Welcome to blog #3 of my Cyprus endeavors! First up for today’s agenda was a visit to War Gaming, the video game company that developed the World of Tanks game and other similar titles. During this visit, I learned how similar the business concepts for the game development industry are to those of other consumer goods companies like Vassos Eliades. I also heard about the efforts necessary to maintain an online free-to-play video game. Both types of companies have to pay attention to their consumer demographic. Where the game developers need to ensure player satisfaction with updates catered to their desires, the consumer goods industries must have a rolling forecast for their stock to ensure they can keep up with consumer demands. This means both industries regularly keep in touch with their user base/ customers so they can focus their time and money on beneficial projects.

The second part of our day was spent exploring the Kakopetria Village and St. Nicolas of the Roof Church. Starting with the village, we walked around for a bit, learning about its history and different stories. The village was very hidden within the trees and the mountain; it felt as if it were untouched and protected from modernization. All the houses were close together and were surrounded by many little passages, nooks, and crannies, which made the atmosphere feel more intimate. The background noise was very serene; I could hear the birds, along with the rush of the little creeks, and the villagers conversing. We also visited St. Nicolas of the Roof Church where we learned about its frescoes, or painted plaster, covering the wall and ceiling. They were originally from the 11th century, but were updated in the 12th and finally the 17th centuries. The frescoes depicted different stories from the Bible, ranging from the birth of Jesus to his resurrection. It also depicted the day of judgement, where angels were painted guiding people to Heaven and Hell. Overall 10/10, absolutely gorgeous, highly recommend!