The problems
Before talking about some thoughtfull quotes from the chapters I was wondering how many of us actually take what we learn in video games and apply them to real life situations? Is it just me or have others never really thought of video games as somethign to teach us real life skills and techniques?
In chapte 7 Koster says, "This is what games are for. They teach us things so that we can minimize risk and know what choices to make." As this class has continued to move along I have become more and more aware of how games are teaching us life skills and helping teach us what choices to make. I never looked at video games like this and Koster is also saying the same thing, video games help us know what choices to make.
Koster again touches on the aspect of video games influencing life in chapter 8. "Games are for offering challenges, so that you can then turn around around and apply those techniques to real problems." The aspect of applying video game knowledge to real life is a very common and reoccuring theme throughout the book. I would love to know how many people have really thought about video games as a place to learn things and apply them in real life. I have personally never been in a real life situation where I have consciously thought about a technique I learned in a video game to solve my problem.
In chapter 9 Koster says, "Games, at there best, are not perscriptive. They demand that the user create a response given the tools at hand." Creating a response given to the tools at hand is another thing that occurs in our every day life. We wake up every morning with a plan for what we are going to do for the day. That plan does not always go accordingly and when something goes differently than expected we must respond with the tools we have.
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Susan Carmichael on The problems: I especially appreciated Koste
I especially appreciated Koster's comparisons to other subjects. For me, it made the connection to gaming as an art stronger, and I am sure that my future gameplay will have me analyzing the game's connection to real-life issues.
I've fought with friends and family for years that video games help with problem solving. I never thought of it as a way to learn to minimize risks though. It's an interesting idea. A great example are the Flight Simulator games. I have a friend who's going to Flying school, and he's been playing Flight Simulator (complete with simulator chair, geeky right?) for years, and it put him ahead of the game. I don't know if it's true, but I've heard that some flight schools actually use Flight Sim to teach their pupils how to maneuver in tough situations.