Today, Pebble announced their latest smartwatch the Pebble Time. The new smartwatch was made available to backers on Kickstarter before its release to the general public. What’s amazing about the release of the Pebble Time was how quickly it reached its goal of $500,000 dollars, which also led the Pebble Time to break the record for the fastest campaign to reach $1 million dollars.
The Pebble Time reached $500,000 dollars in just 33-minutes and passed $1 million dollars in only 49-minutes. This blew the 162-minute record held by Reaper Miniature Bones out of the water. Currently, the campaign has received over $7.5 million dollars pledged and continues to increase in backers. At this rate, it does not appear that the Pebble Time will struggle to surpass the $10 million dollars pledged in the original Pebble campaign; especially with 30 days to spare.
Pebble also introduced their new interface “Timeline,” a new way of organizing and accessing your information. Pebble Time is also 20% thinner than the original Pebble and has an ergonomic curved design to more comfortably fit around your wrist. You can find out more about the new smartwatch in the video Pebble put out below:
If you did not catch everything in the video, here are some of the key features of the Pebble Watch:
Always-on, daylight readable color screen with a great backlight
Up to 7 day battery life even with the color screen
Language and international character support (Chinese coming soon!)
The timeline feature will work on Pebble and Pebble Steel (exact date TBD)
Works with iOS 8 on iPhone 4s and above
Works with all Android 4.0+ phones including Samsung, HTC, Sony, LG, Google, Motorola, Xiaomi and more
One of the major differences of Pebble watches (including the Pebble Time) is the fact that it does not feature a touch screen. This helps the watch provide greater batter life. It will be interesting to see how the Pebble Time does after the release of the much-anticipated Apple Watch. Although if their Kickstarter campaign is any indication of their ability to contend, we shouldn’t have need for concern.
Do you think the Pebble Time will be as successful as the original Pebble? How do you think the release of the Apple Watch will impact the Pebble Time? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
E3 is around corner and Oculus is getting ahead of the action in a number of unveilings in a press conference the week beforehand. Virtual reality is an emerging industry and a number of players are getting aggressive in their attempt to take hold of early market share. Oculus made a number of huge announcements Thursday. We’ve packaged them up for you so that you don’t have to dig around for the details. Check out all the best Oculus announcements below!
Consumer Oculus Rift Revealed!
We’ve seen a number of prototypes of the Oculus Rift over the past couple of years. Oculus finally displayed the consumer version of their soon to be released virtual reality headset. The new rig looks polished with a set of wireless integrated (yet removable) headphones, a lighter and more “glasses friendly” design, and an incredibly engrossing OLED screen with an incredible field of view. (Photos at the bottom of the article) The consumer version of the Oculus Rift is set to be released in quarter one of 2016. Every Oculus Rift will include a wireless Xbox One controller. (More on this partnership in the next section.)
A full Oculus Rift setup may be a bit costly for some. Due to the render intensive nature of Virtual Reality, the goggles require a high-end gaming computer to be able to fully support the Oculus Rift. As a result, the total setup cost has been estimated by some to be around $1,500 dollars. The exact cost of the headset alone has not been revealed.
Oculus + Xbox One = Project Morpheus’ Twisted Sister
After Sony announced their virtual reality headset for the Playstation 4 last year, many have wondered what cards Microsoft has up its sleeve in the virtual reality space. Some speculated that the console would make use of Microsoft’s Augmented Reality headset, the Hololens. However, in Oculus’ press conference we found out Microsoft’s real Ace of Spades.
Xbox announced at the Oculus’ press conference that the Oculus Rift will be Windows 10 compatible. They also announced that using the Virtual Cinema feature, users will be able to play Xbox games on their Oculus Rift. How will this work?
