For classic games to play, choose one from each category, check in
1. Pong & Asteroids
I am going to write about my experience of Pong and Asteroids. When I played the games in category one, it seems so simple and easy to play. The title gave me a sense what kinds of games would be. I knew the concept before playing the game. The first screen definitely gave me that the game is outdated. However, when I played, I can feel it is a good analog game. In these days, I felt that so many technologies and a digitized game are too fancy to play. These two games were captured my mind because of beauty of analog.
When I started the Pong, I knew that it is just ping pong game. However, when I played Asteroids, it was little difficult to understand what should I do. I controlled the direction a few times and figured out the purpose of the game. Unlike Asteroids, pong was easy to play and knew how it works at the beginning.
The original interface of Pong is might be easier to play for Pong game because it only has rolling button. Also, people can use joysticks for Asteroids game. It can be a different style of game. For example, if you go to Davis and Buster, you can enjoy only that game mechanics because it is designed for only that purpose. Thus, different interface can change the immersive and fun level. I am more willing to use these basic games in game mechanics.
The educational affordances would be learning physics. We can predict the direction of the ball in Pong. In the process to predict the ball, we can learn the speed and actually ping-pong movement. Also, at first glance, I did not notice why the space ship moved so slippery. Now, I know it is based on the law of inertia. Thus, I can feel and learn how inertia works.
In my opinion, Asteroids game was hard to play, but it was so impressive to use the only certain amount of line and shape and make the game. Also, my first impression was how come they could make these games in 1970’s. It must be difficult to make it in the era.
2. Super Mario Bros
Super Mario is my favorite since I was young. It recalled my nostalgia. The name of Super Mario provided a sense that who is going to be the main character in the game and how I should play. Super Mario is arcade game that he keeps going forward on their journey.
Educational affordances I see in this game is that the player will know how to jump and the direction they want to go. They will learn physics to do it. Depending on how much power the Super Mario use, the result of playing will be different. Thus, the player is more dedicated to controlling the Super Mario character. Also, we can learn enthusiasm through the competition. We can play the Super Mario with friends. Two people can play the content one by one. They want to have more score and better result, so they have competition in the game.
I still remember when I played Super Mario first time. I used Gameboy at my home. In my personal opinion, the small joystick and controllers were more fun to use than a computer keyboard. The joy of using the controller is the tangible feeling, and it can have interaction with the game directly.
I can feel the reason why Super Mario is endless love for everybody. It is well organized and has strong storytelling. The goal of the game is clear that Super Mario needs to save the princess. The journey is that Super Mario fights with a villain to rescue the princess. It is quite fun and obvious story, but for children, it works well to motivate them.
Lastly, I want to talk about the special feature that Super Mario game provides. For example, the star is going fast; the flower is fire-ball; the mushroom is making you bigger. I think it has a special metaphor. Once we know these special items work with special power. Whenever I move, I tried to find these items to make the game fun. Also, I saw many students attempted to mimic these special features in a real world. For example, when they eat mushroom in the real world, they can expand their imagination to grow up.
3. Legend of Zelda
My first impression was little disappointed on the game. For this game, their promotions were quite well; it looks like a well-designed comic book in a promotion. However, playing a game has a low quality on a screen.
It is a role-playing genre, which is different from an arcade. A role-playing game has conversation part. I believe that it increases the literacy. My friend who is big fan of Japanese game can learn Japanese well because of the game. He practices in a game. If he does not know the word or sentences, he tried to find in a dictionary or ask friends because the conversation could be an important clue to complete the mission in a game. Thus, he studied Japanese himself even though no one pushes him to learn Japanese. That was impressive.
I believe that the biggest different role-playing and arcade is moving back and forward. While arcade can only move forward, role-playing can move back so that users feel that they are living in the real. Also, role playing has a mission to solve. Unlike arcade, role playing needs to move around and find the solution to complete the mission. Thus, it needs to think to solve the problem.
Moreover, I think Legend of Zelda makes to think how to think logically to go the next level. It makes for students to think deeply. I still remember that my brother likes those kinds of game. However, he could not solve the problem himself, so one day, he bought a guide book to find the secret of the game. His solving-problem cognition was developed because of the game. He kept thinking and thinking even in meal time.
I think Legend of Zelda was okay to use a computer keyboard because it does require lots of function. Thus, I feel like using joystick or game machines cannot follow the features. The only concern was quality. In my opinion, the games that can be transferred to the game machine do not have to be good quality especially if they have the only simple function. However, Legend of Zelda is a role-playing genre. For me, it needs lots of cognition skills because you have to meet people in the game, you need to find the treasures. It supposed to have a good quality of content. Thus, if it is transferred to the game machine, it will reduce the user’s motivation. I disagree playing a role-playing game on a game machine.
Contemporary game
I often play the sports game because while playing the game, I can learn the sports rule and skills. The contemporary game that I found for education purpose is Nintendo Wii sports game. First, it can be used in a home with your family. The user can learn collaboration or cooperation with another user. At the moment, the users can communicate each other and learn communication skills as well. Second, they will gain the knowledge how to play the certain sports. For me, I did not know the exact rule of football. Thus, using Wii to play a football game is not only fun but also knowing the rule. Third, you can be a mastery learning. The beauty of playing a game is you can play whatever you want to the success. Thus, the players can play the game until they can master the game. It is a good practice before you go to the real field. Therefore, Wii sports game has many benefits to use in informal learning.
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