(Begins May 27 - June 3)
Read Ender's Game, Chapters 11 and 12, and respond to these questions:
Chapter 11
1) In this chapter, we see how the game masters at the battle school intend to make the game “unfair” for Ender. How, then, do they make the game “unfair”? How does Ender respond?
2)Ender once again turns to study the strategy of the “enemy”. What enemy becomes his concern in this chapter?
3)What is Bean’s new role? Should every team have a team member like Bean? Why?
Chapter 12
1) What do the adults want Ender to think and feel about danger and escape? Does Ender eventually have the desired realization? Have you ever had this realization – in real life, or in a game scenario? Would you want to? How would this effect the way you play a game?
2) How neccesary is it to “win” a game? What is the point of winning? Why is winning a part of games?
Monday, May 25, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Week 7 Blog: Ender's Game, Chapter 9, 10
(Begins May 20 - Ends May 27)
Read Ender's Game, Chapters 9 and 10, and respond to these questions:
Chapter 9
“The mind game is a relationship between the child and the computer. Together they create stories. The stories are true, in the sense that they reflect the reality of the child's life. That's all I know” (Card, 121)
1) What game is this quote referring to? What do you think of this kind of game? Would you want to play?
2) While Ender learns the ropes of Battle school, Peter and Valentine Wiggen have begun a game of their own. What is the nature of this game? What is the goal? The rules? Who designed this game, and who is playing? What are the game pieces?
Chapter 10
1) In this chapter, what sort of games does Ender use to teach? What is his role in these games?
2)Would you want Ender for a teacher? Why or why not?
3)If you were a teacher, would you want to be like Ender? Why or why not? Would you use his games? What kind of games would you use, in his position?
Read Ender's Game, Chapters 9 and 10, and respond to these questions:
Chapter 9
“The mind game is a relationship between the child and the computer. Together they create stories. The stories are true, in the sense that they reflect the reality of the child's life. That's all I know” (Card, 121)
1) What game is this quote referring to? What do you think of this kind of game? Would you want to play?
2) While Ender learns the ropes of Battle school, Peter and Valentine Wiggen have begun a game of their own. What is the nature of this game? What is the goal? The rules? Who designed this game, and who is playing? What are the game pieces?
Chapter 10
1) In this chapter, what sort of games does Ender use to teach? What is his role in these games?
2)Would you want Ender for a teacher? Why or why not?
3)If you were a teacher, would you want to be like Ender? Why or why not? Would you use his games? What kind of games would you use, in his position?
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Week 6 Blog: Ender's Game, Chapter 7, 8
(Begins May 13th - Ends May 20)
Read Ender's Game, Chapters 7 and 8, and respond to these questions:
Chapter 7
1) Ender has finally made a friend or two among the Launchies, when suddenly he's singled out again and promoted to an “army”, where he'll train and “play” with the big kids. Before he accepts the transition, he goes off in “Free Play”, and encounters a dreamlike string of locations and events. The adults refer to “Free Play” as a mind game. What does it reveal about Ender's psychological and/or emotional state? What does it reveal about the adults who designed the game? What do games reveal about the player, versus the designer?
2) Ender is transferred to Salamander Army. What does Ender learn from the leader of Salamander Army, Bonzo, throughout the chapter?
Chapter 8
1) Compared to Salamander Army, what is different about Rat Army? What is different about how it is organized and run?
3) At the beginning of the chapter, the adults discuss the consequences of making the battle game progressively more “unfair”. As game designers, is this ever an option we should pursue? At what point does strategy break down, and become anarchy?
Read Ender's Game, Chapters 7 and 8, and respond to these questions:
Chapter 7
1) Ender has finally made a friend or two among the Launchies, when suddenly he's singled out again and promoted to an “army”, where he'll train and “play” with the big kids. Before he accepts the transition, he goes off in “Free Play”, and encounters a dreamlike string of locations and events. The adults refer to “Free Play” as a mind game. What does it reveal about Ender's psychological and/or emotional state? What does it reveal about the adults who designed the game? What do games reveal about the player, versus the designer?
2) Ender is transferred to Salamander Army. What does Ender learn from the leader of Salamander Army, Bonzo, throughout the chapter?
Chapter 8
1) Compared to Salamander Army, what is different about Rat Army? What is different about how it is organized and run?
3) At the beginning of the chapter, the adults discuss the consequences of making the battle game progressively more “unfair”. As game designers, is this ever an option we should pursue? At what point does strategy break down, and become anarchy?
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Week 5 Blog: Ender's Game, Chapter 5, 6
(Begins May 6 - Ends May 13)
Read Ender's Game, Chapters 5 and 6, and respond to these questions:
Chapter 5
1) What kinds of strategies does Ender learn from watching the older boys play computer games in the game room? What are some of the weaknesses that the older boys demonstrate?
2) Do computer games train people to think like computers?
3) Throughout the book, Ender encounters a series of systems put in place by the adults. In chapter 5, he learns how to “play” at least one of these systems. Which system does he master, and to what benefit?
Chapter 6
There are two major games (game-like scenarios) explored in this chapter. One takes place in the battle room, and one takes place during Ender’s “Free Play” time.
1) What is different about the nature of reality in the battleroom? What issues arise due to these differences? What possibilities also arise? Have you ever faced these issues in computer/console game? How might we push these issues and possibilities in a new direction?
2) What kind of game is “Free Play”? What do you think of Ender’s responses to the guessing game?
Read Ender's Game, Chapters 5 and 6, and respond to these questions:
Chapter 5
1) What kinds of strategies does Ender learn from watching the older boys play computer games in the game room? What are some of the weaknesses that the older boys demonstrate?
2) Do computer games train people to think like computers?
3) Throughout the book, Ender encounters a series of systems put in place by the adults. In chapter 5, he learns how to “play” at least one of these systems. Which system does he master, and to what benefit?
Chapter 6
There are two major games (game-like scenarios) explored in this chapter. One takes place in the battle room, and one takes place during Ender’s “Free Play” time.
1) What is different about the nature of reality in the battleroom? What issues arise due to these differences? What possibilities also arise? Have you ever faced these issues in computer/console game? How might we push these issues and possibilities in a new direction?
2) What kind of game is “Free Play”? What do you think of Ender’s responses to the guessing game?
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