Comments on: The Future of Gaming http://librarygarden.net/2007/08/15/the-future-of-gaming/ An ongoing conversation among librarians with differing perspectives (public, academic, school, consortial, youth) but one shared goal: ensuring the health and relevance of libraries. [insert your own gardening metaphor here] Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:28:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: kittent http://librarygarden.net/2007/08/15/the-future-of-gaming/#comment-2132 Sun, 26 Aug 2007 21:52:00 +0000 http://librarygarden.wordpress.com/2007/08/15/the-future-of-gaming/#comment-2132 Ahhh, but you are just talking about video/computer gaming. There are still old fashioned D&D players out there. My senior husband was taught to count by his mother using cards and his dad was a pinball hustler. He was one of the originals in the local university gaming club (we are talking D&D, and Squad leader, etc. and UIUC helped develop PLATO …) When our daughter was 12 we threw her to the gamers and she is now happily married to a gamer and both of her children (aged 13+ and 11+) play roleplaying, video, and MMORPG’s.

If libraries want to run gaming initiatives, they should remember to archive the paper and dice stuff.

]]> By: cwood http://librarygarden.net/2007/08/15/the-future-of-gaming/#comment-2125 Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:46:00 +0000 http://librarygarden.wordpress.com/2007/08/15/the-future-of-gaming/#comment-2125 Gaming is growing on Friday afternoons at WDFPL.

Any comments on libraries encouraging gaming on a “big screen” as a meeting room activity? Last week the buzz was so fierce the circ staff requested I check in to see if the YA specialist was still OK. A great time was had by all.

Online gaming -
I’m interested in your thoughts on teens and http://www.runescape.com/ in the library. The local fan base continues to expand at WDFPL.

MapleStory is another story. Does anybody have feedback on this one? It was loaded by a staffer for a patron through gentle persuasion, and crashed a computer last week while I was on vacation. The computer is back up and I have loaded the game under Deep Freeze on one workstation as an exercise in human computer interaction.

Should libraries consider free access issues when reaching a certain goal requires a monetary investment the part of the player? Some online games support purchase of cards for enhanced play experiences.

]]> By: Pburg Free http://librarygarden.net/2007/08/15/the-future-of-gaming/#comment-2122 Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:05:00 +0000 http://librarygarden.wordpress.com/2007/08/15/the-future-of-gaming/#comment-2122 Hmmm—Read about the branch library in – I think – South Carolina that went all out for gaming. But we have already had to limit MySpace and other social networking sites to 2 public PCs. Why? Even with timing software, social network users stayed on all day, every day, on all the public pcs–not so good if you are waiting in line to take an exam, or apply for a job. We do see a lot of gaming on the public pcs, even tho we supposedly filter it out. My question is–does it support the library mission?

]]> By: Paul http://librarygarden.net/2007/08/15/the-future-of-gaming/#comment-2121 Sat, 18 Aug 2007 12:42:00 +0000 http://librarygarden.wordpress.com/2007/08/15/the-future-of-gaming/#comment-2121 Thanks for the post. I agree with you about the evolution, rather than a revolution. There is a historical evolution in game design (although I curious what, if evolution this generation brings to game design – motion control?).

But the evolution is also happening in education. We are moving into more interactive learning situations, more engaging for the player/student and allowing the student the ability to shape and create content.

Cynthia, is where we as librarians can come in. Having games in our collections is important, since it is just another media source and we’ve done VHS and DVDs for decades. But bringing “gaming” into our libraries happens with the programs we create that contain these characteristics.

]]> By: Cynthia http://librarygarden.net/2007/08/15/the-future-of-gaming/#comment-2119 Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:54:00 +0000 http://librarygarden.wordpress.com/2007/08/15/the-future-of-gaming/#comment-2119 So how do we bring this community into the library? Do we simply include “games” in our collection or do we run programs for game patrons?

I dabble but don’t consider myself a player, so I am not sure what is best. Plus, everything I see about games in libraries is geared toward YA. As you statistics show, perhaps we should run programs for adults and even seniors.

]]>