I’ve been following the development of Metaplace and been an early beta tester since meeting Raph Koster at the Game Developer’s Conference several years ago. His vision was audacious, yet simplicity itself: allow anyone to create and share their own massively multiplayer virtual world or game using drag-and-drop tools. As Raph wrote in his blog [...]
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Virtual Play Patterns
My colleague Scott Traylor of 360 Kid regularly writes thoughtful and timely pieces about kids, toys and digital media, and his latest article for the May 2009 issue of Playthings Magazine is no exception. What Works For Virtual Play? – Questions to Ask About Web-enabled Toys takes a deep dive into play patterns of toys [...]
Serious Games Showcase
Serious games and simulations embrace subjects as diverse as health care, emergency preparedness, world history, algebra, ethics, emotional intelligence, team building. Thanks to Eliane Alhadeff for showcasing some of this diversity in these slides.
Do Video Games Prepare Kids for the Future?
Many video games take place in a fantastically violent, post-apocalyptic landscape, but are these games adequately preparing kids for the future? Listen in as Clifford Baynes and his colleagues tackle the issue head on. Are Violent Video Games Adequately Preparing Children For The Apocalypse?
Brand You According to Google
Let’s face it, the ability to manage and control our personal and professional identities has taken a big hit thanks to web services like Google, MySpace, Facebook, social bookmarking and now challenges like “25 Random Things About Me” that’s been making the rounds. Depending on how you play it out it’s either the underside or [...]
Using Games in the Classroom
Should video games be used in the classroom? Can they support a standards-based curriculum and do they improve learning outcomes? My colleague and collaborator Lee Wilson has written a white paper for the Software Information Industry Association (SIIA) that tackles these and other practical challenges teachers face when they use video games in the classroom. [...]
Live from the Global Game Jam
It’s day three, two hours and counting to the end of Game Jam 2009 and I’m reporting this morning from the world wide headquarters of Team High Concept. For the first time since Friday the room is quiet, designers designing, writers writing, programmers coding, creative directors — yours truly — biding their time writing about [...]
