Games

I want to know more about the multi-player role play games, so I googled this term. That is where I found the free game site that was in yesterday's blog (yesterday's title is a hot link) There were a whole lot of games to download for some 'free' playing time. I was intrigued by the cowboy/indian game. I was prompted to create a persona unique to me and given several tutorials about how to progress through the levels of the game. Even though the premise was unique, the game itself was corny. The graphics were simplistic - especially since all I have to compare them to is Second Life.
By the way...is Second Life considered game or something different? And I need some help progressing in Second Life - I have spent several days on Orientation Island and am feeling frustrated.

morpg

I found this site. I am really intrigued by the western game available on the site. I plan to explore it more when I am not dead aleep.

Second Life

Ihave created my second life avatar, Marta Chatterbox. I have been looking around in the orientation area, overheard some conservations about things I knew nothing about, learned to fly, and how to move things a little. But I still don't really 'get' the concept. What am I supposed to do first? What is my objective? I tried to chat with someone, but they didn't respond. I think I didn't do it right after I found the directions for chatting. My instinct tells me I want to find a safe place to be other than orientation, but I have no idea how to do that. I will go back online later and experiment a little more.

What I know about Gaming

So the focus of one of my current classes (Educ 688) is to explore games and gaming with an eye toward using the elements of games for educational purposes.

At this point my experience with games is limited to a brief foray into the original. No I have not even beaten that game yet! I have been asked to consider the following: why the game interests me; what has motivated me to continue playing; and what I like or don't like about the game.

The why behind my playing this game is easy. I began to play as a form of social interaction with my peers when Mario first came out on Nintendo. We spent long hours playing/watching others play along; eating; talking and generally having a good time. When my boys wanted a game system, I was familiar with the content of this game and knew that it woul be appropriate for them. And as a bonus, I could actually play it with them with a modicum of skill.

Thinking about why the game is engaging, I believe because it builds in difficulty as players develop skills and information about the game. I also think that the fact that 'secret' tricks, passages/routes and so on can be accessed - make the player feel skilled and part of an exclusive club. The main reasons that I like the game include the fact that the graphics are pleasing and the premise of the game is understandable as well. There is not anything that I really dislike about the game.