Stereotypes in Basketball

Regardless of race there are always "those" players.

Beginer Games

Final post: board game humor

                  



         This post in a video clip from the Jimmy Fallon Tonight show where he talks the worst board games ever created. I found the clip to be very funny and I wanted to share it for entertainment and also because it show how some game companies are really going to any extreme just to make money. I believe board games and cards game as well are a very important way of uniting family or cultures, but I also believe that sometimes game companies  take advantage of that to market their products.

Top 10 Branded Board Games and my experiences with board games

              Of the top 10 brand board games mentioned in the video clip I grew up playing Monopoly, Life, Battleship, Chutes and Ladders, and Scrabble. My favorite which I mentioned in a previous post was Monopoly because it was the most enjoyable for me. I remember playing these board games with my older sister and friends or with my family on rainy days or on Sunday afternoons. Chutes and Ladders I remember playing as a child in Mexico with my cousins because the game was also very popular over there. In elementary school  one time by fifth grade teacher had us play the game battleship as a way to understand the x and y axes of a graph and as a way to teach us how to plot coordinates.

              Overall, I think board games are very useful tools to enhance peoples' knowledge. Many of the games I grew up playing or play today are able to teach the players something useful for real life. From the game monopoly I learned about investment in property and taxes. From the game Life I learned about car investments, health insurance, and family expenses. Through the game Scrabble I improved my vocabulary and spelling. In essence all of these games have taught me something from a very young age and all of these lessons I have used now as an adult.

                   

cultural history of playing cards

       In one of my previous post I talked about how the different editions of the board game Monopoly
   were influenced by the different cultures. For this post I found the same idea to be true for the creation of a deck of cards. Historically playing cards have been around since the 14th century and since then these traditional deck of cards have been used in gambling, games, fortune telling, advertising, and in artwork all around the world.
         Cultural diversity led to the various printing techniques and the creation of different stereotypical card designs. For instance, in some areas of Europe some packs had symbols of animals, flowers, and everyday objects while in other regions the packs had images of kings, queens, and attendants printed on them. What is quite intriguing is that within one region or culture the various political or traditional ideas is what led to the various printed card decks.
Like with the game Bingo it seems that in the 14th century card packs spread in popularity to other
Countries and in the process the printing techniques and images changed to assimilate with the local culture.
         
Today playing cards are used to play games like:

- Blackjack (U.S)
-Truco (Brazil)
- Mus (Spain)
-Ocho Locos ( Puerto Rico)
- Dai Fugo (Japan)
- Escobar de 15 (Uruguay)
-Brag (UK)





Argentina


Kenya


Brazilian


Iran

link to page

Mancala: Traditional African mathematical game.

 

Background/History
       
             Mancala is a traditional African board game which is played in various forms throughout African and other countries. There are hundreds of different versions of the game played. According to the literature, Mancala is a game that is enjoyed by everyone in Africa from royalty to villagers of all ages. The game has been a part of the culture and family traditions for many Africans. The game is played not only has a form of entertainment, but it has also been used as a ceremonial right of passage in some villages.


Reflection
              The concept on the game is to be the player with the most marbles or pieces in your bin or Kalama. Mancala is a two player game and the only thing needed to play the game is a Mancala board ( wooded board with carved out bins) and 48 playing pieces. What I found interesting is that in many African villages the children and even adults play the game by digging small holes in the ground and they use small rocks or pebbles as playing pieces. It was very moving to see how these children used any materials they have to enjoy a game that is so tied to their cultural history. Seeing the images below sparked my curiosity to find out how the American version of the game is being sold in the U.S. I found out that in places like WalMart and ToysRus the game is sold for 10-12 dollars. I personally thought that to be interesting and a bit unjust for the children who can't afford to make or buy the game board and instead use their imaginations to play the game, while in the U.S big game company's are making money of the "Mancala game"  that is really very different from the culturally traditional version played in Africa.

