Videogames , The Entertainment Industries Saving Grace

June 15, 2009 - PRLog -- It is no big secret that as we approach the second half of 2009, and we try our best to pick our emotionally battered and bruised selves up and continue struggling through this annoyingly long and depressing historic recession, that the facts, figures, and statistics of every business big and small across the globe has been revised, and reviewed , and many a furrowed sweaty brow has been wiped in utter frustration at the results.  Yes, this economic black hole has meant a loss from hundreds to billions of dollars for almost every company on this planet, and yes a full recovery from its effects are slated to be years away, but what of the industries that thrived in this economic downturn?
  One assumes that during bleak and oppressive times like these, people would turn to entertainment, and that the Film, T.V and Music industries usually gain a nice boost from a worldwide depression as people look for an “out”,  a medium through which they can release their tensions and worries and just blot out the nagging negative mindset that often accompanies the world of waning money. And this is true, we do, but it may come as a surprise to find that while the giants at NBC Universal have tightened their belts and cut $500 million in their 09 budget and Viacom’s Paramount pictures has shrunk its film roster from 25 to 20 films this year, one entertainment medium is actually holding its own and  seeing its $50 billion dollar a year industry have a 20% growth. Yes, ladies and gents it’s the all unassuming Video Game.
Video games are quickly becoming the leading contenders in the entertainment world, thanks to family friendly interactive games like the Wii and virtual reality mythological worlds like World of Warcraft and it comes as no big shocker that everyone from film writers to actors, to musicians are looking for a way to jump aboard and ride the waves of this quickly rising entertainment outlet and many new relationships are being born within the industries.
Audition, one of the largest online dance video games, created by the a South Korean company T3 entertainment has started using up and coming music artists to provide the game with exciting and fresh sounds for its plus 300 million fan base.  It has taken unknown music artists with great songs and introduced them to the world of video gamers in  a novel and appealing melding of pop culture bliss.

“ As unknown artists in an industry where the old structure of the big record label signing and release has become all but extinct, music and the independent artist is finding its voice through social networks like Myspace, Facebook and Twitter. Obviously these outlets are become increasingly saturated, so finding unique ways to introduce your music to the public is first and foremost in the steps to success,” says Fiona O’Neill (22), a member of the Irish sister pop group Sirocco, whose music has been licensed by Audition for use in the game. “Through games like Audition, we have the ability to gain millions of fans worldwide and have our music heard. The music industry is in bad need of renovation and I think Video games will have a big part to play in the launching of new music artists in the future.”

Video games wont only play a part in the rebirth of the Music industry but also in Film and T.V. Many big screenwriters are now crossing over and putting their talents to use creating scripts for complex video games, which ironically are in turn eventually being created into blockbuster movies like the recently announced “Halo”.  

In a recent speech at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show, Activision’s Mike Griffith spoke in regards to the ensuing Video Game takeover

“Movies, recorded music and television - these are stagnating or contracting entertainment sectors. Video Games are poised to eclipse all other forms of entertainment in the year ahead”.

So there you have it folks, by the time we’ve seen ourselves out of this recession it seems we’ll all be spending our days skiing down the Wii slopes instead of real slopes, and role playing as we set out on dangerous quests in the World of Warcraft rather than playing catch in the playground and finding our favorite new singers as we dance our way through Audition and every other Dance Dance revolution-like game instead of simply switching on a radio. The face of entertainment is changing and its future looks fun, interactive and full of endless possibilities.