Today was the earliest start we have had so far, a staggering 8:30 departure for our site visit at Wargaming. For those who are unfamiliar with the virtual world, Wargaming is a company founded in 1998 that develops many different PC, Mobile, and Console war-like video games. Their company has 3 buildings in Cyprus, 500+ employees, and prioritizes harmony within the workplace by offering employees gym/spa services, little to no dress code, and opportunities for remote work. Additionally, Wargaming has an intense approach for dual distribution within their supply chain management. To optimize the most consumer reach, Wargaming has implemented a digital distribution strategy which allows their users to quickly access their free games through Google Play, Apple Store, and many more places for mobile/computer downloads. In total, they are on 12+ platforms and storefronts in about 200 territories worldwide. They also have an extensive marketing strategy focusing on localization and partnerships to generate more interest from their target market. One partnership from their presentation that stood out to me, which was their Korn campaign featuring the band members in World of Tanks : Blitz. With their industry setup, it was interesting to learn how their supply chain management affects almost everything from revenue to downloads within their company.
The second half of the day resulted in traveling an hour to Kakopetria Village to eat for lunch and learn about their intricate town. While on the way to the Inn for lunch, I was able to take in the beautiful stone paths and quaint buildings. Each building I observed had mostly a stone base with unique woodwork and vegetation. It reminded me more of a town from a fairytale than real life. Another observation that stood out to me was this HUGE rock on the side of our path. After listening to our tour guide, she explained it was called “Kakos Lithos” which was a rock with rich history about folklore. The legend has it that a newlywed couple walked past the rock, watched it roll down and almost crush them. Luckily, the rock missed them completely, and everyone assumed the boulder would’ve crushed anybody in a “doomed” relationship. After lunch, we travelled throughout the rest of the village to a local coffee shop, where we all tried different drinks. On the way there, we noticed there was a limited amount of shops and restaurants being open, and that there were little to no people besides tourists. Our barista told us that our observation was correct, and that there weren’t many things open on Wednesday because it is the “Family Day” for them. She even told us that her restaurant had a half day today! Once we left the village, we explored St. Nicholas of the Roof Church. You aren’t allowed to take any pictures, so I will have to describe what I saw to you. When you walk in, you are bombarded with pictures regarding the beliefs of the Greek Orthodox Church. One depiction that stood out was the interpretation of Jesus being crucified on the ceiling, which is quite different that what other religions believe. Overall, I enjoyed my time at Kakopetria Village and St. Nicholas of the Roof Church!
