Compare it to their hobby. I like that line "It's just an interactive movie" I actually made a really long post on my blog a while back about this.
Below is what you could call the meet of the article (it's actually pretty long).
Story, games have just as much background story as movies or books do, and it's not uncommon for the visual aspect of a setting to help the story. Even more than the visual aspect that movies share but the fact that you are the one seeing the sky or walking through the field as opposed to watching the main character do the same or some letters on a page or a vague view aimed at some sickeningly perfect actor can't muster. Nothing is better than walking over a hill in a first person view to see some far of planet appear on the other side.
Many people say that videogames are a waste of time, that you could be out there do the same thing. For the most part that's untrue. Most games are made for escapism, for getting out of your boring life and into the shoes (or combat boots) of a marine, or a knight, or a famous explorer on an adventure so save the damsel. Or a plumber with a really cool mustache. True if we really wanted we could join the marines, but some people aren't fit for the military. Sure we could grow that cool mustache and go to save the damsel, but how many princesses get locked in a castle now-a-days? Videogames are for escapism, not to replace life. Many of us "geeks" even balance good grades, friendships and other hobbies with having a fun virtual life. It's just a hobby. You probably spend just as much time on your as we do on ours.
Pretty much that in a nut shell. If you want make them read that. If you want somewhere somehow I'm sure there's a game they'll like. Girls I know like The New Mario Brothers, and they like. Something simple.
People like to carry this ill informed and judgmental "video games rot your brain" mentality after watching two seconds of someone playing Halo 3 online. What the they don't see is the story, the setting, the characters all things that are presented in the greatest movies and books. (I'm not saying Halo has any good example of these as it is and always will be an awful game) What they do see is the immature ranting of frat boys who couldn't care less about any of that. Take a true gamer and he (or she as I have recently been introduced to female gamers) will pay attention to the cut scenes, the settings and the characters.
Take examples such as Mass Effect 1 and 2, and Fallout 3 (too name few) and you will see that story and setting are driving factors not just blood and gore. If you were to pay attention for more than 30 seconds you would see the similarities to the greatest books and movies. But there's more. In movies you watch what the director wants you to watch. You stare idly at a screen or page with no interaction and every time you reread or rewatch that movie it will be exactly the same. Only in a videogame do you get the ability to change a single action to change the story, or to make a single mistake that will follow you for the rest of game.
Now I'm not saying books and movies are inferior, but I want to show you the advances in technology, and what the future of entertainment will be like. Sure 100 years ago people though similar about the "moving pictures" but a lot of change happened in the last 100 years. Technology, human rights, environmental, all these views changed rapidly and I'm hoping to do the same with videogames.
Many people say that books are better for you. How? They're educational? Not all books. Many are simply for entertainment, just as video games are. Many books have no educational value at all hidden with in it's pages. The same can be said about videogames. They're for entertainment, but many are also educational. A text book is easily comparable to any of the many games that line Staples shelves that are used for education.
Story, games have just as much background story as movies or books do, and it's not uncommon for the visual aspect of a setting to help the story. Even more than the visual aspect that movies share but the fact that you are the one seeing the sky or walking through the field as opposed to watching the main character do the same or some letters on a page or a vague view aimed at some sickeningly perfect actor can't muster. Nothing is better than walking over a hill in a first person view to see some far of planet appear on the other side.
Many people say that videogames are a waste of time, that you could be out there do the same thing. For the most part that's untrue. Most games are made for escapism, for getting out of your boring life and into the shoes (or combat boots) of a marine, or a knight, or a famous explorer on an adventure so save the damsel. Or a plumber with a really cool mustache. True if we really wanted we could join the marines, but some people aren't fit for the military. Sure we could grow that cool mustache and go to save the damsel, but how many princesses get locked in a castle now-a-days? Videogames are for escapism, not to replace life. Many of us "geeks" even balance good grades, friendships and other hobbies with having a fun virtual life. It's just a hobby. You probably spend just as much time on your as we do on ours.
So before you get all self righteous with you insults and decrees, pay attention, do your research, and pick up a controller.
Take examples such as Mass Effect 1 and 2, and Fallout 3 (too name few) and you will see that story and setting are driving factors not just blood and gore. If you were to pay attention for more than 30 seconds you would see the similarities to the greatest books and movies. But there's more. In movies you watch what the director wants you to watch. You stare idly at a screen or page with no interaction and every time you reread or rewatch that movie it will be exactly the same. Only in a videogame do you get the ability to change a single action to change the story, or to make a single mistake that will follow you for the rest of game.
Now I'm not saying books and movies are inferior, but I want to show you the advances in technology, and what the future of entertainment will be like. Sure 100 years ago people though similar about the "moving pictures" but a lot of change happened in the last 100 years. Technology, human rights, environmental, all these views changed rapidly and I'm hoping to do the same with videogames.
Many people say that books are better for you. How? They're educational? Not all books. Many are simply for entertainment, just as video games are. Many books have no educational value at all hidden with in it's pages. The same can be said about videogames. They're for entertainment, but many are also educational. A text book is easily comparable to any of the many games that line Staples shelves that are used for education.
Story, games have just as much background story as movies or books do, and it's not uncommon for the visual aspect of a setting to help the story. Even more than the visual aspect that movies share but the fact that you are the one seeing the sky or walking through the field as opposed to watching the main character do the same or some letters on a page or a vague view aimed at some sickeningly perfect actor can't muster. Nothing is better than walking over a hill in a first person view to see some far of planet appear on the other side.
Many people say that videogames are a waste of time, that you could be out there do the same thing. For the most part that's untrue. Most games are made for escapism, for getting out of your boring life and into the shoes (or combat boots) of a marine, or a knight, or a famous explorer on an adventure so save the damsel. Or a plumber with a really cool mustache. True if we really wanted we could join the marines, but some people aren't fit for the military. Sure we could grow that cool mustache and go to save the damsel, but how many princesses get locked in a castle now-a-days? Videogames are for escapism, not to replace life. Many of us "geeks" even balance good grades, friendships and other hobbies with having a fun virtual life. It's just a hobby. You probably spend just as much time on your as we do on ours.
So before you get all self righteous with you insults and decrees, pay attention, do your research, and pick up a controller.
Below is what you could call the meet of the article (it's actually pretty long).
Story, games have just as much background story as movies or books do, and it's not uncommon for the visual aspect of a setting to help the story. Even more than the visual aspect that movies share but the fact that you are the one seeing the sky or walking through the field as opposed to watching the main character do the same or some letters on a page or a vague view aimed at some sickeningly perfect actor can't muster. Nothing is better than walking over a hill in a first person view to see some far of planet appear on the other side.
Many people say that videogames are a waste of time, that you could be out there do the same thing. For the most part that's untrue. Most games are made for escapism, for getting out of your boring life and into the shoes (or combat boots) of a marine, or a knight, or a famous explorer on an adventure so save the damsel. Or a plumber with a really cool mustache. True if we really wanted we could join the marines, but some people aren't fit for the military. Sure we could grow that cool mustache and go to save the damsel, but how many princesses get locked in a castle now-a-days? Videogames are for escapism, not to replace life. Many of us "geeks" even balance good grades, friendships and other hobbies with having a fun virtual life. It's just a hobby. You probably spend just as much time on your as we do on ours.
Pretty much that in a nut shell. If you want make them read that. If you want somewhere somehow I'm sure there's a game they'll like. Girls I know like The New Mario Brothers, and they like. Something simple.
