Posts Tagged: Wii

Virtual games are taking over!  In 2002, music was at the top of the money-making list followed by movies.  Games were at the bottom.  As of 2008, games moved to the top as the most profitable market with music and movies following respectively.  It’s also interesting to point out that 67% of all Americans play video games.

The world is a complex place and we have created games to help our species make sense of it.  In the early years of computers when they were only beginning to attract attention from ordinary citizens, one of the first things people did was create games.  We like to take our tools and make something we can play with.  But I wonder … have games helped shape society to what it is today?  Or has society played a part on our games?

Although most people think of violent scenarios when it comes to gaming, not all involve malicious combat and senseless character interactions.  PeaceMaker, for example, is a game that places players directly into the Palestine/Israeli conflict with the goal to create peace between the regions.  During the process, the game discusses actual events and facts about the situation and encourages players to seek a peaceful resolution.

Newer video game consoles are promoting health and family interactions.  The Nintendo Wii requires players to use their bodies in conjunction with the remote.  Physical activity can be fun again for younger generations that are used to sitting in front of a screen for hours on end moving only their fingers on a control pad.  Wii television commercials depict family members of all ages enjoying the games and socializing.  This brings about the notion of “family game night”, but adapted to a new digital era.

Although many people make the argument that video games are destroying minds and promoting terrible values, it seems that newer advanced technologies are now able to create more meaningful video games.  No more are we restricted to tiny stationary screens.  Games are evolving to incorporate the use of more senses and body movement.  Family game nights have now advanced to a whole new level.