Highbrow Magazine - video games https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/video-games en Digital Rights Management and the Modern-Day Pirate https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/21627-digital-rights-management-and-modern-day-pirate <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-features" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News &amp; Features</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Mon, 09/12/2022 - 12:12</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1piracy_toobydoo-creative_commons.jpg?itok=CfctNdTu"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1piracy_toobydoo-creative_commons.jpg?itok=CfctNdTu" width="480" height="360" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">To state an obvious truth, digital media has completely changed the way audiences purchase and consume content. Film, television, music and games can be compactly stored and streamed anywhere in the world without the need for a physical storage device. While many of us are content to pay our monthly tithe to Netflix or Hulu for access to their media libraries, the digital transition poses a question to those who would like to “own” their content. The main question being: Do you really “own” digitally stored content?</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">It's easy to understand how someone owns a book or a Blu-Ray Disc, but when it comes to a digital file, just because it’s stored on your hard drive doesn’t mean you have unrestricted access to it. Digital Rights Management or DRM is the blanket term for the technologies developed and used as anti-piracy measures in digital media.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The methods for DRM protection vary, but the general principle is to combat consumers from sharing files they have stored on their computer. Disney wouldn’t be very happy if people could buy <em>Spider-Man: No Way Home</em>, download it to their device, and then send it to all their friends, without paying that $20 fee.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">While it is understandable that companies and artists want to protect their creations, these sorts of protections do restrict access to content consumers purchase in a way that traditional physical media would not. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">There is no computer program trying to verify that the physical copy of <em>Dune</em> I have sitting on my bookshelf is a legitimately sold and manufactured product. However, that might be the case if I tried to open an ebook copy of it placed on my desktop. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/3piracy_m_lange_b_-_flickr.jpg" style="height:434px; width:651px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">While some methods of DRM allow users to download and store files on their hard drive to be accessed any time, other methods require devices that intend to access DRM-protected content to be connected to the internet.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The best example of this comes from PC gaming. The largest digital game retailer on PC is Steam. Steam sells digital games and manages DRM for videogame publishers. The simple explanation of this process is that your local device crosschecks Steam’s servers to verify that your account actually owns the game it is trying to run. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Even though a person locally owns and has a piece of software downloaded and installed to their hard drive, that storage space is useless without an internet connection to verify it is legitimate. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">This greatly restricts the use of the media you allegedly “own.” Playing games or using software that use this sort of DRM protection is no longer possible on laptops in places without connection, such as airplanes.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/1spiderman.jpg" style="height:317px; width:602px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">While the Kindle ebook on my computer (which uses a form of DRM that does not require internet access) may still be readable offline, digital copies like this often restrict users to proprietary software.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">I can only read a Kindle ebook through the Kindle app, even if the book I'm reading could easily be put into a file type that can be read by other programs. While this might not seem like a major issue, software and technology is ever-changing.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The software, webpages, and companies that are here today may not be here forever. What happens to the digital files I “own” when that happens? If items consumers own are locked behind proprietary software, that may or may not be supported in the distant future. Are we really doing any more than renting this content for the foreseeable future?</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">People who want to own content and media may fall back on physical media as a means of maintaining true “ownership” of said media.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">However, even your use and ownership of physical media is restricted by DRM. Most Blu-Ray Discs you buy carry a form of protection to prevent people from copying the discs to their computers. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/5piracy_kalhh-pixabay.jpg" style="height:460px; width:651px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Being able to copy a disc to a digital format is a great reassurance for media lovers. Even if their physical media gets lost, or damaged, they will always have a backup of the content. However, these copy protections make that a lot harder to do.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">However, DRM and copy protection still do not prevent piracy. Right now, I and anyone else with a search engine could go to one of the many dens of ill repute on the internet and download any number of games, movies, TV shows, and albums. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">DRM protections are at best a deterrent. Those who truly want to get content for free can do so fairly simply and with minimal risk of legal repercussions. DRM does more to hinder the freedoms and accessibility to content consumers “own” than it does to protect intellectual property. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">What DRM really prevents is people casually sharing content they have purchased, the less motivated or tech-savvy consumer sending a file to a friend. However, the exact impact casual sharing or even piracy has on media publishers is unclear. It hasn’t been, and is, difficult to track. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Publishers tend to argue that the vulnerabilities of consumers being able to share content can impact how many people will actually end up buying their product. If a friend can shoot them over the file, why bother? By the same token, if a quick Google search enables me to find the same content, is it really filtering out that many additional people from accessing it?</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/6videogames.jpg" style="height:651px; width:471px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The big question is whether more people will have files casually shared to them versus people who will seek out content on pirate websites. These types of questions are why DRM remains a large topic of debate. An interesting article by <a href="https://www.idealog.com/blog/drm-may-not-prevent-piracy-but-it-might-still-protect-sales/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Mike Shatzkin</a>, as well as a <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/221135033_If_piracy_is_the_problem_is_DRM_the_answer" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">research paper examining DRM</a> from its technical side, highlight this debate.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">There are some storefronts that sell DRM-free content, one of the largest names being Good Old Games (GOG.com). GOG specializes in selling videogames, as per its name, older games, without DRM protections. Unlike most DRM-free retailers, GOG also has a significant selection of newer, in-demand titles from popular game publishers. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">However, there are no major equivalent storefronts for video, ebook, and audio content. You simply won’t find DRM-free copies of major motion pictures, albums from popular bands, or books from famous authors. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Retailers and websites that offer DRM-free content do exist; the <a href="https://archive.org/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">Internet Archive</a> has massive libraries of public domain and publicly accessible content that is free to download, but none contains much of the newer content people are looking to access.