"It has been one year since the "Great Video Game Experiment" was started at the public library where I work. And in those twelve months I'd have to say it has gone as good as anyone could have hoped. In the end, the numbers don't lie, and a success is all this experiment can be called."
That's the opening paragraph from the latest Video Game Librarian article, where I give an overview of what the first year of circulating PS2 games was like. I've also gincluded a list of the Top 10 Highest Circulating Games that looks a little something like this:
1. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
2 (tie). Spider-Man 2
2 (tie). Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
2 (tie). Scaler
5. Men in Black II: Alien Escape
6 (tie). Viewtiful Joe
6 (tie). Tony Hawk's Underground 2
6 (tie). Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
9 (tie). Katamari Damacy
9 (tie). Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Feedback is always appreciated.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
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5 comments:
congratulations
What's next?
What's next?
Just building up the collection a little more.
Worrying about what happens when the PS3 comes out.
Trying to find a new place to buy games after the store we did have an account with shut down.
And if all goes according to plan... Mario Kart Day!
John,
This is a great article. Do you think the fact that the #1 circulating game(Harry Potter) has a strong literary tie-in is heartening for librarians, or could be a persuasion?
"Licensed games, sports titles and franchise titles rule the day. It's what people know and want." Is this the collection development policy in a nutshell? Since most titles being published are sequels, celebrity push, or crossmedia titles, is the library seeking the less mainstream or innovative to deepen & broaden? I do realize that the popularity of the collection is creating demand for more titles quickly.
The rating thing is interesting. Is the collection a YA collection? If not, keep pushing for games that exceed the rating limit and use the film comparison. Or, consider starting a collection for adults...
Great job! Congrats on such a successful MODEL endeavor :)
"Do you think the fact that the #1 circulating game (Harry Potter) has a strong literary tie-in is heartening for librarians, or could be a persuasion?"
Honestly, I think it's just because kids get excited over anything Harry Potter. Only a few circs separated number 1 from number 10 so it could have ended up very differently very easily.
"Since most titles being published are sequels, celebrity push, or crossmedia titles, is the library seeking the less mainstream or innovative to deepen & broaden?"
I'm a niche gamer by nature, so while I am buying plenty of stuff that's in the "mainstream" the weird stuff will always have a place at my library.
"Is the collection a YA collection?"
The collection is considered "for everybody" which is why M-rated games are not being considered right now. The reasoning is that it's unfair to only have one or two games on the shelf and then they're M-rated. E and T games don't have that problem.
But as the collection grows I'll keep fighting.
Congratulations John Kotaku saw your story, and wrote a piece on thier blog about it.
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