Thursday, 31 January 2008
With Fox News recently adding to its catalog of "games are corrupting our children", one has to ask when will this systematic demonising of the industry cease?
For a taster of Fox News' latest pitchforking please follow the above "BURN THEM!!!" link. If you are outraged then return here for comment....
... ah good your back. Not exactly unbiased one could say.
Of course it's not all bad news. The gaming industry is now seen more than ever as a serious entertainment business, and games are seen as a legitimate hobby in many households. Gaming sections are materializing in more an more main stream publications and advertising for games is now far more common across all mediums. A good example of this recently was the cover mount of World of Warcraft on The Times newspaper.
Obviously one could make the argument that history is simply repeating itself. Comic books, Rock and Roll, Clubbing and the internet are all good examples of a new form of entertainment that was demonised in its youth due to the ignorance of the public and media. Games are merely the latest in a long line of scapegoats for societies ills. Indeed one does occasionally wonder why the odd gamer hasn't been tied to a stake and burnt alive due to a bad harvest.
So if the cries of "BURN THEM!"are dieing, why be worried? Well it all depends on what position the industry is left in; the final resting place of the public perception of games could have massive repercussions theoretically.
On one hand games could be left in the minds of the public, due to both media involvement and industry led demographic targeting,as an entertainment medium for ages 8 - 18. Instead of an industry of deep, compelling and adult entertainment which is pushing boundaries, an industry that produced Bioshock; people will think of Disney Princess Classics and Rocom Socom Robots!
On the other hand the industry could be accepted as a medium that delivers entertainment to all ages.
Percentage wise one could argue that at the moment public perception is 70% in the former and 30% in the latter.
At this point in time one would hope that these percentages will change over the next five years or so for the better, but with media outlets such as Fox News peddling an outdated conception of the industry, it will be both an uphill and unpredictable battle.