Video Games: Rise to Popularity

The game that almost ruined video games

In our age, video games have become a defining part of society, but it hasn’t always been that way. When video games first started becoming available for use in homes, many parents were skeptical about the idea of having an arcade available within the home, preferring that their children be outdoors and doing more practical things with their time. Another limitation was that of games available to the market at the time. One specific game, ET for NES, was so terribly made that it looked like the end for the rising video game industry. Thankfully, this was not the case as Nintendo later came out with the first game of one of its most popular franchises, The Legend of Zelda. The release of this game was revolutionary for the video game industry, as it showed both the story telling capabilities of video games and also the ability to make an entire world for the player to explore freely. As the years passed and technology progressed, so did the quality and content of games. Larger worlds, 3D graphics, online multiplayer and now virtual reality are all possible in modern gaming.

The game that saved the industry

This all explains why video games have survived over the years, but doesn’t explain why it is so deeply ingrained in our modern culture. To understand that, we first need to understand the idea of escapism. Escapism is the use of forms of entertainment and recreational activities to create a mental diversion from mundane, dull, unpleasant or stressful aspects of daily life. Movies, books, radio shows and now video games are just a few examples of activities people use to escape from unpleasant realities--intentionally or not. What distinguishes video games even further from other forms of entertainment media is their ability to immerse the player into the world as not only a viewer, but a participant. Video games have introduced puzzles and problems that are challenging, but also possible to resolve given time and effort without the worry of one mistake ruining the entire thing. This is especially appealing when one is having various problems in their own life that seem impossible to resolve, providing other opportunities to overcome obstacles and feel the sense of achievement that comes with completing such tasks.

Escape into fantastical worlds!

This interactive mode of escapism has caused the video game industry to rise above even the movie industry in annual revenues, in recent years in the U.S. reaching excess of $15 billion per year, where the movie industry in the U.S. approaches $12 billion on a good year. The video game industry has risen quickly from obscurity and taken a firm hold in our modern lifestyle.

Marshall Krueger
(Pragmus Lambda)

Video Game Journalist