I converted to the new version of Blogger yesterday and lost my latest post. I will have to re-type it next weekend, as I'll be on the road this week and I don't expect to have email access until the last half of the week, at the earliest.
Considering that means I won't have to lug around an extra 8 lbs. or so in laptop and gear, this is a good thing...
Monday, November 13, 2006
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Liar's Poker - don't waste your money...
...you can waste your time and save your money by checking this out of your local library.
If you want to get an "inside view" of the inner workings of Wall Street during the excessive gyrations of the '80s, then read Den of Theives - that book is well written and well worth the money!
What turned me off about this book was the structure and the writing style. The first half of the book was essentially the author relating fortuitous circumstances that were the product of Serendipity. He was simply in the right place at the right time, had virutally no idea how he got there, felt out of place the whole time (even when he was raking in the Big Bucks in NY and London), and so now he thought he'd wwrite a book about it. I also got the sense that he was trying to assuage some guilt from his association at Salomon Brothers. He was there, he made a lot of money, good for him - get over it!
I was also pretty disappointed because the subject matter has A LOT more potential. I might have actually enjoyed it - had I not read Den of Theives 7 years earlier, and already had some idea of how things took place. But, if you can get it for $5 or less (including shipping), and you have little to no knowledge of what an investment banker's life is like (and you haven't also seen the movie Wall Street (which covers the same highlights in this book)), then it's probably worth it.
I did like the wrap up he did towards the end of the book, relating where he had heard everyone from the firm ended up...although that seemed a little rushed...
If you want to get an "inside view" of the inner workings of Wall Street during the excessive gyrations of the '80s, then read Den of Theives - that book is well written and well worth the money!
What turned me off about this book was the structure and the writing style. The first half of the book was essentially the author relating fortuitous circumstances that were the product of Serendipity. He was simply in the right place at the right time, had virutally no idea how he got there, felt out of place the whole time (even when he was raking in the Big Bucks in NY and London), and so now he thought he'd wwrite a book about it. I also got the sense that he was trying to assuage some guilt from his association at Salomon Brothers. He was there, he made a lot of money, good for him - get over it!
I was also pretty disappointed because the subject matter has A LOT more potential. I might have actually enjoyed it - had I not read Den of Theives 7 years earlier, and already had some idea of how things took place. But, if you can get it for $5 or less (including shipping), and you have little to no knowledge of what an investment banker's life is like (and you haven't also seen the movie Wall Street (which covers the same highlights in this book)), then it's probably worth it.
I did like the wrap up he did towards the end of the book, relating where he had heard everyone from the firm ended up...although that seemed a little rushed...
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Convergence is NOT bullshit
Let me just say, for the record, that Chris and I see eye-to-eye on a lot of things, but I've got to disagree with him on this one. We've even gone back and forth on this topic over several months. And even though I've wanted to I just haven't been able to blog about this one until now.
As with most general platitudes (which sound great to say, but upon further examination don't always hold water), one needs to first set the context of the remark. Seamus Blackley (one of the original creators of the Microsoft Xbox) was correct when he made his statement – in the context of what he was talking about.
The Xbox would NOT be a good all-in-one home media device (at least, not right out of the gate, when they had the conversation many years ago). I still don't think it's ready for prime time. Will Microsoft get there? Probably? Will the Xbox be the vehicle? Don't know. But, that converged functionality is coming; people want it and companies want to figure out how to deliver it. (In fact, I've got a few ideas of my own on how to do this...but that's a blog for another day...)
Here are some good examples of convergence (which I am summarizing to mean a successful combination of functionality and delivery vehicle):
- secure fax machine
- recent versions of smart phones & Blackberries (Treo 700P/W, the HTCs, etc.)
- SkyNet service (which got renamed to Flynet...hmmm) on Lufthansa (no, I'm not talking about this one; I'm talking about this one)
- roller skates and Heelies
- Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
- cable industry converging with the telephone industry into something new (i.e. - Comcast, SBC, Qwest, etc.)
- Youtube.com
- Amazon.com (internet, book store, supply chain and logistics expertise)
- (and yes, the swiss army knife)
...and there are more. The point is, by bringing together different functionality and vehicles with which to deliver it to defined markets, certain companies will gain advantages over their rivals, for some period of time. So, while I think this is also a good and cool example of convergence, ultimately market acceptance and business execution will determine how long that advantage remains.
The graphic that Chris posted depicting a toaster / coffee maker / bread baker is an example of “Convergence of Convenience”. The question is not, "Could you eat at The Palm with a Swiss Army knife and enjoy the experience (well, I could, but that's just me)?" Rather, the quesstion is, "Would you eat at The Palm with a Swiss Army knife and enjoy the experience"? Most people (the Contrarians among us aside) would say "No" to that experience.
Currently, I think most “smart cameras” and cell phones would fall into this category. Honestly, I see this type of innovation as "educational" more than anything else. "Let's show people what this technology can do, let's give it to them, and then let's step back. Many people knew they wanted a Walkman before Sony came out with one. And so you havethings like this and this.
No, most of these examples of convergence are not mind-blowingly earth shattering – but for a short period of time, they are market differentiating. And that is really the point. If a company can execute well with that tactic then they will have an advantage for some period of time. Other companies will try to copy them. Consumers / Markets will then vote with their dollars. They will also find unintended ways to leverage the new technology in ways the creators (probably) hadn't even considered when they created the original specifications. Of note:
- music sampling in rap and rock music
- tire swings
- coke bottle bird feeders
- camera phone to take picture of the license plates and damage to cars in a car crash
- other --> who knows?
And people in companies will have to innovate again. And the cycle will continue...and that's why Convergence is not Bullshit. Some additional food for thought...
As with most general platitudes (which sound great to say, but upon further examination don't always hold water), one needs to first set the context of the remark. Seamus Blackley (one of the original creators of the Microsoft Xbox) was correct when he made his statement – in the context of what he was talking about.
The Xbox would NOT be a good all-in-one home media device (at least, not right out of the gate, when they had the conversation many years ago). I still don't think it's ready for prime time. Will Microsoft get there? Probably? Will the Xbox be the vehicle? Don't know. But, that converged functionality is coming; people want it and companies want to figure out how to deliver it. (In fact, I've got a few ideas of my own on how to do this...but that's a blog for another day...)
Here are some good examples of convergence (which I am summarizing to mean a successful combination of functionality and delivery vehicle):
- secure fax machine
- recent versions of smart phones & Blackberries (Treo 700P/W, the HTCs, etc.)
- SkyNet service (which got renamed to Flynet...hmmm) on Lufthansa (no, I'm not talking about this one; I'm talking about this one)
- roller skates and Heelies
- Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
- cable industry converging with the telephone industry into something new (i.e. - Comcast, SBC, Qwest, etc.)
- Youtube.com
- Amazon.com (internet, book store, supply chain and logistics expertise)
- (and yes, the swiss army knife)
...and there are more. The point is, by bringing together different functionality and vehicles with which to deliver it to defined markets, certain companies will gain advantages over their rivals, for some period of time. So, while I think this is also a good and cool example of convergence, ultimately market acceptance and business execution will determine how long that advantage remains.
