FInal Game Studies PRoposial

Final Game Studies Proposal

 

    The message I want to get across for my final game studies project is that education flash games are not only fun and visually stimulating for students but are beneficial for them as well. I think that these games are beneficial for problem solving, critical thinking, and multi tasking. I as well propose that the games are beneficial across the board for all ages of students, but mainly elementary students. I think that math games are the best games that help students. Math is one of the more difficult subject areas for students and the more practice they have with it and the more fun that the practice is the more the students should get from it.

 

    My plan is to write a small information piece ( 1-2 pages) that states my ideas of what I want to accomplish with my idea and than compose a lesson plan (1-3 pages)  that is "chock" full of these games for a math lesson. Than I have been taking pictures of my interning class of them playing these games in the computer lab and I want to make a digital Collage using Picasa from Google.

 

     I truly think through observation and watching of math grades in the second grade class that I am in now that extra math work and these games help the students build their "math brains". Math is undoable besides English either the most hated or liked subject in school and it one of the two subjects that a person really will use their whole lives. That is why it works on so much in the classroom and during extra time. I hope that you like this idea that you approve of it. I know that this idea probably isn’t what exactly you may have in mind for this project but, I like that it is not only toward flash games which is a type of concentration for the class but it is geared toward my area of interest. And it proves that these are worth having for learning in the classroom and don’t need to be shunned for not being beneficial.

In the reading that we had to do toni...

 

In the reading that we had to do tonight it opened my eyes to the fact that video game study is a process and is something that comes in steps. The books talks about how there is a toolbox full of methods. The one method that really stuck out to me the social sciences methods are all the different that are out there to use when doing studying. I like how this section gives different examples of methods to use when studying videogames. Such as doing a survey on the topic is to gather more information on the topic that you are studying. Interviewing is another great way to gain insists and answers questions about what you want to study of the particular aspect of videogames.

 

One of the most interesting things I found in the chapter was to have video game players keep a diary of their playing. I think if this was done to where you had the player write down feelings at the time of playing games, the time, what they did before and after playing the game and the kind of game they played. I think that some kind of correlation would be made some where between all of the ideas.

 

There are a lot of different techniques on how to study the different aspects of social science methods. I think that social methods is one of the most important aspects that need to studied because that goes back to how videogames such a violence effects people or sex in videogames and it can all relate back to how they interact socially in the world.

Ok so for as long as I have been in t...

Ok so for as long as I have been in this class which is as long as the rest of you, i honestly never bothered to do a little Wikipedia research and find out what the hell a RPG or MMORPG game is. So tonight i did. It makes more sense now as to why they are so addicting. I suppose that when you are thrown into a role you become that roll and you personify it. I know a person who spends countless hours in front of the computer playing World of Warcraft. His wife tells me that he only gets off the computer to go to bed a 3am only to get up at 5 am and to eat and go to work for a couple hours go home plays for a couple hours goes back to work and so one day in and day out! I sent him the article about W.O.W. being as addictive as cocaine. I defiantly think that is an AMEN. I think it is a little over the top and scary how people allow games to control their lives. The author writes the happens as described by one boy Ian, "It was never that bad for me, but in my most recent spate with MMOs, back in November, I found myself spending four to ten hours each day (and more on weekends) in Warhammer: Age of Reckoning to reach level 40 while maintaining a high PVP rank and getting the best gear. Needless to say, it took a severe toll on everything else I was doing—Hellforge included. I was constantly lethargic, not eating well—for eating took time away from the game, and the game does not wait for you." (Sol Invictus) PRIME example as to how people allow MPG 's to take over their lives. I think it is really scary how people can do this.

 

I know that I have never done something like this I think the farthest i have gotten to be addicted to something is about four years ago i was addicted to chatting on the Internet with people. If i wasn't at work i was home on the computer until the weeeeee hours in the morning chatting online. Thinking back on it now that was really weird and totally unnecessary.

Review 3

Review 3

 

Flash Game: Gold Miner Vegas

 

I am glad that we had to review a flash game this time. I don’t normally take the time to do much "mind veg" and play games especially ones that are on the computer or the internet. I usually just get on the internet and face book or do homework. So this was a nice change of pace.

