Why is the Wii so popular?
With Christmas time upon us our thoughts have turned to that perfect gift for our loved ones. This year the Wii is once again a family favorite. But why? What makes this game so popular that stores cannot keep them in stock, that people are willing to show up at stores at 6am in the hopes that they will be on the truck that day? Despite the competition from the PS2 or the Xbox 360 the Wii has remained popular among adults and children alike. Older gamers could understand the game system because it uses a remote control instead of a joy stick. However, because of the need to use swinging movements to make the system work all gamers are at an equal playing field. Because everyone has to learn how to use this new type of system no gamer is at a disadvantage in learning to use this game.
Since Nintendo is trying to remain competitive they have made a point to continue to make updates to the new system. When you explore the menu you can find that the system can connect to the web, you can see mail, and interact with others. They have also made updates to the shop channel as well as the weather. You can also make a Wii me which is your character in the game. With the multitude of choices you can make a character that looks remarkably like the real you.
By utilizing both innovation as well as appealing to all ages plus adding in channels enabling interaction, Nintendo Wii has reached a high level of popularity and keeps people curious for the latest updates and new releases.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Assignment 1-3
For the Love of Joe: The Language of Starbucks
Coffee is the choice of drink for many Americans for several reasons. The first reason is the addictive quality of the caffeine that much of our society depends on for energy in the morning to get them going. Another reason is the social aspect of the coffee date. Many people use a trip to a coffee house as an outing, a way of maintaining social relationships. Even when there is not time for a large social gathering most people can find time to stop for a cup of coffee with a friend. It is a time to talk, to catch up with a friend, to relax and enjoy that cup of coffee.
This article focuses on the Language of Starbucks. Starbucks is considered a marketing marvel because of the small amount of advertising dollars they spent in their first twenty-five years. This is a business that has thrived because of word of mouth advertising. One way that they have built a following is the language that they use within their restaurants. They have a friendly atmosphere and they use language that makes people feel both invited as well as romanticized. They often use language that would be used to describe personal relationships when describing them in romantic terms. This type of language is used on their website, menu boards, and in-store advertisements. They call their blends powerful, exotic, and intriguing, The coffee matcher uses words such as sure thing, adventurous, and downright daring. They do not use the typical language of a coffee house that only describes how bold the coffee is. They use language that makes the coffee seem romantic to give the stores a romantic feel that will make people want to continue to return frequently.
The renovation of St. John’s Catholic Newman Center included the addition the Illini Market which serves Starbucks coffee. The reasoning behind adding this service was that it would be a drawing point to coffee drinkers throughout campus. Starbucks is a major representation of the coffee market and the name alone is enough to attract people to a location. The Newman Center strives to serve all Catholic students from the University of Illinois. While the main group of students that use the resources of the center are the residents of Newman Hall the goal is to reach all Catholic students and staff. By adding services such as a Starbucks outlet we are able to attract these additional Catholic students into the building in the hop that they will become contributing members to the center and the Chapel. This article gives me insight into why Starbucks stores are so very successful. It is not solely because of the taste of the coffee or the atmosphere of the restaurant but also because of the language of Starbucks. The language that they use to attract customers to the restaurant as well as the language that they use to convince their customers to continue to return time and time again - 10% of customers comes to Starbucks twice each day.
Coffee is the choice of drink for many Americans for several reasons. The first reason is the addictive quality of the caffeine that much of our society depends on for energy in the morning to get them going. Another reason is the social aspect of the coffee date. Many people use a trip to a coffee house as an outing, a way of maintaining social relationships. Even when there is not time for a large social gathering most people can find time to stop for a cup of coffee with a friend. It is a time to talk, to catch up with a friend, to relax and enjoy that cup of coffee.
This article focuses on the Language of Starbucks. Starbucks is considered a marketing marvel because of the small amount of advertising dollars they spent in their first twenty-five years. This is a business that has thrived because of word of mouth advertising. One way that they have built a following is the language that they use within their restaurants. They have a friendly atmosphere and they use language that makes people feel both invited as well as romanticized. They often use language that would be used to describe personal relationships when describing them in romantic terms. This type of language is used on their website, menu boards, and in-store advertisements. They call their blends powerful, exotic, and intriguing, The coffee matcher uses words such as sure thing, adventurous, and downright daring. They do not use the typical language of a coffee house that only describes how bold the coffee is. They use language that makes the coffee seem romantic to give the stores a romantic feel that will make people want to continue to return frequently.
The renovation of St. John’s Catholic Newman Center included the addition the Illini Market which serves Starbucks coffee. The reasoning behind adding this service was that it would be a drawing point to coffee drinkers throughout campus. Starbucks is a major representation of the coffee market and the name alone is enough to attract people to a location. The Newman Center strives to serve all Catholic students from the University of Illinois. While the main group of students that use the resources of the center are the residents of Newman Hall the goal is to reach all Catholic students and staff. By adding services such as a Starbucks outlet we are able to attract these additional Catholic students into the building in the hop that they will become contributing members to the center and the Chapel. This article gives me insight into why Starbucks stores are so very successful. It is not solely because of the taste of the coffee or the atmosphere of the restaurant but also because of the language of Starbucks. The language that they use to attract customers to the restaurant as well as the language that they use to convince their customers to continue to return time and time again - 10% of customers comes to Starbucks twice each day.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Assignment 4-1
Christmas: Religious Holiday or A Reason to Get Gifts
With the Christmas season upon us many of the articles that are currently in newspapers or news sites such as CNN.com have some mention of Christmas. As most people know, Christmas is December 25th each year and is holiday that Christians use to celebrate the birth of Christ. However, in today’s society can we truly call this a religious holiday? If you went in to a public grade school and asked the average 2nd grader what Christmas was about how many of them would mention baby Jesus, a manger, or the three wise men that brought him gifts? I have been in many schools during the holiday season. Because Christmas is a religious holiday you have to be careful in mentioning it at all. However, if you ask children what Christmas is they talk about gifts, Santa Claus, decorated trees, and reindeer. They do not think about what they will be getting or occasionally what they will be giving others. This is even true for most adults. If you ask about their holiday preparations they will not bring up church services or helping others but most often what they are purchasing for their children, trips to the mall for photos with Santa Claus, and shopping trips with disastrous results.
