GAME: activity engaged in for diversion or amusement; synonym: see FUN
VIDEOGAME: 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
Game design slides courtesy of Chris Castaldi http://www.echoshard.com
Goals
What the Player wants to achieve
Main goals
Winning!
Sub-Goals
Shiny things
Goals Fit the GAME
Game design slides courtesy of Chris Castaldi http://www.echoshard.com
Obstacles
Impeding the player’s progress
Impeding the player’s path
Feeling of Accomplishment
Challenging the player
Game design slides courtesy of Chris Castaldi http://www.echoshard.com
Tools
Tools are what the player use to get to its goal
A Sword
A Spell
A Jump
Players need to use them properly
Game design slides courtesy of Chris Castaldi http://www.echoshard.com
Second Chances
The Player’s ability to fail and try again
Only once Chance in reality
Try again
Extra Lives
Health Bar
Quest for perfection
Game design slides courtesy of Chris Castaldi http://www.echoshard.com
Learning
Player’s Skill and Mastery of the tools they use.
Player learns the rules of the game and how to rise above them.
Spikes = Death
Fire Creatures are immune to fire.
Increasing Difficulty
Levels become harder and more complicated.
Game design slides courtesy of Chris Castaldi http://www.echoshard.com
Game Playing Components
Console/Playing Device
PC, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo
Screen or Monitor
Controller
mouse, joystick, keyboard, peripheral device
Power Source
Game
CD-Rom, cartridge, digital
Game Play Devices
Consoles
XBox
Playstation
Nintendo
Handhelds
PSP
DS
PC
Console Units Sold VG Charts. http://www.vgchartz.com /
Game Components
Console/Playing Device
PC, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo
Screen or Monitor
Controller
mouse, joystick, keyboard, peripheral device
Power Source
Game
CD-Rom, cartridge, digital
Game Screens
Monitor
Television
Projector/Screen
RCA Cable Inputs
RCA Cable Converters
Game Components
Console/Playing Device
PC, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo
Screen or Monitor
Controller
mouse, joystick, keyboard, peripheral device
Power Source
Game
CD-Rom, cartridge, digital
Game Controllers
Keyboard
Mouse
Mat
Guitar
Steering Wheel
Drum
Joystick
Camera
Controllers
Plug ‘n’ Play
Plugs into your TV
Play begins immediately
Handhelds VG Charts. http://www.vgchartz.com/ .
Mobile Gaming Devices Mobile gaming is expected to quadruple to 11.2 billion by 2010
For Discussion: What Are Some Benefits of Games?
Does This Sound Like Any Gamers You Know?
Social
Competitive
Wired
Self-aware
Always On
Heroic
Multi-taskers
Global
Collaborative
Risk Takers
Beck, John and Mitchell Wade. Got Game: How the Gamer Generation is Reshaping Business Forever . Harvard Business School Press, 2004.
Learning Principles*
Risk –tasking 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
Why Games at the Library?
Games provide opportunity for library as third place
Games are just like books, they are just another new format
Games are the medium of choice for the millennial generation
Games meet developmental needs/build developmental assets of teens
Games are literary
Games reinforce new literacies
Other???
Third Place
Third (Mc)Place
GAMES ARE LIKE BOOKS... THEY ARE JUST A NEW FORMAT
GAMING IS THE MEDIUM OF CHOICE FOR THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION A. 1968-1982 B. 1975-1990 C. 1982-2000 D. 1996-PRESENT
Gaming is the medium of choice for the millennial generation
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
Developmental Assets
Support
Empowerment
Boundaries & Expectations
Constructive Use of Time
Commitment to Learning
Positive Values
Social Competencies
Positive Identity
The Search Institute. http://www.search-institute.org
What Developmental Needs or Assets Are Being Met?
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 G A M E R S
Gaming Reinforces New Literacies
Exposing knowledge
Employing information
Expressing ideas compellingly
Ethics on the Internet
Armstrong Sara, and David Warlick. ”The New Literacies.” Scholastic Administrator. Sep15, 2004. http://www.techlearning.com/story/showArticle.php?articleID=47102021 . June 12, 2008.
1. Exposing Knowledge
Find information
Understand and explain found information regardless of its format
Evaluate information
Organize information
Runescape
Ways Games Expose Knowledge
2. Employing Information
Computation
Measurement
Analysis
Application
Estimating
Basic arithmetic
Averages
Statistics
Lemonade Stand
EXERCISE # 3: Try Set Game http://www.setgame.com
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
FanFiction
Warcraft Tutorial
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
For Discussion: What Are Some Negatives of Games?
