Week+2

Can video games be considered another new mass media? What makes video games a different medium from conventional movies and music? Why are video games catching on?

Much like the newspaper, television, internet, film and music to list a few - video games can be considered another form of mass media. Video games are unique much like the Internet in that they allow an active feedback system. Users can control their characters and in turn control the medium and how they are consuming the information - for example, the user can choose to be an evil character intent on causing harm in the game and thus their experience will be different from someone who chooses for their character to do good. Both experiences will be completely different. Therefore, the information they consume from the medium will be entirely different - the same cannot be said when tuning into a television broadcast, or listening to the news on the radio because unlike video games, they do not require the consumers participation in order to get their information across.

Lastly, video games are catching on because not only are they addictive, but they also act as an extension to our imaginations. They are able to make us live situations that offset reality with no real consequences, as we can always choose to turn off our consoles in the end and resume living our reality.