edutainment
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Report: Games may help steer interest in reading
Games, according to some, are a gateway drug to books, drawing players away from the screen to engage in some old-school page turning. According to The Times, everyone from teachers to authors are embracing the idea of using video games to help encourage children to read, while nonprofit John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is even offering grants in hopes that game design principles can be used to help build literacy and other skills in school-agers. Interesting as this is, it's not exactly new information, is it? As far back as the early '70s young'ns were getting a leg up in schools learning about the dysentery-filled life of 19th century pioneers in The Oregon Trail, while other edutainment and even mainstream titles like Civilization have helped spark interest in the word outside of games as well. Still, it's encouraging to see efforts that try to bridge education with our hobby of choice. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to finish up these last few pages of Animal Farm before getting back to Viva Piñata.
WiiWare edutainment hits Japan this month
Cable Entertainment announced a new WiiWare game for Japan, and it's already scheduled to come out in September! Kappa-kun to Asobou: Kappa-kun to Mori no Nakamatachi (Play with Kappa: Kappa and his Forest Friends) is an animated picture book with voice narration. The game, which tells the story of a young kappa who wants to become human, also includes simple quizzes about the material.As totally hardcore gamers, we in the gaming community tend to look disapprovingly at young kids' edutainment, but we think that children's "non-games" on WiiWare actually seems like a great idea. It's cheap (600 points), can be purchased from home, and might encourage a few parents to share a story with their kids.
Beyond serious games: learning without training
Edutainment is becoming a larger part of gaming all the time, but at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival, two educators are wondering if we shouldn't do away with the genre altogether. Dr. Graham Brown-Martin and Derek Robertson are using Nintendogs and Guitar Hero, among others, as examples of regular (read: fun) games that have some hidden educational merit. Nintendogs, for example, helps teach kids budgeting and money management almost by accident. Within the game, you have to manage your funds in order to keep your pups supplied with both essentials and extras, but it never feels like you're learning. Instead, you're just playing. Robertson and Brown-Martin include Brain Age in the games-for-fun category, however, so we're not precisely sure where they're drawing the line. But they're definitely in favor of off-the-shelf games helping out in the classroom, rather than poorly-designed knock-offs that serve as more straightforward teaching tools (rather than actual games). After all the benefits we've seen from teachers who've tried the DS in classrooms around the world lead us to agree.Remember their arguments for the future. This is a great way to explain to Mom that Grand Theft Auto is actually educational. You have money. You have to buy things. It's budgeting. Remind her that she should try it. We promise, this argument will take you far. You can learn a lot with the DS! Pick up a new language, master a workout, train your brain ... and hey, just play, too.
Globe DS: a big blue marble of learning
Everyone loves the Wii Forecast Channel. It's funny, because the most entertaining thing to do is spin the world really fast, randomly stop on a location and promise yourself that you will travel there. After that, you realize that you are dirt poor, you can't travel overseas because of those threatening references you made to the UN, and all your assets have been seized by the state. Sure, you did have that promising career in waste management lined up, but it's too late to do anything about that now!... Ahem. So, there's a globe thing coming to the DS now. It's not an instant-weather application or anything, but rather a detailed map of various worldy data. In Earth mode, you can check out specific information for each country, including climate, population and economic details. In History mode, you can touch a region to learn about how it has evolved over time -- evidently dating back to 3100BC. Finally, the Card mode lets you collect approximately 500 cards which have various puzzles and questions to answer. Obviously, the whole thing is in Japanese, but localization wouldn't be too much of a stretch considering the wealth of "edutainment" titles we see on the DS these days.
Bob the Builder trains young ones in the art of construction
Well, not really. But it is refreshing to see a game teach infants about the weight of things and angles of stuff, to prepare them for future careers in today's modern mills and processing facilities. Training the brain isn't necessary, so long as they can lift cats and cut wood!It's probably best to elaborate. Bob the Builder (or, Bob and HATARAKU BUBUZU) has been commandeered for use in a Japanese children's learning game. It's not all heavy construction -- three modes of training are available. These include weight and maths training, 2D and 3D shape recognition, and vocabulary building. Bob the Builder is a universally respected genius in the world of engineering and, well, building. He's also an affable English chap, and it's always handy to have one of those around. Check out the screens in the gallery for more learning fun -- but don't hope for a local release. We're sure Bob will show up when he is needed the most.%Gallery-26584%
Speed Reading for slowpokes
Most of us can't read Japanese at all, let alone fast enough to be tested. Dr. Akihiro Kawamura of the Speed Reading Committee won't have any such incompetence with DS owners today, and came up with training methods to become a master of speed reading. That is, reading Japanese, which we can't comprehend in the first place. How about speed looking?Still, there's got to be some fluent Fanboy readers out there just itching to shave some seconds off their record recitals of the latest Kanji literature. The game teaches masterful reading through mini-games and a good old-fashioned timer. Expect Speed Reading DS to rocket up the North American sales charts!
