Train Ride free essay sample

Thursday night on the metro rail. Exhausted like always exiting work, but hey, life goes on. As I step into the south bound train to settle down and enjoy the ride, I see my victims for my assignment. About Ft. Tall, built, a skull tattoo on his right arm, bald, and with a pair of nice Nines, lets call him Tommy, since I didnt catch the name. Tommy was somewhat arguing with what seemed to be his girlfriend. His girlfriends name was Tania, and I promise my pockets would be bulging if I received a dollar for every time he said It.Tania, with her long curly jet black hair, nice body, must have messed up somewhere because Tommy wasnt having It. The look on his face was Like one of a murderer, ready to strike and not care. From my understandings, remember I was a distance so It was hard to catch on to them; Tania went out with a few friends the night before. We will write a custom essay sample on Train Ride or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Tommy was not aware of that since he did not receive a call from her. Of course she claimed she did, but Tommy never received the call. She kept trying to get near him and keep things cool, UT Tommy had no feeling to work with her. He would touch Is arm, attempt to lean on him, a tiny hug, anything to try and make it somewhat better. She knew she did something wrong from picking up on her actions. With all that, eye contact was very minimal from Tommy, more than half the time he was looking outside the window at the Miami nightlife. Every now and then, his arms would go up like he was conducting a plane for landing. I shouldnt say it, but it was quit amusing in a sense that I used to deal with the same situations back in the days.I work a good distance from my house, and they were on it all the way passed my stop. It takes me 30 minutes from work to get to my house, and they were silent for a total of about seven minutes, and thats being nice. Some other people I noticed were looking at them, because they seemed to be in their own world and no one was in it. My stop came, and I evacuated while they were still going at it. The last word I heard, and yes I did write it down, was movies. Im sure little lady Tania went with another little man to he movies, that was not Tommy. I wish I had the conclusion to this fiasco, maybe a little novella love story ending, with white doves flying around in the train. Or maybe Tommy pulling out flowers from out of nowhere, or even a little kiss would have shown that the war was over. It would be nice if they worked things out, because Tommy seemed as if he was having the worst day he could ever deal with. This assignment I found to be useful in the sense that you pick up on others gestures and actions.You do not have to know what Is going to or the whole situation to pick up on whats happening. I enjoyed it. Train Ride By memorandum bulging if I received a dollar for every time he said it. Tania, with her long curly Jet having it. The look on his face was like one of a murderer, ready to strike and not care. From my understandings, remember I was a distance so it was hard to catch on but Tommy had no feeling to work with her. She would touch is arm, attempt to lean actions.

Learn About the Sahara Desert

Learn About the Sahara Desert The Sahara Desert is located in the northern portion of Africa and covers over 3,500,000 square miles (9,000,000 sq km) or roughly 10% of the continent. It is bounded in the east by the Red Sea and it stretches west to the Atlantic Ocean. To the north, the Sahara Deserts northern boundary is the Mediterranean Sea, while in the south it ends at the Sahel, an area where the desert landscape transforms into a semi-arid tropical savanna. Since the Sahara Desert makes up nearly 10% of the African continent, the Sahara is often cited as the worlds largest desert. This is not entirely true, however, as it is only the worlds largest hot desert. Based on the definition of a desert as an area receiving less than 10 inches (250 mm) of precipitation per year, the worlds largest desert is actually the continent of Antarctica. Geography of the Sahara Desert Stocktrek Images / Getty Images The Sahara covers parts of several African nations including Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, and Tunisia. Most of the Sahara Desert is undeveloped and features a varied topography. Most of its landscape has been shaped over time by wind and includes sand dunes, sand seas called ergs, barren stone plateaus, gravel plains, dry valleys, and salt flats. Around 25% of the desert is sand dunes, some of which reach over 500 ft (152 m) in height. There are also several mountain ranges within the Sahara and many are volcanic. The highest peak found in these mountains is Emi Koussi, a shield volcano that rises to 11,204 ft (3,415 m). It is a part of the Tibesti Range in northern Chad. The lowest point in the Sahara Desert is in Egypts Qattara Depression at -436 ft (-133 m) below sea level. Most of the water found in the Sahara today is in the form of seasonal or intermittent streams. The only permanent river in the desert is the Nile River that flows from Central Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. Other water in the Sahara is found in underground aquifers  and in areas where this water reaches the surface, there are oases and sometimes small towns or settlements like the Bahariya Oasis in Egypt and Ghardaà ¯a in