Month: April 2024

4 Types of Data Analytics to Improve Decision-Making

Posted on by faz_business


Editor’s note: If, despite all your efforts, your decision-making is still gut-feeling-based rather than informed, check whether you use the right mix of data analytics types. Read on and turn to our data analytics consultants for tailored recommendations.

Back in the 17th century, John Dryden wrote, “He who would search for pearls must dive below.” Although the author did not have advanced data analytics in mind, the quote perfectly describes its essence. Together with ScienceSoft, let’s find out how deep one should go into data in search of much-needed and fact-based insights.

Types of data analytics

There are 4 different types of analytics. Here, we start with the simplest one and go further to the more sophisticated types. As it happens, the more complex an analysis is, the more value it brings.

4 types of data analytics

Descriptive analytics

Descriptive analytics answers the question of what happened. Let us bring an example from ScienceSoft’s practice: having analyzed monthly revenue and income per product group, and the total quantity of metal parts produced per month, a manufacturer was able to answer a series of ‘what happened’ questions and decide on focus product categories.

Descriptive analytics juggles raw data from multiple data sources to give valuable insights into the past. However, these findings simply signal that something is wrong or right, without explaining why. For this reason, our data consultants don’t recommend highly data-driven companies to settle for descriptive analytics only, they’d rather combine it with other types of data analytics.

Diagnostic analytics

At this stage, historical data can be measured against other data to answer the question of why something happened. For example, you can check ScienceSoft’s BI demo to see how a retailer can drill the sales and gross profit down to categories to find out why they missed their net profit target. Another flashback to our data analytics projects: in the healthcare industry, customer segmentation coupled with several filters applied (like diagnoses and prescribed medications) allowed identifying the influence of medications.

Diagnostic analytics gives in-depth insights into a particular problem. At the same time, a company should have detailed information at their disposal, otherwise, data collection may turn out to be individual for every issue and time-consuming.

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Predictive analytics

Predictive analytics tells what is likely to happen. It uses the findings of descriptive and diagnostic analytics to detect clusters and exceptions, and to predict future trends, which makes it a valuable tool for forecasting. Check ScienceSoft’s case study to get details on how advanced data analytics allowed a leading FMCG company to predict what they could expect after changing brand positioning.

Predictive analytics belongs to advanced analytics types and brings many advantages like sophisticated analysis based on machine or deep learning and proactive approach that predictions enable. However, our data consultants state it clearly: forecasting is just an estimate, the accuracy of which highly depends on data quality and stability of the situation, so it requires careful treatment and continuous optimization.

Prescriptive analytics

The purpose of prescriptive analytics is to literally prescribe what action to take to eliminate a future problem or take full advantage of a promising trend. An example of prescriptive analytics from our project portfolio: a multinational company was able to identify opportunities for repeat purchases based on customer analytics and sales history.

Prescriptive analytics uses advanced tools and technologies, like machine learning, business rules and algorithms, which makes it sophisticated to implement and manage. Besides, this state-of-the-art type of data analytics requires not only historical internal data but also external information due to the nature of algorithms it’s based on. That is why, before deciding to adopt prescriptive analytics, ScienceSoft strongly recommends weighing the required efforts against an expected added value.

What types of data analytics do companies choose?

To identify if there is a prevailing type of data analytics, let’s turn to different surveys on the topic for the period 2016-2019.

For the 2016 Global Data and Analytics Survey: Big Decisions, more than 2,000 executives were asked to choose a category that described their company’s decision-making process best. Further, C-suite was questioned with what type of analytics they relied on most. The results were the following: descriptive analytics dominated (58%) in the “Rarely data-driven decision-making” category; diagnostic analytics topped the list (34%) in the “Somewhat data-driven” category; predictive analytics (36%) led in the “Highly data-driven” category.

The survey findings are in line with ScienceSoft’s hands-on experience as they show the need for one or the other type of analytics at different stages of a company’s development. For example, the companies that strived for informed decision-making found descriptive analytics insufficient and added up diagnostics analytics or even went as far as predictive one.

For another survey, BARC’s BI Trend Monitor 2017, 2,800 executives shared their opinion on the growing importance of advanced analytics. The term advanced analytics was the umbrella term for predictive and prescriptive analytics types.

