Blackberrygirl & The Video Game Virgin

Blog 10

blackberrygirl — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:50:16 +0000

Some of the advantages to using video games or virtual worlds include:

Reaching mass audience
Connecting people world wide
Removing the constraints of time and space to access a large population
Stimulate experiences rather than just displaying messages

Some disadvantages include:

Finding the balance between the virtual world and the real world
Making real life change through virtual gaming
Areas of our world that may not be connected online could be missing out on information or education technique provided only through virtual gaming

I think it is important to have the ability to adapt and change our education techniques as our world developed and advances. With the steady increase in virtual worlds and the wide reach of the internet everyone is getting online. Id our education systems are supposed to be providing us with the tools to succeed in the real world then they can no longer simply ignore digital worlds or pretend that the internet does not exist. Familiarizing people with the internet and how they can learn about issues concerning global conflict, the economy, or public health by playing games on line is crucial in the new digital era.

concluding thoughts on the paper

blackberrygirl — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:36:37 +0000

Thinking about the arguments I have developed through my paper I want to conclude my with saying yes, irony aside, I believe that Fat World is a useful game in promoting awareness on public health and the politics of nutrition. Although this argument does not solely relate to Fat World and can be applicable to any video game, TV show, movie buff, or any kind of low effort activity…too much of anything is never good and it is important to find a balance between real life and virtual life. Although the learning that people receive on virtual worlds is real, there has to be a way for the virtual learning to transcend into the real world and have real life actual implications and ignite change. Further questions about the ability to monitor or aid in bridging this gap can arise from my paper.

paper outline

blackberrygirl — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:41:15 +0000

The whole direction that I want to take with my paper is going to be centered on the irony of a computer game raising awareness about fitness, nutrition and living a healthy active lifestyle.

Point one:

I want to discuss why it is an effective way to promote awareness to a target population who might legitimately fall under the negative stereotypical category of a gamer.

On the other hand I also want to discuss how it may ne ineffective. For example if a person failed to understand how to transfer the reality of the value and action of the morals this game is trying to demonstrate and teach. If people can not transmit the reality of what the game is trying to teach it is not effective in promoting social change or having positive implications on society people need to be able to recognize and live there lives by the morals outlined in the game. There must be a balance between learning personal health and fitness through the game and connecting this to your actions in real life. Foucault. Cultivation mean scary world…further accelerate a fear about violence.

Point two:

I want to use mainstreaming and agenda setting to support my arguments and then discuss more positive ways in which the digital world has broken down other negative stereotypes…for example Wii fit, online yoga classes, online advertising and weight management techniques and gaming groups ext.

Intro

With the steadily increasing rise in popularity of video games and the continual advancements in technology for online gaming, there has been an abundance of media coverage focusing on these new virtual cultural phenomenons. Consider the concentration of media hype which is consistently focused on the negative aspects of gaming. Gamers and the video game world are frequently portrayed as major contributors to social issues including public health, obesity, and the general laziness of our digital generation. By exploring Fat World, an online computer game, this paper will outline the problematic societal issues associated with video games and the positive attributions of educational games such as Fat World and how they can raise social awareness and advocate social change.

Can a computer game, which (aesthetically) exemplifies the stereotypical characteristic of any other virtual game, promote awareness and education about important social issues including nutrition, fitness, and poverty while diverting away from the negative stigma of gaming?

The Legand of Zelda…Staring my brother Jason!

blackberrygirl — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:20:40 +0000

When we watch sporting events, go to concerts, watch movies, or play board games essentially you are doing the same thing, being entertained by a different element. All of these forms of entertainment are just that, they entertain us while providing the framework for individual choice and expression and include an element of social interaction and fandom. We have our taste in music, our favorite movies, and the team we love to route for. We watch these events or participate in this kind of behavior because we are entertained by them, we want to show our support or perhaps because we enjoy the social interaction associated with this entertainment outlets. I can remember when N 64 first came out and my brother Jason was incredible at the Legand of Zelda. I would watch him play every day after school for hours. I think what really captivated me was the fact that Zelda was so similar to a fairy tale story. It was a narrative with plot, and setting, and characters but now my brother (whom I really admired) was part of the action. I watched him play Zelda as if I was watching a TV show but now it was more interactive and I knew the star of the show!

Introduction and Topic question

blackberrygirl — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:28:52 +0000

Useful Resources

blackberrygirl — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:13:26 +0000

Vanderwater, E. A. (February 2004). Linking obesity and activity level with children’s television and video game use . Journal of Adolescence, 27, Retrieved May 2009, from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science? _ob=ArticleURL &_udi=B6WH0-4BC2K43-1&
Brown, Damon (February 2006). Playing to Win: Video Games and the Fight against Obesity . Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 106, Retrieved May 2009, from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?ob = ArticleURL&_udi=B758G-4J4HD07-3&_user=934861&_orig
Drewnoski, A. (May 2004). Poverty and Obesity. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Retrieved May 2009, from http://www.depts.washington.edu
Miech, R.A. (May 2006). Trends in the Association of Poverty With Overweight Among US Adolescents, 1971-2004. Kournal of American Medical Assossiation, 295, Retrieved May 2009, from http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/295/20/2385
Robinson, T.N. (October 1999). Reducing Children’s Television Viewing to Prevent Obesity . Journal of American Medical Assossiation, 282, Retrieved May 2009, from http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/282/16/1561?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=video+games

