killer application

A killer application (often shortened to killer app) is any software that is so necessary or desirable that it proves the core value of some larger technology, such as its host computer hardware, video game console, software platform, or operating system.{{cite web|title=Killer app|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/killer%20app|website=Merrian-Webmaster|publisher=Merriam-Webster, Incorporated|access-date=January 14, 2015}} Consumers would buy the host platform just to access that application, possibly substantially increasing sales of its host platform.{{Cite magazine | last = Scannell| first = Ed| title = OS/2: Waiting for the Killer Applications |magazine= InfoWorld | volume = 11 | issue = 8 | pages =41–45 | publisher = InfoWorld Publications | location = Menlo Park, CA | date = February 20, 1989 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=JzoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT40 | issn = 0199-6649}}{{Cite magazine | last = Kask | first = Alex | title = Revolutionary Products Are Not in the Industry's Near Future |magazine= InfoWorld | volume = 11 | issue = 38 | page =68 | publisher = InfoWorld Publications | location = Menlo Park, CA | date = September 18, 1989 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=uTAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT83 | issn = 0199-6649}}

Usage

{{blockquote|One mark of a good computer is the appearance of a piece of software specifically written for that machine that does something that, for a while at least, can only be done on that machine.|Steven Levy, 1985{{Cite magazine |last=Levy |first=Steven |date=January 1985 |title=The Life and Times of PC junior |url=https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-1985-01/page/n94/mode/2up/search/smell |magazine=Popular Computing |page=92 |access-date=2020-03-12}}}}

The earliest recorded use of the term "killer app" in print is in the May 24, 1988 issue of PC Week: "Everybody has only one killer application. The secretary has a word processor. The manager has a spreadsheet."{{cite magazine | magazine=PC Week | title=PC Week | date=May 24, 1988 | volume=39 | issue=1}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/103376|title=killer, n.|publisher=Oxford University Press|via=Oxford English Dictionary}}

The definition of "killer app" came up during the deposition of Bill Gates in the United States v. Microsoft Corp. antitrust case. He 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeLBQCpCi9c&t=592|title=Bill Gates - Deposition Part 1 of 12|date=September 18, 2012|via=YouTube}}

Introducing the iPhone in 2007, Steve Jobs said that "the killer app is making calls".{{cite news |last1=Newton |first1=Cal |title=Steve Jobs Never Wanted Us to Use Our iPhones Like This |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/25/opinion/sunday/steve-jobs-never-wanted-us-to-use-our-iphones-like-this.html |website=New York Times |date=January 25, 2019 |access-date=June 27, 2020}} Reviewing the iPhone's first decade, David Pierce for Wired wrote that although Jobs prioritized a good experience making calls in the phone's development, other features of the phone soon became more important, such as its data connectivity and the later ability to install third-party software.{{cite magazine |last1=Pierce |first1=David |title=Even Steve Jobs Didn't Predict the iPhone Decade |url=https://www.wired.com/2017/01/apple-iphone-10th-anniversary/ |magazine=Wired |access-date=June 27, 2020}}

The World Wide Web (through the web browsers Mosaic and Netscape Navigator) is the killer app that popularized the Internet,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/08/business/business-technology-a-free-and-simple-computer-link.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm|title=BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY; A Free and Simple Computer Link|first=John | last=Markoff|date=December 8, 1993|work=New York Times}} as is the music sharing program Napster.{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2002/05/the-day-the-napster-died/|title=The Day the Napster Died|author=Brad King|date=May 15, 2002|publisher=Wired}}

Examples

File:Visicalc.png was released in 1979, becoming the earliest generally agreed-upon example of a killer application.]]