According to the 2018 Advanced and Predictive Analytics Market Research, advanced analytics was for the first time considered “critical” or “very important” by a majority of respondents.

Within the BARC’s BI Trend Monitor 2019 survey, C-suite still named advanced analytics among the most important business intelligence trends.

What types of data analytics does your business need?

To define the right mix of data analytics types for your organization, we recommend answering the following questions:

  • What’s the current state of data analytics in my company?
  • How deep do I need to dive into the data? Are the answers to my problems obvious?
  • How far are my current data insights from the insights I need?

The answers to these questions will help you settle on a data analytics strategy. Ideally, the strategy should allow incrementally implementing the analytics types, from the simplest to more advanced. The next step would be to design the data analytics solution with the optimal technology stack, and a detailed roadmap to implement and launch it successfully.

You may try to complete all these tasks with the efforts of an in-house team. In this case, you’ll need to find and train highly qualified data analytics specialists, which will most probably turn lengthy and pricey. To maximize the ROI from implementing data analytics in your organization, we advise you to turn to an experienced data analytics provider with a background in your industry. A mature vendor will share the best practices and take care of everything, from the analysis of your current data analytics state and selection of the right mix of data analytics to bringing the technical solution to life. If the described approach resonates with you, our data analytics services are at your disposal.

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Star Wars Outlaws Preview – Everything We Know About ND-5

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The June 2023 reveal of Star Wars Outlaws gave us our first glimpse of Kay Vess and Nix, the two protagonists of the game. From talking with Massive Entertainment during our recent trip out to Sweden to get our hands on Star Wars Outlaws, it sounds as though their bond will be special. However, they aren’t on this journey alone, as they are joined by a trenchcoat-wearing BX-commando droid named ND-5. Though Kay and Nix were greater points of emphasis during our studio visit, we had to ask the developers about the internet-popular droid that joins the Star Wars Outlaws adventure.

ND-5 joins Kay Vess in her trip around the Outer Rim and beyond, but he has a long history in the Star Wars galaxy prior to meeting up with Kay. “He is a BX-commando droid – a veteran of the Clone Wars – and he works as an enforcer droid for a character named Jaylen,” associate narrative director John Björling says. “ND-5 is there to make sure that Kay follows through with the heist job, but together, they’re going to face some big challenges and really get to know one another.”

The job that Björling refers to is referenced in the latest story trailer (see below). At the start of her adventure, Kay crosses Sliro, the leader of the Zerek Besh criminal syndicate, resulting in him putting a bounty on her head. Jaylen Vrax and ND-5 drop in on Kay to offer her a path forward. The only way she sees out of it is to pull off the ultimate heist to earn her freedom.

Since Kay meets ND-5 early on, he plays a crucial role in the story, as well as Kay’s mission to pull off this heist. Because he has experience in the Clone Wars and the criminal underworld, he’s a valuable asset to her. “He comes from the Clone Wars and he is wearing a lot of emotional kind of baggage from that,” Björling says. “He’s an enforcer droid and he’s seen a lot and he has a lot of experience in the underworld. Matching him up with Kay, it feels like the perfect kind of combination because she’s new to that world; she doesn’t know the key syndicates and the major players, but ND-5 is there to guide her and support her as they are moving towards the mark.”

The reveal of ND-5 inspired a lot of excitement, with much social media attention put on his design. “First of all, I was very excited to see the fans’ reactions to ND-5’s design; it was really great to have all these reactions, and I think it really added to his character,” associate art director Marthe Jonkers says with a smile. “For his design, we really had a similar approach as we did to all the other characters in really trying to show his background story in his look. So, of course, he’s a BX-commando droid. He was made by separatists during the Clone Wars. He’s been through a lot; you see that – he has a scar on his chest, but he tries to hide that with his jacket. You will find out more about him in the game, so I’m not going to spoil too much, but you know, he’s walking a bit [lumbering]. He’s usually sitting hunched over. And, you know, we tried to put a lot of personality into this droid by using these kinds of elements. I’m really happy that people really picked up on them and he became very popular. I think he’s a super interesting character and I’m looking forward to people playing the game and finding out more about him.”

