How do playing free games make money?

 

Ah, my naïve little game-guzzling friend: Free games make money by selling you. And the fact that you would ask how they do it just points to how well it's working for them. While you cheerfully crush candy or farm ... villes? ... picture yourself as a little hamster in the wheel of the gaming company. They're using your hard work and dedication to keep the lights on. And they're doing it in a few different ways.

If you were to ask most people how internet money is made on free sites or games, you'd probably get a confident answer: ads. But when most people are prodded more ("How, exactly, does having a free player look at ads make money?"), the answer might get a little more vague ("Uh, you click them sometimes? I think?"). While some games do use the click model (where advertisers pay the gaming company if someone clicks the ad), there are other games — like "Flappy Bird" — that use a pay-per-view model of ad revenue— meaning that every time someone sees the ad, the company makes doug.

That's all fine and good for games that have a ton of people playing them. Are ads useful for games that aren't as wildly popular? Well, ads can also make money by disappearing. Many games offer to show you an ad-free experience if you're willing to pay a little bit of cash, and that's great for the gaming company. Obviously, it means that you've paid for the game, but it also means that you might be willing to consider some "micro-transactions" within it.

Micro-transactions are the little things you might pay for within a game to either enhance your experience or make you a better, more competitive player. So let's say you're playing a free game where the object is to make a really good mixed drink. (On the Internet, it's always 5 o'clock somewhere.) You might be able to access a free bevy of inexpensive well liquors, but pay $3 and now you're able to use top-shelf brands or exotic juices to flavor your drinks. Naturally, this makes you a player who is going to get better — say by moving up to higher levels. Which means you're sticking around for longer.

But maybe you're not doing any of that. After all, only 3 to 5 percent of free-game players pay for anything in games like "FARMVILLE" . What's the point of all these other players?

Let's go back to the idea that the game companies are selling you — the free-game player — for money. By having a huge collection of free players, the game guarantees that those who are paying will have an eager, decent pool of people to play against in multi player settings. And while I might never agree to fork over money for a game, if my buddy — who willingly buys into an ad-free experience or micro-transactions — tells me to download the game, I'll be a lot more willing to if it's free. That brings in more players, increases ad impressions and helps get the word out.

 

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2015 Volkswagen Polo Launched at Rs. 5.23 lakh

Volkswagen India, yesterday, launched the 2015 Polo with new features in the country. Priced in the range of Rs. 5.23 lakh to Rs. 8.41 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai), the top-end trim of the 2015 Polo gets several new features including cruise control, electrically adjustable outside rear-view mirrors (ORVMs) and cooled glove box.

Since it's just model year change, there are no mechanical updates made to it. The Volkswagen Polo continues to feature the same 1.5-litre TDI and 1.2-litre MPI powertrains that are capable of churning out 88bhp, 230Nm and 74bhp, 110Nm respectively. The performance-oriented models - GT TSI and GT TDI too continue to feature the same 1.2-litre TSI (103bhp, 175Nm) and 1.5-litre TDI (103bhp, 250Nm). While a 5-speed manual transmission is a standard offering, the 1.2 GT TSI features a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox.

Michael Mayer, Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt. Ltd. said, "With the new Polo, we have enhanced the driving comfort for our customers. We are confident that the introduction of new features in Polo in this festive season will appeal to discerning car buyers across the country, who demand nothing less than the best that German engineering has to offer."

Prices (ex-showroom, Mumbai)

Polo 1.2 MPI - 5.23 lakh

Polo 1.5 TDI - 6.55 lakh

Polo GT TSI - Rs. 8.41 lakh.

Polo GT TDI - 8.41 lakh

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New tech aims to save Windows

Can Windows be saved? There are a lot of technology companies that certainly hope so.

Going strictly by the numbers Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system is a success. The company claims that the new operating system has been installed on 75 million systems since its launch in July. For many existing customers, the upgrade is free and people were anxious to escape the asphyxiating tentacles of the disastrous Window 8 and 8.1 software (never mind the incessant pop-ups Microsoft pushed out to users enticing them to switch).

Furthermore, Windows 10 is significant improvement over the previous version. The disorganized and disorienting tile interface has been revamped, allowing multiple points of access, and Cortana, the company's answer to Siri, has extended her reach making it easier to find facts and files.

