You can’t win big if you’re not willing to bet big.
Of course, as we discovered last week, sometimes betting big can lead to disaster. However, some game companies have managed to thrive and create legacies off of some daring enterprises.
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The original Sony PlayStation
Above: Sony’s first system, the PlayStation.
Launched: Sep. 9, 1995
What was it?: The PlayStation was Sony’s first console. Originally, the Japanese electronics company attempted to partner with Nintendo and later Sega on hardware projects, but both plans fell through. Sony decided to release a system on its own, the disk-based PlayStation.
Why was it such a risk?: Because Nintendo and Sega were already in a war for market share, and they were both planning to release new systems that would compete against Sony’s PlayStation. Sony was going to have to fight against years of marketing, brand loyalty, and hype if it wanted to succeed.
How did it do?: The PlayStation sold 102.49 million worldwide. By comparison, the Nintendo 64 was a distant second with 32.93 million units worldwide, and the Sega Saturn flopped with only 9.5 million worldwide.
World of Warcraft
Above: World of Warcraft characters.
Launched: Nov. 23, 2004
What is it?: World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game for computers. In it, players can create an avatar based on a wide selection of fantasy races, then adventure and journey through the world of Azeroth.
Why was it such a risk?: Making an MMO is an expensive job, and while the genre had some hits before 2004 (notably 1999’s Everquest), it was hardly the big deal it is today. World of Warcraft also launched around the same date as Everquest 2, which at the time was a much bigger name in the MMO space. Previous Warcraft games, however, were real-time strategy games. No one knew if the world would successfully translate to a massively multiplayer role-playing experience.
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How did it do?: At its peak, World of Warcraft had over 10 million paying subscribers. While that number is now down to 6.8 million, it’s still doing well for a 10-year-old game. Its fifth expansion, the Warlords of Draenor, launches on Nov. 13.
Giving Sonic the Hedgehog away for free with the Genesis
Above: Sonic was a huge hit for the Genesis.
Launched: June 23, 1991
What was it?: Sonic the Hedgehog was Sega’s answer to Nintendo’s insanely popular mascot, Mario. Sega knew it had something special with the speedy, 2-D platformer, and it was hoping that the title could help its struggling Genesis system gain ground on the Big N. Sega of America, however, had a risky plan. Instead of selling Sonic the Hedgehog separately, it would bundle the game with every Genesis system for no additional cost.
Why was it such a risk?: Because Sega of America was giving away its best game for free. The idea was that Sonic would move hardware, which Sega needed before the Genesis could really gain traction as a legitimate competitor to Nintendo. Of course, if the plan didn’t work, then Sega would have lost out on any money it could have potentially made off of software sales for Sonic the Hedgehog.
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How did it do?: Sonic was a huge commercial success, and it spawned a franchise that is still alive 23 years later (Sonic Boom comes out for the 3DS and Wii U later this year). More importantly, it helped the Genesis become a major player in the American console war. It didn’t quite topple the Super Nintendo, but it came close.
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
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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
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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
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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.