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Teebik Games, a leading mobile platform and games publisher, is today thrilled to reveal Burning Blade – an exhilarating hack-n-slash MMORPG for mobile coming to Google Play in North America, Europe and Australia this August.

Burning Blade is a free-to-play 3D hack-n-slash multiplayer online RPG inspired by the high intensity combat and gameplay of 'Diablo' and 'Dragon Nest'. Brought to life by the powerful Unity 3D Engine, players are taken on an epic adventure packed with detailed characters, lively interactive environments and stunning state-of-art special effects.

Inspired by ancient Greek mythology, Burning Blade casts players as humanity's heroes during a dangerous battle between the gods of the heavens and the underworld. As the fate of humanity hangs in the balance, players must team up and use real-time combat skills to slay legendary devils, lay waste to massive monsters and topple enormous titans, before the human race is doomed to extinction.

Burning Blade lets players seamlessly hack-and-slash their way from one thrilling battle to the next as one of four character classes: Berserker, Assassin, Archer, or Warlock.

Berserkers are natural born fighting machines, and the undisputed meat mincers of the battlefield. Packing bulky armour and massive weapons, Berserkers are a well rounded combination of top-notch defence and powerful attacks.

Assassins are killers without a trace - or remorse! Their love of sharp objects and quick, silent movements means they can cut enemies to ribbons before they know what's hit them. What they lack in defence, Assassin's make up for in unparalleled attacking speed.

Archer are gifted archers with unmatched aiming skills. Their range is so impressive that they can fire arrows at enemies before they're even in sight. With the power of magic imbued in their special projectiles, enemies can run from a Archer but they can't hide.

Warlocks are capable of gathering impressive power from the cosmic stars and unleash it to devastating effect. Their impressive range of skills and infinite magic make them the most varied destroyers on the battlefield, and their love of wands and taunting dances make them the most fun to watch!

Each class is capable of unleashing continuous combos to crush their enemies, scoring more points the longer a flow is maintained. As fights are won and Burning Blade's easy to follow quests are completed, players will unlock new items for their inventory, level up their character, learn new skills and unlock challenging battle dungeons for extra on-the-go action.

Burning Blade players can also face off against each other in tense 3V3 PVP arenas, where players must use a mixture of their best skills and equipment to succeed. With thousands of items to collect in-game and a balanced, varied upgrade system, the action in Burning Blade is always unique – and always exciting!

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Players eager for some free-to-play, on-the-go MMORPG action with friends can download Burning Blade from Google Play: http://goo.gl/dIU6C8Or scan QR code:

Follow Teebik Games on Facebook for updates on Burning Blade: http://bit.ly/1rA8r1f

About Teebik Games

As a business unit of Avazu Holding, Teebik Games was established to become a world leading platform for mobile game publishing and operation.

Teebik Games provides global mobile game developers with a professional platform and customized publishing services, and is dedicated to providing global game developers with comprehensive and integrated services, including game quality assessment, market analysis, global publishing, localized support services, and professional technical supports.

With its rich experience, prospective vision, and cross-border targeting, Teebik Games is creating considerable value for its growing list of international partners.

A new website promoting the city of White Plains, New York has been launched. Whiteplainsny.org features listings for business, real estate, jobs and entertainment, as well as an online classified advertising platform which allows members to upload and customize their ads.

“White Plains is a haven for businesses such as ITT, Nokia, Heineken, and AT&T, but many do not know that the city also offers a number of fine art experiences. The website brings all this information together in one place so that visitors and residents can easily find information on where to do business, as well as when is the next orchestral performance,” said a website spokesman.

Visitors to the White Plains NY website will find a wide range of information from where to adopt a pet to upcoming social events, in addition to information on sales and coupons from area stores.The classified section includes real estate, automotive, pet listings, and general classifieds, allowing users to advertise a garage sale, sell a car, or search for a babysitter. They can also search for local jobs under the employment tab, or browse upcoming events in the White Plains area.

By signing up as a member,business owners and residents are able to upload and personalize advertising for the business, services, or events in the classified listing.Advertisers have the option to include a full banner ad, slide show, or even coupons with their ads. The listing can be edited at any time by signing into the member account.

About Whiteplainsny.org

Whiteplainsny.org was recently launched to provide an extensive online directory for residents and visitors to the city of White Plains, New York. The website contains an extensive directory of news, events, and business listings to make it easier for residents and visitors to navigate the city.

