GameCulture Journal Goes Live!

Hey everyone, look at this! The inaugural edition of a new journal devoted entirely to the scholarly study of video games has just been published. How cool is that?

In the words of the editors, Game Culture Journal, is:

"...a periodical that examines the practices, institutions, history, and issues facing video games and video game players."

"Seeking to bridge the gap between popular journalism and arcane academic jargon, GameCulture Journal forges a critical edge while holding nothing above scrutiny."

"Video games have a solidified place in the cultural sphere, yet are still considered little better than children's toys by many - above and beyond all else, GameCulture Journal seeks to bring respect and dignity to games and gaming through serious discussion and scholarship."

Now, I'm an old guy from the Atari 2600 generation, but I'm tantalized by the possibilities this new journal offers. GameCulture Journal is a most welcome addition to the global conversation about video games, and it fills a void. I mean, it would be foolish to deny that video games are a new, burgeoning art form, and it's a terrific notion to build an arena where a critical, scholarly discussion of them is forged. What I hope to see here is debate not just about the games; but of the very vocabulary of game criticism. What are the terms we should understand while reviewing video games? What are the aesthetic criteria for judging video games?

I suspect terrific answers will be forthcoming soon. I already know I can vouch for the editors, Kevin Flanagan and Bobby Schweizer. They're two of the finest young writers, game enthusiasts (and people...) I've had the good fortune to meet in my career. I've collaborated with both of them before on a variety of projects, and understand that they are 100% committed to the journal's mission statement. With these two at the helm, great destinations are ahead.

Already, the first issue includes a book review, a statement from the editors and articles with such titles as "On Cultivating an Audiophilic Streak" and "Combat & Urban Decay: Class, Ideology, and the Legacy of the Beat 'Em Up."

So check out GameCulture Journal. And look for an article by an old Atari-guy down the road...