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Unless retailers decide to start selling content without DRM protections, consumers who truly want to “own” a particular media will be stuck collecting and maintaining their disc collections. With the popularity of streaming and digital media as a medium for content, maybe even the physical product won’t be much to rely on. After all, when's the last time you walked into a store and saw a CD? </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Given the rate of technological advancements, there is reasonable concern about the longevity of digital content. While digital files don't degrade and for all intents and purposes last forever, the software and hardware they run on is constantly being updated and changed. DRM stands in the way as one additional obstacle in the management and curation of our digital libraries.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Author Bio:</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong><em>Garrett Hartman is a contributing writer at</em> Highbrow Magazine.</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>For Highbrow Magazine</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Image Sources:</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>--ToobyDoo (</em><a href="https://wordpress.org/openverse/image/df8a4db9-e999-4f2c-a348-0c4d69ee0687" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline"><em>Creative Commons</em></a><em>)</em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>--goXunu Reviews (</em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/43602175@N06/4069260433" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline"><em>Flickr</em></a><em>, Creative Commons)                                                </em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>--MLange B (</em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mlange_b/15782749050" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline"><em>Flickr</em></a><em>, Creative Commons)</em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>--Kalhh (<a href="https://pixabay.com/illustrations/castle-chain-security-979597/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Pixabay</a>, Creative Commons)</em></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/digital-rights-management" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">digital rights management</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/drm" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">drm</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/piracy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">piracy</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/pirates" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">pirates</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/owning-content" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">owning content</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/music" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Music</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/films" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">films</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/cds" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">cds</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/downloading-content" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">downloading content</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/streaming" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">streaming</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/steam" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">steam</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/video-games" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">video games</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/media" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Media</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/media-files" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">media files</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/data-protection" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">data protection</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Garrett Hartman</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">In Slider</div></div></div> Mon, 12 Sep 2022 16:12:15 +0000 tara 11319 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/21627-digital-rights-management-and-modern-day-pirate#comments Examining Digital Media Habits in 2022 https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/19920-examining-digital-media-habits <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/media" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Media</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Tue, 05/10/2022 - 12:00</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1mobilephone_daria_shevtsova-pexels.jpg?itok=NxBb77ai"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1mobilephone_daria_shevtsova-pexels.jpg?itok=NxBb77ai" width="480" height="320" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Consumers have more options for digital media entertainment than ever before, but what kind of content are they looking for, how are they finding it, and how are they interacting with it? Each year, Deloitte – a global professional services organization – surveys consumers to answer these questions.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">In its latest report, titled “2022 Digital Media Trends, 16th edition: Toward the metaverse,” Deloitte surveyed consumers globally and found there is a growing preference for more personalized, interactive, and social experiences, especially among younger generations. Below are findings that underscore this trend.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Consumers are tired of chasing content</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Despite the sizable content budgets of streaming video on demand (SVOD) services, consumers are growing more frustrated with SVOD content discovery and subscription fees. SVOD services often require consumers to juggle multiple subscriptions at increasing costs. But on social media platforms, content discovers the user, offering free passive and interactive experiences with near-infinite streams of personalized content that are continuously refined.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/1watchingtv_cottonbro-pexels.jpg" style="height:400px; width:600px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>SVOD services struggle to attract and retain subscribers</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">SVOD providers face greater pressure to attract and retain subscribers who have become savvier about chasing content and managing their subscription costs. The average churn rate (the rate at which consumers have canceled, or both added and canceled, a service during the past six months) in the United States remains consistent at 37% across all paid SVOD services. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">In the United Kingdom, Germany, Brazil, and Japan, the average overall churn rate is closer to 30%. In an effort to compete, consumers may find media companies diversifying their approach, offering ad-supported tiers and bundles, or pairing premium content with more immersive experiences.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Growing popularity of user-generated content</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Short-form and user-generated social video feeds are incredibly engaging. Nearly half (46%) of U.S. consumers say they watch more user-generated content online than they did six months ago. Fifty percent (50%) also say they always end up spending more time watching user-generated content online than they had initially planned. This figure jumps to 70% among the youngest generation, Gen Z. About four in 10 (41%) U.S. consumers surveyed spend more time watching user-generated video content online than TV shows and movies on video streaming services, a sentiment that increases to about 60% among the younger generations (Millennials and Gen Zs).</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Social media usage continues to rise across generations</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">In the U.S., 81% of social media users use social media services daily, and 59% use these services several times a day. Across all five countries surveyed, Gen Zs, Millennials, and Gen Xers are consistently more likely to say they use these services. Also, 70% of U.S. respondents say they follow an influencer online, and more than half of U.S. Gen Zs and Millennials surveyed say online personalities influence their buying decisions.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Social media platforms are also affecting consumer spending habits. About 53% of U.S. respondents and around 40% in the U.K., Germany, and Japan say they see ads on social media for products or services they were searching for, a figure that jumps to 72% in Brazil.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/4videogames_jeshoots-pexels.jpg" style="height:400px; width:600px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Younger consumers prioritize interactive experiences</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Younger generations that have grown up with smartphones, social media, and video games prefer entertainment experiences that are more social and interactive. User-generated social media streams and social video games may meet their needs better than streaming video.