As some of you know, I am also a Director of a social gaming company which I co-founded with four other partners in 2010. I find it interesting how business models are converging to the “free entry” model whereby little upfront investment is required by consumers and its a “pay as you play” model that takes over. Both in the solar (where we see long term financing and leasing models taking over) and in the gaming (where the free to play is taking over), consumers are saying that the entrance fee to participate must be either zero or negligible, and that under those circumstances they are increasingly ready to invest as they enjoy. Is this really any different from putting things on a credit card with long term payments?
We live in an age of deferral of costs in favor of immediate enjoyment. I believe its a societal trend affecting industry trend, not the other way around.
Thoughts welcome…
Sass