 The Xbox 360 is considered one of the primary sources of great first person shooters with juggernauts like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 leading the charge. Many clans and competitions result from the high number of shooter based games, but also with the amount of stats that are tracked in these games players find themselves trying to be the best they can be. For example Modern Warfare 2 gives you a kill to death ratio and an accuracy percentage among many other stats. Most of us find ourselves checking out the leader boards to see how we improve or decline with each and every game.
We have all run into those games where you just cannot seem to do anything right. You tend to get yourself turned around and really have a hard time coming up with any kind of strategy or technique to battle the elements. Trying to do this on the fly without having to reference a computer is almost impossible until now.
A new company has come on the scene with a new strategy guide that you can access before, during and after a game. Inktree, Inc. has introduced a new laminated tri-fold multiplayer map strategy guide. It came packaged with the limited edition strategy guide from Brady Games which released alongside Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2. These maps allows for on the fly strategy and reference as you play the game. Its lamination allows for you to use a dry erase marker to determine strategies as well as highlight. We had the opportunity to have a little Q & A with Eric Braun, CEO and Co-founder of Inktree, Inc. Check out what he had to say about the new product and what intentions they have for this and future products. If you have not had a chance to pick guide up you should check it out. We have a picture below of the guide for you to check out. Meanwhile, read what Eric had to say about his company and the product.
[XXL] Can you give a little insight into Inktree and yourself? How the company came about and what the thought process was leading towards your first product?
Eric Braun, CEO & Co-founder, Inktree Inc
[ERIC] At its heart, Inktree is a design firm. Our focus is innovation around the way people interact with information – particularly instructional and educational content. We like to solve problems with simple solutions. At the same time, we like people to look at our products and think, “Wow; that’s really cool!”. As two guys that love to play games, John Keefe (Co-founder) and I understand the space and the needs of gamers, which is why it’s become such a focus for Inktree.
Our first design to market was the Big FOLD, FOLD being an acronym for Fold-Out Laminated Display. The Big FOLD concept spawned from 3 brothers trying to learn guitar together by sharing a traditional songbook that they propped up against their couch. Needless to say, they spent far more time beating the crap out of each other then learning to play. They also found all the pauses in playing to flip pages annoying. We were looking for a bigger display that could stand up on its own and eliminate the need for any break in playing. Once we found the answer, It didn’t take us long to recognize that this product was great for any activity that requires the use of both hands – like playing video games. All of the other bells and whistles (being a 3-pocket folder, having a dry-erase surface, long-term durability, portability, etc.) were added on during the product development stage. Needless to say, our first product line using the Big FOLD was SHREDHED (tagline: No More Flippin’ Pages!), an award winning line of guitar instruction titles sold in mass retailers worldwide.
My background is mostly in internet software start-ups, while John’s is mostly in music – he is one of those 3 guitar playing brothers. Our common bonds are a passion for simplified innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit.
[XXL] What can gamers expect from Inktree Products?
[ERIC] Gamers can expect to spend more time playing the games and less time pausing them to look stuff up onscreen or in instruction booklets, books or even worse, online. What a bummer to have to pause your game and run to the computer to get a tip or find a map! Our goal is to eliminate interruptions in play. We want gamers to have all of the key information, tips, and tricks they need at their fingertips – or on the floor in front of them as the case may be. Judging by our first release with Modern Warfare 2, we think you and your readers will be very excited about what we have coming in the future.
[XXL] How does a small upstart company land such a large opportunity with a game like Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2?
[ERIC] We like to think it was just a matter of putting a good idea in front of smart people, but who knows. A little bit of luck may have played a part as well. In addition to our SHREDHED product line, we also have a highly acclaimed line of 2-in-1 educational floor-mat games for children 4 and up called 2 Big Games. So we did have a little success to build on prior to this. For the Modern Warfare 2 Tactical Multiplayer Map, we partnered with publisher BradyGames, which worked out great.
[XXL] Explain the MW2 no hands strategy guide and how you think one would use it? A huge asset to clans?
The Modern Warfare 2 Tactical Multiplayer Map is used to strategize before jumping into the live game. Gamers can use it over and over again with a dry-erase marker as they refine their strategies. It’s great for clans too, pro players, and individual players alike in that people can plan and strategize using the map overviews. In particular with MW2, it’s helpful for those players who are really serious, who have to ‘prestige’ first or just want a fighting chance. Whatever the case, players can have a leg up on the competition by learning the routes, the chokepoints etc., before they even step foot in the game. Nobody gets a nuke unless they can dominate in every area of the game, that starts with knowing the maps!
[XXL] Will you release Downloadable Content Editions of the card as well?
[ERIC] As I mentioned, we have some other products for gamers in the works that we’re really stoked about, and we think they will be too once they see them.
[XXL] What future games would you like to see your products representing?
[ERIC] Other games with maps would be the logical fit based on what we’ve done for Modern Warfare 2, but in actuality, the Big FOLD is a valuable strategic supplement to any game. All games have tips, tricks, and information that requires a quick pause to view, whether it means going to onscreen help or taking a couple of flips through the instructions or a book. Placing that content on the Big FOLD allows gamers to highlight what’s important to them and set up the giant display right next to them while they play, thus avoiding the breaks in gaming.
[XXL] Where will gamers be able to purchase your products?
[ERIC] They will be available at all retailers that carry games and guides.
[XXL] Finally, with competition growing more popular in the video gaming arena, how much of an impact can your products make and what direction do you see it going?
[ERIC] The impact of our products can be huge, but not in the traditional way that most impacts are made. While everyone is introducing the next fastest this, with the bigger that and the flashier whatever, we’re simplifying. We’re making things easier – helping gamers to master games faster – and delivering the tools to achieve mastery in a very affordable product. That sounds huge to us.
We would like to thank Mr. Braun for taking the time to answer our questions and wish him the best on his company’s endeavors. As we suggested earlier, you should try to get your hands on one of these if you want to try to get better at the game or maybe you have your own clan and would like to plan strategies.
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