Chris Parkes: A PC is not just for Christmas... : Sport

Twelve Glorious Months!

chrisp — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 17:19:52 GMT

So, exactly twelve months ago today, England regained The Ashes. It was certainly the best ever Ashes series I can remember and I know many people agree with this. It was played in the right spirit all the way throughout and at the end, it's fair to say that neither England nor Australia deserved to lose.

However, for the first time in twenty years (and believe me it seems like a whole lot longer than that,) The Ashes returned home.

It all begins again in Brisbane, 23rd November 2007 and today, England have announced their captain and squad for the Winter Ashes tour of Australia - here's to another great series played in the same competitive and respectful spirit!

The Demo Showcase Team Photo

chrisp — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 15:05:00 GMT

Hopefully, you are all aware of the Demo Showcase team line up - if not, you can review my earlier post here :)

Given that the new season is about to get underway, the people from that fine organisation Contoso got together to have their photo taken, in true football/soccer style.

As well as pictures, you can also find team profiles for each individual (although you'll need to at least be a registered Microsoft partner to access in depth information) such as demographics, work, psychographics, a day in the life and roles and responsibilities on the Demo Showcase home.

Now, is it just me or do others think that Tim Litton, IT Manager at Contoso should have a nice sideline business running as a Tom Hanks lookalike?

Ciao for now :)

The Chelski Team Photo!

chrisp — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 15:04:00 GMT

I absolutely can't take credit for this one as it was sent to my by Clayt...

Didn't half make me laugh though - click here for a picture of the Chelsea squad, 2006-07!

Nice one Mr. Abramovich :)

The Demo Showcase Team Tactics

chrisp — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 13:07:57 GMT

Right then, Monday morning and my season's kicked off, so time to head back over to the football/soccer analogies...well, if tactics equate to marketing campaigns that is!!!

Find below a list of the market campaigns that the Demo Showcase aligns to when talking to midmarket customers.

Build Customer Connections
Drive Business Performance
Drive Real World Business Processes
Enable Your Mobile Workforce
Find, Use and Share Information
Optimize and Secure Your Core Infrastructure
Optimize Your Application Platform Infrastructure
Optimise Your Business Productivity Infrastructure

And also, a list of campaigns that the Demo Showcase aligns to for the small business specialist.

First Server, Right Server
Financial Management
Mobility
Sales and Marketing

As for my team this weekend? Losing 1-0 at home, we went 2-1 up only to concede a late equalised in a 2-2 draw. Not the worst start to the season on reflection, a fair result I feel...

Ciao for now :)

Pro Evolution Soccer 6 on XBox 360

chrisp — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 21:58:06 GMT

I hereby give notice to all that I will be going into hibernation during October 2006. The reason being? To master Pro Evolution 6 when it hits XBox 360...

Take a look at some early screenshots here and drooooooooool!

Pro Evo 6 XBox 360 Screenshots

Wonder if they'll include the Zizou head butt move? :)

NFL video game unveiled in Madden - Mississippi

chrisp — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:47:00 GMT

It's only fair to say that alongside football of the world variety, I am also totally in love with football of the American variety (I guess it's just called plain old football if you are in the US :) but I guess "Gridiron" is the universal term.

Combine this with my love of XBox 360 then you will understand why I just had to post this. Last week, Microsoft and Electronic Arts teamed up to create "Madden NFL Day" where each resident of Madden, MS, a 74-household hamlet received an XBox 360 including one personally delivered by the legend that is Jerry Rice! Bizarrely, there's no mention as to whether or not they had to buy their own copy of the game!!!

And this years cover star...Shaun Alexander, running back with the Seattle Seahawks. Be interesting to see how his season pans out after this!

More on Madden NFL '07 here http://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/m/maddennfl07xbox360/

Ciao for now :)

Link to AP Wire | 22 August 2006 | NFL video game unveiled in Madden - Mississippi

The Demo Showcase Line Up

chrisp — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 15:57:00 GMT

I played football at the weekend (that's possibly known as soccer to any non UK folk listening - hey, what do we know, we only invented the beautiful game! ;)

I play for a Sunday League side, nothing serious, that's run from a local pub called The Holden Bridge Hotel. The team played really well, and we stuck to a rigid 4-4-2 formation throughout.

I don't truly understand the way my brain works and so have no idea why I decided to relate this to the Demo Showcase, but, any good team is always role based so I thought I'd use this as an analogy to introduce you to the Customer Roles we currently have residing in the newest and best People Ready Business sales tool...

In goal, (1) Bookkeeper
Right back (2) Information Technology Services
Left Back (3) Office (player) Manager
Centre Half (5) Human Resources
Centre Half (6) Finance
Right Midfield (7) Marketing
Left Midfield (11) Service Technician
Centre Midfield (4) Operations
Centre Midfield (8) Sales
Centre Forward (9) Chief Executive Officer
Centre Forward (10) Small Business Owner

As you can see, there's a pretty solid back line there, the Bookkeeper has a great safe pair of hands and patrolling the back four, really underpinning the teams' success we have IT Services, the Office (player) Manager, HR and Finance. Keeping the side running in midfield, Sales, Marketing and Operations line up alongside the Service Technician. Then, pushing the team forwards, up front we have the CEO and the Small Business Owner looking to create and take as many opportunities that the midfield can provide whilst also trying to make and take their own chances either solo or by working in partnership...

Finally, for anyone interested, I bagged the first and the third then set up two more in a 6-0 away win in our final pre-season friendly... Season starts next week, might keep you all up to date on the results as we go along...

Ciao for now :)