What’s so Fun about Video Games??

drBOB AppelmanSchool of Education/IST

What’s so Fun about Video Games??

• Freedom of Choice• Low Consequence of Failure• Strong Social Impact

– Peer Interaction– Peer Pressure– Status

• New & Interesting Experiences• New Problems to Solve

Research Focus

How do we research ?

• The Virtual Xperience Lab

• We use classes– Both UG & G

What’s so Fun about Video Games??

• Freedom of Choice• Low Consequence of Failure• Strong Social Impact

– Peer Interaction– Peer Pressure– Status

• New & Interesting Experiences• New Problems to Solve

Dungeons & Dragons

• It all began with a Board Game

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons

• It all began with a Board Game

• It moved to MUDs

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons

• It all began with a Board Game

• It moved to MUDs

• It became a Video Game

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons

• It all began with a Board Game

• It moved to MUDs

• It became a Video Game

Genres of Video Games

Rating of Games

What’s so Fun about Video Games??

• Freedom of Choice• Low Consequence of Failure• Strong Social Impact

– Peer Interaction– Peer Pressure– Status

• New & Interesting Experiences• New Problems to Solve

Video Game Issues

• They are VIOLENT

• They provide unique EXPERIENCES

• They develop Multi-Tasking & Trial & Error PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS

• They offer the richest environment yet for COMPLEX VIRTUAL LEARNING

What’s so Fun about Video Games??

drBOB AppelmanSchool of Education/IST