KSP684 - Game and Learn: An Introduction to Educational Gaming - Episode 3: A Menagerie of Genres

In the podcast, Game and Learn, episode 3 outlines the different genre's of games.  Puentedura breaks games into four basic groups.  Each group has several subgroups.  Below is an outline of Puentedura's podcast:

• Four Basic Groups
• Narrative
• Interactive Fiction - rely on text - read descriptions - type in reactions
• Input/output = text/typing
• Graphic Adventure
• Replaces text with images
• Player immersed and explored environment
• Input - keyboard keys/arrows. Pointing, dragging, and clicking
• Action/Adventure - Interact with environment to coordinate action, mouse/joystick
• Role-playing games - visual depiction, strategy, problem-solving, dynamic (choices change outcomes), choose to run, interact, collaborate, etc.
• Massive Multiplayer Online Games: 1000’s of players can play/collaborate with each other. Work as teams to complete challenges and tasks.  Social. Thinking skills - use of resources, strategy building.
• Alternate Reality Games - take an idea of a game but stretch it out over the internet. Collaborative.  Social change. Incorporates Youtube, blogs, websites, etc.  “Players” explore many resources - not self contained in one game software. Very involved and expansive
• Simulation - resembles something in real-world
• Sims - how accurately can you simulate a world/environment - urban planning, prosperity
• Real-time Strategy Games - quick response, strategy, constructions, tactical skills, think on your feet, use of resources for survival
• Military Turn-based Strategy Games - plan what all troups will do.  Big impact if bad decisions are made.  How do your decisions impact others?  Can be used for historical learning.
• World Turn-based Strategy Games - “God Games” - omnipotent power over world. Large scale. Not directly related to history or learning but still can teach about how historical figures and nations interacted and caused the development of our world.
• Action -
• Shoot-Em’ Ups - shooting games, developing intuitive responses, need to think quickly, reflexes are developed.  Can be used to teach intuition and prediction skills. Example: Supercharged (physics game).
• Platformers - Mario - levels, tasks, gathering - all on the way to final goal.  Not tremendously educational but could incorporate narrative type lessons.
• First Person Shooters - educational purposes are limited unless used for specialized training (i.e. firefighters, police)
• Fighting Games - indirectly usable in education - strategies, combining skills, complex sequences, coordinated, strategic, tactical thinking
• Sports Games - indirectly usable in education - could be used for sports teams to show maneuvers.  Coordination of multiple players with simple controls.  
• Vehicle Games - training drivers.  Indirectly they can teach about interaction with world, physics, intuition.
• Rhythm Games - Dance, Dance, Revolution - physical coordination, P.E., engaging, physical activities, fun,
• Rock Band - enhances students capacity to enjoy, play, and create
• Other - catch all for those that don’t fit in other categories
• Puzzle Games - build skills.  Can relate directly to skill building in school.  Encourages thinking skills that transfer to other arenas.  
• Traditional Games - Chess.  General cognitive learning
• Board Games - translation of traditional board games to digital arena.  
• Resources:
• Narrative Games:
  • Zork I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1bLBy7gQPI
  • realMYST: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obyfx3gi2aE
  • Legend of Zelda - Ocarina of Time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxspGNBMwSg
  • Final Fantasy X: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsa8yTYHKJc
  • World of Warcraft: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZX2raH-Epc
  • World Without Oil: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-hzUGFD-Gc
• Action Games:
  • R-Type: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFxuI7cBFhQ
  • Super Mario World: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR3gXqCaVZI
  • Half-Life 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG0zerbJ0FA
  • Street Fighter II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePJsX2YdqAs
  • Winning Eleven 10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8Bw3L0PC_k
  • Gran Turismo 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWwSrcgfVwo
  • Dance Dance Revolution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JzcqALklRs
• Simulation Games:
  • SimCity 2000: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL3FubMdOOg
  • StarCraft: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMflTLzY1_o
  • Empire: Total War: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTjufpLhI9Y
  • Europa Universalis III: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-mEpE1RJkI

Other Games:
• Bookworm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K1VcIGjlNs
• Rybka 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9-t5bPJuWc
• Settlers of Catan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC6_UP_DWs8