Notes

Videos Games Come of Age

Video games are here to stay. As the most recent form of entertainment for the masses games have finally achieved the level of recognition that film has enjoyed for years.



It's a natural side effect of commercial success. In the first 24 hours after its release this month Modern Warfare 3, the most recent release within the Call of Duty franchise, made sales records, earning more than $US400 million in US and Britain alone.



Gaming has officially arrived and the industry is growing fast. Cinema has a long history of innovation and improvement but that has slowed down in recent years. Gaming however is always evolving.



Every year, expectations are surpassed and new standards are set. It's an exciting time be an avid gamer.



Although the gaming landscape is complex, three companies are driving it: Microsoft with its Xbox 360, Sony with the PlayStation 3, and Nintendo with the Wii/DS.



As they attempt to tap the same market, there has been rivalry between Sony and Microsoft. Just watch the other big publishers scramble to catch up when the possibility of a lucrative business idea is exposed.



This is best illustrated by Nintendo's Wii motion-control-based console. Wii was a game changer for Nintendo.



It did away with the processing power of other consoles in favor of more refined motion controls and a beautiful design. It was made for casual gamers.



Microsoft and Sony followed suit quickly with the Kinect, and PlayStation Move, respectively. Both peripherals were sold well however neither was able to match the Wii's phenomenal success.



The indie developer is an important player in the ongoing battle with the gaming Goliaths. Though previously there was little market for smaller, self-published games the rise of the internet and digital download services such as Steam has allowed games that were previously considered independent to come back.



Indie games are a boon for an industry that is easily tempted into rehashing sequels and sitting back and savoring the success.



With the newfound imagination and funds that allow for experimentation new and innovative games for download like Minecraft (which recently sold more than 4 million units) finally have a platform to support them.



Newer developers now have the opportunity to showcase their projects to a wider audience via Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. This will encourage innovation in the industry.



The future is not certain. Virtual reality has been a goal since the beginning of time and 3D gaming headsets, though not as popular in the commercial market as 2D TVs, 2D TV, do exist.



The rise of the independent developer could signal a return to basics approach, and the emergence of social network games like FarmVille is continuing unabated. It is likely that Microsoft and Sony are working on sequels for their popular consoles, and who knows what it might bring?



Gaming is in the future, that's for sure. Gaming is no longer the realm of greasy shut ins. It will only get better.

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