Age of MythologyA case study for Computer Games in Education

Bill MacKenty, M.Ed.

Age of Mythology is...

Award winning, COTS, real-time strategy game

Players must successfully:

manage resources (food, wood, gold, stone, and favor)

pray to the right gods for the right stuff

build, train, upgrade and use the right units in the right way

Built around the Greek, Egyptian, and Norse Mythos

Ages of Mythology...

Geographic & Historical...

Manage variables

2

1

3 4

56

Use symbolic information...

In-depth information...

Manage diplomacy...

Winning...

Multiple paths to victory - different strategies work

Different “types” of scenarios

conquer the other guy

protect the thingy

escort the hapless hero to safety

But a really great feature is...

Full-featured editor

When the game is over...

Players understand to role of mythology in ancient time - and how people attributed natural phenomena to the gods

Players have coordinated a complex, dynamic system

Players have used research to further their goals

Players use different “god-like” powers in different ways

Players have used multiple strategies in different situations