The Future of Gaming Seen in Parallels with Television

There are a lot of essays on where the future of gaming will go.  One of the most interesting theories comes from a PBS article called “The Future of Video Gaming” by Michael Dolan.  In the article, Dolan compares the course of gaming to the course taken by TV.

When TV first came out, there was very limited programming and the focus was mostly on sit coms for adults.  Over the years, TV programming expanded and the focus shifted to a much younger audience.  Advertising (especially targeting children) began to blend its style with the TV programs so you often can’t even tell when the program ends and the ad begins.   More recently, we have seen a shift towards reality-based TV programing, such as The Biggest Loser.

It is easy to find parallels between the history of TV and the direction that gaming is headed.  Video games are mostly targeted to younger audiences.   While video games on consoles usually didn’t have direct ads such as with TV commercials, many games used pop culture references to sell their product.  Just look at all the games based on movies or even pop stars like Michael Jackson.

The one major difference between TV and video games is that the technology of video games is rapidly expanding.  Games are less frequently being played on consoles and instead being played on the internet.  On the internet, the game makers have numerous possibilities to market products to their players.  Most of the major brands, especially for junk food, even offer free games at their websites. These games appeal to kids and cause them to develop a brand loyalty.  Unlike the ads on TV shows which last just a few minutes, the online games can last for hours and create an interactive experience with the players in a way that no TV ad can.

Just like TV shifted towards reality programming, we are seeing a shift towards “reality” based games.  Players are rejecting the stunning technologically advanced games like on the Wii in favor of simple social games such as Farmville.  As the PBS essay points out, maybe the future of online games will be contests like Donald Trump’s Apprentice, just all held in the virtual world instead of the TV world.

Another interest point made by Dolan is the parallels of the music industry in TV and games. The music industry had a huge boom when MTV was launched in the 1980s.  Now, maybe online games will be used to promote music, such as the new single of a pop group appearing as the background music to a popular game.

Because of how quickly technology is changing, the future of gaming is bound to split from TV and other forms of entertainment.  However, the underlying fundaments of gaming will remain the same as with TV as well as movies, music, and other entertainment: profit.  While technology may change the way we play games, the marketers will still use their techniques to get money from us by selling us products or creating brand recognition.