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Are there any games out there that have a serious underlying message? (Some information i.e. good to share, don't steal, friendship is good, don't do drugs, you know the kind of things I mean) Sure we get many games that are designed to be humorous, fun, exciting, scary, gory. The list could go on. But are there any games that could actually have an underlying message. Educational games could fall into this category.
So here is a little on educational games. Think back to when you were young and in primary school. Learning was supposed to be fun but it never really was that great. Nowadays technology plays a big part in everyday life. So should it be used more in education for younger children? You may wonder what exactly I'm going on about and I will try to explain it as simple as I can. I think games with educational values should be used more in primary school children and here is why.
Children have very short attention spans, paying attention to a teacher all day can become very boring. (one of the most boring experiences there is) A lot of children would like the idea of getting to play a game as part of learning. Games are very popular with young children (the rest of us as well) and ones that help them learn easier and sometimes faster could be beneficial to the children and also the teacher.
Bright, fast moving colours and sounds cause us to become interested in what's happening, we pay more attention. When I was in school we used BBC computers with very poor graphical abilities, but still a lot of my classmates jumped at the chance to use one. I know all this would cost money but education is slowly improving in this country and more funds become available to schools all the time. Not a lot of equipment would be needed. Just a few computers in each school (which most probably have got). I know a lot of people who have some kind of educational software to help you learn, revise and they think they are a great help.
I'm not saying that developers should make games more educational. There are developers out there already who make these type of games. What I would like to know is do you think that such games would be beneficial and if they should be used more in schools to help children learn.
In this day and age technology is a major part of a lot of industries and people with skills in technology are required all over the place. Starting children at a younger age and getting them used to basic skills could help them develop quicker. I remember been shown countless television programs that had a so called educational value but nobody really paid that much attention to them, that's why I think game could be used to help. I know some are used but no used to their full potential. A problem could be parents who don't really know the full details who don't want their child to play games as they are there to learn.
Educational games have an underlying message, to be fun as well as educating the person playing them in some way. In my opinion all games educate you in some way and give you vital skills like hand-eye co-ordination, problem solving skills and ability to do many tasks at once and think about what you are doing (improved concentration).
But moving away from the educational side are there any games that have an underlying message that sometimes gets missed. In most games I have played it is designed so that the "Good" team or person always wins (unless you get killed) the enemy always gets defeated. There is no options so that the "Bad" side could be controlled and win. Which I think is something that could make a lot of games better. But with this option it could promote more protests from people who believe games can influence people in the wrong way (You know the ones who say games make children violent and abusive) I would like to see the chance to take over the world or to stop the "good" guy getting the girl.(Bit like the idea of GTA3) But all this would mean a bad underlying message being sent out to the players of the games. So do developers really think long and hard about what kind of messages people may interpret from their games? I think they must, well most. The likes of GTA3 seem to throw all rules out the window.
So what other messages can games give out? Morals seem to feature a lot. Will you run or stay and fight. Could you kill them or do you want to run away. The idea of sharing, giving another character something that you have. It seems unlikely that a large number of games will ever appear that makes you do things that are "against your morals" which is hard as everyone has different morals. With technology we have today there is a limit on everything, maybe sometime in the future there will be no limits and developers can include anything and everything. Choices would be needed to be made and maybe sometimes choices that do question your morals and beliefs. Surely this is the one thing that would make games as realistic as real life?
This is a slight problem though, all games could have an underlying message depending on how you look at them, some good some bad. All depends on the individual who is thinking and analysing the game. So what do you think? Any games you have played that have an underlying message?
So here is a little on educational games. Think back to when you were young and in primary school. Learning was supposed to be fun but it never really was that great. Nowadays technology plays a big part in everyday life. So should it be used more in education for younger children? You may wonder what exactly I'm going on about and I will try to explain it as simple as I can. I think games with educational values should be used more in primary school children and here is why.
Children have very short attention spans, paying attention to a teacher all day can become very boring. (one of the most boring experiences there is) A lot of children would like the idea of getting to play a game as part of learning. Games are very popular with young children (the rest of us as well) and ones that help them learn easier and sometimes faster could be beneficial to the children and also the teacher.
Bright, fast moving colours and sounds cause us to become interested in what's happening, we pay more attention. When I was in school we used BBC computers with very poor graphical abilities, but still a lot of my classmates jumped at the chance to use one. I know all this would cost money but education is slowly improving in this country and more funds become available to schools all the time. Not a lot of equipment would be needed. Just a few computers in each school (which most probably have got). I know a lot of people who have some kind of educational software to help you learn, revise and they think they are a great help.
I'm not saying that developers should make games more educational. There are developers out there already who make these type of games. What I would like to know is do you think that such games would be beneficial and if they should be used more in schools to help children learn.
In this day and age technology is a major part of a lot of industries and people with skills in technology are required all over the place. Starting children at a younger age and getting them used to basic skills could help them develop quicker. I remember been shown countless television programs that had a so called educational value but nobody really paid that much attention to them, that's why I think game could be used to help. I know some are used but no used to their full potential. A problem could be parents who don't really know the full details who don't want their child to play games as they are there to learn.
