Video games, a good buy or good bye America? - 7.3.2007.2

It’s interesting how video games are acknowledged as one of the fastest growing forms of entertainment and yet slapped down as being the leading cause of the downfall of civilization. The AMA wanted to say it causes addiction, various politicians have jumped on bandwagons from time to time to say games are too violent. Meanwhile Hollywood finds it to be a source of quality movie fodder and Wall Street has rewarded shrewd investors that have seen the potential.

It’s like one hand can’t see what the other is doing. I don’t understand how Wall Street analysts can say that companies like Electronic Arts deserve an overweight rating, and then also says

While we believe the current video-game cycle is likely to see accelerating industry growth over the next 24-months, we view the risk-reward for the sector as neutral in the near-term and look instead toward 2008 as the key inflection year for the industry.

I mean, it’s the summer. Of courser the near term is weak. The Christmas holiday season is the big push for virtually all software companies. Yet the outlook matches estimates that interactive gaming will out perform all music sales and will approach movie ticket sales soon.

But for an industry that makes so many, so much money it’s downplayed as something for kids. They ignore any of us who have grown up with video games and play them now in our 40’s. The games are constantly assaulted, but a movie based on the game is fine. The movies target the 21-35 year olds, contain violence on par with a Terminator meets Leatherface scale, and no one blinks an eye.

Where are the protests about Bloodrayne, or Hitman (movie will be out this fall - looks good too), or Resident Evil (the final story, Apocalypse, will ber out towards the end of this summer. Alice kicks butt.). Actually I’m glad there aren’t (well except for Bloodrayne which was pretty bad). But the point is I’m tired of being told, as a grown consumer of video games, that I can’t play XYZ because it is too violent to be made. I’m tired of being told that the government needs to stick their hands into what can and cannot be made. [Like anyone can name one thing the government regulates well] All the while Wall Street and politicians make money while being the monkey on my back.

Maybe it’s just me. But some need to back up, plug in, and blast a few zombies. I’m sure they will feel better. Thanks for listening to me rant. Now I’m off to find a few orcs to crush.