Episode #111: 3 Ways Wordle Taught Us That Play Could Go Viral
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Whether or not you’re completely addicted to Wordle, the simple online word game that recently got bought by the NYTimes for 7 figures, you’ve probably heard of it. Even if you haven’t heard of it, you’ve probably seen people posting cryptic social media statuses about it with green, grey, and yellow squares. It’s the latest viral fad that everyone is talking about. But, this isn’t the first time a toy or game has had it’s moment in the sun or 15 minutes of fame.
In today’s episode, I examine 3 toys and games that went “viral” Wordle, Pokemon Go, and Silly Bandz. In just 2 months, Wordle had 300,000 players. Pokemon Go saw even more exponential growth with over 100 million users the month after it launched. Shortly after they launched, Silly Bandz were so popular that they got banned from many schools because kids played with them too much. Besides getting a little jolt of nostalgia for the fads of the past, in this episode you’ll learn about 3 of the toyetic principles that helped these products succeed with such a big burst of energy. Even though these products are very different on the surface, they actually have a lot in common.
EPISODE CLIFF NOTES
Find out the history of Wordle, who made it, when, and why.
Learn how bringing a scarcity element to a toy or game can help with success.
Find out the “joke” commercial that went on to become a game that earned over $1.2 billion in revenue.
Find out the 3 toyetic traits that Wordle, Pokemon Go, and Silly Bandz share, they’re similar to our toyetic principles!
Learn how building authority and community can play into the longevity of a toy or game.
Find out what other than timing contributed to the success of these three products.