries that the two gals have bummed around Ooo, they have bickered and fought, but deep down, their love is passionate. In many ways, it is like the titular obsidian, which means that nothing short of an enchanted diamond pickax is strong enough to break Bubbline apart for good.

(It’s also quite nice that after seasons and seasons of tip-toeing around the question of Marceline and Bubblegum’s sexuality, “Obsidian” can explicitly focus on their life together, showing the two characters cuddling, kissing, and dancing. In terms of LGBTQ+ representation, it’s a huge leap forward, and I’m so happy that Adventure Time has had a part to play in normalizing queer relationships!)

Marceline episodes almost always featured a catchy diddy, but "Obsidian” really cranks things up to 11 by featuring a whole bevy of catchy songs, several of which are perhaps among the show’s strongest. The first right banger, “It’s Funny,” is the song that plays over the special’s credits. With a grunge-meets-riot grrrl feels, this track really sets the tone for the episode, signaling to the audience that we’re in for, as Lumpy Space Princess once put it, some “drama bombs.” The next standout is “Woke Up,” a brutally honest diss track that Marceline used both to contain Molto Larvo and break up with Princess Bubblegum centuries prior to the start of this episode. This song was written by pop rocker Zuzu, and it—as the kids say—slaps. Layers of fuzzed-out guitar and digitally processed vocals are used expertly to sell Marceline’s emotions and convey how, on the surface, she’s delighted to no longer be under Bubblegum’s romantic spell... even if her heart may not be so sure.

But arguably, the musical jewel of the entire special is “Monster,” a somber ballad that Marceline sings to Bubblegum when they find themselves trapped in the collapsing furnace and are facing what they believe is certain death. Written by indie pop artist Half Shy, this song is, in many ways, something of the inverse of “Woke Up”: soft, happy, and filled to the brim with a sort of love that few are lucky to receive and even fewer can honestly express. Not only does “Monster” finally cement Marceline’s real, visceral love for Bubblegum in song form (remember: almost every prior Bubbline song was either indirect or delivered by an angsty, heartbroken Marceline), but it also “tames” Molto Larvo, allowing him to metamorphose into a strange but harmless cat-butterfly critter. Just like “Come Along with Me,” “Obsidian” proves that the power of love and music will save us in the end—if not physically, then at least emotionally.

Regarding the production-side of things, there’s a lot of praise to doll out. First off, the look and style of “Obsidian” is gorgeous. While “BMO” opted to experiment somewhat with the classic Adventure Time art style, trading cel shading for an almost watercolor feel, “Obsidian” echoes the aesthetic of the original series. That said, there’s an undeniable animation bump—likely courtesy of that sweet, sweet HBO money—that lets Ooo and its denizens shine in all their glory. You can tell that Adam Muto, art director Sandra Lee, supervising director Miki Brewster, and all the members of the production staff really went above and beyond the call of duty. The episode's soundtrack, composed by Amanda Jones, as deserves a shout-out. Jones did an excellent job mixing the chiptune style of the original series with a bass-heavy rock sound that highlights Marceline’s starring role. Bravo!

As another production aside, I should point out that CN/HBO’s decision to make these specials each 44 minutes was the right call. The 11 minute format of the original series often left something to be desired when it came to plot development, as many an important episode was forced to end somewhat prematurely due to time constraints; conversely, the 8-episode miniseries format that the show experimented with during its latter days sometimes felt like too much time (Stakes, Islands, and Elements all had whole episodes that felt like nothing more than the show treading water). The length of “Obsidian”, however, was just right, giving us plenty of time to take in what was happening without ever feeling like it was dragging.

A final aspect of this episode that is worth mention is its many call-backs to previous episodes and characters. “BMO” was mostly a self-contained story that, due to its nature as a prequel in space, really couldn’t reference the Land of Ooo without feeling forced. “Obsidian,” however, throws in everything and the kitchen sink (Adventure Time superfan and all-around cool person Jagm has collected most of them here for those of you who want to see everything laid out nicely). Stand-outs for me include Choose Goose (someone who we really haven’t seen since season five) smuggling sketchy products into the Candy Kingdom, post-Ice King Simon trying his hand at open mic nights, Bronwyn as an adventurous hero, and Finn the (Adult!) Human complete with beard and scars! Of note, Jake does not appear in this episode, except as a tattoo on Finn’s chest. Many in the fandom are now speculating that the events of “Obsidian” take place after our beloved shapeshifting dog’s death. Oh say it ain’t so! Perhaps we’ll learn more in “Together Again.”

Mushroom War Evidence: Unlike “BMO,” which directly referenced the Mushroom War and its fallout (both literally and figuratively), this episode returned to the show’s roots by featuring gobs of explicit hints in throw-away lines or elaborate background pieces. Honestly, there is far too many to list here in a pithy paragraph, but some major references include: the reveal that the Glass Kingdom, like the Fire Kingdom, was created by ‘magic’ blaze from the heavens (almost certainly a nuke); the fact that Marceline and her mother wandered for a time in the debris-filled wastelands following the apocalypse; and the reveal that Marceline spent at least part of her childhood holed up in a bomb shelter surrounded by the bones of myriad dead humans. Honestly, while references to the Mushroom War have always been sad footnotes to an otherwise cheery show; in this episode, however, the references are very graphic, illustrating the sorrow and horror of mutagenic war.

Final Grade: As I said earlier, I’m a Marcy fanboy, so I’m horrible biased, but I don’t care. This episode rocked. Q.E.D.

#adventure time #atimers #adventure time distant lands #distant lands #atdl #obsidian #marceline the vampire queen #marceline #bubblegum #princess bubblegum #bubbline #adam muto #hanna k #hanna k. nyström #jack pendarvis

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politicalloading620 · 3 years ago

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Simulation 3d Software

Magazine> resources

In the market for 3D modeling software? Here are the best programs out there to make your 3D dreams come true—including 10 free 3D modeling software options!

Ansys engineering simulation and 3D design software delivers product modeling solutions with unmatched scalability and a comprehensive multiphysics foundation. AnyLogic PLE is the only free simulation software that combines discrete event, system dynamics, and agent-based simulation methods so you can model any real-world system or process. 3D Simulation Software Meet your digital workforce. Jack and Jill are the best workers ever. They’re always on time, they never complain, and they’ve been known to put in a 24/7 work week. You’re right: Jack, Jill, and their elite virtual pals aren’t going to produce any physical products for you. General Purpose, includes 2D and 3D magnetics solvers, both static and harmonic. 3D solver is based on the Whitney AV formulation of Maxwell's equations. References edit ^ Hoffmann, J.; et al. What makes it special: Tailored specifically for product design and engineering applications and loaded with tools for simulation and manufacturing. Inventor 3D CAD software offers professional-level 3D mechanical design. The program comes with freeform, direct, and parametric modeling choices.

