Sunday, June 05, 2005

The far-reaching impact of videogames

The Christian Science Monitor's Gloria Goodale has written an incredible trend piece on where the videogame industy is going, and how videogames are impacting society.

Only three decades old, videogames are not only steering development of computer hardware, but are also "changing the way an entire generation sees itself in relation to the world, expanding popular storytelling beyond passive consumption to include involvement in the development and outcome of an experience," Goodale writes.

However, some say the industry is at a crossroads right now, which basically boils down to major studios' desire to make money versus the creative urges of a new generation of developers and users. The industry is driven by three major players -- Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo -- who want to roll out blockbusters based on safe, profitable genres. These companies are not interested in new game concepts, according to several people quoted in the article.

Goodale also notes the incredible potential of online communities built around games, which have already form trans-national and trans-cultural interactions.

There is lots of reaction to the CSM article on Slashdot.

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