As Business Week points out, there is nothing new with user-generated avatars; just ask PC gamers. What is new is the application of such media to console gaming as it will be this fall with Nintendo Mii characters for Wii in addition to low-cost development kits for the Xbox 360. Author Kenji Hall explores user-generated game content from avatars to playable maps of real-world neighborhoods, the goal to become the next YouTube or MySpace of games, and resentment of the social games movement by some developers in favor of full content control. From the article: "Console makers worry that blogs, wikis, and other interactive online activities are luring the industry's traditional audience of 18- to 35-year-olds. As people gain more control over what they do online, they're likely to get bored with the old closed box, plug-and-play model for game consoles."
