Week 10. Video Games AND studies

Today’s lecture was on the super-stimulating topic of VIDEO GAMES combined with a word that provokes thoughts of the complete opposite STUDIES however the lecture proved to be very interesting in this topic on the medium of video games, who plays them and how they can affect and individual and a group.

I myself have dabbled in the gamming circles since I was about 13. I was never allowed a console until I could afford to buy one myself and my parent’s computer was much to slow for any serious gamming. When I first started gamming I thought it was brilliant and an escape from realism however overtime I figured games where not so much for me as I would rather live my own life. Even today though I will still pick up a controller and enjoy being an international soccer star…well briefly until my far more committed gamming flat mates bring me back to reality.

The ever changing demographics of video games was stated

-The traditional market in 2000 was 18-25 year old males whom consist of 80 percent of the gaming market however since 2005 female gaming popularity has been on the rise with the market now split 39% to 59% female to male.

There are several different types of video games being:

-PC games

-Console games

-Online games

-Arcade games

-Mobile games

All of the different games have different variables that dictate who plays them and how popular they are. Eg Mobile phone games are predominately dominated by female audiences.

It was also mentioned that games like Wii sport as in fitness games are on a rise and even said that American gyms have introduced them as part of their equipment.

There are 3 different ways to study games:

- The Social science approach- the effects games have on people i.e their moods and behavior, violence ect.

-The Humanities approach which delves in the meaning and context of games, the differences in meaning and context & the medium of arts.

-The Industry and engineering approach which is the development of games and their new technologies.

I then rushed from class to be online on Ticketeck to buy my Big Day Out ticket.