World's Best Companies 2009
The 40 names making the list, compiled by A.T. Kearney for BusinessWeek, are thriving in the recession and preparing for beyond

Any athlete will tell you that the time to train is in dismal weather, not on perfect, sun-drenched days. If you want to excel at the best of times, it seems, you need to be prepared for the worst.

Companies are little different. So as the economic outlook brightens, those that have worked hard to survive the tough times of the past year are best prepared to seize new opportunities. It is these enterprises that have risen to the top of the World's Best Companies/Global Top 40 list, compiled for BusinessWeek by management consulting firm A.T. Kearney.

What are some traits of the World's Best Companies? A commitment to innovation, diversified portfolios, aggressive expansion, strong leadership, and a clear vision for the future. "In an environment of continuous disruptive change, companies that have rigorous strategic planning initiatives that allow them to see over the horizon…are far more likely to win than those that make it up as they go along," says Paul Laudicina, chairman of A.T. Kearney.

To create the list, A.T. Kearney examined the 2,500 largest publicly listed companies in the world. Kearney's team singled out those with a minimum of $10 billion in sales in 2008, at least 25% of which came from outside the company's home region. It then ranked the companies on their sales growth and value creation—the rise of market capitalization after subtracting any increase in capital—over the past five years. This year, the list expanded to 40 companies from the 25 Kearney ranked in the past.

Thriving Industries
The top 40 come from 18 countries and industries ranging from chemicals and contracting to software and shipbuilding. But three groups stand out. There are six technology and telecommunications enterprises that have tapped into continuing demand for mobile-phone service and new digital hardware and services. The eight heavy-industry and engineering outfits performed well as infrastructure spending started to bounce back. Finally, companies in sectors tied to the commodities boom of recent years have in many cases continued to prosper, though their ranks have been thinned considerably.

Japanese electronics maker Nintendo (7974.T) claims the No. 1 spot this year. Its sales have risen 36% annually over the past five years, while its value growth averaged 38%. Despite the hard times of the past year, Nintendo's continued emphasis on innovation has helped the company develop must-haves such as the DS handheld game machine and the Wii console, which outsold rival offerings from Sony (SNE) and Microsoft (MSFT). Nintendo's strategy is emblematic of the tech companies on the list. Like Nintendo, American technology giants Google (GOOG) (No. 2), Apple (AAPL) (No. 3), and Amazon.com (AMZN) (No. 17) have continued to invest heavily in innovation, commanding large market share with new products even as consumer spending and confidence have declined sharply.

What they are doing is incredible. When you look at the earnings of companies Nintendo is so far and ahead of everyone else its as if they know some secret that other companies do not. Will it last, who knows, they fell before after being on top so it could happen again. Their gamble paid off, congrats to them.

About the Epic Mickey platform choice

Apparently the gameplay is to paint and delete parts of the levels. So in this case it makes sense to put it on the Wii. So saying you want it on the 360/PS3 is like saying you want Zack and Wiki, Bloomblox, Trauma Center on the 360/PS3. 

The Wii has also shown that  cartoony platformers sell well on the system. De Blob which is a new IP has sold very well on the Wii. Mickey is not a new mascot, but a well known character. Plus there should be some cross-over appeal to the 8 million people that brought Galaxy. The chances are that if you like Mario you would like Mickey. 

The only thing that does not make any sense is that GI got the exclusive and not Nintendo Power.

Dvader said:

So Nintendo is named the worlds greatest company by Buisnessweek.

Not Bad.

Re: MS bringing out a N-wireless adaptor for $100. How can they have their heads that far up their asses? How can a company with the leading online stategy continue to charge a benji for a wi-fi adaptor?

____

As for Acivision and band Hero, "Band Hero differentiates itself via a focus on pop and mainstream music, featuring a mix of timeless favorites and recent hits, plus licensed artist avatars and a nod to our current celebrity-crazed culture."

Well, I can't say I'm dissapointed with them, this is exactly what I expected. So look forward to singing along to such classics as this with the next Band Hero:

Nic Nack Paddy Whack For the Win.