 

Gold Miner Vegas is a game where you are an old man in a mine cart and for the free trial version which I played for a while before I decided to download the game you are in Australia. You have a claw that, that is moving in a pendulum motion and  with your down arrow you lower it  to try and pick up the gold pieces to get them into your cart. On the website www.girlsgame123.com the description that is given for the game is, "Gold Miner Vegas takes our bearded friend to the modern-day mother lode! Can you get all the way to golden Las Vegas? With new levels, challenges and gadgets the action is bigger, brighter and more enjoyable than ever before. Gold Miner Vegas is family-friendly and fun for all ages. Mine this entertaining game today!

You're a gold miner and it's your job to mine as much gold and come out with the most amount of money you can. Each level you have a different goal (a money goal) that you need to reach. IN the first level, you are on a sixty second timer. So you are in a race against the clock to get gather as much gold chunks as you can. The gold chunks are worth a different amount depending on how big they are. The smallest is worth fifty dollars, the medium is worth one hundred dollars and the biggest is worth five hundred dollars. As well there are chunks of coal that are scatters and if you accidently pick on of them us you press the up arrow key and it shoots down a stick of dynamite "BOOM" to blow the coal up so you don’t waste your time trying to crank it up! There are also small plates of food that you want to pick up they are worth fifteen dollars. The little bags that have a "9" on them are surprises, they may be worth money and they may have something useful in them like a "laser claw scope"

 

Once you meet your goal for the first level you move onto the next level but, it is not without stopping at the store with the "creepy" mustached man who wants to sell you some gold mining equipment. You can purchase oil to make you move faster down the track, tandem rope for long reaching objects, dynamite for the higher levels that have coal walls that you need to get through and that helps you move faster. There are other things like a four leaf clover that give you better luck to hit something good during your mine!

 

I really like this game and would recommend it for anyone who likes a minesweeper high challenge. It is the suspense and hand eye coordination that you really need to use to continue to advance to the next levels of the game. The best part is that you are mining gold and winning money, not real, but who cares really!? When in your life are ever going to be able to go fishing for gold!

Why is this? “The majority of America...

 

    For me sex and violence is an everyday part of our so society they are now selling M & M's with sex in the commercials and in most TV shows Nip Tuck prime example and violence is shown in most shows that are played at night. Take a new show that is on TV call Trauma it is about rescue teams that respond to the most violent car crashes, spills etc. or Son of Anarchy on FX there is another violent motorcycle gang show. So the fact that a parent is scared to see sex in a video game is a little out there for me. “It scares them when a toy features sex. They can’t fathom it. As a designer, I'm hoping people will eventually catch on that this is an entertainment medium that can feature any theme. Sex, violence or otherwise.” Just because it is a toy and they can simulate sex do they not think that them SEEING the REAL THING on a TV show is not going to STIMULATE them! As for violence do they not think that seeing it again is not going to STIMULATE them or DESENSITIZE them violence and then they start to think that hitting, biting, kicking, punching, fighting in general is an OK thing for them to do.

 

    Now, for racism i am not a fan no matter what shape, form or whatever it comes in. I think that race has been a hard, dark, dirty, scary, sad and many other adj in our society for far too long. The article that we had to read I liked that he felt that the video game trailer was racist. When i watched it with that idea in mind i felt the same way. I don't like seeing those commercials on TV of the sick and poor children sitting in the street or in their "homes" with nothing to eat and skin and bones. And the thought that he felt that is what he was seeing in a video game and then the producers of that game want you to SHOOT THEM is just plain awful! I wish that no matter what it is or where it is that racism wasn't an issue for anyone of any color, shape, size etc.

So in reading the peices for the blog...

So in reading the pieces for the blog, my mind keeps coming back to the two main ques ions that i pose to you....

1. Is there a defined genre pattern for video like there are for literature and many other aspects of our lives?\

2. If there is genres are they too broad and need to be more defined?

 

Here is what I answer to my own questions....

1. I would say there is a some what defined genre pattern that maybe many do not seem to think is there. I would say that the genres are more defined by the type of game play that is happening verses the kind of game you are playing and what it is about. In literature there are genres like horror and sci fi and they have their own definitions, in video games like in the piece that we read where she compared the two kind of zombie games, the games are the same within the content she mentioned that Both "Planescape Torment (Interplay 1999) and Silent Hill (Konami 1999) feature zombie assailants, violent confrontation, exploration, peril and death. But Planescape Torment and Silent Hill belong to different genres, and they employ different strategies in their bid to generate generically appropriate affect. Planescape Torment offers its players intersecting worlds, bizarre creatures, amnesia, gore and questing. It's a fantasy role playing game (RPG), and its meandering structure enhances its capacity to honour its generic roots. Silent Hill is a 3D survival horror game. The success of the Silent Hill series is a result of its capacity to frighten its users." (Genre and Affect in Silent Hill and Planescape Torment by Diane Carr). But the game play is different in one game from the other within the story lines.