ND-5 graces the box and key art of Star Wars Outlaws, all but guaranteeing he’s a major player in the game

Star Wars Outlaws arrives on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on August 30. For more exclusive information about Star Wars Outlaws, be sure to visit our exclusive coverage hub at the banner below.

Upgrade Your Production Game with Atomos Ninja Bundles

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Now through April 30th 2024, bundle the Atomos Ninja (or Ninja Ultra) with Atomos Connect and you’ll also get a 6-month subscription to Atomos’ Camera-to-Cloud plus the 5″ accessory kit complete with batteries, a fast-charger, screen protector and travel case! That’s right… this bundle includes so much added value that we had pull even more from the Atomos Cloud!

Ninja                           $599.00

Atomos Connect        $299.00

Accessory Kit             $249.00

6-Month Cloud Sub   $90.00

Subtotal                      $1,237.00

Savings                     -$539.00

BUNDLE TOTAL   $698.00

Ninja Ultra                  $799.00

Atomos Connect        $299.00

Accessory Kit             $249.00

6-Month Cloud Sub   $90.00

Subtotal                      $1,437.00

Savings                     -$539.00

BUNDLE TOTAL   $898.00

New Products Announced at NAB Coming Soon!

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The world’s first sun spectrum, HDR, waterproof, wireless DMX, 2000 lumen 5-color LED, mount-anywhere, lightweight flexible production and cinema strip light

**Note: Ninja Phone and Sun Dragon are expected to arrive June 2024

Explore More of Atomos

7-inch monitor-recorder with integrated networking for cloud workflows, ideal for DSLR, mirrorless & cinematic cameras. More codecs & monitoring tools than ever.

Shogun Ultra is everything you’d expect from a Shogun. Perfect for HDMI mirrorless and SDI cinematic cameras, with enhanced camera to cloud connectivity.

Capture, edit and post your social media content in the fastest possible way. 5″ Network connected monitor & encoder

The Atomos Connect, when paired with the Ninja V/V+, turns cinema, mirrorless, and DSLR cameras into fully integrated devices for advanced cloud-based workflows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visual Studio Code Day 2023

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April 13, 2023 by Burke Holland, @burkeholland

VS Code Day is a one-day “Virtually Live” event starting at 10:00 AM PST on April 26. Naming things is hard, but we feel like this title says it all – a full day of community, learning, and all things Visual Studio Code. Registration is now open, and you can grab your spot today: https://aka.ms/vscodeday.

VS Code Day Banner

The event kicks off with “Inside VS Code: How we build and ship it” – a keynote from Microsoft Technical Fellow Erich Gamma and Partner Engineering Manager Kai Maetzel. Prior to joining Microsoft and creating VS Code, Erich and Kai both worked on Eclipse at IBM. Between the two of them, they have ~60 years of experience building developer tools. 😳

We’re following that with a full schedule of sessions on AI, Remote Development, TypeScript, Python, Accessibility, and much more…

We’re very excited about VS Code Day. But we’re also engineers. We can’t help but think about efficiency and simplicity, so we’ve taken a step back (like you may have at this point) and thought, do we need an event…for an editor?

An event for…an editor?

The question is a fair one. After all, VS Code is just an editor – right? And how much have editors really changed over the years?

In his keynote from VS Code Day 2021, Erich Gamma talks about how VS Code started with the goal of “Focus on coding in the browser”, without feeling like you are coding in the browser. The first deliverable on that vision was the Monaco Editor – a lightweight and highly performant editor that runs in the browser. You will still see Monaco embedded in many applications today, including the TypeScript Playground, CodeSandbox, and many Microsoft products, including Azure.

The first actual IDE built with Monaco Editor was called “Monaco Workbench”. It was used internally by Microsoft, and it looked like this. Shoutout to Internet Explorer 11.

Monaco Workbench

Eventually, this became “Visual Studio Online”, which was embedded in Azure as a way to edit websites. And you can see the VS Code you know starting to emerge here…

Visual Studio Online

VS Code as it is today was announced at Microsoft Build in 2015. Fast-forward to 2023, and the world of developer tools is seeing a renaissance of new functionality.

