Week 8-topic 8- Are Computer Games a Waste of Time?

Lecture:

The discussion of video and computer games is what began this week’s lecture. Various people put in their personal experience of video games in their households. It was interesting to hear others experiences with game consoles and how it can take over peoples lives. They feel like it takes over part of their lives and they get so into what they are doing. Then the rest of the lecture Adam discussed the different aspects of games and new media. The changes that have been made over the years in regards to games and how it is apart of young peoples lives has changed in the technological sense, but also in peoples lives. The games are always changing and improving.

Tutorial Tasks

The tasks this week had to deal with Microsoft word and excel. I feel comfortable with Microsoft Word as I have used it for years when writing reports for school. When going through the beginning part I felt confident with what I was doing and found it very easy. I struggled with the mail merger section but that will come with time and practice. I am still not sure how it completely works still, I am not sure how it would work when printing up the paper. My solution is to practice and use Microsoft Help section of the document to assist with my problems.
Microsoft Excel I have had some experience in my grade 12 Data Management class it was used on occasion. I was able to get through the beginners part with ease as I did it in my class. The macro part I had some struggles with, I wasn’t able to complete it as I was getting totally frustrated with it. I am going to try and accomplish this task another time when I do not want to punch the computer screen.

Readings:

‘Trigger Happy’ (2002) Steven Poole’s Chapter 3: ‘Unreal Cities’ (pg 83-107)

The reading for this week was a chapter from the book ‘Trigger Happy’. The book is about the aesthetics of video games. In the chapter that was required to be read was the ‘Unreal Cities.’ It is comparing the 3-D reality games that feel like real life. The player feels as if they are playing that game for real. The chapter goes on to talk about how reality is still different from the game and that not everything is exact. The author is comparing the difference between on laser beams being shot are completely different than what goes on in the game. The question is then asked; “why, then, do videogames get it wrong?”This is because if it was ‘real’ it wouldn’t be a video game then. The games can’t be like real life, cause then you are playing something you can do in real life and takes away the thrill. The chapter goes on to describe different situations that aren’t like reality, they are different. Like a ball and the angles. Video games aren’t made to be exactly real; they are modified to keep you playing more. This makes them addictive and want you to play more.