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">According to the report, Gen Z respondents prefer playing video games as their favorite entertainment activity in all five countries. In the U.S., Gen Z and Millennial gamers play the most, logging an average of 11 and 13 hours per week, respectively.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Looking to the future</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">As streaming video audiences juggle more subscriptions and higher costs to chase entertainment, social media is free and available anywhere, anytime.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Deloitte’s report suggests that to prepare for the next generation of digital entertainment, streaming video companies should think about how people socialize around entertainment. Will younger generations and the generations to follow them dismiss entertainment that isn’t social or interactive in some way? Or will the passive and somewhat isolated experience of streaming video always offer a meaningful form of entertainment? Only time will tell.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong><em>To learn more about the 2022 Digital Media Trends, 16th edition: Toward the metaverse survey, visit </em></strong><a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/technology/digital-media-trends-consumption-habits-survey.html?id=us:2el:3pr:4diUS175215:5awa::MMDDYY:&amp;pkid=1008679" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline"><strong><em>Digital Media Trends</em></strong></a><strong><em> for the full report.</em></strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>This article is provided by </strong><a href="https://www.brandpointcontent.com/article/39630/5-digital-media-and-entertainment-habits-in-2022" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline"><strong>Brandpoint</strong></a><strong>. It’s published here with permission.</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Highbrow Magazine</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Image Sources:</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>--Daria Shevtsova (<a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/bokeh-photography-of-person-holding-turned-on-iphone-1440727/" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Pexels</a>, Creative Commons)</em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>--Cottonbro (<a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/couple-love-sitting-evening-4009409/" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Pexels</a>, Creative Commons)</em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>--Jeshoots.com (<a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-people-holding-black-gaming-consoles-442576/" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Pexels</a>, Creative Commons)</em></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/digital-trends" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">digital trends</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/streaming-video" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">streaming video</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/video-games" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">video games</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/social-media" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">social media</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/movies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Movies</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tv-shows" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">tv shows</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/iphones" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">iphones</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/millennials" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">millennials</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/gen-z" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">gen z</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/connecting-online" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">connecting online</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/digital-media" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">digital media</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">BPT</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">In Slider</div></div></div> Tue, 10 May 2022 16:00:32 +0000 tara 11083 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/19920-examining-digital-media-habits#comments ‘Space Jam,’ ‘Free Guy’ and the New Corporate Media https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/12546-space-jam-free-guy-and-new-corporate-media <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/film-tv" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Film &amp; TV</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Fri, 09/10/2021 - 12:38</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1spacejam.jpg?itok=YTV07zT6"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1spacejam.jpg?itok=YTV07zT6" width="480" height="270" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">References  are  the  pop  culture  fan’s  favorite  treat.  Nothing  is  more  satisfying  than  seeing  one  medium  you really  enjoy  reference  another.  It  humanizes  the  film  and  connects  the  audience  to  the  production  staff  in  a  new  way.  It  tells  the  audience,  “We  like  the  same  things  you  do.”   </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">While  references  and   crossovers  are  nothing  new,  they are  becoming  increasingly  common  and  much  more  mainstream.  Two  prime  examples  would  be  the  recently  released  <em>Space  Jam</em>  sequel  and  Ryan Reynolds’ <em>Free  Guy</em>.  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">While  <em>Space  Jam</em>  is, in  its  nature,  a  film  about  crossing  over  the  pop  culture  worlds  of  professional  basketball and  the  Looney  Tunes, <em>Free  Guy</em>  and  <em>Space  Jam</em> both  pull nods  to  other  intellectual  properties  that  are  about  as  subtle  as  the  destruction  of  Alderann,  or  a  man  that  can  leap  tall  buildings  in  a  single  bound.   </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">These  films  go  beyond  slyly  nodding  to  popular  media  and incorporate  popular  media  as  part  of  the  story.  <em>Space  Jam</em>,  for  example,  not only combines  Lebron  James  and  the  Looney  Tunes  characters, it  makes  its  production  company Warner  Bros.  (and  all  of  its  successive  properties)  a  character.   </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The  film’s  entire  setting  is  the  “Serververse”  or  the  Warner  Bros.  servers  that  house  all  of  the  intellectual  property  the  company  owns.  Warner  Bros.  isn’t  shy  about  dishing  out  the  fan  favorites  either,  showcasing  characters from  throughout  its roster  of  films  and  TV  -- showcasing  the  DC  Universe,  Harry  Potter,  King  Kong  and  countless  other  properties.  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/2spacejam.jpg" style="height:338px; width:600px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Half  of  the  audience  for  the  basketball  game  at  the  climax  of  <em>Space  Jam</em>  is  made  up  of  fictional  characters  from  Warner Bros.  films.  The  film  revels  in  its  celebration  of  media.  However,  this  starts  to  feel  almost  disturbing  when you  realize  that all  of  these  famous  and  popular  ideas  are  all  owned  by  one  company.  A  celebration  of  media  and  a  nod  to  pop  culture  begins  to  feel  like  a  cheap  grab  at  recognizable  brands  as  promotion tool.  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Some  of  these  references  are  unique  and  inventive,  for  example,  the  new  <em>Space  Jam</em>  features  scenes  where  Lebron  James  and  Looney  Tunes  characters  are  inserted  into  scenes  from  Warner  Bros.  films like  <em>Mad  Max  Fury  Road</em>.  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Editing  existing  footage,  replicating  props  and  scenes are  genuinely  interesting  ways  to  combine  two  pieces  of  media. It  also  takes  significant  effort  to  do  this.  However,  for  every  interesting  scene  like that,  there  are  50  extras  standing  in  the  background  of  the  basketball  game  dressed  like  a copyrighted  character.   </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Cameos  like  this  are  cheap  and  easy  to  do.  While  there  were  some  interesting  deep-cut  characters like  Pennywise  from  the  1990  TV  miniseries  adaptation  of  Steven  King’s  <em>IT</em>  as  well  as  the 1 960s  <em>Batman</em>,  overall  this  inclusion  feels  like  a  cheap  way  to  draw  an  audience  in  to  see  which  of  their  movie  favorites  they  can  spot. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">While  <em>Free  Guy</em>  is not  as  audacious  as  Space  Jam  in  its  use  of  other  intellectual  property,  it  still  does  a good  job  of  reminding  you  that  its  production  company,  20th  Century  Studios,  belongs  to  Disney.   </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/3spacejam.jpg" style="height:337px; width:600px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Overall,  <em>Free  Guy</em>  (which  is  about  a  non-player-character  from  a  video game  gaining  sentience)  lovingly  alludes  to  videogame  tropes without  smattering  videogame  properties  all  over  the  place.  However,  it  doesn’t  completely ignore  this  either.  Several  videogame -centric  Youtubers  and  Twitch  Streamers  show  up  as  part  of  the  story.  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">On  top  of  this,  towards  the  film's  finale,  <em>Free  Guy</em>  uses  both  music  and  props  from  Disney’s  Marvel  and  Star  Wars properties.  This  is  swiftly  followed  up  with  props  from  Epic  Games’  “Fortnite”  and  Valve’s “ Half  Life2.”  <em>Free  Guy</em>  somewhat  redeems  this  moment  in  its  willingness  to  pay  a  high -profile  MCU  actor  to  make  a  cameo  as  part  of  the gag.  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">However,  when  four  different  brands  show their  face  in  under  a  minute,  it's  hard  to  avoid  the  chagrin you  feel  when  corporations  shamelessly  rub  their  advertising  in  your  face.  It’s  the  same  feeling one  gets  when  seeing  a  painfully  obvious  Bud  Light  bottle  take  up  a  shot  in  your  movie  about  giant  robots  beating  each  other  to  hell.  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>Free  Guy</em>  is  an  interesting  movie  when  looking  at  the  crossovers  between  different  media -- primarily  because  <em>Free  Guy</em>  takes  place  in  a  video  game,  a  medium  which  has  had  these  same  types  of  crossovers  for  decades.   </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Videogames  haven’t  traditionally  crossed  over  with  major  mainstream  film  properties  (aside  from  the  movie tie-in  game,  which  tends  to  be  more  a  promotional  tool  for  the  film  than  a  truly  independent  game).   </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/4spacejam.jpg" style="height:336px; width:600px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Games,  however,  have been  crossing  over  with  themselves  for  a  long  time.  The  most  notable  example  of  this  is  the  Super  Smash  Bros.  franchise.  This  casual  fighting  game  created  by  Nintendo  pits  some  of  its  most  popular  characters  against  each  other  in  battles  from  famous  game  locations.  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The  first  two  games in  the  series  featured  only  Nintendo  properties;  however,  beginning  in  2008, “Super  Smash  Bros  Brawl”  characters  from different  companies  began  to  show  up: most  notably  Sega’s  rival to  Mario,  Sonic  the  Hedgehog.   </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Guest  fighters  have now  become  a  major  part  of  the  series  with  fans  choosing  their  dream  guest  characters  and  theorizing  which  characters  Nintendo  will  bring  into  the  game  as  downloadable  content.   </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Nintendo  isn’t  the  only  studio  that  has  been  doing  this.  Capcom  (another  Japanese  game  developer)  has  had  its own  long-running  Marvel  Vs.  Capcom  series,  where  characters  from  their  game  franchises  go head  to  head  with  Marvel  heroes  and  villains.  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Similarly,  Nether  Realm’s  “Mortal  Kombat”  game  series  has  had  crossovers  with  DC  heroes  and  villains,  although  this  is  less  impressive  considering  Warner  Bros.  owns  the  development  studio,  as  well  as  the  rights to  all  DC  characters.   </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/5spacejam.jpg" style="height:600px; width:405px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">However,  it  is  fair  to  note  recent  “Mortal  Kombat”  games  have  featured  famous  film  characters  like  the  Xenomorph  from  <em>Alien,</em>  the  Terminator  and  John  Rambo.  All  of  these  are  owned  by  separate  companies.   </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Videogames  have  been  doing  this  a  long  time.  The  extensive  cross -collaboration  between popular  films  and  other  properties  is  a  somewhat  recent  development.   </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Normally  when  a  character  like  the  Xenomorph is  added  to  a  game,  it's  to  serve  the  fans  and  incline  more  people to  buy  the  game  or  the  downloadable  content.  What  we  haven't  seen  as  much  is  studios trying  to  promote  their  products  through  games..  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The  first  recent example  I  can  recall  of the  collaboration  across  companies  and  mediums  is  the  use  of  “Fortnite”  in  <em>Avengers  Endgame</em>.  “Fortnite”  was  featured  in  a  scene  in  <em>Endgame</em>  and,  around  the  same  time, there  was  an  <em>Avengers</em>-themed  event  in  “Fortnite.”  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Epic  Games  now has a  long-running  relationship  with  both  Marvel  and  DC  in  adding  skins  that  let  players  play  as  their  favorite heroes,  with  both  Marvel  and  DC  having  a  line  of  comics  tied  into  a  “Fortnite”  season.  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">It’s  a  truly  astonishing feat  to  get  rival  companies  to  agree  to  have  their  properties  viewed  next  to  each  other,  but  “Fortnite”  is  the  game  that  did  it.  The  list  goes  on  and  on  but  aside  from  just  superheroes,  “Fortnite” has  official  skins  from  the  <em>John  Wick</em>  films,  <em>Alien,  Ghostbusters</em>  and  <em>G.I  Joe.</em>  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/6spacejam.jpg" style="height:338px; width:600px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">That’s  ignoring  the several  TV  shows  and  musicians  they’ve  collaborated  with,  like  <em>Rick  and  Morty,  The  Walking Dead</em>,  Travis Scott  and  --  most  recently  --  Arianna  Grande.  Social  media  has  allowed  companies  to  quantify  interest.  Companies now  know what  people  like  instead  of  having  to  guess.  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">This  kind  of  fan  service in  games  isn’t detrimental  to  the  medium;  TV  and  film  may  suffer  greatly  from  forced  brand  integration.  Videogames  are  a  very  different  art  form  than  more  traditional  media. Videogames  have content  that  is  outside  the  primary  body  of  the  game.  Adding  a  popular  character  isn’t  a  problem  in  many  games because  it doesn’t  impact  the  story.  </span></span></p> <p> </p> </div> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Special characters  or  items  are  often  separate  from  the  story  and  function  as  additions  for  people  who  want  to  enjoy  the  game beyond  just  completing  the  story.  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">In  the  case  of  a  game  like  “Mortal  Kombat,”  the  primary  purpose  of  the  game  is  simply  fighting  with  others.  While  these  games  may  have  story  modes,  they  often  take  a  backseat  to  the  multiplayer  where  the  reason  why the  Joker  is  fighting  the  Terminator  is  less  important  than  seeing them  shatter  each  other's  bones. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">In  film,  however,  there  is  only  a  finite  amount  of  content.  You  can’t  just  watch something  unrelated  to  the  story.  The  film  <em>is</em>  the  story.  Bonus  content  and  features  are  sometimes  packaged  with  films,  but  this  optional  content  is  not  as  big  of  a  component  to  the  film  as  open-world  exploration,  multiplayer, or  arcade  modes  are  to  videogames. Anything over  the  top  than  a  sly  reference  will feel  like  advertising,  as  opposed  to  the  slight  nods  to  the  audience  they’re supposed  to  be.   </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">These  cameos  and  cross -promotions  serve  as  more  than  just  advertising  and  cheap  laughs;  they  are also a grim  reminder  of  how  few  companies  own  so  many  of  America’s  most  iconic  characters  and  brands.  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">  <strong>Author Bio:</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong><em>Garrett Hartman is a contributing writer at </em>Highbrow Magazine<em>. He is a California State University, Chico student double-majoring in media arts design technology and Journalism/PR. A lover of pop culture, Garret enjoys a wide array of film, television, video games, and literature. However, as a drummer in a rock band and an alt-rock enthusiast, music holds a special place in his heart.