Info: April 5, 2008 Posted by: jat251 0 comments

Some of my favorite sites for tracking video game trends are listed below:

  • Gamespot.com
  • IGN.com
  • Gamepolitics.com
  • 1up.com
  • Gamepro.com

Each of these sites has their own unique method of chronicling gamer affairs; for instance, Gamespot is more specialized in its focus, while IGN profiles movies, music and celebrities in addition to the gaming scene. 1up profiles gaming news and reviews, though their tone is a bit acerbic at times. Gamepolitics is unique in that it focuses on how games and politics intersect. It is one of my favorite sites and I make sure to visit it frequently.

One reason that I enjoy the Gamepolitics site is because they make a conscious effort to highlight the positive contributions made by video games to common society, one such example can be found here. This approach has allowed them a respected place in the gaming community, and various websites are taking notice.

Sadly, most of Gamepolitics is dominated by news of elected officials and various individuals issuing negative opinions of video gaming. Jack Thompson is an attorney based in Florida who is known to attribute youth violence to video games. An example of this attribution can be found in this video below:

Conservative commentator Phyllis Schlafly is one of the latest figures to decry video games, in an article that she wrote questioning the legitimacy of their First Amendment protection.

After reading her two cents, I was naturally ready to dismiss her comments as mere ignorance; Countless cases involving violent video games have been taken to the courts, and they have failed due to the basic notion that games enjoy first amendment protection. An example of this in action can be found here.

As I was browsing the internet, I happened upon an article which chastises gamers for their apparent lack of connect with reality. I found this piece interesting because it does a good job at highlighting the relative infancy of the gaming industry. While it is fortunate to have this form of entertainment eclipse the likes of Hollywood, it should not come at the expense of a lack of understanding concerning issues that affect the greater world.

Articles like that always remind me that I should do my best to define gaming; I should not let it define me.


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