American Advertised Versions of Mancala

 

 

Reflexivity

My approach to the blog was to focus on what I already knew about unity in diversity and play. When I think of play obviously children come into mind, this is why I chose to write about the child's side of play and unity. I was attending college to become an Elementary school teacher, although I do like children I decided that here in Florida the money wasn't right for a lifelong career choice. Many of my assignments while taking courses within the teaching program focused on child's play and unity in the classroom. Helping children come together through play is detrimental at a young age and helps with acceptance and learning behaviors. Although I am a Public Relations major now I still believe that bringing people together to understand a specific strategy or plan will be important, maybe not through play necessarily but definitely through explanation, interactive and visual approaches. I had a great time working with Blogger for the first time and being able to create our own personal page! Please feel free to check it out more :)

My Gaming Expeirence

   

                            




These are just some of the games I remember playing growing up. I was never really into the video gaming seriously, but I enjoyed some Barbie games with my friends. I also remember playing Pokemon, Tetris, Mario, Frogger, and other games on my Game Boy Color, and sometimes my brothers portable gaming devises. Technology and Gaming have only just started their journey.

Where are Video Games Headed?

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/future-of-gaming/

1. Immersive Gaming: The Return of Virtual Reality (VR) 

2. Secondary Screens for Gaming

3. Open-Source Gaming 

4. Augmented Reality (AR)

5. Cloud Gaming

In this article this is the list of where technology is taking video games. Technology and gaming together are really making improvements, and advancements faster than we can keep up. I grew up with a Game Boy color, but I can only imagine what my kids gaming systems will be like.

 

Enculturation of MONOPOLY

    
        If you were asked to remember a few of the board games you played during your childhood, with friends or on family night, what do you think would come to mind? Well maybe some of the games that you would think of would be Checkers, Life, Scrabble.... oh and of course MONOPOLY.
The reason I ask this question is because these are some of the games I grew up playing, but my favorite by far was the board game Monopoly.
           Monopoly I think is one of the classic board games in American culture but it is far from exclusive to American culture now with so many editions that have been created in various languages and specific to different countries. I believe it is very interesting how the original version of Monopoly has been adapted in many parts of the world in countries such as France and Malaysia. This board game is a great example of how play can break cultural boundaries and become a common thing for people of all backgrounds to share. The game board of Monopoly does vary in appearance edition by edition and this is greatly influenced by the culture is representative of. For example, the French edition, instead of having places like Park Place or Boardwalk, instead they have places significant to France and the currency used in the game I also different. The various versions of the game are largely influenced by cultures and even the other version like the Star Wars edition or the One Direction edition are also influenced by fan cultures or people from all over the world that share the love for a band or for a movie series etc...    

Italian Card - SCOPA

              In my last post I talked about a board game called Keep It Cool which brought people from diverse backgrounds together in one table in a game. The purpose of our blog is to expose people to the diversity in play and to different games from other cultures. In this post I wanted to concentrated on exposing people to information about a game from another culture other. SCOPA, is a very traditional card game in Italian culture. While reading about this card game I thought it was very interesting to learn that this card game is so popular in the culture that most people in Italy has played this card game at least once in their life. This card game is a symbol of Italian culture and the deck of cards has  culture influenced images printed on them.
          Of what I learned the objective of the game is to get the highest number of points by capturing cards throughout the game which will calculate the number of points. The game can be played with 2-4 players or in two teams of two players.

Child Diversity on Pinterest

Many of us have the Pinterest app downloaded on our phones and some of us may even be slightly addicted to all the wonderfulness it has to offer! It is a very popular app used in today's society and I think it is great that you can literally find almost anything on it. From do it yourself projects(DIY) to home decor, nature and tattoos, Pinterest is a treasure chest full of creativity and secret ideas. I found that on Pinterest there is a whole page of diversity activities for students to do in the classroom or at home. I personally am going to tell my step sister, a fellow pinner herself, about this page because she will be a first year teacher soon and may appreciate the fun tips.

http://www.pinterest.com/explore/diversity-activities/
Happy Pinning! :)

Diversity in Play: Sports: Terminology Streetball Cheat Sheet

We learned that language has a role in defining and describing a culture. Basketball like most sports requires a high level of communication. If you can't keep up with the slang you're gonna have a hard time.

