What is New Media?

The first thing I think of when I hear the term “new media” is blogs, podcasts and videogames. Blogs are basically writing for the individual it takes one of the earliest forms of communication and makes it accessible and free for everyone giving the individual a voice. Podcasts are another interesting business model-delivering video for free over the internet and again allowing individuals to produce content at an affordable price.

But I want to take the time to focus on videogames in particular because I feel videogames are the only medium which is truly new and not just an evolution or extension of older mediums. Understandably there is a lot of controversy surrounding the medium with cynics denouncing it as an unacceptable artform. Much of the stereotypes surrounding videogames comes from the name itself. Game implys that the medium is simply a distraction and not real art, and certainly not something to be taken seriously. The industry also suffers from, at times, not taking itself seriously; but the industry is changing, and evolving. Recent games are demonstrating that the industry is finally showing a willing to change. Games such as Bioshock, Mass Effect and the future release Fable 2, demonstrate new directions for the industry. Bioshock allows the user to make moral choices throughout the game that actually impact the story and events occurring. This new ability, to make meaningful decisions throughout the story telling process, is something that no other medium can claim. Mass Effect employs a similar strategy allowing the player to make desicions that impact the pace and progression of the story in a meaningful way. Instead of having scripted, linear storytelling games are beginning to have stories that can branch in a multitude of directions depending on what moral decisions you make as the gamer. The concept that Fable 2 employs is more ambitious; They hope to have gamers develop realistic relationships with everyone from family, villagers and even your pet dog. And further, this complex interaction will have a meaningful impact on the game.

While I will be the first to argue that the stories in videogames have a tendancy to be on the side of shallow; I also see the full potential of videogames as an interactive medium that could eventually show self expression for not only the creators of the game but also for the players themselves.