In-Class Blog - Educational Games Research

For the past two days, I have been looking up various sources to help myself better understand the connection between games and education and how to bridge the two together to create a game that is both fun and informative.  Below are just some of the sources that I have found.

     This short article gave me an understanding of taking the video game Pokemon - a game associated with traveling an in-game world and battling creatures with other creatures - and making video games that help with promoting learning and understanding basic fundamentals.  While only based in New York at the time of the article, the prospect of learning from video games is still a great source to teach children the fundamentals of different educational subjects.

     "Pokemon Introduces Software For Grades 3-6 Math, Science And ELA." Electronic Education Report 13.13 (2006): 7. Business Source Elite. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

     The article "Using Virtual Reality with and without Gaming Attributes for Academic Achievement" discusses the educational value of using virtual reality verses using traditional, non-gaming methods.  Despite the study's result on language arts skills not finding a significant difference between the two, the study still showed that future games should take a more simulation-focused attitude and it should be integrated into future gaming tech.

     Vogel, Jennifer J., et al. "Using Virtual Reality With And Without Gaming Attributes For Academic Achievement." Journal Of Research On Technology In Education 39.1 (2006): 105-118. ERIC. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

     This article goes into great detail about computer games and how learning through these digital games can become another resource for education.  It goes in-depth to discuss why computer games should be considered an option in education as well as acknowledging that there will be some dissenters who will insist on what the article calls "nineteenth-century methods of rote learning, telling, and testing".  Prensky, the article's author, does an excellent job in giving examples of how computer games could become a new and interactive way to educate children as well as how to go about making these games both engaging and fun while also being instructive and educational.
Prensky, Marc. "Computer Games and Learning: Digital Game-Based Learning."Handbook of computer game studies 18 (2005): 97-122.  Web.  25 Sept. 2014


     "Game Design as Narrative Architecture", an article written by Henry Jenkins, discusses the debate between narrative versus gameplay and how such a debate could help games become a more engaging, yet interactive medium.  While not necessarily related to education, he does bring up several good points throughout the article, including mentioning that "not all games tell stories" and uses different games to reiterate his points.  This article made me realize that while having a narrative isn't necessarily going to make or break a game, making sure to give the player an opportunity to feel like they are a part of the experience definitely made me ponder on gaming in general.
Jenkins, Henry. "Game design as narrative architecture." Computer 44 (2004): s3.  Web.  25 Sept. 2014

     "It's All in the Game" - a clever title to a clever article - focuses on the educators of today and how they can be certain that a child has the opportunity to develop necessary communication skills and talents.  Using a science teacher's use of a board game to teach children about the ecology of a rainforest as an example, the article continues into describing how games can allow children to express themselves in a more friendly way that allows kids to feed their curiosity about various topics and how games can be effective tools for education.
Collins, Kathleen M., et al. "It's All In The Game." YC: Young Children 66.2 (2011): 12-19. Education Research Complete. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.


     Finally, the article that I found the most interesting to read, "A Look Inside a MUVE Design Process: Blending Instructional Design and Game Principles to Target Writing Skills" discusses the benefits and increased number of various interactive mediums such as games and virtual environs over the past ten years.  It acknowledges that, while reports have not yet showed that the "design processes" needed to create various complex and intricate spaces of learning, there is great promise in using virtual media to promote creative learning using different design choices to match them with the appropriate educational instruction.  This gives hope to the future that traditional board games and video games, as well as gaming in general, can be used and widely acceptable forms of education.

Warren, Scott J., et al. "A Look Inside A MUVE Design Process: Blending Instructional Design And Game Principles To Target Writing Skills." Journal Of Educational Computing Research 40.3 (2009): 295-321. Education Research Complete. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

Warriors of Light - The Beginning of a Legend

(Video from Youtube.com)

The Beginning of an Era

     The game that started it all, Final Fantasy (also called Final Fantasy I), was the last breath of hope from Squaresoft in 1987, a company that was facing bankruptcy at the time.  Inspired by games such as Ultima and Wizardry, the game focuses on the a party of four playable characters through dangerous locales, small towns and villages, and fierce battles in a turn-based combat system.

