Can Gaming Kill the Cinema Star?

Computer games have come a long way since the Pong and Space Invaders. Where they were essentially a series of lines and dots on the screen, today’s games have almost cinema quality graphics and sound; so much so that many movie franchises like James Bond and Star Wars have extended their brand with a catalogue of computer games. Whatever the quality of the visuals and sound, however, games have, up until now, never been able to offer the audience the same depth of characterisation, quality of dialogue or compelling narratives as cinema. So while games may offer the audiences more interactivity than a movie, their ability to become a truly immersive experience has been limited by these shortcomings. Keen to develop new audiences, and improve the experience of existing one, the games industry is now looking to Hollywood screenwriters to help them overcome these problems. Click on the title above to read more about this and ask yourself whether games will eventually replace cinema as a mass entertainment form.

Game On

The Science Museum has a great exhibition on the history and future of video games running from now until February 2007. It's a great opportunity to play games going back to the 70's and to trace the development of technology, especially the graphics and sound, over the years. There's also the opportunity to play with the latest, most interactive games like Nintendo's new Wii system. What you'll notice is how much more immersive games have become over the years. As the graphics, sound and gameplay develop, players become more involved in the world of the game. Some would say that this is a bad thing, leading players to become detached from reality and those around them. However, the development of online gaming allows players to experience this virtual world with others from all over the world - increasing our connectivity. Even if you don't get to the exhibition, you should check out the museum's site to find out more (follow the link in the title of this post.