Posted by: Ollie in Online Social Networking, Cool Communication Tools, Collaboration on Aug 01, 2008
On the British Computer Society "Count Pixel Game Blog" today http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=ConBlogEntry.574 it mentions how Microsoft is redesigning the XBox360 to play catch-up with the run-away success of the Nintendo Wii. And just what has been so successful that they are having to enhance the 360 with? - the interactivity, the designing of your own avatar Mii's which has appealed to the online community of "gamers" who have transcended any specific generational demographic.
I love this story of the success of the Nintendo Wii, (must be something about being British and always supporting the under-dog). During development of this next generation of consoles, the computing press were extoiling the virtues of the next super-power-house graphics and processing chips being installed in the Sony Playstation and the XBox, Ninetendo was being written off as a has-been, their GameCube hardly seemed in the same league as the all-conquering Playstation 2 and Xbox. But Nintendo was first and foremost a company that made games, and not a behemoth that had its finger in many pies.
So when this underpowered (by comparison), little white box with a funny infra-red control system hit the markets, without Hi-Definition disk, with low resolution graphics, it was effectively dismissed by the competition, until it was realised that it was outselling them at least 5 to 1 at some stages, and there are STILL waiting lists for it since Nintendo itself admits it was surprised by its success and can't keep up with demand.
There are lots of lessons to be learned here. First - the value of social networking that Nintendo perhaps unwittingly tapped into with its Mii network. Second, if you want to be really successful - stick to what you know. And third - power isn't everything - the really successful software (games and serious applications included) are slick and clever, not fat and feature heavy.
Have I missed any??