“We Dare” You to Buy This in the US

.

The Wii platform was ridiculed before it’s release as a kid only platform for dated graphics, silly name, unconventional controller, etc, but when it hit, it hit like a train wreck into Sony’s and Microsoft’s bottom lines. Even after a very successful launch with sold out consoles across the globe, people still made fun of the system as “for kids only”, but then there was Wii fit and whole gyms opened up with nothing but Nintendo Wii’s and balance boards in some futuristic digital yoga studio.

.

(Note this is about the right physical shape for the average Wii user)

.

Microsoft even had to make a quick 180 and run a whole campaign on “Let’s Play” attempting to re-brand the Xbox as family friendly when they originally billed the system as, ”The beginning of the HD era”. Fast forward and now we see this coming out from Nintendo and all I can say is, (in my best Liz Lemon voice) “What the what?”

.

.

Personally I applaud Ubisoft for making such a game and bucking the trend to make yet another motion controller wagging piece of shovel ware, but I am not sure there is a huge market demographic of 20-30+ year old, Wii owners, without kids, who throw dinner parties in miniskirts and ties. Then again, maybe it is a euro only thing, since this game is not coming to the US any time soon.

.

Blue Screen of Death - Now on Nokia Devices

Ok that was just some gratuitous sensationalism to get your attention and well because I am a visual guy and I tend to think in pictures. I really had no choice, but to make the above image, if for no other reason than it makes me chuckle a little on the inside every time I look at it.

Truth be told, I like Nokia, I worked there over 5 years, and I like Microsoft, I own an X-Box and play the hell out of it any chance I get, so the recently announced deal between the two should be music to my ears, but sadly it is not.

It is not that I don t want both companies to succeed, indeed I do, I believe that the mobile market and markets in general, are better when more companies compete to earn my consumer dollars, but Nokia has not been able to design and release a truly iconic, ground breaking piece of hardware in years and though they can ship boxes like nobody's business, their margins are getting thinner and thinner

So can they now, with the help of Windows Phone 7, release a great, incredible, amazing product? A product that might actually see the light of day in North America?

Personally I am skeptical. Window Mobile Phones have not taken off and Android continues to chug along like a giant snowball rolling down hill. Not to pour salt in the wound, but this was one of the comments I read today about the announcement;

Bing? What's that?
Let me Google it.

 
Even though I am skeptical, I have to say I am honestly hopeful that I am wrong and Nokia+Microsoft (Microkia?, NokiSoft?) snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

The Awesomeness Manifesto

Highly interesting read over here at the Harvard Business Review - The Awesomeness Manifesto.

Not sure how much I agree with Mr. Haque about the end of innovation, but I totally agree with his notion of designing and building products/services you love, that add real value to people's lives. Summarized in the article:

Let's summarize. What is awesomeness? Awesomeness happens when thick — real, meaningful — value is created by people who love what they do, added to insanely great stuff, and multiplied by communities who are delighted and inspired because they are authentically better off. That's a better kind of innovation, built for 21st century economics.

Well said sir, well said.

Public Transit + Multiplayer Gaming = Win!

As videogames move out of the basement and into mainstream culture, I am sometime astounded where they end up. Being fortunate enough to live in the Bay Area I have the luxury of seeing such innovation as multiplayer videogames as part of our local bus system.

To confess, I have not actually had the chance to play any of these games, but I applaud the effort of Yahoo, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agent and Clear Channel in coming up with this concept. 

UPDATE

Looks like you can check out more details here at www.busstopderby.com tons of shots from various bus stops and the latest news on how North Beach and the Tenderloin are still neck and neck. 

Now I think I need to go ride the bus to help the North Beach team out ...

Black and White Mayhem

Ok, so this is not the most amazing game ever made and clearly the art direction is similar to Limbo, which if you have not played yet, you are really missing out, but I have to say this little gem is loads of fun and has a great sense of humor. Complete at least one mission and actually read the mission summary - Freaking hilarious. 

What I don't understand is why this is not a mobile game yet? Seriously, this type of physic based game with simple controls, solid visuals and accessible game play is what mobile is all about. That and don't get me started on all the social/network features someone could jam into this guy. Leader boards, goblin auction house with player gear trading, integrate Facebook and Twitter to change the names of the people you are steamrolling over, sending your friend's facebook notifications when they are crushed, player created levels, etc.

Come on Big Block Games, make it happen! If you need a producer to help you get started drop me a line.