Media Contact:
Jason Gadak - Website Admin
Main & Broad Pkwy
White Plains, NY 10601
914-968-4813
info@whiteplainsny.org
http://www.whiteplainsny.org

Hurst, TX, 3 April 2014 -- Taking party decor up several extraordinary notches a company based in Hurst, Texas called Designer Centerpieces gives clients an affordable way to make a statement. Providing the utmost in convenience the company rents ostrich feather centerpieces in a large selection of colors which can then be shipped by FedEx anywhere in the nation. With a Do-It-Yourself approach, clients receive everything necessary to arrange each centerpiece in vases covered by color coordinated spandex for a look that’s unmatched this side of a Hollywood set.

Michael Thomas, Owner of Designer Centerpieces said of the service, “We’ve shipped our centerpieces to several parties in Hollywood and Las Vegas as well as to U.S. Congress events. Ostrich feathers for weddings and Sweet 16 parties are both gorgeous and trendy. Event planners are always in the market for centerpiece ideas. From elegant weddings to neon birthday parties and everything in between we’re happy to say, we’ve got ostrich feathers to rent.”

Designer Centerpieces’ large male plume ostrich feathers are the highest quality and stand 22 to 26 inches in height. While very expensive if purchased, the DIY ostrich feather rental alternative can be used for six centerpieces or hundreds if the occasion calls. Centerpiece rentals span the gamut from 36 inch spandex covered vases with 21 ostrich feathers to Mini Towers that contain 90 feathers. At 8 to 13 feet tall, with 110 colorful ostrich feathers, Floor Towers are available as well. Topping the impressive party decor offerings is the Feather Chandelier composed of 72 feet of Chandelle feather boas. Also available are modern centerpieces called Nebulas and Spandex Lamp Shades either with or without hanging crystals. Keeping customer service top of mind Designer Centerpieces can perform full-service setups as well.

Thomas adds, “We make impressive entertaining affordable. Thankfully the feather centerpieces aren’t labor intensive to put together. They can be assembled in a just a few minutes without tools or special skills. We’ve thought of everything here.”

About Designer Centerpieces:

Designer Centerpieces was founded in 2011 by Michael Thomas. Based in Hurst, Texas the company provides clients nationwide with rental Do-It-Yourself centerpieces composed of male plume ostrich feathers. Available for shipment in myriad of colors the centerpiece rentals also include vases with color coordinated spandex coverings and light boxes. The Designer Centerpieces service is also available for personal installation as well.

For more information visit http://www.designercenterpieces.com.

Media Contact:
Michael Thomas (Owner)
682-626-5187
info@DesignerCenterpieces.com

Transcriptor is a free online tool which makes transcription of audio/video files easy. It contains a text editor and an audio player in a unified interface which makes it easy to switch back and forth between the two.

Herndon, VA -- Scribie.com, an audio and video transcription service, is proud to announce the launch of their new tool, Transcriptor, for audio/video transcription. This free tool lets anyone transcribe a file.

“We've used Transcriptor internally and have also provided it to our customers, who use it to check their files before downloading. The feedback has been very positive which made us think about launching it for everyone. Now we're thrilled to share it with everyone,” says Rajiv, our Chief Technical Architect. “We've packed it with advanced features unlike others, so you can save both time and effort during transcription."

Transcriptor is a combination of audio player and text editor both presented in a unified interface. Completely designed for those who need to transcribe hours of files easily, the tool is applicable to any user's need for audio/video transcription. Among Transcriptor's features are a full text editor; keyboard shortcuts; auto-correct; auto-capitalization; auto-save; Microsoft Word conversion, and more. The tool works with a wide variety of audio and video formats such as mp3, wav, m4a, ogg, wmv, avi, mp4 and more, making it handy for those in focus group transcription or academic transcription. All in all this tool helps deliver quality transcripts in record time.

The interface is easy to use, with a simple “drag and drop” system and fast uploading. Transcriptor also works with imported videos from YouTube, online links, and the file storage service Dropbox.

In developing the tool, Scribie examined all the common problems transcribers face when working on important files like interview transcription. We added the ability to amplify sound, slow down payback, dictate and more, with some features only available in Google Chrome.

For users who don't have time for audio transcription, Scribie.com also offers orders of transcription for $1.50/minute with 1 day turnaround and 98% accuracy. The company has worked with LexisNexis, PitneyBowes, and multiple prestigious academic institutions. With this Transcription Tool, now anyone can have an accurate and professional transcription of any audio or visual content.