 

2. So does this make the content on the genres that are slightly outlined too broad, i think so. But, how do you define them more? That is the good question. I am not inclined to answer this question because i am not as versed in videogames and all the components however i do think that it should be done. why not? It is a good idea especially if the videogaming industry is wanting to become more concrete and taken more seriously in the eyes of social groups. They are already on their way in developing its own language and trying to nail something down so that it is consistent time to start nailing down the genres in which video games are categorized.  

Operation Flashpoint-Dragon Rising is...

    

Operation Flashpoint-Dragon Rising

Ps3

Released 10-6-09

 

Operation Flashpoint-Dragon Rising is the newest and greatest war game to come out on the market. This game makes you feel and gives you the feeling that you are in live combat a war. This game seems to be the closest thing to war that has come out in years. So here is what I am going to try and do is account for the game from the observationist stand point.

    

    Sit down and get comfortable and get ready for this game to start. Pay attention to learn the premise of the game. This game takes place on an island of Skira of which to whom it belongs to has never been officially settled since World War II. But with recent discovery of extremely rich and viable oil fields U.S. and Japanese presence have been prevalent. On September 23rd the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) is to execute an invasion claiming Skira Island for the People's Republic. The mission is: you and your fellow Marines go be expecting to engage upon scattered and heavily entrenched PLA positions. As well the Russians have requested U.S. Military support, so in response to this the USS Iwo Jima has been deployed. Are you hyped up are you ready to be deployed to the island to start killing and take over the island!?

 

    It is time you gather a few other fellow Marines to invade and liberate the island. You gear up in the Co-op mode of Campaign. With-in this mode you can start at any stage of the game. If you start in the middle of the stage you tend you miss how you got to this point. You are just dropped in the middle of the war zone and off you go. If you start at the beginning of the game you are able to rally together and charge through as one.

 

    You and your Maries and gather you are packed with the latest and greatest best gear the Marine Corps have to offer. You are on a boat and now the load you guys into a river rat that is going to carry you to the island be careful as you are going to be heavily watched and waited for. Don’t lose anyone just as you are dropped on the island. GO GO GO GO GO.......You and your team crouches down and takes off for cover. You are under heavy gun fire. Get tot he banks where you can hide and fight back.

 

 

          
http://www.flashpointgame.com/uploads/images/global/gallery/screenshots/OFDR_Screenshot_Mar_0019.jpg

http://www.flashpointgame.com/uploads/images/global/gallery/screenshots/OFDR_Screenshot_Mar_0033.jpg

    
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkT1ME-J_V0 -- great link to some game play.

 

    As you fight you give orders to your men telling them where to go and what to do. "Throw that grenade over there, go go go..." As your group defeats the enemies you continue on your mission. You go make your way through fields into the towns of the island. You order you team to sweep through buildings looking for enemies and hostiles to capture and kill. You continue to give orders to your men. Than you are fired upon and you take cover to figure you where it is coming from. You hide behind an abandoned tank. Your team than recons the tank and it is now yours to use. You command a team member get in and fire upon the hostiles. You fight one battle after another.

    

    As an observer unless you really like war stories and movies, this game would not be fun for you to watch. There tends to be some blood and guts in this game. But, it is so real if the person you are watching takes their time to complete their mission and allows you to read and follow along so you can get the whole story by all means this is defiantly something you would love. If you are the complete opposite than you may want to pass this game up. But, this game is awesome for an observer. The story is so wonderful it honestly allowed me to reflect back on the stories that my brother has told me from being in combat over in Iraq. The story sounds and the animation of pictures that this game brings forth is truly something extra extraordinary for a war time game.

 

    Great game cool story of Maries Corps going and fighting special op missions, or going in teams in the multi-player version and obliterating enemies. Helping allies acquire land that has never been claimed but, they have used for many years since WWII. Modern warfare in a videogame but, not having to do with the actual war that we are fighting...two thumbs up.

 

Grade- Buy it if it’s your thing defiantly if not gives it a shot (no pun intended) and try it!