</em></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>For Highbrow Magazine</strong></span></span></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/space-jam" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">space jam</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/free-guy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">free guy</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/looney-tunes" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">looney tunes</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/nba" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">NBA</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/basketball-films" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">basketball films</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/cartoons" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">cartoons</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/sonic-hedgehog" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">sonic the hedgehog</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mario-brothers" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">mario brothers</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/video-games" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">video games</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mortal-kombat" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">mortal kombat</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/avengers-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">avengers</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/avengers-endgame-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">avengers endgame</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/film-studios" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">film studios</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/hollywood" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Hollywood</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Garrett Hartman</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Fri, 10 Sep 2021 16:38:17 +0000 tara 10628 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/12546-space-jam-free-guy-and-new-corporate-media#comments ‘Mortal Kombat’ Offers Blood, Guts, and Not Much Else https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/12086-mortal-kombat-offers-blood-guts-and-not-much-else <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/film-tv" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Film &amp; TV</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Wed, 04/28/2021 - 19:46</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1mortalkombat.jpg?itok=iLk_yVlE"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1mortalkombat.jpg?itok=iLk_yVlE" width="480" height="267" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p>Usually, movies based on video games are either bad or they end up getting canceled. There has been a slew of awful game movies, and even the Mortal Kombat movies from the 1990s are remembered as lackluster films.</p> <p>The new <em>Mortal Kombat movie</em>, directed by Simon McQuoid, isn’t great, but it’s a step above the average game movie. </p> <p>The main character of this bloody romp is Cole Young, a brand new character created just for this film. Cole is an MMA fighter past his prime who finds out he’s been chosen to participate in the Mortal Kombat tournament to decide the fate of Earth.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/2mortalkombat.jpg" style="height:338px; width:600px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>It’s a loose adaptation of the first game, and while the story shouldn’t be important in a <em>Mortal Kombat</em> movie, I still wish the writing and characters were better. Cole is a generic everyman who is there to be the fish-out-of-water that the viewers can relate to in case they’re not familiar with the games. Character designs for more iconic names like Jax, Scorpion, Mileena, and Shang Tsung are a mixed bag. Some are great and others more like something you’d see on a convention floor instead of a big-budget movie. </p> <p>The silver lining is that if you’re a <em>Mortal Kombat</em> fan and you want blood and gore, that’s exactly what you get. While the fight choreography is subpar, the amount of violence in the movie is through the roof. While it is gratuitous and sometimes comical, it was still fun to see and it wouldn’t have been a bona fide <em>Mortal Kombat</em> movie without it.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/3mortalkombat.jpg" style="height:257px; width:600px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>It’s clear that the writer and director had a passion for the games and knowledge of their history. While the storyline is different, there are loads of subtle and overt references to the games. Characters use the special moves from the games that fans would expect. They do a good job of adding spectacle to the fight scenes and keeping the movie from getting boring.</p> <p>The weirdest thing about the film is that the <em>Mortal Kombat</em> games have already had a large focus on its story since the series reboot in 2011. Fans of the games can just play through the story mode if they want a cinematic take on the franchise, and the storyline of this new movie isn’t good enough to appeal to people who have never played the games. It puts this film in an awkward space, where it’s hard to see who it’s supposed to appeal to the most, and it makes the movie hard to recommend.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p><strong><em>Ulises Duenas is a contributing writer at</em></strong><strong> Highbrow Magazine.</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>For Highbrow Magazine</strong></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mortal-kombat-movie" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">mortal kombat movie</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/video-games" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">video games</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/gaming" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">gaming</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/online-games" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">online games</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mortal-kombat" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">mortal kombat</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/violent-movies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">violent movies</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/video-game-movies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">video game movies</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Ulises Duenas</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Wed, 28 Apr 2021 23:46:07 +0000 tara 10318 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/12086-mortal-kombat-offers-blood-guts-and-not-much-else#comments Combat, Weaponry, and Forces of Hell: The Best New Video Games of 2020 https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/10650-combat-weaponry-and-forces-hell-best-new-video-games-2020 <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/media" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Media</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Wed, 05/13/2020 - 14:56</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1videogames.jpg?itok=rvpg5TX5"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1videogames.jpg?itok=rvpg5TX5" width="480" height="270" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p><em>Everyone blows off steam differently. Especially during the current coronavirus pandemic, many of us need some catharsis to battle stress, and there's nothing better than a solid video game to entertain us and combat worry or fatigue. The following games rate as some of 2020's best releases thus far.</em></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Doom Eternal</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><em>Doom Eternal</em> is one of the greatest video game sequels of all time. It not only elevates everything from the previous entry, but it adds a lot of new mechanics that work incredibly well together. Aside from the fast and brutal action that the series is known for, <em>Eternal</em> also adds platforming. You wouldn’t think that making careful jumps from platform to platform would fit in this kind of game, but it manages to feel fast and responsive. It adds another layer to the exploration so that navigating levels don’t feel like a chore between gunfights. </p> <p> </p> <p>The weapon variety is a big reason why combat is so addictive in this game. It’s not just about picking the right tool for the job. A player also needs to manage their ammo and know when it’s time to switch or use one of the new combat tools like freeze grenades or flamethrowers. The comical levels of gore combined with the heavy metal soundtrack and ridiculous speed make for a shooter experience that is unparalleled. </p> <p> </p> <p>The story of <em>Doom Eternal</em> can be hard to follow. The forces of Hell have invaded Earth, and it’s up to the fabled Doomslayer to destroy the hordes of demons. There was a good deal of events that happened between games that aren’t directly explained to the player. That said, the developers have made a great effort of adding background to the game. That means players who don’t want the combat to stop don’t have to sit there while long cutscenes explain everything that’s happening. The whole thing is like a cranked-up heavy metal album cover come to life.