Talking about my new mobile game DOMINAEDRO

Last week my new game, DOMINAEDRO, landed at the App Store. The game is a strategic puzzle that mixes dominoes and tic-tac-toe. It’s is an abstract battle between two players that uses pieces of domino as weapons.

The game, originally, was analogic and was launched as an independent title in the beginning of this year. After lots of positive reviews from Brazilian (and even European) sites I decided to transform the analogic version into a digital game.

The game is very simple and I will share the main idea of the rules below. The game’s grid is arranged with nine numbers randomly selected by the system. In a decreasing order: the highest number will be allocated in the center, intermediate values will be around the highest one, and lower values will be on the corners.



Your starting hand has 3 domino pieces. The player with the lowest sum of numbers in a single piece starts the game. On your turn, you must try to put a single piece in the grid respecting the following rules:

1) A number in a domino can only touch a piece with the same number, or lower, in the grid.
2) Like in a domino game, pieces connected on the grid must have the same numbers.
3) Every time you choose a piece, the system will point out the spaces allowed for allocating on the table.



You earn points by dominating a sum on the grid. For that, you should be the player with the highest sum of numbers around a value. In case of a tie, the sum of the second values of dominoes sets the winner. In case of a tie in both sides of the dominoes, the winner will be the player with more pieces.

The game ends when you cannot allocate more pieces on the grid. Each piece not allocated is worth -1 point. Values of the grid that were not completely surrounded by pieces are scored normally.

If a player has dominated all values in a row, column or diagonal, they win 4 extra points for each line. The player with the most points wins the game. Check a short video demo with the game mechanics below:



You can download DOMINAEDRO for free. Click here for more information. I’m waiting for your suggestions, critics and improvements.

Go gamers!

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Is Your Dog "Head Pressing"? Call Your Vet ASAP !

Image credit: www.reshareworthy.com

By: Laurie Brzostowski, President, Snaggle Foot Dog Walks and Pet Care, Round Lake, IL

I was going through some articles the other day and this one popped up about dogs "head presssing" and if you see your dog doing this to call your vet ASAP.

This article really kind of freaked me out so I stared reading up on this condition and because it can be serious I thought I would blog about it just in case you ever see your dog or even your cat doing this.

So, here is some information about "head pressing".


Pressing the Head Against Objects in Dogs
Head pressing is a condition characterized by the compulsive act of pressing the head against a wall or other object for no apparent reason. This generally indicates damage to the nervous system, which may result from a number of causes, including prosencephalon disease (in which the forebrain and thalamus parts of the brain are damaged), and some types of toxic poisoning.

This condition can affect dogs of any breed or age-range.

Symptoms and Types

The act of head pressing is just one sign of prosencephalon disease, in which the forebrain and thalamus parts of the brain are affected. Other symptoms that may accompany this include compulsive pacing and circling, changes in learned (trained) behavior, seizures, damaged reflexes, and visual problems. Some of these symptoms may lead to lesions, for example, sores on the feet as a result of compulsive pacing, or injuries to the face and head as a result of pressing the head against a surface for long periods of time.

Causes

There are a number of reasons for why a dog might feel a compulsion to press its head against objects, depending on the primary cause that is leading to this symptom. Possible causes may be a metabolic disorder, such as hyper or hyponatremia (too much, or too little sodium in the body’s blood plasma), a primary or secondary tumor (meaning a tumor located in the brain vs. a tumor located elsewhere in the body), or an infection of the nervous system, such as rabies or fungal infection. Other causes can include head trauma, such as from a car accident, or from exposure to toxins, such as lead.

Diagnosis
One primary diagnostic procedure in cases of head pressing includes a fundic examination of the retina and other structures in the back of the eye, which may indicate infectious or inflammatory diseases, as well as irregularities in the brain. Other likely tests are blood pressure measurements to test for high blood pressure, and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain. Your veterinarian will also include a urine analysis (which may reveal a problem with the metabolic system), and tests for blood lead concentration (which can indicate toxins in the system).

You will need to give a thorough history of your dog's health, the onset of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have preceded this condition.

If you ever do see your dog or cat doing this type of behavior, call your vet ASAP.