Things are getting interesting

Today, the original vision of VS Code is a reality with vscode.dev – VS Code running entirely in the browser. Containerized compute and the open source dev container spec means that we can isolate dev environments and run them anywhere. Combine that with an editor that runs in the browser and you get GitHub Codespaces – a 100% hosted developer environment that you can access from any browser. Or run VS Code on your own machine and access your compute from the browser with Remote Tunnels.

These changes are tectonic. They redefine how we think about when, where, and who can build software. When all you need for a complete dev environment is a browser, software development becomes accessible to everyone everywhere.

But in the last few months, things have gotten really interesting.

About a year ago, we welcomed an AI pair programmer into the editor with GitHub Copilot. Since then, ChatGPT and GPT4 have completely changed what we expect from AI and the implications for developers are enormous. We stand on the cusp of a new day for developer creativity, and we’ve been thinking (and working) on how to bring AI to developers in a way that feels natural and lights up everywhere you might need it in VS Code.

It’s an exciting time to be a developer as we are truly approaching “Build anything from anywhere”.

It’s also a lot to keep up with and it can feel intimidating. Which makes this the perfect time to meet as the world’s largest community of developers and talk about these things – together.

So yes, an event for an editor

And now might be the best time for it. We’re going to be serving up sessions on VS Code itself, but also on AI with GitHub Copilot, Python, Remote Development, Accessibility, and more. We’re pleased to welcome several of our friends from around the community, including GitHub, Duke University, IBM, and more.

So join us as we look forward and see what the near future holds for developers everywhere. It’s never a bad time to be a developer, but it’s also never been this good.

Happy Coding!

Burke Holland (@burkeholland)



Google Wallet’s PIN requirement for tap-to-pay on Wear OS is just a bug

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Update (April 24, 8:55 pm ET): Google says the PIN requirement for using Google Wallet on Wear OS for tap-to-pay is actually just a glitch.

What you need to know

  • Google Wallet might start asking for a PIN on Wear OS watches, potentially making payments less convenient.
  • Some Reddit users report having to input a PIN for every payment attempt on their Wear OS watches.
  • The PIN prompt seems limited to a few users, suggesting it could be a test, a glitch, or a gradual rollout by Google.

Paying with your Wear OS watch with Google Wallet might get annoying soon, as the app might start asking for a PIN before you can use the speedy payment feature.



How he turned his side hustle into a 6-figure business

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Rodney Melton’s side hustle turned into a profitable business that allowed him to quit his full-time AND part-time jobs. He was able to make $20,000 in ONE month!

Rodney tells us about the ins and outs of running his pet memorial business, Melton Memorials.

Make sure you read until the end to see his advice for starting your own pet memorial business!

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what inspired you to start your business?

Hello! My name is Rodney Melton. I was a full time factory worker and part time had joined my brother in a decorative concrete business in 2019.

While working with decorative concrete a co-worker of mine had lost his dog and asked if I could save some concrete and make a memorial for Molly. I made a picture of what I created and listed it on Etsy. The smile on his face was worth all of my efforts!

I then knew I loved helping others navigate the grief of pet loss through memorial stones. I was using a CNC engraver and the orders trickled in sporadically. Around June of 2020, the order volume increased.

It quickly became unattainable to produce the volume with a CNC and I opted to buy sandblasting equipment. Sandblasting is the standard in all monument companies for headstones.

This proved to be a much faster solution. I then started offering heart shaped stones as well as granite pet memorials instead of concrete.

At this time the business really took off and within months I faced the decision of continuing full time employment or throttling down the pet memorial business. My wife and I chose to do pet memorials full time. We then bought a laser engraver to put pet images onto black granite stones.

2. Could you detail the steps involved in the launch of your business?

Most of this question is answered above. However, one aspect not covered is the concrete stone molds. Once I achieve a design that I am happy with I make rubber molds of this design so that I can mass produce the same stone over and over.

3. Can you tell me about the process of creating personalized tombstones for pets?

Currently, the process is: I receive an order. I make a mock up preview to try creating what the customer has in mind and for the customer to verify spelling and dates of life. Once the preview is agreed on I will send this file to a stencil cutter.

Next, we put the stencil on the stone and sandblast/pain/seal/ship.

