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Monday, October 6, 2008

What do we learn from games?

What do we learn from games which are commercially produced without claiming they teach you anything?

Games are engaging. They use technology to represent reality or encapsulate you in a virtual world, providing an escape. They provide a unique interactive virtual playing environment with which you can have fun and while doing so I believe you can learn too.
Through interaction with the virtual world around you in a game, you get instant visual feedback. Isn't this learning?
For example, if I'm playing one of my favourite games like Metal Gear Solid 2, and while I'm controlling the main character Snake (there will be no mention of Raiden here...) I decide to run out of my hiding place and end up being seen by the enemy. If you have played Metal Gear you will know that you then enter Alert Mode in which all the enemy sentries come after you, and depending on the level of difficulty setting, it can be a pain to get away from them all.
So, I learn here that I really should try and not be seen by the enemy, which will allow me to reach my goal faster.

Games can also be used to enhance your skills such as creativity, learning how to overcome puzzles in games or riddles.

Learning to work as a team is definitely key to success in many games. Especially multiplayer games.
In games such as Halo where you can go through the story mode with up to 4 other players, you need to learn to work together to get through the level, communicating to each other as you play.

So in conclusion I do believe that commercial games do offer learning capabilities even if they do not claim to.

What do you think?

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