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.