Big companies lose.
rzwitserloot posted in startup on January 24th, 2007

I doubt there is a better example: Nintendo is beating two of the largest companies of the world; Sony and Microsoft, simply by knowing they can’t compete within the rules of the game, so they changed the rules.

I mean, Look at this…

I don’t like game consoles and I really don’t like Mortal Kombat-style games. And yet I see that and I have an instant urge to buy that thing. If I wasn’t strapped for cash and busy with a startup, I already would have*.

*) Of course, there are a ton of shortages so I doubt I’d actually manage to find one, but that’s for another day.

Thus, the lesson is: Don’t play the game of a big company. Invent a better game and fly by the competition whilst they stand there wondering what the heck just happend. Don’t let yourself get discouraged if a big company is trying ‘big company’ tactics (underselling, throwing vast amounts of money at marketing, trying to lock in the market, etcetera).