games and learning
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Games and learning. Chris Crawford and dawn of computer games implications for learning games. Chris Crawford Art of Computer Game Design. taxonomy – primary concern board game – geometric relationships card game – combinatorics, probability athletic game – body skills - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Games and learning
Chris Crawford and dawn of computer games implications for learning games
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Chris CrawfordArt of Computer Game Design
taxonomy – primary concern board game – geometric relationships card game – combinatorics, probability athletic game – body skills children’s game – social skills computer game
skill and action – hand-eye coordination fantasy, adventure, war – no ‘primary concern’
stated
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Chris CrawfordArt of Computer Game Design
common factors: representation formal – explicit rules system – closed, interaction subjective reality – symbolic meaning stylized attributes – not ‘faithful to reality’
c/w simulation “subset of reality” important attributes
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Chris CrawfordArt of Computer Game Design
representation“A game creates a subjective and
deliberately simplified reality. A game is not an objectively accurate representation of reality; objective accuracy is only necessary to the extent required to support the player’s fantasy. The player’s fantasy is the key agent in making the gaem psychologically real.
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Chris CrawfordArt of Computer Game Design
interaction sculpture, painting – snapshot of reality movie, dance – changing reality interactive (game) – how reality changes –
control to explore cause and effect
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Chris CrawfordArt of Computer Game Design
interaction game is not a puzzle – reacts to player
action game is not a story – multiple possible paths games are not toys – rules included
manipulability by player
puzzle/story game toy
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Chris CrawfordArt of Computer Game Design
interaction ‘a game opponent reacts to player’s actions,
and presents different challenges each game’ (c/w puzzle against designer, once only)
‘computer games seldom provide a human opponent, and so they lack the social element that other games offer.’ !!!!!!!
“gaminess” – richness of player interaction
blackjack bridge football
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Chris CrawfordArt of Computer Game Design
conflict essential element
“Conflict is an element of all games. It can be direct or indirect, violent or non-violent, but it is always present in every game.”
cooperative games cooperation within a team in team’s conflict is challenge conflict? Myst, URU? Sims
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Chris CrawfordArt of Computer Game Design
conflict and safety “a game is an artifice for providing the
psychological experiences of conflict and danger while excluding their physical realizations.”
dissociate action from real consequence…just like education ;-\
gambling – consequences are real poker – consequences are part of game
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Chris CrawfordArt of Computer Game Design
computer games skill-and-action
combat maze sports paddle race
strategy adventures D&D wargames games of chance educational and
children’s interpersonal
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Some PET games (circa 1980)
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Some games (circa 1980)
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Some games (circa 1980)
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Some games (circa 1980)
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Some PET games (circa 1980)
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Some PET games (circa 1980)
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Some PET games (circa 1980)
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Some PET games (circa 1980)
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Chris CrawfordArt of Computer Game Design
computer games skill-and-action
combat maze sports paddle race
strategy adventures D&D wargames games of chance educational and
children’s interpersonal
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Combat games
variations based on geometry plus weaponry
opponents – number, capability 1st person, 3rd person views speed, strategy outer space
COSC 4126 Games in learning
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Maze games
branching structures – lots of complex play with simple structure
pacman – opponent makes games real time
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Sports games
“.., sports games remain the wallflowers of computer gaming. I suspect that sports games will not attract a great deal of design attention in the future. Now that computer games have an accepted identity of their own, the need for recognizable game titles has diminished.”
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Paddle games pong breakout “although I doubt
that it has much development potential remaining, I hesitate to pronounce such a durable old system dead.”
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Race games
“no real interaction in a race between a player and his opponent.”
developments since 1982…
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Strategy games:Adventure games
text adventures data driven language interface
expanded graphics and SIZE… Myst, URU“closer to puzzles than games”
COSC 4126 Games in learning
D&D and war games
role playing table games computerized for ‘dungeonmaster’
role (referee) combined with adventure games graphics precursor of FPS games
COSC 4126 Games in learning
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Games of chance
computer as ‘house’ other players… on-line casinos
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Educational games
“simple games that have some educational value”
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Electronic Arts – Bill Budge
Pinball Construction Set (PCS) is a video game by Bill Budge published by Electronic Arts. It was released for the Apple II and Atari 800 in 1983 and was later ported to other platforms, such as the Commodore 64 and PC Clone. With PCS, users could construct their own virtual pinball arcade machine and customize many of its aspects. PCS created a new genre of computer games—the "builder" or "construction set" class of games. With PCS, users could drag and drop controls onto their virtual pinball table. Controls included bumpers, flippers, spinners and other standard pinball paraphernalia. Attributes such as gravity and the physics model could also be modified. The user could save his creation and develop custom artwork to go along with it. Tables could be saved on floppy disks and traded with friends.
Pinball Construction Set is still recognized as one of the most important games in video game history.
http://www.fact-index.com/p/pi/pinball_construction_set.html
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Pinball Construction Set
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Pinball Construction Set
COSC 4126 Games in learning
Pinball Construction Set
build and play sim game player/developer concept learning – gravity, viscosity