Gamification?a term I am worried about!

I conducted a little experiments along the way

that unfortunately did’t offer any insight into the larger field of game design but

helped me as a parent and artist understand how games as a cultural product operate.

I wrote this in 2006Digital/video games have entertained for 40 years and are a medium with the ability to reach a vast audience. In an article published in theSydney Morning Herald, Charles Purcell reports that; “Globally, Halo 2has sold more than 7 million copies. Both in the US and Australia it broke the film box-office record for the most earnings in the first 24 hours of release. The worldwide Halo 2 community on X-box Live has about 400,000 players… at the World Cyber Games in Seoul. Last year, gold medallist Matthew Leto won $US20,000 ($AUS27,0000) after his second consecutive Halo title.” 2. Game consoles have become a part of many lounge rooms just as the television did before them. Games are even commonplace in many coat pockets and carrying bags.

Today with Smart Phones games are apart of every minute of everyday on a global scale.

Games are my passion and I am worried about Gamification because GAMES need to

be FUN!

So what are we playing after thirty two console games. We have come full circle and have all become engrossed in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Legend (2006). It was the Tomb Raider series that evoked my initial curiosity back in 2000. As this experiment comes to a close my hole family is playing Lara finally my daughter is fighting my son to play. She is no longer passive and

letting him play she argues with him to get to the PlayStation. We all talk about how to solve the puzzles and we all have a laugh when my son puts socks up his shirt and says ‘ I’m Lara look at me”. It is this aspect of games that must not be forgotten the play factor the laughter. Yes Lara is physically a bad role model for my daughter but both my children understand that it is not possible to look like that in reality. Just like my daughter understood no one could look like Barbie. To date Pokemon is the only other game that has engaged all of us. We have been playing Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Legend for three months and all still love the game play and the challenging nature of thegame. The only other game still being played in my house is Nintendo dogs.

How I use my knowledge of game theory in the library!

I teach Year 7 how to use the library catalogue on their iPods and iPhones.

It’s a RACE to see who can find a book first.

To encourage usage I have a book week Quiz.

Clues are displayed all week

Students win a chocolate for answering the clue.

The over all prize for the quiz is a book voucher.

Minecraft in the library at lunch

Minecraft and Chess club

Murder in the library!A mystery game.

Cross-curricular (they make fake blood in science)

Clues are hidden all over the library.

Students solve the crime.

Make it fun!

The clues are displayed on a board.

SOAS and Minecraft to make a Tropfest Jrn Winner!

Using Games concepts is how I think.

Deliver all my content on Edmodo.

Edmodo Badges as motivation.

I create the badges myself so they are personalised. Students personalise

their profile picture.

MAKE IT FUN

PLAY!