The graphic that Chris posted depicting a toaster / coffee maker / bread baker is an example of “Convergence of Convenience”. The question is not, "Could you eat at The Palm with a Swiss Army knife and enjoy the experience (well, I could, but that's just me)?" Rather, the quesstion is, "Would you eat at The Palm with a Swiss Army knife and enjoy the experience"? Most people (the Contrarians among us aside) would say "No" to that experience.
Currently, I think most “smart cameras” and cell phones would fall into this category. Honestly, I see this type of innovation as "educational" more than anything else. "Let's show people what this technology can do, let's give it to them, and then let's step back. Many people knew they wanted a Walkman before Sony came out with one. And so you havethings like this and this.
No, most of these examples of convergence are not mind-blowingly earth shattering – but for a short period of time, they are market differentiating. And that is really the point. If a company can execute well with that tactic then they will have an advantage for some period of time. Other companies will try to copy them. Consumers / Markets will then vote with their dollars. They will also find unintended ways to leverage the new technology in ways the creators (probably) hadn't even considered when they created the original specifications. Of note:
- music sampling in rap and rock music
- tire swings
- coke bottle bird feeders
- camera phone to take picture of the license plates and damage to cars in a car crash
- other --> who knows?
And people in companies will have to innovate again. And the cycle will continue...and that's why Convergence is not Bullshit. Some additional food for thought...
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
"Let the Sun shine..."
As a follow up to yesterday's post, check this out: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/061107/sec_ceo_blogs.html?.v=2
(and for you younger folks, the blog title is a double entendre):
- refernences that famous anthem by the 5th. Dimension
- a nod to the company profiled in the press release
(and for you younger folks, the blog title is a double entendre):
- refernences that famous anthem by the 5th. Dimension
- a nod to the company profiled in the press release
Creative and Profitable
Why begrudge someone else's success just because they took of an advantage of a creative idea before you? I'm not sure why some people feel this need; to me, that's just "my bad" and it means I need to take some action!
What am I referring to? These interesting business ideas are just a few examples:
- Million Dollar Web Page (http://www.milliondollarhomepage.com/); the ones I like the most are the single-pixel ones - some of which are either reserved for someone, have an order pending, or are just plan silly (see if you can find the "Pimp My Pixel - the Wave of the Future" one!)
- One Red Paper Clip (http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/) tells of one man's journey from one red paper clip to owning a house in Saskatchewan
- Pixledoodle (http://www.pixeloodle.com/) - another knock-off or will this one work too? The owner is almost half way to their goal...
and more...
While these might just seem like gimmicky internet ideas, the reality is that they:
- created attention around a particular theme
- the creator was able to create tangible value from an intangible idea
- someone else saw enough value in what was going on that they gave the creator money, time, etc.
Nothing wrong with that. Does that mean that this is the forefront of some new business model we all need to start worrying about? I don't think so; not at this stage, anyway.
I think that it's a good experiment that shows the possibilities of making technology accessible to people, and letting them see where their creativity takes them. And that's where businesses need to show more courage. I tried to get my old company interested in web blogs (6 years ago), just for internal uses. I used examples of car companies letting their employees blog about all sorts of things - gardening, the company, etc. - and showed how it actually helped the company overall. It was over ruled as a "potential security issue". Now, the CEO blogs and is talking with the SEC about disseminating financial information to the world via a blog.
Companies, industries, organizations...if they've been around for a bit they have a vested interested in the status quo. After all, that's a large part of what got them where they are in the first place. I understand why governments might think that way. I have a harder time supporting this notion for the marketplace. Sticking with what you know will usually just get you more of what you've already got.
Now, what are you going to do with it?
What am I referring to? These interesting business ideas are just a few examples:
- Million Dollar Web Page (http://www.milliondollarhomepage.com/); the ones I like the most are the single-pixel ones - some of which are either reserved for someone, have an order pending, or are just plan silly (see if you can find the "Pimp My Pixel - the Wave of the Future" one!)
- One Red Paper Clip (http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/) tells of one man's journey from one red paper clip to owning a house in Saskatchewan
- Pixledoodle (http://www.pixeloodle.com/) - another knock-off or will this one work too? The owner is almost half way to their goal...
and more...
While these might just seem like gimmicky internet ideas, the reality is that they:
- created attention around a particular theme
- the creator was able to create tangible value from an intangible idea
- someone else saw enough value in what was going on that they gave the creator money, time, etc.
Nothing wrong with that. Does that mean that this is the forefront of some new business model we all need to start worrying about? I don't think so; not at this stage, anyway.
I think that it's a good experiment that shows the possibilities of making technology accessible to people, and letting them see where their creativity takes them. And that's where businesses need to show more courage. I tried to get my old company interested in web blogs (6 years ago), just for internal uses. I used examples of car companies letting their employees blog about all sorts of things - gardening, the company, etc. - and showed how it actually helped the company overall. It was over ruled as a "potential security issue". Now, the CEO blogs and is talking with the SEC about disseminating financial information to the world via a blog.
Companies, industries, organizations...if they've been around for a bit they have a vested interested in the status quo. After all, that's a large part of what got them where they are in the first place. I understand why governments might think that way. I have a harder time supporting this notion for the marketplace. Sticking with what you know will usually just get you more of what you've already got.
Now, what are you going to do with it?
Monday, November 06, 2006
Communication
"I believe companies should be as transparent as possible with information."
Okay, that's a nice platitude...but what does it really mean? It's benign-sounding enough so that it will be difficult to disagree with the statement. It's ambiguous enough that one can't really hold the speaker accountable without more specific information. Much is left up to the speaker to define the terms for themselves, ex post facto.
We're not quite at this point yet, but soon one will begin to argue that without a strong, fully diversified online presence, companies will not be doing all they can to communicate to their various constituents.
Here are several recent examples (and there are more I can share) of what I am talking about:
1. Look at what Sun Microsystems is doing
2. Look at what Toyota and Adidas are doing; even The Economist is taking note
3. Listen to what National Public Radio (NPR) had to say about it this morning
No, this isn't a plug for Second Life or it's non-virtual company, Linden Lab.
It's about being flexible enough to adjust your approach to reach your existing markets in new ways. It's about being courageous enough to let go or test firmly held opinions about "how things should be done".
That's a challenge in any world, with or without any kind of intervention - from government, the marketplace or otherwise.
What are you doing about it for your company and it's brand? What are you doing about it for you and your own brand? And how are you involving those important to your success - your customers, peers, etc. - versus just "going it alone?"
Okay, that's a nice platitude...but what does it really mean? It's benign-sounding enough so that it will be difficult to disagree with the statement. It's ambiguous enough that one can't really hold the speaker accountable without more specific information. Much is left up to the speaker to define the terms for themselves, ex post facto.