Terminology: (Can vary with region to region)

The Rock- Basketball

Brick- Ugly shot that usually hits the outside of the rim

And 1- Making the shot while getting fouled

Cash, Money, Icy, Wet- All terms to describe a good shot. Usually a swish.

Getting Ripped- The ball was stolen

Handles- Dribbling ability

Hops- Insane jumping ability

Take it to the hole, Take it to the rack- Drive the towards the basket. Usually for a lay up or dunk.

Cross- Crossing over one dude with your handles
Shake- Losing one or more opponents because your sick handles

Throw it Down- Dunking with tremendous force

Abuse- Beat someone like they stole from you.

Force- Shoot an ill-advised shot or low percentage shot

Alley-Oop- One team pass makes a pass in the air while the other dunks. Instant fluid motion.


There's also a certain etiquette expected on most courts.

If someone comes to shoot on the same hoop as you on a clear court there's an opening to initiate a one-on-one game.

Protocol states that games must be allowed to finish unless of the parties disengage.

One person coming to the court without a ball is fine. If a group of guys come on the court without a ball then they are annoying posers.

Diversity in Play Field Guide: Language of Basketball Trash Talk

Language is one of the things that defines culture and how individuals in that society interact with each other.

"You can only go so far by being the nice guy or a pretty boy on the court. Sometimes you gotta be an asshole."- (I think it was Kevin Garnett).

When you're on the court what's as good as your game is your ability to trash talk or tune it out.

The majority three main racial groups seen out on the courts are: Black, White and Asian. Latinos sometimes are seen but they tend to be in a mixed group with

Hierarchy is usually defined by how good you are first and foremost.

Next it's by how loud you are. On the court Blacks tend to be on the louder side. Whites are around the middle. Asians are often passive.

Even here at USF, this becomes important when someone tries to call for the next game or claim a court. The louder you are or the bigger you are the better your negotiating status.

Diversity in Play: Sports

My section in Diversity in Play is Sports.

Working definition of sport is an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

There were a multitude of sports I could've used but I narrowed it down two: soccer and basketball(both of which happen to be the top two sports played in the U.S.).

I chose basketball because of my ability to play to game and the history I have with it.

I also primarily focused my observations on USF basketball courts. There are three distinct court types on campus which I classified as: playground, blacktop and gym. What I found was that there are several varying types of interaction based on the different settings and clientele.

My course of action has been primarily participant observation and insights I had from previous experience with the game.

I also have to admit I have a personal affinity for basketball. I tend not to like to interact with anyone I can't play against. Socially basketball is how I met my best friend. It allowed me to have a smoother transition into USF and forge a lasting relationship with my first roommate. It was also how I met my current roommate.

Video Game Seats: the OpenWheeler Driving Game Seat

   


This blog post is about an Interactive Car racing seat. When I was
growing up we has a steering wheel to play racing car games which was,
well.. okay.. pretty awesome to a kid. Now, we can buy an actual car
seat with a steering wheel, and pedals and get a real driving
experience. The diversity is not only can anyone buy this across the
world, but the ages. From kids to adults, to elderly, if you can reach
the pedals and your allowed to play your game you can play! The evolution of video gaming just amazes me, and the amount of people this is available too is quite amazing!

Keep It Real Game: The Ideal Diversity Tool

         The mission of our blog states how play can unite people from various cultures and backgrounds. In my quest for finding a perfect example of a single board game that could unite people with different cultures I found this Keep It Real Game.  This diversity game manufactured by Trance4mation Games LLC is very interesting because it brings people from all ethnic background together in one game and it helps open the minds of the players to other perspectives and ideas. The video below shows college students playing the game and their experiences with the game. The questions asked in the board game are very culture based questions and they really spark conversation and sharing of ideas. Straight from the manufacture's webpage, some of the questions in the game are:

-What other culture fascinates you? Why?
-Why do you think there is racism?
-Do you feel comfortable in your own skin? Explain.
- Tell us about two of the best attributes of your race, and two of the worst attributes of your race.
- What percentage of people do you think judge others by the color of their skin?