Although the term was coined in the late 1980s{{cite magazine |last=Dvorak |first=John |author-link=John C. Dvorak |date=1989-07-01 |title=Looking to OS/2 for the next killer app is barking up the wrong tree. Here's where they really come from. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CbsaONN5y1IC&pg=PP75 |magazine=PC Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=2023-03-25}}{{cite web |url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/killer-app |title=killer app |author= |website=dictionary.com |access-date=2023-03-26 |quote=Origin of killer app 1985-1990}} one of the first retroactively recognized examples of a killer application is the VisiCalc spreadsheet, released in 1979 for the Apple II.{{r|levy198501}}{{r|sullivan19850520}}D.J. Power, [http://www.dssresources.com/history/sshistory.html A Brief History of Spreadsheets], DSSResources.COM, v3.6, August 30, 2004 Because it was not released for other computers for 12 months, people spent {{US$|100|1979|round=-2}} for the software first, then $2,000 to $10,000 (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|2000|1979|r=-3|fmt=c}} to ${{Inflation|US|10000|1979|r=-3|fmt=c}}) on the requisite Apple II.{{cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UCIvSU6Y2GAC&pg=PA126 | title=Apple Charts The Course For IBM |magazine=PC Magazine | date=February 21, 1984 | access-date=October 24, 2013 | author=McMullen, Barbara E. and John F. |page=126}} BYTE wrote in 1980, "VisiCalc is the first program available on a microcomputer that has been responsible for sales of entire systems",{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1980-11/1980_11_BYTE_05-11_High-Resolution_Graphics#page/n247/mode/2up | title=The Power of VisiCalc |magazine=BYTE | date=November 1980 | access-date=October 18, 2013 | author=Ramsdell, Robert E | pages=190–192}} and Creative Computing{{'}}s VisiCalc review is subtitled "reason enough for owning a computer".{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/stream/creativecomputing-1980-08/Creative_Computing_v06_n08_1980_Aug#page/n29/mode/2up | title=VisiCalc: Reason Enough For Owning A Computer |magazine=Creative Computing | date=August 1980 | access-date=October 18, 2013 | author=Green, Doug |page=26}} Others also chose to develop software, such as EasyWriter, for the Apple II first because of its higher sales, helping Apple defeat rivals Commodore International and Tandy Corporation.{{r|mcmullen19840221}}

The co-creator of WordStar, Seymour Rubinstein, argued that the honor of the first killer app should go to that popular word processor, given that it came out a year before VisiCalc and that it gave a reason for people to buy a computer. However, whereas WordStar could be considered an incremental improvement (albeit a large one) over smart typewriters like the IBM Electronic Selectric Composer,{{cite book |last=Baron |first=Dennis |author-link=Dennis Baron |date=2012 |title=A Better Pencil: Readers, Writers, and the Digital Revolution |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-m9nDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA94 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=94 |isbn=9780199914005}} VisiCalc, with its ability to instantly recalculate rows and columns, introduced an entirely new paradigm and capability{{cite book |last=Campbell-Kelly |first=Martin |author-link=Martin Campbell-Kelly |date=2003-10-02 |title=The History of Mathematical Tables: From Sumer to Spreadsheets |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ihRREAAAQBAJ&pg=PA328 |location=Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=328 |isbn=9780191545214}} unavailable on larger computers.{{Cite book |last=Rumelt |first=Richard P. |author-link=Richard Rumelt |url=https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/faculty/dick.rumelt/Docs/Cases/Visicorp.pdf |title=VisiCorp 1978-1984 (Revised) |publisher=The Anderson School at UCLA |year=2003 |id=POL-2003-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031101141127/https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/faculty/dick.rumelt/Docs/Cases/Visicorp.pdf |archive-date=2003-11-01}}

Lotus 1-2-3 similarly benefited sales of the IBM PC.{{r|levy198501}}{{r|sullivan19850520}} 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'."{{r|mcmullen19840221}}{{cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gy4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22 | title=PC compatibility |magazine=InfoWorld | date=February 27, 1984 | access-date=January 18, 2015 | author=Clapp, Doug |page=22}}

The UNIX Operating System became a killer application{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} 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), requires a VAX-11 computer. 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 a time when offering even one free compiler was unprecedented. From its inception, UNIX drives high-quality typesetting equipment and later PostScript printers using the nroff/troff typesetting language, and this was also unprecedented. UNIX is 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 is extensible.{{Original research inline|date=March 2023}} {{asof|1985}} Unix's lack of a killer app, however, prevented its widespread adoption by companies, industry analyst Jean Yates said: "I hope [Unix creator] AT&T will go down on its knees to Lotus".{{Cite magazine |last=Sullivan |first=Kathleen |date=1985-05-20 |title=Unix needs push to win in corporate micro market |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygHfUXZWXlcC&pg=PA42#v=onepage&q&f=true |access-date=2025-06-07 |magazine=Computerworld |page=42 |volume=XIX |issue=20}}

