It’s been 38 years since Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney created Computer Space, the first video game to see some measure of commercial success. Though it may seem that college campuses would be a stronghold for gaming, the appeal of video games has broadened considerably in the last few years.

According to the Entertainment Software Association, the gaming population is made up of almost twice as many women over the age of 18 as it is of men under the age of 18 (33% vs. 18%). Nintendo brought gaming back to the mainstream audience with the ease of its control system, while Sony and Microsoft are poised to iterate on this approach. Games are more socially acceptable than ever before, and are making appearances at company parties, team building events, and as customer incentives.

Although independent games have always existed, there has been a renaissance of sorts on the iPhone, Xbox LIVE, and PlayStation Network. Smaller games, sometimes created by teams of 2-3 people, are finding an audience of hundreds of thousands. There are numerous stories about a few friends financing a game on their credit cards, only to hit the market and make enough money to start a small development company.

While there have only been a couple of hubs for game development in the past, these new venues make it easy for anyone to get into the market. With the talent and education coming out of the universities in our area, as well as the success of the NDSU Research and Technology Park, it may not be long before a successful game is created in the FM area.

While it may seem obvious to use something like Rock Band, Wii Sports, or Halo, your options are not limited to that short list. To help you get started, here are 5 things to remember when adding video games to your next company event or team building exercise.

1. Use a multiplayer game that can be learned quickly.
2. Make sure people can easily jump into and out of the game repeatedly.
3. Find a way to swap people around regularly. This is especially important when using a competitive rather than cooperative game.
4. Have a screen large enough to allow those that aren’t playing to watch. This lets people participate by watching, commenting or cheering.
5. Be willing to set an example by hopping in and having fun. Don’t take it too seriously. After all, it’s only a game.

Joel Gifford is a contract employee at Microsoft, a Chamber member since 1981.

1 Comment »

1. 

   And rule #1, just have fun!!

   Oh and…uh hum…don’t be afraid to take on your significant other because like the author said, it is just a game.

   Comment by AO — October 8, 2009 @ 8:49 am

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