I'm learnding -- UK school picks up the DS
Awright, what's all this then? Clunbury Primary School in merry old England has brought on a fleet of DS Lites to help combat stupidity in children. It's safe to say the kids aren't sitting around playing Mario Kart, but instead picking up any one of the maths, language or brain games available.It's not just one tyke campaigning for Ninteducational powers. Head teacher Andrew Davies said using DS software is an "exciting and alternative way of approaching education." Capital idea, old bean. Just make sure this mother's kid doesn't enrol at your school anytime soon.Clunbury was voted as the top Information and Communications Technology (ICT) school in England, using mp3 recorders, blogs and podcasts to teach the tots. Where was all the awesome technology when this blogger was battling with the Commodore 64?
Atlantic Link launches educational software for PSP
Atlantic Link is now offering PSP owners the most valuable gift of all: the gift of learning. Their e-learning tools can now design courses for the PSP's internet browser, which can be deployed from Memory Stick or online. The tools allow creators to adapt their programs to the small screen.Mike Alcock from Atlantic Link is perhaps a bit too enthusiastic about the possibilities of this service. In their press release, he notes: "The potential applications for this technology are huge and almost mind-boggling. Tourist guides, language training, product training and updates, maintenance guides and training, medical training, interactive museum guides, schools training, the list is almost endless."It's great to see a company expand their offering to focus on Sony's handheld. Who knows? Perhaps we'll all be learning through our PSPs thanks to Atlantic Link. To see a demo of the service on your PSP, click here.
Kaplan to train you for the SATs through your DS
For those of you looking to bone up on your college-level analogies, Kaplan, Inc. has teamed with Aspyr Media to bring you a SAT prep title for the DS. The project is still early in development, so there is no name or screens yet. Sadly, that's about all we have to go on right now.We must say, the decision to bring such an application to the DS shows (to us, at least) the kind of smarts that would score well on the SATs. [Via Joystiq]
Kaplan SAT test prep coming to Nintendo DS
Kaplan, Inc. has teamed with Aspyr Media to create an SAT prep game for the Nintendo DS, according to Newsweek. Versions are also on their way to PC and Mac, where the test prep software is already fairly common. The project is early in development and does not yet have a name. Newsweek reports that it was Aspyr who pitched the idea to Kaplan. If this is a success, can we get a DS game to help us understand Special Relativity? Perhaps we can get Professor Layton or perhaps even Wario as our virtual teacher.
Brain Assist: for the brain that has everything
Have you zipped through all the other training games, only to find yourself yearning for more? We have good news for you! There are games being released this week, and you know what that means: training games! Lucky for you, it's a brain trainer this time around. All sarcasm aside, before you poopoo Brain Assist and push it aside, consider this: Sega's trainer, based on the Japanese arcade title (and its sequel) is a little different from the other brain games flooding the market. Brain Assist specifically targets only the right hemisphere of the brain and is designed to stimulate creativity. Yes, folks ... that means less math. Of course, the graphics are more simplistic than those in some of the other brain games we've seen, but the unique approach combined with the budget price of $19.99 that we love in training games might make this one worth a second glance if you're up for a little brain-engaging.%Gallery-16975%[Via press release]
DS Fanboy Poll: Education vs. exercise, DS vs. Wii
First, the DS was popping up in schools all over the world, as a tool to get students excited about learning. Now Nintendo's latest is following suit, but in a different way: the Wii is being used to promote fitness and exercise as a tool for virtual P.E. Not only does this bode well for Nintendo's efforts in world domination, but it also adds an interesting dimension to the future of gaming as a whole. But it also opens up an interesting question for us Nintendo fans to consider. Which system will be more successful, worldwide, in schools? Will the DS do more to prop up education, or will the Wii help get kids moving? Of course, it must be mentioned that the DS can be used as an exercise tool as well. After all, it's important to know how to walk.%Poll-8741%
Finally, a game about the Library of Congress classification system [Updated]
Since the inception of the video game, there have been those who would try to re-purpose electronic interactive entertainment for more ... educational pursuits. As a rule we're typically supportive of these efforts, but a recent project by students at Carnegie Mellon's Entertainment Technology Center has just pushed us too far. They've just used a game called Within Range to ... teach the Dewey Decimal System. [Update: It's the Library of Congress classification system. See below paragraph for more insight into how this error was made.]We've made it clear how we feel about libraries (or as we think of them, the crappy, flammable Internet that also has homeless people), so you can understand why this is so offensive to us. That's doubled by the fact that the fun has been filed under "N" for "non-existent." Think all games deserve a fair shake? Go ahead, but don't say we didn't warn you.[Thanks, Michael S.]