The tool is available at the following link https://scribie.com/transcription/editor

Media Contact:
Rajiv Poddar
rajiv@scribie.com
703 672 0242

Sherman, TX, 23 July 2014 -- Site Location Partnership (SLP), a Dallas-based consulting firm specializing in corporate location strategy and economic development, announced that Direct Connect, a startup teleservices company, will establish it first call center facility in Sherman, Texas. The 17,000 square foot state-of-the-art call center will generate 150 new jobs over the next twelve months.

Direct Connect will market credit card processing services to businesses across the country, with the first calls due to be made by the company’s new workforce next month. Initial staff will include statement analysts, lead generators, appointment setters, inside sales, outside sales, and related positions. Average pay is expected to start at $13 per hour plus bonuses.

“We are pleased to bring Direct Connect to Sherman, Texas,” said Tim Lund, CEO of Direct Connect. “Our innovative products and services will set us apart in the industry and we know Sherman can help us reach our goals. The experienced workforce and the support from Sherman Economic Development Corporation were critical to our decision to choose Sherman.”

To assist Direct Connect in facilitating the project, Sherman Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) approved job creation incentives in the amount of $300,000. Direct Connect will utilize the funds to spur its initial growth phase. $200,000 will be paid upon demonstrated hiring of the first 100 employees, with the remaining balance paid in January.

“Direct Connect builds on the growing business process operation (BPO) industry in the Sherman-Denison area,” said Chris Pendergrass, chairman of Sherman Economic Development Corporation. “SEDCO is pleased to support Direct Connect and look forward to the jobs coming to our community.”

For more information on the Sherman Economic Development Corporation, visit http://www.sedco.org

For more information on Site Location Partnership, visit http://www.sitelocationpartnership.com

About Sherman Economic Development Corporation
Sherman Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) is the economic development organization for the City of Sherman supported by a local sales tax. Sherman is a growing city of 40,000 in the Sherman/Denison MSA about 40 miles north of Dallas, Texas. SEDCO is focused on growing the local economy through marketing, incentive programs, real estate development, and corporate customer service. Since 2011, SEDCO has attracted 825 jobs and over $795 million to the community.

About Site Location Partnership
Site Location Partnership (SLP) is a multi-disciplined advisory firm that enables the growth of businesses, communities and economies through its two primary consulting areas – corporate site selection and economic development. SLP’s Corporate Location Practice helps companies from industrial and commercial sectors select the optimal location for expansion, relocation or consolidation of business facilities. SLP’s Economic Development Practice assists various organizations in implementing business attraction strategies for new corporate investment, job creation and economic growth.

Media Contact:
Jessica Eanes
Public Relations
Site Location Partnership
Phone: 972-874-7483
info@sitelocationpartnership.com
http://www.sitelocationpartnership.com

Interactive and participatory learning activities At SIM Global Education campus, (from left), Mai from Vietnam, Shana from India, and Ethan Lim and Eddie Leow from, Singapore, writing and editing articles on Economics

TERTIARY students today will not simply sit in class and listen to someone on stage, talking down to them. They want to be connected to the speaker making the lesson, presentation.

Learning is no longer a one-way street, but a bi-directional engagement between the, teacher and the taught. And those in the education profession are sitting up to take note, of this change in attitude among the students, described as Generation Y or Millennial, Learners by Dr Christy Price, Professor of Psychology at Dalton State College in the, US.

Dr Price was in Singapore in October 2013 as keynote speaker at SIM Global, Education’s Annual Education Conference, where she shared her research on, Engaging Millennial Learners (usually defined as students aged 18 to 28 years old).

High expectations, little effort

They are indeed a “new breed of students” who have an unrealistically high expectations of success combined with an astonishingly low level of effort on their part, she notes.

To find out more of their learning traits, Dr Price conducted a survey among her own students, asking them to respond to the following questions: (1) What did you do to prepare for the exam? (2) Considering what you did to prepare for the exam, what grade did you expect to earn? (3) What will you do differently in preparing for the next exam? (4) Is there anything I can do to assist you in preparing for the next exam?

She found that in response to the first question, students offered up surprisingly candid responses. For example, they replied, “I read parts of the chapter” and “I looked over my notes the night before and reviewed during my class that meets right before”.

Other responses were: “I looked over my notes in the car before coming to class”, and “I’m going to do much better next time, now that I bought the book”. For the last response, Dr Price notes that this student sat through three weeks of class and took the first exam without purchasing the required text!