Algeria. Since the amount of water and topography varies based on location, the Sahara Desert is divided into different geographic zones. The center of the desert is considered hyper-arid and has little to no vegetation, while the northern and southern portions have sparse grasslands, desert shrub and sometimes trees in areas with more moisture. Climate of the Sahara Desert Samere Fahim Photography / Getty Images Although hot and extremely dry today, it is believed that the Sahara Desert has undergone various climatic shifts for the last few hundred thousand years. For example, during the last glaciation, it was bigger than it is today because precipitation in the area was low. But from 8000 BCE to 6000 BCE, precipitation in the desert increased because of the development of low pressure over ice sheets to its north. Once these ice sheets melted, however, the low pressure shifted and the northern Sahara dried out but the south continued to receive moisture due to the presence of a monsoon. Around 3400 BCE, the monsoon moved south to where it is today and the desert again dried out to the state it is in today. In addition, the presence of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, ITCZ, in the southern Sahara Desert prevents moisture from reaching the area, while storms north of the desert stop before reaching it as well. As a result, the annual rainfall in the Sahara is below 2.5 cm (25 mm) per year. In addition to being extremely dry, the Sahara is also one of the hottest regions in the world. The average annual temperature for the desert is 86 °F (30 °C) but during the hottest months temperatures can exceed 122 °F (50 °C), with the highest temperature ever recorded at 136 °F (58 °C) in Aziziyah, Libya. Plants and Animals of the Sahara Desert kristianbell / Getty Images Due to the high temperatures and arid conditions of the Sahara Desert, the plant life in the Sahara Desert is sparse and includes only around 500 species. These consist mainly of drought and heat resistant varieties and those adapted to salty conditions (halophytes) where there is sufficient moisture. The harsh conditions found in the Sahara Desert have also played a role in the presence of animal life in the Sahara Desert. In the central and driest part of the desert, there are around 70 different animal species, 20 of which are large mammals like the spotted hyena. Other mammals include the gerbil, sand fox,  and Cape hare. Reptiles like the sand viper and the monitor lizard are present in the Sahara as well. People of the Sahara Desert Zine Elabidine Laghfiri / EyeEm / Getty Images It is believed that people have inhabited the Sahara Desert since 6000 BCE and earlier. Since then, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Greeks,  and Europeans have been among the peoples in the area. Today the Saharas population is around 4 million with the majority of the people living in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, and Western Sahara. Most of the people living in the Sahara today do not live in cities; instead, they are nomads who move from region to region throughout the desert. Because of this, there are many different nationalities and languages in the region but Arabic is most widely spoken. For those who do live in cities or villages on fertile oases, crops and the mining of minerals like iron ore (in Algeria and Mauritania) and copper (in Mauritania) are important industries that have allowed population centers to grow.

Where In The World Is CoSchedule Its Kind Of A BIG Deal... #OverheardAtCoSchedule - CoSchedule Blog

Where In The World Is Its Kind Of A BIG Deal... Blog When Kathryn and Nathan  host webinars, they usually kick things off by asking you gals and guys: Where are you from? Whats the weather like there? That probably has a lot to do with the kinds of conversations they have at the office, with their friends, and when they chat with family. Because  talking about the weather is pretty typical around here. And when  Kathryn and Nathan share  where the two offices are located, a lot of you are really surprised. So we want  to share the story with you about where we are why we LOVE it here and how its been a massive strategic advantage for (and therefore, a big win for our customers, too). Where in the world IS ? Its probably not  where  youd expectIn this video, Im chatting with Shannon Wiedman, s UI/UX Design Lead. Shannon grew up + loves it here, and she has some BIG things to share with you about  s home state. Youll also learn to start where you are with your business dreams (and how that can help YOU succeed, too). Subscribe to receive videos in your inbox: //

