Coffee Talk: Games Are Cool Now? (Fashionably Late Edition)
Here we are, friends, in an age where video games have finally become a mainstream form of entertainment. Surely, you’ve caught eye of Tim Schafer‘s appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon where he talked up his next project, Brütal Legend (thank you copy+paste for the umlaut), but for those who haven’t check it out above. Those in the know may want to revel in it just one more time for good measure.
It’s been a long time coming (27+ years to be exact), but finally the games industry has semi-officially come to the forefront of mainstream entertainment. One could argue video games have been mainstream for years, but to have one of the industry’s famed designers appear on a late night talk show as if he were an actor talking up his next film appearance is quite a milestone.
Surely, some of you agree or perhaps you feel differently. Is this an exciting time for you as a gamer or do you feel as if one of your favorite indie bands hit the big time? Well, if the latter is the case for you, at least you can say you liked video games before they were cool. With game designers now getting the movie star treatment, what do you think this could mean for the industry (hint: more cash flow)?
On a Mac, umlaut is achieved by typing CMD+U and then U again.
Now you know I’m gonna comment about this one.
Personally I think its half exciting and half not so exciting. Yea it’s awesome to have games come to the “mainstream forefront” but in a way it isn’t. I love games but it’s like when you love an indie band and they get famous and millions of poser jump on the band wagon because myspace,twitter,and facebook are buzzing about them. I dont’t want that happening to video games.
I just wrote a huge thing and it didn’t submit because I didn’t fill in the email field. Unfortunately the form didn’t store my comment. Grrr.
Anywho – In summary my point was that the video game industry pulls in more revenue than hollywood so I’d say that video games are definitely mainstream even though they lack the media attention that say a movie or new album would get. I think that is primarily because there is no celebrity face to be associated with a video game. Letterman interviewing an AI programmer wouldn’t be the same as a segment with Brad Pitt or Timbaland.
Brutal Legend is getting the media attention because of Tim Schaefer and Jack Black – not the other way around. Kind of a shame really because I expect the game to not sell well. My guess is that it will be $29 in 3 months time.
Alt+0252 for ü
BTW, I watched that Fallon interview and it was way uncomfortable. That’s the difference between Hollywood types and Game designers. Charisma.
Haha, thanks for the tips on how to get the umlaut, guys! While I agree with you guys, I do think it’s pretty cool of Fallon (and his producers/directors) to be taking the steps forward to giving the industry some more attention.
Maybe this was the first step to film studios someday taking video game licenses seriously (I can dream, can’t I?).
Uncharted license + big budget + !=Uwe Boll directing + Nathan Fillion as Nathan Drake = smiles for miles.
I’m psyched to see some mainstream attention dished out to the little guy. Tim Schafer is the freaking man and creates some truly wonderful games.
I’d rather not have a creative person / game company as my “little secret” the way scenesters / hipsters treat their indie rock-band groups. If a band doesn’t make it, they can go back to living in their parents’ basement.
If a game does poorly cause they get no exposure or marketing (PSYCHONAUTS), it can destroy careers for a massive amount of creative people.
Yeah I’m generalizing like crazy, but whatever. Go TIM!
I’m not a huge gamer, I am a super huge fan of Sonic and some DS games.
But I thought I’d just say I agree 100% with Eric.
If gamers are pissed because their “geek” fav is now mainstream, I kind of think those gamers are superficial and put to much emphasis on the gaming persona then the games themselves ( much like the idie band goes pop wayward fans you mentioned).
Be happy that after years of hard work your favorite game developers are getting some attention!
Has anybody played the demo yet? I actually really liked it – but I don’t know if I could handle 10+ hours of it. Thoughts?
Nah, I haven’t had a chance to yet. So, I can only make comment on how the game looks, which is awesome! However, that could mean nothing if it doesn’t play well.