Gaming to replace the idiot-box? - 15.8.05

At this year's Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival, member of the Ofcom Content Group and Group CEO of MCPS-PRS Alliance Adam Singer gave a speech on his vision of video games and how he felt that one day they will replace the television as the mass medium.

Games are going through a struggle to find a voice. Film took its time to develop a language. Film started its life in slot machine at the end of piers. The growth of game and their containment in arcades, on platforms or cartridges is analogist to the early box containment of films. Broadband is to games what projection was to movies.

Singer notes that in the current climate of today, games are more or less looked upon as a 'teenage' thing and they will need to make a lot of changes if they are going to move into mainstream acceptance.

The definition of a medium is to be able to communicate three things; stories, truths and eroticism. If you can't do all three things, then you're not a medium.

Personally I don't watch tv, I gave up years ago. All I see when the television is turned on is advertisements, with endless reality shows worked around the ads. I know there is and has been some great shows on tv, but having to sift through and take in all the ads was to much for me. It's no wonder that companies are realizing this lapse and recognizing that more and more of the 18-34 demographic are axing the idiot box in favour of a PC or console. Unfortunately what we are seeing is more and more in-game advertisements becoming mainstream.

I predict one day, that I will have to put gaming on the shelve for the very same reason, but it's quite a ways off at this juncture. I wonder what I would do, maybe take up stamp-collecting?

To date, the games industry has positioned itself as the "teenage rebel" of the entertainment milieu. In order to move into mainstream acceptance, games have to become more than just a form of entertainment. As Singer suggests: "The definition of a medium is to be able to communicate three things; stories, truths and eroticism. If you can't do all three things, then you're not a medium."

Videogames to one day replace TV, says Adam Singer

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By Gary (Email: Gary at igniq dot com)

	« Igniq.com Gaming News Gaming to replace the idiot-box? - 15.8.05 At this year's Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival, member of the Ofcom Content Group and Group CEO of MCPS-PRS Alliance Adam Singer gave a speech on his vision of video games and how he felt that one day they will replace the television as the mass medium. Games are going through a struggle to find a voice. Film took its time to develop a language. Film started its life in slot machine at the end of piers. The growth of game and their containment in arcades, on platforms or cartridges is analogist to the early box containment of films. Broadband is to games what projection was to movies. Singer notes that in the current climate of today, games are more or less looked upon as a 'teenage' thing and they will need to make a lot of changes if they are going to move into mainstream acceptance. The definition of a medium is to be able to communicate three things; stories, truths and eroticism. If you can't do all three things, then you're not a medium. Personally I don't watch tv, I gave up years ago. All I see when the television is turned on is advertisements, with endless reality shows worked around the ads. I know there is and has been some great shows on tv, but having to sift through and take in all the ads was to much for me. It's no wonder that companies are realizing this lapse and recognizing that more and more of the 18-34 demographic are axing the idiot box in favour of a PC or console. Unfortunately what we are seeing is more and more in-game advertisements becoming mainstream. I predict one day, that I will have to put gaming on the shelve for the very same reason, but it's quite a ways off at this juncture. I wonder what I would do, maybe take up stamp-collecting? To date, the games industry has positioned itself as the "teenage rebel" of the entertainment milieu. In order to move into mainstream acceptance, games have to become more than just a form of entertainment. As Singer suggests: "The definition of a medium is to be able to communicate three things; stories, truths and eroticism. If you can't do all three things, then you're not a medium." Videogames to one day replace TV, says Adam Singer Discussion >> By Gary (Email: Gary at igniq dot com) Sponsored links: Concert Tickets Buy Wii Games Online Best prices: PS3 (60 GB) Console Place a link here