Appeal letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Appeal letter - Essay Example This is because the philosophy that is taught is not the same as the one which I have been raised knowing and I attribute this failure to understand to the cultural and philosophical differences between Canada and my home country. My failure to understand most of the concepts in the philosophy curses has been very frustrating for me because it has led to a situation where I feel that despite all of my studying, I am not making any significant progress. My problems with the philosophy course came to be coupled by my illness which persisted from May to December 2014. During this period, I developed a nasal sinus cyst as well as having my right eyeball aching most of the time; making it difficult for me to conduct my studies as effectively as I would have liked to. Furthermore, as a result of the severity of my illness, I was forced to abandon the summer 2014 semester and this is a circumstance which was not only frustrating for me, but it also led to my poor performance. I went to see a doctor concerning my illness and despite his recommending that I undergo surgery, I was not able to because it is an expensive procedure and the insurance that I have in Canada cannot wholly cover. The lack of enough funds to ensure that I underwent surgery in Canada meant that I was forced to continue with the following semester the best way that I could since I had not only been left behind in my studies, but also because I had no other option. In December 2014, I went back to my home country the day after completing my final exam for the 2014 fall semester. While in my home country, I was able to receive some treatment and as a result, I felt better than I had for months. When I returned to Canada in early January 2015, I brought some drugs that had been prescribed for me by my doctor and these were intended to not only keep me healthy, but also to reduce the size of the nasal sinus cyst. The doctor further recommended that I only undergo surgery after completing my

Cause and Effect Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cause and Effect Paper - Essay Example As the demand increased across the spectrum, housing demand was also rising. This led to an inflation of house prices which in turn attracted more and more people to buy houses as investment in property began to be considered as an investment that was bound to yield a good return. Due to the increasing demand in the economy, the US government maintained a low rate of interest so that banks could lend more – and the banks were more than willing to lend to finance this consumer demand as it meant greater profits for them. Statistics suggest that the total loans outstanding for banks increased from 99% of GDP in 2000 to 132% of GDP in 2007. Mortgage loans also saw a similar increase in lending – from 48% of GDP in 2000 to 73% of GDP in 2007 (McKinsey, 2010). During this period, as bank lending increased, the focus of banks began to shift from looking at the fundamentals of lending to looking at volumes and profitability of loans. Therefore, they started lending heavily to subprime borrowers - borrowers with a poor credit rating - and these borrowers were attractive for banks as they could charge a higher rate of interest to these customers. In order to hedge against these risky loans, the banks also started selling Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS) which were bonds payable against receipt of housing loan installments. The increasing demand of loans led to an increase in interest rates for lending. As a consequence, financing and refinancing became costlier and loans were no longer easily available to pay installments or to fund further demand. This caused a reduction in demand in the housing sector as well. With a reduced demand, the prices of houses stopped increasing – in fact, they began to fall. Now, subprime borrowers found it increasingly difficult to sustain their installment payments as the value of their assets (house prices) began to run below their liabilities (loans outstanding). This further caused them to default on their payments . This defaulting of payments had two important effects – banks lost the money they had lent and had to write off the loans, and MBS were no longer paying the return they promised to pay. As a result, insurers and investment banks who had promised payments in case of failure of these MBS incurred huge losses. All financial institutions had to suffer these losses and the worst hit were banks like Citibank, insurers like AIG, and investment banks like Lehman Brothers. Due to these losses, consumers lost confidence in several of these financial institution and most banks saw a bank-run – when depositors line up outside banks to demand their deposits. In the end, some of these companies had to shut down, and many other financial institutions had to be bailed out by the US government to keep them running. All of this, led to a severe downturn in the US economy. Another important implication of this downturn was that the credit rating agencies were blamed for not being proac tive and reviewing properly their ratings for the financial companies. This downturn led to companies reducing their costs to stay profitable. They did so by firing their staff and by stopping their recruitment. Consequently, unemployment started to increase in the US economy reaching 9% which led to further lowering of consumer confidence and demand. In order to prevent the situation from getting worse, the central bank reduced its interest rate to near zero level and increased the money supply heavily. However, due to

The Relationship Between Grete And Gregor Samsa English Literature Essay