=Applications and operating systems=

1979: Apple II: VisiCalc (first spreadsheet program and killer app)
1979: CP/M systems: WordStar 1982: ported to CP/M-86 and IBM PC compatible/MS-DOS
1983: IBM PC compatible/MS-DOS: Lotus 1-2-3 (spreadsheet)
1985: Macintosh: Aldus (now Adobe) PageMaker (first desktop publishing program){{cite news |last=Robinson |first=Phillip |date=March 2, 1992 |title=Next's Giant Step |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1992/03/02/nexts-giant-step/f32f275a-740a-49da-ad51-e2401995ba01/ |access-date=January 24, 2022}}
1985: AmigaOS: Deluxe Paint, Video Toaster, Prevue Guide
1993: Acorn Archimedes: Sibelius

{{cite news

| first = Derek

| last = Bourgeois

| title = Score yourself an orchestra

| date = November 1, 2001

| url = https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2001/nov/01/onlinesupplement3

| work = The Guardian

| access-date = May 10, 2011

| quote = Many composers bought an Archimedes simply to have access to the program.

}}

1995: Windows 95

=Video games=

The term applies to video games that persuade consumers to buy a particular video game console or accessory, by virtue of platform exclusivity. Such a game is also called a "system seller".

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.{{Cite magazine|date=September 2007| title= The Definitive Space Invaders|magazine= Retro Gamer| publisher= Imagine Publishing|issue= 41| pages= 24–33 | url= http://www.nowgamer.com/features/152/the-definitive-space-invaders-part-1 | access-date=April 20, 2011}}
Star Raiders, released in 1980, was the first killer app computer game.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827205200/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3766/atari_the_golden_years__a_.php?page=13|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3766/atari_the_golden_years__a_.php?page=13|title=Atari: The Golden Years -- A History, 1978-1981|last=Fulton|first=Steve|date=August 21, 2008|work=Gamasutra|archive-date=August 27, 2008|access-date=July 11, 2023}} BYTE named it the single most important reason for sales of Atari 400 and 800 computers.{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1981-05/1981_05_BYTE_06-05_Software_Piracy#page/n107/mode/2up | title=Star Raiders |magazine=BYTE | date=May 1981 | access-date=October 18, 2013 | author=Williams, Gregg |page=106}}{{Cite magazine |last=Feigel |first=Curtis P. |date=September 1982 |title=Videosyncrasies |url=https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1982-09/page/n384/mode/1up?view=theater |magazine=BYTE |pages=386-390}} Another was Eastern Front (1941), released in 1981.{{cite magazine | title=Eastern Front | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=November–December 1981 | access-date=October 31, 2013 | author=Greenlaw, Stanley | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1981&pub=2&id=1 | pages=29–30 | type=review}}
In 1996, Computer Gaming World wrote that Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981) "sent AD&D fans scrambling to buy Apple IIs".{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1996&pub=2&id=148 | title=150 Best Games of All Time | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=November 1996 | access-date=March 25, 2016 | pages=64–80}}
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.{{Cite magazine |author = 遠藤昭宏 |title = ユーゲーが贈るファミコン名作ソフト100選アクション部門 |date = June 2003 |publisher = キルタイムコミュニケーション |magazine = ユーゲー |issue = 7 |pages = 6–12 }}{{cite web |last1=Kurokawa |first1=Fumio |title=ビデオゲームの語り部たち第4部：石村繁一氏が語るナムコの歴史と創業者・中村雅哉氏の魅力 |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999905/20180313040/ |website=4Gamer.net |access-date=August 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801205701/https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999905/20180313040/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 1, 2019 |date=March 17, 2018}}
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.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1990&pub=2&id=76 |title=Westward Ho! (Toward Japan, That Is) |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=November 1990 |access-date=November 16, 2013 |author=Adams, Roe R. III |page=83}}
The Super Mario, Final Fantasy, and Dragon Quest series 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=100805/madden&redirected=true |title=The Franchise |publisher=ESPN |date=August 5, 2010 |access-date=January 23, 2015 |author=Hruby, Patrick}}{{cite web |last=Fahs |first=Travis |title=IGN Presents the History of Madden |website=IGN |date=August 6, 2008 |url=http://retro.ign.com/articles/896/896893p1.html |access-date=March 30, 2009}}
Sonic the Hedgehog, released in 1991, was hailed as a killer app as it revived sales of the three-year-old Genesis.{{Cite web|title=The Creation of Sonic The Hedgehog|url=https://theculturetrip.com/asia/japan/articles/the-creation-of-sonic-the-hedgehog/|last=Gates|first=James|website=Culture Trip|date=May 4, 2018|access-date=May 21, 2020}}
Mortal Kombat helped pushed the sales of the Genesis due to being uncensored unlike the Nintendo version.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/78QA-H54H2o Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210518214857/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78QA-H54H2o Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78QA-H54H2o| title = Icons - Mortal Kombat - Part 2 | via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
