Harbor has added Tia Perkins as head of production, advertising. Her work ranges from large-scale international productions, such as the CG “Chantix Turkey,” to live-action and interactive campaigns for brands like HP, Gatorade, and M&Ms. Among other major brands Perkins has connected with are Estee Lauder, Jack Daniels, Nissan, American Express and Lululemon.
Prior to joining Harbor, Perkins had tenures at The Mill and Carbon. In her two years as head of production at Carbon, she oversaw successful campaigns for Xfinity, Verizon, Sweet Tarts, and Clermont Whiskey. She also liaised with ECD and heads of department on resource management, internal workflow, client pitches, and job oversights. As for her 12 years at the Mill, Perkins partnered with top-tier brands and industry luminaries. As sr. content producer for Mill+, she played a pivotal role in establishing the content studio’s in-house directorial offering.
Her commitment to workplace inclusivity led her to create the “What’s Next” Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion group, providing a platform for BIPOC voices and fostering a sense of belonging within the workplace. Throughout her career, she has been a dedicated mentor, spearheading internship programs and nurturing emerging talent in the industry.
On her new role at Harbor, Perkins stated, “I’ve been seeking to join a place that is making waves in advertising. The more I heard the name Harbor, the more curious I became to see if this was the place I could call home. Harbor not only has premium talent, but they share a common vision/goal that everyone is working towards. It makes you want to be here and be a part of it. “
Tony Robins, Harbor’s managing director, advertising, added, “I am excited that Tia is joining as our head of production, bringing her skill and experience to lead our production team, guiding them to place a high premium on the clients’ experience.”
Looking To Make Video Games More Immersive, Some Studios Turn To AI For Increased Interaction
For decades, video games have relied on scripted, stilted interactions with non-player characters (NPCs) to help shepherd gamers in their journeys. But as artificial intelligence technology improves, game studios are experimenting with generative AI to help build environments, assist game writers in crafting NPC dialogue and lend video games the improvisational spontaneity once reserved for table-top role-playing games.
In the multiplayer game "Retail Mage," players help run a magical furniture store and assist customers in hopes of earning a five-star review. As a salesperson — and wizard — they can pick up and examine items or tell the system what they'd like to do with a product, such as deconstruct chairs for parts or tear a page from a book to write a note to a shopper.
A player's interactions with the shop and NPCs around them — from gameplay mechanics to content and dialogue creation — are fueled by AI rather than a predetermined script to create more options for chatting and using objects in the shop.
"We believe generative AI can unlock a new kind of gameplay where the world is more responsive and more able to meet players at their creativity and the things that they come up with and the stories they want to tell inside a fantasy setting that we create for them," said Michael Yichao, cofounder of Jam & Tea Studios, which created "Retail Mage."
The typical NPC experience often leaves something to be desired. Pre-scripted interactions with someone meant to pass along a quest typically come with a handful of chatting options that lead to the same conclusion: players get the information they need and continue on. Game developers and AI companies say that by using generative AI tech, they aim to create a richer... Read More