The Relationship Between Grete And Gregor Samsa English Literature Essay Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis was first published in 1915. The short story depicts the struggle of a family trying to cope with the insect transformation of the antagonist, Gregor. While there are multiple themes displayed in Kafkas text, the relationship between Gregor Samsa and his younger sister, Grete, is perhaps one of the principle themes in this short story. Once a close and loving relationship between Gregor and his sister, their bond slowly erodes over time as she grows older and the family matters continually worsen on account of Gregors metamorphosed appearance. In the second section of the story, after Gregors transformation, Grete is the only one of the family members to attempt to care for Gregor and seemingly really sympathize with his condition. Gregors Mother is shocked by his appearance, she cannot bear to see him, and his father is hostile and violent toward his son. Although still fearful of his new insect form, Grete still shows genuine affection for Gregor and on her own makes the decision to care of him consequently making her the only one to face Gregor on a daily basis. She feeds him and takes careful notice of what his new appetite prefers. In order to discover which foods Gregor liked and disliked, she brought him a wide selection that she spread out on an old newspaper. There were old, half-rotten vegetables, bones left over from the evening meal covered with congealed white sauce, a few raisins and almonds, some cheese that Gregor had considered inedible two days ago, a slice of dry bread, a slice of bread and butter, and a slice of bread and butter with some salt (pg. 290). Gregor greatly appreciates this as he is able to show his sister what foods he really does enjoy. Aside from becoming the self appointed caretaker of Gregor, Grete also assumes the role of Gregors spokesperson to the family. After attending to Gregor in the evening she had to give a detailed report about how the room looked, what Gregor had eaten, how he had behaved [that] time, and whether perhaps some slight improvement was noticeable (pg. 294) Grete serves as the only link between Gregor and the mother and father. Gregor is very grateful for his sisters intricate care and he feels quite comfortable as an insect with high hopes that everything will return back to normal. In an attempt to again accommodate Gregors new needs, Grete decides it would be best to remove the furniture in his room in order to allow more crawling space for him. After convincing her mother this is a good course of action, they decide to remove the furnitu re while the father is not present due on account he may disapprove or violently interfere. Although Gretes actions were of good intention, her plan ends in disaster when Gregor attempts to stop the removal of his furniture and shocks his Mother provoking his father to attack and injure him. Thus ensues a great severance in Gregors relationship with his sister. Signs of change in Gretes demeanor and behavior toward Gregor are first seen toward the end of the second section in the story. Grete undoubtedly begins to forget that this insect is her brother and that he still manifests human feelings and desires. She becomes less sensitive in her actions when attending to Gregors den as it is now referred to. In one paragraph, Grete is shown frantically tearing the window open to allow fresh air into the dank and musty air filled room. She seems to even become less tolerable of her brothers appearance over time. On one occasion she came a little earlier than usual and caught Gregor as he was looking out the window, motionless and terrifyingly uprightà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.but not only did she not enter, she also actually jumped back and shut the door (pg.294). Completely inconsiderate of her brothers feelings she has made it known to him that she can no longer bare the sight of his insect form. Gregor in a selfless act to save his sister from having to see him takes on the daunting four hour task of draping the sheet over the couch he hides under thus hiding him from anyones view. Even the first words You Gregor, (pg. 297) spoken by Grete to Gregor are those of anger and distaste with a raised fist after the mother had fainted at the sight of her son. After the events on that night, the family increasingly becomes more morose and distracted to pay much attention to Gregor. 4 In the third section, Grete, has earned a job as a salesgirl and begins to neglect taking proper care of Gregor. When feeding him she [no] longer [considered] what might give Gregor some special pleasure, the sister now quickly pushed any old food into Gregors room with her foot before she rushed off to work both in the morning and at noon; then in the evening, not caring whether the food had only been nibbled at or -most frequently left completely untouched (pg.302). Grete, now working, puts her other tasks first and foremost before her brother suggesting he has become less important to her, that he is no more than a nuisance in the household. Gregors room is even described as filthy with the walls and floor covered in grime and dust and although it is Gretes duty to clean the room it is done so in a manner so careless and with such great haste that it makes little or no difference. Gregor annoyed and angered by the state of his room would stand in particularly offensive corners wh en the sister came in as if intending to reproach her (pg. 302). He is quickly becoming more hostile toward Grete who now regards Gregor not so much as he brother but more of a routine chore. The arrival of the three boarders prompts the family to carelessly throw any unwanted items into Gregors room where they pile up around him allowing very little movement. His sister is now much more occupied assisting her mother and father with other chores and