___

THIS IS (or at least has the small potentional to be) BIG FUCKING NEWS.

http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/10/ftc-ruling-might-affect-video-game-reviews/

A unanimous ruling by the Federal Trade Commission today would update truth-in-advertising language to require the disclosure of “material connections”—hint, hint “cash or an in-kind payment to review a product”—by the recipient of such considerations.

gamingeek said:

Iga_Bobovic said:

About the Epic Mickey platform choice

Apparently the gameplay is to paint and delete parts of the levels. So in this case it makes sense to put it on the Wii. So saying you want it on the 360/PS3 is like saying you want Zack and Wiki, Bloomblox, Trauma Center on the 360/PS3.

The Wii has also shown that  cartoony platformers sell well on the system. De Blob which is a new IP has sold very well on the Wii. Mickey is not a new mascot, but a well known character. Plus there should be some cross-over appeal to the 8 million people that brought Galaxy. The chances are that if you like Mario you would like Mickey.

The only thing that does not make any sense is that GI got the exclusive and not Nintendo Power.

 Well, firstly we didn't know, still dont know for 100% that it uses these paintbrush controls, yeah mickey has a paintbrush in his hand I know. But Okami was on PS2 and used analogue sticks. 

Please don't speak of Okami. A game that had so awesome paintbrush controls you had to pause the motherfucking game to use it. Don't compare it to Okami, compare it to Galaxy, compare it to LostWinds, compare it to Max and the Magic Marker, compare it to Icarian. See those games would idiotic and perhaps impossible on a dual analog.

gamingeek said:

Plus now the other systems have motion control devices which can do similar things.  

 Don't put Natal in the same category as Wiimote and the Wand. They are totally different. 

gamingeek said:

And the attractiveness of putting a game out on 3 platforms vs 1 (Wii) makes it a lucrative choice for a big franchise material. 

The only thing I can think of is that this game has been in the works for years when Wii was at its height of popularity and is hitting by say summer next year.

 GG, the Balance Board has sold almost PS3 numbers, but yet there are few games using it and even less using it exclusively. How many games besides Guitar Hero and Rock Band uses plastic instruments? What makes you think Natal and the Wand will have the same success? I bet they won't even have a fraction of the success of Wii Fit. So in this case it is not attractive to put a game the HD consoles.

And the 360 has bad reputation when it comes to cartoony games. Banjo and Viva Pinata did not sell well at all. Let's not forget that the prejudice the Wii has works both ways. In this case it works for the Wii instead of against it.

And yes I know that the paintbrush controls is not 100% confirmed. But that's why I said apparently. 

gamingeek said:

Did some updates.

Iga_Bobovic said:

gamingeek said:

Iga_Bobovic said:

About the Epic Mickey platform choice

Apparently the gameplay is to paint and delete parts of the levels. So in this case it makes sense to put it on the Wii. So saying you want it on the 360/PS3 is like saying you want Zack and Wiki, Bloomblox, Trauma Center on the 360/PS3.

The Wii has also shown that  cartoony platformers sell well on the system. De Blob which is a new IP has sold very well on the Wii. Mickey is not a new mascot, but a well known character. Plus there should be some cross-over appeal to the 8 million people that brought Galaxy. The chances are that if you like Mario you would like Mickey.

The only thing that does not make any sense is that GI got the exclusive and not Nintendo Power.

Well, firstly we didn't know, still dont know for 100% that it uses these paintbrush controls, yeah mickey has a paintbrush in his hand I know. But Okami was on PS2 and used analogue sticks.

Please don't speak of Okami. A game that had so awesome paintbrush controls you had to pause the motherfucking game to use it. Don't compare it to Okami, compare it to Galaxy, compare it to LostWinds, compare it to Max and the Magic Marker, compare it to Icarian. See those games would idiotic and perhaps impossible on a dual analog.

gamingeek said:

Plus now the other systems have motion control devices which can do similar things.  

Don't put Natal in the same category as Wiimote and the Wand. They are totally different.

gamingeek said:

And the attractiveness of putting a game out on 3 platforms vs 1 (Wii) makes it a lucrative choice for a big franchise material.  

The only thing I can think of is that this game has been in the works for years when Wii was at its height of popularity and is hitting by say summer next year.

GG, the Balance Board has sold almost PS3 numbers, but yet there are few games using it and even less using it exclusively. How many games besides Guitar Hero and Rock Band uses plastic instruments? What makes you think Natal and the Wand will have the same success? I bet they won't even have a fraction of the success of Wii Fit. So in this case it is not attractive to put a game the HD consoles.

And the 360 has bad reputation when it comes to cartoony games. Banjo and Viva Pinata did not sell well at all. Let's not forget that the prejudice the Wii has works both ways. In this case it works for the Wii instead of against it.