Xbox will stream its games over the local network to a compatible Windows 10 PC
User will plug-in their Oculus Rift and Xbox One controller into their PC
Using the Oculus Rift, users will be able to play games on a virtual big screen
Currently, the VR experience is limited to playing regular style video games within a virtual theater. What I mean by this is that the virtual reality experience is the theatre as opposed to the Xbox One game itself. Streaming an actual virtual reality experience over a local network could be problematic. One of the biggest hurdles virtual reality has faced over the years is latency. Latency was one of the primary causes for the motion sickness that many experienced in early builds of the Oculus Headset.
Game streaming over a local network has improved drastically with experiences such as Playstation’s Remote Play and the Nividia Shield, however, neither are without noticeable latency. Such added latency would not bode well for a virtual reality experience.. This is likely why Oculus chose to make the virtual cinema the virtual reality experience while simply playing video games in classic “on-screen” style within the virtual cinema; as the computer (not the Xbox) is natively generating the imaging for the virtual cinema. It will be interesting to see if this new partnership between Microsoft and Oculus will eventually bring native Oculus Rift support to the Xbox One without a PC as the “middle-man.” Time will tell.
Announcing a New form of Input: Oculus Touch
The included Xbox One controller will not be the only form of input for the Oculus Rift. Thursday, Oculus announced the Oculus Touch controllers. These unique input devices place two motion controllers in each of your hands. These controllers allow you to interact with virtual content in a much more realistic way. In addition to capturing your motion, each controller has two face-buttons, a joystick, and two trigger buttons. (Shooting seems to be a common thread in video games – a trigger-less input would be like an empty banana.)
As you can see in the picture, the controllers wrap around your hand. While you may have thought this was just a futuristic design, the controllers can actually read your hand gestures. You might finally be able to give that sarcastic thumbs up sign to your virtual friends in the near future.
No word on price or release date, but the Oculus Touch is expected to release in Q1 2016 after the release of the Oculus Rift itself.
$10 Million Fund for Indie Developers
Every gaming platform released struggles to have sufficient titles to keep users busy while developers finish the development cycle of their next games. Oculus is pushing hard to fill that oft-famine that occurs shortly after a gaming platform’s release. The company has created a $10 million dollar fund to provide capital to independent developers to develop VR games and experiences. The folks at NDTV have a particularly good explanation as to why this is such a smart move on Oculus’ behalf:
This is particularly important because most big developers – who have huge budgets on the line – can’t take too many risks to figure out what works and what doesn’t in the world of VR. A small indie on the other hand is going to be willing to make weird experiences like a VR cinema, or a Web browser. These early experiments are going to be very important in helping to understand what works and what doesn’t in VR.
Can’t say we don’t agree. Virtual Reality is still in its infancy and most projects are/have been experimental. For the Oculus Rift to be a viable consumer platform, a variety of polished virtual reality experiences need to be available out of the gate. Capital will be a driving force behind this.
Teleportation Device?!
It’s easy to visualize the Oculus Rift as a gaming or movie platform, but many have overlooked the potential application of virtual reality within other aspects of life. According to the New York Times, Facebook’s Chief Technology Officer Michael Schroepfer, made a very interesting comment about the company’s plans for Oculus beyond gaming when he said, “This is a teleportation device…”
This comment helps bridge the gap as to why a social media company would pay billions to purchase a virtual reality company. In the same way video calling revolutionized communication, virtual reality could be the next step to finally bringing gramps to that family reunion; despite being tethered to his bed in the nursing home. The implication of such technology is huge and shows incredible promise. Schroepfer goes on to say, “What people are missing is that we have a clear path of research and development”, indicating that Facebook has calculated plans in terms of bringing such technology to the masses. The future is bright.
These are exciting times in the virtual reality space. What are your thoughts on all of Oculus’ recent announcements? Are you going to buy the Oculus Rift? Let us know in the comments below.