Streets of Rage became a system seller for the Mega Drive/Genesis in the UK.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-47896612|title = Sonic, Street Fighter and the 'golden age' of gaming magazines|work = BBC News|date = September 4, 2019}}
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.{{cite magazine|last=Patterson|first=Eric L.|title=EGM Feature: The 5 Most Influential Japanese Games Day Four: Street Fighter II|url=http://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/egm-featurethe-5-most-influential-japanese-gamesday-four-street-fighter-ii/|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|access-date=April 17, 2012|date=November 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314064721/http://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/egm-featurethe-5-most-influential-japanese-gamesday-four-street-fighter-ii/|archive-date=March 14, 2017|url-status=dead}}
Donkey Kong Country for the SNES helped Nintendo's comeback against Sega.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-27373587 | title=Sega v Nintendo: Sonic, Mario and the 1990's console war | work=BBC News | date=May 12, 2014 }}
Myst and The 7th Guest, both released in 1993, drove adoption of CD-ROM drives for personal computers.{{cite web|date=August 1, 2000|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/082/082913p1.html|title=PC Retroview: Myst|website=IGN|access-date=April 21, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120054557/http://pc.ign.com/articles/082/082913p1.html|archive-date=January 20, 2012|url-status=dead}}
Virtua Fighter 2, Nights into Dreams, and Sakura Wars are the killer apps for the Sega Saturn.{{cite magazine|last=Hickman |first=Sam |title=Virtua Sell Out!|magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine|issue=3 (January 1996)|publisher=Emap International Limited|date=December 15, 1995|page=7|url=https://archive.org/details/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_003/page/n6}}{{cite web | url=http://www.sega.com/news/releases/prices.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961220011108/http://www.sega.com/news/releases/prices.html | archive-date=December 20, 1996 | title=SEGA Central }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/10/19/sakura-wars-strikes-the-dreamcast|title=Sakura Wars Strikes the Dreamcast|author=IGN Staff|date=October 19, 1999|website=IGN}}
Euro 96 and Sega Rally Championship are major system-sellers for the Sega Saturn in the United Kingdom, with the latter becoming the fastest selling CD game.{{cite magazine |title=Tonight We're Going to Party like it's 1996!|magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine|issue=16 |publisher=Emap International Limited|date=February 1997|page=10}}{{cite magazine |title=Sega go to the Top of the Charts!|magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine|issue=5 |publisher=Emap International Limited|date=March 1996|page=6}}
Die Hard Arcade and Fighters Megamix boosted the Sega Saturn's sales in the United States.{{cite web |url=http://www.sega.com/buzz/press_releases/june97/pricedrop.html |title=Sega Online: Buzz (Press Releases) |website=www.sega.com |access-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970630063324/http://www.sega.com/buzz/press_releases/june97/pricedrop.html |archive-date=June 30, 1997 |url-status=dead}}
Ridge Racer,{{cite magazine|first1=Stuart|last1=Levy|first2=Ed|last2=Semrad |title=Rage Racer |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=90|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=January 1997|page=112}}{{cite web | url=http://uk.psx.ign.com/articles/080/080401p1.html | title=Top 25 Games of All Time: Complete List |website=IGN |date=January 23, 2002 |access-date=January 6, 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504134205/http://uk.psx.ign.com/articles/080/080401p1.html |archive-date=May 4, 2010 |df=dmy-all}} Tekken, Wipeout,{{cite news|last=Hickman |first=Sam |title=The Thrill of the Chase!|work=Sega Saturn Magazine|issue=5|publisher=Emap International Limited |date=March 1996|pages=36|quote=And if there was one game that sold Playstation on launch, it was WipEout}}{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2014-20-years-of-playstation-the-making-of-wipeout |title=20 years of PlayStation: the making of WipEout |last=Leadbetter |first=Richard |date=December 4, 2014 |work=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=December 11, 2014}} Tomb Raider,{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/tombraider_hist/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306100124/http://www.gamespot.com/features/tombraider_hist/index.html |archive-date=March 6, 2009 |title=GameSpot's History of Tomb Raider |website=GameSpot |author1=Blache, Fabian |author2=Fielder, Lauren |date=October 31, 2000 |access-date=June 1, 2010 |url-status=dead}} and Crash Bandicoot{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/crash-bandicoots-jeans-look-super-realistic-in-remastered-trilogy/|title=Crash Bandicoot's Jeans Look Super Realistic in Remastered Trilogy |last=Kotzer |first= Zack|date=December 3, 2016 |website=Vice|access-date= February 24, 2023|quote= Taking the classic 2D platformer 3D in a more literal fashion, jumping around obstacles along zany corridors, the [Crash Bandicoot series] quickly became PlayStation's killer app.'}}{{cite book |author1=Jaime Banks |author2=Robert Mejia |author3=Aubrie Adams |date=2017 |title=100 Greatest Video Game Characters |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7qmSDgAAQBAJ |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |page=45 |quote=...Moreover, Crash was one of the first 3D characters to feature higly expressive facial animations, helping the game to serve as a "killer app" for PlayStation. |isbn=9781442278134}} are the killer apps for the PlayStation. Tomb Raider was released for the Sega Saturn first and for MS-DOS at the same time, but the games contributed substantially to the original PlayStation's early success.
