Extrapolations. Apple TV .
Apple produces an outsized number of sci-fi TV shows.
​1 out of every 5, in fact. From their first slate of content in 2019 (See, For All Mankind) to their recent masterpiece (Severance). And nearly a dozen in between.
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They’re courting audience members who are predisposed to purchasing Apple’s futuristic products while ironically reinforcing audiences' fears of technological dystopias.
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Previous shows have harped on malevolent products like a chip that divides our work and home memories and fake moon timeshares.
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Apple's tech and TV divisions are so severed there's an unrealized irony in their major announcements made less than 24 hours apart:
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* ​Neuromancer​ -Greenlit Apple TV series about an unthinkably powerful AI
​* Full pivot to AI​ - Apple is diverting employees to AI teams after canceling its electric car (Project Titan)
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When Steve Jobs founded Apple in 1976, he initiated a dogfight with Microsoft. This reached its zenith with Ridley Scott’s 1984 commercial, which showed Microsoft as George Orwell’s all-seeing Big Brother.
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This may be Apple’s most terrifying technological prediction to date.
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Microsoft is a partial owner of ChatGPT’s OpenAI, which is so lucrative and powerful that Microsoft has officially, as of last month, overtaken Apple as the most valuable company on the stock exchange (Apple held this position at one point for nearly a decade).
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Apple’s blind pivot to content to keep users in its ecosystem may end up being one of the greatest technological blunders in history, as Microsoft’s runaway lead makes their AI systems asymmetrically powerful.
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For now, all we can do is wait to watch Neuromancer through our Apple Vision Pro and take notes on how we to fight back against AI.
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It's an interesting strategy to align your futuristic films with your products and a potential audience. I'd never thought of it like that. Off the top of my head, I can't think of where that has happened before. Can you?
Whilst Apple services has now reached 1 Billion subscribers, Apple TV has 25 million subs, or some sources have pegged it as 50 million. It's still a small percentage of their total subscribers. It make me wonder what developments they have in store for future release and a melding of their services? Share your futuristic thoughts below.
Ridley Scott's 1984 Commercial link:
https://youtu.be/ErwS24cBZPc?si=L1M81T2Jvcq6UfMe
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3 people like this
I have always been a believer of “If you build it, they will come.” Gaming is all over the place. Players have such diverse tastes that virtually any kind of game can find a fan base and success. Myse...
Expand commentI have always been a believer of “If you build it, they will come.” Gaming is all over the place. Players have such diverse tastes that virtually any kind of game can find a fan base and success. Myself, I know nothing about Unknown 9. Would it benefit from a story?
Some games just don’t need them, and their fans don’t want them. A story-less game is often built that way for a reason. Any change to that formula could knock the game out of favor. But, then again, some games benefit from having a story added, or fans cry out “this one part is awesome, how about some story detail!”
When it comes to game story, if it serves then dive in. Just don’t overdo it. Too much can be as tedious as not enough. Overall, I always keep my fingers crossed for the folks who make up the stories that the fans will dive in and love it.
2 people like this
The Unknown 9 transmedia universe sounds exciting, Geoff Hall. There's a part in the article that says ""People will find their way through the universe via the game, and the book is [the only other t...
Expand commentThe Unknown 9 transmedia universe sounds exciting, Geoff Hall. There's a part in the article that says ""People will find their way through the universe via the game, and the book is [the only other thing] you need to pay for. So they can get into the lore, the narrative, the plot, and the podcast depending on their appetite and so on." I think that's gonna get a lot of people to sign up.
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Maurice Vaughan yes, Maurice, that's a great strategy and one I'll learn from!
2 people like this
It's a fascinating idea. A friend of mine whose written films and video games talks about the close-ended nature of a film that takes you where it wants to and the open-ended nature of video games whe...
Expand commentIt's a fascinating idea. A friend of mine whose written films and video games talks about the close-ended nature of a film that takes you where it wants to and the open-ended nature of video games where you are creating your own narrative within the world. Marrying these ideas in any way to generate engagement in a piece of IP is a dream for a lot of companies. Will be following this.
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Sam Sokolow thanks Sam. It must take an incredible investment to fulfil that project plan!