What Video Games And Blogs Have In Common?
My son loves video games and constantly asks me to go to nearest “Best Buy” where he can play with different video game consoles, check out latest offerings, see what is available. Being a former avid gamer I understand him too well and as you can imagine we drive to the store quite often.
Now is the good time to ask the question: What video games and blogs have in common? Actually quite a lot but perhaps not on the level one might think and on first look it might escape you but when analyzed closely this similarity means more future readers and more opportunities.
Visual Impact
Video games have come a long way from the old blocky looking characters I was introduced to in original Nintendo. What we see on screens produced by current generation of consoles so closely resembles cinematic sequences it makes one feel to be a part of creating an animated move and not just playing the game.
Blogs supported by latest AJAX technology and widgets are a giant leap forward from the days of static websites and clunky frames, so common in past. Even a complete technical novice can create almost effortlessly a visually stunning web presence using one of the available free themes using current blogs technology.
Audience Reach
Video games are not for kids anymore. If fact you can see just as often people in their midlife purchasing video games and discussing latest play strategy as you can see a kindergartners. Generation raised on Atari and Nintendo is not letting their interests go and continue to engage in their favorite free time activity while new generations pick up on video games just as willingly.
Blogs have come a long way and developed from a tool utilized by techno crowd into a main stream. People of all walks of life start to share their personal thoughts, interests and ideas on line. Nothing provides them with a better platform then a blog. Blog is less formal, easy to use and in basic format doesn’t require much technical knowledge. And lets not forget about mainstream businesses picking up blogging as a form of direct communication with their customers and starting conversation that helps them survive the cutthroat market. There are hundreds of new blogs created on daily bases and while only few of them survive through the first year – this situation closely resembles what we see with video games, as their life span is mostly short.
Interactivity And Engagement
I still remember the days when my thumbs were hurting from hours spent seating idly and pushing a few buttons on controller. Looks like those days are going into past, as I see more and more games been developed that require direct interaction from player and provide level of engagement we could never dream of before. Just today I observed quite a few kids deeply engaged into “Guitar Heroes” video game that requires more interaction than any “Mario Brothers” ever did. And let’s not forget about the WII console. Once again Nintendo broke all the rules and have created a revolution in video gaming and redefined what interaction means.
How do blogs stand up to this challenge? A front line of Web 2.0 generation, blogs spruced up with widgets, polls, comment system and ability to vote and contribute to content go beyond anything available via standard static pages. But perhaps what is even more important is that blogs make all these options available to widest range of people. People who have ideas simply need to have a desire and a few minutes of their time to implement all these options. Blogs ARE the Web Interaction. It is individual thoughts and ideas commented on by people, argued by people, shared by people and spread by people.
Options And Choice
Games these days available for your PC, on consoles from Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo and multiple hand held platforms if you consider all the games on cell phones and portable devices.
Blogs also come in multiple forms and shapes. For the people looking to simply share ideas wordpress.com and blogger.com are just couple of the most popular options but if you decide to really bank it and make the blog your own – your options expand immensely. Obviously I prefer the WordPress and preach its benefits but that is based on personal opinion. What are even better self-hosted options don’t have to be difficult. Basic WordPress available as 3 clicks install on many hosts and if you really want to make your WordPress a Web 2.0 platform – have a look at my Web 2.0 Wealth Unleashed package.
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About The Blog Author
Alex Sysoef is an IT Consultant, Internet Marketer and ProBlogger who shares his passion and knowledge of WordPress, SEO, Social Media and traffic strategies on his blog WordPress Howto Spotter. Connect on Twitter or Facebook
wow, people are thinking they have something in common. i couldn’t see how, but that is the view of who reads it or the poster.
One thing they don’t have in common, no shooting virtual people when blogging
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alanfangs last blog post..Online Video Game Rental Comparison Chart
Very good points. Perhaps there might be a way to make blogging accessible over the Xbox 360?
Im an usually visitor of this website, and found quite interesting how its related to one of my games sites. Yeah blogging and games have things in common, the poster has worked on a positive insight, I have had a good laugh after reading this, because I have always been afraid of writing a blog, but the interaction thing is true, there are so many ways to interact with the people that blogging turns on a game.
.-= michael´s last blog ..Bleach Training 2 – RPG =-.
Wow. This brought me back to the days of playing Nintendo and playing double dribble and now playing NBA Live on Xbox. It has evolved a lot just like blogging. I also play online games on Facebook which is relatively new. I really am addicted to playing the game. Have you seen this website about mafia wars strategy, it is where I got some of my strategy tips for the game.
.-= Steve Lareney´s last blog ..Best Mafia War Strategy – How I Gained More Money, Property and Mafia Members =-.
Nice article, it's always entertaining to see two different worlds compared for their similarities; I wouldn't have picked blogging and video games to be so closely related, but you've convinced me (at least a little)!
I really like this article, especially when you talk about audience reach and visual impact. World of Warcraft can be dangerously addicting. If you are serious into it then you could try using a WoW macro guide for PvP.
Yeah they should so make the video game systems around on the XBOX to get live blogs from them. That will be the next step in gaming.
I stumbled upon this post and it is quite an interesting thought. I still remember playing my 8 bits game and creating my pages using yahoo geo cities. Indeed the technology has improved multi folds since then. From micro blogging to playing 3d games on a hand held device. Your post made me thinking what next with technology developing everyday.