Video games are generally scorned by older generations as a waste of the player’s time, a bad influence on them, damaging to their health both physical and mental, and a host of other allegations. It is true that a person can allow themselves to be swallowed up in the game, never to return. However, it’s important to also remember that much the same was said 200 years ago about reading novels.

Duke University offers a class called Video Games as Literature, where games are studied in the same way a book would be in an English class. Students one semester were required to buy the game Lord of the Rings and assignments included having their character be at a certain level by the next class. The instructor taught the point that video games allow a story to take on more in-depth experience than a book can allow, in much the same way as a film, but more so.

Video games can allow the story to be viewed from different characters’ perspectives, as the player can choose and switch who they play as. The game offers a much more interactive opportunity, allowing the player to really participate in the plot development of the story. Some games have very linear stories that the player is bound to, where no matter what, they can only go to certain rooms and their actions are limited to whatever will bring out the prescribed ending of the game. Other games, especially the sandbox style of game, allow players to explore the world of the game and while the end result may still be the same they are given much more breadth in the choice of path that takes them there.

Nowadays, games have to be available on a huge array of platforms when they’re released. For example: when the latest addition to a racing game franchise comes out on the market, it has be formatted to be played on PS3, Xbox360, Wii, Nintendo DS, and available for PSP download. That’s a tall order, and it means a lot of additional work, since each system has its own specifics and controls, etc. However, it can be likened to books being translated into other languages.

Just as genres of books exist video games are cataloged in much the same manner. Games fall into categories such as first person, third person, strategy games, shooters, mysteries/quests, simulations, and are labeled by their content just as much as the way in which players are invited into them.

Viewing video games as a form of literature will assuredly be viewed as blasphemy by some, but will ring true with others. At this time in history, electronic interaction has very much become a way of life: Any fact or bit of knowledge is found on the Internet, work of any kind involves a computer, and communication are all dependent on electronic technology. It stands to reason then, that literature and entertainment take on a digital aspect.