We're not quite at this point yet, but soon one will begin to argue that without a strong, fully diversified online presence, companies will not be doing all they can to communicate to their various constituents.
Here are several recent examples (and there are more I can share) of what I am talking about:
1. Look at what Sun Microsystems is doing
2. Look at what Toyota and Adidas are doing; even The Economist is taking note
3. Listen to what National Public Radio (NPR) had to say about it this morning
No, this isn't a plug for Second Life or it's non-virtual company, Linden Lab.
It's about being flexible enough to adjust your approach to reach your existing markets in new ways. It's about being courageous enough to let go or test firmly held opinions about "how things should be done".
That's a challenge in any world, with or without any kind of intervention - from government, the marketplace or otherwise.
What are you doing about it for your company and it's brand? What are you doing about it for you and your own brand? And how are you involving those important to your success - your customers, peers, etc. - versus just "going it alone?"
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Been too long...
It's been a couple of weeks since my last post, and much has changed.
Based on feedback from many of you, my blog will be taking a decidedly more "business" tone. While I may interject some personal anecdotes from time to time, expect to see more of my thoughts on things related to IT, management, books, strategy, etc.
As always, keep the comments coming!
Based on feedback from many of you, my blog will be taking a decidedly more "business" tone. While I may interject some personal anecdotes from time to time, expect to see more of my thoughts on things related to IT, management, books, strategy, etc.
As always, keep the comments coming!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
"Disintermediation" brought to you by You Tube, Google Video, etc.
Check this out...
When I was in the 6th. grade, I remember reading a story depicting a day-in-the-life of a student of similar age, only at some point "in the future".. They lived in houses where the beds were essentially built-in cushions in the floor, the showers were cubes with omni-directional jets of water and warm air (to wash and dry you off), and they wore spray-on clothing.
One of the things that I thought was really cool was the idea of going to school without leaving my house, which showed the student sitting in a room in their house with a television monitor showing their teacher and classmates.
We've had some form of interactive televised knowledge transmission for over 10 years now, with both the education and the medical fields leveraging the technology. But there's another reason why I find this new feature from Google interesting...
Disintermediation.
If ("when", actually) this gets coupled with better two-way, rather than one-way, knowledge transmission, Google has the ability to establish a great position for itself. MySpace is already filled with most of the demographic that want to get (or are already pursuing) college degrees. It's no great leap in logic for them to "naturally" look to the web for their course lectures (in fact, college students are citing Wikipedia references in scholarly papers, over the protests of their professors and the founder / editor of Wikipedia!). Professors can leave their entire lecture "on reserve" rather than just their written notes (which never convey the nuances of an idea).
This will also have an impact the pricing associated with getting a degree ("Eventually", anyway...). Will there be sufficient cachet associated with a degree earned this way? Yes, but it will take some time for the Majority to endorse the idea - at least in the U.S. Baby Boomers are going back to school in record numbers, for a variety of reasons. Other nations who don't have the infrastructure of estbalished universities, however, can now take advantage of this right now.
And so can anyone who has an internet connection.
Think about that for a moment...
True, they won't get the college credits for attending the class, nor the degree to "certify" their "knowledge acquisition". But they will gain the information that they can use.
And isn't that what learning's all about, anyway???
When I was in the 6th. grade, I remember reading a story depicting a day-in-the-life of a student of similar age, only at some point "in the future".. They lived in houses where the beds were essentially built-in cushions in the floor, the showers were cubes with omni-directional jets of water and warm air (to wash and dry you off), and they wore spray-on clothing.
One of the things that I thought was really cool was the idea of going to school without leaving my house, which showed the student sitting in a room in their house with a television monitor showing their teacher and classmates.
We've had some form of interactive televised knowledge transmission for over 10 years now, with both the education and the medical fields leveraging the technology. But there's another reason why I find this new feature from Google interesting...
Disintermediation.
If ("when", actually) this gets coupled with better two-way, rather than one-way, knowledge transmission, Google has the ability to establish a great position for itself. MySpace is already filled with most of the demographic that want to get (or are already pursuing) college degrees. It's no great leap in logic for them to "naturally" look to the web for their course lectures (in fact, college students are citing Wikipedia references in scholarly papers, over the protests of their professors and the founder / editor of Wikipedia!). Professors can leave their entire lecture "on reserve" rather than just their written notes (which never convey the nuances of an idea).
This will also have an impact the pricing associated with getting a degree ("Eventually", anyway...). Will there be sufficient cachet associated with a degree earned this way? Yes, but it will take some time for the Majority to endorse the idea - at least in the U.S. Baby Boomers are going back to school in record numbers, for a variety of reasons. Other nations who don't have the infrastructure of estbalished universities, however, can now take advantage of this right now.
And so can anyone who has an internet connection.
Think about that for a moment...
True, they won't get the college credits for attending the class, nor the degree to "certify" their "knowledge acquisition". But they will gain the information that they can use.
And isn't that what learning's all about, anyway???
Monday, October 02, 2006
Why Do We Have / Need Quad-core Processors?
"For gaming and video rendering." So says Intel (and I agree - AMD will be making their own announcements in this arena soon). For now, check this out.
And this (the audio quality's poor, but the implications are cool). And, last but not least, some additional (marketing fluff ?) from Intel.
With the dev kits in the ISVs' hands, all the industry has to do now is to deliver...
And this (the audio quality's poor, but the implications are cool). And, last but not least, some additional (marketing fluff ?) from Intel.
With the dev kits in the ISVs' hands, all the industry has to do now is to deliver...
Monday, September 18, 2006
What Happens When The Western Meets The Sci-Fi?
Firefly!
I watched Serenity the other night, and afterwards I went and bought the entire Firefly series (never done anything like that before!), site unseen. I saw the Serenity trailer and wanted to see the movie when it came out, but was too busy. I thought it was a very easily engaged (and engaging!) story.
It's pretty well-known what the impact of Westerns have been on Sci-Fi or related movies (the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises being two of the most lucrative examples). But what happens when you look at it form the other way around? Firefly's the result.
It's got a great ensemble cast (both in terms of how the characters are written, and in how the actors use their many talents to bring them to life). It's got great camera direction (some of the shots that would have to zoom in-and-out to gain the proper focus, actors not being perfectly in a shot and really opening up the world, the jerky, silent space shots that later on became popularized in the remake of the Battlestar Galactica series...but that's another blog...). And it has the right amount of “cheese factor” that I got articulate beyond the “I know it when I see it or hear it” formula. The live action and the CGI are, in two words – REALLY AWESOME!
I thought the writing was really great too. I really liked how the characters went back and forth between English and Chinese – especially when they wanted to convey something with more emotion or feeling. They did it so well, as if they had always spoken that way. The technology was a really cool juxtaposition of old and new...people dealing with the past, their presents and wondering if there's a possible future
Another thing I liked about the series was the depth of the writing. I really felt like each of the characters had really complete lives and back stories for each of the characters – I want to know more!!! Sure, there were some cheesy lines and such, but it was a really tightly written script. I just want to know more...they should never have tried pitching it to FOX – it belongs ANYWHERE else (sci-fi, internet / pod casts, etc.)...