For your viewing pleasure, below are some additional images of the Oculus Rift:
Before Virtual Reality can reach mainstream adoption, Oculus and other VR advocates need to foster games and apps that really showcase its potential. It’s for this reason that Oculus is throwing an “Oculus’ Mobile VR Jam” contest this year. This “Jam” will allow developers the ability to compete in creating the best “apps, games, and experiences” tailored for Samsung’s Gear VR Innovators Edition. (VR already on the consumer market that leverages the screen of the Galaxy Note 4)
Oculus is offering a pool of $1 million dollars in prizes that will be divided into prize packages for two groups; one for games and the other for apps and “experiences.” The contest will last about a month beginning on April 13th and winners will be announced in June. Developers are expected to submit work at various milestones to qualify and demonstrate progress on their project.
Judgement day for these apps will work as follows per Oculus:
Mobile VR Jam 2015 will have 2 rounds of judging. First, we’ll review videos, images, and descriptions of all the entries to find the most fun and innovative ideas. The top 20% from each track (with a minimum of 30 games and 20 apps or experiences) will go on to the next round, where a panel of judges will play and rate them.
The$1 million dollar cash prizes will be divided amongst 26 winners. The game that is chosen for “Platinum Game” will receive a hefty paycheck of $200,000 dollars. The two “Gold Games” will be chosen and awarded $100,000 dollars each. Four “Silver Games” will be awarded $50,000 dollars each, while 10 “Bronze Games” to receive $10,000 dollars each.
Interestingly enough, Apps and Experiences are allotted a lesser amount of cash prizes with the “Platinum App” only receiving half of what the “Platinum Game” will receive: $100,000 dollars. Still a nice paycheck for what most developers would consider a fun, exciting, and engaging project/competition. You can view all the prize amounts and details about the contest on Oculus’ contest post.
This is not the first time that Oculus has put on a development contest to foster such innovation. Back in 2013, the company held a similar contest, but the focus was solely on game development and the prize was microscopic in comparison; $50,000 divided amongst the winners.
Fatter wallets aside, what’s more interesting about this year’s contest are the prizes for apps and “experiences.” Over the past few years, developers have created a number of interesting “experiences” for the Oculus Rift that show ways in which Virtual Reality can be used beyond the application of gaming. Below are some of the more interesting “experiences” we’ve seen with the Oculus Rift thus far:
Virtual Reality Films
Earlier this year, Oculus demoed the potential for Virtual Reality films at the Sundance Film Festival. They also premiered their new film production crew led by a former Pixar director. While reviews on the experience were across the board, many were enamored with the idea of being completely immerse in their films. Critics stated that it wasn’t sufficiently interactive. The question is, at what point does an interactive film become a video game? Most of us want to be lazy when we watch movies anyway. We think they are onto something that could be huge. You can read our full article on Oculus Rift films here.
Virtual Reality Fitness
Virtual Reality had a strong presence this past January at the Consumer Electronics shows. A number of different Virtual Reality fitness apps were on display. Two apps that stuck out to us were Runtastic and Ebove B\01. Runtastic is a virtual personal trainer that takes you to exotic locations to do your squats; because living room squats just aren’t enough. The Ebove B\01 is actually more than just an app, it’s a full-fledged interactive VR bike that enables you to exercise inside of your home while hitting some incredible trails. The bike moves in accordance with the elevation changes of the ground creating an extremely immersive experience. You can read our initial thoughts on these “experiences” here.
Google Street View
Oculus Street View is an app that mods the typical Google Street View from Google Maps and allows you to immerse yourself into various places. Because Google captures a 360 degree image in its Street View application, you can look around and experience some incredible landmarks. Now, you can finally experience that Eiffel Tower that you’ve always wanted to visit.
As you can tell, we’re extremely excited for the prospect of Virtual Reality. Hopefully, the hefty cash prize of this year’s contest will foster some innovation in both the areas of both games and apps. We’ll keep you posted and we learn more about cool and exciting projects that result from this contest.
What do you think of Virtual Reality? Do you think it’s a fad that will soon die out? Or do you think Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg knows what he’s doing in investing big in Virtual Reality? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
These internet fast lanes have the potential to become a catalyst for monopolies.”
