Micromanagement

"Micro your units please!"

"Don't just stand there!"

"Noob..."

Yes... I was in limbo once again. It took me a while to find out how I died.

When I was busy earning experience at the middle lane, I have sent my other self to the shop to buy something. I have completely forgotten that and Meepo2 was left standing at the shop waiting to get killed. And he did get killed... that's why I am here again. 

It was already so difficult to concentrate on killing minions for money and experience and at the same time I still have to tell Meepo2 what to do?

This is almost unfair, why is my ability so special? Almost everyone else has only themselves to worry about while I have multiple selves. 

But I knew I had to learn, I knew I have to get a hold of myself. My team was depending on me.

Then suddenly I recalled a good friend of mine, who specialises in combating with more than 1 unit. His name was Sylla, the lone druid. 

"Sylla of the bear clan!"

Sylla was not around but I was really eager to learn some tricks from him. Therefore, I took out my mobile phone and downloaded some replays of Sylla in action and analysed his movements and "micro skills" (Micro in gaming terms means controlling more than 1 unit). 

I found out that this method of learning is by far the most effective way for me. It is even better than Sylla being around for me. This is because, when he is here to teach me, I can only learn as long as he stays. On top of that, he may even forget important information at that moment. However, if i study his skills online, I not only can do it as and when I want, I can always go back to check when I am unsure. 

Traditional learning in my opinion has been taken over by online learning, or Internet learning. 

I have a feeling that in the future, there will not be any DotA classrooms anymore, the future classroom will look exactly like my room. This is because it IS going to be my room. Everyone can study in the comfort of their rooms and be as efficient if not more efficient than any classroom. 

As the respawn timer began to run out, my determination for destruction grew.

Time for a show down.

MEEPAWN

*Spoiler alert* I am breaking character in this post about e-commerce

Being successful in e-commerce 

My name is Alejandro

No DotA references this week

As you know by now, I am fulfilling the requirement to write blog posts about things which I have learnt in class. To spice things up, I mixed it with my favourite game - DotA 2. Of course the main character in my story is nonetheless my favourite hero, Meepo. 

However, for this week's topic, it is impossible to add in any of the DotA references. I am sorry, I am not as creative as some may think I am. 

If you have any suggestion of how I can turn this post into a DotA post, please teach me, comment or something. I may add you as a friend and we can play online together. I am not a bad teammates +)

Soooooooooooo, here goes! Welcome to Alejandro's list of 5 e-commerce trends in 2014!

1) BIGGG DATA, MOREEEEE

Big data has been around for a while now. However, it seems like most e-commerce companies are still not tapping into it's full potential! Tapping into big data's full potential will allow companies to make better decisions. An intuition or an idea is just an intuition or an idea at the end of the day, as the data will reveal the truth.

2) Subscription services

Subscription models opens up opportunities for better reoccurring revenue and also allows for companies to foster more personal, and deeper relationships with their customers which is great to improve brand loyalty. 

3) More personalised shopping experience

With the huge amount of data that companies are getting from costumers online nowadays, companies are able to customise the shopping for the consumers. This has not only increased sales but also improve the shopping experience for many.

4) Support on all devices

The importance of a device-friendly platform cannot be further emphasised. A service not available on Android devices, is the same as losing a portion of the market right from the start. It is like calling quit before it even starts. Imagine that. 

5) Transparency

There is a sea of e-commerce sites out there who are looking to succeed. Users have so many choices and so many alternatives. This means that competition has also increased. Hence, users are demanding more transiency from the companies in order to build trust and liking. Without this element of transparency, users can simple type in a google search and look for an alternative. 

There you go!

See you soon~~

You can't run from heaven!

"Don't take it badly if I look down on you, from when I sit, you all look like tiny insects"

The global power is unstoppable 

"If I own the world, do you expect to hide from me?"

Zues - The owner of Thunder

If you don't know by now, when a DotA hero dies, they are transported to limbo for  period of time before they respawn back into the map. 

As I was completely destroyed by Crystal Maiden, that's why I am here in Limbo, reading this DotA magazine, featuring Zeus.

Zues is famous for his ability to control thunder; he is able to strike everyone, no matter why you are with his powerful thunder. 

Back in the days, there were a few major players that have access to thunder. Medusa and razor used to be able to control the power of thunder. 

Razor

Medusa

It was until Zeus decided to monopolise thunder. 

He discovered a way to make use of a device called the Observer ward to observe what people are doing with thunder, the market for thunder and the companies that supply it. This observer ward allows Zeus to have a clear vision of the industry of thunder.

Zeus knew exactly who to look for and who he can work with in order to expand his power of thunder.

Some say that these observer wards are spying tools, but in fact, it is out there for everyone to use. However, too many have overlooked the importance of Observer wards. 

With that knowledge, Zeus was able to come out with more powerful thunder before Medusa and Razor could, rendering their thunder useless. 

In another world, these observer wards are more popularly known as social networking. It serves the same purpose, it allows people to go online to study what is happening around the world and most importantly, understand the market. 

