What will Video Gaming Stores look like in the future?

As Christmas approaches, and the video gaming industry find themselves competing once again with toys, gadgets, books and other items to grab the Xmas shoppers attention. It's becoming more apparent, that the companies of these video games have become increasingly aware of this and are producing new merchandise as a means to generate additional revenue with some it's more popular games. It's makes perfect sense, as with any other major form of entertainment, that popular video games lend themselves perfectly to merchandising. If you know where to look, you can now find soundtracks, figurines, other toys, posters, tee shirts & apparel, trading card games and more. All based on some of the biggest names in video games.

Although games like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft have brought the video gaming industry closer to being recognized as a mainstream entertainment medium, we still have a ways to go before these products, especially clothing, hats, beanies and other accessories not only appeal to established fans, but catch the eye of potential ones as well. As in the case of Call of Duty Black Ops (which sold 8.4 million copies in one month and became the 7th best selling game of all time) companies can plan release of these products to support the traditional promotions or to just keep the brand alive while consumers wait in anticipation for the next iteration of their favorite game. 

For the video game store, added retail presence of these products throughout the store and mixed in with the gaming section will provide for impulse buying and increased sales at the checkout register. As more and more  apparel and accessories companies enter this market, it's sure to change the way video stores merchandise their stores in the future.

The changing perception of Video Gamers.....

Video games have been a passion of mine for about twelve years, and really most males in the enviable 18-45 demographic have at least some experience with Mario and Pacman if not Halo and Grand Theft Auto. Video game culture is a staple of American life; most people have spent at least a night or two pounding buttons and staring at a computer or television screen, just trying to get to that next level without losing a life.However, the American perception of video games is that the entertainment value is pretty much just for children and the irresponsible people who spend their days on couches, using their stomachs as tables for bags of Cheetohs.

Eventually, the common logic dictates, you grow out of video games and into something else, something more dignified. Sports, politics, whatever floats your boat; just get off the damn Playstation and into life.However, this is rapidly becoming an inaccurate portrayal of gamers and gaming life; with developers like Microsoft developing games like Halo specifically for older crowds. The games are more interactive and immersive than television, and are often far beyond the skill level of children. Some games are even being developed for older gamers, and the range in difficulty is widening to make way for both more hardcore and more casual gamers.

But the lawmakers are sticking with the old perceptions, though. Politicians like Hillary Clinton seem to think that all games are meant for children, and therefore any violent or adult themed video game is completely inappropriate and should face censorship. TV shows frequently portray gamers as uneducated, immature, or brain dead.It doesn't look like the perceptions are going to be fading anytime soon, and that's a shame. Any new format of media is going to face rejection from an older crowd, but for video games, it seems like the reaction is especially harsh, with ridicule from the mainstream and censorship from politicians.

Since video games became were available to public domain it has been a debate whether it is useful or useful. While there are arguments against video games, there are also many advantages of playing video games. Video games are an effective learning tool because of its engagement factor. The engagement factors of the video games have also been useful as rehabilitation for treatment. Video games have now become online with the evolution of internet and a new avenue in socialization has been created as a result of this process. Video games are still evolving and with the advent of more new technology there may be more positive benefits of video games. Video game industry is still a young one and it will take some time for everyone to come to this view.

But there's a light at the end of the tunnel; as more and more games catch on with the mainstream, whether they're the casual gamer fare of Nintendo's Wii or the more hardcore Xbox 360 games or the dazzling technically powerful games of the Playstation 3, they're going to draw more people in, and eventually the gamers will outnumber the haters.