Plus, it just looks like a really cool and fun place to work and play...
I watched Serenity the other night, and afterwards I went and bought the entire Firefly series (never done anything like that before!), site unseen. I saw the Serenity trailer and wanted to see the movie when it came out, but was too busy. I thought it was a very easily engaged (and engaging!) story.
It's pretty well-known what the impact of Westerns have been on Sci-Fi or related movies (the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises being two of the most lucrative examples). But what happens when you look at it form the other way around? Firefly's the result.
It's got a great ensemble cast (both in terms of how the characters are written, and in how the actors use their many talents to bring them to life). It's got great camera direction (some of the shots that would have to zoom in-and-out to gain the proper focus, actors not being perfectly in a shot and really opening up the world, the jerky, silent space shots that later on became popularized in the remake of the Battlestar Galactica series...but that's another blog...). And it has the right amount of “cheese factor” that I got articulate beyond the “I know it when I see it or hear it” formula. The live action and the CGI are, in two words – REALLY AWESOME!
I thought the writing was really great too. I really liked how the characters went back and forth between English and Chinese – especially when they wanted to convey something with more emotion or feeling. They did it so well, as if they had always spoken that way. The technology was a really cool juxtaposition of old and new...people dealing with the past, their presents and wondering if there's a possible future
Another thing I liked about the series was the depth of the writing. I really felt like each of the characters had really complete lives and back stories for each of the characters – I want to know more!!! Sure, there were some cheesy lines and such, but it was a really tightly written script. I just want to know more...they should never have tried pitching it to FOX – it belongs ANYWHERE else (sci-fi, internet / pod casts, etc.)...
Plus, it just looks like a really cool and fun place to work and play...
Friday, September 15, 2006
STAR WARS!
I first heard about this movie when one of my brother's friends came over to our house on a Saturday, when we were all fixing our bikes (tires, oiling chains, etc.), and all he kept talking about were these space AWESOME battles! I had no idea what he was talking about, but since I knew I wasn't going to be seeing "Jaws" anytime soon (my parents said I was too young), I was determined to see this.
My Dad, Mom, brother and I all went to see this movie, one night after dinner. While they enjoyed the movie, none of them took to it like I did. And I don't really know why; I just did.
I had no idea what I was in for when I saw this movie, and it literally changed my life:
- I met a friend at school via Star Wars, and together we saw the movie more than 50 times.
- I walked around with stiff arms and legs, perfecting my first British accent, as portrayed by Anthony Daniels (playing C3PO, of course) - it drove my Mom nuts! Later, I increased my accents, as I got more into Monty Python, but that's another post...
- I became interested in really good story telling, classical music, how music could be used to enhance moods (which would come in handy later on in life), and the art of the movie (scripts, comics, trading cards, toys, etc.)...it was all good.
The closest thing I have found to re-experiencing this effect has been through video games and the video games industry.
Why? It's a more immersive and inviting medium than any other. It not only engages all of your sense - it also engages your imagination, which is much more powerful.
Think about this - one of the next five U.S. Presidents (and their administrative staff) will not only have been kids influenced by Star Wars, but they will also probably have played video games, probably an Atari or a Nintendo...
I first heard about this movie when one of my brother's friends came over to our house on a Saturday, when we were all fixing our bikes (tires, oiling chains, etc.), and all he kept talking about were these space AWESOME battles! I had no idea what he was talking about, but since I knew I wasn't going to be seeing "Jaws" anytime soon (my parents said I was too young), I was determined to see this.
My Dad, Mom, brother and I all went to see this movie, one night after dinner. While they enjoyed the movie, none of them took to it like I did. And I don't really know why; I just did.
I had no idea what I was in for when I saw this movie, and it literally changed my life:
- I met a friend at school via Star Wars, and together we saw the movie more than 50 times.
- I walked around with stiff arms and legs, perfecting my first British accent, as portrayed by Anthony Daniels (playing C3PO, of course) - it drove my Mom nuts! Later, I increased my accents, as I got more into Monty Python, but that's another post...
- I became interested in really good story telling, classical music, how music could be used to enhance moods (which would come in handy later on in life), and the art of the movie (scripts, comics, trading cards, toys, etc.)...it was all good.
The closest thing I have found to re-experiencing this effect has been through video games and the video games industry.
Why? It's a more immersive and inviting medium than any other. It not only engages all of your sense - it also engages your imagination, which is much more powerful.
Think about this - one of the next five U.S. Presidents (and their administrative staff) will not only have been kids influenced by Star Wars, but they will also probably have played video games, probably an Atari or a Nintendo...
Doom's Seed
“The Two Johns” (Carmack and Romero) had been described as the Lennon and MCCartney of video games, and I think that's a great moniker, especially after reading this book. Written in an engaging, easy-to-follow style, the read is taken inside the environment and motivation for many decisions and inspirations for why they did what they did. I found that thoroughly fascinating!
What was really cool, though, was remembering MY views and experiences, as I read the book – hooking up with other Doom players on the University LAN – and not really knowing what it was, playing by myself on the PC for the first time (10 hours straight) and then going to sleep and having completely lucid dreams as I re-ran the levels in full, vivid, dynamic color, being a user in the shareware movement / business model, etc.
Each accomplished in their own right, I don't think they really appreciated each other's talents and abilities until after they split up. It would be interesting to see what they can create with each other, now that they are older, financially successful and are driven (possibly?) by different things.
At about 300 pages, it's a very entertaining read for anyone interested or involved with the games industry; others may find the interpersonal dynamics of a young startup insightful and enlightening.
What was really cool, though, was remembering MY views and experiences, as I read the book – hooking up with other Doom players on the University LAN – and not really knowing what it was, playing by myself on the PC for the first time (10 hours straight) and then going to sleep and having completely lucid dreams as I re-ran the levels in full, vivid, dynamic color, being a user in the shareware movement / business model, etc.
Each accomplished in their own right, I don't think they really appreciated each other's talents and abilities until after they split up. It would be interesting to see what they can create with each other, now that they are older, financially successful and are driven (possibly?) by different things.
At about 300 pages, it's a very entertaining read for anyone interested or involved with the games industry; others may find the interpersonal dynamics of a young startup insightful and enlightening.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Opening The Xbox
“The revolution will come in fits and starts. It probably won't come from giving hardcore gamers more of what they already like. Doing a fighting game with better graphics isn't really a new invention. Yet much of the industry is currently afflicted with the illusion that it is. About 60 percent of the successful games now are either sequels or extensions of brands that exist in another medium. There is a real risk of what the IDSA'a Doug Lowenstein calls “creative ennui.”...The gaming industry has produced cultural icons before, from Pac Man to Pong, and it will do so again. As every gamer believes, the ideal game isn't here yet. It's just around the corner.” (p. 346 – 347).
