Copycats
They say that imitation is best form of flattery. That's quite true in business of course. If you're a smaller player amongst the big boys, one strategy is to copy your way to reach the same level as the leaders. But when you rip-off something as try to pass it off as original, then you lose all credibility altogther. I came across 2 examples, both unfortunately big Singaporean companies.
1st example:
I attended a meeting with Popular bookstore and National Library Board, and some representatives from NTUC income were there trying to push their latest game through Popular and NLB (Why NTUC Income is competing in the game industry I have no idea). Their latest game is called "Logic 9", the Singapore version of the popular Japanese game, Sudoku. "Its similar to Sudoku, but you can play not only with numbers, but with graphics like fruits and animals! Features 4 different difficulty levels and 15 challenges per level. Selling at only 9.90!" Then the NLB representative asked,"So what's the difference between this and Sudoku?" "Its essentially the same, but you can play with fruits, animals etc." Wow. Rip-off a popular game, one that's freely available on the Internet, put it on cd and sell for 9.90. If consumers are stupid enough to buy that, I'm obviously in the wrong business trying to create my own games!!
2nd example:
This one is more ridiculous, and committed by the most 'successful' of Singapore companies, Creative Technologies. Who are they trying to con with their latest Mp3 player, the Zen Vision M? They ripped off the Apple iPod design as usual, but this time, instead of providing more value for money by providing more space or features, they are selling their 30GB one for $599. The Zen Vision M is thicker, uglier, several months later than the iPod, and they are selling at $50 more?! I won't go into anymore, cos another site has expressed their contempt for the Zen Vision M more eloquently than I have.
I must say that I'm saddened that Creative is getting spanked by Apple in music player wars, and that this lack of creativity seems to be pervasive among our so-called leading companies in Singapore.
1st example:
I attended a meeting with Popular bookstore and National Library Board, and some representatives from NTUC income were there trying to push their latest game through Popular and NLB (Why NTUC Income is competing in the game industry I have no idea). Their latest game is called "Logic 9", the Singapore version of the popular Japanese game, Sudoku. "Its similar to Sudoku, but you can play not only with numbers, but with graphics like fruits and animals! Features 4 different difficulty levels and 15 challenges per level. Selling at only 9.90!" Then the NLB representative asked,"So what's the difference between this and Sudoku?" "Its essentially the same, but you can play with fruits, animals etc." Wow. Rip-off a popular game, one that's freely available on the Internet, put it on cd and sell for 9.90. If consumers are stupid enough to buy that, I'm obviously in the wrong business trying to create my own games!!
2nd example:
This one is more ridiculous, and committed by the most 'successful' of Singapore companies, Creative Technologies. Who are they trying to con with their latest Mp3 player, the Zen Vision M? They ripped off the Apple iPod design as usual, but this time, instead of providing more value for money by providing more space or features, they are selling their 30GB one for $599. The Zen Vision M is thicker, uglier, several months later than the iPod, and they are selling at $50 more?! I won't go into anymore, cos another site has expressed their contempt for the Zen Vision M more eloquently than I have.
I must say that I'm saddened that Creative is getting spanked by Apple in music player wars, and that this lack of creativity seems to be pervasive among our so-called leading companies in Singapore.
posted by Kevin at 12:30 AM
1 Comments:
That and Krian's version of "worms" that we played to hell during Computer Science class...
Post a Comment
<< Home