Why RPG's aren't on TV...

[The_root_of_all_evil]

http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/commentary/alttext/2008/06/alttext_0618

Apologies if the link isn't allowed, will remove if necessary; but it's very funny.

On this subject though, is there a reasonable way of making RPG's &/or Computer games more accessible to the media/majority?

Doctor Who has managed it via the Anti-Christ of RTD; but CAN they ever be in a prime time slot?

 

[poleboy]

That's hilarious

On the subject: I think computer games are becoming much more accessible to the general public every year. It's only a matter of time before playing games is just considered another hobby like movies or sports.
I'm not sure what you're talking about with Doctor Who, I'm afraid. They don't show it a lot here and only old episodes.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Ah, I forgot the Culture Starved Countries out there.

Basically, about twenty years ago, the Director of the BBC cancelled Doctor Who whilst it was still pulling in 7 million viewers (around the same as the best show on FOX, HBO, CBS at the time) because...He didn't like Sci-Fi.

2005 comes along and this over-rated director brings it to the public by placing lots of cultural throwbacks; and focussing on London/Cardiff.

He did hire a young writer called Steven Moffat, the Yahtzee of the Beeb, who is now taking over and it will be JOYOUS!

Anyway, enough of my wittering.

In one season, the BBC took a Science Fiction series forgotten about and trashed by a biased media; and brought it to the FOCUS of their Christmas Programming...It's now helping to spawn Blake's 7 revival, The Prisoner and a brilliant new series called Being Human.

Sort of like bringing Firefly back to the strength of the Simpsons.

So...

Is there anything we can do, or suggest, to get Computer Games/RPG's to that level of acceptance, given there's no "infinite oregano".

 

[Necrohydra]

Is there anything we can do, or suggest, to get Computer Games/RPG's to that level of acceptance, given there's no "infinite oregano".

I think it will take different things to get both of these to the wide level of acceptance you're talking about. In terms of video games, I'd say we just have to give it a little more time. Video games are a booming industry, and they're slowly creeping more and more into the mainstream of our daily lives. Just a few more years, when the average gamer is in their late 30's/early 40's, and I'd say that they'll have as much of a say in terms of our entertainment as movies. Well, maybe not AS much, but it'd be up there.

As for PnP RPGs (I assume that's what you're referring to), that's a little...different. Even more so than video games, it's still referred to as the center of geek culture. And as pop culture says, being a geek isn't cool! I don't think RPGs will be able to hit that mainstream until they overcome that stigma.

Oh, suggestions to overcome that? I suppose we'd have to get to the point where geeks determine what's cool and what's not.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Speaking as a Whovian, (If it wasn't blatantly obvious), we never expected to become mainstream either...

And as for geeks defining 'cool'; Worst. Idea. Ever.

 

[Necrohydra]

Mainstream pop-culture is fickle and ever-changing. What's in today may be gone tomorrow. That, and I'm no social scientist.

And as for geeks defining 'cool'; Worst. Idea. Ever.

....and suddenly I think of everyone quoting Portal day in and day out...

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Although more geek girls on TV would be rather cool. Especially the shy ones with freckles and glasses.