Educational games have an underlying message, to be fun as well as educating the person playing them in some way. In my opinion all games educate you in some way and give you vital skills like hand-eye co-ordination, problem solving skills and ability to do many tasks at once and think about what you are doing (improved concentration).
But moving away from the educational side are there any games that have an underlying message that sometimes gets missed. In most games I have played it is designed so that the "Good" team or person always wins (unless you get killed) the enemy always gets defeated. There is no options so that the "Bad" side could be controlled and win. Which I think is something that could make a lot of games better. But with this option it could promote more protests from people who believe games can influence people in the wrong way (You know the ones who say games make children violent and abusive) I would like to see the chance to take over the world or to stop the "good" guy getting the girl.(Bit like the idea of GTA3) But all this would mean a bad underlying message being sent out to the players of the games. So do developers really think long and hard about what kind of messages people may interpret from their games? I think they must, well most. The likes of GTA3 seem to throw all rules out the window.
So what other messages can games give out? Morals seem to feature a lot. Will you run or stay and fight. Could you kill them or do you want to run away. The idea of sharing, giving another character something that you have. It seems unlikely that a large number of games will ever appear that makes you do things that are "against your morals" which is hard as everyone has different morals. With technology we have today there is a limit on everything, maybe sometime in the future there will be no limits and developers can include anything and everything. Choices would be needed to be made and maybe sometimes choices that do question your morals and beliefs. Surely this is the one thing that would make games as realistic as real life?
This is a slight problem though, all games could have an underlying message depending on how you look at them, some good some bad. All depends on the individual who is thinking and analysing the game. So what do you think? Any games you have played that have an underlying message?
Humm...Nintendo games happier?? I don't think so somehow. :D I expect they're all bored out of their minds actually. {:D
Anyway, some games have a message, but not many. MGS perhaps gives the message to respect life a bit more, and never give up on others.
Anyway, some games have a message, but not many. MGS perhaps gives the message to respect life a bit more, and never give up on others.
I think everyone who plays consoles are happy. not many people (well the ones I know) seem to read into games and any hidden messages. They play them purely for the fun of it. But should more attention be drawn to it, I remember in classes like English we had to analyse the book fully and read into it in a lot of detail. Revelaling hidden messages along the way. Are games similar and would a little more attention to adding things like these make them any better or worse??
Most games can be seen as having some sort of message if you look at it in the right way especially shoot em ups or MGS style games that are 'realistic' with their storylines and so on.
Mostly thoug they are bad ones, the whole do games affect people in real life issue can be brought up here but I won't bother.
Altough I will say this, I read once that people wo play the N64 are generally more happier than people who play Playstations with the Playstatins games being more adult like. This could coincide with what people say about the N64 being childish so maybe Nintendo were trying to prove something here?
Mostly thoug they are bad ones, the whole do games affect people in real life issue can be brought up here but I won't bother.
Altough I will say this, I read once that people wo play the N64 are generally more happier than people who play Playstations with the Playstatins games being more adult like. This could coincide with what people say about the N64 being childish so maybe Nintendo were trying to prove something here?
Are there any games out there that have a serious underlying message? (Some information i.e. good to share, don't steal, friendship is good, don't do drugs, you know the kind of things I mean) Sure we get many games that are designed to be humorous, fun, exciting, scary, gory. The list could go on. But are there any games that could actually have an underlying message. Educational games could fall into this category.
So here is a little on educational games. Think back to when you were young and in primary school. Learning was supposed to be fun but it never really was that great. Nowadays technology plays a big part in everyday life. So should it be used more in education for younger children? You may wonder what exactly I'm going on about and I will try to explain it as simple as I can. I think games with educational values should be used more in primary school children and here is why.
Children have very short attention spans, paying attention to a teacher all day can become very boring. (one of the most boring experiences there is) A lot of children would like the idea of getting to play a game as part of learning. Games are very popular with young children (the rest of us as well) and ones that help them learn easier and sometimes faster could be beneficial to the children and also the teacher.
Bright, fast moving colours and sounds cause us to become interested in what's happening, we pay more attention. When I was in school we used BBC computers with very poor graphical abilities, but still a lot of my classmates jumped at the chance to use one. I know all this would cost money but education is slowly improving in this country and more funds become available to schools all the time. Not a lot of equipment would be needed. Just a few computers in each school (which most probably have got). I know a lot of people who have some kind of educational software to help you learn, revise and they think they are a great help.
I'm not saying that developers should make games more educational. There are developers out there already who make these type of games. What I would like to know is do you think that such games would be beneficial and if they should be used more in schools to help children learn.
In this day and age technology is a major part of a lot of industries and people with skills in technology are required all over the place. Starting children at a younger age and getting them used to basic skills could help them develop quicker. I remember been shown countless television programs that had a so called educational value but nobody really paid that much attention to them, that's why I think game could be used to help. I know some are used but no used to their full potential. A problem could be parents who don't really know the full details who don't want their child to play games as they are there to learn.
