Jen C

Angry birds is an interesting addictive game to play. When I first got my ipad2 I started playing with it and now, like other games I am hooked. It is exciting and their are no in depth rules, just aim and shoot. Koster has helped me approach a new game in a different way. When Koster says that “even whacked -out abstract games do reflect underlying reality”, I started thinking of  how that relates to angry birds.Well the first thing that came to mind is that the reality of angry birds, is that the birds eggs got stolen and they want them back. In Mcgonigal’s book he states that ” games optimize human experience, and “enable lasting engagement.” The game angry birds does give the player a lasting engagement. In life loss is part of the human experience and in Angry birds we are helping lost eggs find their way home. Players look at the game as fun but the underlying emotion just may be that our human nature is to offer help. Even though angry birds is a game, we may unknowingly be trying to help the Angry birds out. Bogost talks about the fact that,”there are no unified field theories of art”, and in reading that I think he is right. Games should be included in art, art nowadays is anything from a garbage can to a naked lady so why not games? Games are creative and enjoyable, you can either sit and stare at a painting and relax or play a game. Why does it seem that when it comes to video games all bets are off and people continue to change the rules. Art is subjective so what reality a person creates in art (imitating life), they can do in games as well. I think Koster had taught me to look closer at games and fun and pay attention to the details. While Mcgonigal has helped me to see the reality of games. In Bogost, I find a land of information to absorb, for instance chapter 15 on Titillation. That chapter opened my eyes up to unheard of games I never knew existed. There are some sick people in the world that is for sure. Angry birds is a great game for anyone, and it definitely has made an impact on the world of gaming. Im ending this section with a review of angry birds I found and an article on How Angry Birds can change the world.

via iPad Game (chosen by class).