Net Neutrality has been a public debate for a few years now. Today, Obama made a public announcement on Whitehouse.gov about his plans and intentions for Net Neutrality. In his official statement (which can be viewed below) he explains why we have a need for Net Neutrality and urges the FCC to adopt stricter Net Neutrality standards. Check out his official statement in the video below:
Obama’s primary philosophy in his statement is that we, as the general public, have become just as reliant on an internet connection as public communication services, such as the telephone. He urges to the FCC to reclassified broadband internet as a public utility to protect our rights to it.
In case you’ve been in a coma for the past couple of years, Net Neutrality, according to PublicKnowledge.org, “is the principle that Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications equally, regardless of the source, without favoring or blocking particular online services or websites.” Why is this such a big deal? Without Net Neutrality, companies like Verizon and Comcast would have the ability to charge a premium for fast lanes on the internet. Thus, making it harder for the little guys to connect with their consumers because priority connection is given to the highest bidder. These internet fast lanes have the potential to become a catalyst for monopolies.
Courtesy of Commonprogress.com
Additionally, these extra charges eat into the margins of the services provided by any company offering an online service; such as Netflix or Hulu. The likely way to absorb the cost would be to put as much onto the consumer as possible without driving away too many customers. Remember when Netflix changed their pricing a few years ago? Imagine the public outcry if every internet service did that at the same time. These fast lanes have the potential to cause such a ripple.
The converse argument coming from internet service providers is that becoming a public utility could potentially stifle innovation in the area of broadband internet. If they can’t increase their bottom line, how can they invest more heavily in further developing higher connection speeds and mediums of connections. It is a valid argument, but in my opinion, the trade-off is not worth the potential to stifle our entire nation from online innovation.
Join with us in promoting the cause of Net Neutrality. Heck, if fast lanes existed today, it’s unlikely that most of you would be reading this article due to us being a start-up and getting much lower priority than the giants out there.
What are your thoughts on Net Neutrality? Are you concerned more about enabling online innovation or further developing the technology behind broadband? Let us know in the comments below.
Wristbands, lately, seem to be all the rage. Ever since Livestrong started the trend with their rubber yellow bands, a revolution has begun. Nymi, an electronic wristband by Bionym, is the latest device aimed at taking your wristly real estate. (Yes, I did just coin the word wristly) This wrist band monitors your heart rate, identifies patterns, and creates a baseline personality profile based on the unique bio-metric reading of your heart beat. This reading is then used as a form of authentication.
This unique heart beat finger print, or “cardiac rhythm“, will then allow you to unlock a myriad of different devices and services. One of the primary uses of the device would be as a form of mobile payment using the Bitcoin app on the device. With many consumers concerned about using mobile forms of payment due to a lack of trust and understanding in the software and hardware, Nymi has a unique opportunity to provide security on a much deeper level. Cardiac rhythm as a form of authentication is brand new, meaning that there will likely be a learning curve before hackers can identify an effective way around the authentication. This makes for one of the most secure devices soon to be on the market.
Additionally, the actual payment information is stored on the device itself requiring a biometric match prior to accessing the payment information. This is significantly more secure than storing the information in the cloud using standard encryption due to not being connected to any networks except when authenticating payments. This is further validated by Bionym’s Chief Cryptographer in a press release when he stated, ” the wallet is physically stored on the Nymi. The Nymi’s multi-factor system, including its ECG biometric, ensures secure Bitcoin storage tied to the rightful owner.”
Additionally, the device will not be limited to just payment apps. Bionym envisions the device being used in a variety of forms of authentication. This could range from logging into something as simple as Netflix to unlocking your front door. The possibilities are endless, yet the science of the security is sound.
The device is set to ship sometime this fall and can be pre-ordered on their website here. What are your thoughts on the device? Does using biometrics bring a level of security that would make you comfortable with a new form of payment? Let us know in the comments below.
