Paul O Donnell

Decisions, Decisions.... The last webinar in the spring series is just a few days away. If you haven't already signed up, there is still time! you can do so at www.whitespire.ie I have covered this topic in workshops a number of times before and the takeaway that emerges is that decision making bottlenecks are heightened if trust is low or company objectives are ambiguous. In this webinar I'll talk about how to put in guiderails to allow people to make decisions with confidence within their sphere of control. Check it out on Monday! #decisionmaking #leadership #operationalexcellence

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So the last 2 weeks on BBBA have been pretty productive. In the last video I posted, everything was pretty much just layout for how I wanted things to go and where things were supposed to live. Technically though, everything was done by pasting tiles onto a tilemap one by one, by hand; either flat on the background or at a level in front of BB. I knew this had to change at some point so I've now tackled it with support for proper sprite sorting that allows all sorts of things to be handled and ordered correctly and most importantly, automatically. Also problematic was my own workflow for creating the map areas. The same way that the rest of the map was created, buildings on the map were made in the same way, only more painfully produced and with a lot less flexibility. I've now created proper building support within the project so that I can just place buildings on the map and set a bunch of parameters like how many windows and doors, chimneys, dormer windows, porches, etc. This is making building emplacements much easier now and with the sprite sorting in place, they look really good and respond in a manner that's much better. Along with this I've created some colour set support so that I can define a grouped set of colours that can be set on buildings to give them all a standardised or area specific palette. Another thing I wanted to do was spend a bit of time bringing more life to the map. With that in mind, I've added in support to animate the trees generally and the bushes when BB runs through them. Once that was in, I added support for the NPCs and enemies so that they triggered the bushes and everything else too. I've also added in support for audio zones so that each area can have an ambient noise associated with it and I can set up extra areas with other sounds attached, for example when you get close to the lakes or river you get extra sploshy noises that fade in and out as you enter and exit the areas. With a mind to saving some CPU cycles I've also added support to the main areas of the game so that when you transfer from one major section to another, the one you leave gets disabled so that it's not all ticking over in the background while the player is off busy elsewhere. I've added a few more gameplay features that I'll take advantage of soon, such as containers that you can open and close and that can be set to spawn items on first open. Instead of just placing monsters on the map, I now place spawners that allow you to specify which monster type, the maximum number of monsters alive concurrently, how often they spawn and the radius of the spawn zone. Focus for the next 2 weeks is to tackle the outside dungeon areas so that I can add those back to the map easily using a similar system to my new dynamic houses and then I've got to approach the next big issue; building internals! Like everything else before, they are currently just pasted onto the map tiles by hand in the same, painful way as before. And that has to change!

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This is one to watch - PGA Tour, gaming and blockchain. As Chris Dixon explains in his book 'Read, Write, Own', blockchain represents a significant shift towards a more open, equitable, and user-centric internet. It holds the promise of unlocking unprecedented levels of creativity, innovation, and economic opportunity by empowering us with true ownership and control over our digital lives. If you aren't sure about blockchain you can read more here, where Chris explains quite a bit from his book: https://lnkd.in/eN8VGqGt And follow the link below to the news release to read more about the PGA Tour game team up. #pgatour #videogames #blockchain #technology #innovation

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COLONII has just completed Blockchain Ireland inaugural Irish Start-Ups Bootcamp on cohort 1. We were one of three Web3 startups on the program setting a task for the bootcampers to complete. The COLONII avatar characters IP is on chain. Each of their unique branded activations and campaigns are minted including aligned digital and physical branded products. The task reports submitted by the bootcampers were brilliant. Massive insights and validation to some of our value proposition and technical roadmap. The Bootcamp essentially acts as a catalyst to help participants identify their strengths and potential in the web3 ecosystem. The startups and bootcampers coming together to help each other at this early stage of development. A big thanks to Fiona Delaney and Alejandro Gutierrez and all the participants, mentors and organisers of BI.Startups.Web3 A really well organised and coordinated program. We look forward to participating again in the future. #BlockchainIreland #Blockchain #Web3 #Mentorship #Innovation #COLONII #TechLeadership #BIStartUps #Abstrakta #Quartz #ABlockOfCrypto #CryptoCracker #HydroGenist