4. What materials do you use for your pet tombstones, and why did you choose them? What tools does someone need to get started?

The tools I use are CNC router, laser engraver, stencil cutter, sandblast cabinet, sand blasting pot which holds the sand, air compressor which provides air to the sandblast pot and painting area.

5. How do you handle the emotional aspect of creating memorials for pets?

This is likely the toughest question asked! Emotionally I am attached to pets and I understand pet loss to the best of my ability. I have accepted that tears are shed by each customer no matter if they ordered the least or most expensive product I offer.

Each pet meant a lot to each customer and I never lose sight of this. Each memorial I make has meaning to me and I try to make each as if it were for my pet or loved one.

6. How do you market your business and attract customers?

Attracting customers is a goal of any business. However, in my business I do not hope for a customer simply due to the loss that accompanied me gaining their business.

I initially listed on Etsy and customers found me. I have since created a website for another way of customers in need to reach me. Etsy has proved to be the most beneficial.

A lot of people say Etsy fees are too much but I I fine with their percentage. Keeping %90 of the customers they bring is much better than %0 from not having a selling platform.

Etsy has been a good source of sales and I have no complaints, matter of fact I could say many things about the benefits of this sales avenue.

7. How do you handle custom requests or special design preferences from clients?

Each customer sends me a general idea of what they are looking for. I use my creativity to generate a computerized preview that captures what I think the customer wants.

I email the preview to each customer an at times I am wrong or I have a typo in the spelling or dates, but the majority of my email replies will say “perfect”.

If there are corrections or design changes request I of course make the changes and then send a revised preview and back and forth until it is just as the customer wants. Once approved I mark the order as approved and ready for production.

8. What tools or platforms do you use for your business?

I use mainly Etsy and my website for orders. I use an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of each customer and when the memorial is due. I use VCarve software to create designs and previews.

9. How much do you earn with your business?

For the last 2 years – 2022 and 2023 I have had 200k plus in sales and my calculations are after all expenses and shipping I clear about 60-65 percent of total sales.

10. Do you offer any additional services or products related to pet memorials besides tombstones?

I have branched out to assist local funeral homes with human memorials and I have done a few human urn memorials in my shop but I find that sticking to your one passion is the best.

11. What advice would you give to someone interested in starting their own pet tombstone business?

Best advice is to first make sure your heart is in it for the right reason, if not it will simply be a job or chore that makes some money but not enjoyable. You first and foremost should have a heart to help others navigate the journey of pet loss.

It is said that the loss of a pet has more grieving associated with it than losing a human. This is due to their unconditional love and many other factors. But please don’t consider this business for a financial win for yourself.

Put others first to be successful. To become more successful – serve more people. Sounds simple but many ignore these aspects once they begin earning money from a business.

12. What future goals or plans do you have for expanding your Melton Memorial? 

I don’t have huge future goals, which sounds awful coming from a business owner. My wife and I enjoy what we do and are comfortable with it. I do a lot of development on future products to offer as markets always move and shift.

Such as the memorial industry it has started leaning towards cremation and I have kept this in mind and offer cremation urns now. But there will always be a place for a memorial stone under the favorite tree or in a garden.

We are in our 50’s and plan to make memorials for others until it becomes more than we can handle, which at that time we will pass the memorial making to our children if they wish to continue memorials.

13. How can others find you- as we are all fans of you now?

Anyone can find us at www.meltonmemorials.com or on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeltonMemorials

Thank you, Rodney! We know losing a pet is such a difficult time for their owners. We love that you are creating memorials to remember their furry friends for years to come.

Check out Melton Memorials website for more information.

Oracle Is Moving Its World Headquarters To Nashville

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Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison said Tuesday that the company is moving its world headquarters to Nashville, Tennessee, to be closer to a major health-care epicenter. CNBC reports: In a wide-ranging conversation with Bill Frist, a former U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Ellison said Oracle is moving a “huge campus” to Nashville, “which will ultimately be our world headquarters.” He said Nashville is an established health center and a “fabulous place to live,” one that Oracle employees are excited about. “It’s the center of the industry we’re most concerned about, which is the health-care industry,” Ellison said. The announcement was seemingly spur-of-the-moment. “I shouldn’t have said that,” Ellison told Frist, a longtime health-care industry veteran who represented Tennessee in the Senate. The pair spoke during a fireside chat at the Oracle Health Summit in Nashville.

