1. Electronic Gaming and the Media Playground
Chapter 10

2. “…(F)or players around the world, electronic gaming has become a social medium—as compelling and distracting as other social media. The U.S. Supreme Court has even granted electronic gaming First Amendment freedom of speech rights, ensuring its place as a mass medium.”

3. Early History of Electronic Gaming
Mechanical Gaming
Penny Arcades offered primitive games, 1880s
Pinball initially considered gambling
Popular after World War II with addition of “flipper”
The First Video Games
Cathode-Ray Tube patented , 1948
Odyssey, first home TV game, 1972
Home version of Pong, 1975

4. Arcades and Classic Games
Games like Pac Man fill bars and arcades
Signal gaming as a potential social medium
Played with joysticks or buttons
The “avatar” is common figure of control
First-person perspective most popular in U.S.
Three-quarters perspective more popular in Asia

5. Consoles and Advancing Graphics
Home consoles become more powerful
From 8-bit Atari in 1977 to 256-bit standard today
Older, simpler games still popular
Mario Brothers instantly recognizable
Three major console makers dominate
Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony
Graphics improve for handheld devices
Makes medium more accessible
Angry Birds

6. Computers and Related Gaming Formats
Personal computer games popular, s
Versatility of controls
Faster processing speeds
Consoles catch up in computing power, late 1990s
Dominate “first-person shooter” market
Personal computer gaming survives
Digitization of card games and board games

7. Internet and Social Gaming
Sega Dreamcast, 1999
First console featuring online, multiplayer gaming
Live online play adds new dimension
Shooters, sports and music all use online play
Online fantasy sports
Increases fun of watching spectator sports

8. Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games
MMORPGs create virtual worlds
Gamers play individually or in “tribes” or “clans”
World of Warcraft most popular
More than 11 million players worldwide
Children’s market is substantial
Club Penguin, Webkinz
Online games foster convergence
Comic books, magazines, movies

9. Communities of Play: Inside the Game
Gamers play in two types of groups
Pick-Up Groups (PUGs)
Noobs, ninjas and trolls
Guilds or clans
Mostly experienced players
Two types of chat
Voice or text

10. Communities of Play: Outside the Game
Websites and face-to-face meetings about games
Collective Intelligence
Tips offered by gamers on user-generated sites
Independent Sites
Build community through forums and festivals
Industry Sites
Business sponsored sites featuring news, interviews, forums, tips, videos

11. Immersion Deep levels of involvement
Motion-control technology
Wii, Kinect
3D experiences
Nintendo handheld game doesn’t need 3D glasses
Used for training as well as entertainment
Military
Education
Social causes
Journalism

12. Addiction Games are addictive by design Real-life problems
Recognizing high scores
Gradually increasing difficulty levels
Achieving rewards like special features, titles
Real-life problems
8.5 % of youth are addicts
Anecdotal tragedies

13. The Economics of Electronic Gaming: Money In
Primary revenue from sale of games, consoles
60 % of U.S. households own console
Gaming inspires media content
TV shows
Movies
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Resident Evil
Media inspires games
Movies, comics have game spin-offs
Businesses create games for promotion
Product placement generates revenue

14. The Economics of Electronic Gaming: Money Out
Production similar to movie business
$100 million for Grand Theft Auto 4
More than 1,000 people worked for more than three years
Major expenditures
Development
Coding, designing, testing
Royalties
Distribution, licensing
Marketing
Advertising, promotions

15. Electronic Gaming in a Democratic Society
Self-regulation
Public, government debate regulation
Industry creates Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)
Free Speech and Video Games
U.S. Supreme Court grants First Amendment protection
Public still has concerns
Industry realizes it must respect public opinion