The NoPhone is an interesting phenomenon. If you would have asked me if I thought a plastic fake smartphone could generate $20,000 worth of interest on Kickstarter a year ago, I would have responded with something like, “in your dreams.” I love it when the world proves me wrong. To preface this review, I want to tell you a bit of the back-story behind why I’m reviewing it.
I wrote a news article a few weeks back regarding a study that showed separation anxiety amongst iPhone users when separated from their phones. Within a week of that article’s release, NoPhone reached out to us stating that “the NoPhone is a technology-free alternative to constant hand-to-phone contact” implying that they had a solution to smartphone separation anxiety.
As I initially researched the NoPhone it was difficult to perceive as to whether their product was intended to be a joke/gag gift, or a legitimate product for the purpose of helping you break free from the reigns of your smartphone addiction. When you visit their bio, they explain that it was originally a satire idea in response to always going out and spending time together needing to be attached to their phones. However, they discovered that demand for such a technology substitute existed. This demand caused them to launch their successful Kickstarter campaign. In light of the NoPhone’s back-story, I’m going to review the NoPhone from both sides of the coin; as a non-technology smartphone alternative, and a satire idea in light of our smartphone addictions.
Design and Specifications
The NoPhone has definitely taken a few pages out of both the iPhone and Android playbooks in terms of its design. The device is a little bit smaller than the iPhone 6 plus. It has a (fake) reflective screen, (fake) volume buttons on the side, a (fake) silence switch, in addition to a (fake) home button, (fake) speakers, and a (fake) camera.
The adhesive “selfie-sticker” is a simple reflective stick-on that allows you to look at yourself in Ultra-Ultra-HD; also known as RL (Real Life). It is worth noting that my selfie-sticker had a dimple in the middle of it which caused my face to look distorted when I would look into it. There is nothing worse than a mirror that makes you feel like Golem from Lord of the Rings every time you gaze at yourself. (though this may not have been caused exclusively by the mirror’s dimple)
The NoPhone has some interesting specs. The following are the company’s provided specs in comparison to the iPhone:
As you can see from their specs sheet, the company clearly has a sense of humor. On a more serious note, Real Face Time is something we need more of in the world around us. If their product can drive an increase in face-to-face interactions, the NoPhone has the potential to make a real difference in the world. In my testing, all of the specs proved to be true except for one: being shatter-proof. During the rigorous testing (which you will see below) I lost a few chunks of plastic from the phone. The NoPhone is, however, sufficiently durable for regular use.
Overall, the device is well designed according to the standards which we expect from smartphones on the market today.
Anxiety-Free Technology Replacement
To test the NoPhone’s ability to be a smartphone replacement in an actual scenario where I might be better off without a phone, I decided to ditch my iPhone for the NoPhone while going to church. (Definitely a place that might be better off without phones.) One of the first things that I noticed while I had the NoPhone at church is that I did exactly what I do with my regular phone: hold it, flip it, and play with it.
The NoPhone’s “Real FaceTime” feature is actually surprisingly more effective than you would think. As I played with the NoPhone, many people would ask what it was. It ended up turning into an excellent conversation starter and helped me get to know more people around me. It also forced me to look outwards and interact as I didn’t have apps to steal away my attention. On a separation anxiety note, I didn’t feel any high levels of anxiety without my iPhone while carrying the NoPhone; although I don’t have any objective data from the experience to compare to my baseline stress and blood pressure levels.
Being critical of the NoPhone as a technology replacement, there were a few times when I really needed a ‘functional’ smartphone to either contact someone, take notes, or view my calendar. We’ve become extremely reliant on our smartphones in so many ways that anxiety aside, we’re practically dysfunctional without them. A non-technology smartphone substitute is good in theory until you have a legitimate need for a real smartphone. A better alternative to the NoPhone might be a smartphone without facebook/instagram/games/ etc…
Overall, the device does a surprisingly good job of helping you be more social and engaging with the world around you. It is not, however, a substitute for technology. You’re going to need to keep a smartphone nearby for use when necessary.