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/2videogames.jpg" style="height:338px; width:600px" /></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Nioh 2</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>The original <em>Nioh</em> managed to blend elements from many different action games into something that feels unique and satisfying. Punishing gameplay that requires fast reflexes and planning combined with a beautiful setting and flashy graphics equaled a game that rivaled the <em>Dark Souls</em> series. The sequel does almost everything it needs to elevate itself to the next level. New weapons, better action, better bosses, and even an interesting story make <em>Nioh 2</em> a must-play for plans of the rising “masocore” genre. </p> <p> </p> <p>The player takes control of a half-demon, half-human mercenary who treks across feudal Japan in the 1500s to rid the country of demons called <em>yokai </em>and unite the warring states. The new plot element of having demon blood also changes up the gameplay quite a bit. The player is able to unleash new abilities that can transform them into one of three <em>yokai</em> forms that are capable of making quick work of difficult enemies. </p> <p> </p> <p>Character customization adds replay value to an already lengthy game. Not only can the player create their own male or female character, but they can change even the smallest details of their combat gear. Whether it’s from looting or smithing, the player can outfit their character with different weapons and armor ranging from dual swords and ninja robes to heavy axes and gold-plated armor.</p> <p> </p> <p>A big selling of <em>Nioh 2</em> are its boss fights. Not only do the bosses in this game have beautiful and varied visuals designs, but they’re also challenging and require different strategies to overcome. Finally overcoming a difficult boss after several attempts creates a feeling of relief and strength. </p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/3videogames.jpg" style="height:315px; width:600px" /></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Final Fantasy VII Remake</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>The original announcement for this long-anticipated remake brought tears to some people’s eyes. The original <em>Final Fantasy VII</em> from 1997 is one of the most beloved games of all time, and news of it being completely remade brought big hopes as well as some caution. Concerns grew when it was announced that the project would be too big to tackle at once and had to be split up into different parts. Now that the first part is finally released, it’s clear that this remake was worth the effort -- for the most part.</p> <p> </p> <p>Not only have the visuals and combat system been overhauled, but even the story has been altered to some shocking degree. The graphics are beautiful and make the city of Midgar look more alive than ever. The general aesthetic blends elements of traditional fantasy and science fiction and that makes the setting and character designs more memorable. </p> <p> </p> <p>The story of a ragtag group fighting a giant, evil energy company in order to save their planet is a simple premise elevated by great characters. The main cast have differing personalities, and stretching out the beginning of their journey for this remake was a surprisingly good idea. Seeing them change and grow at a more realistic pace is one of the best aspects of the game.</p> <p> </p> <p>While the story is mostly the same as the original and only suffers from minor pacing issues, there’s a hard turn in both regards once players reach the last couple chapters of the game. Plot events feel stretched thin, and the story then goes completely off the rails. After a certain point, the story doesn’t even resemble the original, and the gauntlet of pointless fights become extremely tedious. As bad as those chapters can be, they don’t overshadow what is otherwise a fantastic game.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p><strong><em>Ulises Duenas is a freelance writer.</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>For Highbrow Magazine</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Image Sources:</strong></p> <p><em>--Google Images: Xbox, PlayStation</em></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/video-games" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">video games</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/new-games" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">new games</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/doom-eternal" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">doom eternal</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/nioh-2" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">nioh 2</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/final-fantasy-vii-remake" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">final fantasy VII remake</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/xbox" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">xbox</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/playstation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">playstation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Ulises Duenas</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-photographer field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Photographer:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Google Images</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Wed, 13 May 2020 18:56:37 +0000 tara 9546 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/10650-combat-weaponry-and-forces-hell-best-new-video-games-2020#comments ‘Pokemon Go’ Craze Will Soon Hit India https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/5950-pokemon-go-craze-will-soon-hit-india <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-features" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News &amp; Features</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Sun, 08/14/2016 - 17:26</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1pokemon.jpg?itok=-3zNWTO2"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1pokemon.jpg?itok=-3zNWTO2" width="480" height="270" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p><strong>From <a href="http://www.indiawest.com/news/technology/pokemon-go-craze-to-soon-hit-india/article_47850594-505c-11e6-90d0-77546eb2973d.html">IndiaWest</a> and republished by our content partner New America Media: </strong></p> <p> </p> <p>NEW DELHI —When the $1,500 eye wearable device Google Glass failed to take off commercially last year, it hit the augmented reality industry to a certain extent. Now, the maddening craze for the GPS-based Pokemon Go game, which projects digital creatures around you to "capture" on your smartphone, has brought back the focus — and a revival strategy — for AR players.</p> <p> </p> <p>For a layman, unlike the virtual reality where the user is isolated from the real world, AR users continue to be in touch with the real world while interacting with the virtual world. This makes experts feel that AR has a definite edge over VR in the future.</p> <p> </p> <p>Is Pokemon Go a revival sign for AR technology after the commercial failure of Google Glass?</p> <p> </p> <p>"Pokemon Go is not an AR game in the strictest sense. However, that is the most convenient label we can apply to it. It is primarily a geo-location aware game which can overlay some objects in the real world. To experience the true potential of AR, you have to look at Google's Project Tango, U.S. startup Magic Leap, Microsoft's Hololens and others," explained Suman Saraf, co-founder and CTO at BlueStacks, one of the largest mobile gaming platforms for computers in the world.</p> <p> </p> <p>"But phenomena like Pokemon Go will certainly help the masses relate to AR and make it part of their daily conversations," Saraf told IANS.</p> <p> </p> <p>The Pokemon Go is available for download on Google Playstore and Apple's App Store in the U.S., Japan, Australia, the Philippines, New Zealand, Germany, Britain, Europe and Canada and is coming soon to India, Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia.</p> <p> </p> <p>The mobile game, developed by U.S. software company Niantic and part-owned by Japanese videogame giant Nintendo, has topped over 15 million downloads and its servers are crashing worldwide owing to heavy traffic (amid some hacking reports, too).</p> <p> </p> <p>The game uses the GPS capabilities of your device in conjunction with Google Maps to "place" creatures in real world locations, which you then try to find using your device as a guide.</p> <p> </p> <p>Once you are in proximity to the "placed" creature, you then use your device's camera to "view" the creature and try to "capture" it by throwing "Pokeballs" at it.</p> <p> </p> <p>"The innovative combination of AR, gaming and mapping technologies have created a very interesting, indeed addictive, gaming experience which has entranced the world. It will certainly accelerate interest in AR technologies," notes Jaideep Mehta, managing director, International Data Corporation, South Asia.</p> <p> </p> <p>According to Saraf, Pokemon Go appears to have nailed a magical recipe.