With 3D modeling software, you can create just about anything. The industry is changing so fast, however, that it can be a little challenging to determine which 3D modeling program is the best for your 3D modeller needs.

We walk you through the 19 best 3D modeling software options on the market right now. Even better? We share 10 free 3D modeling software programs for the budget-conscious 3D artists.

Once you have the right 3D modeling software, you’ll be able to produce stunning 3D designs for your online design portfolio—and featuring such a hot skill is sure to lure in potential clients and employers on the hunt for modeling software experts.

Now, let’s take a look at the best 3D modeling software programs out there!

3d Simulation Software Open Source

Best 3D Modelling Software

1. Autodesk Maya

Type: SubscriptionPrice: $245/month

When you ask any professional 3D modeller in the industry which program they use the most, Autodesk Maya is the most common answer, and for good reason. Most of the leading animation studios use it (Pixar included) due in part to the massive array of powerful tools offered within the package. The last few years have seen some especially amazing new features burst into the limelight such as truly jaw-dropping live rendering.

There’s a catch, though: Maya isn’t cheap, and you’re going to need to learn to use it before you can create much of anything. There’s a lot to learn in 3D modeling programs, and if you can devote the time to truly learn this new artform then every penny you spend on Maya will be worth it. If you want a portfolio that floors clients from the start, this is how to do it.

2. Autodesk Mudbox

Type: SubscriptionPrice: $245/month

In addition to the titan known as Maya, Autodesk also offers Mudbox. It’s one of the easiest 3D modeling software packages on offer, but it’s more aligned to editing and sculpting 3D models using a simple, intuitive and tactile toolset than it is able in doing more complex 3D tasks. You can increase polygon counts on the fly, set up layers, and gradually adjust your 3D models until they are absolutely perfect. Then, built-in functions create textures, paint colors, correct meshes, and produce Normal maps.

You can also create things from scratch with this program, sculpting whatever you choose, but rigging, texturing, and animation are not its focus. To complete those steps, you’ll need Maya or other similar 3D modeling software. Master Mudbox and your design portfolio will be all the richer for it.

3. Houdini

Type: LicensePrice: $1995, $4495, or $499/year

Similar to Autodesk Maya, Houdini is another industry-standard tool that ranks as one of the best 3D modeling software packages available. It uses a different methodology than Autodesk Maya, using a node-based procedural style of production that affords artists a huge amount of control. Similar to Maya, there’s a rather steep curve to learning all the tricks needed to succeed with this modeling software. You won’t be creating masterpieces in 20 minutes, but, with a bit of persistence, you won’t have too much trouble making works of art.

It’s on the expensive side, offering yearly licenses or perpetual purchases of Houdini and Houdini FX, but there is also a free version called Houdini Apprentice available that we’ll detail in the second half of this article. All in all, Houdini is a solid choice for any VFX artist, and will help you create some stunning CGI to make your online design portfolio truly amazing.

4. Cinema 4D

Type: LicensePrice:$480/year to $2,850

Maxon’s Cinema 4D is also a serious competitor and easily among the best 3D modeling software programs you can find. Designed for creating perfect motion graphics, this powerful tool can compete head-to-head with the above entries and hold its own. It can crank out amazing quality that can turn heads, but it’s strongest lead over competitors is a simple one: it’s much (much) easier to learn. This could be a great help in making your design portfolio as gorgeous as possible—trying out a variety of 3D projects is a great way to show your range to clients.

A caveat (and one that will be problematic if you don’t have deep pockets): the cost. With a hefty cost to perpetual licenses (some of which expire), you need to make sure it’s the right choice for you before you commit. Thankfully, they also offer a free trial that lasts a bit longer than a month to help you make the decision (and they offer student licenses at a reduced cost).

5. Modo

Type: Subscription or LicensePrice:$399/year to $1799

To stand out from the crowd, Modo does things a bit differently than the other 3D modeling programs. The Foundry made Modo with art in mind, not just animation, which led to it offering a rather robust and interesting selection of tools. Most notable is how user-friendly it is, allowing neophytes the ability to pick it up with relative ease and become a 3D modeller without years of training.

While it lacks the higher-end tools offered in programs like Autodesk Maya, Maya won’t let you intuitively create great quality renders with a low degree of effort: Modo is easy to pick up and figure out in comparison. Finally, Modo sports a wonderfully powerful rendering engine that is easily on par with other high-end programs, allowing you to create pro-quality on the fly.

6. Autodesk 3Ds Max

Type: SubscriptionPrice:$216/month to $1740/year

Hacer antenna wifi biquad antenna. 3Ds Max has been around for a long time, as far as modeling software goes. It predates almost every other current program by several years and has plenty of performance patches under its belt as a result. It’s one of the most stable 3D modeling programs around (probably the most stable option on Windows, period) and has a gigantic library available that provides access to countless functions that can make the process of modelling less tedious. Many of these mods also make things easier for beginners.

It has a higher price point but offers free student licenses and a trial that allows you access to all of the features the app has to offer for 30 days, which should provide further incentive to give it a go and wow your clients.

7. ZBrush

Type: LicensePrice:$895

When it comes to sculpting amazing creatures, people, and places, there are no competitors that come anywhere even close to ZBrush. It’s a staple in VFX on movies and television, and there are few 3D modeling programs that can match its stature in the video game designer industry. If you’re into 3D printing, this is definitely your go-to option: nothing beats ZBrush for making vinyl toys or action figures. You will need training on the various tools and features to make the most of ZBrush, but know that this training is absolutely worth it.

8. Rhinoceros

Type: LicensePrice:$995

Uninhibited design is the focus of Rhinoceros, providing all the tools and features you would expect in the best 3D modelling software, but with an easy-to-learn toolset that allows you to get cracking right away. It’s compatible with just about everything and has a well-designed rendering engine that can process even complex animations without unexpected slowdown.

It’s free for 90 days, after which point you’ll need to purchase a license to continue taking advantage of its features and power. It’s worth a look, especially if you want something simple to grasp and get started with.

9. Substance Designer

Type: LicensePrice:$19.90/month and up

There are many steps to 3D model creation, and producing realistic textures can be very time-consuming and involved. Enter Substance Designer, one of the most powerful and astounding texture creation applications there is. It can generate some truly astonishing surfaces for your models, and the resulting texture maps will turn your creations into extremely detailed art that not only looks realistic but saves you a ton of time fiddling with bits and bobs.

If you’re serious about becoming a 3D modeller, you owe it to yourself to at least give it a try. We guarantee that the results will please you, and afterwards, you won’t want to use anything else for your skinning and texturing.

Free 3D Modeling Software

If you’re on a fixed income and can’t afford to shell out hundreds of dollars for a full license but still want to learn the skills needed to become a 3D modeller, you’re in luck: there are some free 3D modeling software options out there as well, and many are quite powerful and capable of producing professional-grade content.

