Gimmick is generally perceived to be a perjorative term because of the lack of value provided. The problem with the word is that one man's gimmick is another man's benefit. Examine your definitions. A contrivance is a falsehood, an artifical, or fake benefit. Something that purports to have a benefit, but doesn't really. An important feature is just that...a feature.Â
The problem with features is that they may or may not provide a benefit. For instance, I once owned a Trans Am years ago..one of the features was a power antenna. A gee whiz gizmo. The problem was it didn't give me better radio reception. In fact, it was a pain cause once you turned the engine off the antenna automatically went down, then had to go back up when you switched to accessory. It actually made my radio experience worse. However, the real bad part was that it was just another part/motor to fail, which sure enough it did fail. Rather than pay the $200 to fix it...I just left it permanently up till I sold the car. It was a gimmick. It pretended to provide value...whereas it didn't. At least to me.
A new ingenious scheme is along the lines of the previous poster...looks like chicken...tastes like rubber. Probably doesn't provide sustainable value...therefore, does it provide value at all?
In the context of the Wii, you have to consider the posters. Some people bash the controller as a gimmick....which it might be....TO THEM. Because they are likely hardcore gamers. That doesn't mean that all hardcore gamers bash the Wii. But how many casuals bash it? Pretty much none. Because the gimmick, or I prefer innovation, is geared towards attracting casuals and first timers....it is not directed at the hardcore gamer. They might like it...they might not. Frankly, you can shovel all sorts of crap towards the hardcore gamer and they will buy....because they ARE hardcore gamers. Casuals and first timers...what is going to draw them in?Â
So when casuals and first timers buy and enjoy the Wii...is it a gimmick, or is it really an innovation? Personally I think it is an innovation as evidenced by several millions who likely would have bought nothing.
Is it sustainable? Judged by the huge untapped market....there are how many billions of people on the planet vs how many consoles sold? Many people think it will be a fad. That is possible...but it could be a fad that lasts 6 years and involves 100 million people.
Most importantly though....for the casual and first timer it is fun. Trying to deny that puts you (anyone) in the liar or moron category IMO. Clearly there are millions of people with smiles on their faces. And many of these are NOT hardcore gamers. Thus they don't need the best graphics, the most advanced techology, or Blu Ray movies. They need fun, especially casual social fun with friends on occassion.
IMO, there is no reason to believe that the Wii will fail. It may not sustain the same rate of growth, but if it can support an ever growing and expanding lineup of fun games....well there is a huge untapped potential of people.Â
I am probably way older than most people on this board. I do NOT own a Wii. It is mostly not my cup of tea. But in the same way that I am daunted by, and don't have time to learn games that take 2 hours and a 50 page manual to decipher to get into, I do understand the elegance of simplicity and fun....which is what many Wii games offer...with the gimmick, or innovation, of the controller. Does that add to the fun? For a bunch of people who wouldn't likely otherwise pick up a controller? The sales results say yes. And I am sure enough other games are and will come out to hold the attention of many hardcore games...who might simply like the genre of many Wii games.
Like I said, I don't own one...but I totally respect Nintendo's business strategy. Bashers, are simply bashers, ignore them. Everybody doesn't have to like the same things...and one man's gimmick is another man's benefit.
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