Thursday November 30, 2006 It plays well in Harajuku, but what about Peoria?
Some people look to what Japan is doing on cell phones to gauge what will be the next craze in the U.S. Bzzzzzzt! Wrong. They couldn't be more wrong as evidenced by that lovable pale-colored, melon-headed cat named Hello Kitty. Hello Kitty Java ME technology-enabled games on cell phones are HUGE in Asia and have been for many, many years. (I have no idea why, but they are. No offense against pale-colored, melon-headed cats). But, do you see cell phones users in the U.S. playing Hello Kitty Cake Shop and Kitty Cross River on their RAZRs? No. (thank god) See: Popular in Japan doesn't mean popular in U.S. Here's a quote: Sanrio character mobile games are available from MOffY. Games are available at selected mobile network operators and channels in the Asia Pacific Region and MOffY’s own java game channel java.moffy.com. Currently MOffY hold more than 30 Sanrio mobile games for launch in the region.Even though we are becoming a smaller world with the Internet and faster/cheaper jet travel, there are still cultural differences that prevent something popular in one country from applying across the board to another. <Gack!> Sorry, I think I have a hairball... |
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