I just got done reading Opening The Xbox. I found it to be a very readable book, with a very comfortable writing style. The descriptions of the what the project team went through, however, seemed very reminiscent of many other professional projects I have been involved with in my career, and not necessarily unique to Microsoft or the tech. industry. What was enjoyable and enlightening, however, was the detail which Mr. Takahashi provided. Liberally spiced with information that was outside of the inner mechanics at Microsoft (like the challenges with Nvidia, Flextronics' manufacturing capacity, the marketing and sales performance of competing platforms, etc.), provided the perfect backdrop to the whole story.
In the end, I found it to be an easy and enjoyable read. It provides great insight into Microsoft's launch of the Xbox, and an interesting perspective on the video games industry as a whole. I also appreciated the “personal face” Mr. Takhashi gave the story by providing interesting tidbits of the personalities and their lives, throughout the story. That technique not only made it very readable, but it also helped me relate to the story in a much more fulfilling way.
However, it's this blog's opening paragraph (which I quoted from the end of the book) that I think is really at the heart of the issue I think the video game industry faces, and this book didn't really address:
Take me for example. I don't consider myself a “true gamer” necessarily, because I don't spend more than 20 hours a week playing video games, like some people I know; it's more like 10 – 15 hours per week (but who's really counting? :) ).
But do you know what I would spend 20 or more hours a week on? Creating new business ideas! I LOVE IT! I absolutely LOVE THAT! I love being able to take different ideas and putting them together in new ways. The by-product of that is interesting, and I and others have benefited in a number of different ways – non-profits I work with, to my current employer, and (I'm sure) to employers and customers whom I have yet to meet. So, while guys like Jonathan “Seamus” Blackley and Kevin Bachus got the lions share of the spotlight in the book (and rightly so), I related more to guys like Ted Hase, Rick Thompson, Ed Fries and Robbie Bach (the “business” / management folks). That is just fun for me!
Even at Sun Microsystems (where I've worked for a LONG time – it'll be 7 years this December...wow, that really IS a long time...), the things that have always drawn my interest and sparked my creativity the most have been new businesses and new business models, like our foray into Utility Computing and Managed Services. Project Darkstar is my latest muse (here is the “historic mugshot” that I found on my camera, from a few months ago; okay, shameless plug time – check out more details on this ground-breaking technology here and here).
The difference, though, between what I read in this book and what I see at companies like Sun and others, can be tied to two things:
If you want to move mountains and change the landscape, you can do it a spoonful at a time (which takes a while by yourself, but you gain speed the more people who pickup spoons) or with explosives (which is the equivalent to what Microsoft did). The latter is quicker, but it will still take a lot of time for people to join together in that new landscape and figure out what to do with it.
At E3 this year, I was over-whelmed by the presentation and volume of titles, and under-whelmed by the dearth of unique content. For the most part, it's all the same. In the four years since this book was published, not much has changed to hit that grand vision of new cultural icons and “games as art”. I don't see “Destroy All Humans” being reviewed by the New York Times' art critics. This is even a year in which we are seeing new console releases by Sony and Nintendo (although Sony just announced that they will again delay their launch – as seems to be typical with console launch announcements), but where are the new Space Invaders and Tetris (which were hits on multiple platforms)?
Still waiting for Aunt Bea's Quilting Smackdown! That would be a great one to see – have The Rock and Aunt Bea duking it out! Maybe someday...in the meantime, we'll just have to make do with more of the same.
I just got done reading Opening The Xbox. I found it to be a very readable book, with a very comfortable writing style. The descriptions of the what the project team went through, however, seemed very reminiscent of many other professional projects I have been involved with in my career, and not necessarily unique to Microsoft or the tech. industry. What was enjoyable and enlightening, however, was the detail which Mr. Takahashi provided. Liberally spiced with information that was outside of the inner mechanics at Microsoft (like the challenges with Nvidia, Flextronics' manufacturing capacity, the marketing and sales performance of competing platforms, etc.), provided the perfect backdrop to the whole story.
In the end, I found it to be an easy and enjoyable read. It provides great insight into Microsoft's launch of the Xbox, and an interesting perspective on the video games industry as a whole. I also appreciated the “personal face” Mr. Takhashi gave the story by providing interesting tidbits of the personalities and their lives, throughout the story. That technique not only made it very readable, but it also helped me relate to the story in a much more fulfilling way.
However, it's this blog's opening paragraph (which I quoted from the end of the book) that I think is really at the heart of the issue I think the video game industry faces, and this book didn't really address:
self-confidence - quit believing and acting like you have to get “people” to take you “seriously”. Screw 'em! You're already a multi-billion dollar industry, so who really cares?
The Big Set-up - the notion of “the killer game” is a set-up for failure, and “it” being “right around the corner” is even worse! You need to have people really get off on the “technology”, and others who are as passionate about the “business”, and have them work together. The video games themselves (whether it's a console or a piece of technology or some game art or whatever) is the real common ground to unite the project. Entertainment, art, interactivity, immersion – how this is defined is changing, and will continue to change over time.
Take me for example. I don't consider myself a “true gamer” necessarily, because I don't spend more than 20 hours a week playing video games, like some people I know; it's more like 10 – 15 hours per week (but who's really counting? :) ).
But do you know what I would spend 20 or more hours a week on? Creating new business ideas! I LOVE IT! I absolutely LOVE THAT! I love being able to take different ideas and putting them together in new ways. The by-product of that is interesting, and I and others have benefited in a number of different ways – non-profits I work with, to my current employer, and (I'm sure) to employers and customers whom I have yet to meet. So, while guys like Jonathan “Seamus” Blackley and Kevin Bachus got the lions share of the spotlight in the book (and rightly so), I related more to guys like Ted Hase, Rick Thompson, Ed Fries and Robbie Bach (the “business” / management folks). That is just fun for me!
Even at Sun Microsystems (where I've worked for a LONG time – it'll be 7 years this December...wow, that really IS a long time...), the things that have always drawn my interest and sparked my creativity the most have been new businesses and new business models, like our foray into Utility Computing and Managed Services. Project Darkstar is my latest muse (here is the “historic mugshot” that I found on my camera, from a few months ago; okay, shameless plug time – check out more details on this ground-breaking technology here and here).
The difference, though, between what I read in this book and what I see at companies like Sun and others, can be tied to two things:
money – Microsoft had plenty and was willing to commit significant amounts of capital for long periods of time – not because they wanted to build a video game console, but rather because it was an integral part of a larger strategy. Microsoft wants to be the gateway to home mechanics (entertainment, finances, etc.), and they see the Xbox as a great way to enter and begin building on that vision
strategic commitment – building on the above bullet, while near-term unit sales of consoles and titles are important, it's not the only thing. Sony, for example, has a potentially much broader and more strategic reach with it's movie and music entertainment business lines, which seem to continue throwing off cash regardless of poor economic conditions in any single market or geography it finds itself in.
