The age of the Infocalypse

Image by Marshall Astor – Food Pornographer via Flickr

Image by kevindooley via Flickr

This world is now a heaving social consciousness that shifts and proclaims and tweets and updates and spouts gouts of data, information and knowledge about itself. What was once a series of nodes, is now a singular navel gazing datastrosity that finds itself reflected in a mirror that reflects to eternity. Its holding a mirror to itself, speaking into a mouthpiece, without a filter, it has its own ear hard up against its mouth, and this mouth whispers and whispers and whispers information which people are free to attach and attribute meaning and to anchor celebrity and diggs and likes.

It is the age of the infocalypse, where everyone can choose to be the Protagonist. We are no longer mere  consumers – we can take it upon ourselves and hide and block some and follow others. We can start our own memes, and incite our own flashmob.

Now is the time. Tom0rrow is the time. Anytime is a good time. The global village is no longer a village. We’ve upgraded and reached escape velocity. All information is now accessible if you have the user privileges. Google is going for the early land grab. Microsoft is making you view the land through their own window. How you see the information is a matter of the browser and the browsed.

What is next after the internet? Metaverse.  Datafeed –> Omnifeed –> Food for thought.

TGS – Tokyo Game Show Episode II

TGS

The message delivered at the TGS last week by many of the top Game Executives was that its not the hardware that will be ruling the industry – but in fact the software. The Big Three (Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo) console makers now find themselves competing with mobile smart phones and the ever evolving Apple iPhone. Content as always, is KING. The threat of applications being developed and hosted on the Appstore for a mere 99 cents bites into the console gaming market.

Announcements were made by heads of Sega, Sony to name a few were that diversification was on its way. Software development for all platforms and for all markets – not just Japan but the greater Western world would be in the pipeline.

More notable themes of the TGS were:

• Economic Recession = less exhibitors and less attendees – approx. 27000 in 2009 vs 105,000 in 2008 on the first day of opening.
• More Mobile gaming exhibits were present at the TGS compared to last year.
• Content will become downloadable in future.
• Strength is relying on the internet and social media networks to capture gamers.
• Console prices dropped.
• Game Publishers now develop content for ALL consoles…Where does your loyalty live with?

Main Game Titles on Display -

• Assassins Creed II
• Call of Duty II
• Gran Turismo 5
• The Last Guardian
• Ninokuni: The Another World
• MetalGear Solid Peace Walker
• Final Fantasy XIII
• End of Eternity
• Lunar
• Last Ranker
• White Knight Chronicles 2
• Phantasy Star 2 Portable

Other Areas of Interest

1. Game Schools – Universities showcasing their courses to future game developers
2. Business Solutions – Solutions to help Gaming Publishers – Payment, Music, Font, Delivery.
3. Mobile – Games developed specifically for Mobile Phones.
4. International Area – developers and Publishers from Specific Countries housed under one roof – EG: China, Canada, Taiwan, Holland.
5. Kids – Yes, even an area just for children’s games.

Official Attendance TGS

Day 1 – 27,435 Visitors (2008: 27,305 Visitors)
Day 2 – 24,605 Visitors (2008: 24,178 Visitors)
Day 3 – 61,138 Visitors (2008: 71,639 Visitors)
Day 4 – 71,852 Visitors (2008: 71,166 Visitors)
Total: 185,030 Visitors (2008: 194,288 Visitors)

Case Study: Nokia’s Product Market Diversification Strategy

Diversification Ansoff Matrix

Diversification is an Organisational Strategy for sustainability and growth. Its not a new strategy by any means but it is a necessary one. Nokia, the leading consumer mobile phone producer have now taken the next step towards creating new markets with new products and services. Let’s take a closer look at this strategy!

The eBook Battle

The closest I’ve come to an eBook is my old Palm PDA. I use to download scripts of my favourite movies for long car rides. Pulp Fiction on PDA. Predator on the Palm. Nowadays, things have changed a bit, but eBooks still seem to be grappling to take a foothold – in the Singapore market, at least.

Generally, there are two main eBook products with many third parties, a distant third. (as an example, see Cnet Asia here)

The Amazon Kindle (and the more recent Kindle 2) is the front runner, thanks to Amazons early efforts and backed by its winning formula online shopping site and book archive.

In the opposing corner, the Sony Reader Digital Book PRS-700BC , the primary challenger.

In addition to being able to read ebooks on the iPhone,  I’m convinced Apple is also about to officially join the royal rumble with their intended tablet, which more are claiming will land in early 2010.  Dell, Intel, and HTC amongst others are reportedly going down the same tech path, I can imagine, we could soon all be like the flintstones and their rock tablets. But, lets not.

So, why don’t I (or most people) own an eBook reader?

Microsoft Zune HD – First Take

So you’ve all heard this before – here comes the next iPod, iPod Touch, iPhone Killer…*Yawn* and interestingly enough the gadget usually doesn’t live up to the Hype! Make no mistake – Apple is a history maker and trail blazer, they produce quality products and will forever be known as the company that changed the way Digital Media is consumed.

So we find ourselves in a familiar position with Microsoft’s Zune HD – Microsoft’s fourth attempt at toppling the iPod and now iPod Touch.

In this first take I’m going to highlight what i call the differentiators that separate the Zune HD from the iPod Touch. These are the technical specifications that look different on paper. But we all know, you’ve still got to turn up and play the game!

Zune HD vs iPod Touch