Here’s my theory: The paradigm for consumer electronics design is shifting.  While the design of previous CE products evolved as the technology was miniaturized, the design of touch-related products will evolve through the software interface.  Admittedly, the hypothetical iPad of 2013 will be thinner, lighter, and have a slightly different form-factor, but it will ultimately remain a bland screen because that’s where its function lies.  In other words, The Technology is the Interface*2.  Miniaturization of the screen would negate its benefit.  In fact, I expect that Apple and others will be heralding larger and larger touch surfaces with little to no design differentiation between the devices when they are turned off.

Hence, most of it’s design elements will occur through the software interface.  If this theory pans out, Apple, more than any other company, stands to benefit because they excel at software interface.  This paradigm will conclude when flexible touch materials are introduced.   At that point, we’ll return to our previous design paradigm and things will get really exciting!  For example;

Sony’s motion controller division has claimed that they have consulted with third parties in making their new controller. They claim that this controller has been crafted to address the developers’ needs. This is either untrue or the development community is completely out of touch with their consumers. You need look no further than Sony’s keynote at TGS where they had Capcom demo Resident Evil 5: directors cut. Apparently, This title will support Sony’s motion controller. The control configuration will be very similar to RE4 on the Wii. The motion controller/wand will control the on screen reticle while the player will move your character via the analog stick on the present dual shock controller. Before I continue please visualize this.

And, for the visualizing challenged…

Ok let’s continue. This is a horribly inelegant idea because, the weight and shape of the controller is designed for 2 hands and will lead to a multitude of ergonomic and functional annoyances. So, how did such a poor solution come to be?

The business of Business is …

What makes companies very successful and what makes companies fail is the same thing, it’s the passionate adherence to a strategy. When a company is founded and ultimately becomes successful it comes from doing something different (often innovative). However, over a long enough life cycle a company’s strategy will evolve. Often the most successful companies strategies move from innovative products to a strategy of playing it safe. Ironically, playing it “safe” is often the worst decision a company founded in innovation can do. So, why do so many companies do it? The answer is simple. When they started they had nothing to lose but later, once successful, they have everything to lose. This fact explains why fortune 500 companies hire so many Harvard and Wharton MBA’s. The MBA graduate isn’t there to innovate or to assume the role of the long gone founder, they are there to assure the status quo. It’s the business equivalent of Dependent Personality Disorder.

In Sony’s case, they began their business in the consumer electronics market with a strategy of providing inexpensive transistor radios. Over time, they garnered a reputation for good quality, elegant design and innovative products, which in turn became their strategy. In some ways, they still enjoy that reputation today. Though the inexpensive portion of that reputation is long gone, the perception of quality remains.

“In 1977 I was considered $o $o $exy!”

With Sony’s success in the 70′s through the 90′s their strategy evolved yet again and became one of watching the other guys moves and covering their bases, not leading through innovation. Unfortunately, they began to spend so much time looking over their shoulder that they didn’t know where they were heading. Consider the Walkman.

“It’ll be something like this but without the vision.”

The Case of the Missing Analog Stick

This fact is most recently evident in their decision to forgo an analog stick. It’s one of those “What the Fatwā?” moments.

No matter what Sony claims (and Microsoft too), their new control solutions are a reaction to the Wii’s success. This is not the first time that Sony has watched the other guy and simply copied. In fact, the Dual Shock’s analog sticks and rumble ability are products born from following Nintendo’s lead. In those specific cases, copying the other guy worked as evidenced by the PS1 and PS2’s phenomenal sales. It worked because there was only one innovator in the field, Nintendo.  But now, Sony must decide on 2 distinctly different approaches to the same feature set. Both are revolutionary and both have their merits.

Let’s Play Natal!

So what is a copycat to do when faced with differing answers to the same question?  Naturally, split the difference. Sony is preparing to offer a grossly flawed Natal (with the PSEye) and a Wiimote that lacks an analog stick. In an attempt to cover, they have created a device that is inferior to both of their competitor’s offerings. For what it’s worth, it isn’t that Sony is seeking to copy their competitors that frustrates me; it is the fact that Sony appears to have forgotten how to think for itself. And this is no more evident than their foray into motion control.

As anyone who has finished Shadow of the Colossus knows, the main character (The Wanderer) becomes a vessel for the demon (Dormin) in the game.

At the end of the game, after the conflict with the priest, the Wanderer is reverted back to a baby with horns in his head. This scene reveals that Shadow of the Colossus is a prequel to ICO (Fumito Ueda’s first game).

At the beginning of ICO we meet the Wanderer as an adolescent, sporting his Dormin-like horns!

At the end of ICO, he and the Queen fight causing him to lose both of his horns in the process. Here’s a picture of Ico after that fight.

Notice that Ico’s Left horn is partialy intact while his Right horn is significantly shorter.

And here’s my theory: Ico continues to age and evolve and ultimately becomes Trico the giant, feathered creature resembling a griffin. Here’s an interesting screenshot from the Last Guardian.

Notice that Trico has horns too. More importantly, Trico’s horns are also damaged. Trico’s Left horn is small and partially intact while his right horn is cut off just like Ico’s. And, that’s my latest last Guardian Theory!  Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

The Simpsons made the move to HD a few weeks back and updated their opening sequence. As most of us know, the last 5 seconds of the opener, before the couch sequence, includes the rest of the cast.

With the help of Tivo Transfer and Photoshop, I stitched this sequence together. Oh the things we can do when we’re unemployed!

Simpsons Opening Sequence

So, I became aware of the developer Team Ico shortly after their first game (aptly named) “Ico” came out. I never played Ico but it received critical acclaim. Their second game was called “Shadow of the Colossus” Said simply, it’s a masterpiece!

Minor SPOILERS!
What initially struck me about the game, besides the stellar reviews, was the setting and the plot.

Setting: Your character is in a desolate land where the only NPC’s you interact with are 12 colossi and your horse. Think Hyrule if all life had vanished over 200 years earlier. Of the NPC’s your job is to kill the 12 colossi, leaving you with your horse as your only friend.
Plot: Your character makes a deal with a spirit. In exchange for killing the 12 colossi, the spirit will resurrect a dead loved one. To make matters more depressing, the colossi are innocent creatures.

I’m not going to go into a whole rant about this game (there are plenty), just to say the game is many things (most which a video game has never been before) including a meditation on loneliness and sacrifice. Team Ico has a new game called Trico for the PS3 and the trailer was just leaked, check it out.

And, this just freaks me out …