#(because it requires a smartphone) or have recently done it

[dummerjan]

tagged by @skamskada thank you <333

Rules: tag 10 (or however many you want) people you want to get to know better!

Relationship status: For any official things I have to fill out it is single, but ideologically I refuse to assign myself that label.

Favorite color: dark blue

Song stuck in my head: None really, the closest is the 'down to the river' line from The River by Bruce Springsteen.

Last song I listened to:

I love that man so much. Once, when I saw him in concert, I started crying within minutes of him coming on stage, blown away by his presence and everything he as an artist means to me. Three favorite foods: Anything with pasta but since it's the season, let's say pasta with wild garlic pesto. Also Spätzle, be it as Käsespätzle and lots of caramelized onions or with lentils. Thirdly, dubu-jorim or rather my bastardized version of it.

Last thing I googled: midnight blue (and other shades of blue), I was trying to find the most accurate description for my faovurite colour but didn't find any (and curiously enough, the shades in google images differ rather significantly beween German and English search terms)

Dream trip: Colombia perhaps? Medellín, Bogotá and Cartagena de Indias, and trying to fit in as many concerts as possible but most importantly Juanes. Firmly in the dream territory are Israel and Russia. I do have another dream trip, or rather a fever dream trip, to the Lofoten Islands based on the German comedy Ein Mann, ein Fjord. Not gonna happen but it'd be fun to try to recreate it as closely as possible.

Anything I want rn: Only Friends! I am going to be annoying about that all year until it finally airs. And also someone to admire how lovely and soft my hair is, maybe I should hire a lady's maid for that.

Tagging: @stalkerpoetess1995 @caffelattedellequattro @theoryofarson @biveganpoetbat :) no pressure, feel free to ignore this <3

[whatifyoulivelikethat]

games, m | myg

pairing(s): yoongi x reader

summary: You don't have a crush on Min Yoongi. You two are just fucking. Yup. You ignore him for two weeks because of Pokémon. Sorry. Twelve days. He's mad about it (and drunk?). Oh, shit.

warnings: rated M (18+) for language; OT6 are nosy so now it's somehow crack???? this always happens idk how; friends-with-benefits; soulmate vibes(?); ft my obsession Pokemon Scarlet / Violet; feels + smut (fem reader, penetrative sex, scratching, m-receiving oral, mutual masturbation, choking); non-idol!AU; switches between your POV and Yoongi's POV

--

“Yoongi?”

Wow, that was loud and unexpected. Knocked you right out of your very pleasant dream of stuffing your face at a buffet with thick, juicy slices of prime rib, complete with flakes of premium sea salt.

“YOONGI?!”

You could still almost taste it, but, like all dreams, the savory delight slipped away from you rapidly as you groggily blinked and realized you were resembling a croissant folded into this couch.

“You have a crush on Min Yoongi of all people?!”

Similar to the flaky buttery pastry, you had no idea what the fuck was going on. Unlike the product of a baker’s pride, sentient life required you to reorient yourself into humanity, hazily taking note of the MapleStory mushroom-printed blanket draped over you and your empty hands. Your hands had been holding your phone before you passed out. You were obsessed with mobile puzzle games recently. It was nice to have games on the go to occupy yourself instead of, bleh, socializing. It was awesome. When you figured them out too easily though, they made you sleepy.

Anyway, where the hell was your phone?

“Really?! Yoongi-hyung? Oh my gosh, he texted a human being all in his own? Wow!”

That kind of excitement could only be the voice of…

“Come on, guys, hyung’s been better about such things recently. He’s surprisingly sentimental, you know.”

And that sensible voice was none other than…

Someone snorted.

That was Kim Seokjin.

You rubbed your eyes to see a familiar man holding your very expensive Samsung smartphone with your customized Rotom phone case, poking at the screen as if he was his own.

“What kind of illegal activity are you doing over there?” you hummed as you sat up, knowing full well he did not possess access due to the fingerprint scanner. One time you snuck up on him as he tried to snoop on your phone. He had flung it, so this time you calmly stayed on the sofa as your longtime friend on the armchair jumped, thoroughly scaring himself and the lean, tan drink-of-sunshine standing behind him.

“You’re awake!” Seokjin blurted. Tall, gangly if you squinted, absolutely handsome, somehow always dancing on the edge of endearing caretaker and walking disaster, Kim Seokjin threw himself out of the plushy white armchair and shoved your phone into your face accusingly as if you were the one responsible of wrongdoing. His chestnut-brown poofy hair bounced as he relentlessly poked you in the head. “You’re texting Min Yoongi! Is that the one you have a crush on?!”

“Er, technically all hyung asked was when the group was meeting up…” Jung Hoseok squeaked, radiating apologies while Seokjin continued poking you in the head with his free hand. “I tried to tell him not to touch your phone.”

“I’m sure you did,” you replied. “I’m also sure he didn’t listen.”

“Hey. Answer me.”

“Hyung…” The concerned, deep voice was coming from the barstools in the kitchen behind you, in the don’t-annoy-her-that’s-rude-but-also-it's-not-my-place-to-scold-since-I’m-younger tone. Kim Namjoon, who was probably reading a book and drinking tea at the counter. He must have been banished there. The last time he had done the same activities in the living room, he had spilled tea all over Seokjin’s white rug. That had earned him a good yelling.

You glanced at Hoseok’s rueful expression and half-smiled, waving your hand to indicate you weren’t that bothered.

“I can’t believe you wouldn’t tell me.”

Kim Seokjin believed he needed to know such information about you because he had been your friend since your accountant mother started dragging you to house calls to a very specific home (mansion) in hopes of child you falling in love with the dashingly handsome son of one of her clients (she told his parents that it was because she couldn’t afford daycare, but even child you knew better). Instead, Seokjin and you became inseparable hopelessly addicted gaming fanatics that could not imagine each other naked without puking.

You did end up becoming inseparable. Just not in the way your mother wanted.

Oops.

“I don’t have a crush on Min Yoongi.”

“Oh yeah?” He said it in a high-pitched, disbelieving tone. You swatted his hand and snatched your phone from him, peering at the message preview. “Why is he texting you then, huh? HUH?”

Your phone vibrated.

Sorry to bother you. I would have texted Seokjin-hyung, but he’s annoying.

“He says you’re annoying.”

“Ex-cuse ME?”

“Here’s the proof.”

“EXCUSE HIM?!”

-

“What.”

“Let me in. It’s cold out here.”

“What are you doing here?” Kim Taehyung sputtered, obediently opening his apartment door to the slightly shorter, much more imposing figure of Min Yoongi. His long black hair was wild and windblown, puffy black parka zipped all the way up, hood out but useless at the moment. Light denim jeans and black boots crusted with snow. Nothing but his serious, intense demeanor made him imposing. Yoongi carefully kicked off the white ice before stepping in, slowly raising an eyebrow at Taehyung’s askew brown locks and rumpled gray sweat set.

“You’re not leaving like that are you?”

Taehyung frowned. “I’m not, duh. Jimin’s taking ages to use the bathroom. I think he fell in the toilet.”

“Hey! I heard that! Who’s out there?”

“You won’t believe it,” Taehyung shouted back to the disembodied voice coming from inside his apartment. He pushed his hair back from his eyes like he himself couldn’t believe it, revealing his classically handsome sharp features and stunned frown. “It’s Yoongi.”

“YOONGI?!”

The Min Yoongi, of the hour it seemed, rolled his eyes.

“What are you doing back there?” he called to the voice inside from the front hallway, not moving.

“Fixing my hair!” Park Jimin yelled back several decibels louder.

“I’m surprised,” Taehyung said, looking scowling Yoongi up and down like he was some kind of unidentified foreign object. “I thought you weren’t coming. Didn’t you say you were busy?”

“I made myself unbusy,” Yoongi grumbled back, pulling out his phone.

“You don’t make yourself unbusy for no reason.” Taehyung persisted, sticking his face in between Yoongi and his phone, making those cat-like eyes above narrow in annoyance.

“There’s alcohol.”

Taehyung wiggled his dark eyebrows. “I thought you were cutting back.”

Deadpan.

“Life’s shit, man.”

The younger male broke out into his boxy smile and booming laugh, pulling his head of brown curls back to double over. It was the combination of Yoongi’s dead-inside expression and monotone reply that was making Taehyung snort, that and Yoongi’s immediate return to his phone as if nothing was happening. Yoongi still made no move to actually step further into the apartment. He simply continued standing in front of the closed front door, on the welcome mat next to the shoes thrown about because Kim Taehyung couldn’t be neat unless he was impressing someone, and those people were not his best friend Park Jimin and unexpected-guest-but-still-friend Min Yoongi.

“You’re so funny, hyung.”

“I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.”

Yoongi raised his eyebrows as he stared at his phone and gave Taehyung absolutely fucking nothing to work with to continue the conversation.

“I guess you intend to drink since you stopped by here,” Taehyung chattered on, bored and unbothered about Yoongi’s lack of communication. “I’m closest to the train station and in between the karaoke bar. Plus sharing a taxi with us is cheaper than paying on your own.”

Silence.

Taehyung prodded Yoongi’s arm.

“Uh huh.”

Innovative answer.

“I think everyone is going to be there then,” Taehyung continued on, smooth baritone voice calming as he listed the people. “Namjoonie-hyung, Seokjinnie-hyung, Hoseokie-hyung, Jimin, Jungkookie, you, me…”

“Where’s Jungkook?”

“He’s asleep.”

Taehyung pointed to the couch. There was a blob of gray, black and white, too much fabric and face-down into the couch pillows. A poof of wavy black hair the only indication the pile was a human and not forgotten laundry.

“What is he, a newborn infant?”

“I don’t know. He said he was tired. If we don’t let him nap now, he’ll pass out during karaoke and we’re not strong enough to carry him out. Remember last time?” Taehyung sighed.

The monochrome blob that was supposedly the man named Jeon Jungkook suddenly snored, as if on cue.

“Yeah, I don’t know what he’s is doing in the gym but he’s unmovable,” Yoongi muttered.

The phone vibrated.

“Oh, is that me?” Taehyung immediately felt around his pockets and looked around. “Ah, where did I–”

But it was not him. Yoongi looked down. Unfortunately, you’ll bear witness to my awful singing. I apologize in advance. The corner of his lips ticked as he read the message. He breathed out. One, two, three, four seconds, and typed back. That makes the two of us then. A part of him thought he shouldn’t have started this conversation. He wasn’t good at this small talk thing, but one had to make some kind of effort in getting to know someone. And, anyway, he knew himself.

Do before getting carried away.

And, yeah, he wanted to know this one.

“I knew it.”

Yoongi slowly blinked, sensing an ominous presence staring at his phone screen, most certainly reading the name there. Sigh. He pulled his arm back and put his phone in his pocket, looking up to see the grinning, scheming, falsely-angelic face of Park Jimin looming into his peripheral view.

“Oooh, Min Yoongi has a crush.”

Yoongi said nothing, because saying nothing was better than reaching over and strangling Jimin. The latter would require physical effort. Oh, and perhaps land him in jail for murder. But that was only because Taehyung was here as witness.

“Huh… I thought I got a notification,” the latter commented, emerging from his bedroom with his uncased smartphone. Yoongi often wondered how Taehyung never cracked it, but perhaps he just bought new ones when he did. Taehyung often chose aesthetics over practicality. “Oh, finally, you’re out of the bathroom. Do I have to open a window to spare myself?”

“Tae, Yoongi-hyung has a crush,” Jimin sing-songed, bouncing around the older male teasingly as Yoongi remained statuesque. “He’s texting Seokjinnie-hyung’s lady gamer friend.”

Yoongi did not confirm or deny this information as Taehyung’s brown doe eyes went wide.

“OH?”

“Hyung’s flirting.”

Yoongi felt his right eyelid twitch.

“Jungkookie! Jungkookie, wake up, I have news!”

The blob trembled, suddenly alive, shaken violently by a hyper-excited Taehyung who couldn’t believe his ears even though he did not fact-check Jimin and had zero proof if his best friend was telling the truth or not. Apparently, he was filled with too much glee to relay this sudden revelation to the youngest, sleepiest one of the soon-to-be-drunk-as-fuck-karaoke group.

“W... Wuh?”

Unsurprisingly, Jungkook was not that articulate when barely roused from the dead.

“Yoongi-hyung’s flirting!”

Those big peepers snapped open.

“He’s WHAT?!”

-

“Mmm.”

The night smelled like smoke and someone’s delicious dinner.

“I should, ah, head home now that you’re safely at your door and all that.”