The battle system from the first Final Fantasy game.
(Image from the Final Fantasy Wiki)

     The story is a simple one, but the themes of which would continue to echo into other games in the franchise for years to come.  Four Warriors of Light, unnamed in the original game, travel the vast world around them to stop the evil knight, Garland, from bringing darkness to the realm.  While the story in its first iteration was simple for its time, its idea of "Warriors of Light" carrying the burden of saving the world from being engulfed in darkness and ultimately prevailing would later be synonymous with the series in future Final Fantasy titles.

     The ideas set in the Final Fantasy game would later become the popular mainstay of many other Role-Playing Games preceeding it, both in terms of future installments of the Final Fantasy series as well as games outside of the franchise by other companies, where the turn-based combat would be the major influence of the game.

The Warrior of Light, as depicted by Tetsuya Nomura
(Image from the Final Fantasy Wiki)

     While originally called orbs, the series would later be known for its iconic theme of crystals and a battle between light and dark.  Among other icons (such as the Chocobo, Moogle, and Cactuar, for instance), the 'crystal' theme would be prevalent in future games in the series.  Also carrying over are, again, the theme of Warriors of Light - people who were bestowed power, in one way or another by the crystals, whom would then go on to combat the forces of darkness that threaten to destroy or attack their world.

     The game also introduces the baseline idea for the series iconic class/job system (which would not technically be realized until Final Fantasy III and later established in Final Fantasy V).  Mostly known to be a Final Fantasy staple, this system allowed the player to customize their party of heroes to whatever configuration they chose best.  The original game established the series' first six classes, which would later become the iconic classes and jobs in the franchise - Warrior/Fighter, Monk/Master, Thief/Ninja, White Mage/White Wizard, Black Mage/Black Wizard, and Red Mage/Red Wizard. These six classes (which would be upgraded into jobs later in the game) would set the series' original jobs that would become even more pronounced as each new game added to the system.

     Final Fantasy was one of the most influential role-playing games to hit consoles during the late 1980s.  While other games such as Dragon Quest introduced gamers to the concept of a role-playing game, Final Fantasy helped to push the genre into the limelight of popularity.  The first Final Fantasy has been re-released on various other platforms, each re-release having improved graphics, sounds, and even added bonuses.  Today, the game can be found on platforms such as the Game Boy Advance, the PlayStation Portable, and even on your smartphone or tablet.

Cast: [Raise] - The "Final Fantasy" of Squaresoft and it's Impact on the Gaming Industry

Krile died again...
(Image from finalfantasy.wikia.com)

     The Final Fantasy series of video games have long been established as the holy grail of the video game industry.  Made by a company who pooled the last of their resources in a ditch effort to pull themselves out of a crippling debt, Squaresoft put all of their hopes in this small role-playing game - their last grace...their last "Final Fantasy."

I mean, seriously, this little guy is adorable.
(Image from finalfantasy.wikia.com)

     The game was an enormous success, selling over 400,000 units during its original launch.  Numerous entries into the series were created over the years (with the latest title, Final Fantasy XV, still being in production), each one carrying on the legacy of the series' first entry.  Each game brought us a different land, new experiences, and brand new characters to get ourselves attached to (whether for good or bad), all-the-while solidifying familiar elements such as the game world's currency, Gil, or the fan favorite iconic characters like the Chocobo and Cactuar.


     It is a series that left a lasting impression on the world.

     And it all started....


          ...with one company's "Final Fantasy."


     Throughout the semester in the Game Design class, I will be discussing each major title in the series and its impact in the industry and on the genre as a whole - how its simple turn-based gameplay revitalized an entire genre while engrossing the player in a captivating world and story - as well as a brief look into the story that unfolds during each game.  So saddle up some Elixirs and grab some friends, because this adventure is about to begin!