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E3 2014

Last week, I visited the famous Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles. The fair is well known as one of the biggest videogame events in the world, and every year the trends and launchings of such market are presented in this mega fair.



The experience of two days fully immersed in new games, videogames, game accessories, gaming conferences, and gamers was too complex to synthetize in a small post, so I decided to create a list of highlights of the fair, divided by subject:

1) Games, games and more games: this year great games were announced in the event, like Little Big Planet 3, The Order 1886, Alien: isolation, Evolve, Super Smash Bros WiiU, the new Halo and Batman: Arkham Knight, only to name a few blockbusters. The experimental games also gained terrain and titles like Entwined, Abzû (I felt mesmerized by this one, check the trailer below) and No Man’s Sky had good space at E3.



2) Sony’s press conference: I watched the exclusive presentation about the future of the PlayStation platform. The company said that, for 2014/2015, the focus would be on more free content and in exploring the videogame as an entertainment central. Sony intends to launch each TV of the brand with PlayStation Network embedded in its interface, so it will be possible to play some of the games without a PS console. Another great revelation from Sony is the PlayStation TV, a U$ 99,00 device with access to exclusive content (animations, movies, documentaries etc.) created exclusively for PS network, the first production will be an animation of the comic book POWERS (created by Brain Bendis). You can watch the full conference in the video below:


3) Nintendo: the brand bets on classic characters but showed nothing relevant to the public.

4) Microsoft: the Halo franchising was the great highlight of Microsoft’s stand. The Xbox One with new Kinect interactions generated good experiences for the public. Microsoft bets on a perfect balance between the casual and the hardcore player.

5) Accessories: loads of equipment were displayed at the fair, like joysticks, screens and special chairs, but the true highlight was the VR devices like Oculus and the Virtuix Omni (check the video).



6) Final thoughts and some pics: staying in touch with the experience of E3 is something unique. The fair is a place to see how the next year will be in the gaming market, to anticipate the future and make good networking. I came back to Brazil full of ideas (and souvenirs from the stands) and I want to work hard to put some projects in practice as soon as possible (a new book among them). And check some images from this great event.



Go gamers!

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Duet

A few weeks ago I downloaded a very elegant game in my mobile phone: Duet. The game is a minimal and hypnotic experience created with a simple interface and high level of involvement. It is an invitation to “expand the limits of your radial awareness”.



The game comes from an Australian publisher named Kumobius and the composer Tim Shiel signs the awesome soundtrack. The idea is very simple: you press the right side of the screen, two small balls spin to the right; you press the left side of the screen, they spin to the left. With these two simple movements you must dodge elements that fall from above. Check the gameplay below to understand the main idea:


The game has a complex learning curve with a real challenge in the high levels. This kind of experience tells us about how a casual game could be a challenge even for hardcore players. And, in this scenario, we can see how rich the field for good ideas to mobile media is.

Another point to highlight on Duet is the simplicity of the interface. With few elements, the game conveys an engaging idea and a perfect ballet between aesthetics and gameplay. About that, it’s possible to say that “Gameplay must take place somewhere, and so the design and creation of digital environments is a critical factor in developing outstanding games. (…) Designing game spaces comes in two distinct parts – the first is the look and feel of the game environment, and the second is the design and challenge of the playing space” (THOMPSON; BERBANK-GREEN; CUSWORTH: 2007: p.98).

Let’s discuss more and more about this emerging category of the gaming industry.

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Reference:

THOMPSON, Jim; BERBANK-GREEN, Barnaby; CUSWORTH, Nic. Game Design: principles, practice, and tecniques - the ultimate guide for the aspiring game designer. New Jersey: Wiley, 2007

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Treating Insect Bites and Stings on Your Pets !

By:  Laurie Brzostowski, President, Snaggle Foot Dog Walks and Pet Care - Round Lake, IL

Summer is finally here.. WOO HOO !  However, this also means that flies, bees, wasps and other biting and stinging insects are here.

My dog got stung by a bee on his paw once, it was awful and really hard to get the stinger out.  During September, the bees start to die so they are mostly on the ground and dogs and cats can step on them and get stung.

There are some insects out there that can cause severe stings.. for example, fire ants in the South can be extremely dangerous to pets if they end up in one of their mounds.  Poisonous spider bites are also something to watch out for if they are prevalent in your neck of the woods.

