 In an effort to crack into some thought processes of the big 'soft as to why games or other features haven't made it onto our beloved media player, I pose some possible explanations. We can all think of how cool some of these features (i.e games, text messaging, and/or internet browsing, etc.) would be, but would they truly be beneficial to MS's goal? What is MS's goal for that matter? Read on for some thoughts....
As we've seen, Microsoft's obigatory stance to Zune is that it is "a wireless music and video player first and foremost." We can see how this could be one of the reasons games would pose a problem. Keep On Listening As we've all seen, the Zune Social and Zune Cards keep a running total on the number of tracks you listen to. This provides a powerful tool for Microsoft to guage who and what everyone's listening to. Now before you go cry 'big brother' on Microsoft's ass, it helps Zune to be seen by the music industry as the same tool. Tons of free data is offered by the Zune platform for statistical analysis without the record companies ever having to survey a sample population. If games were introduced, this would stop you from using the Zune to listen to music. You would slow that running total. The same could be said to internet browsing and other desired features. Interconnectivity Microsoft has long since been pushing this notion that they want to provide platforms that connect effortlessly and seamlessly with each other. As seen in a recent video, Microsoft wants you to be able to get your news on your phone, be able to transfer it to the TV, then get a call as you're leaving the house and switch it to your car without missing a beat. This would involve technology we haven't seen yet. And while the framework for such technology is still in its infancy, how would placing games on Zune fit into this vision? Intracompany/Interdepartmental Politics If you're the President of Xbox, how would you favor games being introduced on the device the team down the hall is managing? Wouldn't that take away from your baby in some small measure, but take away none-the-less? And while that interconnectivity, as mentioned above, could provide some consulation (meaning Zune could interconnect with Xbox) there would invariably be some difficulty (i.e head-butting). Xbox would get movies. Would that mean Zune would get movies too? Games from Xbox Live for Zune? Well why do we have Xbox in the first place? You can see how there could be some power struggles. We've already seen issues between the business units with Windows Media Player and Zune. Why couldn't Zune sync with WMP? Why couldn't Zune have many of the features of WMP? I'm sure there were some tiffs at the office over these very issues. Multi-front Decisions So, do we release internationally or focus on features? Do we stop and fix current issues or go for them games everyone's talking about (and possibly create more problems)? Sure we want it all done and we want it all done NOW, but there are tons of issues for Zune that need addressing. Releasing Zune in other countries pose international law issues as well as marketing and language issues. And what about the laundry list of issues people still have over the current state of the Zune Software? Where would YOU begin? I'm sure this is another reason why progress on further features on Zune have come at a slow pace. Bigger Fish to Fry Apple and its iProducts are probably not at the top of MS's list of strategic moves the company wants to immediately address. Sure, they are a thorn in MS's side, but with much larger contenders like Google, Microsoft has its hand full with trying to keep pace with a highly competitive market. We've all seen MS's venture to aquire Yahoo! to do battle with Google, so I'm sure Zune doesn't get a ton attention at the board meetings. If you ask me, I think Microsoft could move in a different direction. It really seems MS's image is a little tattered these days with the whole Vista issue. And while Zune has made tremendous evolutions over the past 6 months, people still see MS as a wanna-be in the media player department. So what do I propose? Well, get it together! Marry Xbox and Zune! Bring on those games! Building those platforms closer would accomplish that interconnectivity y'all want to a small degree. People want MS to start caring about them, not so much focused on taking on Google and others. And who knows? Maybe by doing that, instead of taking a more direct approach (fighting competitors), you could indirectly change people's paradigms. Start focusing on the personal touch. Then you'd turn some heads. As long as you insist on objectively strategize, you will continue to make meager results. Focus on the subjective personal desires. Easier said than done, I know, but that's my two pennies...
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