Killer application
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A killer application (commonly shortened to killer app) is a computer program that is so useful or desirable that it proves the value of some underlying technology, such as a gaming console, operating system, or piece of computer hardware.
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[edit] History
The first example of a killer application is generally agreed to be the VisiCalc spreadsheet on the Apple II platform (e.g. [1]). The machine was purchased in the thousands by finance workers (in particular, bond traders) on the strength of this one program. The next example is another spreadsheet, Lotus 1-2-3. Sales of IBM's PC had been slow until 1-2-3 was made public; the IBM became the best-selling computer only a few months after Lotus 1-2-3's initial release.
A killer app can provide an important niche market for a non-mainstream platform. Aldus PageMaker and Adobe PostScript gave the graphic design and desktop publishing niche to the Apple Macintosh in the late 1980s, a niche it retains to this day despite the fact that PCs running Windows have been capable of running versions of the same applications since the early 1990s.
[edit] Trends
There have been a number of new uses of the term. For instance the usefulness of e-mail drew many people to use computer networks, while the Mosaic web browser is generally credited with the popularization of the World Wide Web and hence the Internet. The term has also been applied to computer and video games that cause consumers to buy a particular video game console or gaming hardware. Nintendo 64 saw much success with the releases of Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The Game Boy saw Tetris, and following Game Boy iterations saw the highly-successful Pokémon series. Software developers of new platforms now tend to focus considerable effort into discovering or creating the next "killer app" for a given technology.
[edit] Selected applications for gaming consoles
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- Nintendo Entertainment System: Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, The Legend of Zelda
- Sega Genesis: Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Super Mario World, Super Metroid, Super Mario Kart, Chrono Trigger, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Final Fantasy III, Donkey Kong Country, Street Fighter II
- Nintendo 64: Super Mario 64, Perfect Dark, GoldenEye 007, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Mario Kart 64, Super Smash Bros.,
- Playstation: Gran Turismo, Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy VII, Tekken 3, Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider II
- Dreamcast: Soul Calibur, Crazy Taxi, NFL 2K1, Shenmue
- Playstation 2: God of War, Gran Turismo 3, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Final Fantasy X, Devil May Cry , Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Nintendo GameCube: Metroid Prime, Resident Evil 4, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Mario Sunshine, Mario Kart: Double Dash
- Xbox: Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2
- Xbox 360: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Gears of War
- Wii: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Wii Sports
- Game Boy: Tetris, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, Super Mario Land, Pokémon Red and Blue
- Game Boy Color: Pokémon Gold and Silver, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
- Game Boy Advance: Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Pokémon Emerald
- Nintendo DS: Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Mario Kart DS, Super Mario 64 DS, Brain Age, Nintendogs, Animal Crossing: Wild World
- PlayStation Portable: Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
[edit] See also
[edit] Further reading
- Larry Downes and Chunka Mui, http://www.killer-apps.com Unleashing The Killer