10. Blender

The king of the castle among free 3D modeling software is, without a doubt, Blender. It’s been around since 2002 and is quite polished. Running on every major operating system, it provides all the tools you expect in modeling software, including rigging, texturing, sculpting, UVing, and animation. With a solid rendering engine, it has proven itself time and again when compared to the fancier programs out there.

As an added bonus, it’s open-source! This means that there are constant improvements and available add-ons for new functionality are not only common, but always free of charge. This puts a lot of power in your hands. If you can’t swing an expensive license for Maya, this is the next best thing.

11. Daz Studio

Recently made free to all, Daz Studio is accessible to newcomers as well as experienced 3D modellers, and is focused around creating art using people, animals, and other assets from their list. Unlike most other entries on the list, this is more akin to a posing tool than one designed to create high-end 3D models for production.

While the program itself is totally free, be advised that a lot of the content on their marketplace is not: this means that to really make the most out of it, you’ll still need to plunk down a bit of cash. If you are in it to make art rather than animation for your portfolio, you can’t really go wrong: a large amount of content is available right from the start, and anything you make is royalty-free!

12. SkethupFree

A surprisingly easy 3D modeling software option,SketchUp works on every major operating system—it will even run smoothly on your Chromebook!

You can draw, set orbits, and combine elements to create true 3D art with ease in a natural, sketch-based approach. Through Sketchup, you can draft some cool home layouts, furniture, and isometric art without needing to create primitives and extrude for hours. This is super-handy for those looking into becoming an interior designer. You’re also spared the rigor of rigging, and the annoyance of UV maps as well. This is a great tool for those more looking to make cool art.

13. Sculptris

Sculptris has a lot going for it: it has, for example, some of the sculpting power of Zbrush (but none of the price associated with it). It’s the absolute best free 3D modeling software for sculpting; nothing else even comes close to it. Within a few short minutes, you’ll be able to figure out the way the controls operate; even pint-sized artists have no problem, and can get to creating silly faces in no time.

3d Simulation software, free download

While it can produce some truly neat models, you will still need another 3D program to make the most out of it. If you are looking for a way to make insanely awesome sculpts and feel like a master 3D modeller without shelling out for Zbrush, nothing else available can compare.

14. Houdini Apprentice

SideFX’s Houdini is a great program—one of the best free 3D modelling software options on our list, in fact. Equipped with all the power and flexibility offered by the paid version of the program, Houdini Apprentice will allow you to learn to use all its features without shelling out the $2,000 required for the pro version. Personal projects are totally fine, but without a license, you’ll still need to purchase the full version to make use of it for commercial purposes.

15. Vue

Vue is known for being the 3D modeling software of choice for creating amazing 3D landscapes. Compelling worlds are a breeze to shape, and it even has numerous features bundled in to make sure your creations don’t look too real. Camera lens distortions, depth of field and anti-aliasing strategies all combine to give a huge amount of control to your scene and how it renders.

The catch? You won’t be able to save in the same format compatible with the paid version, and your files will be auto-watermarked to avoid the use of assets in commercial products.

16. Autodesk Maya

If you want a chance to learn the best 3D modeling software on the market, you have that opportunity: Autodesk Maya offers a 30-day trial to everyone interested in checking out what it has to offer. Students can even enjoy a student license for the duration of their studies. This gives you plenty of time to hone your abilities and master the program by the time you’re serious about using it professionally.

The only limit you have with the free version is a simple one: you can’t use the assets you create in commercial products.

17. FreeCAD

FreeCAD is still in active development, but it already has tons of cool features. As far as free 3D modelling software goes, it’s hard to beat something with this many useful tools. Thanks to parametric models, you’re able to define shapes based on properties (and even other objects), which means you can recalculate entire sections on-demand.

18. MakeHuman

With a simple UI, MakeHuman allows budding 3D modellers to easily design humanoid characters with a suite of useful and intuitive tools. As simple 3D modelling software goes, it’s extremely focused and serves a single purpose: character design. If you’re looking to dive into the pools of 3D art this is a great place to start. Within a few minutes you’ll be able to figure out how to combine meshes and create interesting personalities for use in your next project.

19. OpenSCAD

Less about the artistic and more about the functionality, OpenSCAD is entirely intended for the more technical side of 3D asset production. Through programming and math, this program excels at producing exact replicas of your designs in a 3D printer, making it an exceptional option for anyone who is looking to make devices and toys rather than character models and creatures.

Don’t Forget to Upload Your Creations to Your Online Portfolio!

If you’re looking to cut your teeth in this fun and relatively new art form, now is definitely the right time to do it: the gaming industry is booming; and VFX are used in just about everything we consume online, on TV, and on the big screen. And clients love finding designers that you can keep up in this 3D modeling software realm.

Once you’ve created some awesome new pieces of work, make sure to upload them to your online portfolio. If you don’t have one, just use a website builder to build one in minutes. Pick an online portfolio that comes with stylish templates along with designer-friendly features like client proofing, so your clients can proof designs, right on your website.

You can create entire worlds in 3D modeling software—now go have fun!

*Need some more design inspiration?

A Guide To Graphic Designer Salaries—And How To Negotiate Them 14 Neat Ways To Boost Your Typography Skills 63 Extremely Cool Adobe Illustrator Tutorials *

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Simulation means copying the action of a real-time process over time.

It requires software which represents the key features, characteristics, and functions of selected areas of a process.

Simulation software develops real case phenomena with a set of mathematical derivations and formulas.

For instance, a teacher can explain a scenario with the help of relevant or clinical examples.

This software helps a person to understand a scenario with simulation without actually executing the operation.

The Best Simulation SoftwareCompared (in full)

Rna 3d Simulation Software

Consider the following simulation software carefully while taking your needs into account. By the end, you will know which one is right for your business.

1. AUTODESK

Autodesk is American software by Multinational Corporation which develops software to be used by engineers, architects, designers in construction, media, manufacturing and entertainment industry. It was released in 1980 in the United States.

It was best known for AutoCAD, but now it is used for multiple purposes. Similar to AutoCAD, Autodesk provides a free trial version to qualified students and teachers through the Autodesk Education Community. This software is very well known for color grading, visual effects, game development, and editing. You can also use it for film creation.

Autodesk is one of the best simulation software. It delivers better designs and develops solutions for digital prototyping.

Key features of Autodesk

3D rendering and shading

Suitable color management

Additional look development shading nodes

Improved vector graphics workflow

Enhanced look development

Easy and quick setup

2D and 3D drafting

Personalized drawing and modelling

2. Simul8

SIMUL8 simulation software is preferred for its cost reduction feature. This software aims at reducing cost and maximizing efficiency. It is used for planning, re-engineering, design, manufacturing, production, logistics and in-service systems.

