Gaming and Libraries

Presented by

Tyler E. Rousseau

The New Face/s of Gamers

Gamers are no longer a stereotype

• Gamers include both genders

• Gamers include all ages

• Gamers include all financial backgrounds

• Gaming is an official a past time

Attitudes of Gamers

Gamers are social creatures

Gamers are civic minded

Gamers are politically diverse

Gamers have many ‘outside’ interests

Gamers can health conscious

Just How Big is Gaming?

In just the United States

• 2007 sales reached $18.8 billion

• In 2007, the top 3 consoles sold over 28 Million in hardware

• The top ten selling games of 2007 totaled over 27 million

• There are approximately 111 million consoles being used in the United States

Why the Gaming Explosion?

• The technology boom

• The rise of the Internet and wi-fi

• Casual Gaming market is born

• It turns out girls like games

• Video games ‘evolved’

• Gaming gets social

• Gamers grew up (but didn’t really)

Where People Game

• PC

• Internet

• Console

• Handhelds

• Cell phones

Types of Gamer- Casual

Do not necessarily own a console

• Play less time-intensive games or play them in small increments

• Like simplicity in games

• Buy less few video games

Types of Gamers- Midcore

Own a console and/or PC

• Play time-intensive games

• Play more than 7 hours a week

• Well read in video games

• Commit to storylines but do not feel the need to always finish a game

Types of Gamer- Hardcore

• Have more than one console and/or PC

• Consider gaming their primary hobby/past time

• Spend upwards of 20+ hours per week playing games

• Play games thoroughly and multiple times

• Will spend what it takes to get game

Currently popular consoles

• Nintendo DS

• Nintendo Wii

• Xbox 360

• Playstation 2

• Playstation 3

• Playstation Portable (PSP)

So What’s the Big Deal?

What does this mean for gaming companies, politically?

What is the ‘can of worms’ and what is spilling out?

Genres of Games• Action/Adventure• Shooter• Fighting• Racing• Sims• Sports• Puzzle • Music• MMOs• Minigames

Myths About GamingVideo games have led to an epidemic in youth violence

• Evidence links violence in video games to aggression

• Children are the primary market for video games• Girls do not play video games• There is no educational purpose to video games• Video games are socially isolating• Most video games are rated Mature

Facts about Gaming

Gaming can be good• Gaming can be bad• Not all games are for kids• There is a limit• Games provide opportunities• Gaming has a large audience• Gaming can keep a person’s mind sharp• Games can be educational

Educational aspects in gaming

• Literacy

• Spatial

• Reasoning

• Logic

• Real-world applications

• Encourages the Scientific Method

How to host a party

• Tournament

• Demo

• Potpourri

• Round Table

• Premiere

Considerations for party/tournament

• Game ratings• “Official Ref”• Time Limit or limiting entrants• Console v. player ratio• Have other activities• Food• Physical space (noise and room)• Sponsors• Prizes/Awards• Displays• Promote!

Picking the right game for a tournament or party

• Multiplayer

• Consider time investment

• Learning curve

• Rating

• Age appropriateness

• Consider the gamer you’re targeting

Making a gaming program for the library

Considerations for Building a Video Game Collection

– Consoles– Funds– Selection– Ratings– Product Safety

Collections… consoles

• Find what your patrons are playing

• Find what potential patrons would want

• Consider longevity of console

• Street Cred vs. reviews

• Just games or consoles as well?

Collections Funds

– Requires a sincere investment– Requires annual funds– Consider ‘jello fund’– Replacement costs

Collections… selection

– Requires knowledgeable selectors– Get your gaming community involved– Needs to current and fresh– What about ILLs

Collections… product safety

– Where are you going to shelf the games– Loaning period– Housing the peripherals– Check in and check out procedures– Fines for overdue and non-returns

Keeping Up with Games

– www.ign.com– www.gamestop.com– Fanboy Blogs– “Official” console sites

– EGM (Electronic Gaming Monthly)– Game Informer Magazine