the end of film

grand theft auto 4 made more than 500 million dollars in the first week.
hollywood cannot be happy about that. not that I am going to join the perennial cry that 'film is dead,' but with hollywood, bollywood, nollywood (nigeria makes the 3rd most pictures), film is looking at smaller, fragmented, niche audiences, but the real blockbusters will be some other media. More people have probable seen "2 girls, 1 cup" than Star Wars (just a guess--not that I am going to watch it). As we get more indulgent access to the precise, tailored media we want, choice is going to kill the media monolith. I don't think I am going to be too interested in whatever Rom-Com hollywood spit out last week for my demographic, when I can experience the freedom of action built in to GTA4, other games and the panoramic array of entertainment on the horizon.

i've got more questions about gaming--namely, will they ever grow up? Games are politically neutral, do not attempt to advance ideas that challenge society, and any meaning is supplied by the player. They are empty vessels, and that is the current mode of success. When games try to be more than that, more art than entertainment, well, then we're in for a real ride.