It aims to identify bottlenecks and evaluate operational decisions before real execution. It makes it easy to apply statistical methods and derive outputs.

Key features of SIMUL8

High production rate

High capacity of production equipment

Fast and flexible modeling

Good simulation results

Building creative productivity

Displays visual logic

Fast results

3. MathWorks

This software is privately owned by American Corporation and was released in 1984. It specializes in providing mathematical computing solutions. Simulation software helps in predicting the action of a system. You can evaluate a new design, check for problems and test a model under various conditions to get output. The main products under MathWorks include MATLAB and Simulink.

It is comparatively less expensive to create and simulate models than building and testing prototypes. Hence, we can easily test different designs before building one in hardware. We can further connect and integrate the design fully in the system. It provides the user with time-based simulation, event-based simulation and physical-systems simulation.

Key features of MathWorks

Dynamic system behavior

Parallel computing

Easy algorithm development

Embedded code generation

Rapid prototyping

Data acquisition and analysis

Verification, validation and testing

4. Arena

Arena is discrete event simulation software that works with SIMAN processor for simulations. Its recent achievements include providing significant enhancements in the field of animation and design.

This software provides high-level flexibility and functionality to meet the needs of the user. It does not work on a trial and error or guessing basis; the user gets the right output in one try.

It provides specific and unique events every time and they are flexible and activity-based.

Arena has been the top simulation software for the last 30 years.

Key features of Arena

Flowchart modeling methodology

Complete range of statistical distribution

Realistic 2D and 3D animation design

Reduce operating costs

Increase profitability through operations

Reduce delivery time

Diagnose and eliminate bottlenecks

5. FLEXSIM

This simulation software makes it possible to optimize and study any system in any industry. It is in a category of discrete event simulation tools developed by Flexisim Software Products. It was released in 1993 in the USA. It uses little or no computer code. Most of the work is done with arrays or drop-down lists and property windows to customize user-required models. Flexisim supports user-oriented design.

You can build models by dragging and dropping already defined 3D objects.

Key features of Flexisim

Manufacturing: job shop, assembly line

Logistics and distribution: supply chain design, storage layout

Transportation: system traffic flow, custom traffic congestion

Material handling: packaging and warehousing

Networking data flow

Mining processes

6. Simulations Plus

This software provides simulation and modeling to improve productivity across different areas. Simulations Plus provides solutions for biochemical, pharmaceutical, chemical, cosmetics and herbicide industries. It supports specific product software such as GastroPlus, MembranePlus, ADMET, DDDPlus, KIWI etc.

Key features of Simulations Plus

Dynamic system behavior

Increase profitability through operations

Flowchart modeling methodology

Wide verification, validation and testing

Higher production capacity

3D rendering and shading

7. SIMULATION X

This software is a computer-aided engineering application which can be run on Microsoft Windows. It was released in mid-1980s and was developed on the concept of discrete network application.

The user can choose from 1D, 2D or 3D as per requirements and obtain results as needed. The simulations require parameters and build libraries with integration. The software includes signal blocks, mechanics, fluid power and power transmission. It is used for designing, analyzing and modeling complex systems and transforms them into simpler solutions.

It offers ready-to-use simulation models and pre-configured components. It serves quick results and builds interfaces with Microsoft entries.

You can get the software on a trial basis for students and faculty.

Key features of SimulationX

Efficient integration of simulation programs

Rapid control prototyping

Code compilation schemes

Wide scripting features

Reliable productivity

Code export

8. Schneider Electric Software

This software specializes in energy management and automation solutions. It is a French-based corporation software that's been in use since 1967.

The software provides solutions by unlocking profitability, maximizing output, and minimizing costs related to design. It optimizes efficiency and increases productivity. It is comparatively less expensive to create and simulate models than to build and test prototypes. Users can easily test different designs before building the real thing in hardware. Afterwards they can connect and integrate the design fully in the system.

Key features of Schneider Electric Software

Exposure to markets and strategy

Maximizes business performance

Conserves energy and power resources

Scalable and powerful management software

Saves time

Flowchart modeling methodology

Minimizes cost

9. Exa

Exa software is a provider of Computer-aided engineering. The product it provides is called PowerFlow. It was released in 1991. The main aim of Exa Services is to provide you with solutions fast. Qualitative product people like engineers, designers and architects can rely on this software for accurate results.

It has top brands associated with it such as NASA, JAGUAR, TESLA, ONROAK AUTOMOTIVE etc. It is used in various fields such as aerospace design (in-cabin comfort), avionics cooling and system thermal management.

Key features of EXA software

Supports Exacloud

Supports commercial, aerospace as well as automotive industries

Improves design effiiency

Improves engineering processes

Connects to the real world

Clinical performance

Conclusion:

Simulation software is necessary when we want to understand how systems work without actually designing prototypes. Users can tweak and modify models to see how they behave in real life.

Boba fett bounty hunter game. As you evaluate the software discussed here think about your particular industry and needs.

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nikhilgraphic · 4 years ago

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Showcasing Diversity in Illustration: Advice From 10 Artists

Diversity may be a topic on many people’s minds lately . For designers and illustrators, the question they often ask themselves is how they will meaningfully contribute to the present urgent discussion on equality and variety . Through the visual arts medium, designers and illustrators have more power and influence than they'll realize, now available their course also, you have to just find the best university or institutions who has providing the best graphic designing course in Delhi, so get start your creativity and work hard. When it involves showcasing diversity in your illustrations, don’t believe stereotypes to make equity, as that defeats the aim entirely. Instead, take the time to actually get to understand different cultures. Design and illustrate with a more sensible approach to how the planet really is and appears . To get experts’ opinions on the way to add more cultural diversity in illustration, we spoke directly with our Creative Market Shop Owners. We wanted to seek out out where they get their inspiration and references, how they are doing their research, and, ultimately, how they create their designs more inclusive. Here’s their insightful combat things.

1. Use real locations as inspiration sources

One surefire thanks to showcase more diversity in your illustrations is to base your drawings on a true location on the earth . This overcomes the temptation to stereotype since you’re handling factual, on-the-ground information as against mere assumptions. In Alone Sawchuk’s case, her inspiration for her Social Diversity/Objects Collection was a visit to at least one of Sweden’s most multi-cultural neighborhoods. “The Diversity Collection theme originated in Stockholm, Sweden. There’s a neighborhood in Stockholm called Rinke by. I had the chance to feel the atmosphere of this area, and 90% of the inhabitants there are immigrants or first and second generation with foreign roots.

They formed the idea of my collection. Also, I take most of my topics from the environment now that I'm in Poland. I watch women strike, smog within the air, and dirty water. you'll already understand what is going to form the idea of my next collections.”

