Saul Rivers asked:


The commercial potential hidden in the ever growing online gaming market has been known to marketers for a long time. It is known that millions of people around the world are playing different types of online games. The wide range of available games – from single player trivia, puzzle, sports and casino games to classic multi player games such as backgammon and chess to massive role playing and strategy games like World of Warcraft and Lineage – attracts diverse variety of players.

Recent surveys show that online gaming is not an exclusive territory of 25-35 males. More than 50% of women at the same age are playing online games on a regular basis, plus a decent percentage of older (and of course, younger) men and women are also preoccupied in the internet gaming world. For marketers, these numbers mean unique opportunity to expose all kinds of products to millions of potential customers.

Marketers use variety of online marketing techniques to approach the massive crowd of online gamers including traditional advertisements and more creative and advanced types of online marketing tools. From chewing gums to automobiles through anti-depression drugs, it seems like everyone is after the online gamers’ attention.

One of the most common ways to promote a brand is by online games. For example, the Chrysler Group, the owner of the Dodge brand, has an exclusive game website dedicated to racing games, in which the player can drive the company latest models, and if played well, the players are rewarded with a HEMI® Power Bonus!

Online Pool as a Test Case

Let’s say that you want to shoot some pool online. By clicking “online pool” on one of the biggest internet search engines, you will find two major food manufacturers battling for the opportunity to promote their brands on your virtual pool table.

The giant chewing gum company Wrigley’s is the sponsor of the popular gaming portal, mostly known for its online billiard games. Once you’ve entered Candystand virtual pool room, you will be asked to customize your playing able from a selection of three designs, each one represents a different chewing gum brand, which its logo is spread all over the pool table. Will you consider chewing an Ice Breakers later?

You will be facing the same dilemma if you choose to play at Nabisco World. However, if you go for the most popular choice today, Yahoo! Pool, you won’t be able to escape advertisements as well; right after you’ve registered and before entering the desired game room, you’ll be hit by Yahoo! Games’ sponsors’ messages.

As you can see, today’s marketers have learned how to take advantage

(not necessarily in the negative meaning) of the increasing interest in online games. From industries tycoons to small, local businesses, most of them came to the conclusion that online gaming marketing is far more affective and profitable than advertisement campaigns.



Louis

George Wood asked:


Poker Pocket: it combines the skill and talent of billiards with the intrigue and skill of poker. If the total ball number is 15 on the billiards table, then poker pocket is played with one more ball than extra which totals. Each four balls are to be labeled with a J for Jack, another four with K for King, A for Ace, and the last four ones with Q for queen. The objective is simple, played by maximum three opponents, it is required that you make a better poker hand for yourself than your opponents.

Each player may pocket up to five balls for one inning or frame and after doing so is done with his or her hand of poker. Any legally pocketed balls are given credit to the player doing the opening break, and after that it continues until the player has pocketed five balls. Just like in the popular card game in that the best hand is four of a kind, then its a full house, three of a kind, two pairs, a straight, or a simple basic pare, here, the object is to have the best hand.

Six ball: is much like the object of rotation in that every legal shot, and it must first contact the lowest numbered ball on the table before it pockets any other ball. As long as the six ball is placed directly in the middle, the rack is simply just six balls in any random order. When scoring is concerned, the balls have absolutely no point value, and the only object of the game is to pocket the number six ball.

The game is over and a new game must be started if in the opening shot, the player makes contact with the one ball first and then contacts the six ball. As long as the player legally pockets the ball, the shooter can stay at the table, similar to other games of rotation. To players looking for a quick and easy game without the concern of the game dragging on four hours, this game is very attractive.

So, the next time you come out of your local pool hall or complete your billiards tournament inside the old bowling alley, do not forget the long history of billiards. Do not forget that the game you already won has added to the well-known history of billiards, or that the contest you just lost was lost long ago by much much more masterly people than you. Presidents and Kings have lost and won at billiards just like you or me, although they likely did not drown their pity in a cheap beer with a big basket of mozzarella sticks.



Lori

Josephine Thunder asked:


8-ball pool is one of the most popular games in America. It is played in pool halls, restaurants, private billiard rooms and on personal computers everywhere throughout the nation, as well as in other parts of the world. While the origins of billiards – the general name used to describe all indoor games played on a rectangular covered with felt table with a stick and a set of balls – stretches back to the 15th century, it was not until the late 18th century that the game we refer to as 8-ball pool, or simply pool had become a legitimate recreation.

First there was billiart. Actually, first there was the outdoor game called croquet used to be played the French upper classes during the 14th century. At this time, billiart was introduced as an indoor version of croquet. The green felt that covered the table meant to evoke the lawn on which it was played.

The billiard game was brought to America by the middle of the 19th century, no one knows exactly how. Back then, one pocket was the most popular billiard game followed by a game called four-ball. Later on, a game called straight, similar to the popular European billiard game was carombole game and played on a table with no pockets, was the favorite billiard game in America.

The most ancient version of modern pool game can be tracked back to the end of the 18th century. The game fifteen-ball pool used to be played with a set of 15 balls in poolrooms, which mainly acted as horse betting parlors. Fifteen-ball pool, which was later called straight pool, continuous pool or 14.1 continuous, was the most popular pool game for a long time. That, until the game of 8-ball was invented.

Michael Phelan, a legendary billiard player, the first American billiard author and the ancestor of American billiards, is the one who brought the pool games from the underground poolrooms into the light of day. By establishing the first billiard championship in America (and winning it too) as well as publishing the first set of billiard rules and pool table etiquette, Phelan made the pool and billiards the popular sports they are today.



Antonio