</p> <p> </p> <p>"Importantly, we have to remember it is building on a 25-year-old franchise with a cult following. I am sure there will be a bunch of games sprouting on similar themes. Intellectual property owners would be jumping on this opportunity," Saraf said.</p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/2pokemon.jpg" style="height:313px; width:625px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has started to use Pokemon Go as a campaigning tool to register voters. The massive response has led to Nintendo doubling its value on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.</p> <p> </p> <p>Pokemon Go has overtaken micro-blogging website Twitter in terms of daily users and has seen people spending more time on its app than on Facebook.</p> <p> </p> <p>"Success breeds imitators and it is only a matter of time that competing games and experiences hit the market from other games publishers," says Mehta.</p> <p> </p> <p>AR technology is already being used in defense for safe soldier training, in healthcare for visualizing and de-risking complex medical procedures and manufacturing for complex engineering and repair tasks.</p> <p> </p> <p>"Going forward, we shall see consumer companies embracing this technology to help customers find their stores, create interesting and engaging in-store experiences as well as enhancing the brand value of their key products," Mehta notes.</p> <p> </p> <p>With advances in computer vision, high-resolution object and depth tracking and advancements in sensors, these are the most exciting times for AR.</p> <p> </p> <p>"While many companies work on various kinds of eyewear and head gear, it seems the breakout will happen with smartphones. The phones will lead the mass market use cases while the headgear will lead to deep, immersive and specialty experiences. The results might be underwhelming in the next three years, but in the next 10, I am confident AR will be all pervasive," Saraf points out.</p> <p> </p> <p>There have been some concerns about Pokemon Go users' security and safety. Well, this is the case with every new and evolving technology at the mass level which will be addressed over time.</p> <p> </p> <p>"There are industry reports pegging AR to be close to $100 billion market by 2020. We see more AR technology being adopted in edutainment, marketing, automotive and transportation, defense, retail, healthcare and tourism, to name some application areas," adds Thomas George, senior vice president and head of CyberMedia Research, a market research firm.</p> <p> </p> <p>In the meanwhile, get ready to "capture" your Pokemon as it arrives in India in days to come and avoid the fake Pokemon Go downloads as it may put your smartphone data at risk.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>From <a href="http://www.indiawest.com/news/technology/pokemon-go-craze-to-soon-hit-india/article_47850594-505c-11e6-90d0-77546eb2973d.html">IndiaWest</a> and republished by our content partner New America Media</strong></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/pokemon-go" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">pokemon go</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/google-glass" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">google glass</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/iphone" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">iPhone</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/video-games" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">video games</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/pokemon" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">pokemon</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Nishant Arora</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-photographer field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Photographer:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Google Images</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Sun, 14 Aug 2016 21:26:05 +0000 tara 7102 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/5950-pokemon-go-craze-will-soon-hit-india#comments Why the Gaming Industry Can’t Afford to Ignore Latinos or Women https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/4292-why-gaming-industry-can-t-afford-ignore-latinos-or-women <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-features" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News &amp; Features</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Mon, 09/15/2014 - 14:26</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1gamers%20%28wlodi%20flickr%29.jpg?itok=gvyh-uiJ"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1gamers%20%28wlodi%20flickr%29.jpg?itok=gvyh-uiJ" width="480" height="319" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p><strong>From <a href="http://aldianews.com/articles/media-technology/latino-gamers-are-winning-and-why-industry-should-care/35280">Al Dia</a> and republished by our content partner New America Media</strong>:</p> <p> </p> <p>In an imaginary world where video game players were only allowed play characters of their own ethnicity, Latinos would be screwed.</p> <p> </p> <p>They could choose between Victor Gonzalez, one of the main thugs of “Los Carnales” who has survived a dozen attacks by the Vice King. Or the more sophisticated Carlos Oliveira, a mercenary from South America on the verge of a nervous breakdown during the zombie crisis on Earth.</p> <p> </p> <p>These not particularly attractive examples are part of the average 3 percent of video game characters recognized as Latino.</p> <p> </p> <p>Of that 3 percent, by the way, less than 5 percent are actually playable, according to the study “The virtual census: Representations of gender, race and age in video games.”</p> <p> </p> <p>The numbers are depressing and the variety questionable. But despite the apparent apathy of the industry, recent studies have shown a growing interest from the Latino market in both purchase and expansion of video game systems, a growth that the industry has barely begun to notice.</p> <p> </p> <p>According to Simmons, Latinos are 32 percent more likely than non-Latinos to consider video games their main source of entertainment. In addition, Latinos are 54 percent more likely to buy a video game the day it’s released than non-Latino gamers.</p> <p> </p> <p>In 2012, according to Microsoft XBOX sales, Latino gamers contributed to 23 percent growth while non-Latino gamers grew a mere 10 percent.</p> <p> </p> <p>That same year video games were the number one game/toy purchased by Latinos – 7.8 million bought video games.</p> <p> </p> <p>“The video game industry should pay more attention to the Latino market but most companies just don’t do it. Many of them have specific teams that take care of Latin American market but forget about the Latinos in the U.S., which have much more buying power than other countries in Latin America,” said Juan Carlos Alanis, founder of TECHnotas.com and LatinoGamers.com.</p> <p> </p> <p>“The response has been excellent. Both projects were born of passion for technology and video games. They were developed as a creative expression that started as a hobby and now reaches more and more people that share my interest,” Alanis said.</p> <p> </p> <p>The Mexican blogger choose to publish its blog in Spanish to reach a more mature Latino audience. “I am talking about the parents of the younger generation. They need information to guide their kids when it comes to choosing video games. There is also an opportunity to serve a community with limited access to video game information in Spanish,” Alanis said.</p> <p> </p> <p>According to the blogger, Latinos are just as fanatics about gaming as any other ethnic group.</p> <p> </p> <p>“One would think that video game companies know this, but it really seems that they have chosen to ignore the reality in our society and about Latino consumption in America,” Alanis said. “A few companies, among them Nintendo and Xbox, have staffers dedicated to our community and users. but most don’t invest in the community.”</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>A lost opportunity for Latino kids?</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Despite the underrepresentation of minorities in video games, Black and Latino children invested the most time in video game consoles.</p> <p> </p> <p>“And they’re really not able to play themselves. For children, the stakes may be slightly higher, many have suggested that games function as crucial gatekeepers to interest in technology, which translates into education and careers in mathematics and science-related fields,” said Dmitri Williams, a social psychologist and assistant professor at the USC Annenberg School for Communication, in an interview with Voxxi.</p> <p> </p> <p>While digital games are still far from replacing teachers in the classroom, technology experts say they are tools that can help do the job more effectively. “Video games may be indicative of a shift in the way we construct narrative. A good argument could even be made that video games are the new mythology, a kind of non-linear interactive storytelling that shapes the conscious attitudes of today’s youth,” argues Jordan Shapiro in the blog <em>MindShift’s Guide to Games and Learning</em>.