Technology is constantly evolving and changing to meet new consumer needs and demands, and the tech industry has become one of the most competitive to be in. Gaming in particular is one area which is rapidly expanding, making keeping up with and getting ahead of trends an arduous task.
Consumer Electronics company Nintendo in particular is struggling, as discussed by fellow student Gordon Lam in his recent blog post on Nintendo’s fall in the gaming market. Gordon discussed the need for Nintendo to differentiate their products, and their failure to build a sustainable advantage. While for many years they were considered a juggernaut in the gaming world, their recent projects, such as the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii-U were not different enough from previous products to be a worthwhile buy to customers. This is a strong example of the effort a company must put into their business to stay on top or even afloat.
Nintendo 3DS, Digital Image. Amazon.com. 2016
One notable advance in gaming technology that will make competition even more intense is VR (Virtual Reality). Company Oculus has made Virtual Reality available to the public at a more affordable price than it has ever been. Being the best in their small line of work has given Oculus a strong competitive advantage, with almost complete market share. The implications of this technology are great, with ultra-immersive gaming that makes you feel like you have actually stepped into the game. Having tried Oculus Rift myself, I can see the next generation growing up with this technology being commonplace, although there are potential risks that should be considered. With extremely realistic game play, comes the possibility of losing yourself in the experience. There are already many cases of gamers becoming so distracted by games that they do not eat or sleep, which in extreme cases has lead to death. With Virtual Reality, the risks of this are even higher. Becoming so blocked off from the outside world is unhealthy, and as with most things, this must be used in moderation.
Oculus Rift Set, Digital Image. Gizmodo, 6/17/15
It is hard to make assumptions on the technology and gaming industry. It would have been impossible to predict the success of the mobile phone, as well as the entire empire of apps and games built around it. At one point in time the colour TV was the newest and most incredible invention, and seeing how much further technology has come since then makes me wonder how much more is out there to be invented. The thought that objects such as smart phones and virtual reality as they are now may soon be things of the past reminds me of how hard technology companies must work to keep up.