The Recession Proof Video Game Industry
November 26, 2008
Are video games recession proof? The evidence seems to be piling up the favor of the video industry. It makes sense. People will still want to be entertained and video games are a cost effective way of entertaining even small crowds in the digital living room.
Dominos and Tivo show us the future of e-commerce
November 18, 2008
Much of commerce rides on impulse purchasing – you see a McDonald’s sign on the road and hungry, spot a shirt while window browsing and must purchase, or buy a video game after playing a demo at Best Buy. The key to impulse buying is making it fast, easy and on-demand. Tivo and Domino’s are showing how a whole new world may now open up.
TiVo subscribers will be able to be sitting and watching TV, see a Domino’s Pizza commercial or placement in a TV spot and click on on “Order Your Dominos Pizza Now.”
I’ve always believed that the easier, faster and simpler something is made, the more you’re likely to use it. Assuming this well targeted – an assumption I’m making – Domino’s will now reach people at the right time and place (4pm on a Football Sunday) to suggest it’s time to order the pizza. And, yes, I think even cutting out the need to go to a Website or phone to place the order will help them succeed. After all, if one TV in-show ad suggest calling the pizzeria and another says just click a button, which one do you think the true couch potato will use?
Next up, reminding and letting guys order Valentine’s Day gifts without breaking away from the basketball game….
Check out the screen shot from Zatznotfunny.com
Sling.com review: Hulu with a Sling box
November 13, 2008
I gave the sling.com beta a run today and found a site that, while not differentiated from many other Hulu ride-alongs, has the potential to break out from the pack. I’ll admit, I’m not a Sling box fanatic (I never seem to meet mere users, just fanatics) but more of an Orb user.
The summary review is this: it’s Hulu with a connection to your Sling box. For Sling box users it makes sense to have sling.com as their main Web entertainment site. For others, I the advantage over just using Hulu did not jump out.
That said, I would imagine Sling.com already knows this and either 1) they would be happy with the growing base of Sling box users; or 2) they have more tricks up their sleeve. I’m sure the rumor mill will let us know soon enough.
(disclosure: the writer works with a large Web video company)
Consumers and media shift from Web to mobile applications
November 7, 2008
The last few years were a flurry of Web 2.0, Web video, Web casual gaming and other Web application topics. At the same time, there was much industry discussion about mobile devices moving beyond voice (and email for businesses) and becoming true portable entertainment and Web devices. While the iPhone made people realize a cell phone was now a mobile entertainment device, it was the iPhone 2.0 App store that spurred broader discussion, and demand, for mobile applications.
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