Final Fantasy VII is another killer app for the PlayStation. Computing Japan magazine said that it was largely responsible for the PlayStation's global installed base increasing 60% from {{nowrap|10 million}} units sold by November 1996 to {{nowrap|16 million}} units sold by May 1997.{{cite web |url=https://www.cgmagonline.com/articles/features/the-road-to-playstation-5-feature/ |title=The Road to PlayStation 5: A CGM Story|last= Goh |first=Clement |date=November 16, 2020 |website=CGMagazine Online |access-date=February 24, 2023 |quote=...Called Final Fantasy VII, its combination of real-time 3D graphics and rich movie-quality storytelling gave Sony a permanent formula. [...] The PlayStation also found its killer app, selling 10 million copies worldwide and put more systems in households.}}
Super Mario 64 and GoldenEye 007 are the killer apps for the Nintendo 64.{{Cite web |last=Hutchinson |first=Lee |date=January 13, 2013 |title=How I launched 3 consoles (and found true love) at Babbage's store no. 9 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/01/how-i-launched-3-consoles-and-found-true-love-at-babbages-store-no-9/ |access-date=June 20, 2020 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}{{cite magazine |title=The 52 Most Important Video Games of All Time (page 5 of 8) |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/110069/the-52-most-important-video-games-of-all-time-page-5-of-8/ |magazine=GamePro |date=April 24, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404032903/http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/110069/the-52-most-important-video-games-of-all-time-page-5-of-8/ |access-date=May 17, 2021 |archive-date=April 4, 2010}}
Virtua Fighter 3, Sonic Adventure, and The House of the Dead 2 are the killer apps for the Dreamcast.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/03/02/a-brief-history-of-dreamcast |title=A Brief History of Dreamcast |date=March 2, 1999}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2018/nov/28/sega-dreamcast-at-20-futuristic-console |title=Sega Dreamcast at 20: The futuristic games console that came too soon |website=TheGuardian.com |date=November 28, 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/05/15/sega-needs-back-on-iphone |title=SEGA Needs Back on iPhone |date=May 15, 2009}}
NFL 2K is a killer app for the Dreamcast in the United States.{{cite magazine |title=Sega Rolls On|magazine=Next Generation|date=December 1999|page=10}}
Gran Turismo 3 and the Grand Theft Auto games are the killer apps for the PlayStation 2.{{cite magazine |title=Final Reality |author=Nicholson, Zy |issue=11 |date=September 2001 |pages=49, 50 |magazine=Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine}}
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and Super Mario Sunshine are the killer apps for the GameCube.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/05/21/the-best-star-wars-games-ever-made |title=The Best Star Wars Games Ever Made |date=May 21, 2010 }}{{cite web |url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/100/100981p1.html |title=Super Smash Bros. "Million" in Japan |date=January 17, 2002}}{{cite web |date=September 5, 2002 |title=MARIO DELIVERS! Super Mario Sunshine Launches At Record Pace, Boosts Hardware Sales |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/MARIO+DELIVERS!+Super+Mario+Sunshine+Launches+At+Record+Pace%2C+Boosts+...-a091071000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829072502/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/MARIO+DELIVERS!+Super+Mario+Sunshine+Launches+At+Record+Pace%2C+Boosts+...-a091071000 |archive-date=August 29, 2018 |access-date=December 11, 2017 |publisher=Business Wire}}
Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 are the killer apps for the Xbox,Craig Glenday, ed (March 11, 2008). "Hardware History II". Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008. Guinness World Records. Guinness. p. 27. {{ISBN|978-1-904994-21-3}}. and the subsequent series entries became killer apps for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One.{{cite news|url=http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/07/01/why-halo-the-master-chief-collection-will-save-the.aspx|title=Why 'Halo: The Master Chief Collection' Will Save the Xbox One -- The Motley Fool|last=Sun|first=Leo|date=December 15, 2016|newspaper=The Motley Fool|access-date=December 15, 2016}}
Many video game and technology critics call Xbox Live a more general killer app for the Xbox.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vpjpAgAAQBAJ&q=halo+xbox+killer+app&pg=PT510 |title=Vintage Game Consoles |last1=Loguidice |first1=Bill |last2=Barton |first2=Matt |date=February 24, 2014 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=9781135006501 |access-date=June 3, 2020}}
