They’re afraid!!!

We are seeing some information of how Netflix will work with the Wii U. Let’s take a look.

Here is a video of it:

This looks cool. We were hoping the U Pad would be able to stream something like Netflix so this is neat.

Before a hardcore gamer foams at the mouth demanding “How is any of this relevant? This isn’t even about gaming!”, this is a very innocent functionality. It doesn’t cost the consumer more. This is also wonderful for families since kids fight over the TV and the game console.

But I didn’t realize just how amazing this was until I heard the screaming from the viral marketers. They are truly upset about this functionality. They are protesting so much over something so innocent.

Let’s use the end of Starship troopers as a metaphor here. The soldiers are all the Nintendo fans. The reader gets to be Rico. The brain bug is the viral marketer (which is an accurate image of them). Malstrom is the Doogie Howser guy who interprets what the viral marketer is thinking.

What are they thinking? Let’s find out:

“THEY’RE AFRAID!”

*cheers everywhere*

So now I have an idea of what Microsoft intends to do for next generation. Microsoft’s flagship product of Windows has the latest version, Windows 8, revolve around tablets. Microsoft even put out Smartglass (which no one cares about just like all of Microsoft’s consumer electronics). Clearly, Microsoft believes lifestyle entertainment will greatly revolve around these tablet like devices. And if Microsoft believes this, then most of the tech world also believes this. While we, consumers, may be scratching our heads wondering why Nintendo went in this direction, the competition certainly seems to understand.

The U Pad is transcending the game console to become a generalized entertainment controller (basic control of the TV, interacting with Netflix, etc.). What this means is that the U Pad could be the controller people pick up before doing anything else. I don’t think it is Nintendo’s intention for the U Pad to take over the living room, but the simplicity of the U Pad is appealing in this context.

The upcoming Xbox and PlayStation controllers are going to have all this stuff in them that is going to make them wonder remotes for everything. I don’t think most consumers will care.

But the hysterical reactions from our viral marketers to this innocent Netflix app suggest they are very worried. I suspect they had all this media functionality planned for their consoles and fear functionality like this will… dare I say it?… disrupt their sustaining innovation plans.