Everybody has been waiting?

Analysis:

This story is like one big promotional piece for the 3 big video game makers. Viewers are subjected to comments from company reps, sales people and customers who are big video gamers. The majority of the video footage used is that of people playing games, footage directly from video games or in stores with people who buy or sell video games. Some of the footage is from ABC, specifically that of the E3 Expo in Los Angeles. The rest of the footage was shot at Best Buy in the Grand Rapids area. Viewers should ask themselves if it is problematic to highlight one retail store over another, particularly one as big as Best Buy?

The story also mentions several times that the news game systems will be available to buy soon – “most of the games will be hitting the shelf in the Fall and at Christmas time;” and “Some of the new consul systems should be available in time for the holiday shopping season.” At one point near the end of the story the reporter asks a young boy and a college age guy how much they play video games. The young boy replies “4 hours a day at least.” Do you think it would be appropriate at this point for the reporter to ask questions about the impact of that much video game playing, especially for children?

Story:

WZZM 13 News reader #1 – Video games are about to get faster, brighter and smarter.

WZZM 13 News reader #2 – The big 3 video game companies are all coming out with their latest generation of game systems. WZZM 13’s Phil Dawson is here to show us what’s coming up.

Reporter – Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft all they will introduce new systems in the next 12 months. It will be the first major upgrade in 5 years, and in West Michigan the buzz has already begun.

In the gaming department at Best Buy the staff is getting ready to sell and to play the next generation of video game consuls systems.

Best Buy Staff – Clearer picture, better sound. It is gonna be awesome. I am very excited about it.

Reporter – Some future products are coming to electronic stores are on display this week at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles.

Video Game Producer – This is where we saw all the newest games that are gonna be coming out and it is actually most of the games will be hitting the shelf in the Fall and at Christmas time.

Video Game Salesman – In order to succeed in your goals you’re going to have to think fast, move fast, and kill fast.

Reporter – But you don’t have to be in LA to know what is on the horizon in the gaming industry. Sony is coming out with Playstation 3, Nintendo has a new Cube, and X-Box 360 is the new offering from Micro-soft.

Microsoft Manager – It’s huge, it’s a big, big statement for us. The next generation of consuls starts now.

Reporter – Some of the new consul systems should be available in time for the holiday shopping season. Players are eager to experience the next level.

Young Boy/Player – The graphics and a lot more different games that don’t really play on other systems.

Teenage Game Player – More hi-tech games, they got more graphics to it.

Reporter – How much time do you spend playing video games, per day?

Young Boy/Player – 4 hours a day at least.

Teenage Game Player – If I got a day off, I’ll play, I’ll be on there for hours.

Best Buy Staff – So I think everybody is ready for this new system. It’s been 5 years, it’s been a long wait. Everybody has been waiting for the new thing. It’s coming, it’s on its way.

Reporter – These new systems will cost about 300 dollars.

Total time – 1 minute and 56 seconds