Traits of the Game:
The goal of the Settler's Online game is to create and sustain an economy with settlers, "armed unit forces", workers, and bandits (the bad guys who want to stop your progress). With regard to the rules of the game, I'm finding that I have to work to achieve each level and determine which of the quests given will move me ahead the fastest. I was stuck on level 22 for quite a while and it became frustrating to me. I found that I needed to be patient and keep plugging along in order to move up the next level. I would agree with McGonigal (Kindle version) that I'm forcing myself to "foster strategic thinking" as I try to decide what will help me the most. As I work through the game each day, I continually check my "progress bar" to see how close I am to gaining a new level. I've learned since the earlier levels that I need to be patient and really pay attention to the resources and which building is using which resource. Having that understanding has made it easier to wait to get to the next level. However, if I'm close to finishing the level, I will try to spend a little more time just to see if I can accomplish before shutting down for the night.
Flow is best described as a state of mind/emotion in which there "is virtually nothing as engaging as this state of working at the very limits of your ability" (Kindle Locations 438-439). I think that the Settler's game has the capability of bringing a player to engage in a state of "flow" as much of the outcome of the game is dependent upon what the player puts into it. I don't know if I've personally felt it at this point. I do think that the game provides the continuous feedback, although when I get stuck, I often have to venture out to other websites to get information that will help. I am selecting my own goals as I decide on which of the quests to focus.
For the second fix, I think I'm finding the challenging aspects of the game to be rewarding. Having to problem solve is keeping me alert to decisions I'm making in the game. I do feel a bit of pressure to keep up with the others in the class and find myself logging in often. I secretly wish I could play on my iPad!! I think that there are consequences of playing this game (and probably all others). When I'm logging in often to keep track of what's going on, there is probably something else that I should be doing. I've started to give myself a time limit when I have other things that need to be done. Engaging in this game for a long period of time could present itself with physical difficulties as are well researched with regard to various computer games. I can see how games can become addictive and in watching the video about the guys playing World of Warcraft, I can see how younger children become enchanted with the game and have a hard time breaking away to take care of other tasks/activities.
Overall, playing the game has been rewarding and educational.
I couldn't agree more with your post. I too have been frustrated at times when I notice my resources low and have to pinpoint what is going wrong with production for me to be low. In the beginning of the game I did not have my pinewood production going well and I had to research a lot of information before I finally accomplished the quest. I now find myself "googling" most of my actions in the game, especially when it comes to the placement of new buildings.
ReplyDeleteI also find the game competitive, I notice how far others are going and I feel like I have somehow failed in that I am not progressing as fast. I must admit, the game is fun and challenging but I do not seem to be as interested as I would a simple game like Candy Crush. :) I feel more successful in Candy Crush than I do Settlers but Settlers requires me to strategically think more and requires harder work to accomplish something. Some days I would rather stay off the game but I know in order for me to keep on progressing I need to continue on with completing quests no matter how impossible some may seem. I also think I would be more productive if I could get on the game on my iPad...I have my iPad everywhere with me!
I can also see where people can get addicted to this game and other games. After watching the videos, I was amazed at how games can consume someone’s life. I then remembered when my brother played WOW and would be on the computer for hours and throughout the night. My parents would have to start limiting his computer use and get up to shut down the computer on him. I feel like the game became his life until he started college. I also began thinking about young children and how much of a role video games may have on their lives. I allow my students to play games (approved educational games) in my classroom on the computer and on their devices...I began to think am I feeding into some students playing more than they should? If they play for hours at home is it beneficial to them to allow them to play more in the classroom? I thought about surveying my parents and gathering their opinions on the topic of gaming.