Satire: The NoPhone As a Utility Device
The NoPhone was originally intended to be a gag-gift, or joke of sorts; and it is an excellent one. While using the device, I got quite a few laughs out of the Misses with terrible jokes such as Verizon’s: “can you hear me now” or just sitting there endlessly tapping on the non-existent touch screen until I got the attention of people around me. After spending some time with the device, I began to wonder what other uses the NoPhone might provide. Below are some examples of my testing of the NoPhone as a multi-purpose utility device:
Hammer – Fail
The NoPhone does not serve well as a hammer. While the nail definitely slowly penetrates the wood with each strike, the NoPhone would not be an effective long-term hammer replacement. After a few millimeters of hammering, there were already chunks missing out of the side of the NoPhone. Stick to your regular hammer.
Soup Stirrer/Spoon – Success
The NoPhone was a surprising substitute for a spoon or a spatula when making soup. The NoPhone’s solid waterproof design ensured that the liquid from the soup didn’t cause damage, while the width of the phone provided just enough drag to properly mix the soup. Disclaimer: We are in no way responsible if stirring hot soup causes chemicals from the plastic to inflict food poisoning. Proceed at your own risk.
Slicing Fruit – Success
As you can see from the slow-motion image above, the NoPhone can cut through bananas like katana cut through flesh. The banana did not stand a chance. It’s worth noting that I felt almost zero resistance while cutting through the banana, just ensure that you’re cutting at high speeds. A slow slice could lead to a mushy banana, something not even a baboon would touch.
Slow Motion Device Gymnastics – Success
This above video was initially a test of the NoPhone’s durability, however, in slow motion it became one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. As a result, an added utility of the device is slow-motion-device-gymnastics, something the NoPhone invented today.
Self-Defense Tool – Success
Being the hard piece of plastic that it is, the NoPhone could certainly cause some damage in the event that you need to use it as a weapon. While my testing was limited (for the sake of my face), it did a number on my ear. See image above for details.
Television Remote – Fail
Being the shape of a remote and about the weight of a remote, I was optimistic that it would function like a television remote. Unfortunately, due to the device having zero electronics inside, it did not perform well as a TV remote. Don’t waste your time.
In short, the NoPhone performed surprisingly well as a multi-purpose utility device. While certainly not a hammer or television remote replacement, you can use this hunk of plastic to accomplish a wide variety of tasks. Overall, using the NoPhone as a multi-purpose utility device was a success.
Conclusion
After spending quite a bit of time with the NoPhone, I’m not sure that I would ever purchase the device for myself intentionally. However, this doesn’t mean my wife wouldn’t purchase it for me to help curb my smartphone addictive tendencies. I would also likely buy this as a gag-gift for friends that don’t know where to draw limits in their phone usage.
If you actually intend to use the NoPhone as a phone replacement to help curb addiction, it does a surprisingly good job of giving you something to play with. It’s also a great conversation starter to help you improve upon your social skills. While I’m not sure how niche the market is for such a device, clearly $20,000 dollars raised on Kickstarter has shown that a market does indeed exists. If this device interests you, you can purchase the NoPhone on their website for $12 dollars.
What are your thoughts on the NoPhone? Would you buy it for yourself? As a gag-gift? How else have you used the NoPhone as a utility device? Sound off in the comments below.
It’s a sad day when the press conference of a legendary giant like Nintendo feels like a little league baseball game amongst the professionals. Today, Nintendo put on their digital only E3 press conference to make their annual announcements. Being a Nintendo fan myself, I walked away disappointed in Nintendo questioning their future. I would hate to see the happenings of Sega play as a re-run for Nintendo, but signs point to that unfortunate fate. Hopefully, Nintendo will soon see the error of their ways and course-correct. (At least Curtis’s E3 prediction didn’t come true.)
Super Smash Brothers – Courtesy of Games.com
The Good
While their conference wasn’t anything mind-blowing, Nintendo came out doing what they do best: making announcements about new entries in their classic franchises. The conference came down to two heavy hitter announcements: Star Fox Zero and Super Mario Maker.
