Insomniac Boss: Gaming Is A Reflection Of Society Today

Fuse

There's no doubt that video games have changed over the years. They've changed drastically. But so has a lot of other things, and one long-time executive says the gaming industry is starting to reflect societal changes as well.

In speaking to VentureBeat, Insomniac CEO Ted Price was asked if he "looks at the industry with dismay right now." Price was adamant in his response, saying quite simply that our world has changed:

"The industry reflects society right now. Society is evolving extremely fast in terms of how it uses technology. Our industry is experiencing that change as well. We’ve been very lucky over the last almost two decades to have a stable, predictable industry. But now we’re in a different world. That change has come upon us and everyone else in the world in the last five years. So it’s not just us. It’s the internet. It’s sales. It’s traditional media. Everything and everybody is feeling the effects of this accelerated change in our world."

You may have caught the implication that the gaming industry isn't as "stable" or "predictable" as it was years ago, and that's probably true. In those days, things were much more straightforward as it was mostly a niche hobby and only the avid and ardent frequently partook. Now, it has become a mainstream industry that must cater to all types of people, and that's a very different scenario. I just hope gaming doesn't go and get all political...Hollywood has been preaching for a while now, and that's one of the biggest reasons I can't watch new movies. Really can't handle the thinly veiled lecturing. Societal and philosophical geniuses, they are not.

By the way, Insomniac's new title, the multiplayer-oriented third-person shooter Fuse, is slated to arrive in March.

Tags: video games, gaming, gaming culture, gamers

12/12/2012 11:30:20 AM Ben Dutka

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