While researching last week's post about the majestic Sony Bravia giveaway, I came across a number of passionate gaming bloggers all asking the same question:
Who will win the videogame race:
Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo?
Being the bold prognosticator I'm reputed to be, let me answer with certainty:
None of the above.
The very nature of a race implies a set distance and established finish line. Find me one of those in the marketing game. Sure there are quarterly numbers to hit, annual projections, campaign objectives and measurable metrics, but despite all these milestones in the road, as Journey sang, "The Wheel in the Sky Keeps on Turning."
Today's loser is tomorrow's winner is the next day's "where are they now?"
For better or for worse, we're on a never-ending treadmill, and as the scenery changes all around us, we still have to face forward and keep running. This is why Surprise is so important, so imperative. Other than disruptive innovation, it's the only way to take two steps to your competition's one.
Staying in the game, and not breathing too hard while doing it, is the real win.