The winter night framed his figure. A halo of streetlamp light caught the gloss of his wavy black hair. Long and dark and shadowy, strands curling around high cheekbones and fair skin. He caught your gaze as you turned to face him. Black-brown eyes and unreadable expression. Half-zipped parka, black sweatshirt, and blue jeans with gray paint splattered onto one knee. No scarf. Strange, because you knew this man was the kind of guy who always wore a beanie and prioritized sensibility over aesthetics, and yet.

Min Yoongi raised his hands and exhaled into his curled palms, warming his nose at the same time. He looked away from you to do so.

“Cold?”

He shrugged. “It’s winter.”

You half-smiled, lifting your ungloved left hand. “My hands are always warm. My face always gets cold first before my hands.”

He eyed your fur-lined leather jacket. A chocolatey faux fur, softness peeking out from the tougher black fabric. Then his eyeline shifted. Intently observing your face. If you were younger, you might have thought you had to react differently. Been shy like the movies or some shit.

You simply waited, keeping your touch hovering in the winter night.

Slowly, you lowered your hand.

Something fluttered in the darkness that was those eyes. You had seen it before, maybe even spied it earlier this night. It was only a get-together between friends, drinks and karaoke, neither activity you particularly enjoyed which led to your original decision of not going. One small detail changed your mind, and he was standing right in front of you. Your singing was awful, but Yoongi was still polite enough to say that you were better than he was. I’m only good at rap. Sure. You heard what he said and his singing voice proved to contradict it. So Min Yoongi was that kind of liar, huh.

You didn’t say goodbye yet.

You could see Yoongi was waiting for you to say it first. You removed your other hand from your jacket pocket. Empty, purposefully leaving your keys behind. Calmly stared into those dark eyes as he stepped forward. You could feel it. The fire beneath the waves. Felt it all night. In the stolen glances, in the way he spoke to you, polite with piqued curiosity, in the way time stopped when your eyes connected.

You smiled.

His cold fingers touched the back of your hand.

You didn’t say anything. Didn’t need the conversation to be with words. His hand on yours, chills wrapping around the warmth. Experiential. Testing the feeling between you and him. You didn’t need to wonder what he thought of you. He had reached out and touched your hand and you let him, reaching between you and him to softly rub the back of his knuckles, silently speaking to those dark eyes and parted lips through touch. His other hand raised and laid above your joined hands.

Black strands curved around his cheeks as Yoongi lowered his head.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” he whispered, smokey and dusky.

Bodies closer, breath mixing. Your head tilted. Lashes lowering. Cold night air disappearing because of the fire under the water, breath to breath, hot, almost burning, the desire to break the surface rising, rising.

“Is it this?” you murmured, barely audible.

You could tell a lot from one kiss. He did not hide his hesitancy or his want. Honesty from the very beginning of his lips on yours, surprised at the way you pressed back against him and inhaled, imprinting the moment to your memory with his scent. Your grip tightened and his did too, telling you everything you needed to know, kiss after kiss, pulling him to you, away from the winter night and memories of a friendly get-together, about to change them into something…

Else.

Yeah.

Fuck it, you were already pushing his parka down his shoulders before your front door finished closing. It was dark but that didn’t matter when you remembered where everything was, flicking on low lights and bringing his face close to yours again, creating the magical moments on your own, not waiting for Yoongi for do so. He was enough magic in his breathless gasps and the way he seamlessly followed the fervor of your kiss, his shallow sighs saturated with lust. There was very little talking except the conversation of bodies. Not much to say when you collided him into the wall and slid your hands under his sweatshirt, skin to warm skin, kisses turning to hot breath and flicks of tongue against his neck, shivers under your lips, and then he flipped the situation, strong hands on your shoulders and rolling against the wall, pinning you with his body.

Hair all over his eyes.

Shaking inhale.

A hall lamp lighting the left side of his face.

“Too fast?” you asked softly.

Dark orbs flickered to yours.

“… No.”

Closer, his air becoming your air.

“I just don’t want you to think this is the reason I walked you home. I didn’t want you to get hurt. Walking at night alone isn’t safe. People are crazy.”

You half-smiled. Alright, more of a smirk. “Maybe I’m one of them.”

A light chuckle, impressed and amused at the same time. “I was trying to sober up too.” Giving excuses.

“Heard you have a high tolerance.”

“Alcohol is alcohol.”

“So, does the alcohol wanna fuck me or do you?”

No one ever called you subtle.

Yoongi closed the distance, his hair falling against your forehead. You could tell he was struggling with himself whether or not to be swept up in the waves of your fire, or maybe struggling with what was wrong and what was right, or maybe he was hesitating once he felt your relentless energy under his hands, but you could also feel something pressing against your crotch and it wasn’t one of his legs.

He was very calm once he made his decision.

“What do you like?”

Your hands in his hair, his ear between your teeth, and his moan into your pillows. Clothes all over the floor, body to body, so much heat that you both seemed to forget it was winter. His hand on your breasts, your hard nipples between his fingertips, your mouth opening and extending your tongue, teasing him, tangling your legs in his. There was some irresistible about his smile and his smirk. You chased both, running your nails over his back and ass, his hard cock pressed to your thigh and his hiss against your neck, do you have condoms, we shouldn’t, but he didn’t need to finish since you were already prepared.

“I’m not irresponsible.”

“Oh?” Yoongi cocked an eyebrow. Glanced at your rumpled sheets, his naked body as he rolled down the condom, and then at your naked body. “Doesn’t seem like it.”

You just smirked.

You were often careful after the first time, following the energy of the other person rather than your own desires. But this time, something was different. Your hand would press to his chest, fingernails curling in, and, slowly, centimeter by centimeter, his length filling you, contented sighs mixing, raking your nails down, lines of pain in your wake, listening to his hitched breath, his eyes flashing.

He didn’t say it, but his voice was in his racing heartbeat and throbbing cock.

More.

Not quite competitiveness but more like pleasure from pushing the limit. There was a certain measure of reservedness, like how he waited patiently for you to lift your leg up onto his shoulder. First one, and then you tapped his other arm. Yoongi raised his eyebrows, but he lifted his other arm, hand back to your mattress once you were folded under him.

You lifted your hips up and rammed into his crotch.

He sucked in a growl and winced, screwing his eyes shut. Probably to avoid you seeing anything too embarrassing. You let your muscles slowly close in around him, squeezing his hardness, letting yourself feel him inside you. Appreciating. He didn’t move right away. You did, steadily fucking him from below, his chest against your thighs, keeping the smirk on your face to stay as infuriating as possible.

“Fucking… Are you enjoying this?”

Low and dangerous, sweet chills up your spine at his deep voice.

“Do you fuck without the intent of enjoying it?” you countered.

He narrowed his eyes and fucked you into your mattress. Merciless and hard and deliberate. Good rhythm, which you expected. Intensity over speed, which you did not expect. Yoongi knew what he was doing. He was not just chasing his own pleasure. There was no need to with the way that you were nearly sending him over the edge with the control of your own muscles. He slowed down for a moment, lifting a hand and tracing your jaw with his fingertips, whispers under his pants, you have nice lips, you know, the perfect shape, and you licked the air, the tongue is better.

Cocked eyebrow, open-mouthed smirk.

“I’ll have to find out next time.” He ticked his head downward. “You wanna get off with me?”

“I will if you fuck me hard enough.”

“You don’t have to pretend.”

“I’m not. You’ll feel it, trust me.”

You thrusted with him to get that depth you liked and he did, in fact, feel it.

“F-Fuck!”

You bit your lower lip and grinned, throwing your head back and feeling your moan vibrate in your chest, lengthening your high with the containment. Eyes closing, no more talking, your arms up and hands clutching the pillows, fucking him as he fucked you, his swears turning into moans as he felt your orgasm convulse around him, honey wetness sticking to your inner thighs and his, chasing a higher high, cutting off every one before the final crescendo, not letting yourself fully let go, not yet, almost there, not yet.

Saturating every second with vicious, hot pleasure.

Somehow Yoongi knew. Felt it, chased it with you, his muscles tense, rigid, holding back too, building the higher high, harder, steady, fuck, so good.

Your name tumbling from his throat, the warning, and his from yours, the moment, orgasm so intense you forgot to breathe for a second, suspended, and then the crash, gasping as you felt him twitch inside you and your walls pulse, electricity shooting through your nerves, tingling and euphoric, gripping your pillows covered in your hair as Yoongi leaned forward and covered you in his hair and hot breath, colliding kiss matching the escalating beats of racing hearts.

Yoongi stared into your eyes much later, all his clothes back on.

“What?” you asked.

“Just memorizing your eyes.”

He kissed you.

-

“Love is more circumstance than fate.”

“I always thought so, too.”

These kinds of things came up in conversation around others. These were moments that happened by happenstance. For instance, in the middle of Taehyung’s tirade about how true love was definitely fate between two beings who had a connection unique to themselves that could not be replicated, and he deliberately ignored Yoongi when he pointed out that every connection one had with another was unique because it was between two individuals.

You and Yoongi shared a look of faint amusement in the midst of Taehyung’s abrupt soapbox speech.

Hoseok blinked and repeated his question of whether or not he suited the acorn-shaped pouch that was slightly overpriced despite being on sale. Namjoon injected and said that if he has asking then it meant that he was hesitating. Seokjin told him who cares, just buy it, it’s cute. That was enough convincing for Jung Hoseok. He brought it on the spot.

You found Yoongi afterward, waiting for you around the corner.

“Oh. I thought you went home.”

He looked at you, lowering the hood of his parka.

“I thought about it, but it had been a while since I appreciated the night.”

Then there was silence, until you were close, and then those dark eyes stayed on you, tendrils of black between you and him. Your fingertips touched the button placket of his coat. His head lowered. His breath had a little sweetness to it because of the Korean liquor. You kissed him.

You closed your eyes when you did.

You didn’t say much more.

You didn’t really look at his apartment when you arrived. You were too entangled in the lip lock and pinning his wrists to the wall. Heat pressed to heat. His tongue thrusting between your lips. The cold rapidly defrosting once skin was against skin.

Your nails down his chest.

Heavy exhale, burning anticipation.

You didn’t need to ask yourself, why am I like this. People spent years wondering on their own, but those years were already behind you, in lonely nights of both your parents working overtime and you alone at the table doing homework, cooking your own meals, cleaning up after yourself. If you wanted the video games to distract your brain, you had to be a good daughter. Being a good daughter was not that hard. Do all the things you were supposed to do and take up as little mental space as possible.

Something like that.

You ran your tongue along the inside of Yoongi’s thigh and savored his shudder.

The only detail that slightly annoyed your mother was that you weren’t interested in marrying Seokjin and Seokjin was clearly not interested in marrying you. Not much she could do about that. She gave up on asking for those kinds of details after that, mostly to avoid her own disappointment.

You wrapped your tongue around hot, taut skin, controlling the pressure of your tongue and lips. Up, down, tongue moving independently along the underside of the head, so precise that you saw his fingers sink into his sheets, surprise rippling over his features. Raised an eyebrow at him, letting the amusement show.

Yoongi smirked, a look that suited him very much.

All the way down, hitting the back of your throat. Easy. Guess a lot of people could call you a whore for that but, then again, the ones who actually knew were probably too busy pining over the fact that they would never feel it once more. Didn’t help that you acted as if it never happened once you were done.

You had dedication to games, but to people?

Not really.

It was fun to figure out people. It was fun discovering Yoongi. His sounds, every sigh, the tone of his moan, the way his breath shook when you took him deep and slow. He became very hard every time you went as deep as possible, past the point of breathing. He didn’t try to push your head or interfere with your pace. It was as if he trusted your movement, which was what he should do, because you knew what you were doing.

You swirled your tongue around the head as you went down.

He sucked in a gasp and closed his eyes, visible tension over his chest.

There was a strange familiarity to his movements. That was the only way you could describe the ease of reading his body language. Sometimes you let yourself feel the extent of the pleasure and sometimes you let the pressure build in your body to wallow in the torture of the buildup, like what he was doing now. He wanted to last, so you made it last. Not too fast. Tongue all over his hard, pulsing length, slowing down at the right moment of his hips shivering, layering the intensity again, stroking his balls as you sucked him, spreading the dripping saliva all over.

You hadn’t been having sex with Yoongi for very long, but it felt like you already knew his body.

You let him consider the possibility of you not letting him cum and then you continued the intensity, pushing him over the edge.

“… F-Fuck…!”

Rammed the throbbing head down your throat and felt his thick, salty orgasm spurt into the confines, leaking over your tongue and the roof of your mouth, breathing in to push it back. His hips involuntarily jerked and you immediately reached up to grip them and shove him back down, swallowing around the harsh pulses.

You heard Yoongi moan, low and sweet and erotic.

People were like games.

