Hi, Miss Julie

Does anyone still deny that video games belong in libraries? Well, yes, yes they do, but I hope no librarians do. Video games in the library can promote social interaction, which is an excellent thing to encourage when you consider that libraries can also be seen as community centers.

But have you thought about all of the video games that have storylines (like the one in the article, that I am totally going to encourage my library to buy)? Final Fantasy, Fable 1 & 2, Dragonquest, Super Mario Brothers (old school), all have fairly intricate plots, and honestly, almost all video games at least have CHARACTERS, which, when last I checked, were an important part of stories, along with plot, symbolism, etc.

Stories are stories, whether they are printed on a page, a screen, or brought to life by actors or animators. We need to realize this, and encourage kids (and, frankly, adults), to TALK about these stories. The talking, I think, is the important missing link. TALK to these kids about how the plot of their favorite video game(s) progresses. TALK to them about how the characters act. Are they cocky? Shy? Do they get angry when they are hurt, or do they cry? Even Mortal Kombat has a diverse cast of characters with rich backstories. It’s like the Forsyte Saga with (more) punching and kicking (and if you can get a gamer to read the Forsyte Saga by reader’s advisor-ing the similarities, please let me know so I can laud you to no end).

But you don’t have to take (only) MY word for it. Check out some of the things that come up from a google search of “storytelling and video games”.

What do you think about video games? Do you agree or disagree?