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Poland puts computer game “This War of Mine” on school reading list

notesfrompoland.com

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Re: Poland puts computer game “This War of Mine” on school reading list

#71

Post by juskrey »

The education system, as always, sends the signal that should be received with great suspicion and scrutiny. Here the case is slightly more complex: any game, however rich, is a closed system with predictable outcomes, while real life is all about choosing opaque options, rarely obvious.

Academia likes and itself all about first type: actually it is just another computer game, especially with recent remote/online movement. Surviving in real life situation like that, is nowhere near the computer game, but quite the opposite.

Re: Poland puts computer game “This War of Mine” on school reading list

#73

Post by dreen »

juskrey wrote: post #71

The education system, as always, sends the signal that should be received with great suspicion and scrutiny. Here the case is slightly more complex: any game, however rich, is a closed system with predictable outcomes, while real life is all about choosing opaque options, rarely obvious. Academia likes and itself all about first type: actually it is just another computer game, especially with recent remote/online mov…

I think you're missing the point. That game doesn't teach you anything about survival nor does it aim to, I think. It's more like a book about the people who go through some hardship, you read about how they cope and maybe learn a lesson applicable in everyday life. That is the point with some narrative literature in the first place.

Re: Poland puts computer game “This War of Mine” on school reading list

#74

Post by PacketPaul »

avindroth wrote: post #20
dubcanada wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is an educational game, if it was something else it wouldn't have been on the list. Just because it's not classified as an education game does not mean it isn't teaching. The article clear says "“Of course, games are already being used in education for teaching maths, chemistry, and developing cognitive abilities, but I don’t think we’ve ever encountered a game being officially included in the educational system o…

‘educational’ as in math blasters, so this war of mine is not ‘educational’ given that stream of thought u could also argue civ v or skyrim or any other game is an educational game. why, you are learning something while playing league, right? it’s pedantic to claim this war of mine is educational when it was clearly meant for a general gaming audience. that is why it being on a reading list is significant. you should…

I agree. It is laziness on the part of the educators. There is a trend in education where they try and make things “relevant” to today’s generation. In the process the actual material is lost.

Re: Poland puts computer game “This War of Mine” on school reading list

#75

Post by AlwaysRock »

Minor49er wrote: post #44
zaksoup wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to start a flame war over book choice but forcing kids to read the Bible, Homer's Iliad, and Shakespeare are probably what is causing such marked disinterest in the first place. There are so many interesting and valuable works of writing, fiction and non-fiction, that can captivate and entertain modern children that aren't unapproachable tomes translated from ancient, dead languages, or written in Iambic Pentamet…

The Bible, Homer's Iliad, and Shakespeare's works are some of the most important ones in Western culture. I wouldn't say they're unapproachable at all. They may be more difficult to read than a modern teen fiction novel, but they contain archetypes and language patterns that were foundational for works that came afterward. Thinking about it now, Beowulf should be added to this list. That's another great way to teach…

I believe you are overestimating the average and below average person. Shakespeare is unapproachable to many people simple due to the language used.

Re: Poland puts computer game “This War of Mine” on school reading list

#76

Post by sombremesa »

RangerScience wrote: post #67

This is amazing. There are other games of this quality and artistry, but IMO no other games with the kind of impact TWOM has. There's something special that happens when you play TWOM that isn't possible in other mediums. It manages to actually create circumstances where you feel like you're making hard choices. IMO, only two other games accomplish something comparable. Portal (as a masterpiece of gaming in every res…

Try playing Torment: Tides of Numenera.

Re: Poland puts computer game “This War of Mine” on school reading list

#77

Post by Tade0 »

q3k wrote: post #36
ceceron wrote: post #10

Interesting move. Sadly kids nowadays (at least in Poland, where I live) don't like reading books and tend to skip even very important titles. This may be a good way to bring some interest in the history via a genuinely entertaining medium.

> don't like reading books and tend to skip even very important titles That's because the list of mandatory [1] reading in Poland is 90% haphazardly thrown together nationalistic martyrdom bullshit with terrible state-mandated interpretation. I used to _hate_ literary analysis, partly because of the works we were studying and how we were forced to interpret them. Then, years after leaving school I've discovered that…

The only books I've read in high school were from the "advanced" section - or in other words - non-mandatory.

Unrelated: I still have your Arduino knock-off which you lent me back during our days in a company related to a certain fruit.

Re: Poland puts computer game “This War of Mine” on school reading list

#78

Post by Krasnol »

ceceron wrote: post #37
Krasnol wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was recently in Poland again and wanted to buy some books for my father who lives in Germany. Man...they are expansive! What happened there?? No wonder there are so many illegal sources for epubs.

I agree that electronic books are strangely expensive compared to the printed editions. As for the book market, it's in a terrible state given decreasing interest in reading. Second biggest bookshop brand went bankrupt not so long ago and nobody has been able to fill the void. Luckily, there are many small and great bookshops out there. I highly recommend Kurant (music-related) or Revolutionibus (more general) in Kra…

Ah man, I've just been to Krakow too last week. Too bad but I was still able to snatch a few books here and there.

Re: Poland puts computer game “This War of Mine” on school reading list

#79

Post by lacker »

RangerScience wrote: post #67

This is amazing. There are other games of this quality and artistry, but IMO no other games with the kind of impact TWOM has. There's something special that happens when you play TWOM that isn't possible in other mediums. It manages to actually create circumstances where you feel like you're making hard choices. IMO, only two other games accomplish something comparable. Portal (as a masterpiece of gaming in every res…

I found Detroit: Become Human to be quite thought-provoking.
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