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Game Monument will let players fund titles by giving them credit inside games - Related to memberships, sam’s, february, lot, new

Game Monument will let players fund titles by giving them credit inside games

Game Monument will let players fund titles by giving them credit inside games

Nate Pacyga had a big thought inside a cathedral, where he saw donors credited by their support of the Bath Abbey in the United Kingdom. He wondered why that can’t happen in video games.

As game developers build their monumental creations, Pacyga thought that players could also get credit for their contributions inside the game. And so Minneapolis-based Game Monument was born.

In an interview with GamesBeat, Pacyga introduced he hopes the game development funding platform will change the way games are funded and how players connect with the titles they love. It’s an ambitious and clever project, executed so far by Pacyga alone.

“I want the gaming industry to be able to raise more money,” he expressed. “We need a platform to enable that. so people can make it easy for them to sell these to their players.”.

With over two decades of experience as a video game engineer, Pacyga has seen the industry struggle with securing funding, standing out in the crowded game discovery landscape, and building meaningful communities. Game Monument addresses these challenges by creating a unique platform where players can leave a lasting mark on the games they support.

Nate Pacyga is the CEO and solo dev of Game Monument.

The concept for Game Monument was born during Pacyga’s visit to Bath Abbey in England in August 2024. He was surrounded by centuries-old commemorative plaques and monuments. This experience sparked a revelation: “Why not bring this timeless concept of legacy to video games?” stated Pacyga.

“This happens a lot in European cathedrals. They covered the walls with plaques and monuments. The stories were there for hundreds of years,” he mentioned. “I thought I could do a cathedral level in a shooter game. I mentioned wait, ‘Why not do these plaques in a video game. Or any video game.'”.

He did research on the topic. On Kickstarter, you can reward players with pillar or statues for those who contributed money to a certain tier.

Game Monument allows players to purchase and personalize in-game monuments —ranging from grand statues and plaques to everyday objects like signs, collectibles, or even a simple brick in a street. Each monument can be customized with the player’s name and message, becoming a permanent part of the game world for all to discover.

Game Monument was inspired by the Bath Abbey in England.

For developers, Game Monument offers an intuitive software development kit (SDK) that integrates effortlessly with the platform’s backend, making it easy to implement monument campaigns within games. As an engineer actively developing his own third-person shooter game, Pacyga understands the tools needed to ensure superior functionality for developers.

“This isn’t just another platform,” unveiled Pacyga. “It’s a new way for players to leave their mark on the games they love while supporting the developers who create them. Built for both gamers and developers, Game Monument has the potential to transform the gaming industry, and we want you to be part of it from day one.”.

Developers are invited to join the Game Monument email list at [website] to be among the first to get funded on the platform and play a role in shaping the future of player-supported game development.

By allowing players to purchase and personalize in-game monuments, Game Monument not only supports game development but also fosters deeper player engagement and community building.

I asked him if the player has to earn a plaque. He had not yet considered that, but it’s possible. But if you contribute $1,000 toward a character in the game, you might have that character named in your owner.

“It’s a funding platform to engage with your audience. It’s whatever developers want to do to honor the players. You can have a credit level like a Game Monument supporter level. People can see it when they play the game. Here’s Jim Johnson’s dedication to his grandma. Whatever people want to say.”.

You can’t say bad things like insult another player. About 90% to 92% of the money collected by Game Monument will go toward the developers. Like Kickstarter, Game Monument will take a 5% fee, and the fee for payment could be 3% to 5%, Pacyga unveiled.

“That’s a pretty appealing share of the revenues,” he noted. “We want the developers to get as much revenue as possible. We see it for indies and mid-level companies. Maybe they can generate $1 million to $2 mil toward the budget for a game production. But I could also see it working with Call of Duty or Diablo. Who wouldn’t want to have their name in the game?”.

So far, Pacyga is the only one on the team. He’s been working as a product engineer for 20 years across various companies.

“I can build anything and am product focused,” he noted. “I’m bootstrapping it now. With the tools I have now, I am optimistic. There is no more effective time to be a game developer.”.

He is looking for more funding and perhaps more colleagues. He has a prototype and will say later when the product will be ready to ship.

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Google’s Gemini is getting a lot smarter for iPhone users

Google’s Gemini is getting a lot smarter for iPhone users

Google’s Gemini AI just got a major buff for iPhone individuals with the addition of its Deep Research feature. Google first added this feature to Android devices, but it’s dropping in a phased rollout to the iPhone. If you don’t yet see this function, give it some time; at the time of writing, it hasn’t hit our phones here at Digital Trends yet.

The Deep Research feature “uses advanced reasoning and long context capabilities to act as a research assistant, exploring complex topics and compiling reports on your behalf.” This enables Gemini to do comprehensive, in-depth research on nearly any topic, but be warned: the process is not fast.

It can take anywhere from five to ten minutes for a single query, and it will search multiple times during the process. If Gemini discovers something in its research that prompts further inquiry, it will continue to peel back layers until it feels it has a satisfactory answer. Don’t worry, though; you don’t have to leave Gemini open during this time. You’ll receive a notification when it finishes its task.

