A great experience ! (Final Reflective Post)

During a short period of time I had the chance and the opportunity to practice, explore and learn a game. Like I had mentioned in my blogs my game was not that easy, due to the amount of steps and energy that is required. While playing and learning my game and reading the Gee's book and the articles assigned for the class I had the opportunity to grow as a player. I have learned what's right, wrong, positive and negative in my game. I have learned how much you could get out of a game. While learning my game I had the opportunity to interact with my son and he was able to teach me a lot that I never thought that he was able to do. Throught my game I have gained experience as a player, as a parent and as an educator. I'm able to to understand more about how our children play, what they are being exposed to while playing video games.

The important thing that I got from my game was that I never thought how much a game could teach us in so many ways. A game can teach socialization, language, violence and positive and negative attitude towards a player. Through all these weeks I really had a chance to go above and beyond as a player. I never gave up even though I got headaches, was upset a couple of times and it was not easy to play a game when I was never exposed to playing games. I am so used to playing preschool games as a Preschool Teacher. I never went that intensive with a game. It was a great experience to have an opportunity to learn and to teach at the same time. Like I mentioned before my game was a Christmas present that I had purchased to my son. The only thing that I knew about the game was that it was a wrestling game

Now I'm able to describe what this game is really about. I am able to describe how negative it is. Wrestling is often viewed as a a violent, negative activity. However, because of my research, I do agree and disagree in a few ways. While playing the game I had the opportunity to really explain to my son with details how violent the game is and the violence is not good or necessary in real life. Also that violence has serious consequences. I wish that every parent that purchased this game explained to their children the positives and the negatives about the game. Not every parent knows what they are buying and then they don't know why certain violent action happen with their child. Even though my game is violent it teaches the player rules, vocabulary, thinking skills and solving problems. It is great for gross motor skills and good as a sport.

It is not a game to bring to a preschool classroom but maybe to a 3rd classroom and above where you are able to explain the purpose of the game and teach consequences while playing the game. I would recommend my game 100% as a player, parent, and as an educator. I'm thankful to Dr. Dana for having a great idea for this class such as choosing a game and learning about it. In conclusion, now I will play more, search and be aware of what's new on games, what's coming up and what is important to know about games. I really enjoy and have learned a lot through this game. Learning through play is the key as well as learning through failure. I wish that everyone had fun and has learned a lot about their games.

My seventh Entry

This week while playing i realized that this game had a lot of violence. I understand that my game is a sport entertainment and a lot of us do sports. With my game i had mention before before that wrestler bleed when they get hit with a chair and that is violence. In real life if a child do that would have serious consequences. While reading the article What Happens when video games enter a classroom? By Kurt D. Squire, I came to the conclusion that is true that video games teach our children something it could be literature, vocabulary and socialization. All depends on the type of game and how is implemented. When you bring a game to the classroom is almost the same like when you bring a game to your home. Games increased their motivation and their curiosity. At home and in school you are able to develop new skills using games and different techniques.

Interaction is the key of learning and to teach our children. The article said
"Playing video games doesn't appeal to everyone even among those under 30" stated by Kurt D. Squire
In a way it could be true because with today's' technology everyone is involved in one way or another. Age is just a number you want to play, you play it, you learned and master it.
Learning through failure is the key to success in a game and to become a good player. Failure is not the problem. We learn from our mistakes even while playing. As a parent , educator and now a player i had learned that through failure i learn better. I had the experience to be struggling with my game just doing a few step to pick a wrestler but now i know how to do it after trying and practicing. I feel proud of myself to be able to play such a complicated game that requires a lot of energy. At this point I'm able to teach someone few steps to be able to play.
This week i choose the wrestler named Great Kali . His moves are so complicated but at least I'm able to do the Kali bomb. He have lots of moves in this game but at least i know to handle him and I'm able to fight. I had spend at least two hours playing with my son. I only was able to win one time. Yes! i did it! In conclusion I'm having lots of fun with my game. I am able to choose a wrestler and choose a place of fight which is the main things that you need to do in order to play. I had won the championship belt last week. My son was mad. But the good thing i had fun and still having fun. I had accomplished few of my goals with this game.

My sixth entry, a good week, lot of learning

While reading Gee's book and playing my game i had found lots of exciting things. This week i had spend more time playing my game. I had learned new things . For the past weeks while playing my game i had noticed that each wrestler had a number, but i didn't pay any mind to find out what does that number meant. Well l this week i learned that the number means how strong is the wrestler. For example the higher that is the number the better the wrestler is. Batista is # 95 which is a higher # and he is my favorite, He knows lots of move and that's the reason that he has a higher #. Also this week i had discovered a new move that i never had done before. This move is called knee pointer and another move called staback these moves are complicated to do. Since learning the game i was not able to do a perfect move until this week. It took me a while to practice and finally do it. I still have difficulty doing it sometimes. Another thing that i had learned this week is that each wrestler has a signature move which is a special thing that only that specific wrestler could do. For example a wrestler who name is The under taker who # is 95 he is a good wrestler to choose because his special move is called tomb stone, which this move only he could do it.