Only few had replay value.

-

He thought about saying something, but there wasn’t much to say.

It was his policy to not make something out of nothing. Grander, more general things, sure, he kept those ambitions. But, day-to-day, he learned it was better to go with the flow. You didn’t have disappointments if you didn’t expect much to begin with, so Yoongi didn’t expect much and let himself feel what he wanted to feel.

Like his hands on those thighs and pressing delicious legs to his chest as he sank in.

He tended to enjoy the fucking on top simply because it was easier for him. Most of the time, he didn’t feel much need to experiment or be creative. Most of the time, they weren’t worth it. Her? He fucked her in every position he could think of. This time, he felt the urge to fuck with most of his clothes on, with her holding up his shirt as he thrust into her on the edge of the bed. Not the most optimal position for maximum pleasure, but the arousal in the unnatural movement was enough to get him off.

Her too.

He could tell by the unforgiving clenching around his cock and the sopping wetness that was sticking to his balls, which was causing him to last minutes. You would think the human body would last longer if it felt better, so the pleasure could be felt more extensively, but his dick was much more interested in the instant gratification it was getting.

Oh, well.

He would have to fuck multiple times then, to prolong the pleasure.

She was the one to ask him first. Meeting without the false alibi of just happening to be at the same gathering at the same time. He went with the flow. Their fingertips touching. Her leaning in and kissing his collarbone, lips so soft that they made his nerves spark and muscles shiver, tilting his head back as her tongue traced a thin line upwards, wet heat against his pulse, her hand falling from his hand, tracing his neck.

“Choke me,” he whispered.

Yoongi liked doing things for the sheer curiosity of it.

She sucked on his ear when she choked him and electrified his whole body with lust, his hands finding her hips and slamming them down on his crotch, moaning into her ear shamelessly.

Yoongi knew he got himself into moments like this.

It wasn’t anyone’s fault but his own.

His fingers buried into her wet, warm pussy and he inhaled, drinking in the sweet scent of her juices, in, out, so good, the feeling of power and pleasure at his fingertips, tactile and visceral and intense. Staring into those piercing eyes with one hand around his neck and the other around his hard cock, choking both until he came on her thigh and hip, but not before she came onto his fingers, pushing himself to the brink with his forearm vibrating. Ended up being sore the next day.

Worth it.

Yoongi told himself to do before getting carried away.

He was getting carried away, especially when he was alone.

His shaking breath, breathe in, breathe out, high on the bliss, their lips colliding, covered in each other, salty, sweet, sticky, closer but not, and it was nobody’s fault but his own, because he always thought about saying something, but didn’t.

There wasn’t much to say.

He looked into those eyes, and he didn’t want to say anything. Just wanted to appreciate their shape, their color, the feeling they gave him when he gazed into them, like he could live million lifetimes but recognize those eyes every time. A strange kind of familiarity that didn’t have an explanation. He had known Kim Seokjin for a while, but Seokjin was protective of his female friends, especially his most important one.

So, Yoongi stayed respectful until his brain started getting carried away because his dick wasn’t doing enough.

Well.

He tried.

-

“I gotta ask you something.”

“You can ask me after you press A, you dimwit.”

“I am pressing A. It’s lagging!” Seokjin growled, bopping you on the arm. You continued leaning against his broad shoulder as the Pokémon raid loaded up. “Are you dating Yoongi?”

“Mmm,” was your reply as you pressed the buttons in order. Battle, Swords Dance, on your Ceruledge. Had to get the setup going to do the most damage before your stats become nullified. The raids in Pokémon were meant to convince players to participate in online play, but math and logic could help you solo or duo them quite easily. You needed Seokjin there so you had one less idiot AI. In fact, Seokjin only purchased this generation of Pokémon to help you out in certain things. Raids and completing the Pokédex. He wasn’t as attached to the series as you were. He played so he could understand what you meant when referencing it, but he wasn’t that invested.

He was a good friend.

“Are you or not?”

“Don’t think it’s any of your business,” you responded absentmindedly, reaching over to command his statistically-perfect Arboliva that you gifted him for this very purpose to perform Helping Hand. You might as well have been doing this raid alone. Seokjin was basically simply a spare console accompanied by a warm body.

For now.

Kidding… unless?

Nah, he was too much fun to tease.

“It is my business. You’re my friend, he’s my friend and, if you two are dating, it’ll make the group all weird.”

“Your friend group is already all weird.”

Seokjin prodded you in the head as you selected Bitter Blade for your attack move. “Be serious.”

“Ask him.”

“I did. He said to ask you.”

“Huh.”

Silence.

“… I’ll kill him if he abandons you.”

You couldn’t pause the raid. It was timed and the raid Pokémon had to be defeated in that time, or you would get kicked out. You didn’t say anything. Just kept pressing buttons, turning automatic.

“Well, I won’t kill him. I’ll make Jungkook kill him.”

Reaching over Seokjin, who did nothing to help you. He just held the Switch as you selected the correct moves and thought about who you needed to raise next. Maybe a Gardevoir. You needed more special attackers to avoid Abilities like Cursed Body and the Burn status condition.

Seokjin was suddenly quiet.

“… You think he’d do that?” you finally said, not quite sure what you meant in asking that.

You felt a hand on your head, bringing you closer to broad shoulders and his game.

“I don’t know.”

One thing about Seokjin was that he always told the truth.

-

“Are you getting your dick wet or what?”

Yoongi blinked slowly.

“What?”

“Jimin, you can’t ask that,” Hoseok scolded, whacking Jimin’s chopsticks with his own to punish the younger male because the walking sunshine was too pure-hearted to physically strike Jimin. “Eat your food.”

Jimin thinned his plump lips and gave Yoongi the side eye instead of eating his meal like Hoseok told him to. “I think you are. I feel it.”

Yoongi made the executive decision to ignore Jimin and continue serving himself the soup, adding plenty of vegetables. “Hoseok, haven’t you been working a lot lately? You need to eat more meat. You’re getting too thin.”

“You sound like my parents, hyung,” Hoseok laughed jovially as Yoongi added extra slices of marinated beef onto his plate. “Thanks, thanks.”

“Don’t avoid the question,” Jimin continued, buzzing away like a determined bee.

“I get it wet every day. It’s called a shower.”

“You know what I mean.”

“And I answered you.”

Jimin squinted under his fluffy auburn locks. “You’re sussy.”

“Huh?” Hoseok blinked rapidly, cocking his head. “Sussy?”

“Suspicious. Taehyung taught me.”

Hoseok’s lips curled into a round ‘o’, seemingly filing away this new lingo. “Man, sometimes I feel so old around you and Taehyung even though I’m only a year older.” The bustling restaurant complimented his cheerful voice, warm smells and fragrant conversation mixing with the clinking of plates and glasses. He reached over the table, patting Yoongi on the shoulder. “I’m glad you’re talking to someone though. I thought you were going to die alone.”

Those cat-like eyes shifted away.

“… Thanks.”

Nothing more.

“Uh oh, there’s trouble in paradise already.”

“Is something wrong?” Hoseok asked, frowning slightly at the older male’s reaction.

Yoongi sighed, and shook his head.

“It’s nothing. There’s not much to say about it.”

Hoseok caught on right away, nodding intently. “Right! Speaking of, Jimin, I heard you are leading a theater production all on your own.”

“A-Ah, just the choreography for the songs…” A small hand attempted to wave away Hoseok’s sudden unwavering excitement. “Really, it’s not that serious…”

“Yes, it is! A musical! With weeks and weeks of shows…!”

Yoongi avoided looking at his phone all night. He kept his eyes forward and focused on the conversation with his friends. If he didn’t, he would be stuck in his thoughts, wondering what all those nights really meant if all he had now was silence and a loveholic’s hangover he didn’t ask for.

-

“Oh, shit.”

Those were the first words you had spoken to a real, physical, in-the-flesh human being in a long time (Seokjin didn’t count). First words you had spoken all day, actually. Wait. Maybe you exclaimed out loud, you little fucker, get in the damn ball, earlier. Highly probable. No need to censor yourself when you were at home.

“You have left me on read for two weeks.”

“Oh… shit.”

After the shock had set in, the cold suddenly became apparent. It was winter, after all. Extra obvious by the snow on the ground and the big black parka the person outside your door was wearing, although the red flush around his neck and cheekbones was not from the icy breeze.

“Two weeks,” the man at your front door repeated with a growl, and he started advancing which, in most cases, would be a sign to call the police.

“Surely,” you sputtered, fumbling with your phone in your other hand, letting go of the knob because the screen was tab after open tab of various Pokédex entries of the Pokémon you were considering spending your previous in-game money on to make statistically perfect. Ahem, anyway, you hurriedly changed apps to your Messages app, your eyes widening as you saw the dates of your last messages.

Oh shit.

“Actually, it’s only been twelve days–”

“Twelve days of nothing,” he snapped, slamming closed your front door that you were honestly slightly grateful for. It was fuckin’ cold out there. “And what do I hear tonight? Just yesterday you were speaking to Jeon Jungkook on the phone.”

And, at this point, Min Yoongi got in your face.

You held your phone close to your purple sherpa pullover and stepped back as a stern, gracefully annoyed expression confronted you. Wild long black hair, furrowed eyebrows, and flashing dark eyes. Flushed pink lips twisted into irritation. Open jacket revealing his black sweater and light blue jeans, strange for such a cold night.

“Have you been drinking?” you observed, catching a whiff of his exhale.

“I’m not drunk,” Yoongi countered, backing up and scowling. “I was at Namjoon’s and then I remembered you lived nearby. So, I walked.”

“You… walked?”

“Yeah.”

You blinked slowly.

“Kim Namjoon… if you’re walking… that’s about an hour away….”

The scowl straightened out, leaving a stoic profile as Yoongi refused to look at you.

He grunted.

You were surprised.

“I… Jeon Jungkook called me.” You felt the sudden urge to fill the space of silence as the man before you kept his gaze at a firm ninety-degrees to the wall despite your face being right there. “He was worried about Seokjin, because he kept trying to call him. Seokjin had sent him a box of grapes from his uncle’s farm and Jungkook was trying to thank him via call because his mom told him he couldn’t simply text, but Seokjin wasn’t answering the calls and then Jungkook got worried so he called me since I have Seokjin’s family number but then I reminded Jungkook that that rich guy and his family went to a luxurious mountain resort to go skiing and wouldn’t be back until next weekend,” you finished in a jumbled mess of oversharing.

Silence.

You were highly aware that your Nintendo Switch was loudly playing the classic, cheery jingle of the Pokémon Center in your bedroom, echoing the bright notes throughout your apartment as, er, your possibly-soon-to-be-past fling? current interest? situation-ship? continued staring at the wall as if the paint was the one speaking to him.

To reiterate, you were surprised.

“I… I didn’t think you cared,” you explained, looking up at Yoongi.

He turned his head.

Looking down, black hair around his cheeks. Lashes lifting, slow motion, dark brown orbs raising, then the darkness was on you, and there was no anger, no malice, the heated air of his rash imposition fizzling out once your eyes connected.

His lips parted.

Nothing came out, as if he was about to say something emotional but then stopped himself. His brows knitted together, a moment of recollection, and then.

“Namjoon said I should be honest, so I’m here to tell you that you pissed me off by ignoring me,” he mumbled.

You blinked. Slowly, once again.

“O… Oh. I apologize.”

Silence except heartbeats.

Yoongi looked away.

You could piece the entire picture together now. Your eyes shifted, side to side, to his hands shoved in his jacket pockets, to the faint tint of pink around his ears and neck, to his relaxed shoulders and that tense heart, and you were surprised because Yoongi had always held himself with a devil-may-care attitude and straightforward bluntness. Not that you didn’t think there was more, but rather it seemed as if he didn’t want to address that under any circumstances and you had no need for more when you were your own happiness, and so you asked him another question.

“Is this you or the alcohol talking?”

Yoongi clicked his tongue and frowned, flickering glare meeting you. “Alcohol doesn’t make you a different person. I’m not someone else just because I had a few bottles with Namjoon. I have a high tolerance anyway.”

You smiled.

“I know. Wanted to make sure you were thinking the same thing I was.”

That was why Yoongi and you ended up in this situation. Because he seemed to always end up thinking the same thing you were. There wasn’t much discussion or mystery. There was you and there was him in the same place at the same time. Multiple times. Overlapping interests, but not all the same. Kept things interesting. Discovering you had the same core values and then the same kind of comfortable silence that turned into his hand on yours, experimental, are you thinking what I’m thinking, bodies closer, breath mixing, heads tilting, is it this?

Playing the game.

The Pokémon Center music faded out and then picked up again, always aggressively joyous, always ready to nurse your team back to full health.

