Downloadable episodic games
New online games compete for the most cutting edge, innovative content to keep players
engaged over time. With the ease of digital distribution, more game publishers are looking to sell
games in a sequence of episodes. Players either pay a single subscription fee or pay-per-episode
in order to download new “chapters” containing content, weapons, missions, and plot lines. While
this can make games more fun, it also poses new challenges for rating games and makes it
difficult to monitor content.
 Video games anytime, anywhere.
In addition to video game specific handheld
devices, games are increasingly accessible on
everything from cell phones to iPods. There are
over 60,000 games available in Apple’s “App”
store. As games go online, kids will be able to play
from any Internet ready device. Mobile
entertainment is convenient for fun on the go, but
it makes monitoring game play much more difficult
for parents and schools.
Online social gaming
Most industry experts agree that MMOs will
continue to expand beyond the traditional fantasy-adventure games that dominate the market
today. The lines between games and online social networking will continue to blur. One industry
leader says “Five years from now a social networking site without a 3D universe will look like a
dinosaur.” Creating avatars, interacting with friends, and otherwise living a virtual life will be part
and parcel of the video game experience. This also means that the same online predator and
cyberbullying issues associated with sites like MySpace.com are coming to video games near you.
User driven content
It used to be that you needed a publisher to produce video games accessible to a wider audience.
Today, new technologies make it easier for amateurs to design games and post them online for
others to experience. The big game companies like Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony are jumping on
the bandwagon quickly, sponsoring “community game” sites that encourage at-home game
creation and creative content sharing. This is a great way for kids interested in computer graphics,
storytelling and programming to practice their skills and have fun. It also poses new challenges for
the rating system and parents trying to monitor content.
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