Gaming by the Numbers
1. What is the average age of the gamer?* *Entertainment Software Association. “Industry Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts. Accessed June 12, 2008. 35
2. What % of teens report playing games online?* *Pew Internet & American Life Project. Teens, Games and Civics, September 2008. http://pewinternet.org/PPF/r/263/report_display.asp . Accessed September 24, 2008. 97%
3. What % of people over age 50 play games?* *Entertainment Software Association. “Industry Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts. Accessed June 12, 2008. 26%
4. What % of gamers are female?* *Entertainment Software Association. “Industry Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts. Accessed June 12, 2008. 40%
5. What % of gamers read on a regular basis? *Entertainment Software Association. “Industry Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts. Accessed June 12, 2008. 32 % 93%
6. How many billions of dollars did the computer and game sales gross in the US in 2007?* $9.5 billion *Entertainment Software Association. “Industry Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts. Accessed June 12, 2008.
7. What % of games sold in 2007 were rated M for Mature?* *Entertainment Software Association. “Industry Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/. Accessed June 12, 2008. 15%
Have you ever played a game rated M for Mature?
8. What % of public libraries allow patrons to play computer games?* 82% *Nicholson, Scott. (2007). The Role of Gaming in Libraries: Taking the Pulse. July 2007. http://boardgameswithscott.com/pulse2007.pdf . Accessed June 12, 2008.
9. What % of public libraries host videogame programs?* 13% *Nicholson, Scott. (2007). The Role of Gaming in Libraries: Taking the Pulse. July 2007. http://boardgameswithscott.com/pulse2007.pdf . Accessed June 12, 2008.
10. What % of public libraries circulate videogames?* 30% *Nicholson, Scott. (2007). The Role of Gaming in Libraries: Taking the Pulse. July 2007. http://boardgameswithscott.com/pulse2007.pdf . Accessed June 12, 2008.
Ways to Serve Gamers
Use games to do readers advisory !
Be a strategy guide!
Embrace your inner technogeek
Be flexible … embrace change!
Immerse yourself in pop culture … especially video game culture!
Try some games!
1. 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?
If You Like City of Heroes
Exercise #5: Reader’s Advisory to Gamers
Break into groups and discuss characteristics of each genre
Add a few titles and authors to recommend to a gamer
Objectives:
seek similarities in games and books
approach a traditional library skill or service from a new angle
Roleplaying (RPG) 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?
Print Resources for Gamers
Magazines
Strategy guides
Nonfiction about gaming
Fiction with gaming as a plot or subplot
2. Be a Strategy Guide
Don’t be a level boss
Show, don’t tell
Make it interactive
Get them started with a free-for-all
Ask for a demo of expertise
Be open-minded
3. Get Your Geek On
Upgrade
Get a screen name
You can’t break it
Pilot projects
Read tech news
4. Be Flexible… Embrace Change!
Change the space
Flexible furnishings
Say yes
Go meta
Customize
Change yourself
Flexible seating
It’s a stool It’s a table It’s a storage unit
5. Immerse in Pop Culture…
Pop Culture
Hot High Tech
Crossovers
Especially Videogame Culture!
Watch machinima
Read gaming webcomics
Subscribe to a gaming podcast or blog
Skim gaming magazines
Pay attention to gaming around you
More Ways to Immerse!
Join the LibGaming Google Group
Email discussion for gaming in libraries
ALA Gaming News 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
6. Try Some Games
On the Internet
On a console
On a handheld
What Makes a Good Game?
Plot
Setting
Character
Graphics
Sound track
Modification/Customization
Support
Uniqueness
________________
Replayability
For Discussion: W hat Makes a Good Game?
Who is this magazine for?
What is appealing/unappealing about the magazine?
What can you learn from the articles? The ads? The reviews? Other content?
What are some indicators of game quality?
What magazine might you want to subscribe to?
Asteroids Vector graphics in Asteroids
ZORK Text RPG Zork
Non-Original Games
Authenticity to existing story
Retold in a creative way
Fan Service
Text RPG Zork
Minigames
Bioshock
Zelda
Text RPG Zork
Setting
Realistic Settings
Character Characteristics
Customizable
Diverse
Representation of the player
Mii
Game Physics
Smooth
Realistic
Appropriate
Graphics
Fast Loading
Seamless
Cinematic
Sound
Music
Speech
Ambient Noise
Customization
Calibration
Interface
Modding
Support
Katamari Damacy
Unique plot
Creative gameplay
Multiple modes of play
Finding Good Games
Game Awards
Websites
Magazines
Organizations
Networks
Game Reviews
Magazines
Library Journals
Websites
Game Awards
BAFTA - http://www.bafta.org/
IGN - http://bestof.ign.com
Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences http://www.interactive.org/
GameSpot - http://www.gamespot.com
GameSpy - http://goty.gamespy.com
Game Developer’s Choice Awards - http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/
Game Critics Awards http://www.gamecriticsawards.com/
Print Reviews
School Library Journal
Voice of Youth Advocates
Gaming Magazines
Tech Magazines
Online Reviews
Bub, Andrew. Gamer Dad . http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/
Scalzo, John. Video Game Librarian. http://www.videogamelibrarian.com/
National Institute on Media and the Family. Annual Video Game Report Card http://www.mediafamily.org/
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