To ensure this cultural diversity successfully makes it into her designs, Alona follows a specific process:

“First, I decide what the gathering will contains . These are mainly characters, banners, seamless textures, posters, and postcards. These are often applied in several areas or, for instance , complete the location . i feel about what colors would be better to convey the theme. i really like black and white. I feel that such a mixture means there’s no got to consider details and obtain lost in colors. there's only the essence of what you would like to convey,” she revealed.

“Finally, I mostly create characters on paper. These are the most characters or the most composition; I supplement them with different elements, and, from this, I combine seamless textures.”

2. Design realistic characters

Character design may be a multi-faceted process that comes with illustration, design, storytelling, and even technical skills in working with animation software.

Character design is additionally integral to cultural diversity in illustrations since an outsized a part of a character’s design is predicated on outward appearance. For Anna Minkins, an illustrator from Erceg Novi in Montenegro, character design is that the basis for her design inclusivity, like together with her Nude Modern Diversity Collection. "Character design may be a big a part of my job. i really like the thought that each single person is gorgeous in their individuality, regardless of what age they're or what complexion or somatotype they need.

Drawing diverse people isn't only a stimulating activity and a continuing test of skill, but (I would really like to believe) also an honest thing for contemporary society. As references for my sense of equality and variety , I usually use photos of individuals i do know or images from either Instagram or Pinterest. Using real photos also helps to point out cultural trends (like hairstyles and fashion) correctly. The representation of various cultures can help different people relate to the visual content far better.

3. Capture subtle physical differences If you’re truly committed to cultural diversity in your illustrations, there’s no substitute for extensive research.

Doing quite just scratching the surface of varied ethnicities is that the key to fairly representing different groups of individuals .In Irina Mir’s case, research is that the differentiating factor that enabled her to make her latest graphic, Diverse Cartoon Avatars, et al.

in her collections. "When doing research for my latest set, I looked into a wider range of ethnicities, aiming for tons of diversity in people's physical appearances. for instance , when trying to represent Asian people, it's often overlooked how Malaysian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean people could also be different.

an equivalent goes for Central and South America. there is a huge visual diversity here, which isn't really reflected within the broad term ‘Hispanic,’” she said. "I sleep in Chile, and it's an oft-discussed issue here how we've a spread of individuals of all shapes and colors , but the actors and models we see on national media and billboard ads are selected to seem tall, thin, and blond. this is often not how a mean Chilean looks and isn’t representative of the people I interact with daily. i think it is vital for our visual culture to reflect the range of our lived experience.

"Something as accessible as Google Images can go an extended way toward enabling this diversity research." I just did plenty of Google Image searches with keywords like ‘middle-aged Indian woman,’ together example. It’s about listening to those photos that look more candid and trying to ascertain common trends (like how women tend to style their hair, which tends to differ between cultures and among ages).

4. Seek balance in your compositions

Instead of only that specialize in one racial representation in your drawings, you'll attempt to include an equal quantity of varied ethnicities within the graphics you create, along side a balance between gender representations. That’s what Franz of Franz Draws did for her Huge Collection of 220 Diverse Faces set, with good results.

"For the range face set, I loosely divided people into very generalized ethnic groups (Black, White, Asian, Latino, Arab). i attempted to draw an equal amount of girls and men for every group (15 women, 15 men, 7 boys, and seven girls).

I honestly didn't think an excessive amount of about it. it had been a really simplified, very loose guideline that I had in my head,” she explained. "Of course, within the process of drawing, the boundaries became blurry, and lots of faces fit into quite one group, which i prefer.

i do not want to squeeze people into categories. My main goal was simply to make an illustration where White race aren't the bulk and where everyone features a chance to seek out a face that they will identify with.

"Using stock photo websites for inspiration and research also proves handy in Franz’s workflows. "I tend to look for photos and portraits as an idea for my illustrations. I especially use photos from free websites like Apixaban and Unsplashed to form sure that i do not infringe on any photographer's copyrights.”

5. Eliminate stereotypes

This actionable takeaway is perhaps one among the harder ones for illustrators to use consistently because a number of it's subconscious thanks to popular culture and media dissemination.

However, there are steps you'll fancy make sure that stereotypes don’t make it into your illustrations. As Spain’s Beatriz Gascony, creator of the Family Big Set

1: Diversity graphic, understands it, artists should take care to not replace a scarcity of representation with simple stereotyping. "Diversity is everything. the planet isn't always fair, politics aren't always helpful, and we, as citizenry , don't grant an equal voice to everyone. That's a reality that we all should fight every single day and check out to form people understand.

I cannot change the planet , but I can attempt to give them a voice in my drawings, to offer them representation,” she said.

"About my research process, my main concern is stereotypes. Stereotyping does the maximum amount harm as non-representation.

There are many sorts of stereotyping, from plainly hurtful simplifications to little needles we've stuck in our cultural baggage that we might not remember of.

I always attempt to be conscious and sensible by trying to use empathy. Addressing diversity requires attention and respect.

I attempt to surround myself with people that are different from me.”It also comes right down to being discriminating in what sources you employ to try to to your illustrations justice.

"About my sources, I attempt to avoid the moment search on Google (again, probably filled with stereotypes). I follow tons of artists, and that i attempt to follow diverse artists.”

6. Research your material thoroughly

When conducting research for cultural diversity in your drawings, it’s important to really understand the topic matter. rather than just changing an attribute or feature of your character here and there, make certain to make wholly unique designs for them across different cultures. Lana Elanor practices this when in her workflows for her illustration process. It begins with honest and fair research right from the beginning.

“One of the common mistakes is when artists accompany attributes and clichés rather than creating different people. for instance , once I was performing on my Abstract Gallery Modern Women’s Prints collection, I researched and decided to form different women rather than just adding some significant attributes to ‘average’ people.

i think the ‘create-average-to-sell-more’ era is finally getting to end, and other people want to acknowledge and be recognized,” she reasoned "So in Abstract Gallery, you'll see unique women with their different styles, backgrounds, and stories behind them.

It’s not about just recoloring one to urge another race; they're obviously completely different women with many features to raised reflect real people and achieve the goal of celebrating diversity. And this makes these women alive.It is a contemporary issue, and that we all still should understand and learn such a lot about it.

we'd like to widen the spectrum of our perceptions of what exactly inclusivity in art means to the planet and the way it impacts real people.”

7. Study history and empathize

with other points of view Equality and variety can only happen once you apply empathy, which begs the question, how does one become more empathic?

Walking in someone else’s shoes are some things we all strive to try to to , but many folks come short , regardless of what proportion we would like to. IN the case of designer Jerome from Dedra Studio, it comes right down to a three-pronged approach, which incorporates learning about history, taking into consideration the viewpoints of others, and being an honest listener. To start performing on an illustration like Black History Month Mosaic #BLM, I check out the events through recent history that have shaped the way we see these celebrations today.

