Video game news covers all the latest developments in the world of video gaming, from console and PC titles, as well as reviews and features.
Some editorial newsgames, such as The Uber Game and Spent, aim to help players empathize with certain situations; however, their development processes can be time-consuming and present challenges to newsrooms whose focus lies with deadlines.
The Financial Times’ The Uber Game
The Financial Times’ Uber Game gives players an experience of what it would be like to work as full-time drivers for ride-sharing company Uber. Based on real reporting involving interviews with drivers in San Francisco, this simulation offers players an immersive journey.
Players must compete to chase surge fares, fulfill bonus incentives and build relationships with customers in order to generate enough funds to cover mortgage and family support payments. Long hours, high turnover rates and the potential risk of receiving low ratings by passengers also present obstacles for success in this endeavor.
This game draws upon real Uber drivers’ experiences to show how the company uses psychological tricks to induce drivers to work longer and harder – similar to social gaming companies such as Zynga. Although newsgames may not yet be considered established mediums in most newsrooms, they have the power to reach new audiences while clarifying complicated systems.
Non-linear narratives
As nonlinear books can make for easier reading, video games that employ nonlinear narratives allow players more player agency – enabling them to experience the story from various perspectives without constantly having to go back over earlier portions of it.
Nonlinear narratives can increase tension, create an intriguing mystery that the audience wants to uncover and give insight into different facets of character development. Pulp Fiction and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Death Trilogy consisting of Amores Perros, 21 Grams and Babel are great examples of such movies.
TV shows such as Bandersnatch on Netflix and Penny Dreadful on Showtime both employ nonlinear narratives to explore significant points in characters’ histories. Other shows like Arrow on The CW frequently switch up its stories – typically having Oliver Queen stranded on an island first and later becoming a vigilante five years later.
Bringing new audiences to existing publications
There are countless video game sites offering news, reviews, and previews. Some specialize in specific genres while others cover a wide variety of titles. These websites can keep you abreast of what’s new in gaming while offering tips to improve your own performance.
Destructoid and Game Informer are two of the more well-known video game sites, but they may be too overwhelming for some visitors. To have an easier gaming experience, consider visiting one that specializes in just one genre of games instead.
One way of staying up-to-date on game news is with newsgames. These interactive and engaging experiences offer more accessible explanations than traditional articles can. While building one may be challenging, using tools and techniques such as Twine can make this task simpler; starting an editorial newsgame that explores nonlinear narratives or complex systems can be achieved much more quickly and efficiently using this approach.
Explaining complicated systems
The Uber Game is an example of an engaging newsgame that effectively illustrates a complex system and encourages players to relate. While games cannot replace real life experience, they may still be confusing for those unfamiliar with its subject matter and require several rounds of iterations before being ready for publication–an additional hurdle for journalists on tight deadlines.
The Financial Times has leveraged Uber Game to reach new audiences by partnering with gaming websites such as Kotaku UK and Next Gen Personal Finance. This strategy has allowed them to expand their readership base while reaching more readers for their articles.
Access video game news by visiting independent websites not affiliated with gaming studios or publishers. Such websites will often disclose any biases they hold, making reading reviews more reliable. YouTube channels also frequently host user-created reviews and guides dedicated to video game reviews.