Mainstreaming and Game Journalism (Paperback)

David B. Nieborg

ISBN 10: 0262546280 / ISBN 13: 9780262546287

Published by MIT Press Ltd, 2023

About this Item

Paperback. Why games are still niche and not mainstream, and how journalism can help them gain cultural credibility.Why games are still niche and not mainstream, and how journalism can help them gain cultural credibility.Mainstreaming and Game Journalism addresses both the history and current practice of game journalism, along with the roles writers and industry play in conveying that the medium is a "mainstream" form of entertainment. Through interviews with reporters, David B. Nieborg and Maxwell Foxman retrace how the game industry and journalists started a subcultural spiral in the 1980s that continues to this day. Digital play became increasingly exclusionary by appealing to niche audiences, relying on hardcore fans and favoring the male gamer stereotype. At the same time, this culture pushed journalists to the margins, leaving them toiling to find freelance gigs and deeply ambivalent about their profession.Mainstreaming and Game Journalism also examines the bumpy process of what we think of as "mainstreaming." The authors argue that it encompasses three overlapping factors. First, for games to become mainstream, they need to become more ubiquitous through broader media coverage. Second, an increase in ludic literacy, or how-to play games, determines whether that greater visibility translates into accessibility. Third, the mainstreaming of games must gain cultural legitimacy. The fact that games are more visible does little if only a few people take them seriously or deem them worthy of attention. Ultimately, Mainstreaming and Game Journalism provocatively questions whether games ever will-or even should-gain widespread cultural acceptance. "A history of games journalism and the impact it's had on developing a dialogue around gaming culture"-- Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: Mainstreaming and Game Journalism (Paperback)
• Publisher: MIT Press Ltd
• Publication Date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0262546280
• ISBN 13: 9780262546287
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Why games are still niche and not mainstream, and how journalism can help them gain cultural credibility.

Mainstreaming and Game Journalism addresses both the history and current practice of game journalism, along with the roles writers and industry play in conveying that the medium is a “mainstream” form of entertainment. Through interviews with reporters, David B. Nieborg and Maxwell Foxman retrace how the game industry and journalists started a subcultural spiral in the 1980s that continues to this day. Digital play became increasingly exclusionary by appealing to niche audiences, relying on hardcore fans and favoring the male gamer stereotype. At the same time, this culture pushed journalists to the margins, leaving them toiling to find freelance gigs and deeply ambivalent about their profession.

Mainstreaming and Game Journalism also examines the bumpy process of what we think of as “mainstreaming.” The authors argue that it encompasses three overlapping factors. First, for games to become mainstream, they need to become more ubiquitous through broader media coverage. Second, an increase in ludic literacy, or how-to play games, determines whether that greater visibility translates into accessibility. Third, the mainstreaming of games must gain cultural legitimacy. The fact that games are more visible does little if only a few people take them seriously or deem them worthy of attention. Ultimately, Mainstreaming and Game Journalism provocatively questions whether games ever will—or even should—gain widespread cultural acceptance.

About the Author

David B. Nieborg is Associate Professor of Media Studies at the University of Toronto. He is the coauthor of Platforms and Cultural Production with Thomas Poell and Brooke Erin Duffy.

Maxwell Foxman is Assistant Professor of Media Studies and Game Studies at the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon.