On Instructional Video Games

The New York Times (registration required), is running an article entitled Is Instructional Video Game an Oxymoron?. In it they discuss the increasingly high profile that games are playing in educational and conciousness raising situations. From the article: "Stop Fluin' Around, which arrived in December, is one of dozens of instructional online games that public interest organizations, advocacy groups and government agencies say have become the best way to reach a generation of children and teenagers weaned on video games and the Web."

Comments

Yes, it works. Sort of.

[Nomihn0]

This approach certainly works for advertising. As long as they "rebrand" the game right, it could work. Never, though, should this replace honest-to-goodness schooling. Games should be considered academic enrichment (in their current form). The only thing Pac Man taught me was that I couldn't cut corners.

Not an oxy, moron

[centauri]

Instructional video games are quite useful. I used one to develop my leadership skills, in the area of large-scale ship-to-ship space combat. It was tough and I almost had a complete breakdown during my training, but I finally beat the game. Fortunately, I figured out the trick to beating the final level, and wiped out the opposition completely.

One thing that made the game so challenging was the enemy AI. It learned from its own mistakes and my tactics almost as if it were a real intelli... gence.

Oh, my God.

typing of the dead

[way2trivial]

I have a copy waiting for my son to be 3 so he can start learning the right way.

demo still widely available on the net- I strongly suggest everyone give it a try.

no better educational game ever

Used to be lots of educational games.

[LWATCDR]

One I can think of that is still pretty popular. Fight Simulator.