Learning Unit Objectives:
- Learn about the history of computer graphics
- Examine the role of technology as force for cultural maintenance and change
- Discuss the validity of art created with the aid of machines
Artifact #6 (Click Here)
Jane Mcgonigal is a game designer and she believes that playing online games is helpful for us to solve real-world problems. In the video, Jane comes up with four things that what games are making us virtuosos at. The first thing is that gamers always have a hope of success and believes it is always worth trying. The second thing is that in the games people can build stronger social relationships and they can trust each other to cooperate. The third thing is that games can bring them pleasure and make them happier than anything they do like shopping or hanging out. They are willing to work hard in the game. The fourth thing is that “ Gamers love to be attached to awe-inspiring missions” (Jane).From these four things, we can find that online games are beneficial for people. She also mentions a economist whose name is Edward Castronova to states the reason why so many people love to play games. In games, gamers can achieve more. They can build stronger relationships with other gamers; they can get better feedback and feel more rewarded than they do in the real life. I agree with these views. There are a lot of my friends love playing online games. Most of them even spend all nights playing and have no rest because they believe games can help them have more achievements and they are more respected than they are in the real world. However, all these people I knew who are addicted to playing games don’t have any achievements and contributions in the real world. They cannot deal with their own problems and take good care of themselves, not mention to resolve real-world problems. I admit that people can learn more and get more from online games. But if a person devote himself completely into the world of games and use this way to get rid of problems from real world, how can he live better and use what he learned from games to solve real-world problems which he even doesn’t want to face? The conditions for every people is different. If people just treat games as a way which can help them get rid of troubles from reality, I don’t believe they will learn something from games and know how to solve real-world problems.
Reflections:
I don’t like games. When I was a little girl, my parents always told me that games are harmful and it could destroy a person. Also, when I began to go to school, I saw a lot of my peers quit studying and played games day and day. There is no doubt this makes me more convinced that games are bad for people. Jane’s presentation help me to know another side of games. It is the first time I heard that playing online games can help people to solve real-world problems. In the games, people always have a faith of success. Also, they can build strong social relationships and trust each other to cooperate. If people can use what they learned from games in reality. It will be helpful for them to solve some problems. Her views are reasonable and encouraging. Although I still question the practicability of her ideas, I indeed begin to change my views about games. I also hope that one day games can help us to live a better life.
Future:
Before watching Jane’s presentation, I never play games. I will try to play some online games in the future and try to understand her views better. Maybe I can learn something different.
Bibliography:
Jones, B. J. (1990). Computer Graphics: Effects of Origins. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
Table of Contents:
Artifact #1: Life Value Assessment
Artifact #6: Creative Spirituality