Gaming Trends

You will be paired in groups of two according to the information you gathered on Wednesday. Your work will be handed back to you and you are to sit with your partner. Together, you will:

Review the following article: NY Times Gaming Trends focusing on the following questions:

a. What have been some common stereotypes about video games and video game users?
b. What has changed and why?
c. What new audiences are being drawn to gaming? Why?
d. Who changed the trend?
e. How have users responded to the shift?
f. Why have consumer companies been surprised by the shift?
g. What might this shift suggest to companies about their understanding of consumers who use their products?
h. How might the online gaming trend mirror the popularity of social networking sites?
i. How do you think players from different countries communicate when playing the same game?

ALSO....
View snippets of the games featured in the article at Harmonix (http://www.harmonixmusic.com/), Activision Blizzard (http://www.activisionblizzard.com/) and Vivendi (http://www.vivendi.com/corp/en/home/index.php); or other popular games on a Web site such as Game Rankings (http://www.gamerankings.com/), Game Trailers (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/22768.html) or Spike TV's 2007 Video Game Awards (http://www.ifilm.com/show/23733).

THEN....
Groups should work toward formulating predictions about future trends in gaming. On chart paper, write short statements, two or three sentences, describing the trends you will consider in greater detail. For example, you might decide that the next trend is an online version of Wii in which global participants compete in tennis or bowling, and hold a Wii World Series. If so, you might cite reports of the role of Wii in combatting couch-potato syndrome in kids, the trend toward intergenerational, international gaming and the stock prices for Wii.

Third World Farming: It's Really Not a Game

Since we have been simulating the life of a third world farmer, it is time to take a look at these countries using Google Earth.  You should already have Google Earth installed on your computer.  If not, please let me know and I will install it.

Click on the link below and map out the countries I assign to you individually.

Third World Countries

You will then take a "thumbtack" to create a place mark on the Google Earth.  In the details, you will include the country name, population, the Gross National Income (GNI) and the natural resources.  

Ms. B

Horowitz and Zinn in China

http://www.askasia2.org/china08/

Check out the comments left by our fearless leaders and their colleagues.  Please reply to Ms. Horowitz in particular.  Hers is entitled Second Time Around.

Ms. B

Third World Farmer

Click here for Third World Farmer Experience

New Google Feature!

Gmail custom time

Do Now:  Read the above feature that has been added to Gmail and then read on.  Be sure to read the testimonials from other users.

Using Google Docs, describe three ways in which the Custom Time feature could benefit you.  Also, describe three ways in which the Custom Time feature could possibly cause more harm than good.  Please share your document with me at iburgos2@schools.nyc.gov.

Ms. B