Canadian Library Association Conference

Gaming andthe New Literacy

Beth Gallawayinformationgoddess29@gmail.com

Canadian Library Association ConferenceMay 2007

What is a Game?GAME: activity

engaged in fordiversion oramusement;synonym: see FUN

VIDEO GAME: anelectronic gameplayed by means ofimages on a videoscreen and oftenemphasizing fastaction Merriam-Webster Online. http://www.m-w.com

Ways to Play Video Games• At an Arcade• On a PC or Mac• On a Plug ‘n’ Play Device• On a Mobile Device• On a Handheld Device• On a Console

Console Gaming Devices

9.77 million

7.36 million

3.32 million

http://www.vgcharts.org

Handheld Gaming Devices

21.24 million

42.70 million

http://www.vgcharts.org

Why Games at the Library?Games …

• Are the medium of choice for themillennial generation

• Are educational and recreational• Meet developmental needs of

teens• Reinforce new literacies

Does This Sound LikeAny Gamers You Know?

• Social• Competitive• Wired• Self-aware• Always On

• Heroic• Multi-taskers• Global• Collaborative• Risk Takers

Beck, John and Mitchell Wade. Got Game: How the Gamer Generation isReshaping Business Forever. Harvard Business School Press, 2004.

Learning Principles in Games*

• Risk –taking in a “safe” environment• Rewards practice• Use of affinity groups• Probing cycles• Situated meaning• Self-knowledge• Identity formation

*** Gee, James Paul. What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy. Palgrave McMillan, 2003

Gaming Meets DevelopmentalNeeds of Young Adolescents• Positive social interaction with adults & peers• Structure and clear limits• Physical activity• Creative expression• Competence and achievement• Meaningful participation in families, school,

communities• Opportunities for self-definition

NMSA. NMSA Research Summaries. Young Adolescents Developmental Needs (1996)http://www.nmsa.org/Research/ResearchSummaries/Summary5/tabid/257/Default.aspx

How much money didcomputer & video gamesales gross in 2005?*

$7 Billion

* Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php

What is the average age ofthe gamer?*

33* Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php 28December 2006

What percentage of teens reportplaying games online**?

** Pew Internet & American Life Project. Teens and Technology, July 2005.

81 %

What percentage of games sold in2005 were rated M for Mature?

* Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php

15%

Ratings The Entertainment Software Ratings

Board (ESRB) is a self-regulating bodyestablished by the Entertainment SoftwareAssociation (ESA). ESRB applies andenforces game ratings, advertising andonline privacy principles.

http://www.esrb.org

Gaming = literacy• Environmental print

– signage– labels– maps

• Reading about the game– instructions– walkthroughs

• Writing about the game– forums– websites

• Chat:– “WTS, Mageweave cloth, 15g”

& 4 /\/\ 3 I2 5G A M E R S

“Leet”

Gaming Reinforces New Literacies

• Exposing knowledge

• Employing information

• Expressing ideas compellingly

• Ethics on the Internet

Warlick, David. ”The New Literacies.” TechLearning. Mar-Apr2005

http://www.techlearning.com/story/showArticle.php?articleID=47102021

1. Exposing Knowledge

• Find information

• Understand and explainfound informationregardless of its format

• Evaluate information

• Organize information

2. Employing Information

• Computation

• Measurement

• Analysis

• Application

3. Expressing Ideas Compellingly

• Mechanics matter

• Creativity & efficiency highly rated

• Text, images, audio, and video are usedto express ideas in many digital formats

Ways Gamers Express Ideas Compellingly

• Fan Fiction• Machinima• Web Comics• Fan Forums• Clan Websites

Ethics on the Internet• Modding – recreating game content

• FanFic – writing stories about characterscreated/owner by someone else

• Machina – films/videos created throughrecording video game play

Reader’s Advisory to GamersINSTEAD OF:• What authors do you like to read?• What are the last 3 books you read and

enjoyed?• What did you like about them?

ASK:• What movies do you like?• What TV shows do you watch?• What games do you play?

Reader’s Advisory to Gamers

−>

Roleplaying/MMORPG Games• Games:

– Everquest– Runescape– World of Warcraft– Dark Age of Camelot– Ultima

• Characteristics– epic fantasy setting– good vs. evil theme

• Suggest?

