It's Time to Get Serious
"Yo" Snyder, Games Editor

"Videogames are just for kids. They're toys, and they don't have any impact on our culture as a whole."

Oh really? Do you know who Mario is? Have you heard of Halo (a game that made over $200 million in just a day) or Grand Theft Auto (a game that seems perpetually shrouded in controversy)? Videogames are the entertainment of choice for millions of Americans of all ages, and it's time that we stopped treating them like irrelevant toys that have no impact on our culture.

It's projected that this year alone, the gaming industry will make around $16-18 billion dollars. That's right; $16-18 billion. Even with the billion-dollar summer Hollywood had this year, they'll be hard pressed to match that number. The median age for today's gamer is between 18-34 years of age. Obviously these gamers aren't children. In fact, they're mostly in that highly sought-after demographic of advertisers all over the world-early adopters of technology with disposable income.

So what exactly is it about gaming that's generating so much money and so much interest in today's society?

There are many factors contributing to the popularity of computer games today. Like movies, many games tell immersive and epic stories. But unlike the movies, videogames (especially with today's technology) offer a truly interactive experience.

Games like Bioshock excel at telling engrossing stories that play out like a novel you just can't put down; you must see what happens next. Games like Metroid Prime 3 offer an almost tactile interface, allowing gamers to interact with fantastical worlds in ways that could never be achieved on film. There are themes and morals and lessons and concepts and philosophies being explored in videogames just like they are in movies-which is why it only makes sense for Hollywood Jesus to extend it's coverage to gaming.

Starting September 25^th, I and the rest of the HJ Playbox crew will do our best to bring the best gaming coverage we can.

It's important because the gaming world is so radically different from the world of movies and DVDs that parents or people who are new to the gaming world may want some guidance. It's important because games are more than just buying a ticket; they're investments of time and money, and casual and hard-core gamers alike want to make sure they make wise decisions in how they spend their money.

It's our desire that with God's grace and guidance we'll be able to provide the discernment, insight, and objective critique needed to help people make smart choices about the gaming world. So join us in this new endeavor as we tackle one of the biggest forms of entertainment in the world today.

It's going to be an adventure, and you get to be a part of it. Games aren't just toys for kids anymore; they're shaping our world. It's time to pay attention to what exactly they're shaping it into.

Coming September 25:
Halo 3, a week of gaming sessions blogged Live!

Coming October 4-7:
The World Cyber Games Championships, coverage blogged Live!