The day after Thanksgiving is known to many as Black Friday. The reason for the name is that many businesses will finally break out of the red and start turning a profit for the fiscal year thanks to this one day. People will flock to the stores by the thousands with ads in hand and a plan of attack on how to get the most for their money. Unfortunately, because of the emphasis that we all place on giving and getting the newest gadgets, this day has turned into a nightmare. In recent years people have been robbed in store parking lots, trampled to death going into stores, or shot during confrontations. This year a temporary Wal-Mart employee was killed while trying to open the doors at 5am on Black Friday. Two people were killed while shopping at Toys R Us – a toy store! We have become so obsessed with buying that big screen HD television that we are willing to take someone’s life. Often during this time of year, I listen to people fighting in the aisles because someone touched them or bumped them with a cart. Complaining about long prices or pricing errors. It has become all about the gifts.
Another example of how the latest craze has affected this holy season is the decorations that people purchase. While shopping in Lowe’s this week I decided to look at the large yard decorations that they had. While I was not looking for one, I do not recall seeing even one religious decoration – I saw Santa Claus, Thomas the Train, Mickey Mouse, Tigger, and Snow Globes. But I do not remember seeing one manger scene. If you look at the ornaments that many people have on their trees you will also find this to be true. I have seen Disney ornaments, Simpsons ornaments, even Budweiser ornaments.
I have come to some understanding of why the meaning of this holiday has changed but what I do not understand is why we are still not allowed to talk about Christmas in schools - no Christmas concerts, winter break instead of Christmas break, holiday parties. Is this a religious holiday or a reason to give gifts? At what point do we start seeing this holiday for what it is? I am okay with it going either way but I wish those people who are so against religion being brought into schools because they do not believe themselves would stop using what I consider a very holy day as a reason to give their child an Xbox 360.
With the Christmas season upon us many of the articles that are currently in newspapers or news sites such as CNN.com have some mention of Christmas. As most people know, Christmas is December 25th each year and is holiday that Christians use to celebrate the birth of Christ. However, in today’s society can we truly call this a religious holiday? If you went in to a public grade school and asked the average 2nd grader what Christmas was about how many of them would mention baby Jesus, a manger, or the three wise men that brought him gifts? I have been in many schools during the holiday season. Because Christmas is a religious holiday you have to be careful in mentioning it at all. However, if you ask children what Christmas is they talk about gifts, Santa Claus, decorated trees, and reindeer. They do not think about what they will be getting or occasionally what they will be giving others. This is even true for most adults. If you ask about their holiday preparations they will not bring up church services or helping others but most often what they are purchasing for their children, trips to the mall for photos with Santa Claus, and shopping trips with disastrous results.
The day after Thanksgiving is known to many as Black Friday. The reason for the name is that many businesses will finally break out of the red and start turning a profit for the fiscal year thanks to this one day. People will flock to the stores by the thousands with ads in hand and a plan of attack on how to get the most for their money. Unfortunately, because of the emphasis that we all place on giving and getting the newest gadgets, this day has turned into a nightmare. In recent years people have been robbed in store parking lots, trampled to death going into stores, or shot during confrontations. This year a temporary Wal-Mart employee was killed while trying to open the doors at 5am on Black Friday. Two people were killed while shopping at Toys R Us – a toy store! We have become so obsessed with buying that big screen HD television that we are willing to take someone’s life. Often during this time of year, I listen to people fighting in the aisles because someone touched them or bumped them with a cart. Complaining about long prices or pricing errors. It has become all about the gifts.
Another example of how the latest craze has affected this holy season is the decorations that people purchase. While shopping in Lowe’s this week I decided to look at the large yard decorations that they had. While I was not looking for one, I do not recall seeing even one religious decoration – I saw Santa Claus, Thomas the Train, Mickey Mouse, Tigger, and Snow Globes. But I do not remember seeing one manger scene. If you look at the ornaments that many people have on their trees you will also find this to be true. I have seen Disney ornaments, Simpsons ornaments, even Budweiser ornaments.
I have come to some understanding of why the meaning of this holiday has changed but what I do not understand is why we are still not allowed to talk about Christmas in schools - no Christmas concerts, winter break instead of Christmas break, holiday parties. Is this a religious holiday or a reason to give gifts? At what point do we start seeing this holiday for what it is? I am okay with it going either way but I wish those people who are so against religion being brought into schools because they do not believe themselves would stop using what I consider a very holy day as a reason to give their child an Xbox 360.
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