Educational games have an underlying message, to be fun as well as educating the person playing them in some way. In my opinion all games educate you in some way and give you vital skills like hand-eye co-ordination, problem solving skills and ability to do many tasks at once and think about what you are doing (improved concentration).
But moving away from the educational side are there any games that have an underlying message that sometimes gets missed. In most games I have played it is designed so that the "Good" team or person always wins (unless you get killed) the enemy always gets defeated. There is no options so that the "Bad" side could be controlled and win. Which I think is something that could make a lot of games better. But with this option it could promote more protests from people who believe games can influence people in the wrong way (You know the ones who say games make children violent and abusive) I would like to see the chance to take over the world or to stop the "good" guy getting the girl.(Bit like the idea of GTA3) But all this would mean a bad underlying message being sent out to the players of the games. So do developers really think long and hard about what kind of messages people may interpret from their games? I think they must, well most. The likes of GTA3 seem to throw all rules out the window.
So what other messages can games give out? Morals seem to feature a lot. Will you run or stay and fight. Could you kill them or do you want to run away. The idea of sharing, giving another character something that you have. It seems unlikely that a large number of games will ever appear that makes you do things that are "against your morals" which is hard as everyone has different morals. With technology we have today there is a limit on everything, maybe sometime in the future there will be no limits and developers can include anything and everything. Choices would be needed to be made and maybe sometimes choices that do question your morals and beliefs. Surely this is the one thing that would make games as realistic as real life?
This is a slight problem though, all games could have an underlying message depending on how you look at them, some good some bad. All depends on the individual who is thinking and analysing the game. So what do you think? Any games you have played that have an underlying message?
So here is a little on educational games. Think back to when you were young and in primary school. Learning was supposed to be fun but it never really was that great. Nowadays technology plays a big part in everyday life. So should it be used more in education for younger children? You may wonder what exactly I'm going on about and I will try to explain it as simple as I can. I think games with educational values should be used more in primary school children and here is why.
Children have very short attention spans, paying attention to a teacher all day can become very boring. (one of the most boring experiences there is) A lot of children would like the idea of getting to play a game as part of learning. Games are very popular with young children (the rest of us as well) and ones that help them learn easier and sometimes faster could be beneficial to the children and also the teacher.
Bright, fast moving colours and sounds cause us to become interested in what's happening, we pay more attention. When I was in school we used BBC computers with very poor graphical abilities, but still a lot of my classmates jumped at the chance to use one. I know all this would cost money but education is slowly improving in this country and more funds become available to schools all the time. Not a lot of equipment would be needed. Just a few computers in each school (which most probably have got). I know a lot of people who have some kind of educational software to help you learn, revise and they think they are a great help.
I'm not saying that developers should make games more educational. There are developers out there already who make these type of games. What I would like to know is do you think that such games would be beneficial and if they should be used more in schools to help children learn.
In this day and age technology is a major part of a lot of industries and people with skills in technology are required all over the place. Starting children at a younger age and getting them used to basic skills could help them develop quicker. I remember been shown countless television programs that had a so called educational value but nobody really paid that much attention to them, that's why I think game could be used to help. I know some are used but no used to their full potential. A problem could be parents who don't really know the full details who don't want their child to play games as they are there to learn.
Educational games have an underlying message, to be fun as well as educating the person playing them in some way. In my opinion all games educate you in some way and give you vital skills like hand-eye co-ordination, problem solving skills and ability to do many tasks at once and think about what you are doing (improved concentration).
But moving away from the educational side are there any games that have an underlying message that sometimes gets missed. In most games I have played it is designed so that the "Good" team or person always wins (unless you get killed) the enemy always gets defeated. There is no options so that the "Bad" side could be controlled and win. Which I think is something that could make a lot of games better. But with this option it could promote more protests from people who believe games can influence people in the wrong way (You know the ones who say games make children violent and abusive) I would like to see the chance to take over the world or to stop the "good" guy getting the girl.(Bit like the idea of GTA3) But all this would mean a bad underlying message being sent out to the players of the games. So do developers really think long and hard about what kind of messages people may interpret from their games? I think they must, well most. The likes of GTA3 seem to throw all rules out the window.
So what other messages can games give out? Morals seem to feature a lot. Will you run or stay and fight. Could you kill them or do you want to run away. The idea of sharing, giving another character something that you have. It seems unlikely that a large number of games will ever appear that makes you do things that are "against your morals" which is hard as everyone has different morals. With technology we have today there is a limit on everything, maybe sometime in the future there will be no limits and developers can include anything and everything. Choices would be needed to be made and maybe sometimes choices that do question your morals and beliefs. Surely this is the one thing that would make games as realistic as real life?
This is a slight problem though, all games could have an underlying message depending on how you look at them, some good some bad. All depends on the individual who is thinking and analysing the game. So what do you think? Any games you have played that have an underlying message?