pleasing the boarders who are very specific and particular. Grete, along with her mother and father, has seemingly forgotten about Gregor by now. Gregor lies in his room amidst the junk and garbage during the day now, his true metamorphosis into a horrifying insect nearly complete. One night, after the family and the three boarders have finished their dinner he hears the sound of Grete playing her violin from the living room. Attracted to the beautiful playing of the violin, he ventures out from his room hardly 5 surprised that he had recently begun to show so little concern for others; previously such thoughtfulness had been his pride (pg. 304). Gregor has grown shameless and inconsiderate similar to his sister. As he makes his way out to the living room to better hear the violin, he has strange disillusions of reconciling with his sister and taking her to his room to play violin for him. He imagines telling his sister hes sending her to the Conservatory to study music and that [she] would burst into tears of emotion, and Gregor would raise himself up to her shoulder and kiss her on the neckà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (pg. 305). There is still hope residing within Gregor that he can set things right and have the relationship with his sister he once had. Whilst imagining all of these false fantasies he is spotted by one of the middle boarders who is so disgusted by the sight of him declares he refuses to stay there any longer along with his two companions. This is the moment in which Grete has finally had it with Gregor and ultimately betrays him. Grete even abstains the use of her brothers name when she cries to her parents I refuse to utter my brothers name in the presence of this monster, and so I say: we must try to get rid of it (pg. 306). Gregor is no longer referred to by name or even he. He becomes it, not a person, but a thing. Grete no longer sees any human left in her insect brother, [if] this were Gregor, he would have realized long ago that  human beings cant live with such a creature, and hed have gone away on his own  free will (pg. 307). Upon Gregors arrival to his room, his fate is sealed with Gretes turn of the key locking him within his room to die. In his final moments Gregors thoughts focus back to his family with tenderness and love. His conviction that he must disappear was, if possible even stronger than his sisters (pg. 308). He peacefully comes to terms with his sisters actions and dies within the early ho urs of the morning. 6 While Gregor has undergone and fatally suffered his metamorphosis, the family is now free to prosper and can now look forward to the hopeful future of Grete for she had blossomed into a good-looking and well-developed girl (pg. 310). Although Gregors physical appearance had changed, his personality remained the same. Grete on the other hand had changed also, not only in looks but in her personality as well. Once a loving sister, she eventually comes to seemingly hate Gregor, and condemn him. She has evidently replaced Gregor in the family being the new young and responsible child with a bright future like Gregor once had. Ironically the family he had wished and worked so much for especially Grete had ultimately caused him his demise. Gregor had planned to give Grete a bright future and see that she was successful in her pursuits, but when he needed her most, she had abandoned him. Although Gretes neglect, abuse, and lack of care for Gregor had killed him, he still died peacefully w ith unconditional love for her.

Planning marketing activities Essay

Conduct a situation analysis for your organization, or an organization you have researched, by preparing a report with the following sections: Organizational analysis The first component is the expansion of the gaming audience and drawing in new people. The company’s most recent endeavour, the Wii console has been very successful in attracting user who traditionally would not have played video games. Another example of how they have expanded their audience is through the Nintendo DS. They were able to appeal to the female audience through the Nintendo’s game, and were able to appeal to an older audience through the Brain Training game. The second component of the vision is devotion to the entertainment business. This is reflected by the company’s attitude to the collaboration of its employees. The company is a strong advocate of allowing different employee groups, such as engineers and programmers. The result of this collaboration is that groups work on products and no single person takes credit for product. The third aspect of the company’s vision is risk and the encouraging of employees to make creative decisions to c hallenge the notion of what a video game is capable of being. Customer analysis: Identify the major customer segments by preparing the following analysis (for each complete only the section relevant to your organization and add any others you feel are relevant). What does the customer buy from the organization? Demographic characteristics a) Age b) Gender c) Income Where does the customer come from? a) Local b) Regional c) National Psychographic characteristics a) Social class b) Lifestyle c) Values Benefits are sought by the customer a) Safety b) Performance c) Aesthetics d) Social Has the customer purchased the product from the organization before? a) Yes b) No How frequently does the customer buy? a) Daily b) Weekly c) Monthly