For a long time, a very long time, videogames have been seen as "childrens' toys". For a long time, they were. But in the past 10 years or so, the medium has matured, and not just in the level of violence (which will always be a sticking point for those who still think of video games as kids play), but in storylines, plot and characterization . More games have been made with the 'M" rating than I have never seen before. I consider this a very good thing, as video games need to mature. There are books for adults, movies for adults, why can't video games be for adults as well as for kids?
Video games are a unique medium, in which the player is in control of how the game and the story plays out. Sure you are often on a set path, but the fact is that you are the hero/heroine, and what you do wrong or right effects the game positivily or negatively. This experience should be experienced by any age, young or old, without the stigmata of others saying 'grow up', games are for kids.
As I mentioned, video games have been taking great strides in maturity, as those have been playing video games, like me since the atari 2600 have gotten older but still enjoyed our, in my belief, unique hobby. That is why I am frankly pissed at Nintendo's unwavering stance to make video games only for kids and neglect, and almost put a stigmata on those who with houses, jobs and kids but still enjoy video games as a hobby.
Nintendo has marketed the DS and the especially the Wii as game machines that the 'casual gamer' can play. That has worked very well so far, but there has been a glut of simple games, many aimed at children; worse many of these games are not very good. Yet, they sell well, because of the 'gimmicks' that the DS and Wii have:the touch screen, and the Wii remote. Children love gimmicks. They love waving their arms, love tapping on things.
this would not bother me so much if I did not feel that Nintendo is not adding and growing to the medium of videogames, instead, they are making videogames take a giant step backward. While the PS3 and the XBox 360 have games that try to improve, evolve and mature the medium, Nintendo does the opposite, infantalizing and stunting video games, which as a whole are trying to be as viable and important as movies as storytelling mediums. There is a ways to go yet, but Nintendo sure as hell isn't helping.
To be honest, as a lover of all things videogame, Nintendo to me is an embarrassment to the industry at this point. To underscore this, I will only say this 'Wii music.'
It is a sad state of affairs when the company that jump-started the videogame industry in the 80's is now the company dragging it back down. Nintendo is doing quiet well, but for quiet some time now, they have cared for nothing but themselves. Like an evil Pied piper, children follow them, their eyes glued to the hypnotic back and forth sway of the Wii remote.
If you diagree with this blog, and I'm sure many do, please email me at grumpygamer@yahoo.com. No swearing please, that would be childish.
