Part Two: Video Games or Videogames

Almost like a line from Shakespeare we ask the questions; what do we call the games that we love and devote some much time to? Are they digital games, computer games, hand held games, or the true question, video games or videogames? The question to also ask is, does it really matter what we call them?

From that first chilly Christmas morning when I opened up the shinny paper that hugged my new gaming system Nintendo, I always remember calling them 'videogames'. It seems weird to think that when I was four I remember what I called them but I have vivid memories of going to "The Video Den" to rent these 'videogames'; seeing bright neon signs advertising where to get the gray rectangle shaped toys with bright stickers explaining what fun was to be had if you rented this game. So to me it has been 'videogames' and will always be 'videogames'. It wasn't until I read the blog by Zach, Videogames or Video games -- What Are We Talking About?, that I realized there was a debate and questions over what we should actually call these toys.
He points out the clarity between other systems, computer vs. Xbox, and what their games are called. We know the difference when it is spoken. But when it comes down to the consoles that we so righteously plug into our TVs, confusions apparently lays ahead.

When using Google to search for videogames, typing in video games breaks down the search engine into more groups, bringing in an array of other finds that are not linked to what you were looking for. This can prove frustrating and seems odd that die-hard fans of the split word would want to filter through the unnecessary finds.

I can understand the dialect for the usage of the two ways of spelling. Depending on where a person is from can determine spelling for many words that we have not in American but all over the world. For example in South Carolina a misquote is referred to as a water snake. It means the same thing, just a different name. Video games and videogames are the same word granted but it is no different when it comes to referring to the same thing. So from a linguistics point of view, I see no argument except what individuals have been raised on calling it.

With spell check, it tells me that videogames is spelled incorrectly and should be two words but really, what does a computer know except the bias's that were program into it?

I honestly have no problem with what videogames are called. To each his own but it was interesting to see that their was a debate going on and would be fun to research and find out the actual true name for these beloved toys.