Blue Dragon is a killer app for the Xbox 360 in Japan.{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/07/blue-dragon-sets-japan-ablaze/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223054506/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/07/blue-dragon-sets-japan-ablaze/ |archive-date=December 23, 2007 |title=Video Game News & Reviews}}
Wii Sports is the killer app for the Wii.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/01/2007s-ten-burni/ |title=2007's Ten Burning Questions, Answered |magazine=Wired |last1=Kohler |first1=Chris}}
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots boosted PlayStation 3 sales.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/06/17/nearly-500000-for-metal-gear-solid-4-in-japan|title=Nearly 500,000 for Metal Gear Solid 4 in Japan|first=John|last=Tanaka|date=June 17, 2008|website=IGN}}{{cite book |last=Kent |first=Steven L. |author-link= Steven L. Kent |date=2021 |title=The Ultimate History of Video Games, Volume 2: Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, and the Billion-Dollar Battle to Shape Modern Gaming |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=UosOEAAAQBAJ|edition= 2nd|publisher=Crown Publishing Group|page= 408-410|isbn=9781984825445}}
Mario Kart 8 is a killer app for the Wii U in the UK.{{cite web |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/465552/mario-kart-8-boosts-uk-wii-u-hardware-sales-666/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602175424/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/465552/mario-kart-8-boosts-uk-wii-u-hardware-sales-666/ |archive-date=June 2, 2014 |title=Mario Kart 8 boosts UK Wii U hardware sales 666% - CVG US }}
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a killer app for the Nintendo Switch.{{cite news |last1=Craddock |first1=Ryan |title=Anniversary: Nintendo Switch Launched Four Years Ago Today |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/03/anniversary_nintendo_switch_launched_four_years_ago_today |access-date=April 18, 2021 |work=Nintendo Life |date=March 3, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Lawver |first1=Bryan |title=All 17 Legend of Zelda games, ranked from worst to best |url=https://www.inverse.com/gaming/zelda-games-ranked-best-worst |access-date=April 18, 2021 |work=Inverse.com |date=2021}}{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Camden |title=Why Breath Of The Wild Fans Will LOVE A Short Hike |url=https://screenrant.com/games-like-zelda-breath-wild-short-hike-switch/ |access-date=April 18, 2021 |work=Screen Rant |date=August 20, 2020}}
Half-Life: Alyx is a killer app for virtual reality headsets,{{cite web |last1=McKeand |first1=Kirk |title=Half-Life: Alyx review - VR's killer app is a key component in the Half-Life story |url=https://www.vg247.com/2020/03/23/half-life-alyx-review/ |website=VG247 |access-date=March 24, 2020 |date=March 23, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Carbotte |first1=Kevin |title=Half-Life: Alyx Gameplay Review: (Almost) Every VR Headset Tested |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/uk/reviews/half-life-alyx-gameplay-vr-headset |website=Tom's Hardware |date=March 23, 2020 |access-date=March 24, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=Andrew |title=Review: Half-Life Alyx is VR's stunning killer app |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/reviews/half-life-alyx |website=VGC |access-date=March 24, 2020 |date=March 23, 2020}} as the first true AAA virtual reality game.{{cite web |last1=Oloman |first1=Jordan |title=Half-Life: Alyx is a watershed moment for virtual reality {{!}} TechRadar |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/half-life-alyx-is-a-watershed-moment-for-virtual-reality |website=www.techradar.com|date=March 23, 2020 }}{{cite web |title=CES 2020: Teslasuit Will Unveil New Haptic VR Gloves |url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/246665/20191227/ces-2020-teslasuit-will-unveil-new-haptic-vr-gloves.htm |website=Tech Times |date=December 27, 2019}} Sales of VR headsets such as the Valve Index increased dramatically after its announcement, suggesting users bought the product specifically for the game.Parlock, Joe (December 9, 2019). [https://www.forbes.com/sites/joeparlock/2019/12/09/the-valve-index-vr-headset-sells-out-before-christmas-thanks-to-half-life-alyx/#ccd47c368fcb "The Valve Index VR Headset Sells Out Before Christmas Thanks To 'Half-Life: Alyx'"], Forbes. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
Microsoft Flight Simulator was called a killer app for Xbox Game Studios's Xbox Game Pass subscription, and the Xbox Series X/S.{{Cite web|url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/119812/microsoft-flight-simulator-review-the-killer-app|title = Microsoft Flight Simulator review: The killer app|date=August 17, 2020}}
Pokémon games are killer apps for Nintendo handhelds,{{cite book |last=Bell |first=David |date=2004 |title=Cyberculture: The Key Concepts |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UFP3A04JQKwC&pg=PA95 |publisher=Routledge |page=95 |isbn=9780415247542}} often topping the best-selling charts for whatever system they appear on.

