Over the past twenty years, our society, I think I can safely say, has developed a slight obsession with video and computer games. Thanks to seemingly daily advances in technology, the gaming industry seems to have spurred (your welcome Danny) a gaming epidemic that is overtaking our youth. Perhaps a little bit of an exaggeration, but I have yet to find a better example of an industry that has embraced technology and innovation more. Considering I was blown away by the likes of Oregon Trail (Dysentery always got me though),Where in the World is Carmen San Diego, and Street Fighter, I may be out of my league discussing the most recent editions of World of Warcraft, NFL Live, and Call of Duty. Maybe it's because my brothers and most of my guy friends DON'T allow me to play their Xbox Lives and Playstations, I have had the pleasure and ample amount of time to watch, observe, and become fascinated by the intricate details, features, and life-like graphics of the most popular games on the market. While I have grown up in this era of gaming-innovation, I am still amazed at the capability of anyone with the proper subscription and headgear to communicate, converse, and well, most importantly talk smack, with fellow gamers to anyone in the world! This observation also provided the time to make the realization that, most importantly, and perhaps even unintentionally, all you gamers out there serve as connectors for companies like EA sports, Nintendo, SEGA (is that even still around?), and all the others that produce your precious commodities. Because technology allows for gaming enthusiasts to share opinions, recommend, promote, and spread the word about the games they play, know, and love; they inadvertently become salesmen, gatekeepers even, that ultimately affect the success or failure of new games.
In Malcolm's words, the stickiness factor isn't even a question in the gaming industry. In this instance, gaming has spread virally and globally over the past two decades. What stereotypically started out as a product directed towards the youth, has exploded to all ages, races, male and female alike, thanks to Wii, Wii fit, Dance Dance Revolution, and many others. As the gaming industry continues to tweak, modify, improve, and innovate, the question in the back of most people's minds is "what can they possibly think of next"? Are holograms the next big thing( don't act like you haven't thought about it!)? But in all seriousness, the way we play has become part of our daily lives. Social gaming provides us with an opportunity to educate, entertain, to work out, and most importantly, ROCKOUTTT together. Is there a tipping point for this unique product medium that could possibly go too far? When will virtual reality become our "real" reality? How much further will change and innovation take the gaming industry?
Sorry about the font color and random underlines. Somehow the first paragraph got saved as a hyperlink and can't figure out how to fix it!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you pointed this out. I remember all of those games and played most of them. Oregon Trail, one of the best ones (nerd). I always wonder what will they think of next. The rock band is one of the last favored ones. Then you have the Wii. The games are becoming very advanced. The controls are US and you play with people who can be on the other side of the world. I think even movies are reaching that point where 3D is essential to get that exhilarating experience of watching a movie. The video games are definitely following that path. I mean, who again will blow into a game cartridge to get it started?
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