But the device upon which Microsoft built its empire — the vaunted IBM compatible PC — continues its decline. Sales are dropping faster than the price of oil. Market researchers at Gartner and IDC estimate that PC shipments so far this year have dropped 9.5 and 11.8 percent, respectively. The writing has been on the tablet for some time as consumers became enthralled by smartphones and the iPad, abandoning any allegiance to a particular operating system in favor of disposable apps.


However, there may be signs of growth ahead for Windows, according to researchers at GfK. At the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin this week, the firm said it expects Windows 10 to drive demand for PCs in the coming year. Specifically, it notes that the tablet boom is over with sales of Android and Apple tablets declining by 9 percent worldwide in the first half of this year.

The decline in tablet sales isn't surprising since there's been little improvement in the devices for several years, giving shoppers little reason to upgrade. Conversely, there's been a steady improvement in so-called convertibles, laptop computers with screens that can be flipped or detached to double as tablets. Gfk expects these convertibles — which almost exclusively run Windows 10 — will be the magic ticket to get consumers to buy a PC rather than a new tablet.

At IFA, Toshiba introduced the Satellite Click 10, for example, with a detachable tablet screen for a little over $500. The Windows 10 system will be available next month. Nearly every PC maker from Asus to Lenovo has similar offerings.

At the same show, Acer CEO Jason Chen referred to Windows 10 as “the most important initiative for the industry this year.” The company then announced a slew of new PCs ranging from a modular Bento box-sized system to a project known as Continuum, which uses a smartphone connected to a keyboard and monitor as the central system. Critical to that approach is the success not of Windows 10 but rather of Windows Mobile 10. However, Microsoft's share of the smartphone market is minuscule right now — under 3 percent worldwide, according to IDC — and that's not likely to grow any time soon.

The main problem, however, for Windows 10 may be that the PC, the original Internet-connected device, isn't really part of the growing Internet of Things. Desktop and laptop computers are no longer the hub of our digital world.

That position has been taken by smaller, more nimble computers — smartphones.

Set up a new Web cam or a garage door opener or even a new connected car system, and you'll be using a smartphone, not a PC.

We may scoff at how disjointed and disconcerting the idea of connecting every gadget in your life to the Web is, but it's coming and it's coming in a big way. The Internet of things will be a $1 trillion market by 2020, according to Samsung, which plans to make every single one of its devices Web-ready by then. Samsung is introducing a disc-shaped device that will fit under a mattress, monitoring the sleeper's heart rate, breathing, and movement.

The folks at Microsoft have belatedly realized they're headed for shoals of devices with processors of their own connected to the Internet. The question is, can they turn the Windows supertanker before it runs aground? Maybe this is the year we'll find out.

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A 20-Year-Old Takes Political Parties in Delhi to Court

NEW DELHI:  She's all of 20, and she's proving to be someone political parties in Delhi cannot ignore. Ruby Malik, a third-year law student, has gone to court alleging that for elections at Delhi University, parties are crossing all sorts of lines.

Delhi University's students union has spring-boarded several important political careers. The election for this year are to be held in four days.  For the first time, the Aam Aadmi Party is part of the contest- its youth wing the Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) will take on the BJP's student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad  or ABVP  and the Congress' National Students Union of India (NSUI).

"All you have to do is to see the huge hoardings around campus of the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and you know the amount that they are spending," said Ms Malik on NDTV's show 'Agenda'.  She claims she has no connection with any political party or interest in a political career.  Her sole motive, she says, is ensuring that everyone has a level playing field, and that election guidelines are followed.

Rules endorsed by the Supreme Court say that a candidate for a college election mustn't spend more than Rs. 5,000 and that public property cannot be used to display publicity and slogans. Vehicle rallies are banned along with printed posters - only handmade ones are permissible.  

A trip to any campus shows how all these guidelines are being blatantly ignored. "The expenditure can be anything upto lakhs," said one person distributing printed pamphlets at Bhagat Singh College, "Last year, they offered movie tickets to voters and trips to Fun Food Village (an amusement park)-all of that costs a lot of money," he said.

When NDTV contacted the Delhi Police, a spokesperson confirmed that all parties are guilty. "They are buying ad spaces at bus stands to promote the theory that they are getting 46% votes," said the police officer of AAP's role, adding, "Even ABVP and NSUI are defacing property."

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Suresh Raina Sings for Bollywood Film 'Meeruthiya Gangsters'

Suresh Raina said he really enjoyed the experience of singing the romantic number -- 'Tu Mili Sab Mila' -- which was released on Monday.

