The title for this blog may seem a bit bizarre, perhaps even unnecessary for a website called Gameinformer Online, but our good friend Saint had an interesting blog a few nights ago, plus a pinch of a conversation with my stepmother that got me to thinking on this subject.

Seeing Is Believing: Video Game Symbolism And Logos

What was proposed in this blog was some kind of symbol for video games, an identifier for an industry that covers a vast amount of game types, consoles, controller types, and cultures.  Obviously dealing on an American site, we would only assume that American symbolism is necessary for that purpose.  However this is not the sole purpose of this blog, rather my initial reply regarding a conversation I had with my stepmother is the purpose, which is what exactly is video gaming?  Not to me, or even the beloved reader, but what are video games. I'll offer one definition given online by The Free Online Dictionary.

n. An electronic or computerized game played by manipulating images on a video display or television screen

This definition is highly scientific, and asking a gamer what the definition of gaming is would probably illicit a huge variety of responses. None of which would probably garner the same response from a variety of online dictionaries. Which still leaves the question of what exactly are video games?

My stepmother will simply ask how my Nintendo games are going, which is ironic because at my dad's house the only Nintendo system we owned was the NES, after that a Genesis and various Playstation systems. But for her video games have always been a Nintendo thing, thus to her all video games are Nintendo, and all games are simple fun. Yet despite this the games have changed over time, ever more complicated stories, more diverse gameplay, and even more competition have sprouted up over the past ten years alone.

People, primarily parents, outside of the industry may think that video games are an unnecessary evil, stealing their children's minds and turning them into the pawns of Satan. These people have been proven scientifically wrong, but that is still their view of video games, and one that is not easily corrected. Yet despite misconceptions and the like, we are still plagued with defining our hobby. Art or strict entertainment seems to be the most common debate between gamers, and also one that entices just as many groans of exhaustion from us gamers.

In the end what video games are, is in fact no different from movies, or books, or music.  They provide a source of entertainment, which is tied to a business model. And while some of these games strive for further claims at legitimacy through their gameplay and plot, most would fall into the strictly entertainment model. Ultimately much like movies, music, and books, video games are an entertainment industry, much like those industries, there are so called experts, writers, critics, producers, agents, public relations, tours, and hype.  Much like those other forms of entertainment video games will have to evolve to keep up with a rapidly changing clientele and their demands. Video games are a business, and art is possible, but entertainment is all they are at the end of the day, and while we as gamers want more recognition for viability those demands can only be met when stereotypes are lifted, and in the past for movies and music that could be anytime between now and the next 30 years.