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Serious Games - World of Borecraft?

Posted by Zonk on from the gotta-hit-level-zzzzz dept.

Slate has up a piece right now talking, in a somewhat frustrated tone, about the mixed message that serious or education games can pass on. The article recognizes that serious games have a great deal of power, and can be useful ... but do they have to be boring? "The basic issue here is that it's easier to make a fun game educational than it is to inject fun into an educational game. In his 2005 book, Everything Bad Is Good for You, Steven Johnson argues that games like The Sims and Grand Theft Auto make us smarter by training the mind in adaptive behavior and problem-solving. Most overtly educational software, though, ignores the complexities that make games riveting and enriching. The serious-gaming types think they can create educational software from whole cloth. In reality, they have a lot to learn from Grand Theft Auto." Coincidentally, Gamasutra is running an article entitled Who Says Videogames Have to be Fun?, which looks at the same issue from a slightly different point of view.

4 of 112 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Warcraft on Earth.. by Kreigaffe · · Score: 5, Funny

    Unfortunately we would have scores of people wandering Iowa asking where they could find Mankrik's wife.

    --
    ... still waiting for this free-as-in-beer free beer I keep hearing about. :|
  2. Educational Games by Minwee · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ah, I can see it now. "Grand Theft Auto - Oregon Trail". "Where in the Halo is Carmen Sandiego?" "Mavis Beacon Teaches Ganking".

    How could it possibly go wrong?

  3. I can see it now... by Ub3rT3Rr0R1St · · Score: 4, Funny

    Grand Theft Auto V Mission #1: Tony Pinetti's ho owes him $230. She's been dodging him for 3.2 days. Tony charges an interest rate of %0.1 interest per hour a ho dodges him. Tony has instructed you to smack her for every $3.50 she owes him. How many times will you have to smack Tony's ho?

  4. Re:Warcraft on Earth.. by Fex303 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Unfortunately we would have scores of people wandering Iowa asking where they could find Mankrik's wife.
    Too many generations have been raised to not ask questions. The autonomic reflex to ask questions (even about the inane) is annoying to those who think they know everything, but it's a Good Thing(tm) for our culture.
    Oh for fuck's sake! You don't need to start in with the philosophical bullshit. Highbrow people like you are ruining Barrens Chat.

    She's at 49,50. Now go finish your quest.