Star Fox Zero made its debut today in an announcements. This is the first Star Fox title on the Wii U console. All of the staples of Star Fox are readily apparent, barrel rolls and all. What is unique about this game are the ways in which you use the gamepad to control your ship. By leveraging the gyroscope in the gamepad, you simply move it in the direction of where you want to fly and shoot from within the cockpit. Your television screen gives you the 3rd person perspective you know well from past games. It will be interesting to see how these new mechanics resonate with players as most unique gamepad uses have proven rather gimmicky in cases past.
The other title that made a splash during their digital press conference was Super Mario Maker. If Mario and Sackboy(Sackgirl…?) had a baby, it would be Super Mario Maker. The game allows you to bring together your creative juices and build your own worlds within the Mario galaxy. If there is one game I’m excited for from Nintendo, it’s Super Mario Maker.
Nintendo also announced quite a few other games including Zelda: TriForce Heroes, Metroid Prime Federation Force, Yokai Watch, and more. These new titles are great for hardcore Nintendo fans, but a horse can only be beaten so many times before its dead, and the pulse of this horse is slowing down.
The Bad and the Ugly
The biggest problem with Nintendo’s conference this year is that it was a spitting image of conferences for the past couple of years showing very little deviation from the classic Nintendo galaxy. A remake of Yoshi Island but with characters made out of yarn, a new Zelda game with a few new mechanics, and another entry in Mario Tennis? This has been done before by Nintendo for so many years and its one of the primary causes of them losing relevancy in the console war.
I challenge you to Google Search “console war.” In current news, you’ll find a myriad of articles pitting Sony against Microsoft with very little to say about Nintendo. The primary device keeping Nintendo above water is the Nintendo 3DS; a handheld that nearly failed until Nintendo made some drastic changes to gain back adoption. However, aside from the hardcore, the primary adopters of Nintendo’s handheld is limited to children; those who haven’t been exposed to all of Nintendo’s games in the past.
Nintendo sold 3.38 million Wii U’s in their past fiscal year. Sony sold nearly two-thirds that number in its first month on the market and almost doubled it within 5 months. The Wii U has sold a total of 9.54 million consoles in almost 3 years. Sony’s latest figure released in April put them at 23 million sold in just 1.5 years. While Nintendo reported its first profit this year, it’s hard not to attribute this to their recent release of Super Smash Brothers and its loyal colt following. If this is the cause, the spike will be temporary and the outlook for Nintendo isn’t the brightest. This is especially true in the United States, as over 75% of this past year’s sales took place overseas.
However, the company did report “net sales of 549.7 billion yen” or $4.6 billion dollars which is a positive indicator. One thing is for sure, Nintendo is a fighter and will not likely go down in flames anytime within the near future, but something needs to change for them to become a relevant competitor once again.
The Competition
Sony and Microsoft have made huge strides in recent years in terms of innovation. While graphics are often considered irrelevant, the fact is that we gamers can better connect with more realistic images. Nintendo continues to live a generation behind in the graphics department. This is a problem.
That’s not to mention the efforts being made by both companies to create altered versions of reality. Project Morpheus has been in development for many years to create a completely engulfing virtual reality experience. Microsoft completely blew everyone away with their demonstration of Minecraft on the Hololens. It’s acts like these that keep things fresh for Sony and Microsoft and keep their forward momentum.
Nintendo’s ambition to innovate was its greatest strength and weakness. The company struck gold with the original Wii by bringing a new kind of gaming that can be enjoyed by new as well as familiar audiences alike. They continued on that path of deviation and innovation, but unfortunately swung and missed with the Wii U. It seems the move has put them into a state of caution which has led to very little innovation ever since.
Nintendo, if you’re listening, don’t be afraid to innovate, and don’t be afraid to learn from the successes of your competitors. Sony would not be where they are today without Microsoft and vice versus. Don’t allow your pride of being the innovator get in the way of your future success. I want to keep you around.