You rubbed the back of your head sheepishly. “Hah… I’ve just… been playing the new Pokémon game came out recently, so I took time off to play it… thought I said…”

“You did say,” he interrupted.

Awkward pause.

“You did say,” and this time Yoongi sighed, suddenly smacking his palm into his forehead and rubbing it, mussing up his own hair. “You did say, and I believe everyone should enjoy something with the kind of passion you exhibit for your interests. I just wanted you to involve me even though I know nothing.”

You stared at him.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“Why would I involve you in something you don’t care about?”

“I don’t care about it yet.”

“Why would you care about it?”

He flung his hand away from his face and scowled. “Are you an idiot?”

“Depends, are you confessing?”

Again, no one ever called you subtle.

Frigid embarrassment, and it wasn’t from you. Shocking. Suddenly your wall became irresistible to Yoongi’s eyeballs once more. You patiently waited.

“… No.”

“Ah. I see.”

You did see, straight through his bullshit.

Yoongi pursed his lips and gave you the side-eye. “I don’t want to play games.”

You shrugged. “Well, I do, because I’m a nerd, and I could make you a nerd too if you take off your shoes and come to the bedroom.” Chewed on your lip and felt that you should go back to being serious, at least for a moment. “I am sorry. I thought you would call me a kid, and I like you enough to not want you to be so ignorant, so I especially avoided speaking much about playing Pokémon. Honestly, I would rather hear you say that you don’t want to see me anymore than hear you talk shit about my cute pocket monster friends.”

Yoongi surprised you again.

He rolled his eyes.

“I don’t hate Pokémon. I used to watch the animation as a kid. I somewhat regret not being more into it, because then maybe you would have let me in a lot more if we had that common interest.”

You cocked an eyebrow.

“Putting your dick in my pussy is not letting you in a lot more?”

He raised an eyebrow back.

“You’re right. That was the alcohol talking,” he replied in a deadpan voice.

You smiled.

He smiled back. It did not seem like he wanted to and it did not seem like he could help himself either. What a predicament. You couldn’t relate.

“Do people like to tell you you’re difficult?” you asked with too much glee, unable to hide your amusement any longer.

The corner of his lips twitched. “All the fuckin’ time.”

You nodded knowingly. “Did you know we have that in common?”

He ticked his head at you, messy black hair over his cheeks and open-mouthed smirk. “Strangely enough, I seem to have learned that tonight.”

“I’m about to teach you a lot more, this time about Pokémon and not about how deep I can throat dick.”

“Consider giving me a supplemental lesson about the latter in the morning when I’m completely sober.”

“Hmm, I accept if can you listen without falling asleep.”

Yoongi eventually did fall asleep, but he did last three hours and retained most of the information in the morning despite being a drunk, ahem, not drunk (according to him) man confessing his feelings at your doorstep. In the future, once he had purchased his own game and was playing alongside you, he would insist that moment was not the one when he confessed, that he definitely confessed later (sober, mind you), and that he definitely did not purchase a Nintendo Switch and start studying the Pokédex more because of you (he had simply found the game a good way to wind down).

Games were just more fun to play now when he had a player two.

Yeah.

We know better.

--

masterpost

[claire-starsword]

The Shining Series’ lost mobile games

so, apparently japanese company G-MODE has an archive of old mobile games for the Nintendo Switch (and maybe Steam as well? so I’ve heard but i’m having trouble finding it). If you don’t know, Japan had a lot of unique pre-smartphone technologies, and a lot of games produced specifically for these platforms as well. Because these services have finally shutdown in recent years, these games are now inaccessible for the public and in danger of being lost forever, which sucks big time, so it’s nice to know at least one company that cares to keep them around, and their archive apparently even includes some third-party games besides their own.

how did I find this out? They’re celebrating the archive’s third anniversary by asking people of games they’d like to see added. They’ll be taking replies until April 30th. I don’t put much stock in that kinda thing, since i know nothing of business so who knows what kinds of negotiations are required for that kind of thing to begin with, it’s not guaranteed any suggestions will be added. Besides, I’m of the feeling that if certain big companies (like say, Sega, hypothetically) wanted to preserve their stuff they’d already done it on their own.

am I still clowning out there asking for shining force stuff? You silly bean of course I am. And more people are asking for Sega stuff as well. So I’m inviting you to clown with us, or at the very least get to know what stuff was once out there to begin with, because the Shining series has quite a few of these games, including tactical RPG entries that classic fans have always wanted back, and it sucks that they’re simply lost and uncared for now.

(Note: should you really decide to reply the tweet, here’s a template if you don’t know japanese:

タイトル: [game’s name, preferably in japanese of course]

メーカー名: [name of the company that made the game]

#GMODEアーカイブス)

So let’s begin with the games that have already popped up in this blog:

Shining Force Chronicles I/II/III (シャイニング・フォース クロニクル I/II/III)

The Shining Force Chronicles trilogy were ports of the Game Gear’s Shining Force Gaiden games. As you can see above though, they had different graphics. They are also very weird in that they seem to have been vvvvvery briefly available on Play Store as well? And then removed? And then accessible only through a Sega subscription service that has also shutdown??? so yeah it’s weird, but Android versions seem to exist as well, despite being just as lost. I tried very hard to find apk files but got nothing. If you ever do,

please

Ahem. At the very least, sprite dumps of the games (SFCIII here) exist in the Shining Force Central forums, so we can enjoy the updated graphics to some extent. I’ve even posted some comparisons between them and the originals for Gaiden III - Final Conflict before, but while the battle sprites there are only resized versions of the game gear ones, I and II did better and straight up redrew some to make them distinct as opposed to palette swaps.

Here’s some examples, pretty cool right? Sadly the game’s animations were more limited so there aren’t as many frames, but I still appreciate the heck out of these.

Shining Road -to the force- (シャイニング・ロード　～トゥ･ザ･フォース～)

I sadly cannot find footage of this game at all, so all I know comes from the archived website. It seems to be a turn based dungeon crawling RPG where you and your party members move together tile by tile and must figure your way through the dungeon without getting separated. Each of the four playable characters has their own attack range, and depending of your formation around enemies, it is possible to unleash combo attacks.

It’s hard to judge without seeing the game in action, but it feels to me they were trying to mix up the tactical rpg roots of the series with the dungeon crawling and smaller parties of Shining Soul, and in fact, the game does lift assets straight up from the Soul games. The character sprites however have a lot more color and are very pretty in my opinion.

Story wise it takes place in the same world as Shining Tears, following the story of Affen, a treasure hunter who dreams of becoming the first human Beast King General of the kingdom of Bestia. I’m not too familiar with the Tears setting to comment on that, but I’ll note that two out of the other three party members are said to dislike humans. The game got a sequel, Shining Road 2 -Priestess of the Dark Dragon- (シャイニング・ロード２ ～黒き竜の巫女～) which seems to be essentially the same in terms of gameplay.

Shining Force EXA Mobile (シャイニング・フォース イクサモバイル)

Sadly I cannot find footage of this one either, but as you can see in the pictures, this one is a tactical RPG like the classics, but with the world and cast of Shining Force EXA. The archived website is poor in information compared to the other games here, but it mentions the Geo-Fort being playable and capable of upgrades like in the PS2 version, which might be this game’s distinctive feature in terms of gameplay.

Story wise, it seems to take place somewhere during the original game’s plot, with the characters being transported to another world by a mysterious gate, losing their memories in the process. It sounds like a very excuse-y filler plot, but according to the one liveblog i managed to find, it actually delves into Toma’s backstory quite a bit, and also introduces new characters related to Faulklin and Duga.

I didn’t play EXA but did enjoy the story quite a bit, so I’d love to see more of this characters. Out of all games in this list, this is the one I’m most curious about. Sadly I can’t even find pictures of its exclusive characters though... I’d love to see an older dog boy in the series.

Shining Wind X ~Weissritter War Chronicle~ (シャイニング・ウィンド・クロス　~ヴァイスリッター戦記~)

Ah, the classic japanese of putting letters in names and reading them however you want. That is meant to be read as “Shining Wind Cross”, and it’s a tactical RPG like the classics, with the world and characters of Shining Tears/Wind fighting a bunch of dark elves.

What little footage I could find of it sadly does not show battles, but it shows certain assets are lifted directly from Shining Force Chronicles, and the archived website confirms that yup, it plays very much like the Chronicles/Gaiden games, alternating between tactical battles with a party of up to 12 characters, and HQ stops where you manage your party, items and everything else. These HQ stops also allow you to talk with your party members, including choosing dialogue options that might deepen your bond with a character, unlocking extra story events. As a soulblader, the main character Soma also gets to select a partner each battle and do special link skills with them, whose strength also depends on your bond with them.

Thankfully this one also has a character page so we see the whole playable cast, which includes a bunch of centaurs, blind foxling monk, and, crow birdman ninja, which wields a staff?? for some reason??? i’m a bit confused at his class but he does look sick as hell and that’s mostly what i want of a shining game.

__

So yeah, this is mostly all I know about these mobile games, if anyone has more info please let me know, it sucks that they and so many others are stuck in limbo, and finding any information at all is hard, everybody say thank you Wayback Machine for what little i have here. Also, if anyone wants direct translations of certain pages here let me know, I did summaries only because i don’t want this post to get even bigger.

[nickgerlich]

It’s For You

It is now safe to say that we have an entire generation that has known cell phones their entire lives. They have never felt the need for a land line. They have always had a phone in pocket or purse, ranging from 10-key flip phones, to sliders, Blackberrys, and more recently, smartphones.



I’m talking about Generation Z, of course, the social cohort whose demarcation year—1997—is considered the point after which online life had become nearly ubiquitous. What those demographers overlooked, though, is that this was about the same time that cell phone ownership became nearly as common. While we can all take some credit in this, Gen-Z quickly realized that these phones are for more than just talking or texting. They are lifestyle devices.



I got my first cell phone in 1994, a Motorola bag phone that had to be tethered to both vehicle power and a rooftop antenna. It was basically a heavy walkie-talkie, but it worked. And boy howdy were the fees high. I paid by the minute, which went down a little bit in the evening. Suffice it to say, I only used it for very important calls.



What most people don’t realize is that the first cell phone was introduced in 1973. Marty Cooper is credited as being the inventor, the visionary who saw the need for mobile communications. But the wheels had already started rolling at least a decade prior, because the Dallas Police Department already had dictaphones for squad car and motorcycle cops when John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. They relied on a cellular network much like that which we have today, albeit with much less clarity.

It’s just that it took a long time for this product to diffuse, primarily because of cost. They required development of an entirely new infrastructure, one which we are still trying to complete. I laugh at T-Mobile’s ads that say they have 99% of all Americans covered. Right. If they all stay home. The ad says nothing about how much (or how little) geography they have covered, which we have all discovered whenever we fall off the grid out west.



But now Mr. Cooper, still a visionary, predicts a future in which we will all have cell phones implanted under our skin. Cue the Biblical prophesies of end times and all that once more. It’s one thing to envision using our palm print to buy at an Amazon store. It’s quite another to imagine our iPhone embedded in our body.

It’s not like others haven’t already tried to go down this road, but it was with wearables. Google Glass was a well-intended but poorly deployed set of eyewear that could function much like a smartphone. It landed with a $1500 thud in 2013. More recently, there is the collab between Meta and Ray-Ban that has yielded similar glasses.

But wearables have always been more about the hype than the hope for a better user experience. They still have a long way to go, which may have served as impetus for Mr. Cooper to picture a phone that was not just on our body, but also in it.



Of course, this leaves a lot of other unanswered questions, because without a visual aspect, it just becomes another Alexa device. We need screens somewhere, which necessarily involves a handheld device, or perhaps holograms that are projected before our eyes. Now it’s time to cue the crashes and missteps.



And how might we issue orders? By merely thinking of them? Or would we have to actually say something, kind of like we do with our digital assistants today? And if we are texting to someone, would we similarly have to enunciate it and rely on voice dictation—which can be dangerous—to get the job done?

Now imagine the ability to merely “think” something into action. Or being able to instruct the computer that is inside your head to access ChatGPT and have it compose an essay while you are finishing an in-class exam. Of course, you’d have to be able to download it somehow, but those are mere details. And consider social media. We might be able to post content, as well as click the Like and Heart icons without ever tapping a finger. The possibilities are limitless.



By now you have probably detected that I am poking a little fun at this notion. Truthfully, I consider it just a bit absurd. Well, I once thought the same of the first iPhone, but a year later I drank the Kool-Aid. I have guzzled it ever since, and I bet I could just as easily drink from this fountain as well. I think Mr. Cooper’s idea needs some fine-tuning and then selling. It could take a few years, maybe decades.

