virtual reality is for fogies
the desire for video games to be more like reality is disappearing with this generation. where the generation that saw the introduction of video games into culture wants video games to emulate pre-existing reality, the generation that was born into near-photorealistic videogames doesn't particularly care - for my generation, video games are part of reality, and what we want made better is the game itself.
i find reality television a bit impenetrable, so my opinion is probably biased, but I view reality TV in the same light as scripted television. whether or not you give someone a script, putting them in an artificial setting ("the set") and turning on the cameras makes them an actor.
the sense of interactivity and accomplishment provided by improvement or skill-based reality shows are, i believe, a motivator for the viewership. take, for example, "flip that house". people love that show because it makes them feel as though they posess expertise, and people love being experts.
i love taking pictures of people when they're not ready - it usually results in unfortunate photos of the person, but it's also, i believe, the easiest way to get a really excellent picture.
i think i've more or less been left out of the reality tv craze... i only vaguely recognize these names... "supernanny"? "wife swap"? they sound like porn. the only reality tv i regularly watch is top chef... because i like seeing food on tv, mostly.
people are curious... show them something new, and they will look. ergo, people will watch just about anything, despite ethical ambiguity.
also, the wii is now the top-selling console (with 9MM units shipped, vs. the 360 at 8.9MM). word.