10 Best Games with Real Educational Value?

[XLjedi]

Some good suggestions here...

I think the commentary on strategic RTS's in general is probably true for all. However, I'm not sure that resource mgmnt and troop mobilization are enough for an educational recommendation. For instance, the detailed economic model in Pacific Storm might have some value... but just harvesting crystals and sending waves of drones into a blender is perhaps a tad too gamey.

I was thinking possibly one of the Total War titles, but I haven't played any of those myself. ...or maybe some of the strategy games of the civil war era.

I'm also looking for stuff that is currently and readily available... a couple of the suggestions are good (Grim Fandango, Oregon Trail, and Myst) although it would probably be difficult to locate those gems at the local Best Buy.

[Jimbuna]

GWX....teaches you patience and how to create a structured plan

[XLjedi]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

GWX....teaches you patience and how to create a structured plan

Yeah, I was half-tempted to suggest that if students could figure out how to successfully mod SH3 to GWX that it might qualify as a decent homework assignment for a computer lab class.

On the other hand, if they could figure out how to get SH4 to run bug free they would earn an automatic A for the semester... (and then they'd have to show the rest of us how to do it!) :rotfl:

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by aaronblood

Yeah, I was half-tempted to suggest that if students could figure out how to successfully mod SH3 to GWX that it might qualify as a decent homework assignment for a computer lab class.

On the other hand, if they could figure out how to get SH4 to run bug free they would earn an automatic A for the semester... (and then they'd have to show the rest of us how to do it!) :rotfl:

A+ me thinks Kaleun

[fatty]

RE: SH3/4... these games might be good for inspiring students to do historical research on their own, but the games themselves, unmodded at least, don't teach too much except that submarines roamed the ocean, blew stuff up, and were blown up. As far as the trig and such, you're assuming that you can captivate the attention of a group of typical 15-18 year olds to play on 100% difficulty long enough to figure out what kind of math to apply and where.

My choice is any non-graphical Zork game. Easy to set up and play, no graphical simulation of violence, and teaches language skills which, IMHO, is what graduating students in my region are lacking the most today.

I became a speed-reader from playing MUDs in high school. Since I stopped, I've lost that ability - it's a shame there are no good ones left

[XLjedi]

Originally Posted by fatty

RE: SH3/4... these games might be good for inspiring students to do historical research on their own, but the games themselves, unmodded at least, don't teach too much except that submarines roamed the ocean, blew stuff up, and were blown up. As far as the trig and such, you're assuming that you can captivate the attention of a group of typical 15-18 year olds to play on 100% difficulty long enough to figure out what kind of math to apply and where.

My choice is any non-graphical Zork game. Easy to set up and play, no graphical simulation of violence, and teaches language skills which, IMHO, is what graduating students in my region are lacking the most today.

I became a speed-reader from playing MUDs in high school. Since I stopped, I've lost that ability - it's a shame there are no good ones left

So lemme get this straight...

You think it's highly unlikely to get the average (assumed attention deficit) 15-18yr old interested in playing SH on 100% realism and yet somehow you expect they'll be willing to put down Halo for an hour to play Zork?

I'm afraid the era of text-based adventure games has long passed...

However, you do bring up a good point. There may be some adventure games out there that do involve a deep story line and plot that does require some reading comprehension and problem solving skills. Perhaps something like Neverwinter Nights, KoTOR, or Final Fantasy then?

[fatty]

Originally Posted by aaronblood

So lemme get this straight...

You think it's highly unlikely to get the average (assumed attention deficit) 15-18yr old interested in playing SH on 100% realism and yet somehow you expect they'll be willing to put down Halo for an hour to play Zork?

I'm afraid the era of text-based adventure games has long passed...

However, you do bring up a good point. There may be some adventure games out there that do involve a deep story line and plot that does require some reading comprehension and problem solving skills. Perhaps something like Neverwinter Nights, KoTOR, or Final Fantasy then?

I submitted that thought on the basis of accessability; the students who are most in need of education beyond the base curriculum in the classroom are frequently underprivileged and likely not going to be able to afford a PC that can crunch the latest renditions of Silent Hunter. Text-based games are cheap and quick to develop and could be custom-tailored to seem more 'cool' e.g. change the setting to an urban atmosphere rather than fantasy. Further, they can be run on the decrepit PCs that I have encountered in public school classrooms and libraries.

Silent Hunter is fun, but I don't feel it has taught me any practical skills, as I don't see myself serving in the diesel boats in the near future. Learning to communicate with people beyond your typical urban youth vernacular is a good place to start opening opportunities.

[geetrue]

The best thing about education and games would have to apply to Silent Hunter II, III and IV.

I have found out more about my computer and how it works due those three games.

I have found out how to add more ram memory, up grade my video card, clean my computer, how to defrag constantly, what video settings work and what settings don't work. I have found what page file means. I have added mods and deleated mods to get the game to work.

I have a better working relationship to my computer thanks to submarine sims and to be fair flight sim games like FSX, than any other reason.