I read an entertaining piece of journalism today which declares that video-gaming is educational, because it involves problem-solving, patience and learning moves. No doubt you've read of research claiming that kids, old people and pretty much anyone can 'train' their brains by playing games, and thus stave off senility or whatever.
I'm not particularly convinced - the 'skills' required by many games aren't particularly transferable. I'm not certain that learning how to score drugs, dally with prostitutes or (as a very good dissertation I read a few days ago boasted) smash enemies' heads against the kerb until they're dead really count as educational. For one thing, the physics of cranium-crunching and the economics of the sex-trade aren't included in the experience: these are worlds of naked, individualistic capitalism.
But then, I'm not really in much position to preach. I know someone who never completed The Hobbit on a ZX Spectrum, and I'm not much better. The last game I played obsessively was Civilization II in about 1996. I loved it, but got bored because it was so ideologically loaded. To win, you had to be a ragingly violent capitalist ready to nuke your neighbours without cause, whereas I always tried to build a socialist, peace-loving society, and got nuked by said neighbours: clearly the game's designers are Hobbesians, and it disturbed me. Civ 3 and Alpha Centauri just looked rubbish and didn't play as well.
I've tried to play Scrabble, but my copy is a cheating American version. It continually gets all seven letters down while refusing to provide a meaning for the made-up words, and gives me 7 vowels. It got so frustrating that I ended up demanding the suggestions every go and sitting back watching the computer play itself, which damaged my play against actual humans because my mental flexibility had been sapped.
I do occasionally go online to play the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy game, which is ridiculously difficult: try it, and then wonder where the summer (and your sanity) went.
So, tell me: what games do you play, which games do you recommend I play (and are available on Mac) and what have you learned from them? I see that Civ 5 is coming this year, and will hopefully be Mac-friendly!
5 comments:
Oh boy, here we go! (settles down with a can of Pepsi and some samosas)
Computer games ARE educational - well, some anyway. Obviously you've highlighted the ones that aren't (Grand Theft Auto and all that crap) but strategy games are, and even some you wouldn't think of.
Take Pro Evolution Soccer - in earlier editions they hadn't got the rights to the real team names, so they used regional names instead eg. AC Milan were "Lombardia", Barcelona were "Catalunia" and River Plate were "Pampas" etc. I swear on my life that playing that game helped me with my geography - if someone asked me where Lombardy was, I would know, only because of Pro Evo. That's a bit of a wacky example, I know, but its true.
As for Civ II, it is quite simply the best game ever. In fact, when I've finished this essay I may re-install it and play it for about 5 hours. I'm afraid though it's not a satisfying game unless you are waging war on some hapless opponent, sending troops over on boats to capture their Capital whilst banging on the desk screaming "KILL KILL KILL!" and being angry. Or maybe thats just me.
Do people still play games on macs and pcs? This may be your first problem right there.
The gaming world is becoming increasingly interesting as it develops - both in terms of technology (for example the wii which has made gaming a more sociable activity) and philosophically (for example the game Infamous in which you play a character with super powers and make your own decision about whether you are going to become a hero or a villain)
Most games are no match for a good book, conversation, or a walk in the country but some do have their place and are worthy of note.
You are absolutely right to be cautious about games 'training' brains - there is no science to back the claims about that, but they can be a lot of fun.
It is hard to recommend specific games, especially as you don't have access to any particular system to play them on. I have fond memories of my old Atari, Silent Hill on the play station managed to be creepier and more unsettling than most horror films I have seen, the original GTA was a guilty pleasure, FIFA on the Playstation 3 is surprisingly involving, Tennis on the Wii sports is great fun, Bully is twisted genius...
Oh and you are right about Scrabble, it makes you look bad when you are shouting "since when has 'an' not been a fucking word you cheating cock" at a mobile phone.
Championship Manager '98, end of discussion.
Yes, I know that games are fascinating for study. My student's just done a brilliant dissertation on what happens to players with ethnic minority or female avatars in MMORPGs, other people look at the narratology aspect of gameplay, and others have looked at the social aspects of playing online or with others in the same room. Only the Daily Mail, of course, thinks there's a simple link between playing/watching violence and committing violent acts.
The educational value of soccer games is tenuous at best. I don't really see the point of them. If I want to play football, I'll pick up a ball and go outside. I played Civ, on the other hand, partly because it sated my barely-suppressed need to dominate the world. You'd all be in camps by now if Civ hadn't satisfied my lust for power.
I'm definitely not opposed to games, in their place, but nothing's really grabbed my attention enough to purchase a dedicated machine. But I am now going to have another fruitless go at the Hitch Hiker's Guide one.
Hope you weren't referring to me regarding 'The Hobbit' on the ZX Spectrum! That game drove me mad as a child- did anyone ever manage to complete it? I don't think it was possible.
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