JHU+Gaming+Course+Play+Diary

Here is my Cohort 9 Play Diary of game reviews and their educational value

Heros of Might and Magic 3
 * Game Title: ** Heroes of Might and Magic
 * Publisher: ** 3DO
 * Release Date: February 1999 **
 * Game Type: ** PC
 * Game Summary: ** Heroes of Might and Magic III is one in a long series that has been launched from the mid 1990s until currently. It is a game in which you build up an army and defend a castle. You can choose between many different kingdoms and heroes such as arches, necromancers, devils, angels, and mystical creatures and then go fight other types of kingdoms. You can win by defeating all other players within a given scenario or completing tasks within a certain allotted amount of time.
 * Educational Value: Heroes is very rich in vocabulary terms such as different types of characters in reality like archers, cavilers, and pike men as well as a host of fantasy characters such as dragons, hydra, and phoenixes It is a great way for students to experience actual creatures they might read about in language arts. It also has mathematical value as a player needs to build up their castle and balance logistics with building up their resources and decide how big is "too big to fail." While also remaining powerful enough to defeat all enemies. **
 * Opinion: ** My opinion shines through in my description and summary, but this was the only game I played as a teenager and taught me about things such as diplomacy and mystical creatures which I really would not have cared about otherwise. I do not enjoy reading fantasy books or playing video games other than sporting games so this was a game that gave me exposure to a lot I would not have otherwise experienced




 * Game Title: ** NCAA 06 Football


 * Publisher: ** EA Sports (It's in the game...)


 * Release Date: August 2005 **


 * Game Type: ** PlayStation 2


 * Game Summary: ** NCAA 2006 allows users to control a college team throughout a season or Dynasty. Users can control offenses and defenses, choose and call plays from sophisticated playbooks, and recruit players at the end of a season. Players can watch their teams compete for the national title and their players compete for the Heisman trophy.


 * Educational Value: This game teaches users the ins and outs of a football play calling strategy Its realistic nature allows users to see the difference between calling a zone or man to man defense. It allows users to see how holes actually open for running backs and the importance of following a blocker. In short, it is able to teach the average fan more about how football actually works by giving them the virtual experience of being a player/coach. Players can also analyze statistics following the game for an Algebra lesson or write a narrative based on the experience of competing against a classmate for a language arts class. **


 * Opinion: ** This game is very engaging and fun to play against a friend or a computer. There is a lot going on that an innovative teacher might try to capture and use for a lesson. As far as video games go, it was my favorite to play with friends throughout college and kept me thinking about how I could be successful with the worst team in the game. There must be something of educational value for a game that kept me reflecting and thinking about how I can improve in it.

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 * Game Title: ** Oregon Trail

**Created by: ** [|MindRevelation]  **Published: ** 2009-10-12 
 * Game Type: ** Adventure, Point and Click


 * Game Summary: ** Player names chooses a occupation and names for a wagon of 5 people. Player loads up with supplies and heads out onto the trail. Player can choose pace, to hunt for food, food rations, and check supply status. Distance traveled is shown as well as distance to the next landmark. Player wins by making it to Oregon


 * Educational Value: ** This game uses the names of various disease gives player chance to make judgement calls about food rations, how much to buy for supplies, how fast to travel the trail. It also gives players the chance to think about what it must have been like to go on this journey as it takes a long time to travel and how there is not much to do for the family as they go across the landscape.


 * Opinion: ** This game was very engaging to me as a elementary student and so I wanted to see if there was a version out on the web and indeed there was. It is not that engaging now as it is a bit monotonous, but still brought back memories. It is a good tool to teach vocabulary and have students think about engaging on a long journey. Students can play again and again and help shape their thoughts about how much food and supplies they would need, how fast to travel, and how much money they would need to take. All in all, it is still a worthwhile classic game

[] **Created by: ** [|Archbob]  **Published: ** 2007-09-18
 * Game Title: ** StarFall


 * Game Type: ** Strategy, Point and Click


 * Game Summary: ** Player is a star falling to earth and must hit other stars to bounce back up. Some stars bounce player while others bounce less but give player more energy. As game moves on there are also evil stars which will end the game if hit. Player receives a score upon losing game


 * Educational Value: ** This game has a level meter and allows player to judge when and how to use star energy as stars float by. It trains players to be patient and strategic and could be useful when thinking about taking a test. Players should not spend all their energy on one test question nor should they do that during the game. This may seem a bit reaching for educational value but due to the captology, I think it is there. A language arts teacher for example could have students journal about their strategies afterwards.


 * Opinion: ** This game is a fun flash game that can capture your attention because of the scoring at the end. Like other games of its kind it makes you want to beat your score at something as silly as not letting your star fall to the bottom of the screen.