Gaming and
the New Literacy
Beth Gallaway
informationgoddess29@gmail.com
Canadian Library Association Conference
May 2007

What is a Game?
GAME: activity
engaged in for
diversion or
amusement;
synonym: see FUN
VIDEO GAME: an
electronic game
played by means of
images on a video
screen and often
emphasizing fast
action Merriam-Webster Online. http://www.m-w.com

Ways to Play Video Games
• At an Arcade
• On a PC or Mac
• On a Plug ‘n’ Play Device
• On a Mobile Device
• On a Handheld Device
• On a Console

Console Gaming Devices
9.77 million
7.36 million
3.32 million
http://www.vgcharts.org

Handheld Gaming Devices
21.24 million
42.70 million
http://www.vgcharts.org

Why Games at the Library?
Games …
• Are the medium of choice for the
millennial generation
• Are educational and recreational
• Meet developmental needs of
teens
• Reinforce new literacies

Does This Sound Like
Any Gamers You Know?
• Social • Heroic
• Competitive • Multi-taskers
• Wired • Global
• Self-aware • Collaborative
• Always On • Risk Takers
Beck, John and Mitchell Wade. Got Game: How the Gamer Generation is
Reshaping Business Forever. Harvard Business School Press, 2004.

Learning Principles in Games*
• Risk –taking in a “safe” environment
• Rewards practice
• Use of affinity groups
• Probing cycles
• Situated meaning
• Self-knowledge
• Identity formation
*** Gee, James Paul. What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy.
Palgrave McMillan, 2003

Gaming Meets Developmental
Needs of Young Adolescents
Positive social interaction with adults & peers
•
Structure and clear limits
•
Physical activity
•
Creative expression
•
Competence and achievement
•
Meaningful participation in families, school,
•
communities
• Opportunities for self-definition
NMSA. NMSA Research Summaries. Young Adolescents Developmental Needs (1996)
http://www.nmsa.org/Research/ResearchSummaries/Summary5/tabid/257/Default.aspx

How much money did
computer & video game
sales gross in 2005?*
$7 Billion
* Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php

What is the average age of
the gamer?*
33
* Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php 28
December 2006

What percentage of teens report
playing games online**?
81 %
** Pew Internet & American Life Project. Teens and Technology, July 2005.

What percentage of games sold in
2005 were rated M for Mature?
15%
* Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php

Ratings
The Entertainment Software Ratings
Board (ESRB) is a self-regulating body
established by the Entertainment Software
Association (ESA). ESRB applies and
enforces game ratings, advertising and
online privacy principles.
http://www.esrb.org

Gaming = literacy
• Environmental print
– signage
– labels
– maps
• Reading about the game
– instructions
– walkthroughs
• Writing about the game
– forums
– websites
• Chat:
– “WTS, Mageweave cloth, 15g”

“Leet”
& 4 /\\/\\ 3 I2 5
GAMERS

Gaming Reinforces
New Literacies
• Exposing knowledge
• Employing information
• Expressing ideas compellingly
• Ethics on the Internet
Warlick, David. ”The New Literacies.” TechLearning. Mar-Apr2005
http://www.techlearning.com/story/showArticle.php?articleID=47102021

1. Exposing Knowledge
• Find information
• Understand and explain
found information
regardless of its format
• Evaluate information
• Organize information

2. Employing Information
• Computation
• Measurement
• Analysis
• Application

3. Expressing Ideas Compellingly
• Mechanics matter
• Creativity & efficiency highly rated
• Text, images, audio, and video are used
to express ideas in many digital formats

Ways Gamers Express
Ideas Compellingly
• Fan Fiction
• Machinima
• Web Comics
• Fan Forums
• Clan Websites

Ethics on the Internet
• Modding – recreating game content
• FanFic – writing stories about characters
created/owner by someone else
• Machina – films/videos created through
recording video game play

Reader’s Advisory to Gamers
INSTEAD OF:
• What authors do you like to read?
• What are the last 3 books you read and
enjoyed?
• What did you like about them?
ASK:
• What movies do you like?
• What TV shows do you watch?
• What games do you play?

Reader’s Advisory to Gamers
−>

Roleplaying/MMORPG Games
• Games:
– Everquest
– Runescape
– World of Warcraft
– Dark Age of Camelot
– Ultima
• Characteristics
– epic fantasy setting
– good vs. evil theme
• Suggest?