And yes I know that the paintbrush controls is not 100% confirmed. But that's why I said apparently.

 Sony and MS want to push their new devices in a big way and publishers want to put content out there on those platforms.  

 Ahh, no. You don't expect Microsoft and Sony to say: "Well we are just doing this to get our feet wet and get ready for next gen."? Of course they are saying that, but let's see what we have now.

Natal: The Price?

Release date?

Games?

Oh and let's not talk about Sony, they are making shit up as they go along. Well we have an eyetoy camera, oh let's make a wand. Oh we need to control the character somehow.

*looks at Neogaf

Brilliant we will use the Dualshock. 

And about publishers they always support anyone. Was Kojima supposed to make Project S with Suda? What happened to that?

All signs point to controllers flopping. I think they are making them to test out motion control, so they are not left behind the next generation.

gamingeek said:

It's also easier to port a Wii graphics level game to a next gen console than vice versa.  

 True, when talking about 3D graphics. 2d you have to redraw.

gamingeek said: 

Red Steel 2 was made as a motionplus exclusive before Wii Sports resort launched, same for the sports games. There was no guarantee of success and in the case of the sports games they had alternative control methods, so any version of Mickey on other consoles could do the same. . 

 Ahh, yeah but the difference is that you can add a motionplus for €10 extra. A huge difference to the other devices.

But why are we talking about WM+? The wiimote is sufficient for painting stuff, like all the games I mentioned before have shown. And guess which controller is included with every single Wii? 

gamingeek said:

You're presuming that the IR control will be as smooth and effortless as Max and the magic marker. I'm assuming that in a 3-D where its not as easy to be so free and easy with IR painting, Okami style painting is the more likely outcome.

Okami was 3D, but the painting sure as hell was not. Remember in Galaxy, some starbits were in pretty complex patterns (mushrooms, spirals, stars)? Or remember the snow level where you have to wipe the snow while walking through it? You could easily do the same control with painting. I see no problems using IR painting controls in 3D, sure it is more complex for the computer, because if you go up, does it interpret it as going forward into the horizon or straight up? But is should be doable. 

gamingeek said:

Project S was just a radio play, SUDA said that in a recent interview.

I dont think that either company is getting feet wet for the next generation as each have stated that they want their consoles to last another 5 years or so. MS said that Natal IS the new console and Sony want to bleed PS3 for all its worth considering their investment and lower early sales and now rising higher ones.

Motionplus exclusive games, yeah some bundles are cheaper but the invidual unit is £15 which isn't cheap.

You're kinda of saying that because Natal and the newly code named Sphere controllers have no install base, they are instant failure. It takes time to build an install base and if no one every tries to make games for the devices they are certain to fail.

The best you can do is have games which can utilise new devices, but do not require them. Like GTA DS can be done on PSP or Silent Hill Shattered Memories on PSP.

Sure, but that means dumbing games down. No way that an analog stick is as fast or accurate as IR.

So this brings us back full circle, if you want to make a game that is about painting it makes sense to put it on the Wii. The 360 has a bad reputation with respect to "kiddy" games. And Natal, well Natal is marketed as a no controller solution, so unless Mickey is a Kirby clone it will not work on Natal.

And you honestly don't expect them to support the 360/PS3 motion controllers when they have zero I repeat zero install base as of now? They won't take the risk. How do I know that? The best way to predict future movement is to look at the past. Developers have not supported the balance board, heck some western developers are not supporting the Wii at all.

Sure you could make a multi-platform with motion control only as an option, but you will have to change the game significantly for that. Heck why not make a PS2, PSP version too? That would make more sense that a 360/PS3 version.

So in short if you really want to make a game where painting quickly and accurately (yeah I know an assumption) is important it makes sense to put it on the Wii. And if, because of the accurate painting, it is impossible to do with dual analog, it makes sense to make it a Wii exclusive. 

Iga_Bobovic said:

gamingeek said:

Sure, but that means dumbing games down. No way that an analog stick is as fast or accurate as IR.

So this brings us back full circle, if you want to make a game that is about painting it makes sense to put it on the Wii. The 360 has a bad reputation with respect to "kiddy" games. And Natal, well Natal is marketed as a no controller solution, so unless Mickey is a Kirby clone it will not work on Natal.

