Insight into Websites: Extra Credits

I’m beginning my reviews with an admission – I like computer games. This isn't really much of a revelation to anyone who knows me, though some often wonder why I have such an interest. For those people, and for anyone else interested in the structure, meaning, and purpose of games, I offer you my first website of interest, Extra Credits.

Extra Credits is a video series that highlights aspects of games, gaming, and the game industry that many people overlook or are simply ignorant of. Their videos cover a diverse range of topics such as game design, storytelling in games, the use of games as educational tools, and even compulsive video game play. All of the topics covered are treated with a serious professional focus, which reflects the experience the show’s staff has with the topic. At the same time, the subjects are presented in a fun, interesting way that makes it easy for newcomers to get a grasp of what is being examined and why it is important.

It is a simple fact that video games have become a part of the lives of nearly anyone who uses computer technology. From elaborate big-budget titles like Call of Duty to small, simple games like any one of many electronic Sudoku variants, games are everywhere you find computers (or cell phones). The question of what to do about and with them is, therefore, important. While many people immerse themselves a bit too deeply in games, others make the mistake of dismissing them as “immature” or “kids’ stuff”. Extra Credits, in my opinion, does an admirable job of highlighting just how complex games can be, and how substantially they can impact our society, for ill or for good.

Even if you have no interest in games at all, some of the topics (e.g. gaming in education), may still be of interest, just because of the ideas that are tossed around. Because of this, and EC’s mature, accessible, and lighthearted approach, I strongly recommend people give this series a try.

To visit the Extra Credits website, follow this link:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/patv/show/extra-credits

Doing Much but Saying Little

I’ve been a bit quieter than I expected lately, on account of keeping busy. I have been working on several different things at once – teaching at LCU, helping reorganize parts of IRI, reviewing the training materials for use in our South Africa and Hong Kong pilots, meeting with prospective partners, etc. Unfortunately, while this makes my life interesting, it doesn't necessarily make for good blog posts:

“Today I read books. Then I reviewed the training material I am working on. Then I edited the material a bit. Then I had a meeting. Then I graded papers.”

This is not exactly gripping reading.

So in an attempt to add some actual useful content to this blog, I am going to try to write up a short review of some of the reading I am doing. Some of this will be books we are using in some classes (real books that non-student people read, not just academic books), some of it will be reading of my own, whether that be books, blogs, interesting news articles, etc. I posted that I wanted to do things like this before, and now, with my more academic focus this year, I think I can actually pull them off.

Let’s give it a try.

Check in later this month for my first installment – I have a  couple articles and blogs I have been reading that have posed some interesting questions, so that seems like a good place to start.

Have a great October!