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All Aboard the Nerd Boat
Forbes is running an article detailing a most unusual cruise. 180 Computer Science profs were brought together on a Royal Carribean ship to talk about bringing computer games to the classroom. Despite the topic, there was a lot of serious discussion. From the article: "After Microsoft's Luehmann praised the technical sophistication of three new Xbox 360 games (Mass Effect, Too Human, and Gears of War), a silver-haired professor raised his hand and commented: 'You just showed us three very sophisticated and very violent games, and I'm sure they're good for something--though I don't really know what that is--but what I want to know is, when will you make a videogame that's really useful? When will you make a videogame that's going to teach my students chemistry?'"
Games are traditionally something that people do in order to relax and have fun. A game that teaches chemistry? It doesn't exactly sound like something I'd want to have a multiplayer deathmatch in...
Don't forget that videogames are a business. The developers make what the market wants (at least, that's the theory).
Baltika
When will you make a videogame that's going to teach my students chemistry?'"
Newsflash: Your students don't want to learn chemistry. They want to beat up the hooker and get their money back, run away from the cops in a flashy sports car, and unload an entire arsenal into the local shopping mall.
That's why Grand Theft Auto 3 is the most successful franchise in history, and Mavis Beacon Teaches Chemistry hasn't even gotten to the drawing board stage yet.
I can see the lawsuits already.... look at how many people sue game makers over shootings, imagine if the games showed kids how to make bombs!
nothing
They always left or obscured out a crucial piece of the bomb recipe.
So, the majority of users would be stuck, leaving a few of the more gifted and determined ones to work out the remaining details. Then you pray to Darwin that this minority takes reasonable precautions (your game should teach them that too).
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
Where in X is Carmen Sandiego.
Space
The USA
The World
Time
Oregon Trail, Super Solvers X, Sim X, Number Munchers, some fish game I barely remember and more. They're still around, just so happens FPSs are getting all the news right now. Among others, try Pikmin as a more recent title.
Fly me to the moon Let me sing among those stars Let me see what spring is like On jupiter and mars
"Games are traditionally something that people do in order to relax and have fun."
No! That's ONE accepted definition of a game. A game can educate (it's called a simulation). The military uses games to educate. Same with business (what do you think simcity and the tycoon series taught?). Even healthcare uses games.
The nice thing with most modern games is that the tools are within everyone's reach. From FUN to making a movie, everyone (with talent) can create.