Nashville has been a major player in the health-care scene for decades, and the city is now home to a vibrant network of health systems, startups and investment firms. The city’s reputation as a health-care hub was catalyzed when HCA Healthcare, one of the first for-profit hospital companies in the U.S., was founded there in 1968. HCA helped attract troves of health-care professionals to Nashville, and other organizations quickly followed suit. Oracle has been developing its new $1.2 billion campus in the city for about three years, according to The Tennessean. “Our people love it here, and we think it’s the center of our future,” Ellison said.

The Games That Broke The Internet

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Twenty years ago, people would queue around the block for a chance to play the latest games. You’d see fans lining up outside stores like Electronics Boutique just for a chance to get the title they wanted. 

Now, though, with digital distribution, that’s all changed. Games are still causing disruption and breaking the internet. 

Numerous games fall into this category. Some are what you might expect, but others seem to come out of nowhere, as you’ll discover below. 

Of course, they didn’t literally break the internet (though some gave it a good go). Instead, they changed the conversation or zeitgeist about gaming, bringing new people into the conversation, and thrilling long-timers looking for something new. 

But what were these games? Let’s take a look. 

Minecraft

Minecraft, released in 2011, was one of the first games that could legitimately claim to have broken the internet. The sandbox builder provided players with near-limitless possibilities to create stunning worlds where anything was possible. 

What made Minecraft unique was how you could do what you wanted. For instance, you had people trying to recreate Bethesda’s Skyrim in blocky format, complete with dungeon runs, dragons, and people saying “Then I got an arrow to the knee.” 

Minecraft also gained popular appeal (unlike most games). It appeared on TV numerous times and regular members of the public flocked to it in droves. It was semi-magical to watch. Reddit went crazy, of course.

Rocket League

Another game that broke the internet was Rocket League. This car-based soccer game combined two genres in a way that people never expected. (Why didn’t anyone think of it before?) Reviewers on YouTube and gaming sites across the internet greeted the title with near-universal acclaim, calling it a breath of fresh air in a year that saw many disappointing titles released. 

What made it special was the unique gameplay. People loved using cars with fast-paced action to score against the opposing side. 

The game also offered cross-platform support. You could play Rocket League on the PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, allowing the total size of the community to grow significantly. 

There was even a competitive esports component (which continues to this day). Players became ultra-competitive with the game, thanks to its superior and nuanced mechanics. 

Pokemon Go 

Pokemon Go was released in 2016 and nothing was quite the same from that point onwards. The game’s developers realized they could use players’ smartphones as handheld devices that enabled them to spot cute critters digitally imposed on the real world. 

Once word got out, towns and cities across the world were filled with players staring intently at their phones, trying to capture Pokemon in their environments. Suddenly, you had couch potatoes walking thousands of steps per day, just to complete their critter collections. 

Of course, the media absolutely loved the phenomenon. There were stories about people skipping work to find Pokemon, and even some people getting injured because they weren’t looking where they were going when crossing the road. 

Incredibly, people continued playing this title for years. The prospect of never knowing what critters you’d find in the real world was compelling. 

Fortnite

Fortnite was another game that practically broke the internet when it launched in 2017. The developers based the concept on the battle royale format. But the game took on a life of its own, breaking all expectations for the title. 

Unlike many other games in the genre, Fortnite became a social hub. People would often log on just to talk to each other and make friends. Sometimes, artists use it for virtual events. It even hosted conferences (Since when does that happen in a video game?)

Because of this social involvement, Fortnite constantly evolved and changed. Players and developers worked together to give it a unique feel that encouraged people to keep coming back. Even five years after launch, it had an active community that got the internet buzzing. People constantly played around with wacky skins and new maps to maintain their interest. 


Doom: Eternal

Doom: Eternal launched in Spring 2020, just as the pandemic was getting underway. ID Software couldn’t have timed the launch any better. People trapped at home jumped on the game and started live-streaming their efforts to defeat its many levels. 

