Exploring the Untapped Potential of Educational Gaming

In a world dominated by rapidly evolving technology, gaming has become more than just a form of entertainment. It’s a dynamic space where imagination and interaction converge, offering experiences that extend beyond the boundaries of traditional media. One facet of gaming that has gained attention, particularly in recent years, is its potential in education. As we continue to navigate the digital realm, educational gaming emerges as a novel and promising approach to learning.

Breaking the Mold – Video Games as Learning Tools

Jesper Juul’s concept of video games having “real rules in fictional worlds” takes on a new dimension when applied to educational gaming. While traditional education often involves strict memorization and passive learning, video games immerse individuals in an interactive environment where they actively engage with subject matter. It’s not just about absorbing information; it’s about applying knowledge to a dynamic setting. 

Consider the impact of games like Minecraft in the educational landscape. Beyond its reputation as a sandbox game, Minecraft has the potential to find a place in classrooms as an educational tool. Teachers can leverage such games to teach subjects ranging from math to history. In the virtual realm of Minecraft, students don’t just read about historical architecture; they build it. The game transforms the learning experience into a hands-on, collaborative adventure. 

Unlocking History – A Personal Experience with Assassin’s Creed

Amidst the vast array of video games, one that has left a lasting mark on my gaming journey is Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Transported to ancient Greece, I found myself not only immersed in the captivating storyline but also on a historical journey that transcended the confines of traditional learning. My virtual footsteps echoed in the Acropolis, my eyes beheld the beauty of Athens, and I navigated the tumultuous waters of the Aegean Sea. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey was not just a game; it was a portal to a lost era. 

As I delved into the game’s rich narrative, I realized that I was inadvertently absorbing historical knowledge. The meticulous attention to detail in creating ancient Greece transformed the game into an interactive history lesson. From political intrigues to cultural nuances, each facet of the virtual world reflected the research that went into its creation. 

In encounters with notable figures like Socrates and Hippocrates, I wasn’t just a passive observer; I engaged in philosophical debates. Without realizing it, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey became a catalyst for self-directed learning, bridging the gap between entertainment and education. 

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Confronting Skepticism

However, not everyone shares the belief that video games can be powerful tools for learning. My dad, a persistent critic of video games, often questions their real-world value. He raises his eyebrows at the hours spent exploring virtual worlds, wondering if there’s any tangible benefit. It’s a sentiment echoed by many who view gaming as a frivolous pastime. 

Yet, what many fail to see is the educational potential embedded in the very games they criticize. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, for instance, goes beyond mere entertainment. It cultivates critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a deep appreciation for history. The game prompts players to make moral choices that impact the narrative, fostering ethical decision-making and empathy.

Educational games, when designed thoughtfully, have the capacity to engage players in a way that traditional learning often fails to achieve. The interactivity, the sense of agency, and the immersive experiences contribute to a unique form of learning that caters to diverse learning styles. 

A Dual Reality – Merging Entertainment and Education

In the clash between skepticism and belief in the educational value of video games, I’ve come to understand that they can represent a dual reality. They can be a source of entertainment, providing a much-needed escape into fantastical realms, but they can also be powerful educational tools, fostering curiosity and knowledge. 

Video games are not a diversion from learning; they are a parallel universe where learning takes on a new, interactive form. 

Sources: 

• Juul, Jesper. Half-Real

– Sterling

In Defense of the CD: A Relic of the Past

Over winter break, in an effort to do some decluttering, I stumbled upon my old, black CD-ROM bookbinder. Pages and pages were filled with CDs containing the names of my childhood heroes: Putt Putt, Pajama Sam, Freddi Fish, and Spy Fox. These games, made by Humongous Entertainment, combined puzzles, animation, and educational content (though it never seemed like it) into a wonderful work of art. Through the games’ adventurous, yet challenging gameplay, I learned complex concepts such as telling time and physics. Instantly, I desired to see if the games still worked, seeing as they were at least 15 years old. 