Just like the first cell phones needed a quarter of a century before they took off. Innovations can be like that. Gen-Z can say they were at least here for the beginning of the conversation of the embedded phone, but there may be a couple more generations down the road before one emerges that can lay claim to having lived their entire lives with it.



And now I am left trying to figure out what my generation can claim as ours. I’m thinking color television and microwave ovens. They’re not much, but they were a start, and we embraced them. You’re welcome.

Dr “We Were Simple Like That“ Gerlich

Audio Blog

[aks-interactive]

Benefits Of Android App Developer In Gurgaon

Businesses are realizing the value of android app developer in gurgaon for expanding their customer base, which is not surprising. The e-commerce business has been substantially impacted by the widespread usage of smartphones and their applications. 

Business Android apps occupy a considerable chunk of the mobile app development industry. Its many advantages—such as a large user base, simple customisation options, rapid implementation, improved scalability, etc.—make it the platform of choice for many businesses. 

This Code Is Freely Available Online

An open-source operating system is named Android. The source code for this mobile OS, which is based on Linux, is freely available to everybody. The Linux kernel that drives Android is subject to the GPL. Any changes to the source code must also be disclosed when a binary, a constructed and executable piece of software, is made available to the public. 

Software that is freely available: 

Take advantage of the best technical support available from the Android community, royalty-free licensing and open source. Thanks to the open-source nature of the Android SDK, you may participate in community efforts to shape how Android app development is done in the future. 

It is why cellular carriers and handset producers are so interested in the Android platform; as a result, the development of Android-based phones is accelerated, and developers have a better chance of making more money. 

Easier To Integrate: 

Is it an existing smartphone or web app for which you need complex technical integration and customisation? An Android app could be your best option in such a situation. Everything about the platform is ready to be customised. 

It is possible to integrate and customise the mobile app to meet the requirements of your business. When it comes to application and process architecture, Android is the best mobile platform. Integrating apps on most systems is easy since background activities are allowed. 

Multiple Distribution Methods: 

There may be differences in how Android app development services are applied compared to other mobile platforms. You are not confined to using just one market to offer your applications. One example of this is Google's Android Market. You make it, and then you let it go. Depending on your promotional strategy, there are many ways to reach your target audience. 

Easy Embrace: 

Android app scripts are built using an extensive collection of pre-made Java classes. Building Android applications is a breeze for anybody familiar with Java. According to a recent survey, adapting and writing code for mobile applications under the Android OS is a breeze for many Java programmers. It is now much easier for Java developers to transform the script into a mobile app and include Android app development services in the app, which is a huge plus. 

A Significant Part Of The Device Market 

Android has dominated the market for the last decade regarding smartphone operating systems. But nowadays, it's more than just a smartphone operating system. Many other devices run on it, including e-readers, ios app development company in gurgaon, Google Glass, Android TV, and Android Wear. Because Android powers all of these devices, the development fundamentals are universal.

Numerous Job Opportunities To Choose From 

The rapidly growing Android market has increased the number of job opportunities for Android developers. Therefore, if you want to become an Android developer, you could get a respectable salary in this field. 

Professionals who work with Android operate under some job titles. Your mobile development expertise will determine which of several in-demand jobs you may be qualified for: mobile architect, application developer, android developer, android engineer, and mobile embedded software engineer.

[myresellerhome]

10 Best Email Marketing Campaign Strategies

Have you had enough of sending email ads that never seem to get read? Don't look any further! In the fast-paced and competitive business world of today, email marketing skills can make or break your chances of success. Since people get a lot of messages every day, it's important to stand out with material and strategies that get people's attention. This article will show you the ten best email marketing campaign strategies that will boost your brand, keep your audience interested, and increase sales, no matter how experienced you are as a marketer or how new you are to email campaigns.

What does email marketing mean?

Email marketing is a strong way to get the word out about your business's goods and services. It's a type of direct marketing as well as digital marketing. If you add it to your marketing software, it can help your customers learn about your newest products or deals. It can also be a key part of your marketing strategy if you use different types of marketing emails to get new leads, raise awareness of your brand, build relationships, or keep customers interested between purchases.

Pros of using email marketing

One reason email is such a popular way for businesses to market is that it makes people do something. An email will stay in the inbox until it's read, removed, or archived. Email marketing is a great way to connect with your audience and get people to read your blog, social media pages, or any other place you want. You can even divide your emails into groups and send emails to people based on their demographics; that way, you only send them the messages they want to see. Email marketing also lets you try two or more versions of a subject line or call to action to see which one gets the best response. This can be done with email marketing software that can instantly send emails.

Top 10 Email Marketing Strategies.

1. List persons to email.

The most crucial aspect of email marketing is a mailing list. Customers who aren't interested in your brand shouldn't see your email in their garbage. You can best communicate with your subscribers via email, but they must feel connected to grow this relationship. You should be able to distinguish clients from prospects. Keep expanding your email list so that most of its members are active. This wastes time you could use to personalize and organize users.

2. Mobile-optimized emails

A mobile-friendly email marketing strategy is optimal for email opens. Mobile devices are used to open 46% of all emails. Lots of individuals check texts on their phones. Most of our market emails are checked on our phones when we have time. As frequent email readers, we can quickly determine if an email is relevant to our needs or interests. No one enjoys having to scroll the screen to see a mobile-unfriendly image or an email that requires a desktop browser. No one will likely read the email again. The easiest strategy to ensure phone-readable emails is to consider the following:

Email subject lines should be brief and engaging.

To make your email mobile-friendly, keep the subject line around 30–40 letters.

CTA: clear, brief, and large-letter email CTA.

Make sure mobile-optimized emails have enough space for readers to click links. Because smartphone screens are smaller.

Make sure your email pictures work on small screens. Avoid emailing large files.

Make email active.

Email test: Testing your emails on different devices is the most important stage in email marketing success.

3. Customize emails

Good email marketing requires letter personalization. No one wants to read a buyer-group email. You can send emails with signup names instead. Sending personalized emails is still possible. Your readers should receive products based on their past purchases, location, and interests. You should email them if they have things in their cart or haven't utilized your services recently. New product information ought to be communicated to subscribers. You should also consider that you're not always advertising your products. Sometimes, you should provide your readers with further information regarding the products they've bought, such as how to use them best and alternatives. Personalizing emails goes beyond email sales. It keeps readers engaged and creates loyal subscribers.

4. Group your followers

Market segmentation divides a varied market into homogeneous groups based on location, demography, psychographics, and behaviour. The most effective email marketing strategy is to organize subscribers by interest. In a time-sensitive world, send useful emails. If you segment users, more will open and click on your emails, increasing revenue. Additionally, sending tailored emails to consumers offers a level of customization that may entice inactive users to use your emails again. How can you distinguish your fans from other site visitors? Your consumers can be grouped by location, interests, and past purchases. By tracking their purchase habits, sending promotional emails when they leave an item in their shopping cart, and learning what they buy most often, you may divide your subscribers into groups. Tell them about sales on their favourites.

5. Avoid manual texting.

Triggered emails are an excellent email marketing strategy. We receive emails immediately after website activity. We term these "triggered emails." Look around, add items to your cart, and order. Here are some triggered emails: Special emails to customers: Welcome emails build brand trust and introduce you to customers. Birthday and yearly emails let you connect with customers more personally. Cart abandonment: We've all put goods in our carts and then reconsidered. However, an automatic email saying we left something in our cart can encourage us to buy.

6. The AB test

AB testing compares two business plans to find which works best. AB testing lets you send different email versions. AB testing includes email marketing and the online market. How else can the AB test be used? The question is, what not? The action, subject line, personalization’s, body content, headers, and message layout may be AB tested. Remember to AB test one thing at a time to see what occurs. Higher values, lesser risk, more engaging content, fewer bounces, higher conversion rates, and easier analysis are benefits of AB tests.

7. Plan email timing.

It is quite important to send letters at the appropriate time. When do you anticipate your readers will read your emails? Do your research on email clicks and opens at different times. You must be careful while sending emails in email marketing because individuals are less likely to view them later. Consider when your readers are most likely to open emails to send them at the best time. Location, interest, and time of day affect when people check their emails. But you should also send emails when people are most likely to read them. Also essential is when they read business emails most. If they're busy, your marketing email will go directly to the trash, and your consumer won't read it. Send emails at the proper time to make your email marketing plan succeed. The AB test will reveal all your email marketing faults again.

8. Subject line

Readers first examine the subject line before clicking on your email. Subject lines influence whether someone opens or deletes an email before reading it. Your subject line should be brief and grab attention. Your subject line should explain why you're writing the email to avoid sounding pushy. Focus on your topic line. The subject line is frequently more significant than the content since it tells readers if your email is worth their time. To make this email marketing strategy succeed, make sure the subject line states the communication's goal.

9. Engage inactive members

Your customers probably don't care about your brands anymore and haven't bought anything from you in a while. Leave them on your mailing list for now. Encourage inactive users to rejoin. Poll your users to find out why they're unsubscribing and give them an option. A limited-time deal for inactive users is another technique to motivate them to act. When trying to convince inactive clients to sign up again, make them feel like they need to move swiftly to decide if they want your product or service. Make it easy for them to unsubscribe from your emails. If customers no longer need your services, they may ignore or classify your communications as spam.

10. Call to action

The call to action (CTA) is an essential component of emails. Customers have to be familiar with how to use your email. In the worst situation, they can unsubscribe, click, or delete your email. But emails need action. Therefore, every email must include a clear call to action. Your emails should clearly state what you want customers to do. Common and effective CTAs include Shop Now, receive 50% off, and Apply Now. Based on email goals, the CTA can be anything. The ideal call to action for new visitors is "Please look around our site" or "Place your first order."

Conclusion

Email marketing is still a great way for businesses to connect with their customers and get things done. Businesses can improve their engagement rates, boost conversions, and build lasting relationships with their subscribers by using the ten best email marketing campaign strategies in this piece. These techniques cover everything you need to know to get the most out of your email marketing, from personalization to segmentation to automation. Businesses need to change and improve their email marketing strategies all the time to stay competitive in the digital world as technology and customer habits change. Businesses will definitely be set up for success in their email marketing efforts if they follow these best practices.

Janet Watson MyResellerHome MyResellerhome.com We offer experienced web hosting services that are customized to your specific requirements.

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Paper to Pixels: Transitioning to a Digital Future with Demat Accounts

Embracing the Digital Revolution: The Demat Account Advantage The financial world has witnessed a significant transformation in recent years, and one of the Eminent shifts is the move from physical to digital trading. Dematerialized accounts are commonly known as Demat accounts, who have played a pivotal role in this transition. These digital repositories have revolutionised the way investors tend to manage and trade securities in the market, making the traditional paper certificates obsolete.

In this blog, we'll dig into the world of Demat accounts, exploring what they are, how they work, and the advantages they offer to the investors. We'll also discuss the process of transitioning from physical securities to digital holdings and how Demat accounts have paved the way for a more efficient and secure future in the financial realm. Understanding Demat Accounts

"Dematerialized account," in short, refers to Demat Account  which is an electronic account that holds financial securities such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These accounts serve as digital vaults in which investors can store their holdings safely and can access them conveniently from anywhere either through a computer or smartphone.

The Evolution from Physical to Digital The evolution from paper share certificates to Demat accounts has been a significant leap in the financial world. Let's explore how this shift came about: 1. Elimination of Physical Certificates: Those days, investors received physical share certificates as proof of their ownership in a company. These paper certificates had to be stored securely, and transferring the ownership often involved cumbersome paperwork and delays. 2. Introduction of Dematerialization:

To streamline the process and reduce the risk of fraud, stock exchanges have  introduced the concept of dematerialization where  shareholders could convert their physical certificates into electronic form, making them easier to manage as well as trade. 3. Advantages of Demat Accounts: Efficiency- Demat accounts are very effective in nature; they  offer quick and hassle-free transactions. Buying and selling through them can be done within a few clicks, by eliminating the need for physical paperwork.

Security: When it comes to security, Physical certificates are susceptible to damage, theft, or loss, etc. On the contrary, Demat accounts provide a secure environment for holding and managing the  investments.

Convenience: Investors can access their Demat accounts from anywhere, at any time, using a computer or mobile device with the help of the internet. This convenience helps in enhancing their ability to monitor and react to market movements.

Reduced Costs: Demat accounts help in reducing the cost of maintaining physical certificates, including storage and insurance because they can be substantial to the respective institution.Therefore, Demat accounts help in eliminating such expenses.

