New Video Games - require internet
by Tiff Kelly 1 month, 1 week agoHi all!
I've been working on beefing up our video game collection at my library. We previously had only Switch and Wii games, but I've been trying to add some Playstation and Xbox games to our collection as well.
I'm finding that a lot of the newer games require the patron to have internet so they can download content to play the game.
Has anyone else come across this, and do you still add these games to the collection? One I'm looking at right now as an example is Call of Duty Black Ops 6 for Xbox One/Xbox Series X.
Thanks for any insight!
We have run into that problem as well. With our extremely tight budget for our rural library, it is not feasible to continue to add these games. Many of our patrons do not have internet/wifi availability and although we have WiFi hotspots, they are limited in quanity and a hot commodity.
For myself, I'd still consider them if I'm sure they'll circulate, but it would be a point against them. Insanely popular franchises like CoD might still be worth it. (Many of these games require internet because they're intended to be played against other people online. League of Legends, Overwatch, and Fortnite are examples.) If you do purchase them, it might be worth it to label them somehow as requiring internet.
A good question for sure and something to consider when purchasing video games. Call of Duty are the most egregious in this matter needing large installs to play the campaign and/or multiplayer. Something I've done is allow patrons to bring their consoles and run updates or installs on the Library's internet. It's usually happened on slower days and times (like Saturdays) and it can still take a long time, but it's a service that can be helpful for those without internet or having slow speeds/low bandwidth.
I like the idea of highlighting on the case the need for a download. Hogwart's Legacy on Nintendo Switch requires a pretty hefty download (25 GB on the case, may be more now) and if the patron does not have a SD card in their console, they (probably) won't be able to play the game.
We're in the process of adding video games to our library. This is a great question to consider as we make our first selections. I do like the suggestions about adding labels to games requiring signficant downloads. Certainly allowing guests to use the library's internet seems like good idea too. I was thinking about adding a monitor hookup to one of our laptop cubbies for this purpose.
Hey Tiff! Great question -- and terrific feedback from other folks here.
I'd generally agree that -- if you feel they would circulate well -- they may still be worth acquiring. Jamie offered up a great solution for folks to potentially visit the library to download necessary patches/updates directly on their console; libraries could consider setting aside a small space in the library (or in a study room or community room if they were not being used) for patrons to connect a console to wi-fi to download and install. This can take a very long time, though, and libraries would likely want to offer that they couldn't be responsible for someone else's device.
Of course, there is also the question of whether a small TV might be available (which would be needed to navigate the process), which might be another wrinkle. If something like this got popular enough, perhaps a library could consider a sign-up process. There are definitely going to be individual logistical challenges that libraries would want to be mindful of if they decided to pursue something like this... but --
We are, ultimately, a digital connectivity and service space -- and if this is going to be an ongoing want/need for patrons in the digital age, then figuring out how to accomodate large game downloads and installs could be considered a valuable innovation... helping libraries stay "cutting edge", as it were. Might be worth the operational coordination, both philosophically and pragmatically! I always encourage libraries to try and be future facing rather than simply "maintain".
Alternatively, If someone has a very limited budget and lives in an area where broadband connectivity is disparate (like April mentioned), it might not be worth the cost and time. Mileage will vary and it's totally respectable for a librarian that knows their budget, community, and situation best to decide not to pursue certain avenues. Very important to highlight that!
At my library, I did offer some signs around the video game collection (and labels on on select video game cases that I knew required HUGE downloads) warning that certain games might require an internet connection to play or to acquire needed updates. Librarians might want to print off or pursue some additional information/documentation about updates, DLC, and patches, so they can be prepared to have those conversations with patrons.
This is definitely going to be an ongoing and evolving issue, especially as games trend ever more toward all digital. The more that we can put our heads together and figure out solutions (or at least pathways that ease the process), the better; great conversation everyone!
~Chris