Many of you probably saw this disgrace [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/features/galleryoftheday/12453-8-Educational-Games-That-Are-Also-Fun]. Note: I'm being sarcastic; this is not meant as a serious attack towards the people who put that list together. Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, half of them aren't even educational! For example, Portal is mentally stimulating, but there really isn't much educational about it. So, to rectify this atrocity (again sarcasm) here is a list of 8 games/game series that ACTUALLY are as educational as they are fun:
1. JumpStart series. It actually copies the school system a bit (or, at least, the American school system) in the sense that each game is based on a grade level hence titles like JumpStart Kindergarten. It differs in that it teaches you through a plot (usually, there may have been some that kept a classroom setting though I'm not sure) versus teaching you through a classroom. I've only played 2 of the games in the series, one of which I did not finish, but I liked what I played and still have fond memories.
2.Freddi Fish series. Not actually sure whether these were educational, but they seemed like they were. My memory is a little hazy though honestly. It is more upfront about its plot aspect, making it less obvious you are actually learning. I believe the plots were often centered around solving a mystery, but again my memory is fuzzy on the details.
3. Pajama Sam series. Similar to the #2 in that the plot is more upfront and the educational aspect is more downplayed and thus subtle. Again, I'm not sure whether this series was truly educational either, but I feel it was.
4. Star Wars: Droid Works. Who thought Star Wars could be educational? The purpose was as Wikipedia eloquently describes, "To create a droid using many different parts that can be assembled in almost endless combinations and have said droid complete a mission. These missions are where the educational properties come into play, as the missions puzzle specifies, it will teach the player about Energy, Force and Motion, Simple Machines, Light, and Magnetism." The plot centered around the discvoery of a secret Imperial droid factory. It was up to you to stop the Empire's evil droid army by disguising as a Jawa and reprogramming the evil droid army. 3 years before The Phantom Menace we already had a droid army. It was just centered in the original trilogy and we thank the Force it was all the better for it.
5. Lost in Blue. The game features two young teens, Keith and Skye, who have to struggle to survive on a deserted island after a shipwreck. It teaches a bit about survival in emergency situations with minimal technology. It isn't really meant to be educational, but it kind of ends up being it anyway. The game could be dull at times, but for the most part it was an enjoyable experience when you had nothing better to do. Of course, if you do have something better to do I suggest doing it. The game is impressively fun considering the niche it is, but it really does get pretty boring.
6. Steven Spielberg's Director's Chair. This is a simulation that has you guided by Steven Spielberg himself through the comprehensive process of moviemaking. It does however use pre-generated film clips, so if you were hoping to create a film from scratch sorry
Nonetheless, as you advance your script and shooting options do increase, so it's not THAT constricting. Plus, you get advice from actual Hollywood people though if you dislike the people featured you're probably not going to get much out of it. Then again, seeing as most of us probably aren't going to get into filmmaking, most of us probably aren't getting much out of it besides a better understanding of filmmaking.
7. You Don't Know Jack series. Alright, so this list is getting a little weak in its defintion of "education" just to make sure I have 8 games, but you know what? At least, more than half of my list is filled with actual educational games! *Glares at author of linked article* The games are framed as a game show "where high culture and pop culture collide" by combining trivia with comedy. However, when you realize your lack of knowledge on the trivia of this stuff is lacking it does lend itself to an educational aspect. Whether or not you consider the game brushing you up on such topics worthy of being deemed "education" is up to you, but I certainly deem it worthy. If nothing else it was fun to compete with friends and the host could be legitimately funny at times.
8. Honestly, I don't know of any more educational games that weren't already listed in the aforementioned article AND that I have actually played rather than just heard of. Will update #8 when I think of any other educational games I have played that I thought were fun.
That's my list. What's yours? Make sure they are games not already listed on The Escapist's official showcase.
1. JumpStart series. It actually copies the school system a bit (or, at least, the American school system) in the sense that each game is based on a grade level hence titles like JumpStart Kindergarten. It differs in that it teaches you through a plot (usually, there may have been some that kept a classroom setting though I'm not sure) versus teaching you through a classroom. I've only played 2 of the games in the series, one of which I did not finish, but I liked what I played and still have fond memories.
2.Freddi Fish series. Not actually sure whether these were educational, but they seemed like they were. My memory is a little hazy though honestly. It is more upfront about its plot aspect, making it less obvious you are actually learning. I believe the plots were often centered around solving a mystery, but again my memory is fuzzy on the details.
3. Pajama Sam series. Similar to the #2 in that the plot is more upfront and the educational aspect is more downplayed and thus subtle. Again, I'm not sure whether this series was truly educational either, but I feel it was.
4. Star Wars: Droid Works. Who thought Star Wars could be educational? The purpose was as Wikipedia eloquently describes, "To create a droid using many different parts that can be assembled in almost endless combinations and have said droid complete a mission. These missions are where the educational properties come into play, as the missions puzzle specifies, it will teach the player about Energy, Force and Motion, Simple Machines, Light, and Magnetism." The plot centered around the discvoery of a secret Imperial droid factory. It was up to you to stop the Empire's evil droid army by disguising as a Jawa and reprogramming the evil droid army. 3 years before The Phantom Menace we already had a droid army. It was just centered in the original trilogy and we thank the Force it was all the better for it.
5. Lost in Blue. The game features two young teens, Keith and Skye, who have to struggle to survive on a deserted island after a shipwreck. It teaches a bit about survival in emergency situations with minimal technology. It isn't really meant to be educational, but it kind of ends up being it anyway. The game could be dull at times, but for the most part it was an enjoyable experience when you had nothing better to do. Of course, if you do have something better to do I suggest doing it. The game is impressively fun considering the niche it is, but it really does get pretty boring.
6. Steven Spielberg's Director's Chair. This is a simulation that has you guided by Steven Spielberg himself through the comprehensive process of moviemaking. It does however use pre-generated film clips, so if you were hoping to create a film from scratch sorry
Nonetheless, as you advance your script and shooting options do increase, so it's not THAT constricting. Plus, you get advice from actual Hollywood people though if you dislike the people featured you're probably not going to get much out of it. Then again, seeing as most of us probably aren't going to get into filmmaking, most of us probably aren't getting much out of it besides a better understanding of filmmaking.
7. You Don't Know Jack series. Alright, so this list is getting a little weak in its defintion of "education" just to make sure I have 8 games, but you know what? At least, more than half of my list is filled with actual educational games! *Glares at author of linked article* The games are framed as a game show "where high culture and pop culture collide" by combining trivia with comedy. However, when you realize your lack of knowledge on the trivia of this stuff is lacking it does lend itself to an educational aspect. Whether or not you consider the game brushing you up on such topics worthy of being deemed "education" is up to you, but I certainly deem it worthy. If nothing else it was fun to compete with friends and the host could be legitimately funny at times.
8. Honestly, I don't know of any more educational games that weren't already listed in the aforementioned article AND that I have actually played rather than just heard of. Will update #8 when I think of any other educational games I have played that I thought were fun.
That's my list. What's yours? Make sure they are games not already listed on The Escapist's official showcase.
