Metamind's Corner of the Universe

Ok, the title could use some help. As such, I have been doing some research in to game emersion or video gaming with regard to education. Specifically, libraries have been adopting the video game model as a luring/ learning tool increase their facility usage. In effect, they have just been given patrons what they wanted. I can remember as far back as 2004 when one of my former supervisors at the University of Montevallo was talking about purchasing games for the libraries. I must admit, I was skeptical about it because video game system was coming out every 4 years. Plus, I was one of those individuals who manly played PC games. Therefore, I was use to the keyboard mouse interface and not game pads. Then all of sudden, I was back in school to try and finish a second bachelors in Mathematics and I could not handle the stress of Real Analysis due to outside distractions/family illnesses. So, I went out and not only bought an Xbox. But, I also bought a PS2. Believe me, it was exciting. I went from an Atari 2600 straight to a PS2. That is like going from the outhouse to having an inside toilet with a separate Bidet.

Did it help? Nope. Why? I think the problem had more to do with the location of these machines versus the games themselves.  I was always in my dorm room up ‘til the crack of dawn. At that time, I was playing the Xbox port of Max Payne and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. What? Don’t hate. Max Payne appealed to my sensitive side. Anyway, I think I might have fared better academically if the game systems and games themselves where in the library. I could take brakes and play games then study some more. You know, three in your head and  you know their dead then

2 hours of work on Uniform Convergence problem. 

Anyway, I am going off on a tangent (figuratively)……….

Public Libraries across the country have been ordering video game consoles to checkout; or hosting standalone and LAN/web based parties. Now, academic libraries as are embracing this form of entertainment with a passion. So, what is the point to this blog post? Actually, this is a fact finding blog post. I am actually looking to see what games libraries are buying for their libraries to be implemented for their collection. Are they buying what patrons really want? Or, is it just the stereotypical game that has a strategic underline-learning component.  For instance the game With that being said, are the librarians keeping the normal statistical data on these games that you would see with say books or serials?

 University Of Calgary’s Video Game Library

I mean is Borderlands being checked out more than Deus EX? Can library aides and paraprofessionals give specific details of a Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows (Xbox 360) game beyond reading the narrative that is on the back cover? Granted, I would not expect each librarian to know how Battlefield ends or if the story conversation lines between characters in Mass Affect 2 where more interesting than other shooters.

Deus EX

But, I am interested in knowing how collection development is actually done with video games?  I have been switching between Deus Ex Human Revolution and Batman : Arkham Asylum for about a week now. 

Batman : Arkham Asylum

Would I play these games in a library? Yes. Are these games the type that would motivate repeat play? That would depend on the gamer. I could read probably read a Tale of Two Cities multiple times.  But, how many times can I play Rage: The Campaign Edition?  I think that is another question I am asking underneath my fact-finding mission; how is the repetitive use? Well these are a lot of question to ponder upon.  So, I am ending this blog post installment with an example of an academic library that is doing the following: purchasing games that don’t not a have specific learning components to them; popular games; and a games library that is organized by preferred system. I give you the University of California at Santa Cruz Video Games page. Their library support the following systems including: Sony’s PS3 (regular and Japanese version console), Atari Flash back, Nintendo (ES, 64,  DS), Sega, Xbox, and the Xbox 360. Here is a link to their Video Game page .

To the viewers of this post,

Your thoughts????????………