Wii gamers need more common sense
If you were hoping to get a crack at Otona No Joushikiryoku Training DS, well, too bad. That's one DS training game that isn't yet on board for an English-language release, but it does seem to be headed toward the Wii ... at least, in Japan. The non-game focuses not on common sense as we often colloquially use the phrase, but more on "general knowledge." For example, in the above screen, players are asked to locate the Caribbean Sea. From some of the other screens (handily included in our gallery below), we can see that the title focuses on a variety of skills and knowledges that are useful, from tying a tie to cultural information. Perhaps the Wii title will have a better chance of crossing the globe, considering the ever-expanding casual market, but for now, we'll have to settle for a little free translation training from the kanji-heavy screens.The Wii version heads out to Japan in March. %Gallery-14007%
Guitar Wizard coming for Mac
The guys and gals over at our sister blog Engadget were keeping busy at the recent CES and have turned up some interesting products with a Mac angle. In the video above they're checking out a new music instruction software package called Guitar Wizard which works a lot like the Guitar Hero game (our coverage). The key difference is that Guitar Wizard uses a real guitar and actually teaches you something about playing. The kit consists of the software and a midi pickup which can be attached to your own guitar for $150, or you can get a kit that includes a guitar as well for $300. New songs will be downloadable at 99 cents each.
Classroom game teaches ethical decision making
Would you steal brains? USC Annenberg School for Communication associate professor Doug Thomas hopes to pose the question to tweens through his upcoming edutainment release Modern Prometheus. The game pits players as Dr. Frankenstein's lovely assistant, tasked with a number of difficult ethical questions, like: Steal brains outta the local cemetery to cure the plague or politely leave the dead to rest and soon join them?Modern Prometheus takes just one hour to 'beat,' but gameplay is theoretically extended through both classroom and informal discussion (Thomas seems certain grave robbing could be a hot lunchroom topic). Actually getting Modern Prometheus into schools is the hard part, but Thomas hopes that by teaming with another edutainment developer, Indiana University professor Sasha Barab, and promoting through mediums like Second Life, he can work his game into middle school curriculum by springtime. "It's not Halo 3," says Thomas, "but for the age group we are working with now it's pretty good."
ChipWits lives on
Back in the days when Apple pretty much owned the educational market, the Mac was new and Oregon Trail was the pinnacle of edutainment, there existed a little program called ChipWits. I played on my Laser 128, but there were versions for the Commodore 64 and Macintosh. Now some 20-odd years later ChipWits makes a triumphant return as an Adobe AIR app, so you can get your robot on with a Windows machine or a Mac (and hopefully Linux someday).ChipWits is a programmable robot game. You build and program your little robot dude to travel through various environments (called rooms). Each one has specific rewards and risks, which makes programming the robot guy interesting. That may sound dry as toast, but your robot eats pie and drinks coffee. He can see, smell and touch. He can zap bugs but isn't too happy with bombs. The bit of whimsy thrown in with the robot-building makes for a really enjoyable game. Plus, it's surprising how fun debugging your robot can be. The big improvement in what the authors are calling ChipWits II is that you can now create your own missions. If something like Desktop Tower Defense is your bag, the Mission Editor will appeal to you. Currently you can try ChipWits 15 times and buy it for $14.95. The release price will be $19.95, and the authors are donating 10% of their profits to 3 non-profit organizations.
Coming in December: WolfQuest
You'll have to indulge me in a little nostalgia here. Some of my earliest Apple memories are of crowding around an Apple II playing Oregon Trail. I couldn't help but think of that when I saw that our gaming blog brothers at Joystiq have uncovered an exciting new "edutaiment" title coming in December. Called WolfQuest, this wolf "simulator" is being created by the Minnesota Zoo to allow me (er, I mean, kids) to live out the dream of being a wolf on the great plains. If the pricelessly corny preview video is to be believed, the Minnesota Zoo and Eduweb will apparently achieve something beyond EA's capacity: cross-platform network play with simultaneous release on Mac and PC.Alas this lupine sim won't be out until December 2007, but now you really have something to look forward to this Christmas. And by the way, if you want to relive those Oregon Trail days, it's possible in a Dashboard widget.
Today's wildest video: Wolf Quest
In what could be the greatest game trailer of all time, this Wolf Quest video introduces the December, 2007 simulation title. You play a wolf capable of forming a pack with other players online, where you do wolfy things, like hunting, peeing on stuff, and howling. The game, being released through the Minnesota Zoo, will be a free Mac/PC download.The trailer strikes an uncanny balance of mediocre (read: hilarious) production values and game content that genuinely looks fun. While the educational game may skew towards a younger audience, any animal fan might enjoy the title.Screw Okami and Twilight Princess. See the new alpha dog after the break.
DS game aimed at preschoolers announced -- I Did It Mum!
UK publisher 505 Games announced today I Did It Mum!, a collection of educational mini-games aimed at preschool boys and girls. The DS title will come in two separate versions, one for each gender, and feature games such as "toy train", "drive the car", "color the animals", and "little kitchen". I Did It Mum! even has a voice recording option that allows parents to record a congratulatory message (or, for kicks, nonsensical sounds to confuse and/or delight) that will be played when mini-games are complete. Even though it's aimed at preschoolers, we're sure your average gamer would still get a kick out of playing house in "little kitchen".
