Let’s continue our look at the biggest and most successful risks in gaming history.
We’ll start back up by looking at an enterprise that was as successful as its name was silly.
Nintendo Wii
Above: The Nintendo Wii came packaged with Wii Sports.
Launched: Nov. 19, 2006
What was it?: The Wii was a system that used a motion-based controller. It featured more casual games (like Wii Sports and Wii Fit) than its competitors, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
Why was it such a risk?: Nintendo was once the king of gaming, but the Nintendo 64 and GameCube were both sales disappointments. Nintendo was now playing catch-up to Sony and the new kid on the block, Microsoft and its Xbox brand. Instead of trying to compete with them directly, Nintendo decided to go in a different route. Its next system used significantly cheaper and less powerful hardware than its competitors, but it featured motion controls that allowed players to swing and aim a remote to simulate sword-fighting, bowling, shooting, and more.
How did it do?: The Wii was a huge success. It sold 101.15 million units worldwide, while the Xbox 360 moved 84 million units worldwide and the PlayStation 3 sold about 80 million worldwide.
Steam
Above: Steam is constantly growing.
Launched: Sep. 12, 2003
What is it?: Steam is an online store for PC, Mac, and Linux that allows gamers to buy digital copies of games.
Why was it such a risk?: While every major system has its own digital store today, the concept was still new back in 2003. At the time, people were skeptical that anyone would want a digital version of a game when they could simply own a physical copy. Valve was also primarily a game developer back then. People didn’t know how the company would handle its new role as a distributor.
How did it do?: Steam has 75 million active users as of January. Its library of digital games has over 3,000 titles.
The Xbox 360’s Kinect
Above: The Kinect let players drop the controller and get off the couch.
Launched: Nov. 4, 2010
What was it?: The Kinect was a motion-tracking camera for the Xbox 360. It could map a player’s movements and recognize audio commands.
Why was it such a risk?: Microsoft was hoping to attract the casual audience that Nintendo had snared with its motion-controlled Wii. Instead of making its own motion controller, which is exactly what Sony did with the PlayStation Move, Microsoft created the Kinect camera. However, the peripheral was an expensive $150 at a time when the aging Xbox 360 itself was available in a $200 model. It was also a new technology, and you never know how the public will react to something as unique and different as the Kinect.
How did it do?: Microsoft sold 24 million Kinect units worldwide as of February 2013, making it one of the most successful console peripherals of all time.