Reports From the Front: Agent Keith Boesky On Why Society At Large Sees Games and Porn In the Same Light--And How We're All to Blame

re: Reports From the Front: Agent Keith Boesky On Why Society At Large Sees Games and Porn In the Same Light--And How We're All to Blame

Futurator — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:25:39 GMT

That was a great piece, really thought provoking. I hope that one day games can reach a true cultural relevancy in the same vein as cinema and theatre. Only time will tell. I look forward to your future articles.

re: Reports From the Front: Agent Keith Boesky On Why Society At Large Sees Games and Porn In the Same Light--And How We're All to Blame

Evilbaby — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:43:49 GMT

well this is a pretty good read. Welcome aboard. I've also been trolling your blog for a while so I'm glad you are moving out in the light a bit more

re: Reports From the Front: Agent Keith Boesky On Why Society At Large Sees Games and Porn In the Same Light--And How We're All to Blame

Chro — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:48:55 GMT

When asking why the gaming industry is treated less seriously than other media, one might as well ask why in high school, geeks are always at the mercy of bullies, jocks, and popular kids.

It's all a matter of insecurity.

Gaming is still a young industry, much like computers, and its founders are still fresh in our minds. They were the programmers, the geeks who sat in front of their computers all day, typing out code. They were not a social creatures that performed in front of the public like actors or even directors. No one walked around their school and proudly proclaimed that they were going to be a programmer once they got out of school.

And then, once the games were completed, what was the primary audience? Young white males who liked to stare at computer screens, too insecure with their own social skills to do activities that required more interaction with other people.

Over time, the creators and the audience have shifted, but that original mindset is still there, perpetuated by the media and adults who still see gaming as something some nerd cooked up in a garage. And we, as gamers are game creators, are too insecure to fight back. Even those who aren't insecure (like actors and other celebrities) are hesitant to take a stand and say that they view gaming as a viable medium.

And so, we will continue to discuss games in our own mediums, away from the judgmental eyes of the public, because it's safer that way. Contrary to the belief of the original author, gamers are quite likely to pick up women by discussing their gaming systems -- as long as they're in an environment where that kind of discussion would be commonplace. This is why you see so many stories of gamers meeting online or even within the games themselves. It's no different from party animals meeting their significant others at parties.

To each his own.

re: Reports From the Front: Agent Keith Boesky On Why Society At Large Sees Games and Porn In the Same Light--And How We're All to Blame

Justin Blankenship — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:21:17 GMT

I have to confess, I thought we were getting to the point where games were considered a respected medium as I believe it's now surpassed music in total revenue. But I'm apparently a little naive, because as Chro said, we tend to be an insular bunch. Of all the friends I made through high school, college, and law school, those I keep in touch with the most are gamers because that's a common experience that always connects us and keeps us in touch--especially with the rise of online gaming.

But when I proudly tell my former legal colleagues that I'm now a contributing columnist to a videogame blog, the blank stares remind me how far the industry has to go to reach mainstream acceptance.

I never would have made the porn comparison on my own, but when you look at the Fox News debate/Keighley ambush over Mass Effect next to Jenna Jameson sitting on the couch on the view, I've got to admit that you're on to something.

re: Reports From the Front: Agent Keith Boesky On Why Society At Large Sees Games and Porn In the Same Light--And How We're All to Blame

JoeHandzik — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:31:19 GMT

Great read. I certainly agree with what you are saying, especially when you say that we, the gamers, can change the way society views us by not being ashamed of what we do. I'm a Computer Engineering major at the University of Illinois, and I am a pretty huge dork. I love to hang out at the local Gamestop and talk to the guys there who share my passion. Most of my best friends are extremely interested in gaming as well. But the absolute best part about that is how normal most of them are. Sure, a few are as interested in the gaming industry and the technology behind gaming as I am, but a good many of them just play games to have fun. Gaming isn't just for the kids who sit in their basements anymore; rather, it truly approaching something that we've had a very long love/hate relationship with, as a group: mainstream acceptance.

I do feel as though we can handle it, but I also feel as though we need to start by pushing back harder against the mainstream media. The whole Fox News/Mass Effect debacle was a great start. We stood strong as a community and did not allow these people who know NOTHING about what they're talking about (and we allow them to call themselves journalists? I cry foul.) to run a great game into the ground. We also need to start to take a stand against parents who use video games as an excuse for their child's problems in any number of areas (academic, social, etc). We need to take a hard look at if these things are true, certainly (and we have, again and again finding no direct correlation), but if and when we find that these accusations are wholly untrue, the only real option we should have is to stand up for what we believe to be true, and not back into a corner, posting on message boards, effectively preaching to the choir.

No, we really should try and put some sort of positive spin on video games. There are numerous benefits to gaming, such as the advancement they demand and create in computing technologies, advancements that then lead to innovation that is useful for EVERYONE, not just GTA IV. The fact that game consoles are rapidly approaching the point where they are the set top boxes of the future, the machine that can do everything. Speaking of console features, why are we not making a bigger deal out of the inclusion of Folding@Home on the PS3? That was a GREAT idea, yet, of course, it doesn't quite make a news headline for the news organizations who seem to so desperately want gaming to be the witchcraft of the 21st century.

Perhaps we really do need to just sit and wait for people who grew up around video games to get older, and gain more and more power and influence in the world, before anything that happens in the gaming industry is truly valued as it should be. Maybe we're just overreacting, and simply need to realize that this is the way that most new, unfamiliar media and technologies are treated in their infancy, and that a bunch of the things we want to happen-acceptance, appreciation, equality-come with time, and not necessarily with extraordinary effort. At the end of the day, the Echochrome demo is still hitting the US PSN store later today. :)

*Sorry that this turned out so long, and most of it is probably a retread of topics covered in the main article, but I really wanted to comment on this awesome article. I look forward to more from the author, as he continues the excellent quality of writing that I have come to expect from this blog.

re: Reports From the Front: Agent Keith Boesky On Why Society At Large Sees Games and Porn In the Same Light--And How We're All to Blame

DonD — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:22:48 GMT

Keith Boesky proves yet again that he understands this landscape as well as anyone alive. It's nice to see him here.

My first trade show was the Video Software Dealers' (VSDA) convention held in Washington DC, in 1985. This was the year Home Video revenue eclipsed theatrical box office. No coincidence, then, that it was the year Home Video was finally taken seriously by Wall Street -- Main Street had been on board for years. It was also the first time since the birth of the videocassette that the VSDA devoted more square footage to studio and mainstream content than to adult content, which had been the case every year leading up to it.

A common refrain heard all week: "We're bigger than porn!"

Think about this. Home Video had to generate more income than theatrical box office before it was allowed to wear long pants, so to speak. And how long did this take? Eight years? Ten years? But more important, why did it take so long? What will it take for the gaming industry’s market perception to catch up with its balance sheet?

Terrific essay. Thanks.