Video Games And Society

Video games were introduced around 33 years ago, and since then the video game industry has blossomed into a multi billion dollar a year operation. In the last few years, it has surpassed the movie industry in total revenues. This brushfire like popularity of video games certainly proves that it is an unavoidable part of our culture.
In the last month, there have been two movies and video games that show an important connection with audience and entertainment. These two are The Hulk and The Matrix Reloaded. When watching a movie, it is not uncommon to identify with a character, and imagine what it would be like to be in that characters position. With these two games, The Hulk and Enter the Matrix, the movie experience doesn’t have to end at the theaters. Unlike previous movie licensed games, the plots of these games are heavily interwoven with their respective movies. For example, in the Matrix game, the gamer can assume the identity of one of two characters in the movie, and has to perform missions that relate to plot points in the movie. Near the beginning of The Matrix Reloaded, there is a discussion of the retrieval of a message left inside the matrix. The movie doesn’t actually show how or who picks up the message, b

Many people have raised concerns about video game violence leading to aggressive behavior. One group of these people can be found over at http://www.mediascope.org. In one article mediascope.org suggests that young children who play violent video games become desensitized to violence, and act hostile towards other people (Video Games Industry). Video games have a direct effect on our society! They are actually changing our identities (or helping form younger ones).

ge, but in the game the gamer gets to play out that mission. This gives the audience a chance to actually experience the matrix, instead of just watch.

In Julian Dibbel’s article, "A Rape in Cyberspace," Julian explains just how close a virtual community comes to emulating a real society. Julian’s MUD was home to a people from many different locations, yet they behaved like they were part of one society. One person wronged another, and the community drew together to resolve the conflict. The victim went so far as to say his/her “space” was invaded by another person, who was geographically not in his/her “space.”

While graphical video games are one type, there are also word based games, such as MUD’s. MUD’s are text based realities where people can join together in one virtual environment and live out virtual lives. Essentially everything a person could do in real life can be textual