Opening a Demat Account Adapting to Demat account involves various stages: Stage 1–  Choose a Depository Participant (DP) A Depository Participant is an intermediary authorised to offer Demat services. Select a DP that suits your requirements and complete the process of account opening formalities. Stage 2- Submit KYC Documents Similar to other financial accounts, it's essential to provide Know Your Customer (KYC) documents, which encompass proof of identity, proof of address, and a passport-sized photograph. Stage 3- Link Your Bank Account

Linking your Demat account to your bank account simplifies the transfer of funds for trading purposes. Stage 4- Dematerialize Existing Holdings

If you have physical share certificates, you can dematerialize them by submitting it to your DP along with a Demat request form. Then the  DP will convert them into electronic form and credit them to your Demat account. Stage 5- Start Trading Once your Demat account is activated, you can start trading electronically. After every single trade you'll receive regular statements detailing your holdings and transactions. The Digital Advantage The shift to Demat accounts has given several advantages for investors such as: 1. Real-time Access: With the help of a Demat account, you can monitor your investments in real time. You’ll  have instant access to your portfolio's performance and can make informed decisions swiftly. 2. Reduced Risk: Physical certificates can be damaged, lost, or stolen. Demat accounts mitigate these risks, ensuring the safety and security for your  investments. 3. Environmentally Friendly: Going digital means less reliance on paper and more contribution to environmental sustainability which makes it environment friendly. 4. Speedy Transactions: Demat accounts facilitate faster settlement of trades, reducing the time and effort required for transactions. 5. Increased Transparency: Demat accounts, being digital in nature, offer transparency in monitoring and confirming the ownership of securities. Conclusion

The transition from paper to pixels with Demat accounts represents a significant step forward in the world of finance. This evolution has simplified trading, enhanced security, and provided investors with a convenient way to manage their share  holdings. As we begin to  embrace the digital era, Demat accounts stand as a symbol of progress, offering a more efficient and secure future for investors and for the financial industry as a whole. If you haven't made the switch to a Demat account yet, now might be the perfect time to explore this transformative financial tool and unlock its numerous benefits for your investment journey.

[kaycontracting]

Remodelling Your House Into the Dwelling of Your Dreams

Renovating your home is like giving it a new lease on life; it's a chance to refresh the look and feel of your home while also increasing its value. The benefits of home renovations extend far beyond the aesthetic, whether you're just updating one room or your entire house. There is a wide range of potential outcomes, from maximizing property value to improving living conditions. In this article, we'll delve into the fascinating topic of house renovations, discussing its relevance, current trends, and the necessary procedures for completing your ideal home makeover.

Fundamentals of Interior Remodeling

Improving Quality of Life The primary goal of any home improvement project should be to improve the quality of life in the area. The requirement for flexible living quarters becomes more apparent as families undergo transitions in composition and way of life. If you have a growing family, for example, you might decide to renovate your kitchen by adding on to it, or maybe you want to turn your basement into a home office.

One of the most appealing benefits of renovating a home is the possible rise in its market value. Renovations that are done right can add a lot of value to your property, making it a good long-term investment. Particularly appealing to purchasers in today's competitive real estate market are updated kitchens, modern bathrooms, and energy-efficient amenities.

The Most Popular Home Improvements Today

Lifestyle shifts, technological developments, and innovative design have all contributed to a dramatic development in home renovations in recent decades. Sustainable and environmentally friendly remodelling is a growing movement. To lessen their impact on the environment, homeowners are increasingly selecting green options like solar panels, efficient appliances, and recycled materials. This has long-term financial rewards and is also good for the environment. The growing popularity of flexible and open floor plans is another important development. Open floor layouts are replacing traditional room partitions because they create a feeling of more space and facilitate easy communication between rooms. These adaptable floor plans are ideal for today's households, as members of the same family often find themselves in need of separate yet interconnected areas.

Technology integration has matured to the point that it is expected in new construction and remodels. Smart houses are becoming increasingly commonplace. Homeowners are putting in automatic lighting, security systems, and voice-controlled assistants that can all be controlled from a user's smartphone. This development improves not only home comfort but also safety and efficiency. There's also a rising appreciation for fusing modern and traditional elements. Aesthetics that combine modern and current aspects with vintage and retro ones are becoming increasingly popular. Restoring historic elements of a building while adding new, contemporary touches is one possibility. This mash-up of eras gives contemporary homes personality and depth.

The Ups and Downs of a House Redesign

Planning and design are the starting points for each successful Home Renovations. Locate the problem areas and give some thought to what improvements would be most helpful. Working with a professional architect or interior designer may help you make the most of your space, make informed decisions about materials, and develop an overall theme for your project.

Budgeting: A successful remodel begins with a well-thought-out financial plan. Think about the money you'll need to spend on things like supplies, labour, permits, and anything else that might come up. It's crucial to anticipate potential costs and set aside money in the budget for them.

DIY projects can be rewarding, but major renovations usually require the help of specialists. Hiring qualified professionals like contractors, electricians, plumbers, and others guarantees that the job will be completed legally and safely. Find the best team for your project by researching and comparing bids from multiple contractors.

Dismantling the old and building anew are just two of the many steps in a renovation's multi-stage journey to a shiny new finish. Having a defined schedule allows you to track your progress and react quickly to any setbacks. Maintaining a project's momentum requires constant and clear communication between you and your contractor.

As the renovations draw to a close, you'll have the chance to put your own stamp on the space by including unique elements that reflect your personality. Every decision you make during the renovation, from picking paint colours to selecting fixtures to arranging furniture and artwork, affects the mood of your newly renovated house.

By working with Kay 2 Contracting, your current home can be transformed into the home of your dreams. You can embark on a remodelling adventure that improves comfort, functionality, and property value with proper planning, budgeting, and collaboration with professionals. Sustainability and open-concept living are transforming the way we think about house design, and that's wonderful because it means we can finally make ecologically friendly and aesthetically beautiful homes.

So, whether you want to update a tired kitchen, design a spa-like bathroom, or completely transform your house, Kay 2 Contracting gives you the tools to realize your vision. Take heart in the knowledge that you're getting closer with each new step to creating the home of your dreams, one that harmoniously blends your ideals of comfort, design, and functionality.

[rayvila]

Advantages of Making Your Own Online Quiz

A steep learning curve and the need to download software are also features of some learning tools. You can make your own online quiz at Rayvila. No download is required; simply log in and begin creating.

Anyone can use this tool effortlessly, regardless of their degree of expertise or experience. You may sign up for a free trial to learn forehand. Once you're done, you may quickly share your tests by email, social media, or website embedding.

The templates let you easily develop tests

You are not limited to designing a single exam using Rayvila online test builder; you can construct any form of test you choose, such as a personality test or a scored test. Simply select a template you prefer by going to the templates section. The templates can then be modified to create customized online tests.

2. You don't have to stress over thinking of the correct inquiries

The hardest part of making an online test is undoubtedly coming up with a question. You needn't worry, though, because a question library is available. With the question library, which contains a collection of more than 100,000 ready-to-use questions on numerous topics, you can input questions directly.

3. It's simple to reuse and remix questions

Interested in using the questions from several assessment examinations to develop an online test? No issue. You may easily remix and reuse your work by selecting questions from an existing test or an Excel spreadsheet when using online quiz software.

4. Any test type can be created

The ability to construct any kind of test you want is the most remarkable feature of using an online test creator. The technology makes it possible by providing more than ten different question categories, including multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, true/false, hotspot, essay-type questions, and others. To construct a certain kind of test, you may include a variety of questions or select just one type.

5. Grading can be done faster

You can save time and have confidence in the test outcomes using the automated grading option of online test generators. Just the essays and other subjective questions are left for you to evaluate; the program can grade all objective questions (such as multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short answers).

6. You can comment right now

According to a wealth of recent studies, the capacity to give students immediate feedback on their work is one of the critical components that makes online learning effective. You can choose how feedback is given to students when you use the automatic grading option.

For instance, feedback can be given right away after each question is answered, after the test as a whole, or at a later time. This gives students a chance to review their errors right away and revise their comprehension of the course material.

Bottom line

With an online test creator, students have the greatest amount of freedom in terms of when, where, and how they take the exams. You can design tests and quizzes for online and hybrid courses that can be taken on any OS system-compatible computer, tablet, or smartphone. The assessments for in-person courses can be printed out to be completed on paper.

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“Partner with the Best Digital Marketing Agency in Jaipur to Boost Your ROI”

The goal of digital marketing is to achieve a positive return on investment (ROI). Maximizing your ROI is critical to your company’s success and growth. However, achieving a high ROI can be difficult, particularly if you are unfamiliar with digital marketing techniques. This is where working with the best digital marketing agency in Jaipur, the Digital Socialite comes in handy. In this blog post, we will look at how a digital marketing agency can help you maximize your return on investment.

Need for digital marketing in Jaipur

Digital marketing is simply the online promotion of your goods and business using the most recent technological advancements, primarily on the internet but also including mobile devices, display advertising, and any other digital medium. People in this digital age are so technologically advanced that most of them have smartphones, laptops, or tablets that are connected to the internet, which is absolutely necessary or probably a requirement. This effectively illustrates the reach and importance of digital marketing. Through all conceivable digital channels, digital agencies significantly increase your brand awareness and lead generation.

If you want to maximize your marketing message, you need a team of experts that can only be provided by a digital marketing agency. When compared to in-house teams, digital agencies work more efficiently. A digital agency will provide you with higher-quality marketing content in less time. Hiring an outside digital agency will benefit you in a variety of ways, but most importantly, it will improve your bottom line.

Here are five concrete reasons why working with a digital agency can boost your marketing ROI.

1. Process that is Clear and Intensive

To put your best foot forward in the world of digital marketing, you need a team of experts and a well-defined process. Digital agencies have “been there and done that” and have tried and tested methods for determining what works best in any situation. They combine various marketing strategies to ensure that your brand reaches the right audience through the right channel.

Experts at the digital marketing agency in Jaipur can optimize, manage, and set up effective campaigns. Agencies that specialize in a single industry have extensive knowledge of that industry and the best ways to market it. Digital agencies are constantly learning in order to keep up with the latest changes and advancements in digital marketing.

2. Best Practises

Digital professionals have the knowledge and experience to recognize quickly which tactics will and will not work for a particular strategy. Long-term strategies are frequently important in digital marketing. You should position yourself as a leader in your industry not just for the next week or year, but for many years to come because you are in business for the long haul. You can continue to attract prospects who will eventually become your best advocates by utilizing a focused digital strategy team with the knowledge to comprehend the appropriate tactics.

3. Internal personnel

An in-house team is more expensive to hire than a digital agency. First off, there is no need to hire and train internal staff, which would be prohibitively expensive beyond just salary. When you hire a digital expert, you only have to cover their costs; they won’t receive a salary, payroll taxes, health insurance, or any other benefits that your company provides.

When you work with an outside digital agency, you have access to their entire staff, and that staff can scale quickly to meet your changing needs and expansion requirements.

4. Experience Is Important

The marketing environment of today is more complex than ever. You can use a variety of resources, including emails and social media platforms, to expand your brand. The top digital agencies are already aware of the best strategies for utilizing these resources to their advantage.

Even without an internal marketing team, the best digital marketing agency in Jaipur can help your company expand. As your marketing requirements change, they can scale marketing campaigns based on their expertise, people, resources, and experience.

New ideas are a huge advantage of working with an experienced digital marketing team. A new viewpoint on your company from knowledgeable outsiders who have probably worked with companies like yours in the past. Compared to an internal team, a digital agency offers more innovative ideas. An outside agency can help you promote your brand more successfully because they have a different perspective on your company.

5. Results-Oriented to Boost Your Marketing ROI

Simply put, a digital marketing company will give your company a consistent and dependable increase in return on investment. Higher ROI translates into higher company profits. A digital agency that costs a little more upfront will yield a much greater return over time. Digital agencies are experts at focusing on the areas that will yield the greatest returns. They offer the best value for your money. In order to increase your ROI and increase its overall effectiveness, a good digital marketing agency will continuously test and rework its strategy.

CONCLUSION

These five benefits of working with the best digital marketing agency in Jaipur, the Digital Socialite can lead to a much better return on your marketing dollars. Employing a digital marketing agency will aid in lead generation and brand development for your business.

[tryst-art-archive]

Oct. 2012: "Going Digital: A Cloudy Future"

This is a research paper for that epub class I mentioned.

I'm basically sharing it because it's apparently about video games (cloud gaming in particular), and that signals to me that I probably put more than a cursory amount of effort into it. So! Here's 21-year-old me's take on cloud gaming.