If you want to move mountains and change the landscape, you can do it a spoonful at a time (which takes a while by yourself, but you gain speed the more people who pickup spoons) or with explosives (which is the equivalent to what Microsoft did). The latter is quicker, but it will still take a lot of time for people to join together in that new landscape and figure out what to do with it.
At E3 this year, I was over-whelmed by the presentation and volume of titles, and under-whelmed by the dearth of unique content. For the most part, it's all the same. In the four years since this book was published, not much has changed to hit that grand vision of new cultural icons and “games as art”. I don't see “Destroy All Humans” being reviewed by the New York Times' art critics. This is even a year in which we are seeing new console releases by Sony and Nintendo (although Sony just announced that they will again delay their launch – as seems to be typical with console launch announcements), but where are the new Space Invaders and Tetris (which were hits on multiple platforms)?
Still waiting for Aunt Bea's Quilting Smackdown! That would be a great one to see – have The Rock and Aunt Bea duking it out! Maybe someday...in the meantime, we'll just have to make do with more of the same.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Flying
| I first became interested in flying at a very young age (5-ish) when my brother (who is now a pilot) started getting interested in military aircraft from World War II. While we went back and forth on several types (among my favorites are the P-51 Mustang and the F-4U Corsair), our mutual favorite was the Boeing B-17. Its design and functional capabilities were astounding for it's time. Even now, it is a thrilling experience to actually go up and see one of the few remaining B-17s that are in flying condition. As I've grown, and have come to more fully understand the reason why these aircraft were built, I appreciate even more their design and capabilities. This video clip is one of the best I've seen (excluding, of course, those used in Twelve O'Clock High). You can see how much damage the airplane can take and keep flying; I believe those are pieces of the airplane that you see falling away... | |
Sunday, August 27, 2006
(From the YouTube.com description..."Torn by good & evil and an incestuous love affair, a lonely and depraved Darth Vader has a nervous breakdown." This is by far the FUNNIEST thing ever made this side of the Milky Way!! It was created entirely by using the true voice of Vader, Mr. James Earl Jones HIMSELF! Watch it love it live it! Spread the word...)
Vader Sessions
Okay, it's the weekend, so I'll ease a bit on the "deep thoughts" normally reserverd for during the week...
I still think Star Wars, and the movie series it spawned, is one of the greatest pieces of cinematic story-telling to come out of Hollywood. I'm sure it helps that I saw it when I was still quite young and impressionable, but that doesn't matter. And, one of the other cool things about the movie is that my kids like it, so I can always use them as an excuse ("But Honey, the children and I are spending quality bonding time together...").
(no, she doesn't really buy that excuse either...but that's not the point!)
Anyway, I think if you did a mashup of Monty Python, Second City and Star Wars, you'd end up with this video clip. It's about 10 minutes long - enjoy!
Vader Sessions
Okay, it's the weekend, so I'll ease a bit on the "deep thoughts" normally reserverd for during the week...
I still think Star Wars, and the movie series it spawned, is one of the greatest pieces of cinematic story-telling to come out of Hollywood. I'm sure it helps that I saw it when I was still quite young and impressionable, but that doesn't matter. And, one of the other cool things about the movie is that my kids like it, so I can always use them as an excuse ("But Honey, the children and I are spending quality bonding time together...").
(no, she doesn't really buy that excuse either...but that's not the point!)
Anyway, I think if you did a mashup of Monty Python, Second City and Star Wars, you'd end up with this video clip. It's about 10 minutes long - enjoy!
Saturday, August 26, 2006
The United States of America's Legacy
I met up with a friend of mine today, someone I hadn't seen in over 4 years. The last time we met, he and his business partner were trying to convince me to leave my employer and go with them to start a company, and they wanted me to be their CTO. It was a very attractive offer, but for a number of reasons I declined. And, except for an occasional email over the years, we kind of lost touch.
Well, I was in another meeting earlier this week, speaking with some people about working with Angel Investors in the start-up phase of a business, and someone pulled out an "example checklist" that they thought was a good evaluation guide that they used. The company name on the sheet? You guessed it - it was the company we were considering starting! So, of course I told my friend about it.
Anyway, as I was driving home from our meeting today, I came away with a number of different ideas. One of them was about the state of employment in the U.S.. For the last 80+ years, our society has nurtured the idea of a career working for a large corporation, through which we could have our financial security and other needs met. It worked well for a while, but it turned out that it's not a model that's sustainable over the long term. The engine of commerce has always had its roots in the small and medium sized enterprises.
With the growth of the technology sector, and some of the tools that are now freely available, the barriers to entry for an individual or even groups of individuals, to launch a new enterprise, have really fallen through the floor. Other than tangible inventory (if that's even relevant for your business), it is now possible to have a virtually "free" infrastructure for your startup:
- computers (most people have one; a pretty good one that could fit most of your needs can be acquired now for anywhere from $500 - $1500)
- phones (with a number of different Voice Over IP (VOIP) offerings now available, you actually have a choice of providers
- office productivity software (openoffice.org has a free word processing / spreadsheet / presentation software suite you can use; Google, Yahoo, etc. have free email and calendar applications you can use)
- office space (in most cases, you can literally work out of your home to get started)
So, if you ever wanted to start a business in the States, the minimum you have to do is to go and file your DBA with your local government, and your in business. Then, coupled with the above and your very own website, you can get your idea up and running. It's that simple.
So, if it's that simple, why don't more people do it?
Because it's not easy. It's very, very, very hard. For every 10 businesses that start, 9 will fail within their first two years of operation. But what's interesting is that for those individuals who start more than one business (generally 3 - 5), that statistic reverses itself - 9 out of 10 succeed into their fifth year! What's the difference?
Persistence.
Well, I was in another meeting earlier this week, speaking with some people about working with Angel Investors in the start-up phase of a business, and someone pulled out an "example checklist" that they thought was a good evaluation guide that they used. The company name on the sheet? You guessed it - it was the company we were considering starting! So, of course I told my friend about it.
Anyway, as I was driving home from our meeting today, I came away with a number of different ideas. One of them was about the state of employment in the U.S.. For the last 80+ years, our society has nurtured the idea of a career working for a large corporation, through which we could have our financial security and other needs met. It worked well for a while, but it turned out that it's not a model that's sustainable over the long term. The engine of commerce has always had its roots in the small and medium sized enterprises.
With the growth of the technology sector, and some of the tools that are now freely available, the barriers to entry for an individual or even groups of individuals, to launch a new enterprise, have really fallen through the floor. Other than tangible inventory (if that's even relevant for your business), it is now possible to have a virtually "free" infrastructure for your startup:
- computers (most people have one; a pretty good one that could fit most of your needs can be acquired now for anywhere from $500 - $1500)
- phones (with a number of different Voice Over IP (VOIP) offerings now available, you actually have a choice of providers
- office productivity software (openoffice.org has a free word processing / spreadsheet / presentation software suite you can use; Google, Yahoo, etc. have free email and calendar applications you can use)
- office space (in most cases, you can literally work out of your home to get started)
So, if you ever wanted to start a business in the States, the minimum you have to do is to go and file your DBA with your local government, and your in business. Then, coupled with the above and your very own website, you can get your idea up and running. It's that simple.
