Pushing Buttons: Your New Look into the 4th Pillar of Media Entertainment

You used to see them in the news every so often – about how they charm innocent kids into becoming serial murders or teach them how to hotwire cars (they also taught me how to make an excellent salmon dish last week).  It’s the type of rhetoric that’s made for headlines and pushing political agendas, but lately – lately the tone is shifting, the words: more welcoming, the demographics: expanding.  So, just how did these modest little video games seep their way into our collective consciousness and become the big business that they are today?

That is precisely where “Pushing Buttons” comes into play.  It is my hope that this column will provide insight into why you, your kids, or your parents are surprisingly so interested in video games these days.

Much of the analysis will come from the corporate end of the industry, as the majority of this newfound recognition is due to increased commercial growth, made all the more startling by today’s unfriendly economic climate – in other words, why something like Wii Fit was effective for our physical, as well as fiscal health.  In order to properly examine some of the trends, I’ll also be taking a look into the bigger picture of games as a whole, shedding light on why some succeed with audiences where others fail.

At the core though, understanding the business of games is key; it’s the difference between exploding into the mainstream and trailing off into a (albeit beloved) niche like comic books.  To this end, I’ll be working hard to make sure you come away with a greater appreciation of what these vidya games are all about.

And a special thanks to the passionate visionaries behind True/Slant, a team who has worked tirelessly in creating a home for you, the reader, to feel welcome to engage in a thoughtful dialogue with the community.  Through your participation and input these ideas will grow and evolve, so feel free to comment, dissect, challenge and critique the opinions set forth in this column.  I’ll be looking forward to it.