To be more objective and know what to incorporate , I'm going online and skim about other points of view. i feel that taking note of what these communities need to say (whether we belong to them or not) is vital to helping us understand how they feel—and the way to best represent that on an illustration.”

8. Travel, both face to face and thru research

A recurring theme among a number of our designers, with reference to inclusivity and cultural diversity in illustrations, is travel. Travel exposes you to different cultures, but, of course, that’s not always possible for everybody , especially now during the pandemic. For Antonio Santos from Spain, travel isn’t just something you'll neutralize person. It’s also a journey that solid research takes you on, which ends up in learning and more equality and variety in your illustrations. “I don't just attempt to represent diversity when the topic itself ‘demands’ it. for instance , once I designed my collection of wedding characters, I did it thinking that not only White race marry . That's something obvious, and that is why there are characters of various skin colors, races, etc. Throughout my life, I even have also been lucky enough to travel tons . I even have visited more or less 40 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and therefore the Americas. This has undoubtedly been one among my sources of inspiration to make several of the characters within the collection of 125 Kids of the planet Cartoon Style,” he revealed. Nonetheless, despite all his travels, there have been times when he wasn’t ready to experience a culture face to face , which is where travel through research takes over. “I don't always have a private reference, so in those cases, I search for information about the country from which I wanted to style a representative character. I search for something special, something that's unique thereto country. Something that, if an individual from that country saw it, they might identify it and feel that it represented a crucial and distinctive a part of their culture or customs. I remember, for instance , the case of the character from Sri Lanka . It’s a rustic that I wanted to seem within the collection, but I didn't know any regard to design a singular and representative character of the country. After long research, I discovered that their traditional wedding dresses are beautiful and unique. The character ended up wearing the suit of a standard groom from the country. That doesn't mean that everybody wears it. Still, i feel that anyone from Sri Lanka who sees the character will identify him as a representative of their country, and that is what i used to be trying to find . The truth is that designing this collection ended up being an exquisite trip round the world on behalf of me , during which I discovered and learned many things.”

9. Design so every team has players

You’ve heard it said that variety is that the spice of life. So it's with drawing, too. once you honestly strive to incorporate legitimate variety in your designs, you finish up designing for cultural diversity because the natural results of your effort. That’s what Svetlana Vasilkovskaya does as she goes through her creative workflows. “When I design with a spread of individuals in mind, I attempt to balance it in order that all groups are approximately equally represented. for instance , there should be approximately an equivalent number of youngsters , children , and older people, half men and ladies . Among these three groups, I confirm that there are representatives of various people and races. That even means people with glasses and without, with hair and without, with features and without, etc. This is all quite entertaining to form sure that every team is staffed with players, if you'll . Different people inspire me. it's interesting on behalf of me to see into their features and see differences and nuances, and then, using minimal means, show it in lines and color spots,” she said. Svetlana’s creative process is predicated on strong sketch work and her minimalist approach to style . Something as basic as navigating Google Images stirs her imagination and inspires her inclusive illustrations. “Whenever i want to urge able to work on a design like this, I just grab pencil and paper and attend Google. for instance , once I was drawing Diverse Crowd of individuals Wearing a Mask and other people of the planet Pattern, I looked for ‘portrait’ and just went through the results. If I liked an individual , I drew a portrait supported his appearance in my minimalist style. In the process, I could change something, like hairstyle or age, or mix it up. Take a hairstyle from one person, placed on glasses from another, and take a face from a 3rd.

If i'm missing some details, then I also search for them in Google Images. for instance , once I drew men, it clothed that i prefer men in T-shirts. So I had to look for “man during a shirt" in order that I didn't get a crowd of athletes. The main thing is balance. If I see that one group outweighs another, I simply add representatives of the others.”

10. Explore teamwork as a topics

When we consider cultural diversity, we don’t immediately consider working together in teams. Yet, once you believe it more deeply, you start to know that working in teams may be a great opportunity to market equality and variety . For digital illustrator Mary Long, a team is that the perfect setting for this. “Each new illustration starts with a thought and a question: who might need it? Women’s History Month inspired me to make my Strong Women Together graphic designing.

I've designed this product to point out the facility and therefore the opportunities of girls when they’re working as a team. Indeed, within the very diversity of the team or community lies its strength.

I've included female characters of various nationalities and cultures, and i have worked on the small print , skin tones, hair color, accessories, and garments.

I even have shown the individuality and strengths of every female character. At an equivalent time, the illustrations should promote a spirit of cooperation that's reinforced by this very diversity. I visit various design blogs, and I’m following illustrators on Dribble or Bedance to form sure that my images are currently relevant.” We hope you’ve gotten some powerful, actionable takeaways from our group of expert Creative Market Shop Owners. These artists practice what they preach, which is obvious to ascertain from the range in their illustrations.

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zodiacoracle · 7 years ago

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Scrapbook: In which I declare my love for the umpteenth time

[This was originally targeted to be published in October, but shit happened and I don’t think I will ever finish this now, so I’m posting it as is.]

[No, that’s not the kind of title I would have used if this was a proper, finished post.]

Have you played the demo for Octopath Traveler? It's a gorgeous looking game, and it looks fun. It's shaping up to be the Romancing SaGa of what Bravely Default was to classic Final Fantasy. On top of that, the music is wonderful. Too bad I don't have a Switch.

I hope you didn't think I'd write about my impression on the game.

Here's the thing though: I love Yasunori Nishiki, the composer. I love his music with my whole being, more than anything that isn't charming Spanish Flamenco or Tango inspired music. Oh, it just happens he has written such songs too. As you can see, he's really high in my list, I think he's one of the best composers I've heard in recent years.

And so with Octopus Octopath being the topical thing at the moment, there's no better time to talk about him than now! And I'd like to introduce a couple of his songs!

>> Profile

Yasunori Nishiki was born in Kanagawa, Japan, on July 10, 1985. Nishiki graduated from Film Scoring program of Tokyo College of Music in 2009 and joined KONAMI directly after.

His first contribution as a composer in Konami was for Quiz Magic Academy VII, released in 2010. He continued composing for the series until the ninth installment, Quiz Magic Academy Kenja no Tobira, after which he left the team to be the sound director and main composer of then-new Oreca Battle. He later also became the sound director of another game related to Oreca, the arcade version of the mobile game Dragon Collection.

Behind the alias Vivian, he first debuted in Bemani, Konami's line of arcade music games, in REFLEC BEAT colette, 2012, with the song guerre à outrance. His latest appearance in Bemani to date was in beatmania IIDX 23 copula, 2015. It is currently unknown if he will use this alias again in the future.

He also made contributions to a number of console titles, such as NeverDead and Frontier Gate - which he composed almost half of the soundtrack of.