------Paper follows------>

            For decades now, the video game industry has been dominated by video game consoles ranging from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) to the PlayStation 1 (PS1) to the Sega Dreamcast and up to the current, now flagging, generation’s Xbox 360. Consoles have, and currently do, represent the cutting edge of their technology, the place where big budget, powerful tools, and robust talent collide, and until recently, providing all that potency necessitated a unique device through which to dispense it, whether that meant a powerful computer worth several thousand dollars or the latest gaming console priced in the hundreds itself (“Consoles Are the New Coin-Op”). However, just as consoles crept up on their predecessors, the arcade cabinets, there are new gaming methods shimmying into consoles’ spotlight: web-based gaming, mobile gaming, and cloud gaming (“Consoles Are the New Coin-Op”). This troublesome trio holds over console gaming exactly what it held over arcade cabinets—convenience, ease of access, and affordability—and the three are developing rapidly into strong competitors for those high-end graphics and talent; mobile- and browser-based games have made graphical and technical leaps in just two years for which consoles required ten (“Consoles Are the New Coin-Op”). Cloud gaming, in particular, presents the same level of quality as consoles, primarily because it’s providing the same games but without the added spatial and financial expense: to borrow the words of The Escapist columnist Andy Chalk, “Cloud gaming, in simple terms, is an online system in which all the heavy lifting is done by powerful remote servers rather than the user's own console or PC” (Chalk “Gaikai Goes Up For Sale”). All of the game’s output is streamed, much like a movie on Netflix, from the service provider’s servers to the player’s device which could be any Internet-equipped machine at all—a PC, a Mac, a gaming console, a “smart” TV such as LG’s Cinema 3D TVs, a tablet, or a Smartphone—and the player’s input commands stream back to the servers with the results of that input then flowing right back to the player (Chalk “Gaikai Goes Up For Sale”; Tito). Services like OnLive additionally provide their own accoutrements such as the company’s game controller, available in a wireless Bluetooth model and a USB-connected model, with the end result being a system that not only enables “even the simplest of hardware to run advanced, demanding games” but also, in the words of OnLive’s founder Steve Perlman, lets a user “start playing a game at home on your home PC, take it with you on the train ‘via the new tablet functionality’ and then play it at the office” (Chalk “Gaikai Goes Up For Sale”; Hachman; Tito). The only tangible restriction imposed on cloud gaming’s possibilities is the player’s internet connection; considering that not only do the majority of individuals lack access to high speed and high capacity internet but many lack access to internet at all, the fact that a player would need “an internet connection with a 10 meg pipe” in order to stream to their TV or that OnLive’s Facebook app claims to require Java and a broadband internet connection alone in order to provide the latest titles when, in fact, it can be “stymied by a band of insufficient broadness” points to the fact “that the world isn’t quite ready for a full-on digital future just yet” (Chalk, “Gaikai Goes to Facebook”; Tito).There are too many unresolved technical issues for widespread adoption to be possible at this stage. Not only is internet access too spotty and often too thin to allow for streaming Triple A, top of the line video games, but the hardware on which these games will be played is still in its infancy in cases like Smartphones which come in so many shapes and sizes that they become impossible to develop for wholesale ("Online gaming revenues to hit US$20 B.: ABI Research..").

            In spite of these difficulties, many industry professionals see cloud, web-based, and mobile gaming as the future of video games. Big-name developers like Rockstar have previously thrown their implicit support behind cloud gaming services like OnLive; when OnLive unveiled their tablet service back in December of 2011, Rockstar promised to produce a new version of L.A. Noire that would utilize touch controls (Hachman). The team that produces Extra Credits, a web-based TV program created by industry professionals that looks to discuss the video game industry in an intellectual and academic fashion in order to foster discussion and understanding between consumers and producers, has expressed such a strong belief in the future of gaming as a cloud-based service that they’ve warned against the industry’s tendency to ignore changing times, pointing out that web-based games and games based around social media sites like Facebook have a distinct advantage over console games; the former’s developers and publishers currently have all of the skills and are gathering up all of the talent that is going to be necessary within the next five years, by Extra Credits’ estimate (“Consoles Are the New Coin-Op”; “Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”). Some of the current big-name companies are taking the hint, companies like Sony which bought the cloud gaming service Gaikai in July of 2012 (Mclellan). In the midst of all of this fluctuation, the gaming industry is already preoccupying itself with how to monetize in a world where simply selling sixty-dollar games is no longer quite so viable (“Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”). A number of models have been suggested, and some are even now being implemented in both cloud and non-cloud gaming experiences. Among these monetization methods are “freemium” or free-to-play service utilizing microtransactions, in-game advertising, digital rental, and what Extra Credits calls the online arcade (“Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”; “Warc Trends: Snapshot August 2012”). Some developers are skipping monetization entirely, opting instead to use crowdfunding to make their games (“Crowdfunding”). Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages, and different methodologies are likely to work for different kinds of games; these same monetization methods may also have application in other industries seeking to enter deeply into the digital realm. Most pressingly, however, the monetization methods that the gaming industry are now looking to hold the promise of providing a superior experience for the player either by lowering the cost of entry, adding convenience, or giving the consumer a greater voice in the decisions as to what games are made by increasing the impact of their financial footprint.

            Microtransactions are perhaps the biggest topic for consideration in the gaming industry; free-to-play or “freemium” games have seen a surge in popularity among consumers and producers both, particularly in the genre of MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) (“Microtransactions”; “Warc Trends: Snapshot August 2012”). This term typically refers to the purchase of in-game items or services using either an in-game monetary system that is, itself, purchased with real-world money or with real-world money directly. Microtransactions may exist in any game, but they usually appear in free-to-play games, which are, themselves, any game that does not charge the player for the software or a subscription fee for the use of servers or other accoutrement necessary to use the software. The items purchased vary wildly from game to game, and even within games; Eve Online, for example, adopted a microtransaction system that allows players to purchase accessories for their avatars to wear whereas the recently released Assassin’s Creed 3 utilizes microtransactions to sell “Erudito Packs” which enable players using the game’s multiplayer mode to obtain certain game items without regard to the player’s level at the time (Honorof; “Microtransactions”).

            Microtransactions have the  potential to be a large boon to both the industry and its consumers. For the industry, microtransactions can act as a kind of Digital Rights Management (DRM)  in free-to-play games; pirating customers are equivalent to regular nonpaying customers, except that pirates would be inherently unable to access parts of the content as engaging in a microtransaction would effectively rat them out to the game’s parent company (“Microtransactions”). The nonpaying customers, meanwhile, are able to essentially demo the game and decide not only whether or not they like it enough to pay for it but also allows these customers, should they decide to pay, to set their own payment schedule (“Microtransactions”). Unlike the current business model which erects a large barrier of entry not only by requiring players to purchase a several-hundred-dollar dedicated machine on which to play their games but also pay sixty dollars on a game they have no way of discovering whether or not they would like—demos being a rare commodity these days—this “freemium” model would create a new scenario in which games could be sold to “the consumer who wants to spend five dollars and the  consumer who wants to spend five hundred dollars, rather than just trying to sell everything, regardless of value, to the consumer who wants to spend sixty dollars” (“Microtransactions”). Furthermore, should gaming companies and services ever give players the ability to resell their digital property, then microtransactions also create the possibility that players could invest in digital items in the hopes that those items could increase in value and eventually be resold (“Microtransactions”).

However, not all companies utilize the microtransaction monetization method effectively. To return to the example of Eve Online’s microtransactions, one of the items available through their service is a futuristic monocle/eye patch for one’s avatar to wear, which in and of itself is innocuous, except that the price tag on this item comes in at a whopping seventy dollars (“Microtransactions”). This move is representative of the greedy side of microtransaction-based monetization that pits so many players instinctively and often blindly against microtransactions (“Microtransactions”). Aside from extreme price gouging, some companies have also looked to sell power in their games, rather than sticking to convenient but wholly unnecessary peripherals; in this case, players are able to buy powers or weapons that give them an unfair advantage over their fellow players, effectively preventing the paying and nonpaying players from intermingling (“Microtransactions”). Separating paying users from nonpaying users is the least desirable situation for anyone, regardless of industry, using microtransactions (“Microtransactions”). It has been observed by numerous gaming companies that players are much more likely to use an online store to buy digital property if they’ve used it once before—getting the player to the point where they’re willing to try the store is the difficult hurdle—and the best way to get nonpaying users to try the store and thereby become permanent paying users is to let them mingle with their paying friends (“Microtransactions”). Eventually, those nonpaying players will become envious of their playing counterparts’ nice things and will take that first step and buy something; it’s a slippery slope from there (“Microtransactions”).

Free-to-play systems and their attendant microtransactions are not the right model for all games and services—because one must build one’s game (or service) around its monetization method, the method needs to match the gameplay (“Microtransactions”). Digital rental provides an alternative option, particularly for group or party games such as Rock Band, Wii Sports, or just about any racing game as well as games with impressive openings and plenty of extra content to be explored (“Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”). Digital rental typically comes up wherever cloud gaming services appear. In this model, a player would purchase the use of a game for a few hours in exchange for a small fee and the game would be streamed, via the cloud, to the player (“Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”). This business model is advantageous in that it does not require a player to pay sixty dollars for a game that they’re likely to use only a few times a year; the player need not, in fact, own the game at all, instead providing the game’s parent company with a steady if occasional stream of income (“Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”). This particular monetization method has the additional benefit of rendering demos obsolete as players would be able to pay a few dollars to play a few hours of a game and, upon deciding they liked it, would be able to then buy the full game for its full price (“Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”). Service providers could, in fact, cater to this particular demographic by putting player rental money toward a discount on the game; for example, if a player paid five dollars to rent a sixty dollar game, they could be prompted at the end of their play time to purchase the full game for fifty-five dollars, and this could continue on downward up to a fixed percentage of the total price, perhaps leaving off at the option of buying the game for thirty dollars or so (“Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”).

This rental model may not be ideal for every game, however. Some games, particularly short-session games that focus on skill-based challenges such as platformers, fighting games, aerial combat games, and shooters, would be well-served by a monetization method akin to that previously found in arcade cabinets (“Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”). In this method, players would begin playing a game for free, having been given a fixed number of lives to expend in their game session. Should the players run out of lives they could then purchase additional lives—much like the twenty-five cent charge imposed by arcade cabinets—with which to continue their session (“Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”). This method favors talented players who are able to master the skills required by the game and can therefore pay less while their newbie counterparts become engaged and seek to work their way to mastery, one digital quarter at a time (“Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”). Of course, this system was abused during the arcade era, as many machines were rigged to cheat or, in the case of some racing games, outfitted with a small lever which could be used to set how often that particular arcade cabinet allowed players to win; skill was effectively cut out of the equation by these more greedy games and purveyors thereof (“Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”). Returning to an updated version of this monetization method would also require a reinterpretation of current development practices in that current generation games tend to have players learn through failure, which is typically death, which would create an unfair situation in the online arcade model (“Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”). Instead, developers would have to find nonlethal ways to teach players through failure or find other ways of teaching players (“Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”). This method would also require developers to create higher quality games, as a new player would need to be truly enjoying the game in order to be willing to pay for it repeatedly (“Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”). They’d also need to focus some serious energy on making sure that the game was balanced well enough that the average player could enjoy the game and feel fairly treated while still failing often enough for the game’s publishers to make a profit on it (“Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”).

Clearly, the online arcade model is not a good fit for every game either. This leaves us with a final choice, only really open to developers who are not seeking to make a profit but are seeking to fund and create individual projects. This last option is crowdfunding wherein a company starts a fundraiser, either on their own terms or through a website such as Kickstarter (“Crowdfunding”). In order to do this, the company will set a monetary goal to be reached, create a timeline for raising that money, work to get people—typically fans of either gaming at large or the particular developer—interested and contributing to the project, probably using tiered rewards at various levels of contribution in order to encourage individuals to contribute additional money to the fundraiser, and at the end the developer walks away with however much was raised, unless a crowdfunding service was used in which case the service walks off with a small percentage of the money raised and the developer gets the rest (“Crowdfunding”). Crowdfunding does come with the drawback that there’s no one to hold accountable should the developer fail to produce their promised game, and there is no feasible way for the developer to make a significant profit on their game (“Crowdfunding”). However, this method does champion the art of video games above all else by increasing the impact of the consumer in terms of deciding what games get made and by asking the developer not to make the most profitable game they can but rather the best game that they can (“Crowdfunding”).  This is a distinct advantage over traditional funding methods wherein developers must pay out of pocket with no guarantee of ever making the money back, join up with a publisher who is able to dictate much of what is created as well as the deadlines on which it is created, or obtain investors who seek not to create excellent games but to build sellable companies (“Crowdfunding”). In a post-console environment, crowdfunding carries promise for episodic gaming experiences: suppose a company created the first episode in a game series and then streamed it on a cloud gaming service. At the end of the episode, they might ask their players to donate to their Kickstarter in order to fund the second episode, and then the third, and so on. This is another case wherein demos are eliminated by the nature of monetization. Instead of contributing to a crowdfunding project on the basis of promises, one would be able to sample the game ahead of time and decide whether or not more of that game would be desirable. Some self-published authors have used a similar method, releasing their novels one chapter at a time and giving readers the option to pay a small, two dollar fee per chapter, with the first chapter being free, rather than buy the entire book at once; in this way, the readers are able to determine whether the book is worth their money, and they can thereby alter the market more directly, essentially voting with their finances for the kind of work, both in terms of content and quality, that they would like to see more of, rather than being continually subject to the whims and opinions of publishers ("Slicing It Up: Selling Books By The Chapter").