         After watching this video and reading more about the game I really think that Keep It Real is more than just a simple board game, but rather it is a tool that unites people and changes perspectives. I would really like to play the game one day because I think it can be an eye opener. Below is the link to the game's official page where you can find more information.



keep it real

A Brief History of Video Games

                                                                                                                                      
 
The history of video games really does amaze me. From a simple tennis stimulation game, to arcades games, to gaming consoles, and handheld gaming devices. During the 60s and 70s gaming was pretty simple, but played and enjoyed by people all over the world. In the 80s games became more complex and the 90s introduced the first real strategy gaming. Since the 90s gaming has just boomed and taken off. Gaming and the internet made it possible for people all over the world to play against each other in the same game. For some this may not amaze people, but to me this is just something unthinkable. Since the gaming industry has taken off, people live and breath these video games, and playing online with people.

Video games have not, and will not slow the progress down anytime soon!!!

                                                                 

Interactive games in school from my perspective

"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."-Albert Einstein

Throughout Elementary school I never really thought about what type of learner I was in school but as I got older I definitely started to realize what worked for me and what didn't work for me when it came to excelling. I am a visual learner and a hands on learner that likes to be involved in order to retain what I learn. In fourth grade my teacher's name was Mr. White at Meadowlane Elementary, I remember that man to this day because I remember so much great information from that class. You can learn just about anything but remembering what you learn to apply it to real life is when it counts! His teaching strategy was to be very interactive with students and create games that went with every lesson that we played each week. For example we played a game with the globe in order to learn states and capitals, we played a racing game with multiplication and division flash cards, also every Friday we had a little spelling bee in the classroom. The winners of the most games at the end of each week received candy of their personal choices no matter what it be, he would get it and reward us with it. My point is that in this class I learned all of my multiplication, division, spelling, and states and capitals; but not only did I learn them I actually remember all the information I was taught in fourth grade to this day because the positive impact of interactive games in the classroom.

Free Gaming?!

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/games/f2p_revolution_25_killer_online_games_you_can_play_free

     So online gaming is something that many get involved in across the world. Many ages, and from all countries participate in this online gaming community. I was always under the impression that online gaming cost money, like for subscriptions or to play the games. When I came across this article that are online games you can play for free i was like wow, if you have a computer and internet you can play these games. With internet spreading around the globe more and more people have access to playing these games.

Duck Duck Goose or Corre, Corre la Guaraca in Chile

http://www.parents.com/fun/games/educational/games-from-around-the-world/ 

 Chile: Corre, Corre la Guaraca

The fun-to-say game name translates to "Run, Run, la Guaraca." Chilean kids typically speak Spanish, but Guaraca is actually a nonsense word.
Players: Five or more, ages 5 and up
What You'll Need: A handkerchief.
How to Play: Players sit in a circle while a runner jogs around the outer rim with a handkerchief. The seated kids are not allowed to watch. They sing "Corre, Corre, la Guaraca who looks back will be bopped on his head!" Trying not to be felt, the runner drops the handkerchief on a child's back and runs. If he makes it around the circle before the player realizes that it's on her back, the seated player is out. If the seated player catches on, she must tag the runner. If she succeeds, the runner is out. If she fails to tag him, they play again, but this time player 2 is the runner.

Child's Play Starting at a Young Age

http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=462

Researchers believe that child's play should start at a very young age in order for proper development. They suggest starting off as young as infantry and reading your babies brightly colored picture books to grasp their attention. It gets the mind going and from there everyday play is crucial to your child's learning. Playing games gets the child involved also motor skills and comprehension begin.

Technology Gaming and Why Some of Us Play Them!

So my last post about the kids reacting to Game Boys, made me realize that, wow I'm getting old, and kids seem to be grasping on to technology like its nothing. I grew up right during the boom of cell phones and their growing popularity, lap tops being new and exciting, and its amazing how far we have come with technology and the internet in 20 years.

In a way technology has brought us closer together and one way it has is through games. Computer games, online games, phone games, and gaming consoles, just to name some. I asked people what they thought about technology games and it was simple, people loved them.

I asked my 6 year old cousin why she liked playing games on her mom's phone and her response was, "I love playing games, and some of them help me with school. I can practice reading and math and play a game." When i asked my dad he said,"I just want to get to the next level in Candy Crush, and Angry Birds." I couldn't help but giggle to that answer.