And you honestly don't expect them to support the 360/PS3 motion controllers when they have zero I repeat zero install base as of now? They won't take the risk. How do I know that? The best way to predict future movement is to look at the past. Developers have not supported the balance board, heck some western developers are not supporting the Wii at all.

Sure you could make a multi-platform with motion control only as an option, but you will have to change the game significantly for that. Heck why not make a PS2, PSP version too? That would make more sense that a 360/PS3 version.

So in short if you really want to make a game where painting quickly and accurately (yeah I know an assumption) is important it makes sense to put it on the Wii. And if, because of the accurate painting, it is impossible to do with dual analog, it makes sense to make it a Wii exclusive.

I dont like the phrase dumbing down. Games can be done on most platforms with tweaking here and there. You see how I argue for versions of multiplatform titles on Wii like RE5? Well I will do the same for games that can be done on HD systems too.

The painting idea most probably came about because of the platform choice, not neccesarily because they wanted to make a painting game. If they had chosen to make it a multiplatform game from the off then its likely that it would be a more straightforward platformer. I don't think this games kiddy nature would matter much to 360 owners. For a start its Micky Mouse, who is a decades old, well know character, secondly the concept is dark epic mickey, from the artwork you can see that this is no ordinary cheery platformer.

Natal may be marketed as controller free but they've already said that games can work with a controller and Natal. If its a painting game and the painting isn't neccesarily needed to be fluid and fast and simultaneous with other controls you could just use a 360 pad, then take your right hand off the controller and paint with your hand when needed.

I do expect developers to support motion on those systems with ZERO install base because if every developer took that attitude you would have no games whatsoever that support it. The balance board is a very different input device, you can lean with it. So its supporting every snowboard and skateboard game from now till the end of the machines life guaranteed. What else do you suppose developers would integrate it for? Even the new super monkey ball will have tilt controls with the remote, like we ski had normal controller controls too.

I agree that if the developers are lazy it would make more sense to put it out on PSP and PS2, but I try and remain optimistic. I hope that this game will have sumptous presentation and if its heavily stylised then there isn't much reason why it couldn't theoretically be rezzed up for other platforms.

So in short if they want to make a dark micky mouse game where painting is a mechanic, yet not demanding and simultaneous, they can do a version on whatever platform they should choose to.

bugsonglass said:

robio said:

Those WiiWare impressions are a little underwhelming.  Not the games per say, but just the lack of new announcements.  If they're having a show dedicated to WiiWare I was expecting something new to be shown off.  I think the Worms: Battle Island game is the only one I haven't seen so far, and honestly I think the world has all the Worms games it needs.  Maybe I'm just too qeued up on the scene.  I was really hoping to see more new games though.

i agree i was looking forward to seeing more new projects as well.  having said that though i still think the wiiware platform still looks very fresh and exciting and i see myself buying the majority of those games.  

and cave story's absence is suspicious

Actually it was there.  I didn't realize it (because I didn't read the very first line), but this article was from a show last month.  Cave Story was there along with 3 dozen other games, along with an equal number of DSiWare games.  For some reason Eurogamer only mentioned a fraction of them in their write-up.  The full list of games shown off at this show is here.

My guess is Cavestory has been covered on a pretty frequent basis this year, so they tried to focus on other games that have only received sporadic coverage or ones that have only recently had big updates.

robio said:

bugsonglass said:

robio said:

Those WiiWare impressions are a little underwhelming.  Not the games per say, but just the lack of new announcements.  If they're having a show dedicated to WiiWare I was expecting something new to be shown off.  I think the Worms: Battle Island game is the only one I haven't seen so far, and honestly I think the world has all the Worms games it needs.  Maybe I'm just too qeued up on the scene.  I was really hoping to see more new games though.

i agree i was looking forward to seeing more new projects as well.  having said that though i still think the wiiware platform still looks very fresh and exciting and i see myself buying the majority of those games.  

and cave story's absence is suspicious

Actually it was there.  I didn't realize it (because I didn't read the very first line), but this article was from a show last month.  Cave Story was there along with 3 dozen other games, along with an equal number of DSiWare games.  For some reason Eurogamer only mentioned a fraction of them in their write-up.  The full list of games shown off at this show is here.

My guess is Cavestory has been covered on a pretty frequent basis this year, so they tried to focus on other games that have only received sporadic coverage or ones that have only recently had big updates.

good call.  i forgot that was a list of eurogamer highlights