EDTECH 532: Simulation Games 1

Sim Games:


Real Time Games:
http://www.flonga.com/play/shopping-street.htm
     - this would be great to use together and do a compare and contrast
http://empire.goodgamestudios.com/?country=US
     - great for reading and following directions and problem solving

Turn Based Strategy Games:
http://www.mochigames.com/games/robotegy-sandbox/
     - good for problem solving, also cause and effect
http://www.mochigames.com/games/tag/turn-based/
     - other free games to look at

EDTECH 532: Games Can Make the World Better

After watching that video I want to call up my kids and tell them to put gaming and the hours they have put into it on their resume.  I've never thought about gaming as a skill before.  While she list 4 things that make gamers experts: urgent optimism, social fabric, blissful productivity, and epic meaning, it basically boils down to perseverance, drive, and collaboration.  These would be the more traditional characteristics you might include in a resume.  These characteristic do not need to wait for a job, but they can be an important part of the education process.  Not only do games develop good skills, but presenting learning material through a gaming format can provide education and promote these skills.

Everything she talks about relates directly to education.  Students often perform better when motivated by the task and feel that they can accomplish it with success.  Her idea of social fabric and working with others ties in with the learning theory of constructivism.  Using the skills of gamers and working together with others and then immersing yourself in a purposeful task is what education and learning should be.

EDTECH 532: VW Explorer - The Temple of Portunus

Well, I explored the entire area and found it beautiful, but I have to admit I am not sure of it purpose.  There was no one else there when I visited. I wandered around and found no educational information.  I could take a bath and dance.  But I still am not sure of the purpose beyond a place to go to socialize.  I am not even sure if you can actually buy the clothing in the temple.  I left a little bewildered.

EDTECH 532: Virtual Hallucinations

Very interesting experience.  As unpleasant as it was, I actually was hoping it would last longer to be able to have more examples.  One reason I think this was possible is because I was concentrating on what was around me and navigating. This probably made the voices slightly less prominent.  I can't even imagine what it would be like going through a normal day and hearing it all the time.  It would be all consuming, terrifying, and debilitating.

I think this experience could be very helpful for certain people who work with or are part of a family with someone experiencing schizophrenia.  Personally as a second grade teacher I cannot see myself using this simulation, especially since most young people do not experience schizophrenia.

However, this experience makes me wish there was a similar simulation available for someone with ADD or ADHD.  This would be extremely useful in my profession.  As much a someone feels they have an idea of what someone else is experience there is no way to know without walking in their shoes.

A very meaningful experience.

EDTECH 532: SploderFest

It was interesting to see everyone's approaches.  Through my own play I realized yet again that I am not a very experienced game player and probably had more difficulty with some of the games than others.   This is such a good reminder though that part of good game design is making a game that everyone can be successful at, or that is clearly labeled by ability.  It is important not to hit the player to hard right off the bat, frustration can be a big deterrent.  I also realized that games that offer text can be enjoyable for some and a turn off for others.  Personally I was annoyed to have to read a great deal, and I am sure many students would feel the same way.  It is all about balance and meeting the needs of many.

EDTECH 532: Gaming for Love

While this is an interesting infographic, I think it is comparing apples to oranges instead of apples to apples.
1) Comparison of number of members.
      -not all WoW members are eligible or wanting to date
2) Age
     -not as many young people are on a dating site
3) More frequented
     - I'm glad people don't spend nearly as much time on a dating site as they do playing a game.  It's not
        really meant to be a pastime.
4) Percentage dating
     - Since the number of members is so high it is not unlikely that so many people dating both play the game,
        but it doesn't mean they met on the site.
5) Numbers of replies
     -There are not pictures of people on WoW.  Players may be talking , but they didn't know what the
       other person looked like first and use that as a judgment.  And players may be replying just to
       converse not to date.
"Gamers feel good and act quickly"
     -that may be true, but unless you look solely at WoW as a place to find a date many of these
       comparisons are pointless, at least to me.

National Standard: ISTE NETs Teachers

Grade: Professional 

Subject: Technology 

Sub-Focus: None 

Standard: ISTE 1: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity 

Details: Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers: a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness. b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources. c. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes. d. model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments.

EDTECH 532: Sploder Embed

Make a Free Flash Game

EDTECH 532: Sploder Builder

Make a Free Flash Game

Lots of fun to make.  You could get start and never stop.  Got frustrated a few times when I could not erase certain things.

EDTECH 532: Sploder Game - Types

Retro Arcade:  I will probably make this type of game.  It fits my style the most.  There is just something fun and happy about these games.  The graphics, collecting coins and treasure, no shooting.  Just simple fun.  I looked around and played other games in this style.  There are links to make and things to turn on and off which I like.  There were also some very complicated games that had a story-line which add to the story but I don't personally like that as much.  I like the 2D  and side scroll features of this game.

Platform Creator:  I Like the 2D and side scroll aspects of this game.  It seems very logical in play and creation.  Make a path to follow to achieve whatever goal has been set.  There can be a story element added to this game as well which is probably something I am not as interested in creating. I do like how this game also adds some elements of the other types of games.  I like defeating the bad guys, tackling the jumps and obstacles, while still being able to collect new items.

Physics Puzzle Maker:  I love puzzles!  But when you combine physics (which I have never taken) and video games (which do not come naturally to me) with puzzles it seems to be a disaster for me. Love the possible application for students but just seemed to up the frustration level for me and take out most of the fun, at least on the games I tried.  It is easy to get the concept of the physics but I can't seem to put it together with any gaming skill whatsoever.  Not the game for me.  I can see how some people could really like these because it puts more thought and thinking into the game than many others.  I like that about it.

3D Mission Creator:  Dislikes:  The story-line didn't add much to the game.  It was a little repetitive.  It tend not to like the top down games as much.  Likes:  It was easy to understand.  Made sense.  The game I played was fairly easy to win.  An element of story for those who enjoy that.

Classic Shooter:  Played these games.  I like how you can learn as you go and tend to get better each time.  As with any game there is always a learning curve with me.  I like how with the ship game all you have to do is survive, that was very easy.  However, it was really too easy because the first time I played I didn't know what to do and got shot soooo many times and still won.  I think it was too easy though.  The robot game was much more challenging.  I like having multiple weapons to choose from and try each one in a different situation.  It takes more thought and planning.  I think that would be something I would want to include in a game.  I don't like the top down approach as much as the side scroll.  

WHAT MAKES A GOOD GAME?

• It needs to be enjoyable - what makes a game enjoyable is going to vary from person to person.
• Challenging - if it is too easy there is not point.
• Not too challenging -  when the game gets too hard and makes it impossible for someone to beat, the fun is gone.  However, there should be games at different levels to accommodate different abilities.
• Having a game difficulty rating available for viewing before playing is helpful.
• Directions - have directions is very important for those who need them.
• Mission - knowing your mission
• Learning as you go - even if death comes quickly, if you can figure out a new skill or ability or use of a weapon along the way and then retry it makes it fun.
• Levels get harder - this goes in conjunction with the above statement.  Starting easy and acquiring knowledge and ability before moving to a harder level is important.
• Variety - when things such as setting, bad guys, tasks, etc. don't change it gets boring.
• Ease of controls - being able to manage several movements at once easily is important
• View - having different view whether it be side scroll or top down is good.  I definitely have a preference and I would imagine that many people do.

(Wow. I amazed myself because I had many of the items mentioned in the podcast!)