Michael Acton Smith, CEO of Mind Candy, helped create the internet hit Moshi Monsters, which has over 27 million users. The series has moved from online to books and other merchandise based on the Moshi brand, including publishing boxed games for Nintendo DS and 3DS. Smith indicates, however, that it was an uphill battle launching the product in the U.K.
“There’s a different culture in the U.S.,” said Smith. “There are different circumstances that unfortunately mean over here the new IP, the good new IP, doesn’t always bubble to the surface.”
“Also in the U.K. the failure culture is so different. In America if you form a company, and it fails or its product doesn’t quite work out, then you move on, without shame,” he continued. “Failure is no big deal. The American Dream is to try and try again to achieve your goal. In the U.K., doing that is almost taboo.”
“To rectify that over here we need more role models for the businessmen of tomorrow at the moment we have Richard Branson and a few Dragons. That’s not good enough,” he concluded.
Source: MCV
