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Time To Stop Calling Them Games?
GamePolitics wonders aloud about our use of the term game to describe electronic entertainment. In the author's view, referring to videogames as 'games' is inhibiting their adoption by mainstream society (who relates gaming to children's activities). From the article: "Things have changed, of course. Video game content now runs the gamut from kid-friendly titles like Curious George and LEGO Star Wars to adult-themed offerings such as GTA San Andreas and Black to the highly socialized online communities of World of Warcraft and Second Life or the largely adult-populated casual game scene of Pogo. Over the years, gamers and game designers have recognized the artistic and expressive potential of videogames, along with their power to enlighten and entertain players from four to ninety-four. But there are also millions who missed that particular cultural bus."
Change video games to "Entertainment Software"? To HELL with that! I like the name as it is, and here's why: 1. "Entertainment Software" is too broad of a definition and can NOT be used to solely define video games alone. Entertainment software can come in the form of movies on DVD, software that builds entertainment (video and 3D editors), and basically anything digital that can be utilized for the purpose of entertainment. Even software that operates the lights and special effects of a concert would be "Entertainment Software". 2. "Adult Games" would not work as a way of separating "mature" games from the rest. Why you ask? Because "Adult" makes the games sound pornographic in nature, and while some games do have sexual content, they are not always sexual in nature. Take Halo and Halo 2 for example. They are M rated, but no one would say they are for "adults" alone. The story and characters are highly develop and the situations and scenarios require a mature mind to understand and comprehend (except in online multiplayer :P ) Calling a game like Halo "Adult" is an insult to the game since it makes Halo seem like porn when it isn't.
3. People seem to assume that games are only played by children. This is NOT true! If it were, then why are men often fascinated by football and sports? Aren't those types of "games" as well? Do people think football, basketball, baseball, hockey, etc. are only for children? And what about those who play board and card games? Men and women all over the country get together to play games like poker, Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, and more! And let's not forget gambling! Gambling is considered gaming as well (Nevada Gaming Commission if you want proof), and many adults want to play these games as well. This should be enough proof to show that there are games for all ages!
4. Games can be educational and can teach, even those that are highly action based. Games such as Psychonauts, God of War, or Halo have lots of action, but also stories that entertain and keep the player moving through, WANTING to see the end of the game. Other games like Tetris, Bejeweled, Bust A Move, and more help build mental reaction times and complex spatial thinking (there are two kinds of thinking, quantitive and spatial [I think that's right]) Even the most mature of games like GTA:SA have a deep underlying story beneath them that makes it worth the while to see the end.
5. Video Games are games played on a video screen, yes? Electronic games would be games that are electronic in nature, but do not require a video screen, correct? Games such as Simon would fit into this category. :) Video Game seems to be an adequate definition for the medium that people play.
6. Finally, the only other possible name that could be changed to would be "Interactive Media", but even so I have a problem with this name. This lies in the Narrativism vs. Ludology argument. What if a movie was just that; a linear movie? But what if you could choose how the movie ends? Make decisions for the characters that swing the movie one way or another? Like a Choose Your Own Adventure book? It's "Interactive Media", yes, BUT... ...is it also a video game? Would a movie like that really be a game? What about the lack of game mechanics and game rules that make games, well... games!
So to me, "Video Games" is an adequate name based on this definition:
Video Game: a form of digital entertainment that encompasses pre-programmed rules of game play, contains a story, purpose, or goal which keeps the game player playing, and utilizes a video screen for output.
Those that think "Video Game" contains too much of a youth stigmatism for it need to just get over it, because the only people that think games are for kids are those that never played. Give it 20 more years, and the any changes made now will just seem stupid.
~Steve B.
Comic books imply a storyline in serial form.
No, they really don't. Just because the two biggest producers of comics (DC and Marvel) did things that way doesn't mean that it's the only way.
I pick up a graphic novel like Watchmen and I have the whole story.
You do know that Watchmen was originally published in 12 serialized issues, right?
Most of the paperbacks that people like to call "graphic novels" and buy in bookstores are just bound reprints of multiple issues.
Information wants to be anthropomorphized.
The problem is that most people have no idea that the term "game" means much more than "something kids do with each other". Ask John Nash, Oskar Morgenstern or John von Neumann. Politics. Economics. All games.