All in all, cloud gaming promises a bright future for the gaming industry both in terms of its technological capabilities and in terms of the monetization options it opens up. At present, the gaming industry, globally, is worth seventy-four billion dollars, and that’s with the expensive price of entry created by console-based gaming (“Warc Trends: Snapshot August 2012”). Cloud gaming promises to open up the pastime to a wider audience by streaming content to devices already in the player’s possession—there is no barrier to entry in this model—and considering that cloud-based gaming is projected to see an eight billion dollar increase by 2017, the gaming industry at large would do well to gear up and start building for a console-less environment (“Consoles Are the New Coin-Op”; “Warc Trends: Snapshot August 2012”). This means adopting new monetization strategies and finding ways to blend the economics of game development with the actual creation of games in order to create an immersive experience, unbroken by its market reality (“Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”). In the end, these models need not only apply to the video game industry; industries like publishing can benefit from these ideas as well. We live in an age of transition wherein all entertainment media are moving into the digital realm and seeking out new ways to market and monetize themselves; this is a time for thinking outside of the box, not limiting oneself to old ideas and traditions (“Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade”). In order to stimulate growth, the video game industry and others like it must embrace the potential presented by cloud computing.

Works Cited

Chalk, Andy. "Gaikai Goes to Facebook." Escapist. 11 Apr. 2012: n. page. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. <http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/116742-Gaikai-Goes-to-Facebook>.

Chalk, Andy. "Gaikai Goes Up For Sale." Escapist. 21 June 2012: n. page. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. <http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/118033-Gaikai-Goes-Up-For-Sale>.

"Consoles Are the New Coin-Op." Writ. James Portnow. Extra Credits. Penny Arcade TV. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. <http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/consoles-are-the-new-coin-op>.

"Crowdfunding." Writ. James Portnow. Extra Credits. Penny Arcade TV. Web. 27 Oct. 2012. <http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/crowdfunding>.

"Digital Rentals and the Online Arcade." Writ. James Portnow. Extra Credits. Penny Arcade TV. Web. 27 Oct. 2012. <http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/digital-rentals-and-the-online-arcade>.

Hachman, Mark. "OnLive Brings Cloud Gaming to Tablets, Mobile Phones." PC Magazine Online 7 Dec. 2011. Academic OneFile. Web. 31 Oct. 2012.

Honorof, Marshall. "Assassin's Creed III Supports Microtransactions." The Escapist. 29 Oct. 2012: n. page. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. <http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/120383-Assassins-Creed-III-Supports-Microtransactions>.

Mclellan, Heather. "Sony Buys Gaikai Cloud Gaming Service." The Escapist. 2 Jul. 2012: n. page. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. <http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/118212-Sony-Buys-Gaikai-Cloud-Gaming-Service>.

"Microtransactions." Writ. James Portnow. Extra Credits. Penny Arcade TV. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. <http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/microtransactions>.

"Online gaming revenues to hit US$20 B.: ABI Research." Taiwan Economic News: NA [Taipei] 27 Dec. 2010, n. pag. Web. RDS Business Suite. 31 Oct. 2012.

"Slicing It Up: Selling Books By The Chapter." High Spot Inc: First Issue Blog. 8 Jan. 2009: n. page. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://www.highspotinc.com/blog/2009/01/slicing-it-up-selling-books-by-the-chapter/>.

Tito, Greg. "Gaikai and LG Team Up to Bring Cloud Gaming TVs." The Escapist. 10 Jan. 2012: n. page. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. <http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/115163-Gaikai-and-LG-Team-Up-to-Bring-Cloud-Gaming-TVs>.

"Warc Trends: Snapshot, August 2012." Warc Trends: Snapshot, August 2012. (2012): n. page. PDF. 31 Oct. 2012.

[bablake]

For belonging and achievement, take away their phones!

I love my phone. I use it all the time and it helps me with so many practical things; it keeps me updated with the news; it gives me a weather forecast; it’s my diary so I know what I’m supposed to be doing; it’s my satnav to get me to the places I need to be. But I would be kidding myself if I didn’t acknowledge that it’s also a huge productivity vacuum: social media is lurking on my home screen with those tempting notification bubbles and there is a little folder called ‘Games’ which tempts me away from what I should be doing. That is why I usually leave my phone upside down on my desk so that it goes into ‘do not disturb’ mode at the start of my day.

The pandemic accelerated a broader epidemic - the use of mobile phones and social media by teenagers. As a mathematician, I teach the importance of not confusing correlation with causation; however, the change in teenagers’ media use is dramatic, as are the increasing levels of depression, anxiety, and isolation felt by many.

We often talk about safeguarding and behavioural concerns linked to the use of social media, such as online grooming, pornography, bullying, inappropriate image sharing etc. and, of course, parents are having the same conversations at home. During a recent discussion, Amanda Spielman, OFSTED Chief Inspector, said that much could be done to limit the content to which young children are exposed. "The first thing you can do is not give a child a smartphone when they're too young. I’m very surprised when primary aged children have smartphones, for example, and even in early secondary school. It's really hard to manage that." Earlier this week, a survey by the Children’s Commissioner found that a quarter of young people first saw pornography on the internet while still at primary school and by the age of 13, 50% had been exposed to it.

The change has been relatively rapid and the more that we are aware of the dangers, the better we can address these or mitigate their impact. Last week, I read an article by an American educator, Doug Lemov (https://www.educationnext.org/take-away-their-cellphones-rewire-schools-belonging-achievement/) that highlighted some specific issues that impact on education and young people.

Research has shown that teenagers’ social media use roughly doubled between 2006 and 2016. Sadly, in competition against the smartphone, the book and the idea of reading lost significant ground. One American study found that in 2016, just 16% of Sixth Form students read a book or magazine daily, down from over 40% twenty years ago. The consequence is that teenagers read less. They haven’t replaced reading with socialising in person, because alongside this, they are also less likely to go out with friends than they used to. It would seem that we have allowed young people to swap real relationships that make them happy for virtual ones that make them sad.

The second issue the article raises relates to concentration. Time on screens degrades attention and concentration skills, making it harder to focus fully on any task and to maintain that focus. Yet attention is central to every learning task; the more rigorous the task, the more focus it requires. On our phones, we often switch tasks rapidly, so we become more accustomed to states of half-attention, with a new stimulus every few seconds. We are all at risk of this type of restlessness; however, young people are especially susceptible. The region of the brain that exerts impulse control and self-discipline, the prefrontal cortex, isn’t fully developed until we reach the age of 25. The more time young people spend in constant half-attentive task switching, the harder it becomes for them to maintain the capacity for sustained periods of intense concentration. To do well, you need to pay attention, and to pay attention, you need to practise paying attention!

Phones and the internet are not going to disappear and are difficult to avoid, so as adults we need to help guide our young people in their appropriate use. So, what is the answer? We know that it isn’t easy, but restriction is probably the best strategy. This is why we expect phones to be switched off in School and they must not be seen during the school day. Many of our young people will try to challenge this and we ask that you continue to support us in keeping phone use at a minimum in School. At home, we continue to encourage the use of apps such as Our Pact https://ourpact.com/ or Family Links https://families.google/familylink/ which allow you to control when phones are used. Older pupils might consider apps that gamify reducing screen time by giving (virtual) rewards. It might seem trivial, but for some, gaining a ‘tree’ for not touching the phone for an hour can work. We would also recommend physical controls and routines such as when and where phones can be used and they should certainly be kept away from the bedroom. Many parents will also regularly look at their child’s phone, checking messages and images.

I am writing this not because any of this is new or isn’t already known, but to encourage! We know it is difficult and at times can seem like a constant challenge. You may be told that you are the only one taking these actions, but you won’t be. You are simply doing the right thing!

Andrew Wright Headmaster

(Bulletin No 66 - 3rd February 2023)

#bablakefamily #inspire

[eduminatti]

WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT SCHOOL FEES IN INDIA

Many parents who were unable to pay their bills as a result of Covid-19 enrolled their children in public schools rather than private institutions. The fundamental reason for this is because private schools charge exorbitant prices. Many parents believe that school costs should not be thus high because classes are held online during the pandemic.

WHY ARE STUDENTS TRANSFERRING FROM PRIVATE TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

There has been an impact on children's education as a result of most schools being closed in lockdown 2020. Because schools across India were required to transition to online education, parents were required to purchase a laptop or a smartphone with unlimited bandwidth in addition to paying tuition fees to the school.

 Another reason, in addition to the health repercussions of Covid-19, is that the epidemic resulted in millions of job losses and economic troubles. Due to a scarcity of jobs, migrant workers were compelled to return to their home countries, and thousands of employees in even large corporations lost their jobs.

As per research conducted by schools in Mumbai ,States where youngsters have been reported to be transferring to government schools. According to the Gujarat state education department, 2.82 lakh pupils transferred from private to government schools in the academic year 2021-22. Similarly, 1.58 lakh children in Delhi switched from private to public institutions. 

Similarly, a Telangana official from the state's senior education department said that 1.25 lakh pupils from private schools have transferred to state government schools for the 2021-22 academic year, a 40 percent increase over the previous academic year that ended in 2021.

In Haryana, two lakh pupils were transferred from private schools to government schools. According to Madhya Pradesh's state education department, 1,29,126 pupils relocated between April and September of 2021.

 During the epidemic, 1,85,480 pupils in Punjab switched from private to public schools. During Covid-19, enrolment in government schools in Uttar Pradesh increased by almost 5% at the elementary and higher primary levels. 

WHAT ARE THE OPINIONS OF PARENTS AND SCHOOLS?

Another survey done by schools in Pune shows that Meena, the mother of a Class 3 student, recently transferred her son to a government school in Delhi because she couldn't pay the fees at his previous private school. "My son is not benefiting from online education. My spouse and I are not getting paid adequately because of the pandemic.

 As a result, we chose a government school," Meena explains. Her son is also pleased with the behaviour of the teachers at the public school. He claimed that private school professors did not pay attention to the students.

 Teachers in government schools, on the other hand, are responsible for the students. A Class 12 kid from Jaipur who had previously attended a private school was forced to transfer to a government institution after his parents lost their employment.

The admissions department of a Delhi school, on the other hand, claimed, "We have granted some discounts on outstanding school costs." It did not, however, assist parents, who now solely come for their children's TCs."

 Covid-19 has grabbed the jobs of many parents, according to Anil Kaushik, head of the Progressive Private School's Association in Delhi, and this is why parents are sending their children to government institutions. Furthermore, with scientists predicting the possibility of a third wave, parents are wary about putting their children's health at risk.

THERE ARE OTHER CAUSES FOR THE CHANGE

Many parents believe that their children would receive a good education and access to certain amenities in government schools, which is another reason they are making the switch. 

For example, the governments of Haryana and Rajasthan announced plans to provide free tablets and computers, bridging the digital divide that existed in India during the pandemic. 

The government of Andhra Pradesh has created a flagship scheme named 'Jagnanna Ammavodi,' under which Rs.15000 is granted annually to the mothers of children in government schools in Classes 1 to 12. 

Another important element to note is that government schools are strengthening their facilities in comparison to prior years, and teachers are enthusiastic about teaching the pupils.

STATE GOVERNMENTS FACE A DIFFICULT TASK

The difficulty now facing state governments is how to deal with the growing number of pupils in government schools while maintaining facilities and teaching standards to demonstrate to parents that sending their children to government schools was the right decision. 

Students who have relocated as well as teachers from government schools will encounter additional hurdles in adjusting to their new surroundings.

Private schools, on the other hand, believe that this will have a negative influence on their budget and that their teachers may lose their employment as a result. 

They also believe that such a large number of pupils across India are making this shift for a temporary reason: government school education standards aren't thought to be as high as those in private schools. As a result, government schools must now demonstrate their value by improving their teaching standards and facilities.

[northhenningsen06]

Children, Work and What Is most beneficial Practice

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