A Michigan State professor has designed an online game to teach Chinese culture and language to players.
As reported by the Detroit Free Press, Yong Zhao, MSU distinguished professor of educational psychology and technology, is the creator of Zon. In the role-playing game, players try to enhance their character's social and economic status. Said Zhao:
Games are supposed to be fun and educational. This game offers a vicarious, virtual experience of China. We are here to serve the public and, in this case, to bridge the gap between China and the United States. That's the ambassador role we want to play.
Zon is currently free, although a subscription model is being considered.
Comments
I don't really think this is gonna work out too well, never heard of a game that taught you stuff and was fun,is this like some sort of sim kind of game or something?
Sierra had some good edutainment games (Zeus, Pharoah, Caesar, etc...). Total War teaches a fair amount about ancient and medival military. Certain school shooting experts say that all kinds of games teach you how to shoot weapons and kill people.
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So speak I, some random guy.
never heard of a game that taught you stuff and was fun
Seriously? Even as a reader of this site, you've never seen a story about an edutainment title? Never played one yourself? I mean, even if you're not the type who finds learning in itself fun I find that hard to believe.
I'm pleased to see two stories in as many days about educational games. Luckily this one can be tried at no cost--at least for the time being--so I'll be checking it out some evening this week. Bonus: I've been wanting to learn Chinese for years. ;)
Someone never played math blaster
Umm... Oregon Trail?
Damnit, why did it have to be chinese? It'd be ideal for me if it was Finland focussed, I'm just starting to teach myself the language.
Good idea though
I remember this story! They started working on it two years back, I used an article about it for a project in a technical writing course I was taking. It's good to see they got it working!
My brother's studying Chinese right now. Maybe I'll get him into it...
If it works, do one for German! I've always wanted to learn German!
Or Indonesian, cause my girlfriend is Indonesian, and I'd like to learn her native language
I'm taking Chinese 101, Modern China, and Contemporary Chinese Politics next semester...
::creates Zon profile::
Can I learn to oppress my citizens in this?
I am def. checking this out when i get home, i'm trying to learn chinese.
Don't bother. You'll just have to learn it again in half an hour...
This is a neat concept. I'd like to see Jack Thompson find something to complain about in this one.
That's an easy one. Video games are now being used to spread Communism.
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
And the bird flu.
-If shit and bricks were candy and tits, we'd all be livin' large. For information on games and psychology, look up:
Jonathan Freedman (2002)
Block and Crain (2007)
Grand Theft Childhood, a book by Harvard Medical School researchers Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olson
You say that like it's a bad thing. ;P
Dark Sovereign, if you're American then there shouldn't be too much to learn.
I, personally, do not feel particularly oppressed. The government attempts to make laws and enforce them. I ignore the government. We've been working out so far.
Perhaps I'm a little more jaded than others here. Half of my neighborhood is Chinese, you see. If I wanted to learn Chinese culture, I'd ask my neighbors.
While I'd rather have something that teaches about Russia (I took a Russian class once and know the Cyrillic alphabet... wish I could've taken more classes...), this sounds like a decent way to help patch things between America and China. I was reading the Associated Press a while back and it mentioned something about how Ping Pong helped open relations between the two nations (this was during the Nixon years and was even referenced in Forrest Gump, IIRC), so I think a game can help relations too, even if it is edutainment (as long as it's fun... Mario is Missing certainly wasn't fun, that's for sure).
Although I don't think this'll change my opinions about the Chinese government, of which I am terrified of.
I've known about this game after starting learning Chinese on this page... really nice!
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