As if the year 2020 was not awkward enough, a new rival has entered the video game console market. The competition not only is coming from the most unlikely of sources but also offers a feature that no one expected. Dubbed the KFC Console, the fast food chicken giant is now entering the video game industry with a series of
Read moreIn recent times, rewards systems have inundated the retail industry. From in-store credit and discounts to points systems and memberships, stores have employed an abundance of rewards systems to increase customer involvement. While this approach is commonplace for brick-and-mortar outlets, the video game industry been slow to adopt rewards systems. Gamestop’s PowerUp program is currently the industry standard; however, Nintendo
Read moreThe last few days have been tumultuous for the video game community. Numerous Twitch streamers received Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notices, and content creators removed countless non-complaint Videos on Demand (VOD). The DMCA violations pertained to background music, which creators typically play during “in real life” (IRL) streams. As the online community scrambled to remove years of content, a
Read moreFor a plumber who specializes in collecting gold coins, Mario has not upgraded his appearance in several years. Since the release of New Super Mario Bros on the Wii in 2009, the Nintendo staff has not considerably altered Mario’s character model. Speculation across the industry quickly arose, and fans criticized the franchise’s lack of innovation. But during an interview shortly
Read moreAs the year slowly draws to an end, the video game industry remains enthusiastic towards the release of Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt Red’s upcoming action-RPG arrives on November 19th and continues to garner criticism and praise. While players flock to preorder their copy, many fans are wondering: what exactly makes a video game have cyberpunk style? Does art direction, gameplay,
Read moreIn recent years, the explosion of online retailing has not been kind to brick-and-mortar companies. During 2020, several traditional storefronts, such as GNC and JCPenney, have declared bankruptcy, and many others are on the cusp of financial ruin. The iconic video game store GameStop is among those on the verge of economic ruin; however, another industry titan is attempting to
Read moreGone are the days of intense industry rivalry and competition. After decades of strategy focused on dethroning the closest competitor, global leaders discovered that cooperation yields better results for entire business segments. Although the video game sector is late in adopting the new mindset, multiple industry veterans are partnering to deliver fans unprecedented gaming experiences. The Nintendo and Xbox collaboration
Read moreAs the video game world anticipates the release of Sony and Microsoft’s next-generation consoles, the Nintendo Switch remains the most popular platform across the industry. On September 9th, Bloomberg published a report indicating that Nintendo increased its annual target of Switch console sales by 120 percent. While the statistics are impressive, Bloomberg revealed another pivotal detail concerning the Switch: Nintendo
Read moreThe age-old proverb is that success breeds additional success. While maintaining positive momentum is challenging, the start of the journey is often the most difficult phase. Earning the trust of key influencers is paramount and requires time and proven excellence. The developer behind the popular hack-and-slash Dynasty Warriors series, Koei Tecmo, not only earned Nintendo’s trust but also landed the
Read moreFew video game companies generate fan excitement quite like Nintendo. From animated exhibits at E3 to quirky video presentations staring former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime, the Nintendo community embraces the unorthodox. Despite a peculiar approach, one constant throughout the industry is the frequency of Nintendo Direct presentations. But 2020 remains full of surprises. On Monday, fans expected the
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