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Game-based learning and electronic media enable us to blur the boundaries that separate the delivery of content, drilling for practice, and assessment. And in an educational atmosphere where those boundaries dissolve, the textbook becomes obsolete,” Shapiro wrote.</p> <p> </p> <p>Game designer and writer Carlos Hernández also believes in the educational potential behind video games.</p> <p> </p> <p>“I am definitely a huge player and fan of video games for all my life, but I am also an educator. One of the things that interests me is an emerging field called ‘Game Based Learning,’ in which the teacher use the ideas of how video games are made and imports them into a classroom,” said Hernández, an English professor at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC).</p> <p> </p> <p>Hernández is the lead writer of the new video game “Meriwether,” a game that places you in the middle of Lewis and Clark's epic adventure across the North American continent. According to the Cuban-American, the project is a historically-accurate 3D computer role-playing game. “I developed the storyline and the dialogues. There is a lot of role playing and just the dialogue alone is about 100,000 words, the length of a medium-sized novel.”</p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/2gamers.jpg" style="height:352px; width:625px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>Born in Illinois, Hernández e has been a gamer since age 4. Hernández had the chance to experience the birth of video games in the 1970s, first through the iconic Pong (1972), one of the very first arcade games, followed by Atari 2600 (1977).</p> <p> </p> <p>“They were so simple and it is amazing how successful they were . Pong is the system that launched Atari, my generation had the chance see it as an emerging art form. The video game not only changed the way we experience different kinds of stories, but it also changed games forever,” Hernández said.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Can I play with your Nintendo DS for a bit?</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Among the wide range of content for video games, there have been a few that ended up in the side of the politically incorrect.</p> <p> </p> <p>One of them, “English for Everyone” (2007), is a game where a new Mexican friend will borrow your Nintendo DS and then run off south of the border. To recover it you must cross into Mexico and find the ‘thief’."</p> <p> </p> <p>Or the highly controversial “Border Patrol” (2002), which allows you to kill Mexicans trying to cross into the United States.</p> <p> </p> <p>“When we see Latino characters they tend to play very stereotypical roles and they have, for example, very thick accents. But this is not just Latino, this is true for non-white characters,” Hernández said.</p> <p> </p> <p>He added that players usually only have the option of using a single character, usually, a white man. “It is unfortunately the case that the industry is still white and male predominantly. Whenever we make art, we are simplifying life: describing a society or implying a third dimension in a painting. Those simplifications can lead to poor depictions, as happens when video games depend on stereotypes for characterization. But all art runs that danger by its very nature.”</p> <p> </p> <p>All in all he feels optimistic for the growth of minorities in the industry.</p> <p> </p> <p>“We can’t have just one Latino character, what we need is to create a culture in which it is perfectly natural to have all sorts of characters, from all sorts of Latino backgrounds with very different experiences,” Hernandez said.</p> <p> </p> <p>For his part, Alanis said that because the industry has globally grown so much, there is much more opportunity for diversity.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Unfortunately in video games it happens the same as in Hollywood productions. The clichés and misinterpretations are the norm," Alanis said. "I believe that more than an offense, the creator’s mistake is the failure to include diversity in their characters."</p> <p> </p> <p>The blogger added that years ago it was impossible to find characters of different ethnicities or even women as protagonists in video games. "But this is changing gradually, though clearly there is much to be done. Many companies are integrating more diversity into their stories, now is possible to find characters from various groups, also women and characters from the LGBT community."</p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/3gamers.jpg" style="height:320px; width:625px" /></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Women gamers can no longer be ignored</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Another minority that is grossly underrepresented within and outside the industry are women gamers.</p> <p> </p> <p>“I personally experienced the stereotype that women can’t play video games. Usually players in their mid-20s or 30s, they think that they have been playing from day one, and automatically think they are much better at gaming than women are,” said Gabbie Arias, a Mexican-American from California.</p> <p> </p> <p>Among the titles she has played religiously is World of Warcraft — the game where humans, orcs, elves and gnomes fraternize on digital battlefields, usually online or with friends in Google Hangouts.</p> <p> </p> <p>“In the World of Warcraft community a lot of women, right off the bat, don’t say that they are female players (in order) to avoid comments. I usually wait a while and then I let them know I am a woman. I think guys are judgmental because they automatically assume women only play through certain rules or characters,” she said.</p> <p> </p> <p>Arias has played World of Warcraft since 2007, starting with eight hours a day. In recent years she’s dropped down to five hours, twice a week. “But on the weekends don’t even ask me, ‘cause I am on it all day.”</p> <p> </p> <p>For Arias video games are much more than a hobby. A few years ago she was diagnosed with lupus, a disease that affects the immune system, and games have helped her face the challenges of her condition.</p> <p> </p> <p>“It has helped me relax and take things slow. It also allows me to let off steam if I am having a bad day,” Arias said.</p> <p> </p> <p>She numbers among the 48 percent of women “gamers” in the United States, a group that has long fought for greater representation, both in terms of quantity and quality.</p> <p> </p> <p>One of the most active Latino names on the Web is Puerto Rican blogger Maria Vargas, a.k.a. “la chica gamer,” a true follower of everything video games and technology.</p> <p> </p> <p>"First I was going to publish my blog in English. But when I tried to search for other 'gamers' that wrote about video games in Spanish I found absolutely nothing. That made me choose Spanish for my blog," Vargas said.</p> <p> </p> <p>On her page you can find news, reviews, information on comics and movies, in addition to the latest on XBOX, PC, Playstation and Wii U.</p> <p> </p> <p>"The industry is mainly composed of men. In my experience I can count on my fingers the number of women who write about videogames in Spanish and I’d have plenty left over,” Vargas said.</p> <p> </p> <p>“La chica gamer” admitted she is at war with the way women are portrayed in video games, always with skimpy clothes and hard-to-believe body dimensions.</p> <p> </p> <p>"My ideal female character would be just like any male character, someone who can fight, but appropriately dressed. Feisty and smart ... and if she is Latina, even better," Vargas said.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>From <a href="http://aldianews.com/articles/media-technology/latino-gamers-are-winning-and-why-industry-should-care/35280">Al Dia</a> and republished by our content partner New America Media</strong></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/latinos" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">latinos</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/gamers" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">gamers</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/video-games" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">video games</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/gaming-industry" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">gaming industry</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/minorities" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">minorities</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/xbox" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">xbox</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/nintendo" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">nintendo</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Ana Gamboa</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-photographer field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Photographer:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Wlodl (Flickr); Google Images</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Mon, 15 Sep 2014 18:26:08 +0000 tara 5188 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/4292-why-gaming-industry-can-t-afford-ignore-latinos-or-women#comments