This blog post is about how to treat insect bites and stings on your pets.  However, if the bite or sting is from a poisonous insect or animal, please contact your veterinarian immediately or take your pet to an emergency pet clinic for treatment ASAP !

• The stings of bees, wasps, and yellow jackets, and the bites of ants all cause painful swelling and redness at the site of the sting, usually on a hairless area such as the nose or feet. The swelling may include the face and neck, even if the dog was not stung on the face. If the dog is stung many times, he could go into shock as a result of absorbed toxins. Occasionally, anaphylactic shock develops in a dog who has been stung in the past.

• The bites of black widow and brown recluse spiders are toxic to animals. The first sign is sharp pain at the site of the bite. Later the dog develops intense excitability, fever, weakness, and muscle and joint pains. Seizures, shock, and death can occur, especially with the bite of the black widow spider. An antivenin is available to treat these bites.

• The stings of centipedes and scorpions cause a local reaction and, at times, severe illness. These bites heal slowly.

• Treatment:
• Identify the insect.
• If the stinger is found (a small black sac), remove it by scraping it out with your fingernail or a credit card. Do not squeeze or use tweezers, as this can inject more venom. (Only bees leave their stingers behind.)
• Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it directly to the sting.
• Apply an ice pack to relieve the pain and swelling.
• Apply calamine lotion to relieve the itching. 
• Your veterinarian may prescribe an antihistamine.
• If the dog exhibits signs of hypersensitivity to the venom (agitation, face scratching, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, collapse, or seizures), take him at once to the nearest veterinary facility for treatment of anaphylactic shock.

If your dog has a severe reaction to a bee sting, you should consult your veterinarian about keeping an Epi Pen kit available and discuss the proper dose for your dog.

Summertime is fun time but to make it even better just make sure your family and your pets are protected and treated if ever stung or bitten.  

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Indie Prototyping

Jonathan Blow (Braid's creator) giving a talk about prototyping at the Independent Games Summit (part of the Independent Games Festival) in 2007. An excellent presentation on game design with many good insights. Essential content for those who are creating independent games.

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Top 5 Reasons You Need a Cat Sitter

By:  Laurie Brzostowski, President, Snaggle Foot Dog Walks and Pet Care, Round Lake, IL

Summer is now upon us which means a lot of people are scheduling their summer vacations.  But, one of the things everyone needs to think about is who is going to take care of your cat while you are away?

There are many options for you when going on vacation.  One of these options is hiring a cat sitter to come to your home to take care of your cat and your home.  It is called inhome pet care.

Inhome pet care allows the cat to stay in their own environment when you go on vacation.  Not only that, but your cat sitter will also be taking care of your home which can add peace of mind to the homeowner.

Here are the top 5 reasons you need a cat sitter when you go on vacation:

1. The cat or cats can stay in their own environment.  They get to sleep in their own places, they get to use their own litter boxes, they get to eat and drink from their own bowls.   Not only does this reduce the stress and anxiety your cat may feel, it is healthier.  They are not sharing boxes and water and food with other cats.
2. Cats get the one on one attention some of them want.  Not every cat wants affection from a new person in the house which is fine, but they still receive the best care possible with fresh water, food and litter box cleanup.  For the cats that like attention, they have their very own sitter to play with them.
3. Your home is taken care of.  Cat vacation care can also include bringing in your mail and newspapers, rotating lights and blinds, watering plants, checking basements etc.  Having someone coming in at least once a day for your cats also gives the sitter the opportunity to make sure your home has no issues.
4. Watching for any ailments.  Having someone come in every day also allows the person to see if anything is happening with your cats.  Sometimes they require medication, sometimes, they don't feel good and their cat sitter will be able to detect this right away and resolve any issues that come up.  Excellent peace of mind know that you have someone there every day checking to make sure your cat is happy and healthy.
5. Continuous updates.  The best part of having your own sitter come to your home is they can give you continuous updates on how everything is going with your cat and your home.  Just coordinate that with your sitter before you leave.  It is their job to make sure everything is going well. 

So have fun on your vacation and don't worry, your cat sitter will take care of everything.  When you get home, your will have a healthy and happy cat waiting for you !

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