Historical Sim Games
• Games:
– Civilization
– Caesar
– Age of Empires
– Oregon Trail
– America’s Army
• Characteristics
– Simulation elements
– Historical setting
– Alternative history possibility
• Suggest?

Sports Games
• Games:
– Madden Football
– NBA Street
– Need for Speed
– Tiger Woods
– Golf
• Characteristics
– Sports theme
– Competition
• Suggest?

Strategy & Puzzle Games
• Games:
– Myst
– Tetris
– Bejeweled
– Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?
• Characteristics:
– Problem to solve
– Logic, math, reasoning
• Suggest?

First Person Shooters (FPS)
• Games:
– Doom
– Quake
– Halo
• Characteristics
– Warfare
– Strategy
– Violent
• Suggest?

Simulations
• Games:
– The Sims
– The Urbz
• Characteristics:
– Character driven
• Suggest?

Japanese/Manga tie-in
• Games:
– Katamari Damacy
– Final Fantasy
– Dragonball Z
– Pokemon
• Characteristics
– Anime style
– Japanese culture
• Suggest?

Superhero Games
• Games:
– Spider-Man
– Fantastic Four
– City of Heros
• Characteristics
– Heroes/villains setting
– Good vs. evil theme
– Film tie-ins
• Suggest?

Don’t Forget
Print Resources for Gamers
1. Magazines
2. Strategy guides
3. Nonfiction about gaming
4. Fiction with gaming as a plot or
subplot

Video Game Culture
• Watch Red Vs. Blue
• Read Penny Acade
• Read PvP
• Set a Google Alert
• Subscribe to a gaming podcast or blog
• Skim gaming magazines
• Pay attention to gaming around you in public
spaces
• Try some games yourself!

More Ways to Immerse!
• Join the LibGaming Google Group
– Email discussion for gaming in libraries
• Game On! Video Games in Libraries blog
– Blog about gaming news of interest to libraries
• Join YALSA and the Teen Gaming Interest Group
– YALSA interest group dedicated to gaming
• Celebrate Teen Tech Week
– Annual celebration of teens + technology in libraries,
March 2008

Game Policy Questions
• Who is the collection for?
• What formats will you collect?
• What genres will you collect?
• What is your selection criteria?
• What resources will you use to select?
• Where will you purchase from?
• Is there a donation policy?
• How will the collection be classified/cataloged?
• Where will the collection be stored?
• How will it be displayed?
• What security measures need to be taken?
• What is the procedure for materials challenge?

Best Practices: Collections in US
• Helen McGraw branch of the Irondequoit (NY)
Public Library
• Games Rated E, E10+ and T
• PS2 and PC games
• 14 day circ
• $.25/day late fee
• game cost+$5/replacement fee
• Genres: compilations, sports, racing games,
platformers, unique and quirky titles

Evaluating Games
Plot
+ Setting
+ Character
+ Graphics
+ Soundtrack
+ Modification/Customization
+ Uniqueness
________________
Replayability

What Makes a Successful
Gaming Program?
1. Do your homework
2. Provide variety
3. Open up to the community
4. Spread the word
5. Play

Program Tips
• Choose games appropriate to age
group
• Choose multiplayer games
• Choose games with short rounds
• Offer two to three games in conjunction
with board or tabletop games

Free Play vs. Tournaments
• Both are structured
• Both may include other activities
• Emphasis is on fun
• Free play = more casual, self-
competitive
• Tournament = more rules, competitive
tone and prizes for winners

Model Gaming Programs
• Santa Monica Public Library, CA
Counterstrike LAN party
– After hours program
– 50 teens lined up around the block to play
• After School Zone, Benicia Public Library, CA
– Hanging out, snacks and playing games
encourages
– Kids and teens who have gotten parental
consent can play Halo 2 and Ghost Recon on
the XBox 360;
– Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. Melee are
popular on Gamecube

Model Gaming Programs: US
• Ann Arbor District Library (MI)
Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros, & DDR
– Tournaments for all ages
– Regular programs
– Online community
• North Hunterdon High School (NJ)
– Student-run game night in the cafeteria

“Ddr+gutiart hero= fun”
“Awesome cuz everyone gets along with each
other, there’s no waiting in line or nething.
Plus guitar hero is a wicked rad game.”
“I loved DDR”
“I liked this because there’s too few of the DDR
community around. This is a good
opportunity to meet people with like interests.”

Think Like A Gamer!
Develop a BETA PROJECT

Questions & Handouts
• Beth Gallaway
• informationgoddess29
@gmail.com
• 603.247.3196
• http://information
goddess29.com