Economics/Geekonomics – Page 45

Weekly Challenge – The Next Country . . .

November 30, 2009 by Steven Savage

As I've noted a few times, Japan is a country that obviously has had major influence on the North American Geekonomy. Video Games, anime, sentai and more. From Battle of the Planets decades ago to Power Rangers and Bleach, from Space Invaders to Final Fantasy pick-a-number, Japan has had a huge effect.

At this rate, Japanese influence on pop culture and major Geekonomic areas is more than obvious. I'm not sure how much more influence can be had (though my guess is Kodansha is looking for more).

But there's always a hunger for new products and entertainments, foods and culture, and business models and opportunities.

So here's your challenge for the week: what country do you think is going to be next to have a big cultural/pop cultural influence on North America?

South Korean and it's growing media?

India with it's tech opportunities and the power of Bollywood?

More British influence now that Doctor Who is Reborn and series are getting remade (again)?

Think about what's next. After all, my fellow progeek, you're going to be living it in the years to come . . .

– Steven Savage

(And as for my answer? I'm still thinking that one over.)

Frustration Friday: Geekiness is Mainstream, get over it

November 27, 2009 by Steven Savage

And it's time for Frustration Friday, a nice, relaxing rant where I look at annoying things in the geekonomy, the fan-to-pro world, and more.

Let's talk the idea of mainstream and geeky things.

It happened.

It's over.

Geekiness WON.

A company from spare parts?

November 17, 2009 by Steven Savage

Electronic arts cuts staff and onboards an expensively-purchased social media company.

Gamestop goes for DLC and talks about building the company by acquisition.

Mergers, acquisitions, outsourcing has all made me wonder this:

There is a lot of common technology (databases, Office docs, etc.)
The internet and these technologies let companies collaborate and combine efforts faster.
It's a tough economic time.
Companies want to change and move fast, and building new divisions is hard.

So I've wondered if what we're going to see in the future is an outburst of Frankencompanies, pieced together from the acquired parts of other companies, merged-in studios, and mass-hired consultants.