In 2015, Nishiki left Konami and started freelancing. Outside of Konami, he took on various projects, working as a composer/arranger or synth manipulator amongst others. The projects he has written composition for include SHOW BY ROCK!!, the theme song of Fate/Extella, the anime adaptation of Granblue Fantasy, and the latest, Square Enix's Project Octopath Traveler.

So, I've been following Nishiki's activities ever since I first heard Vanity in jubeat saucer. That was in December 2012? Five years ago? How time flies! Around that time was also when I started getting into QMA music.

By the way, I mentioned Romancing SaGa above, but did you know Nishiki made an official rearrangement of SaGa music for SE's Lord of Vermillion Arena? It was SaGa Frontier 2, though.

Anyway, wow, Octopath Traveler. I didn't think the day when he would be recognized by so many people would come so soon, but here we are. I'm so proud, so happy for him. It makes me want to introduce some of his songs that may share the same style as Octopath.

I like to take any chance I can get to introduce his music to people, particularly his Oreca songs, and this time isn't any different. If you have ever wondered why Oreca in particular, there are two reasons why. The first is, Konami has uploaded a lot of Oreca songs to YouTube, making it easier to share them the legal/officially approved way. The second is, in my opinion, Oreca was where Nishiki shone the brightest in his time in Konami.

Nishiki worked on Oreca ever since it was first developed then released in 2012, and he kept composing for it until he left Konami in 2015. Within that time period, he composed and arranged about 150 songs for this little game alone, his songs making up more than half of its whole soundtrack at the time of the writing of this post.

The reason behind the huge number of songs in this game is because, being a constantly updated arcade game, it has lots and lots of boss characters, and almost every one of them has a battle theme of their own. It also has a decent number of stage music and such, but those character themes make up most of the game's soundtrack.

This is where Nishiki showed his true potential. Back when he was in QMA sound team, he only composed orchestral songs. In Oreca, he still was fond of orchestral songs (and still is until now), but to realize the vision of unique character battle themes he branched into other genres, revealing the versatile artist in him. From electronic and pop to rock and metal, from ethnic and classic sounds to modern ones, from mellow to aggressive - he covered everything he could.

[Then my plan was to review some of his Oreca songs, but, well. Below are the songs I considered to be included in this post, along with some short comments instead.]

[Of course I wouldn’t have included everything if I finished this post. Choosing is hard, however.]

Great Sorcery Mimi & Sisi's Theme: A safe song that played straight to his strengths, but a solid one nevertheless. It’s unexpectedly complex for a pair of goofy mice. I adore the sense of adventure in this song.

Mage Knight Chaos Magica's Theme: I’ve always felt Nishiki’s music might have some baroque roots, then this song came.

Deep Sea Emperor Barolo's Theme: This is the last boss. That was the feeling I got when I first heard this song.

Underworld God Anubis' Theme: I wanted to include this just to make a point that his dominantly electronic work can be as strong as everything else by him.

Kudlak's Theme: I like to call this song “Faux Castlevania” but really. It’s a song for a vampire character, I won’t be surprised if it was intentional. Oh, and, Nishiki rearranged Beginning too for Oreca. Despite being Faux Castlevania, this song is still brimming with his usual details.

Thin Ice Knight Dante's Theme: A rearrangement of a popular song for a popular character - popular between Oreca players, at least. A cold and lonely arrangement of an elegant song.

Purgatory Emperor Ares' Theme: Menacing, dark, and moody. It also has another version featuring Yuma Ito’s solo violin. You can never have enough of his violin when it comes to Nishiki’s music.

Great Djinn Ifrit's Theme: One of his more atmospheric songs, but still reeks off boss smell.

Dragon themes in a separate category, as he took one composition and rearranged it plenty of times. I’d argue the dragon theme is his most important legacy in Oreca. I want all Konami composers to remix the dragon theme.

The original dragon theme, for reference.

Ocean Stream Dragon's Theme: I think I picked this for similar reason as I picked Mimi & Sisi’s theme: it sounds like such a delightful adventure. It also has a lot of castanets, I like it when he use castanets.

Great Tree Root Dragon's Theme: Nishiki described this song as “dark fantasy” and I agree. This whimsical rearrangement is one of my favorite dragon themes.

Dragon Emperor Fei Long's Theme: I think I added this into consideration mostly to add variety. It also sounds really pleasant.

Celestial Dragon Bahamuth's Theme: Bahamuth and this song was to debut in WHF, an important event for the game, he gave everything into it and even incorporated real choir as he was in such high spirit. I will always remember about this little story. It turned into a grand song fitting of Bahamuth, and everything was worth it.

Divine Dragon Kuzuryu's Theme: My original intention was to only include songs that are officially uploaded, but I wanted to give an exception for this song badly. It’s easily one of the best dragon themes. It may not sound like a dragon theme at first, but if you listen closely you’ll hear that this is a dragon theme through and through. Here the usual melody takes a backseat while a new one gives a new soul into the song. Sachiko Watabe’s serene vocals definitely bring the song to life. I salute her, especially for that difficult chorus. Also, I vaguely remember Nishiki saying something along the line of “vocal song for BGM is unusual, especially in arcade games” but I don’t remember where. Twitter? Somewhere else? Eh? Anyway I’m glad he went for it anyway because that decision led to this song coming into existence. Thank you.

[Thank you for everything. Sorry I couldn’t finish this, I will do better next time.]

[I will always support you wherever you are.]

#scrap #eritalk #yasunori nishiki

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amrutservices · 6 years ago

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Are You Stealing These Top Content Marketing Strategies? You Should Be!

Generating ideas for your content marketing strategy can be extremely tough. It gets even harder when you focus so much on your brand goals that you get tunnel vision. Fortunately, there are plenty of brands out there doing an amazing job with content marketing and getting great results.

You should totally steal from them. Really.

Think of it as evolution rather than imitation. You see what works for them, and try to put your own twist on it. As you measure results, you refine your campaigns over time to become a better version more-suited for your unique branding and goals. If you’re doing it right, someone will steal from you someday.

To get you inspired by others’ inspiration, here are five amazing content marketing campaign strategies that are completely worth ripping off.

Focus on Storytelling and Client Successes

Some content fails to hit the mark because it’s too deeply embedded within the brand. It lacks a human touch, and people may therefore end up trusting the messages less.

To come across as more authentic, pull back. Think less about your brand or product and more about what your particular solution does. Or, focus on a pain point it solves.

An amazingly creative example of this is the Fixodent video “Saving Aslan”. It covers the struggles of a gorgeous white lion who suffered from a loss of his canine. To save the lion and ensure he enjoys a good quality of life, Fixodent sponsored wildlife activists efforts to perform surgery on the lion.

The video hits tons of high points: emotion, gorgeous animals, environmental advocacy, people performing powerful acts of kindness, redemption. It has all of the ingredients to go viral, and it communicates a parallel message to the branding without beating you over the head with it.