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TV and video games will ruin your eyes! (my parents have always warned me) Now, as a parent of two kids, I found ↳ that video games have surprising benefits. Research at the University of Limerick shows Video games enhance cognitive abilities like attention and memory. 🟢 Key findings about gamers: • Attention tasks: 12.7% faster. • Memory tasks: 17.4% quicker. • Task switching: Significant boost. Who knew gaming could be so beneficial? Let’s rethink our approach to screen time! Gamers! 👋 Have you noticed similar benefits with you or your kids?

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🚀 4 Days to Go! 🚀 To mark the final stretch to the Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards, here are our 4 essential tips for creating and maintaining a successful website—just a few of the insights that keep WebDevBuilders Ltd on track to deliver excellence for our clients: 1. Buy your domain name yourself Owning your domain is key to keeping control over your online identity! We recommend reliable providers like HostingIreland.ie for a smooth process. 2. Keep your website and domain name hosting separate Separating these gives you more flexibility and control if you need to change providers or troubleshoot. It can also boost security and reduce downtime. 3. Always have a website backup available A backup is your safety net. Websites can face issues from updates or attacks, so having a recent backup can save you time and headaches in a crisis. 4. Prioritize mobile responsiveness With over half of web traffic coming from mobile devices, ensuring your website looks and performs well on mobile is essential. This improves user experience, search engine rankings, and accessibility. These are just a few ways we help clients build strong, resilient websites. Stay tuned as we count down to the big day - 4 days to go! #WebDevelopment #DigitalSuccess #WebsiteTips #WebsiteDesign #SmallBusinessTips

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This is going to be massive.

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*Press Release*-Everfield, a long-term investor and growth accelerator for European B2B software companies, has partnered with Nvolve, a leading Irish provider of cloud-based employee enablement, skills, and training software, designed specifically for frontline workers. Nvolve’s platform enables frontline workers, typically warehouse and food production site staff, to record and digitally sign off training and compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) from the shop floor. This ensures compliance with audit requirements, customer contracts, and regulations. The partnership enables Nvolve to scale its team to continue to support its growing customer base across food & beverage, logistics, healthcare and manufacturing. "We are delighted to be partnering with Everfield," said Barry Harper, CEO at Nvolve. "Everfield's expertise in growing European software business is invaluable as we continue to enhance our products and services for our existing customers and reach new ones. We are confident that this partnership will help us to achieve our long-term goals." To read the release in full see here. https://hubs.ly/Q02WN6g00 #nvolve #frontlineworkers #investment #partnerships #employeeenablement #workplacetraining #SOP #compliance

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The Irish tech scene is starting to buzz again, but let's be honest—recruiting top talent these days feels like trying to find a needle in a stack of needles. 🔎 I've been chatting with a few folks in the industry, and here’s what I’m seeing: 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: If you're not offering remote options, you might as well be offering to pay in exposure. 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: The requirements of 5 years of experience in a 2-year-old technology are fading. Finally. 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐭: Because hiring that brilliant jerk isn’t worth the drama. If you’re finding it tough to stay ahead in the tech hiring game, don’t worry— you’re in good company.

