Video+Game+Critique

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**__=__** Overview = |||||| **__=__** Description = || Rock Band 2 || (1) The Goal of the game is to complete all the venues with passing scores and ultimately play the marathon set which is 84 songs. || **Learning Objectives** //(explicit or implicit)// |||||| (1) Math can be taught through adding the number of fans and money you earn per show. (2) Team work can be taught since 3-4 people play the game together simultaneously and cooperatively. || **Assessment** //(explicit or implicit)// |||||| Getting 100% on each level (making no mistakes on each song- thus hitting all the buttons correctly on the controller at the right tempo), collecting trophies, buying gear for your band, collecting stars for how well you play the song || **Content** //(explicit or implicit)// |||||| Function of money, touch typing, music (beat, tempo) || **Values & Skills** //(explicit or implicit)// |||||| Cooperation, music appreciation, hand-eye coordination/reflexes || Rhythm Game || Children, teens, adults, male or female || X-Box, Playstation, Wii || Activision || EA, MTV Games, Harmonix || Sept. 14, 2008 || // __**Design Aspects**__ // || = = High = = || // Average // || // Low // || Fantastic music ||  ||   || Easy to Expert levels ||  ||   || Interactive ||  ||   || High (because of different levels and challenges- also they are always coming out with new games) ||  ||   ||
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The game we chose to play was Rock Back 2. We selected this game because it was the first game that was suggested, and so we went with it. Immediately after selecting the game and playing it we had tons of ideas about how a game like Rock Band could be impactful on students and the gaming culture. I personally think that kids play this game because of the interactive cooperative style of play. These types of games got popular with the Dance Dance Revolution series style game play. I can't believe that it actually took as long as it did for game developers to incorporate more interactive controllers. The game itself could be played on any five button controller, but holding on to a guitar, drum stick, and microphone take the gaming experience to a whole new level.

- players can "live out" being a rock star - cooperative play with multiple friends - real music to play - more than just mashing buttons - anyone can play it, but difficulty levels make it fun for the more experienced gamer - players can create their own persona
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__**Applications to the Classroom:**__ - Mathematics: adding up the money your band makes or percentages of notes possible versus notes hit - Keyboarding: touch typing - Geography: new cities around the world are unlocked the better you play - Music: keeping on rhythm - Cooperation skills

So why do students play this game? Well, for all the reasons listed above and then some. I think that people play this game because it is a skill that must be aquired in order to master the game, unlike most other games. I think the game itself could be applied to a classroom environment in the right situation, dealing with the right content. Music itself can be applied across multiple disciplines like music, history, English, math, language, sociology, and many more. But with the added dimension of cooperative style learning/interaction built into the gameplay, it makes it easy to incorporate a little Rock Band into some part of a lesson or activity. Most of all, it is the entertainment and replay value that makes Rock Band and similar games such a hit.