How much does the customer buy each time? New releases Is the customer loyal to the brand? Yes How does the customer decide which brand to buy? For technology and History Where does the customer prefer to purchase the product or service? Retail Store Competitor analysis: Analyze each major competitor against the following criteria. Name of competit-or Current or potential competit-or Direct or indirect competit-or Product/service offerings Market position/brand image Size, growth and market share Competi- tive advantage Brand image and market position Xbox Current Direct Games 28% connectivity Online games Sony Current Direct Games 33% Resolution State-of-art graphics Apple Current Indirect Tablets & iPhones 3% Integrated w/ mobile Practical & useful Political analysis Filibustercartoons.com state that Nintendo’s previously had strict policy in relation to video game violence and sexual reference. In the early 1990’s Nintendo had a strict no blood policy and refused to publish violent video games. This policy has since been relaxed and video game censorship is now run by independent boards which give games appropriate age rating depending on their content. These include The Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) age rating system. The system was established in 2003 to guide parents in making informed decisions when purchasing video games for their children (Pan European Game Information, 2007). Nintendo still does not publish graphical violent games themselves, but allow third party publishers to release the games on their systems. Economic analysis If a country’s economy is performing well, people will generally have a higher level of disposal income. In order to be successful a high disposal income is not enough there needs to be an interest in the market. Nintendo selling their products at the lower end of the price scale makes their product affordable to large audience including those who do not enjoy a strong disposal income. This is not the case for Sony who products tend to be quite expensive as seen with the â‚ ¬630 price tag on the Playstation 3, which is possibly too expensive for the average person. Nintendo on the other hand, sold the Wii at a more affordable â‚ ¬270 price tag. The same applies for the games for the system. The Wii games range from 45-60 Euro and the PS3 games can cost up to â‚ ¬75. Social analysis Video games have been part of adolescent life world wide now for several years. Many teenagers play video games together both online and at home together. In some cultures especially Japan, video games formed a significant part of young people’s lives. Nintendo is using this to appeal to a wider audience with the Wii and the DS by providing an online community where friends can link up and play games together free of charge anywhere there a Wi-Fi hub. Nintendo is also trying to make video games an activity that an entire family can take part in and for the most part have been  successful. Technological analysis Web Browser for the Nintendo DS: InternetAdSales.com (2006) writes that a Wed browser for Nintendo’s DS was launched in Europe on 6th October 2006. The browser is powered by software from the Opera Company. The device is designed in a similar fashion to a standard DS game cartridge and is available in two versions; one is compatible with the classic Nintendo DS and the other is designed for the smaller DS Lite. The browser utilises the DS’s two screens for navigating the web in addition to providing the touch capabilities unique to the DS. Users may access the Internet via wireless networks at home, at one of Nintendo’s free Wi-Fi Connection Hotspots, or at any public access hotspot. Wii Remote (â€Å"Wiimote†): BBC (2006) states that the remote for Nintendo’s Wii console resembles a television remote control and provides users with the means of interacting with a game environment. It can be utilised to stab like a sword, steer like the steering wheel of a car, and swing like a tennis racket. Nintendo have created this new controller in the hope that it will allow for the broadening of the console’s appeal. The device functions through a three-axis accelerometer, i.e. a motion sensor, which is capable of detecting the angle at which the controller is being held at and how fast it is being moved. It interfaces with the Wii console in a wireless manner via Bluetooth, a short-range wireless technology. This interface is achieved through a senor bar, which is generally mounted on top of the user’s television. Nintendo DS Wireless Technology: Mobile Technology News.com (2007) writes about how the Nintendo DS allows users to interact with games in an unprecedented way via the dual screens and touch screen technology. In addition to this, the wireless technology feature of the DS permits users to experience real-time multiplayer gaming. The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service, which is free, allows users to compete against other users from around the world. SWOT analysis: Complete a SWOT analysis using the diagram below Internal analysis STRENGTHS †¢ Strong network of game licensees †¢ Strong global market position †¢ Had strict policy in relation to video game violence and sexual reference †¢ Innovation in Remote in Blu-ray WEAKNESSES †¢ Nintendo’s policy of having a large number of its game titles designed by the company’s own game designers †¢ Wii doesn’t play DVDs/Blu-rays External analysis OPPORTUNITIES †¢ Opening up its software to a wider audience. THREATS †¢ The company claims that the motion-sensitive controller can be copied. †¢ The Wii controller resembles a television remote and has a trigger under the front end. Market analysis: Market definition Market size and growth rate. Nintendo’s contenders in the portable market are the Game Boy and the DS. Over the years, the Game Boy has faced competition from companies such as Sega, Atari, SNK, Bandai, Nokia and now Sony. Even with rival’s machines been technically superior, Nintendo’s handhelds have come out on top time and time again. Nintendo proved with the Game Boy and now the DS that it is not what you have it is how you use it that counts i.e. instead of adding fancy graphics and numbers of additional unnecessary features, Nintendo spent its time securing key franchises such as pokemon and Tetris. They also greatly increased their machines’ battery life. Nintendo’s handhelds  over the years have boasted battery life of up to 15 hours depending on how the machine was used compared to 3 hours or less form Sega’s and Atari’s machines. This was due to the unnecessary battery hogging feature competitors’ machine featured. This has helped Nintendo domin ate the portable market for close to 18 years. Today the Nintendo DS out sells the Sony PSP in all regions. Part B 1. Prepare a report analyzing the marketing activities, policies and procedures of your organization or an organization you have researched. Price The price of games is quite interesting. Nintendo uses a series of pricing strategies throughout the product life. As the product becomes adopted they will begin to reduce the price of competitive parity, and as you reach the end of their life cycle games will be priced promotionally until they hit the bargain bucket. Place The product is distributed in a number of ways. Nintendo manufactures and distribute it to retailers through wholesalers for you. Some very large national accounts will be handled directly because of the huge volumes they buy. Nintendo is available on the street in all major electrical retailers and games, as well as being sold online by known retailers like Amazon.com and play.com, and you can find one or two second-hand bargains on eBay. with.Distribution is ripe for Nintendo and there are few avenues for the market they do not pursue. Promotion When Nintendo launches new products. For example, when the company launched the Nintendo 3DS, a series of special days of release, and even some launch events at midnight. Fans of Nintendo product has a chance to have a go at the new Nintendo system, first buyers get a free box of transportation, and there is always free gifts such as shirts and caps. The launch campaign demonstrates a great effort by Nintendo. For example, over 85% of audience  in the UK saw the Nintendo 3DS called campaign believe his eyes. The campaign itself was emphasize the benefits of 3D experience. The campaign was a mash up of consumers who experience the product and innovative advertising. 2. Analyze the previous marketing activities of the organization and evaluate the effectiveness of each activity. Previous marketing activity Effectiveness Launch of SuperNintendo Highly effective. It put Nintendo in the first positions of videogame console makers Launch of Nintendo 64 Highly effective. The console and its control were considered great innovations. Launch of Nintendo Wii Highly effective. Nintendo Wii was a true innovation in the world of games with its blu-ray technology and the idea of making people move their bodies rather than just their fingers. Launch of Nintendo DS / DS 3D Effective. Nintendo DS was seen by some as a reformulation of the previous GameBoy and therefore not so effective. However, Nintendo DS 3D was considered highly innovative as it allowed the users to enjoy the 3D effects without having to use any other gadgets (i.e: 3D glasses). Intercommunication among Nintendo DS 3D Effective. It allowed different users to connect their videogames and share data as well as interact. 3. Classify the organization’s current marketing strategy as either a cost-leadership, differentiation or focus strategy. Differentiation 4. Explain how this strategy affects the marketing activities the organization will use in the future. Instead of competing for lower prices, Nintendo seems to continuously search for new usages and technologies, in order to maintain its position as a leader and innovator. 5. Analyze the current marketing mix. Marketing mix element Analysis Product Feature Benefit/s Wii Console In two different colors (but it can be customized if wanted) Smaller than its competitors Considered fashionable Wii Remote Blu-ray technology It allows motions and real activity Games No violence or sex-related topics are allowed A wide range of choices Price Prices charged for the organization’s products and services Around AU$190.00 Organization’s prices strategy Nintendo’s strategy is in differentiation, always trying to bring something new for their costumers and therefore, their price strategy conveys with it. Promotion Promotional tools used by the organization Internet, Printed media, Television, Outdoor Media, Promotions and Events, etc. Organization’s promotional strategy Nintendo uses all range of media to promote their products. Placement Type of distribution channel – direct or indirect Mainly indirect, via retailers, shops, department stores, etc.