Google has placed limits on the number of times per day you can request this level of research, as well as the number of requests you can run at the same time. Due to the time required to perform these searches, the Deep Research function is a great way to dig into a specific topic, but not if you want to receive answers promptly.

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Once the rollout is complete, you’ll be able to select Deep Research from the [website] Pro model of Gemini. It might be available to you already; Google hasn’t given word on how the phased rollout will proceed, but we expect to see it available on all compatible iPhones within the next day or two.

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Save up to 60% off new Sam’s Club memberships in February

Save up to 60% off new Sam’s Club memberships in February

If you’re thinking about joining Sam’s Club, now is the perfect time! They’re offering a huge discount on memberships from February 12th through February 26th. You can grab a and a —that’s up to 60% off!

Whether you’re stocking up on groceries, shopping for the latest tech, or trying to save on everyday items, Sam’s Club has great value. And hey – who doesn’t love a good warehouse deal?

What Do You Get with a Sam’s Club Membership?

A gives you , from fresh produce and pantry staples to electronics and household goods. You’re also going to love the new Scan & Go™ checkout, where you can scan items in-store and pay instantly through the Sam’s Club app. Also, discounted gas at Sam’s Club gets you fueled up while being easy on your wallet. You even get a complimentary household card to share so someone else in your home can take advantage of all the savings too!

For those looking to max out your benefits, the takes things to another level. You get all the perks of the Club Membership plus you earn 2% Sam’s Cash™ on qualifying purchases – up to $500 back each year. Free shipping on most items means no minimums for online shopping and free curbside pickup saves you time by having your order brought straight to your car. Plus members also enjoy early shopping hours – skip the lines, beat the crowd, and get in before standard hours begin. Health and auto savings? Yes! This membership is a steal with $0 select prescriptions at the pharmacy, 40% off additional pairs of prescription glasses when you buy a complete pair, and 50% off tire installation services. They’ve thought of everything.

This limited-time deal runs from February 12th through February 26th. This is your call to action so go for it. You can meal-prep for the whole family, stock up for a big event, or just rack up big savings year-round, Sam’s Club has you covered.

If you’re still on the fence, don’t miss out because of indecisiveness. Sam’s Club offers a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee on memberships. You can cancel at any time if you’re not happy for a full refund.

Grab this deal now before it ends on February 26th – start saving with Sam’s Club today!

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Market Impact Analysis

Market Growth Trend

2018201920202021202220232024
12.0%14.4%15.2%16.8%17.8%18.3%18.5%
12.0%14.4%15.2%16.8%17.8%18.3%18.5% 2018201920202021202220232024

Quarterly Growth Rate

Q1 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024
16.8% 17.5% 18.2% 18.5%
16.8% Q1 17.5% Q2 18.2% Q3 18.5% Q4

Market Segments and Growth Drivers

Segment Market Share Growth Rate
Digital Transformation31%22.5%
IoT Solutions24%19.8%
Blockchain13%24.9%
AR/VR Applications18%29.5%
Other Innovations14%15.7%
Digital Transformation31.0%IoT Solutions24.0%Blockchain13.0%AR/VR Applications18.0%Other Innovations14.0%

Technology Maturity Curve

Different technologies within the ecosystem are at varying stages of maturity:

Innovation Trigger Peak of Inflated Expectations Trough of Disillusionment Slope of Enlightenment Plateau of Productivity AI/ML Blockchain VR/AR Cloud Mobile

Competitive Landscape Analysis

Company Market Share
Amazon Web Services16.3%
Microsoft Azure14.7%
Google Cloud9.8%
IBM Digital8.5%
Salesforce7.9%

Future Outlook and Predictions

The Game Monument Will landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, changing threat vectors, and shifting business requirements. Based on current trends and expert analyses, we can anticipate several significant developments across different time horizons:

Year-by-Year Technology Evolution

Based on current trajectory and expert analyses, we can project the following development timeline:

2024Early adopters begin implementing specialized solutions with measurable results
2025Industry standards emerging to facilitate broader adoption and integration
2026Mainstream adoption begins as technical barriers are addressed
2027Integration with adjacent technologies creates new capabilities
2028Business models transform as capabilities mature
2029Technology becomes embedded in core infrastructure and processes
2030New paradigms emerge as the technology reaches full maturity

Technology Maturity Curve

Different technologies within the ecosystem are at varying stages of maturity, influencing adoption timelines and investment priorities:

Time / Development Stage Adoption / Maturity Innovation Early Adoption Growth Maturity Decline/Legacy Emerging Tech Current Focus Established Tech Mature Solutions (Interactive diagram available in full report)

Innovation Trigger

  • Generative AI for specialized domains
  • Blockchain for supply chain verification

Peak of Inflated Expectations

  • Digital twins for business processes
  • Quantum-resistant cryptography

Trough of Disillusionment

  • Consumer AR/VR applications
  • General-purpose blockchain

Slope of Enlightenment

  • AI-driven analytics
  • Edge computing

Plateau of Productivity

  • Cloud infrastructure
  • Mobile applications

Technology Evolution Timeline

1-2 Years
  • Technology adoption accelerating across industries
  • digital transformation initiatives becoming mainstream
3-5 Years
  • Significant transformation of business processes through advanced technologies
  • new digital business models emerging
5+ Years
  • Fundamental shifts in how technology integrates with business and society
  • emergence of new technology paradigms

Expert Perspectives

Leading experts in the digital innovation sector provide diverse perspectives on how the landscape will evolve over the coming years:

"Technology transformation will continue to accelerate, creating both challenges and opportunities."