For example, Mark Zuckerberg saw on opening in the social media site industry, as more people are adapting the use of Internet and communication through. Therefore, he created Facebook and now, he is the founder of the most used social media site in the world. 

Zues saw the opening for a powerful thunder item and went on to develop the maelstrom which later became the almighty Mjolnir. This invention put thunder users to shame; hence, they drop thunder from their skill tree, allowing Zeus to be the sole owner of thunder. 

In this interview with the DotA team, Zeus mentioned the most important values of succeeding in the world:

1) Always buy wards to know your market, know your competitors and know your openings.

2) Know where and when to put your wards, having wards in the wrong places is the same as not having any.

3) Interact with the market in order to cater to their needs.

Oh... I guess I got to go! 

Respawning in 3...2...

"Meepo the genomancer"

To be continued...

Middle is missing

"Invoker is missing"

Does it matter?

Is it just a way to blame someone for your lack of attention?

There is something called the mini map. It is where every member of the team can see what is going on in the map. Technically, if anyone is missing from their lanes, we could all tell, if we are paying attention. 

Of course, it would be best if your teammate at that lane would tell you that someone is missing since he would know best. However, does it really matter if he doesn't? 

Ya, so Invoker killed my teammate, but on the bright side, I am finally get more free space to earn experience! It is not like my teammate won't respawn... 

But... What if I actually called "missing middle"? Bane would have known about the danger that might be coming and he would have hidden behind our combat towers, rendering Invoker's surprise ambush useless and on top of that, I would still have gotten free space to earn experience!

Oh my... What have I done... 

Communication is oh so important. If only I said the three simple words, things would have gone different. My teammates would have thanked me instead of thrashing me. We would have greater trust for each other, or even build a stronger bond...

"I am sorry, Bane, I should have reported missing"

I responded with an apology. 

YEAH RIGHT. NOBODY EVER APOLOGISES IN AN ONLINE GAME!

As I continued to earn valuable experience at middle lane, I heard a faint sound approaching me. 

A pink coloured missile-like ball of vengeance flew right into my face.

Suddenly, I saw stars, I couldn't move, I was so dazed I forgot my own name.

"Magic missile"

 -Vengeful Spirit 

Before I could regain my consciousness, I saw a thick layer of ice forming from my feet up to my neck, it was so cold and I could not move an inch. It felt like frost bite but only a thousand times worst. Right next to Vengeful Spirit was Crystal Maiden, the girl of my dreams... but also my worst enemy... 

Within seconds, I was destroyed. 

I was furious as to why did nobody report missing from top and bottom lane!

The irony..

Then I looked at the chat and I saw....

"Top is missing!"

"Bottom is missing!" (posted 2mins ago)

... I am such a noob...

To be continued...

The middle lane - The history of the ancient.

The place you wouldn't want to be

The weight of the world lies in your hand.

Although you are alone, people will be screaming in your face.

Time to make history

All knowledge and intelligence start from one place - the brain as we know it. However, I would rather call it the fountain of knowledge. This is a place where you have to continuously revisit in order to find what is most valuable to you. However, staying in the fountain is useless, as you need to go out into the world to gather knowledge.

We are all born in the fountain of knowledge, and in my world, 10 people can appear at a time, 5 friends and 5 foes. This was never possible, at least not before the invention of the Internet, which allowed these 10 people to be connected globally. 

I am sure you have been to Orchard road, Arab street, or Chinatown. But may I ask you, "Have you been to the middle lane?" 

Have you ever felt so important the weight of the world rests on your shoulders?

I walked down the middle lane, the air was cold, but my heart was fiery. Determined to combat whoever I am going to meet when I reach the river. I had all my plans and strategies mapped out inside my head, I was confident that I was going to earn more experience than my enemy.

I was wrong. 

While I use a spade to attack, my enemy was able to shoot orbs at me. I could not get closed to him or his minions. My minions vanished in split seconds. The whole time, I was waiting for my back up minions to arrive while staying far behind to watch them fall and my enemy killing them to earn combat experience. 

Although I could learn from watching him fight, it can never be replaced to the amount one can learn during combat. 

Hence, I had to painfully watch his head glow, indicating an increase in level, while mine will only glow much later. I was helpless.

I can still remember vividly that his eyes were white and his always had three flying orbs floating around him. Hmm... What was his name...

"Glorious invocation!"

Suddenly, he disappeared, for whatever reason, the middle lane was left to me and me alone. I took this opportunity to step forward and started killing his minions, earning both experience and money. I was finally growing, but...

"Ahhh.. First blood, as indeed I am first in everything!"

Yes... my enemy has traveled to another lane and surprised my teammates, killing them with ease. 

"Middle missing never report?!"

"What on earth is our middle lane doing"

"**** you, useless middle"

"People middle level 6, you middle level 3, well played"

"$#$@$^%$&^%#"

and so on...

My teammates have gone rampage on me not telling them that the Invoker was missing. Ahh... His name was Invoker. 

Right at this point, I hit level 3. As you may have heard by now, when I reach level 3, I duplicate. 

It's time for some fun.

My name is Meepo. 

To be continued...