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October 17, 2005 (Monday)

Design of Playful Technologies [Meeting]

Discussed in class: MMORPGS, World of Warcraft

Players Who Suit MUDs [Web Reading]

The Cognitive Neuroscientist Video Game Critic [Assignment]

Both the Malone and Loftus & Loftus readings (from last week) illustrated that it is often useful to examine how people play simple games in order to learn about more complex games and about human behavior. In this blog post, please imagine yourself to be both an influential video game critic and also a distinguished cognitive neuroscientist in the tradition of these authors.

For this assignment, you will need to play an obsolete game. To find one, visit the Virtual Apple library of obsolete computer disks for the Apple IIe and IIgs computer system (the apple IIe was introduced in 1982). IMPORTANT NOTE: You may need to use Microsoft Internet Explorer on the Microsoft Windows Operating System in order to get the emulator to work. Plan on leaving enough time to go to a computer lab to do this (like an ICS lab -- ATLAS labs will not work due to security restrictions) in case you don't use that browser or operating system. Some of the games won't work even in the ICS lab. You may have to try a few -- these games are really old.

First, choose a game you are unfamiliar with. Please choose an Apple II game and not a IIGS game. Second, analyze flaws in the game's design using ideas about motivation or cognition from the Malone or Loftus & Loftus readings. (Do NOT just say what you liked or didn't like -- relate all comments to these readings.) You might look at your cognition bingo card handout for ideas. Third, when you use a concept or term from these readings, be sure to cite the source and use the term in such a way that it is clear you know what it means.

To receive credit, your blog post must be on time, at least 250 words, and address each part of the question. Please write, spell-check, and save your blog posts in a word processor first, then post them to your blog. When you make a direct quotation or paraphrase, include a citation to the page and author where you found the material. DUE: 11:30 a.m. on Monday, October 17 (one hour before class begins).

DEADLINE EXTENDED: To 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 19 (one hour before class begins) for those having technical problems.

Seventh blog deadline extended to 10/19 [Announcement]

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