JULY 18, 2008 • Logitech will release a wireless $50 keyboard for the Wii in August. In addition to standard keys, the peripheral will include special console keys similar to those found on the Wiimote. The keyboard will likely have particular appeal to players of the upcoming Animal Crossing: City Folk, which features plenty of text messaging communication.
Impact: DFC intelligence believes that the success of the Wii could result in a renewal for the video game accessory market. A large portion of games will feature custom control mechanisms and this could result in increased sales for peripherals. However, there is also likely to be a flood of companies trying to enter this market. Six years ago there was a major crash in the accessory market as the number of competitors increased dramatically. Furthermore, accessories have become a strong business for Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft and it can be hard to compete with those first-parties.