I sprinted to my mom’s computer (because CD slots on Macbooks are obsolete) and chose my first victim–Freddi Fish: The Case of the Stolen Conch Shell. To my disappointment, I was met with a popup explaining that the computer cannot play 16-bit games. However, the desire for nostalgia was too great to quit, so I picked up the next game–Freddi Fish: The Case of the Creature of Coral Cove, and to my surprise…the old rectangular starting screen popped up! 

For as long as I can remember, CD games have always held a special place in my heart because they were the first type of video game format I was ever introduced to. CDs are unique because they capture a moment in time; there are no updates or game pack expansions. Because of this, CDs can preserve what was visually and aesthetically capable for the game at the time of its creation. I was hit in the face with this fact when, upon pressing “Play” for my Freddi Fish game, a popup asked if I was able to “connect to the internet with a modem” or, if not, directed me to register with a “mail-in card.” Without CDs, much is to be forgotten about the ways past games used to function as we take for granted the ease of access to video games that we have now. 

Additionally, because CDs are physical objects which must be put into a computer to be played, it is incredibly important to protect their exteriors. Admittedly, discs scratch way too easily (especially in the hands of a clumsy five-year-old); however, those who value the games that these disks contain learn quickly to cherish them. Because of this, CDs become sacred objects to be protected. If we are to think of these discs as “holy objects,” then dusting them off and flipping through one’s CD collection can be regarded as a ritualistic experience (bet you didn’t think you’d be hit in the face with this deep metaphor today). Unlike modern downloadable games which cannot be easily broken, CD games hold higher stakes because of their fragility, making them more valuable.

Another upside to physical copies of video games is that they often foster a form of community between players. Although these educational adventure games were primarily single-player, I’d often loan my discs to friends who wished to play the game too. This sort of sharing is impossible to do with purchased downloadable games as the game is downloaded onto a single computer, unable to be transferred among devices that don’t belong to the user who bought the game.

Although we often see popular media adapted into video games, as with Lord of the Rings Online or Marvel’s Spiderman video game, these CD games experienced the opposite phenomenon. Because children grew obsessed with the video game’s characters, they also fell in love with their stories and lore. Logically, figurines and books were then created, such as Putt-Putt Lost in Time which took the CD characters and expanded on stories seen in the video games. As more and more fascination around these games grew, other unrelated companies wanted in on the action. Cereal companies, such as General Mills and Kellogg’s, began including CDs, including Humongous Entertainment games, inside of their boxes as an incentive to buy their cereal (I miss the days when cereal box prizes were actually this good). 

Photo from user
u/pezhead53 on Reddit

As I grew up and fell away from the game’s age range, so did technology, making CD games virtually unplayable nowadays (no pun intended). Although Humongous Entertainment has converted its games into versions that can now be bought digitally, the nostalgia these games emit is lessened. Seeing the juxtaposition of the pixelated graphics on my HD computer feels ingenuine and, to continue with my previous metaphor, sacrilegious. 

Others, like myself, turn back to the discs (at least the ones that still work) rather than newer versions of the games for pure nostalgia alone. In fact, the other day, a TikTok by user Ricky Peacock shared a video of himself playing a Putt Putt game, emphasizing the fact that although he hadn’t played this game since he was a child, he still remembers trivial aspects of the game, such as the “wagon wheels” treats.  

While there are many downsides to CDs, including their fragility, incompatibility with newer computers, and environmental impact, they still hold many redeemable qualities that shouldn’t be overlooked. While it may be true that I’m being blinded by the nostalgia of my childhood games, I believe CDs hold an inherent value when discussing the history and future of video games. Whether or not we see game developers shift towards offering their games in a disc format, I think it’s still comforting to know that my old playthroughs still exist somewhere on my treasured CDs, uncorrupted and archived in history, even if I can’t open them anymore. I just hope I managed to spell my name right on the save file!

– Marissa Tessier