Historical Sim Games• Games:

– Civilization– Caesar– Age of Empires– Oregon Trail– America’s Army

• Characteristics– Simulation elements– Historical setting– Alternative history possibility

• Suggest?

Sports Games

• Games:– Madden Football– NBA Street– Need for Speed– Tiger Woods– Golf

• Characteristics– Sports theme– Competition

• Suggest?

Strategy & Puzzle Games• Games:

– Myst– Tetris– Bejeweled– Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?

• Characteristics:– Problem to solve– Logic, math, reasoning

• Suggest?

First Person Shooters (FPS)• Games:

– Doom– Quake– Halo

• Characteristics– Warfare– Strategy– Violent

• Suggest?

Simulations

• Games:– The Sims– The Urbz

• Characteristics:– Character driven

• Suggest?

Japanese/Manga tie-in• Games:

– Katamari Damacy– Final Fantasy– Dragonball Z– Pokemon

• Characteristics– Anime style– Japanese culture

• Suggest?

Superhero Games• Games:

– Spider-Man– Fantastic Four– City of Heros

• Characteristics– Heroes/villains setting– Good vs. evil theme– Film tie-ins

• Suggest?

Don’t ForgetPrint Resources for Gamers

1. Magazines2. Strategy guides3. Nonfiction about gaming4. Fiction with gaming as a plot or

subplot

Video Game Culture

• Watch Red Vs. Blue• Read Penny Acade• Read PvP• Set a Google Alert• Subscribe to a gaming podcast or blog• Skim gaming magazines• Pay attention to gaming around you in public

spaces• Try some games yourself!

More Ways to Immerse!• Join the LibGaming Google Group

– Email discussion for gaming in libraries• Game On! Video Games in Libraries blog

– Blog about gaming news of interest to libraries• Join YALSA and the Teen Gaming Interest Group

– YALSA interest group dedicated to gaming• Celebrate Teen Tech Week

– Annual celebration of teens + technology in libraries,March 2008

Game Policy Questions• Who is the collection for?• What formats will you collect?• What genres will you collect?• What is your selection criteria?• What resources will you use to select?• Where will you purchase from?• Is there a donation policy?• How will the collection be classified/cataloged?• Where will the collection be stored?• How will it be displayed?• What security measures need to be taken?• What is the procedure for materials challenge?

Best Practices: Collections in US

• Helen McGraw branch of the Irondequoit (NY)Public Library

• Games Rated E, E10+ and T• PS2 and PC games• 14 day circ• $.25/day late fee• game cost+$5/replacement fee• Genres: compilations, sports, racing games,

platformers, unique and quirky titles

Evaluating Games Plot+ Setting+ Character+ Graphics+ Soundtrack+ Modification/Customization+ Uniqueness________________ Replayability

What Makes a SuccessfulGaming Program?1. Do your homework2. Provide variety3. Open up to the community4. Spread the word5. Play

Program Tips• Choose games appropriate to age

group• Choose multiplayer games• Choose games with short rounds • Offer two to three games in conjunction

with board or tabletop games

Free Play vs. Tournaments• Both are structured• Both may include other activities• Emphasis is on fun• Free play = more casual, self-

competitive• Tournament = more rules, competitive

tone and prizes for winners

Model Gaming Programs• Santa Monica Public Library, CA

Counterstrike LAN party– After hours program– 50 teens lined up around the block to play

• After School Zone, Benicia Public Library, CA– Hanging out, snacks and playing games

encourages– Kids and teens who have gotten parental

consent can play Halo 2 and Ghost Recon onthe XBox 360;

– Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. Melee arepopular on Gamecube

Model Gaming Programs: US• Ann Arbor District Library (MI)

Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros, & DDR– Tournaments for all ages– Regular programs– Online community

• North Hunterdon High School (NJ)– Student-run game night in the cafeteria

“Ddr+gutiart hero= fun”“Awesome cuz everyone gets along with each

other, there’s no waiting in line or nething.Plus guitar hero is a wicked rad game.”

“I loved DDR”

“I liked this because there’s too few of the DDRcommunity around. This is a goodopportunity to meet people with like interests.”

Think Like A Gamer!Develop a BETA PROJECT

Questions & Handouts• Beth Gallaway• informationgoddess29

@gmail.com• 603.247.3196• http://information

goddess29.com