Another great example comes from REI. It’s Co-Op Journal site highlights feats and lifestyles for people who live to have outdoor adventures. The stories are human-focused and promise to show readers things they’ve never seen before: a powerful recipe to draw clicks. People get inspired, they learn a lesson, and they get to learn about new heroes worth keeping track of.

You don’t have to be quite as ambitious as these two brands to find your own version of storytelling success. Just take a step back to focus on your clients or the difference you make in the world.

Tell a great story. Highlight great things happening in your industry. Demonstrate what your philosophy or business approach can do. Clicks will naturally follow.

Crowdsource Content

Crowdsourcing is an brilliant way to win engagement, improve the appeal of your content, and develop relationships with your audience.

Airbnb, for instance, combines storytelling with crowdsourcing. They let their own user base tell them what makes the platform special, and then they add a layer of gloss to the story so that it fits their brand standards. The stories end up coming across as more authentic and interesting as a result.

Another option for crowdsourcing is to let your own audience decide on your next campaign. Makeup brand Bobbi Brown allowed its social community to vote on the lipstick shades they would bring out of retirement.

Coca Cola let people submit entire marketing campaign ideas for a slew of their campaigns.

You don’t have to have huge audiences to get this type of traction, though. Simply let people feel like they are participating in something and that their voice matters.

A stellar example would be to highlight a particular community or organization through crowd input. Or, you could donate to charity and let people decide on their favorite cause. Campaign strategies like these build momentum as they continue and have huge payoffs when people see their own ideas come to life.

Be Quirky, Go Viral

For a time, brands tried oh-so-hard to be weird with mixed results.

Yet, weird, humorous and unusual content often gets the most attention through social channels.

The key to success with this strategy is to approach content like a normal social user would. Think about what would be genuinely be funny, intriguing, or at very least worth a closer look. Let go of your professionalism (but don’t be offensive!), and see what happens when you let your own interests or weird ideas come to life.

Denny’s has found huge success with the strategy. Quirky posts like this Twitter photo earn tons of attention and retweets. They barely have anything to do with a traditional ad goal, but they get people interacting.

An auteur-type strategy works especially well if your content can find appeal within a niche community. Arby’s use of packaging and branded imagery to create artistic references to video games, anime, and popular pop culture franchises has been a huge hit with online communities.

People go online for good art and entertaining content, after all. Give them something they would love to see, but keep your brand visible so that people understand a connection is there.

Create a Subtly Branded Publication to Build Trust

Not to give you whiplash, but this strategy is in many ways the opposite of the above one. Rather than offering amusing or beautiful diversions, your content can become one of the most trusted and valued resources among your audiences.

Turbotax company Intuit offers a great example. Taxes and financing are a dense subject not too many people feel comfortable with. A handy blog that answers their questions and defines key concepts is therefore likely to bring them a sigh of relief.

American Express’s small business blog expands on this concept even further. In addition to advice and introductory information, they provide news, highlight success stories, and offer opinions on important matters in the small business community.

The true mark of success for these blogs is that people will readily link to them and click on them in search results without bracing themselves for an ad pitch. Provide value. Satisfy your audience’s needs. If you can, they will trust you wholeheartedly.

Collaborate With Micro-Influencers

Now is the time to stop ignoring micro-influencers.

Chances are almost 100% that there is someone in your field with more followers and perceived authority than you. Your job is to locate these influencers and find some way to collaborate with them.

A “collaboration” can be something as simple as a request to share your content or review something you send them. A subtle way to do this is to include a quote or reference to the person in a piece of content and tag them when promoting the content on social media.

Collaboration can go much deeper than that, though. Many makeup companies are finding huge success by partnering with YouTube channels that offer makeup tips and reviews, for instance.

Makeup brand MAC even asked top beauty influencers to come up with unique shades and product types related to their content channels. The brands get to share exposure and motivate the audiences of the channels, and the influencers get to feel like they are now a part of the products they review and interact with.

Just make sure to follow best practices for influencer marketing campaigns. The most important is to align your campaign to your goals and prioritize things like conversions over vanity metrics.

Steal to Succeed

Every business idea is an iteration on something that came before it, and that includes content marketing strategies. By using the above ideas or looking to the examples to come up with your own, you can branch out and try new things.

Well, they’ll be new to you at least!

We at Amrut Services, are expert at content marketing and can help you get most out of your content. So lets talk and make solid content marketing plans.

from Amrut Services https://amrutservices.com/are-you-stealing-these-top-content-marketing-strategies-you-should-be/

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contractor-media · 7 years ago

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Are You Stealing These Content Marketing Strategies? You Should Be!

You should totally steal from them. Really.

To get you inspired by others’ inspiration, here are five amazing content marketing campaign strategies that are completely worth ripping off.

Focus on Storytelling and Client Successes

Some content fails to hit the mark because it’s too deeply embedded within the brand. It lacks a human touch, and people may therefore end up trusting the messages less.

To come across as more authentic, pull back. Think less about your brand or product and more about what your particular solution does. Or, focus on a pain point it solves.

You don’t have to be quite as ambitious as these two brands to find your own version of storytelling success. Just take a step back to focus on your clients or the difference you make in the world.

Tell a great story. Highlight great things happening in your industry. Demonstrate what your philosophy or business approach can do. Clicks will naturally follow.

Crowdsource Content

Crowdsourcing is an brilliant way to win engagement, improve the appeal of your content, and develop relationships with your audience.

Coca Cola let people submit entire marketing campaign ideas for a slew of their campaigns.

You don’t have to have huge audiences to get this type of traction, though. Simply let people feel like they are participating in something and that their voice matters.

Be Quirky, Go Viral

For a time, brands tried oh-so-hard to be weird with mixed results.

Yet, weird, humorous and unusual content often gets the most attention through social channels.

The key to success with this strategy is to approach content like a normal social user would. Think about what would genuinely be funny, intriguing, or at the very least worth a closer look. Let go of your professionalism (but don’t be offensive!), and see what happens when you let your own interests or weird ideas come to life.

People go online for good art and entertaining content, after all. Give them something they would love to see, but keep your brand visible so that people understand a connection is there.

Create a Subtly Branded Publication to Build Trust

Collaborate With Micro-Influencers

Now is the time to stop ignoring micro-influencers.

Chances are almost 100% that there is someone in your field with more followers and perceived authority than you. Your job is to locate these influencers and find some way to collaborate with them.

Collaboration can go much deeper than that, though. Many makeup companies are finding huge success by partnering with YouTube channels that offer makeup tips and reviews, for instance.

Just make sure to follow best practices for influencer marketing campaigns. The most important is to align your campaign to your goals and prioritize things like conversions over vanity metrics.

Steal to Succeed

Well, they’ll be new to you at least!

Are You Stealing These Content Marketing Strategies? You Should Be! republished from the Contractor Marketing blog by Contractor Media

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