Virtual Reality Versus Real Life

blackberrygirl — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:44:56 +0000

Part One:

In all honesty I have found this course a bit of a challenge in the sense that I literally never use the computer. I have my blackberry, where I receive all of my emails, face book updates, and have access to the internet but aside from that you will never catch me in front of a computer screen. So to answer the question do I belong to any online communities? The answer is no. I haven’t joined an online community because I have no interest in being online and prefer to be engaged in the community of the physical world. I (perhaps a little biased in my answering because of my disconnect from the digital world) do not agree that 3D virtual communities are real communities. The article moving beyond the game discussed games such as the second Life and how they differed from games such as WOW in creating virtual communities. The main difference is the creation of a multi player online game versus a game that is more focused on social worlds. The discussion of whether these online communities are real or not can be an argument that will end up resembling a tennis match. You can go back and forth with where you stand on the topic. On one hand lets state the obvious; there is no face to face communication, virtual communities are not real. However if you think about virtual communities as a platform in which time and space has been removed and we can now come together and communicate with thousands of people across the globe that you would never have the opportunity to interact with in real life but now you can, well that makes virtual communities seem real.

creating an mmrpg identity

blackberrygirl — Sat, 16 May 2009 23:43:22 +0000

I apologize to all readers who may get there panties in a twist over sexual innuendos (haha no pun intended) but it I, blackberry girl the video game virgin have just popped my MMRPG cherry! Hypothetically, I have chosen to create a character for Ever Quest 2. I’m going to be honest in saying that my decision process to pick Ever Quest over World of War Craft is solely based on the hot animated girl on the cover of “The Shadow Odyssey” versus the scary, evil demons that appear on the home page for WWC. Babes and demons aside, I chose to be a Fae with the Fury class. I chose this because in this class, we are encouraged to use our imaginations and if I was going to live in the fantasy world of ever quest I would want to be a fairy. They have magical powers, light spirited, and a little tricksy. I wanted the Fury power because it involves using the power of nature (I’m really into the environment and being out doors) and has this weapon also has healing power. I would name my Character Mary Jane, and no she has little physical

Resemblance to myself (she’s a fairy) but we are both females and I was only drawn to the female characters in the game. I have never created an online character before and I was so surprised at the amount of detail you could put into creating one. Not only can you choice the gender and hair color of your character but you can specialize your outfit, face shape and even the personality of you character. Your player is original and it is truly unique to you.

Warning: Devouring Fat World; a global issue game that may cause tummy aches.

blackberrygirl — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:24:12 +0000

I have decided to research and write about the game Fat World. Thinking about the title of the game, an array of hilarious images of obese computer animated teenagers run through my head gobbling up burgers and candy bars to advance to the next level while sinking deeper and deeper into their sofa’s as they play another round of xbox with their equally out of shape friends. Yes the concept on the surface is very light hearted and funny. No laughing matter however is the deeper intricate meaning and life realities brought to our attention by playing the game. Obesity is an extremely serious and prevalent issue in today’s society. I am going to discuss the spiral of issues and factors contributing to this phenomenon including poverty, modern technology and education systems. This game will open your eyes and hopefully close our mouths to the factors which attribute to the FAT problem existing within our North America today.

Yoshi’s Story and interactive video game bed time tales. (task 3 part 1)

blackberrygirl — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:06:19 +0000

In an age of instant messaging and digital information Simons makes a valid point when she describes the end of the narrative world as we know it. However as you continue to read the article similarities in the way in which one watches and analyzes a film and the active participation involved in completing a video game narrative reveal some distinct similarities. The article Narrative, Games and Theory by Jan Simons describes and contrasts the differences and similarities between external observers versus immersed players. Let’s take for example the classic N64 video game (and my personal favorite….or only game I have really ever played) Yoshi’s Story. This fascinating game filled with exciting realms and adorable multi colored Yoshi’s begins with what could be a classic bed time stroy read to children as they drift to sleep. The game begins with a heartbreaking story about the Yoshi species and the quest they must accomplish to restore their world to happily ever after or narrative state of equilibrium. So the question is, if a video game such as Yoshi’s Story, a game which follows a classic narrative paradigm and includes conflict and intricate character back ground information, Will it be successful in captivating audiences who are not actively participating? Will external observers be as interested in the outcome of the story as someone who is immersed in the playing action? To answer this question I would need to apply the reader-response theory and observe the varying degrees of participation and interest in the story between a person playing the game and a person simply following the story of the game. I would need to use an observation research method, surveying, and one on one interviews to acquire data and feedback. The main weakness to this theory is that it is slightly subjective. I predict that depending on the personality of both parties involved in the research and the personal relationship between the two participants, the outcome of the research would change. In addition to the personal relationships between the two participants, the intensity and skill of the gamer and category, theme, and storyline of the game itself will play a major factor in determining the interest of both the external observer and the player.