Killer App

In marketing terminology, a killer application (commonly shortened to killer app) is any computer program or software that is so necessary or desirable that it proves the core value of some larger technology, such as computer hardware, a video game console, software, a programming language, a software platform, or an operating system. In other words, consumers would buy the (usually expensive) hardware just to run that application. A killer app can substantially increase sales of the platform on which it runs. Early use of the term "Killer Application". Early use of the term "Killer App".

Examples

One of the first recognized examples of a killer application is generally agreed to be the VisiCalc spreadsheet for the Apple II series. Because it was not available on other computers for 12 months, people spent $100 for the software first, then $2,000 to $10,000 on the Apple computer they needed to run it. ''BYTE'' wrote in 1980, "VisiCalc is the first program available on a microcomputer that has been responsible for sales of entire systems", while '' Creative Computing'' VisiCalc review was subtitled "reason enough for owning a computer". Others also chose to develop software, such as EasyWriter, for the Apple II first because of its increasing sales.

Lotus 1-2-3 similarly benefited sales of the IBM PC. Noting that computer purchasers did not want PC compatibility as much as compatibility with certain PC software, ''InfoWorld'' suggested "let's tell it like it is. Let's not say 'PC compatible,' or even 'MS-DOS compatible.' Instead, let's say '1-2-3 compatible. Another killer app is WordStar, the most popular word processor during much of the 1980s.

The UNIX Operating System served as a killer application for the DEC PDP-11 and VAX-11 minicomputers during roughly 1975–1985. Many of the PDP-11 and VAX-11 processors never ran DEC's operating systems (RSTS or VAX/VMS), but instead, they ran UNIX, which was first licensed in 1975. To get a virtual-memory UNIX ( BSD 3.0), a VAX-11 computer must be purchased. Many universities wanted a general-purpose timesharing system that would meet the needs of students and researchers (early versions of UNIX included free compilers for C, Fortran, and Pascal; at the time, offering even one free compiler was unprecedented). From its inception UNIX could drive high-quality typesetting equipment and later PostScript printers using the nroff/troff typesetting language, and this was also unprecedented for its time. UNIX was the first operating system offered in source-license form (a university license cost only $10,000, less than a PDP-11), allowing it to run on an unlimited number of machines, and allowing the machines to interface to any type of hardware because the UNIX I/O system was extensible.

Usage

The first recorded use of the term in print was 1988, in ''PC Week'' 24 May. 39/1. "Everybody has only one killer application. The secretary has a word processor. The manager has a spreadsheet."

The definition of "killer app" came up during Bill Gates' questioning in the '' United States v. Microsoft Corp.'' antitrust case. Bill Gates had written an email in which he described Internet Explorer as a killer app. In the questioning, he said that the term meant "a popular application", and did not connote an application that would fuel sales of a larger product or one that would supplant its competition, as the Microsoft Computer Dictionary defined it.

Introducing the iPhone in 2007, Steve Jobs said that "the killer app is making calls." Reviewing the iPhone's first decade, David Pierce for ''Wired'' wrote that although Jobs did indeed prioritize a good experience making calls in the phone's development, other features of the phone soon turned out to be more important, such as its data connectivity and ability to install third-party software (which was added later).

The World Wide Web (through the web browsers Mosaic and Netscape Navigator) were killer apps that popularized the Internet, as was the music sharing program Napster.

Killer apps for computers and operating systems

* 1979: Apple II: VisiCalc (first spreadsheet program, first killer app)
* 1983: IBM PC compatible/MS-DOS: Lotus 1-2-3 (spreadsheet)
* 1985: Macintosh: Aldus (now Adobe) PageMaker (first desktop publishing program)
* 1985: AmigaOS: Deluxe Paint, Video Toaster, Prevue Guide
* 1993: Acorn Archimedes: Sibelius

Killer app games for video game hardware

The term has also been applied to computer and video games that persuade consumers to buy a particular video game console or other video game hardware product over a competing one, by virtue of being exclusive to that platform. Such a game is also known in video game parlance as a "system seller". Examples of video game killer applications include:

* ''Space Invaders'', originally released for arcades in 1978, became a killer app when it was ported to the Atari VCS console in 1980, quadrupling sales of the three-year-old console.
* '' Star Raiders'', released in 1979, may have been a system-seller for the Atari 400/800 computers. Another was ''Eastern Front (1941)'', released in 1981.
* In 1996, '' Computer Gaming World'' wrote that '' Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord'' (1981) "sent AD&D fans scrambling to buy Apple IIs".
* The Famicom home port of ''Xevious'' is considered the console's first killer app, which caused system sales to jump by nearly 2 million units.
* ''Computer Gaming World'' stated that ''The Legend of Zelda'' on the Nintendo Entertainment System, ''Phantasy Star II'' on the Sega Genesis, and '' Far East of Eden'' for the NEC TurboGrafx-16 were killer apps for their consoles.
* The '' Super Mario'', ''Final Fantasy'', '' Dragon Quest'' games were killer apps for Nintendo's Famicom and Super Famicom consoles in Japan.
* ''John Madden Football''s popularity in 1990 helped the Genesis gain market share against the Super NES in North America.
** '' Sonic the Hedgehog'', released in 1991, was hailed as a killer app as it revived sales of the (by then) three-year-old Genesis.
** ''Mortal Kombat'' helped pushed the sales of the Genesis due to being uncensored unlike the Nintendo version.
** '' Streets of Rage'' was a system seller for the Mega Drive/Genesis in the UK.
* ''Street Fighter II'', originally released for arcades in 1991, became a system-seller for the Super NES when it was ported to the platform in 1992.
** ''Donkey Kong Country'' was another killer app for the SNES, helping Nintendo make a comeback against Sega.
* ''Myst'' and ''The 7th Guest'', both released in 1993, drove adoption of CD-ROM drives for personal computers.
*''Virtua Fighter 2'', '' NiGHTS into Dreams'' and ''Sakura Wars'' were the killer apps for the Sega Saturn.
** ''Euros 96'' and ''Sega Rally Championship'' were major system-sellers for the Sega Saturn in the United Kingdom, with the latter becoming the fastest selling CD game at the time.
**''Die Hard Arcade'' and ''Fighters Megamix'' boosted the Sega Saturn's sales in the United States.
*''Ridge Racer'', '' Tekken'', '' Wipeout'', and ''Tomb Raider'' were the killer apps for the PlayStation.
**'' Final Fantasy VII'' was another killer app for the PlayStation. ''Computing Japan'' magazine said that it was largely responsible for the PlayStation's global installed base increasing from units sold by November 1996 to units sold by May 1997, a 60% increase.
*'' Super Mario 64'' and '' GoldenEye 007'' were the killer apps for the Nintendo 64.
*''Virtua Fighter 3'', ''Sonic Adventure'', and ''The House of the Dead 2'' were the killer apps for the Dreamcast.
*''Gran Turismo 3'' and the ''Grand Theft Auto'' games were the killer apps for the PlayStation 2.
*'' Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader'', '' Super Smash Bros. Melee'' and ''Super Mario Sunshine'' were the killler apps for the GameCube.
* '' Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo 2'' are considered the killer apps for the original Xbox, and the subsequent series entries went on to become killer apps for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
** Many video game and technology critics point to Xbox Live as a more general "killer app" for the original Xbox console.
** ''Blue Dragon'' served as a killer app for the Xbox 360 in Japan.
* ''Wii Sports'' was the killer app for the Nintendo Wii.
* '' Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots'' caused a boost in PlayStation 3 sales.
* ''Mario Kart 8'' was a killer app for the Wii U in the UK.
* '' The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'' was the killer app for the Nintendo Switch console.
* '' Half-Life: Alyx'' was considered a killer app for virtual reality headsets, on account of being thought of by many as the first true AAA virtual reality game. Sales of VR headsets — such as the Valve Index — increased dramatically after its announcement, suggesting users bought the product specifically for the game.
* ''Microsoft Flight Simulator'' was called a killer app for Xbox Game Studios' Xbox Game Pass subscription, as well as the Xbox Series X/S.

See also

* Disruptive innovation
* Killer feature

Notes

References

{{reflist, 40em

Computer jargon
Video game marketing