Editor's note: Normally I wouldn't write an article that's entirely focused on mocking my employer, but since I'm off honeymooning in Hawaii, I figure there's not much he can do about it. I guess Shoe could burn my house down, or fire me. I suppose he could even burn my house down AND fire me. Perhaps this article wasn't such a good idea... -Aaron
Back in the day, EGM had a segment at the end of the magazine called "Last Word." The editors would each share their opinion on a gaming related topic. Sounds kind of like the Mobcast, doesn't it?
Well, thanks to my extremely unnecessary collection of old video game magazines, I've got a few choice nuggets from Dan Hsu's participation in the Last Word circa 1999-2000. With the added benefit of hindsight, I'll analyze his stance/prediction to show the Bitmob co-founder exactly where he went wrong.
Click "read more" to learn 1999 Shoe's prediction on the Xbox's chances (or X-box, as they called it back in the day), his state of arousal over the Dreamcast launch, and his thoughts on a little fad called "Pokémon."
Shoe on: "The X-box: Future of Video Games or the Next 3DO?"
Aaron's analysis: Shoe seems to ignore the fact that the "X-box" might face its own difficult road wooing developers. Why would a developer take a risk on an Xbox game and then port it to another fledgling system, when they could simply develop it for the PS2 and not have anything to worry about?
I suppose Shoe's theory did result in people getting Shenmue 2 and Crazy Taxi after the Dreamcast croaked, but I don't think that's what Dan or Sega was banking on.
Shoe on: "Pokémon: So... Do You Get it?"
Aaron's analysis: At last count, those "glassy-eyed little Japanese freaks" had sold over 186 MILLION games, spawned 12 movies, a hit TV show, and a still-successful card game. I'm not saying Shoe was out of touch with the youth of the time, but...
On the other hand, if Japan had someone like Dan watching out for them, they might have avoided this incident where an episode of the cartoon caused 685 people to have seizures when it aired. Thanks, Dan!
Shoe on: "Buying Consoles the Day They Come Out."
Aaron's analysis: Shoe might have had hard nipples, but he also had a hard time predicting the venom people had for Sega after the less-than-successful Sega CD, 32X, and Saturn. I adored the Dreamcast, but I had many friends who swore they wouldn't be burned by Sega again.
I'd write more, but I can't stop thinking of Shoe and his Dreamcast-induced hard nipples.
This article was a complete mistake!