So, if it's that simple, why don't more people do it?
Because it's not easy. It's very, very, very hard. For every 10 businesses that start, 9 will fail within their first two years of operation. But what's interesting is that for those individuals who start more than one business (generally 3 - 5), that statistic reverses itself - 9 out of 10 succeed into their fifth year! What's the difference?
Persistence.
Monday, August 21, 2006
"We Are Experiencing Technical Difficulties. Please Stand By."
The irony of this post doesn't escape me...if you can read this, then the problem is solved; otherwise...(that has kind of an apocolyptic tone to it, doesn't it?).
I created my Blogger account in July, but only started blogging last week. My last few posts have not made it onto the WWW yet, although there are "there" in my Blogger Dashboard. I've published each individual new post, as well as the entire blog, and none of the recent ones seem to be there. And not all of the menu buttons in the compose window seem to be working (spell check, "Insert Image", etc.)...of course, none of this is attributable to "User Error"... ;)
I have perused the Help files to no avail, so it's time to get more creative...
I created my Blogger account in July, but only started blogging last week. My last few posts have not made it onto the WWW yet, although there are "there" in my Blogger Dashboard. I've published each individual new post, as well as the entire blog, and none of the recent ones seem to be there. And not all of the menu buttons in the compose window seem to be working (spell check, "Insert Image", etc.)...of course, none of this is attributable to "User Error"... ;)
I have perused the Help files to no avail, so it's time to get more creative...
The Worldly Philosphers
I read this many years ago, during my MBA program. It was required reading, and it didn't seem to be directly related to the Economics I was learning at the time. And it's not an Economics book, per se. It's a book that will enable you to think about Economics. It's the context that it delivers to the reader that makes it valuable.I particularly liked the chapters discussing John Maynard Keynes and his arbitrage experiences, Schumpeter's views on the "fitfull starts and stops" of Capitalism, as well as the discussions of Malthus' and Marx's views.
It reminded me of similar essays discussing the evolution of many central ideas in Physics, and the people behind them, and how they came into being. The Worldy Philosophers provides a nice backdrop upon which one can more easiily view the evolution of Economic thought over the centuries. It is a well-written tome and I found it to be an easy read. I recommend the book, and when you can pick up a used copy in good conditon for less than $10.00 USD on Amazon, I think it's hard to go wrong.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
"It's the Singer, not the Song"
I watched "The Aristocrats" recently. For those of you haven't seen it yet, I won't spoil it for you; I think it's worth a rental. In a nutshell, the directors take a number of different comics and portray all of them telling their own version of the same joke; several of them even elaborate on it and relate their perspectives on the joke, it's place in comedy, etc. It's kind of like a documentary...but funny! I enjoyed the movie, but two things stuck with me:
1) Kevin Pollack's impression of Christopher Walken. First off, I like Christopher Walken. He seems to live in between multiple worlds! I like that guy. He is effective in multiple genres (drama, comedy, music videos, etc.), and while he doesn't seem to take himself seriously he does seem to take what he does seriously (to paraphrase my comedic philosopher / college roommate of many years ago). Plus, he's got his own style with which he does things. Which leads me to...
2) ...the title of this blog. One of the comics mentioned it when they were relating their perspective on the joke. And my mind (as it often does) riffed off of that and onto another tangent -
Leadership. An important word that often comes across as trite, and frequently trivialized with glib lip service. What is leadership? How do you identify it? How do you measure it? I've been thinking about this off and on for about a week. I had a conversation with a professional colleague, and we got around to the subject of leadership. In my opinion, if you don't have it or can't exhibit it with how you live, let alone how you do your job, it will come across as an ephemeral, taunting muse...you can see it, but it's just out of reach. You can see that you don't have it.
I think I've still got a lot to learn (which I think is part of the reason why I'm still around), but I am fortunate that I have had many leadership experiences from an early age. I think my first real leadership role was in the Boy Scouts, when I was about 12 and I had to get a bunch of older, teen ager boys to not just listen to me and do what I asked, but also to support me. Now that's a scary challenge for a young lad...
So, what is leadership, and how do you judge a leader? Most of the definitions I've read are tautological, and don't shed any new light on the subject (see Wikipedia or Merriam Webster's Dictionary for more data). My Dad used to quote Shakespeare's Henry V and the speech King Henry gave to his troops before the Battle of Agincourt (known as the St. Crispin's Day speech).
I'll give you my definition (and how I identify it), and then tell you how I measure it. I'm going to skip the obvious characterizations of title, office, majority party, etc., and focus on the more personal characteristics of Leadership. As with good Modern Art, "I know it when I see it".
There are two aspects to it - the internal and the external. The external can be seen through an individual's behaviors and measured by the results he produces. The internal is tougher to see or evaluate.
The external is what everyone sees; the internal is what everyone wants to know.
I've always like books of quotations, and I think Voltaire summed it up best when he referred to it as “...the fruits of labor, the price of courage.” You measure it by one's results (“...the fruits of labor...”); you identify it by the “...price of courage.” (how one makes decisions, especially difficult ones; how they use what they stand for in life to guide their actions).
Essentially, when it comes time to make a tough decision, how will one decide? Unlike the stock market, I think a person's past performance in this realm IS a good predictor of future performance. Leadership comes from one's character, and that doesn't really change too much after about age 7.
1) Kevin Pollack's impression of Christopher Walken. First off, I like Christopher Walken. He seems to live in between multiple worlds! I like that guy. He is effective in multiple genres (drama, comedy, music videos, etc.), and while he doesn't seem to take himself seriously he does seem to take what he does seriously (to paraphrase my comedic philosopher / college roommate of many years ago). Plus, he's got his own style with which he does things. Which leads me to...
2) ...the title of this blog. One of the comics mentioned it when they were relating their perspective on the joke. And my mind (as it often does) riffed off of that and onto another tangent -
Leadership. An important word that often comes across as trite, and frequently trivialized with glib lip service. What is leadership? How do you identify it? How do you measure it? I've been thinking about this off and on for about a week. I had a conversation with a professional colleague, and we got around to the subject of leadership. In my opinion, if you don't have it or can't exhibit it with how you live, let alone how you do your job, it will come across as an ephemeral, taunting muse...you can see it, but it's just out of reach. You can see that you don't have it.
I think I've still got a lot to learn (which I think is part of the reason why I'm still around), but I am fortunate that I have had many leadership experiences from an early age. I think my first real leadership role was in the Boy Scouts, when I was about 12 and I had to get a bunch of older, teen ager boys to not just listen to me and do what I asked, but also to support me. Now that's a scary challenge for a young lad...
