Your local library is a wonderful tool. If you haven't been there lately, maybe you should make the trip sometime this week. While you're there, take a copy of this editorial and ask the librarian "Why are there no video games here?" I'm not talking about just the educational software either. Sure, it sounds a little odd at first, but lets go through the reasons.
I know some have carried games in the past (and small number may still do so). I ran across a few NES games at a garage sale once with library stickers on them. So, we know that it can/has happened, but now that they've become big business, why doesn't every library do so? Video games outrank movies in sheer dollar amounts and that gap widens every year. There are nearly 74 million Playstation 2's in homes across the world and the PS One has hit numbers over a 100 million. With each new day, someone else becomes hooked on this new entertainment medium and buys a console.
Now, the Playstation 2 has the capability to play DVD movies. Having been there numerous times, my library has a vast selection of movies for rent, both on VHS and on DVD. It can be argued that those movies are there for educational purposes. I can see how that would work for something like "Citizen Kane," but I highly doubt a teacher will ask a student to go out and rent "White Chicks" for a school project anytime soon. In fact, I'm sure the same thing could be said for a video game. At least not yet, no educator will ask a student to rent a video game.
"But libraries are for educational purposes only!" Ok, ignoring the above point for a second, let's see just how much of the standard library really does serve its intended purpose. We've got a large section of encyclopedias, non-fiction, and biographies, but that's really about it. I've seen people using the Internet connections to play "Slingo." Rule those out. Oh, and just because a book is a book, doesn't make it educational. I recently read a book called "Vespers." It's about mutated bats that come out of the sky and eat people. If you think you can find some value in that, go right ahead and try.
"But movies are an art form!" Ok, we'll ignore that first argument again for this one. When movies first started making an appearance, you could talk to a hundred people and not a single one would consider them an art form. Video games have been around for about 30 years now, still in their infancy comparatively. This is just another way the games are not being acknowledged as a viable form. I dare you to look at a game like "Jak 3" and tell me that's not art. Not only does it create and entire world, but also it's gorgeous at the same time.
Article comments