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FUNDRAISING UPDATE - €3k target passed and now at €5k. Thanks to those who have given so generously to date and this is the final push before I head off in September. **Making a Difference Together: Support My Journey from Paris to Nice for the Irish Cancer Society 🚴‍♂️** Hi everyone, As many of you know I am on the final countdown for the Paris2Nice 2024 challenge, not just for personal achievement, but to support the amazing work of the Irish Cancer Society. This cause is deeply personal to me, and I’m determined to make a significant impact. **Why Your Support Matters** The funds we raise will go directly to the Irish Cancer Society’s essential services and research. Together, we can truly make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer. My goal was to raise €3,000 (we have already passed €5,000) and with your help, I know we can exceed this. **How You Can Help** **Donate:** If you’re able, please consider donating. No amount is too small, and every contribution gets us closer to our goal. Secure donations can be made through the ‘Donate’ button on my fundraising page: https://lnkd.in/eVZ9AZMr . **Spread the Word:** Share this post within your network. Awareness is powerful, and your share could be the key to reaching our fundraising target. **Engage:** Like, comment, and interact with this post. Your engagement boosts the visibility of this cause. I’m incredibly grateful for any support you can offer, whether it’s through donations, sharing this message, or simply sending words of encouragement. Thank you for considering supporting this cause. Together, we can achieve remarkable things. With gratitude, David #Paris2Nice2024 #IrishCancerSociety #CyclingForACause #Fundraising #CancerResearch #MakeADifference #SupportTheCause #CharityRide #EndCancer #TogetherWeCan #CommunitySupport #CyclingChallenge #DonateNow #SpreadAwareness #FightCancer

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This is very painful to hear https://lnkd.in/d3QVsWp6

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🎮 I had the opportunity to share insights about the thriving Portuguese game development industry with Marie Dealessandri from GamesIndustry.Biz 🇵🇹 In our interview, we delved into some of the recent achievements that have put Portugal on the right path to make waves in the game dev world: 1️⃣ Emergence of Indie Successes 2️⃣ Soft Landing support for large Studios 3️⃣ Highly qualified young talent 4️⃣ Game Studios C-levels moving to Portugal 5️⃣ Successful M&As followed by continuous growth However, undoubtedly, the backbone of this success is the supportive ecosystem and a passionate community that propels it forward! A heartfelt appreciation to all those who I had the pleasure of working with: AEPDV (Tiago Sousa ), aicep Portugal Global, Atlas Festival, devcom, DevGAMM, eGames Lab, Game Dev Lisbon, Game Dev Técnico, Indie X, Mobidictum, Nucleus of Computer Graphics and Multimedia, SPCV (Liliana Costa/João Jacob), Startup Madeira, Unicorn Factory Lisboa. 👏 The future of the Portuguese Game Development industry is promising, and we will keep growing it together! Let's keep the momentum going! 🚀 #PortugalGames #GamingIndustry #GameDev #IndustryInsights

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Here is my last post before i start my new gig and take a short break from posting. I'm doing this one separate from the others because these are paid services but they are inexpensive and were of the highest value in my job hunt. Meet Richard King and Robert Svilpa , your go-to experts for making your job search a little less painful. If you've been feeling frustrated by the lack of call backs, the issue might lie with your resume. What may have worked for me a decade ago no longer cuts it in today's competitive job market. Richard King and his team provide an incredibly affordable resume review service. For $30, you can benefit from a quick 15-minute review (and potentially a LinkedIn review if time permits). This isn't a scam; there are no hidden agendas to sell you additional services. You get genuine, straightforward feedback from your chosen expert to help boost your chances of landing those coveted call backs. Richard also occasionally offers a freebie through his GoFundMe initiative as funds allow. schedule a call: https://lnkd.in/gMWRw67N or donate to the go fund me: https://lnkd.in/g4-JpWz9 I've personally gotten to know Richard quite well, and I can attest to his genuine desire to assist as many individuals as possible. His heart of gold shines through as he navigates the complexities of the job market, offering invaluable advice. Truly, he was with me through every up and down of this job hunt and I'm so grateful to get to call him my friend. Enter Robert, a trusted friend of Richard. When I was struggling to find my voice during interviews, Robert swooped in to save the day. I had become so fixated on saying the "right" things that I unintentionally lost touch with my authentic self. Robert's insight reminded me that interviews should feel like casual conversations, where being genuine is key. His guidance helped me realign my approach and present myself as me because it turns out im pretty great as me. If you find yourself in a similar situation, seeking constructive feedback on interviews, Robert is your go-to resource for improvement. In addition to his expertise in interview coaching, Robert also provides resume reviews through the shared link above. For more about his services, visit his website at https://lnkd.in/g3zy2hAv. Plus, for music enthusiasts, don't miss out on his collection of unique guitars that he made! I highly recommend giving Richard and Robert a follow to access their valuable insights and support. Whether you're in need of resume refinements, interview strategies, or just a boost in your job search, these two experts and other friends have you covered!

