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I’ve been thinking about the iPad backlash and decided it isn’t because the device is subpar. Instead, the device is disappointing to many. When I ask myself why, I see a rare but significant problem for Apple: the Curse of Brand. It’s a syndrome that occurs when the expectations of a brand are so precise (and high) that it can only appease them in a very specific way. I thought of other brands that have suffered from the Curse of Brand and realized the same could be said of Muhammad Ali. In fact, looking at these two brands side by side, I’ve concluded Jobs strategically navigated this curse, while Ali did not.

Social Media Week is in full swing all around the globe, bringing six different cities together for a conference and discussion connected digitally. In New York, Denuologist Saneel Radia particpated on a panel about the benefits of crowdsourcing, titled, “CROWDSOURCERY POTIONS 101: WHY SOME MARKETING POTIONS FAIL AND OTHERS THRIVE.” The discussion ranged from the very definition of crowdsourcing, to looking at its effect on not only a business’ bottom line, but also the cultural aspects of a business and the impact on control within the organization.

After being presented with the opportunity to take a trip to Las Vegas to talk with fantasy sports experts, I realized life can truly be too good at times. I had no idea this “fantasy” trip would also give me insight into the future of fantasy sports. Those same experts showed me that the industry 27 million consumers spend countless hours enjoying is preparing to go into many interesting directions in the future. Because of this fact, I recommend marketers get in the game (poor pun intended) sooner than later.

I had the pleasure of speaking at Fantasy Sports Trade Association’s 2010 Winter Business Conference last week. For those not familiar, the FSTA provides a forum for interaction between the hundreds of existing and emerging companies across the fantasy sports industry. My specific discussion revolved around the opportunity for advertising in the fantasy sports industry but the true insight for advertisers came from the many conversations held following the panel.

The new year rings in a whole new set of trends and topics covered in this month’s prediction-themed issue of PLAYED. This month, we make some predictions and offer insight into what to watch for as the year moves on. 2010 is already prime for some big releases, all hoping to dethrone Modern Warfare 2 as the biggest game of all time. With past success stories in mind, we look into what titles could capture mainstream attention and how they plan on doing it. Also, we explore why this year could, indeed, be the Year of Mobile (again), as well as how gaming consoles will change from just another box under the television to full-service, multimedia devices that control your living room. Finally, we cover the shifting of game design towards mass collaboration, with teams uniting online to bring new and interesting experiences to gamers everywhere.

The state of modern technology can be summed up by the TV in my hotel room. It was a 50″ flatscreen LCD, mounted beautifully into a wooden console, but displaying a blocky, stretched standard definition signal. Despite the investment made into purchasing these top-tier TVs, the hotel wasn’t using them to their full, high-definition potential. At CES, one could walk through miles of glistening technology, showcasing 3D images, immersive soundscapes, and internet-enabled everything, but to what purpose? Are consumers so over HDTV that they need a third-dimension? Is the world ready for an internet-enabled alarm clock? If the SD broadcast of ESPN greeting me every morning was any indication, the answer might be no.

Not to say that consumers are outright rejecting technological advancement, they’re just not seeing the benefits of such things in their everyday lives. That said, the marketing implications below are less about the gear and more about how marketers could utilize this tech to engage consumers in whole new ways. Through devices like eReaders, services like online storefronts, and the convergence of digital services into the living room, marketers are going to have a lot of opportunity to do groundbreaking work and, perhaps, change consumer perception about these technological breakthroughs. Then, maybe, I can get an HD signal in my hotel room for CES 2011.