My topic today is video game advertising. Paul Tassi, contributor to Forbes Magazine, wrote this article on the topic. In it, Tassi analyzes a future path for advertisements within video games.
As in any form of media, corporations and businesses will find ways to push the demographic into consuming a product of some sort. Tassi states that the video game industry is "underutilized" for advertising purposes. This is often true. Ads are rarely seen in some of the biggest video game titles. Most ads with in the game itself are for fake companies used to make the game seem realistic. For example, Nuka Cola is a very obvious parody of Coca Cola that is used in the Fallout series. This is a recurring event in almost all games striving for realism, even the largest of titles such as Grand Theft Auto. So why are corporations not paying attention to the advertising opportunity that is video games? I believe it is mostly due to the poor representation of video games and gamers in other media. In movies or television, video games are typically portrayed in a negative manner.
However, Paul Tassi believes public opinion is beginning to change on the subject of video games. I agree that the term "gamer" has become more broad. It can now mean anything from playing tetris on your phone to competing in national competitions. This is why Tassi stated three years ago that "in-game ad spending will double by 2016". This hypothesis is beginning to be proven true as in game ads are becoming more dominant according to a Statista Article. Examples would definitely be games such as Trials Fusion and Fifa 2015. So is this a good thing for the gaming industry? Or does it hurt the immersion that video games bring forth? Let me know what you think!
Until next time,
David
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Friday, December 5, 2014
Video Games the Future of Education?
Today I will be discussing video games as an informative tool. The topic comes from Scientific American's article about whether or not video games are the future of teaching. Video games are often seen as a distraction more than anything by those that don't play them. When students go to school parents assume they are no longer spending time in front of their devices and "wasting time." However finding a method of holding a child's attention is difficult especially when trying to get them to learn.
As a kid, most of us heard of FCAT explorer and other knowledge based games on the computer. But now we are in the future where every kid has an iPad and has no time for education. Although, teachers seem to have rigged the system. MinecraftEdu is an educational take on the billion dollar game called Minecraft. If you have spoken to any kid around the age of nine, then you know what it is. Teachers are using the games engine and incorporating educational elements. Find the area of the cube. Find the perimeter of the fence. All of those word problems we tried to picture in class are now visually represented in the 3-D world. The same group has done the same with SimCity. Brian Waniewski, managing director of Institute of Play, sees this progress as the way of the future of schooling.
On the other hand, there will always be that oppose these ideas. The main argument used is that there are zero studies showing evidence that these educational games actually work. Emma Blakely, researcher at University of Sheffield England, claims that from a theoretical psychological standpoint these games should be aiding the student's memory and cognitive abilities. A study from the University of Cambridge found that the improvements in game scores for children with lower levels of working memory did not extend to broader skills.
Obviously time can only tell if these educational video games will help the next generation. Is this a good idea or should teachers continue the classical teaching method? Let me know in the comments.
As a kid, most of us heard of FCAT explorer and other knowledge based games on the computer. But now we are in the future where every kid has an iPad and has no time for education. Although, teachers seem to have rigged the system. MinecraftEdu is an educational take on the billion dollar game called Minecraft. If you have spoken to any kid around the age of nine, then you know what it is. Teachers are using the games engine and incorporating educational elements. Find the area of the cube. Find the perimeter of the fence. All of those word problems we tried to picture in class are now visually represented in the 3-D world. The same group has done the same with SimCity. Brian Waniewski, managing director of Institute of Play, sees this progress as the way of the future of schooling.
On the other hand, there will always be that oppose these ideas. The main argument used is that there are zero studies showing evidence that these educational games actually work. Emma Blakely, researcher at University of Sheffield England, claims that from a theoretical psychological standpoint these games should be aiding the student's memory and cognitive abilities. A study from the University of Cambridge found that the improvements in game scores for children with lower levels of working memory did not extend to broader skills.
Obviously time can only tell if these educational video games will help the next generation. Is this a good idea or should teachers continue the classical teaching method? Let me know in the comments.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Pros and Cons of Digital Distribution
Last time I discussed the origins of digital distribution of gaming. A lot of the information comes from this article from Cheat Code Central a gaming journalism site. Digital distribution is becoming the new way of the future, as we switch from a digital copy to a file on your console of choice. Here are some of the biggest pros and cons of this new age of gaming.
The benefits of this era of digital distribution are largely based in convenience. Without leaving my chair, I can buy, download, and begin playing a game. No need to drive miles or wait for a store to open. This download also allows me to download and play it at anytime. These online stores don't close either and won't be constricted to one place. These games stick to your hard drive. Take it anywhere and you immediately have your entire gaming library anywhere you go. These downloads are also a small percent cheaper. This is due to the decreased cost of shipping and packaging. Another often overlooked advantage is the environmental impact. Downloads eliminate wasted transportation energy and packaging materials.
However, there are significant disadvantages to downloading games. Digital downloads are often less reliable than physical copies. Downloads often become corrupted or lost over time. Downloads also require an above average internet speed. The current generation of games are somewhere in the range of 5-10 gigabytes per game. This requires an often more advanced system for which to play on. Physical copies also have the upper hand in the resale ability. Physical copies can be resold to decrease the overall value spent on the game, a feature not available for digital downloads. Digital downloads also hurt the gaming market as they eliminate the middle man. Companies like Gamestop employ thousands of people that would be unemployed if the digital distribution market becomes more dominant.
Obviously there are clear drawbacks and benefits of the new era of digital distribution. It is up to us, the consumer, to decide which path we prefer before one dies out. Personally, I enjoy the physical copy of the game as I often buy games used and have a poor internet connection. On the other hand, digital distribution seems to have the upperhand. Which do you prefer and why?
Until next time,
David Rutner
The benefits of this era of digital distribution are largely based in convenience. Without leaving my chair, I can buy, download, and begin playing a game. No need to drive miles or wait for a store to open. This download also allows me to download and play it at anytime. These online stores don't close either and won't be constricted to one place. These games stick to your hard drive. Take it anywhere and you immediately have your entire gaming library anywhere you go. These downloads are also a small percent cheaper. This is due to the decreased cost of shipping and packaging. Another often overlooked advantage is the environmental impact. Downloads eliminate wasted transportation energy and packaging materials.
However, there are significant disadvantages to downloading games. Digital downloads are often less reliable than physical copies. Downloads often become corrupted or lost over time. Downloads also require an above average internet speed. The current generation of games are somewhere in the range of 5-10 gigabytes per game. This requires an often more advanced system for which to play on. Physical copies also have the upper hand in the resale ability. Physical copies can be resold to decrease the overall value spent on the game, a feature not available for digital downloads. Digital downloads also hurt the gaming market as they eliminate the middle man. Companies like Gamestop employ thousands of people that would be unemployed if the digital distribution market becomes more dominant.
Obviously there are clear drawbacks and benefits of the new era of digital distribution. It is up to us, the consumer, to decide which path we prefer before one dies out. Personally, I enjoy the physical copy of the game as I often buy games used and have a poor internet connection. On the other hand, digital distribution seems to have the upperhand. Which do you prefer and why?
Until next time,
David Rutner
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