For me, games give me a chance to unwind and take a break. When school and work duties are piling up, it helps to step back, regroup and for me, play a few games of solitaire on my phone. When I asked my peers at school about why they play games on their phones, or gaming consoles, I received a similar response. College can be fun and exciting, but stressful at the same time. When played in moderation, games played using technology can be fun, exciting, educational, and relaxing!

The cultural diversity of Bingo

Introduction/History of Bingo

Hello everyone I am Melissa Flores and my category of play that I am contributing information about is board and card games around the world. This category is quite interesting because there are many card and board games that are similar, but have been adapted into various cultures in a different way. A great example of this is traditional American Bingo and the Mexican version called "Loteria" Before I begin discussing some keys differences between the two versions, it is first important to mention some of the historical facts about this widely known game. First, where was bingo invented? Well according to an article published by South West News Service (an independent UK news source) bingo is historically traced back to Italy where it derives from an Italian lottery game called ‘Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia” which has been played in Italy since the 1530’s. Also mentioned in the article, the game was introduced to France in the 1770’s and later spread to the UK. The traditional American version of the game became popular in U.S carnivals in the 1920’s. What I find interesting is that the American bingo we so popularly play today was adapted from other known versions from Europe countries. And in that same way American bingo was adapted in Mexico and is called “Loteria”, the concept of the game has remained almost the same yet it has been alternated by cultures throughout the world.

American Bingo  

To play the American version of bingo you need a set of 75 balls with a number 1-75 on each ball, a ball cage or machine, playing cards that display the letters B-I-N-G-O at the top and a number 1-75 in each box in the card with the exception of the middle box which is a “free” space, and you would need plastic chips as markers or a marker pen. The game consist of someone to use the ball cage to randomly generate a ball at a time with a number and a letter from bingo (for example B7 or G52) and the players mark the boxes on their card that constant the numbers called. The gist of the game is to get a row or line of five numbers marked and the first person or people to yell bingo to win the round. In order to have a valid win the line could be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal.

 

Loteria/ Mexican Bingo

            The game of loteria is like American bingo, a game of chance. To play loteria you need the game kit that comes with a deck of 54 cards with a different images, significant of Mexican culture, printed on each card with a corresponding number from 1-54 printed on each card. The game kit also includes large game board cards that have 24 images printed on them randomly of the respective 54 images on the deck of cards. You would then use just need any small items as markers, it is common for people in Mexico to use uncooked pinto beans or dry corn kernels called “maiz” as markers on their game boards. To play the game one person is chosen the card reader and this person is in charge of calling a card at a time of the deck of shuffled cards. The players need to mark the images called on the game board until they fill the entire card or the pattern chosen at the start of the round. In loteria unlike in American bingo the 5 in a line is not only way to play, in loteria players jointly can choose a different specific card pattern to play each. For example, as a group for round one all the players can agreed that to win they have to fill all four corners of the card and in that case for that round the first player to mark all four corners on his or hers card wins and shouts “Loteria”. For round two they players as a group might agree that for that round the person who marks all the outer boxes on their game board wins and so on.

 

Experience Playing both Versions

            In my experience playing both version I personally enjoyed Loteria better because the rounds were shorter and the anticipation to win seemed more intense. The comparison between these two versions of the same game show how culture has a great effect on the adaptation of traditions in this case games from other areas or cultures. Today there are many different version of bingo in different countries and the rules and game are a representation of the nation or culture.

The Importance of Unity through Play

http://www.childs-play.com/teacher-zone/diversity_and_equality_for_tea.html

This is a great source for anyone who is a Teacher or is studying Child Development, or Child Psychology. "Child's play aims to reflect the diverse society in which we live and challenge stereotypes." Every child needs to feel like they belong to the "landscape" of children around them, weather they are black, white, Hispanic, Asian or even deal with a disability they were born with that the other kids don't have. Unity through play helps children cope with any insecurities they may have about themselves which leads to proper communication skills and a sense of belonging, both important at a young age.

