Comments on: The MLA ’08 Librarian Convention http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2008/11/25/the-mla-08-librarian-convention/ Games from a Parental Perspective Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:55:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Fred http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2008/11/25/the-mla-08-librarian-convention/comment-page-1/#comment-15697 Fred Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:23:01 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/?p=1553#comment-15697 I think the main problem, which in a way Simon alluded to, is lack of any "universal" playback standard in games. Print media caries its own viewing standard. Audio and video standards evolved over time, but almost always had one "primary" standard at a time (tape, CD, DVD, etc.). Wii may well be the closest thing we gamers have right now, in terms of installed base. PS2 actually might have Wii beat still -- I haven't really looked at those numbers lately. The main point is that our "media" is balkanized between multiple standards, both in hardware and OS, making it much harder for institutions like library to pick the standard that best serves their public. Then again, being open to donations of all media types wouldn't hurt them much. Then maybe we can get librarians in the fight against DRM nonsense too... I think the main problem, which in a way Simon alluded to, is lack of any “universal” playback standard in games. Print media caries its own viewing standard. Audio and video standards evolved over time, but almost always had one “primary” standard at a time (tape, CD, DVD, etc.). Wii may well be the closest thing we gamers have right now, in terms of installed base. PS2 actually might have Wii beat still — I haven’t really looked at those numbers lately. The main point is that our “media” is balkanized between multiple standards, both in hardware and OS, making it much harder for institutions like library to pick the standard that best serves their public. Then again, being open to donations of all media types wouldn’t hurt them much. Then maybe we can get librarians in the fight against DRM nonsense too…

]]> By: Simon Windmill http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2008/11/25/the-mla-08-librarian-convention/comment-page-1/#comment-15614 Simon Windmill Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:25:54 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/?p=1553#comment-15614 Libraries are definitely infected by Wii mania. The Iowa City library has been holding game nights for teens for the past couple of months, and as of December will be loaning out Wii games (which means I might actually use my Wii more, hah!) My only concern - and it's not really a concern, more curiosity - is that Wii is being regarded as some magically different gaming option, superior somehow to more traditional video games. I think this does a disservice to video games, as while I certainly see the benefits of Nintendo's approach, I would like the people who have been (re)awakened to the joy of videogames to know that Wii just builds on traditional gaming. Libraries are definitely infected by Wii mania. The Iowa City library has been holding game nights for teens for the past couple of months, and as of December will be loaning out Wii games (which means I might actually use my Wii more, hah!)

My only concern – and it’s not really a concern, more curiosity – is that Wii is being regarded as some magically different gaming option, superior somehow to more traditional video games. I think this does a disservice to video games, as while I certainly see the benefits of Nintendo’s approach, I would like the people who have been (re)awakened to the joy of videogames to know that Wii just builds on traditional gaming.

]]> By: Momgamer http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2008/11/25/the-mla-08-librarian-convention/comment-page-1/#comment-15612 Momgamer Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:34:49 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/?p=1553#comment-15612 Awesome! It's great to hear that people are starting to listen. Awesome! It’s great to hear that people are starting to listen.

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