Business Week asks a good question: "Jobs & Co. spark something bordering on a lovefest among the press. But as the good times roll, are reporters asking the hard questions?"
Read the article and replace every instance of the word "Apple" with the word "Nintendo" and it still rings true. Like Apple and Harley Davidson, Nintendo can literally bank on tremendous loyalty on the part of their irrationally partisan fanbase. This is a benefit that few product companies are lucky enough to enjoy. It has a lot to do with the fact that many of us were babysat by Nintendo during our formative years.
And yet, falling in love with a company is dangerous. By definition, falling in love with anything--or with anyone--results in a certain inability to perceive flaws, a certain suspension of critical thinking.
The parting shot in Arik Hesseldahl's piece is particularly spooky in how well it maps to our suggested rereading. We'll change one word, and quote it here: "As great a company as [Nintendo] is -- I'm often as guilty as anyone of falling for the hyperbole -- the pointed, skeptical, analytical, dispassionate, and yes, uncomfortable questions about this unusually influential outfit and its unique, legendary, brilliant, and complicated chief don't get asked often enough. And they should be, more often than they are now. Great companies deserve nothing less."
Got some good questions for Nintendo? Anyone?
[image credit: from "Nintendo et Apple un duo de choc"]
