Interactive Storytelling

USAToday recently published an article from the associated press about how video games are changing. It’s becoming more than a means of entertainment, but also a place for visual and audio artists to display their work. As video games create more buzz with new technology, the article focuses on this art form luring in new audience members.

Now, video games are able to develop characters who evolve with the decisions made by the players. “It's an attempt to interest new customers and reverse a decline in video game sales as the maturing business fights for people's attention in the face of new devices such as the iPad.” (Ryan Nakashima, Associated Press) Players are now asked to make moral decisions, which shape the path or evolve the outcome of their game. Upcoming games such as Bioshock Infinite and Star Wars: The Old Republic tap into this vein.“With the recent Supreme Court decision protecting violent games as free speech, it's more appropriate than ever for games to have more of a message.”

The article also notes the drop in video game console sales since 2008, but we must also consider that fact that there as not been a new console out since then. Businessweek's video game industry blog posted an article; Spending on Gaming to Exceed $74 Billion in 2011,which differs from Associated Press's projection for the industry to by flat over last year with an expected increase of 10.4%. With rumors of a new XBOX system as well as Wii U and Sony’ enhancements to PS3, I would expect that we will see this number rise.

"From indie games to more mainstream offerings, in the next decade or so we are going to be seeing a greater diversity in subject matter," said Scott Steinberg, the chief executive of video game consulting company TechSavvy Global. "The selection of games will more closely resemble your selection of movies."

For this reason, I think it is even more important that we focus on the direction this technology is going. A-list actors, writers, and directors are increasingly participating in the industry, lending their voices, faces, and ideas to the medium. Understanding the needs of this audience helps us create the right product. By providing a streaming service for these games, we would be able to maximize the target audience and potential revenue growth for the industry, not to mention the advancements in audio and video quality as a streaming medium that would benefit even the independent film or video game maker.