My game require lots of close attention because there are certain moves that you could do at certain time, because of this, you could loose your fight. When you are fighting you really need to know the moves because you could loose. A bad thing about my game is the act of violence. I had spoken to my son about the violence of the game and the consequences that could happen if he try to do any of this wrestler move at school or with a friend. But does every parent do the same thing? Reality is that these move in real life could kill someone.
" Normal children respect their parents" stated by James Paul Gee. I strongly agree with this because as a parent and educators is our responsibility to teach our children and most important children need to understand the consequences for not having a good behavior.

While playing this game, I had explain to my son that we fight through the game using wrestler but in real life he's not allow to do any of the move either imitate a wrestler at all. I also explain to my son that throughout the game it looks funny but in real life is dangerous.
"Video games have an unmat potential to create complexity by letting people experience the world from different perspective" stated by Paul Gee. When i read this, i came to the conclusion that is so true , because thorough games we are learning and being expose to variety of things that could be good and positive or bad and negative. Most of the things that we see and find in games happen in real life or it could happen anytime. One big example is my game, wresteling, it happen in real life. You watch it on television and you even go to events and see all this fights, as it occurs in the game. While learning my game I'm having the experience to see it in different perspective as a parent and as an Educator. I could said so far that my opinion on the violence on this game is the same. We need to teach our children about violence and the consequences.
"Good learners more quickly and efficiently toward their goal" stated by Paul Gee. I consider myself a good player because when i set goals i like to put all my effort and meet those goals. As a good learner that i am, and as a parent and educator. I always said that it doesn't matter all the efforts and all the struggling that i need to go thru i always keep trying until i meet those goals. I think that as a player, i mean as a good player we should set goals for our games and try to accomplished those goals. Researching and asking other people it also helps you when you are trying to learn a game.

My fifth entry about my game

While reading chapter 5 & 6 and playing my game, I found out that there is a lot that is true. For example, “After all, you can save the game and start back at the saved point when you fail,” according to James Paul Gee. In my game I’m allowed to save at the point where I stopped and then at a later time keep playing. Sometimes as a player, I get tired or I want to take a break and its important that a game allows you to save and continue at a later time. As a player, you feel different ways of achievement. For example, I feel so proud to be able to be at the level that I am currently. I also discovered that my game has new ways of learning and thinking in order to win and continue. James Paul Gee states, “humans need to practice what they are learning good before they master it.” I strongly agree with this statement because I personally think that the more I practice, the better player I became. In order to master a game or anything that you would like to learn, you need to learn it, practice, research, and share opinions to succeed.

“Good video games gives players better and deeper rewards as they continue to learn new things as they play ( or replay) the game,” stated James Paul Gee. My game is a good example because it is a game that rewards the player. In my game the wrestler is rewarded with a championship belt. As a player you feel proud winning a championship belt. I prepare my wrestler for the fight and when I win, I feel so proud and when I loose, I get upset. The larger amount that I spend playing my game allows me to become familiarized and feel comfortable playing while reading chapter 6, I learned that my game challenged me as a player because there was a lot of procedures to learn and master.
I also think that the game Sonic Adventure 2 Battle, which is described in the book, is similar to my game, because you as a player need to act, think, and value ( while playing) . Wit h my game, you need to think what is the best strategy to win against the other wrestler and value what your doing in order to win. “In video games, hard is not bad and easy is not good,” according to James Paul Gee. This is another statement that I agree with only when it refers to video games. When you talk about school, you want easy to be good because hard is bad for you as a student. But while playing the game its reversed. While I’m playing my game which is hard, it doesn’t mean that its bad because I want to learn it no matter what. My games allow me to have free creation and It also allows me to build my own character. In conclusion, this week I had a great time playing my game. Although they are still hard and I’m still struggling when I play, I understand there is a lot involved in order to succeed. I also feel that all my interest and my effort are helping me a lot.

