#38 Console Gaming

I have fond memories of the arcade games I played as a kid. Every summer my family would pack up the car for a week in Cape May, New Jersey, to relax and enjoy lazy days at the beach. We would take our chairs, towels, and a picnic lunch and spend the day making sand castles, swimming, digging for clams, and exploring the stone jetties. We always put our beach umbrella up next to Frank's Playland, an arcade on the boardwalk. There you could buy refreshments and fritter away quarters (doled out sparingly by my parents) on skee ball, pin ball, poker, and many other games. As the years passed, I spent less and less time on the beach, and more and more time playing pinball. I had a favorite machine, called Mibs.

I never really caught the Pac Man craze, but when Pong came out, my friends and I were fascinated. The idea that computers were not just for geeks collecting data, and that you could actually have one in your home, was exciting! Pong was not sophisticated enough to create many passionate players that I know of, but Nintendo was another story. Nintendo systems were hugely popular in the 1980's. At arcaderetro.com you can still play my favorite Nintendo game, Duck Hunt. Duck Hunt was my introduction to sight alignment and foresight focus, skills needed to accurately shoot the Nintendo Zapper Light Guns and also real firearms.

The successful marketing and popularity of Nintendo home gaming systems created a huge demand among consumers for more sophisticated graphics and games. Today's gamers can choose to purchase Microsoft's Xbox 360 ($250), a Sony Playstation 3 ($400), and Nintendo's Wii ($350), among other game systems. Which of these systems is best for library purposes? I have no idea. An interesting blog, called Library Garden, also posed this question. The opinions expressed there leaned toward endorsements of Nintendo's Wii, for several reasons: the availability of games geared towards both genders, the ability to download classic games, the symplicity of controllers, and an interactive system which enhances social opportunities.

But I would still like one of these:

#37 Get Your Game On @ The Library

Whether or not games and gaming belong in a library is still a controversial subject. Statistics show that introducing video, console, and web-based games into library settings promotes interest in other traditional services libraries provide; however, there are still many who are not quite convinced that libraries should move in this direction.

The New York Times published an article on 3/22/08 called "Taking Play Seriously at the Public Library with Young Video Gamers". Jack Martin, the assistant coordinator for young adult services at a New York Public Library branch, states that "in addition to simply helping bring kids into the library...games have the potential to be a great teaching tool."

At the web site of the Carnegie Mellon University Libraries, there is even an online games page featuring two educational, arcade style games. The first is called "I'll Get It!" and involves helping patrons find a variety of research materials. The faster and more accurately you respond to requests, the more points scored. The second game is called "Within Range". In this game, the player must correctly shelve books according to their Library of Congress classifications. I played both games and rather enjoyed them for oh, about 10 minutes. Tops.

The evolution of our libraries is a national phenomenon. No longer quiet places to read or study, libraries are quickly becoming dynamic multi-purpose community centers where resources are concentrated and accessible to the public. Computer games and gaming programs are not only ways to make learning fun, they are marketing tools that help libraries promote a teen-friendly image and encourage young adults to become more familiar with library services which may be of interest to them.

Harris County residents are fortunate to have access to a wonderful system of public libraries. Special programs directed at teens are one way libraries are making a positive contribution to the communities they serve. Gaming programs may be what motivates young people to walk in the door, but the impact on participants seems to be much broader than merely creating multitudes of new Guitar Heroes.

#36 Online Role Playing Games

1. Although I know it is very popular among young people, I didn't enjoy playing Runescape. As a novice, I found it difficult to get around, plus I burned an awful lot of shrimp!
2. Where are the directions for taking and posting a screenshot of my avatar?