Comment Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? (Score 1) 189
Well Aibo had actually a very good marketing scheme: universities all around the world were (and still are) competing in the RoboCup. In which much good research is being made.
Sony Sponsored the RoboCup and made a RoboCup Aibo league. Which meant that al lot of universities were buying these things aswell. And by doing so Sony got free research, free advertising and quite a good name among scientists researching AI.
Ok well, there weren't much buyers, but the price was also quite high.
< insert profit gag >
See nothing mysterious. Well... ok killing of a money making machine...
But then again if you expect the market to stagnate, since most universities have already bought those Aibots no point in keeping the productionline around.
Sony Sponsored the RoboCup and made a RoboCup Aibo league. Which meant that al lot of universities were buying these things aswell. And by doing so Sony got free research, free advertising and quite a good name among scientists researching AI.
Ok well, there weren't much buyers, but the price was also quite high.
< insert profit gag >
- create a product
- overtake a prestegious competition
- make your own league
- get alot of universities to buy a lot of those Aibo's
- get a good name and free research
- Profit
See nothing mysterious. Well... ok killing of a money making machine...
But then again if you expect the market to stagnate, since most universities have already bought those Aibots no point in keeping the productionline around.
