Like so many of us stumbling social media types, I like to publish my online status updates. In my head, I think you’re riveted by blow-by-blow minutiae such as “Dino likes hot coffee” or “Dino dreams about delicious bacon” or even last week’s shocking revelation that “Dino is all out of Powdered Toast.”
I’m still not sure why I bother to actively update my status, let alone multiple ones on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and (for nearly a decade) AOL Instant Messenger. Perhaps sadly enough, I tie these and many more together using FriendFeed. Voyeurism in reverse? Or am I just doing my job playing cyber-alchemist?
Given the bites above, maybe I just need a more balanced breakfast. But if you insist on a steady diet of Dino, then who am I to refuse? I’m a ham and I know it. What I didn’t know, nor ever expected, was your fascination with my recent purchase of a Nintendo Wii:
Did you get Guitar Hero for your Wii? It’s awesome.
When you’re all set up, send me your Wii code, we can exchange Miis and whatnot. If you don’t understand me, you soon will.
“Wii rocks! Have you gone on-line with it yet? You can interact with others who have consoles if you do, plus you can keep your system software updated.
“I am so jealous you got a Wii, Dino! When do I get to play it?
Super Mario Galaxy is great, and everyone seems to enjoy Super Smash Brothers Brawl. Wii Fit is going to be HUGE.
Just a few examples from my Facebook friends, fine–but why bring this all up?
Social networking. What else?
Nobody said you needed a personal computer to access the internet. A web browser is but one way to connect with peers. And MMORPGs are nothing new.
Still, I can’t help but see the writing on the Wall. Guitar Hero. The Mii Channel. The Wii Fit. Three distinct microcosms, each driven by voracious consumers (users, players, whatever) starving to gobble up niche content and spit it back out at their own networks of friends.
These aren’t just Nintendo fans. They are members-only VIPs in velvet-roped Wii speakeasies. And to them, the web is secondary to social networking.
As a crotchety ol’ web designer, it gives me pause. Maybe long enough to actually use my Wii–I just hooked up the damn thing. Anyway, I’ve crossed this path before, and I’m not ready to hang up my HTML hat just yet. Maybe I won’t develop Wii widgets anytime soon (or maybe I will) but I can sure as heck can host a shoot-em-up or two. I’m also fairly certain I’ll need to hold that hat tightly if I’m ever going to hack up a Facebook app.
Of course, if I keep getting nudged like this…
“Hi, it’s your turn on Scrabulous. Come on, let’s finish this game, so I can beat you in a new one!!!”
…then I’ll ditch my Mac altogether and stick with Super Mario. Forget web design! Any takers on a course in Wii design?
I think that you have hit on a interesting topic. I also see these velvet roped communities as the new forums, without the trolls. Think about it - your own community, that someone else maintains, and you can keep out the 12 year old just waiting to call you a n00b.
Social networking? Perhaps, but more accurate to call it “refined gated communities.”
Yep, I went there.
It looks like the Wii will keep on advancing…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7338344.stm
Harness your inner Wii!
Enjoyed your post. Thanks!