PRODUCT TRENDS Gaming
PRODUCT TRENDS Gaming Diversifies and Stratifies Nintendo Wii Creates Specific Niche VIDEO The Wii has been an amazing success over the past year, finding a “different” way of approaching the market – using physical interaction rather than engaging in a race for High Definition. We asked Nintendo spokespan Oliver Chudy to explain the success of the product… The special thing about it is that we don't only reach gamers, but people from everywhere and from every age group. This is because of the simplicity of the Wii. Everybody can play with it, whether it is your mother, your grandfather or your children. It really is a family game, and that is the secret of its success. Obviously you have a lot of competition coming on to the market in the gaming industry and in general. How is the gaming market segmented and how do retailers see this product? The Nintendo Wii is based on a completely different concept. If you look at the competition, they very much concentrate on technical features like high resolution gaming and improving virtual reality. This is not the focus of the Wii. The focus is the usability: it is easy to play and to have fun with for everybody. The Wii is not focusing on the hardcore gamers who play a lot. It is more for casual gamers and for people who didn't have access to gaming before. Here at the IFA press event there is a lot of press interested in the Wii. What is the reaction from the press? It is unbelievable! Everybody has so much fun. The key thing about the Wii is movement: moving is good for your health and to play the Wii you have to really move, whether you are playing tennis, bowling or golf. The immediate reaction is a lot of fun for everybody who tries it, also because it is simple to use. We always have an interesting and fun time here! Selling points: • Makes gaming more interactive • First ever video game to get people up and moving • Numerous enhancements on the way Customer Benefits: • Endless activities to avoid boredom • Keeps you fit • Allows you to interact with friends as well Internet Radio Anywhere in the Home! If you like listening to Italian Opera direct from Milan or rock music from New York City, or any specialty, niche radio station from any location in the world in its native language, in real time, Tivoli Audio’s NetWorks Table Radio is for you. Tivoli Audio lets you tune in to literally thousands of free radio stations from all around the world with its first Internet table radio – aptly called NetWorks. Designed for home use, NetWorks delivers a pop-and crackle- free signal from any station that has a Web site address. The elegantly simple, yet technologically advanced NetWorks was designed by Tivoli Audio Chairman and CEO Tom DeVesto. .../ Cont’d. from page 1 ”World’s First Blu-ray Disc Camcorder Launched at IFA” and DVD drive for Full HD 1920x1080 recording, the world’s highest resolution 5.3 megapixel CMOS sensor, Picture Master Full HD processing and HDMI connectivity meaning capture, storage and output of movies will be in a totally unique end-to-end Full HD process. Blu-ray disc will allow playback in the maximum possible Full HD resolution in today’s growing base of Blu-ray compatible devices so now users can ‘supersize’ their films onto the largest HD capable flat screens whilst retaining the kind of viewing quality normally reserved for the latest movie releases. The new camcorders will offer a Blu-ray disc and Multiformat+ DVD burner drive capable of storing up to one hour of Full HD 1920x1080 footage. Utilising 8cm mini Blu-ray discs or 8cm DVD- RAM, RW, R and (+RW+ for PAL model) media will make the Hitachi camcorder compatible with both the new benchmark in Full HD optical disc media, Blu-ray disc, and backwardly compatible with the most popular and less expensive 8cm DVD formats. “In Europe, almost 100% of all flat panel TVs sold are HD Ready and forecasts predict over 106.2 million homes will have HDTV sets by 2010.” states Roland Fritsch, Product Marketing Manager, Hitachi Digital Media Group. “Ready access to HD is raising the bar on consumers’ visual expectations. They now want their own film footage to have the same quality, impact and clarity as today’s HD programmes, movies and games - particularly when viewed on large-size LCD and plasma screens at home.” Numerous Blu-ray Disc innovations are set to be announced at the IFA this year. See also the Market and Technology section for further details. IFA International • Friday, 24 th August 2007 15