Child's Play aims to reflect the diverse society in which we live and challenge stereotypes - See more at: http://www.childs-play.com/teacher-zone/diversity_and_equality_for_tea.html#sthash.tbDwMJiQ.dpuf

Child's Play aims to reflect the diverse society in which we live and challenge stereotypes - See more at: http://www.childs-play.com/teacher-zone/diversity_and_equality_for_tea.html#sthash.tbDwMJiQ.dpuf

KIDS REACT TO GAME BOY

As someone who had a Game Boy color this video was really amusing. The kids ranged in age from 6-13, and from all different backgrounds.The first Game Boy was released in Japan on April 21, 1989. Including the Game Boy Color, over 118 million would sell around the world. The Game Boy era started a trend that would allow gamers of all ages around the world, play the same games and have a common understanding of something the same.

When first given the Game Boy, the kids made comments like, "ohh ive seen this, its a iPhone case", and "you don't just buy apps for this?" The kids also said it was "a piece of junk", the game was boring", and they "felt sad for people in the past". When asked about if they would play with it many kids said not really and would rather have their iPad, iTouch,  and Nintendo DS .

The purple Game Boy Color was my first gaming device. I sure did love that thing, like many kids love their iPads, tablets and gaming consoles.

Too much work not enough play?

http://online.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754

I found this article to be very interesting while searching for the difference in play with American culture and the Chinese culture. I always heard that Chinese families are very traditional and pretty strict on their children because they want nothing but success for them. I think that Chinese families are very proud and want to reflect their success on other families to show them their pride. This article basically states that in the Chinese culture the word play is used very scarcely. In a sense that once you master a certain task or Ace a certain course then you become good at it, does becoming "good" at something mean you truly are having fun which leads to playing? I think that an open minded individual may be able to view their ways of life in this way. Although I can see how no playing as a child could be detrimental to social skills, children need interaction to learn from as well as book smarts.

Diversity in Technology Game Development

Gamasutra - Race and racism in games: Dissecting tech's struggle with racial diversity

     Hi, my name is Morgan and my role on the blog to discuss
technology games and the diversity with in the games. I was doing
research online, and what I discovered was that there is a another world
that goes beyond just playing the games. I came across this article
that discussed some issues about diversity with the developers of the
games.

     What I understood from the article is that there are
issues of gaming events, software developing companies, and certain
groups of people who feel inadequate when compared to the big time
software developers. When video game conventions are held the marketing
to a diverse crowd is not very strong. It is like if someone walks in to
a large group of people and announces pizza party, chances are not many
people will attend. On the contrary, if that same person walks around to
the groups of people and invites people personally, more people are
likely to show up.

      Similar issues are true about the
software developing companies and the people that may or may not work
for them. Most of these companies are not very diverse within their
employees, and for a few reasons. The people of different back grounds
feel intimidated and like they won't get hired because of not going to a
big time school, or maybe they don't know everything in the book, so
they don't even try.

     Without diversity in software
developers, the games themselves can lack diversity. As mentioned in the
articles there are some games that allow you to play both sides of the
story, but more games like it need to go on the market.

    
Diversity or lack of in some cases is interesting to read and think
about. With all the resources we have, why can diversity be so hard to
come by. 

Traditional Children's Games in Chiangrai

http://youtu.be/vaJRjkFSxVI <---------- Click link or copy and paste into your address bar!

- I find it amazing that these kids from Thailand use the materials they are able to find around them for entertainment. Materials that here in America we would probably consider garbage. Not only do these kids value what little they have, they have to become creative with these materials and think outside of the box in order to play. From the rules of the games to the objects they play with these kids literally create their own fun.

About us

We are a group of five students attending the University of South Florida creating this blog to explore cultural diversity and unity in play. There are many ways that students here interact and learn from each other, whether it is at work or at play cultural diversity is everywhere. We want to explore the diverse ways people in America play in comparison to people from all over the world. We are going into this study very open minded and with a willingness to learn from various amounts of people. Using different geographic origins and demographics will play a key role in this study and help us to better understand the amount of games, sports, or activities people from around the world partake in and how they may compare to what our definition of "play" is here in America. Keep an eye out for any interesting you tube videos, links, or important articles that will be shared throughout the course! “We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.” -J.K. Rowling