Vishal Kumar

Chat Noir in Javascript

I invite you to check out this Javascript game I created, called Chat Noir (Black Cat in french).

The objective of the game is really simple: Trap the cat before it gets to the edges.

I’ve used Javascript (with jQuery) and CSS to implement it. It’s based on a similar flash game by GameDesign.jp.

Play it here, and let me know what you think.

At various odd points in conversation, such as when comparing the proper noun Xerox to the verb Photocopying (my Indian friends are well aware of the unawareness of the distinction), I usually drag in how we’re going to Google anything we want to find.

“Where are my car keys?” “I don’t know, google it, maybe under your bed?”

Then I saw this video.

Just took that concept to a very relevant perspective.

My take: If you know anything about Google and Bing, watch it and show it to your friends.

(If you’re new here: Google‘s a search engine from Google, Bing’s a search engine from Bing Microsoft.)

Zoozoos in Amul

Now you know (atleast in India), that you have created a national phenomenon catching the attention of millions of Indians, when you appear on on an Amul billboard advertisement.

Zoozoos, as they are called, were created to promote the Value Added Services of Vodafone. 

For instance, from reading this article, it seemed that which people knew about Vodafone, they didn’t really connect with all the extra stuff (beyond calling and texting, yes).

Like one of the ads was for Phone Backup, apparently launched 2 years ago (vk:  …apparently it takes a while to backup?)

Here some quick interesting tidbits:

• They were shot using live Actors. You read that right. 
• The actors were mostly female, to fit the costumes
• They were shot at 20 frames per second for the ‘animated’ look.
• The average height of a Zoozoo is 6 feet 4 inches (calculated on basis of statement that the average human would reach a zoozoo’s mouth)
• They are made to look small by shooting in a large set
• The videos were shot in Cape Town, South Africa, in 10 days
• There are some 30 videos planned for showing
• Vodafone spent 4 months worth of marketing money for this 1 month
• The company responsible is Nirvana Films, which also directed the pug ads, and Ogilvy & Mathers (O&M) created the ‘aliens’

Making of Zoozoo Stock Alerts

Making of Zoozoo Stock Alerts

[Edit: Thanks to Sam for commenting the making of video. See his comment below for link]

Popular isn’t quite the term for it. Vodafone really picked the perfect time (IPL – Indian Premier League cricket), and the perfect thing (30 ads of really cute white aliens).

Why not?

They (Vodafone..I think), are also really spreading out the Networking Love. The current offcial ZooZoo Facebook Page has around 160,000 Fans. And Growing quite well. Orkut, India’s most popular social network, has some (cumulatively) 40,000 fans in various fan clubs in a handful of fan clubs. Oh, they’re on Twitter too. Savvy.

K, let me wrap up with my favorite Zoozoo ad so far, one of the first ones (and one of the best) I’ve seen: