Gamers Are Readers

Libraries across the country are jumping on the gaming bandwagon, and some librarians are thrilled with this revolution. We grew up playing video games. Although these games were not nearly as impressive as the ones available today, we still spent countless hours playing the original Super Mario Brothers—and we still grew up to be librarians. Video games did not rot our brains. But that begs the question: What do video games have to do with libraries? Video games offer traditional and new forms of literacy, and we can connect with patrons of all ages in our community by offering gaming programs. In fact, they are one of the only library programs that attract so many teens.

However, librarians are failing to capitalize on the popularity of video games by using the most fundamental of all librarian skills: reader’s advisory. If a gamer came to you 30 years ago raving about Pong, you may have been hard pressed to find a corollary in literature. Today’s video games, on the other hand, are multifaceted experiences that feature cinematic visuals, well-defined characters, challenging puzzles, and a plot that is easy to delineate. We already use these criteria to recommend books and movies to patrons. Video games are just another medium that we can utilize in the same way by identifying characters, plot, and genre. For example, you could recommend the book Storm Thief (Orchard, 2006) to fans of the role-playing game Fallout 3 as long as you know that the game is set in post-apocalyptic Washington, DC.

For non-gamers, developing an understanding the dozens of video game genres may seem daunting. However, for the purpose of reader’s advisory to gamers, you only need a familiarity with a few key genres—Action/Shooter, Strategy/Simulation, and Adventure/Role-Playing Games (RPGs)—to have the confidence to pair gamers with excellent books.

Action and Shooter games feature combat, action, shooting, fighting, and maiming. These games are not for the faint-hearted, and their ratings vary. Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3, for example, set the heart racing and adrenaline levels spiking. How can something as passive as reading compare with forcefully eliminating genetically modified bad guys in BioShock?

The key is to identify the elements that make Action/Shooter games so exciting and find literary parallels—page turners, thrillers, and even comedic novels. For fans of this genre, librarians should select books with as much immediacy as possible. First-person narration can take the place of first-person shooting, or an action-filled plot could stand in for…an action-filled plot. Recommending comedies to someone who loves Grand Theft Auto initially may seem a stretch, but if you think about the way a good comedy engages readers, you will see that the responses are similar. Readers wish to keep reading to get to the next punch line, comedic situation, or—in gaming terms—to “level up.”

Strategy games engage players’ problem-solving skills and require them to think their way out of puzzles and snares. Video games with a simulation element allow players to mold a reality to their liking. Both genres require a great deal of mental engagement and creativity on the part of gamers. It’s fairly easy to find novels with a puzzle-solving component—any good mystery should work. Also, familiarize yourself with novels containing a more dynamic puzzle aspect (e.g., The Westing Game, Cathy’s Book, The Mysterious Benedict Society) that, sometimes directly, ask readers to participate by solving riddles and following clues.

Simulation fans may be more challenging. After all, the words are on the page and the story is fixed. One way to solve this difficulty is to look for books rich with details, such as historical novels, non-fiction titles, and books that have an independent survival element to them. You may also pair these individuals with books that leave a great deal open to the readers’ interpretation. Gamers who are accustomed to the freedom and creativity associated with Spore, for instance, may be particularly receptive to Terry Pratchett’s Nation.

Adventure games blend action elements with puzzle solving, but the success of this genre results from the game play experience as a whole rather than any one component. In role-playing games (RPGs), users enjoy the sequential attainment of new skills that is necessary to develop a character and succeed in the game. Adventure games and RPGs have a strong quest element, and frequently feature quirky sidekicks and supporting characters. Look for coming-of-age novels and those with richly developed characters or a sort of save-the-world-from-ultimate-evil endgame. The success of adventure and RPGs is often based on the complexity of the world that is created within the game. In the same vein, books that appeal to fans of these game genres feature elaborate environments and detailed cultures. Fantasy and science-fiction books are obvious choices for fans of these games. The trick is to find books with multifaceted characters that readers can identify with so that they are able to lose themselves in the text in the same way they can when playing a RPG.

Just as you read as many children’s and teen books as you can to familiarize yourself with what is available, you need to dip your toes into the video game world as well. Visit Web sites such as gamespot.com or gamespy.com to read reviews, watch previews, and become acquainted with current games. When you research video games, think of them in terms of plot, characters, and gimmicks—all of which are literary elements that you already know how to utilize. Then, when you are speaking with gamers, adjust your typical reader’s advisory conversation to adapt to their medium of choice: “What kind of video games do you enjoy playing?” and “Tell me about the characters in that game.” Examine your library’s collection and discover a core list of good book choices for gamers (for recommendations, see the side bar and visit gamersarereaders.wetpaint.com).

Not all gamers will readily identify themselves to you, so set up an “If You Like Adventure/RPGs, Try These Books” display. Try to integrate gaming correlations into your book talks. Not only will gamers pick up on the reference, but they will also recognize that you accept their interests and may be more likely to approach you in the future. Most importantly, do not assume that gamers are not readers and make the mistake of choosing books on a lower reading level. Remember that video games are extremely complex and the attention to detail that is required to navigate their intricate worlds support higher dimensions of literacy. Therefore, in terms of reading levels of gamers, it is always safer to aim higher.