The U.S. Video Game Industry

Author(s):  
Janet C. Dunlop

Today’s media are vast in both form and influence; however, few cultural studies scholars address the video gaming industry’s role in domestic maintenance and global imposition of U.S. hegemonic ideologies. In this study, video games are analyzed by cover art, content, and origin of production. Whether it is earning more “powers” in games such as Star Wars, or earning points to purchase more powerful artillery in Grand Theft Auto, capitalist ideology is reinforced in a subtle, entertaining fashion. This study shows that oppressive hegemonic representations of gender and race are not only present, but permeate the majority of top-selling video games. Finally, the study traces the origins of best-selling games, to reveal a virtual U.S. monopoly in the content of this formative medium.

Author(s):  
Janet C. Dunlop

Today’s media are vast in both form and influence; however, few cultural studies scholars address the video gaming industry’s role in domestic maintenance and global imposition of U.S. hegemonic ideologies. In this study, video games are analyzed by cover art, content, and origin of production. Whether it is earning more “powers” in games such as Star Wars, or earning points to purchase more powerful artillery in Grand Theft Auto, capitalist ideology is reinforced in a subtle, entertaining fashion. This study shows that oppressive hegemonic representations of gender and race are not only present, but permeate the majority of top-selling video games. Finally, the study traces the origins of best-selling games, to reveal a virtual U.S. monopoly in the content of this formative medium.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-54
Author(s):  
Hanna Callens

Children spend a tremendous number of hours online these days watching kids their age play video games on YouTube. The videos of these young stars, also called ‘kidfluencers’, have become an essential avenue for marketers to advertise games and merchandise. However, the game promotions of these kidfluencers can easily deceive children, as the paid collaboration with companies is not always properly disclosed. Therefore, this article aims to investigate if the European advertising regulations sufficiently protect children against misleading promotions in the videos of kidfluencers. It starts by analysing the effectiveness of kidfluencer marketing and its applicable European advertising legislation. After this analysis, it shows that the current regulations of kidfluencer marketing require a European approach that harmonizes the use of advertising disclosures and YouTube's responsibility regarding commercial communication.


2021 ◽  
pp. 382-395
Author(s):  
I.I. Shedko

The article examines the graphic styles that have arisen in the video game industry due to the technical features and development of this media. These styles are widely used and starting to go beyond the industry into the field of contemporary art. Despite the fact that pixel art is mainly used in the creation of video games, it has already become an independent form of visual style. Contemporary artists such as the Russian digital artist and designer under the pseudonym Uno Morales and the artist Natalya Struchkova turn to the pixel style when creating their works. Like the pixel art, voxel graphics has moved into the category of the game visual style, which employs an impressive community of digital artists. Low рoly graphics have modified from the main graphics of three-dimensional games, which look technically imperfect, into the category of an artistic style that forms a recognizable, attractive and unique geometric aesthetics of the image. We can trace the transformation of video game graphics, which have arisen as a result of technical constraints, into separate art styles: pixel art, voxel art, low рoly style, the minimalist style of the first classic video games. These styles are gradually becoming an independent visual unit that does not depend on the video game product as a whole.


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (06) ◽  
pp. 1650045
Author(s):  
BJÖRN REMNELAND WIKHAMN ◽  
ALEXANDER STYHRE ◽  
JAN LJUNGBERG ◽  
ANNA MARIA SZCZEPANSKA

This paper reports an in-depth qualitative study about innovation work in the Swedish video game industry. More specifically, it focuses on how video game developers are building ambidextrous capabilities to simultaneously addressing explorative and exploitative activities. The Swedish video game industry is a particularly suitable case to analyze ambidexterity, due to it’s extreme market success and continuous ability to adapt to shifts in technologies and demands. Based on the empirical data, three ambidextrous capabilities are pointed out as particularly valuable for video game developers; (1) the ability to separate between a creative work climate and the effectiveness in project organizing; (2) the balancing of inward and outward ideation influences, and (3) the diversity in operational means and knowledge paired with shared goals and motivations, derived from the love of video games and video game development.


2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shira Chess ◽  
Nathaniel J. Evans ◽  
Joyya JaDawn Baines

Recent years have seen changes to the video game industry and the image of video game players. There are more games on the market and a larger variety of ways to play those games. Yet, despite market shifts, authors such as Shaw demonstrate that there are still tensions surrounding gamer identification. Even as next-generation systems (such as the Xbox One, the PlayStation 4, and the Wii U) and casual gaming take hold of the market, tension remains between the perceptions of who is playing versus the reality of actual players. In our study, we perform a content analysis of video game commercials in 2013 to explore questions of diversity—particularly in terms of portrayals of the player’s sex and ethnicity—to consider how the gamer is represented in terms of physical and behavioral attributes.


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2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (23) ◽  
pp. 77-99
Author(s):  
Laureline Chiapello

The province of Quebec is seen as a center of “creativity” for video games and this concept is regularly used and valued. But the complexity of the socio-cultural phenomena leads us to question the meaning of this concept. What is creativity, who or what is creative? This paper uses a constructivist version the Four P’s framework (product, process, people and press) to show the limits of the concept of creativity in the Quebec video game industry, specifically in Montreal. This model allows us to focus on different interrelated dimensions of creativity, from government economic policies to the creation process, including the products created and the people involved. At first glance, the results show a disturbing lack of creativity. But it is rather the lack of theorization and operationalization of the concept in the context of Quebec video games that is problematic. If the province wishes to maintain its status as a leader in this sector, a transdisciplinary research effort must be undertaken.


Author(s):  
Sherry Yi

This chapter is a literature review on synchronous learning in science classrooms primarily focused on the video game Minecraft (MC). The author argues that video games can and have been used as synchronous learning tools and as a means of live communication in the classroom. First, the author briefly discusses the historical foundations that has led to the modern video game industry to what it is today. Second, uses of MC and other video games in science classrooms are reviewed. This chapter also provides practical advice to education practitioners on ways to utilize video games and available lesson plans as a tool in science classrooms and offers researchers valuable insight on using video games as a means of expanding on their own research interests and projects.


Author(s):  
Boaventura DaCosta ◽  
Soonhwa Seok

Video games offer rich interactive experiences. Increasingly, however, their popularity coupled with their global connectivity has raised concerns about safety. Although it can be argued that video game developers and publishers have been plagued by cybercrime since the beginning of the industry, video game companies are not the only targets. Cybercriminals also have their sights on gamers. This article examines cybercrime affecting the video game industry and its players. Focused on some of the most deliberate forms of cybercrime found in the literature within the past few years, the article explores data breaches, compromised accounts and stolen data, the theft and sale of in-game items, and money laundering. While the information is anticipated to be of value to educators, practitioners, researchers, game developers, and publishers, it should by no means be considered an all-inclusive reference, but rather a catalyst for discussion, debate, and future research.


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