1. ¹Masagung Graduate School of Management, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
2. ²Information School, University of Washington, Seattle,WA, USA

Correspondence: JP Allen, Masagung Graduate School of Management, University of San Francisco, 2130 Fulton St., San Francisco, CA 94117, USA. Tel: +1 415 422 6570; Fax: +1 415 422 2502; E-mail: jpallen@usfca.edu

Abstract

This paper examines the influence of information technology (IT) on a distinct but closely related industry, the video game industry. We conceptualize the effects of IT as a process of translating three related dimensions of a technological frame – technology performance, industry practices, and use vision – from one industry to another. Through historical examples, we argue that the impact of IT on the video game industry is shaped and limited by this translation process, particularly when tensions between the two industries lead to the development of new complementary or replacement technologies, practices, or visions. Although heavily dependent on IT, the video game industry has had to ignore, postpone, or substantially modify important IT software tools, processors, storage media, graphics, and networking technologies because of these industry contradictions.