get your game on: video gaming @ the library instructor: beth gallaway...

Get Your Game On: Video Gaming @ the Library

Instructor:

Beth Gallawayinformationgoddess29@gmail.com

An Infopeople Workshop

Winter 2007

This Workshop Is Brought to You By the Infopeople Project

Infopeople is a federally-funded grant project supported by the California State Library. It provides a wide variety of training to California libraries. Infopeople workshops are offered around the state and are open registration on a first-come, first-served basis.

For a complete list of workshops, and for other information about the project, go to the Infopeople website at infopeople.org.

Workshop Overview

• Defining games

• Benefits of games… at the library!

• Defining the gamer

• Creating the gamer friendly library

• Collecting games

• Game programs

• Let’s play some games!

What is a Game?GAME: activity engaged

in for diversion or amusement; synonym: see FUN

VIDEO GAME: an electronic game played by means of images on a video screen and often emphasizing fast action

Merriam-Webster Online. http://www.m-w.com

Game Components

• Console/Playing Device – PC, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo

• Screen or Monitor• Controller

– mouse, joystick, keyboard, peripheral device

• Power Source

• Game – CD-Rom, cartridge, digital

Game Play Devices• Xbox• Playstation• Nintendo• PC

Game Controllers

• Keyboard• Mouse• Mat• Guitar• Steering Wheel• Drum• Joystick• Camera• Controllers

Game Screens

• Monitor • Television• Projector/Screen

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

Plug ‘n’ Play

• Plugs into your TV

• Play begins immediately

PC/Mac Gaming• Computer with a hard drive• PC or Mac Platform

Console Gaming Devices

Handheld Gaming Devices• 32% of households own a handheld device that plays games

Mobile Gaming Devices

• Mobile gaming is expected to quadruple to 11.2 billion by 2010

Why Games at the Library?Games …

• Are just like books, they are just another new format

• Are the medium of choice for the millennial generation

• Meet developmental needs of teens• Build adolescents developmental assets• Are literary• Reinforce new literacy's

Gaming = literacy• Environmental print

– signage– labels– maps

• Reading about the game– instructions– walkthroughs

• Writing about the game– forums– websites

• Chat: – “WTS, Mageweave cloth, 15g”

Gaming Meets Developmental Needs 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

Gaming Builds Developmental Assets of Adolescents• Support• Empowerment• Boundaries & Expectations• Constructive Use of Time• Commitment to Learning• Positive Values• Social Competencies• Positive Identity

The Search Institute. http://www.search-institute.org

Does This Sound Like Any 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 is Reshaping 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 Reinforces New Literacies

• Exposing knowledge

• Employing information

• Expressing ideas compellingly

• Ethics on the Internet

Warlick, David. ”The New Literacies.” Scholastic Administrator. Mar-Apr2005 http://www.scholastic.com/administrator/marapr05/articles.asp?article=newlit

1. Exposing Knowledge

• Find information

• Understand and explain found information regardless of its format

• Evaluate information

• Organize information

2. Employing Information

• Computation

• Measurement

• Analysis

• Application

• Estimating

• Basic arithmetic

• Averages

• Statistics

Lemonade Stand

3. Expressing Ideas Compellingly

• Mechanics matter

• Creativity & efficiency highly rated

• Text, images, audio, and video are used to 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 characters created/owner by someone else

• Machina – films/videos created through recording video game play

How Can Libraries Serve Gamers?

1. Use games to do readers advisory 

2. Be a strategy guide

3. Embrace your inner technogeek

4. Be flexible … embrace change!

5. Immerse yourself in pop culture … especially video game culture

6. Try some games!

1. Reader’s Advisory to Gamers

INSTEAD 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?

Roleplaying/MMORPG Games

• Games: – Everquest– Runescape– World of Warcraft– Dark Age of Camelot– Ultima

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

• Suggest?

Simulations

• Games: – The Sims– The Urbz

• Characteristics:– Character driven

• Suggest?

Historical Sim Games• Games:

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

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

• 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?

Japanese/Manga tie-in• Games:

– Katamari Damacy– Final Fantasy– Dragonball Z– Pokemon

• Characteristics– Anime style– Japanese culture

• Suggest?

Sports Games

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

• Characteristics– Sports theme– Competition

• 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 Forget Print Resources for Gamers

1. Magazines

2. Strategy guides

3. Nonfiction about gaming

4. Fiction with gaming as a plot or subplot

2. Be a Strategy Guide -- Not an Information Maven

• Don’t be a level boss• Show, don’t tell• Make it interactive• Get them started with a free-for-all• Ask for a demo of expertise• Be open-minded

3. Embrace Your Inner Technogeek

• Upgrade• Get a screen name• You can’t break it• Pilot projects• Read tech news

4. Be Flexible… Embrace Change!

• Change the space• Flexible furnishings• Say yes• Go meta• Customize• Change yourself

5. Immerse Yourself in Pop Culture…

• Pop Culture

• Hot High Tech

• Crossovers

… Especially 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

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 4-10, 2007

6. Try Some Games

• On the Internet• On a Console

Collection Management• Storage depends on:

– format– staff– space– budget

• Theft– start with programs– start small

• Troubleshooting– replacement/repair

Theft• Choose secure storage

• Build community

• Examine circulation policies

Secure Storage• Kwik Cases

• Locking Caps

• Locking Security Straps

Troubleshooting• Clearly label format• Collections are self weeding collection• Games can be cleaned with rubbing alcohol• Scratches can be removed with cleaning devices for

use with CDs & DVDs

Best Practices: Collections in CA

• Rockridge Branch, Oakland Public Library• Ages 13-18 year olds• PS2 games • Limit of 2 games per patron. • No holds and no renewals. • 7 day free checkout• $1/day late fee• $50 / replacement fee• Genres: sports, adventure, racing, fighting, and

shooters.

Best Practices: Collections in US

• Helen McGraw branch of the Irondequoit 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

Plot

• Unique plot

• Compelling story

• Creative gameplay

• Multiple modes of play

Setting• Real physics

• Believable and consistent detail

• Physically plotable

• True to life

Character• Customizable

• Diverse

• Representation of the player

Graphics and Game Physics

• Smooth

• Seamless

• Realistic

• Appropriate

Soundtrack

• Music

• Speech

• Ambient Noise

Support

Finding Good Games• Game Awards

– Websites– Magazines– Organizations– Networks

• Game Reviews– Magazines– Library Journals– Websites

Exercise #7:What Makes a Good Game?

Collection Policy Considerations• Formats

– Console – PC– Internet– Subscription

• Breadth & Depth– Genres– Styles– Age ranges

• Budget

Collection Management• Storage depends on:

– format– staff– space– budget

• Theft– start with programs– start small

• Issues– replacement/repair– resistance

Best Practices: Collections in CA

• Rockridge Branch, Oakland Public Library• Ages 13-18 year olds• PS2 games • Limit of 2 games per patron. • No holds and no renewals. • 7 day free checkout• $1/day late fee• $50 / replacement fee• Genres: sports, adventure, racing, fighting, and

shooters.

Best Practices: Collections in US

• Helen McGraw branch of the Irondequoit 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

What Makes a Successful Gaming Program?1. Do your homework

2. Provide variety

3. Open up to the community

4. Spread the word

5. 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: CA• 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 on the XBox 360;

– Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. Melee are popular 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

Evaluations• Beth Gallaway• i

nformationgoddess29@gmail.com

• 603.247.3196• http://informationgodd

ess29.com