[Edu-sig] Just ran into Kevin Altis...

[francois schnell]

On 14/05/06, kirby urner <kirby.urner at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> But "god versus humans" in a killing capacity tends to be no fun.
> They're so good at killing themselves as it is.  The challenge is
> getting them to do anything constructive, hence the popularity of
> TPBs.


As our ancestors were hunters maybe its why FPS are also quiet popular with
all kids even before videogames with plastic guns and bows (a kind of
"hunting" gene remaining somewhere ? an inherited behavior or just a
media/TV influence ? ).

Personally I prefer to see kids practicing their old "hunting skills" in
virtual worlds than becoming real hunters killing real animals just for fun.

Also if they want to "survive" longer they'll have to analyse and take
advantage of the "geometry" of the map they're in : you just don't run and
shout in an open space like a maniac (at least in "realistic" FPS) .

All that said FPS is not my cup of tea except a part for the game "Unreal
Tournament 2004"  that I bought because there were Linux logo on the box :).
With the Linux NVDIA drivers I could at least impress my friend about 3D
games on Linux.

The funny thing about UT2004 is that the most popular way of playing it is
the "onslaught" mod which is collaborative and tactic in the same time : you
need to work in team to control vital nods up to the main enemy core, if the
team doesn't collaborate and just shoot everywhere the mission is over
quickly. To collaborate you use the microphone (or the chat if don't have a
microphone) and *that* was the unexpected *social part*, I've learn a lot
about life in russia, japan, UK, etc while practicing an old "hunting" gene
with 7 to 77 years old humans :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unreal_Tournament_2004

Concerning TPB I think they are really interesting since you can learn about
history, economics, strategy while playing. A shame that it doesn't fit well
the console market with their limited pad and TV-screen.

francois




















Kirby
>
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