Week 2: Those nasty Importance/Influences of Literature in Video Games: “To Be or Not To Be” (that is the question)

The synthesis of these articles is that each one addresses one form or another on the importance and influences of “Literature in those video games out there. The articles may not have the same opinion of how literature is portrayed in video games, but the concepts of the articles are very clear.

A Video game must have some sort of story in it, thus literature comes into play. It has been said throughout time that you need literature in order to start (create) a video game. They will involve fiction, non-fiction, or even those really great mythical creatures (such as Unicorns, Ogres, etc). You will notice that they can be produced (or in some cases reproduced off of) books, those popular movies, and I have noticed even off of some histories events.

And sometimes those books or movies will be educational and most likely will be fun to read or watch. Also, if it’s a really good one it will leave you hanging at the end, not wanting it to stop. Some will be a series or have a sequel, and you will go crazy waiting for the next one to come out.
And both videos and books have equality in them: with Video games each action helps you to create more of a story line thus creating the need to see what is behind the wall/around the corner. In Books getting you to turn the pages and not wanting to put it down till you finished it (even if it’s late at night).

The great thing about video games, you’re writing the pages in the virtual book because it documents every step you take. You can pick and choice the options, you are in control per say. The games pretty much is never ending, and if you’re not careful you can become addicted to it and forget to eat and sleep. Videos end up becoming your only connection to reality and life in general.


With being able to write those virtual pages/books is sometimes a great thing, because as they said in the CBS article; “Human beings are storytellers; it is part of our genetic makeup. From cave paintings to mind-numbing advertisements and the mental catheter that is television, tales are told”. And it even went on to tell us: “We are compulsive storytellers, spending millions of dollars and many years of our life creating new ways of sharing those narratives. Whole industries have been birthed through the desire to tell stories”.


This is so true, many of a story can be found on a video game. Some are war games, driving games (motorcycles, cars etc). This is why these have similarities to literature, just as Books on Tapes have their connections. Now while there is so much money being spent to create Video games as well as prompt them, it can also be said; millions are being on a yearly base on playing the games, with children as well as adults spending their hard earned money on them.


Now, don’t think that I don’t like video games (from the little bit that I have ever played on them). In my personal opinion they have some educational as well as personal value to them. Educational wise: they help you to increase your math and science skills, just like we saw Steve Wiebe do in Donkey Kong. They help with hand and eye coordination, learning how to think and re-act on your feet per say. It can be interesting to see who wins; you or the machine/game. Plus it can actually help keep children out of trouble. I rather see my teenage son playing video games vs. running the streets.


Now this can also depending on the child or adult, because with some of the games being a bit to the extreme in the violence department and even somewhat gross. They could cause issues/problems later in life. So, I feel that if we monitor the games and our children (as well as the adults around us playing video games)who play them, we should be able to nip any problems in the bud.