What was astonishing about Doom: Eternal was the gameplay loop. It really was something new, changing the first-person shooter genre forever. ID’s system required players to use all the tools at their disposal to survive while making sure they kept moving. Different boss types and even gun duals made it more compelling than the 2016 Doom reboot (which was already a fantastic game). 

As expected, Doom: Eternal sold millions of copies, and ID Software was heralded by gamers as the new CD Projekt Red after the release of Cyberpunk 2077. (ID had actually been around since the early 1990s and were the geniuses behind the original Doom games). 

Candy Crush Saga

Candy Crush Saga was released in 2012 and immediately proved that smartphone gaming could be fun. (At that point, smartphones had only been around for five years, and only mainstream for perhaps two). People, including British Prime Ministers, appeared to be addicted. 

Candy Crush Saga’s success came from its gameplay loop, colorful graphics, and social media involvement. It also had problem-solving elements that upgraded on other games’ formats, with cute graphics and sound effects. 

However, unlike an online chess or pool game, Candy Crush was also controversial. Developers included compelling microtransactions where players could pay for perks to help them on their gaming journey. Being one of the first instances of this predatory pricing practice, people took to the internet to voice their concerns. Even so, it still became one of the highest-grossing mobile games in history. 

Wrapping Up

You can probably think of some more games that broke the internet, like World of Warcraft in 2004 and Flappy Bird in 2013. However, what’s interesting about these titles is the many ways in which they did it. Some offered good old-fashioned value, while others were plain addictive. 

AutoCAD How To Insert Drawings – 3 Simple Tricks To Import, Add & Reference DWGs

Posted on by faz_business


I hope you’ve had a great week so far, and were able to enjoy some time off to recharge over the weekend.

For us, last weekend the weather cooperated and made for a perfect time to relax and spend time with friends/family, including a day trip to the lake and some time on a secluded beach to hang out, swim, and skip rocks!

It’s been a busy month or two here with lots going on at work, with the family, and on the blog/channel, I want to thank everyone who joined and has been participating in the CAD Support Community/Forum!

It’s been awesome and I’m excited to grow it even more in the coming weeks/months. The first group of spots filled up in just 3 days, which is so great! We’ve been getting to know each other and answering questions already, and today’s video is even based on one of the early requests!

If you missed out on joining the Community or want to learn more, you can check out this link here (http://cadintentions.com/cadsupport) to take part in the 2nd Enrollment open now!

With that, let’s jump into this weeks video below:

In this week’s video, I’m answering and expanding on a question from our CAD Support Discord.

In it, we’re going over 3 simple methods and tricks for inserting or importing DWGs into our drawings!

Depending on your situation and the type of drawing you’re creating, each of these different methods of bringing drawing data into our drawing can be super helpful. Whether you just want bits and pieces of a drawing inserted, a live linked reference of say a floor plan, or you just want to insert everything to make changes, today’s video has you covered with all the options!

These are all really must-know commands and tricks for creating drawings and building out a detailed and accurate design that every designer should know.

Check it out now: AutoCAD How to Insert Drawings – 3 Simple Tricks to Import, Add & Reference DWGs

That’s all for today, I hope you were able to take something away from the tutorial, and if you have any questions be sure to leave a comment or reach out on Twitter @cadintentions.

As always, thank you so much for reading, I am excited to be back and posting regularly on the blog and hope you all will follow along.

Cheers, and happy Drafting!

PS. If you liked today’s video or any of my videos/tutorials and you want to learn over 15 years of AutoCAD Tips & Tricks in a hurry, you can use this link to get my AutoCAD Fundamentals Course and join 100’s of members of the course, get started right now!

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Brandon is a Civil Designer, Aspiring Blogger/Creator, Husband, Father to two Amazing Kids and Tech Aficionado from a small town in Canada. He has been obsessed with design and technology since he can remember and working as a Civil Designer for nearly as long. Brandon’s blog and Youtube channel, CADIntentions.com has been his outlet and excuse for keeping up with new tech and trends in the CAD design world for the last 10 years growing to more than 60,000 subscribers and over 15,000,000 views, while also being the source of many great friendships and unique opportunities.

If you would like to Sponsor CAD Intentions or Work together in some way, Please visit my About Page and send me an email: http://cadintentions.com/about-me/