Does Video Gaming Need a New Name?

[HigHurtenflurst]

Mythmaker1 said:

Lafiel said:

probably "interactive virtual experience", which sounds pretty horrible

btw I think people play games for "excitement", while that term actually is pretty much the same as "fun" it doesn't have that innocent connotation

It's similar, but I think a better term would be "engagement," though that is semantics.

"interactive virtual experience"...that is a mouthful, though probably appropriate. I think the biggest problem is finding a name with the same appeal as "video games."

I can think of many games I wouldn't categorise under "excitement" that wouldn't come under "fun" and vice-versa, and games that come under neither.

'Entertainment' is I believe the best term to encompass all games (and films, music and books when used on it's own). Gaming is an interactive form of entertainment.... all we need to do is make a portmanteau: Intertainment!

Though while that sounds ok for the subject (to me at least) that leaves us with a difficult and clumsy verb form... saying "I'm a gamer" is much better than "I'm and intertainer"