“The most astonishing part of all of this was when these students were asked what grade they expected to earn, they confidently listed an A or a B,” she says. There clearly is a gap between students’ level of effort and their expectation of success.

Demanding educational consumers

Dr Price quoted the book Generation Me (2006) in which author Jean Twenge described Generation Y as the first generation to be fully raised in the aftermath of the technological revolution in which information has been readily available to them with the click of a mouse. This environment has driven them to be demanding educational consumers with no tolerance for delay.

In addition, Twenge found that Generation Y youth are more likely to seek wealth as opposed to meaning and purpose in life; therefore, they typically view their college education as a means to an end. For these reasons, Generation Y Millennials often fail to see the value of a liberal arts education.

Finally, this generation finds social rules less important and they have become very informal in their writing, speaking, dress, and interactions with authority figures.

“Whether we like it or not, the Millennial learner is the new generation of student that we must influence, inspire, and serve,” Dr Price says. She lists six key principles of service excellence for education providers, with the goal of creating a transformative experience for learners.

Six R’s of Excellence

1. Resonate with students, leading them on the hero’s journey, and helping them to overcome obstacles. Learning is a call to adventure. The student answers the call and begins the journey, taking on the role of hero. He or she encounters road blocks and becomes discouraged. A mentor comes along to guide and encourage and help the hero overcome the road blocks.

2. Create a Relaxed, non-authoritarian environment for students. Millennials thrive in a less formal, more comfortable learning environment in which they can informally interact with the professor and one another.

Dr Price says in her survey, student respondents perceived professors who listened, related, and talked to students about their lives, as connected to Millennial culture and perceived those professors who were unattached or solely focused on course content as not connected to Millennial culture.

3. Provide Rationales to students in the policies and rules of the institution. Unlike the older Baby Boomer generation who were raised in a more authoritarian manner in which they more readily accept the chain of command, Millennials were raised in a non-authoritarian manner and are more likely to conform, comply, and adhere to course policies when they are provided with a rationale.

Giving them a rationale goes a long way to motivate them to follow the rules. Avoid authoritarian language, such as “I require”, “you must”, “you should”. In general, Millennials seem to strongly resist authoritarian power structure.

4.Establish Rapport and be responsive to students’ needs. Millennials are used to having parents and other older adults in their lives show great interest in them. They appreciate it when professors show that same interest, and they seem to be more willing to pursue learning outcomes when educators connect with them on a personal level.

5. Offer the most Relevant services to best meet the needs of the students. “Our role as teachers have changed,” says Dr Price. “We’re no longer mere information providers; we have to create relevance and value in our teaching.”

6. Engage in Reflective practice regularly.

The ideal professor

Dr Price’s survey reveals what students felt that an ideal professor should be:

1. Energetic, enthusiastic and upbeat, with a positive attitude.
2. Open-minded and flexible, particularly in assignments and course policy.
3. Alert as to whether students understand the lesson contents.
4. Nice, friendly, caring and helpful.
5. Approachable and easy to talk to. This is the No.1 characteristic of the Millennials’ ideal professor, says Dr Price.
“They seem to care more about who we are and how we interact with them, than they care about what we know,” says Dr Price.

Ideal learning environment

Millennials also painted a picture of what an ideal learning environment would be like:

1. Students know one another and work together in groups. This finding is consistent with Millennials’ team orientation, interdependence and desire for connection.
2. Learning is relaxed, enjoyable, and fun.
3. Multi-media is used, including podcasts, on-line activities, video, PowerPoint presentations, and so on.
4. Real-world examples that are relevant to the students’ culture, are used.
5. Teaching is interactive and participatory, and a variety of teaching methods are employed, as opposed to a lecture only” format.
“If you lecture all throughout the time then we get bored. If you are constantly changing from lecture, to discussion, to group work, that helps a lot. It helps keep us awake and we learn more. Stuff gets into our head better,” was one of the responses.

Veteran teacher

Dr Christy Price, Professor of Psychology at Dalton State College, has been teaching at the college level for 17 years. Dr Price has studied teaching techniques that influence student motivation. Her recent research focuses on engaging Millennial learners. Picture: Dr Price receives a token of appreciation from Adjunct Professor KC Lee, CEO of SIM Global Education, for her keynote speech at SIM in October 2013

Excerpt from SIM GE’s VIBES magazine, February / March 2014