Games Less Engrossing Than Other Media?

The British Board of Film Classification recently released a study describing players' reactions to videogames. The synopsis of their findings makes for fascinating reading. "Gamers are starting to play at a younger age, even as the average age of gamers is increasing. Males and females differ greatly in taste in games, how long they play, and how involved they are in the gameplay. Negative press about a game significantly increases it's sales and many young gamers choose games based on word of mouth. Games provide a sense of achievement, unlike passive mediums like television. Active participation decreases the tendency to 'forget' your experiencing a fantasy vs. non-interactive visual mediums. Gamers find violence in television and movies more upsetting than violence in games. While parents agree that games should be regulated, some still consider the whole genre as 'kid's toys', even games that may include adult content." One of the most controversial findings is the assertion that games are less engrossing than other media, with players having less of an emotional connection to in-game events than the events in a book or movie. The Wonderland blog offers up the full report as well as commentary on their findings.

WoW not engrossing?

[Manos_Of_Fate]

One of the most controversial findings is the assertion that games are less engrossing than other media, with players having less of an emotional connection to in-game events than the events in a book or movie.

Obviously the words of someone who has never been ganked and camped by horde for 45 minutes.

Ever chat with someone who's watched FireFly?

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

Games provide a sense of achievement, unlike passive mediums like television.

Ever chat with someone who's watched FireFly? It seems the more episodes they've watched, the more they feel they've achieved something. (Weird.)

Re:well it's true

[drinkypoo]

Amen to that. I've never dreamed a movie. I have dreamed of Tetris. And it doesn't even have a story. (I didn't dream I was playing tetris, the entire content of the dream was tetris.)

Re:WoW not engrossing?

[vertinox]

I believe the way they're using engrossed implies that people have more empathy for TV and movie characters then they do for video game characters.

You can't tell me that you didn't cry when Sephiroth killed Aeris?

Or when Dogmeat always died in his useless suicidal charge...