In class, we have discussed how big the gaming world has become. We watched a video on Twitch, where thousands of people were live streaming someone playing a video game and the person playing was earning money just by having people watch him play. The gaming world has become so massive that Nissan has been working on developing a chair specifically for gamers that deliver maximum comfort just like a seat in a car. Very similar to cars, “Comfort and support — are important in a serious gaming chair, especially for people who game professionally” (Hyatt, 2019). As there are more and more technological advancements, gaming as a profession has also become very popular. This is a great business decision for Nissan, as one of the main priorities for car manufacturers is comfort and linking the idea that it is important to be satisfied and comfortable for long drives with the importance of being relaxed and not squirming around to get in a better position when gaming for long periods of time. Nissan making this decision, opens a new audience for them to target and could provide them with increased sales in the future. Nissan is devoting a lot of time and money to this decision, they have partnered “Up with the two wildly popular gaming teams to design new gaming chair concepts based on their most popular vehicles” (Hyatt, 2019). It is crucial to work with other companies who have more experience in the gaming world to become more knowledgeable and blend what they already know with this new world of gaming.
I think it is so important to pay attention to all of the thousands of technological advancements going on around us, and make smart business decisions based on them. It is critical to stay up to date as Technology continues to take over our lives.
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/nissan-gaming-chair-concepts-faze-clan-optic-esports/
Nissan is very smart to diversify its market influence by appealing to a target audience that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to access. As pointed out by the OP and exemplified through the in class streaming example, the gaming industry is ripe for profitability and in general has the potential to breed major technological innovation. Nissan may initially be unprofitable and may even make the chairs at a loss similar to how Google operated YouTube at a significant loss when it was purchased. However, if they can fill the demand for stylized and comfortable gaming chairs, they have the potential to expand more aggressively into the gaming accessory industry. With their access to high-tech materials and exceptional engineering professionals, Nissan could easily become the new benchmark for high quality gaming accessories. I think the most promising method of promoting their chairs would be to use the major influence that Twitch streamers and YouTube personalities like Pewdiepie have either sponsor these individuals or grant them a prototype of one of their chairs when development is closer to completion. If the line were to launch with significant success, there is a chance Nissan could become the official chair of Twitch or perhaps have the eSports teams that they sponsor use their chairs during tournaments. Either way, I say Nissan’s decision to explore the idea of manufacturing gaming chairs is pretty clever and could definitely be worthwhile if they make efficient use of the power of social media and modern entertainment influence.
Sources: https://www.motor1.com/news/370827/nissan-gaming-chair/