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite book |last1=Stevens |first1=Chris |title=Designing for the iPad: Building Applications that Sell |date=January 4, 2011 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-470-97693-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QUUfc9Z06D4C&pg=PA100 |language=en}}

{{cite journal |title=The Origins of Word Processing Software for Personal Computers: 1976-1985 |author1=Bergin, Thomas J. |journal=IEEE Annals of the History of Computing |date=Oct–Dec 2006 |volume=28 |issue=4 |pages=32–47 |doi=10.1109/MAHC.2006.76 |s2cid=18895790}}

{{cite magazine |title=The lack of a killer app |magazine=Computing Japan |date=1997 |volume=36-41 |page=44 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fdqZAAAAIAAJ |publisher=LINC Japan |quote=Noguchi points out that every time sales of a particular game console have taken off, it has been because it had a new "killer software". Nintendo had Super Mario Bros., Dragon Quest, and Final Fantasy. And Sony PlayStation now has Final Fantasy VII, which has been selling like hotcakes since it was released at the end of January. Total shipments of PlayStation, which numbered 10 million worldwide as of November 1996, had jumped to 12 million by February 14 and 16 million by the end of May.}}

{{cite news |last= Vaughan-Nichols |first=Steven |date=May 14, 2013 |title=Goodbye, Lotus 1-2-3 |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/goodbye-lotus-1-2-3/ |access-date=January 24, 2022}}

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Category:Computer jargon

Category:Video game marketing

Category:Innovation