Arcade Games

"Adventure games" are popular, enjoyable, computerized activities in which the user pursues the quest of the Holy Grail, tries to free a princess from a dungeon, fights dragons, or engages in similar "adventurous" activities. Aside from often requiring logical thinking and problem solving abilities, these games often have more explicit educational implications.

One of the most popular of these games is Sim City (Figure 2.14). Students running this program would come away with a clear understanding of....

One problem with this kind of program is that not all students enjoy the "adventure game" format. Programs of this type require a unique type of input and persistence - adventure game players can almost be regarded as a subculture within our society. A further problem with Gold Rush! is that it is time-consuming; students would not be able to complete this program within an hour-long time period. Most users would have to spend several days to succeed. However, the fact that both children and adults are indeed willing to spend hours and even days trying to make it to California as efficiently as possible is a strong indication that this is a worthwhile program for students who take an interest in it. Teachers need to become aware of programs of this kind and offer them as possible activities for students who enjoy and have time for programs of this type.

The term edutainment has been coined to apply to computer applications that are both fun and educational. Oregon Trail, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, Number Munchers, and Sim City are examples of edutainment programs. Figure 2.x shows a screen from Mario Teaches Typing. Children zap objects by typing letters in much the same way as they zap objects in the Mario Brothers arcade games. The result is a really enjoyable way to learn to type.

Figure 2.x. A screen from Mario Teaches Typing.

Evaluating Arcade Games

The following questions will help you evaluate and select arcade games that might contribute to instruction:

• Does the game relate in specific ways to the curriculum?
  
  
• If the game has only peripheral relevance to the curriculum, is it still appropriate to devote classroom time to it?
  
  
• Is it necessary to supplement the arcade game with additional materials or instructional efforts in order to make the connections clear?
  
  
• Is the arcade game likely to be more useful to some students than to others?
  
  
• What kind of game is it (e.g., drill or simulation)? Use the criteria for that type of application to evaluate the game.

Examples of Arcade Games

Here are some more examples of arcade games with educational implications. Click on a title to see a description of the program, or skip them and go on to the next section of this chapter:

 

{Add several arcade games here. Model them on the supplementary list from the tutorial segment.}

Funbrain.com
http://www.funbrain.com/

This site has lots and lots of learning games. They aren't exactly arcade games, but kids will enjoy many of them and learn from them.

Click here to go to the next section of this chapter.