Games and Gaming for Interactive Digital Television

This report focuses on the possibilities of convergence regarding video games and digital television. The report consist roughly of four parts: First, there is a brief discussion about media studies on television viewing. These observations will be related to research on gaming as a form of media use. Second, the interactive digital television (iDTV) peripherals (set-top box and remote controller) will be analysed in the context of gaming. The following question will be answered: what kinds of possibilities and restrictions do set-top boxes and remote controllers have as gaming devices? The third part focuses on the question of game genres. An analysis of video game genres in relation to television gaming genres (such as game shows and quizzes) will be presented in order to answer the question: What are the generic types of games that are suitable for adapting to the iDTV platform, and the social practices associated with watching TV? The fourth part will consist of case studies of SubTV Mobile Games, where mobile phone functions as the backchannel. Finally there will be conclusions, which serve as the basis for future game concept design in the Future interaction Television (FiTV) project. Conclusions will point to the hybridity and cross-media nature of iDTV gaming.