Games ARE good for you! - Page 2

Intrepid Homoludens · 07-14-2005, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smashing

From a personal point of view though, I'm in total agreement that games are good for you, as most games would broaden your knowledge sphere one way or another.

I could vividly remember one or two games that have introduced so many concepts that it'd led to the broadening of my knowledge. For example, I remember playing Civilisation when I was barely 13, and got acquainted to the idea of the differences between the different political system (which subsequently spurred me to read up on Lenin and Engel's communist manifesto, Mao's little red book, English civil war and Plato's republic amongst many others), the wonders of the world that nobody even bothered these days, as well as learning how to manage at different levels (micro and macro manage). I doubt any textbook could introduce that much at one sitting!

I read a few news articles on how games like Civilization and The Sims are actually being used to teach history and social science. There are a few companies specializing in making these kinds of games - historical, political, and anthropological sims - that have students group together to run a virtual country, manage resources, learn about how various peoples live, even stage digital wars with other students' countries in a 'hands on' approach to learn how history is made and put in context. I wish had saved the links but this is definitely an ongoing trend in education.

smashing · 07-14-2005, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

I read a few news articles on how games like Civilization and The Sims are actually being used to teach history and social science. There are a few companies specializing in making these kinds of games - historical, political, and anthropological sims - that have students group together to run a virtual country, manage resources, learn about how various peoples live, even stage digital wars with other students' countries in a 'hands on' approach to learn how history is made and put in context. I wish had saved the links but this is definitely an ongoing trend in education.

Didn't know about Civilisation or The Sims as teaching tools. Did hear however that some agency is using the NWN engine to teach the Civil Wars.

I do think that every game would definitely teach you something. Even the Longest Journey, though quite cliche in a rather safe story-line, attempted to convey some philosophical thoughts, on moral and existentialism. Those are nothing new to me really, but I guess it might have taught someone something...

Starflux · 07-14-2005, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syntheticgerbil

Mostly emo kids, romance novel enthusiasts, and sci-fi guys.

I'd better not catch you dissing my pulp novels young man!

syntheticgerbil · 07-15-2005, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flux

I'd better not catch you dissing my pulp novels young man!

"Will you beat me with your throbbing member?" cried Shiela as her chest pulsated with the fiery passion of two moons time of loneliness.

Hammerite · 07-15-2005, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syntheticgerbil

"Will you beat me with your throbbing member?"

I'm not sure that that's legal at my age.

Starflux · 07-16-2005, 12:47 AM

You won't find that sort of thing in the sort of pulp I read. More like this:

Drog'thar the warrior raised his axe and smirkingly said: ,,Nay, smelly orc, it is YOU who will die!", whereupon he cleft him in twain.

syntheticgerbil · 07-16-2005, 01:12 AM

I'm sure the word "cleft" could be used in a similar manner.

Well how about games being good for kids? I think kids are good. I think games are good. I don't know what happens when they get together.

Hammerite · 07-16-2005, 01:24 AM

Let's have an experiment!

Phantom · 07-16-2005, 03:15 AM

My dad did such an experiment with me as the subject, and I guess it ended up pretty good

.

Watching and playing games are some of my earliest memories. Of course games weren't as explicit as they are today, but there are some exceptions: the Laura Bow series, for example, was pretty scary (it's even quite scary for adults I must confess).

Hammerite · 07-16-2005, 12:22 PM

Same here. Except I was scared of Dr. Fred in DOTT.

07-16-2005, 12:47 AM	#26
Starflux A Servicable Villain Last Online: 08-28-2009 03:15 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: the ocean spire Posts: 1,730	You won't find that sort of thing in the sort of pulp I read. More like this: Drog'thar the warrior raised his axe and smirkingly said: ,,Nay, smelly orc, it is YOU who will die!", whereupon he cleft him in twain. __________________ Visit my webcomic Captain August!

07-16-2005, 01:24 AM	#28
Hammerite kamikaze hummingbirds Last Online: 05-18-2012 08:46 AM Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Over there. Posts: 7,946	Let's have an experiment! __________________ The bin is a place for household rubbish, not beloved pets!

07-16-2005, 12:22 PM	#30
Hammerite kamikaze hummingbirds Last Online: 05-18-2012 08:46 AM Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Over there. Posts: 7,946	Same here. Except I was scared of Dr. Fred in DOTT. __________________ The bin is a place for household rubbish, not beloved pets!

07-16-2005, 01:12 AM	#27
syntheticgerbil Banned User Last Online: 06-02-2009 11:23 AM Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Rubbish Posts: 535	I'm sure the word "cleft" could be used in a similar manner. Well how about games being good for kids? I think kids are good. I think games are good. I don't know what happens when they get together.

07-16-2005, 03:15 AM	#29
Phantom Senior Member Last Online: 09-11-2009 01:21 AM Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Belgium Posts: 466	My dad did such an experiment with me as the subject, and I guess it ended up pretty good . Watching and playing games are some of my earliest memories. Of course games weren't as explicit as they are today, but there are some exceptions: the Laura Bow series, for example, was pretty scary (it's even quite scary for adults I must confess).