— Industry Expert

"Organizations must balance innovation with practical implementation to achieve meaningful results."

— Technology Analyst

"The most successful adopters will focus on business outcomes rather than technology for its own sake."

— Research Director

Areas of Expert Consensus

  • Acceleration of Innovation: The pace of technological evolution will continue to increase
  • Practical Integration: Focus will shift from proof-of-concept to operational deployment
  • Human-Technology Partnership: Most effective implementations will optimize human-machine collaboration
  • Regulatory Influence: Regulatory frameworks will increasingly shape technology development

Short-Term Outlook (1-2 Years)

In the immediate future, organizations will focus on implementing and optimizing currently available technologies to address pressing digital innovation challenges:

  • Technology adoption accelerating across industries
  • digital transformation initiatives becoming mainstream

These developments will be characterized by incremental improvements to existing frameworks rather than revolutionary changes, with emphasis on practical deployment and measurable outcomes.

Mid-Term Outlook (3-5 Years)

As technologies mature and organizations adapt, more substantial transformations will emerge in how security is approached and implemented:

  • Significant transformation of business processes through advanced technologies
  • new digital business models emerging

This period will see significant changes in security architecture and operational models, with increasing automation and integration between previously siloed security functions. Organizations will shift from reactive to proactive security postures.

Long-Term Outlook (5+ Years)

Looking further ahead, more fundamental shifts will reshape how cybersecurity is conceptualized and implemented across digital ecosystems:

  • Fundamental shifts in how technology integrates with business and society
  • emergence of new technology paradigms

These long-term developments will likely require significant technical breakthroughs, new regulatory frameworks, and evolution in how organizations approach security as a fundamental business function rather than a technical discipline.

Key Risk Factors and Uncertainties

Several critical factors could significantly impact the trajectory of digital innovation evolution:

Legacy system integration challenges
Change management barriers
ROI uncertainty

Organizations should monitor these factors closely and develop contingency strategies to mitigate potential negative impacts on technology implementation timelines.

Alternative Future Scenarios

The evolution of technology can follow different paths depending on various factors including regulatory developments, investment trends, technological breakthroughs, and market adoption. We analyze three potential scenarios:

Optimistic Scenario

Rapid adoption of advanced technologies with significant business impact

Key Drivers: Supportive regulatory environment, significant research breakthroughs, strong market incentives, and rapid user adoption.

Probability: 25-30%

Base Case Scenario

Measured implementation with incremental improvements

Key Drivers: Balanced regulatory approach, steady technological progress, and selective implementation based on clear ROI.

Probability: 50-60%

Conservative Scenario

Technical and organizational barriers limiting effective adoption

Key Drivers: Restrictive regulations, technical limitations, implementation challenges, and risk-averse organizational cultures.

Probability: 15-20%

Scenario Comparison Matrix

FactorOptimisticBase CaseConservative
Implementation TimelineAcceleratedSteadyDelayed
Market AdoptionWidespreadSelectiveLimited
Technology EvolutionRapidProgressiveIncremental
Regulatory EnvironmentSupportiveBalancedRestrictive
Business ImpactTransformativeSignificantModest

Transformational Impact

Technology becoming increasingly embedded in all aspects of business operations. This evolution will necessitate significant changes in organizational structures, talent development, and strategic planning processes.

The convergence of multiple technological trends—including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and ubiquitous connectivity—will create both unprecedented security challenges and innovative defensive capabilities.

Implementation Challenges

Technical complexity and organizational readiness remain key challenges. Organizations will need to develop comprehensive change management strategies to successfully navigate these transitions.

Regulatory uncertainty, particularly around emerging technologies like AI in security applications, will require flexible security architectures that can adapt to evolving compliance requirements.

Key Innovations to Watch

Artificial intelligence, distributed systems, and automation technologies leading innovation. Organizations should monitor these developments closely to maintain competitive advantages and effective security postures.

Strategic investments in research partnerships, technology pilots, and talent development will position forward-thinking organizations to leverage these innovations early in their development cycle.

Technical Glossary

Key technical terms and definitions to help understand the technologies discussed in this article.

Understanding the following technical concepts is essential for grasping the full implications of the security threats and defensive measures discussed in this article. These definitions provide context for both technical and non-technical readers.

Filter by difficulty:

platform intermediate

algorithm Platforms provide standardized environments that reduce development complexity and enable ecosystem growth through shared functionality and integration capabilities.

API beginner

interface APIs serve as the connective tissue in modern software architectures, enabling different applications and services to communicate and share data according to defined protocols and data formats.
API concept visualizationHow APIs enable communication between different software systems
Example: Cloud service providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure offer extensive APIs that allow organizations to programmatically provision and manage infrastructure and services.