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Excellent article summary posted by Paul Browne highlighting the contribution that Irish companies brought to developing the cloud and the 4 key benefits it brings to Ireland around cyber security, service resilance, ability to scale and innovate and accessibility to new technologies. My first thoughts are how can we leverage this to support The Digital for Care. A Digital Health Framework for Ireland. https://lnkd.in/esfanjFw. Something we need to explore.

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In the indie gaming space, scalability often takes a backseat to creative ambition. At Ego Experiments Studios Ltd. we’re challenging that mindset by building with scalability in mind from day one. Every architectural choice we make isn’t just about our current project, it’s about future-proofing for sustainable growth and impact. We’re excited to refine this approach as we develop games that are not only innovative but also built to last. For those who have experience balancing creativity with scalable growth, especially in high-innovation fields, any advice on maintaining that balance in the early stages? #GameDev #Scalability #IndieGames #EgoExperimentsStudios #LongTermVision

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🍀 Emerald Isle's Untapped Potential: Ireland's Game Dev Dream Deferred 🍀 In a world where tech hubs sprout like mushrooms, Ireland stands poised on the brink of gaming greatness. With its rich storytelling heritage, tech-savvy workforce, and strategic location, the Emerald Isle seems destined to be the next big player in the global game development scene. Yet, despite all the right ingredients, Ireland's gaming industry remains a hidden gem, struggling to shine on the world stage. 🎮 Ireland boasts a thriving tech ecosystem, home to giants like Microsoft and Google, yet its game dev potential remains largely untapped. 🌍 While countries from Australia to Serbia showcase their gaming talent at major events like Gamescom, Ireland's absence on the show floor speaks volumes. 💼 The lack of dedicated Irish booth space at international gaming expos forces developers to get creative, sometimes resorting to showcasing their work at other countries' stands. 💰 A Digital Gaming Tax Credit introduced in 2022 shows promise, but its restrictive nature and slow adaptation to industry needs hinder its effectiveness. 🌱 Despite challenges, Ireland's indie game scene is flourishing, with studios like Enigma and Dreamfeel creating critically acclaimed titles and fostering a sense of community among developers. #Balatro #IndieGameSuccess #CanadianGaming #PokerInspiredGame #GameAwards2024 #LocalThunk #GamingCommunity #DeckBuilder #WordOfMouthMarketing #IndieGameDev

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Website Launch for TBB Gym Limerick Designed for performance, growth and ease of use. Here's what we delivered: - Bespoke Development: No templates, fully tailored to their business - Mobile First Design: Over 50% of traffic coming from mobile users, mobile first is a non-negotiable - SEO Optimised: We conducted keyword research to initially target low hanging fruit and are now continuing to climb for the broader search terms to get them top ranked on Google - Performance Optimised: Load speed is important; for every extra second of load time conversion can drop by up to 20% - User Friendly: A website designed for the end user, with a clear goal in mind - conversion If you're looking to level up your online presence and you don't know where to start shoot me a message and lets chat.

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Notable: Wolfire & Dark Catt's antitrust suit against Steam has been certified as a 'class action', with 'all Steam devs who got paid out since 2017' now part of the eligible group suing over 'forced content & price parity' and the 30% price cut on the platform: https://lnkd.in/gxYUide8 (Doesn't mean the lawsuit succeeded, but it's an important milestone.)

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Lots of interesting info in this survey for people in the industry at every level. How does your pay compare? Which areas are struggling/thriving? Do take a look, there's some useful insights in there :)

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