So, what is leadership, and how do you judge a leader? Most of the definitions I've read are tautological, and don't shed any new light on the subject (see Wikipedia or Merriam Webster's Dictionary for more data). My Dad used to quote Shakespeare's Henry V and the speech King Henry gave to his troops before the Battle of Agincourt (known as the St. Crispin's Day speech).
I'll give you my definition (and how I identify it), and then tell you how I measure it. I'm going to skip the obvious characterizations of title, office, majority party, etc., and focus on the more personal characteristics of Leadership. As with good Modern Art, "I know it when I see it".
There are two aspects to it - the internal and the external. The external can be seen through an individual's behaviors and measured by the results he produces. The internal is tougher to see or evaluate.
The external is what everyone sees; the internal is what everyone wants to know.
I've always like books of quotations, and I think Voltaire summed it up best when he referred to it as “...the fruits of labor, the price of courage.” You measure it by one's results (“...the fruits of labor...”); you identify it by the “...price of courage.” (how one makes decisions, especially difficult ones; how they use what they stand for in life to guide their actions).
Essentially, when it comes time to make a tough decision, how will one decide? Unlike the stock market, I think a person's past performance in this realm IS a good predictor of future performance. Leadership comes from one's character, and that doesn't really change too much after about age 7.
This is what I thought of when I heard the quote I used for this blog's title. It was mentioned in reference to the telling of a particular joke. I heard it in reference to how one leads in life (business, family, self, etc.).
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Who's Sorry Now?
Apparently, the video game industry is. Still. And I'm not sure why.
It seems to me that most of the articles out there written about the video games industry generally have at least one of the following two themes present in the article:
“I'm sorry that video games seem so violent to you (a non-video game playing person or organization). They aren't to us (the video game industry), because we know that they are just made up worlds we've created to play in, and frankly we don't take ourselves that seriously anyway.”
“Hey everybody, we're a real industry and you should take us seriously!”
I think it's time to relinquish the second one. With video game budgets reaching the sizes of some feature film budgets, development cycles stretching out almost as long as feature films, and industry revenues in the same neighborhood as the motion pictures industry, I think the video game industry should admit that they have "grown up” somewhat and just get on with the business. I don't hear the likes of Youtube, Facebook or Myspace apologizing for a huge marketplace presence or multi-hundred million dollar valuations (after only a few months and a modest business model). Video games, as a genre, have been in existence for over 40 years (NOTE: for a brief, cool look at this, check out my friend's recent visit with a living legend – one of the, if not THE, industry founder – Ralph Baer).
The USA Today had two big stories today related to video games:
- one profiled the new Wii from Nintendo and a Q & A with Reginald Fils-Aime, Nintendo of Americas new President and Chief Operating Officer
- one profiled 4 video games as examples of how "games can be helpful"
See what I mean? I think these were pretty informative articles, but I don't hear similar undercurrents in articles about Ford, NTT Docomo, Pfizer, etc.
What I think is interesting about this, however, is that it seems to be ubiquitous; there isn't one particular writer, editor or publication taking this tack. It seems fairly prevalent.
So what's it going to to take to change this? I think the industry itself has to change and move itself forward. One of the things that struck me at E3 this year was not the ubiquitous Booth Babes. It was what I call the lack of originality in the content. Generally speaking, the new game releases broke out into the following categories:
1. Themes:
- "Dungeons and Dragons" genre (these would be the Worlds of Warcraft, etc.)
- "shooting games" (could be FPS' like Unreal Tournament, Call of Duty, the various vehicular combat simulations, etc.)
2. Line Extensions of Existing Franchises:
- almost any game that uses one or more of the following: Star Wars characters or story lines, Marvel comic heroes, Disney characters, any new movie or TV show release (Desperate Housewives??? Really? So "desperate housewives" are playing video games now, it's not just 13-year old kids in the basement?)
3. "Casual Games""
- in quotes because even though everyone in the industry seems to have a certain perception about it, it's coming across to me as "We know there's an undefiend market segment out there, and we think that it happens to be the bulk of our target market. However, since we can't quite define it very specifically, we're going to "throw a lot of stuff" at it (i.e. - subscription revenue models, ringtones, Bejeweled and "classic" game knock-offs (or re-published versions), etc.) and see what sticks". No risks here...these are all merely "investments in micro-markets."
One of the latest market perspectives to gain a lot of attention has been articulated by Chris Anderson, and his notion of long tail economics. With enabling technologies like the internet, I personally think this is the first era where we can actually see these dynamics play out in real-time. Examples:
Success - Cable TV. Bruce got it wrong when he said there were 57 channels with nuthin' on - there are literally over 500 channels (depending on your service provider and package) with nothing on - except those shows that are really of interest to you. And if you can find something unique enough for you, head over to Youtube or MySpace
(potential) Failure - Satellite Radio. What was supposed to be a great revolution to revitalize the medium is actually turning into a losing business venture (at least for the foreseeable future). What's great about satellite radio is the broader spectrum of offerings (literally). What's bad about it is getting it paid for - either through subscription revenue (which is another en vogue business concept these days, that shouldn't be applied as ubiquitously as people seem inclined to do so - but that's another blog I'm cooking up), or by charging advertisers higher rates to reach a more refined audience. The Wall Street Journal reported today that XM Satellite Radio and Sirius are losing significant amounts of money at a time when they forecasted to be making significant amounts of money.
What I object to, however, is this concept being applied "everywhere". The crisis isn't a lack of content, it's a dearth of creativity. It's imagination. The technology already exists. Stop apologizing and let's get on with the business already!
As I said to the panelists at E3, if I'm wrong and long tail economics apply here, then there really is a market for Aunt Bea's Quilting Smack-down!, and I will be here waiting to try it out, with virtual knitting needles on my cell phone...who's the Developer and Publisher willing to put their money where their mouth is?
Monday, August 14, 2006
Why start blogging...
"Just what the world needs..." I thought in response to the latest person who said I should start blogging. "...someone else to share their opinions on whatever, so whomever can read them, for whatever reason."
What is this fascination people seem to have with blogging, anyway? Does everyone really crave to be heard that much?!?!? At any rate, I've succumed to the overwhelming requests for me to start blogging (that's a total of 3, including my dog Casey, in case you're keeping track). And so we begin...
I expect that this blog will mostly be related to business - ideas I've come up with, interesting observations, juxtapositions of various things, etc. I'll probably deviate from that path now and again, and hold forth with my opinions on music, movies and whatever else comes to mind.
I hope you enjoy the time you've wasted here on my blog. Do share your comments.
Cheers!
What is this fascination people seem to have with blogging, anyway? Does everyone really crave to be heard that much?!?!? At any rate, I've succumed to the overwhelming requests for me to start blogging (that's a total of 3, including my dog Casey, in case you're keeping track). And so we begin...
I expect that this blog will mostly be related to business - ideas I've come up with, interesting observations, juxtapositions of various things, etc. I'll probably deviate from that path now and again, and hold forth with my opinions on music, movies and whatever else comes to mind.
I hope you enjoy the time you've wasted here on my blog. Do share your comments.
Cheers!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