The song 'Tu Mili Sab Mila' was released on Monday in Mumbai and Raina said he really enjoyed the experience of singing the romantic number.

"Cricket will always remain my passion and while playing, music has always given me company in between. While listening to music, singing became a hobby and I have been interested in doing something in singing when I am free," Raina said."My wife Priyanka is from Meerut and the Producer of this movie Shoeb Ahmed is a family friend of mine, a few days back he discussed his upcoming movie Meeruthiya Gangsters and insisted that I sing a song for it.

"Priyanka further convinced me to utilise this opportunity for trying my hand in singing. On Sunday we recorded this melodious track and I really enjoyed it. I hope listeners and fans will appreciate my effort as they have all this while supported me whenever I am playing the game for my country," he added.

'Meeruthiya Gangsters' is Zeishan Quadri's directorial debut and is set to be released along with Kangana Ranaut-Imran Khan starrer 'Katti Batti' on September 18.

                                                     

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Mahindra Mojo Launching in October, 2015

It's been four years when we first saw the Mahindra Mojo at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo, but the bike hasn't still seen the light of the day. It was first rumoured to be launched in 2013, but it kept getting delayed as Mahindra Two Wheelers's first innings didn't go well. Though things started changing after the re-launch of the Centuro that has been currently drawing profits for the Mahindra 2 Wheelers.

Also the bike's design has gone through a lot of changes, and the production-version looks quite different from the concept. Now that Mahindra two-wheeler dealers have started taking pre-orders for the bike, we expect it to be launched in October, 2015.

Talking about its design, the front-fascia of the Mojo looks more practical with revised twin head-lamps. Also the vehicle features a digital speedometer with analogue tachometre with a shift light and low-fuel warning indicators. Other features include radial brakes, Pirelli Sport Demon tyres and USD forks.

Power for the Mahindra Mojo will come from a liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, single-cylinder that churns out a maximum power output of 27bhp and 25Nm. This engine will come mated to a 6-speed transmission.

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How to Make a Bootable USB Disk for Windows 10

you have a facility to make a windows 10 bootable USB disk or drive.even though USB offers many features like faster read/write speeds.you are also likely to have a USB drive lying around or your computer may not have DVD drive.in this case here is the solution for you

Make sure that the USB or DVD (if rewritable) you pick to be your Windows 10 bootable media has no important data on it, because this process will format the drive, which means you will lose everything on it. Also make sure that the drive is of minimum 4GB capacity, as the process requires 3GB of space. With that in mind, here's is the list of steps you need to follow to make a bootable Windows 10 drive

1) Download Windows 10 media creation tool. Here are links to download the Windows 10 media creation tool for 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit(x64) Windows respectively. To find out which type of Windows you are running, go to Start, type Control panel, select System and security, and then, under System, look at the value for System type, or check this step by step guide by Microsoft.

2) Once Media creation tool is installed, launch the application. When asked What do you want to do? select Create installation media for another PC, and click Next.

3) On the next screen, select your preferred Language and Architecture as determined in Step 1. Also choose Edition as explained below and click Next.

If you are currently running Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 with Bing, or Windows 10 Home, choose Windows 10 Home as Edition.

If you are currently running Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 8 Professional, Windows 8.1 Professional with Media Centre, or Windows 10 Pro, chooseWindows 10 Pro as Edition.

If you are currently running Windows 8 Single Language, Windows 8.1 Single Language, or Windows 8 Single Language with Bing, choose Windows 10 Home Single Language as Edition.

If you are currently running Windows 8 Chinese Language Edition, Windows 8.1 Chinese Language Edition, or Windows 8 Chinese Language Edition with Bing, choose Windows 10 Home China as Edition.

4) If you are creating a bootable Windows 10 USB disk, select USB flash drive and click Next to follow the rest of the steps. A reminder once again you will lose whatever data is there in the drive you select.

If you want to create a bootable Windows 10 USB DVD, select ISO file. Make sure you have ISO file of the Windows 10 version you selected in step 3 handy. ISO files are basically images of the setup files, and the Windows 10 ISO files are available from Microsoft

Once Windows 10 media creation tool has finished doing its job, you should have a Windows 10 bootable USB disk/ DVD drive, depending upon the option you chose.

Thank you for reading this article.If you have problems with any of the above steps, you try using the Windows USB/ DVD Tool, which was designed for Windows 7, but handles Windows 10 just fine. You can use this guide in case you need any assistance with that, just use Windows 10 ISO files instead.

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