4th Video Game Entry

After reading chapter 3, "Learning and Identity" by James Paul Gee, I realized that a lot of things are similar between the chapter and the Wii game that I am researching. The game Arcanum which is described in chapter 3, has similarities to my game. In my game, before you start playing, you need to construct your character. Each character has a different gender and race characteristic. For example, when you choose a wrestler, you are able to create his clothing, choose the place where he will fight and you are able to change his appearance by adding tattoos, piercings and different hairstyles. The player must choose how much power a wrestler will have. In chapter 3 it states that, "each of these traits will affect how your character that is." In other words, you, the player, create who you would like to see as a wrestler. In my game, you have to be strong enough to fight and think your way out of the fight. Chapter 3 explains how you get points in Arcanum game. In my game, after each fight, you get energy instead of points by getting a massage. This allows the player to get stronger. The only weapons used in my game are chairs that wrestlers use to hit eachother. Sometimes, depending on the place of the fight, the weapon might be different than a chair. In the Arcarum game, Chapter 3 states that "during game play, you talk and interract with a great many other chracter in the word of Arcanum." In my game, you are allowed to interact with other wrestlers using a cell phone. You can create a superstar, a diva and an arena, which is the place of fighting. Only certain moves are allowed by certain wrestlers. Not every wrestler has the same moves. For example, a wrestler named Batista is allowed to do a movement called "Batista Bomb". This is a move that allows him to lift the wrestler up and put his head between his legs and slam the other wrestler to the ground. When you choose a female wrestler, you can only win if you can do the move the right way. This is difficult for me because I am only starting to learn the game. I had learned that my game has literacy involved with a lot of gross motor. One negative thing about my game is that it is hard to learn the movements in order to win. Like the game Arcanum in Chapter 3, "that allows players certain degree of freedom (choices) in forming virtual characters." My game is similar to this game because you have freedom to choose how you want your fight. Eventually, I have to practice and get more familiar with my game in order to succeed as a player. I consider myself a positive player that likes to learn and practice what I have learned. In chapter 3 it states that, "being too quick to want to get to a goal without engaging in sufficient prior nonlinear exploration." In my opinion, this statement is true because sometimes players want to win without knowing the content of the game. I remember when I first started playing, I was too quick to play just to show that I could do it. In the end, I realized that when playing video games, you have to be patient and practice a lot. Using knowledge of the game helps you succeed. I think I'm having a difficult time with this game because I was always exposed to simple websites like Nickjr.com or noggin.com. The more I practice, I will benefit. A good technique that every player should use is to put in all your effort, think critically and be committed that you want to learn it. In conclusion, this week, I have learned that when a game is not boring, it gives a player enthusiasm to keep playing, learning and practicing to become a better player.

My 3rd game entry

This week, I spent almost two hours playing with my video game. I even got a headache! I was sweating after I was jumping and swinging my arms. I was able to win only one time. I realize now what James Paul Gee stated is true. He said, "Video games teach us that a good game teaches the player primarily how to play the game." I agree with his statement because I found this game difficult to play. There are lots of steps and rules to learn in order for you to have a successful game. I am also convinced that playing video games actively and critically is not a waste of time. I agree with this statement because throughtout this game there was a lot of learning going on even though it is a wrestling game. There is language involved because in order to play you have to read and understand in order to choose a player for example. Sometimes there is critical thinking because you have to analyze what you really want to do during your fight. There is exercise involved due to the amount of movement that has to be done while playing the game. Another thing I realized while playing the game is what Gee stated, "to learn either one at any deep level requires learning to play the game or at least to appropriate to sort what game it is." This means that the more you play, you become a better player. It is very important to know and understand patters and combination of elements and the game's internal design. At this point, I am only able to implement a little understanding because there is lot to learn in order to play at a more advanced level. What I have learned has been useful to me at this point. The two main thing I learned this week is that my video game has a lot of active learning and critical thinking. It is also a good game for obese children and adults because it requires a lot of movement and exercise. At the same time, it is good entertainment while you are burning calories! I think it would be a good idea to play at least 40 minutes a day or a couple times a week for exercise. I never realized that a video game of this type could be so helpful in many ways.

second entry of my game

After watching my son playing the game for the past week, this week i had the chance to play the game. This game allows you to choose a wrestler of your preference. Before you choose the wrestler you are able to view what each wrestler does for the fight. It shows you a picture of the wrestler, their name, weight, height, career highlight and where the wrestler comes from. The wrestler looks exactly like they do in real life. For example tattoo looks identical, even their physical attributes like their beard, mustache, muscles and clothing and down to their championship belts that they usually wear. Another amazing thing about this game is that during the fight, the wrestler shed blood when they get hit with a chair. This type of event happens in real life, which i never thought I would be seeing in a video game. After you choose your wrestler of your preference there is a United States map with seven symbols each with a different meaning. The first symbol is a locker room which is a place where the wrestler finds out the ranking or status on the fights. There is also a calendar to save various type of fights that you are playing. There is also a cell phone to call and see what is available for the matches. There is also a massage room that is used when the wrestler's energy is low and you are able to get a massage after the fight to recover for the next fight. Another symbol in this map is smack down which is the place that you go in to fight. The is the raw symbol which is another place to fight. Revolution is the symbol for a place that you go and fight for the raw of championship belt. The fifth ECW which is a different company to fight from the above fighting places because there wrestler uses chairs while fighting and the last one is called ECW One Night Stand. the wrestlers fight for the ECW championship belt in this match. In this game, the player goes the map before entering the fight and choose from one of the above. All these symbols are semiotic domains because they have words, symbols and images as stated by James Paul Gee because their meaning aren't just a general meaning. They could mean many different things. After you choose a place from the map and a wrestler you are able to walk to the ring for your fight. While you are walking to the ring you see the audience jumping and yelling out wrestler name's. All i have to say is that this week i ha a great experience playing with my son and learning the game i even got a headache. I'm still learning the game which i think is kind of hard due to all the steps that has to be done in order to start to play. My son is teaching me which i think he is an expert because he knows all the steps, movements. I feel kind of strange because how come a 9 year old know and have a better concept on a video game of this type, which to me is kind of hard. I'm glad to have this type of experience learning through play. I am learning as a parent, teacher and as a student for this course. All i could tell you is that this game require a lot of energy because there is a lot of jumping, and moving the arms all the times. I would keep playing and learning in all aspects this game and on my next entry i would inform you more of this exciting video game.