Gaming is a Lifestyle

Playing video games used to be a hobby, and for many people it still is just that. However, for many other people today gaming is an entire lifestyle. It's a way of spending your time, it's a way of socializing with other people both in person and over the Internet, and it's a large and expensive habit. It's even a mindset and an area of expertise. With all of the ways that gaming influences our lives, it's emerging as more than just the hobby of playing games, but as a lifestyle for an entire generation.

Video games have expanded into the greater, mainstream society over the past decade and are continuing to do so even more. One reason for this is the technological advancements that have been made. Better graphics, enhanced game play, superior stories and more have all brought in more people to the fold.

Even more than that has been the popularity of the Nintendo Wii. With the Wii, people don't need to play video games in the classic sense of mashing up buttons. Now people of all generations can make natural movements and have them captured into video game play, allowing access for tons more people who are comfortable with this kind of interaction.
Of course, the Wii exercise games such as Wii Fit have also become popular as well, forever abolishing the stereotype of the video game couch potato. The popularity of the Wii seems to be the wave of the future, as both Microsoft and Sony are producing their own motion capture controllers to be deployed.



While the Wii and other factors have contributed to the meteoric rise of video games over the last few years, for the hardcore gamers and the younger generation, the power and reach of video games continues to expand. All of the best games now have multiplayer capabilities over the Internet. That means that whenever you want to play, you'll always have an opponent. Whether it's your buddy across town or it's a person you've never met half the world away, you can share a video game and an experience. Additionally, the computer hosted MMORPGs are addictive and continue to spread as more people engage in them regularly.

The graphics and game play have kicked up to a phenomenal degree. The top video games now aren't just games; they're produced movies that are playable, with in depth and engaging stories, characters and cinematography. They have permanent playability, because there are entire worlds to explore, things to unlock, missions to accomplish and records to beat.

The systems themselves do more than just operate games. They serve as complete home entertainment centers, playing movies and music, connecting people to the Internet and more.

Video game tournaments have become much more popular, as have the major tradeshows, both of which influence the entire realm of the gaming lifestyle. Tournaments bring in the best players from all over the world to compete for huge cash prizes. Players literally dedicate their lives to perfecting their skills at a single game; it's their craft, their job and their passion. At the tradeshows all of the major developers tease the public with what's in the works, reveal their latest developments and draw in a media and fan swarm that's on a massive scale.

The G4 network has also added to the gaming lifestyle. Not only does it cover things like E3 and major tournaments, but it has entire lineups filled up with shows dedicated to gaming. Review and preview shows, walkthrough shows, technology shows and more.
With a television station dedicated to video gaming, tradeshows and tournaments on huge scales, powerful gaming systems which also serve as home entertainment hubs and games which are now appealing to a broader demographic, the gaming lifestyle is spreading across the world and will only continue to grow.

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